Getting back to me...

Well, now that things have settled down and I am pretty much back to normal, I thought I'd share a bit more about me and my family.  : )  We live in sunny Southern California and are very thankful for the wonderful weather and outdoor activities we enjoy here pretty much year round.  I am married to my best friend, S, and we have two beautiful little princesses of our own, B & O, who are 6 1/2 and 5.  We love to go camping, usually to the beach in the summer and the desert in the winter- and then some parks and campgrounds here and there through out the year as well.  We also love to take the boat out to the lake on nice spring, summer, and, heck- even fall days (it is So. Cal. after all)!  Our girls are girly, for sure, and love to dress up and play with make up (I wonder where they get that?) but don't mind getting dirty and running around out side, too.  We have a lovable pit bull/great dane mix dog, C, who we adopted from a local shelter, and we are possibly looking for a brother or sister for him.  We also have chickens... 12 hens at the moment, that provide us with fresh eggs and the occasional entertainment watching them run around the front yard just being chickens.  The dog and the chickens have not met... nor will they ever... I don't think it would end well for the chickens.  ; )  Luckily we have plenty of room for the dog and chickens to have their own space.
Now I thought I'd share some pictures of my family!

 Here we are on a camping trip to the desert.

B, age 4 (she's now 6 1/2!)

O, age 2 (she's now 5!)

C, our 4-legged baby

Can't leave the girls out, here are some of our chickens.  : )

Crazy O & B (ages 5 and 6 1/2)

Me and S  <3

Thanks for stopping by!

Delivery Day

Long overdue, but I am finally here to tell you all about the day we welcomed my surro twins into the world!  So, first let's recap a bit.  

This was my second twin pregnancy (in a row) and these girls were measuring big.  I had been in the hospital once already for pre-term labor that they stopped with multiple doses of two different medications.  I was still having contractions on and off.  There was no way I was making it to 38 weeks this time.  Or so I thought.  ; )

I had my last NST and OB appointment on December 27th and I was 37 weeks.  I thought for sure the NST would show contractions that would send me to L&D.  Nope.  Borderline, but she said she was ok sending me on my way since I was going straight to my OB appointment.  Then, I thought, for sure they would check my cervix and I would be dilated more than last week and they would send me on over.  Nope.  Still 1cm and 90%-ish, no need to go anywhere.  What were all those contractions doing?  How could I not be dilated more than that?  Oh, that's right... neither baby is head down so there is nothing pressing up against my cervix, causing it to dilate with all of the contractions.  So I'm having them for no reason.  Fantastic.  lol!  : )  Really, I was glad to be heading towards 38 weeks.  The longer they bake, the better the chances of them being big and healthy with no NICU time.  Plus, wouldn't it be so much easier for everything to go as planned and on schedule?  ; )

New Year's day came and my IPs were in San Diego.  We thought of going to dinner, but I decided that I would eat a big lunch and light dinner in preparation for my c-section the next morning.  My IPs told me that they would be at the hospital at 5am with me to check in, even though they didn't need to be there until closer to 7am.  If I had to be there that early, they would too.  So, the next morning, January 2nd, we all met at the L&D check in desk so early it was still dark out.  We got the paperwork filled out and copies of insurance forms and legal paperwork all in our files.  Everyone had it straight that I was the surrogate, my husband was my husband, and the IPs were the babies' parents.  The staff at this hospital (where I've delivered all of the babies I've carried, my own included) is wonderful.  They are sweet, caring and very surrogate friendly, if I might add.  I got my hospital wrist band and was off to a room to get ready for surgery.  My husband and the Daddies were to wait in the lobby until they were called in by the nurses.  

After changing into a stylish hospital gown...ha!...and some poking and prodding, I had my blood drawn and an IV in place.  I had filled out the anesthesiologist's questionnaire and my husband and IPs were called in to join us and wait for the OR to be ready.  As we waited, my IPs started asking about the possibility of them being allowed in the OR.  I have to admit, I got a bit nervous.  I had warned them that since it was a c-section, my OB only allowed one support person in the operating room, and that would be my husband.  This was the way it had been done with my last surrogacy as well.  Since my PIPs were not in the OR, as soon as the babies were out and wrapped up warm and cozy, they were brought into the nursery where their daddies were anxiously awaiting them.  There they were cleaned up, weighed, measured and evaluated in front of their parents, so they wouldn't miss a thing.  But, now my IPs were asking and telling every nurse around that they wanted to be in the OR when their babies were born.  I was afraid they would be disappointed or upset if they weren't allowed in, so I was getting more and more nervous the more nurses they asked about it.  Finally the anesthesiologist came in to talk with me about the process and surgery, and while he was there the nurses asked him.  He said that he didn't think it was a good idea to allow any more than 1 person in the room, but that it was not only his decision, so he'd talk it over with my OB.  Then they took me into the OR to get ready for surgery to begin.  

