When my sister was pregnant with my sweet little niece, Molly, she had hyperemesis. I've never experienced someone so sick during pregnancy. Our mom had the same thing during her pregnancies but there was not name for it. At one point Megan was hooked up to an IV that she carried with her and she had a Zofran Pump that she used for most of her pregnancy. Megs would often call me crying from the grocery store and tell me that nothing looks or sounds good to eat. She would ask almost every night what we were having for supper to see if that would sound like something she would want to eat, more often than not it didn't sound appetizing to her. I never understood or had sympathy for this problem of hers until now. I owe you a huge apology, Megs! I'm sorry for not giving you sympathy when you needed it the most from your best friend. I just thought you should suck it up and eat something. Now I understand the problem and I'm very sorry for not being a better sister! Please forgive me.
I started to experience low hunger within the first week of starting the progesterone. I simply wasn't hungry and nothing sounded appetizing. A week or two ago the hunger came back but this issue of nothing sounding, smelling, looking, or tasting good started. Shortly after this, hot dogs became my craving of choice and then one day I really wanted stir fry. I purchased all the fixing for stir fry the next day, but by the time I was going to make it for supper the thought of it made me want to throw up! I also had a small craving for ice cream one day and I told the kids we should go and get some, but by the time we reached the store the thought of ice cream made me sick. We didn't end up getting ice cream and the kids were so sad. I've realized I have about a fifteen minute window to consume my craving before the thought of it makes me sick. I've never experienced something like this in my pregnancies. Ben keeps saying that's what I get for getting pregnant with someone else's kid, and I should be more careful next time! hahahaha!!
The last couple days have been very rough on me as far as nausea goes. I've really only been able to eat very small quantities of rotisserie chicken, dill pickle chips, chocolate milk, hot dogs, Ginger Ale, and Grandma Boom's famous beans. When I woke up this morning I knew it was going to be the first day I would vomit. I was sick before getting out of bed and could only eat four bites of my toast. I tried to eat more rotisserie chicken but after two bites I gave up. I thought I'd try something different.
I can't complain to Ben at all about this pregnancy, after all, it's not his kid and this is a desire of mine that he's happy to support, therefore, my IP's are going to hear all about it when I'm not feeling well! :) I thought I'd try an Epsom Salt bath to see if that would help me a bit. That was the beginning of the end of my yucky day. When I got out of the tub I knew it was coming up...Yep, I totally blew chunks! It's amazing how much better one feels after throwing up. I don't like barfing but my stomach feels so much better now. I'd be happy if that was it for the throwing up stage.
I text both of my IP's to let them know what happened throughout the day, and I got the cutest response back from IP-A..."I wonder if we should check with Dr. Virro to see if that's normal or if they need to moderate it [the progesterone] some?" Knowing this is normal, I could reassure them that this is a typical part of pregnancy and all was well. This is the reply, "Can you just imagine this...Our kids are going to be in the docs office every other day with a sneeze, cough, or sniffle. We'll have to call the nurse Josie line before we haul them off to the doctor." Oh IP's, you're going to be typical first time parents and do what we all did as newbies! You'll be amazing!!!
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Passion
Have you ever been stripped or robbed from a passion? I have experienced this several times in my life where I have looked up to someone as a good example and found they were the worst leader, and from that I have lost interest in certain passions. It makes me wonder if they were real passions in the first place when I haven't chosen to pursue them again. Surrogacy, for example, was one passion that someone tried to strip from my life. It is obvious that it's a true passion since I chose to pursue it even though someone (remember that therapist from my first post) may not agreed with my decision. I don't think you can hide a genuine passion!
Most recently, I was stripped from my dental hygiene passion. Before moving back to Minnesota I worked at the most incredible dental office. I was given an example by three amazing dentists that it is possible to love going to work. My co-workers were an extension of my family and I love them to this day! I'm positive that I would have stayed at this office until I retired if we wouldn't have moved back home. The choice to move back to Minnesota wasn't very hard, because we knew that raising our kids around our family was the right thing to do. Changing of offices was very difficult. I thought I had picked a great office to work at, but boy was I fooled big time. Don't get me wrong, I had wonderful co-workers, but the stress of going to work was doing more to my body than I even realized. In the three years I had worked there I saw a 100% turnover in their employees.
