Donor Embryos

Looks like I’ll be taking a break for a while as we wait on the donor embie process.  IM said there are about 20 people ahead of her and it could take 1-6 months.  It ALL depends on how quickly they get thru the list, how many embryos are available for adoption, etc.

 

This, at the very least, means I probably won’t be cycling thru Thanksgiving and Christmas, which I’m thankful for.

 

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Last Beta

 

Last beta was a 3 yesterday.  Stopped meds. 

 

Next step is donor embryos.  We’re still waiting on information about the process and I have NO idea how long it may take.  Since it’s a frozen transfer, there’s no one to sync me with, so it shouldn’t be much more than a month or two wait before cycling again.

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Beta #2

STILL a 6.   Should have been >12 to have even suggested viability.  I go back Tuesday to test again, but I think it’s more about seeing it come down than go up.

 

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BETA

Was actually positive!    … with a low, low, LOW number of    6.

At this point, it means very little.  It needs to double by Sunday morning (retesting) in order for me to continue on meds.

 

 

But…   it’s positive for now  =)

 

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Still negative; beta tomorrow

As of last night… 12dp3dt… negative (Answer).

Testing tonight (13dp3dt) with IM.  At least it’ll give us a chance to discuss the next cycle if the beta is negative.

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7dp3dt

POASing…

 

Sometimes I swear I see a hint of where that pink line is supposed to be.  Maybe it’s a slight evap…  maybe I’m straining too hard to see.  Seeing it on both the FRER and the internet cheapie.  Doesn’t come up in a picture and it’s only BAAAAAAARELY visible in a reverted photo.  I was so sure this morning (which was still 6dp3dt) was going to IT, but alas… it was negative.  (I can see that invisible line in the sunlight though… twisted at just the right angle).

 

I’ll pee again tonight.  And in the morning.  And THIS is why I didn’t want to test at all  LOL

 

 

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6dp3dt

Besides a single piercing pain earlier today, I’ve had no cramps.  I feel…  normal.   No longer bloated, not particularly irritable…   I do have the tiniest headache – I should probably obsess on that for a while.

 

I did pee today.  Negative.  I wasn’t 6dp3dt until 1:30 and I peed at 12, so I was still officially 5dp3dt then.    =/

Yeah… I’ve decided I’m going to POAS.  Not crazy… but I hashed it out in my head and figure that I MUST know before my IM so that I can temper my reaction when we POAS together Saturday.  If I feel it’s going to be negative, I don’t want to meet up with her acting like a cheerleader on speed…   I’ll just feel like a dolt when just the single line shows – even though I feel in my heart this worked.

 

Tonight is double shot night.   Neither butt cheek will be spared the pain.

Tomorrow is the progesterone check.  I’m SURELY shooting enough of that stuff inside me that my levels ought to be nice. 

6 days until beta.

 

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5dp3dt

Woke to some “pinch” action early this morning – good sign?

Still AF type cramping (tad lighter than first day of cycle cramps… more like Braxton Hicks than anything) and some major fatigue during the day… but insomnia when it’s time for bed.  LOL

My head cold is going away and I’m feeling much better overall.

 

Progesterone check Friday.

POAS…. Saturday – I’ll be 8dp3dt.

 

 

I did cave last night and wanted to test… and even started searching for the pee sticks DH hid (at my request).  I didn’t find them and was glad later.  Don’t want to see a negative and honestly… might not want to see a positive this earlier either.

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4dp3dt

Light cramping all morning… AF feeling, but nothing “pinchy”.  I’m exhausted and have a headcold and all I want to do is take a nap.

 

IM and I are planning on POASing Saturday.  I’ll be 7.5dp3dt in the morning and 8dp3dt after 1.  If we’re pregnant, there’s a high probability that we’ll have our positive by then.  If it’s negative, it doesn’t mean anything other than “not yet”.

 

I have NOT taken a pregnancy test yet at all.  I’m very, very proud of myself and am glad to focus on the positive “signs” and not on glaringly white, yet too early to mean anything tests.  ;)

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Weeeee

I'm 1dp3dt... 1 day past a 3day transfer.


yesterday's transfer went well.

Had acupuncture an hour before and an hour afterward. (That was lovely!)
We transferred 3 embryos... 2 eight celled grade 3 and 4 and 1 twelve celled grade 3. (4 is best). Doc gave us about a 40% chance of a pregnancy... 5% for twins or triplets.

Am staying positive that this time will work. 13 days until our beta test. I'm going to hold out doing any pregnancy tests... it just takes the focus too much on my positive thinking and focuses it on the negative tests. We'll see though... I'm usually quick to cave. I had my husband hide the tests I have at the house so if I want to POAS, I'll have to go to the store. ;)

On a side note... or REAR note... My ASS is SORE from those shots. Ouchie. Going to get a heating pad when I'm off bedrest.

