Shit just got REAL real!!

You've waited long enough. So, here it is!!!

A faint positive line was seen on the evening of day 4 and you can see the progression from there!! 

Our surprise reveal to Robbie and Allen. They live in the condos to the right of this picture.
Their front door faces the parking lot that we're standing in.
We pulled up early Sunday morning on November 24th and called Robbie to tell them to come outside.
This is what they saw!! We had a video camera set up to catch their reaction, but my husband recorded the WRONG FRONT DOOR!! So, all you hear is their reaction while you're looking at someone else's front door. 

A little gift for R & A. What could it be?

A closer peak....

It's positive pee sticks!!!!

I had to explain how to read the pregnancy test. 

"Filled with PRIDE" indeed!

My beta results came back as 471 at 10dp5dt and 7825 at 17dp5dt. I'd say we're positively, absolutely, without a doubt pregnant!!! And there is a definite possibility of it being TWINS!!

Ultrasound next Wednesday. The suspense continues!!

Our Embryo Transfer

I know, I know....a little late (ok, a lotta late!) on blogging. Sorry!! I'm working full time these days and once I get home it's all about the kids and whats for dinner.

So, let's get caught up!

We had a 5 day fresh embryo transfer on the morning of Saturday, November 16th. 2 perfect embryos were transferred into my womb. The embryos where wheeled into the room in an incubator and we were able to view them under a microscope prior to the transfer. It was amazing to see the two little guys, healthy as can be! Everything went perfectly. My uterine lining was great, too, and measured at 11mm!

After the transfer, I spent my 24hrs bedrest at Robbie and Allen's home. They live around the corner from the IVF clinic and it just made sense to stay there and save money on a hotel room. I jokingly told Robbie that as long as I have a bell to ring and a personal chef, I would happily stay with them at their home. Living up to his promise, Robbie had a bell at my bedside and he whipped up some home made ice cream for us!! The remainder of the day was enjoyed lounging on the couch and watching movies together. It was perfect. We wrapped up the evening with story time for the little embryos. We laid there together as Allen read the little embryos their first book. It was quite the moment! Allen plans to read to the baby/ies at every chance that he gets.

By Noon on the day of the transfer I was already feeling cramps. I knew to expect cramps after the embryo transfer, but these cramps never went away. I just knew that the transfer was successful because these were the same exact symptoms that I had after my last successful transfer which resulted in my first surro-babe, Peanut!!

The remainder of my bedrest stay with R & A was wonderful and very relaxing. We all enjoyed a great home made breakfast before I headed home to my family and to wait for our first beta blood test in 10 days. Oh the suspense!!!

Allen having a look at the embryos through the microscope. Such a neat moment!!

The nurse preparing R & A's embryos for transfer. 

Little Robbie embie on the top left and little Allen embie on the top right. 

The nurse explaining the embryo quality to R & A.

Transfer complete!!
As I rested on the table for 30 minutes, Robbie and Allen placed their
hands on my tummy and had a little chat with the embryos. "Snuggle in tight little ones!"

2 little embryos transferred!

A wonderful surprise delivery from my Minnesota Love, Amy.
She spoiled us with chocolate covered pineapple, strawberries, apples, and bananas.
So delicious!

Thank you for hosting my bedrest, R & A! I truly enjoyed my stay!!

Is it hard for a surrogate to give up the baby?

No, it's not hard at all. We simply give back....

Read here:
http://www.donorconcierge.com/is-it-hard-for-a-surrogate-to-give-the-baby-up-by-pamela-macphee/

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Peanut turns ONE!

Happy birthday to my surro-babe, Peanut!! (a few days late. His birthday was Sunday, November 17th)

I have loved every minute of watching you grow and all of the updates that your daddies post on your blog. It's like I haven't missed a single milestone. I look forward to the next year and watching as you transform into an adventurous toddler!! Happy birthday, sweet boy. I love you so much!!

 

Ready to go!

My mid-cycle scan (ultrasound) and labs came back great today! My uterine lining is measuring 11.8mm and with a triple stripe (yay!!). In the surrogacy world, it's ideal to have a uterine lining over 7-8mm and with a triple stripe. The "triple stripe" occurs when the two uterine walls are so thick that they touch in the middle, creating an image on the ultrasound that looks like three stripes. The image below that I found on Google shows a great triple stripe. You can see it in the center of the photo.

We have a week to go until transfer day; Saturday, November 15th. I'm feeling good. My uterus feels heavy, tender, and achy. I chalk it up to the thick uterine lining I've got going on. I'm proud of my body and how well it is responding to the medications.

Next Saturday also happens to be my Surro-babe's 1st birthday party; He turns one next Sunday. I'm so bummed that I'll be missing his 1st birthday but hope to make a trip up north to visit him and his daddies very soon.

An Egg-cellent Brunch!

My husband and I attended a nice brunch with Robbie and Allen, Robbie's parents, and the egg donor and her boyfriend this past Saturday. It was so nice meeting the rest of the "baby making" team! Not many surrogates have the opportunity to meet the "other woman" (in a surrogacy with two dads anyway), so I feel very fortunate to have met their egg donor. She has asked to remain anonymous, so out of respect I have covered her face appropriately with an egg head.

The hardest part about brunch was keeping the transfer details from Robbie's parents!! I was so nervous I'd be the one to spill the beans by accident! I'm not good at keeping secrets and/or telling fibs. My facial expression always gives it away. Luckily, they didn't ask specific questions, so we're in the clear. Robbie and Allen have something special planned to announce the BIG news once we're officially pregnant, so the secret remains for a while longer.

Meds are coming along nicely. I'm starting to get that heavy feeling in my uterus, so I know the Delestrogen injections are working as they should be. I go in Friday for my mid-cycle scan and more blood work (story of a surrogate's life!). Fingers crossed everything looks perfect!!

