I know, I haven't blogged for a while, and I'm getting messages from people wondering what's going on. Actually, nothing much is going on.The first trimester is just kicking my ass! I have been thoroughly exhausted. I'm turning into a koala - I think I'm asleep more than I'm awake.
I was laying on the edge of my bed today, looked across my bedroom at the treadmill, and actually laughed out loud. My plan was to get into the practice of running on the treadmill everyday starting last spring, so that when I got pregnant, I could keep that up and stay in better shape throughout the pregnancy. Ha! That theory is long gone!! :) I have a terrible time getting out of bed in the morning, I crash on the couch for a couple of hours by 5pm, and then I'm ready for bed about 10pm, which is very unlike my usual night owl habits.
The blood draw requests continue to flow in, which you all know, irritates me to no end. I've had 3 draws in the past 2 weeks and have to get another Monday. Maybe that's another reason I'm so exhausted - I have no blood left to function! ;) The hcg levels have all been great. The first level was 157, the second level (which they wanted to be at least double that number) was like 1387, and then the third was over 8000, so no trouble there. The problem level is the progesterone level. It was fine on the first measure. Supposed to be 20 or more and it was 21.5. Great! Well, then the weekend after that draw, I was supposed to have med refills delivered to my door. They didn't show. So, my nurse had me do extra suppositories over the weekend, which she said would be fine as far as getting my body the hormones it needed, but would probably make my levels a little low when the next blood draw was done. She said she would make a note of it - no problem. Well, Monday came and....no meds. So, Marc called the company and must have really let them have it because I got a call that day with tons of apologies and the promise that my meds were on their way!! They did arrive the next day, so the injections resumed. But.....the progesterone level was then so off that, you guessed it, they want another blood draw to measure it again and make sure it's back up. Ugh.
After the first trimester full of needles, blood draws, and lots of sleepiness, the second trimester is gonna be a piece of cake!! Speaking of cake, Marc's Aunt Cheryl spoiled me with red velvet cake today, and brought me fudge a couple of weeks ago. Yummm!!!! She's awesome!
Our next step is the ultrasound next Friday. We will find out whether there is one inhabitant or two in this gorgeous uterus. I'm not gonna lie. I'm a little nervous, and will be a little in shock for a while if it ends up being two. I've never done twins before, and I'm old and out of shape. But, we will know soon, and then the therapy can begin! :)
Thanks again for all of the continued support, thoughts, and prayers! You are all awesome! :) Talk to you again in a week!
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013
Baby on Board!
The exciting news is in!! There is at least one baby on board in this gorgeous uterus! :) We received the news from the bloodwork this morning. The hcg level needed to be above 50 in order to be considered a good positive, and the level was 157! Yay! So, our journey continues to the fun part now!
It has been a very difficult week for me because I can't wait for things. I'm very impatient when it comes to results, so I, of course, did some home pregnancy tests. I got a positive result on Monday. I told the guys, they were excited as well, but we all agreed that we wanted to wait for the blood test to make the news public. Now, I agreed that this was a good idea, BUT, my talent is carrying babies, NOT SECRETS!! So, everytime someone asked, When will you find out?, How do you feel?, etc., I wanted to say - "We're pregnant!!", but I had to keep it in. I told a few close friends because I would have exploded if not! LOL But, I also wanted the guys to be first to announce their news. After all, this is their news to share, and nobody likes a spotlight stealer. :) So, we all had to wait for Marc to get home from overseas today in order to share the great news!
I asked Marc if he wanted to do the blog today to share the results, but he's tired from his long flight.....Awwww, poor baby. :( That trip home from Paris must have been exhausting. I don't know what would be more tiring. Oh, wait! Yes, I do! Ummm, housing a baby or babies in your gorgeous uterus! But, we want to let Marc get his beauty rest, so I'm blogging tonight. ;) Michael, take good care of him and make sure he wakes up refreshed and feeling lovely. ;)
I will have another blood test on Monday, and then another on Wednesday. Don't get me started - you know how I feel about this! But, you've listened to me bitch and moan about the needles enough, so I will not bother you with more complaining on the matter. I do, however, think if a pee stick was good enough to let me know I was having 5 smart, beautiful, wonderful children of my own, it should be good enough for this adventure as well. But, we all know the nurse enjoys making me suffer. So, if you see me walking around town this week all pale and barely able to stand- it's the blood loss. I apologize now if I don't recognize you, but I'm sure I'll be a little lightheaded until I recover.
