2.75 days past!

Time is going so slow and the urge to take a pregnancy test is constant. I bought over 60 of them so it's not like I don't have plenty, which makes it even more tempting!

Found that online and it's very appropriate!

So today I am considered 3dp6dt. This means 3 days past a 6 day transfer. The embryo was technically a 6 day old embryo, but was more like a 5 day blast I think. Some people would get positives this early, but it's rare, especially with a single embryo transfer like ours. Most get them 5-7 days past transfer. Our official blood test isn't until 13 days past, so plenty of time to kill with testing at home!  

Luckily we have had a semi busy weekend to keep me someone distracted. It is Little M's 5th birthday today. Yesterday I made his cake and we went to see Inside Out. Cute movie!

Today we are going to the lake (I can't swim yet due to transfer) and having pizza and cake tonight!

Let's talk symptoms. I am well aware that I can read way too much into symptoms and they could all be explained away with meds, but I will share anyways. 

0dp- crampy and heavy feeling, most likely from the actual transfer. Brown discharge, also from transfer. 

1dp- nauseous, but nothing crazy. Hating the taste of coffee. Slight cramping. 

2dp - coffee still tastes nasty to me, yes drinking decaf. very light twinges. Nauseous and dazed feeling. Just felt off and exhausted.  But could still be catching up on sleep form day before.  TMI, but urine has a strange odor. 

3dp - so far I feel completely normal today.  Not overly exhausted and not really crampy. 

Keep the good and happy thoughts coming!!!

One countdown ends, another begins!

We are officially in the 2WW!  Which stands for the "2 week wait" until we have a blood test to confirm pregnancy. This is the "beta" where they check for HCG levels in the blood, which indicate pregnancy. Our clinics makes us wait 13 days, so mine is scheduled for July 8th. Of course, I WILL do at home tests and probably start long before there would be a positive because I can't help myself. I do have quite a few tests to use...

Please don't ask for results.  I will not be sharing results until my IFs know and approve of me sharing. If they decide to wait for beta, then you all have to wait!   I promise to keep pictures of any and all positives to share at a later date. We will have a positive, I am confident of that!  For now I am considering myself PUPO, pregnant until proven otherwise!

I suppose I should share the details of the most exciting day thus far, TRANSFER DAY!  This is the day we have been looking forward to and counting down for. I fully expected to sleep in and enjoy my time in the hotel. I did enjoy it, but I didn't sleep in. I was up bright and early at 5:45. Part of it is because I have trouble sleeping in hotels, but I was also very excited!

For the first time ever I ordered room service for breakfast. I usually prefer to get out of the room, but since I was eating alone room service sounded more appealing. I decided on oatmeal and bacon, trying to be somewhat healthy!  

I also had the chance to FaceTime with my boys before they went to school!  I love and miss them, so this was a great start to the day!

I had then chance to lay around for a few hours and nap since I woke up so early. Now that was nice!!!

The guys picked me up at 12, so we could go to lunch before our 3:15 transfer!  We went to a place that makes poptarts...yum!

My one IF, K, and I both had our alarms set to follow the very specific instructions from our nurse. Promptly at 2:00 I emptied my bladder, then drank about 16 ounces of water. I knew this part wouldn't be fun. Not being able to go to the bathroom when you have to go is the worst!  We got to the clinic at about 2:30 and of course they both went to the bathroom while I couldn't go!  Not that I blame them!  

We all put on booties, got wristbands and went back to the room. It was a surprisingly tiny room. We went through all of the paperwork, signed everything, and I was in a hurry to finish so I could go pee!!  My bladder was checked in hopes that I could go a little, but no it was just perfect!  K and G (the daddies) sat up by my head so they could watch the screen as everything happened. 

First thing that came up on the screen was their little embryo, little POPCORN. Little P looked absolutely perfect and we were told the thawing process went smoothly and it was still in great shape. Dr. L gave the transfer a 65% chance of working, which is awesome!

That was the first image we saw. Dr. L finished prepping me, the nurse kept an ultrasound on my majorly full bladder, and the embryologist brought in the embryo. They put the embryo in and we sat and waited, and watched a little video of the transfer. The little video was so awesome! 

