Beta #2! And an update

So I am finally home from the fair...with a full belly and a sunburn. I couldn't ride any rides (for two reasons...#1 I am pregnant and #2 someone had to sit with Quinnie!) but I still had a great time. My father-in-law took us and paid for everything. It was a really long, fun day. You dont want to know what all I ate, but I will say that although we ordered all the horribly bad fair food you can imagine, we split it all so I only ended up having a couple bites of each thing. So, not too bad. I finally got my rootbeer float, too.

Ok onto the beta news. My beta came back at 3303!! A nice solid number! I needed my previous number to at least double within 48 hours, and it did more than double so we're good! According to betabase.info my doubling time is 32.27 hours! I have to go back in for one more beta on Tuesday, and then 10 days from that will be the ultrasound (Friday 9/12).

Today I am officially 5 weeks pregnant with 'Baby C' (or the C Babies). Here's whats going on at 5 weeks: (All instances of "your baby" are of course aimed at M&B!)

• First heartbeats begin - If you have an early ultrasound you may not be able to recognize this tiny being as a baby, but there is no mistaking what it feels like seeing your child's heartbeat on that screen. That rhythmic beat is echoed in your own heart.


• Umbilical cord develops - This is your baby's lifeline in utero. It bears the responsibility of pumping in oxygen, removing waste, and supplying the necessary nutrients for the remainder of your pregnancy.


• Blood is now pumping - All four heart chambers are now functioning, insuring your baby's body will receive all it needs over not only the remainder of your pregnancy but throughout life.


• Most other organs begin to develop - Your infant's lungs start to appear, along with her brain. Already your little one is preparing for a quest for lifelong learning!


• Arm and leg buds appear - While they may not appear to be much at this stage it is ok to dream of the future. Just imagine your ballerina twirling and jumping around your kitchen floor. Or perhaps you will have the precocious boy that throws the perfect pitch -- right through the neighbor's window.

I am feeling great. Some fatigue everyday around 3pm, but thats to be expected when you're growing another human being and trying to take care of your own kiddos and husband. I've heard that morning sickness usually starts around 6 weeks or so, so we'll see if I can escape it like I did with my boys. Here's hoping!

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is beta #2! My appointment is at 9am, and then we are all going to the MN state fair. So I wont be home until late tomorrow to update about my beta results. I will, however, call M&B once I get the call from my doctor. I can leave everyone but them hanging for a few hours. ;)

Most people who hear my first beta number think I'm carrying twins. It is entirely possible since we transferred two embryos! So we shall see in a couple weeks at the ultrasound! I wonder how high my beta will be tomorrow? It needs to be at least double my previous number. I can feel the additional hormones pumping through my body. My temper has been extremely short today. I yelled at Ian and felt so bad about it. He just wouldn't stop bugging me about his internet not working and I told him that I cant fix it and he has to ask Daddy about it. I feel so bad. =( I think going to the fair tomorrow will make up for it!

Currently craving: a rootbeer float. Alas, I have no rootbeer. :(

PREGNANT! Beta = 1178!

First of all - I totally tested last week. *giggle* I was just good about not posting it on here. I got a positive test last Tuesday, the 19th. I was 6dp5dt. I then got a beautiful 'pregnant' on a digital test on Saturday morning.

So I knew I was pregnant. Then the symptoms started and I just KNEW that it was going to work this time! I've had heartburn every day, after everything I eat or drink, since 4dpt. I've had the crampy/stretchy uterus and the bloating too. And now I have the only kind of morning sickness I ever get, and that's "nothing sounds good so I dont want to eat but I have to make myself eat SOMETHING".

My beta came back at 1178! So really we could have one in there or two! I go back for a redraw on Friday morning to make sure my numbers are rising appropriately, and then depending on that number I may or may not have another beta on Monday. Then I will have my first ultrasound 10 days from my last beta. M&B will be flying in for the ultrasound. We'll all find out if there is one or two babies growing in there! :)

So there's the exciting news! I'm so excited to finally get to experience this surrogate pregnancy and to share it with all of you. I will post baby development updates, belly pictures, and of course my cravings/aversions/feelings/symptoms/etc.

CONGRATS M & B! :)

Still waiting!

Well they've had my blood since 8:30 this morning and results are back within a couple hours. So now we're just waiting on someone who has the time to call and 'interpret' them for me. All I need to know is the number! No interpretation necessary! Argh!

I called and left a message for the nurse to call me ASAP with my results. Dont they know the whole country is going crazy with anticipation here? hehe

Betas

There is a big beta list on the surrogate messageboard I post on, and I just checked it today to see what the beta levels usually look like around 14dp5dt. As it turns out, the levels are all over the place! Here's the breakdown:

14dp5dt
Singleton: 75, 138, 178, 209, 435, 640, 688, 711, 853, 861, 913, 963, 1000, 1078, 1112, 1546, 1690, 2050
Twins: 1103, 1275, 1398, 1632, 1890, 1941, 1973, 2179, 2273, 2951, 2980, 3150, 3520, 3603, 3760, 6823
Trips: 1611, 2440
Quads: 5300

I an anxiously awaiting my beta tomorrow! I need a big healthy number! But not TOO big...LOL.

Appointment is confirmed!

I called my doctor's office to make my appointment for Wednesday morning, and they wanted me to come in today so they could order my results STAT and get them back for me today. I wish! I told them that I have to come in on Wednesday, per Shady Grove's orders.