I went into work on my day off to tell my boss, in full detail, what I was doing with this surrogacy journey. I brought in pictures of the transfer and I had more excitement than anyone could imagine. I've been working on getting to this point for eleven months and I couldn't wait to fill them in on a piece of my personal life. My boss didn't give me a minute of her time to share my news and asked me to come in early the next morning. I guess she had a different agenda.
I showed up the next morning with much less excitement than the day before. Ben and I decided that I shouldn't even share that this was a surrogacy pregnancy and to just tell them that I'm pregnant. She started the meeting off by telling me that she's cutting my hours from 22 per week to just 10 hours because they didn't want to loose the gal who was job-sharing with me, so they gave her a full time position and were cutting my hours. Then she asked my exciting news. I just said I was pregnant. Later that day she wanted me to sign a piece of paper stating that they were cutting my hours. I was very uncomfortable signing this form, so I asked if I could take it home and go over it with Ben.
After I finished the next day she asked if I signed the form. Ben and I hadn't had a chance to sit down the night before, so I stated just that and we would be happy to sit down and look at it over the weekend. She proceeded to tell me how it was a simple form and any normal person would just sign it. She said if I wouldn't sign the form right now then she'd have to let me go. I shook her hand and thanked her for the last three years and told her how much she has taught me. I finished all my charts, my end of the day paperwork, gathered all my personal items, and went home to find myself able to sleep a full night though. The stress of the working environment took way more out of me than I knew.
I'm starting to temp around town. I'll be able to set my own schedule and work as much or as little as our family needs. I actually have my first day tomorrow, and I'm really looking forward to seeing a light at the end of this black hole that I've been stuck in for a few years. It is a passion that I was robbed from and I'm looking forward to lighting that fire in me again. I feel really happy about where life is going at this point!
We've been teaching our kids about choices, and how you are the only person that can make a choice in your life. There are people who guide us and help us to make decisions in life, but there is only one person who can actually choose...That person is you! What's your passion? Have you been stripped of a passion that you would like to choose to regain? It's your life...make the choice! Life is GOOD!
Most recently, I was stripped from my dental hygiene passion. Before moving back to Minnesota I worked at the most incredible dental office. I was given an example by three amazing dentists that it is possible to love going to work. My co-workers were an extension of my family and I love them to this day! I'm positive that I would have stayed at this office until I retired if we wouldn't have moved back home. The choice to move back to Minnesota wasn't very hard, because we knew that raising our kids around our family was the right thing to do. Changing of offices was very difficult. I thought I had picked a great office to work at, but boy was I fooled big time. Don't get me wrong, I had wonderful co-workers, but the stress of going to work was doing more to my body than I even realized. In the three years I had worked there I saw a 100% turnover in their employees.
I went into work on my day off to tell my boss, in full detail, what I was doing with this surrogacy journey. I brought in pictures of the transfer and I had more excitement than anyone could imagine. I've been working on getting to this point for eleven months and I couldn't wait to fill them in on a piece of my personal life. My boss didn't give me a minute of her time to share my news and asked me to come in early the next morning. I guess she had a different agenda.
I showed up the next morning with much less excitement than the day before. Ben and I decided that I shouldn't even share that this was a surrogacy pregnancy and to just tell them that I'm pregnant. She started the meeting off by telling me that she's cutting my hours from 22 per week to just 10 hours because they didn't want to loose the gal who was job-sharing with me, so they gave her a full time position and were cutting my hours. Then she asked my exciting news. I just said I was pregnant. Later that day she wanted me to sign a piece of paper stating that they were cutting my hours. I was very uncomfortable signing this form, so I asked if I could take it home and go over it with Ben.
After I finished the next day she asked if I signed the form. Ben and I hadn't had a chance to sit down the night before, so I stated just that and we would be happy to sit down and look at it over the weekend. She proceeded to tell me how it was a simple form and any normal person would just sign it. She said if I wouldn't sign the form right now then she'd have to let me go. I shook her hand and thanked her for the last three years and told her how much she has taught me. I finished all my charts, my end of the day paperwork, gathered all my personal items, and went home to find myself able to sleep a full night though. The stress of the working environment took way more out of me than I knew.
