More than halfway!

Do you know what's boring? A happy, healthy pregnancy. No issues, no drama, just happy healthy baby and gestational surrogate. :-) Busy, happy, healthy surro. With a bit of a recent addiction to Candy Crush. But, all in all, I don't feel compelled to blog much anymore. I think about blogging all the time; about all the little and big things I want to share, but I don't feel the need to as often anymore. This blog and you guys really helped me work through all the ups, and the many downs of my early surro journey, but, for the most part, at this point, with no more shots, no more monitoring, it just feels like a normal pregnancy, and, really, who wants to read about that? ;) "Today I had heartburn. Today I had a headache. Today I had heartburn and a headache. The baby moved a lot, especially at night, again today." See, b-o-r-i-n-g. ;)

Which is not to say that exciting things haven't happened. First of all, I feel it necessary to point out, after making light of it above, that I love the part of the pregnancy when you can feel the baby rocking and rolling in there. Just like with my own kids, I like to take a little time every night and every morning while I'm in bed (if I have time) to just sit and feel Baby for a bit. I appreciate my good night kicks and good morning punches. And I try to appreciate all the karate chops and funky dance moves in between. Also, after a bit of drama, the amnio all went very well, if a week later than originally planned, and the baby is genetically beautiful, which we optimists knew, of course, but confirmation is always nice.

Super exciting was a few weeks ago when B & C, and their son, came to visit. They spent to weekend in the area, and got to meet my kids and family, and we all had a wonderful time. My daughter especially just adored their son (she told me she's going to marry him), and my family just loved them. We also got to tour the hospital, which was the first visit there for me as well, and it seems like a good, mostly laid back place with a lot of experience with surros. The only major bummer of the weekend was that Tony had to work, so he only got to see the guys for the hospital tour.

And I had to, of course, save the biggest news for last. The main reason the guys were here was for the Big Ultrasound that happened that Monday. The ultrasound tech was way nicer than me and wasted no time informing us all that B & C will be having a little girl! It was a very exciting moment to be a part of, and they were thrilled, and I think that helped make it a little more real for their son, who didn't want to let go of the pictures of his "little sister" after the ultrasound.

There are so many more little things I'd like to touch on, but I think I got the big things, and preggo girls need their sleep!

Catching up

It's been brought to my attention that I've been slacking on my responsibilities to the blogosphere, and to you, oh great blogosphere, I apologize. :) For the most part, things have been unremarkable lately, which is exactly how things should be going at this point. And a nice, smooth pregnancy makes for boring blogging.

We're 16 weeks 1 day today, coming up on 4 months, and the second trimester is treating us pretty good. The general nausea has passed, and the ravenous hunger that was alternated with it has eased up some. I can no longer brag about my minimal weight gain, as I randomly gained, like, 8 pounds in a week. Foretunately I've kept it down since. 3 miles a day on the treadmill has got to count for something. Although, to be fair, a fair amount of it has gone to my boobs (everyone else is talking about them, so I'm allowed to; seriously, 2 different people with whom I'm not sure I'm that close with have commented on them). They have gotten ridiculously huge (like, 3 cup sizes in the past 2 months), which has really affected my wardrobe. The cleavage being flashed by my adorable holiday dress was no longer technically Passover/Easter appropriate. Besides that, I am just starting to look like I'm letting myself go a bit, with no identifiable baby bump as of yet.

We had our first trimester ultrasound a few weeks ago, and everything is looking perfect. Baby is starting to look like a Baby and not a Blobby anymore. And on Thursday we have the big amnio, which I'm actually a little excited about, as weird as that may sound. Before I was really not keen on the idea, but I know how important it is to B & C, and now I'm kind of looking forward to it, kind of as another thing I can kick ass at ( ;-) ), like the shots. And it's always nice to see Baby, and have Baby's health confirmed. I'm also supposed to be on bedrest for 24-36 hours afterwards, and after the constant colds I've been battling this winter, an excuse to stay in bed for a day actually sounds pretty fabulous. I've already picked up a couple of movies from the library for the occasion, and am looking forward to intersplicing that with some Walking Dead.

Since I should have a bit of extra time on Thursday, I'll try to pop back over here and let you all know how the giant needle in my uterus went. :-D

Pin cushion no more!

Approximately 65 progesterone shots,
21 estrogen shots,
13 blood draws,
and I'm done!

