Waiting in the Wings

I'm standing among really heavy curtains, just off of an enormous stage. The stage is all black, except for a spotlight. I'm wearing really uncomfortable tap shoes.

All I want to do is walk out there and tap dance my heart out. I don't know how to tap dance. I've never done it before, but I'll give it my best shot. I don't expect that I'll be all that graceful, but part of me wonders if I might not be some kind of a secret prodigy. Maybe I'll dazzle everyone. Or maybe I'll fall on my face.

The curtains are all so big and heavy that I can't find my way to the stage. And I know I'm not allowed to go out there until I'm given the go-ahead, but the stage manager seems to have disappeared somewhere.

The audience is getting restless. They won't stay seated for long.

Hep B or not Hep B... That is the question...

Whether 'tis nobler... ok, that's as far as I'm gonna go with that one.

An update! OWD and I went to a medical appointment today with the gastro specialist who originally diagnosed OWD as a Hep B carrier. (This is the appointment we attempted to make in August. The wheels of universal healthcare move slowly, but I'm grateful they move at all.)

A few things have come out of this appointment:
-baby would not be at risk at all
-the question is whether I would be at risk for contracting Hep B from the donated eggs - Dr didn't seem terribly concerned, but respected OFC's desire for full CYA procedure
-OWD was sent for DNA test to confirm that her virus levels are still 0 - today's DNA tests are more sensitive than they were 5 years ago when she was last tested (and had 0 virus level)
-I was sent for bloodwork to determine immunity to Hep B - I've had 2 of 3 rounds of the vaccine, so I should be at least 80% immune

So we went to the appointment together, then we went for bloodwork together... it was like bonding... with needles. Awww.

We wait for results. I'm feeling pretty confident that we'll be ok and able to move ahead.

Acupuncture A-Pointy-Mint

So I went for my very first acupuncture appointment on Saturday morning. It was a 2.5 hour long deal, as this was the first appointment, and a good chunk of that involved my medical history.

The actual acupuncture was not at all what I expected.

First, it was painless.
Second, she stuck needles into places I wasn't expecting her to stick needles. (My head and ears - get your mind out of the gutter.)
Third, it was incredibly relaxing. I felt like I'd just had a massage... I was completely relaxed, and actually caught myself drooling a little when I was lying on my stomach.

Basically, she puts the needles in and walks away for 25 minutes, leaving you there. And during that time, I monitored waves of different feelings in various places in my body, and my mind, and emerged feeling like a million bucks. Crazy.

She focused on reproductive and digestive systems for this first appointment, and told me that the benefits of acupuncture are usually felt within the three days following the appointment.

I was on the phone with Marsha yesterday and told her that I didn't have any benefits to report, despite trying to be aware of any changes or feelings.

Half an hour after I got off the phone with her, I got my period. For the first time in MONTHS. And it came as a total surprise because I haven't had any symptoms of PMS - no cramping, no sensitivity, no crazy fatigue.

So, uh... I'm thinking there might be something in this acupuncture thing, and I intend to incorporate it into my IVF regimen.