Transfer 2

I am back from LA and our second transfer.  I left on Tuesday, July 24, for a potential transfer on Wednesday.  I was excited on two fronts for this trip.  My friend Tammy was coming with me and I haven't seen her in 4 years, so I was really looking forward to it.  After breakfast and pedicures we went to the clinic for the transfer.  I was supposed to be there at 11:15 for an 11:30 transfer and they called me back right away so I thought things were turning out different than the last time when we waited hours for the transfer.  After sitting in the room for 30 minutes with no outside contact I started to think that maybe things were going the same way.  After a few more minutes the doctor came in and he didn't look happy.  Things were turning out like the last trip.  Once again our embryos were not great and we would only have one good one and one ok to transfer.  I couldn't believe this same thing was happening again...I feel so bad for the guys...now we wait for Saturday, August 4th and hope for the best!! Positive, sticky thoughts coming my way hopefully!!

Round Two

Yeah!! Finally time to try again!  We are now ready after 3 months to get started.  I received my medications in the mail last Saturday and was a bit concerned when no progesterone shots were in the box.  I called the clinic on Monday morning and she said, "oh honey, we have a surprise for you...no more progesterone shots!!" What, really, that seems wrong!??  So, now I only have a few weeks of every third day estrogen shots and progesterone capsules for the 10-12 weeks after transfer-because we will be pregnant this time. That just made my life a whole lot easier...but I am sure will make my shot giver upset because she thoroughly enjoyed inflicting pain on me.  My first shot of the new cycle begins on Tuesday, July 3, with a potential transfer the week of the 23rd....YEAH!! Here we go again!

Disappointment

April 5th was not the day we were all hoping it would be!  I had a negative BETA test and am not pregnant!  This was such a blow to the guys and myself.  I have only done this one other time and that test came out a positive little Tucker...so I wasn't quite prepared for a not pregnant.  I talked to the guys briefly late Thursday night, they were so sad...but I know their dream will happen, it will just take another try!  By Friday, it was decided we would stick with the same egg donor, if she will have us and Dr S will up her meds and be much more aggressive to retrieve more eggs the next time with the hopes of having more great embryos.  Now...once again we wait!  Me, trying to finish the last 2 months of school, and the guys moving on with the next phase of their dream!

Transfer Success

After waiting a while for the call yesterday we were scheduled for an 11:30 transfer that actually didn't happen until 1:00.  That is a long wait when you have to go to the bathroom!  We transferred 2 embryos yesterday.  One beautiful and one not as beautiful (this one needs a few more prayers). After laying down for an hour in the office we went quickly to In N Out Burger for grilled cheese and shakes to bring back to the room.  I spent 24 hours on bed rest with Carrie waiting on me....I guess I did a lot of sighing when I would roll over...bed rest is not my thing and it was only 24 hours.  Today around 1:00 I got to shower and head out to take it easy.  We went to the Grove shopping area where I sat and watched Carrie do some shopping.  Then we drove to Venice Beach and sat in the sand for a bit and watched the ocean.  Back here in time for wine hour so Carrie could enjoy a couple free glasses of wine after spending about 30 minutes on the 405 to drive only 1 1/2 miles...
Tomorrow we will go to Rodeo Drive, West Beverly High, and the Hollywood Sign before heading to the airport to get  home and see my cute little bean.
The guys are so excited...and can't even believe they have to wait until next Thursday to find out about the next phase of their dream!!

We are here!

Carrie and I arrived yesterday afternoon for a possible transfer this morning or tomorrow morning! I am waiting on a call back from the Dr to confirm...come on people when you say, "I'll call you right back," that means 10 minutes ago, not still waiting for the call back! 
After finding the best rental car in the lot...Carrie loves it...we made our way to the hotel with no problems and checked in just in time for wine hour in the lobby! Our hotel is super nice and fun so Carrie is loving her vacation!  We walked around a bit last night and scoped out our area and today potentially will make it to Rodeo Drive and the beach!
Still waiting for the call...

What a week!!!

As my 5th grade girls say...OMG a lot has happened this week!  To start with, it was conference week so the days stretched into 12 and 13 hours all in the midst of the egg retrieval and travel plans and trying to make it to today without loosing my sanity at school!!

I picked my mom up at the airport Saturday.
Went to a 4 year old birthday party.
Went downtown for green beers.
Shopped all day Sunday with grandma.
Survived 3 days and 27 conferences!!!! (and hard ones at that)
Set our travel plans. 
The eggs have been retrieved and fertilized.
Tucker is packed and ready to go to his godparents from Sunday-Wednesday.
I am almost packed to go to LA on Sunday afternoon.
I almost have us packed to go to South Dakota, after I get back from LA.
I survived the week of school.
I am off to get my uterus in tip top shape at acupuncture.
And 2 men's dream is about to become a reality....
Can't do much better than that in a week's time :)

2nd and 3rd shot success!

