Busy Time of Year

Well, hello!!

It's been a while. My apologies if you were waiting to hear from me sooner.

Since the last time we talked, we've passed Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. All of which, while busy, were very good for my family. I hope the same for yours.

For a while after our cancelled cycle, I didn't really have a lot to write, so I didn't. And then once I did, it was finding the time and energy to come and write it I struggled with. So, here we go.

After the eggs from the donor didn't work out (my IPs second donor), we got put on hold a bit until they had cleared a new donor. For a little while, it looked like we would transfer around Dec. 17. Then AF was mean to me and decided to be a week late. At that point, none of us knew whether or not we'd even transfer before the end of the year. The goal was to transfer before Christmas. Once dear AF came, it put us on track for sometime between the 21st and 25th. Yay! But then the donor didn't respond the way they liked and they thought there might be another delay. It was such a roller coaster.

Thankfully, the donor still had a few quality eggs to retrieve and they retrieved 10 eggs on the 16th, 5 of which fertilized. By the 21st, 2 were still good quality and 1 looked good enough to freeze the next day. We transferred a 4bb embryo and a 4bc embryo on Molly's 10 month birthday :)

After transfer, my IP's got me McDonald's fries (Surros swear by these!) and then they took me to my good luck charm and good friend's house to rest for the day. I had a relaxing evening and fun with my friend and then came home Sunday afternoon and took it easy the rest of the day.

I was asked by my IM not to test on Christmas morning. She didn't want me to ruin my day if it weren't positive.

However, all of Christmas Eve and Christmas day, I could feel it. I could feel that it worked, just the same as it did with Molly. So, Christmas night, 4.25 days after a 5 day transfer, I tested before I went to bed. When it turned up positive less than 3 minutes later, I literally jumped on my bed to show my husband the line. Woot!

OK Well, if you don't have "surro eyes" you might not know it, but that there is a positive test. A line is a line when it comes to pregnancy. You either are, or aren't. And I am. As the days have passed, I have enjoyed continuing to watch the lines get darker. I'm a bit of a POAS-aholic. I'll show you a few of them...

The tests above were the morning after the initial squinter line and then each morning thereafter. I did test in the evenings, but the lines weren't noticeably different than the morning's lines. The one on the bottom is from this morning.

I'm totally thrilled and excited! I am loving that my IPs are local and they were with me during transfer, and that IM and I got to go to lunch the other day. I am enjoying getting to know her! I also got a little congratulations gift for her, a snow globe with a quote about dreams coming true, from The Wizard of Oz, and it had the ruby red slippers inside the globe.

Beta #1 is on Tuesday, the 31st. I don't really know what to expect. Everyone, including myself, wonder if both took, since I saw the positive lines so quickly. I know they were not that easy to see on day 4 with Molly at all! We shall see!

I will take some time after we get beta results to blog again soon! Have a great week!

A non-update update... and a bit of TMI

Well, if you can't tell by the non-updating of the blog, our transfer didn't happen...

Here is what DID happen.

On the 18th, I went for monitoring. All was good- except nobody could get straight what day we were doing what, so after L talked to them and straightened things out- we were all set for a Monday, October 28 transfer if the embryos made it to day 5. Saturday if they needed to be transferred on day 3.

Except one thing. On Wednesday, the 23rd, the eggs were thawed to prepare them for ICSI (or injected sperm- fertilization). And didn't make it.

You can imagine the emotions we all felt. L was devastated, and rightly so. I know that to her it felt like 6 babies had died. We alternated, I think, between ticked off at the clinic, and just sad all around. It took a few days for me to get around it.

As of today, I am really not sure what is going on. L said they showed her a donor, and that donor was going to go through the hoops to see if she would be a good candidate. I guess we're just waiting on all that now, so we can do a fresh transfer.

The nurse didn't call me at all, L is the one who texted me the news, L and I spoke on the phone a few times, but I never heard anything from the clinic until I got an email Monday (the 28th) morning saying to stop all meds (I had stayed on the patch just in case they wanted me to 'hang out in limbo' til they were ready). But also to START another round of prometrium for 10 days so I could get a period and shed my lining. Newsflash. My period started the night before her email. So I emailed back and let her know. She said to keep taking it. I did, and what followed was the longest and heaviest 6 days ever. Sigh. Finally down to a drizzle now, thankfully, but I'm not even at day 10 yet. Am I supposed to get another period after that?? Necessary?

Anyway, onward and upward. We have gotten the hurdles out of the way. The doctors are apologetic, the head one is the one overseeing our whole cycle now. Hopefully that was the last of the issues and our best is yet to come!

I'll write more when I have more.

Til then,
Have a great week :)

Trial Transfer

Yesterday was our trial transfer and it went great!

L and I met up at the RE's office for the appointment and got some chat time, which I always love, while were waiting.

Then the Dr. came in and did some trial transfers...Yes. Not one. Not even two, but 3 trial transfers. And he was rough. It was more than slightly uncomfortable and definitely more painful than my past transfers or trial transfers have been. I think they thought ahead on that, though, because before the transfer they had me take some ibuprofen. It worked alright til it wore off. Last night I was ready for some more. I've also been spotty since then. Ick.

The nurses said we could transfer either the 25th or the 27th, depending on the embryos. If we transfer on the 25th, they will be 3-day embryos, 5-day on the 27th. I don't know which to hope for, honestly. I've only ever transferred 5 or 6 day embryos and I'm not sure the qualifications of transferring a 3-dayer. I guess my only experience with 3-dayers is hearsay, and usually it's because they were afraid the emby wouldn't make it to day 5 if they didn't transfer it then, I think. So I'm torn. Do I hope for the 3 or 5 day transfer?

After the appointment, L and I went to lunch! Yummm! We went to Mi Cocina. I told her my funny story about having Mexican food before my screening appointment back in 2011 in El Paso. We had a laugh about it. No Mexican food before doctor appointments! While we were at lunch, she gave me a really sweet gift, I really love it!

(A collectible measuring spoon set that has really cute/sweet sayings on each spoon, and an angel in the hollow of the spoon - because I like to bake, Godiva chocolate - mmmmm, and a wine glass that says "wine is cheaper than therapy" which relates to my family and the multitude of therapies we visit each week for the boys, and my love of wine and wine glasses)

I love the bag, too. She's got me pegged! Thank you, L!!

We did take a selfie pic, but I really look like a giant next to her... I'll post it, but y'all need to know I'm NOT this huge! haha She's standing tucked under my arm or something, and hiding next to me, and I'm standing closer to the camera than she is! (pfft)

Thanks for reading! Next appointment is a monitoring appointment on the 18th! Til then, have a great week!

Go!

Christmas morning for a surrogate....

