Embryo Transfer Update 2nd try #4journey #surrogacy

Hello. We had our embryo transfer yesterday. I would have updated last night but I was on bedrest (still am) and hubby never brought me my laptop. LOL.

First of all, I've been taking Baby Aspirin and Prenatal Vitamins for a few weeks. I started Estrogen patches about 2 weeks ago.

I started Progesterone (PIO) shots Sunday. I did them all by myself. It wasn't my first time, but the first time in about 5 years!!

For good luck I got a manicure and pedicure from my friend on Tuesday. I had her paint my nails and toes purple and green for good luck. (Green is supposed to be a lucky fertility color. Purple is just my favorite color and a happy, magical, spiritual color. It also represents peace of mind.)

I also colored my hair green and purple.

Thursday morning hubby and I hopped on a plane. I wore my "on my way to the transfer" shirt.

 

I was having some anxiety because hubby and I weren't able to get seats together on the plane. We were at least able to be in the same row. I was hoping that someone would switch seats with us.

When we were at the gate ready to board my name was called. They got us seats together without me having to ask. The lady that helped us had the same name as Amazing Grace. *not her real name* 

I wondered if maybe Amazing Grace had called the airline.

We were so excited to sit together!

When we landed it took forever for the rental car shuttle, but finally we were on our way to meet a surro friend for lunch. I knew her online, but this was the first time meeting her in person.

She was adorable! So sweet and easy to talk to and lunch was delicious. I was excited when she gave me a hug. You never know what people will be like in person. What's cool is, not only is she a surrogate too, but she also wrote a book about surrogacy. (like me) It wasn't a children's book, but it's a great book!!! I reviewed it awhile back on here. She also runs an agency.

Time to check into the hotel.

As we're standing in line to check in I spotted something behind the counter...

Do you see what I see? Check this link to see why it made me smile and laugh- http://mormonsurrogate.blogspot.com/2013/02/embryo-transfer-update-4journey.html

We upgraded to a Jacuzzi suite for the first night. (After the embryo transfer and throughout the pregnancy I cannot take baths or play in Jacuzzi's)

I thought this is going to be so nice after my shot! 

Very nice!!

Ready for bed the night before the transfer.

 Yay, it's transfer morning! Eating my lucky, yummy pineapple. It's supposed to help with implantation.

Then we went down to the lobby and ate a waffle breakfast.

Beautiful morning view from the hotel!

John colored his hair green. (we found a funky kit at Target) He is wearing our lucky transfer shirt. The cute Kokopelli guy is a Fertility God.

I had to empty my bladder and then fill it up.

After about 10-15 minutes, Amazing Grace and I were taken back to the recovery area where I got into my lovely gown and was given a Valium. Then when they were ready for us, I was wheeled into the operating room. (not that it's an operation, but it IS a procedure)

I didn't think the Valium had really kicked in yet, but this picture proves it had. LOL. Amazing Grace had found some purple and green beads for both of us to wear. (She borrowed them from Spunky Monkey... Shhh!)

About 10 minutes later Big Daddy and my husband were brought in.

That's when they filled us in about the embryos.

2 embryos were thawed the day before the transfer. (Thursday) They didn't make it.  :-(
So 3 more were thawed this morning. (Friday) Actually I think one was thawed the day before and was in addition to the 2, so one DID make it. Now we had 3 and 2 out of 3 were good. (As far as I understood) 1 blast (blastocyst), 2 early blasts. We transferred all 3. I believe there was some assisted hatching as well with the early blasts so they can attach better. Cool! We were also told that they had a better chance of becoming full blasts in my natural incubator. Yay! Sounds good to me.

I was told to bring some warm, comfy socks. I wanted to find green fuzzy socks and I found green AND purple. They are aloe infused and SO comfy!!!

The Dr. checked my bladder and wanted it fuller. By the time he was comfortable with how full it was, I was super uncomfortable.

Into position....

The transfer itself was kind of awkward. There were some uncomfortable (physical) moments where I didn't know what the heck the Dr. was doing. I didn't know what was going on the whole time. I've never had a bad transfer experience, and I don't want to say it was bad, just awkward.

Amazing Grace was sweet and put her hand on my shoulder. After a while, I held her hand. Hopefully she didn't mind.

Then after what seemed like forever the Dr. showed us on the ultrasound this bright light of fluid where the embryos were. I didn't know they had been transferred.

I had to stay laying down for 30 minutes. I had to pee SO BAD! Worse than any other embryo transfer.

Finally I was able to get up and pee. Wow, was my bladder full!! I changed back into my clothes and they wheeled me out in a wheelchair.

We were all starving. My husband had noticed a Dickey's truck earlier so we looked it up. We love that place and decided to introduce Amazing Grace to it. She loved it! I got pulled pork, waffle fries and potato casserole. Yum! (supposedly fries are lucky to eat after the transfer and may also help with implantation.

We came back to the room and ate.

