2010 recap

Happy New Year to all!

As I look back on 2010 I think of blessings and heartache. I think about how in 2010 my baby made his “firsts”. His first time crawling, walking, running, climbing and talking as well as his first set of teeth and sleeping through the night!

I then think about my oldest child who made first chair in orchestra, went to summer camp twice, was accepted into all the clubs she wanted to join, and turned into a “real” teenager.

Next, my 2 little girls, who are like twins! The 5 year old started kindergarten and learned to read, write and asked Jesus into her heart. She also decided she wants to be a teacher when she grows up. When she comes home from school she teaches her 4 year old sister all she learned. My 4 year old now is starting to read and write. My 4 year old has learned to leave me, started her 1^st year of pre-school and can’t wait to see what every day brings.

My 9 year old son had a great year. He went to camp twice this summer. While he was there, he ate over 14 candy bars at one time and got sick. He “only” had one trip to the ER this year and there were no broken bones! He is really becoming a young little man, who’s very protective of his sisters and brother.

As for my husband and I, we grow more in love every day. I love New Years Eve, because I get to spend it with my love, who just gets hotter the older he gets.

I got pregnant and it’s not ours! That’s the biggest one of 2010!

I then think of the heartbreak of 2010. My beautiful grandma was diagnosed with cancer and within a week of the diagnosis, she passed away. I still can’t believe that she’s gone. I’m so blessed that my husband, baby and I were able to fly to California to see her, talk to her, introduce her great grandson and sadly say our final goodbyes.

Also this year, my brother was on my parents’ boat, and the boat exploded, catching my brother on fire. Seeing him in so much pain, scarred, and scared was very hard for me to watch as he’s only 19. He is making a slow recovery, and his scars can be covered with his clothes. He did get a kick out of the CareFlight ride. He’s very lucky that his face and neck were not burned.

My great grandfather passed away too. He lived a great life and lived to be 98. I was so proud of the life he lived. He set great examples daily, and his accomplishments were many. He came from Mexico with nothing and raised a beautiful family.

I’m praying for an amazing 2011. I know we never know what’s going to happen and some changes are so life changing that we wish we could go back in time. Here is to a happy 2011 with happiness, health, good times, and 2 healthy full term babies for my IP’s!

My first big scare

Yesterday I woke up to my fist big scare with this pregnancy. I was spotting. I was so scared that I might be losing one of the twins. I immediately called our RE doctor in California, and got a doctor that was on call. He told me to wait until they opened and to call back. My thought was “Didn’t you hear me? I said I was bleeding and I’m pregnant with twins.” Crazy me. For some reason I thought bleeding and pregnancy don’t go together. I then called the RE doctor in my area that’s been monitoring me. The nurse told me it wasn’t a big deal since I had no cramping. Bleeding with twins is very common, because your uterus is expanding so fast. But I still wasn’t buying it. In all of my pregnancies I never bled, except for when I was miscarrying. I then called the IM, who wasn’t worried at all! It was very comforting to hear that from her, but we both still wanted to have a sonogram to make sure all was well with the babies.

After the longest 90 minutes, I contacted our nurse in California who is amazing. She ordered a sonogram and I was off to the doctor. I was sitting and praying that both babies would be fine with big strong heart beats. To my amazement, that’s what we saw. Praise God! Baby A was actually moving for the first time. Its little hands kept touching its face and the little legs were kicking away. Baby A had a healthy heartbeat of 166 and was growing right on track. Baby B was sleeping so peacefully, with a great heartbeat of 163. Baby B is also growing right on track.

My doctor told me not to really do anything, just take it easy. That is not hard for me to do, since I’m either sick or tired during the day. I haven’t even walked a mile in months. I’ll just keep doing what I’ve been doing and pray that these babies continue to grow and develop right on schedule and will be healthy, full term babies. There is nothing at this point I wouldn’t do for these babies. I’m their caretaker until the day they are born and I’m going to make sure that nothing goes wrong with them. I can’t wait for the moment that my IP’s get to see their little faces.

my new friend John

There’s been so much change in just a couple weeks! I was taken off my Progesterone injection. I still have my Delestrogen injection every 3 days, but that’s a lot better than the daily Progesterone injection. My bruising and pockets of fluid are almost gone. In addition, I’m 9 weeks along today! I’ve had 3 sonograms and both babies have had a great steady heartbeat and are growing right on target. Also, I was just released to my OB!

My morning sickness is not so much in the morning, but in the evening and it is hell. In the morning I do still get sick, but feel great afterward and can go on with my day. Something then happens to me around 4 p.m. I get so nauseous that the thought of food makes me sick. I can’t even cook. Thanks to Costco’s pre-made dishes, the kids can actually eat! At around 6 p.m., I’m stuck on the couch waiting for the next 90 minutes to go by until my husband comes home. When he’s finally home I have a long date with my toilet “John.” I’ve never had episodes of sickness like that before. They last for about an hour and I feel like I’m suffocating on my own vomit. When it’s finally over, I’m ready for bed. The next day it all begins again. But aren't they worth it?

Baby got back

All I can say is mama has some serious back side going on. I woke up today and was shocked to see just how big my butt has gotten. What a difference a night can bring. I just hope that the babies aren’t growing on the wrong end.J A friend of mine stopped by today, (she had no idea I was doing the whole surrogacy thing) and the first thing she asked me was “Do you have any news you want to share?” I started to laugh and told her actually yes, “I’m pregnant with twins and they are not mine or my husbands.” She said, “I knew it, I’ve never seen your bum quite so large.” Apparently I’m not the only one who’s noticed.

I did talk to the doctor today about pockets of fluid that have hardened at my injection site. It’s been very difficult for the needle to go through the skin and very painful at the injection spot for quite some time. The good news is that it’s a common side effect, and he is going to try to put me on some new meds or decrease my current meds. He thinks that will make the pockets decrease or go away. I’ve tried everything to get them to shrink and nothing has shrunk them. Oh well, that’s life and I’ll do what I have to for healthy full term babies for my IP’s.

The bad news for me is there won’t be any more running until after babies are born, and no intercourse for another 2 weeks. It will be worth the wait! Don’t bother calling my house then. I won’t be answering the phone.J

Good Golly Miss Molly

Good Golly Miss Molly! That is all I can say after finding out my IP’s are having TWINS. I’m in a bit of shock, even though I new in my heart it was twins. I’m very happy and filled with so much joy for my IP’s to be having twins. The IM flew in late last night to attend today’s appointment, and seeing her face when we saw not one, but two babies and two heartbeats was priceless. That was what I signed up for! It was almost the same feeling I had watching my children with Santa on Tuesday. The joy, excitement and magic the kids had in their eyes made me almost cry, to live that joy through their eyes. That is such an amazing feeling as a parent to live through their innocent eyes, and to see my IM’s dreams starting to come true in just that moment.

A part of me feels very selfish for wanting to carry just one baby. For me I was hoping for one, but for my IP’s two. I left it all in God’s hands and have been praying about it for a year. I know it could have been worse, we could have had three. I just keep thinking about the “what ifs”. I’m a very independent person who loves for her family to depend on her. I just can’t even begin to imagine what life would be like on bed rest, no running, and being dependent on everyone to cook, clean and take care of MY children. Not to mention the chance of a c-section.

I know that I’m jumping way ahead of myself, but I really want to have everything I’m feeling and thinking with this journey documented. I have the most amazing family and friends who have done nothing but love and support me. Whatever comes my way I can handle it!

We did get the due date today, it’s July 26, 2011. I’m 6 weeks 3 days today!