And we're off!

Oh sheep! Really?

My title is a little different today. But maybe you'll understand when you read my post.

OK So alllllll this time without a blog, we have been waiting on me. On the witch. Aunt Flo. Alright, this is a blog that talks about everything that comes with childbirth. We're adults here. My period. There.

This has been a long wait. Seriously. Forever. There were days when I worried DH and I had screwed up some how. There were days when I thought I was definitely going to start soon. I had every symptom of PMS imaginable. Oily, pimply skin? Check. Need for chocolate? Check. Headaches? Check. Soreness? Check. Bloat? Check. Moodiness? Oh yeah, check that one off. Well she didn't come on her own. A couple weeks ago I called the clinic to find out what they wanted to do, and they put me on progesterone to get things going. I took it for 10 days, and then I was supposed to start within 10 days. Well, you know... Aunt Flo doesn't like due dates. She made us wait longer, of course. The entire time, I've been PMSing.

On Monday, I spotted a teeny bit. Thought for SURE she'll be here Tuesday! By Wednesday morning I had grown tired of analyzing my every PMS symptom and wondering if I were pregnant or waiting on period still. I purchased a pregnancy test. Knowing pretty full well I wasn't, based on everything. But still, they say you take a test, your period starts. No sooner had I purchased it and was walking out of the store that I got a text from L asking if it's possible I could be pregnant. I told her it wasn't likely but that I did buy a test to make sure. I took it as soon as I got home. Thankfully, stark white negative. So we had nothing left to do but wait.

Wednesday afternoon, spotting was a little more than on Monday. YES! She is DEFINITELY on her way.

Thursday- I woke up singing the Hallelujah chorus. She had arrived. I called and scheduled my appointment as soon as they opened.

Today, Friday... I went to the appointment and had my baseline sonogram. Where the doctor pronounced my uterus beautiful, and could he have it's number to give other couples ... for next time? Not kidding. He asked me how many times I wanted to do surrogacy, and I said my usual, 'Til my uterus falls out!' answer. And then he asked if he could give my information to other couples once I was ready to start again.

Then I had a meeting with the nurse. She showed me a page with a list of days in October. With notations next to several of them. Halfway down the page, the notations stopped. So I asked, what happens here? (pointing to where the notes stop). She said that that day when the notes stopped, I'd have blood tests and an u/s to see if I was ready, and then I'd start progesterone and transfer in a few days (depending on the embryos at that point). Note--- ALL these dates were still in October. The 31st was at the bottom of the page.

She's talking... and it hits me, She's saying we're transferring on October 25!?!?

And now this was when I actually almost said something else... but corrected to "Holy Sheep!" before anything bad came out.

Here I was thinking I was holding us up from a November transfer, we'd likely be somewhere in December before we transfer, etc. And they're telling me now, on Oct. 4, that we could be transferring in 21 days? (Provided the meds and monitoring go well.)

So yeah. Meds arrive tomorrow. It's a non-injection protocol.

I think L was pretty shocked to learn the date, too! So now starts all the excitement!

On to insurance stuff pretty quickly now. Pray, send awesome thoughts, wish us luck, what have you. It's ON!

I might try and post a pic of the meds tomorrow when they arrive. The Fed Ex guy will think he's Santa for how excited I may be.

Can't forget!

I just realized I never updated here about Miss Molly!

The week before Labor Day weekend, Katie called to tell me they were coming to visit on Labor Day weekend! I was SUPER excited. I think my whole neighborhood heard how excited I was!!

They got here on the Thursday night before LD, and stayed til early morning. We really enjoyed spending time with them and loving on Miss Molly!

Here are a few pics!

Miss Molly getting some lovin' from mommy when they first arrived.

Jack, receiving his gifts with a smile!

Miss Molly in her new outfit from us!

Me and sweet Molly

Miss Molly chewing away on her new toy

Photobombed!! (and a pic at a really bad angle haha)

Sweet baby girl

Spending time with Shane

Jack enjoying his parents while Molly is occupied

Snuggles

Play time!

I love watching these two together

I'm pretty sure this was her first time ever sitting up!

Playing with Shane

 

 

Some Legoland fun!

Snuggles with Micah

And Shane

Playdoh!

The best part of the weekend? Snuggling Miss Molly, myself!! 

I so enjoyed their visit and it makes me so happy that they came to see us!

Micah is so enthralled with our "add-on" family, too. He wrote about Miss Molly in his journal this week...

Thank you to Katie and Family for coming to see us. It means the world that you think of us and keep us updated on you all, and that you came to see us on a weekend you could have done anything else! 

We love you!

Waiting...

After a frustrating few weeks, the clinic seems to finally be getting their stuff together. They've really been a scatterbrain from the start. My records were apparently faxed to them several times, yet mysteriously they never got them. I sent them my psych evaluations and she forgot. They send me to 'screening' that wasn't really a screening, see last post, had to be reminded that they needed my husbands bloodwork, and even managed to fumble things with IM via e-mail. They need to work on their organizational skills and short term memories!

The donor did her retrieval on the 9th, I believe they got 6 eggs. Unfortunately IF was unable to come in and do his part, because he had minor surgery that same week. They froze the 6 eggs and will fertilize them before we do our transfer, from what I can tell. The nurse can't even keep it straight that they only have eggs and don't have embryos.

I quit pumping the weekend before my boys started school, and only pumped once after that weekend. I've dried up pretty well, but still haven't gotten Aunt Flo yet. So the nurse called me in a prescription for progesterone pills. I'm taking those the next few days, and am expected to get Aunt Flo within 10 days of the last pill. Hopefully it does it's trick and we can get started soon.

Really that's all we are waiting for. Contracts were done and signed a few weeks ago.

From what IM has said, if everything looks good on day 3 of my cycle, we will go ahead and get started. It's a non-injection protocol- I'm not sure whether that excites me or not. Sticky patches all over my midsection or one and done shots every day? I'm used to the shots, though, so I'll have to get used to the patches. I'm curious to see what I like better after having tried both.

Anyway, so that's my 'nothing's happening still' update. I hope to have more to update you with soon!

Say what?!

So screening was supposed to be set for Monday at 10:30, right? Not so much.

I get there and fill out all those forms, get with the nurse and do basic vitals, weight, etc. and they lead me to an exam room and say the Dr. will be in in a second. The Dr. comes in a few minutes later and says to join him in his office. Now... I'm not one to rock the boat, but I'm supposed to be having a pap and blood work done... and I'm fairly certain paps aren't done in fancy offices ;) So I'm wondering whats going on during the short walk to his office..

We get in there and he asks the usual questions about my history, about his protocol, the donor's cycle and how many embryos to transfer.... and then he sends me home.

