I apologize for taking so so so long to do another blog entry. I could lie and say that I've been extremely busy, but the truth is I'm not that busy, I just either forget to sit down and turn on the laptop or sleep wins over, etc. I've been telling myself for the past 3 weeks that I absolutely need to get on and update my blog and then I somehow manage to push it off just a little longer. Totally my fault! But I haven't been completely idle either with my time. We have had several doctors appointments but are officially done with the fertility clinic and graduated to the regular OB. I was so excited to be off all meds, especially the vaginal inserts. Those things sucked soooo much!! and my butt is somehow still tender and sore from all those shots. I tell you, for those who think being a surrogate is an easy task, a walk in the park, or some magical get rich scheme, you couldn't be more wrong. You have to be 100% invested with your heart and be ready for all the physical and emotional roller coasters. And believe me, it can be a crazy ride!!
So far with the pregnancy though, nothing has been too crazy, other than the fact that I am going to carry twins somehow! I had some nausea, some constipation, hormone headaches, some sour stomach/acid reflux, but all of that is normal pregnancy stuff and surprisingly hasn't been as bad as I feared it would be with twins. I've actally only thrown up once, outside in the front yard exorcism style, but its all good. It seems to be fading as we enter the 2nd trimester. So far I have also only gained roughly 3 pounds. Right now I tip the scales at 104.7lbs and I started out around 101.5lbs. I still have no idea how much I will gain over the course of the pregnancy. My doctor suggests 35-45lbs for twin pregnancies, but since I only gained 20lbs with my last pregnancy, she wont be concerned if its on the lower end. However.. have you seen Tori and Mikie?! They aren't tiny little asians like my last Intended parents, so who knows how big I will actually get. One fellow surro whose journey I followed on facebook was about my size when she started out, had twins and gained close to 80lbs! She was adorable and huge just right in her belly, and said that she didn't even have to try to put on the weight, it just came. So I guess it could go either way, only time will tell. I'm getting a little pudgy, but I was expecting to show a little more and a lot sooner. Maybe the girls are just being nice to me =P
I really loved going to our weekly appointments at HFI. Each week we got to see how much the girls had grown and developed. Now that we are at the OB our appointments are spaced out more, so the wait is killer. It looks like the only chance I will have at delivering these girls vaginally is if they are both head down. If they are not both head down, I will be an automatic c-section, which is not something I particularly want, but it is what it is. My OB will also induce me by 38 weeks so the girls will be here around January 8th if they don't come sooner on their own. That seems so far away but I am sure it will fly by quickly. For now I am enjoying being pregnant and spending time with Tori and Mikie to grow closer as friends.
The Team Baby Fisher benefit is going to be on August 15th at Creekmoore's sports bar in Sealy, Tx from 10am till midnight. I am hoping that we get a great turnout, as we have had lots of wonderful items donated for the raffle and auction. I have tickets for the raffle for sale for $10 each so if anyone wants to purchase any, let me know! You dont have to be present to win. They will also have BBQ plates for sale at the benefit, as well as a bounce house for kids ($5 wristband to jump all day) and sno cones for sale with a portion of proceeds going to Tori and Mikie. It is unbelievable how much these medical expenses cost, and they still have bills racking up for OB care and the delivery. I honestly don't know how Tori and Mikie, or any couple for that matter, gets through these journeys with their sanity intact. I'm sure one look at their baby girls will wipe away all those nights of worry and stress.
Since I will pretty much be living for the day of delivery, I decided to hire a birth photographer to capture all those special moments. I asked a very special friend, a fellow surrogate, and coincidentally my previous lawyer, but currently Mike and Tori's lawyer, to take the birth photographs. She is a jack of all trades and seriously amazing as both a lawyer and a photographer. The only downside is if I indeed have to have a c-section, the hospital may restrict how many people can be present in the OR, meaning we may not be able to capture the actual birth or the first time Mike and Tori lay eyes on Zoey and Kinsley. Yet another reason why I am crossing all my fingers that the girls are head down so we can try for a vaginal delivery.
Because this pregnancy was achieved through IVF, we are going to have to go to a MFM specialist for the 20 week anatomy ultrasounds so they can get the best look possible at the girls' hearts and organs to make sure they are in tip top shape. They can also look to make sure the girls are indeed girls, which they definitely should be since the embryos were PGD tested.
Other than that, the girls are doing absolutely wonderful. They always measure right on track and their heartbeats are beating right in the range they need to be. We can all finally breathe a little easier now that we are out of the first trimester. That's all for now. Sleep is starting to win again. I'll try not to go so long between posts but I can't make any promises! Thank you all for being wonferful supporters of me and the Fishers.
Tori and I at our 1st OB appt
Starting to show!! Now watch me grow!!
