Our conference call with the Dr.

     *C and I had an early morning call with the Dr. this morning. We talked late last night and both of us were SUPER nervous. Especially since neither one of us really knew what to expect. Combine that with my 2 year old waking up frequently from leg pains (or over dramatizing "I don't want to go to bed" not sure yet...) I didn't sleep very well at all last night, I'm so exhausted!

     Anyhow, *C and I got disconnected just now, I'm waiting on a call back from her. In the meantime, I'll try to relay some of what the Dr. talked about! 

     First, he went over my numbers for all the tests. I'm not going to list them all, but here are the most important:

• FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) The lower the number the better (9 = Normal FSH level. Expect a good response to ovarian stimulation) mine were 6.5
• Egg Quality test - Normal= 45+ Mine=75+
• Folica # - needs to be over 15. Mine were 20 and 30 
• No rubella, Ultra sounds came back normal (woo, no more worries about the cyst!)

     He said that all of my numbers are outstanding and that I'm perfect for a surrogacy pregnancy! I'm very fertile! He sees no issues with TTC. I asked what the expectancy is to be pregnant the first transfer, his answer was that we should expect a positive within the first 3-5 cycles, but can't guarantee that of course. We're still undecided on if I'll take Clomid to up the chances! He sees no need for anything more aggressive like Invetro. Like mentioned before, if I do assist with Clomid, it does up our chances of having multiples! So we'll see how that goes!

    I'm just ecstatic right now! I took lots of notes and feel like I missed half of everything! *C and *G are trying to get here mid January! Once they're here, there will be a lot of things for them to do with the Dr. *G will have to do a semen analyses, and at least 3 deposits. Normally, there is a 6 month waiting period once the deposits are made, but we get to waiver that because we're doing things privately, and not through an agency. 

     Oh my goodness, can it be January already? I cannot wait to finally meet *C and *G in person! I'm so emotional right now it's stupid. Haha! I was going to take a nap after the call since I slept like poo last night, but I have to much excitement fueling my energy! 

     Whew! That's it for now! I can't wait to update with more info! I don't see the Dr. again until it's time for transfers! AHHH!

It's almost Christmas!

     It's almost here! I can't believe there are only 4 days until Christmas! HOLY CRAP! It's been an amazing year for my family. Lots of ups and downs, but thankfully, we've been blessed with more ups!

     I started my photography business this year. Took me by surprise how quickly it picked up off the floor. I'm a little in shock because of it. I haven't had a single weekend away from my camera since.... well... I honestly don't remember! Crazy busy. I'm so in love with it. I finally know who I am, and what I'm suppose to be doing. Thank you to everyone who's pushed me to do better, learn more, and have the courage to go forward.

Today, my uterus will be tortured...

and that's not what I'm nervous about. 

What to know what's more nerve wracking that having your uterus filled with saline, injected through a catheter shimmied in your cervix, then followed by a transvaginal ultrasound? Hmmm...


THIS!

I don't take pain meds. Ever. When I do...things get crazy. I see bunny rabbits, I get dizzy, and my stomach gets terribly upset. Ibuprofen is more than enough pain medication for me. Tonight I take 2 antibiotics, then I take 2 more before the procedure AND a Valium AND an ibuprofen. Screw the bunnies, I'm going to see my fairy godmother, 12 dwarfs, and human sized ants tomorrow. My poor husband and children are going with me. They wont be with me during the procedure, but I need a driver. 

The torture treatment my uterus will undergo tomorrow is called "Hydrosonography". I'm not a doctor, and I'm no good at explaining these things, so I'll just give a small snippit of what I pulled online, and then I'll link ya!

"A hydrosonogram is a procedure where your doctor or a radiologist injects water through your cervix into your uterus while performing a transvaginal ultrasound of the uterus. The water shows up as black on ultrasound against a white endometrial border. This way a defect in the smooth edges of the uterine cavity caused by an endometrial polyp or fibroid may be easily seen.

The hydrosonogram is performed by placing a thin tubular plastic catheter through the cervix into the uterine cavity. Water is injected using a syringe connected to this plastic tube. There may be mild cramping which is occasionally worse when a patient has fallopian tube disease or obstruction. This can be combined with a trial of transfer using an embryo transfer catheter prior to performing an IVF cycle."

*Information found at www.fertilityties.com

Wish me luck, because I'm going to be loopy! If you're in the mood for something hilarious and have my number, you should call me tomorrow and see if I answer ;)

Another visit with the Doctor and snow fun!

Boy was I tired this morning! I missed my alarm going off and was woken up by the hubby calling to make sure I was awake! Thanks David, I would have missed my appointment for sure. Gran Gran (my momma) stayed with the kids while I was down in Valencia for my appointment. Have I ever said how much I love my momma? That lady bends over backwards to help me. I rarely have to ask her, and she refuses anything in return. Seriously. My house was really taking a beating with working so much lately. I don't even want to describe it to you... it's embarrassing. Ewe. I came home today to a clean house, animals taken care of and well fed, bathed kiddos.

He's such a BABY!

I haven't updated this in a while, although I've had lots to write about! I've been pretty busy with my photography business (woohoo!) so I haven't had much time to blog for personal things. 

Surrogacy process is going well, no new news as of yet. I'll have more when I see the Dr. at the end of the month. 

Visit with the fertility doctor today

Today I drove down to Beverly hills to meet with the fertility doctor. Made it down there in about an hour and twenty minutes! Woo!