So, they are looking for the hcg level to double with each test, and they are monitoring the hormone levels from all of the daily shots and suppositories. Yep, I said suppositories, and yep, I said daily. Is it starting to stand out how much these guys owe me for all of this?!?!? LOL
The next big thing I'm curious to get to is the ultrasound that will happen here in a few weeks. We need to find out if there is one or if there are two little critters hanging out with me for the next 9 months. I'm rooting for one, but I know many of you are rooting for two, and I forgive you for that. I forgive you because I've rooted for twins when many of my friends have been pregnant, so I deserve it if it happens to me. :)
I am overwhelmingly happy for my friends. I'm so happy things are working so smoothly and hope they continue to go that way. How crazy is it that we've made it to this point!?!? Wow for science! I can picture how exciting delivery day is going to be and how amazing this is all going to turn out. <3
It has been a very difficult week for me because I can't wait for things. I'm very impatient when it comes to results, so I, of course, did some home pregnancy tests. I got a positive result on Monday. I told the guys, they were excited as well, but we all agreed that we wanted to wait for the blood test to make the news public. Now, I agreed that this was a good idea, BUT, my talent is carrying babies, NOT SECRETS!! So, everytime someone asked, When will you find out?, How do you feel?, etc., I wanted to say - "We're pregnant!!", but I had to keep it in. I told a few close friends because I would have exploded if not! LOL But, I also wanted the guys to be first to announce their news. After all, this is their news to share, and nobody likes a spotlight stealer. :) So, we all had to wait for Marc to get home from overseas today in order to share the great news!
I asked Marc if he wanted to do the blog today to share the results, but he's tired from his long flight.....Awwww, poor baby. :( That trip home from Paris must have been exhausting. I don't know what would be more tiring. Oh, wait! Yes, I do! Ummm, housing a baby or babies in your gorgeous uterus! But, we want to let Marc get his beauty rest, so I'm blogging tonight. ;) Michael, take good care of him and make sure he wakes up refreshed and feeling lovely. ;)
I will have another blood test on Monday, and then another on Wednesday. Don't get me started - you know how I feel about this! But, you've listened to me bitch and moan about the needles enough, so I will not bother you with more complaining on the matter. I do, however, think if a pee stick was good enough to let me know I was having 5 smart, beautiful, wonderful children of my own, it should be good enough for this adventure as well. But, we all know the nurse enjoys making me suffer. So, if you see me walking around town this week all pale and barely able to stand- it's the blood loss. I apologize now if I don't recognize you, but I'm sure I'll be a little lightheaded until I recover.
So, they are looking for the hcg level to double with each test, and they are monitoring the hormone levels from all of the daily shots and suppositories. Yep, I said suppositories, and yep, I said daily. Is it starting to stand out how much these guys owe me for all of this?!?!? LOL
The next big thing I'm curious to get to is the ultrasound that will happen here in a few weeks. We need to find out if there is one or if there are two little critters hanging out with me for the next 9 months. I'm rooting for one, but I know many of you are rooting for two, and I forgive you for that. I forgive you because I've rooted for twins when many of my friends have been pregnant, so I deserve it if it happens to me. :)
I am overwhelmingly happy for my friends. I'm so happy things are working so smoothly and hope they continue to go that way. How crazy is it that we've made it to this point!?!? Wow for science! I can picture how exciting delivery day is going to be and how amazing this is all going to turn out. <3
Thursday, September 5, 2013
The Announcement You've Been Waiting For.....
will take place tomorrow night!!! LOL I had ya excited, didn't I? Sorry, couldn't help myself. I had the blood test this morning, and we should get a call with the news on the hcg level tomorrow sometime, so stay tuned. :)
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Papa Guest Blog
So I have been meaning to do this all week and finally found the time tonight to sit down and get all my thoughts together. This is Marc guest blogging this evening to give everyone my perspective on all of this and what has been going on. First, I have to start out by saying THANK YOU to Jenny, Craig and their awesome kids. Obviously none of this would be happening without all of them.
OK, on to why I am here. I have been getting a lot of questions about what it has been like to go through this process and really how I am feeling and where my head has been through all of this. For any of you that know me well, I hold my emotions pretty close to the vest so typing is probably a lot easier for me than talking, so here it goes! In a nutshell, this has been one of the most confusing, complicated, funny, crazy and emotional things I have ever gone through. But by saying that, lets take a step back to when this all started. Michael and I decided in 2009 we were ready to become parents and started the process to adopt in mid 2010. After a very bad experience with an "unnamed" adoption agency that we spent nearly a year dealing with that yielded no results, we walked away very discouraged and very angry. We decided at that point we would go at it on our own and try to find a private adoption. Through a former employee that worked for me many years ago in San Diego, we found a mother wanting us to adopt her child. Unfortunately, as you read in Jenny's prior blog, we lost that child. Jenny had approached me shortly before all of that happening and asked if we had ever considered a surrogate. I said we had but were always OK adopting. She told me then that if we ever decided we wanted to talk about it, she would be willing to look into it with us. So when we got the devastating news about the baby we were going to adopt, within a week, I contacted Jenny and through a lot of education, meetings, attorneys and doctor's visits. (oh let's get the first funny out of the way and not forget to mention the two visits to the sperm bank where you have to make your "deposit" while others are in rooms beside you and you can hear them and the porn they are playing- yeah that's fun and "comfortable") here we are today.
