Sunday, December 21, 2008
Hanging in there
Monday, December 8, 2008
Hospital Tour
Second is whether or not I would breastfeed. It looks like it would only be for the time I was in the hospital so I don't even know if it would be worth it. We'll see what happens a little down the line and just go from there.
Afterwards B took us to dinner and it was great! We got to see pics from his "world tour" vacation - pretty spectacular.
10 more weeks and life is going to change - for everyone involved. I am looking forward to it but at the same time, it will be somewhat sad to be done.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Nearing 30...
Pilates is going good. I am so glad I am able to do that. B is flying out on Monday so we can tour the hospital. I'm really starting to get nervous about the labor. If only it could be easy this time (yeah right). It's so crazy to think that this is coming so near to the end (I hope I haven't said that already). I just can't believe there are only 10 weeks left to go (or knowing me - 11 weeks).
B got us a hotel room (a suite) in downtown Denver this weekend. My mom watched the kids so my husband and I had a nice time to ourselves. We got nearly all of our Christmas shopping done. It was a lot of fun. Thanks again! They wanted to be able to come out here and have dinner with us but times are busy. Soon enough, soon enough.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
A couple of weeks ago, some surros from SMO got together at a local restaurant and it was wonderful to meet them and have some great discussions. A few had given birth recently. Thanks girls, I hope we can make it happen again!
My wonderful IF's arranged for my husband and I to stay in a suite downtown at the Hotel Monoco while my parents watch the kids this Saturday night. I am looking forward to it as we never have a night away from the kids. We may try to go see a movie or something fun.
Tonight I start prenatal pilates at the hospital. I need to start getting some more exercise as I have already put on 26 whopping pounds (crap!) Hopefully it will help with the birth and recovery.
So Christmas is right around the corner and once that passes, this baby will be here before I know it. I can't believe that this journey is on it's last leg. I can't wait to meet little Trevor and let his parents begin a new beautiful phase of their life. I can't imagine life without my kids and am so happy to be able to provide a little of what I feel for somebody else!!
Lastly, I recently had a 4D U/S and it was great. We got some great shots - here are my favorites...
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Time is Creeping By
I can't believe February is still 3 months away. I know it won't get any easier, but I hope it doesn't get too much harder. It probably doesn't help that I've already gained 21 lbs. I need to get my but moving... I will try to post pics when I get them - if I can figure it out.
Friday, October 24, 2008
24 Weeks!
On a lighter note, there is a SMO get together planned for Nov. 16 so I am really looking forward to that. I think it will be great to meet some other surrogates that live in Colorado!
Until next week...
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Halfway - At last
Things with the surrogacy have quieted quite a bit. Last Thursday I had my 20 week U/S and the Dr. said everything looks great. I hope that my IF's are at ease knowing this after everything we have gone through. The baby is moving like crazy which is good. I've already gained 14 lbs. which I hope will slow down a bit over the next few months. I figure I'm halfway there and gained half of what I need to gain sooooo...hopefully I'm right on track (I'm pretty sure this is how it was with my daughter as well). My IF's are thinking they want me to meet with a new Dr. just to see how he is and still keep our options open. I'm okay with it, I am nervous about how far away it is though. With my daughter I was only in labor from first contraction to delivery for 2 hours and 44 minutes and had I stayed home any longer I probably would have had her at home. Thank God that the hopspital was only 5 minutes away. This new hospital is about 30-40 minutes away depending on traffic. I really don't want to be induced unless medically necessary.
I know my IF's want to do a 3D or 4D U/S so we may be doing that soon. They are also planning a trip out to take my husband and I downtown to stay in a hotel and have dinner. That will be really nice - a night away from the kids. It's been a long time.
This has been a super busy month so far and I don't see it lettin up in the near future. If anything happens I will post.
Lastly, here's a pic of my 20 week belly.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Sweet sweet love
Meet the newest member of our family... Gobo is his name and he's 8 weeks old.
Is this the cutest picture or what?
