Bulls-eyes and Kokopelli the fertility god

Yesterday was my last monitoring appointment at the clinic before our December 8th transfer. They did the usual lab work and an ultrasound to make sure the medications were working as they should. The Dr. said they needed the uterine lining to be at least a 7 and mine was at 14 so that was "really good". 

They also reviewed all necessary paperwork, drew a couple bulls-eye marks on my upper buttocks for the Progesterone shots that I will start this Sunday and gave me a big bag of prenatal vitamins. 

I was given this beautiful pendant from a fellow 'surrogate sister', which is how we all refer to each other. I wore it to my appointment yesterday and will keep wearing it for all of its good-luck. My SS (surrogate sister) recently gave birth to twins for her IP's so if Kokopelli worked for her and her IP's I hope it aids in a + pregnancy for me for my IP's.

"Kokopelli is known as the fertility god. He is considered a healer and women seek him as an aid to pregnancy. Legend has it, everyone in the village would sing and dance throughout the night when they heard Kokopelli play his flute. The next morning, every maiden in the village would be with child.

Moonstone can help your you welcome a new soul into her body and is said to have powers that aid in balancing of your emotions, very important in trying to conceive! Calms emotions, opens up ones feminine side. Heightens intuition and receptivity. Assists with hormone equilibrium during menstrual cycle. Moonstone also encourages love, hope, and fertility."

I hope you live a life you're proud of....

I really connected to this when I read it tonight. I have always tried to challenge myself...push beyond the 'norm'. I never doubted what I am capable of doing (natural birth for all 3 of our children when everyone doubted me) if I set my mind to it. I am always looking for inspiration and each day I strive to live my very best life. My hope is that these are some of the things my children can learn from me. 

Surrogacy is just one thing I knew I was going to do and I am so thankful for all of the new friends I have made along my journey and the wonderful IP's, whom I hope, that with my help can start their family. So here we are counting down until our December 8th transfer date.

Each day, each medication is one step closer...

I had an appointment at the clinic yesterday for labs and an ultrasound. The ultrasound looked great so the medications are all working as they should.  They now started me on daily Estrogen pills in addition to my Lupron injections. Estrogen helps stimulate and maintain the endometrial lining of the uterus, so that it grows and can sustain a pregnancy. As we get closer to the transfer date the Estrogen pills increase to 2x a day and then 3x a day. 

E the IM has been so great checking-in on me to make sure everything is going good; I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful team to support me throughout this process. E and I are meeting for sushi lunch this Saturday, I am looking forward to seeing her and am I am excited that I can get in another meal of sushi before transfer.

They did change our transfer date to December 8th. I prefer a weekend transfer day anyways because it should be easier to find a sitter for the kids the day of transfer and less days off of work for Jon while I am on bedrest. I think the hardest part about this process will be the bedrest, I am definitely 'active' with our kids and all of the activities they have going on so hopefully my husband will be 'ready' to take over the big job of 'mom' here for a few days. I have already started checking out Pinterest for some easy felt ornament crafts that I can do from the couch and I suppose I should start recording some Lifetime movies to watch. 

My First Injection...

Today I started my Lupron (10 units) injections. I have never administered an injection to anyone nor have I ever done one on myself. It took me about 20 minutes this morning to mentally 'prep' myself before I actually administered the Lupron injection into my lower abdomen. It wasn't so bad once I was mentally ready and only stung a little afterwards.

This is just one medication to prepare me for transfer, in a couple weeks we add another medication to the mix and then another on to that and so on. I am relieved to be past the first day and I am sure tomorrow will be that much easier.

What does Lupron do? In short, Lupron acts by suppressing the pituitary gland (the gland which is normally responsible for triggering ovulation). By using this medication it will stop my ovulation. As I mentioned earlier in my blog, I am a gestational carrier so Dr.K will be transferring embryos from the Intended Parent's....the miracles of science!

My favorite quote about surrogacy is from the show, 'The New Normal' “She's just like an easy-bake oven except with no legal rights to the cupcake.” So funny and true!

 *not my picture (although this is exactly the same that I used), borrowed from the Internet

Just a few more days until...

...I start my medications. Jon and I went to the IVF clinic today for my medication training session, although it was a little overwhelming to see all of the medications together in a big box it did help to review each one and why it is used so I could better understand its part in the IVF transfer process. I will go over each one as I start them.

I am not all that worried about it, once I set my mind to doing something I stay optimistic and just do it. 

I received some of my medications today. PSA: If at any time I start to act a little 'crazy' it could be for any of the below reasons.