Finally, finally, finally my period has stopped. It was 6 long days of non-stop, heavy, icky-ness. And then it suddenly just stopped, like an invisible cork was put into place. I was starting to worry that I would have to become a vampire and try to replace some of the blood I lost. (Ew.)
The good news is my period diary app on my phone says I should start my next period on August 7th. That means I could be ready for the transfer toward the end of August. That makes me very, very excited!!!! You can't see it but I am doing my happy dance right now. :)
The past week was so busy at work and home. It seemed every day was chock full of stuff to get done, and the next day started and went the same way. I got a lot accomplished but I know that this week will be much the same. I am hoping that getting caught up at work will relieve some stress and inspire me to get some projects finished at home. I have all these great ideas and don't want to give up on any of them.
Even though my body has detoxed from the estrogen, I seem to have developed a permanent nesting attitude. I am still cleaning, organizing, de-junking and decorating like crazy. My new goal is to get my bedroom transformed into my oasis of calm. I am preparing for being pregnant and being able to go into my bedroom to relax when I am tired, overwhelmed, etc. I have decorated every other room in my house already and my bedroom was put off til last. I can't afford to buy all new furniture so my goal has been to buy it piece by piece, paint and reuse anything I can. I am painting my nightstands a glossy white and bought a new modern-line white dresser at IKEA yesterday (love that store!). Now I just need to put the dresser together, move over the stuff from the old one, get the old dresser out, and finish the nightstands. Then I will save my pennies and buy the bedframe I want when I have the money. Then I will feel my bedroom is more coordinated and polished. I also bought a body pillow today. I had one when I was pregnant with my son and know I will need one for this pregnancy. I decided to get it early so I can enjoy it that much longer.
We had a Utah surro meeting this morning. Our director came down from Idaho to see us and catch up. I think she is such an amazing person and I am so grateful for her support. One of the other surros talked about another agency that has 250+ surros and sometimes there are complaints about being overlooked or just being a number. I am very satisfied that I did some research and chose an agency that is smaller and wants to keep that personal touch. It makes me feel like the director knows who I am and values me. I also know she will look out for me and make sure my experience is as great as it is. I also had a chance to talk with other surros who are matched and undergoing transfers or are about to. I already knew that surros and families need to be matched well to make it work, but I gained a greater appreciation for the family I am matched with. Other surros were having a hard time communicating with their families or feeling a little lost. I can communicate with my IPs about anything and everything. I think it makes it easier on me and them that we can talk and keep each other updated about everything going on. I am very, very, very happy with my IPs and can't wait to get this journey going!
I am not sure how much I should post about the process. I know that not everyone reading this blog knows about the process so I will try to explain as best I can. Basically, so far I did what is called the "mock cycle". This allows the fertility clinic to see how my body will respond to the estrogen, that causes the uterine lining to get all thick and spongy. Thick and spongy is good because then it gives a wonderful cushion to put the fertilized embryos into. My "mock cycle" was a success and also the reason for the geyser of a period. The next step for me is to get the "calendar" from the fertility clinic, which schedules when the transfer will be and when to start the real meds. I will be back on the estrogen patches but will also have to do shots both before and after the transfer. The progesterone shots will go into the fatty part of my butt and I have heard they are painful and leave lovely lumps and bruises. I may turn into a human dot-to-dot. The other shots are gut shots and not painful at all. I am not a lover of needles but I figure I can grin and bear it for the 9 weeks. As long as the pregnancy happens, I am game for anything. While I wait for my calendar, the IM (intended mom) is doing her own meds and shots to get her ovaries ready for follicle extraction. She is planning to use her own eggs. The IF (intended father) is also providing his sample so they can fertilize the eggs and create the embryos when the time is right. Once the embryos are ready, they will be frozen and kept until we are ready for the transfer. Then the viable embryos will be thawed and inserted on the same day. (Turkey-baster time according to my friends.) I am learning a ton about how complicated it can get to do a pregnancy. Some IPs are not able to use their own DNA and have to buy embryos, eggs or sperm to make it happen.
I have gained a new appreciation for this process and how important being able to have a child is. It makes me love and appreciate mine more and more everyday. Plus, he is the world's greatest and cutest kid. <3
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