Our New Journey: Surrogacy Part 6: My 1st week in Cali and Maternity Pictures

One month ago I left for California prepared to give birth to my Surro baby. 

 The day before that my OBGYN checked me, and said that even though I was only 35 weeks I was already dilated to a 2 and starting to efface. I needed to leave ASAP, or she wouldn't let me fly.

We already had plans for me and the kids to leave the next weekend and Mike to meet us there the 1st of June, but couldn't risk me waiting. 

So our AMAZING family stepped it, and made it possible for me to leave a week earlier!

Once in California I was papered and just relaxed hoping taking it slow would stop progression until Mike could get to there too. I seriously couldn't imagine not having him by my side for this!

 I made myself at home at the lovely guest home my IP's had all set up for us!

I really am going to miss the view!

I got a massage. mani/pedis, my hair colored, drank my weight in pink tea, and got introduced to lots of yummy food.

My intended parents did a wonderful job of taking care of me, and keeping my mind off of the fact that I missed my babies! 

And Mike did an amazing job of keeping me connected to what was going on at home with lots of pictures and Facetime!

One of the days there my intended mother asked me to do maternity pictures. 

My #1 wish for this whole thing was for it to be as special for her as possible, so of course I said yes!

Here are a few of my favorites.

36 weeks!

Then one week after I arrived my hubby brought me my babies!!!!

Once I got all the cuddles they were going to allow 

they wanted to see the property.

 So we went for a "walk" to wear the kids out ;)

Then after nap time we went swimming at the local rec center

It was so wonderful to have my family with me!

I was sure that baby was going to come soon, so Mike decided he would stay.

The next day we started Operation: "Walk the Baby Out" :)

Our New Journey: Surrogacy Part 4- 20 week update

At 9 weeks I had my last ultrasound with Idaho Center for Reproductive Medicine, and was transferred to my regular OBGYN. Because we had made it through the risky part of IVF pregnancy.

The next week I was able to ween off all my lovely shots!!! 

At 11 weeks I started showing enough to start tracking my bump growth

At 14 weeks I had my 1st appointment with my OB, and got to show my Intended Parents lots of pictures of their little miracle! 

That was also the week I started feeling movement which earned baby the nickname butterfly :)

 At 17 weeks my need for naps went away (which was like a Christmas Miracle)

I started craving Asian, so I think we went to PF Chang's like 4 times in a matter of weeks ;)

20 week bump!

At my 20 week appointment Mike and I were able to Facetime my IPs during the ultrasound, so they could find out they are getting a Princess!

Things are going very smoothly! 

I am now craving lots of fruit and my only real pregnancy symptom the last few weeks in very curable heartburn! I have had super energy lately so I am taking it out on my house! There is not a room that is not deep cleaned down to the floor boards, not a drop of laundry would need done if my family could just go a day without wearing more ;)

I feel less connection with baby butterfly than I did with my kids. I feel like that is a blessing, because even my heart knows I am not her mama! However I am just in love with my intended mother, and she is on my heart daily so I make sure her little girl is well taken care of!

Our New Journey: Surrogacy Part 3 - Questions Answered!

Since I started sharing with people that I am a Surro I have had lots of fun reactions and conversations. I also get a lot of questions (that I do not mind at all), so I decided to answer some that I get a lot to help friends understand Surrogacy a little better!

1. Don't you think it will be hard to give away your baby?
This is not my baby. Really! In no way is this baby related to me.
 Have you ever had a child in your life that you love, but they are not yours? You watch them for a long time and care what happens to them, but you are perfectly aware they are not yours. That is how I see Surrogacy. This is extreme babysitting. I am taking care of a friends baby while she can't, but one day in June it will be time for the baby to go home. And guess who won't have to change any diapers ;)

2. Won't it be hard to "be good" with eating and such seeing it is not your child?
No more than it was pregnant with my own kids. Just like I wouldn't hand your baby a glass of wine I sure am not going to do that to this baby. I went into this knowing that there would be hard parts, but being "good" isn't a worry at all. 

