Mini Bruise

Here are a few pics of the very little bruising that I got. Very minimal

Wedding Time/First Lupron Injection

Early start this morning since I had to take my Lupron shot at 6am. (29th UK time)
Day one of injection - my best friends wedding. I was really nervous about the first injection since I have never given myself one before. I was really nervous for the self inflicting pain of the needle. I always assumed I would just put the needle in as fast as I could and get it over with. Well, I went to jab it into my skin really fast and must have gone way too slow. It didn't pierce the skin, so as the needle was against my skin I just pushed it into my skin - I literally felt the skin "pop", It was a little painful but it will be worth it.
Lets see if it bruises...

Want to wish my bestie the best of luck getting married today, I'm so happy to be a part of her wedding day and I'm just really happy that I am here to share her day with her.

For Zoe - she will get it.

School, exam, airport, UK here I come..

So I had my final exam for Microbiology today and I am feeling confident. I received an email from Laura this morning saying good luck for my exams and how they were really pleased about my response to having twins. She also told me there were 3 girl and 2 boy embryos and we were going to place one of each into my uterus.. So excited!!


Rushed home from school, to finish packing my bags and get everything ready to go to the UK for my Best friends wedding, So excited to see her!
I had to get my Lupron ready to take with me since the first day of taking injections is my best friends wedding day. So I have to take Lupron at 6am UK time so that when I come home it will be 10pm Cali time. So I can continue to take my injections at the same intervals.

UK here I come.....

Medicine Training and transfer DATE

To become a surrogate you are required to take injections and medications for 3/4 weeks before the embryo transfer can take place. This is the trick the body into thinking that it is already pregnant, so when the embryos are implanted into the uterus, the uterine lining will be ready to except the embryo like a typical pregnancy.

First of all, I am to take daily injection of Lupron, this is to suppress my ovaries from producing my own hormones, so that my cycle or ovulation do not interrupt the surrogacy cycle. - so pretty much puts me into menopause state.

Secondly, after two weeks of Lupron (AND NO HORMONES), Estrogen patches are introduced. Two are placed along the bikini line.

Thirdly, Estrogen injection is added every tuesday and friday. These are Intramuscular injections and they make the uterine lining nice and fluffy to accept the embryo.

THEN... Once Lupron is stopped, Progesterone is added another intramuscular injection which assists with implantation and helps produce nutrients to support the embryo and helps to maintain a pregnancy.

So, I got an ultrasound of my ovaries today to check that they were still in good shape and size for the surrogacy. They are just as perfect as they were with my first ultrasound. YES. Martin and I also met with the coordinator today and went through all the medications with me, how to use them, and showed us how to administer to injections correctly AND she told us our transfer date May 3rd!!!!! It's finally feeling real, I also got my HUGE box of medications to take home with me ready to start the cycle.

In the box were also prenatal vitamins, baby aspirin, steroids and antibiotics. Ill explain these in later posts.


ITS BABY TIME!!!!  

Below are some pictures of the HUGE box of meds.

Lots of meds for baby making

See how big it is^^^^

Syringe sizes 18 and 22 Gauge

Syringes

ultrasound equipment for checking my ovaries

One or Two????

I have some really exciting news. Laura and David are thinking about having twins, they have great embryos and the Dr has suggested that they transfer 2 embryos. So, Of course they have to think about the possibility of having twins. 1 or 2 embryos may take.. So excited!
I couldn't be happier for them.

So I have Medicine/Injection training on Monday. All I have is excitement to finally get the process going.

La Jolla

I left school and went to meet Laura and David at a Starbucks in La Jolla. This is one of their favorite places to be, and I will now take my family there so we can also enjoy memories there.

While drinking our coffee we talked about their appointments at the doctors office and how they had retrieved 15 eggs from the donor. WOW!
Now we just have to wait to see how many are good for fertilizing. (We are using an egg donor and David's sperm).

Laura and I did a little shopping (and looked at baby clothes of course) and had a walk down to La Jolla cove, I had never been before and it was breath taking. This was her favorite spot - and now it will be one of mine. I'm so glad that we have a great connection.

After our walk, we decided to go for a little dinner and then it was time for me to say goodbye..... :(

It has gone by way too fast. Who knows when we will see each other again. They mentioned coming out in September, but it may not be until the baby is born. I hope I get to see them before then, but if not thank god for technology. SKYPE! 

La Jolla Cove

When I gave them both a hug it felt like it took forever, I wasn't ready to say goodbye... Until next time.

Our first picture together in Laura's fav spot

Surprise...

Well, I have NEVER cleaned my house so fast in my entire life. Laura and David called me to let me know they were in the area signing their contract and asked if they could stop by (which of course they could). I had come home from school an hour before and was making dinner arrangements when I received the phone call. I yelled at Martin, "quick, they are coming over right now, CLEAN" haha. I must have had sweat dripping all over me by the time they arrived. (Poor them).We previously had arranged to meet on Wednesday and Thursday and my cleaning lady coming tomorrow, the house wasn't in a pretty sight before hand. ANYWAY, I'm so glad they came over, so they could see the environment in which I will carry the baby for them. They also got to meet my boys, which they seemed to really enjoy their company and my little one was just running all over the house. It was nice to be in a calm and relaxed environment where we could relax and talk and enjoy each other's company. I didn't want them the leave!

I am going to meet them in La Jolla on Wednesday after I get out of school.