I just have to write about how much I enjoy discussing my experience. I want to share this amazing feeling with everyone I can. I did not do this for the attention or praise but I am blessed to be able to do this for someone else. I have loved every minute of this, yes even the bad ones, and will continue to do so for the rest of the pregnancy. I don't see this as some heroic thing that I am doing. I see this as an experience that can enrich my life, my families lives, and the lives of another family that I now think of as part of my own. This is amazing and I get to be a part of it! I am thankful every day for all that I have in my life including this journey. I do not think I will ever be the same after doing this and I don't think I ever want to. This journey is the best thing that has ever happened to me, besides my husband and my kids of course. Thanks for all the support.

Mothers Day

I know most people think this but I really do have the most amazing mother in the world! She has taught me what it means to be a mother. I love her so much for everything that she has done for me and my sisters. I am also thankful that I get to spend today being a mother myself to my three wonderful boys. They mean the world to me and I am blessed to be their mom. I know that the mother of these babies I am carrying isn't technically a mother yet but I know she will be amazing. These twins are very lucky to be able to have someone like her to love them for the rest of their lives! Happy Mothers day to all of the mothers out there you are all amazing women!

What are they?

I know everyone has been waiting patiently to find out the sex of the twins well here is the answer!

I finally got to talk to the parents and I wanted them to be the first to know. Everything is looking good. The sonographer couldn't give me any definite answers until after the doctor reads the ultrasound and writes his report. I gained 5lbs this month which puts me at gaining only 1.5 total from the beginning. Baby B, the boy, is just a little bigger than baby A. They are 12 and 13 ounces so they are growing. From now on I will be going for an appointment and ultrasound every four weeks. I am so happy for the family this is so exciting.

Busy, Busy, Busy

I love being pregnant but I am not sure I have ever done so with so much going on. Friday is the start of a busy few months. We have the 5th and 6th grade overnighter and opening day this weekend. Then we have a week full of games before Tyler goes to DC for a week. That week will be slow but I will be missing my boy! Then from the week he gets back we have at least four games a week but usually more. So I will be on the go for two months straight. Not to mention family get togethers and parties along with graduation. On a positive note I am feeling OK and go see the doctor next week. Also I get an ultrasound where we hopefully find out what sex the babies are. I am so excited to be able to do this for a family that really deserves this so all of the good over shadows the little bad things that I go through. Being busy will at least help the pregnancy go along a lot faster.

Stories

I have researched everything since I started the surrogacy process. That includes birth stories. I am not sure if I have only read the horror stories or that is all I remembered. Well I talked to a twin mother the other day about her experience and let me tell you she gave me so much hope on how my pregnancy can be. She went to 39.5 weeks and had a vaginal delivery for her babies with the same doctor that I am with now. I do know that no story is the same and there are no guarantees that mine will be anything like hers but it gives me hope that I might be just fine. I am still scared about bed rest, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and preterm labor but I have hope that I will have a totally normal pregnancy now that I have heard a story that it can happen. The advice I was given was to keep hydrated and put my feet up whenever possible. I think I will do my best to try to make sure I have the best twin experience that I can.

16 weeks

So I am almost 16 weeks went for my routine visit today and everything looked great! The babies are doing well and have strong heartbeats. I am feeling better but the nausea is still a problem and my appetite isn't that great. When I went to the ER for the vomiting they weighed me and by my next doctors visit I was down 5 pounds and have only gained back one. For me that is normal and it is good with me being overweight to not gain too much too quick. I know I will gain it back and then some. I am definitely not one to ever stress about my weight I will gain what I gain and will still be me. As long as the babies are healthy and growing that is all that really matters to me. I am looking forward to the next visit because they will do the 20 week ultrasound and we will hopefully find out the sex of both babies! The parents want to know and I am so happy they do it would have been hard not to know for me even though I did not find out with my last child and lived through it. We will also be able to see the development internally and externally so it should give us a good idea of if they are behind or right on track but it can also help determine any abnormalities or problems there might be. All in all the ultrasound should be very informative and put our minds at ease.

Testing

I am so glad all my testing was normal and the parents decided to forgo the amnio for now since there is no indication of any abnormalities. They of course reserve the right to choose to do it later on down the line if something comes up that shows that there could be something wrong. I have been volunteering at the school and it is fun to talk to all the teachers and they are all interested in the process and pregnancy. I love talking about it because it is an amazing journey and I like to share it with everyone. I am grateful to be able to do this for someone. I don't know what I would do without my kids and I am just glad I get to give that gift to someone else x2.