I'm starting to temp around town. I'll be able to set my own schedule and work as much or as little as our family needs. I actually have my first day tomorrow, and I'm really looking forward to seeing a light at the end of this black hole that I've been stuck in for a few years. It is a passion that I was robbed from and I'm looking forward to lighting that fire in me again. I feel really happy about where life is going at this point!
We've been teaching our kids about choices, and how you are the only person that can make a choice in your life. There are people who guide us and help us to make decisions in life, but there is only one person who can actually choose...That person is you! What's your passion? Have you been stripped of a passion that you would like to choose to regain? It's your life...make the choice! Life is GOOD!
Friday, July 26, 2013
Blindsided
I was told right before the transfer that Dr. Virro is the only fertility doc that uses an hCG injection, so I have to do one injection every third day for the next seven-ish weeks. Not terrible, but injections aren't fun and neither are taking drugs. hCG is a natural hormone that a pregnant woman has in her body. It's fine but not enjoyable. I was told to start tonight.
I only had one craving up until today...Hot Dogs! Who wakes up and wants to grill a freaking hot dog for breakfast? ME! I think I could eat a hot dog for three meals a day and all my snacks. No worries, I'm only eating the nitrate free ones and I have only given into that craving a few times. Today was a day sent from heaven, I needed to eat ice cream! I'm not sure if this is a craving or I'm actually feeling back to my normal self after NOT being hungry since starting the progesterone. I'm just thrilled that I wanted ice cream! I told myself that I must go for a run in order to eat the ice cream, and so the running saga began...
It took me two attempts to get my three mile run in today, so I actually ended up running a total of four miles. Just a little over a half a mile into the first run, George's pedal on his bike fell off. I'm not sure how it fell off but I couldn't put it back on without using a wrench. Lydia and Jack were biking along with us so we all turned back. I ended up running with George while pushing the bike. We made it home and it was an easy fix. I had promised the kids I'd feed them lunch when we got home, so I ended up making lunch and having my scheduled power nap.
The second attempt, after nap time, was successful, however George complained two of the three miles! I told him that he could have a Lara Bar treat when he got home if he didn't stop or complain the last mile...success! When we got home there was a package waiting for me...
I only had one craving up until today...Hot Dogs! Who wakes up and wants to grill a freaking hot dog for breakfast? ME! I think I could eat a hot dog for three meals a day and all my snacks. No worries, I'm only eating the nitrate free ones and I have only given into that craving a few times. Today was a day sent from heaven, I needed to eat ice cream! I'm not sure if this is a craving or I'm actually feeling back to my normal self after NOT being hungry since starting the progesterone. I'm just thrilled that I wanted ice cream! I told myself that I must go for a run in order to eat the ice cream, and so the running saga began...
It took me two attempts to get my three mile run in today, so I actually ended up running a total of four miles. Just a little over a half a mile into the first run, George's pedal on his bike fell off. I'm not sure how it fell off but I couldn't put it back on without using a wrench. Lydia and Jack were biking along with us so we all turned back. I ended up running with George while pushing the bike. We made it home and it was an easy fix. I had promised the kids I'd feed them lunch when we got home, so I ended up making lunch and having my scheduled power nap.
The second attempt, after nap time, was successful, however George complained two of the three miles! I told him that he could have a Lara Bar treat when he got home if he didn't stop or complain the last mile...success! When we got home there was a package waiting for me...
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| Seriously, this is what I get when I return home from a run? |
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| AHHHHH! More Meds. Photo taken by: The Amazing Lydia |
My second large box of meds arrived and I needed to start the hCG tonight. It took a little while to figure out how to mix the meds and I learned a good lesson. I have to mix a sterile water with the freeze dried powder. Now that I've done it once, I think I should be fine when I have to mix it again. I used the same needle to try to inject myself after mixing the med. Note to self...that needle is dull and won't poke through the skin even if you try four different sites. Changing the needle made a world of difference! First hCG injection=DONE
I just finished that bowl of ice cream that I'd been thinking about all day long. I mixed a dark chocolate with black cherry and it was delicious! I'm pretty sure it will be calling my name when I wake up tomorrow.
2 1/2 weeks until the ultrasound. I can't wait!