3 down and only 2 more to go...for a short time that is! These shots are such a breeze so far!  I am hoping the rest will be just as easy, but I am pretty sure the progesterone will be a little harder to take for 10 weeks every single day!  But it will all be worth it to make a dream become a reality for two very special men in my life! 
On another note...I told the staff this past week and have had nothing but support! I work with the best men and women around and know that they will all be there for me throughout this journey! 
Only about 15 more days until the transfer! 

1st Shot Success

My bestest friend Molly got the privilege of poking me in the be-hind last night...she was actually a bit excited about it, I think until she actually saw the needle.  It was really more of a family affair, her daughter Avery put the band aid on for me after it was done!  The best part was I didn't feel a thing!  If they are all that easy this will be a breeze!  I know they won't be, but I will take it so far.  Now, 2 nights off and another one on Friday!
On another note, I told the staff at school today and people are so excited and supportive!  Now, the secret is out and I can breathe a sigh of relief whenever I am talking about shots, or the guys, or the baby (ies) coming soon! 

Medication has arrived

Nothing like getting a big Fed Ex box full of drugs!  The box is a little intimidating and all those needles are SCARY!  My fellow surrogate friend, Jeni said, "you will be a pro with those needles in no time."  I hope so....here is a picture of what is to come.  I will start my shots tomorrow, March 5th! 

Official Calendar

Wow! I received an email yesterday that said, "Looking over the cycle schedule, you will be needed at PFC sometime between March 27^th and March 29^th for a 5 day transfer trip." I have a calendar with "official dates" and my medication will show up on Monday! Looks like the countdown is on!! The guys are so excited, I am so excited...YEAH!

Contracts are final!!!

The contracts are final! It was a very long road, but it is done!  Now we are really underway. Last week Tucker had bacterial pneumonia and spent 4 days in the hospital, which was exhausting.  He was a sick little guy for a few days. He is doing great now and he is back at daycare and I am back at work.  My IP's heard from my lawyer (we were trying to get the contract done and I had to delay it even more) and sent an email right away with their concerns and hoped all was ok.  Both my journey coordinator and my social worker emailed and/or called to make sure we were doing well and offered any help they could.  It was so nice to know that everyone is concerned with your life outside of surrogacy as well as your surrogacy life.  I talked to Dr Sahakian today and I am staying on active birth control pills from here on out and I should have my final transfer calendar next week....NEXT WEEK!! Wow! Time is flying now!  The guys and I are getting so excited for it to begin.  My next accupuncture appointment is in 2 weeks. 

Waiting

I had no idea the waiting would be so hard!  Now that we have done the medical screening, I just want to get the show on the road!  I've shared my journey with most people and have been supported in many different ways!  I was most nervous about sharing this with my boss and I shouldn't of stressed at all, because as I knew deep down he would be supportive!  I have the best boss ever and one who is so supportive of my life and my decisions and is there to see me through it all!  So, back to waiting!  I have started my 2nd pack of pills and call Dr Sahakian whenever I need to and he reassures me I am doing just fine!  We are on track for an end of March transfer, which is actually only 2 short months away! I will also begin a new round of acupuncture, which I know is the reason I had a great pregnancy and such a quiet, calm baby!! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lindsey Hahn for watching the bean so I can begin and continue acupuncture! For now, I talk to the guys every other weekend via Skype and continuously over email and we all wait and know the day of the transfer will be here very, very soon. 

Success in LA

Monday, December 19, 2011 was the start to a whirl wind week of travel and meetings and exciting news! I left Denver on Monday night around 6:30 and flew to LA to meet my IP's and see my friend Karen! After arriving in LA about 1/2 an hour late we jumped in the car to get to the hotel where my IP's were waiting for us.  We arrived at the valet and still needed a little primping...changing shoes, earrings, scarves, and coats!  I am not a fashionta and needed friends to help make the perfect outfit for our first meeting..the shoes were too small and I don't wear hoop earrings (Carrie said I had to wear them).

I was so nervous I thought I was going to pass out!  The guys were waiting for us in the bar and I saw them right away.  Lots of hugs and introductions!  After a drink and dinner it was time to get a little sleep!  We checked into our hotel and didn't get much sleep but were ready to go, on time, (which is hard for Karen) by 8:00 the next morning!  After waiting for quite a while at the clinic we finally got in to see the Dr. and let me tell you he was worth the wait.  He is hilarious...there was a lot of sarcasm and a lot of good news!  He only does day 5 transfers, which means 2 less days of travel for Tucker and I!  He also worked around my schedule for an end of March transfer and uses a lot less medication than I was anticipating!  

After I passed the exam Karen and I were good to go exploring while the guys were at their appointment. 

We met for lunch and talked and talked and talked, about how to leave a tip and how to get to  Rodeo Drive and the Hollywood sign.  I had such a great time getting to know my IP's and am so excited to get this process started.   It struck me at the appointment how vulnerable the guys must feel.  They have no idea who I really am as a person and have to trust that I will do everything I am told.  It takes special people to have that much faith in another person!  I will do everything I am told, when I am told to do it!  It was such a great day and I can't wait to see them again!  It's hard to believe that the next time I see them will be at an ultrasound!  

Now we wait until the transfer...