Now I was out of the loop.  I wasn't there to know what decision was made or to hear the discussion going on, so I had no idea who would be joining us.  Luckily, the anesthesiologist came in shortly after and told me it was all settled.  After a few mix-ups with who wanted to come in and who would be allowed in, they finally had a plan.  I was given the spinal and laid on the table, ready to have some babies!

Anyone who has had a c-section knows that they wait until the very last second to allow your husband (or support person) in the room.  I remembered from last time that I was laying there wondering if they had forgotten to bring him in.  They are pretty much already cutting you open by the time he's by your side.  Well, it was the same this time, but I was prepared, so I just waited.  Soon enough they were starting surgery and there he was, by my side.  Well, actually by my head.  ; )  Along with him was one of my IPs, J.  They had agreed to allow one more person in the OR, so J & T were going to take turns.  J would be in for the first part of delivery and they would switch and allow T in for the end and to see the babies.  It ended up working out perfectly.  Since they were there for delivery and in the room, the babies were cleaned up and weighed, etc. there in the OR.  It was wonderful, because I was able to see them meet their babies for the first time, hear the weights as they heard them and witness it all.  That was pretty exciting.  J was able to cut baby A's cord (well, not when she was delivered, but he "trimmed" it up once she was with a nurse in the warmer) and T did the same with baby B.  As I was being put back together...lol...I heard the nurses announcing the weights.  "baby A, 6 pounds, 4 ounces"  Ok, not bad, I thought.  Pretty good size for a twin.  Then I heard "8 pounds..." and didn't hear the rest.  "Did they just say 8 pounds?!"  I asked my husband.  He confirmed that the nurse had, in fact, said 8 pounds 6 ounces.  Baby B was one healthy girl!  They were bundled in their little hospital blankets and had hats placed on their heads, then T and one of the nurses brought them over so I could get a better look.  Next, J, T and their new baby girls were off to their room to get settled in, and I was all sewed up and off to recovery to wait until I could feel my legs again.  : )

Later that day I was able to visit with my own girls and my mom (who my girls were staying with), and they were able to meet the babies and their Daddies.  I was also able to meet some of my IPs friends, who came down to meet their new baby girls as well.  One of the visitors was the egg donor for the babies, who happens to be a good friend of my IPs.  It was great being able to spend time with them while they were in the hospital.  Their stay was a short one, and the day after delivery the babies were released.  They didn't leave until the afternoon, so we did get some more time in with them and I was able to feed and hold the babies while they packed up to drive home.  While I am thrilled that the babies were healthy and didn't have to stay in the hospital at all, I do wish they had been around a bit longer for some visiting time once I was able to be up and around a bit more.  The time we did have was wonderful, though!  I'm so happy to have been a part of making J & T daddies.  Just like my first surrogacy journey, this part is the best... seeing the people you've gotten to know over the last year (or more) become parents and have this dream come true, and you were a part of it.  It is truly amazing.    

So, as for me and my hospital stay...in recovery (right after surgery) my blood pressure had gone up very high, very quickly and I was put on magnesium to prevent a seizure or stroke.  My OB explained that it was pre-eclampsia, which is more common before delivery, but can sometimes happen after.  Because they are not able to cure it by delivering the baby/ies like they do when it happens during pregnancy, we just had to monitor it and manage it with medication... then wait it out and hopefully it wouldn't last long.  I ended up being on the magnesium a little over 24 hours and having very high blood pressure even when given medication, so my hospital stay was extended to 6 days.  I was sent home on BP medication and, unfortunately, now at 7 weeks, I am still not off of it.  I am weaned down quite a bit, though, and hope that next week I'll be off of the medication completely.  : )

I am so thankful that you have all been here to follow and share in the experience of my second surrogacy journey!  It is so wonderful to not only be a part of this, but to also be able to share and, in turn, hear about other's experiences in surrogacy, IPs and surrogates alike.

Now for the fun part!  PICTURES!  Here are the beautiful girls, Sophia Catherine and Emily Anne at 8 days old... 

They are here!

Of course they are...and this post is way over due!  I am so sorry!  It's been a bit of a bumpy road to recovery, nothing too bumpy luckily... but I am pretty much recovered and ready to get back to myself. And back to you in lovely blog-land.  This will just be a quick update- and I will get back here to post a full birth story soon, with all of the details.  For now...
My surro twins were born, as scheduled, January 2nd (at 38 weeks) and their stats are:
Baby A, Sophia Catherine, weighed in at 6lbs 4oz and measured 19"
Baby B, Emily Anne, weighed in at 8lbs 6oz (you read that right...8lbs!) and measured 20"

They are healthy and happy girls, home with their so-in-love-with-them Daddies!