Say what?!

Now, this part, I actually knew and questioned the nurse on when she scheduled my appointment. I asked her if I needed to be on a certain day of my cycle, or on my period to come in for screening. She said no, that since I'm not the donor, it doesn't really matter if I have a period or not. Like I said, I KNEW I was supposed to be on a certain day of my cycle... so when I asked the doctor and the coordinating nurse who was in that day, they said I needed to call back when I start my period for an appointment on Day 3.

Where is the disconnect here?!

I put the boys in childcare. I drove to their offices, taking the tollway because it was the easiest [quickest] route. And then proceeded to waste 30 minutes on someone else's dime. For nothing but a 5 minute chat with a doctor.

It didn't sit well with IM, either. Hopefully we'll hear back tomorrow on the disconnect.

In the meantime,


Happy 6 months to Miss Molly! It's gone by so quickly and I can't believe how big she's getting. I will come back and add photos later today.

It is my last 'official' day pumping, too. I will be only pumping when it hurts not to for a little while and for shorter times. It's kind of bittersweet, but I'm ready.

More soon.
Have a wonderful day!

Set?

Just wanted to post a quick update and let you know that we have 'set' my screening appointment for this coming Monday at 10:30!

We are working on contracts, insurance and all the logistics so that they can be in place and ready to go whenever we are.

Donor is set to retrieve mid-September! They will freeze the embryos following her retrieval, and after that comes our cycle and transfer.

In other news:
I am still pumping away over here, all set to wean beginning August 21. Last week I was approached by a family member about where they could find breastmilk for a baby their daughter/son in law are adopting really soon. They didn't know I was still pumping... I was pleased to offer them  my last two weeks (plus weaning time) of milk.

I love that I have done this for 6 months. I love helping my family out. And I love that I will- once all is said and done- have helped 2 babies locally and countless preemies through the milk bank.

But am I ready for weaning? You bet! What am I going to do with the 4 hours I gain back every day? I'm not totally sure! I certainly hope I'm a little more productive around the house, though!


That's all for today! Have a blessed weekend!

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ready?

So, where were we? Oh, right. I was 'starting' to look at couples who were searching for a surrogate.

I started putting my name out there again around the time I wrote my last blog post. I let my agency know they could start looking at matching me. I looked at a few profiles through the agency, but came up empty. I had heard a couple of friends knew people who were looking, so I let them know they could give my contact info and we could talk.

Throughout the next few weeks, I spoke with two intended moms [IMs] seriously (both who were friends of friends), but after praying and seeking advice I knew that one of them, while she was amazing, was meant for another surrogate. Thankfully it was a spirit-led decision, and it wasn't as hard a conversation as I worried it would be, God had prepared both our hearts. {If you are a surrogate looking to match, she'd be a wonderful IM, contact me if you would like me to have her get in touch with you!}

The evening of the 12th, we met up for dinner with the other couple, still not sure that they'd be *the* couple, but God really showed me through the week that I don't need a back up plan for this. He was directing my path, and that even if the couple I was leaning towards wasn't *the* couple, He had one for me, and "No," was "No." on the first couple. We went to dinner hopeful.

Shane, the boys and I went all together to meet them. When we first got there, my oldest son immediately hugged the IM, and asked me if she was family. It was my cue that he was comfortable. Shane and her husband got along well. Conversation was casual. My boys were comfortable. These really were the few things I couldn't have known before the dinner, so after seeing them together as a couple and sharing a meal with them as a family, I was sure. I let her know I'd love to work with them if they felt the same, kind of the same way I let Katie know.

She seemed so excited! It was good to see that smile and know that I get to help another wonderful couple out.

Now to work out the details, and we'll be all set! Currently we are talking about contracts and getting things together for psych evaluations and medical screenings. The couple is using a donor, so we have to wait on her to start her end as well. We are hoping to have contracts finished and screening done as soon as possible so that all we have to do is wait on the donor cycle.

I am going to continue to pump for the preemies until around August 21 (for a total of six months). I expect the RE will want me to have at least two full cycles before starting, and the egg donor [ED] will have to do her stuff, so it will probably be October before we transfer, but knowing it's coming and getting to know the couple right now is exciting!

I hope to introduce you to my new intended parents [IPs] in the next post! I want to be sure I have their permission and a decent photo.  Stay tuned!

Well, hi!

Well Hi! It's been awhile since I've been over to the blog to write! Never fear, I am here! ha! 

 Life since having Miss Molly has been pretty good over all. The boys are enjoying having me, for the most part, back! I'm still pumping, so a bit of my time goes toward that. I pumped for a local little boy for awhile, and now I'm pumping for the preemie milk bank for at least the summer. It was such an easy to transition to go from having a baby for someone and then continuing the journey by helping another family out for a little while. The fun never ends! 

 Molly is now about 18 weeks old and cute as a button! I still talk with Katie and hear how she's doing often, which blesses my heart incredibly. For Mother's Day, I sent Katie a Shutterfly book with all the pictures from the blog and a few from the birth as well. I'm pleased as punch that they loved it and shared it with their family! I really couldn't ask for a more amazing journey or the friendship I still have with Katie, now! 

 I realized a short time ago, that I never came back and said a few things I really wanted to say and didn't. It's been on my heart and mind and I felt this blog was incomplete with out it.


 Thank you to all who followed along as I found my way to and through the journey.

I really am so blessed to have had such great support through my friends and many of my family members. It would not have been the same without you all! Though the process of getting to finally "deliver a dream" was often hard and long prior to meeting Katie and family, I relied on faith and prayers through it all and am so grateful for those who prayed with me over everything. But everything was for a purpose and I learned so much along the way. 

 At the end of my birth story, I shared with you what my husband asked me and what my answer was... Would I do it again? and YES! Well, I'm beginning the process of looking for another family to help, now, and I am so excited to be just getting the process going again. I really feel this is a calling God has placed on my life, and am so ready to start again. 

 So... to be continued, right? I can't wait! 

 Oh, no... did you think I would end this post without a picture of Molly!?! Nah!! I couldn't do that! 

Isn't she just precious?!

A Photo Finish

If you have not read the birth story yet and would like to, please click here.

Welcome to the world Miss Molly!!

A huge thank you to Terah Pliliey Photography for the amazing images.

Molly is here! Part 3- Delivery!

Part 1

Continued from Part 2

Around 7 Thursday morning, the nurse came in and let us know we could start Pitocin soon. They put it in on a slow drip at 7:30. Katie went to the hotel to take a nap, and we sat and waited for things to get moving. My next exam showed no improvement, and I was still happy and talking. We wanted to increase the Pitocin, so they did, and the contractions finally started coming better. At 9:50, the on call doctor decided to break my water, I was between 5 and 6cm dilated. I had not wanted to break it until further along, but she thought this would be the only way to get things moving without just continuing to increase the Pitocin because she knew I didn’t want an epidural. I was not happy but let her break the water to get things moving. Then she reduced the Pitocin to a 2.

