It's Been a Wild Ride

For the week following us learning that baby was breech, I spent all my free time doing handstands (ok - not really, but I had my knees up on the couch and my elbows on the floor), placing ice on top of my belly with a flashlight on the bottom, I would do squats, lunges, and tell baby all the reasons why it should flip back.  I had an appointment with a chiropractor in Hudson who did the Webster Technique to encourage baby to flip back.  It was such a gentle appointment until she loosened my ligaments - which was quite painful.  I imagine that the OB manually flipping the baby would have been worse, so I tried my best to relax, closed my eyes, and did some deep breathing.  I also practiced my power of positive thinking.
The evening prior to our next ultrasound, I was woke up from a deep sleep with an explosive movement from the baby.  It startled me so much that said, "HOLY SHIT!" out loud.  On my way to the ultrasound the next morning I noticed that the baby's hiccups had moved back down where they were before it flipped into the breech position.  I was feeling hopeful that we would find out that the head was down again.  My hopes of having this perfect water birth had all of the sudden had gone from feeling sad about possibly not having this dream childbirth that I wanted to fear that I couldn't even push the baby out vaginally.  The ultrasound tech placed the probe on my belly and told us that the head was down right away.  I burst into tears!  I'm sure this lady who delivers terrible news about babies every day to expecting parents must have thought it was strange for her to have someone crying because we learned that the baby wasn't breech anymore, but I was so relieved that I didn't have to imagine this baby being brought into the world through a hole that was cut into me that I cried tears of joy.  I still long to have my dream water birth, but we're all extremely thankful that I can have this baby vaginally.
On August 1st we had a full scan to measure the baby's weight again.  IP-B guessed that the weight would be in the 12th percentile, so I had been thinking the same so that we were on the same page with our energy being sent out into the universe.  We just needed to have the baby measure in the 10th percentile in order for us to qualify for a water birth.  Baby looks so great on the ultrasound and everything tells us that it's a healthy but small baby.  The Perinatiologist came into the room after the ultrasound and gave us the best news we've heard in 10 weeks - Baby is in the 15th percentile!!!!  This news was HUGE for us all.  Baby is head down and big enough for us to have the water birth of our dreams!
Every step of this pregnancy has been interesting and new.  We learned the very same day that the baby was big enough to have the water birth that my group strep B swab came back positive.  I find it interesting that I have had three pregnancies where it was negative and this is the second positive one that I've had and in no particular order.  I guess it can come and go.  This means that I will have to have a dose of IV antibiotics every four hours while I'm in active labor.  The good news is, is that I can still be in the tub while I get the IV.  Whew, I think we can handle that news!  I'm already over it.

We went camping with my brother's family and sister's family at a nearby campground last weekend.  I was a little over 37 weeks pregnant and it went fantastic.  The worst part was having to get up and go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and being eaten alive by mosquitos.  My nieces had a lot of time to love on my belly and asked all weekend to feel the baby.  They were all so adorable!

We Tented it at 37 Weeks

My Sister said it perfect:
Feeling this sweet miracle move in auntie's tummy. ‪#‎nottheircousin‬ ‪#‎notconfused‬ ‪#‎surrogacy‬

 

My brother and sister-in-law left on a quick getaway this past week to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary. My parents did the majority of the babysitting for them, but crazy Auntie JoJo volunteered to take just one night with their 5 year old and 2 year old girls.  First off, they were extremely easy to take care of.  Second, they both had a lot of love toward the baby in Auntie JoJo's belly.  My two year old niece would ask once every five minutes, "I feel your baby!"  I finally thought it would be best to show her my IP's and Spencer's picture and tell her how this is their baby and not ours.  She didn't skip a beat when she instantly put her hand on my belly and said, "I feel your present!"  She absolutely melted my heart!





Tomorrow Ben and I will celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary and Lydia turns 12 on Tuesday, so I hope baby waits until the end of this week or after to make his/her grand debut.  Next update will hopefully include a photo with a perfect little bundle of joy!  My body is feeling like it's starting to make progress toward delivering a baby.  My birth plan is written and sent to all eight spectators (This includes Ben, my IPs, Lydia, and others, but doesn't include Liz and all the other medical professionals.  I believe we counted 13 people that will be in the room).  Ben jokes that we need to have stadium seating, so I sent out an email to explain the "rules of the game" and encouraged our "fans" to make custom shirts.  It's probably time to get that bag packed for the hospital! 

