One Trimester Down,Two to Go!

110 pills (that consisted of birth control, antibiotics, steroids, and baby aspirin), 54 injections, 119 patches, and 141 vaginal suppositories over 102 days, BUT we've made it to 14 weeks. I can't believe I'm 1/3 of the way finished with this pregnancy. Some days I feel like it's creeping by, but in the blink of an eye these babies are going to be here!!!  Right HERE!!!

December was bittersweet for my intended parents and I. On December 18th I officially weaned off all medications and graduated from Colorado Center of Reproductive Medicine to my regular OB/GYN. We developed such a wonderful bond with our nurse and a sense of security being in their care that it’s sad to let them go. On the bright side, this means the boys are growing and my body is doing what it should to help these little guys meet their parents!!!

I have definitely been hit with more "morning" sickness than I had with the girls. My evenings were down right miserable and usually landed me in bed by 7 most nights. I am starting to feel much better this week and my energy is slowly coming back!!! I've had cravings for fresh fruit and vegetables, anything spicy, and pancakes so far.

For now I see my doctor every 4 weeks and both boys have sounded fantastic at each appointment to this point!!!  I've gained 14 lbs from the start of meds to now. Not too shabby considering fertility drugs can take a toll on your weight. We will have our 20 week anatomy scan in just SIX short weeks. I am really excited to see how much they have grown and for mom and dad to see more than little blobs on the screen. Prayers that we keep trucking right along.

Give Thanks

Thanksgiving is a time to come together to share what we are grateful for. Today I'm thankful for all the love and support I've received from everyone. I'm also thankful for my amazing intended parents. I can honestly say they are more than just intended parents, they are family. I love and care for them like I have known them for years. No matter the outcome of this cycle I knew we gained some pretty special people in our lives.

Today's appointment took forever to arrive. Once we finally made it to 1 o'clock they kept us waiting on the edge of our seats in the waiting room. Patience most certainly was hurting me.

I am over the moon to say we have heartbeat. Let me rephrase that, I am ecstatic to say that we have HEARTBEATS!

Baby A and Baby B are measuring right on track with new heartbeats measuring at 114 and 117 beats per minute perfect for this gestation.

Not only do we have twins, but we have genders too! Both little bundles of joy are BOYS!

Again, I ask that you keep us all in your prayers. Prayers that these little ones grow and that this pregnancy goes nice and smooth over the next 7 months. Thank you Lord for this wonderful blessing!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Results

Waiting for beta results has been agonizing today. Waiting all day just to hear that magic number can truly make a person insane.

I went from insane to flat out stupid after I got the call. 

I couldn't process anything going on around me. 

Not a word.

Not a thought.

Not a darn thing.

Am I pregnant?

Beta hcg levels needed to be at least 50 to confirm pregnancy. My levels.......

716......716.......omg 716!

I'm so very pregnant! I couldn't be happier! I'm still in awe that I have been given the chance to do this and it's actually happening.

Please pray that these babies grow big and strong and that we see heartbeats in 16 days. Sono will confirm if we have one or two babies growing, but I'm feeling like we definitely have two!

PUPO (Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise)

We all were going a little stir crazy waiting for transfer this afternoon. We had so much peace that everything was going to go perfectly, but yet couldn’t help to be nervous about nothing and everything. We left for CCRM at noon and immediately had labs drawn. From there we ventured upstairs to the surgery center where I entered “the room.” I had acupuncture then waited for the doctor and the embryologist to come in. It all went so fast from there.

The embryos are wheeled in an incubator where we were able to see them up on a screen.  The embryologists then sucked the little embabies into a tiny little catheter and then were given to the doctor to place inside my uterus.  The procedure was completely pain free, minus some discomfort from having a completely full bladder.  I was laid flat and had another acupuncture session and was able to get up an hour later.

We transferred two beautiful little babies.

The embryo on the right is fully hatched while the embryo on the left was in the process of hatching. The really neat part is in about four hours the hatching embryo should be fully hatched and would look like its sibling on the right. 

It’s a huge relief to be done. Now the hard part is the waiting game. My first HCG blood test is a long ten days away. In the meantime, I’ve been placed on bed rest and can continue normal activity Sunday when we will travel home. I am so lucky to have such amazing friends and family. Every text, message, and post I received today meant the world to me. You all are stinking fantastic! Once again, keep us all in your prayers and send lots of sticky baby vibes our way. 

"Did Someone Say Transfer?!"

I’m sorry I haven’t updated my blog in so long. It’s been a crazy few months and I wanted to make sure my body cooperated with meds before I spilled the beans on a transfer date. The wait is over! I’m set for transfer this Friday, October 28th! So many emotions are going through me. I can’t believe I’ve made it to this point and with the most amazing intended parents ever. The support and love I feel from them is the greatest feeling in the world.

I have a few specific prayer requests. For safe travels as we all make our way to Denver tomorrow. Prayers that the embryos thaw beautifully and last but certainly not least that they stick around to meet their wonderful parents.

I want to give a special thanks to people who have reached out with support, kind words, as well as the ladies at work covering for me during early morning appointments and missed work. The little things mean the most. I will update Friday or Saturday!

Where there's a will, there's a way.

I wasn't anticipating on writing another post so soon, but I couldn't be happier to be doing so. Almost immediately, I was presented with a different potential family to carry a baby for. I read their profile and looked at pictures, but I just couldn't keep myself from comparing them to my first family. As much as I tried I couldn't let them go. 

 So that door that closed, never latched. In my heart I never felt like things were final between my intended parents and myself. Sometimes in life you just need time to breathe and regroup. I am beyond thankful to say that we are moving forward on this crazy journey. Final details are being wrapped up and I'm hoping to have a transfer date set in the next week or two.

Thank you to everyone who prayed and to those who've dealt with my emotional self over the last month. I'd be lost without some these amazing people in my life. 

When you feel like quitting, remember why you started.

Today has been a rough day.

When I first started writing this post, I was going to caption a picture with, "This is what surrogacy looks like." The second I started typing the words, it hit me. THIS is just a glimpse at what infertility looks like. Doctor's appointments, lab work, injections, oral medication, patches, and vaginal suppositories all to prepare for transfer of the tiny embryos you hope will grow and flourish. This doesn't include what a woman endures to prep for egg retrieval just to make it this far for IVF. I am truly humbled by the trials and tribulations that couples face with infertility.

A friend tagged me in that article that led me to a blog that really touched my heart. Scroll through the pictures and I dare you not to cry.
www.fifteenfiftyone.ca%2Fblog%2Flife%2Fbaby-julie-portraits%2F&h=iAQHyJvXf

"The walk to parenthood is one that looks very different from the one person to the next. For some, that road is wide and vast. A perfectly paved surface that leads directly to a place that was always meant to be. For others, the road takes a few turns and requires a few detours. But for others still, that path is barely even carved out among the woods. It is nothing more than obstacles and hurt and loss and a constant struggle to a place that is entirely unknown."

I passed the rigorous one-day workup with flying colors and we were working on having contracts done this week with hopes of starting meds this Monday. I am heartbroken to say that as close as we got to this dream, it's been put on hold. Infertility is not cheap, and the economy only makes it harder. If you would please keep my intended parents in your prayers, as I can only imagine how hard it is for them to have to put their dream on hold. As for me, I will wait and see what God has planned. When one door closes, another one opens.

While I am so thankful for the income of support and kind words, I want you to take a minute, sit back, and look at all the blessings you have. While things may not be perfect or ideal, you never know the hurt and stress another might be facing.