How am I really. (4 Wks Postpartum)

Our official due date has now come and gone.  Although January when the two lil embryos that would become Ryan and Mason were transferred seems so long ago - the last 40 weeks went by so fast!  I can't believe the boys have been here nearly a month already.

The weeks following the birth of a surrobabe are very different from when you deliver your own child.  I'm having to remind myself constantly that I just gave birth to two babies - by c-section nonetheless.  It's hard to not jump right back into life since I'm not preoccupied with an infant but, I'm still recuperating from major surgery and need to remember to take things slow.  The healing has been delayed due to an infection at the incision site - I'm not 100% back to myself just yet.  Then there is the extra weight to deal with.  I gained only the "allowed" 40 lbs this pregnancy and have shed all but 8 lbs of it but, I'm still feeling rather fluffy.  I have no cute lil baby/ies in tow to take the attention off my extra thick middle and expanded backside so I'm becoming more self conscious about it as the weeks go by.  Hopefully soon, after I've given myself a bit more time to heal, I'll have the motivation to get into a gym routine again.  At least I have a nice set of D-cup boobs thanks to pumping - to bad they are "off limits" along with the rest of me.  My poor husband has been very patiently waiting for some physical attention since well ...  early July.

Emotionally I'm totally fine with the babies being home with mom and dad - that's the goal of the entire process and it's an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment and pride to know that I helped create a family!!  Very similar to my first experience, the only tears I've shed are ones of joy.  However, it is an adjustment to go from being very pregnant with twins, gaining the attention of curious strangers and the like and sharing your "story" multiples times in a day, to just being boring ole me again.  I miss it all but, it makes me so happy to know that K&S are being showered with attention from friends and family and I feel so lucky that they continue to include me and frequently reach out to say HI and let me know how they are doing.  I think of them often so it's nice to still have that connection and keep in touch - not all surros I know have been as fortunate.

K shared more pics with friends and family last week and I've uploaded a few of them to the Photo Album (upper right margin).  I just can't get enough of these adorable faces!!!

Two Peas in a Pod

K&S and the boys came out for a lil visit last night.  The lil guys arrived hungry so after getting them fed and catching up on how we've all be doing over the last week we welcomed local photographer (Sincerely Me/Erica H.) to do a newborn photo shoot with the babes, part of the baby shower gift I gave K.  We got the boys all stripped down and snuggled them into a lil knitted peapod I had also gifted to IM (SophieChic).  So cute!!!  The boys were fairly cooperative - we got through it all with minimal fussiness and considering the amount of nakedness, the props almost all stayed clean. ;-)  Here is a lil preview.  I can't wait to see what other images she got.

(click to enlarge)

On another note, I had a two week postpartum check yesterday and my stupid c-section incision is infected in one area. Sorry if this is oversharing but, I'd noticed an odor a couple days ago and it was kinda pink but didn't think infection.  I'd also noticed there was a hard spot in one area.  My OB checked it out and it's basically a  pocket of fluid. She took a culture to rule out MRSA, really hoping that comes back negative. Yikes!  I'm supposed to drain it a couple times a day, keep it dry and covered and she put me on an antibiotic.  I'm hoping this one does the trick because she said if it doesn't she'll have to go with a stronger one and, I'd have to pump and dump while on it.  :-(

Still pumping like crazy but stretching it out to every 4-5 hrs now that I'm busy and away from the house more often.  The boys are piggys and doing well switching between breast milk and formula.  Their official due date is still a week away and despite being "preemies" (born prior to 37 weeks) they are doing great and growing like weeds!

I'd also like to share a link from my agency blog announcing the arrival of these sweet lil guys.  Family Source Consultants Blog

Our New Normal

Everyone is settling in and getting used to the "new normal" and I'm not talking about the recently released television series. ;-)

K&S are adjusting.  The boys keep them very busy between the feedings and the changing and then all over again, and again, and again.  LOL  Both Ryan and Mason are good eaters, they are getting a combo of formula and the breast milk I'm providing.  As for sleep, they're being a lil more wakeful and everyone is adjusting to the day to day changes that come along with babies who are still working themselves into a good routine.  K&S are juggling the boys with the help of their au pair, who K has said is awesome. She's making the transition to parenthood a lil easier by letting them focus on the babies while she tends to all the "other" tasks that come with two newborns in the house.  As K&S transition into work again she'll be stepping up more and more to help with daily hands on baby stuff of course.

I'm getting back to myself again.  It took a good week and a half after the c-section but I'm feeling ok and mostly pain free.  In retrospect the c/s wasn't that bad but, it did take nearly a week longer to recover than my other deliveries.  Of course I'm not fully healed, that will take some time yet but at least I can move and function and sleep in my own bed again. :-)  I've been very busy pumping round the clock to supply the lil guys with breast milk in hopes of giving them the best start possible.  As of right now, I'm out producing them - they take about 100mL per feeding each (every 3 hours) and I'm pumping 300mL per session (every 3-4 hours).  Not too shabby.  It takes a lot of diligence to take on exclusive pumping - it's time consuming -  but I do love feeling needed and connected.  I've mentally committed to keep pumping until our 1 year transfer anniversary which is late January - so we'll see how it goes and take it a month at a time.  As of right now, since K is on maternity leave, and so am I, we plan to just meet up every couple of weeks for a "delivery".  Yesterday I headed into the city to attend my good friend Daisy's surrotwins 1st birthday so while out that way K met me and took home just over 300 oz that I'd pumped since last Sunday.  She, IF and the boys are visiting on Thursday, we are doing a newborn photo shoot here at our house, and I'll have more to send home with them then.