I got the call from my nurse Thursday that yesterday's progesterone check was good enough (last week's was not), and I can officially stop doing my progesterone shots! Or more accurately, Tony can stop doing my shots. :) I'm so excited. After the disappointment of last week when my numbers weren't quite high enough, I didn't want to get my hopes up too much, but I was apparently at least somewhat optimistic because I didn't order any new meds or needles, and we were down to just a few more days of both. No worries now though! Eeeee! It's become such integral part of my day, I can hardly believe we're finally done, and my bum can start on the road t Approximately 65 progesterone shots,
21 estrogen shots,
13 blood draws,
and I'm done!

I got the call from my nurse Thursday that Wednesday's progesterone check was good enough (last week's was not), and I can officially stop doing my progesterone shots! Or more accurately, Tony can stop doing my shots. :) I'm so excited. After the disappointment of last week when my numbers weren't quite high enough, I didn't want to get my hopes up too much, but I was apparently at least somewhat optimistic because I didn't order any new meds or needles, and we were down to just a few more days of both. No worries now though! Eeeee! It's become such integral part of my day, I can hardly believe we're finally done, and my bum can start on the road to recovery. Which I don't actually think will take very long; I have a few little knots and bruises, but nothing major. In a week or two it'll be just like we weren't poking holes in my butt on a regular basis. I even get to stop my vaginal suppositories Monday. Drug-free in 2013! Whoo-hoo!

So, my body is really on the job now. My placenta has taken over production of the estrogen and progesterone. It's nice to have some confirmation that things are going right because we're getting to the time during pregnancy that's really uneasy for me. The first trimester symptoms are starting to fade (except for the boobs; they're still huge and sore) and it's not possible to feel the baby yet, and I get a little paranoid sometimes, for no reason. I'll feel better once this kiddo starts using my insides as a punching bag. :-) Monday we'll have further confirmation of the continued health of this little one at our NT ultrasound, which screens for various possible issues, and I'm sure we're going to pass with flying colors. :-)

P.S. Am I the only one who doesn't get Portlandia? I've heard good things, and we've tried giving it a good fair try, but so far, about half of the episodes are almost painful to watch. Am I missing something, or am I just too old or unhip for sketch comedies? o recovery. Which I don't actually think will take very long; I have a few little knots and bruises, but nothing major. In a week or two it'll be just like we weren't poking holes in my butt on a regular basis. I even get to stop my vaginal suppositories Monday. Drug-free in 2013! Whoo-hoo!

So, my body is really on the job now. My placenta has taken over production of the estrogen and progesterone. It's nice to have some confirmation that things are going right because we're getting to the time during pregnancy that's really uneasy for me. The first trimester symptoms are starting to fade (except for the boobs; they're still huge and sore) and it's not possible to feel the baby yet, and I get a little paranoid sometimes, for no reason. I'll feel better once this kiddo starts using my insides as a punching bag. :-) Monday we'll have further confirmation of the continued health of this little one at our NT ultrasound, which screens for various possible issues, and I'm sure we're going to pass with flying colors. :-)

P.S. Am I the only one who doesn't get Portlandia? I've heard good things, and we've tried giving it a good fair try, but so far, about half of the episodes are almost painful to watch. Am I missing something, or am I just too old or unhip for sketch comedies?

10 Weeks, Baby!

Can't believe it, but we're already 1/4 of the way done! To be fair, we did get to start 4 weeks in, but, still, time is flying. :) We're making crazy progress over here. I believe I forgot to mention that on January 31, my estrogen was over 700 (we were looking for 500+) and we got to stop our estrogen shots. And last week's progesterone check put me at 57.8, which meant we got to start weaning off the progesterone (still shots every night, but we get to cut the dosage by half). We do another progesterone check on Wednesday. I'm not sure if a good number then means we stop the shots altogether, or we take another half step down. Either way, my body is so ready to take over this pregnancy! :)