Sophia (left) and Emily (right)

 A few hours after they were born, the first time I got to snuggle them!

We made it!

I am excited and relieved to say that we made it past my "black out dates"!  I did not spend Christmas Eve or Day in the hospital and that makes me very happy.  I did spend those days incredibly uncomfortable and swollen... but I'll take that over a hospital room any day.  I was able to get up with my husband and our girls on Christmas morning and see their faces when they looked to see if Santa had come, and that was what I was afraid to miss.  So... now these babies can feel free to come any time.  Did you hear me babies...ANY time now would be great.  I am HUGE!  ; )  We've made it past 37 weeks now, which is wonderful for twins, and I am just waiting for something to tell me it's time for them to make their grand entrance.  But, if nothing does happen, I will be checking in at the hospital Wednesday morning for a scheduled c-section (bright and early, might I add...5:30am!).  4 more days to go!
My NSTs have shown contractions, but not regular enough to be "active labor" and at my OB appt yesterday there had been no change to my cervix since my hospital visit a couple weeks ago.  Still 1.5cm and 50-75% effaced.  So, there's nothing saying I will go into labor before our scheduled date, but we all know that it doesn't necessarily mean it won't happen.  I've seen people be 1cm at an appt, and that night go into labor and check in at the hospital at a 5.  You just never know with babies!  They will come when they will come...or when we decide it's time.  On Wednesday.  ; )
I hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year's Eve and New Year's Day!  It looks like J&T will be daddies in 2013 after all!

Let the countdown begin!

We officially have a date!  Not that it necessarily means anything, because as we all know, babies make their own schedule... but, if all goes according to plan, these babies will make their grand entrance on January 2nd, 2013!  With the (estimated) size of these babies and the contractions I have every day, there are many people betting that I won't get to that date, but you just never know.  I went in to my scheduled c-section at 38 weeks on the dot with my last surro-twins, so it is possible... though every pregnancy is different.  At my OB appointment today, she measured my belly (fundal height, like we talked about in the last post) and said, "yep, they are still growing!" they don't seem to be slowing down any time soon in that arena.  ; )  I'd love to just blackout any dates between December 20th and 26th, and then let the babies come whenever else they'd like- but since there's no blackout option, I'll just have to take my chances.  I'll start twice-weekly NSTs (Non-Stress Tests) this week.  These are where they monitor the babies' heart rates and any contractions I have for about 45 mins to an hour, as well as a quick ultrasound to make sure the amniotic fluid levels around each baby are good.  It's a good thing these didn't start sooner, since we're up to 3 appointments a week now!  My schedule is filling up.  : )  Plus, add in the fact that it is the Holiday Season, and everything gets that much busier.  I hope you are all having a great beginning to your Holiday Season!
Any guesses on when the babies will come and how big they will be?  Let's hear 'em!    

33 weeks and wow!

Are these babies growing!  I had a super quick check up with the nurse practitioner today and when she measured my fundal height she said she was surprised and that these girls had grown quite a bit.  The fundal height measurement is when they measure from the top of your pubic bone to the top of your uterus (as felt by pushing slightly on your belly).  With a singleton pregnancy, the measurement is usually close to the number of weeks you are in gestation.  With a twin pregnancy, however, there is no "right" number- they only use fundal height to track a steady growth pattern- no matter what the number.  So, back to my visit, this number had apparently gotten quite a bit higher since my last visit.  We heard the babies' heart beats (130s and 140s) and did another FFN test due to the contractions I'm still having (it came back negative again).  Our visit was cut a bit short because the ultrasound technician was ready for me, so I moved along to her room to have a look at these girls.
It appears that the fluid levels have evened out a bit and neither baby has a lot more than the other.  They are also pretty similar in size now, instead of the 20% gap in size we recorded about 5 weeks ago.  We couldn't get a view of either baby's face, as they were both being incredibly camera shy, but the ultrasound tech was able to tell me she could see lots of hair on both babies!  I've never heard of seeing the hair in a ultrasound, so that was a surprise to me.  Once the tech had everything she needed, she told me the size and gestation estimates, based on all of her measurements.  Both babies are measuring 35+ weeks and about 6lbs each!  I think it's safe to say that these girls can slow down a bit in the growth department if they plan on staying in there until 38 weeks.  I don't know about carrying 2, 8lb babies!  I know it's only an estimate, but still... they are looking very good in size.
I, on the other hand, am looking pretty big in size.  I no longer walk, I officially waddle, and it's hard to put on my shoes.  Luckily, I live in southern California and can wear flip flops every day, even in December.  ; )  I'm still being told to take it easy, stay off of my feet, and lay down as much as possible, although with the holiday season here that is increasingly difficult.  I did finish all of my Christmas shopping early, though, so there will be no more big shopping trips for me.  Now to figure out how to wrap it all when I can't sit on the floor or reach very far in front of my belly.  lol

31 weeks and counting...

