Mayo Day!

We feel like we need to record this day. We didn't have our camera so we'll use words...the day outside was bright, sunny and freezing cold (at least Zero degrees if not colder). Perfect for driving, sort of. The roads could have been icy, but thankfully they were not. We left around 10:30. We only had to go 86 miles, but we were nervous and wanted to be early. The day was surprisingly silent. In the morning, we sat on the couch sipping coffee not talking, just listening to the Today Show. In the car we were silent. Both lost in our own thoughts and nerves. If we really dwelled on it we would realized just how weighted down we were by anxiety. So much thought went into this day. And then it was here and we felt surreal. Everything about our lives is surreal! We should be used to it by now...but we never are. We finally put some Christmas music on in the car to have noise. We arrived in Rochester around 12:15pm. We followed directions to Mayo, drove by the hospital we needed to go to and basically for a few minutes were just in AWE over the place. We found the parking garage, parked, and started walking. It was sooooo cold outside. We needed food. We needed something to do to pass the time. We weren't supposed to be at the admissions desk until 2pm. We stopped for a sandwich at our favorite sandwich shop...Jimmy John's. We went next door to Caribou Coffee. We sat. We stared. We thought. We did not talk much. At 1:30 we walked across the street to the hospital. We sat some more. Joel read Sports Illustrated. I sat thinking, thinking, thinking. So many nerves. There was a calming waterfall to the left. At 1:50 we went upstairs to check in thinking we would then have to walk miles to get to the little corner of infertility. But nope! It was right upstairs at desk 3-A in the Charelton Hospital. We were early! We filled out paperwork, called mom to ask her questions they needed to know about my history, and then we sat. This time we whispered a little, but no reading. We examined a painting. The Mayo Clinic is very nice inside, it was a pleasant waiting room, it had an atmosphere that was nice and inviting and peaceful. Finally, 45 mintues later (because we were soooo early) they called us. First we saw the nurse. Then the amazing Doctor...she was so awesome. She thanked us for picking her to help us. She asked me to tell her my story in my own words. She was kind. She was welcoming. She listened, explained and gave us hope. She went through our previous records with us. Then she wrote down a list of treatment options, the order to do them in, and the percentage they increase our chances of a baby. She didn't want us to decide then, she wanted us to go home, think about it and call her. I wanted to decide right then. We didn't of course. She answered our questions and was told us what to expect next. It was overwhelming but good. Then we went downstairs to the lab because she wanted to know my thyroid levels so I had blood drawn...she is on a cutting edge research team regarding thyroid levels and infertility. Hopefully she can help stabilize this which in turn will help us. She was amazing and we felt really good as we left the office.
We didn't leave Mayo yet though...we had a coupon for a free gift at the education center! We had to go and get it, even though it was 2 buildings away! This time we walked inside! The whole place was just so nice. And the guy who gave us our free gift was excited we'd stopped to get it. Mayo could write the book on customer service. We've never seen better.
Now the decision making...which treatment to do first..we're thinking...praying...thinking...praying...