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.