14 week US

Baby is growing so big!!

Shots... I can almost see the light!

I have my shot tonight and one tomorrow night and then I'm done!!!

As much as I don't mind doing them, it will be really nice to have the relief from having to remember to do them at 6pm every night. Plus, in time - I've been promised - the granulomas will disappear and my butt will stop hurting. 

I didn't make a video of my shots, and I don't for see being able to do it tonight. Maybe I'll do tomorrow's since it's the last one. I just hesitate to subject you fine people to the bruised and lumpy flesh that is my butt. :(

Officially discharged from IVF doctor

I got the email today that I'm officially released from Dr. D's care and I get to continue with Dr. W as if this was a normal pregnancy. 

Baby is measuring 13 weeks and 1 day at 12 weeks, so they adjusted my EDD to December 20th. That's my son's birthday, so I think it's a good sign. 

Dr. W said she saw something on the ultrasound. She pointed it out, but I'm ultrasound image incompetent. She finally froze the screen and pointed an arrow to what she meant. Pretty sure baby has a little dingdong. That will make K a VERY happy momma. I'm not telling anyone until we get the results from the Free Fetal DNA test on Friday. Then on the 27th we'll confirm the test with a 3D ultrasound in Vegas. Plus, loads of pics for K. 

US at 12 weeks

Blood test

Went down to Dr. W's office today to have my blood drawn for the genetic testing. It identified chromosomal abnormalities and identifies the gender. Two weeks until results. 

Also, got a $4k bill from the hospital for the three labs done to determine my HCG levels. Yikes. Sent it off to my agency rep and they're handling it. 

On the positive side, all of these tests have run out our deductible ($5500) AND we've now met our out of pocket cost ($10000) for the year. So, if anything happens to my family, we're covered at 100%.  With 6 whole months left to use it! I can't complain; it's freaking awesome. 

US at 10 weeks

Original Post Date: 5/27/2014

Yippee Skippy!! I have graduated from wand US's to regular over the belly US's. Woot. No more disrobing. No more ginormous, cold plastic wand in my hoo hoo. 

Baby is measuring 4 days bigger than 10 weeks. What remains of the sac from the other baby has been pinned against my uterine wall and the risk of bleeding is seriously reduced. 

Pharmacy sent the wrong needles and syringes. Pharmacy blames Dr. D's office. Dr. D's office insists it was a refill (which it was...). Essentially, it's an error that just ends up costing K a ton of money. 

Speaking of money, K is now providing me with a monthly allowance to purchase organic food. This is awesome since it's difficult to procure decent fresh fruits and vegetables in the middle of the desert. 

Another US is scheduled for 6/9. Then, another for the 25th. Then I have the 3D US in Vegas. And, K has approved the blood test for chromosomal abnormalities and gender typing. Loads to do in the next 4 weeks. 

Also, since I only have 27 more days of shots, I really must get a video for you. I'm going to try and video it on the day when I do both Progesterone and DelEstrogen. Plus, I want to get a good photo of the bruising and injection sites so everyone can see ONE EXAMPLE of what can happen when doing the injections. 

Ultra sound at 8 weeks

Original Post Date 5/12/14

Baby B did not make it. Baby A is healthy as a horse and measuring 5 days ahead. 

Dr. W. is concerned about bleeding. If Baby B detaches from the uterine wall I may have some serious problems. Hopefully, if I stay relaxed and inactive until Baby A is big enough to push the placenta for Baby B against the uterine wall, I should be fine. 

Another US at 10, 12, and 14 weeks with Dr. W. Then, a 3D US in Las Vegas at 15 weeks to get pics for K and determine sex. How exciting!!

Kicking along

Not much happening here. Still feeling pregnant. Waiting, which I hate to do, for the follow up US next week. 

K, my IP, is tossing around the idea of requesting I only purchase organic food (for which she may offer compensation). And, reminding me that I am not allowed to wear nail polish as it is bad for the babies. 

I've only been interested in fruits and veggies. I ate a whole pound of asparagus for dinner. Yummy. It's a bummer to crave fresh fruits and veggies in the middle of the AZ dessert. There isn't much to choose from and what there is usually isn't the best. 

Confirmed heartbeat...

Means the beginning of the monthly payments. Woot!

Heads up to other surrogates who might be confused about how the escrow account works: if you are out of $$ in the escrow account, your check will be delayed. 

