11 Weeks

Well, last Thursday marked 11 weeks. 

On Tuesday we had a ultrasound to see if everything was progressing as it should and everything looked perfect.  Bean was measuring 2 days ahead so they changed the due date to Feb 7th.  We used skype during the scan and Bro and SIL got to see bean's kicking legs and waving arms :)  It was really awesome. 

I have been feeling so much better the last week.  I only occasionally get nauseated and I haven't been taking naps even if I have the time!

Here are some ultrasound pics from the scan:

It's is starting to look like there's an actual baby in there!

I love this one of his/her little feet!!!

The whole family is headed to Seattle to see Bro and SIL next week.  We are all really excited to get to squeeze them!  It has been almost a full year since I have seen my brother and after using skype to talk last week it really made me miss him even more!

Until next time :)



And we have.....

One healthy baby!

SIL and I met at the RE's office yesterday morning for our 6w5d ultrasound.  SIL flew in from Seattle and I made the 3 hour drive to KC.  It had been 9 months since we had seen each other and it was great to get to squeeze her! 

The nurse took us right back and set us up for the scan.  Dr. Stewart came in and we told him how excited we were to find out if it was going to be one or two.  He did his thing and there was one little bean in there measuring right on track with a very strong heartbeat.  (I forgot to ask what the heartbeat was but he said it was "perfect")  We even got to hear the heartbeat.  That was about all we could take and we both cried. Finally tears of joy for SIL after all these years :)

He then gave us a 90% chance of everything progressing normally and meeting this little bean on February 9, 2013!

He said I could stop all the medications at 10 weeks and I could taper off if that made me fell better, which I probably will.

After we left the office we were both calling and texting like mad everyone who was anxiously awaiting the good news.

We went to lunch and then spent the rest of the afternoon shopping.  I got some new clothes that should work for the next couple months since I always grow out of my normal clothes way too early for maternity clothes :\  It has been especially bad this time because of all the hormone's I am on.

I then took her back to her car and she gave me some stickers for belly pics.  They begin at 8weeks so I guess I will have to start taking pics next Saturday :)

MIA

So sorry I have been MIA for so long!  It has been crazy around here :)

To catch up....

The transfer took place on May 24th.  Everything went perfectly.  The embryologist thawed 2 embryos and they were both hatching by the time we transferred.  Dr. Stewart kept saying "I hope you are okay with twins!"

On Monday 5/28 I starting testing using my 50, yes I said 50, tests I bought on eBay and continued testing and stressing about the negatives until on Friday 6/1 I got a VERY faint positive.  So of course, I tested again and got another one.  I had to actually pull a negative test out of the trash to compare to make sure I wasn't loosing my mind and seeing things!

I called SIL and she was in total shock.  She didn't even know whether to be excited or scared. LOL

The next day I went and got 3 First Response tests to use over the weekend, just to make sure the line continued to get darker.  I even got a digital so I could send SIL a picture of the word pregnant.  Which made it seem even more real!!!

On Monday 6/4 my first beta at 10.5dp5pt was......................................... 288!!! 

A very strong number for a singleton, but still a slight chance of twins.

On Wednesday 6/6 my second beta at 12.5dp5dt was.......................................................955!!!

The nurse said that puts us at a 50/50 chance for twins!!!  SIL and I are so very happy!!!  My BRO is not sure how he feels about twins, but I think he needs twins!  His life is too organized right now!!!

Our first ultrasound is scheduled for June 20th and SIL is flying in from Seattle for it!  I am so excited she will be there the first time we see the heartbeat(s)

Stay tuned!

Free!

Okay, this is awesome news!

SIL called me yesterday to tell me that she finally got to talk with the Risk Management Department at the RE's office and they told her that they are going to do the transfer in May for............. FREE!! 

Then she told me that if it doesn't work the first time they will do another transfer for FREE!

They told her that they wanted to "make it right" due to the delay from the lab contamination. 

I am so happy for them, they so deserved a break in this long, expensive process of starting a family :)

Back on track??

Okay it seems that we might be back on track.  I made the 6 hour round trip to KC on Friday and according to the ARNP my lining is just thin enough to start estrogen.  I don't have any clue how that could be because they built up my lining for 3 weeks in March and then I never had a period so obviously the estrogen didn't do it's job or my body isn't cycling properly yet.  BUT the ARNP said to start the estrace and we would reevaluate on May 10 at my next ultrasound and if my lining isn't thick enough to start Progesterone we will have to delay.  I would rather delay now rather than delay after 3 more weeks of hormones, but I have no control over this process (which is VERY hard for Miss Control Freak here)  so I will do as I am told and pray for the best results. 

I talked to SIL on Friday night and we had a good long talk about how long and drawn out this whole process is.  More for me than her, because they have been through multiple IUIs AND the domestic adoption processes over the last 9 years.  So I will just remain patient.

Until the 10th.....

Ramblings

I am writing this post with a lot of emotion today.  I have been very, very, very frustrated the last couple of weeks.  I still have not started my period. I stopped all medications almost 3 weeks ago and still no period!  I am scheduled for my first ultrasound Friday and I am very frustrated because I feel like the trip to KC will be for nothing, again.  I have already made 2 trips for the cancelled cycle and now I am making another one.  I really want this to happen and I feel like we have been waiting for so long already. 

I am also very frustrated with myself.  I am jealous.  There I said it.  I love reading other surrogacy/embryo adoption blogs and there is one that transferred this month (the day after our transfer was supposed to be) and now they are pregnant.  I am soooo happy for them because it has been a long journey for them as well, but I am also jealous.  I can't help it. 

I want to do this for Bro and SIL, but there are so many other things going on with my family right now that all of these 3 hour trips to KC are really starting to take their toll.  We are in the process of trying to sell our house and looking for another one at the same time and if we can't find one we will probably build, which is a huge undertaking.  I guess I will just have to try and stay positive :)

I am done rambling for today.  Thanks for listening, if there is anyone actually listening...

Crazy week!

Well it has been a crazy week as the title says!  It started with our trip to KC for my lining check and ended with a one month delay :(

Thursday morning my mom, my daughter and I made the 3 hour trip to KC for some shopping before my ultrasound, which was scheduled for Friday morning.  We were almost to our first destination when I received a call from the RE himself with some bad news.  He said that there had been a contamination at the lab and we were going to have to delay our transfer until next month.  He stated that administration had contracted a roofer to tar the building and the roofer was supposed to notify them before he started work so they could seal the lab.  But the roofer did not notify them and the fumes from the tar leaked into the lab and contaminated all of there equipment and all of the embryos culturing at the time.  Thank goodness that BRO and SIL's embryos were still frozen because we were a week away from transfer so they didn't loose any, but all of the embryos that were out had to be discarded due to the fumes have been known to cause chromosomal defects.  That would be devastating news to someone!  What if it was there last two from a cycle, what if they had used an egg donor and now have to start over?  How horrible!

So I was instructed to stop all meds and notify them when I start my period and we will start over.  I was initially pretty bummed, but I know that it could be a lot worse and I am just praying that May is now our month :)