36 Weeks

- 36 Weeks

It was surrogacy support group this week. It was an ugly christmas sweater party (as you can see below). We also had a small gift exchange and it was a lot of fun to get ready for the holidays with other surrogates. Did I mention that I won the ugly christmas sweater contest? (below is a picture of my prize and the gift I received).
Who knows if I will make it to the next surrogate support group, its only a week before my due date. Anyone care to take a guess when Harry will make his grand appearance?

Ugly christmas sweater alright?!

White elephant gift and contest prize

Growing little nugget.

35 Weeks

 - 35 Weeks
My Doctors appointments are now every week and everything is going smoothly at each appointment. My belly is forever expanding - I have pics to prove it.

This week I went to a fellow surrogates baby shower with her intended mother. It was a crafting party and we decorated letters to hang on the baby's nursery wall, along with some onesies. It was a lot of fun, and just gets me even more excited for my IP's to arrive.

3D ultrasound of Harry.

- We had a 3d ultrasound done at around 27 weeks. Laura and David were able to skype during the session and they were thrilled with the results. I have been awaiting their approval to show the pics and this is what we got.....

- He is such a little cutie, I can't wait till the parents arrive and get to meet him.
They arrive January 10th, I know it will fly by as the holidays are approaching fast, then it will be New Years, then we will await the arrival of baby Harry. Try and stay in there little guy till your Mommy and Daddy arrive.

34 weeks

The pressure is on...
Baby Harry is head down and I can certainly feel him right there in my pelvis, giving me lots of pressure. I can't believe we are only 6 weeks away till due date (I won't say until his arrival, because who knows when he will make an appearance).
Tiredness and back pain has also entered the pregnancy this week, along with a little cold. I don't have a doctors appointment until next week, then appointments will be every week until delivery day.
I've also been sending Laura and David videos of baby Harry moving and rumbling my tummy, and they love seeing him moving around. I just finished Skyping with them and they are very excited, nervous, stressed but happy, happy, happy to be coming to California very soon. Only 4 more weeks till they arrive. Hang in there Harry, your Mom and Dad want to be there for your delivery, please wait for them!

33 Weeks

Baby Harry is a healthy, growing boy. His parents can't wait to meet him. They are going to Paris this weekend to see the Christmas lights, I can't wait to see the pictures.

32 weeks

Side profile of baby Harry with his mouth open and you can see his tongue. 

This week I had an echo in baby Harry's heart. The doctor said its working perfectly and he is a very healthy baby boy.

He is currently measuring 2 weeks ahead, which is completely normal for baby's that I carry. My first son was 9lb 7oz and second son was 8lb 6oz. I wasn't expecting any different.

I skype with Laura and David about once a week and they are getting so excited to come to California for the baby's birth. We talk about strollers and clothes and places and things we will do when they arrive. 

I can't wait for them to get here. 

31 weeks

27 weeks

Ready for the Surrogate Halloween Party,

This week was surrogate meeting week. It was a little Halloween party for the whole family at Los alamos sports park. 

It was a very hot day. 

This week is the last week of the second trimester, we are in the final stretch. Woo hoo. My Doctors appointments are now every 2 weeks since I will start my third trimester.

Laura and David can't wait to see their little one. 

I had a doctors appointment this week, and baby Harry is sounding great, and the pregnancy is going wonderful, measuring at the right pace. I passed my gestational diabetes test - which is always a relief, I just have slight anemia, in order to maintain this I have to take an iron supplement. Just means baby Harry is taking all my iron. Ha

I can't believe theres only 13 Weeks left.

Week 25

-Week 25
- Baby is the size of an Eggplant (9in)
- Babies lungs are developing surfactant (to help them expand after birth).

