Monday, December 28, 2015

I need my estrogen!

I had my appointment for labs and ultrasound as planned on Monday, Dec. 21. My bloodwork came back super quick but my ultrasound report did not. Apparently the holiday week posed a problem for my clinic in sending that report to the fertility clinic. This might have been tolerable if that report didn't determine the next step in meds, and keep me on the Lupron and it's side effects longer than planned! After 3 long hot flashy, migraine filled days (my side effects increased after the birth control pills were stopped, leaving hormone-less!), my fertility clinic decided to let me lower my Lupron dose and add in some estrogen - without seeing the report. The clinic made the decision based on lab results and the fact that my period started as expected. Although I wish they had received the report, I was grateful and relieved to have been able to begin my the Estrace. I think I became like an addict looking for drugs: "Anybody got any estrogen???? Please, I NEED THE ESTROGEN!"


Ok, maybe it wasn't that bad -- maybe only in my head. The husband says that I was ok without hormones. He's a nice guy though, and he has to live with me.

I did speak with my OB today actually - during my annual exam - and she was very apologetic about their mistake and assured it would not happen with the next ultrasound on January 5. I'll be sure to get a copy of the report myself before I leave the office that day, just to be safe.

I'll continue on the Lupron and the Estrace until we check the uterine lining at the next ultrasound. In the meantime, you all can enjoy some family photos from our Christmas (because pictures always make blogs more interesting!)


Monday, December 14, 2015

Meds are here

My meds arrived last weekend and we began Lupron (an ovary suppressing injection) on Wednesday, December 9. My apologies for not posting about such exciting news sooner, BUT I have a really good excuse for being too busy. Due to the Christmas season being  a really, really good reason for all things baking, I spent last week prepping dough for my family's annual holiday cookie baking day. This was the result...



Each year, we bake our little hearts out. Then we package them up, and pass them out to our neighbors, friends, teachers, etc. It's a sweet tradition that we look forward to every year -- and I think our recipients do as well! 

So that, friends, is what has kept me away from the blog this week. And since I was so busy mixing, rolling, and baking, I did not take a picture of the meds when they arrived. It's the same protocol as the previous surrogacies, but if you need a recap, you can go here.

I have been on the Lupron for 6 days now. The small little stick on the belly doesn't bother me one bit. But the side effects the first couple of days were pretty awful - mostly headaches, hot flashes, and nausea. Those seem to be subsiding as we move along. I will continue the Lupron at my current dose until an ultrasound on December 21. If that shows that the Lupron is doing it's job (turning off my ovaries so no follicles are producing eggs), then my dose will be lessened and we'll move onto the next medication to start preparing the uterine lining for transfer. 

In the meantime, I'll continue baking, drinking hot chocolate, attending classroom winter parties, wrapping presents, and looking at Christmas lights with the family! 

(My Crew at the Opry Hotel, Nashville)

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Winter transfer is on it's way!

I had my screening appointment earlier in the week at CT Fertility. Everything went great, as expected. The doctor said my uterus looked "wonderful," and that it was empty and "just waiting for a baby." IVF doc humor? ;)

My lab results from the bloodwork should come back next week. After that, I will receive a timeline as well as meds. We have transfer scheduled for January 14, 2016. I am very excited to finally have some dates on the calendar. I should be starting meds sometime around mid-December but of course will know more next week.

We had planned to meet K & J in person during the appointment, but they had an emergency at the last minute and couldn't make it. They will definitely be there for the transfer.

The husband and I had several hours after the appointment before our flight home. So, we popped on over to Hoboken, NJ and had a cannoli from the famous Carlo's Bakery! It was fantastic, and we were able to bring some back home to the kids.

(don't mind our selfie taking skills)

I wish I had more to update but this particular part of the process is pretty par for the course. And we're back to waiting again.

I'll check back in soon, friends!

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Third Surrogacy is a Charm

Hi, friends! My blog redesign is taking  a bit longer than I had planned. I'm holding my web-designer husband accountable. So if you're reading this: "Waiting on you now."

I definitely don't want to delay the update I promised you all in the previous post, so here goes...

This past August, just a little over a year since giving birth for my second couple, I was matched with a third couple, K & J from MA. (Yay!) We had a phone call and clicked right away and moved right into contracts. We finalized that in October, so the process is officially underway for my third (and likely final) surrogate journey.

I have an appointment on November 18 in Connecticut for medical screening (bloodwork and sonogram to make sure the ol' uterus is still in good working order). I am working with the same doctor and clinic as before, CT Fertility. I do not have a transfer date yet, but I assume it would likely be sometime in December or January. I'll know more, of course, after my screening appointment. For now, I'll work on this fear of flying thing and prepare myself for some super cold weather, the likes of which I am not used to being in Tennessee.

K & J are planning on being at the screening appointment with us; we're super excited to meet them in person.

The clinic did begin my birth control a little more than a week ago. That's ok, aside from the headaches and bloating. But that's a small sacrifice in light of the big picture.

I'm thrilled to share this update with you all and to be able to have the opportunity to carry for another couple. The first two experiences were great, and I know the third time will be a charm as well.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Where have you been???

I get asked this question every now and then, mostly in regard to the blog and surrogacy. I sort of dropped off the grid after my last post, which was about a year half ago! Time got away from as my husband continued to travel a LOT for work. But he has a new position now, my oldest child is 18 and has already moved out, so I'm looking forward to making time for this blog now. :)

Since it has been awhile since I posted, I will let you know that surrogacy #2 was a success and health baby boy was delivered on August 14, 2014.

37 weeks

Picture above is the last picture before little man made his appearance.

And since birth stories are fun, I'd tell you one from a year ago.

FYI: BIRTH STORIES MAY CONTAIN TMI

I woke up on August 14 (2014) about 4:30a after feeling a small "pop", um, down there; I thought  it was my water breaking, but when I got out of bed, there was no water (no dripping, leaks, gush, etc). So maybe I was mistaken -- it was very early in the morning after all! I went to the bathroom, as usual, and nothing out of the ordinary there....a little pink on my toilet paper, but maybe I just wasn't awake and was seeing things. So I laid back f=down and tried to go back to sleep. But I kept having a feeling that something wasn't quite right. I got up, walked around, tried to think; again, no leaking, contractions, anything -- just a weird feeling, and maybe a little back ache.

Unable to shake the uneasy feeling, I called my OB's office at 5:45a, and told the on call OB what happened. I really wasn't that concerned, still thinking it was nothing. She insisted that I head to the hospital just to be safe, especially considering the lower back ache and the fact that I was already at 2cm my last appointment. Plus, it was also the 7th baby and they just fall out at that point, so better to be safe than sorry. ;)

I woke the hubby and we got ready to go. As I was standing at the door waiting for the husband, I had my first contraction. No big deal, it's only the first one, right?! Except the next one was 2 minutes later and HARD! Then I knew I was in transition and that we might not make it to the hospital. I spent the drive in rush hour traffic in construction on the interstate with hard, fast contractions 1-2 minutes apart. I'm not going to lie: I though I might have that baby right there in the husband's clean car!

But we made it to the hospital with about 30 minutes to spare. I was 8cm when I arrived and had feet in stirrups and pushing about 20 minutes later. No time for meds, and barely enough time for an IV. Baby was ready and came out at a healthy 8lbs, 3 ounces.

And I would LOVE to show you baby pictures (because the baby is the most fun part in all this!), but out of respect for the family's privacy, I can not. But rest assured that he is a handsome guy and his family is so happy to have him in their lives!


Thanks for letting me catch you all up here. I plan on spending some time this weekend redesigning the blog and will be back with an update on surrogacy #3! Stay tuned....