Let me just stop for a second and explain that Jenny and I went to elementary school together until the beginning of sixth grade. We saw each other here and there throughout junior and senior high school then lost touch again until a few years back when we saw each other again at a Light the Night Walk in Dayton, OH. Several of our friends from elementary school were in attendance to support a very special person to all of us (Jared), his family and his daughter who had been diagnosed with Leukemia. I actually met Craig, for what I thought was the first time that night. However, Craig and I came to find out that we had met as babies and spent time together as toddlers because our grandparents lived across the street from each other and their children (our parents) were friends. It was that chance reunion that night that allowed Jenny and I to become reunited and what ultimately led us here.
Now to what has been going on the last week or so. EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER! I really am not one to worry very much or get nervous about things but damn, I have to say my stomach has been in knots since we arrived at Ohio Reproductive last Tuesday. The trip to Ohio was going great, we were spending time with family and lots of friends, got to meet Jenny and Craig's children and I really was not thinking about the procedure too much then BAM, it all just hit me sitting there staring at Jenny in her paper towel dress. Side note, she is right, what is with those things and who do they make them for exactly?
But some funny highlights from that day that Jenny didn't share. First, I have to say that Craig has to be one of the most understanding and funniest guys I have ever met. Talk about "go with the flow." This guy deserves a lot of kudos so I try to give them when I can. So the first funny thing that happened is that Jenny does not like to drink water and the nurse had shared with me exactly when Jenny needed to go to the bathroom and how much she needed to drink at what time so her bladder was full for the procedure. So guess who came with water bottle in hand and a schedule of exactly where we would stop for her to go to the bathroom, when she would start drinking her water, etc. Yeah, this guy - which comes of no surprise to ANYONE. I know in some way, through those evil dirty looks, she appreciated my nagging! So when we get to the clinic and they allow us to go back in the room, Jenny starts telling us that they are going to implant the embryos with a catheter. No sooner does that come out of her mouth, all three of the guys, without thinking, start squirming in their seats and talking about how much they hurt. We go on about this for about 5 minutes before we realize Jenny is starting to panic. We promptly begin to back peddle and explain to her why this hurts WAY worse for a guy versus a girl. As soon as we got her to think about it and how small that hole is that a guy has to pee out of, she relaxed (yes, all women should stop right now and think about that, OUCH). I also told her that if she did not stop freaking out about it I was going to start questioning Craig's manhood (sorry Craig). LOL! Next came the procedure itself. Honestly, it happened so fast that I think we were all in shock!. All this preparation, shots (lots of shots), anxiety and build up and the whole thing was over in less than 10 minutes. Now, I know what most of you are thinking and it has already been said by many of you - yes, I know it took about that long for all of you to make your kids the good old fashioned way (I won't name names of all the women that have said that to me to save the egos of all their husbands, but I have it locked away for when I need a good one liner). However, in this situation, we are watching the whole procedure through the ultrasound screen (which I have to say is just plain amazing to see your kids literally at the most basic phase of their life) and there was 2 small, and I do mean small, flashes on the screen inside the uterus and then that was it. As Jenny said, we were waiting for fireworks, balloons, sparklers, champagne uncorking, just give us SOMETHING! I mean, really, this has been a long ride! Work with us! So at that point, I had nothing to say except rub Jenny's arm and ask "was it good for you?" That is all I could come up with and I felt like something needed to be said. Yes, I never change (for all of you that said it under your breath right now). :)
So that pretty much brings it full circle and to today. Oh, except for that feeling of wanting to vomit since we were in the procedure room. It is PARENT WORRY! Very foreign to me! So my wise baby machine of a cousin Shala and equally wise baby oven mama Jenny both put it into perspective for me as they were laughing at me...IT NEVER STOPS AND THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING! What?! Seriously?! I am going to be sick to my stomach for the rest of my life because I am worried about my kid(s)?! Geesh, could someone have mentioned that earlier! Honestly though, this is going to be the longest 2 weeks of my life. We do not find out for absolute sure that the procedure worked until September 10th. I am going to have a lot more gray hair by then (and I was doing so good with very little up until now, thank you very much...sigh). All I can do at this point is stay positive, keep rooting them on to attach and get comfortable in that uterus and keep believing that our grandparents are looking after all of this and being our guardian angels like they have been for Michael and I are whole lives. Anyone that knows me knows that religion and I have a complicated relationship (Craig and I share this relationship) so praying is not in my nature but believing there is something bigger than all of us that I can talk to is cool with me. So I have been doing a lot of chatting to whoever or whatever is listening out there in the universe! And I can not even begin to tell you how much all of the emails, messages, phone calls, texts, and your prayers have meant to us all.
