Surro Babe: 28 Weeks!

We have arrived at the Third and Final Trimester!!! The parents are getting excited, as am I!!

Today is: January 22, 2014

How far along: 28 weeks - 83 Days To Go!!! (give/take)

Total weight gain: 2lbs

Baby is the size of: A Large Eggplant

What is going on with this baby: By this week, baby girl weighs 2 1/4 pounds (about the size of a large eggplant) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Baby is a: GIRL!!!

Maternity Clothes: Oh Yeah, and loving it!!

Sleep: Eh... I am waking up around 3x a night to go to the bathroom and my hips are killing me. 

Movement: She is a Mover and loves to kick my ribs. She is mostly active in the mornings and late afternoons.

Symptoms: I've been getting some energy back but some days I am completely exhausted. I have been getting really bad acid reflux the past week and nothing has been helping.

{23 Weeks}

Food Cravings/Aversions: I have been craving V8 juice and fruit. 

Best moment(s) this week: 
Getting to see Surro Babe at our Amnio Appt.

I'm looking forward to:

OB Appt on 1/29

3D U/S on 2/11

83 Days until the Due Date!!!

Surro Babe: Week 11

Today is: September 29, 2013

How far along: 11 weeks 2 days (tomorrow is 200 days left!!)

Total weight gain: 2lbs 

Baby is the size of: A Fig

What is going on with this baby: Their baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. His/Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of his/her bones are beginning to harden. He/She's already busy kicking and stretching, and his/her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as his/her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel the baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that his/her diaphragm is forming.

Baby is a: ??? Should find out the middle of November!!

Maternity Clothes: oh yeah...

Sleep: My hips are really starting to bother me. I need to invest in the preggo body pillow. 

Movement: Too soon but I am getting little twinges :)

Symptoms: Nausea is slowly getting better. Zofran, Peppermint Gum and Warm Tea are my friends.

Food Cravings/Aversions: I cant eat or drink anything sweet or I will get sick. Loving Protein, fruits and veggies.

Best moment(s) this week: 
Nausea is slowly subsiding. 

I'm looking forward to:

My OB appt on the 2nd!!

Surro Babe: Week 6

Yes, I know I am a day late... I also had to recalculate my due date since it was wrong. I guess I am 2 days farther along than I thought!

Today is: August 26, 2013

How far along:  6 weeks 3 days

Total weight gain: none!

Baby is the size of: a Sweet Pea.

What is going on with this baby: The nose, mouth, and ears that they'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. If you could see into your uterus, you'd find an oversize head and dark spots where their baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. His emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and his arms and legs by protruding buds. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as yours — and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, their baby is a quarter of an inch long.

What is going on with me: I'm still pretty nauseous and really tired. The belly bloat is in full effect. I was prescribed Zofran for my nausea. It is keeping me from getting sick but I still have the worst nausea.

.

Baby is a: ???

Maternity Clothes: Yes.

Sleep: It's getting better but I am still tossing and turning. My hips are aching.

Movement: Too soon.

Symptoms: Nausea, Fatigue, Achy Hips, Frequent Restroom Trips.

Food Cravings/Aversions: Anything really. The only thing that I can somewhat keep down, is instant potatoes. Everything else comes right back up :(

Best moment(s) this week: 
Scheduling our U/S!!

I'm looking forward to: 

The Ultrasound tomorrow!!!!

Surro Babe: Week 4

I can't believe that we am currently FOUR Weeks Pregnant :) I will now start my weekly stats for my IP's! Since they can't be here for the pregnancy, This is a great way for them to stay connected to their Miracle!

Today is: August 11th

How far along: 4 weeks {due April 20, 2014}

Total weight gain: None.

Baby is the size of: A Poppy Seed!

What is going on with this Baby: This week marks the beginning of the embryonic period. From now until 10 weeks, all of your baby's organs will begin to develop and some will even begin to function. As a result, this is the time when she'll be most vulnerable to anything that might interfere with her development.

Right now your baby is an embryo the size of a poppy seed, consisting of two layers: the epiblast and the hypoblast, from which all of her organs and body parts will develop.

The primitive placenta is also made up of two layers at this point. Its cells are tunneling into the lining of your uterus, creating spaces for your blood to flow so that the developed placenta will be able to provide nutrients and oxygen to your growing baby when it starts to function at the end of this week.

