And Another Bites the dust

It has now been 2 weeks since my transfer sorry that it has taken so long to update but I wanted to have official information when I did. Sadly my transfer didn't take. I knew something was up as I tested and got stark white tests and at times used two pregnancy tests to even the odds of a false negatives. I watched ad my fellow surro sisters got positives at 3dpt, 5dpt and watched a few like me get nothing. What followed after is where the real drama begins, from the clinic not telling me personally that the beta was negative to finding out from IF A, to the poor treatment of me in regards to further medical instructions. to the Nurse Coordinator saying that she assumed Dr. Denker told. The aftermath was as bad as the clean-up after a hurricane,
,tornado and tsunami.

I have spent the past four days pulling information from my IF's and having my program coordinator do the same to resorting to having my agency director get in on it. And after phone tag, email stomp and just plain old fashioned waiting the results are in Financial Reasons are the cause for them not to continue with our contract. Once again in this journey it seems that I am the last to know and only after hitting anyone up do I get an answer or response. This was something that I suspected, after my last phone conversation with IF A. I never got to speak to IF Y. They were done and I was the last to know. I wish them luck in the future.

So now I am waiting on a period after stopping my fertility meds and am also looking into being rematched. Census among surro sisters says 5 days this is the fourth day. I expect it to be very heavy which means I need to beef up on my vitamins I experience heavy periods with my hypothyroidism anyway.

I will be back I have to wait for 2 months and am very hopeful that in that time I can be matched with new IP's and we can cycle this year.

Counting Down the days until beta

Hello everyone I am officially 7dpt5dt (Seven days past a Five day transfer) the wait is killing and the pressure is on for a positive result. I have to admit I tested on Sunday and it was negative and that bummed me out. I got discouraged and decided not to test until Sunday or not at all. My Beta is scheduled for Monday morning at 9:30 am. No pressure right

So throw on some more my IF's who have been relatively quiet sent me a text yesterday asking how I felt and if I would test on Sunday and let them know the results. Hubby didn't want me to test any further and my coordinator says she doesn't bother because the stress was just too much and she is right, it is. But I agreed I figured that with it being so close to beta the chances of it being correct would be better seeing as how we would we almost 13-14 days past transfer right? But, that's the thing with IVF it is a crapshoot to borrow a phrase from another surro friend there are so many variables And no one method works its a tweaking of sorts increase estrace decrease progesterone.

So to keep myself busy I am focusing on back-to-school shopping and I have shirked away from the Surrogate groups for a bit. I have a lot of women supporting me and that helps.

$ more days until Sunday and 5 more until beta....... the saga continues

The Countdown has begun

Well today is the egg retrieval and I am praying that all goes well. I will call the clinic just to find out if it was done to calm my nerves. My nerves are raw we have had one too many pit stops along the way in the ;journey and I am just trying to keep it together. I have increased fruits in my diet my vitamins and added an hour to my exercise routine all in a bid to keep my mind distracted.

I have my yellow nail polish and will be going in for a haircut on Saturday. I go to buy my new yoga pants tomorrow and I have my yellow socks and yellow top with long sleeves the room can get chilly.  The next post from me will hopefully be of me and IF's and hubby  before transfer and me in my gown and I pray that we get a photo of the embryos.

4 days down and counting until T-Day.....

New Photo- Before Transfer and Pregnancy

I wanted to post an updated photo before transfer with my belly showing of course I am a little fluffy around the mid-section with no definition lol but delivering six (6) kids will do that to you.

Transfer Day is Drawing Near

I am updating we are back on track and I am praying every day for smooth sailing after so many disappointments we have a date I have been on Lupron for the past 2 weeks and am scheduled to start estrace pills next Wednesday. I am cautiously optimistic.

