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About Me

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Caledonia, Northern Illinois, United States
I am a Thirty-Something mother of four beautiful girls. My love for them, and the joy I've experienced during this crazy ride called motherhood, has inspired me to help make the dream of a family become a reality for couples through gestational surrogacy. I've proudly helped A&T, as their lives were forever changed when they welcomed a son in April 2010 and K&S were blessed as parents in Sept 2012 when we welcomed their twin boys. I completed my final surrogacy journey Nov 2015 when I helped a wonderful local couple J&W and Big Brother add their family with the birth of twin boys. I am so very fortunate to have wonderful relationships with each one of my surro-families and continue to share in their lives.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

This Isn't Happening

I can't even believe it. Our 3rd beta brought the worst news ... it's a chemical. Basically it's a very early miscarriage before a heartbeat can even be detected. Sometime within the last few days the embryo stopped developing and the hCG hormone levels present in pregnancy began decreasing and the pregnancy was no longer viable. I don't even remember the number even though I had the nurse coord. repeat it. I just recall hearing 127 or something like that ... then blah blah blah ... stop meds, repeat labs Friday ... blah blah blah. So sad.

K heard the news from me but the delivery of those words were so impersonal - in a text. I hated sharing it with her that way but she's out of state at a conference and unable to take calls or listen to voicemails so earlier today she had asked that I text today's results when I got them. After I got the news myself I simply told her to call me when she could, which of course she knew wasn't good and asked what was happening. I could have sent a text saying a million times "I'm sorry" and it wouldn't have been enough.

Short term game plan ... stop meds and repeat bloodwork to be sure my hCG continues to decline. After that, I imagine it's a matter of getting up the courage to try again ... or at least I hope.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Repeat Beta

Our repeat beta results are in and looking good. We went from 96.9 (11dp3dt) to 262 today (13dp3dt). Ideally they want to see the numbers double within approximately 48 hours during the first few weeks of pregnancy and we are well within that range with a doubling time of 33.1 hours. The RE would like me to come in for one last beta before u/s. On Tuesday we'll be 17dp3dt and should be looking at a number around 1000. Stick baby stick!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Smiley Surprise

I received a nice surprise from my agency Family Source Consultants just a bit ago. They sure know how to thank a pregnant woman - a dozen smiley "flower" cookies. Thanks FSC!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Beta News

I just heard from the clinic and we have a nice beta for 11dp3dt.

The charts say - High is 223, Average is 95, Low is 33 - today's result was 96.9. This is a nice solid number which is very exciting - I'm thinking one sweet lil bean is growing.

Repeat blood work will be Friday with an u/s in about a week.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Positive Progression


Why so many tests you may ask. Isn't a "Pregnant" on a digi enough? Nope not for me - and I know K is enjoying the pic updates too. The first test was at only 7dp3dt (10dpo) and the line was very faint so, I spent my holiday weekend TESTING to watch the lines darken up and indicate that the lil bean(s) are snuggling in and my HCG levels are going up. IM says she hasn't stopped smiling and looks back at my text at least 10x a day - it all still feels like a dream.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

BFP !!

Oh how I love that acronym! Big Fat Positive - ok well in this case it was a faint positive (which is what we expect at this point) but there is no denying the results when you see the word "Pregnant" come up on a digital.

I was soooo soooo very nervous about testing this time around - I knew my heart would break for K&S if I didn't have good news, so I swore to no testing before the 7dp3dt (10dpo) window. At 3am I woke up needing to use the bathroom and figured there was no holding it till morning so ...

At first I didn't see it and I honestly thought it was a negative but then after what was only a few seconds - but felt like forever - I saw the hint of pink in the test area and soon enough it was pretty clear and undeniably there. Right away I texted IM "OMG I'm seeing double!! There is a second line!! It's POSITIVE!!" I tried to go back to sleep, which wasn't easy after all the excitement, and when I got up a couple hours later I tested again with the digital and sent the pics to K&S. I heard from them awhile later - they are over the moon excited and I'm just amazed and honored that I get to help create another beautiful family.

We still have a long road ahead of us all but K and I agree that sharing this news is so much better than the alternative and should be shouted from the mountain tops. I personally feel - regardless of the outcome - it's always best to have a support group and friends alongside for whatever may come.

We are praying for a healthy uneventful pregnancy and will be anxiously awaiting the arrival of their precious bundle(s) in Feb/March next year.

Blood work will be drawn at the end of the week.