Lydia's Birthday

Rainbow for my IPs and blue and pink for boy or girl
I joke that people who don't understand the meaning must think I'm a lady in my 30's trying to be 15 again!  Hahaha

I'm Hanging Upside Down - The Baby is NOT

We are officially 36 weeks along and gearing up for the ending of this pregnancy.  It's so hard to believe that we're in the final month and we'll get to meet little Pickle really soon.  This little baby is making us practice our power of positive thinking by throwing us yet another curve ball. 

We had a full growth scan on July 7th and learned that baby is still measuring in the ninth percentile.  Baby looks perfect other than just being small.  We're just one percentile away from qualifying for the planned water birth that all of us are wanting and hoping for.  I still have this incredible calm sense that it'll all work out somehow.  I don't know why but I don't feel worried at all.  I think I was given the gift of remaining calm under most stressful circumstances.  Please join me in thinking positively, sending energy, praying, and/or thinking this will all work out just the way it is supposed to.  Baby will have another full growth scan on August 1st.   



3D Ultrasound

I've still been running slowly but surly.  I've run 260 miles so far this calendar year and it appears, after today's midwife appointment, that I'm going to stall out at 260 miles until I'm back up and running after giving birth.  I'll still be able to walk though.  The PRIDE Rainbow 5k with my sister, sister-in-law, and both our boys was fantastic.  My IPs and Spencer were at the finish line along with my brother and nieces to cheer us in.  It was a wonderful day to celebrate!  We did a family (except Jack who was at baseball practice) 5k when I was 34 weeks 5 days pregnant, and I ran a 5k with my cousin, Kelly,  on Saturday at 35 weeks 2 days.  I've been feeling great on most of my runs.  I typically run at home and stick to a two mile loop so I can hydrate and urinate on my workout.  Running is where I do my soul searching.  It makes me feel good inside and out!  I set my big goals while I'm running.  Running makes me happy!  I plan on doing my first full marathon post baby with my brother, sister, and hopefully my good friend from California this February in Huntington Beach, CA.  This goal will give me a new focus and something to work toward after having this baby.  I learned last time that I need to have something else in the works before giving birth.  Marathon training seemed like a natural and good goal to have.  It will mentally allow me something to focus on and physically bounce back into shape as soon as I can.   



I love this photo of us jumping at the finish of the PRIDE 5k

34 Weeks 5 Days
George was the OVERALL 1st finisher!

I was at a fabulous ladies get away this last weekend with my mom, aunts, and a few cousins.  We had the perfect weather, food, and company!  After our morning 5k on Saturday I was contracting most of the day.  I knew it wasn't anything to worry about, but it was alarming that I was contracting most of the day.  My mom even asked at one point if we should start timing them.  I took it really easy after our race and spent most of the day with my feet up while I was resting on the beach.  That night when I went to bed, I felt the baby move in a way I've never felt a baby move in five pregnancies.  I can't describe the movement other than comparing myself to a pinball machine.  It didn't hurt but felt so strange.  I thought that it might even be forceful enough to break the water.  I tried flipping from one side to the other, I crossed my legs, I moaned, and I even got up to go to the bathroom.  After about 15 minutes the baby settled down and allowed me to finally fall asleep.

With Cousin Kelly after our 5k on Saturday

On Monday at our weekly monitoring appointment we learned that baby flipped from head-down to a breech position. Without a doubt, the baby flipped on Saturday night when I felt the weird movement.  I've spent my week hanging upside down trying the SpinningBabies method.  I saw the Chiropractor today, that Liz recommended, to have Webster technique adjustment to try to help flip this baby back head-down.  I'll see the Chiropractor on Tuesday again, but if this baby doesn't flip on it's own then we're scheduled to have it manually flipped at the hospital next week Thursday.  I guess I'll just keep you posted...

