Screening in PA
Last Sunday the 8th our family drove from Massachusetts down to Pennsylvania! We made it to our hotel by mid afternoon. Within an hour we were meeting B&L, and their three children, in the lobby! It was so great to get a feel for them in person. I could see why our agency matched us. B&L have 5yr old twins and a 14mo singleton. They're busy!
10/9- Hubby, our kids, and I were at the clinic by 9am Monday. First I had a comfortable meeting with one of our nurse coordinators, as the process and meds are very familiar to me. Hubby and I then gave blood. I finished off a large bottle of water in the waiting room as they needed me to have a full bladder for the hysteroscopy and mock transfer. I met B&L's female RE and those two procedures went smoothly, all looked great from the inside of my uterus. It was uncomfortable, unpleasant and very personal. I was certainly glad when that part of the day was over. Back in her office, the RE went over our tentative timeline for a January transfer. She reassured me with their 80% successful thaw rate, as that was a slight concern of mine since B&L only have the one frozen embryo remaining that will be thawed the morning of transfer.
Overall we were at the clinic for about three hours, a long time for my kids in the waiting room but they behaved so well. The nurse coordinator was great to give them snacks from the break room. We then went to the food court for a quick lunch in America's largest shopping mall. It was unreal how huge it was!
Our second appointment of the day was then with the psychiatrist around 2pm. We met B&L at her office inside her home. The five of us adults talked for about an hour. It was good to gain a bit more insight into the lives and minds of B&L while talking with the psychiatrist. For another hour just hubby and I talked with her. It was very laid back and a bit fun, getting the opportunity to brag on each other and the good points in our marriage. It was a very healthy positive talk. I know we all came away with realistic expectations for what's to come.
We then had some downtime back at the hotel, much needed for my kids. I feel so blessed to have such a supportive family helping me fulfill my dreams of helping other women achieve motherhood.
We met B&L and their young kids for dinner at their favorite diner. The atmosphere and food were great. The kids did well together and we all bonded a bit more. It'll be exciting to see what the near future holds for us!
We ended our long day with a night swim at the hotel pool. So many mixed emotions and thoughts from the day made it difficult to sleep. I take each surrogacy journey so seriously, and worry over all of the what-ifs. I have such an understanding husband walking by my side through it all, time and time again. I couldn't do it without him!
10/10- Tuesday morning we took a family field trip to the Valley Forge Historical National Park. In our homeschool History this year we are studying colonial America, so I was thrilled with the opportunity to bring this part of history more alive for our kids. We then hit the road home...
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The day after returning home I heard from our agent, Fran. We solidified a few more details for my upcoming contract with B&L, as that's the next step now. She also mentioned that B was hoping to move the transfer up to December. This was fine by me so Fran ran it by the clinic. We were told it was a possibility (based on how quickly we could get our contract reviewed & signed), but that the RE would have to confirm it with us after the weekend.
10/16- This morning we got word that the RE was fine with pushing up our transfer to within the first two weeks of December! I'll now be suppressing my October cycle by staying on active birth control pills until I receive my medication calendar for November (and a more specific transfer date).
This afternoon I leant a friend my maternity clothes for the second half of her pregnancy. She's due in February and I hope I'll be needing them back soon after that!
We are in the contract phase now... it is being drawn up with our specifications by B&L's lawyer this week, it'll then be reviewed by hubby & I and my lawyer. Changes may or may not be made, then we'll all four sign it. We seem to agree on all the major points, so I'm praying that all goes smoothly and quickly with it!
10/9- Hubby, our kids, and I were at the clinic by 9am Monday. First I had a comfortable meeting with one of our nurse coordinators, as the process and meds are very familiar to me. Hubby and I then gave blood. I finished off a large bottle of water in the waiting room as they needed me to have a full bladder for the hysteroscopy and mock transfer. I met B&L's female RE and those two procedures went smoothly, all looked great from the inside of my uterus. It was uncomfortable, unpleasant and very personal. I was certainly glad when that part of the day was over. Back in her office, the RE went over our tentative timeline for a January transfer. She reassured me with their 80% successful thaw rate, as that was a slight concern of mine since B&L only have the one frozen embryo remaining that will be thawed the morning of transfer.
Overall we were at the clinic for about three hours, a long time for my kids in the waiting room but they behaved so well. The nurse coordinator was great to give them snacks from the break room. We then went to the food court for a quick lunch in America's largest shopping mall. It was unreal how huge it was!
Our second appointment of the day was then with the psychiatrist around 2pm. We met B&L at her office inside her home. The five of us adults talked for about an hour. It was good to gain a bit more insight into the lives and minds of B&L while talking with the psychiatrist. For another hour just hubby and I talked with her. It was very laid back and a bit fun, getting the opportunity to brag on each other and the good points in our marriage. It was a very healthy positive talk. I know we all came away with realistic expectations for what's to come.
We then had some downtime back at the hotel, much needed for my kids. I feel so blessed to have such a supportive family helping me fulfill my dreams of helping other women achieve motherhood.
We met B&L and their young kids for dinner at their favorite diner. The atmosphere and food were great. The kids did well together and we all bonded a bit more. It'll be exciting to see what the near future holds for us!
We ended our long day with a night swim at the hotel pool. So many mixed emotions and thoughts from the day made it difficult to sleep. I take each surrogacy journey so seriously, and worry over all of the what-ifs. I have such an understanding husband walking by my side through it all, time and time again. I couldn't do it without him!
10/10- Tuesday morning we took a family field trip to the Valley Forge Historical National Park. In our homeschool History this year we are studying colonial America, so I was thrilled with the opportunity to bring this part of history more alive for our kids. We then hit the road home...
----------------------------
The day after returning home I heard from our agent, Fran. We solidified a few more details for my upcoming contract with B&L, as that's the next step now. She also mentioned that B was hoping to move the transfer up to December. This was fine by me so Fran ran it by the clinic. We were told it was a possibility (based on how quickly we could get our contract reviewed & signed), but that the RE would have to confirm it with us after the weekend.
10/16- This morning we got word that the RE was fine with pushing up our transfer to within the first two weeks of December! I'll now be suppressing my October cycle by staying on active birth control pills until I receive my medication calendar for November (and a more specific transfer date).
This afternoon I leant a friend my maternity clothes for the second half of her pregnancy. She's due in February and I hope I'll be needing them back soon after that!
We are in the contract phase now... it is being drawn up with our specifications by B&L's lawyer this week, it'll then be reviewed by hubby & I and my lawyer. Changes may or may not be made, then we'll all four sign it. We seem to agree on all the major points, so I'm praying that all goes smoothly and quickly with it!