I am watching Rules of Engagement with Ben as I write this and the episode is about surrogacy. It's interesting the way the media portrays surrogacy and how the facts are so skewed. I'm pretty sure that I've said, "That's not right!" about ten times. I really like that surrogacy is becoming more common and accepted by people worldwide. I'm so happy that our kids are allowed have an open mind on how a family can be created in many ways. I truly believe it's a gift for our IP's and our family!
Surrogacy can take interesting twists and turns along the way. Late Friday I received a message from Keely that I needed to get a clearance letter from my doctor that I'm healed from the Mono and healthy to proceed. The fertility doctor needed this letter before we could start our medication protocol. I called my ENT pronto. He was the one who diagnosed the Mono and did my Tonsillectomy. His nurse called back just minutes later and sated that he wasn't comfortable writing a letter because he doesn't deal with pregnancy. He asked that I call my primary care physician to obtain the letter from her. I haven't been to my primary care physician in a little while and she didn't diagnose the Mono, so I thought this would take a bit to get this letter.
I called my primary care physician on Friday and it sounded like they would get back to me the same day. I didn't hear back from them, of course I called them first thing on Tuesday morning! They said they had called me on Friday several times and got a busy signal each time. Thank goodness I'm impatient and called them back. They asked several medical questions to make sure that Mono was gone and said they'd write the letter, "But your doctor is out until Thursday". UGH, Seriously!?! Then I asked them if the last doctor I saw would be able to sign it? YES! They said she'd have it ready the same day...
I knew the clinic had a glitch in the phone system and they couldn't reach me, so I figured it was kosher for me to call five times in one afternoon, but still no letter. I was able to run to the clinic and check with them in person to see if the letter was ready. NOPE, not ready yet. My brilliant idea was to sign the release and have them fax the letter to Keely as soon as it was signed. Hopefully the next day it'd be ready to rock n' roll!
I called my IP's last night to share the news of all the behind the scene work that I had been doing to get things rolling. They told me that they have a couple things they have to get done before we do the transfer and have a meeting all scheduled to go over more paperwork. Paperwork is the story of our lives lately! They're so supportive and understanding. We're so lucky to be matched with them :)
I felt a bit more relaxed today about obtaining this letter. I didn't check my phone until lunchtime and I had a message from the clinic and Keely that she'd already received the letter and we're moving on! Actually, we are moving on to our next contact person. Welcome into my world, Kim! I should be hearing from her before the end of the week and she'll be it from here on out. Yay for getting one step closer.
Oh, I forgot to mention that I'm done taking my Children's liquid Ibuprofen for my throat! I've been able to eat real food since Monday and I'm feeling GREAT! Yay for quick healing.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Endorphins
As most of you know, I had a successful and uncomplicated tonsillectomy done on Friday. They warned me about the pain that would come after the surgery, but I have a very high pain threshold and I don't care for pain meds so I thought I'd be fine. I took the advice from the nurse and started taking the Tylenol with Codine for the first couple days. I felt pretty good all weekend.
It may sound disgusting to most people, but I'm a believer that breast milk is the cure all for anything and everything (it healed my eczema that I couldn't get rid of for five years with just a couple of fresh applications). I had a few ounces of my sister's milk in the freezer (I feel a little frantic when I run out so there always has to be some on hand) and I took it out and consumed every last drop, except for the tiny bit I put on a dry spot that I have on my back. I felt AMAZING!! I went to bed and told Ben that I was cured and felt like I could go back to work on Tuesday. Nedless to say, I needed to get my hands on more milk! I contacted some gals in my holistic mom's group and was able to buy some more milk that I saved to help when I go back to work.
Sunday the pain seemed tolerable. I switched to children's ibuprofen and seemed to be quite comfortable with just that.
Yesterday the pain was a bit worse, so I tried to take the Tylenol with Codine right before going to bed and it burned my throat. It was so bad that I was awake for the full four hours in sheer pain until I could take the ibuprofen again. OUCH! I won't do that again.