I will end this by saying that small town America gets a bad rap from the gay community and some of it is warranted but most of it is not. I am so proud of where I came from and the way that my friends and family from that little area of southeastern Ohio have stepped up and supported not only us, but Jenny and Craig. Jared's wife Janelle said to me in a message "whenever people go through big life events (good or bad) it is imperative that we stick together" This is so true and I have witnessed this through both their life event and ours. I want to genuinely thank everyone that has reached out to me from literally every aspect of my life - childhood, high school, college, professional, work and beyond, - for being so amazing and so supportive of all of us. I will never be able to say thank you enough or in every way I need to, but please know, that it means so much. Two wonderful things happened from the journey that began that night in Dayton. Jared's daughter Ally beat her cancer and hopefully Michael and I are going to be given the greatest gift we could ever ask or dream of. Now we sit back and wait for good news that I know is coming soon!
OK, on to why I am here. I have been getting a lot of questions about what it has been like to go through this process and really how I am feeling and where my head has been through all of this. For any of you that know me well, I hold my emotions pretty close to the vest so typing is probably a lot easier for me than talking, so here it goes! In a nutshell, this has been one of the most confusing, complicated, funny, crazy and emotional things I have ever gone through. But by saying that, lets take a step back to when this all started. Michael and I decided in 2009 we were ready to become parents and started the process to adopt in mid 2010. After a very bad experience with an "unnamed" adoption agency that we spent nearly a year dealing with that yielded no results, we walked away very discouraged and very angry. We decided at that point we would go at it on our own and try to find a private adoption. Through a former employee that worked for me many years ago in San Diego, we found a mother wanting us to adopt her child. Unfortunately, as you read in Jenny's prior blog, we lost that child. Jenny had approached me shortly before all of that happening and asked if we had ever considered a surrogate. I said we had but were always OK adopting. She told me then that if we ever decided we wanted to talk about it, she would be willing to look into it with us. So when we got the devastating news about the baby we were going to adopt, within a week, I contacted Jenny and through a lot of education, meetings, attorneys and doctor's visits. (oh let's get the first funny out of the way and not forget to mention the two visits to the sperm bank where you have to make your "deposit" while others are in rooms beside you and you can hear them and the porn they are playing- yeah that's fun and "comfortable") here we are today.
Let me just stop for a second and explain that Jenny and I went to elementary school together until the beginning of sixth grade. We saw each other here and there throughout junior and senior high school then lost touch again until a few years back when we saw each other again at a Light the Night Walk in Dayton, OH. Several of our friends from elementary school were in attendance to support a very special person to all of us (Jared), his family and his daughter who had been diagnosed with Leukemia. I actually met Craig, for what I thought was the first time that night. However, Craig and I came to find out that we had met as babies and spent time together as toddlers because our grandparents lived across the street from each other and their children (our parents) were friends. It was that chance reunion that night that allowed Jenny and I to become reunited and what ultimately led us here.
Now to what has been going on the last week or so. EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER! I really am not one to worry very much or get nervous about things but damn, I have to say my stomach has been in knots since we arrived at Ohio Reproductive last Tuesday. The trip to Ohio was going great, we were spending time with family and lots of friends, got to meet Jenny and Craig's children and I really was not thinking about the procedure too much then BAM, it all just hit me sitting there staring at Jenny in her paper towel dress. Side note, she is right, what is with those things and who do they make them for exactly?
But some funny highlights from that day that Jenny didn't share. First, I have to say that Craig has to be one of the most understanding and funniest guys I have ever met. Talk about "go with the flow." This guy deserves a lot of kudos so I try to give them when I can. So the first funny thing that happened is that Jenny does not like to drink water and the nurse had shared with me exactly when Jenny needed to go to the bathroom and how much she needed to drink at what time so her bladder was full for the procedure. So guess who came with water bottle in hand and a schedule of exactly where we would stop for her to go to the bathroom, when she would start drinking her water, etc. Yeah, this guy - which comes of no surprise to ANYONE. I know in some way, through those evil dirty looks, she appreciated my nagging! So when we get to the clinic and they allow us to go back in the room, Jenny starts telling us that they are going to implant the embryos with a catheter. No sooner does that come out of her mouth, all three of the guys, without thinking, start squirming in their seats and talking about how much they hurt. We go on about this for about 5 minutes before we realize Jenny is starting to panic. We promptly begin to back peddle and explain to her why this hurts WAY worse for a guy versus a girl. As soon as we got her to think about it and how small that hole is that a guy has to pee out of, she relaxed (yes, all women should stop right now and think about that, OUCH). I also told her that if she