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
I Think I Can Call Myself a Surrogate Now
Saturday morning I woke up and put in my progesterone suppository. The applicator came out with bright red blood on it and my vag hurt soooooooo bad! I went back to bed and told Ben I thought something bad was happening. The nurses told me if I saw bright red blood then it probably was a bad sign. I didn't have a large amount of bleeding, but I decided I'd run to the store to pick up a few pregnancy tests to make sure that it was still coming up as positive. I was a nervous wreck!
I called Charity on my way to the store, and she told me that it's possible to have bleeding from that applicator and if the suppository is too close to the cervix. Thank God for Charity! I told her how I was hurting pretty bad on the inside from that progesterone, so she suggested that I stop with the applicator and just put it in the old fashion way. I haven't had one issue since I stopped using the applicator. I shall make it well known in the surrogacy world that no one should rip up their vag like me, and I'll worn them before using that stupid applicator! The pregnancy test was fine and my vag is healed...Thank God. (sorry if that was too graphic)
My IP's came over on Sunday for a BBQ and games. It's amazing that we can spend an afternoon and evening together and feel like we're such great friends already (I guess that's good since we've really integrated our lives)! Ben and I have had a really hard time meeting couples that we both like, so it's refreshing that we're both happy with this match. It's fun that we have so many things in common, and it's like we've know each other for years! They're such great people.
Monday was the Beta hCG blood test at the doctors office. It's hard to answer questions that people have about this pregnancy. I sat down and the Phlebotomist asked me how many kids I have and their ages, and then proceeded to tell me how far apart the kids will be. It sure makes me think about things that I have said to people in the past, and how I'll watch myself closer now to not just assume things. I had my test at 9:30am and then played the "hurry up and wait" game. IP-A called me mid-nap to let me know that my results were in...still half sleeping I heard the number 77, my heart sank and I think I almost threw up, then I asked IP-A to repeat the number and that's when I heard it...677!!! There's no question about it, I'M PREGNANT!
Of course we all want to read into the numbers, but ladies and gents, we'll just have to wait until August 13th at 11:10 to find out if there are one or two little hearts beating in there. I've heard of people in the 400's carry twins and I've heard people in the 900's carry a singleton. My IP's are planning on coming to the ultrasound on the 13th. I'm pretty sure that will be an emotional day for all of us. I'm thinking I might look at my IP's while they look at the ultrasound before taking a glance at how many are there. I just want to see their reaction when they see their child for the first time. This whole process makes me so happy, it's more than obvious that I'm truly meant to do this. It's a modern day miracle!
I've been feeling really well. The pregnancy fatigue is in full swing, but I'm making sure to get about a half hour power nap each afternoon to help with the loss of energy. I think it's working really well to have a scheduled power nap. I was even able to have my first run since the transfer tonight. The boys biked along side during the two mile run, and I felt great! Maybe tomorrow I'll be able to get three miles in :)
-Insert Jeopardy theme song...
It's going to be a long three weeks!
I called Charity on my way to the store, and she told me that it's possible to have bleeding from that applicator and if the suppository is too close to the cervix. Thank God for Charity! I told her how I was hurting pretty bad on the inside from that progesterone, so she suggested that I stop with the applicator and just put it in the old fashion way. I haven't had one issue since I stopped using the applicator. I shall make it well known in the surrogacy world that no one should rip up their vag like me, and I'll worn them before using that stupid applicator! The pregnancy test was fine and my vag is healed...Thank God. (sorry if that was too graphic)
My IP's came over on Sunday for a BBQ and games. It's amazing that we can spend an afternoon and evening together and feel like we're such great friends already (I guess that's good since we've really integrated our lives)! Ben and I have had a really hard time meeting couples that we both like, so it's refreshing that we're both happy with this match. It's fun that we have so many things in common, and it's like we've know each other for years! They're such great people.
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| Gluten Free/Sugar Free Tort made by IP-A |
Monday was the Beta hCG blood test at the doctors office. It's hard to answer questions that people have about this pregnancy. I sat down and the Phlebotomist asked me how many kids I have and their ages, and then proceeded to tell me how far apart the kids will be. It sure makes me think about things that I have said to people in the past, and how I'll watch myself closer now to not just assume things. I had my test at 9:30am and then played the "hurry up and wait" game. IP-A called me mid-nap to let me know that my results were in...still half sleeping I heard the number 77, my heart sank and I think I almost threw up, then I asked IP-A to repeat the number and that's when I heard it...677!!! There's no question about it, I'M PREGNANT!