The monitoring really wasn’t going well, my contractions were really hard to pick up on the monitors, so I decided to let them try and place an internal monitor. Yeah, that ended up a bust. Not only did they dig around forever inside to try and place it, it freaking hurt!

My contractions weren’t responding to the low dose of Pitocin, either. So we again asked them to increase it, favoring a “git er done” approach rather than this up and down we were seeing. They increased it two more times, up to a 6, which helped quite a bit. By 12:45 when the doctor came to check on me, I was 7cm dilated and 80% effaced. As soon as she left, I told Maria I was going into transition, I could feel it. I started to focus inward and take myself to a quiet place to work things through.

I didn’t feel comfortable on my back and knew that if I could get the pressure off my back I would be able to get through it better, so I flipped on to all fours on the bed. During the time I was on my knees, I prayed and reminded myself to relax and let my stomach muscles relax and it wouldn’t hurt so bad. When I relaxed my stomach muscles and focused on breathing, it didn’t seem as bad, though I knew they were stronger now than they had been yet.

I guess I had everyone in the room fooled into thinking things were stalling again, though. With all my inward focusing, I was so quiet and still that Maria thought I was getting a little break. I was a little too eager in letting her know there was no such break. Not even a few minutes later, I could feel her head coming and let everyone know she was coming with several grunts. I was ready to push.

The nurses called the on call doctor in to come and catch and when she came in, she was not happy that I was on my hands and knees. But this was how I naturally KNEW it would be ok. Molly’s head was already there. I could have pushed her out before the doctor even got there! Unfortunately, the doctor did not agree with me, and I was flipped unhappily onto my back. At this point, all the progress I felt I had made on my knees stalled out. There was at least a good 5 minutes where nothing happened between flipping over and pushing. It was heart wrenching. But the doctor wasn’t comfortable with me on my hands and knees, so onward we went.

Finally, it was time to push and focus and get Miss Molly out, on my back. Suddenly, I began to fear the crowning “ring of fire,” and cry. Maria helped calm me down and soothed me.  I don’t remember how many pushes there were, but it felt like my pelvis was spreading so far. Something was wrong, her shoulder was stuck for a few seconds. It took a little more effort to get her out, on all our parts. I tore. Finally, at 1:52, she arrived. She was 8lbs 10oz and 20” long. In spite of her shoulder getting stuck for a few seconds, she was perfect and her shoulder had no issues.

While they suctioned her and clamped her cord, I remember just announcing, “I did it, I did it!” and Maria smiling and agreeing with me. As they wiped Molly up, Katie cried and kissed me and thanked me for helping them bring Molly in to the world.

Katie cut the cord and they handed her to me. Before I let her go, I told her it was my pleasure to carry her. Then I got to experience the joy of giving Katie her long awaited princess. What a glorious moment it was. The look on her face will be forever ingrained in my memory like a photo. The moment was frozen in time.

I couldn’t have asked for a better journey. Katie, Kevin and their entire family were amazing. My doctor was amazing. The Labor and Delivery nurses were awesome. This truly has been a dream come true. Watching Katie and Kevin fall in love with her was the biggest reward I will see here on earth for this journey.

My husband- who had gotten there around 10am, unfortunately, was out while all the good stuff happened, but got there less than 2 minutes after Molly arrived. When he got there, he hugged and kissed me and told me how proud he was of me. And then he asked if I wanted to do it again.

Heck YEAH!

Molly is here! Part 2 - More Pre-labor

Continued from Part 1 *Please read this first!*

Wednesday, I sent the boys to school, fully expecting to have to call in help to get them from school. Once they were at school, my friend Natalie came over and we sat and chatted. I had a whole bunch of little contractions but nothing time-worthy or consistent. About 10:45, Natalie started rubbing my ankles with lotion. A few pretty good contractions, but again, nothing time-worthy. It was an early-release day at school for the boys, and Shane was at work. Luckily, his office decided that this week he would be in the Dallas office and not out of town. I picked Brian up from school at 12 and told my friends I’d probably see them next week and drove off to get Micah and relax at home for a couple hours before Micah’s appointment across town. I sat on the ball for a little while during that time and really didn’t feel anything noteworthy. At 3, we got in the car to leave.

Somewhere along the way, I started having some contractions. They didn’t really hurt, but they were noticeable. At one point I remember thinking I was seeing flies in the car. Turns out I was having a contraction and didn’t breathe through it. I was seeing stars. I was talking to my friend Brooke on the phone and told her I was seeing stars and that I think I’d had a few contractions in the 30 minutes I had been driving. I had to take Micah in to his appointment, but I told her I would call her back for the drive home because I wanted to have someone on the phone in case I needed help.  Brian and I went inside to wait for Micah, but Brian started having issues being a polite little boy, so we went out to the car. While we were inside the building, I had a contraction and was pretty uncomfortable. In the car I had several more. Timing them was kind of impossible while trying to negotiate with a tantrumming Brian. I called my mom and we were chatting. She noticed I was having them more than just “every little while,” and I let her know about seeing stars. She and I decided I would stay on the phone with her for the drive home. I went inside and got Micah at 4:30 and called mom back and drove home. My back was hurting during the contractions, so I really couldn’t tell how far apart they were at all. They all felt like one contraction at that point. But with the way I was breathing, mom calculated they were about 6 minutes apart.

Sometime during the time we were at the appointment, I talked to Katie and let her know I thought they should stick around town for the evening (they were planning to go to Fort Worth), and felt bad for asking them to break their plans again… but I really just didn’t want them to miss anything.

When I got home, I was trying to focus and pay attention long enough to time them, but the boys were just extra rowdy and there was no way I could time them. My friend Kristina (also a surrogate and pregnant with twins!) stopped by to give us something, and I asked her to help me time them. She sat with me probably over two hours timing them. When she first got there, they were about 5 and a half minutes apart. At about 5:15, my doctor’s office called to remind me that I had an appointment in the morning. I told them I didn’t think I was going to make it. It took me a few times of saying that for her to “get it” that I was probably going to have the baby or be having the baby by then, but she got it. She asked questions about the contractions and reminded me to call when they got between 3 and 5 minutes apart. I said I’d call back in a little while.

