Gender Tests and 13 Week Bump

We did 2 different tests to determine the gender of the Baby. The first checked for the presence of a Y chromosome (Boy) in my blood. I had to get blood drawn and then it was shipped off to Canada. They were pretty speedy. They emailed us the results just a few days later. Here is what we got.

Then I went and got this urine boy/girl test at Walgreens. People swear by this test so I thought why not it cant hurt and we can see if it matches up with the blood test. Sure enough...Girl it is :-D If it was a boy it would have been a greenish/brown color. Our anatomy ultrasound will be in July so we will get final confirmation of girl, but I am pretty confident its a girl. 

I am now 13 weeks. I feel pregnant, sleeping sucks, I haven't gained any weight, so far so good.

 

 

 

 

 

 





Father's Day

Tomorrow will be my first Father's Day without my incredible dad. Dads are a crucial part in a daughters life. Daughters need an amazing, confident, selfless dad to watch them grow, protect them, lead them on the right path and to take care of them. I am happy to say that Jason and I will be welcoming a little girl into our hearts :-) I am excited to watch Jason and this baby girl have the same incredible relationship that I was able to have with my Dad. Happy Father's Day!

29 Weeks to go...

All is well with us!  We had another ultrasound last week. We got to see the babies little arms and legs moving around on the screen. It was pretty cool! Jason got to meet Dr. Bell for the first time too :-)  We are so excited. We also got to hear the heartbeat with the Doppler. I bought a Doppler at home and was able to pick up a heartbeat at about 8w4d so we were a step ahead of the doctor. Its nice to be able to listen to the baby at home :-) Here is the pic from last week; crazy how you can see arms, and legs and a head!

We have  boy name picked out and a few ideas for a girl name. I bought a gender kit from Canada that will tell us if its a boy or a girl.  The labs went out earlier this week. We should hear back next week!  eeeeekkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!  http://www.prenatalgeneticscenter.com/services/prenatal-dna-gender-test/

I also had the urge to buy something for the baby so we bought this awesome sucker! I just love it!!!! Its crazy high tech and looks awesome too! http://cybex-online.com/us/carseats/atonq.html

That's about it for now. We go back to the doctor on 6/27.  I think about how yummy a bloody mary, a glass of Moscato, a Mikes hard lemonade and a strawberry daiquiri are going to taste in 6 months!! LOL

Surprise!

Well apparently God has other plans for me…If you recall my natural mid cycle lining check on 4/2 was 3.2. (Very thin) My IP’s chose to find another surrogate. I was told by my agency to wait a few cycles, get another lining check and we can get re matched.

Well surprise!! I AM PREGNANT!!! TOTAL EFFEN SHOCKER!! One cycle off meds, thin lining and basically no hope and this girl gets pregnant!! Are you kidding me?!?!?! I was told this is next to impossible by one of the top doctors in the United State of America!  But leave it to me to make the impossible happen.

I took a pregnancy test on 4/16, 2 lines show up. I am literally shaking. I txted Jason a pic of the test. He said he doesn't see 2 lines…(I didn't even look at the pic before I sent it) I said well IDK what you see but I see 2 lines and this is all your fault!!! LOL

I wanted to call my dad so bad since he would have words of wisdom for me. But I can’t do that so I text Katlin and tell her “I have a big problem” she calls back right away and I tell her “I’m pregnant!!” She goes “OHHHHHH BOY!!!!” 

She comes over and we wait for Jason to get home. He still doesn't believe me. I had a stock pile of like 10 pregnancy tests for my surrogacy and I had some digital ones.  Katlin wants me to pee on one, I’m so damn scared to pee on one but I did and sure enough it spells out “Pregnant” Yup that confirms it…The shock continues.

I called the clinic they want me to wait until May 15^th for some nurse intake thing. I said I’m sorry but I want betas (blood work), u/s and I am not waiting for the 15^th for anything. The appointment lady says ok I will have a nurse call.

The nurse calls me and says “lets get you some open hcg orders” I tell her…I like you guys already!! LOL So that day I get my blood drawn…I had no idea how many DPO I was, but it came back at 70 which anything about 25 is pregnant. The number is supposed to double every 48 hours.

