Happy Half Year Birthday!

My little surro sweeties turned 6 months old! They are growing up so fast and getting so big! I couldn't let this milestone slip by with out a picture. Enjoy.

A sad little Kelsie, Mr. Riley and Caitlin.  I think its hard enough to get one baby looking at the camera and smiling, it's gotta be near impossible with three!  That's gotta be the cutest sad face I've seen though. 

Happy half year sweetie pies!

Inquiring minds want to know...

I still get a lot of questions about my journey and I imagine I will for a while. For the most part I am more than happy to answer questions and talk about it.  I am pretty darn proud of this accomplishment.

One of the most common is if I am still in contact with the family.  

(I know they get the same question in reverse all the time.) 

My answer to this is "How could I not be? 

They are amazing and wonderful people.  We have been through such an intimate and experience together our friendship is only natural.  I love them all to pieces!

The other question I get A LOT is if it was hard for me to "give up" the babies.  

I have to admit, I really have to practice patience with this question because I know they were never mine to begin with so how could I be "giving them up"?  Problem is that so many people are just plain uneducated when it comes to surrogacy.  When I get this question, I know I have to go back to basics and explain the whole process. I patiently explain that there is no biological connection.  When you go into this knowing that simple fact, it is WAY different than when it is your own little bundle of joy poking you in the ribs.  People will either get or they won't.  My hope is that they WILL get it and share with someone else and realize what an awesome thing surrogacy can be.  

 Inquiring minds also want to know details into the compensation.  

From my point of view, the compensation for pain and suffering played such a minor role in the scheme of things.  I mean I carried triplets for goodness sake and to answer the next inevitable question...No, that does not mean that the compensation triples.  Let me tell you though, they want the details! I have had complete strangers ask me very specific questions and I finally have to say "Why don't you Google it?" 

Another really popular question is about my attachment to the babies.  

My answer to this is of course I absolutely care about there well being and I think they are  precious!  I care about them more like I care for my nieces though.  They are special to me and I want nothing but the best for the 3 of them.  That's why I signed up to be a surrogate in the first place.  The simple fact that their parents were willing to risk it all to have this family makes my heart swell. 

 

Happy Trans-iversary!!!

A year ago today was the day of our transfer.  A whole year people!  I can not believe how fast the time went.  Believe me when I say some days seemed to drag on FOREVER!  

A year ago today I was standing in the little doctors office making some difficult decisions on whether to transfer two or three embryos with my FIP's.  So many "What ifs?" were going through our minds and the biggest was "What if all three DO take?".  

We were all a bit freaked out.  I sat there inverted on the table with a full bladder and we all were concentrating on small talk.  Meanwhile our minds were racing with every imaginable scenario.  

I remember it like it was yesterday.  

 To think that now those three little embryos that all of our hopes were pinned on grew into such adorable, chubby sweet little babies is nothing short of a miracle. 
I look at all of the videos and pictures of those sweet little babes and I can't help but feel so grateful that all three did take.  

What a wild ride this has been, but I am grateful for every second. 

Happy New Year!

Better late that never, right?  

Someone recently told me you are totally allowed to wish everyone a happy new year through January so I'm sticking with that.  

I had to get that out there before February or I'd be outta luck.  

So, with every January I get sort of contemplative.  

I look back at all my old pictures and remember all of the good times past.  

Last year, was a good year.  

A little rocky, yes, but one of the most memorable ever.  

I decided in all of my contemplative-ness to make a little video of our surrogacy journey as a little gift to my "Former IP's".  (FIP's as we surros say)  I thought I would share it here with all of you.  

Just a little tip to save you some frustration, the video couldn't be shared on mobile devices because it is 1 minute too long.  

So get to your computer and click HERE to see it.  

I'm sure you can't believe this, well I can't anyway, but those little surro sweeties are 4 1/2 months old now!!!  They are doing fantastic and are absolutely adorable if I do say so myself.

Here's one of the latest pix.

Riley, Kelsie and Caitlin

So, to all you surros pregnant, playing the waiting game, just given birth...whatever, I hope you have a fabulous 2012.  To all of the IP's out there no matter where you are in your journey, I hope this is the year for you!  Of course for everyone else, I hope 2012 is your happiest yet.

Birth Story...

I have been thinking over and over how tho start this post.    I know I haven't updated in a while so I will try and pick up where I left off with a quick update on the past few weeks.  Just a warning though...this is going to be a long post so grab a cup of coffee and settle in for a while.  

I last posted at about 31 weeks and at this point we were beginning to do the non-stress tests on the babies.  I went in once a week and the babies continued to pass with flying colors.  Each one was "practice breathing", very active, and their heart rates were always right on target.  I always left the hospital with a smile on my face knowing that these little buns were baking so beautifully in my oven.

