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Embryo Transfer Day

I got the call on Sunday (at the hotel) that we might be heading into a 3 day embryo transfer instead of our expected 5.  I can’t really give you all the medical reasons behind why a Reproductive Endocrinologist (fertility doctor) would choose one over the other.  From what I do understand, sometimes if there are not a lot of embryo’s or if they are poor quality, they like to get them into a hospitable environment (ie:  uterus) before they die.  We only had 7 embryos so our Doctor decided he wanted to get them in.

Mike (my Intended Father) called me Tuesday morning.  I was just hanging out in my PJ’s.  I really didn’t think that we would be going in.  The Sunday call was just a “precaution.”  HA!  We were on for a 1:00 PM transfer.

Suddenly I was in a rush.  I also did not have a ride to the clinic!  My ride had arranged her schedule to be able to take me up on Wednesday or Thursday, but not Tuesday.  Yikes!  Usually the clinic gives you a mild sedative at transfer so it’s not advised that you drive yourself.  I was immediately on the phone trying to find either someone to watch the boys so Bob could take me, or someone to take me.  Thank goodness, my dad was home and was able to drive me up.  We were on the road in less than an hour.

It was surreal.  One of those weird moments that you really can’t believe it’s happening now even though it’s what you have been preparing for.

I arrived at the clinic to the smiling faces of my nervous IP’s.

Aren’t we cute in our matching shirts??  Shannon pulled her’s off much better than I did.  We chose these shirts together because of the beautiful poem that surrounded the butterfly.  It says:

“May the butterflies we feel this very special day, Grow into flutters that will forever stay!

Stick little butterfly and you will see, What an amazing adventure life will be!”

Yeah, made us a little weepy, too.  If you are going through IVF or are a surrogate, you can get these (and other) shirts at this Cafe Press store.

So Dr. Acacio took us in and we got ready for transfer.  We got to wear very stylish hair nets and gowns.  I even got some very special socks.  They put me on the table, feet in stirrups.  My IP’s got to come in the room and sit with me (at my head!).  Dr. Acacio is very funny and is good at putting you at ease.  It was nice, too, since I had done it before so I wasn’t nervous.  This was a good thing since they actually forgot my Valium!  I was really bummed that I didn’t get my drugs.  LOL.  The nurses told me I was “jipped.”  haha.

Anyhow, they thread a small tube/catheter up into my uterus and while watching on the ultrasound, the place the embryos.  There is another person….lab tech?  Doctor?  I don’t even know.  But he came in with the embabies.  Read the names of my IP’s and myself.  We had to agree that we were the correct people.  Then the doctor pushed the little embabies into place.  The lab tech then looks under the microscope to be sure there are no embryos left in the tube.

That’s it.  All done.  I’m pregnant. :)

Well, not exactly.

I had to lay still for 1 hour.  Just a little insurance policy to give the embryos a chance to stick.  After my hour was up, I was sprung.  We all headed to McDonald’s for a surrogates traditional “after transfer meal” of french fries!  And it has to be McDonald’s.  I don’t know why.  But it’s what we do and I am certainly not going to test fate by eating somewhere else!

Is this not the cutest couple you have ever seen?  I just love them and I feel so so lucky that they chose me for this monumental honor.  They even brought me some gifts to make my 3 days of bed rest easier.

YUM, huh?!  Lots of chocolate treats, popcorn and jelly belly’s for the boys, some magazines, flowers and pregnancy tests!  haha!! But there is more…

DINNER!  Shannon made us 3 nights worth of casserole dinners.  SO SO freaking nice!!!  Thank you Shannon!  SO much.

So we are now officially in what’s called the “two week wait.”  We will have our first beta blood draw (which will test my hCg levels) on September 8th.  Our Doctor is making us wait the full 2 weeks.  Total torture!  But I do have pregnancy tests and will start peeing on sticks come…oh….Saturday.  hehe.  Wish us luck!!!

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Wordless Wednesday ~ Seven and Eight

We had our embryo transfer today for my surrogacy.  I will come back and post all the details later…but since this IS “Wordless” Wednesday…I thought I would just take a moment to introduce you to “Seven and Eight.”  This is the embryo numbers that were assigned at the clinic.  For some reason, me and their mommy thought “Seven and Eight” were cute enough names for now.

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Monkey Bites and a Surrogacy Update

I don’t really have an entire blog post right now.  Actually, I have a few that I need to do, but no time to do them.  So I just thought I would quickly share what has been happening the last couple days.

  • Yesterday – Tuesday.  I had a lining check and Estrogen blood level check at the fertility clinic.  My uterine lining is thickening up nicely and should be perfect for transfer day…which is NEXT WEEK!  Holy crap!  This has gone by so quickly.  My IM (Shannon) also had a check and the doctor told her she was a “Rockstar!”  I am taking that as a good thing.
  • I am trying to get laundry done and packed for vacation.  *ugh*
  • I am trying to clean my house since IP’s are coming to hang out tomorrow (Thursday).
  • I found out today that Mr. A. needs a real live birth certificate to start Kindergarten.  YIKES!  I wish they would have told me this…oh…about 6 weeks ago.  I was told the pretend hospital BC would be fine.  It’s not.

So, I don’t know when I am going to get down to get Mr. A. birth certificate.  I guess I’m just gonna have to bust ass to get down there in the morning before my IP’s get here.  That means I have to finish cleaning and packing today.  The next few days will be a whirlwind!

  • Wednesday – Clean and pack.  Oh, and at 3pm, I have to drive my darling husband down to a doctor appointment where they will sedate him and jab a very long needle into his bones.  Fun.  Just glad it’s him and not me!
  • Thursday –   Go to the County Records office and get a birth certificate.  Come home (hopefully I will make it back before my company).  Have fun with my IP’s.  Pull something out of my butt for dinner (NO, not literally…that’s just gross).  Finish up packing cuz I’m sure I won’t be done.
  • Friday – Mad rush in the morning to finish packing.  Take the dog to his vacation.  Leave for the train station by 11am.
  • Saturday – VACATION
  • Sunday – VACATION
  • Monday – VACATION
  • Tuesday – VACATION…..over. :(   Come home on the train.  Arrive back in San Diego around 7 pm.
  • Wednesday/Thursday/Friday – Possible embryo transfer!
  • Monday – Mr. A. Starts KINDERGARTEN!

*sigh*

I’m tired just thinking about it!

Off to clean.