I leave feeling good and thinking hummm ok we can do this, it will be fine. Jason’s shock is wearing off and we are warming up to the idea.  

Now that we are both warmed up to this baby idea…it better be a BOY!!! LOL I think they don’t squeal as loud as girls. :-) 

Now its Tues…which is also acupuncture day. I was very excited for this because I wanted to see her reaction. She always checks your tongue asks if anything is new…I tell her: I'm Pregnant! She says no way and proceed to give me a high five! LOL I said Welllllll I wasn't supposed to get pregnant with my own!! LMAO But I told her I do think she played a role in this!

At 3:00 I decided it would be a good time to go get my blood drawn…so much for waiting until Friday which was my original plan!  HCG was 695!!!!! Holy smokes! Yup definitely growing a baby in there! 

Now I’m eating a meatball sub, Piper is driving me crazy and I want nothing more than to post this on my blog but my plan is to wait until after Mother’s Day. So for now I have to type to myself. :-) 

It’s now Weds 4 /23….I should be 4w5d or so. I woke up feeling like I was on a damn boat! Hopefully that doesn't become a normal thing! My plan is to get a beta on Monday. I would be pretty close to 10,000. Then the following week I can get an ultrasound and I can finally tell all you people! I am so excited to have Jason tell his mom and sister!!! I think they will be happy. I am still in my Surro FB group even though I am the black sheep surrogate, they still like me, plus it’s my group so no one can boot my anyways! *Giggle*

Thurs 4/24….I told my girls today I am pregnant. I asked them if they wanted to know some exciting news. Akadia goes what? Your pregnant?? I said Yup!! I didn't get hardly any reaction. Then I said “AND its ours to keep!!!” Then they both squealed with excitement! Whew, glad that was over with and they were good with it.

I still feel like I wake up on a boat every morning but at least it goes away fairly fast.

Nothing too exciting happened on Friday. Just lots of work like usual.

On Sat 4/26 I just didn't feel right. I started to worry so I went into the Clinic to get my beta drawn. They said they wouldn't have the results til Monday…I so I didn't end up getting them drawn. I went to the walk-in to get checked out. They were so confused with the surrogacy meds, my lining and the timing, (Rhinelander!)  but they drew my blood my HCG went up to 2,200 (yay) and did an ultrasound. During the ultrasound they discovered a cyst on my right ovary…This isn't the best thing to have while preg (or so Im told) They also did a vaginal u/s. They saw the gestational sac. No fetal pole yet. They said it’s still little a early. Still no actual due date. They were going to send all my docs to Dr. Bell in Wausau to review and get back to me on Monday.

So that’s where we sit now, I am definitely pregnant, levels are rising nice. Now we just have to figure out this cyst.

Well now its Monday: 4/28. The doctor called while we were on our way to Escanaba today. He wanted me to go in and get a stat beta HCG….Well we were half way to MI. I said can I go in tomorrow?? The answer was no they want it as close to 48 from the last test as possible. Ok well that totally sucks, so we turn around. (I sure have a good boyfriend!)  Bell’s nurse call me to check to make sure we turned around. I said yes. Now she calls me a 3^rd time ask if I got it drawn yet and if I realize I am RH-. I told her yes I am aware of that and yes I got it drawn. She say my labs are still in progress and she would call me soon. That was 1.5 hours ago….Still waiting! Ugggg I hate waiting!!!

Their concern is a possible ectopic pregnancy in addition to the intrauterine pregnancy. Not a cyst.….JOY, not what I want to hear. But they are still trying to figure everything out. So I am waiting…STILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

She called….AND, its not in yet!! WTF?? she said will call in the morning. Totally sucks. Oh well…Here’s my assessment according to the phlebotomist I talked to when I ask how the machine works that reads the levels  (Control freak in me coming out again) If it’s under 500, its done very quick over 500 it can take a while, because they have to run it through multiple times the higher it is. So If I was at 2200 on Sat it should be above 4000 today. Fingers crossed and I will leave this on a positive note…Until tomorrow, or sooner if I feel the need to type later.