While Kristina was there still helping me time contractions, Shane got home from work and Katie and Kevin arrived with dinner, ready to go to the hospital. I knew I needed to eat, who knew how long I would labor. So I tried to eat my salad, but all I could manage was the chicken and a little of the fruit. At some point during the time I was eating my chicken, Kristina let me know they were four and a half minutes apart. I could no longer breathe through them without tears. It was time to go. The excitement in our tiny apartment was almost overwhelming. I remember thinking, “Am I crying because I hurt or because this is exciting and really happening?”

All through the afternoon, I had been texting with Maria, my doula, and letting her know what was going on. I think I kind of freaked her out at first, not knowing how far apart they were and telling her there was pressure in my lower back/bottom areas. I think I was just so consumed with it happening that I didn’t know what was really going on. At 7:05 I texted her to let her know we were all heading to the hospital. Since Shane had to stay with the boys, I kissed him goodbye, and got in the car with Katie, Kevin and Jack. On the way to the hospital, I remembered I was supposed to call the on call doctor and let them know my contractions were between 3 and 5 minutes apart. I made the call and gave every bit of information to the voicemail during one long breath while having a contraction.

When we got to the hospital, the on call doctor called the nurse’s station just as I was signing myself in. Nice timing. Over the next two hours, through my contractions, things were busy around me. I was run through the admission stuff. Maria, doula, and Terah, photographer, arrived. And contractions continued.  I had to be monitored for quite a while at first.  The monitors were barely catching the contractions at all. At 10, they finally removed the monitors and I was free to labor as I needed to.

Eventually things started settling down around me, one being that Kevin took Jack back to the hotel since nothing was going to happen for a while. We decided to take a few laps around the labor and delivery area. Around 11:30 the nurses checked me again. I wasn’t much further along at all, and contractions were about every 2 to 2 and a half minutes. After the nurses left, I moved to the exercise ball, again to encourage her to move downward. Unfortunately, sitting on the ball was like telling Molly, “Nope, go right back up!!” and contractions stopped dead in their tracks. I got back up in the bed and they returned for a little bit, but then I had a popsicle and I turned on my side during monitoring. Molly didn’t like me being on my side, though so I ended up switching sides and going to sleep around 2am. Contractions had stopped again.

At 3:40, the nurses checked me again and I had made no progress. Still dilated to only between  4 and 5cm, and only 60% effaced still. We decided that if they didn’t come back soon I would consider a slow Pitocin drip. In my head, I thought “One way or another, Molly is coming out. No more starting and stopping.” I had already felt enough of a fool for calling Katie and Kevin as early as I did to come. But looking back, I really did call them right when I was supposed to. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t start Pitocin without a doctor’s orders- and no doctor would have been in their right mind to order Pitocin in the middle of the night, they want their sleep! So I sent Terah home to sleep until we knew what would happen in the morning, and Maria and I got some rest. Katie did too for a while, but then got up and left for a bit to pump and chill out for a while. I think she might have been too pumped to sleep.

Next

Molly is here! Part 1- Pre-Labor

First off, I sincerely apologize for not posting sooner. If you had not figured it out by the lack of posts, Miss Molly is here! She arrived on February 21st at 1:52 pm!

I have been recovering and taking my time writing the birth story, so that's why this has taken so long to post. I will warn you, it is long, and it starts with a lot of the same stuff I posted on the Tuesday I last wrote. But at the end of it will be a beautiful birth slide show as a reward for reading :) I will post in parts. The first part will be Pre-labor days. The second part will begin the day before she was born. And the third will be "birth" day. Please enjoy <3

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Friday (February 15^th) morning, I started feeling weird. I had a gut feeling in my heart that Katie and Kevin needed to get here as soon as possible. That feeling overwhelmed me. I started having loose stools, started just feeling “off” and super emotional. I debated calling Katie that day and asking her to leave. I decided I would wait the night out and sleep on it, and if I woke in the morning with the same feeling, I would let her know. That night I became so overwhelmed that I just let it spill out in one huge ugly cry.

Saturday Morning I woke up with the same feeling, but was still struggling with telling them to come down. I didn’t want their time here after Molly was born to be cut short, so I didn’t want them to come earlier than necessary. Around noon, we were getting ready to go out for the afternoon as a family. I was sitting on the exercise ball and started noticing a pretty good cramp pattern. I sat for a couple hours and we timed them. They were coming about every 6 minutes. About two and a half hours after they began, I decided we needed to let Katie know they probably needed to head out from Montana now. I let her know I didn’t know if it was time or if it was just my body getting things ready, but it was up to them to leave or not. We had a few errands to run, and decided that since they were staying at 6 minutes apart, we would try to encourage them to change and get closer together or stop if they weren’t real. So off we went to run our errands and have a late lunch. They continued through our late lunch and all the way home. As we neared our apartment complex they started getting pretty intense. I cried through a few of them. So I texted Katie and asked if she maybe would be able to get on a flight at their next major airport because they were getting more intense.

We got home and I sat back on my exercise ball to encourage movement downward. (I had not experienced Miss Molly “dropping” yet, so I was hoping sitting on the ball would help with that.) Unfortunately, just a few minutes after we got home, and probably about the time Katie and Kevin left Montana, the contractions stopped completely. I tried a few things to see if they would come back, but they didn’t. I don’t remember if I texted Katie that they had stopped right away, or if I waited a few hours to see what happened. Either way, I let them know the pressure was off to get here so quickly.

Katie and family arrived late Sunday night, and Monday morning Jack woke up sick. They decided to rest for the day and come over for dinner. Since it was a work holiday, Shane was home and we went to the park in downtown Dallas. Shane parked at the garage he parks at for work, and we walked around down town for a bit and to the park. We didn’t end up actually staying very long at the park, but the walk back was fun… if you like getting lost. At least I was getting my walking in. By the time we got to the car, I guestimated we walked about 3 miles. It was a good walk, just not as productive as I had hoped. My husband dropped me off at the salon for a manicure and pedicure, which felt amazing! After we got home, Katie and family came over for Chinese food. We had a great evening, the boys played great, and it was very relaxing. Just what all of us needed, I think.

Tuesday morning Katie and I headed to my doctor’s appointment. I was 3cm and 25% effaced when my doctor checked me, then she stripped my membranes and said we’d likely have Miss Molly in the next 48 hours. I didn’t doubt her, she really dug in deep to strip them. Unfortunately, she was going out of town and wouldn’t get to be there for it. I was sad about that, but felt I was pretty comfortable with most of the doctors in the practice so it didn’t bother me.

Tuesday night, I started doing some natural labor techniques, like nipple stimulation, sitting on the ball, walking, and threw in a couple funny lookin’ squats for good measure at the end of the night. I checked the weather and seeing that rain and thunder were scripted for Wednesday night, posted to my surrogate group that I bet I was in labor by the time the storm hit Wednesday evening, it was slated for around 7pm.