 I was pretty tired and soon fell asleep. I slept for about 3-4 hours.

Hubby picked up Smashburger for dinner. Love that place too.

Time to get ready for bed and into my lucky transfer jammies.

;-)

Johnny gave me my shot.

John woke up at 6:30 this morning, which woke me up too. He went downstairs to get us breakfast. Can't complain about breakfast in bed.

Today (Saturday) Hubby went to get ice cream and a movie and an ice cream cake for Amazing Grace and I for Mother's Day! 

Crossing our fingers that at least one of these lovely embryos sticks around for the next 9-10 months!

Help for my son

I am happy to say that Jeremy is doing better in school and in life.

I am so proud of him for going to counseling, etc. and not putting up a fight. It takes a strong person to accept help.

The hospital helped a lot I think (even though he was not happy at first) and the new team of doctors.

I am also super happy with the school he is going to.
Especially, the last quarter, they have done all sorts of things to help Jeremy and it shows in his improved grades.

Jeremy was approved to be put in a special, smaller classroom next year to cover the main subjects. This will be so helpful to him. I almost cried when his teacher told me he had been approved.

The only sad thing is that he will have to live away from us a little longer. (Except weekends, holidays, and summer)

I hope things stay calm. I sure am enjoying it!

What really makes me sad and frustrates me is that some parents don't get their kids the help they need. Instead, they label them as stupid, lazy, etc. Or they just think they're a "bad" kid. If your child is struggling in any way, at least consider and look into getting them help. It will benefit you both.

Help for my son

I am happy to say that Jeremy is doing better in school and in life.

I am so proud of him for going to counseling, etc. and not putting up a fight. It takes a strong person to accept help.

The hospital helped a lot I think (even though he was not happy at first) and the new team of doctors.

I am also super happy with the school he is going to.
Especially, the last quarter, they have done all sorts of things to help Jeremy and it shows in his improved grades.

Jeremy was approved to be put in a special, smaller classroom next year to cover the main subjects. This will be so helpful to him. I almost cried when his teacher told me he had been approved.

The only sad thing is that he will have to live away from us a little longer. (Except weekends, holidays, and summer)

I hope things stay calm. I sure am enjoying it!

Come Visit Me

I ran away today.

But I was nice enough to leave this note.

If you want to know what I've been up to, come and visit me:
http://lasurrocenter.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/guest-post-by-jill-hancock-reeder-im-not-the-mom-im-just-the-stork/

10 year anniversary of USS Shiloh homecoming

Yes, I'm aware that the USS Shiloh has had more than one homecoming. This one was pretty significant. First of all my husband was on that deployment. Second, the ship was 3 months overdue on returning home.

It was April 25, 2003 when they returned to San Diego, California.
The USS Shiloh was one of the first ships sent out in the beginning of the war. It was the first to fire missiles and one of the first ships to return home.

Here is a link I found about the Shiloh http://www.uscarriers.net/cg67history.htm

I can't believe it's been 10 years!

Most of these pictures are from my husband's camera. Some I do not know where they came from.

 My handsome sailor

 My husband is on the bottom, far left

 Having some time off in Australia

I will always remember every homecoming, but this one sticks out because of the extra danger, because my husband was gone longer than scheduled and because at times I didn't know if or when he'd be coming back. It's also hard to forget when pictures of our family were in the newspaper. Years later we would find pictures online that we didn't know exist. I am grateful for the moments that were captured and frozen in time.

Here are my pictures first-

My mom, waiting for the ship to come in, eating breakfast. Yummy fruit!

John's mom and our daughter who was born while John was on his first deployment. She was 3 here.

Me, Tristan and Jeremy anxiously waiting (I had lost so much weight that John saw me but didn't even know it was me)

Here they come...

Someone looks happy and excited!

Finally!

                                      

Making his way through the crowd

My mother in law was ecstatic when we went out to breakfast the next morning and she saw my husband and son on the front page of the LA Times. We have several copies of the paper and my dad e-mailed the photographer and got a nice copy of the famous picture.

We later found out that this picture was in multiple newspapers from one end of the states to the other, even back home in Utah. Our son was 6 and in kindergarten at the time. He is now in 10th grade and turned 16 last month.

 Me and hubby- long time no see. (I didn't know about this picture until years later)

I love how Jeremy is holding on to his dad here. John's mom is in the red hat holding our balloon daughter, Tristan.

 I decided to throw a little surprise party when I brought John home to Utah with a lot of help from family and friends. (but first John and I had some play time in California- Knott's Berry Farm, etc.)

 My step mom and my dad

 My mom, cousins, uncle, brother

My best friend and me (she has a lot to do with me and John being together)

I have so many more pictures, but I know I've already overloaded you.

9 months later this adorable little girl came into our lives.

Yes, I had a post-war baby!

God Bless our military and their families! I'm thankful for these memories. It feels like yesterday and it still brings tears to my eyes.



If you are in any of these pictures and would rather not be on here, please let me know!