The doc called at 930 this morning! (4/29) HCG was……4,550!!!! Whhooowhhooo! They were going to run my progesterone off of the blood from yesterday to check that #. I have to go in again tomorrow at 3 for another beta. It should be over 9,000. (Fingers crossed!) Then they will schedule our ultrasound for early next week (Or so I am hoping!!!) I’d like to know my due date also…I am going with Christmas according to my calculation, even though Akadia said “really mom? Christmas? Really? That is like the WORSE day ever to have a baby and what about Florida? Are we not going now?!?!?”  Oh the joys of kids…and a mouthy one at that! 

Another Beta was drawn on Weds…..They called me Thurs Morning. It was only 6600. My progesterone was 19.5 (This is a good, anything over 15 is needed to maintain a pregnancy. The beta *should* have been higher, however, they didn't seem too concerned. They want ANOTHER beta in Monday morning…..

Over the weekend I had some slight spotting….certainly put a rain cloud over my weekend because its not normal to bleed while preg. However, its was very minimal but it still freaks me out.

It’s now Monday Morning. I went in 8:50 to get the labs drawn. I feel like I could puke sitting her waiting for them to call. Between the blood and not so high beta results I am still not feeling too hopeful. UUUGGGGG CALL ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

26,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow I'm shocked LOL J Happy though! I have to now get another lab to confirm I am RH- (due to the spotting over the weekend)  I already know I am but they don’t. Wausau is the only one that can do that test stat. So Now I’m in Wausau, they drew my blood, I ate and stopped at some of my houses….2 hours later I’m still waiting…I don’t think that’s stat but oh well at least I can still work wherever I go.

My Ultrasound is set up for Weds 5/7 at 11 am in Rhinelander. I am excited for this. Hopefully my nerves will settle some and I can chill, but for today I’m just a pin cushion with all these labs!

I got my shot of Rhogam…We cut it very close to the 72 hour time frame but we did it.

 I had a fair amount of bleeding and pain on Tues the 6^th. L I called in and they wanted me to come today for the ultrasound instead of weds. So all day I am freaking out…since the apt isn't until 345!!! I had to drive down to Weston since that's were Dr Bell was working.  I get there totally nervous…they call me in I tell the tech how freaked on am and I was pissed that Jason couldn't come.  She puts in the wand…I see the sac but nothing else..I ask, is there anything in there?!?!?!?! She goes yup, tilts and wand and hello little baby!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!! We can even see the little flutter of the heartbeat. Heart rate was 115 J HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF!

Dr Bell then came in and talked to me..This is our first face to face meeting ( I closed a deal for him but never brought up that I was pregnant) He about fell over! It was priceless! He was like you need to come over and see the place the code is still xxx lmao!! It was nice. Lightening the mood some. He did tell me I have SCH (Sub chronic hematoma) which is where there is a pocket of blood under the placenta. It usually will resolve itself by 20 weeks. I get to skip the pre OB apt…Thank god. LOL Dr Bell has me coming in on the 30^th   for another Ultrasound. Jason will be with me for that one.  So for now I am just on weight restrictions of 20 lbs, pelvic rest and no exercising

Sunday is Mother’s Day. We will finally get the chance to tell Jason’s mom and his sister…I am excited for this!!! 

So fingers crossed for this baby and that s/he continues to develop and we will have a special little Christmas present!

Available Uterus

I have a uterus up for grabs if anyone wants it. My lining was a 3.2 mm mid cycle…I was taking OPKs but never got a peak reading, look at these things, they are all over the place.

 However, the ultrasound confirmed I had 11 follicles on the left side and 4 on the right, with a dominate egg on both sides. Which meant I was going to ovulate soon (The lining is thickest right before ovulation) Weird thing is I was still only getting high readings (not a peak) for 5 days AFTER the u/s. Then I ran out of OPK’s so I stopped testing. Lining can naturally thicken a lot in 5 days so I maybe should have waited a few days to go in?? Who knows,  but on the plus side the fluid was gone, and I know my body works :-)  

My IPs choose to find a new surrogate. I was honestly expecting it but I was still sad to hear, especially since we spent 6 months getting here to only try once. I know lots of ladies who are on try 3 and 4 L I do wish them the best of luck because I know they want this more than anything, plus they are awesome people. We plan to stay in touch and remain friends J  My agency, IM and I all agree that my IUD was the culprit of this. I was on it for a long time and it thins out the lining of the uterus to prevent anything from sticking to it. (Which it obviously did what it was intended to do) It can take a few natural cycles to rebuild the lining. I am going on natural cycle 2. Hoping for a good one!