Today was the worst pain so far, I just wanted to be little and curl up in a ball and have my mom snuggle me while I cried! I did cry a bit while I felt like a thug sitting on the couch. I knew it was a day for some breast milk. The milk tastes as bad as the smell of baby spit-up. It's really gross, so I have to have something good to smell after each sip so I don't throw up. CHA CHING, It worked its magic and I feel better again. It was worth the dollar per ounce I spent. I still have three more days of milk and my sister is coming to my rescue this weekend with more milk! THANK GOD for my lactating sister/BFF :)
My cycle started again today. I've had to report the first day of my period to the agency since January or so. Just a few hours after I sent my e-mail I received a message from our coordinator, Keely, that the donor got her's today too. This is so awesome because I'm thinking that I won't have to get on birth control to regulate my cycle, though I don't know this for sure it seems like a good guess. I guess God, the Earth, or Positive Energy (whatever your belief may be) is in control and made it obvious that all the stars lined up right. When I heard that our cycles both started today I'm pretty sure that the endorphins took over and made ALL of the pain go away. It's really neat what the body can do naturally (give us endorphins and milk).
It sounds like the egg donor will start her meds in three weeks and I'll start mine on day one of my next cycle. The transfer should be set for Mid July! YAY! I'm a little in shock that this is really happening...
It may sound disgusting to most people, but I'm a believer that breast milk is the cure all for anything and everything (it healed my eczema that I couldn't get rid of for five years with just a couple of fresh applications). I had a few ounces of my sister's milk in the freezer (I feel a little frantic when I run out so there always has to be some on hand) and I took it out and consumed every last drop, except for the tiny bit I put on a dry spot that I have on my back. I felt AMAZING!! I went to bed and told Ben that I was cured and felt like I could go back to work on Tuesday. Nedless to say, I needed to get my hands on more milk! I contacted some gals in my holistic mom's group and was able to buy some more milk that I saved to help when I go back to work.
Sunday the pain seemed tolerable. I switched to children's ibuprofen and seemed to be quite comfortable with just that.
Yesterday the pain was a bit worse, so I tried to take the Tylenol with Codine right before going to bed and it burned my throat. It was so bad that I was awake for the full four hours in sheer pain until I could take the ibuprofen again. OUCH! I won't do that again.
Today was the worst pain so far, I just wanted to be little and curl up in a ball and have my mom snuggle me while I cried! I did cry a bit while I felt like a thug sitting on the couch. I knew it was a day for some breast milk. The milk tastes as bad as the smell of baby spit-up. It's really gross, so I have to have something good to smell after each sip so I don't throw up. CHA CHING, It worked its magic and I feel better again. It was worth the dollar per ounce I spent. I still have three more days of milk and my sister is coming to my rescue this weekend with more milk! THANK GOD for my lactating sister/BFF :)
My cycle started again today. I've had to report the first day of my period to the agency since January or so. Just a few hours after I sent my e-mail I received a message from our coordinator, Keely, that the donor got her's today too. This is so awesome because I'm thinking that I won't have to get on birth control to regulate my cycle, though I don't know this for sure it seems like a good guess. I guess God, the Earth, or Positive Energy (whatever your belief may be) is in control and made it obvious that all the stars lined up right. When I heard that our cycles both started today I'm pretty sure that the endorphins took over and made ALL of the pain go away. It's really neat what the body can do naturally (give us endorphins and milk).
It sounds like the egg donor will start her meds in three weeks and I'll start mine on day one of my next cycle. The transfer should be set for Mid July! YAY! I'm a little in shock that this is really happening...
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Snail Mail Surprise and Update on Times
Card that came in the mail from my IP's
The inside reads:
Happy Mother's Day Josie!
We are so happy to be going on this amazing journey with you! We will never be able to say enough "Thank Yous" to express how much your tremendous generosity means to us!
This couple never ceases to amaze me! I feel so lucky that I've been matched with people that will be a part of our lives and our forever friends. I feel honored that I get to carry and deliver a child for them, and watch them become the amazing parents that I see in them already. Sometime soon there will be a little one that will be extremely lucky to make this couple a family.
TIMING UPDATE
My tonsillectomy is scheduled on Friday. I'm a bit nervous about having surgery and healing time. I'm not sure anyone looks forward to having surgery and the slight risk of being put under. I do look forward to not having tonsil issues anymore. I've already stocked up on popsicles and made froze about two weeks worth of food for my family. I think we're ready to go!
The infamous "So long as things go as planned..." Looks like I'll start meds next month to get on the egg donor's cycle. I will be on birth control for a short time to get my body in sync with her's. I've only taken birth control for three months total in my life, so hopefully I won't feel yucky! Natural family planning worked like a charm for Ben and I, unlike my Grandparents who had 14 kids using that method (This is seriously not a Joke. My dad is number 8)! So long as she gets her cycle in early June then we'll schedule a transfer for Mid-July! YAY!!!!!
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