5, maybe 6 days to go!

Transfer has been bumped just a few days so it's going to be Thursday or Friday! WOOT! I'm hoping for Friday as it would mean less days that I need to take off from work.

We're also going to try some acupuncture with this cycle to help ensure we're doing everything possible. It works for some and not for others, but the research that I've done indicates that it ups the stats 5-8% for implantation (pregnancy) and lowers to % of miscarriage.

This week, I had my lining check and it was at 9mm. That's not bad. They upped my estrogen (loving that stuff, really!) so my lining should be getting plumper and squishier as we "speak".

I'm remaining positive about this cycle.

I'm also vowing not to POAS (pee on a stick) so I'll be waiting for the beta (blood test) to know whether or not it worked. I think staring at the negative tests didn't do much for my positive attitude.

Will update next week =)))

WOOT!

First Lupron shot tonight.

Transfer scheduled for September 21-23.


WOOT!

Yay!

Started birth control a few days ago. Waiting now on our official calendar but it looks like we'll be transferring again towards the end of next month (September). =))

Next cycle

Waiting till next cycle to start back up again. =)

beta

Negative beta. Confirmation of what I already knew.

Good news is that there are 4 embryos that grew to blastocysts and were frozen!! Hope to hear some talk of new cycling dates in the near future.

Next stop... FET!

9dp3dt

Negative.

8dp3dt

Still negative.

7dp3dt

Seven days past a three day transfer.


Still negative pregnancy tests. Ugh.


The blood test (beta) is Friday. We'll know for sure then whether or not this worked.

Happy Mother's Day

Transfer!!

Got the call at a quarter to 9 this morning... today was in fact, transfer day!

So, the fert report. There were 15 eggs retrieved and 10 of those were ICSI'd. 7 of those fertilized and we transferred the 2 best this morning (a 7 cell and a 9 cell). They're going to grow the last 5 out to see if any make it to blastocyst stage and will freeze them if they do.

Transfer was very low key and quick. The four of us were in waiting room chatting for a good hour. The transfer took about 10 minutes and I had to lay there for another 15 minutes. I've been laying in bed ever since.

Transfer set for Sunday or Tuesday

Again, I'm sorry for the lack of updates - I can view from work, but can't make posts (the blogger dashboard is blocked).


My last Lupron shot was last night.
Tonight, all I had to take was my prenatal and an aspirin.
TOMORROW... I begin my intramuscular Progesterone in Oil shots. Those will continue until the cycle ends or I'm 12 weeks along with Sarah's baby =)

My lining was 8.6 when they measured it last week. Barely adequate and I'm hoping it's enough. They did increase my delestrogen, so hopefully it's building up.
My estradiol levels last week were 411; Tuesday (with the increase in delestrogen) the level was 798!

Sarah triggered last night and the retrieval is in the morning. We're hoping for a good solid number of mature eggs that fertilize. From those, the best one or two will be transferred to me either on Sunday (3dayers) or Tuesday (5dayers). I'll have 2 1/2 days of bedrest thereafter (you may see me blogging again soon).

<3 weeks to go

Sorry about not updating more... Blogs are now blocked from work and I don't internet much at home. =/

Anyway, here we go...

I started Lupron just over a week ago. At first, it was uneventful and I had the audacity to brag about my lack of any of the infamous symptoms... well, a few days ago, I started getting headaches. Could be lack of good sleep... could be the coffee withdrawal... most likely the Lupron. Advil works fine for it though. Only other symptom is hunger... I've been ravenous. (I ate three pieces of ice cream cake at work today) I am also currently taking prenatal vitamins and aspirin.

Tomorrow, my IM will have her bloodwork drawn to measure estrogen to see if it's high enough to start her stim meds. When she starts her meds, I'll begin E2V twice a week... an intramuscular shot in the arse. About a week later, I'll start progesterone shots (in sesame oil, also intramuscular) and both of those will keep up until I'm officially not pregnant or am 12 weeks pregnant.

Current transfer date is somewhere around May 3rd to May 6th. I'm getting giddy excited about it. I purchased 25 pregnancy tests to make sure they'd be here in time. =))))

Schedule!!!

Yay!!!

I have a tentative schedule/calendar.

Start Lupron Wednesday. Transfer is April 30th - May 2nd!

Almost April now...

Here's the best I can do for an update...

Contracts are completed! We signed them last Saturday.
I am still on Birth Control and am remaining on active pills until further notice. I'm also taking prenatals.
IM is to have a period immediately and start back on Birth Control on day 2 for a couple of weeks.