As it turns out, my account was below the amount necessary for my May check. It's not a big deal at all because if already paid my surrogacy insurance for May, so I'm in no hurry to get my check. But, I do have to wait for K to send more money to the escrow account before they can cut the check. 

I just wanted to post this as a note in case there were any surrogates out there who didn't know how this worked. :)

First Baby Pics!!

I'm in the room naked from the waist down

Oroinal publish date: 4/28/14

Lets find out how many little ones I've got all up inside me, eh??

Twins!!

There are two Munchkinz growin' up in that thar uterus. 

One is very healthy. The other is clinging to life, so it's probably likely that it won't survive. Which breaks my heart, but having one healthy baby is a million times better than none!

However, it is possible that the second embryo just attached a couple of days after the first. So, we are back to waiting. 

Second US in two weeks to verify whether or not that second fetus will survive. 

In the meantime, the IVF doctor has finally admitted that there are two in there. Sorta. 

My meds got upped again to compensate for the second embryo.  Which reminds me, I really must make my shot video before I'm done with them. 

Oh, and I have granulomas on both sides. Itching is PERFECTLY normal. And I'm doing just fine. I love my OB. She's amazing: understanding, helpful, caring, and KNOWLEDGEABLE!

Moving on up

There was a scheduling mishap at the OB's office (Dr. W) and my US for fetal heartbeat is tomorrow!! How exciting. I don't have to get up at 4 am to go have bloodwork drawn. And I don't have to wait another week to find out how many Munchkinz have taken up residence in my uterus. 

Also, I've calmed down considerably about the medication mishap. I'm still pissed, but it doesn't do any good to vent about it here. I can't say nice things and so I'm going to just say this: wouldn't it have been prudent to inform the patient of the change in dosage and form and strength of the medication being used to keep the embryos alive? Just food for baby thought. 

For the love of...

Holy Crimony.

Seriously, I can't sit down and write this blog post tonight. I am so upset and baffled by the attitude I received today that I need a good night's sleep to process the whole thing and deal with it so I don't start swearing too much. 

Short version:

IVF doctor's office changed my vaginal progesterone from suppositories to oral capsules without telling me. Not a really big deal, but the meds arrived with no directions. And, when I asked the doctor's office about it, the directions had changed too. Basically, I would have cut my progesterone intake by half and I could have lost the babies. Nice of them to tell me something as important as a complete change in med delivery system, dosage, and directions. 

Also, I feel the need to express my discomfort. My butt itches. Itches really badly. At my injection site(s). It's making me crazy. Well, crazier. The sucky part is that if I scratch the itch, it hurts because it's right on top of my injection "marbles". 

Upset tummy

Something really upset my tummy tonight. I spent a good deal of time hugging the toilet. Yuck. 

I'm sure that all the hooplah from yesterday didn't help. I don't mind having the leeches draw my blood on Monday. I'm fact, I'm dying to know what my numbers are at 6 weeks. Even though it would only be 5 days before I found out for certain, it's fun to try and guess from my HCG numbers wether or not it's multiples. 

For the record, I think it's twins. If I'm wrong, so be it but I think there's two little buggers in there demanding pineapple with passion fruit habanero sauce. 

More drama...

I was waiting to hear from Dr. D's office regarding my skyrocketing numbers all day. Finally, when they did call, it was to tell me that I need to move my US up to 4/28 because I'll be 6 weeks then (exactly). 

Unfortunately, the US planned for 5/5 is because K (IP) will be flying in from China to see the babies for the first time and hear the heartbeat(s) with me.  Dr. D's office demanded that I reschedule then appointment, but my small town doctor didn't have any available appointments. 

So... The nurse told me that they were seriously concerned that I had an ectopic pregnancy, despite a lack of symptoms and an HCG level that is more in line with multiples than an ectopic pregnancy according to my agency rep and every Internet source I've seen. 

The nurse also told me that if I couldn't have an earlier ultrasound that they would send me in for another blood test. Why? The US is literally scheduled for 5 days after they would want the blood results. It really feels like a waste of K's money. And that makes me irritable. Like a grizzly. 

Blood Test - Take Three

Finally caught up to today. Phew. 

Final blood test (to confirm pregnancy), I hope. 

First: 310

Second: 1701

Today?

Expecting it to double again. Somewhere around 3400?  Yeah. It took a silver tongue and a sweet smile, but the lab tech finally told me my results. 

HCG: 5578

How can it not be multiples??

I'm hoping for two. 

However, the Fetal Heartbeat US is scheduled for 5/5 and I'll know for sure then. 