I am making plans for T-Day

*****UPDATE*****

When I originally started this post that was where we were in the journey since then The law for Marriage Equality was passed. I sent my IF's a text with the LGBT flag that said Love wins and got a lovely text EQUALITY FOR ALL!!. I started my estrace pills and already went for my baseline monitoring appointment where they measure my Uterine Lining and check to see that I am not ovulating which they do with a transvaginal ultrasound. Of course in true fashion my meds had not been ordered and I had to pick them up myself. I left the office with the assistant Nurse Kari promising to have the rest for my upcoming appointment which is tomorrow, by the way. I am Lupron, estrace, aspirin and prenatal vitamins I already have the sitter secured. LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!!

My how quickly things change

So after my rant a few weeks back I got the shock of my life and let me tell you that even I am wondering Can we get this done with done with minimal drama please so here's the recap I got my period 5 days after stopping Provera and called the RE clinic as instructed since it came after closing hours. I  waited until 4:300 and finally I called and found that the person in question had left for the day with no instructions what really? I was told that I could call back in the AM umm no I called and left a message already this is important so the receptionist places me on hold and checks my file yes it is written that I be called back and make an appointment for Cycle Day3 umm great that is what 1 day away you have got to be kidding me how do you make such a gross error I have two school aged kids and timing and scheduling are everything to my family to keep us on track at best. It doesn't always work that way but hey I try my hardest to ensure that it does.

I make the appointment go in early that 11:00 am time was not working for me. The Re -Dr. Denker comes in personally conducts the ultrasound and is pleased to with his findings and tells me to start Estrace again make another appointment for Monday May 4th 2015 by then they should have more concrete information about the rest of the cycle and how it will go.

So we wait 24 hours and we find out more

I have the Summer Off

Okay so I thank you for following me and my 4th surrogate journey which is turning out to be a pile of just hurry up and wait fest. I have gone over and debated what to writ only because tis is a surrogacy and words can come back to hurt you and be used against you. I want any potential surrogate to realize that the journey is not all smiles and rainbows and hugs. We are all individuals and we all have our bad days and angry days and pissed off days we are human that said . We have to learn each other's temperaments I will lay the truth bare but as always remain respectful of everyone involved.

So I am a planner that's what I do, and the info I got at my last screening was rushed half there nothing concrete and full of take this take that and call when you get your period? What? wait What? But I have another question oh okay and ushered out of the office. WHAT THE HELL  Talk to me this is my body and time I just want to know what we are doing? dang

Okay I fill my script for Provera and Estrace and now I am waiting for a very heavy AF (aunt flow) to hit me hard. I texted IF #1 and his response was a bit stinging I won't repost it but I showed it to DH and he suggested that I leave them alone for a bit give them some space. In essence I was told the information that I am asking and it will be 2-3 months although the Doctor told me 1 1/2 months oookaay

So fellow followers I am off for the summer I will be back when I don't know but tahtnks for reading feel free to contact me if you are anew surrogate and have questions I have lots of expierence

Another Cancelled Transfer

Hello, again fellow followers I had my monitoring appointment yesterday and got another bomb dropped on me our egg donor had to cancel this cycle and it seems that she won't be ready for another 2-3 months uggh Are you kidding me? How many more freaking delays and setbacks are we going to have?  wait I take that back before the universe finds something else to throw at us. I am disappointed but realize that every thing happens for a reason and that not everything is under my control.

Oh and top it all off my Program Coordinator left and I have a new one wait again really? sighs also not under my control, I will miss Nicole and we plan to stay in touch through out my journey. So my new coordinator is Meagan and she is just as nice and warm and also a two-time surrogate, so she can relate to the injections the slow crawl and the start and stop of a surrogacy journey.

I still wanted to share my pics of Mr. wand seeing as how I had already snapped these before getting news of the cancellation.

So what's on the horizon now that we are on hold, I have to continue with estrace in the form of patches and Provera in the form of pills for 10 days until I get a very heavy period and then I will probably start BCP's to prevent an oops pregnancy even though hubby won't touch without a box of condoms on hand. I get my tooth fixed, lose the weight gain from the meds plan my kids summer holiday routine and by then I will be ready to cycle again and everything will fall in line.

