Meeting of the minds

It happened on Saturday; I finally met my first surrogate! Not only did I meet one, but I met about 20. I heard about a get together from SMO that was going to be in my area. I decided it would be great to go and meet others who understand what I’m going through, and not ask lots of questions.

These women where so neat! There were ladies with pink hair, tattoos and body piercings. Some short, some tall and some very skinny. Some just gave birth, and others were retired. No matter how different we were, we had one thing in common; we love to help others achieve a family. It was so great to hear such positive twin stories and great recoveries. I also learned about a “twin diet”. The surrogates that had twins said after the birth of twins, you lose so much weight, and even look better in the months following the birth. I really hope that’s true!

The really cool part of the night was when I first got to the restaurant. I met another surrogate named Cindy. She is due in March and we just clicked right away. She lives about 8 miles from me, and is the only surrogate I know in my area. I asked her how she told her kids’ teachers. She told me that they thought it was really neat and were very understanding. I then asked her what school her kids went to. To my amazement our kids go to the same pre-school and have the same teacher! All I could think was God is good, He allowed me to meet her, so she could pave the way for me to tell the teachers. (I will blog about my feelings on that later this week.) Now I’m excited to tell the teachers and get together with Cindy.

                                                  These are the lovely surrogates!

                                                                     Cindy and I

                                                  

Houston

Houston, we have movement! The babies started moving for the first time on Monday, just one day before I hit 14 weeks. This is the first time I’ve felt movement so early. Normally I feel movement between 16-20 weeks.

When I first felt them move, I wasn’t sure that I was really feeling movement. As the day went on, I knew it was the babies. I really can’t tell if it’s number 1 or number 2 moving. I can tell you that the movement doesn’t stop, which is great. I know that they are doing well. It seems to me that maybe number 1 starts moving then goes to sleep and then the other one starts its movement. Either way, I’m just glad they are moving.

This has also been the first week without any morning sickness! YIPEEE! I do still need the Zofran thought, but no more dates with JohnJ

Med. Stats

I'm done with all my medication! Since October 22, 2010 here is a list of all the daily medication I had to take, minus my vitamins and aspirin.

21 injections of Lupron in tummy:

27 shots of Delestrogen in Butt:                                                               

38 injections of PIO in butt:

226 Progesterone vaginal tabs

and 31 Progesterone Lozenges

Good luck to all you new surrogates starting meds soon. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and I'm glad I found the light:)

13 weeks and quit asking....

13 weeks today and feeling great! I’m posting a picture of my growing 13 week belly. One thing I won’t ever show you is my actual belly.

Here’s a little advice for all, and my big pet peeve at the moment. Do not ask me if I will be able to give my babies away! The first mistake is these are NOT my babies. Second they are NOT my children to keep. I don’t want you to keep my children! Of course there are times I do debate sending my teenage daughter away. Just kidding! Third, I have the mindset to happily give these children back to THEIR parents. I’m fine and very blessed raising the 5 I have. Lastly, remember that I’m a GS surrogate, meaning not my egg and not my husband’s sperm. I have NO biological connection to these babies. I would NEVER give any of my children away! I’m really looking forward to the next chapter in my life as my children grow, and helping them reach their goals in life. Right now, that does not leave room for me to have any more children, unless there is a big oops in the years to come.

I do know that when certain friends or family ask me questions, I know it’s out of love. I take no offense to your questions or concerns. I’m so blessed to have married into the most wonderful supportive family that stands behind what I’m doing. Thank you to all of my husband’s family. I love you all! Also, thank you to my wonderful friends and surro-friends. Your comments, words of encouragement, experience and understanding mean the world to me.

Baby Scan

On Tuesday January 11, we had the fetal nuchal scan and everything with both babies looked perfect. They scanned my belly for about 45 minutes. The sonogram technician was hoping that both babies would be in the right position and baby B was so we scanned baby B first. Everything looked perfect with baby B. Then, it was on to a very active baby A. I had to move on my side and then on my back just to get baby A into the right position. It worked, and baby A also looked perfect. Praise God! Both babies looked perfect! Then I had to have my finger pricked for some blood work, which is part 2 of the screening. The results were supposed to take a week, but I got the results yesterday. Once again, great news! The risk of Down syndrome was 1 in 3,441 and Trisomy 18 is 1 in 6,141. I love great news. Even better, the IM doesn’t want to do an amnio since all looks great!

My morning sickness is getting a lot better. I now feel like I have “normal” morning sickness. Zofran is actually working now. Last week when I stopped my injections, I had some medication withdrawal. The doctor said this happens because the high levels of hormones stopped. I had 3 days of migraine headaches, which are getting better day by day. I go back for more blood work on Wednesday, and that will hopefully mean another reduction in my medication. It will be so nice when there is no more medication to take. Once again these babies are worth it!

Womans Day article

My sweet friend left this article in my mailbox today, and  I wanted to share it with you all.
http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Family-Lifestyle/True-Stories-One-Person-Who-Changed-My-Life.html

First OB appointment

There have been so many in changes in just a week. First I don’t need any more injections!!! Wednesday was my very last shot. It is such a great feeling knowing that I don’t have to stick myself with a needle. I feel like Grandpa Joe and Charlie in Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory when Charlie won the last golden ticket. YIPEEE!

Next, I had my first OB appointment on Tuesday. The hardest part about becoming pregnant was having to find a new OB. My last OB retired after my last child was born. It was very neat to have my son be his very last delivery after 20 years. I had the worst time trying to find a doctor that had the beliefs I had or did not have a criminal background. In the back of my mind, I kept going back and forth whether or not to see our good friend who is an OB. I kept thinking how strange it would be to have an exam and then go out to dinner with our friend. It’s still weird to me! When I found out that I was carrying twins, the only thought I had was that I just had to see my friend. There’s no one else I would trust more if I had to have a c-section than him. All my doctor friends assured me that doctors don’t really care about down south; it’s just like an arm or leg.

The babies have grown so much in the past week. Baby A is measuring at 11 weeks 1 day with a heart rate of 167. Baby B is measuring at 11 weeks 2 days and heart rate of 167. They are growing a day or two bigger, which is great!

I’m posting a picture taken when I was 10 ½ weeks along. Please excuse my hair, it was a long day.