Tomorrow I'll do the post on my shots. It took me a few tries and watching a few videos to figure out what works best for me. Maybe I'll make a video myself. Hmmm. I'll bet R would love to help. Fair warning, though, it'll be rated R because you'll definitely see some butt crack. It's important to use your crack to guide you. That's all I'll say for now. It took forever to get y'all caught up and I've already been up to pee several times. 

So far, everything is going just like my first two pregnancies, injectable meds and progesterone chunking it's way out of my hoo hoo all day long notwithstanding. 

Blood Test - Take Two

Original Post Date: 4/17/14

Still positive. Woo hoo!!

We expected, D and I, to have the numbers double. So, since my first number was 310, I was expecting somewhere around a 620. 

I was told that if the numbers more than doubled it would be multiples and likely triplets. If the numbers just doubled, it was a safe bet that there were twins. And, if the number didn't quite double, it would be a singleton. 

So, when the lab tech looked at me pityingly and told me I hadn't gotten a 600, I was so worried that I'd done something wrong. Never mind that I was peeing every twelve seconds and still craving weird combinations like pineapple and habanero sauce. 

She looked up from the monitor and whispered: 1701. One. Seven. Zero. One. 

I started laughing hysterically. Holy shit. There was no way it couldn't be multiples. That number was FIVE TIMES my original number just three days before. 

Dr. D's office called me to tell me I was pregnant. Again. And, they obviously didn't know that I'd already gotten the results (not to mention that I'd had the hospital send all the lab results to Dr. W's office too). And, to tell me that I didn't need to up any of my meds because it was impossible to be carrying multiples. Sigh. Okay. Then, they decided I needed one more blood test before releasing me into Dr. W's care for the remainder of the pregnancy. 

Blood test - Take One

Original Post Date: 4/14/14

Positive!!!!  Hoorah. 

My HCG level was 310. According to the charts given to me by Dr. K (my original IVF doctor), a 310 on day 9 meant multiples with a chance of triplets. 

Dr. D seemed to think that number was not only low, but told me personally that there was NO CHANCE of having multiples. NONE. 

Still, I had someone growing inside of me and one was better than none. Because I'd asked about multiples, they decided to send me in for another blood test. 

Still feeling it!

Original Post Date: 4/9 through 4/14

Took pregnancy tests several times at different times during these days. Including two digital tests. 

Starting at the top, they were faint, but positive and they only got darker with each day. Until the morning of 4/13. The morning of 4/13 (Sunday) was LIGHTER than the night of 4/12 (Saturday) and I panicked. I called D immediately to see what to do; I thought I was losing the babies (it I had a chemical pregnancy). She said it was okay to go in to have my blood test on 4/14 (Monday) even though I was supposed to wait until 4/15 (Tuesday) for the official blood test. 

Feeling it

Original post date 4/9/14

Already feeling pregnant. Not hungry and craving fresh fruit. 

Positive home pregnancy test in the PM. Very faint, but definitely there. Woot!

Transfer

Original Post Date: 4/5/14

Arrived in LA Thursday night (4/3) to get a good night sleep before starting my 24 hours of rest before the transfer. 

Got to go and lunch at Korean BBQ place with K (IP) and D (from surrogacy agency) and then have mani/pedi with D. 

Transfer morning was pretty calm. Got there early. K and D were there too, which was nice because my family couldn't be there. 

I had to have a full bladder. :(

They opened me up and cleaned me out good. Dr. D used cotton swabs and normal saline to clean my cervix before inserting the catheter. The catheter hurts a bit, but just a bit of pinching. The wiping with the cotton swabs felt like she was using steel wool. 

Once the catheter was in, there was a long (6-8 minute) awkward wait while my hoo hoo was opened to everyone and the US machine showed it buried deep in my uterus. Then a nurse came in with a syringe full of 3 embryos, verified my name, K's name, and then shot them up inside me while we all watched on the screen. 

Then I had to sit for an hour.  I couldn't get up to pee until 30 minutes had passed and it felt like it took FOREVER. Though, it was really nice to have K and D there to chat. It took my mind off of the desperate need to pee. 

Plus, we got to take a pic. Which (as I went to post it) is gone because my phone went through the wash cycle when I got back from LA. 

Also, started Progesterone capsules after transfer. 

Last Fluid US

Original Post Date: 3/30/14

Fluid US in LA. IP doing egg retrieval too!

Amazingly, the horrifying fluid that was certainly indicative of a terrible infection was gone. Coincidentally, my period was done too. 