First we talked about how I feel about everything and if I understood all of what's involved through the process. He definitely wants to have me on Clomid which ups the chances for twins 6.9% and triplets less than 1%. *C and *G are open to having twins, as am I. I won't deny that I'm nervous about multiples! Holy big belly!

I had an internal ultrasound today. Umm, uncomfortable! I saw my ovaries, fallopian tubes, folicals, eggs, and very full bladder. My uterus is twisted but it won't cause any trouble. My tubes and folicals look great, perfect for a surrogacy pregnancy. I have to came back in on the first 1-3 days of my next period so my eggs can be tested to make sure they're healthy. From what he could see on the US they look good, but still need to be tested.

We all (David, *C, *G, and I) have to have our psych evaluation done, finish and sign the legal paperwork then everything can get started! Doctor said he would like to do the first transfer during my December cycle, but it's up to *C and *G when they are ready!

It's all flying by now!

Enter to win an Epiphanie Camera bag at Pamela Topping Photography!

Here's a great contest for all of you photography loving ladies! Epiphanie bags are AMAZING! If you've never seen one, go check them out on their site: www.EpiphanieBags.com

They give a lot of style to the camera bag world. Who wants to carry around a dud of a bag when you've got such a great camera inside?! 

Here's your chance to win an Epiphanie Bag of your choice through Pamela Topping Photography & Actions.

Today is your last day to enter the contest, Click HERE to enter! 

Good luck♥

Isn't that cute! Ice Cream Sandwiches & Surrogacy

   Today we went to the grocery store to pick up whatever supplies we didn't have so we could make chicken enchiladas. Bradley and Abigail wanted to buy ice cream sandwiches. Which happen to be my very favorite ice cream treats, so we bought them.

   Kids are in bed, hubby is working, and I'm hungry. Ice cream sandwich it is! I open up the box, and this is what I find! (Sorry, picture quality sucks, David has the camera, and all I have is my phone!)

   That thing was a 2x2 inch square! Really? That seems like a waste of wrapper to me :P

Car Seat Safety

   If you know me, you knew this was coming! I'm CRAZY about car seat safety! I didn't use to be, because I didn't take the time to educate myself and the seriousness of keeping my children safe in the things they use the most.

I have this posted on Facebook, but the information is so great, I decided to just copy and paste it here.

Here are some basic tips on car seat safety... that every parent needs to know.

1) The straps should be flat, untwisted against the child's body. This disperses the force of the crash along their whole body and not just parts.

2) The chest clip is just that...a CHEST clip. It should be armpit level. It is not a belly clip. Having the clip too low can cause damage to the internal organs that are not protected by the soft tissue of the belly.

I'm so ready for this! | Princess and the Bug

   Imagine living in a neighborhood where you know all the neighbors, everyone's kids play together in the afternoons, and you can take your dog for a walk passed sunset. Imagine living in a place where you're only worries are keeping your lawn green and pretty and your house spotless.

   Now let me tell you about where I live... When we come home, I check the street when I'm pulling in. I check to see if the door is jammed before I unlock it. I very rarely leave when it's dark, and when I do, it's only when my husband is home and I make him walk me to and from our vehicle when I go alone or with the kids.

   We've always rented, because that's all we've been able to do. For the last 5 years we've work HARD to fix David's not so great credit. We've lived in shabby houses in not so great neighborhoods. Our first apartment together was a small one bedroom apartment that was shut down and boarded up. We then moved into small, one bedroom house. Our son was born there and for the first two years of his life, he, my husband and I shared our itty bitty bedroom. It was super cramped, but we made it work.

Only 1 more month! | Princess and the Bug, Surrogacy

Since when did time decided to go by so quickly, yet so slow at the same time? *C and I started talking and getting to know each other only two short months ago, but it feels like we've known each other forever! One of the many great things I love about *C and *G is that they have a lot of the same hopes that David and I have. We all want to have a close relationship through the pregnancy. I'm so glad too because that makes it a little easier on me when I'm walking to my car after the Dr. appointments ready to burst with the heart rate and any special news!

It's all a bit surreal to me right now. I'm can't believe it's all happening already. Some families have a really hard time finding their surrogate mother or intended parents match. I'm in a forum where I read on a daily basis how "We're on the search again, so and so backed out..." or something similar. It seems like there are more sad stories than success stories and it makes it hard to believe that we're so quickly going to be a part of the success stories! I would love it if you could keep families who've been trying to bring a baby into their home for several years, in your prayers. There are so many wonderful people who would either love to adopt, find a special surrogate, or finally get pregnant on their own, but it just hasn't happened for them. The emotions and heartache they endure is relentless. 

Here we go! | Princess & a Bug, Parenting, Photography, and Surrogacy

   I've finally jumped on the Blogging band wagon! I always said I wouldn't because I tend to jump for subject to subject when I write. So I will try my best to keep my thoughts organized on here.

   I'm Jessica, I don't consider myself to be extraordinary. I'm not a super mom and I don't participate in a lot of of mom activities. I'm just your run of the mill average mom and wife. Keeping up with the bills, elbow deep in laundry and dishes, attempting to ready my 4 year old for kindergarten, potty training my 2 year old monster brat girl. 

   I notice a lot in other blogs I follow that the authors refer to their family members by code names or shorten them by their first initial when they write about them. I will not be doing this. The way I see it, most of you reading this already know me in some way or form. You know that I'm married to David, and we have two children, Bradley who is 4 years old and Abigail who is 2 years old.