Next

What a weekend!

It was an eventful yet uneventful weekend!

It all started on Friday. I started having a few pre-labor signs and got really anxious that Katie and Kevin would miss the birth if they didn't arrive soon. I just had this feeling, and it wouldn't go away. Friday night, I was overwhelmed, and had a huge ugly cry. Saturday morning I woke up in a rotten mood. I still couldn't shake the anxiety feeling. Around lunch time, I felt a couple contractions. After several of them, I decided to time them. They were 6 minutes apart, but not unbearable. I decided to see where they went. I did call Katie and left a message and waited for her to call me back, but decided to hold off calling in the troops until I knew what was going on. Over the next few hours, they only increased in intensity a little bit, but were still going. I contacted my doula and photographer and put them on notice. I finally talked to Katie, and they decided they would leave in a couple hours. Around the time Katie and Kevin got on the road they intensified and I let them know about it. Then, almost as quickly as they intensified, they started petering out.

Through the evening I had a few more contractions, but nothing that made me think anything more was going to happen. Sunday morning came and nothing was happening. I went to church, did a little shopping, took care of things around the house, but still nothing. Katie and Kevin arrived late Sunday night. I took it easy as much as I could, and sat on my exercise ball to see if that would get Miss Molly moving.

Yesterday morning, their little boy Jack was throwing up. I felt so bad for them and REALLY hoped he would feel better quickly. My family decided to go for a long walk and to the park near my husband's new job. We ended up walking around 3 miles or so. Afterward, I went and got a pedicure, and decided a manicure would also be a good treat. The girl who did my feet didn't know about the pressure points that can help bring on labor, otherwise I would have done that during the pedicure. After the pampering session, Jack was feeling better so we had them come over for dinner. It was good to see them again, and it felt good to enjoy the time before Molly comes. I was very glad to see that they weren't disappointed I had called them to come down so early and nothing was happening. It ended up being a blessing though, because the weather near them became impassable shortly after they left, and they had a day to rest and help Jack feel better before Molly arrives.

Last night I did what I could as far as trying to get things moving on my end, trying several of the various at home methods to bring baby out. Unfortunately all that did was make me incredibly sore, especially after our walk yesterday. All night long I didn't sleep very well because I was either woke up by pain in my calves or hips, or a random contraction.

Last week, my appointment had been changed from Tuesday to Thursday because the doctor was afraid I'd go into labor before Katie and Kevin arrived. I was going to go in Thursday and have my membranes stripped. Well since they are here, I called the dr office yesterday and they said my appointment for today had never even been cancelled, so we kept it. So this morning Katie got to go with me. So the update for today's appointment is that I am now 3cm dilated (double from last week) and about 25% effaced. I didn't even look at the weight on the scale so I have no idea what I've gained, but it's probably all water weight anyway. She saw my feet were already swelling pretty "good" for that early in the morning but didn't seem overly concerned. My blood pressure was 112/76 so it's probably just normal end of pregnancy swelling that I didn't have with the boys. She stripped my membranes (pretty thoroughly, if I do say so myself) and said she thought we might have Miss Molly within the next 48 hours. Well, we all certainly hope so! If by chance we don't, I'm still scheduled for a Monday induction.

On the way out, we stopped by Labor and Delivery and I introduced some of the ladies I was talking to last week to Katie and everyone seems excited. It makes me giddy that this is happening! At the same time, I get teary that it's already time! The joy is overwhelming, though, I will say that.

After the appointment, Katie, Kevin and I went to lunch and then I came home and took a nap (doctor's orders) for a little bit before getting the boys. Up for the rest of the day is planning out the rest of the week for the boys.

Lastly for today, my 39 week belly pic! I actually took it during the 4th hour of contractions on Saturday, so the funny look on my face is because I was thinking this was probably the last belly pic for this journey.

That's all for now! I will blog again when there is news or pictures to blog!! Have a great day!

38 Wk Appointment update!

My appointments today went fabulously. First I met with L&D to go over my birth plan, and so far they can accommodate most things except that I'd rather have intermittent monitoring than continuous. If I go into labor naturally, its still an option. But if we induce the 25th as planned, I will have to have continuous. I just want to be able to get up and walk!! Vertical positions are best for me, in my opinion. Other than that the hospital is being great. They are going to bring in a recliner for Katie to be able to sit and nurse and have skin to skin time as soon as she's born AND Jack will be able to come see his little sister right away as long as he's not got a cold or the flu or something. I told Katie to start pumping him full of vitamin c haha. OH, and if it's a c/s they will allow Katie and whomever I need for my support system to be in there with me. Yay! I doubt we'll need it but it's good to be prepared. If my husband is in town/off work, he can be in there, but right now the plan is for my doula to stay with me.

My dr appointment went well, too. I showed her my cankles. She said they weren't too bad... hahaha if only my appointment were at 6pm. I gained 3lbs in the last week. :-p but have not really progressed much cervix wise. Only dilated maybe about half a centimeter more, and still high and thick. Funny thing that happened during my appointment.... I went in and they asked for a sample. As usual. I had been drinking water all morning so I was happy to oblige. Only, I went in, did my business, and TOTALLY forgot to leave a sample. So the rest of the appt. I had to drink even more water and try again! I told them I'm a ditz and forgot. Thankfully I'm not the only patient who's done it. Pregnancy brain!  Lastly, the dr wants me to walk as much as I can this weekend to try and get dilated some more. I asked her if she meant waddle.

My next appointment was scheduled for Tues the 19th because my doctor will be out of town the rest of the week, but my doctor wanted to help give me a chance of going naturally over the weekend, so she was going to strip my membranes at my last appointment. If she did it Tuesday (and it succeeded) I could possibly go into labor before anyone is here to help me or before Katie gets into town... so we decided that I will see another doctor in the practice on Thursday the 21st instead of seeing my doctor on Tuesday. I'm cool with that, I'd like to meet the other doctors in the practice just in case I do go over the weekend instead of waiting for induction.

Whew I'm tired. Today is my son's birthday so I had a pretty busy morning getting his school treats ready before my appointments. After the appointments, I went to the market and then picked my boys up from school and took them to the playground. I think I've done enough today. Too bad about that sister wife thing... Someone needs to cook dinner tonight.

Since I posted my 38wk belly pic on Monday, I might not have had a picture to leave you with today. So, instead of leaving you hanging... You get a picture of my fabulous cankles!! (sorry, the pedicure happens next week, ugly feet warning!)

haha Have a great week!

Ooh, a bonus!

Just because the first blog today wasn't long enough... I updated my surrogate sisters on our cycling group with how I've been feeling lately, and realized I didn't share it on here... so here you go. A bonus blog for today!