Of course we all want to read into the numbers, but ladies and gents, we'll just have to wait until August 13th at 11:10 to find out if there are one or two little hearts beating in there. I've heard of people in the 400's carry twins and I've heard people in the 900's carry a singleton. My IP's are planning on coming to the ultrasound on the 13th. I'm pretty sure that will be an emotional day for all of us. I'm thinking I might look at my IP's while they look at the ultrasound before taking a glance at how many are there. I just want to see their reaction when they see their child for the first time. This whole process makes me so happy, it's more than obvious that I'm truly meant to do this. It's a modern day miracle!
I've been feeling really well. The pregnancy fatigue is in full swing, but I'm making sure to get about a half hour power nap each afternoon to help with the loss of energy. I think it's working really well to have a scheduled power nap. I was even able to have my first run since the transfer tonight. The boys biked along side during the two mile run, and I felt great! Maybe tomorrow I'll be able to get three miles in :)
-Insert Jeopardy theme song...
It's going to be a long three weeks!
Friday, July 19, 2013
Anxious for and Update?
I've been anxious for an update, too!
The first day home from our trip the kids started rubbing my belly and talking to it. They are obsessed, especially Lydia. It's really fun to see the excitement they have for a new wombmate :)
I started taking at-home tests five days after the transfer, and I managed to go through eight of them within just a few days. I wouldn't have gone through nearly as many if IP-A didn't tell me that I should pee on a stick every time I went to the bathroom, and that it's like being a kid on Christmas looking at presents under the tree and not opening them up! Thanks IP-A! It's normal for my body not to recognize the hormone in my urine for a long time, longer than the normal woman, so I didn't find it surprising that I kept on getting negatives. I clued in my IP's that this was very normal for me and that they shouldn't worry about getting negative tests. I actually wasn't even supposed to take these test, per the agency, and I was definitely not supposed to be telling my IP's. OOPS, Josie broke the rules again. Sorry Keely and Kim! We still are going to win the prize of best match ever.
My body starting feeling changes almost right away. The progesterone had already given me tender breasts, but I started getting very crampy shortly after the transfer. I actually was a bit worried how crampy I was, so I asked Charity if this was normal or if I should be worried. Charity can calm my nerves even by text message. She assured me that it was a very good sign and that we should stay positive! By Saturday my sciatic nerve started hurting and I started walking funny. This has happened with every viable pregnancy that I've had, and I find it to be a very reassuring sign that things are looking good. My father in law was actually making fun of my walk...I didn't realize it how funny I looked! I also am very bloated, which someone else told me happened to her after she went through IVF. She had healthy twins, so I though that sounded like another good thing (not the twins...just the bloating sign).
Yesterday morning I did my ritual morning pee test (with my 9th and final test I had) and it came back with a quick negative. I really thought it was the morning for a positive test. I feel pregnant and I'm sure this will work the first try. I always get pregnant when I want! I jumped in the shower and after I got out I thought I should take a peek and see if there were any changes on the test. I reached in the garbage and there were two freaking lines on the test! I didn't cry, I sobbed like a little kid with big crocodile tears!! I couldn't get to the phone to call my IP's fast enough. Neither of them answered my phone call. Seriously, I was calling to give them the news of their life and no one was there to answer. I called Ben. He was so happy and immediately asked, "Does that test tell you how many are in there?" Just a few minutes later my IP's called back, thinking that either I got a positive test or I started to bleed. I told them to start jumping up and down right now, because I got a positive test!!!!!!!!! They screamed with excitement! What an amazing way to start the day :)
Later, I realized that I didn't give the other tests very much time before giving up and thinking they were negative. I had all the tests in the boxes in the bathroom garbage can, so decided I would see if any of the others had changed after I threw them away. By the time I got to the fourth positive test I stopped looking to see if they were all positive. I could only laugh that I had taken all of these positive tests and we would have known days ago! I told Ben and my IP's and everyone thought it was hilarious. My IP's sent me a message last night reminding us that Carla, from the TV show Scrubs, had the same thing happen to her. I always thought my life could be a funny TV show.