So now I wait to for another cycle and new IPs to come along J

Heartbroken

Yesterday sucked :-( We got up early to get my lining checked in Green Bay and it was a 5.34 however there was more fluid than lining. So the whole cycle got cancelled. You can see in this u/s pic where they measured. The black is Fluid, white is lining. We needed it to be a 7.

 I have been doing everything humanly possible to get this lining thick. At least the nurse that measured my lining check gave Jason and I a little lesson in the Endometrium lining so now I can read future ultrasounds much better. The fluid was there at my last lining check on 3/10 but not at the first one on 2/25. So the fluid could be old blood or a response to the Lupron or Estrace...Who knows, I can't speculate at this point. But I do think waiting for my period to come and starting over with a new plan (new meds) is the best choice. They make Patches, shots and vaginal viagra. So I will be curious to see what the next plan is.

Lining issues are somewhat common and I know lots of girls that have gone through this or are going through it now. Most of them re cycle and they are fine. I haven't had a period in years so this could have been why as well. I was instructed to stay on the Nuva Ring...So every 3 weeks put in a new one so I wouldn't bleed...Hindsight, maybe one period could have been good. But Again I will drive myself nuts thinking could of, should of, would of. The plus side is that I have 2 kids and have been pregnant before so I am not broken.

Telling my IM was the worst. I felt so bad, I still feel so bad. Where did we go wrong? uuuggggg  Holding back the tears has been tough.

So now we wait for AF (Internet lingo for your period)  to arrive...They said 10-14 days I am hoping for like tomorrow?? LOL I can wish right?

I have an acupuncture apt on 3/24, then weekly for the next 4 weeks. This is a key thing to aid in thickening lining and increasing blood flow to the uterus according to countless hours I have spent online reading about lining.

I also gained about 7 lbs from this med cycle so maybe T25 is in the future...I bought it a while ago and it still sits in the box under my TV.  At a minimum it will give me something to do when I would usually be reading, talking, FBing surrogacy stuff. Its really consumed my life, which I LOVE, and still do just not the roller coaster ride that comes with it.  Although I can't complaint because my ride has been WAY shorter than my IP's 6 year struggle...Then to make matters worse my IM's husband being deployed. My heart really does break for them :-(    *tears* I am thankful that I do have Jason to talk, bitch, cry, vent, complain, and bitch some more to. He really has been great because I have been an interesting person the last month! LOL We were eating Dinner and I said "Jeez I am probably a pretty bad girlfriend huh?" Of course he doesn't think that but I know not just any man could deal with me. :-D

2014 has sucked for us in so many different ways. If we end up transferring now in late April Early May at least the baby will be born in 2015 and GOOD FREAKIN BYE 2014!

So here's to getting my period and starting fresh.....Its going to be a long 10+ days

Dumb Uterus

Today was suppose to be my last lining check....Well that didn't go as planned. It was 4.1 back on Feb 25th and today I was a 4.7 (Or 4.4 they told me one # and RMA another) But either way it wasn't 7+ which is what it needs to be to transfer the embryos. So the transfer on the 18th is cancelled.

I started on Estrace (estrogen) initially @ 1mg, 2 twice a day orally. Then, it was increased 6 days ago to 2 mg 2 times a day orally, Now they up'd it again 2 mg, 3 times a day vaginally. Hopefully that will be the trick (you would think since its closer to my uterus...) I will go back on March 17th for another u/s and we will know if we can transfer this month still.

I was soooo mad/sad/pissed this morning I feel like I like my IPs down :-( I got some reassurance after a few surrogates in my Facebook group had or are going through the same lining issues. Sometimes meds just don't work the same for all people.

I know my body works just fine since I obviously get pregnant and stay pregnant but this is a whole new ball game.

I am optimistic that Monday things will be good and we can still transfer this month as planned. So everything need to "Think Thick!"