I have been swelling up like a balloon by the end of the day every day. My ankles are now cankles, and the tops of my feet look like canned sausages after being in what were very loose shoes all day. I can press down and the indent stays forever, too. Breathing is really only difficult when her feet are up in my ribs, yesterday was a harder day than other days regarding that. But I definitely waddle now, and getting up off the floor or bending over isn't in the cards anymore haha....

Today is day 1 with my husband out of town. I'm not worried I'll go into labor while he's gone... but I do wonder what it's going to limit for me being here alone... haha Who's going to go to the store at 10pm to get me ice cream? Or refill when I run out of water in my cup!!! haha I'm so selfish aren't I? Maybe I need to hire a babysitter for me. And a sister-wife. Who likes to clean.

OK that's it for me today. I'm off to a parent teacher conference. After school I hope to convince my children that they are my servants and I'm their queen...

38 weeks

Hello again! Sorry for not blogging after my appointment last week. I had a lot to digest, and then had a busy weekend! So here I am!

As of last week, my cervix had started making progress! On Wednesday, I was 1cm dilated but not effaced at all yet. Miss Molly was still doing well inside, and had a heart rate of 155. She has been having feet parties in my ribs lately!

At my appointment, the doctor and I had a good talk about what's been going on on our home front, because it makes things a little more complicated as far as wanting to wait on Miss Molly to arrive on her own time. My husband's new job is 100% travel, and nobody told him that when he was going through the rigorous hiring process. He began traveling today (Monday the 11th) and will be gone each week from Monday to Friday. I began looking for childcare when we knew he got a job, thinking originally I would only need someone to help me get the kids up and ready in the mornings, and then watch them from 2:45-7pm. That might have not been terribly difficult. Until we found out my husband might not even be in town, so we needed someone who could watch them over night. Who is able to come at a moment's notice, for several days. Yeah. Good luck!

So the night before my 37 week appointment last week, I spoke with my husband and doula, and decided that induction was the most practical and would be best for making sure everything was lined up to be as stress free as possible. I was hoping that they could do an induction on the weekend so Shane would at least be home to take care of the boys for that part of it... but unfortunately, when I talked to the doctor on Wednesday I learned the hospital won't schedule inductions for weekends. After discussing it with her, we decided that the 25th would probably be the best time to schedule it. So now we are planning for the 25th, and waiting on the hospital to confirm that date. The Dr. will strip my membranes and we'll start trying natural induction methods a few days before my due date, but if she doesn't come by then, hopefully Feb. 25 will be Molly's birthday :)

Shane's manager is attempting to make sure he can at least be in town for the week, and we purchased my mom and nephew each tickets to come stay with us for the week.

I feel better knowing that we have things lined up. I'm not quite as anxious about it now. The challenge now is keeping her in until then!! It's funny the things that will tick off the anxiety meter at the end of pregnancy! One symptom could have you wondering for a long time if it's time or not!

Katie, Kevin, and Jack will arrive on the 23rd. They are so excited! Katie keeps saying time is standing still. I can't wait for them to arrive! For me it's actually going pretty fast! Physically I'm pretty ready for delivery, but I'm not quite sure I'm ready for the journey to be complete! I have so enjoyed this journey, so enjoyed getting to know Katie and her family.

Anyway, since I didn't blog when I was supposed to, two Saturdays have passed. Two belly pictures for you below! With that, I bid you a good week :) I will update after my next appointment on Wednesday!!

36 down... 4ish more to go!

Today was our 36 week appointment, so here's our update!

It started out a little more stressful of a day than I had hoped. I have had a sick kid home with me all week. I was hoping he would feel better before today so he could go to school. Nope. So I was on line before my appointment trying to line up someone who wouldn't mind watching a germy kid. Thankfully my wonderful friend Darlene stepped up and watched him for me. Phew. Stress off my plate.

So then, I park at the appointment and get out and start walking. And then I trip. And fall flat on my face. Lucky for me, I didn't fall on the anthill I was trying to avoid when I tripped. Nor did I fall on the cement that I tripped on. My face and my belly both landed on a pad of grass, thankfully. It's a good thing I was already on my way into a sonogram, because I probably would have wanted the reassurance. 

Everything is fine, Miss Molly looks fabulous. Heart beat was about 155bpm. Pics and videos below update. We are measuring right on target and as of this moment, no progress toward labor has been made. Cervix still high and closed. That's still a good place to be for now. Hopefully we'll see some progress soon, though... like a centimeter a week or so would be nice ;)

Since my last visit, I've gained 2lbs. Pretty awesome. Again, right on target. I've "gained" 22.4lbs since I stopped getting sick. Before I stopped getting sick, I lost 14. So technically, I've only gained 8.2lbs. 6lbs5oz of it is estimated to be Miss Molly. Woot!

I'm hoping that I can get in and see the head nurses in the labor and delivery within the coming week so we can all be on the same track when it's time for Miss Molly to come. We are all very excited. It's going to go by so fast!!

Ok, now for some pics!!

First, the usual belly pics :)

 

Next... Last week a friend and I got together and did some maternity photos! I'm so happy with the way they came out! To lessen the amount of photos in the post, I made a collage of some of the best ones. If you are interested, they are on my friends blog, at Bella Mia Portraits. 

Aren't they awesome? The lighting was beautiful out, but tricky, so I'm really really glad they came out as great as they did!

Last but not least... Miss Molly's 36 week photo shoot!

The first video was cut off by a phone call in the middle of my appointment. I ignored the call and kept recording for the 2nd video. Some still shots follow.

Even the second video got interrupted by the person who called leaving a voice mail! hehe

And finally, some still shots...

And finally, Miss Molly moons us, and shows us she's still a girl... Bottom's up!

Anyway, thats all for this week! I start going weekly now, and will see you all back here in a week! Next appt is Wed. Feb 6 at 10am!

34 weeks and some mushy stuff...

How far we have come in just one year! Last year at this time I was just starting to get to know Katie! Little did I know what God would have in store... ok well, a little... but I couldn't have imagined a better family to help build! I want to share something special but it's kind of mushy. So first, here are the appointment details for 34 weeks... after that I'll be a little mushy if you care to read it.


Here are some belly pics to look at first!
They, again, don't look much different to me, but hey, who knows. The cropping is off, so one of the pics is closer than the other... but the shape of the belly is what matters, right? ;)

I went for my 34 week check up today.  It went really well! Measuring right on target. Miss Molly's heartbeat was 147 which is exactly where it needs to be still. Surprisingly enough, I had only gained 2lbs since the last visit. What the? How in the world? I have consumed enough steak, ice cream, milk, cheese, and donuts to feed 30 people, at least, in the last 2 weeks. Where did all those calories go?! I'm happy about it, but wonder where the pounds I should have gained went!

