15 weeks!

It's been awhile since I have posted.  We are now 15 weeks, 2 days and things are going well.  Nausea still hits occasionally, usually on days I try to sleep in.  I'm learning the key is to get up early if I want to function that day.  I had an ultrasound at Birth Choice Oklahoma at 9 weeks, 5 days.  They have a program where pregnant women can volunteer for ultrasounds so their new techs get practice.  Hey, it's a win/win!  Here's baby Anna back at the end of July:

 

She still looked kinda like a gummy bear then, but I know she's much bigger now!  I can feel her occasionally and it's very easy to find her heartbeat with my doppler.  I apparently look much bigger to everyone else, as I hear about how pregnant I look quite often.  It still seems surreal I'm doing this again, but I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to assist God in another miracle. 

Growing Right Along!

We had an ultrasound Monday and IM got to see her baby girl for the first time!  Anna Banana Rainbow was measuring right at 8 weeks, 2 days (where we were) and her heart rate was 175.  Today, I got approval from the clinic to be released to my OB and I can stop meds when we hit 11 weeks (about 2½ weeks from now).  My wonderful OB said we can have an ultrasound as often as the IPs want and promised she will be present for this baby's birthday.  It was really special to have my OB and IM meet, as my OB was my former IM.  I'm so excited that all is well, that I have such a wonderful relationship with my caring OB/Former IM, and that my current IPs are finally getting their baby!

Rainbows and hearts

The past few weeks have been full of positive signs.  As I mentioned before, I have nicknamed this baby Anna Banana Rainbow.  (Babies born after a miscarriage are known as "rainbow babies" because they are sign of God's promise after a storm.  Anna is a rainbow baby since her mom miscarried last summer.)  Living in Oklahoma, it's not uncommon to see rainbows on occasion, especially in the spring.  Well it's summertime and they have been even more frequent so it seems!  I saw the first rainbow on my way to get my blood drawn the first time, just 5 days after the transfer.  Then we went to Branson last week and saw another!  Finally, over the weekend, we saw the third! 

 

Then, just to see if we could "graduate" the new tests, I took one more and sure enough...

 

 

Today was finally the big day to see Anna Banana Rainbow!  We are 6 weeks, 3 days and she measured 6 weeks, 1 day (which is just fine)!  Her little heart was flickering away and was beating at 117 beats per minute.  All looks perfect and we are so excited to meet her in February!

 

 

 

 

Hurry Up and Wait...

Well surrogacy is full of "hurry up and wait."  I'm trying to keep preoccupied until the ultrasound.  I guess being in the surrogacy world for as long as I have (12 years now) can make you paranoid, as you know anything can happen.  I keep taking tests just to make sure the lines are still dark...and they are.  In fact, the test line came up before the control line this morning!  It seems Anna Banana Rainbow is doing just fine, but it's my job to worry about her for now.

I'm feeling pregnant, as I'm extremely tired.  My breasts are sore.  And I'm already getting occasional cravings.  No morning sickness yet and I'm thankful for that.  However, I have yet to go through a pregnancy without it, so I'm sure it will be here soon.  My pants are already tight, as the medications make me bloat.  And, after 7 previous babies, my body just says, "Oh?  This again?" and my uterus relaxes and I pop much quicker.  I'm eager to look "cute pregnant" and not just "fat."

It still seems surreal sometimes, that I'm actually going through another journey.  I'm a little freaked out about delivery (I usually am at this point), but I know excitement will replace the fear over time.  I'm so extremely blessed that God and another wonderful family have chosen me to be a part of this amazing experience!

Well here I go again...

So everyone thought I was "done" carrying babies? Not quite yet! I have felt for awhile that I am still meant to help another family and so here I am! We transferred one beautiful hatching baby girl on June 9, 2016.

The clinic we are using doesn't require injections; so after so many rounds of IVF, I am pleased to get a break this go round! So, as usual, I have been testing with home pregnancy tests. We got the first positive at 4dp5dt, which is quite early. We took an early beta at 5dp5dt and it was only 10. So I kept testing to make sure the lines were getting darker and they have been! I'm really amused by these new tests that tell you how many weeks from conception you should be. Our first official beta was Monday at 11dp5dt and it was 232! And today was the final beta at 13dp5dt and it was 526! Great news!

We have scheduled the first sonogram for July 5th, just to make sure the sac is in the uterus. I have faith this baby girl is right where she needs to be and will be blessing her parents come February. Oh, she already has a name: Anna. But, as always, I have a nickname for her: Anna Banana Rainbow. Anna Banana Rainbow's due date is February 25, 2017.