Support and Positive Praise

Pregnancy is going great, I am now 13w,4 days pregnant with this sweet surro baby. I purchased a doppler from a surro friend so I can hear the baby's heartbeat at home; I recorded it and shared it with the IP's. I had a really nice lunch with E, the IM this past Saturday. It is always so nice to catch-up outside of Dr. visits. This week I am working on scheduling the Maternity21 test and then we will have our first appointment with my mid-wife in a couple of weeks. 

Our three kids are now very comfortable and supportive with the surrogacy, they always refer to the baby as S & E's so that's been really great. I think it helps that my kids have met the IP's so they really have an understanding on where this baby is going after it comes out of my belly. My husband of course has been really wonderful since day 1 of the journey, he has taken over some of my usual 'jobs' in the house so I can take it easy and get some much needed rest in the evenings. 

It has been very entertaining to explain to people that this baby is not my own, even more funny when I am with my husband and we say it isn't his. Oh the look of shock and confusion is priceless but of course if they don't run we do explain things and so far I have had nothing but positive praise. 

I started taking weekly belly pictures for a surrogate group I am a part of and here is my self-picture from today. 

Holding Surro Baby in my 'Nest'

Last Sunday, January 27th was a really exciting milestone, it was the last day of my meds. I can't believe I had 63 Progesterone shots and that isn't even counting the Lurpon shots I did early-on. My husband and IM cheered me on leading-up to the final 'shot' day. I certainly don't miss having those done to me each night and I know my husband is relieved he doesn't have to administer them every night. The best part of it is that a few days after I stopped taking meds it was like the fog had been lifted, I had been so tired since I became pregnant early December but I think part of my problem was all of the meds I was taking. I feel so much better now.

We had our final clinic appointment this past Friday, February 1st. Dr. K performed this ultrasound and saw baby kicking its legs around with a perfect heartbeat of 174. He loaded the IP's up with plenty of pictures and then we all went to lunch to celebrate the exciting milestone.
10w, 6 days

                                     

At lunch, the IP's presented me with one of the most thoughtful and meaningful gifts I have ever received. It is a sweet round bird nest with 4 beads on the inside of it. Three of those beads represent my babies and one of them the IP's baby whom I am so honored to be carrying. 

Our oldest daughter, age 8 noticed the necklace the second day I wore it and I heard fate telling me loud and clear that it was the perfect time to tell her about the surrogacy. She of course had some questions. She asked,"so when did you put their baby in?" I replied, "early December" and then asked, "then what did you do?" I said, "I took a few days to rest." and so she asked, "well why did you wait so long to tell me?" which I simply explained sometimes early-on in pregnancy a baby doesn't continue to develop so usually people wait until late in what they term the first trimester to share the baby news. She was really happy with the news and excited for the IP's. Our middle son, age 5 said, "that's cool" and we haven't really talked about it much with our youngest daughter, age 3.

We even hung out over at the IP's yesterday for Super Bowl Sunday, it was really wonderful to be included and to meet their family and friends. It was also nice to have our kids get to hang out with them again, the IP's are so awesome with kids :) S & E are really SO amazing, I feel so lucky to have been matched with them and I can not wait to make them parents. We make a really great team. Our first appointment with my mid-wife is in March.