Also present now are the amniotic sac, which will house your baby; the amniotic fluid, which will cushion her as she grows; and the yolk sac, which produces your baby's red blood cells and helps deliver nutrients to her until the placenta has developed and is ready to take over this duty.

What is going on with Me: I should be going in for more blood work this week to make sure the numbers are doubling! Then I get to schedule the first ultrasound!

Baby is a: ?? We still have a little ways to go!

Maternity Clothes: No, but they sure do look comfy!

Sleep: I'm up every few hours and I have been tossing and turning..

Movement: None yet!

Symptoms: 
- Waves of Nausea
- Completely Exhausted
- Very Tender Boobs
- Belly Bloat
- Mood Swings

Food Cravings/Aversions:
- Ginger Ale is my life saver.
- Craving Fruits and Veggies.

Best Moment(s) this past week:
- Telling my IP's that I am pregnant with their Miracle :)
- Finding out our Beta #'s!

I'm looking forward to:
- The first ultrasound!!!
- Finding out how many babies are in my belly!!


xoxo,

And I'm Back!!

First off, My IP's are absolutely amazing!!!

My flight to LA was a breeze and it was nice that the flight was less than half full! I was able to lay down and take a nap since no one was next to me! My IP's picked me up from the airport and we immediately hugged and it was like we were old friends. We went to my hotel The Crescent in Beverly Hills and I got all checked in... Then it was off to dinner!! They took me to a Curry place called Curry House CoCo Ichibanya. I have never had curry before so I was a little nervous. We looked at the menu and they picked out some pretty tasty plates.. After everything was brought over, my IM dished me up and omg it was pretty amazing! She kept giving me more and I told her that if I ate anymore, they would have to roll me out of the restaurant haha.. I gave my IM her Origami Owl Locket at dinner and they brought me a lot of treats from their country and a few things that she personally made. It was so heartwarming :) After dinner, they took me to my hotel and I went to bed since we had a BIG DAY on Sunday!!

Sunday morning I ordered room service and got some yummy fruit and oj :) I got ready, took my meds and had my caseworker give me my 2 shots and then it was off to our TRANSFER!!!!

When we got to CFP, I had to go back and give blood. I swear they use the same spot over and over again. After that, they were ready for me! They take me back to the room and I have to get undressed from the waist down. By that time, my IP's have arrived! Everyone crowds into the tiny transfer room and then they wheel in the precious cargo in an incubator :) My IP's got to look at them and I got to take a picture of these precious embies!!

My Dr decided to put all 4 embryos in considering my IM's age and the quality of the embryos. I was a little nervous but I knew that I was in good hands. 1 Embryo was a 9 cell, 2 were 7 cells and one was 5 cells. After the transfer, my IM sat down and prayed and I had to lay with pillows under my knees/thighs for about 30 minutes. After that, I was able to get up and get dressed. I was wheeled out since my valium had kicked in and couldn't really walk straight. I got back to my hotel and took a nap :) My IP's brought me lunch and dinner and I was completely stuffed! I also ordered dessert and got a massive brownie and vanilla ice cream :) It was scrumptious!! After that I passed out!

I was so excited to finally be heading home and give my babies big hugs!! All in all this trip was such an amazing one! This will forever be etched in my heart!!! I probably missed a lot, but I got most of it :)


this is what happens in a 3dt : 

1dpt ..embryo is growing and developing 
2dpt... Embryo is now a blastocyst 
3dpt....Blastocyst hatches out of shell on this day 
4dpt.. Blastocyst attaches to a site on the uterine lining 
5dpt.. Implantation begins as the blastocyst begins to bury in the lining 
6dpt.. Implantation process continues and morula buries deeper in the lining 
7dpt.. Morula is completely implanted in the lining and has placenta cells & 
fetal cells 
8dpt...Placenta cells begin to secret HCG in the blood 
9dpt...More HCG is produced as fetus develops 
10dpt...More HCG is produced as fetus develops 
11dpt...HCG levels are now high enough to be immediately detected on 
HPT

Results and Exciting News!!!

First off, lets get through my last three labs results :)

Week One:
Progesterone - 0.7
Estradiol - 15

Week Two:
Estradiol - 97

Week Three:
Estradiol - 392
Uterine Lining - 12.8 w/ Triple Stripe!