So next check in will be when I head back to the RE's office on day 2-3 of my cycle for baseline ultrasound and blood draw

Grow lining grow

So I had a double appointment this week and got some god news and not so good news my lining is thick and fluffy but my triple stripe is taking a little longer to develop hmmph issues issues, issues, like really so I have to pull out the big guns and add some Pomegranate Juice to my regimen and see if it will grow. My lining is measuring 11.4 which is good. My dosage of estradiol is quadruple strength so that may be why they didn't up the dosage they did ask me to bring my estradiol with me and gave me my shot in the office maybe switching it from the evening to the morning will help more. I will be doing the same thing on Monday morning (April 13th).

I also have a new coordinator, her name is Megan I will miss Nicole we have been through so much together but she did promise to come to visit when it is time for me to deliver, funny how we already have that date pencilled in soo next post will be next week and here's to praying for development and a successful transfer

Moving Along...

So, we have had much progress I have been on Lupron now for about a week and have a few appointments back to back. let me say that I am experiencing some new symptoms on Lupron this time around (30cc's) increased appetite, a stronger feminine body odor only when I urinate though I have taken to increasing my water intake just to help some way and besides water is good for you I can't wait to discuss this with the RE. I hope that this isn't TMI but I felt the need to be open and honest in the hopes that one day a new surrogate will come across this and see that the side effects go way past the headaches, hot flashes and mood swings.

So Transfer Date is April 210th and we are moving towards it after all its April 1st next post to foloow

New egg donor

Hello Fairybumpmother followers, I have exciting news my IF's have found HER!!! Their new egg donor and we are on the move. I found out Sunday evening when I had a chat with my IF's via text and got a lovely surprise call from the Fertility Clinic Monday morning I am to start meds again on Friday March 20th 2015t hey will also do a trans vaginal ultrasound and I am sure some blood work will be in there as well. My dosage of Estrogen will be lowered to gradually build my lining and I am guessing for now that we will transfer in May.

I am sooo excited and pleased. The only thing to bum me out is the constant delays with the escrow company damn them for not being in Florida. Due to the ice storm or somebody's ineffectiveness to get things done in a timely matter, its March 11th and I still haven't received my insurance premimum/monthly allowance bummer I am trying to keep calm and not lose it but the agent is not really helping much oh well can't wait for this weather to break

Transfer Cancelled

Hello to me followers and those who pop in from time to time so our transfer was cancelled on Thursday the embryos didn't survive the testing so my instructions are to quit all meds shed my lining and start over again. We also have to find a new egg donor as the current now former one will not be used again. Hold up before I go any further let me start over as there is a crisis that is missing from my illustrious tale.

Wednesday night 8:36pm- I get an urgent call and text message from my coordinator Nicole to call the agency owner asap, my mind is racing and I can't think of what has gone possibly wrong to warrant such urgency. I do as asked, and am bummed to find out that after all the drama with purchasing a health insurance plan in time for the February 15th 2015 deadline, missing insurance card and two payments later, our policy may have a surrogacy exclusion WTF really when transfer is hours away and the transfer could possibly be delayed really no way so after 4 hours of back and forth communications between myself, coordinator, insurance agent we come to the conclusion that there is nothing that can be done after hours we just have to wait until the morning and deal with it then.

Thursday Febraury 26th 2015 8:00am- So I go with the game plan as asked and get to the clinic at 8:00 am to say that I am not stressed at this point doesn't do it justice. I speak with the ladies at the reception area and before I forget my cell and mobile charger are now dead, I also have a message waiting for me that my husband called and I am like OMG WTF else can go wrong? credit card issues ,really just pile more shit on this hectic day.

I start to hyperventilate and was encouraged to take one of the valium prescribed for the transfer to get me calm down a make a joke about it we all nervously laugh.

At the end If's were there we hugged and supported each other. there was nothing we could but scratch this cycle and start over. Praying for a new egg donor and success after my monster period comes then it will be back to the injections hormones and sore tushie

Transfer Day getting ready

transfer day is almost here- Tursday February 26th

Hello everyone I wanted to update while I have a little down time in between picking up my sons from school. So in true anything that can go wrong will go wrong fashion , my back up support person had to bail on me, and hubby has to work a double and couldn't get the time off for TRANSFER DAY!!! I found out yesterday her car is bummed so that left me scrambling for a definite plan of action.