Before we left they gave us an awesome card with a better picture of little P. 

 

Look at that perfect little embryo!

Finally I have a pic of my IFs to post. They replaced their faces...

Apparently I am carrying Thor and Captain America's baby. My boys will be so excited!  

They are wearing the shirts that I bought them for transfer, hopefully bringing us luck. My shirt says, "Don't let your dreams stay dreams".

After being done with transfer and me being allowed to pee we decided to go see Spy at the movie theater. I have read laughing helps success so I figured this would be perfect!  Eating popcorn in honor of POPCORN seemed like a good idea too!

Then after the movie I remembered that McDonalds French fries are supposed to be good luck too so we had to stop there. 

After such an eventful day I was exhausted. Right after I got back to the hotel I did my injection and went to bed. 

It was an amazing day. So much fun hanging out with the guys and the transfer went perfectly. Hoping and praying little P keeps growing!!!

18 hours to go!

We are 18 hours pre transfer. I think I can speak for all of us when I saw we are a mix of emotions. Excited for sure!  Nervous for sure!  Those are the two biggies. 

I am not nervous for the actual transfer or anything after that. I'm nervous about something going wrong leading up to it. I feel like once the embryo is in my body it is in God's hands and by then we just have to have faith that it will keep growing and turn into a healthy baby. 

I am so excited to see my IFs become daddies. They are going to be AMAZING daddies. Every time I talk to them and spend time with them I am just more and more sure that their baby will be so lucky.  I hope and pray that this first time works, but if it doesn't we will make it happen!

Today was an interesting day!  I've been counting down for forever and it's finally here. I have had my bag packed for days, anyone who knows me will not be surprised by that!  What they will be surprised about is the fact that I fit everything into a backpack. 1 single backpack. I've never packed this light before!!  Anyways, woke up and went for my last pre pregnancy run, 6 miles in horrible humidity. Not exactly a good run, but it was a good way to start the day. Got home to one starving child. Little M could not wait for breakfast, then the second he started eating he got sick everywhere. :(. Of course it would happen today of all days. Luckily by the time I left at 1 (yep, typical me fashion, was at the gate 2 hours early) he was all better!  He should be back at school tomorrow, which is great news for M. 

That was my view for the flight, all 40 minutes of it. Shortest flight ever!

Arrived to the airport and my IFs came to pick me up, which was super sweet of them!  I had assumed I would be on my own today, and I'm so glad I was wrong!

They took me to get checked into the hotel. I'm not sure if I mentioned this before, but this happens to be the same hotel the airline put M and I in when our flight was canceled on our honeymoon!  Meant to be!  It's a beautiful hotel and I was more than happy to stay here again.  I have to point out that I've never been in a hotel that provided razors with all of the toiletries, I thought that was pretty cool!  

I miss my babies, but this nice and quiet room sure is relaxing!

After checking in at the hotel we went to Cheesecake Factory. Traffic totally reminded me of what I don't miss about the area!  I ate way too much food then added Carrot Cake Cheesecake and now I'm stuffed. I totally forgot to get pics of the delicious food!  

I am now back at the hotel, laying in bed relaxing.  My PIO injection is done for the night, which oddly bled tonight when it doesn't usually. Of course wait until I'm in a hotel room to do something like that!  I am soooo looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow morning, having room service breakfast, and of course spending more time with my IFs while we go to lunch, transfer, and a movie!  Hoping baby P snuggles in!  Please send baby dust, sticky dust, prayers, happy thoughts, anything that may help little POPCORN. Our transfer is at 3:15 which means the thawing process should start at 2:15. I have been instructed to empty my bladder at 2:00 (alarms set) then drink 15-20 ounces of water in a 15 minute span. Very very specific!!  I will follow these instructions perfectly and hope it all works out well. I am positive it will!

On a side note, M and I put a contract on  a new house and will be moving in a few months!  So many exciting things going on!  Here is a pic of us in front of the new house. 

Countdown!

1 week countdown until transfer!  I'll be honest, I've been counting down since we got the date, but it's much more exciting being this close. I have probably annoyed my IFs and my coordinator with the daily countdown updates!  In all fairness, I did warn them that I can be annoying from the very beginning, so they signed up for this. 