did not stop freaking out about it I was going to start questioning Craig's manhood (sorry Craig). LOL! Next came the procedure itself. Honestly, it happened so fast that I think we were all in shock!. All this preparation, shots (lots of shots), anxiety and build up and the whole thing was over in less than 10 minutes. Now, I know what most of you are thinking and it has already been said by many of you - yes, I know it took about that long for all of you to make your kids the good old fashioned way (I won't name names of all the women that have said that to me to save the egos of all their husbands, but I have it locked away for when I need a good one liner). However, in this situation, we are watching the whole procedure through the ultrasound screen (which I have to say is just plain amazing to see your kids literally at the most basic phase of their life) and there was 2 small, and I do mean small, flashes on the screen inside the uterus and then that was it. As Jenny said, we were waiting for fireworks, balloons, sparklers, champagne uncorking, just give us SOMETHING! I mean, really, this has been a long ride! Work with us! So at that point, I had nothing to say except rub Jenny's arm and ask "was it good for you?" That is all I could come up with and I felt like something needed to be said. Yes, I never change (for all of you that said it under your breath right now). :)
So that pretty much brings it full circle and to today. Oh, except for that feeling of wanting to vomit since we were in the procedure room. It is PARENT WORRY! Very foreign to me! So my wise baby machine of a cousin Shala and equally wise baby oven mama Jenny both put it into perspective for me as they were laughing at me...IT NEVER STOPS AND THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING! What?! Seriously?! I am going to be sick to my stomach for the rest of my life because I am worried about my kid(s)?! Geesh, could someone have mentioned that earlier! Honestly though, this is going to be the longest 2 weeks of my life. We do not find out for absolute sure that the procedure worked until September 10th. I am going to have a lot more gray hair by then (and I was doing so good with very little up until now, thank you very much...sigh). All I can do at this point is stay positive, keep rooting them on to attach and get comfortable in that uterus and keep believing that our grandparents are looking after all of this and being our guardian angels like they have been for Michael and I are whole lives. Anyone that knows me knows that religion and I have a complicated relationship (Craig and I share this relationship) so praying is not in my nature but believing there is something bigger than all of us that I can talk to is cool with me. So I have been doing a lot of chatting to whoever or whatever is listening out there in the universe! And I can not even begin to tell you how much all of the emails, messages, phone calls, texts, and your prayers have meant to us all.
I will end this by saying that small town America gets a bad rap from the gay community and some of it is warranted but most of it is not. I am so proud of where I came from and the way that my friends and family from that little area of southeastern Ohio have stepped up and supported not only us, but Jenny and Craig. Jared's wife Janelle said to me in a message "whenever people go through big life events (good or bad) it is imperative that we stick together" This is so true and I have witnessed this through both their life event and ours. I want to genuinely thank everyone that has reached out to me from literally every aspect of my life - childhood, high school, college, professional, work and beyond, - for being so amazing and so supportive of all of us. I will never be able to say thank you enough or in every way I need to, but please know, that it means so much. Two wonderful things happened from the journey that began that night in Dayton. Jared's daughter Ally beat her cancer and hopefully Michael and I are going to be given the greatest gift we could ever ask or dream of. Now we sit back and wait for good news that I know is coming soon!
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Money Talks
So, all of the comments that I've gotten thus far have been very positive and supportive, but today I got a couple of good ones. Not so much negative, but not feel-good fuzzy statements either. :) The first was, "So, you're like 40 right?" Me: "Yes, 41" "I didn't even think people that old could still have babies." Seriously? Even if I was thinking it, I wouldn't say it, LOL! But, that's OK - I'm old, I get it. My oldest daughter brought up my age too, but she's a smartass, so I expected that.
The next one was great too. "So, I saw on TV that these surrogates make like $25,000 to $30,000 to do this. So, is that why you decided to do it?" HA!! Marc and Michael - Ummmm, we need to talk!!! I had not watched this TV show prior to this plan. I think we need to discuss.... Call me! ;)
The next one was great too. "So, I saw on TV that these surrogates make like $25,000 to $30,000 to do this. So, is that why you decided to do it?" HA!! Marc and Michael - Ummmm, we need to talk!!! I had not watched this TV show prior to this plan. I think we need to discuss.... Call me! ;)
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
The Waiting Game
So today we went in for the transfer. I think we were all a little nervous, and I was working myself up thinking about the procedure and wondering - Uh Oh, is there an IV involved? Is there bloodwork that needs to be done today? Is Sally going to send me home with more and bigger needles? What does a catheter feel like? Basically- is there any poking that will take place and how terrible will that be? This is another superpower of mine - I am the world's best worrier. I can make a problem out of nothing in record speed. Which is strange, because I also have a very positive outlook on things and try to always look at the bright side. I know, sounds like two different people, but that's me.