BTW, I am still waiting to hear about what is going to happen due to the high AFP results. I'm not positive but I think the most that will happen will be a high-resolution U/S (knock on wood) vs. the dreaded amnio. I am just waiting patiently in the sidelines...
Thursday, September 4, 2008
What next?
I know I shouldn't have any expectations of what this pregnancy should be but this isn't turning out to be like imagined for sure and it really makes me question if I would ever have what it takes to do this again in the future (not that I'm even thinking about that right now). I guess it is just so weird how different every pregnancy can be - some better than others. I suppose I should never expect this pregnancy to be "normal" because it isn't. With everything that has happened so far I just hope we aren't in for even more surprises like early labor or whatever else can go wrong.
P.S. Sorry I keep chaning the look of this blog but I needed something softer. Also, as I've been sitting here typing - I think I've been feeling the baby moving around. Of course, I still can't be positive.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Baby update
I had my OB appt. today and they did yet another U/S. She said that there was an enlarged area in the peritoneal cavity - like maybe an enlarged kidney or something. When the Dr. came in, he didn't seem too concerned about it though so I'm not really worried. He told me to schedule my next appt. for one month and at that time we would do the measuring U/S and see if anything looks abnormal then.
The Dr.s office that I use has only the Dr. and a PA. The PA decided to quit and move on so now they will have to hire somebody new. That kind of sucks to have to get used to someone new now. Today was the first time I even saw the Dr. (I know who he is because he was the Dr. on call when I went into labor with my daughter so he delivered her.)
I hope everything ends up okay and I'm sure it will. I do know that it is for sure a boy! That will make B & B happy. I won't have any news to update until after October starts because I scheduled the appt. for after my vacation. I will try to post something in the meantime but hopefully nothing happens before then.
Friday, August 15, 2008
2nd OB visit
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Moving on (Sad post)
I am glad that it is past me now and we can move on and focus on the good things. I know this will be with me for a long time but I will heal with that time. I don't have any hard feelings in the end. Having gone through this once, I choose never to do it again - that's just the way it has to be. It's too hard. Physically I feel good today and I now know that I am carrying a really healthy baby (measuring 14 weeks yesterday) (boy-we're pretty sure) and I will just celebrate the good that is left to come. I have another OB appt. on Thursday in which they will do another U/S to check how everything is going. This week I have to hire a babysitter to come over to take care of my kids. I can't lift more than 10 lbs. or stand for more than 30 min. at a time. I meet with her tomorrow. It will be weird because I won't know what to do with myself.
I want to post a pic. of my belly while I was still carrying triplets because I don't think it will ever happen again.
Monday, August 4, 2008
The Big Week
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
New Ticker
And by the way, I will change the ticker when it is appropriate.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
I can't sleep
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Raging hormones
Thursday, July 17, 2008
10-week (and final) U/S
My morning sickness is like a roller coaster. Yesterday it was horrible (although I've only actually thrown up once thus far). Today it is not bad (I say that now). Fortunately I get to stop my meds tomorrow. That makes me so happy. I will post when I find out what is going on because I don't even know. Til then... here is a pic of the U/S today.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Oh so sad news
Thursday, July 3, 2008
8 week U/S update
Monday, June 23, 2008
The Big (and I mean BIG) results
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The Countdown is on!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Early Signs
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Everything is Good
On a lighter note, my backside still itches like crazy and I do have to do a shot tonight but I am hopeful that everything will heal soon. I don't expect anything really exciting to happen until next Friday when the U/S is scheduled. I haven't even spoken with B & B since last week sometime. I am beginning to get more and more tired - a symptom of the pregnancy? I hope so.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
A Little Scare
I received my Prometrium today so no more Progesterone shots. Yea! I didn't know what I was going to do. My backside looks and feels like I have 20 mosquito bites on both sides. I still have to take the Estrogen shots but at least that is only every 3 days. 4 days until Lily's birthday and 10 more days until the U/S. I pray everything goes smoothly until then. I have been reading so many stories of unsuccessful transfers and chemical pregnancies, etc. that it definitely makes me nervous. I still don't feel pregnant but I have always been lucky like that.