Here we are, 31 weeks and moving right along.  I will be having OB appointments once a week and my next ultrasound will be in 2 weeks.  My appointment this week went well, the babies' heart rates were great, as always, in the 130s and 150s.  I have been having more and more braxton hicks contractions (kind of like "practice" contractions) and they tend to come a little more often than they should when I am up and around.  So, I've been told to take it easy, stay off my feet as much as possible, and lay down a few times during the day for an hour or so.  I am still allowed to work for now, since I sit most of the time at work, as long as I also try to lay down a bit in the middle of my work day.  This didn't happen with my last twin pregnancy, so it does make me a bit nervous, but my cervix has still been measuring great at the ultrasounds, and as long as that keeps up- we're doing good!  My OB did do a fetal fibronectin test during my appointment to check for an increased risk of pre-term labor,  but the test came back negative, so no extra worry there.  The fetal fibronectin test is a swab of the cervical canal.  If it comes back positive for the presence of fetal fibronectin, you are at risk of going into labor within 1-3 weeks.  We didn't go into the actual odds of this happening, since my test was negative and we are not at this increased risk.  At my next ultrasound, in two weeks, they'll measure my cervical length (like always) and we'll know more then as well.  Every little bit of information helps to tell us how my body is holding up to this second twin pregnancy.  So far everything is looking pretty good!  I'll get a new picture up soon so you can all see the huge belly!  If I'm not back here before then, I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I doubt I'll be blogging much with the kiddos off of school for the whole week.  ; )  Enjoy!    

Just chugging along

Here we are, 28 weeks tomorrow!  Some days it feels like there is still so much time before these babies will be here and some days it seems like it is so soon!  When I think about it in terms of the holidays quickly approaching, it seems a bit closer.  The holiday season is my favorite time of year and it always seems to fly by too fast.  This year I have such mixed feelings because I want to enjoy the holidays and try to enjoy each day so it doesn't slip by, but at the same time I am so excited that we're nearing time for these girls to meet their Daddies that I sometimes feel like I want the time to fly!
The girls are doing great, moving around ALL the time and growing so much that my belly seems stretched to it's max (although I know that can't be true, because they still have plenty of growing to do!).  We still see my OB every 2 weeks and have had an u/s about every 4 weeks.  The last u/s was done at the perinatal center in our hospital instead of at my OB's office because my OB had seen a few measurements she wanted a more accurate view of from the u/s before.  When I spoke to the perinatologist after that u/s, he said that things looked fine with the measurements she had mentioned (and all the other measurements as well) and that the only one he agreed was a bit out of range was baby A's amniotic fluid, which is at a high-normal level.  Still not really anything to be concerned with, just something to watch, since it's not much out of normal range.  Baby B is the bigger baby by about 19% and seems squished up top, since smaller baby A also has the extra fluid, giving her more room to spread out.  We'll see how long she stays squished, though- these girls seem to drastically change position at every u/s, so we never know how they're positioned when we try to find the heart beats at the non-ultrasound appointments.  ; )  They're all over the place!
The Daddies to be are getting things prepared for the babies' arrival and we all recently signed the court documents for the pre-birth order so that the Daddies will be listed on the birth certificate right from the start.  It's always nice to know when that process is complete so that we know the hospital will have the paperwork they need to allow everything to go as planned with the Daddies being the parents and all legal processes taken care of.  Once we get work that all of those papers are filed and complete all we have left is to worry about the Daddies making it here for the delivery!  My last surrogacy went just as planned, my IPs flew in the night before my scheduled c-section (because both babies were breech) at 38 weeks on the dot.  This time will hopefully go as smoothly, but with babies you just never know!

Update!

 I know it's been a while, but I'll make it up to you with some pictures!  I even have a couple u/s pics of the babies this time, yay!  First off, here I am in my lovely, "I took this picture myself, so it's a bit blurry" pic.  25 weeks today with these girlies!

