The Transfer!

We are finally back from our transfer trip. Low and behold, our flight into NYC on Tuesday was delayed. We were supposed to arrive around 3:20 pm, but instead, we didn't end up departing Vermont until 5 pm. We landed at 6 pm, and by the time we found the luggage claim at LaGuardia, took a shuttle to our rental car, went through all the paperwork, it was after 7 pm and pitch black. We had over an hour drive to our hotel. We decided to skip the city. We WILL go there, I can promise you that!

The next morning we actually slept in! It was so nice. We were up by 9am, showering and getting ready to leave! We stopped at Starbucks so I could grab an iced trenta unsweetened green tea... My bladder needed to be full for the procedure, and I can always suck down an ice cold green tea in record time, so I knew it would do the trick!

We arrived at the clinic around 10:30 am. After this point, everything happened so fast! Andy and I sat down in the waiting room and within a minute, a nurse was bringing me back to get my blood drawn. Then she brought us to the transfer room and asked me to get undressed from the waist down. A few minutes later, the Embryologist had come in to verify my identity and make sure we were transferring the correct embryo.

At 10:47 am the Doctor came in. The big TV screen came on and showed the embryo under the microscope. Here it is below!

The nurse proceeded to do a transabdominal ultrasound so we could watch as the embryo was transferred into me. A moment later, the embryologist came in with the embryo in the catheter. The Doctor put the catheter inside me and slowly released the embryo into my uterus. This whole process took several minutes as he was extremely careful to not cause any damage during the process. Andy and I watched the entire process on the ultrasound screen. It was incredible. At 10:49 am on February 18th, 2015, the embryo was successfully transferred to me. It was absolutely amazing to think that one moment, I'm not pregnant, but at this moment, I very well could be pregnant!

I proceeded to lay on my back for 10 minutes, and then, just as quickly as I arrived and began the process, it ended. I got dressed and walked out the door. That was it. I was in the clinic for approximately 30 minutes. It was absolutely incredible. Andy and I drove back to the hotel and began my 36 hours of bedrest.

Don't get me wrong, I was a little excited about being on bed rest for reasons mentioned in my previous post. But after 4 hours of laying on my back and barely moving, I was over it. I looked forward to sitting up to eat a meal, or getting up to go pee, or standing to have Andy administer my PIO shot, because other than those three things, I was bound to my bed.

The days dragged. But, eventually, it came time to leave. This morning at 8am we packed all of our belongings in the car and took off. We were at JFK airport by 9:30, spent an hour and a half in the security line, quick grabbed some burgers from Cheeburger Cheeburger and found our way to our gate. At 11:05 am we were boarding our plane and we were safely home at 12:30 this afternoon. We picked up the kids and came home! After 3 days of basically doing nothing in bed, and then a very full morning of walking and standing, sitting down on my couch was much needed.

I'm going to continue to take it easy this weekend, I don't want to overdo it. The doctor recommends not taking an at home pregnancy test, but I don't know if I'll be able to hold out for too long! Otherwise, my first blood "Beta" test is on Thursday the 26th... 8 days past transfer. I am hoping for great numbers, and hopefully a positive pregnancy test before then. I'm SO impatient! I'll keep you posted. XOXOX

Butt muscle injections are sexy...

 

 

Sorry, I had to! That's what I'm feeling right now. Tonight I had my first Progesterone in Oil shot (PIO). It's scary because it's such a large needle, and it's intramuscular (which is why the needle is so large.) It went well though, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Apparently my husband is an excellent fertility nurse! ;-) The injection itself didn't hurt that bad... It's the aftermath that does! WOW! Talk about a sore butt and back and shoulders. Here's the PIO and 22 guage needle in all her glory....

And here's my face right before my very first PIO injection! Andy is truly enjoying himself.

Annnnd, just to give you the full picture, here's my morning pills. I take about the same amount every evening as well.

So there you have it! I can't believe we're down to 6 days until the transfer! I received my itinerary today, Andy and I will hopefully be spending Tuesday afternoon in NYC before we head on over to CT. Hopefully the weather cooperates for this trip. Although 3 days on bedrest doesn't sound like the best time ever, the peace and quiet, uninterrupted TV time, as much sleep as I want, and a bed with only Andy and I (and not two little toddlers trying to sneak in...) sounds pretty much perfect right now. I'm currently researching restaurants in NYC so Andy and I can have a little belated Valentines day dinner on the night before the transfer, since we're not planning much for Saturday. I'll be in touch soon! XOXO

Lining Check

I had my lining check yesterday morning. The goal for the week prior to transfer is to have a lining of 7mm. My ultrasound was quick and I also had blood work completed. Unfortunately, my hospital was not quick to get the information to my Reproductive Endocrinologist, so I didn't hear yesterday.

Photo credit goes out to my son Connor. Lauren was also there.

I finally heard back from my RE's office this morning. Unfortunately, my lining was at a 6mm. BUT, considering I still have 8 days and the fact that my period ended on the 2nd, means that my lining went from basically nothing to 6mm in 7 days. My RE is confident that my lining will be where it needs to be on the 18th. They are, however, adding extra estrogen to my protocol to help speed things up a little bit. I hope everything works out! I'll be in touch in a couple days after my first Progesterone shot! SCARY! Talk soon! XOXO

I think I'll go to Boston...

I will start this post off with this: As I've mentioned previously, I'm contracted to not give away any identifying information, which includes names or photos, so please bare with me as I attempt to describe this wonderful weekend with cryptic letters and photos with no faces. =)

As I stated in previous posts, B&P graciously offered to have us stay in their home with them for a weekend. Their daughter's (little "A") age is right in between my two children, which couldn't be more perfect for a fun-filled two day play date! Although we have known B&P for over 2 1/2 months now, we talk on the phone about once a week, Skype every other week and e-mail every other day... This weekend was so needed. We REALLY got to know them.

B&P are some of the most giving people I have met. So deserving of another child. Andy and I truly enjoyed every moment of our weekend with them and we hope this is a friendship that will last far beyond this surrogacy journey. Their daughter A is a sweet, smart little girl, and just as giving as her daddies.

This weekend was a whirlwind, filled with long conversations, lots of laughs, a lot of food, the New England Aquarium, the Boston Museum of Science and much, much more. Although I didn't think it was possible, I am even more excited to be transfering this little (very wanted) embryo in just 16 DAYS!

So I leave you with just one photo (I can't believe I didn't get more??) which perfectly describes the new friendship of three little people and the interesting bond that will tie them together; and, of course, the gorgeous landscape where they bonded! I'll be in touch soon! XOXO

Lauren, B&P's daughter "A", and Connor, checking out the view!