Lucky

Sometimes I forget to stop and be thankful.

I started my adventure at the end of April. Matched with the intended parents in May. Screened in June. Started medication in July. Transferred August 2nd and officially pregnant on August 15.

That is amazing.

Do a quick Google search of "Surrogacy success rates." Let me know if you get a direct answer. 

At best, surrogates and intended parents are hoping for a 50% chance at success. HOPING FOR 50% - did you see that?

Being a part of surrogacy support group has been a great opportunity for me. While my partner and family are very supportive, there are some things that you want to share with your surrogate family. They cheer you on for appointments, blood work and pregnancy tests. They also sympathize with you for thin lining, negative pregnancy tests and sometimes, at the very worst of things, surrogacy denial from doctor and agency.

It is hard to revel in a victory when one of your surro-sisters is agonizing after her second failed transfer. It is hard to celebrate the stars aligning for a perfect outcome when one of your surro-sisters was just banned from surrogacy from something she couldn't control - her body's reaction to meds.

That being said, I find myself moving my state of mind back to cautious. I am so thankful that our journey has been so seamless, but I would be lying if I said I'm not nervous. 

Can things possibly stay this perfect? 

YES; surely, they can. 

Rock Star Uterus

I had my second monitoring appointment today.

As you can guess, it went really well!

For the past week, I've been taking 3 Estradiol orally daily. The average uterus lining measures around 6mm depending on the timing in the cycle (according to my google search). The fertility clinics like to see between 8-10mm for an embryo transfer. Mine, dear friends, is almost at 13mm!

They talk about seeing a coveted "triple line" right before transfer, which outlines all walls of the uterus and indicates a nice and fluffy place for a baby to grow. THEY SAW IT!

I will be starting my second regimen of medication next week: Crinone, 2x daily, not orally.  We'll see how much this frontal suppository fluffs up my baby tank. By next week they may be seeing a down pillow in the ultrasound monitor.

Hush

I'm not feeling the effects of a hormonal roller coaster as I anticipated.

I am, however, on this Monday morning, wanting everyone to not talk to me. Just walk on by.

It may be hormonal, it may just be my natural self (I'm not known for my sparkling personality in the a.m.).

Side note - I did lose my pancakes yesterday morning... I thought it was just a sugar overload, but now that I think about it... it may not be coincidence.

I have my second monitoring appointment on Wednesday, which I'm pretty excited about. Hopefully, my blood draw will be a little less painful this time. I will chug some H2O to expand those tiny little veins.

Until then... enjoy some silence.

Monitored and Medicated

I got my package of medication last week.

As I unpackaged it, it was starting to become a little more "real." I will really be taking this little pill 3x daily and enjoying that suppository 2x daily.

Dempsey has aquired the top of the cooler and likes to use it as a 3 inch step stool.

Do you know how many things are out of reach until he's added 3 inches to his height + arm length? A lot.

It doesn't seem like much, but there are three of those Crinone boxes. So far, I'm thankful I haven't had to deal with the shots. A pill is so much easier to swallow.

I had my first monitoring appointment yesterday. They said my lining was looking just as it should and that my ovaries were, "nice and quiet."

I have started my oral medication today. I've only taken one pill, but I seem to be "normal" so far. It is a relative term, though...

Yoga: My Zen

I haven't even started my hormone therapy and I'm already hormonal.

Thankfully, I have the opportunity to de-stress with an hour of yoga on my lunch break a few times a week. I think this will be my saving grace throughout the pre-pregnancy stage, as well as the actual duration of the pregnancy.

I have my first monitoring appointment tomorrow! That means I will go in to a local fertility clinic to have them poke and prod me (i.e. v. ultrasound and maybe a blood test) and I will then start my fertility pills. More details on that to come!

Spoiler alert: Jason and Michael have picked a name for their precious little baby! I can't bring myself to divulge such information yet, though... you'll just have to check back in later!

Counting it down

In one month from today, I will be attending my "readiness" appointment prepping for an embryo transfer!

This is my last "drug-free" week. I will be getting my medication in a couple of days.

The good news about my fertility drugs: I don't have to use any needles. I would have been okay with needles; I had already lined up my administering volunteers.

The other news about my fertility drugs. I have two pills. One will be taken orally. One will not. I will leave most details to your imagination, but this daring little pill gets to boldly go where no pill has gone before.