For 14 long days, we’ve been feeding my eggs chemicals called gonal-f, cetrotide, and menopur via scary needles. I say scary because I’ve hated needles since birth.

Today, is Thursday. In Jewish text, B’reishit, Genesis, the narrative teaches that God mentions other days of the week as being good, and on Yom Hashishi (the sixth day, which begins Thursday when the sun sets) it is VERY good.

וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת-כָּל-אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה, וְהִנֵּה-טוֹב מְאֹד; וַיְהִי-עֶרֶב וַיְהִי-בֹקֶר, יוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי

And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

There is a lot of rabbinic commentary on this line. Basically, mankind was created on day 6, therefore what was once a fine world transformed illuminated by new life created in God’s image…  Hmmm… sounds like my week is lining up with that one. Well, sort of.

Today, in preparation for the setting sun towards a VERY good day, Yom hashishi, my eggs are finally ready for retrieval. New life is almost created. I can feel it. It is tov m’od, verygood.

Retrieval was supposed to be Tuesday… Then Wednesday, then Friday… back-back-back it was pushed because my follicles weren’t ready. A cancelled vacation, a frustrated and emotionally charged self, and a husband who didn’t want to give his wife one more injection… I was feeling like if I wasn’t measuring up today, I never would be. But I am!

Tonight, we switch from the usual meds to one final shot… Lupron. 34 hours after I’m injected tonight, the 32 follicles in my ovaries will be pierced with a needle, and hopefully, beautiful eggs will be retrieved and mixed with the swimmers to create an embryo. (If this makes you a little queasy like it does me, don’t worry, they put me out for this!) It’s science meets God’s will. It’s sci fi and awesome.

These last 2 weeks have been a challenge. The injections left me exhausted, with a constant headache, and more bloated than I had ever been (it’s what happens when the follicles enlarge in the ovaries.)

Halfway through, my Poppy (grandpa), passed away. It became necessary that I go to Florida to support my dad and honor Poppy’s memory. I packed my meds in ice, and thankfully have the most incredible sister, who watched youtube instructionals to prepare to stab me. We got off the airplane, late for the shot, found a companion bathroom in the aiport, and setup IVF shop. Never did I ever think I would be injected with drugs in an aiport bathroom… there is a first time for everything.

Multiple ultra sounds and blood draws later, I’m finally ready.

This Shabbatis going to be a very very good one.