Monday, June 9, 2008
In the Beginning...
After a lot of discussion, he was okay with it. Next, I had to tell my parents. I was worried about what they would think. Turns out they were very supportive...and everybody else has been also. Yea! Thanks everybody. So now begins the real application process. I had my telephone interview on Dec. 17, 07. That was easy, just answer more of the same questions as before. Then, after a lot of e-mails, gathering information, filling out paperwork, we received our intended parent profile on Feb. 6, 08. Not long after was our first trip out to LA for the screening process on Feb. 22, 08. This wasn't a very good trip because our flight out was delayed for at least 2 hours so we didn't arrive to our hotel until around 1am and to top it off, our room was right above a nightclub. In the morning, we woke to the loud sound of traffic on Sunset Blvd. So you can imagine we didn't get the best sleep. But whatever - we were in LA. The screening was talking to a psychologist and answering yet more of the same questions and taking the MMPI test which took like 2 hours or something crazy like that. (And just in case your wondering, no I don't have thoughts about killing people). Yeah, there were a lot of crazy questions like that. Anyway, after we were "cleared", it would be time for the match meeting.
The match meeting was scheduled for Mar. 21, 08. This trip was much better than our last. We met the intended parents (B & B) and they were wonderful. They treated us to a very fun day and the best part was that we got to go to the beach. I haven't been there in many years so it was great. Nevertheless, the match meeting went perfect. On the plane ride there I was soooo nervous but everything turned out better than I could have imagined. Now that we both decided to continue on, it would be time for the contract next. I began BCP's and then once the contract was signed, I went in for a baseline ultrasound and began injections!!! At first the injections were just every three days until right before the transfer when I started progesterone injections every day.
The transfer date was set for May 26th (Memorial Day). This time I went all by myself. I stayed in a magnificent hotel and waiting for me when I got there were 2 beers and a note that said these might be your last for awhile...enjoy. And I did, after dinner. The transfer was superfast, like 5 minutes. But then of course, I had to lay there for what seemed like forever while practically upside down. Whatever, this trip was great. After the transfer I got to lay in bed in my sweet hotel room and do whatever I wanted. I haven't been able to relax like that for what feels like almost three years (yes, since Evan was born). I have to admit though, by Tuesday I was ready to go home...and so I did. I was glad to see my kids, and they were glad to see me. Next comes the pregnancy test. That Friday I received a huge package from B & B and in the box was a smaller box containing 2 pregnancy tests (along with some other most wonderful gifts, thank you again!) Well you can only imagine what's going to happen with a girl who thinks she might be pregnant that has a box of pregnancy tests. So of course, I took one that night and what do you think? Negative of course. And while I was discouraged, I bought some more (not digital) the next day. I couldn't stand it and did another that afternoon and low and behold...a faint (really faint) line. Yea! I took the other one the following day and it was even more positive, see below.
So now that I know it's positive, I still have to wait for the true test on Jun. 5, 08. Okay, so I go take that test and then just wait, what's the big deal, I already know I'm pregnant! Hours later my case coordinator calls me and says congrats! your pregnant and your level was 180. Yea! again. A little later that afternoon, B calls and the only words I could hear out of the conversation were Sahakian, Carol and twins. Okay, what is that supposed to mean? That evening he called back and said that my levels were 484. What? And that I was most likely pregnant with twins. Whoa. We won't know anything until Jun. 20, 08 at 1pm which is when my ultrasound is scheduled.
Okay, so here we arrive to today, Jun 9, 08. This morning I called my Dr. (Dr. Sahakian back in LA) and told the nurse that my injection sites are red, a little swollen and itch like crazy. Now they are going to send oral pills to take instead of the daily progesterone injections - it appears I'm having a reaction to the progesterone. Another Yea! I didn't think I was going to be able to take it anymore.
That's it for "the beginning". Hopefully from here on out the posts will be short and sweet but I just had to play catch up. I will try to post as often as I can, as long as I have something interesting to say.