Linnea

Marius

 

 

 

Seriously, these kittens are getting more lovely by the day!  With those big blue eyes...Mommy and Daddy probably have a hard time ever saying NO!  Precious twinsies at 15 months!

In my head I hear her cheering...

So you all know that sweet little basketball cheer "2, 2 we want 2. clap, clap, clap, clap, clap..."???  This seems to be the theme song playing in my mind daily.  Halle cheered this all winter and it is funny that her little squeaky voice sings to me even in my dreams.  Well we've all had a sort of "gut feeling" about what (who) is baking in this oven of mine..the numbers were taunting us all but we had to wait for the ultrasound to confirm our suspicions.

Thursday morning I woke up early (and eager) to get a peek inside.  I was wrought with mixed emotions because I knew what T was hoping for...one healthy bouncing baby, but I was feeling nearly certain there were 2...I have done this before, lol.  I hadn't spoken with T for a while so I wasn't sure what he was feeling or thinking...wanting...I hopped up on that all too familiar table and took a cleansing breath as the technician began.  Only a half a breath passed before she looked at me and said well there THEY are..2 sacs both with embryos thriving.  Not like I was surprised but wow, my breath was gone.  I felt panic, (sorry T) elation (because T is going to have a small litter), pride in my uterus for doing her job once again and most of all relief...ahhhh not 1 but "2, 2 we want 2" healthy babies!!

Wanna see 'em???

Again, the cheering:-)

Little tadpole

First photo

I sent these pictures to T and he passed them along to his, and I am not exaggerating, AMAZING family!  Seriously, these folks know how to make a girl feel loved.  I have not even met T's momma but she sends me little emails of support and I am in tears.  T's sis just makes me feel happy because every note begins with YIIIPPPPPEEEEE:-)  These little babies are already so adored!

So today I am 7 weeks 2 days with twins and so far my symptoms are mild.  A little nausea (ok, alot) early in the morning and in the evenings and fatigue pretty much all day.  I'll take it!  I see exhaustion as a good sign.  It's no little task growing 2 people!!

Super Cute alert***  T is looking at minivns.  My heart is bursting!  That IS love.  Stay tuned, I have my second ultrasound this Thursday and we will see growth and even stronger heartbeats.

The numbers are in...

     Well I have known I was pregnant for just over a week but this week we had blood work done to confirm.  My first draw was done on May 8 and that number was 496.  This morning (2 days later) my number was 1519...That means my numbers tripled in 48 hours...I'll post a link so you can see what the numbers mean.
Beta Numbers Calculator

     Ahhh!  I finally feel like I can relax and revel in the fact that this is no longer just a dream...this is now our reality and in 9 short months a very loved and long awaited someone will make his or her entrance to this world.

     I have been submerged in the world of surrogacy for the last 2+ years.  I have so many friends who are on their own special journey..I'm a part of so many facebook groups...so many websites.  It seems like my second language (if you will).  What I have come to realize, though, is that not all of you are in this world.  Many of these things may be foreign to you.  I will do my best throughout this process to explain the terms used in an attempt to make what may seem fuzzy much more clear.


    What's next???  In a week I will have my final blood draw which will again confirm the viability of this pregnancy.  Then a week after that is our first ultrasound.   I will be just over 6 weeks gestation and I am hoping that it will confirm what we are all hoping for...a thriving healthy baby with a strong heartbeat.  Pictures will of course follow.

    Here is a really helpful website for those who just want to know more.
http://ivf.ca/


Terms used today:
1.  BETA-This is the blood test that measures the amount of  hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) or embryonic growth hormone in the body.
2.  IF- Intended Father (or "T")

As always thanks for reading.  Thanks for supporting me and my family and "T" and his family.  This is familiar to me but is uncharted territory for many.  I hope that you will gain insight as you follow along.  I hope if your mind is closed that it will become open as you watch true joy unfold.  If your heart is hard, it is my hope that a life lived to serve the needs of another may soften it.  My greatest hope is that by January 12, 2013 1+1+1 will equal 2..."T" and "Tiny T" together at last!

Good News!!

Hello to all my loyal readers..I've missed you so!  As many of you know (and some of you don't), I have been cycling (for a second time) with a single IF in LA.  We had our first transfer in December and we were unsuccessful.  We revamped some things.. made arrangements to have a new egg donor and hoped this go round would render a BFP (big fat positive).  My hubby and I have said since late March that we "just knew this felt better".  It was a better time.  My body had healed from the previous journey even longer and it was GO time.  I started with Lupron daily and was on that for nearly 5 weeks.  I was (am) also on Estrogen injections every 3 evenings and progesterone injections nightly...there is other protocol but I'll spare you that..(surro's know).  Shane and I headed to LA April, 18 and awaited the news of the transfer.  We got great news..This time the embies looked great and we were on for a 5 day transfer!  This was great as we were able to spend time with 'T" at the Getty Center.  We had a nice afternoon and evening getting reacquainted with our very special father-to-be:)  The next day and night Shane and I had some much needed ALONE TIME!  Surrogacy isn't always easy.  There are sacrifices a family must make occasionally but the transfer trip..that is a great perk.  We enjoyed Pasadena and all of the great shops and restaurants!  Here is me..the night before getting knocked-up:)

The next morning we woke up EARLY and headed over to the clinic with "T".  We were all very excited and ready to get started.  "T" decided with our doctor just how things should go down to give us the best shot at achieving pregnancy.  Once that decision was made, it was time to make the magic happen!!  Here are the little embies we were working with...


That day I rested as much as possible but I also enjoyed meeting some of "T's" friends again for dinner.  We headed home the next morning for the dreaded, the awful, the nearly UNBEARABLE two week wait.

Transfer was on Friday, but on Tuesday...

 

and by Wednesday I had......

and Wednesday night yet another and by  Thursday....

This one made it REAL!

Holy Moly, T is gonna be a daddy!!!!

SO in blogging fashion I will post my 3 weeks pregnant picture-

Watch this baby bump grow

 While on my trip I met to fellow surro sisters..couldn't leave these gals out.  Xo to you both Jo and Misti :-)

I have scary eyes but this is our only shot together

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