Payton feeling her baby cousin last week

          

Time is Flying

I decided to stay home tonight as Ben took our kids to the Twins game.  We've had this game on our calendar for over a month, but late last week I came down with a nasty cold and yesterday I started coughing.  We figured it would be best if I stayed home to rest in a quiet house.  Every time I try to fall asleep I start coughing worse, so I figured this would be a perfect time to quickly update you on what is happening in our surrogacy world. 

On Thursday I'll be 32 weeks already.  I can't believe how fast this pregnancy is going - I FEEL FANTASTIC!  I don't think I've ever felt this great this far into a pregnancy.  I'm pretty sure I've always been ready to have my body back at this point.  Yes, it would be nice to feel a little less self conscious about my changing body.  I've gained so much more weight this time than I did with my previous pregnancies, but maybe that's why I feel so good?!  I'm sending out my positive energy that I'll feel this great until at least 36 weeks.  I do need to start processing the ending of this journey.  I can't believe it's almost over.  I learned from my experience last time that I need to have another big goal to focus on so I don't have a 'what now' sort of feeling.  I'm sure that I'll train for another full marathon, but I feel like there might be more.  I just need to do some soul searching and see if I can find what that might be.  Until then, I'll just keep on running!      

31 weeks 4 days

At our 20 week ultrasound we learned that I had partial placental previa.  We went in for a 28 week ultrasound and learned that my placenta had moved clear off my cervix and things look good in that area.  We also learned that baby looks perfect other than it's measuring small - the 6th percentile.  Just to be on the safe side, we were referred to a neonatologist to have a follow up scan.  We went in last week for our first ultrasound and learned that baby is measuring in the 9th percentile (10th percentile and up is considered within normal range).  The neonatologist didn't seem to be concerned at all, however, because it's measuring lower than 10th percent we need to go in for weekly non-stress tests and scans.  They will do a full growth scan on July 7th and we'll see if baby has moved up to at least the 10th percentile or higher.  We have all been made to feel this isn't a huge concern.  Baby looks great, and I'll be a happy camper to push out a wee little one!

Lydia joined us for the ultrasound with the neonatologist.  She has totally been into this pregnancy.  I don't know if it's her age or if it's because she gets to attend the birth of this baby, but she has daily snuggles with my belly and patiently waits to feel movement.  She called IP-B one day to tell them that she has given the baby a name until it's born.  She calls the baby "Pickle".  I have no idea where or why she came up with this name.  She has been delightful to have along for this journey.  The boys will occasionally feel the baby move.  George is more excited to feel the baby than Jack.  They have all been troopers through this pregnancy, but I think they're ready to have their mom back.

Non-Stress Test

Spencer at George's Baseball Game

Our life right now is full of baseball, baseball, and more baseball.  Both Jack and George are on baseball teams and Ben and I have to divide and conquer to make sure each kid has a parent at their game.  Ben is an assistant coach on both teams, so he divides his time up as equally as possible.  Lydia and I eat a lot of sunflower seeds and do a whole lot of sitting. 

We had the pleasure of babysitting Spencer a few weeks ago while his parents were hosting their best friend's baby shower.  It's pretty fun that they are expecting a baby just four weeks before this baby is due.  We were warned that Spencer might be a "flight risk" and they weren't joking.  He's a boy on the move!  It was so fun to hang out with him and take him to George's baseball game.  He really is a cool kid! 







Family 5k



31 week post run

Our family did a 5k last week and we have one this coming Friday.  With the exception of having a cold and cough, I've been able to keep running 2-5 miles at a time.  Last week I had a day where the ligaments in my stomach hurt so bad that I had to finish my workout by just walking, but my run the following day I didn't even feel like I was pregnant and felt like a million bucks.  This coming Sunday I'm doing the PRIDE 5k with my sister and sister-in-law.  My sister-in-law suggested this race and I felt like it was calling me by name.  The Boom girls will start the race on Boom Island while I carry this rainbow baby.  How could I not run this race?!  You bet, I'll be wearing my 'I'm a Rainbow Baby' shirt!  It will be a fun tribute to my final surrogate pregnancy.          





