Cali trip!

Sorry, sorry, sorry.  Now that a few of you are reading this, I am being admonished for not updating.  Sorry!
The trip to Cali was amazing!  Amazing! The flights out were long and bumpy so I was relieved to finally get there.  The Mom met me at the airport.  She described our meeting as kinda like a blind date and I have to agree with that analogy.  I was so nervous and not sure what to expect.  She put all my fears to rest because she was so warm and receptive.  She jumped out of the car and gave me a big hug.  It felt right, like I have known her for years and we were just catching up from the last time we saw each other.  It was a relief to feel that connection with her because we are going to go through so much together.  We both jumped in the car and headed toward a cute cafe on the beach to have some lunch and a talk.  I should probably comment on the traffic and driving:  scary.  Worse than considering having a baby for strangers. lol
The cafe by the beach was so picturesque and the view was amazing.  I would seriously consider moving to Cali just to have that view every day.  And I loved that everyone walked around in swimsuits, regardless of whether they have the body for it or not. My kind of place.
The Mom and I had a chance to talk while we ate.  There were lots of things to talk about, things that are hard to talk about on the phone.  It was really nice to get to know her better and hopefully she got to ask the questions of me that have been weighing on her mind.  We made a really good connection and it seems like this is just meant to happen.  We had such a great time talking that we had to rush over to the fertility clinic for the appointment. We made it only 3 minutes late.  Whew!
The appointment was strange.  There really is no other word for it.  The doc took me into his office for a private talk.  I think he wanted to make sure that I am doing this of my own free will and not being forced into it.  I must have put his fears to rest because we proceeded on.
[I was thinking about why this talk had to happen, and it finally dawned on me that I am ready to do this but others are skeptical.  It is not something that someone just decides one day to do.  It takes months (even years) of thinking and preparing for it.  I am ready but am figuring out that others are not quite ready and need some time to figure it out.  I do realize that it is strange and just not normal, but I have always been strange and not quite normal.  And I know my okayness with it and my reasons for doing it, so the idea just doesn't phase me anymore.  I figure they can take all the time they need, cause I am continuing forward regardless.]
I won't go into detail about the exam.  But I will give some highlights cause it was funny. :)  Imagine wearing the infamous paper sheet and trying to balance on a small chair with your legs high in the air.  Then the doc moves the chair back and up, so everything is up in the air on display.  I was lucky enough to have a room full of people reassuring me that I was not on display but they sure were staring.  A lot.  I was uncomfortable so I did my usual thing, cracked a joke.  You have to realize that this doc is older and very serious.  He is very good at what he does so he doesn't have to have a bedside manner or sense of humor.  I had joked with the nurse as I was undressing that I might pee on the doc because they wouldn't allow me to empty my bladder and I really had to go.  She giggled (loved her, by the way) and said it has happened before but she hasn't seen it herself.  I couldn't really promise that I would do it but I was thinking about it.  Anyway, there he is digging around and checking out everything.  I am pretty sure he had that ultrasound wand somewhere up by my tonsils at one point.  He then made a comment to the other doc in the room (doing her fellowship in fertility specialty) that she had to come see this.  Docs should never say that.  Cause it made me super curious.  I wasn't sure what to say so I asked if they had found my car keys.  The nurse and fellow doc were laughing so hard.  The doc just gave a little chuckle and asked if I had put keys in there.  I wasn't sure if he was serious or not, so I said no.  He told me he was teasing so I got a kick out of that.  He does have a sense of humor.
The rest of the exam went well. He did a very thorough (incredibly thorough!!) check, filled my uterus with some saline to look for any problems and then took the tissue sample.  It was uncomfortable but didn't hurt.  I was pleasantly surprised.  He said everything looked great and wanted me to clean up and meet back in his office.
Here comes the funniest part:  so the docs leave and it is just me and the nurse in the room.  She has layered huge pads (the kind they put on hospital beds for accidents) all over the floor.  It seemed odd at first.  But then she starts to lower my chair down.  And I have to pee and have a uterus full of saline.  So I am kegel'd so hard trying to keep this all in.  And I am holding it, and holding it, and then suddenly gravity wins.  Whoosh!  Liquid everywhere!  I was so embarassed but the nurse was so nice about it.  Apparently it is normal and she was surprised that I held on to it for so long. I don't do my exercises for nothing!  Anway, I ran to the bathroom, cleaned up and hurried to the doc's office.
The doc met with the Mom and I.  He said everything was excellent or "excelente" in his native Spanish language.  I plan to add that to my uterus resume.  She is now described as "lovely, perfect/ideal and excelente". Ta-da!
He said everything was good and we could proceed forward.  I will admit I didn't understand everything that he said because he has a thick accent.  I like to close my eyes and pretend he is a young Antonion Banderas.  After him, we met with our Patient Care Coordinator.  She is the one I talk to all the time.  She went over some paperwork for me and some info for both the Mom and I about scheduling and doing the frozen cycle.  I had to start on some meds to make my period show back up again so I can empty out the uterus and get ready for the real cycle. We are basically waiting for this to happen.  In the mean time, the Mom and Dad have to go do their stuff.  The Mom has to do some of the same meds as me and then go in for her folicle extraction.  The Dad has to go through a sterile "good time".  Poor guy.  I think he has it the worst out of all of us. The Mom and I went to the pharmacy as we left the clinic and picked up the meds I will need when my new cycle starts.  Holy Crap!!  Let's just say- I came home with a black grocery bag full of vials, meds, needles, etc.  I am starting to worry I will have to pick up a Surrogacy for Dummies book to help me figure out how to use them all.
After the visit, we traveled back through Cali traffic (scary!!) and met the Dad for a quick dinner.  I was nervous to meet him as well but already felt so reassured that the Mom and I were getting along so well.  He was also so warm and accepting.  He gave me a big hug and then the Mom and I caught him up on the doctor visit.  I got to talk with him for a bit and then it was time to rush to the airport.
The trip back was eventful and I traveled on planes that resembled and were the size of matchbox cars.  I did get a great view of the sunset over the ocean and LA at night.  I tried to take pics but wasn't supposed to have my phone on.  Oops!  Maybe next time.  I finally got home around 2 am, walked in the door, and fell into bed.  It was a long but amazing day!
We are hoping the transfer takes places in early August.  It seems best for everyone so I am hoping my body is ready.  (Hurry up body!).
More to come! Love you family and friends and new friends!