April 30th, 2006 - NFL Draft Weekend

Every year my husband is glued to the tv all weekend when the NFL drafts are on. Is yours? I guess the Vikings drafted someone good. Wonder if that will help the team this year? Anyways...tomorrow starts a new venture for my husband as he begins a new path in his career. OTR Trucking. He will be in training for 5 weeks. He will stay at his parents' during the week and come home on weekends. With gas prices so high here, that will really help. We're lucky that his parents only live down the road from the facility. We are excited for this new venture as we will no longer be paying $1000/month in insurance premiums for insurance that barely covers anything! Can you believe we paid that much??? With this new company, hubby and dependants are covered 100% with no premiums! What a relief for us!

It will be a hard couple of weeks for us not having hubby/daddy around, but I will be busy with the kids. Our oldest is playing baseball for the middle school and inhouse...so after I pick him up from school sports, its off to inhouse ball! Our oldest daughter hasn't even heard from her softball coach yet, so that will be starting soon. I'm sort of hoping our little one has forgotten I was going to sign him up for ball...lol I might wait until summer time and set him up for something during the day. I think that might work better.

So where are we with the surrogacy??? Right on schedule!!! I started a new pack of BC pills last night and will take the last one on May 4th. I begin my E2V shots on May 7th, and have my first ultrasound that morning to make sure everything looks ok. I have another ultrasound & blood work scheduled for May 18th to make sure I'm ready for the embryo transfer. The ED passed her medical screening, which we pretty much knew. yeah! My tentative transfer dates are still May 25-27, but that will be determined by the actual egg retrieval day and if the ED is early or on time. My IP is considering doing a technique called blastysis which means that embryo transfer will be 5 days after egg retrieval...rather then 3 days. This is our third and final attempt at IVF...at least with me as the surrogate, so I'm praying for sticky sticky sticky whatever you call it...lol I look so forward to being pregnant with TWINS! :)

Please help us by thinking good sticky thoughts for us and hopefully in JUNE we will have some good news to share!

Have a happy Sunday!
A Surrogate Mom

April 14th, 2007 - We have a match!

WOW, that was my post from a YEAR AGO.... "We have a match!" April 14th 2006!!! I had hoped to have been preggo and done by now. I guess its not always like that, huh???

Well, yesterday my IP and I received our calendars. Tentative transfer dates May 25, 26, 27. My IP is considering some blasto-something which means a transfer date like 4-5 days after egg retrieval. A technique used in international countries. I think they do that because the chances of taking are higher? I'm not sure. All I know is that I hope that this takes, as this is our third try.

Was surprised to hear we have a calendar already. Test results aren't back on the ED but they said that they don't anticipate any problems. At least we can get in cycle. I'm thinking the ED must have had her period and called it in. Good to know she's on the ball....nothing like the first ED. The second ED was good...the embryos just never took. Not her fault or mine. Anyways...everyone called me yesterday....my IP, then my CM and then the calendar lady...and the CA Pharmacy. So it was one exciting day.

So I should have some more bc pills and cycle meds next week. I have to continue taking BC pills until May 4th. So when I finish the current pack then I will start another one....its actually nice when I do that...nothing like stopping my period!!! (What the heck was god thinking to make women go through that?! lol) May 7th I will have an ultrasound to make sure I have no cysts and whatever. May 18th will be my ultrasound to make sure my lining is ready and stuff. The ED's egg retrieval is tentatively May 22, 23, 24th. So 3 days after actual egg retrieval will be the transfer!!! YEAH!

So that's whats happening! I just hope for a successful transfer!

Have a great weekend!!!
A Surrogate Mom

April 1st, 2007 - April Fools Day!

Well, a common joke for me would have been to say I'm preggo, but probably NOT a funny thing to post here!

Yesterday I spent the day at Hinckley in hopes of winning a Pot Of Gold. Here I was thinking this is great...I have 25 tickets for this drawing. WELL, the thing you put your tickets in was just PACKED. And with my luck...ummm....my name was never called all day! lol BUT it was fun because you won't believe what I played all day....BINGO...matinee and evening session. lol DH gave me $50 to play and won during matinee (and some slot machines in between) to play for the evening! While I had fun...I didn't win during the evening session...I had hoped to b/c today at Mille Lacs (sp?) is a $100 buyin to play all day! URGH....had I only known sooner! lol Yes, I love BINGO. The gals that work at the Hinckley Bingo (Jean, Linda, Christie, Kimberly, Michelle) are awesome....so if you ever find yourself there....say HI to them. I will definately miss them now because Baseball season begins April 9th!! I'm giving up BINGO until the Fall/Winter as the kids aren't in sports then....