At my OB appointment this week we also had a quick u/s.  They'll do them from now on every 2-4 weeks, depending what they want/need measured.  This week at the appointment I was 24w5d and babies measured 25w3d (a) and 25w6d (b)!  They are estimated to weigh about 1lb 13oz (a) and 1lb 15oz (b)...they are clearly over achievers in the growth area, just like my last surro-babes (who were 6lbs 13oz and 7lbs 10oz at birth)!  I'm glad that they are nice and healthy, but I'm hoping we don't go too far in the over achieving here... there are two of you in there!  lol

Here are a few u/s shots we got, not the best, but it was a pretty quick u/s, so I was happy to get any!

(This first one isn't labeled, but it's Twin A)

  

The "big" ultrasound

People usually refer to the 20 week ultrasound/growth scan as "the big u/s".  I think a lot of that is because you usually find out the gender of the baby/ies at this u/s, unless you have had one done at a private u/s studio.  Also, with most singleton pregnancies (without complications) this is the time you see the most of the baby before it is born and may be the last u/s you have before giving birth.  However, we knew the genders of the babies going in (and the u/s confirmed, 2 girls) and with a twin pregnancy there are a lot more ultrasounds to come.  This may still be the longest one, but we'll see a lot more of these girls before they make their grand entrance into the world.  Still, this u/s was special- J&T were able to come down to attend the u/s and it was the first time we had seen the babies since our last u/s at 12 weeks, so they had grown a LOT!  I don't have any pics to share, unfortunately, since J&T snatched them all up to take home (of course!), but I'm hoping they will scan a few and send them to me so that I can share them with you.  Everything looked great with the girls- but we weren't able to get the right shots of baby B's face/lips/pallet because she was being camera shy.  We'll try again next time on that.  They like to have those shots to make sure there is not a cleft lip or pallet.  Heart rates were both in the 130s/140s through out the u/s and the babies measured as follows:  baby A measured 21w1d, 14oz and baby B measured 21w4d and 1lb.  Today we were 20w5d.  My cervix "of steel" is measuring above average for carrying a singleton (in the words of the u/s tech), so things are looking great.  They want to make sure there is no cervical shortening too early, because that is what's holding everything in there nice and cozy.  ; )  From this point on I'll have OB appts every 2 weeks and an occasional u/s (I'm not sure yet how often those will be).  They're thinking I may be a bit anemic & getting dehydrated here and there, so I'm upping my iron supplement and adding more water (or trying to, at least) to my daily routine.  Let me tell you, it's harder than you'd think to drink so much water every day!

Hopefully I'll get some u/s pics to share soon, and I'll try to keep up with some growing belly shots here and there, too!  

A belly pic!

Here I am, 20 weeks 1 day.  Not the best pic, but it is 11:30pm and I am ready for bed.  I thought of taking the pic last minute, so I figured I better do it before I forget again!  Not much to update on the babies, I haven't had another appointment since my last post.  We have the 20 week ultrasound and an OB appt on Tuesday, so hopefully I'll have more to share then (and maybe some u/s pics if I'm able to get a copy or two from the Dads).  Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

  

Two little turnips

According to BabyCenter, these two little ladies are now each about the size of a turnip.  I don't know that I've ever really seen a turnip, but ok!  We are 17 weeks 3 days today, and chugging along.  The "big" ultrasound at 20 weeks will be just after Labor Day and J&T will be here, which is exciting!  It will be the first time they see me and their babies since we were 12 weeks, at our last fertility clinic appointment (and only T was there, so it's been even longer for J).  Surprise, surprise- my belly has sure popped out since then!  I'm sure at 20 weeks it will be even bigger.  We've also talked about doing a 3d/4d u/s so they can have a DVD to share with friends & family.  I've never done one of those at a private u/s place before, so it will be a new experience!  Things are going well, at my OB appointment this week both babies had heart rates of 155ish.  They were so similar that my OB took a quick peek with the u/s to make sure we got both heart beats separately and weren't just finding the same one twice.  The babies are really close together, but usually with the doppler, we can tell them apart because the HR varies.  This time it was just after lunch, and they were both pretty active, so HRs were about the same.  I love it at this point when I can feel some flutters here and there, but then on the doppler you can hear them moving around with those swoosh sounds while listening to the hearts beating away.  Based on the flutters, I'd guess that I'll be feeling little kicks and movements within a couple weeks or so.  I wish my IFs would be able to feel them from the outside when they're here for the u/s, but 20 weeks is just too early for much to be going on from the outside.  At least they'll be able to see the girls on the u/s and see what a typical OB appt is like (super quick, lol!), since I have both scheduled back to back the day they're here.
I do need to get a belly pic posted one of these days, but I just keep forgetting!  I will remember soon... or at least I keep telling myself that.  ; )  One or two more appointments until I start going to the OB more often, like every 2 weeks, so I'll have updates (and maybe even belly pics) for you more often too!