Started the new shots. Progesterone 1ml QD (every day)

Second lining check

Original Post Date: 3/26/14

Last lining check before the transfer. US tech said my uterus looked beautiful. Dr. W said it looked perfect and ready for some embryos. Dr. D said I had an infection because there was unknown fluid. Tech tried to explain I was having my period. Dr. W tried to explain I was having my period. I tried to explain, as did D (my surrogacy agency advocate). Nothing seemed to placate Dr. D and she insisted on ANOTHER fluid US in LA the weekend before the transfer. 

She actually told K (IP) that my uterine lining looked thin and abnormal. She showed her a picture of a "healthy" uterus and then showed her mine and told her she had NEVER seen an US like this before. Are you sensing a pattern? This is one of the reasons I was stressing out so much during the whole process; it really felt like Dr. D didn't like me and was trying to find ways to sabotage the process. Then, as we moved forward, it seemed like she just didn't know what she was doing. 

Period!!

Original Post Date: 3/21/14

Period started. It was late, as I expected, because of the birth control. The pill has always made my cycle a bit wonky, which I told Dr. D. 

First lining check

Original Post Date: 3/19/14

Ultrasound to determine the health of my uterus and whether or not it's ready for the transfer. 

Period?

Original Post Date: 3/18/14

Period was supposed to start according to the calendar given to me by Dr. D. 

It didn't. 

Birth control

Original Post Date: 2/24/14

Started Apri 28

Taking the three weeks of active pills and then my period will be synced with the IP for egg retrieval and live transfer. 

Begin the poking

Original Post Date: 3/17/14

In prep for the egg removal from IP and one LAST set of lining checks before transfer, I started the Q3D (every 3 days) injections of DelEstrogen 0.2ml. 

**I will write an entire post on my injections (and how I do them) when I'm done with the back log. I've been doing the injections for several weeks and I have come up with a nearly foolproof plan.**

Also, I did take Apri 28 from 2/24 through 3/16. 

Another US - Calcifications

Original Post Date: 3/8/14

Another trip to LA to see Dr. D. Another freaking fluid US. 

Between the last US and this one, K (my IP) has tried and failed her own round of IVF. That was the reason for the delay between the January US and the March one. K was promised that she would be able to carry her own baby, but when the two weeks passed her pregnancy test was negative and my heart broke for her. Not only did she have to deal with that loss, but she was also now another two months behind on surrogacy.

Dr. D was positive that I had regrowth of the adhesions that Dr. K had removed in October. The fluid ultrasound showed that there were no adhesions or calcifications. I do, however, have three tiny small scars on the outside of my uterus (which is, according to Dr. K and Dr. W, COMPLETELY NORMAL AND MOST WOMEN HAVE THEM). Dr. D claimed she has never seen anything like this before and that was why she needed  to do another fluid US before we moved forward. 

US - Lining check

Original post date: 1/22/14

US for lining check was positive. The IVF doctor has been quite negative about my ability to be a surrogate. There have been so many questions about the stability and integrity of my uterus. She said that she won't approve me unless my lining is good and there is no evidence of calcification from the adhesions that Dr. K removed back in October. 

My lining varied from 8.1 to 11.3. The tech averaged (conservatively) down to a solid 9. Dr. D was happy with that. I guess. However, they had told me they just wanted the number from the tech. Then they needed to know if it was a triple. Then they needed to speak with my OB, Dr. W. Then they needed the report. Then they needed me to email them scans of the US. By the end of the day I was on the verge of crying I was SO FRUSTRATED with the communication issues. 

Catching up

I've been MIA for a while and yet the process has moved forward. Now that I have my phone (and life) back up and running, I'm going to post a BUNCH of catch up stuff. I'll date it with the correct dating so as not to confuse anyone reading this in the distant future. 

After dinner. 'Cause my two year old is going to eat my humerus if I don't feed him. 

Then, back to posting every day. With pics soon!

Estrogen Heaven

I started taking 2mg of estrogen TID (three times daily) today. So far I don't feel any different, so that's awesome, but I'm just trying not to be stressed about the results of the ultra sound next week. 

LA

I drove 600 miles (17 hours, thanks to two accidents) to LA yesterday to meet the new IVF doctor and get started on meds. I really enjoyed meeting Dr. D. She was friendly, kind, and full of smiles. She asked questions, offered up personal stories, and made me feel very comfortable. However, the office has misplaced my medical records from Dr. K's office. So, they had no record of my blood work, the surgery, or the clearance appointment.