I know my doctor is very hopeful for us and a big healthy beta number! I think I am the only surrogacy they've had and it has been a learning experience for everyone up there. They have finally understood that I am 'special' when it comes to certain tests and ultrasounds. I think my lab nurse, my ultrasound tech, and my doctor are all very excited and hopeful of a positive outcome this time! I cant wait for them to meet M&B when they are able to come for the ultrasounds and stuff.

I am anxiously awaiting my results on Wednesday!!

Frustration

My nurse at Shady Grove never calls me back. She never called back when I asked to have my beta moved up and I left her a message earlier this morning telling her that I need refills on all my meds. I wonder if I will hear from her today since I REALLY NEED MY MEDS! And with the previous cycle she rarely called me back.

Please call me back! I dont like talking on the phone myself, but in a professional situation I think its imperative.

She actually used to answer her phone, and now she doesn't.

Please call me back. Or I will flood you with calls today.

EDIT: She called me back! She is calling in my refills of the meds I need, and she said they still need me to wait until the 27th for my beta, because they know what my level SHOULD be at that point so to move it up would throw it off. I still think this was way too long for a beta. Last time I didn't have to wait this long. But whatev. I just go with the flow. :)

My beta is forever away!

Today is 7dp5dt or 12DPO. I am feeling good. Sore breasts, tired, bloated...but overall feeling good. I woke up sweating around 2am this morning and felt a little nauseated but quickly went back to sleep.

My beta isnt until Aug 27th which seems very far away. I wonder why they are making us wait a longer amount of time this time? I still have a full week until beta day! And by then hopefully I will have some big huge beta numbers.

Well thats it for my update. I feel pregnant, but I also felt pregnant last time and we all know what happened with that.

So, we wait.

Gettin the itch!

I must say that I am proud of myself for not obsessing this time about whether or not I am pregnant. Today at church I started getting the itch to test since I have two pregnant friends there. My friend Molly was due a couple days ago and is rather large and uncomfortable, and my friend Noelle is 8 weeks pregnant and having terrible terrible morning sickness. She has already been hospitalized once from dehydration! So after being around preggies, I've been analyzing how I'm feeling. I cried through each prayer this morning. Not sobbing or anything, but teary eyes and sniffly nose. I never cry through prayers! We were praying for all kinds of things...for Molly and Noelle, our pastor when he goes on his ministry retreat, for our message today, for us to give God control over certain aspects of our life that we are struggling with, etc. So maybe some hormones are kicking in! Or maybe it was just a really good spiritual day for me. We will see!

I also devoured a burrito at Chipotle. But that's really nothing new. That burrito was totally awesome.

In other news, my backside is pretty bruised up from all the injections! Putting a needle through an area that's already bruised and swollen is no fun. But of course its all SO worth it. I used to actually be afraid of shots and needles, so I was very proud of myself when the time came for my very first injection and I stuck it in without fear or panicking. I've come a long way. Sticking a needle in my rear is like second nature now! ;)

No, I'm still not going to take a test unless M asks me to. :)

More details

Deana has requested more details so here's what I remember:

M had 14 eggies retrieved and I think 10 of them fertilized. By the time I made it out to Annapolis there were 8 still growing, and then by the day of transfer (3rd day) there were 6. The doctor said there were 2 embryos that were definitely growing faster and stronger than the others, so they transferred those two. I dont know if any made it to freeze...I just texted M to ask and will update once I know that information. I really hope they had some to freeze this time! That would make a sibling project much easier down the road. =)

I am feeling good. No 'signs' yet but today is only 3dp5dt. I haven't even been tempted to cheat and take a test...and yes I know it would be WAY too early to test right now anyways. ;) I'm just trying not to think about it so that I dont sit here and obsess about it. I'm just taking it easy.

I will update when I have more to tell. And hopefully its good news!

Transfer complete!

We had our transfer on Wednesday! We put in 2 beautiful embryos (M even got a picture of them this time!) and everything went smoothly. I did my 24 hours of bedrest, and M brought me dinner (homemade by her friend K) to my hotel room. So I got plenty of rest, and was up at 5:45 this morning to get ready to head back home. I left the hotel around 6:45 and made it to drop my rental car off pretty early. So I had lots of time at the airport. I read a couple magazines and started reading a book. My flights went well (MUCH better than the flights on my way out there!!) and I was very happy to get home to my boys.

So now I relax and try not to think about it too much. My beta is on Aug 27th, and I wont cheat and use a home pregnancy test unless M wants me to. I have a feeling she will, though! ;)

This cycle has felt much more relaxed. I think its a great sign. Everything just felt better this time. I will be taking it super easy through the weekend and making Chris wait on me, hand and foot! Hahahaha!

So now, once again, we wait!

Excitement!

So we all just found out that M will trigger tonight, which means we will transfer on Monday or Wednesday! I just changed my flight to leave Sunday afternoon and return on Thursday. Wow that's just a few days away!!

Woohoo!!

Estradiol - 2249
Progesterone - 0.9
Lining - 8.8mm
Ovaries - suppressed

=)

I heard from M that she has some mature follies already so she may trigger earlier than Friday! How exciting! In less than a week I will be headed off to Rockville for the transfer! It seems like we've all been waiting a while for this. I hope this is OUR CYCLE!