So everything on my end looks great and my uterus is ready for a baby! Today was hopefully my last day of Lupron! So I should be starting my PIO and Inserts tomorrow!!

Big News...

Our Transfer has been bumped up!! S the schedule is as planned, unless anything changes: My IM has her Egg Retrieval on Thursday, so please send positive vibes her way! I was told that we will be doing a 3 Day Transfer, which means that I will be leaving on SATURDAY!! That also means that the Embryo Transfer will be on SUNDAY!!!!!

You have absolutely no idea how excited I am! I will also be meeting my IP's face to face on Saturday or Sunday!! I got my IM a special something for our journey.. Pretend like you didn't read that last sentence, IM ;)

So there is the exciting news!! I leave for LA in FOUR Days!!!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow...

I take my first ever Lupron Shot Tomorrow!!!!

My friend is going to come over and video/take pics of me giving my first ever injection!

When I told Dave that I was really excited for Friday to get here, he said "Why on earth are you excited to give yourself shots?" It's not really the fact that I am excited about giving myself shots, Its about the journey that is officially starting tomorrow!!! The bigger needles are a little scarier, but nothing too bad :)

My IP's and I emailed back and forth this morning and I found out when they are going to be in LA. I also found out when we will be meeting Face to Face!! We are going to meet the day I fly to LA, which I am so freaking excited about!! It is going to be so nice to finally meet them in person and actually talk to them and give them a big hug :)

In exactly one month, I will be packing for my Transfer Trip to LA!!

Ready to Cycle!!!

This is a big week!!! Well, the past 2 weeks have been big!

On Thursday, I received my Calendar! This tells me when I take my meds and what days to take them!

I also received my Meds on Saturday!!! Dave and I went through the box and I immediately got butterflies in my stomach!! I will be on the following medications:

Lupron
Delestrogen
Progesterone in Oil
Progesterone Vaginal Inserts (gag!)

I will also have antibiotics, steroids and muscle relaxers.

So this is a group picture of my Miracle Meds!!

 

I honestly forgot how huge those needles are.. Yikes!

 

This is where my EV2 and PIO Shots are going.. Not fun!

Friday, June 28th I will start my Lupron Injections!! I can't believe it's finally here!! My IP's are ecstatic also! My Calendar looks a little like this:


06-28 Start Lupron 1mg (20 units)

07-04 Take Last BCP

07-08 Expect Mensies

07-09 Labs (Estradiol & Progesterone Levels)

07-10 Start Estradiol Valerate (Delestrogen) 2mg IM

07-10 Decrease Lupron to 0.5mg (10units)

07-15 Labs (Estradiol Level)

07-16 Possible increase in dose of Estradiol Valerate

07-21 Labs & Ultrasound

07-22 Possible Last dose of Lupron

07-23 Possible Progesterone Start

07-28 Arrive in Los Angeles

07-28 Possible EMBRYO TRANSFER!!!!


Both my IP's and myself are so ready to get the SHOW ON THE ROAD!!! Here is hoping these next few weeks go by super fast!!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!!

Prenatals = Blech!

I now remember why I dislike Prenatal Vitamins. When I was pregnant with my kids, I would get so sick to my stomach from my vitamins. I wouldn't throw up, I would just get nauseous.

Well I have been taking prenatals for a week and I am so sick to my stomach. I started taking them in the evening after dinner and I would still get an upset tummy. So I emailed my amazing nurse and she ordered me CitraNatal Harmony Vitamins.. I am ready to try these out. I am also getting my BCP's in this package, which should be here some time tomorrow. I can't believe how fast everything is moving along!

I had emailed my IP's and let them know where we were at on our side and that everything is moving smoothly and that all of the Consents should have been delivered to the clinic today and we signed and emailed back our Retainer to our Lawyers. I got an email back this morning and they let me know that IM has started her weekly blood draws and she should be starting her BCP's next week also!

I had asked them if they would like me to schedule a "Stork Tour" at the hospital. It's a tour of the hospital/L&D, Nursery and everything else. That way when it is time, they will know where to go!

So that is whats happening in my neck of the woods... Hopefully we will sign contracts within the next week!