She did an ultrasound, and unfortunately she saw three small white spots. She identified then as calcifications probably resulting from the hysteroscopy. Without having my medical records and surgery notes, she's decided to put me on a one week trial run of estrogen and then I'll have another US to measure my uterine lining. 

I've read online that a healthy uterine lining is 8mm, so I guess that's my goal... In general, I have very heavy/long periods, which seems to indicate a full and fluffy uterine lining. Plus, I've had no problems with my pregnancies, so I'm praying that this next US will show a healthy fat uterine lining and we will be able to move forward with the surrogacy. 

I really want to do this, and we have invested so much time and effort into the process, that I don't want it to end because of a blip on an US the size of a grain of rice. 

So, after an 8 hour drive home, I calmed down and decided that it will be what it will be. If they don't want to use me as a surrogate, then they won't. My IP won't sign the finalized contracts until we have a positive measurement on the US, which is completely understandable, but it breaks my heart just a little bit that this might not work out. I really like my IP and genuinely want to help her (especially after our wonderful lunch). My emotions are all over the place about this, but all I can do is ride it out. I'll have an answer next week. 1/22 is the ultra sound for the measurement. Either it will be good and we'll move forward or it won't and it's over. Either way, there's nothing I can do except take my meds and hope. 

Moving forward!!

I received the contract from my attorney last night. There are a few changes that have to be made. 

1.) They are requiring my OB to be in CA, but my regular OB is located in AZ. Slightly problematic. 

2.) The contract states I must give birth in Needles, CA. I'm giving birth in San Luis, CA and Needles is an emergency back up location to ensure I do not give birth in AZ. 

I also have some questions about the wording on the childcare and hose keeping reimbursements. Otherwise, everything looks like it should. I'm excited to speak with the attorney today and get these papers signed!!

They say...

No news is good news. I surely hope so. Nothing from the attorney about the contracts yet. Nothing from the agency or broker about insurance. I'm just in a holding pattern right now. Deep breath. 

A day late and a dollar short

I realized tonight that if I was going to accurate chronicle the WHOLE surrogacy experience that I should have started this months ago when I first started the process. Bags. 

Right now, I have been cleared.  This consists of seeing the fertility doctor, learning about the surrogacy process, having my uterus examined via ultrasound, and had blood work done (my husband also had to have his blood work done). 

We hit a snag, it turns out I had some scar tissue from the D and C that was performed after my son was born in 2011 and I didn't stop bleeding. My body, ever on the lookout to be an overachiever, had made two placentas for my one little baby. Oops. Once that extra placenta was removed I was good to go!  I was nearly in tears when the good doctor told me I couldn't be a surrogate unless they could remove that scar tissue. After a load of calls, insurance approvals, and other nonsense, I had the surgery. Four weeks later my uterus was scar free and I was ready for surrogacy. 

I had an interview lunch with a IP (Intended Parent), a mother who was looking for someone to carry a baby for her and her husband. She was lovely, well spoken, and genuinely a nice woman. I had a wonderful time and left crossing my fingers that I had made a good enough impression that she would pick me to help her make her baby. 

I got the call before I'd even made it back to my car. She liked me too and we were going to move forward. WOOT!!

The IPs sat down with their lawyer and drafted a contract for the surrogacy. They have sent the contract to my attorney, who will go over it with me when she returns from vacation. Once the contracts are signed, the IPs have 10 days to put the money into an escrow account. Once that's done, I'll get reimbursed for the trips to LA (CA) for the screening and clearance visits and my husband's blood work which had to be done here in my home town. 

I have a visit scheduled for this month to do a meet and greet with the new fertility doctor (the IP is going with a different doctor than the one I saw previously so I have to do the initial appointment a second time). Then, I should be put on birth control meds to regulate my cycle and get me on the same page as my IP (who is, I believe, still planning on a live transfer). They are guesstimating a transfer in February. 

Ok. You're caught up without any boring and tedious jibber jabber about my feelings during those few months when I was freaked out about the state of my uterus and terrified that I wouldn't get picked. 

Right now I'm waiting on the signed contracts and health insurance. I have full coverage through my husband's employer, but it specifically rules surrogacy as an "out of pocket" expense. Gah. So, I'll have to buy another policy just for the surrogacy. I'll get reimbursed once the contracts are signed, but it's a lot of money. 

So. Be back in a bit. As soon as I have info!