I sure had to earn that progesertone level last week, though. First, and I realized it just as I was handing the lab order to the receptionist, my nurse forgot to write the account to which to bill the test, so I had to call up and have them fax over another order. They called me back just as the courier showed up to pick up the stat orders, and my tests are always labeled stat, so they asked him to wait. And then they came back and told me they don't run progesterone stat. I could have sworn they ran my progesterone stat before, but, whatever. And they can't just not run it stat, they have to get an official okay from the ordering doctor's office. Fortunately, this time they called themselves, and the office okayed them not running it stat. I'm starting to feel a little nervous because I haven't seen the kid they've got back with me to draw my blood before, and being there on a regular basis, I'm pretty familiar with the staff. But I tell myself not to be negative because last time I was negative, it was my most painful blood draw. And then I noticed that one of the regular women is staying back to oversee him. Yup, he's a newbie. Doh. The stick wasn't *too* bad, but it wasn't a good one, either. He was in there for a while, too. But he tapes me up, and I'm getting ready to go, and the phlebotomist is checking out the vial of blood, asking him, "Is this all you got?" :-/ Well, clearly it is. Double doh. So I offer up my other arm, and she gets it done right and finally my very patient little boy and I are on our way. :)

Wednesday's blood draw will also include labs for our first trimester screening. That's part one, and part two is an ultrasound that somebody will hopefully call me tomorrow to schedule. That ultrasound has to take place sometime in the next 2.5 weeks to be valid, so we'll definitely be seeing this kiddo again soon.  :)

Kismet and Teagun were looking through a catalogue playing the ever popular "I want" game when Teagun came across a baby activity mat, and announced, "Let's give that to B & C's baby!" <3

Usually, I'm a follow the recipe as opposed to make up my own dinner kind of girl, but for several days the Baby has been requesting a new and very specific pasta dish: farfelle with a butter and garlic sauce, with sun dried tomatoes, sauted mushrooms, peas and bacon. I finally got around to making it Saturday, and this kid is a culinary genius. Everybody in the house devoured it, and I had to make it again tonight. Yum!

Baby Blobby

I apologize for my little absence there. In addition to being freakin' exhausted (usually I blog at the end of the day, and by the time that of day all I want to do is snuggle up to Tony, if I make it that far), there's been some non-surro-related stuff going on that has fortunately turned out all puppy dogs and roses, but was taking up a good deal of my mental energy.

Anyyyyyyywaaaaayyyyysss, the news you've all been waiting for is finally here! Ultrasound today was pretty conclusive that we have one healthy baby in here. Baby Blobby, as I referred to he/she today (in reference to the baby's distinct resembalance to a two lump blob; an adorable blob, but a blob at the moment), is measuring a nice 9 weeks 1 day, about 2.5cm, with a heart rate of 147. Baby Blobby is still sharing my womb with an extra sac. The other sac is measuring 6 weeks, about the same as it was 2 weeks ago. Doctor says it should be starting to reabsorb (imbuing Blobby with super powers, maybe? ;) ).

So, Blobby and I are doing mostly well. My biggest "complaints" are fatigue, nausea and heartburn. Last week I had a cold, and that plus pregnancy rendered me useless. I was too beat to do much more than sit on the couch and read. Fortunately, Tony was home and made sure the kids were dressed and had more to eat than dry cereal. :) My "morning sickness" is by far the worst in the evenings, but sometimes it is far more motivated than me and lasts for most of the day, if I don't stay on top of it with little snacks. And I've got some heavy food aversions. I used to eat sunny-side up eggs everyday, and now just writing about them makes my tummy a little yucky. I'm glad I've realized it was the salad dressing that I usually eat that was driving the aversion, and now that I've rectified that, I can enjoy my salads again. Of course, I could eat fruit all day long. We're all in trouble once grapes come back into season. I'm pleased to report that I'm only up about 4 pounds since starting the meds, and coming up on 9.5 weeks preggo, I'm okay with that. I wish I could say it was all in my boobs, but my pants are definitely uncomfortable. :) I'm living in yoga pants until I'm big enough for maternity jeans. I've had a few days where I feel too short of breath to get up on the treadmill, but most days I make it down to the gym, although certainly not nearly as hardcore as I once was. :) But at least it helps curb the weight gain on the days I only want to eat Sour Patch Kids. :-D

It's a good thing surrogacy has taught us patience...