That's it. That's all I know. =S

My nurse coordinator hasn't been very forthcoming with ANY information and from what I've learned from previous patients is that about a day before I need to start Lupron, I'll get my stuff and my calendar. I'm glad to know that I can probably expect the same, but I'm very annoyed because I'm unable to plan anything for late April/early May, JUSTINCASE the transfer may fall during that time.


So, please bear with me as I wait impatiently for any information. We're all still VERY excited to begin and I am still keeping positive thoughts in my head... =)))

Waiting...

Contracts are sooooooo close to being done. Everything is negotiated and nitpicked down to the grammer. My lawyer has approved it and the only thing we're waiting on is a date and place to come sign.

Still no calendar. Our nurse coordinator is holding it hostage until we complete contracts... or is using that as an excuse not to come up with it just yet.

I'm CD10. If April is going to be our month, I need to be on Lupron within a week or so. It's reeeeally cutting it close and I'm annoyed.

Hopefully my next update will specify a date for the transfer. =)

Contracts

Received the first draft of the contracts and went thru and updated with changes I wanted. Talked with IM over the weekend about them and we're both okay with that. Now, we just need to get the lawyer to do up a final draft, have my lawyer (contact me and) okay it. SHOULD take about an hour... will likely be a week or two.

IM started her period a few days ago; I started mine today. Start back on birth control in 3 days.

Still awaiting a calendar.

Lawyer, contracts, life insurance

Things are moving at a snaaaaaail's pace right now. The lawyer had told IM last week to expect the first draft of the contract the first of THIS week. It's Thursday and we've heard nothing at all. She already said it'd take two weeks for her to finalize it, so I'm trying to brace myself that we'll be pushed into a May transfer. (That sucks because it will cost the IPs more money with an additional deductible and I'll be pregnant thru Christmas)

I had an appt today to sign the life insurance paperwork and get bloodwork done for my life insurance policy (for the surrogacy). Hardest part was fasting... the appt was at 12 and I was ready to gnaw someone's arm off.

Still on birth control pills... nothing else to update you with.

Saline results

"Perfect uterus"

*takes a bow*

Carry on!

Closer

Started birth control pills over the weekend. Saline is Wednesday. Hopefully know much more then.

Saline scheduled

CD1 = today. Blech. Early... so that's a good thing.

Saline is scheduled for Wednesday, the 18th (at 10 am).

Working against a self-imposed deadline.

Had a thought today and shared it with IM. We need to be knocked up by the middle of April or the due date will likely push into '10 and my calendar year deductible will be due again... adding another $2000 out of pocket for them. Hopefully the first transfer will be swift in coming and successful.

We can only do what we can do though. =)

Hi there

No real update... but I'm updating so you don't think I've forgotten to update you ;)

IM wants to see another lawyer who was recommended by a friend. We've still got contracts to go over and we're waiting on getting a sample contract from whichever lawyer she settles on.

We're also waiting on IM to have a natural cycle herself before beginning the drug regimine.

My cycle is due again Feb 15/16. We'll have our saline tentatively on CD9 (24th-ish). I believe we'll start birth control pills in early March (CD3) and begin trying to sync our cycles up.

A lot has to happen before then, so we're just waiting, waiting.

Snow delay

The IPs lawyer appointment has been rescheduled to next Thursday. We've got around a month to work out all the terms before we need to do the saline ultrasound. Since IM needs to complete a full cycle herself, this works out great. No pressure to hurry; Plenty of time to make sure that all the expectations are laid out and everyone's butts are covered legally.

I'm really looking forward to this. If everything works out on the current schedule, we should be looking at a Thanksgiving baby! =))

*matched!*

We've agreed to be exclusive, so I've said "thanks,notthanks,gbye" to others that I had been talking to. I feel REALLY good about this match.

Next steps - the four of us meeting for dinner or something
Lawyers, contracts negotiation
Saline ultrasound
Possible MARCH transfer!

Ooooh!

Meeting a local potential IM tomorrow morning. I reeeally like her and think we have a lot in common. She's one of three couples I'm currently talking to (ALL of whom are local!!)

YAY!

Posted an ad.

Seems like old times, LOL.

Posted my ad and made an email address just for surrogacy. p1p3r@bigstring.com

Feel free to pimp it out if you know someone looking. =P I can also forward my ad.

A New Year; A New Start

Finally got the reply I was looking for from L, the IM. She's been quite preoccupied by her ailing mother, who lives several states away. There's no doubt that her focus needs to be there and that any surrogacy plans are on an indefinite hold.

I'm glad to have answers and sad that this journey has come to an end even before it got really started.