4 days and counting.......

Hello this is one of my last belly shots when I post again it will be photos of the great delivery lol. As my journey nears its end and I reflect on the whole experience I am still trying to figure out how I feel. I am still assessing my emotions and I can't just pin one emotion. I am looking forward to the delivery though I am ready my body is and my mind is.

I have been thinking about life after surrogacy, what I want to do? I loved writing this blog and I am going to continue with it. So even though this is short and doesn't really say much thank you for reading it  and following me through this year long journey

8 days and counting........

 

 

 

Hello everybody, this is one of the last photos before we go into the hospital On Monday December 30th. 2013 D-day (Delivery Day) for us whoo hoo I had my last OBGYN appointment today both IP's were there and we listened to munchkins heartbeat which was sweet music for them and me. My cervix was still closed and I have dilated to 1cm gained and additional 2lbs. and blood pressure was 127/82. I have started to have a little edema(swelling of the legs and feet) but it seems concentrated only at the end of the day. I did my pre-op blood tests today as well so all that is left is to wait. Bags are packed and are in the car, D-day outfit is ready GAME ON!!!!!

37 weeks and counting down..........

Hello everybody, so we are now 37 weeks and all is well babe is doing great my BP is good and even though I have gained another pound to be at a staggering 201lbs. we are healthy and I am happy for that the weight gain is for a reason. IM got to come to this visit she is back in town after being away for 3 months. I am happy that she got to speak to the Dr. personally as he finally put some irrational talsk to rest. Talks along the lins of early induction because I am now 37 weeks and she is sooo ready to have little girl here.

We get that she is anxious but we are really not ordering A Christmas ham/turkey here this is a little being and to bring her early for trivial reasons just wont be done. We are getting there slowly but we are getting there. i know this is her first I know that I have done this many times before so I am seeing it at a different angle than she is, but babe is connected to me and I will not put the both of us in jeporady for no valid reason. Other than that we are good. I have two more belly shots to post for you all. Bear with me I will get there soon

35 weeks and counting.........

So here I am 35 weeks, and the count down is on at my last appointment this week, I am now a whooping 199lbs. and my BP is great 110/86 which I am so thankful for the Ultrasound tech has already remarked on her being at 5 1/2 lbs. at 34 weeks.
So at the doctor's visit I started my physical cervix checks and was shocked that after my C-section was scheduled. It was weird for me was that even though he never said I was dilated any he did go ahead to make sure the room and OR was secured for me also my due date is now December 30th it got pushed back one day, it seems they don't do surgeries on Sundays this is my assumption.

I relayed the news for IM who wasn't to keen that she has to wait another day I am trying not to be offended by it after all this isn't a birthday cake we are ordering. We did have a slight disagreement last month, because she was dead set on having the baby for Christmas and was even hinting towards an induction and it took the Dr. and the agency to tell her differently which led to a not contact period which we have had a lot of during this journey. And while it doesn't bother me immensely, it does sadden me I was looking for so much more contact with this journey. And I believed the words that were spoken I got that she would have been a little stand-offish in the early stages and then warmed up later on that didn't happen and there is nothing to be done but get ready for D-Day (delivery day) and move on to the next chapter.

After all this is as far as I am to go, no further does it hurt no sting maybe but when your motives and heart are clear as to why you became a surrogate in the first place, it's that much easier to move to the next step. My goal was to help a couple become parents, to assist  them in bridging that gap to make their life complete. As Madea says People come into our lives for a season..

Will post a new baby bump pic next week wouldn't you know I lost my photos when I fried my cell and was not able to retrieve them

34 weeks and counting.......

Here we are at the 34 week march and I am hanging on it seems that I have reverted back to my 1st trimester with foods upsetting my stomach, chronic tiredness and killer heartburn. IP's are still out of the country and are due back for Thanksgiving. Can't wait to see them both.

We did a 3D-4D ultrasound with little munchkin and she is so sweet and plump. She weighs 5 1/2 pounds and is doing well.  Sorry this is so short but sleep is calling

New Photo November 2013-32 weeks

This is my 32 week baby bump shot.