I have PICTURES!!  K got a lot of great shots at the hospital that tell our story.  Visit the link in the right margin "Surrogacy Photo Album" and enter the password.  Enjoy.

Oh and a quick congrats to K&S's friend Koby - she was the winner of the Baby Pool with super low score for BOTH boys.  Nice job.

There are few words ...

Two beautiful lil embryos (Jan 2012) and ....

36 weeks 2 days later the very last belly pic ...

 and then 12 hours later - these lil guys arrived.

Ryan Brady & Mason Andrew 

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

5:38 AM ~ 5:41 AM

5lbs 6oz & 5lbs 12oz

This is love!!

Home Sweet Home

I was discharged and sent home yesterday and Ryan and Momma went home too.  It sounds like their first night went well.  S stayed behind at the hospital with Mason where he's been working on regulating his body temp so that he could graduate from an isolette to a open bassinet - this is the milestone he needed to meet to get the OK to go home too.  I just heard from IM and Mason is doing great and going home tomorrow (Sunday)! This makes me sooooo happy.

Since IM took the car to get home yesterday she'll be headed back early tomorrow morning to get IF and Mason and, I get to watch Ryan. *love*  Once they get back to my house we all get to see the boys - together - for the first time since the minutes following their birth. I can't wait for that moment, I've hated that Ryan and Mason have been separated since Tuesday.   We are going to get some pics of everyone together finally and I can't wait to share.  Yay!!

I'm so looking forward to seeing them all off tomorrow, headed home to start their life together. It's the moment we've been waiting for since we all first met nearly two years ago.  Tears of joy already!

The First Days

Lil update on me and the boys.  Since several of you have asked, I don't have pics to share just yet but hope to soon. I'll keep you all posted once they've been added to the photo album.

Ryan (Baby A) is doing very good and has been rooming with K&S.  He's just as content and quiet as ever - his personality is the same now as it was in the womb.  He's always been easy going and it takes a lot to get him worked up and when he's upset all you have to do is wrap him up like a burrito to make him content again.  Mason (Baby B) is still in the NICU and since he's been admitted there they probably won't let him "step down" - he'll be discharged directly from their care.  I wish they'd let him join his brother, the two boys have been separated this whole time. :(  Mason is doing really well now and hasn't had any breathing assistance since Tuesday but has been on an antibiotic the last couple of days due to a slight fever.  Right now the "milestones" he needs to meet before going home are to be able to regulate his body temp and to take 25mL minimum at his feedings and of course the fever needs to stay at bay as well.  Ryan is likely to be home as soon as tomorrow where as Mason may need to be here another day or two.  K&S are working on the logistics of all that, it will be a bit tricky for a couple of days - they obviously can't be in two places at once - but looks like it will only be through the weekend at most. **Fingers Crossed**

I went to the NICU to see Mason today and when we got there he was fussing a bit.  K with no hesitation reached in, comforted him and changed his diaper.  This was while he was still in the isolete and looked like it would have been challenging for even me - a seasoned diaper changer.  I was impressed.  She's a natural and will have this baby thing down in no time.  S is jumping in and taking his turn at helping with the boys too and with encouragement he's getting a good feel for the daddy thing.  However, I think I lost points today - apparently I'm not the most attentive babysitter.  K&S left Ryan with me while they went to get a bite to eat and check on Mason.  We enjoyed some snuggle time but then I started to get really tired so I tucked him into his lil bed and closed my eyes for "just a minute".  When I woke up - he was gone!  I panicked for two seconds until I realized the obvious - K&S had come back for him and didn't want to disturb me.  Even still I couldn't help but feel silly for a minute. LOL

I'm staying through the night and will be discharged tomorrow (Friday).  They keep telling me I'm doing great for this being my first c-section.  I've been off IV pain meds since 3am and have been managing my discomfort with the oral meds ok so far today.  My belly is tender of course and now that my meds aren't as strong I've been cramping while pumping and have had some back pain at the spinal site.  It's been a bit of a transition being off the "good stuff" - the Torodol had been keeping me pretty comfortable and masking some of the typical after delivery aches and pains. The incision itself isn't too bad, it's a tad bit numb actually which the OB said may be from nicked nerve endings that need to repair themselves.  As I mentioned, I'm pumping again this time around.  It is a really great way for me to still feel connected and needed, great for weight loss and getting back to myself and excellent for the babies too.  So far Mason's been getting all of the breast milk since he was running a slight fever and there were signs of infection but as my milk comes in and I produce more he'll share with his brother.  I've noticed an increase in supply as the day has gone on and by morning I'm sure I'll be sporting some Dolly Parton worthy tatas.

I want to say thanks to everyone for all the well wishes and congrats we've received over the last few days.  Your love and support mean the world to me.  I feel so blessed that I've been able to help another wonderful couple  create their family and how I've been welcomed into their lives.  I'm excited to watch K&S experience parenthood and watching these lil guys grow - I'm once again amazed at what I've been a part of, truly amazed.