PIO (Progesterone in oil)

Stopped my Lupron injections and started my Crinone Gel (Yuck) and my PIO. Thank goodness I got to stop the Lupron, the shots didn't want to go into my stomach anymore lol.  I started up my PIO (1cc) and iced the area like I do with my Delestrogen injections, prepped the meds and was thankful I get to use a 25G needle instead of the 22G (big difference lol).  When I first went in I think I hit a nerve so I gently pulled back a little and went at a different angle and everything went very smoothly.  I then massaged the area to get the oil distributed and to not leave any knots in the muscle and I sat with a rice pack for a while.  Sometime in the middle of the night my whole injection area got super sore and I couldn't even lay on it.  I really thank goodness (again), that I have a very high pain tolerance!!  I'm sure as the days and weeks go on (I need to take the PIO everyday for 10 weeks) it will get easier and better, but the thought of injecting into the same sore spot kinda makes my knees weak lol.

My IF and I talked last night and he is so encouraging and thoughtful.. I wish he could be there for the transfer, but hopefully we can Skype!!  He let me know that I can take my time and rest and not feel rushed to get back home if I'm tired, that was extremely thoughtful and kind!  We are both more and more excited as the transfer nears and so hopeful! 

The egg retrieval went great and they were able to get 27 eggs :-)  Awesome news!!  Within the next couple days we will get to see how many eggs are good quality and my IF decided to go with one embryo of the best quality.. so no twins unless this baby splits!  Stephanie (my best friend and companion for the transfer) and I will be flying into LA Monday night and my transfer is the next morning.  We don't fly home until Wednesday.. I will miss my kids, but it will be a nice little get-a-way! 

I cant wait until next week.. please send us all the love and prayers you all have :-)  Thanks for following!!

Transfer date.. SET!!!!

November 4th is my confirmed transfer date and I am SUPER excited!  I just received my new calendar and WOW, lots of things to do to prepare for the transfer but I am OH SO READY :-)

We are doing a 6 day embryo transfer.. meaning, we will be transferring 6 days after they had done the egg retrieval.  So fresh eggs it is :-)  This usually has the highest rate of "sticking" and ending up in a successful pregnancy, even more exciting!

I will be flying to my clinic with my best friend who is taking time away from her family to accompany me and I cannot say how blessed I am to have her in my life!  This experience and journey just keeps getting better and better. 

In the last few months I have really been amazed at the human body, my body to be exact.  I cant believe how much it can endure (the injections lol) and how quickly it has taken to the medicine and reacted in a positive way.

I cant wait to update on the trip to LA and my transfer.. more to come :-)

10.29mm, my lining that is :-)

Yup, that's right, 10.29mm is my endo lining!!  I am so excited.. my body is working, my meds are working and my prayers are working!  The monitoring facility says my lining is perfect and I'm ready.  Tentatively I have 2 weeks until transfer and I am so excited I want to shout from the rooftops lol. 

On a side note, while I was at the fertility clinic I realized even more why I chose to be a surrogate.  I didn't realize how many people truly have fertility problems and spend so much of their time trying to achieve something I was naturally blessed to create on my own.  If I could help and pop out babies left and right for those who cannot, I would.  I watched each person today, I prayed for them and I quietly to myself, wished them luck on whatever journey they were taking. 

I am super excited for the upcoming weeks and I know my IF will be so overjoyed with the news from today!!  I cant wait to let him know the results. 

Thinking FLUFFY thoughts..

So, its been kind of a busy couple weeks.. injections are going good (minus the light headed episode I had on Friday).  Tonight is my last night of soccer until after the baby (I'm thinking ahead and thinking positive).. I will miss it so much!!  Tomorrow is my second and last monitoring appt before our transfer in 2 WEEKS gahhhhhhh, I'm so excited!!  I'm thinking fluffy thoughts for tomorrow and need all the positive vibes I can get, that my lining is nice and thick and ready for my IF's baby!!  My IF (Intended Father) and I have been chatting a couple times a week and continuing to learn so much about each other.. such an awesome experience!  If anyone reading my blog ever chooses to do surrogacy, go with your gut on your intended parents!!  The match with my IF has just felt right since day 1.. we had all the same wishes and thoughts for this journey and just clicked.  I am so hopeful for him and this experience and his future with his baby (or babies hehe)!!  I will be taking pictures tomorrow at the monitoring appt and updating again.  Thanks for following :-)

My excited look :-)

I'm a pin cushion and a pill popper..

I take 4 pills in the morning, 2 at lunch time and 2 at dinner time.. everyday!  Everyone asks me if it's worth it, worth all the work it takes to help someone.. my answer, MOST DEFINITELY!!  Tonight is my Delestrogen shot again and then off to soccer, that should be interesting lol.  This process has been so amazing and eye opening to so many things, from showing me how strong my body is to showing me how amazing and supportive people are!  I am now speaking with my IF a few times out of the week and learning so much more about him and his background and its really such a magical experience!!  Each step gets better and better and I cant wait for the rest!

Well hello there Delestrogen..

So, Friday was my first Delestrogen injection and I had myself so worked up that I procrastinated until late in the evening.  I set myself all up in the bathroom, grabbed a long knee high sock and filled it with rice, heated the sock and stuck the Delestrogen inside the sock to heat a little.  I drew a line on my bottom to show me exactly where the shot needed to be (I want everything to go perfectly).  I filled up my needle, iced my bottom with a sausage roll lol and proceeded to inject the meds.  I thought I would continue to procrastinate at this time, but it was a 1.. 2.. 3.. and IN!!  It didn't feel like anything at all, no sting, no stick, no nothing!!  The ice was AMAZING :-)  I think I should have gone in at more of an angle because when i was close to the needle being all the way in, I felt a little pain so I retracted the needle a tiny bit and went a little higher and didn't feel a thing (I probably hit a nerve).  I pulled back a little to see if there was any blood and nothing was there, so I slowly pushed the medicine in so I wouldn't get a lump.  I found the medicine really easy to inject and then it was all over.  Easy and clean!  I used my homemade rice warmer to place on the injection site and disperse the meds.  I havent felt a lump or any ill side effects.. other than HORRID hot flashes and a minimal headache (but I think this is from the Lupron).  But I have FINALLY stopped bleeding, first time in over 2 months and I am SO happy about that.. I'm thinking fluffy thoughts for my next monitoring appt :-) 

First lining check.. CHECK!!

Today I had my first monitoring appt to check my lining and see if I've "shed" all the old endometrial lining.. I HAVE :-)  YAY!!  Never thought I would be so happy to have bled for 2 months straight (sorry for the TMI) lol.  I now get to lower my dose of Lupron starting Friday and start my Delestrogen then too!  I will be taking the Delestrogen 2 times a week and the Lupron everyday, that means 2 SHOTS IN 1 DAY SOMETIMES.. ahhhhh lol.  I also had blood work done today and everything looks great :-)  I've never been so happy to be poked, prodded and stuck with needles in my life!!  I am continually crossing my fingers for good results at my next lining check and then hoping for the first week of November for my transfer.  I've had more communication with my IF lately and it's been really nice!  He's awesome and I cant wait to share such an amazing journey with him and get to know him even better as the days go on :-)