Baby Bump Pics taken over the weekend, October 20-26 2013

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Third Trimester-the home stretch

Hello everyone we are now in the home stretch and it's unbelievable how fast time has flown by and yet it still seems like yesterday. So far , so good only bad thing was I had to be admitted to the hospital for food posioning last Thursday morning. It was for a few hours but scary nonetheless. I was dehydrated and felt like I went 12 rounds in a heavy weight boxing match. I couldn't get no relief and had no choice but to have hubby call the EMT's. It was hard to breathe and just the touch of the nurses felt like a maul.

Well after a full bag of IV fluids, and an ultrasound to see how munchkin was doing and to check the levels of my amniotic fluid and to see if my cervix was closed I was sent home to take it easy for the rest of the week. My hubby reached out to my co-ordinator and my agency owner. We told IP's who are out of the country until November 30th. I was just happy that the little one was doing well despite my episode.

Updates- Second Trimester

I am getting terrible at updating but my tablet makes me cringe when it comes to this lol, We had a barrage of tests for little munchkin, Along with me regular OBGYN visits and my MFM visits we were recommended to have a Fetal Echocardigram - why? because she is an active baby and does'nt keep still, they wanted better pictures of her heart. Well we got it and not only are there four perfect chambers but there is also the strongest heartbeat ever. We saw her sucking her thumb and were able to take a picture of it which I sent to my IP's. IM could'nt make it but hubby took the day off to come to the visit and it was great. I worry alot about her in between visits and am estactic when I hear her HB and see her on the US machine it eases my mind for IM who has come so far and has really come out of her shell and who released a lot of the tension and worry she was carrying around. I am coming to the end of My Second Trimester and moving so quickly into the Third I can't believe that last year we were transfering and expierenced a miscarriage and now day by day we are getting closer to bringing munchkin into this world. God moves mountains

Baby Bump shot

15 -18 weeks I can't remember I just though it would be nice to shoe my baby bump progression I shrae weekly shots with IM and IF to keep them connected :)

Me aty about 19-23 weeks and US pic of Little Munchkin

long overdue update!!!!

I am so sorry to keep my loyal followers in the dark. Let's see at last post betas were great we had an ultrasound and was released from the RE to our OBGYN. We have had two visits thus far the initial and a regular  I will also be visiting a MFS- maternal fetal specialist which is norm for any woman over 35. IM came to our second visit and got to meet our OBGYN I was ecstatic she was a bundle of nerves but so happy at the end and we got to the little potatoes heart beat she officially got the green light to relax and enjoy her pregnancy---yes this is her Pregnancy and I want her to feel as connected to this as possible. She made a pledge to be in attendance to as many visits as possible and I thank her for that, she's super busy and I understand when she can't.

 She got a shock when she saw me I was huge there was no mistaking that I was growing a little miracle just for her. I say her a lot because this is her first child that had developed so far she has had too many heart breaks more than most of us could bear but she didn't give up. She thinks I am the strong one but she doesn't know that I am learning so much from her and the depth of her strength. I will not trivialize surrogacy, but will acknowledge that the IP's we are matched with give you such a deep sense of love and compassion and endurance that just astounds those on the outside looking in.

I am working on my tablet but will upload pics of us soon. We are headed to our second trimester ultrasound and I have cut my hair so can't wait to share :-)

PS- I felt the potato move from 15 weeks whoo hoo

Released from the RE and beyond......

It's been awhile but the MSv has been getting to me my last post was about my beta numbers well we have one healthy little bean growing and it super and amazing. Yes this is my 3rd journey but each one is different and teh challenges and speed bumps make each one that mor memorable as the time flies.

I had my first OBGYN appoitnment and even though my IP's couldn't make it, it was still awesome to hear the little one's heartbeat the most calming sound that a mother surrogate or our own can hear:)

And the numbers keep rising

The numbers are in 9dpt.41,13dpt.427,third and final beta 1600we are onto our first ultrasound . IP, s are breathing a sigh of relief but still pretty much guarded. Nausea has set in and boobs itch like crazy count down is on

UPATE!!!!! Transfer and Beta

I have been terible at updating but this surrogacy is a very emotional one for me and my IP's the starts the stops the maybes and no next month we did it we jumped over every hurdle that life threw at us.