I also had weekly check ups with my OB.  They continued to go really well.  My Doctor  thought for sure we were going to make it all the way to 36 weeks.  One thing we all know though about pregnancy though is that things can change with the blink of an eye.

So Tuesday (8-23) I went in for a regular check up with my OB and everything looked great.  I felt a little "different", but was assured my blood pressure and labs looked great.  I thought I was just doing to much and not resting enough.   I was pregnant with three babies after all.  So we left it with that.

The next day was supposed to be my kids first day of school and my 6 year was turning 7.  Mind you,  I had given the triplets strict instructions to stay in my belly until I got my kiddos through their first day of school.  Control freak much?  Anyway, my best laid plans veered off track for sure.  A rail car with a huge tank of propane caught fire Tuesday afternoon and my son's birthday wish came true.  Not only was the first day of school cancelled, the entire first week was cancelled as well.  A lot of families were evacuated from their homes.  There was talk of evacuation in our neighborhood too, but luckily it was just talk.

So we went ahead with a few small birthday plans and had a good day.  That night, (Wednesday) My legs and feet morphed into one long, puffy extension out of my hips and I could barely bend them at the ankle or the knee.  I was feeling concerned about this, but knowing I had another non-stress test in the morning, I went to bed and got as good nights sleep as I could.

Thursday morning, my legs did not look any better and were actually quite painful.  I went to the Non-stress test expecting nothing but the predictable since I had just been to my OB 2 days before.  So first thing they do is check your weight and I had gained 6 pounds in 6 days!!!  I had only gained about 31 pounds so far with this pregnancy so this was a complete shock.  I saw the look on the nurses face and watched her eyes linger on my swollen feet.  I kinda' knew what was coming when she said, "Why don't we check your urine?"  (For those who don't know, they check urine for protein which is a possible sign of pre-eclampsia.)

We went into the fetal testing room and she got on the phone to call my doctor.  I heard her say it was a 4+ on the protein and my doctor asked to talk to me.  She handed me the phone and my doctor told me they were sending me over to labor and delivery for further testing.  I of course, being hormonal and all, started to cry and as soon as I left the office I called my hubby.  He called my IP’s for me and took them by surprise. 

My hubby came to the hospital to meet me and told me that A was driving to Sac as we speak.  When A got there, he said S was jumping on a plane and would also be there shortly.  I of course felt really bad because what if this was nothing?  I didn’t want to be an inconvenience for nothing but further testing.  Anyway, I’m so glad they listened to their intuition and got here when they did.   So the Docs ran some labs, did an ultrasound and some fetal monitoring.   They came back and said I was definitely checking in.  It looked like pre-eclampsia and the only cure for that is delivery.  So much for all of my well laid plans…

Everyone could tell I was a bit disappointed with the turn of events.  I knew at this point that I would surly miss the first day of kindergarten for my 5 year old and the first day of 2nd grade for my 7 year old.  Again…control freak much?  This situation was clearly out of my control though.   So the Docs came up with a plan and we went ahead with it.  They were giving me a dose of betamethosone (a shot to develop the babies lungs quickly) right away (Thursday).  They were giving me another dose 24 hours later as long as I held stable (Friday).  Then Saturday morning if all still looked good, was delivery day. 

So, I got the first dose and checked in to the hospital.  They continued to monitor my labs and with each new blood draw, my stats continued to detereriorate.  I also started having scattered contractions.  They started me on Magnesium sulfate (awful stuff) because it was clear things were going down hill fast and I was developing HELLP syndrome also. (Scary stuff!)  

IP's and my Hubby told them to get over to the hospital ASAP.  My husband barely made it.  He was literally suiting up while we were wheeling the bed away.  Everything felt so rushed and crazy.  

The doctors had assembled an army of doctors to quickly "catch and assess" the babies as they were delivered and another small army on hand in the delivery room itself.  Unfortunately, I was only allowed my husband to be with me because of the number of people needed and the size of the OR itself.  In case you were wondering there were 13 people in the OR including my Husband and I.    

The delivery went as well as we could have expected.  The babies were delivered with in one minute of each other and were whisked away so quickly I didn't even get to see them.  I heard their sweet little wails as they were pulled from their warm and cozy oven and couldn't help but smile. 

I, on the other hand, had lost almost 2 liters of blood and my platelet count went down extremely low.  So low, they did not even feel comfortable removing my spinal block for fear that I would not be able to clot properly.  I had to have a blood transfusion and a platelet transfusion.  While receiving the transfusions in the recovery room, the nurse checked my incision, urine output and bedding.  She immediately called my Doctor back in and gave everyone else non necessary the boot.  To my surprise my OB happened to be in the hospital and was at my side.  So were the two doctors that delivered the babies and the pernatologist I had been seeing too.  I felt so well taken care of and touched that all of these doctors that helped so much through out this journey were there to help in my time of need.  Things got a little more chaotic as they explained I was losing more blood and a lot of clots.  They decided to give me something to dialate my cervix a bit to extract the clots.   Luckily I was still numb from the waist down and they were quick and efficient.  I stayed in the recovery suite for a while before checking into my room just to be sure everything was going ok.  The anesthesiologist explained that until my platelets were on the rise again I would have to leave the catheter in my back and that it could be a couple days.  

