19weeks #GestationalSurrogacy #ultrasound #Twins

It's been a while since I've checked in here.  I'm now 19wk2days!  We are over halfway to the finish line!!  With this being another twin pregnancy, my OB typically doesn't let you go past 37wks.  So definitely halfway!! :)   

Things are going well!  We had an ultrasound at 17w6d.  My lovely IM was able to come down for it and her Momma! :)  It was great to get to meet the babies' grandma! :)   Unfortunately we got the icky ultrasound tech.  I had her one time early in the pregnancy of the last twins and didn't care for her.  Her bedside manner is just less than ideal (she doesn't tell you anything that she's doing and pretty much ignores the room while doing her scans).  This just taught us not to schedule another ultrasound on a Tuesday! lol! :)  

All in all the babies look great!! Baby A is(was at the time) on my right side and BREECH.  Baby B on the left slightly angled and also BREECH!  What is up with this whole Breech thing girls?  Never in my history of carrying babies have I ever had one present breech at ANY time in the pregnancy.  These girls just want to go out with a bang! :) LOL   There is still PLENTY of time for them to flip around so I'm not too concerned..  Just seems a typical finding with these little divas :)   Oddly enough I realized later that the u/s tech never did any gender shots.  We obviously know via PGD testing that our little Divas are girls but it still seems odd that she didn't verify that for the record.  LOL.

Here's a peek at them : 

Baby A is doing what I believe is the duck face.  I think she must be practicing for some facebook selfies! :)   Baby B has her little arm/hand up under her head just relaxing!  Apparently their big brother always sleeps like that - how cute!! :)

According to the measurements Baby A was 1 day ahead with a heartrate of 158 and Baby B was 2 days behind with a heartrate of 144 but somehow they both were estimated to weigh (both 7oz) the same amount?  Go figure!   We also asked the tech about the placenta since we had that tiny bleed issue back at 14wks and were told we had a partial previa.  She assured us that it had moved out of the way - no worries.

Off we go to see my Dr who announced that both babies looked wonderful !  Both were currently breech (yup, we know!) and Baby A's placenta is now completely covering the cervix (plus slightly anterior).  WHAT?  The ultrasound tech told us it moved??  Apparently the report says complete previa.  BLAH.   So now we cross our fingers that this moves out of the way as my uterus grows (cuz we know there's still a LOT of growing to do!).  I'd rather not have a c-section with this last pregnancy! LOL!  Plus with the placenta where it currently is (anterior) the OB would have to cut thru the placenta to deliver baby A.  Uhmm, no thanks - not what I'm looking for in a birth experience.   Fingers crossed things move along like they should.  Right now these little Divas are trying to do everything they can to guarantee a csection with the previa and both breech.  But I'm sure if I explain things nicely they'll try to get with the program! :)

I have another OB appt next week - no clue why the dr decided to see me in 2 wks vs 4wks but I do what she says. lol.    Other than that bp was great, urine clear!  We're cruising along just great! 

Now if those babies would just agree to let me quit puking!  They have let up quite a bit, but usually at least once or twice a week they jump up and scream- HA JUST KIDDING! GO puke! :)  Boogers anyway :)

19 Weeks

Sources say the babies are now the size of a largo mango (or for those who prefer a non-fruit comparison a square kleenex box).  Arms & legs are finally in proportion, while neurons are now connected between the brain and muscles and cartilage throughout the body is turning to bone.  Serious upgrades going on in there!  It's estimated that movement should be felt between 18-21 weeks depending on a ton of factors.  So far I can feel some kicks and jabs if I'm laying quietly in bed but rarely do I feel tons of movement when I'm up and about :)

Transfer Post - a little late.. #IVF #GestationalSurrogate

Okay I'm super late with this post but ... better late than never?  I'm blaming my pokey internet which has been doing nothing but being a pain in my hiney!

So let's go back a few days, shall we?

Transfer for journey #3 was on a Sunday!  Did you gasp?  Everyone was pretty amazed that they did transfers on Sunday but I heard of someone doing a transfer on Christmas day back when I transferred the twins so after that, nothing surprises me.