I've been doing Delestrogen injections since the 5th. I was a little worried because they had me on a lower dosage than I was on previosly, so I added POM juice daily to help increase my lining. I've heard it helps!  Some people have said they don't like the taste, but I like it so I didn't mind!  Shots have been going well, they are only every 3 nights and very rarely painful. 

Today was ultrasound and blood work to make sure my uterus is ready for an occupant!  They were looking for a minimum of 8mm for my lining and it was a whopping 13.1!!!!  

As my one IF said, it's a half marathon in my uterus!  Which was perfect since I'm a runner and I had this shirt on today. 

Next up was bloodwork. 

Then waiting to get official results from my clinic!  We got the email early in the afternoon saying everything is perfect and transfer is on for 6/25. We will get the exact time on 6/23.  I will start PIO on  Saturday. That's the more painful injection, hopefully not too painful. I will do that daily and continue the other injection, so Tuesday is a double injection.

Just wanted to share something my oldest said last night. He said he can't wait to see the daddies with their baby!  He is such a sweetheart and really understands the whole process so well. He is very excited!!

7 days!!  Please countdown with us and wish us luck!

Transfer Month

It is transfer month!!!  That means baseline ultrasound/blood work, start estrogen, lining check and blood work, start progesterone, then transfer and home pregnancy tests!  All in June!!!

First let me say how awesome my IFs are, they sent me beautiful flowers and a balloon for my birthday!

Today was baseline ultrasound and bloodwork!

I am using a local clinic as my monitoring clinic, they will do any ultrasounds and bloodwork before or after transfer and they will send all results to my nurse coordinator. My appointment was for 7:30, so of course in my typical way of doing things I got there super early. 

That's me waiting, see I remembered my good luck necklace too!

I went into the building at 7:20 to find a line of people waiting for the elevator.  Apparently elevators don't turn on to that floor until 7:30 on the dot. So I waited with a bunch of people, technically third in line. Once we all piled on the elevator I assumed we would get in the same order as we were waiting for the elevator. Nope, I was wrong!  Everyone rushed out of the elevator to sign in, so RUDE!!  I ended up in front of a couple that I knew were there first so I let them in front of me. Of course no "thank you" from them, what was with the rude people today?

In the end I was taken back within 5 minutes, seen quickly after, and sent to bloodwork. This clinic is extremely efficient!  

The nurse doing my ultrasound did not say a word, so of course I asked what was going on. She said everything looked good, lining was a 5.7. I was hoping for below 5 because I know some clinics look for that, but she said it was fine. Then went to bloodwork and was sent on my way. I was afraid I would have to wait all day to hear from my nurse but she emailed us at around 1 to say everything looks good and I should start Delestrogen injections tonight. These should fluff up my lining to get it ready for little POPCORN. 

I decided injections would be done at 7pm each night. I was so excited to do it tonight then totally got caught off guard when it was one of the most frustrating things I've ever done. My previous clinic gave thicker needles to draw up the oil, this one did that for PIO but not for this Delestrogen. I just kept pulling back on the syringe and barely anything would come then air bubbles with the oil that did come. Very frustrating!  I talked to my sister and apparently it was the same for her so maybe it was just frustrating because I wasn't expecting the difficulty. We will see when I have another Monday!  Good news is that the needle didn't hurt at all going in.  Here are some pictures, sadly we did not capture any of the utter frustration. 

Next up is lining and blood check on 6/18. Fly up to Maryland on 6/24. Transfer on 6/25 (and get to visit IFs since they will be there), fly home 6/26. 

Because that's not enough for one month, M and I also have our 8th anniversary just before transfer. Then Little M turns 5 right after transfer and a few days after that is the boys last day of school until August!

Embryos and contracts!

Ok. I have been a horrible blogger with not updating, but if you are part of my FB group you already know many of these updates!  If I'm going to be completely honest, I have been too stressed to blog. Must mean some good news since you are reading this!

