5-4-3... and let's just stop the countdown right there, please.

Yesterday, the clinic called to let me know that, out of the 28 eggs retrieved, 25 were mature. They froze 20 and attempted to fertilize five with ICSI. Of those five, only four actually did fertilize.

Today, the clinic called to say that one of the four embryos had arrested at one cell, two of them had progressed to two cells, and one had progressed to three cells. The three still-growing embryos all showed some signs of fragmentation and were graded at B-. We're going ahead with a day-3 transfer tomorrow morning, and we'll transfer all of the embryos that are still developing.

When I first heard today's news, I was discouraged by the fact that we seem to have such poor quality embryos from this cycle. But then I remembered what I read and meditated on from Psalm 62 this morning. My soul waits for God alone, not for embryo development or a successful IVF. God is my refuge; I can pour out my disappointment in our embryo growth to him, and he won't let me be shaken by cell numbers or embryo grades. I can trust in him at all times, even when faced with what seems like a sub-optimal transfer, because all power and steadfast love belongs to him. And as Aaron reminded me when I called to pass on the embryo report to him, this could be an opportunity for God to show how great his power is by bringing a pregnancy out of even low-quality embryos. I still find myself needing to fight discouragement, but I'm trying to shelter myself in the Lord.

Please join me in praying that all three of embryos will be thriving tomorrow morning at transfer time, and that at least one of them would implant and become a healthy baby. Thanks, friends!