Meanwhile, the waiting room was full of my worried family and friends.  I had no idea who was there and not, but come to find out A wouldn't leave the waiting room to follow the babies until I was deemed out of the woods.  I couldn't believe it.  I was so very touched. It was a scary ordeal for sure, but I can't explain the calm I felt in the midst of all of the chaos.  I just know everything was going to be ok.

The babies were all doing really well.  They needed a little help with feedings, oxygen and IV's, but they are truly beating the odds for triplets.  I am so proud to have delivered these little fighters into this world.  

Are you ready for the final stats? 

It was 2 girls and 1 boy as expected, but no one expected them to be quite so big.

Caitlin~ 4lbs. 14 oz.  18" long

Kelsie~ 3lbs.  11 oz.  17" long

Riley~ 5lbs.  4 oz.  17" long

Is it just me or was that  a whole lotta baby in my belly? 

Through out this whole experience, I have felt so well cared for and so lucky to have so many people who love and care about me.  I made it to 33.6 weeks which I have to say beat a lot of  expectations.  It has been such a whirlwind of a ride, but worth every second of it.  I remember waking up almost every morning and having to remind myself it was triplets.  Now I look at these sweet babies and think how utterly impossible it is to have delivered them.  It still is, and probably always will be truly unbelievable.  Even given all of the discomfort, I wouldn't trade this experience for anything.   We beat so many odds in this process and I can't help but feel a sense of accomplishment looking back.  I was not on bed rest or hospitalized like so many thought I would be at the end and I have so many people who care about me to thank for that.  I especially could not have done this with out the support of my husband.  He is a remarkable man and I think this journey has brought us even closer.  The support I felt from all of my family and friends was and is more than I can describe with words.  

The Triplets are here!!!

I'm going to keep this short and sweet for now...

Last Friday August 26th, 2011, I delivered three little bundles of joy.  We are all doing really well.  The babies continue to amaze everyone with how well they are adjusting to this outside world.  It's so wonderful to see....

No worries, I am working on the details of the whole story, but just thought you might want to know. 

Have a great weekend!  =)

Triple Loop Part 2

Fast forward three weeks. I had my first appointment with my local OB, Dr. N.  All was looking good.  A few days later, her nurse calls me and says that Dr. N received the records from Dr. S and she was not happy with the lack of information she received.  She ordered a full ultrasound to be done ASAP.

So I went and got the ultrasound a few days later.  I knew almost immediately I was about to be thrown for another loop.  I was looking at the screen and thinking there must be something wrong my eyes.  I was seeing three heads.  The techs jaw dropped and I watched her move her wand around looking for heartbeats.  By this time I was getting the shakes and holding my breath.  The tech put her hand on my shoulder and said, "Sweetie, you are not carrying twins.  You are carrying triplets.  Just breathe." 
I asked her if she was sure because I had had two in office ultrasounds from two different doctors saying otherwise.  She was very sure.  She had even checked the heartbeats before she told me.  When she placed the camera on Baby C, it was waving at the camera.  Almost as if saying "Hi!".  Once again all my mind could say was WOW!!! 
I was there for about two hours while she did all of her measurements just trying to make sense of all of this.  I was such a mix of emotions.  I would go into shock and forget to breathe for a bit, then I would stare in amazement at what I was seeing on the screen and then I would start to worry about all of the "what ifs" that go along with a high risk pregnancy.

I thought I was in shock the first time I was told I was carrying triplets, but this was unbelievable.  Here I was at 15 and a half weeks just finding this news out.  I just kept thinking, "I can't believe I have to tell my IP's this news again."  I was so nervous to tell them.  I don't quite know why I felt so nervous or what I expected them to say.  Regardless, I knew that we were in this together and that I was about to rock their world's even more so than mine had just been rocked.
I called them that evening after I had talked with my husband and we had our little freak out session.  The response was quite similar to my own.  Speechless.  We talked for quite a while and when we were getting off the phone I told A how nervous I was to tell them they were expecting triplets {again}.  As we were getting off the phone A said I am hanging up with a smile on my face.  I knew that things would be OK and everything would work out.  It may not be exactly how we planned, but the babies are healthy, I feel pretty good at the moment, my IP's are excited and looking forward to meeting their babies.

I told you this one would be long...but I do have one more little snippet of news for you.  The tech said with about 90% certainty...Baby A is a girl, Baby B is a boy and Baby C {AKA Houdini} is another girl.   

My IP's are supper exited.
So that's all for now folks.  Let's all hope it's smooth sailing from here on out. 

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great Easter weekend.  :)