Luckily for us our babysitter from a few years ago moved back to the area and we ran into her at a community event , took her number marvelous thing she works at a pre school/daycare and we totally trust whoo hoo so after picking up a few last minute items with hubby for tomorrow into the weekend we went and signed all necessary forms with the schools and notified them of the changes to their pick up routine.

Now time to pick up the kids pack a little overnight bag  and relax (yeah right) thank goodness they give you something to calm your nerves before the procedure they know how jittery surrogates can get.

Instructions for tomorrow: No scented items in fact I will take a shower at midnight and that is it, no makeup, perfume, douches, deordant etc A full bladder I will bring a bottle of water with me or iced tea whichever is easier to go down.

So the next time I post I will have pictures from transfer day and home pregnancy tests photso because you we surros are obsessed with POAS'ing (peeing on a stick)

Update- Transfer is February 26th

Hello fellow followers it has been awhile and we have had so many development s I want to document and tell as much of it that I remember:



So let's see I have started meds and boy are they beginning to hurt ouchy. So along with that we had to have hiccups with  my health insurance card and the wrong address, delayed reimbursements and such as I remember more I will add more also how about my Transfer dates changing from February 22-23 to now officially to Thursday February 26th 2q015 now for the staff to get the time down pat. Also almost cried when they told me my lining had decreased but then it never got past 8.2-9 so for me the 11 was a stretch by far. But the transfer is still on I am hoping for multiples I know that most in the surrogate world would say I am crazy then I am.  I just want success for my IF's. Below are pictures from my last two visits, forgive the naughty pic I didn't see the end product but I decided to share it anyway

First Injection taken

Buenos Dias' everybody I wanted to update: My first monitoring appointment was on Tuesday which is when I took my first Lupron injection on and it was a breeze. Of course it was the needle is tiny and it goes into your stomach which has a little more cushioning in it if you are like me and have already delivered 6 children, lol. The ultrasound of my uterus showed that all was quiet I saw 3 follicles but the nurse wasn't to broken up about it as they were very small and we need to remember that the magnification on the machine is at least 50 times more that normal. The backdrop of it was that it was a calamity of errors just getting to the clinic waking up late car not working using public transportation and a taxi cab rescheduling a later time and having to take my youngest with me. It was a morning

We are finalizing the contract as we speak and although it is an industry standard to not start meds everyone lawyer's included are informed and we are due to have them signed and notarized by tomorrow ( Friday January 23 2015) because Lupron is used to suppress the ovaries and stop my body from ovulating we have this extra leeway. It feels so god to be moving. I have already cut out caffeine, I have always used brown or no extra sugar, increased my whole milk intake and started to do a little exercising as it helps to rid the body of toxins and get everything regulated.

I even spoke to IF's even though it was by text message and it was brief no word yet if they will attend the transfer but either way I have a support system, next time I will try to get a pictue in the exam room!!!

Getting Closer.......

Hello everybody I am so excited but cautiously optimistic, I finally have the contract in my hands and have begun to make revisions to it with my attorney. I do not want to jinx anything and am taking it all in stride. my Coordinator seems very hopeful that we will get the contract signed and completed by Tuesday January 20th 2015 as that is the day my Lupron shots begin and are really taking off.

Oh and I am waiting confirmation that they will both be in attendance for the transfer and for delivery. Next post will be of me at the clinic getting my shots and getting my med protocol

UPDATE

Hello everybody I am back and I have great news awesome in fact my fourth journey is up and running. After everything the clinic called me today and told me the following information:

I am to remain on my active birth control pills I start Lupron injections on the 20th of this month, estrogen on February 6th and I will be having monitoring  appointments in between those and drumroll please: TRANSFER DAY IN JANUARY 23-24TH!!! WHOO HOO!!!.
 
I am excited to finally be getting somewhere in my journey I can't wait to reach out to my IF's. They have been relatively quiet going through this and I didn't want to bombard them as we crashed through every setback also contracts will be done soon