3. Do you have to do shots?
Yep, and that was the part I feared the most. Which made is a nice surprise when it wasn't that bad at all. I explain the Medications a little in Our New Journey: Surrogacy Part 2
For the most part Mike gave me the shots, so that helps. The injection it's self doesn't even hurt. 
The 1st 2 days of Lupron I was sick to my stomach, but that's because I am super smart and was doubling my dosage... once fixed I had no other reaction. 
The Progesterone is the biggest, but now I can give it to myself (thanks to Sara for making me be a big girl when Mike deployed). It caused some back pain the 1st few days, and occasionally would sting a bit after injection. 
Other than that I had no problems or bad reactions! Thank you Jesus!

4. You are a saint for doing this... ok not a question, but I do have a response.
Nope, not really. It is something I felt called to do, and something I am excited to do. 
Yes, I think that being a parent is the greatest blessing. But it is not all selfless. My intended parents are making it possible for my family to have a financial buffer, so I can stay home with James until he starts school (at least). This is an amazing gift they are giving me! I loved working, but when James was born leaving him in daycare was not something Mike and I were willing to let happen. We planned ahead, and were financially ready for him... but this will give us flexibility when the unseen life things happen.

5. Will you do it again?
Not a clue ;) 
The meds? Yep I could? The transfer? Sure it was a breeze!
 But there is a lot to come, so ask me again in a year or so :)

6. Any questions about my Intended Parents.
Though I will say I love them, and can't wait to have their baby. I won't say much more. For the reason that "it is not my business to share".  The surrogacy part is my story, but this is their family's story! That is a lot bigger! 

7. What made you decide to do this?
That is kind of hard to answer to anyone who doesn't believe in God, because I really believe that he had it in store for my life. Every last detail right down to my intended parents.
Being a parent is the best gift in life, and I get to help God grow that gift for 2 amazing people!  

The owner of Rocky Mountain Surrogacy said that she was a Surro because 

Everyone deserves to hear "I love you, Mommy"

And that is reason enough for me :)

Our New Journey: Surrogacy Part 2- Getting baby making ready

Once I was matched with my intended parents (IPs) it was time to get the ball rolling.

• Rocky Mountain Surrogacy  (RMS) sent my medical records to my IP's clinic to get approved. 
• About 2 weeks later they gave us the "GO"! So I made an appointment with my new OBGYN to have my IUD out, and start oral birth control to get my cycle on a specific schedule. 
• While waiting my intended mother (IM) and I started getting to know each other via email!
• In early July Michael and I met with a psychologist for a psych eval. Which I was oddly way more nervous about than any other part. However it turns out I am not too crazy after all lol :) It was really not uncomfortable at all once we were there. It was just checking on our relationship, and support system. Then making sure we understood the details of surrogacy. 
• Then at the end of July I flew to Portland for the day to get a check up by the doctor who would be doing the transfer (putting my IP's baby in me). He did an ultrasound to make sure all my girl parts were in working order. 
• While in Portland I met  my Coordinator with the clinic to learn about all the medications I would be starting, and scheduled my Transfer!
• During the next few weeks I weaned James from nursing (which I had planned to do by his 1st birthday anyways, so it worked perfect)
• Then my lawyer looked over what we had for a contract, we all agreed, and it was signed within days.

• On August 17th I started Medications. 

1. Lupron (a small painless needle in the tummy once a day) to stop my hormone production. 
2. Prenatal Vitamins  
3. Baby Aspirin
4. An Antibiotic right before the transfer 
5. Del-Estrogen (a mid-sized needle in the side 2X a week) 
6. Progesterone (a huge needle in the side or bum each night) when the lupron stops to start hormone production on track to ovulate at the time of Transfer.  

•  While I took my meds like a good girl for a month we planned for the week of the transfer, and RMC booked the flights ect that I picked. 

And that is about it! 

July 30th - the transfer went by so quickly, 

and smoothly I can't believe it is all in the past!
Here is the Link to my Transfer Story