LIFE got in the way of this long overdue update

I'm sorry that I've been MIA for many weeks.  The Dahlager household has been very busy in our day to day life, so updating the blog has been pushed to the side.  I don't have much time today, but I'll do my best to give you a quick update on what's been happening in our life. 

There was a 20 week debate that went on in my IPs house trying to decide weather or not to find out the gender of the baby.  I'm sure many of you know that they ultimately decided to wait until the birth to find out baby's gender.  IP-A wanted to find out and IP-B didn't want to know.  I hear that there was some great negotiating that went on in their home.  IP-B went as far as telling IP-A that all naming rights could be IP-A's.  There could be a list with 10 names and IP-B could get one veto.  IP-A is so sweet and said that they would name the baby together but wanted to see how far the negotiations would go to see how much it really meant to IP-B.  I'm right along side with IP-B.  I really didn't want to know the gender at all, but it's totally their decision and I respect whatever they had decided.  They did call the night before the ultrasound and asked if I wouldn't mind taking home an ultrasound picture of the genital area that has boy or girl written on it.  They have a photo like that of Spencer and wanted one of this baby too.  The ultrasound tech had us look away while she got the shot and stuck that photo in an envelope that is hidden in our house.  Ben keeps teasing me that he's going to search for it and open it up to find out what the baby is.  I think I did a great job hiding it, so no one needs to worry about him at all!  Also, both my IPs were able to feel their baby kick for the first time as I was on the ultrasound table.  I love that baby was cooperative enough to let them feel the movement.  It wasn't too cooperative to get a great profile photo though.   

Best Profile Photo We Could Get

At the ultrasound we learned that that baby looks great.  Everything is measuring on track and baby looks healthy.  It's always a sigh of relief to hear that everything is looking like it should.  Baby is laying transverse (sideways) just like our little George was when I was pregnant with him.  Unfortunately, I found out that I have partial placenta previa.  I'll go back in for an ultrasound at 28 weeks to confirm that the placenta has moved up as baby has grown, and hopefully baby has moved head-down by then.  I had a low lying placenta when I was pregnant with our youngest, George.  It moved up on its own and didn't result in any problems at all and he flipped head-down on his own.  I don't feel concerned about this at all.  I know it will all turn out just fine!  Next week I go in for my glucose test and visit Liz again.

I was asked several months ago by a surrogate friend of mine if I would come to the delivery of her third surrogate baby (this baby is a sibling to the twins she had 22 months prior).  My job in the delivery room was to attend to any needs that her 10 year old daughter might have while watching her mom give birth.  I didn't even need to process the question before answering, YES!  It is one of the greatest honors to witness the birth of a baby.  I'm still quite in shock that I was able to be in the delivery room. 
I received a text from my friend around 5:00 on the evening of April 4th that she had been at the hospital since 2ish that afternoon.  She was contracting consistently but not really progressing much and she would keep me posted throughout the evening if they were going to admit her or not.  Around 9:30 that night she said that it was happening and I could come whenever I was ready.  I packed a small bag, grabbed my camera, and ran off to the hospital. 
When I got into her room, she was so calm and seemed to feel relieved that this was actually happening. She decided to get the epidural before the pain got too significant.  I was in awe watching her 10 year old who didn't flinch while watching her mom get the epidural.  I played it safe and didn't directly watch the epidural as it was happening.  The last time I watch an epidural being placed I almost fainted (I was 6 months pregnant with Spencer). 
The intended mother got to the hospital a couple hours after I did and it was a pleasure to meet her.  She didn't realize that my friend's daughter and I would be at the delivery, so her initial plan on not watching the birth changed as the night progressed.  She and I both took a nap sometime around two in the morning.  When I woke up, my friend's epidural seemed to have moved or wasn't working as well as it had been.  It also appeared she was getting close to pushing.  I woke up the intended mother when the doctor came in and said it was time.  "Are you ready to have a baby?" I asked her as I woke her up. 
My friend's daughter is a sweetheart.  She was holding  her mom's hand between contractions and as quiet as could be.  It was too late to have the epidural fixed, so my friend pushed out that baby while feeling what was happening.  Other than feeling bad that the epidural wasn't working, It was one of the most magical experiences of my life.  The plan to have baby placed on my friend and have her hand the baby off to his mother worked out perfectly.  The raw emotions of this miraculous event will never leave my memory.  To witness, as an outsider, what surrogates do is almost beyond comprehension (even though I've done it myself).  The experience was more powerful than I ever realized.  I understood the relief she felt the moment that the birth was over, but I also know the feeling of the journey coming to an end and how bittersweet that feels. Watching all of this unfold was breathtaking!  I couldn't control my tears that morning as I watched my friend pass that beautiful little baby into his mother's arms.  I felt so proud of my friend!  It gave me a whole new appreciation for surrogates. 