After all of this would'nt be just like fate to have my IP's Director and Liasion Caseworker out of town when we transfer April 15th. So lucky seeing as it was a few days after my oldest son's b-day and he is a very lucky lad. My last journey we transfered on his birthday and conceieved twins.
 It was not ideal to not have anyone with me but it was ok I had my hubby with me and I was ok I was calm and I think the valium and accupuncture had alot to do with it. Im needed a break from the stress and we understood. We came home hubby put me to bed and I slept a full 8 hours awesome and I was a couch potato for the whole weekend lol Dr. Hubby's instructions.

Today was my first beta yes we are pregnant and drumroll numbers are :41 whooho Beta number 2 Monday 29th 2013

We Are Moving Along!!!!!!!

OOhhh wow we finally got our calendar and my appointments have started already. I just did my blood draw to check my thyroid levels and my NC said that if it was level she'll create our claendar well she did better than that she sent it to my caseworker with my agency and it was waiting on me in my email. I am soo stoked to start cycling again i have been dieting really well I do'nt have any major weight issues and I am on my prenatal vitamins.

I am praying for healthy pregnancy and I am hoping for twins and yes some might saywhy. It's for my IP's I have carried twins before and I know what all it entails and yes I am ready to go through it all again hard to understand I know but I do and IM wants that too. i am hoping that my IM lets herself fall in love with every step we make I do understand after so much dissappoints why she is holding off. I will be cautiously happy for her andd I will get giddy enough for the both of us.

On Monday I go for my Saline Sonogram and vaginal ultrasound. Our transfer date is April 16th. and I can't wait.

When it comes to my thyroid issues most of it is hormonal my periods are heavier and thy last an extra day. from-3-4 days my body temperature has been regulated my hair stopped or at least slowed down with the thinning and depression is also a known symptom but so far I have'nt expierenced it.

well that's it for now I am counting down the days utnil i stick my butt to get this cycle started.

A Few Speedbujmps along the way....

So I know that it's been awhile and here we go again. So let me just rewind on the last two months per se. We found out that my ovaries were too surpressed hence why it took so long for my period to return. We fixed that we adjusted my thyroid meds reduced the dosage and what do you know within three days of taken the new dosage I got my Period!!!! Yayy!!! So we were sure that we were going to be able to make February turns out that was a bust so then we were told March but get this no meds delivered, no calendar and no date set for the transfer what do you mean. Then the RE goes on medical leave and we have no idea what that means I start a new pack of BCP's on Tuesday(Feb 26.) and expierence breakthrough bleeding oh well its to be expected. So after calling and reaching out to everyone here is our new positin:

RE will be out because he hurt his back his partner will take over everything from monitoring to transfer, We will be in a new office We are waiting on the other Office to give us a date thats available so we can co-ordinate our schedules there are a total of six people to line up dates with aint this a hectic bunch. Soooo I can only hope we get this ship up and running sometimg soon it's driving me batty

Still waiting...

It's been officially two months since the miscarriage. I am back to normal or should I say my pre-pregnancy self all except for one thing my period still has yet to come arrgh.. but my RE is not worried he wants my body to return to itself naturally. Ok he's the expert I am guessing that he has a timeline as to when he'll induce so now it's just exercise lose weight which is coming along beautifully.

That's teh physical side of things on the more bonding side my Im has decided to step back and not attend visits or ultrasounds this go around she still wants email updates but not the task of everything else I found out that our recent loss was number 11 for them. it broke my heart while I was aware that it mor than 5 losses I had no idea it was that many. I am a little saddened but do understand the emotional toll it has taken on her. So my agency director and my case co-ordinator have stepped in to fill the void and take care of anything I might need and my hubby is making oplans to attned all appointments with me. I was looking for a more intimate journey this time but that will have to come on its own and in its own time so for now we just wait and get ready to start again.