It's been too long!

I am so sorry!  Time got away from me these last couple weeks and I completely forgot to update all of you.  So, here goes.
The last week of June was my oldest daughter's 6th birthday.  6!?  Where does all that time go?  She'll be starting 1st grade in the fall, which still boggles my mind...do I really have an elementary schooler, yep, I do!  For her birthday she opted to go somewhere super fun instead of having the normal party we do every year.  We took her to a nearby water park with lots of fun wave pools, water slides, lazy rivers, etc.  We all had a great day playing in the water.  We also went to dinner at Corvette Diner, a fun restaurant where they totally entertain the kids (and adults, too) by dancing and singing in between taking orders and bringing out your food.  There's also a video game arcade where the kids had fun, but we had to drag my husband out when it was time to leave... I'm not sure who enjoys it more.  ; )
Enough on me and my family, though- you want to hear about these babies!  I had an appt at TFI on July 5th and everything looked great, as usual.  Both babies measured on track, heart rates looked great, and I was told as long as my bloodwork came back fine I was officially released from their care!  Yay!  They gave T a dvd of all the ultrasounds since that very first confirmation of pregnancy, so they have that to share with friends & family for now.  The bloodwork results came in later that day, so TFI called and told me everything was perfect and I was to stop all meds (woo hoo!) and do a follow up blood draw (near me, not at their office) a few days later to make sure nothing dropped too low once the meds were out of my system.  The follow up also came back great, so we are all done with those long drives for short appointments.  I am so relieved to finally be off the meds and done planning my weeks around trips to TFI.  Whew!  Also, getting off the meds and transitioning into the second trimester has made the morning/all day sickness pretty bearable!  It's getting better and better as time goes by, so I think that soon I'll be back to my normal self.  : )  Although, this already protruding belly will be growing sooner than later, so I may not be completely normal, but I have a while before I'll be really huge and unable to do things, like tie my own shoes.  lol
Once released from TFI, I already had an appt scheduled with my OB for July 11th.  That appointment went great, we listened to the heart rates- both in the 150s, not much weight gain yet (good!), and my initial blood work was all normal.  Since TFI had sent my records, including the pics and measurements from my last few ultrasounds, my OB won't need to do another u/s until the 20 week growth scan, which is the longest u/s of the pregnancy. During this u/s, they measure everything on both babies, look at all of the organs, and pretty much do an overall well being check.  It can last about 1 hour per baby.  My last twin pregnancy, I had an u/s every few visits after that 20 week one, so we'll see if the schedule is still similar this time around.  I'll be 14 weeks tomorrow (according to BabyCenter, this means the babies are each about the size of a lemon), so we still have a while to go 'til that one.  My next OB appointment will be just before I hit 17 weeks, and I might start taking some belly pics around then as well, so I'll be sure to update!

There is an end in sight...

Well, an end to all of these 6 hour round trip drives to the fertility clinic anyway!  I went once a week for 4 weeks to watch the SCH, and at the 9 week appointment it was finally gone.  So, now I go up for my last (fingers crossed, because I will scream if they say differently) appointment in just under 2 weeks.  I will be 12 weeks and ready to stop taking all of these wonderful medications (did you get the sarcasm there?) and also very ready to graduate to my OB's care.  I've already started seeing her (my OB), but it will be wonderful when I only have to go to her appointments...15 minutes away from my house.  I'm really trying to stay upbeat, but lately I'll admit I've been a little more frustrated with the fertility clinic.  I plead with them to let me be monitored closer to home because of the nausea I've been experiencing, but they just won't allow it.  But, it's too late for that now anyway- only one more appointment and this chapter of my journey will be closed.  On the upside, the babies are looking great, always measuring on track or a few days ahead, heartbeats fluttering away in there.  At the last u/s (9 weeks) they resembled gummy bears, with their little arm and leg buds sprouting out.  We even watched them wiggle around a bit.  At least one of my IFs has been at each u/s at TFI, so it was nice that they were getting to be there and see it all.  They most likely won't be attending many appointments at my OB, because it is just too far to drive for a day trip.  I've assured them that they will get plenty of pictures from each u/s I have, though- so they won't miss out on seeing these babies grow.
For now, I'm going to enjoy my few weeks off from driving to the clinic and celebrate my oldest daughter's Kindergarten graduation (today) and her 6th birthday (next week)!  Fun times ahead, it's summer!  I see lots of pool time in our future.  ; )

Our first ultrasound...

