Unique

Each experience is unique and there are different things done every time. That being said today I had my last pretest done and it was an HSG where they did X-rays with contrast to check and make sure my tubes are clear. How do they get the contrast in there you ask well they insert a catheter into your uterus so yes it is done vaginally. Why does it matter if my tubes are clear or not I am not releasing an egg but apparently it is proven that if they are clogged it can effect your chances of achieving pregnancy. All things I did not know. I also got the results of my blood tests back. They have discovered that I am not immune to the Chicken Pox! I find this funny because I had them when I was a child and also when I went to nursing school since I had no proof of having them I had to get the vaccine for it. Well that was 7 years ago and I am told the vaccine can wear off! I did not know that all vaccines were not permanent. So the doctor will be making the final decision but if I have to get the shot again you get the first one then wait 30-60 days before getting the second one. Then you have to wait 30 days before the transfer can happen because it is a live virus. This may push the transfer date out even more. I have a million things going on right now and this just adds to the list. It's all good though I thrive on being occupied and am not really that stressed over it I guess we will see how that goes!

Appointment

Well I had my first appointment last week with all my pretesting. It went well for the most part. The doctor talked to me about my history and did a physical exam. He even complimented the doctor who did my c-section saying he could barely tell where the incision was made on the uterus. He said everything looks good! He did express concern in transferring two embryos and explained all the risks but said as long as we all understand and agree to it he would transfer two. Well next I went to see the psychologist, which is the same one I saw the last time, and she did her evaluation. Last time she told the parents that they should not transfer two that it would be unfair to the kids but never questioned me about it. This time she tried to persuade me against it. She was saying "What if one splits and it ends up being triplets? And if that happens would you do selective reduction?" I told her if that was the case I might want to do selective reduction but it would have to be an informed decision between the parents, my husband, and I. After much discussion she said I am going to put in my report that you want selective reduction if they split. I really got frustrated about it because if it happens we have to know all the options for one thing if we selectively reduce it could cause a miscarriage and all of the babies would be gone.I felt as if she did not agree with transferring two and she was going to say whatever she could to get me to not do that. After all that I got a timeline and we are probably looking at a transfer in late August early September. It is not as soon as the parents were wanting but we need to make sure the timing is right so we have the best possible chance for it to work.

A lot on my mind

In my house we are considering a lot of life changes! I am not only doing surrogacy again but there are other things simmering here right now. I don't want to discuss it all yet but most of you probably know what I am talking about. So me being the person I am, I am trying to tackle three boys, baseball, doctors, surrogacy, and a few other things all at once. It is a little stressful but I am handling it as best I can. I think I would be more stressed if I was letting someone else handle it all! I am running in circles and sometimes fear I might drown but with the support of all my friends and family (especially my husband!) I know I will stay afloat. Soon everything will calm down and everything will be how it should be. Just wish me lots of luck on my journeys I am on. Again Thanks to all those who have been supportive!

Rant

Sorry for the rant in my last entry! I found out they are good but the coordinator was out of the office last week and that is why she didn't contact me. So far she seems to be really nice and good at her job. We now have a plan in place in about 3 weeks I will be going to DC for my pretesting! I am excited to get this started! I will have a full day of things going on so we can fit it all in one trip. Once this trip is done just wait for results, legalities, and timing for my body then we will be under way. I know it will not be the June transfer that we hoped for but it will be happening hopefully in July. I can't say for sure because we all know that things can come up and change the plans we have laid out. I am sure the time will be good for my body. I know how impatient one could get during this process but I actually have not been that yet with everything else I had going on this month. It will set in and I will eagerly await the day of the transfer. We are set in motion and I really am ecstatic!

Fears

I have so much going on in my house right now it is crazy busy! I love this time but it can be very stressful also. When I started this process again I asked the agency if I could work with the same fertility clinic again because they were great. This clinic is smaller where everyone in there knew me and my situation. The very first time I was with a larger clinic and felt like I was just a number and my concerns sometimes went to the wayside. Not that I wasn't important but they were just dealing with so many people that I was one in many. Unfortunately the agency did not have anyone working with them at this time so I agreed to consider  another clinic. I am glad I was matched with the intended parents that I am I just wish they were working with another clinic. So far my experience with the clinic is minimal but they want my BMI lower, which I understand, but I did get pregnant at the same weight I am now the last time. Also I got them all of my records for review almost three weeks ago and still have not heard from them. This shouldn't have taken that long and also there are some tests they want to do during a day in my cycle that just passed so now if they want to do those tests we have to wait a whole month for that. The parents hoped to do the transfer in June but now it might not happen till July or maybe even August. My biggest peeve when it comes to this is communication and with the bigger clinics they are so busy you don't always get the communication that you want so I guess we will have to see how this turns out.

Waiting

The waiting is the hardest part of all this I do remember it from the last time. This time though has not been as bad partially because I know the process and also because this just happens to be at a very busy time of year. The last time this waiting was in November so not much going on then. This time we have two baseball teams, a DC trip for Toby, the end of school stuff I am helping with, and after all that a trip to Iowa to see my nephew graduate high school. So like I said very busy. The parents and I are communicating and I know this wait is hard for them but soon things will start to move at warp speed and hopefully before you know it they will have one or two babies to hold. We are now waiting on the clinic and contracts. They finally have all my records so I should hear from them next week. This is so exciting I can not wait! I know in my hear that I am doing the right thing and with the right family. We will get there but waiting is a killer!

For my intended parents I will translate this for you!

A espera é a pior parte de tudo isso eu me lembro da última vez. Desta vez porém não foi tão mau parcialmente porque eu sei que o processo e também porque isso só acontece de ser uma época muito ocupada do ano. A última vez que esta espera foi em novembro não tanto acontecendo então. Desta vez que temos dois times de beisebol, uma viagem de DC para Toby, a fim de coisas da escola estou ajudando com e depois de tudo o que uma viagem de Iowa para ver meu sobrinho pós ensino médio. Então como eu disse muito ocupado. Os pais e estão se comunicando e sei esperar é difícil para eles, mas logo as coisas começarão a se mover em velocidade de dobra e espero que antes que você perceba eles terão um ou dois bebês para segurar. Agora estamos esperando na clínica e contratos. Finalmente, eles têm todos os meus registros deveria ouvi-los na próxima semana. Isso é tão emocionante, que eu não posso esperar! Eu sei em meu ouvir que eu estou fazendo a coisa certa e com a família certa. Nós chegaremos lá, mas a espera é um assassino!

Skype

I had a Skype with a potential set of parents today! This one was a little different they are also international but they don't really speak English so she had her sister translate for her. I am very excited we are officially matched and will be starting the whole process. Soon I will be in contact with the clinic and we will start a schedule. The contracts will be signed and we will go do all the testing. I really can't wait. This couple has one child and wants more! The doctors said they don't normally do two embryo's because they don't want to have twins. But they really want to do two and really want twins. The doctor told them that they will do two as long as the surrogate agrees to it. I said I am on board with that I didn't mind having twins and would so do it again. We will see what happens but we agreed on transferring two and possibly have twins. Only time will tell but we are on the path.