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.....
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.
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!!!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)
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
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
So every time I think we are moving forward we stall. I am growing weary of this match. Let me back track so after all the med screens and blood work I was cleared to start this journey. I receive an email from coordinator that she has forwarded my info to the attorney I requested and that he would be in contact with me as both the IP's and I will be working out the particulars. I even spoke with the agency owner to clarify the terms of the Gestational Agreement.
I speak with said attorney, I am very familiar with IP's attorney as he was mine on my second journey. So a week goes by no word I call "my attorney" he refers me to agency coordinator who tells me IP's lawyer is going out of town to a conference and I would have to wait until he gets back. Okay send in RE's Head Nurse with med instructions etc. and talk of me starting Lupron and me possibly have to switch brand and type of BCP's, now it gets interesting as the birth control pills I am currently on are for my own personal reasons as both DH and I want to prevent an oops pregnancy at this time. I always go back on BCP's after a pregnancy for that particular reason.
For those who are new to surrogacy Lupron or BCP's are used to suppress the ovaries before PIO (progesterone in oil) is administered in preparation for an embryo transfer. Back to the long winded tale, I play phone tag from "attorney" and tell him what the clinic is proposing but also he knows we DO NOT HAVE A CONTRACT!!!!. I will tell any potential surrogate not to start any type of meds without a contract. I put attorney in caps as they have yet to pay his fees to legally represent me sighhhhh. Sorry for swerving off course I just want to clarify a few things as I go along. His advice speak with my coordinator and do not switch anything as that can be seen and viewed as start of meds which I have an reimbursement for.
Well I final speak with my coordinator who finally reveals to me that the attorney we thought the IP's were using they have not legally retained and as of Friday November 21 2014 they have no legal representation. So I was flabbergasted after all the jumping through hoops and delays to still have a delay and its not even my fault I was tad bit miffed. I want to help this cou[le but it seems like something is off she wanted me to follow through and switch saying that the escrow company would reimburse me the cost. I agreed but it still left me unsettled so I gave in and called the agency owner who matched us I explained the whole situation again to her including the fact that my contact with The Boys has been close to Nil with one line responses to a paragraph long email. That wasn't sitting right with me considering that close contact was what we both asked for and agreed on.
There is just so many unknowns and as we head into the Thanksgiving Day holiday I cant help but to feel a little saddened as I await a call as to whether or not they will be moving forward or are they even ready to take on this journey. There is still a little more that I want to say but I think you my foloowers get the drift. When I post again it may be just to say that I am back on the hunt for new IP's :(
Hello I am back and I have great news we are finally moving along and I have just completed the last leg of my medical screening. It was a Godsend that I was able to be seen and be on my period at the exact time that they needed me to be. That's the beauty of the world of surrogacy and the medical screening process you can move from being at standstill to a flurry of appointment in matter of days.
So here's my checklist thus far:
- Psych Evaluation
- Medical records
- IF meeting face to face
- Pap Screening
- Blood Work
- Mock Transfer
- Saline Sonogram
Those are in no particular order they are just all completed and now we are onto contracts and I hope to have a draft in may hands next week. I just wanted to say thank you for reading my blog and spreading the word. I am sorry that I had to delete my post. I had to take a step back from the process a bit as I realized that I was becoming too worked up over no action being taken. I always enter a journey with a calm mind and spirit and this was out of character for me. I explained to my IF's and they totally understood as they were feeling the same way.
So now as we move forward with contracts we are calmer relaxed and we both know and realize what we want and are ready to take the next step in our journey there.
Hello to all of my followers I know that you may see a few posts missing from my blog it was a hard decisions to take them down but I felt that I had to make it. My journey is up in air and a bit confusing I thought we were all on the same page with starting this year cycling/transfer but I found out that due to miscommunication between my IF's and the initial clinic they will not be able to use them so the search is on for a new clinic. I haven't had my medical screening done to be cleared by the RE as yet thus with agency no contract talks. This is a bit different for me as after the initial meeting contracts and screenings were done simultaneously. So right now I am just waiting which is hard.
I haven't spoken to IF's just got word through a third party that they are upset as it should be as I do believe monies had already been spent. The agency owner is doubtful we will be able to get on in a clinic and she wants us to prepare for 2015 which totally pushes my schedule off. So now I may have a few major decision to make myself .I hope to have some news soon until then send prayers for us
Checking In... So I have done it all to get my medical records. But for the Labor Day holiday we would have them but take a breath My husband says breathe You will get them I thank God for him I do not know how I would keep sane.
I am just so excited to be so close I haven't spoken to my IF's yet but I know when we do speak it will be kismet. So I have A Pap Screening to do and I start birth control pills and I continue to keep in shape. Did I tell you that Lost over 20 lbs. from February and I my BMI is 27 whoo hoo I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to do it. But with my hubby's help I am doing it.
Pre-transfer Regimen: No extra salt, sugar, decaf coffee, water or iced tea only no soda. Extra Vegetables pre-natal vitamins...
One Step closer...