So, I had mentioned that we had an u/s scheduled, and as most of you agreed, it was pretty early.  5w6d, to be exact, and I wasn't quite sure what we'd be able to see at that point.  When we got there, the doctor explained that there would be 3 things we could see that would be fine... one would be a sac, with nothing visible inside; two would be a sac with a fetal pole inside; and three was a sac with a flutter of cardiac activity starting to show (a very new heartbeat).  So, we were prepared.  And then we saw...

Some of you pros may know what you see in the above u/s pic, but some may be waiting to know what we are looking at... well, you are looking at TWINS!  That's right- those two darks areas with those little circles inside, that means two babies.  And at our early u/s, 5w6d, we saw both heart beats fluttering inside each sac.  Now, what you can't see in this pic is that I also have a small pocket of fluid/blood in my uterus (an SCH) which is not fabulous, but also not horrible.  It's relatively common, and usually the blood just reabsorbs and the SCH is gone.  We will watch it to make sure it gets smaller and fades away over the next weeks.  These things don't usually pose a threat to the pregnancy, but in rare cases they can, which is why they will watch it.  So, all in all, we are doing good!  The doctor first said, "well, I see at least two right now and maybe another..." and I just about had a panic attack for a moment.  I may have held my breath until he said there were just the two.  Whew!  I've done twins before, but 3 is a ball game I'm not sure I'm up for!  But, I am happy to be the temporary home for these two girls for the next 9 months or so.  Ah, yes, did you remember that we know the sex of these babes already, since they were PGD tested?  So, it is my second set of surro-twin girls!  Apparently my uterus has a "no boys allowed" policy.    ; )  We go back next week for another u/s, so I will update you all sometime after that!  Have a great holiday weekend!

The results are in...

I went in yesterday and had my bloodwork done.  Just the normal, routine stuff- checking all my hormone levels to make sure my meds are at the right dosages, etc.  Oh, and then one additional test, the beta HCG... that tells us if I'm pregnant or not!  So, the clinic called and let us know that we are, in fact, pregnant!  My beta # was 1365, and it was taken 14 days after the transfer.  I think it's a pretty strong number, but it's in the middle enough that there's no clue towards twins or a singleton.  Sometimes numbers are high and you think it must be twins...although it could still be wrong.  You never know until the u/s, but this number really just leaves us guessing with no real inclination either way.  We have a first, and very early, u/s next Wednesday- when I'll be be 5 weeks 6 days along, a little on the early side for a heartbeat, but it's possible we'll get to see one (or two).  Then the clinic will update me on what comes next (another u/s maybe?).

I know you've all been anxiously waiting...

It looks like I am knocked up!  We had our transfer on 5/1, and my official beta hcg blood test isn't until 5/15 (yes, they are cruel and make us wait 2...full...weeks!), but I have cheated and taken hpt after hpt.  Yep, they all look like the one above!  J&T are happy, but I think they are also waiting to hear it from the doctor directly after the blood test.  Well, really I think they are just waiting for the u/s to know if there is one baby in there or two... I'm anxiously awaiting that news for sure.  I'm thrilled that our first transfer seems to have stuck because, to be honest, I was a little nervous when I found out there were no embryos left to freeze.  It was kind of that "all your eggs in one basket" thing, only they had all their eggs in my basket.  No pressure, right?  ; )

Transfer Day!

Tuesday, May 1st was the day we had been waiting for...transfer day!  Dh and I drove the 3 hours to the hotel, right down the street from TFI, on Monday.  We got checked in and brought our things to our room, then met up with J&T.  We were all so excited that this was finally happening!  We spent the late afternoon walking around a nearby mall, then went to dinner, and finally returned to the hotel for some rest.  The next morning we all drove together to TFI and anxiously waited to be called in to the procedure room.  When they finally called my name, they had us all come back- we dropped J&T off in a conference area to discuss the embryos testing results and the doctor's recommendations for transfer; and DH and I proceeded to the room to get ready for transfer.  What seemed like an hour went by (it was probably 10 minutes) and J&T came in the room.  There were only 2 embryos left after testing... and they were 2 girls.  So, that was that, the 2 girls were going in.  They both looked fantastic, according to the doctor, so we were still doing good.  It was a little humorous to me, since I had carried twin girls my last surrogacy journey- and I was expecting to carry a boy at some point (since I also have 2 daughters, myself) but, what can I say- I am a baby girl machine.  ; )  The transfer went as planned, and I was wheeled out of the procedure room and down to the car.  Oh, with one quick pit stop to open a gift from my IPs in the lobby...a deep pink MK handbag.  How sweet are they?!  I absolutely love it.  They said it must have been meant to be that they chose the pink bag, and we ended up with only female embryos!  We all went back to the hotel and talked for a while, then J&T had to head home.  J&T had gotten our hotel room for the night after transfer as well, so DH and I were able to relax, get some take out and stay there until the next morning- which was recommended after transfer.  Taking it easy and letting those embryos settle in is my job for the next 2 days or so, then still no heavy lifting or too much activity until at least after the pregnancy test in 2 weeks. Now that the transfer has come and gone we are on to our next stage of the waiting game!  The dreaded 2 week wait to find out if we are pregnant or not.  We'll see how long I make it before I start taking home tests...