Monday is our blood test to confirm the pregnancy. I need to get a number over 100 and then we'll have an ultrasound about three weeks after. Following the ultrasound we're released to my regular OB, which I don't have. I guess it's time to start looking!
The first day home from our trip the kids started rubbing my belly and talking to it. They are obsessed, especially Lydia. It's really fun to see the excitement they have for a new wombmate :)
I started taking at-home tests five days after the transfer, and I managed to go through eight of them within just a few days. I wouldn't have gone through nearly as many if IP-A didn't tell me that I should pee on a stick every time I went to the bathroom, and that it's like being a kid on Christmas looking at presents under the tree and not opening them up! Thanks IP-A! It's normal for my body not to recognize the hormone in my urine for a long time, longer than the normal woman, so I didn't find it surprising that I kept on getting negatives. I clued in my IP's that this was very normal for me and that they shouldn't worry about getting negative tests. I actually wasn't even supposed to take these test, per the agency, and I was definitely not supposed to be telling my IP's. OOPS, Josie broke the rules again. Sorry Keely and Kim! We still are going to win the prize of best match ever.
My body starting feeling changes almost right away. The progesterone had already given me tender breasts, but I started getting very crampy shortly after the transfer. I actually was a bit worried how crampy I was, so I asked Charity if this was normal or if I should be worried. Charity can calm my nerves even by text message. She assured me that it was a very good sign and that we should stay positive! By Saturday my sciatic nerve started hurting and I started walking funny. This has happened with every viable pregnancy that I've had, and I find it to be a very reassuring sign that things are looking good. My father in law was actually making fun of my walk...I didn't realize it how funny I looked! I also am very bloated, which someone else told me happened to her after she went through IVF. She had healthy twins, so I though that sounded like another good thing (not the twins...just the bloating sign).
Yesterday morning I did my ritual morning pee test (with my 9th and final test I had) and it came back with a quick negative. I really thought it was the morning for a positive test. I feel pregnant and I'm sure this will work the first try. I always get pregnant when I want! I jumped in the shower and after I got out I thought I should take a peek and see if there were any changes on the test. I reached in the garbage and there were two freaking lines on the test! I didn't cry, I sobbed like a little kid with big crocodile tears!! I couldn't get to the phone to call my IP's fast enough. Neither of them answered my phone call. Seriously, I was calling to give them the news of their life and no one was there to answer. I called Ben. He was so happy and immediately asked, "Does that test tell you how many are in there?" Just a few minutes later my IP's called back, thinking that either I got a positive test or I started to bleed. I told them to start jumping up and down right now, because I got a positive test!!!!!!!!! They screamed with excitement! What an amazing way to start the day :)
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| POSITIVELY PREGNANT |
Later, I realized that I didn't give the other tests very much time before giving up and thinking they were negative. I had all the tests in the boxes in the bathroom garbage can, so decided I would see if any of the others had changed after I threw them away. By the time I got to the fourth positive test I stopped looking to see if they were all positive. I could only laugh that I had taken all of these positive tests and we would have known days ago! I told Ben and my IP's and everyone thought it was hilarious. My IP's sent me a message last night reminding us that Carla, from the TV show Scrubs, had the same thing happen to her. I always thought my life could be a funny TV show.
Monday is our blood test to confirm the pregnancy. I need to get a number over 100 and then we'll have an ultrasound about three weeks after. Following the ultrasound we're released to my regular OB, which I don't have. I guess it's time to start looking!
Thursday, July 11, 2013
That's a Wrap
Yesterday at 10:30am marked my 24 hours of bed rest. I'm not sure I could have been more excited to get up and take a shower. Ben, my IP's, and I decided that we'd just meet up for brunch instead of heading out early for breakfast, which was a really bad move. I'm taking progesterone suppositories to make my body think it's pregnant, and one of the side effects is nausea. I totally thought I was going to vomit before leaving to get food. I think being hungry plus progesterone made me feel pretty sick. I had a moment where I felt like my sister when she was pregnant with her first baby, I wanted to eat but NOTHING sounded good. Finally, I thought toast sounded like it would settle my stomach. That might sound easy to the normal person, but when you are in search of Gluten Free toast in another country it's not so. We wondered over to the grocery store and found some GF bread and I ate a piece and felt much better. I'll never skip out on breakfast again!