We got to the lab and got all checked in. Then we were taken to the transfer room and I was handed my large paper towel and told to undress from the waist down. Why do they give us those big paper towels anyway? Really? It's not covering anything. Guys have to turn their head and cough every now and again, but yearly - we have to put on paper towel blankets and put the feet up in stirrups. Ugh. Sorry - I'm off topic. So, anyway, I cover up with the towel and wait for the doctor. Ok - another complaint about these exams and then we will get back to the transfer. Why is it that they ask you to get naked and sit on this table that has no support, and then you wait so long trying to sit up because you don't want to look eager like all up in the stirrups when they walk in, but you don't wanna lay there with your feet dangling off the end of the table, so your only choice is to kill your back by sitting all hunched over on this table waiting. Sometimes you think about getting up to stretch or something, but you just know that the minute you get up to do that - in the doctor will walk and get a full moon shot. Ok - done venting about doctors, women visits, and paper towels. So, the doc comes in and talks to us about the embryos. We have two Level 1 embryos, which are the best grade and he recommends that we place them both. I'm nervous about this because I envision 2 embryos splitting into 4 embryos and me turning into a blob that can no longer walk. The doctor says that will not happen. He says there is less than a 1% chance that the embryos will split, so the most we are looking at is twins. I proceed to make a deal with the guys that if more than two children are swimming around at Casa de Jenny for 9 months - they will be paying for my lipo suction, tummy tuck, and boob lift (the mommy makeover). They agreed, the doctor witnessed this, and I'm putting it in writing so you all know this is the agreement, and they can't get out of that commitment.
So, we have a discussion about my panic questions and about what will happen during the procedure. I'm put at ease, and it's go time. The doctor inserts a catheter and then sends those two little embryos right into my gorgeous uterus. Let's hope they love the space so much they decide to stay!! :) It only took about 15 minutes and wasn't painful at all. Now it's time to wait and see what happens.
Our nurse, Sally, came in to visit and to listen to me gripe at her about all of the shots and why I have to continue them, and why she's sending me to the vampires 3 TIMES in the next 2 weeks for goodness sakes! I think if I'm with child, I need my blood, but apparently they need it more. Grrrr. So, I am told to go in Thursday to have my progestrone level checked. I said, "Why?" - as any non-needle lover would. I wanna know if this is really necessary, of course. Sally's response - "So that we can see if the shots you've been taking are working." Come again? You mean, I could be poking myself for reasons unknown and this stuff isn't even doing anything? She says she will call and let me know the results. I tell her that she will not want to call me if the verdict is that the shots aren't doing their job. She might want to send that in a letter because there will be four letter words involved. I know how her phone calls go....I see more hormones and needles in my future. Sally thinks I'm a pincushion. I let her get away with this because I really do love her, and I'm keeping the goal in mind. She says I will do a blood draw on September 5th that will tell us if we have a positive pregnancy. Yay!! I know that will be a big Yes! Because I'm thinking positive. My friend, Brooke, told me that I'm supposed to picture the embryos attaching and growing, so I'm visualizing my hardest! So, after we get the positive pregnancy hcg level - we are done with bloodwork, right? Noooooo, now you know better than that!! Ha! Two days later, let's check it again just to be sure that number is doubling. Well, why not? I'm not sure why we can't have faith in the pee stick test. It worked for all of my kids and there was no pain, and a souvenir stick to remember the moment! But, nope, they want my blood. Then, they may need more bloodwork, so I have 2 open-ended lab orders for that nonsense. I sound bitter, I know. I'm full of $#@*ing hormones people, cut me some slack! :)
Marc is trying to complicate things by jaunting off to England next week, while Michael, Craig, and I anxiously await the news of the blood test results. *sigh* So, we're gonna have to wait for world traveler to get his bum back to the states to share the news. Thanks Marc!!! ;)
My instructions are to lay around today and tomorrow letting the embryos sink in and get comfy. So, I've taken a nap and I've watched the entire first season of Walking Dead. Thank goodness for Netflix! :) The nice thing is, Craig has to do everything, and I can sit and laugh at him because he doesn't really know what all needs done and he says - "I've done nothing but run these kids to practices and pick them up tonight!" WELCOME to my world, darling! :) It's fun to torture and punish husbands, because of the entertainment value, of course, and because they really do deserve it.