We'll call you tomorrow...

So, here's how things have gone since I last posted:  I had another appointment at TFI on Monday, 4/23.  Everything still looked great, and (when asked) they told me they were still looking at a mid-week ER for a transfer next week.  Then, like every appointment, they said they'd call me in the afternoon after my blood work was back, to give me further medication instructions.  They called and gave me med doses for Monday night and Tuesday morning, then said the donor would be seen on Tuesday, so they'd call me again with more instructions.  They called Tuesday afternoon and said they were still not sure if ER would be on Thursday or Friday (Wednesday was now out), so they gave me med doses for Tuesday night and Wednesday morning and said they'd call me tomorrow.  Ugh.  Really people?  Now, mind you, these meds doses are not changing...every time they tell me to take the same things morning and night.  Then, finally, the phone call we've been waiting for!  Wednesday they call and tell me that they are going ahead with ER on Thursday, so the transfer will be Tuesday morning!!!  I don't have to go back for any appointments before then, which is wonderful, so next time I make the drive up there it will be to make a baby (or two)!  They gave me all of my med instructions for now through Tuesday morning before transfer, which is a record for the most med instructions they've given me at one time, lol, but it's wonderful.  I'm now taking estrogen & progesterone, which will continue on for some time if we have a positive pregnancy test; and also adding in an antibiotic and steroid, just for the next 7 days.  Right now I take 8 pills and one injection a day.  But, it's all worth it to know that I am making the very best little home I can for the embryos to snuggle in and get cozy for the next 9 months.
So now I need all of you for some positive thoughts!  Let's cross our fingers that the egg retrieval goes wonderfully tomorrow morning, and that we get lots of little eggies that will fertilize and go on to make beautiful little embryos, so that the doctors have lots of excellent looking options when it comes time to decide who's going in.  ; )  Wish us luck!

Counting down...

Well, the transfer should be approaching!  I say "should" be because the clinic does not allow me to plan ahead at all!  They will not confirm with me that we are hoping for a 4/25 egg retrieval, all they say is that they have to see how the egg donor is doing and they'll know more as we get closer.  I get that!  I know that it's not set in stone and that you have to retrieve those eggs when they are ready, so things can change...I'm just looking for an idea here.  Since they told T the 25th/30th, I'm sticking with that for now.  I had my appointment on the 11th, which was a baseline u/s to see where we're starting at and bloodwork to set up my medications.  Ok, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt, thinking "they'll tell me more once these results are in".  Well, no such luck.  They literally tell me what meds to take for 3-4 days at a time and then call me with more instructions.  Everything looked good at the appt on the 11th, so when they called that evening they gave me instructions through the 16th.  Then they called on the 16th to give me further instructions and to make me an appt for the 18th (yep, 2 days notice for this one).  The appt on Wednesday (the 18th) went well and was actually a little more relaxed than others have been.  I don't know if everyone was just in a great mood that day or what, but it was nice!  We all chatted a bit, then did the u/s.  During these ultrasounds, they measure the lining of the surrogate's uterus.  At baseline you have recently had a period and shed the lining, so it is thin.  This u/s, a week later, showed that my lining is already perfect for transferring!  The doctor and nurse both said "wow" when they measured, then the doctor told me I have a "stellar lining"...fabulous!  I am proud of my uterus, even though I had no control over what it's doing- I just take my meds when I'm supposed to take them and let my body do what it's apparently very good at doing.  ; )  They again told me that they would call me when my blood work was back, then we'd go over my meds for the coming days and my next appt, which after some probing, they said I could expect to be for Friday (the 20th).  Well, that afternoon when I got the call, they gave me my med instructions through Friday, then said that they will call me once they've seen the egg donor that day with further instructions- no need to come in.  Yay!  It's nice to know I won't have to make that drive twice this week.  So, I'll hear from them on Friday and I'm still hoping one of these times they'll actually give me a heads up on when we're expected to transfer.  Since this appt with the egg donor is closer to egg retrieval time, maybe it will give them a better idea of a timeline so they'll be willing to share it with me.