Our last night here was AMAZING! We started at a nice steakhouse and finished up by going to The Wizard of Oz production at a local Theatre. It may have been one of the best shows I have ever seen. The music, singing, acting, and set was all top notch. My IP's are going to watch Wicked in October, so it was extra fun for them to see The Wizard of Oz before going to see Wicked. I love that we all have the same interests and get a long so well. Plus, as an extra, I found my birthing socks at the play. I thought it would only be fitting to wear some ruby red slippers while giving birth to this amazing couple's baby!
My body doesn't feel much different. I'm a little crampy but it's not too bad at all, my breasts are a tiny bit tender, and my sense of smell is definitely heightened, ok maybe I do feel different. IP-A sent me a cool list of things that should be happening in the next several days with the embryos. My pregnancy test is scheduled for July 22nd at 9:30.
We're finally heading home today! I'm so excited to get my arms around my little Babes. I miss them terribly, and I'm sooooooooo thankful for the people who have helped us out! It makes it a nice way to be a part of this whole experience. I couldn't have done it without your help! I got a phone call from Lydia on Tuesday and she said she had been crying the night before because she missed me. That's so sweet and sad all at the same time. The kids are really excited to know that the embryos are finally in Mommy's tummy. We have been waiting and preparing for this for a long time. It's been almost a full year of constant ups and downs. Hopefully it's all up hill from here. Homeward bound :)
Our last night here was AMAZING! We started at a nice steakhouse and finished up by going to The Wizard of Oz production at a local Theatre. It may have been one of the best shows I have ever seen. The music, singing, acting, and set was all top notch. My IP's are going to watch Wicked in October, so it was extra fun for them to see The Wizard of Oz before going to see Wicked. I love that we all have the same interests and get a long so well. Plus, as an extra, I found my birthing socks at the play. I thought it would only be fitting to wear some ruby red slippers while giving birth to this amazing couple's baby!
My body doesn't feel much different. I'm a little crampy but it's not too bad at all, my breasts are a tiny bit tender, and my sense of smell is definitely heightened, ok maybe I do feel different. IP-A sent me a cool list of things that should be happening in the next several days with the embryos. My pregnancy test is scheduled for July 22nd at 9:30.
3-Day Transfer
| Days Past Transfer (DPT) | Embryo Development |
| One | The embryo continues to grow and develop, turning from a 6-8 cell embryo into a morula |
| Two | The cells of the morula continue to divide, developing into a blastocyst |
| Three | The blastocyst begins to hatch out of its shell |
| Four | The blastocyst continues to hatch out of its shell and begins to attach itself to the uterus |
| Five | The blastocyst attaches deeper into the uterine lining, beginning implantation |
| Six | Implantation continues |
| Seven | Implantation is complete, cells that will eventually become the placenta and fetus have begun to develop |
| Eight | Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) starts to enter the blood stream |
| Nine | Fetal development continues and hCG continues to be secreted |
| Ten | Fetal development continues and hCG continues to be secreted |
| Eleven | Levels of hCG are now high enough to detect a pregnancy |
We're finally heading home today! I'm so excited to get my arms around my little Babes. I miss them terribly, and I'm sooooooooo thankful for the people who have helped us out! It makes it a nice way to be a part of this whole experience. I couldn't have done it without your help! I got a phone call from Lydia on Tuesday and she said she had been crying the night before because she missed me. That's so sweet and sad all at the same time. The kids are really excited to know that the embryos are finally in Mommy's tummy. We have been waiting and preparing for this for a long time. It's been almost a full year of constant ups and downs. Hopefully it's all up hill from here. Homeward bound :)
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
"You Realize You're a Sitting Duck for Twins, Right?" -Dr. Virro
Toronto had record rainfall last night that caused quick flooding and quite the commotion around town. We were in our hotel room as we watched the clouds roll in and had a long discussion that it was a lot of rain for quite a lengthy amount of time. We had 74 mm (we only had to ask about five people to convert that for us...almost 3 inches) in one hour. Normally we see the torrential downpour that lasts just a minute or two, but this rain didn't let up. We waited to head out for supper until the rain had slowed down. One of the mall employees told us that the subways were closed due to flooding and that this weather was abnormal, because we had no idea that this wasn't a typical rainfall here.