Thanks again for all of the positive comments, texts, calls, emails, FB messages and posts, etc. that were sent today. It really does mean a lot!! You'll be graced with a guest post from Marc or Michael or both in the next day or two so that they can share the process through their eyes. I'll be laying around here visualizing, resting, and trying to give these embryos the best chance possible to become little people (little person, hopefully - but it feels bad to root for only one of them, right? - I'm a teacher and a mom, I have to root for everyone equally, it's just my nature)
So, news to come on or around September 8th, or whenever Marc's precious ass is back to share the news. Keep sending positive vibes, prayers, thoughts, etc. Love to you all! <3
We got to the lab and got all checked in. Then we were taken to the transfer room and I was handed my large paper towel and told to undress from the waist down. Why do they give us those big paper towels anyway? Really? It's not covering anything. Guys have to turn their head and cough every now and again, but yearly - we have to put on paper towel blankets and put the feet up in stirrups. Ugh. Sorry - I'm off topic. So, anyway, I cover up with the towel and wait for the doctor. Ok - another complaint about these exams and then we will get back to the transfer. Why is it that they ask you to get naked and sit on this table that has no support, and then you wait so long trying to sit up because you don't want to look eager like all up in the stirrups when they walk in, but you don't wanna lay there with your feet dangling off the end of the table, so your only choice is to kill your back by sitting all hunched over on this table waiting. Sometimes you think about getting up to stretch or something, but you just know that the minute you get up to do that - in the doctor will walk and get a full moon shot. Ok - done venting about doctors, women visits, and paper towels. So, the doc comes in and talks to us about the embryos. We have two Level 1 embryos, which are the best grade and he recommends that we place them both. I'm nervous about this because I envision 2 embryos splitting into 4 embryos and me turning into a blob that can no longer walk. The doctor says that will not happen. He says there is less than a 1% chance that the embryos will split, so the most we are looking at is twins. I proceed to make a deal with the guys that if more than two children are swimming around at Casa de Jenny for 9 months - they will be paying for my lipo suction, tummy tuck, and boob lift (the mommy makeover). They agreed, the doctor witnessed this, and I'm putting it in writing so you all know this is the agreement, and they can't get out of that commitment.
So, we have a discussion about my panic questions and about what will happen during the procedure. I'm put at ease, and it's go time. The doctor inserts a catheter and then sends those two little embryos right into my gorgeous uterus. Let's hope they love the space so much they decide to stay!! :) It only took about 15 minutes and wasn't painful at all. Now it's time to wait and see what happens.
Our nurse, Sally, came in to visit and to listen to me gripe at her about all of the shots and why I have to continue them, and why she's sending me to the vampires 3 TIMES in the next 2 weeks for goodness sakes! I think if I'm with child, I need my blood, but apparently they need it more. Grrrr. So, I am told to go in Thursday to have my progestrone level checked. I said, "Why?" - as any non-needle lover would. I wanna know if this is really necessary, of course. Sally's response - "So that we can see if the shots you've been taking are working." Come again? You mean, I could be poking myself for reasons unknown and this stuff isn't even doing anything? She says she will call and let me know the results. I tell her that she will not want to call me if the verdict is that the shots aren't doing their job. She might want to send that in a letter because there will be four letter words involved. I know how her phone calls go....I see more hormones and needles in my future. Sally thinks I'm a pincushion. I let her get away with this because I really do love her, and I'm keeping the goal in mind. She says I will do a blood draw on September 5th that will tell us if we have a positive pregnancy. Yay!! I know that will be a big Yes! Because I'm thinking positive. My friend, Brooke, told me that I'm supposed to picture the embryos attaching and growing, so I'm visualizing my hardest! So, after we get the positive pregnancy hcg level - we are done with bloodwork, right? Noooooo, now you know better than that!! Ha! Two days later, let's check it again just to be sure that number is doubling. Well, why not? I'm not sure why we can't have faith in the pee stick test. It worked for all of my kids and there was no pain, and a souvenir stick to remember the moment! But, nope, they want my blood. Then, they may need more bloodwork, so I have 2 open-ended lab orders for that nonsense. I sound bitter, I know. I'm full of $#@*ing hormones people, cut me some slack! :)
Marc is trying to complicate things by jaunting off to England next week, while Michael, Craig, and I anxiously await the news of the blood test results. *sigh* So, we're gonna have to wait for world traveler to get his bum back to the states to share the news. Thanks Marc!!! ;)
My instructions are to lay around today and tomorrow letting the embryos sink in and get comfy. So, I've taken a nap and I've watched the entire first season of Walking Dead. Thank goodness for Netflix! :) The nice thing is, Craig has to do everything, and I can sit and laugh at him because he doesn't really know what all needs done and he says - "I've done nothing but run these kids to practices and pick them up tonight!" WELCOME to my world, darling! :) It's fun to torture and punish husbands, because of the entertainment value, of course, and because they really do deserve it.
Thanks again for all of the positive comments, texts, calls, emails, FB messages and posts, etc. that were sent today. It really does mean a lot!! You'll be graced with a guest post from Marc or Michael or both in the next day or two so that they can share the process through their eyes. I'll be laying around here visualizing, resting, and trying to give these embryos the best chance possible to become little people (little person, hopefully - but it feels bad to root for only one of them, right? - I'm a teacher and a mom, I have to root for everyone equally, it's just my nature)
So, news to come on or around September 8th, or whenever Marc's precious ass is back to share the news. Keep sending positive vibes, prayers, thoughts, etc. Love to you all! <3
Monday, August 26, 2013
Twas the night before transfer.....