- I Skyped with Laura and David yesterday and they are starting to prepare all their traveling arrangements for Harry's arrival. It seems to be flying by. It will be here right after blinking our eyes.
- My family and I have a lot of plans up until the arrival of Harry and that will only make time go by faster.
- My son's birthday is on Saturday, my grandparents arrive at the end of the month, then Halloween will be with us, then thanksgiving, then the craziness of Christmas and New Years - THEN ITS BABY TIME!!
- This week marks the week that Laura and David's daughter was born, so i've been taking it extra easy this week.

Week 24 - Surrogacy Spa Retreat

- My pregnancy is starting to feel normal. Baby Harry is a very active little boy and I love watching him move. I've got a chance to send Laura and David a few videos of my belly moving. They loved it.

- This is the week I've been waiting for, for a long time - Spa Retreat.

- The agency plans this event twice a year, for surrogate mom's. That way we are able to unwind, relax, get a massage or a facial in a cabana at a beautiful resort - Glen Ivy. The spa has mud baths, mineral pools, lounging pools and spa treatments. They also have amazing smelling body wash and shampoo that we get to enjoy in the showers.

- I had the best day enjoying the company of fellow surrogates, and the agency employees, while relaxing at the same time. It couldn't have been more perfect.
-After the spa, we went to a hotel to get ready for dinner. We ate at a Mexican restaurant and spent the night at the hotel. Getting away with these girls is so much fun, we watched movies and played crazy games and told lots of stories.

-Following morning, we had breakfast and headed home. I couldn't wait to get home and see my family (even though I had a great weekend).

ISC staff and a few Surrogates.

Two Surrogate and I, ready for our spa weekend.

The restaurant - Yum, Dinner time.

Week 23

- Week 23 was a great week.

- I had an ultrasound and Dr's appointment.
The ultrasound showed that the placenta previa has now resolved, so I can resume to normal activity.  YAY!!!!! Laura and David are VERY excited about this, so I can have a normal delivery. (Hopefully).

The doctor showed me all 4 chambers of his heart, and how they were working perfectly, she also showed the kidneys working and the parts of the brain.
- It was a very detailed ultrasound and he is growing perfectly.

All wave to baby Harry

23 weeks

Week 22

 Only 18 more weeks to go! 
- Baby Harry is the size of a spaghetti squash, about 11 inches and weighing about 1lb.
- I'm still feeling great, I have lots of energy during the morning, but get extremely tired around 3/4pm.
- I text message with Laura and David almost everyday, either with a belly picture, or giving them updates on his movement. I love the communication we have, and how close we have become on this amazing journey.
- After this week, I'll be in the sixth month of pregnancy! It is flying by. It will be baby time before we know it.

- I still can't wait for Laura and David to get here!!!! Then it will start to feel real.

21 Weeks

Week 21 is here. Only 19 more weeks to go.
Baby is the size of a banana (7 in).

 - There isn't much to update this week.
I'm still feeling great. I often forget that I am pregnant until I feel the lil guy move or I look down and see my belly.
 - At night time, it is getting a little harder to get more comfortable and my hips have started to ache (which happened with my last pregnancy too).
 - I talk with Laura and David almost everyday to let them know how much baby Harry is kicking and let them know he is becoming a little soccer player in there. His kicks are getting stronger and stronger.
 - One thing that i've noticed thats starting to get a little weird - not preparing a room, or the house for a baby. Although, I have been buying little things for Harry and his big sister, it still seems strange to not be preparing a baby's room. I can't wait to Skype with Laura and David once they get his room together, so I can visually see it.
- I wish I had more to update- more to come after my next ultrasound and doctors appointment Sept 25th.

20w 5d

21w 2d

Harry and Trouble

21w 5d

A moving belly!!

- We have a moving belly!

I'm sat here in my hubby's office, laying in a chair feeling baby move and I glare down and my belly started shaking. 

- His kicks are now strong enough to feel AND see from the outside. 

Can't wait for Laura and David to see it.

Half way point

I am so glad to announce that we are half way there. 20 weeks down and 20 more weeks to go (at least till full term that is).

Baby Harry @ 20 weeks.