When we watched the news that evening we saw a Go Train that left 1,400 people stranded for several hours. They had to bring boats in and had the Marine Guard rescuing people. The sewer exploded and there was raw sewage covering roads and even ended up in peoples cars that were on those roads. There was a Porsche that was under water that had about an inch of the roof out of the water. It was interesting being here during this record breaking event.
I was emailed instructions for the transfer yesterday. The transfer was scheduled for 10:30 am, I needed to be there by 10:00. I needed to empty my bladder 1.5 hours before the transfer, and I had to have 1 liter of fluid by 9:30. IP-A was telling IP-B at the same time as I was telling Ben that I had to drink 1 liter, which meant that I had to drink half of a 2 liter. I'm pretty sure that we'll never live this one down. Oh Canada and it's conversions!
This morning we decided that it would be wise to head to Markham, which is about 45 minutes away from Toronto, really early to make sure that there wasn't a chance of being late. We left at 7:30 and figured we'd have breakfast close to the hospital. After breakfast and emptying and filling my bladder we headed to the hospital.
We met Sue first, she was this overweight friendly short lady that stunk like smoke. She went over all of my post ops, when I will take a pregnancy test (July 22nd), if a positive pregnancy test how long until we do an ultrasound (3 weeks after confirmation of pregnancy), etc. She was very nice and informative and should definitely quit smoking!
Next we we talked to Patricia, who basically calmed my nerves down by being the sweetest lady ever. She told us about the procedure and answered all of our questions. She was a talker and the front office lady put a kibosh on our conversation, which would have lasted longer than any of us would have wanted it to, and told her that the doctor was ready to go. She literally ran to get the chart off to the right hands.
Dr. Virro is the most unprofessionally, funny, dry doctor I've ever come across. Don't get me wrong, he is really amazing at what he does, but he's very direct and to the point. He shook my hand and called me Josephine. I told him that I went by Josie, so we sat down and he starts the conversation off..."How old are you, Josephine?" He's a little intimidating and he was about to put embryos into my uterus, so I just went with it! He asked a series of questions and never made eye contact, except after taking about putting the two best embryos, which are both 8 cell Grade 2, in...He looked me square in the face and said, "You do realize you're a sitting duck for twins, right?!" Well, what could I say...My positive thoughts are going to make sure only ones sticks?!?! Seriously, the contract has been signed, I've flown up to Canada, my IP's are standing right behind me...Come on dude, of course I understand that this is a possibility! Then he proceeds to tell me how great my lining looks. GULP, DEEP BREATH, POSITIVE THOUGHTS! After going through a few other questions the stands up and says, "Let's put these embryos in!"
As we walked down the hall in a line, Dr. Virro asked if I was ok with everyone in the room during the procedure. I would have been sad if everyone wouldn't be able to watch and experience this together. IP-B and Ben took video of the procedure and IP-A took photos. We all discussed that we woudn't ask and just do, this would be our best chance of getting video footage. Kirby was the ultrasound tech that described everything that was happening during the procedure. It took only a minute and a half for him to put the embryos in. The only uncomforabable part was the ultrasound stick that was being pushed really hard on my bladder. I didn't even feel the catheter at all but we could watch it on the ultrasounds. After he was done I had to lay down for about 15-20 minutes.
https://www.facebook.com/brandon.breault.9?ref=ts&fref=ts#!/photo.php?v=10152084915168266&set=vb.568468265&type=2&theater
It was a relief to go to the bathroom, literally! I'm sure most of you have watched Austin Powers and understands that his urination after being cryogenically frozen was a couple minutes long. I seriously have never peed so much in my life. I started laughing and knew it was total Austin Powers style. I'm sure it was at least one and a half minutes! That's it, we were done at the hospital.
I was directed to be on bed rest for the next 24 hours. I thought being forced to stay in bed would be a day in heaven...It's not! I really just want to get up and run! We all hung out in our room today and played some card games. Ben and my IP's went out to get lunch and supper, I think they liked to get out a bit! We're so lucky that we all get along so well. I'm still thinking that we're going to win a "Best Match" award!
Now, to let the little embryo burrow in and make itself at home...remember those positive thoughts on uno.
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| IVF in full swing |
Awesome photo of Dr. Virro taken by IP-A
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