There was some talk of DH coming along with me since he wouldn't have to take time off, but then he realized that he hasn't been to a transfer yet (first transfer was IM & I, 2nd transfer was my bestie (Tooshie) and I b/c IPs were from Spain) and he didn't want to jinx it.  Forgive me if I already told this story b/c with my fickle internet, I'm not going back to look thru the last few posts. LOL.. Also meds make my brains fickle. lol.    So anyhoo Toosh came along with me for the transfer.

We went up Saturday to spend the night for our Sunday morning transfer.  On the way up, we stopped to get pedicures. Now technically we wanted cute turtles painted on our big toes but we didn't realize the place we stopped at didn't do designs.  :(  Bummer..

However we thought the colors of the fake flip flops were pretty significant :

Since we couldn't get our turtles, we decided to have accent  nails of each others colors done. lol. Yes, we are geeky like that.

We got to our hotel, went swimming for a bit and then went out for Lou's pizza. Another pre-transfer tradition!  Yummy, gotta have my Lou's!  Totally forgot pics of the Lou's but mmmmmm...

Last transfer, the agency booked our hotel room and so Toosh & I shared a king size bed.  This time, I booked the hotel so we each had our own queen size bed. lol.  I'm sure the highlight for Toosh was giving me my PIO shot again. That girl gets unbelievable pleasure giving me shots. lol.  Lucky for me, it's only once per surrogacy LOL!!

Finally Sunday morning arrived.  We met my IM there.. Love her :)  She was adorable and brought us both cute little goodie bags! Awww!!  and of course she brought me more meds.. lol.

Although we searched high and low, there were no froggie or elephant socks to be had this time around.  I did manage to find yellow & green socks that we mismatched to look adorable :)

the obligatory sock photo

You can't see our shirts (okay I don't have one on b/c I'm in my hospital gown) but I wore a green shirt & Toosh wore a yellow shirt. lol. We are all about our good luck.

IM, Me, Tooshie

Naturally we took our group shot just before going back so you can't see half our bling. lol.

Toosh made the elephant barrettes (which we all wore under our hairnets) and the turtle pins (which we pinned onto our scrubs). I found the froggie necklace (yay clearance @ Claires LOL!) and the bracelets- one is a turtle, one is elephant.   I think we covered all our bases ;)

 The IVF team is super awesome and I love them all to death.  We had the exact same team that got me pg with the Twins :)

Dr K (love that man) is such a sweet soul. You just can't help but love him to death.

We elected to put in just one embie but it as a great 6BA embie who was already hatching A LOT.

I mean look at this monster!

Transfer is pretty much over and done with quickly.  Tooshie video'd it which was pretty awesome so IM(J) could share it with IF (N).


Last time we got a cute little u/s picture printed out - we didn't get that this time for whatever reason.

So we took our first pregnancy picture just IM & I  :)  

No worries guys, I hope to have some ++ hpts to share soon.. Otherwise Beta is on the 12th !


-side note : I mentioned to IM about blurring out her face because my past 2 couples for various reasons didn't want to be identified.  IM is completely fine with me sharing her photo .  You can't imagine how excited that makes me. lol. It's the little things.

A letter from an Intended Mother

Today, what a treat !! My IM (intended mother), Patricia, has written a letter to share on the blog.  Do you see why I love her??  : sigh:  (fyi-  Whatsapp for those who don't know , because honestly I had not a clue what it was before I met Patricia, is just a free text messaging app.  Apparently they use it a lot in Spain!).   Also,  Patricia asked that perhaps I fix her English, being not her first language..  I  think it's perfectly understandable and I think it adds to her charm (at least to me..lol) to read it as written.

Madrid, 24th October 2013

Dear Powerful Mother, 

A sunny afternoon of August you came into my life.  In my Inbox had a very special message..  "Have found a possible surrogate mother for you"...  My heart was throbbing 1000 beats per hour and couldn't wait to know more about you and your family.  My first impression was good, very good, but as I was reading your profile was falling over you. 

Later, we met via Skype.  You were a little shy and we very happy to see you and be able to speak face to face.   We immediately became friends thanks to the whatsapp.  Everyday both know more than the others and that make me feel very secure about you.  I know that our baby will very well be with you;  you care for him and take care of him as if he would be yours.   And although the day he born soon will come to Spain, we will always carry you in our hearts because you've given him life... and that always tahnk and remember the years we still have life. 

For having been born, for being as good and generous as you are.  Thanks you very much Mrs. Powerful. 

Patricia