My sweet Godson, Spencer, turned two on April 3rd.  We went to his birthday party on April 10th at an indoor play center.  I feel so lucky that both IP-A and IP-B's sides of the family embrace our family like their own - we're just an extension of their families now.  I love watching Spencer interact with his cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.  It is so satisfying to be able to watch him grow into such a cool kid.  His parents are doing an amazing job!  Spencer clearly prefers Ben and our kids over me.  It makes me chuckle at how long it take for him to warm up to me, but Ben can pick him right away and he's as happy as

can be.  Lydia always is a favorite among the little kids.  It's so cute to hear Spencer say all of our names - his voice is so sweet!  The relationship we have built with my IPs and Spencer is just as I pictured it before becoming a surrogate.  It has fulfilled all of my hopes and dreams.  Perfect almost sounds like an understatement when I think about how well everything has turned out. 






I attended the Minnesota RESOLVE Advocacy Day at the capitol on April 13th.  There was a group of about 70 people from all over Minnesota that gathered and spoke with our representatives about supporting family building legislation.  I'm really not into politics very much, but I do see the need to have laws that protect surrogates, intended parents, and their unborn baby(ies).  It was an interesting day that I was happy to be a part of.

The Back of Mine, Jack's, and Megan's Shirts

Before the Race

Our 10 year old son, Jack, had a goal this calendar year to run a half marathon.  Well, this mama said it needed to happen before I got too big that I couldn't do it with him.  We trained for a couple months and Jack was able to accomplish his goal on May 1st!  I must admit that training for this race was one of my favorite experiences I've had with Jack.  We put so many miles in together and having all of that time to chat was unquestionably the best one on one time I've ever had with him.  He inspires me!  He has big dreams that I know he'll be able to conquer.  I loved listening to his attitude about how many miles we needed to run change over the course of training.  I just loved listening to him talk in general.  My favorite comment he made while we were training was after our neighbor told us that Jack has inspired her son, Jack, to train for a half marathon.  Jack said, "That's so cool!  Mom, you inspired me to run, I inspired Jack to run, and I think Jack will inspire someone else to run.  I think it'll just keep going on and on - people inspiring others to run!"  We should learn more lessons from kids.  We just need to keep teaching by example because they are watching! 

Half Marathon Finisher

Ben and my oldest brother, Shawn, ran the race ahead of us.  My sister, Megan, ran with Jack and me.  We made some really fun shirts to run our race in.  I made sure we answered all of the people's questions they would have about a kid running a half marathon on Jack's shirt.  The front had "First Half" written on it, and the back said, "Jack" and "I'm Ten" on it.  There were a lot of people who read his shirt as we ran by them or passed them along the course.  They would cheer for him by name and he would smile every time.  My favorite lady we passed was around mile 11.  She was in her mid 40's and clearly struggling.  As we passed her and she saw Jack and read his shirt, she said, "JESUS!" Once she gathered her thoughts she said, "GO JACK!!!"  We all laughed hysterically!  We also heard people say, "Jack, if you can do this then so can I!" and "Jack, I have 44 years on you and this is my first half!"  I was feeling inspired running along side of a 10 year old.  I'm such a proud mom!

Shawn, Ben, Josie, Megan, and Jack

Grandma and Grandpa left their vacation early and booked it back to surprise us for Jack's first half marathon. 
We hadn't seen them in over six months. 
BEST SURPRISE EVER!

I'm 25 weeks along already and feeling fantastic!!  Spencer has apparently been telling people that he's having a sister.  I guess we'll find out in 15 week.