- I am finally feeling great, and I have more energy. I am enjoying the pregnancy AND love telling Laura and David about how strong baby Harry's kicks are. I can't wait to video tape the belly moving and send it to them. Wish they were here to experience this with me. 

- I often wonder how genetics play a role during labor. Will this baby be as big as my boys? When will my water break? How long will my labor be? 

>>>Will the parents be here? I HOPE SO!!! Truly hoping for an amazing experience and praying that the parents will be in the country when it's baby time. 

19 Weeks (almost half way there)

Ultrasound and Drs Appt

Aug 25th - Anatomy Ultrasound day.

Here is baby Harry at 19 weeks.

- Nothing can be told to me at an ultrasound appointment. Only a doctor can reveal the results - so waiting a few more days till my appointment.

- Aug 28th - Dr's appointment

Blood Pressure - perfect
Urine - Perfect
Weight - perfect
Baby's heart beat - perfect
BUT WAIT.... The doctor told me that the ultrasound showed that I have slight placenta previa. (THIS EXPLAINS WHY I HAVE BEEN BLEEDING).
- This means that the placenta is slightly covering the entrance of the cervix. One of the most common symptoms of previa is bleeding. I am so glad we have figured out why this was happening. My Dr is hoping that as my uterus grows, that the placenta will move upwards and out of the way (which in most cases, it does).
- So next month I will have another ultrasound and regular ones after that, to make sure the placenta moves. If it doesn't move, I will have to have a c-section (which I really don't want). If it DOES move then we are on the right track again to a normal delivery. YAY (fingers crossed). I have been told No exercise or intercourse. Either of these could cause more bleeding
- Next Dr's appointment and ultrasound is scheduled for Sept 25th.

- Laura and David are a little stressed out. This pregnancy definitely isn't as easy or as smooth as my pregnancy's, but I have given them positivity and that I am doing everything in my power to stay stress-free and do everything I can for them and baby Harry.

- I'm hoping to add at least weekly pictures from this point forward.

Surro meeting

Today is one of my fav days of the month (as you know). Its Surro Meeting day.
Today is Yoga day. We had a yoga instructor come in and teach us all some relaxation breathing and poses to stretch and make our preggo bodies feel good. It was very relaxing. We also enjoyed some yummy food (as always).

19 Weeks!!!!

This is my fellow surro friend. Her and I have become very close during our journey being surro mom's.

This is one of many gifts received from the agency (BEST AGENCY EVER)
International Surrogacy Center

19 week Preggo Belly

Monkey was received

Little heart beat bear.

Laura and David sent me a text message this morning. They received their heart beat bear!! They LOVE it. Their daughter loves listening to baby Harry's heart beat (as do L + D).

Another trip to the Emergency Room

- I woke up WET. I was having a dream about having a contraction and BOOM, I felt wet. I ran to the bathroom wondering what was happening and sure enough lots of BRIGHT RED blood. I called my mom who is my personal Labor and Delivery nurse and she told me to come in right away.

- I got to the hospital and gave a urine sample, checked baby's heart rate, they tested my cervix for amniotic fluid, did non-stress test and other simple tests to determine what was going on.

- Everything came back completely normal. NORMAL, then why the hell was I bleeding and possibly leaking amniotic fluid. My Dr sent me down for an ultrasound to make sure the baby was doing okay. Even the ultrasound came back fine. I am so clueless to what is going on, all I was told is that bleeding happens often in pregnancy's conceived with IVF. So we left knowing - that it was just due to IVF.

My Birthday - Almost 17 weeks

Today is my birthday. 27 years old. Woo Hoo.

- I am almost 17 weeks pregnant and I've thrown up once this week. This week marks the time that I stopped being sick with both my pregnancies. I am hoping this pregnancy goes the same way.
- I woke up to "Happy Birthday" messages from Laura and David - which made me feel extra special.

Just a quick 16 Week picture

16 Weeks