So, it's the night before the big day. Well - it's actually the morning of the big day. I've felt so positive about this project from the very beginning. I've just had this feeling that it will all go well and run like clockwork. So, I was so surprised to notice that this evening as I started going through the procedure and possibilities in my mind, I started to get very overwhelmed - almost to the point of panic. I think it probably has a little to do with the overload of hormones. The progestrone shots were doubled for the last 3 days before transfer. I think it's also just my normal fear and anxiety coming through. I'm a natural born worrier.
We've spent some time with Marc and Michael over the weekend and I look at them and see the hope and excitement in their faces and hear it in their words. I want this to work so badly and don't want to disappoint them. We have so many people pulling for us and supporting us. Many of those people are following the blog, and I have to say that tonight I read back over all of your comments both here and on facebook and I felt so much better. It just fills me with positive energy and puts a smile on my face. So, thank you so much for that!!!
We will head off to Columbus tomorrow morning and the procedure will take place at 10:20, so send all of your positive energy our way at that time tomorrow! :) I have to have a full bladder during the procedure...after having had 5 kids. So, can you also send hopeful thoughts that I don't pee all over the doctor. Ugh.
They will talk with us in the morning about how many embryos they recommend that we place. It will be either one or two. We decided that more than that would be too risky and we don't want our own TV show. Well...Michael does, but I don't want to be the Octo-Surrogate. So, we are hoping for one healthy baby - twins at most! The procedure takes about 15 minutes. The lab has been calling Marc daily to let him know how the embryos are progressing. We have 9 embryos, which is awesome!!! They are "graded" according to their viability and we have one that is at the highest grade and many that are good - like B or C students, I guess you would say. So, being a teacher, I say we put that high achiever in there and watch it go! We are really pleased at how everything looks so far.
I've had a few friends and family members tell me they have told their children about the procedure, but it's hard to explain. It definitely is! Marc and Michael got Lily (our 6 year old) a book called The Kangaroo Pouch and it helped a lot. It explained everything at a level that made sense to her. She's been very excited since we shared the book with her, and I'm happy that she is now able to share the experience with us a little better now. If anyone would like to borrow the story, I would be happy to lend it to you. It's geared towards kids her age or younger. Older kids would probably find it too simple, but it was perfect for littler ones.
I will be on bedrest for the next two days after the procedure, and will go in for a blood test on September 5th to see what my hcg levels are and see if we have a positive result. Found out today at dinner that Marc and Michael will not be in the same country on the 5th. Marc will be in England. So, that should be interesting. Skype, maybe??
I'll be keeping this quote in mind tomorrow:
Hope is the companion of power, and mother of success; for who so hopes strongly has within him the gift of miracles. ~Samuel Smiles
We've spent some time with Marc and Michael over the weekend and I look at them and see the hope and excitement in their faces and hear it in their words. I want this to work so badly and don't want to disappoint them. We have so many people pulling for us and supporting us. Many of those people are following the blog, and I have to say that tonight I read back over all of your comments both here and on facebook and I felt so much better. It just fills me with positive energy and puts a smile on my face. So, thank you so much for that!!!
We will head off to Columbus tomorrow morning and the procedure will take place at 10:20, so send all of your positive energy our way at that time tomorrow! :) I have to have a full bladder during the procedure...after having had 5 kids. So, can you also send hopeful thoughts that I don't pee all over the doctor. Ugh.
They will talk with us in the morning about how many embryos they recommend that we place. It will be either one or two. We decided that more than that would be too risky and we don't want our own TV show. Well...Michael does, but I don't want to be the Octo-Surrogate. So, we are hoping for one healthy baby - twins at most! The procedure takes about 15 minutes. The lab has been calling Marc daily to let him know how the embryos are progressing. We have 9 embryos, which is awesome!!! They are "graded" according to their viability and we have one that is at the highest grade and many that are good - like B or C students, I guess you would say. So, being a teacher, I say we put that high achiever in there and watch it go! We are really pleased at how everything looks so far.
I've had a few friends and family members tell me they have told their children about the procedure, but it's hard to explain. It definitely is! Marc and Michael got Lily (our 6 year old) a book called The Kangaroo Pouch and it helped a lot. It explained everything at a level that made sense to her. She's been very excited since we shared the book with her, and I'm happy that she is now able to share the experience with us a little better now. If anyone would like to borrow the story, I would be happy to lend it to you. It's geared towards kids her age or younger. Older kids would probably find it too simple, but it was perfect for littler ones.
I will be on bedrest for the next two days after the procedure, and will go in for a blood test on September 5th to see what my hcg levels are and see if we have a positive result. Found out today at dinner that Marc and Michael will not be in the same country on the 5th. Marc will be in England. So, that should be interesting. Skype, maybe??
I'll be keeping this quote in mind tomorrow:
Hope is the companion of power, and mother of success; for who so hopes strongly has within him the gift of miracles. ~Samuel Smiles
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