The kids are on spring break this week. Then the next 5 months I will be busy with the kids' sports. My oldest already has school practice starting April 9th. Sadly, he didn't make travel but he will play In-House and he is ok with that. I think I'm more bummed.

DH is waiting to hear if he got this new job. He drove to Duluth on Friday to fill out an application and talk with them. It will be a big career change and an adjustment to our lifestyle, but its for the better. I hope he gets it. The only drawback is that its 5 weeks of unpaid training. Is that crazy?

Anyways...enough about me... where are we at with the next IVF? No tentative dates. My IP's ED has her medical screening on the 4th. After the results from that we can get rolling. I'm basically hanging out taking BC pills waiting....waiting patiently. My IP seems real excited with his choice. He was very impressed with her psych eval and the genetic screening went well.

So...that's all I have to tell for now. Hope in a couple of weeks I can share some more!!!

Have a great day!
A Surrogate Mom

March 14th, 2007 - Shocking News!!!

My 13 yr old (who will be 14 in July) decided to clean up the toys in the living room and put them away for the little ones! And if that isn't a shock...he even got out the vacuum and vacuumed not only the living room BUT THE HALLWAY and his bedroom! Shhh...I see he is still picking up stuff in the other room... Who would have guessed?! Well it really made my day that he did that and is still picking up. WOW...I really do have a good kid!

Talked to my IP today. He has a new ED and is very excited about her and her background. Good sign! Our CM now has to set her up for all her appointments and in time I will be flying out to CA again. I hope the ED can come in soon and we can get our cycles in sync. My cycle just started today (fun, eh?). I am hoping that I don't have to start BC pills until my next cycle, as I'm trying to loose some of the weight that I gained since starting the pills and fertility drugs.

I hope that this time will work because it is my last try, per contract, and then I'm done. It does really stress me out b/c I have wanted to be a surrogate so badly...and hope to be able to help others after this one. The fertility dr said that it wasn't my fault for the two failed transfers, nor was it the ED's eggs, but this would be his last try with me as a surro. So got my fingers crossed.

Anyways this has got to work because I can't have an incomplete charm bracelet!!! lol

Well, time to make dinner for the kids before Amerian Idol starts! (which, btw, none of this years contestants stick out for me yet)

Have a great day!
A Surrogate Mom

March 9th, 2007 - Day 10

Had my beta test today. My score is 0.4 so the second IVF did not work at all. Of course the lab did not fax over the results, so now the clinic needs to verify. The clinic will call me back and confirm that I need to stop all meds.

My CM says today, I invite you to empower yourself to call the clinic and find the answers. For some reason, while he tries, its just wierd talking to him.

I feel bad enough that this is a second fail IVF and know my IP has been pretty anxious about having a baby. The waiting just sucks. I get to try one more time, provided the dr doesn't feel that it could be my fault that this isn't working. So will just cross my fingers for the best. Just please don't tell me not to feel bad as it discredits how I feel.

Well, the good thing, while I have not heard from the clinic, is that I'm pretty sure we won't have to wait for me to go through anything like last time. My unprofessional guess is that the eggs weren't good enough. 25 were taken, only 9 fertilized, 2 fertilized ones were bad. We used 3 the first IVF. And the last 4 for the 2nd IVF only 1 looked like it would take. I still would like to rule out that it could be me. My IP is going to start looking for ED this weekend. I think he will go with an ED who has been proven to have good eggs.

Anyways, I guess I will "empower" myself and get on with my daily routine...maybe I should treat myself to some Bingo tonight! ROFL Yeah, that's right....that always makes me happy...that and the awesome yummy food that my IP pampers me with.

Got to run and pick up the kids from the sitter.
Have a great weekend!