Oops, missed 7 weeks, but more on that later. Important news of the day is that there is no new news. :-/

Today we had a repeat ultrasound in an effort to solve the twinsie mystery. The twinsie mystery stands. I had my ultrasound at the unkind hour of 8:30 (which meant I had to drink 32 ounces of water by 7:30. The contrast of the cold water in my warm belly was unsettling.). The tech did her ultrasound, noting one healthy baby and one "sac of fluid" and then she said she was done. She did all of this through abdominal ultrasound, while last week the tech (at a different office) did both abdominal and trans-vaginal ultrasound, and got the most information on the sacs through the latter. So, after I emptied my grateful bladder, I went back and requested a trans-vaginal ultrasound, for my piece of mind. Thankfully she agreed. Sure enough, she was now able to visualize the other sac, and see the yolk and *possible* fetal pole inside. Measuring smaller than the other sac but bigger than it had last week. Still no heartbeat, though. The tech seemed to be of the opinion that we "shouldn't get our hopes up," but she's seen stranger things happen. Second verse, same as the first. At least I left feeling proud that I insisted on the trans-vaginal ultrasound, even though it didn't tell us anything we didn't learn last week.

At 12:30, I had an appointment to review the ultrasound results with my doctor. Another exercise in frustration, because the radiologist had read the ultrasound wrong and the report he sent to the doctor said both sacs were measuring the same (7.3 weeks), which, I think, made the absence of a heartbeat more final than not being able to find an ultrasound at 6.3 weeks. I insisted the report was incorrect, and the doctor put in a call asking the radiologist to review the ultrasound again. Doctor called me about an hour later to say that I was right (again; who has the fancy degrees around here?), the other sac is smaller, but he still says we're going to call it a singleton pregnancy for now and follow up in two weeks. Ugh, two weeks. In the meantime, I'm still going to blame all of the weight gain on the extra sac.

All in all, it feels like an exhausting, wasted day. Bright side is that we have one little healthy bugger in there, and Dr. says the other sac won't affect the health of that baby, regardless, which was the one piece of happy, useful information I was able to pass along to Daddies today.

I really did intend to write our 7 week stuff here, but I'm so tired. I'm making sushi and spending as much of the rest of the evening on the couch as the kids will allow. One thing of not is that my pants are getting a little uncomfy. :-/ Think high estrogen thoughts for me tomorrow: if we hit 500, we get to cut out our every 3rd day extra shot. Still doing progesterone every night for a while now, but it's a step in the right direction.

Surprise, surprise!

Cutting right to the chase, today we had a surprise ultrasound. Both in the fact that it took place and what it revealed. Turns out we've got two sacs people! After our beta numbers, I was all prepared for one healthy baby. While she's conducting the ultrasound, I saw the first sac, and then she swept around, and I saw the other sac, and I thought "Oh my goodness, twins!" and then I thought, "No, it's probably just the other side of the sac. Ultrasounds are tricky." And then the tech announced "Looks like two of them in there." And I gasped. Oh my goodness.

But it's not for certain that there are 2 viable babies in here yet. The tech was able to find a good strong heartbeat for Baby B, but she was not able to find a heartbeat in the other sac. The other sac was measuring a little smaller, so as far as I understand, that could mean it's just a little bit behind and it's too early to get a heartbeat, or it could mean that sac is not viable and we have one healthy baby and extra sac.

I spoke with our nurse at the IVF clinic this evening, and she said we'll try and get another ultrasound next week to clear this mystery twinsie business up. In the meantime, we're all in flux. I called my IFs and shared the potential news, and they were surprised and cautiously excited. We were all expecting one, and since Daddies have one kiddo already, I think they were looking forward to one more child to complete their family. They aren't opposed to 2, but I think they're a little nervous about the idea of two babies at once, as I imagine most parents of twins are. So, right now, we don't know: do we process this news and get excited about twins, and run the risk of having to mourn a baby that never was, or do we spend the next week or so not processing and just mentally sit on this news? An interesting place to be...

I met my new OB today. Nice guy, very soft spoken, and hooked us up with our surprise ultrasound today. I was supposed to have to go to San Francisco for our ultrasound on Friday, but he was able to give me an order to get it done today, locally, so that was nice.

In other surprise news today, my sister, 19 weeks along, found out the daughter she thought she was having (based on the NT ultrasound at 12 weeks) is, in fact, a son! It was a big day for news via ultrasounds. :-D

The baby(ies) is(are) demanding linguini noodles with spaghetti sauce. Nothing special. Just jarred spaghetti sauce over noodles. I started thinking about it Monday night when mentally planning Tuesday's dinner in bed. My mouth started watering and I almost got out of bed at 11:30 to make it. I found it especially notable because I always prefer angel hair pasta, thin as possible. So to be craving linguini noodles was amusing to me. :)