I left off with the donor having her retrieval. It was super stressful because she needed to have 8 mature eggs for my IFs to get any.  Day of transfer they received the call stating that she had 7 mature eggs and two that they were hoping would mature in the lab. One ended up maturing so my IFs had 4 eggs to work with. Typically, not all eggs will fertilIze. We got extremely lucky because all fertilized!  Then the next hurdle was making it to 5 days. They all grew nicely over the 5 days, with one always slightly behind. By the end of 5 days they weren't quite blasts, which is the type of embryo they are looking for at that time. They decided to give them each another day and they all progressed enough to be frozen and tested on day 6!  This was amazing news!!  3 were 4ABs, which are awesome quality. 1 was 4BB, which is still good quality but not quite as good. K and G received the call at the end of the week saying that only one came back from testing genetically normal.  I am so excited about that one and super confident it will grow into a baby!  It's the 4BB one, which I have read have good success rates. I told K and G, and my husband, M that we need a name for this embryo before transfer. They have decided it's name is POPCORN. Not sure why it has to be all capitalized, but apparently it does. I will call it "Little P" or "Baby P". 

During this whole process I know K carried around the clover seeds, not so sure about G??  I'll forgive him if not ;)  I wore my matching clover seed necklace!  

Next step was contracts. I knew the actual agreeing on terms would be super easy since we had discussed most things and we are all pretty agreeable people, no one wanting anything crazy. K and G's lawyer drafted the contract. When I knew it would be getting to my lawyer soon I emailed her to give her a heads up. To my surprise, she was on leave until June 12th and would be doing work at a slower pace during that time. I called and spoke to her paralegal. She confirmed that our contract should still be done in a timely fashion. Next day I still hadn't received a response from my lawyer. By the following Monday (first email was sent on Thursday) I spoke to the paralegal again and found out no one had heard from my lawyer. Lots of stress and phone calls and a few days later I am so happy to report that contracts are signed, notarized, and mailed to the lawyer!!

I decided I deserve a treat and had a coupon for my upcoming birthday so...

I am so happy and relieved that contracts are done and I'm glad I won't be stressing about it on my birthday!

More good news, we have a transfer date!!!!

It is 6/25, 5 weeks from today!  I already bought transfer shirts for K, G, and myself, so I'm ready!

I haven't received a specific calendar yet, but I know I will be stopping BCP around 5/31 and starting estrogen around 6/6.  I actually don't mind the shots and I'm looking forward to everything!!

Cleared and ready for contracts!

Medically cleared!!!!!!!

I knew I would be hearing about my test results for my medical clearance by the end of this week, so I was super excited to see this email Thursday morning!

I really wasn't too worried since I had similar tests done a few months ago, but still awesome to see those words and know we can start contracts. Contracts are tedious and definitely not something to be excited about, but after contracts we move on to transfer and that is something to be excited about!

We have all spoken to our respective lawyers and are ready to get the ball rolling. I'm hoping contracts go smooth since we have discussed all of the important issues either with eachother or the agency. 

For those of you not familiar with the process. My IFs will choose one lawyer and I will choose another. They will cover all of my expenses for my lawyer. Their lawyer will create the contract then send it to my lawyer. My lawyer and I will review it and request any changes that we need made. Hopefully if there are any it will be nothing major and we can get them signed!

While all of this was going on their anonymous egg donor had been on meds for an upcoming retrieval. My IFs are doing a program where the donor's eggs will be split between them and another couple. That couple is first in line so in order for my IFs to get any eggs she needs to have at least 8 mature eggs. So far they have seen 10 follicles on scans and the doctor gives my IFs a 75% chance of getting eggs based on this donor's history. Her retrieval is tomorrow so please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Really hoping this is it for them!

I was lucky enough to get to have lunch with them today, since I'm in Maryland for a race tomorrow. It was so wonderful seeing them and getting to spend some time with them. We really are such a great match and get along so well. I'm so very excited and honored that they chose me to carry their baby and can't wait to see them become daddies!!!   

A few weeks ago I made them good luck key chains for transfer. I decided to go ahead and give them the key chains today since they really need good luck for retrieval tomorrow!  They contain clover seeds and green glitter. The green is because green is supposed to be good luck. The clover seeds because I figure there are bound to be some 4 leaf clover seeds in there!!!

Hoping to update again soon about little embryos growing!!!