A Surrogate Mom

March 3rd, 2007 - Day 4

Well today is Day Four. Only six more to wait for the Beta test to know if I am preggo or not. I received my 20 home pregnancy strips in the mail today. Wasn't expecting them until Monday or Tuesday of next week. Of course, I tried one. It was negative. Too early to really detect with these. I am hoping that I might get a good result around day 6 or 7. The Dr had said that usually Day 8 is the day to know but he waits until Day 10 to do the Beta Test.

I'm not sure I feel anything (you know, preggo signs) yet, although I do feel fat from all the good food I ate while in CA!!!

My trip home from CA was fine. Worried that my flight would be turned away from MN due to the snow storm. After our plane landed, all incoming and outbound flights were cancelled. I was sooo lucky. The drive home was 2 hours, but not as bad as I thought it would be. The snow was so bad on Thursday when I came home that even the kids' schools were closed by 1 pm. School was closed on Friday too. Even hubby didn't go to work that day. We had a lot of snow where we live. Thank goodness for great neighbors with 4 wheelers and plows! (Something that my darling hubby will have next year!) Hubby's dad has a really nice one and will be buying it from him. :)

My hubby and I went to play Bingo at the Casino tonight. A first! lol My friend couldn't convince her hubby to go with us. BUT it was a nice night of Bingo and dinner for hubby and me. I did remind him that we would be going out again for our wedding anniversary...with his parents. Their anniversary is March 31st and ours is the 29th...of course, they have been married over 50 years. I sort of lost count. Anyways...its been a few years since we've actually done much with his parents around this time. DH's parents want us to move closer to them...and we want to move to CA! Such tough decisions. If better opportunities come by moving to CA, we will for sure go and drag his parents with us, if possible. I think my husband has gotten over wanting to move closer to the cities. Sort of stinks now because the kids and I have been looking forward to it. Oh well. I have a really nice OB here in Cambridge. I am hoping that with him, things will be good for me having the baby (BABIES) here.

Well its late and I need to get to bed. Promised hubby I wouldn't be on the computer tomorrow until I have cleaned the last kitchen counter off and removed all the STUFF that has accumulated in the dining room! lol Its pretty bad. I'm surprised he's never said anything about it...at least where he demanded it gone! lol Anyways...I'm tired of it and its going! :)

Have a great rest of the weekend!
A Surrogate Mom

February 28th, 2007 - 36 hours bedrest

Hi Friends!

Well my flight out of MN on Monday went well. They had to de-ice the wings before take off so we were 1/2 hour late coming into LA. The weather has been SO nice here compared to MN. It will be sad to have to return to MN tomorrow. I miss my kids and hubby tons so I am ready to go home.

The transfer was on Tuesday, Feb 28th at 7:40. The actual transfer took place at 8:40 am. They transferred the last 4 embryos. The dr isn't concerned about multiples as he thought only one of the embryos looked very good. Sort of makes me sad because I have been hoping for twins. BUT I guess we won't know until later. So hoping those not so good embryos give a good fight to stay. Ok...but not all 4. I will carry 3, but 2 is good. lol Ok...just getting pregnant and having 1 good baby will be enough. :)

My beta test is March 9th. I am hoping that it will be a day of good news. I ordered pregnancy strip tests off of eBay. Hope to get them by Monday as thats when I'd like to test on my own. (Its too hard to wait for the actual date.)

Sad news...found out that the agency I am with is not going to have a retreat this year. I was so looking forward to that as well as used that as a great incentive when I referred others to the agency. Now that just sucks! Hoping that the gals will spread the word and contact the agency and DEMAND a retreat! lol

Well, good news is that I'm enjoying my 36 hours of bedrest. My IP is the best host and I've had the best meals! My favorite breakfast item is an everything bagel with cream cheese and sliced salmon...with capers and onions! So yummy!!! Monday we had Korean BBQ. Tuesday we had these awesome burgers from Red Robin, then dinner was sushi! Today I had Brazillian BBQ. So I have been well cared for. I can't believe how much I've eaten. We dont have this type and kinds of yummy food in Cambridge, MN! lol

Speaking of bedrest, I'm off to go take a nap. This laying around all day makes me very tired. :) While I am able to nap at home (thanks to a great hubby), its nice napping here b/c there are no kids to wake me up.

Have a great day!
A Surrogate Mom