Transfer in 9 days!!! Omg.

Happy Halloween from my Surro-babe!

One year ago today we were in count down mode and one day away from my "due date". Today Peanut celebrates his first Halloween.

One year ago - Halloween 2012 - Peanut in my belly

Peanut's first Halloween - 2013

 Seventeen more days until this guy turns the big O-N-E. I just wanna kiss those cheekies!!

Follow your heart.

I knew in my heart that I wanted to help two families have a baby. This was my goal in surrogacy. I knew that this is what I was meant to do. I knew that I wanted to help gay couples as I felt this was a way for me to help out the community and to show my unconditional support for equal rights--all while getting to enjoy being pregnant, sporting a cute baby bump, and helping to create a family!

At the time, I was about two months postpartum, still lactating (because I was donating my milk to another precious family), and I wasn't actively searching for another couple to help. One of my surro-sisters, Kelly, shared a blog link in one of our private Facebook groups of a local couple that were searching for a surrogate to help complete their family. While reading through their blogs (they have two), I had an INSTANT connection to this couple. I felt drawn to them, really. While reading their open letter to their future surrogate, I felt like the letter was written to me. It sounds silly, but it's true. And I just had to meet them! So, I left a comment asking if they were interested, to contact me. Cause that's what you do when you want to have someone's baby, right?

A few weeks later we met in person and fell in love. The connection is hard to describe--we are synced.

I'd like to introduce to you, the daddies to be: Robbie and Allen!!

How cute are they!!

We've all had a few bumps in the road, because that's what happens in surrogacy--it's a roller coaster full of dips and turns and screeching halts and loops and....oh, you get the point.

Most recently we all went through medical screenings and had some things to deal with. Eric, my husband, tested positive again for HTLV and had to be further tested to find/prove that he is truly negative for the virus. We dealt with this last time, so we expected this hurdle to present itself again and knew how to handle it. What I wasn't prepared for this time around was some lovely scar tissue that was found on the inside of my uterus. I had to undergo a hysteroscopy and the removal of said scar tissue before I could be medically cleared to proceed with another surrogacy. I am happy to report the surgery went well and we hit the ground running with contracts and are now a week into medications leading to an embryo transfer!

This is me, Robbie, and my son Aiden after my hysteroscopy.
A big thumbs up for a successful surgery!

We have an exciting weekend ahead planned! My husband and I will be going to brunch this Saturday with Robbie and Allen, their egg donor, and Robbie's parents. I can't wait to meet their family and the egg donor. I foresee a pretty awesome photo op in the near future!! :)

Until next time...(And I promise to do better at updating my blog.)

Testing 1, 2, 3...is anyone out there?

Shame on me for not updating over the past four months. Life has been so busy and time has slipped away from me. I feel terrible that I haven't updated in so long. I've really missed blogging.

Can you believe little Peanut is almost 10 months old!?! I can't. In fact, it blows my mind.

Peanut is handsome as ever! I really enjoy seeing frequent pictures of him growing and thriving with his daddies and fur-brothers. I'm looking forward to his first birthday celebration and hope to make a trip up North to visit with my surro-fam very soon. Peanut is on the verge of walking, probably any day now. It brings so much joy into my life seeing how happy and beautiful he is. I dream of the day he calls me up on the phone just to say hello. Or maybe he'll send me a sweet hand-written note and a drawing of his adorable dogs. So much to look forward too!!

Chillin' in his new chair that his Susu bought for him. 

Surrogacy has brought so much joy and love into my life--more than I could have ever imagined. I knew being a surrogate was something that I was meant to do, but I had no idea how much it would change my life. I am a different person today because of surrogacy. I am a better person today because of surrogacy. I am proud of who I am and what I've done. I am blessed for the family that I have gained and the little miracle that I grew inside of my womb for 42 weeks. I am fortunate for all of the friends and surro-sisters that I have gained over the last three years, too. Surrogacy has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life.

And ya know what? I'm gonna do it all over again!!! Stay tuned....surrogacy #2 is in the making!! More details to come. *wink!*

My visit with Peanut

Last weekend (well, i'm a little late on blogging, so technically, it was the weekend past last weekend) I was lucky enough to spend the afternoon with Peanut!! AND it was my birthday weekend, so that made the visit extra special.

During our visit, Peanut went for a swim for the first time and LOVED it. I think he's going to end up being a water baby after all!! It must have something to do with gestating for 42 weeks! ;)

My first swim was a success!!

I enjoyed spending the afternoon with my surro fam and watching Peanut swim for the first time; lending a hand during bath time, playing together with all of his toys, and feeding him a bottle before bed time. These were all precious, priceless moments that I will forever treasure.

Peanut is now FIVE months old. Can you believe it? I sure can't! He is growing and thriving beautifully, and his daddies are loving every minute of being new dads!

What a difference a year makes!!
(Left - Me snuggling Peanut in my arms. Right - One year ago, 12 weeks pregnant with Peanut in my belly)

One year ago...The Embryo Transfer

Happy transfer-anniversary to my surro-fam!!!

One year ago today was the successful embryo transfer that resulted in a healthy pregnancy and the delivery of a healthy and beautiful baby boy!

Valentines Day will forever have a new meaning to me and I will never forget the incredible miracle that took place on this very special day.

And as I ring in my 100th blog post I thought I would create a little something special.

Join me as I go back in time, one year ago...

Well hello there cutest surro-baby ever!!

Peanut 6 weeks old

Merry Christmas from Peanut!!
Special xmas jammies from Surro-Momma Annie. 

I can stare at this face all day long, not get anything done, and totally be OK with it.