I also gave in and got a flu shot, my first ever. Ouch. I debated on it for the last two weeks as I saw the flu hit almost everyone we know. I haven't gotten the flu in years, so I really questioned the doctor on risks and benefits before deciding to do it. In the end, the benefits outweighed the risk of getting the flu... plus it will help protect Molly for a few months, too. 

Our next appointment is January 30. During that appointment I'll get to see (and record) Miss Molly on the ultrasound again during a growth scan. I'm so excited to see how different she looks now as compared to her 20 week ultrasound! I also have an internal exam that day to see if Molly decides to start descending and getting ready or if we need to help her along with evening primrose oil or anything. I bought an exercise ball to sit on, too, hopefully that will help her decide to get into position on her own as well.

Now onto the mushy stuff... Divine Timing.

It's interesting how God works things out for the big picture, while we're so busy working on our small piece of it. In November 2009, I began researching and praying about finally doing what I had thought about doing way back when I was pregnant with my oldest, Micah. I knew way back then I could do this for someone else, at the time thinking it would possibly be my best friend who I did it for. Shane and I talked about it way back then kind of as a "maybe we could do that" kind of thing. In 2009 When I came to him and said it was something I was ready to do and asked for his support, he was admittedly kind of taken aback by the topic being brought up again, I think he thought it was something you say you could do someday and then never do. I told him I was serious and that it was something I was ready for since we were done having our own children. He said he'd support me if that was what I wanted. We talked a lot about what it would mean for him, for the boys, for me, etc. As time went on and we researched and I prayed and prayed, he took hold of my dream, and he invested in it as if it were his own, its now OUR dream. I love him! But back to November 2009. I felt called to do it, and started down the long road of pursuing it.

While I was learning about the calling God placed on me, and I really do feel that I was called to do it, in 2009, He was readying a family just for me to help. Jack, Katie and Kevin's son, was born in November 2009 via c-section. After which, they learned that it wasn't in the cards for Katie to carry another child. I wasn't there, so I cant imagine what they went through, but I'm fairly certain it was a very hard and scary time for them as they processed and worked through all the medical and emotional aspects of it all. Then, they also started down the road to pursue surrogacy.

A year ago next week, Katie and I were introduced via three different arenas all at the same time. That's one of those things I just look back and realize how perfect God's picture is. Even if we had just been introduced through only ONE of those arenas, the fact is that our paths would have crossed eventually. But all three arenas at once. "Here you go, just for you!" is how I feel maybe God wanted me to see it.

Last November, around Jack's birthday is when I realized just how big of a picture God had painted. Way back in 2009, he was preparing me to help this family and preparing them for finding me. Think about it. He loves us THAT much, that even while we're going through horrible storms, He thinks of us and plans ways to redeem that situation... even if that redeeming comes years down the line. I can't express it enough how much He loves His children and wants only great things for us.

Anyway, that's my mush for today. I just think it's really awesome how everything works together. If ever there were any doubts about this being something God called me to do or if this was at all HIS purpose, knowing the above would show any doubt the door.

Again, that's it for today. I hope you have an awesome weekend! I'll post again after the next appointment!

32 Week Update

Wow time is FLYING by! I say this every post, but I really can't believe how fast this is going. We are 32 weeks and 5 days right now. The holidays definitely made the last two weeks seem to go by even faster than usual.

Over the holidays, my family kept it low-key. We had a great Christmas... of course the boys were spoiled. I was, too. I got new knives, a necklace, pans and a pregnancy pillow, and got myself some new makeup. I felt so spoiled and blessed. Add to it that we had a wonderfully white Christmas afternoon, and Christmas was perfect.

Here's a little snow lovin' for you...

(wearing no make up (ah!!!) and my kids new beanie because I don't have one and they had hoods on their coats)

Oh... and one with my new pillow...

Another for fun, we went to the mall for a bit and DH got a snack at Chick Fil A with no pickles. I thought it would be funny to put the no pickles sticker on my belly. There aren't any pickles in there!

Friday night I met with Maria, my doula for delivery day. It made it feel so real and so soon discussing everything we desired for the birth. It was a great discussion and I'm excited to start drawing up our birth plan soon.

Over this last week, I had the misfortune of losing my wedding rings, my anniversary ring, and a necklace my DH had gotten me for Christmas. One foul swoop. By Saturday, after keeping it low key all week and the dreary weather keeping us inside, I was experiencing major cabin fever along with the sadness of losing my jewelry. So I skipped out on the kids and hubby and headed to a lunch with a bunch of other surro girls at the Cheesecake Factory. It's no surprise what I ate. Steak. and Cheesecake of course. Every time I eat out lately, all I want is steak. So it's become a staple for me! Anyway, I had a GREAT time and loved meeting new surros and surros I loved hanging out with already. Pic below!

And... My friend and fellow surro brought me a sweet gesture to help me not be so sad over my rings. A simple and very pretty band to wear until I'm able to replace the ones I lost. I nearly cried at the table when she gave it to me.

Sunday night, the same surro friend said she had to run to Austin the next day for a document. She was looking to meet the Austin surros for lunch. I decided to stow away and head there with her. To get out of the house, and kind of have a girls day. It was a wonderful day, I got to meet a few more surros, in addition to my very sweet friend and lawyer Simi Denson! Another pic, below!

Yesterday morning I was greeted with a text and email letting me know that Katie and Kevin's PBO was complete and we have it ready!! Later in the day, I think the knowledge that she and Kevin really were going to get to bring Miss Molly home in probably no more than 9 weeks really hit her. I got THE sweetest text saying "Thanks for carrying my baby." I giggled and cried a little with that text. It has been a blessing and an honor to carry Miss Molly for them thus far, and thinking about the completion of it makes my heart swell with joy, pride, and gratefulness.

Today was my 32 week appointment and it went great. I've gained 4.4lbs in the last 2 weeks. A little more than typical per week at this point, but it makes up for what I lost being sick before the last appointment. And well, eating steak, and cheesecake and mexican food... and pretty much all the holiday stuff helped, I'm sure. Molly's heartbeat was a wonderful 148 (a little slower than previously but on target for 3rd trimester heart rates in general) and I measured perfectly for 32 weeks. My doctor expects me to have a little growth spurt in the next few weeks. I hope I don't disappoint!

And with that, a couple more pictures for you!

31 Weeks

32 Weeks... some people say they see a difference...

It's been a busy but fast two weeks, and I'm sure with my kids going back to school next week the next two will fly by again. Next appointment is on the 17th at 10:15. We'll see if I can't have a little growth spurt before then!

Have a great next two weeks!