Surrogacy-What an Adventure!

Ok, so I think I have finally stopped being paranoid about the twins.   Both are doing fabulous and we have made it through the big trouble zone of the first trimester, yipee!!   I had my last appointment with Dr. Heard on the 12th at 11 weeks.   After that appointment, we went to the Center of Medical Genetics in Houston.   Before we went, Dr. Heard called down to the clinic and let them know we were coming and that he wanted them to give us the  Jack or Jill blood screan.   It is a DNA blood test, that can determine the gender of the baby as early as 11 weeks.  Turns out a small amount of the babies genetics are in the women’s blood stream.   Here is the tricky part, D&K are expecting twins and the test just determines if you have XX or XY floating around.   It can not seperate the two babies genes.   After they took my blood we headed to the check out to pay and wow….they did not charge us  for the test.   That was totally unexpected and shocking, maybe it is because Dr. Heard knows them.  It was so nice.   About 6 days later the result came back, it said XY, so D&K are having at least one boy….how exciting!   But it still leave the question…two boys or one of each…I so hope it is one of each but we will have to wait and see.  Poor, K…she was so excited to determine the gender and yet it is still unknown for sure.   It was really cool to have the test done, I have never heard of it before and it is crazy that they can do that.   And ha…what is with me and surro boys!!

Here is a 12 week belly picture, the babies are certainly growing…

On June 19th, at 12 weeks we had our first visit with my OB, Dr. Lloyd.   We were able to schedule it at at time that both D&K could come and meet the doc     Dr. Lloyd spent some time during the ultrasound chatting with D&K and even after the exam, I thought it was good.   He is usually rushed and having to attend to lots of patients, so I liked that he had some time to talk with us.   However, I asked him about delivery of twins.   He did not give me the answer I was expecting.   I thought he would be willing to do what we could to have c-section as a last resort, but no he said if both babies are not head down, then we will have a c-section.  I asked him if we could do a vaginal delivery if the first twin was head down and he still said no.   I guess I was a tad bit upset inside but I handled it well.   I trust my doc and I understand his thinking about the situation.   These twinkies need to behave and cooperate when delivery comes…swim down babies!!  

This week we had the nuchal translucency scan.  This is a first trimester screen, that is a non-invasive way to calculate the percentage that the baby has a genetic abnormality.    The test includes an ultrasound that will measure the skin fold at the back of the growing baby’s neck and bloodwork.  Dr. Lloyd refered me to Dr. Reiter a perinatalogist for the test.   I asked Dr. Reiter what is a bad measurement for the skin fold and he said anything above 2.5.    He began by observing and measuring baby A.   Baby A’s NT measurement was 1.68 and Baby B’s NT was 1.34…..so based on the skin fold test the babies are safe and healthy.   Dr. Reiter did mention that the blood work is still important and must be factored in before all is cleared as normal, he also added that the result for multiples is not as acurate as a singleton.   I was very happy with the scan and feel so confident that D&k have 2 very strong healthy babies growing.   Baby B was funny and not very cooperative, B just kept wiggling around making it difficult to get the right position for measurement, it was cute and well maybe a sign that D&K might have one trouble maker…hehehe.    The doctor was also able to get a really good and accurate measurement of the twins.   The day of the scan I was 13.1 weeks along, Baby A measured 13.4 weeks with a heartbeat of 154 and Baby B measured 12.6 weeks with a heartbeat of 167.   I am so happy for D&K.    Dr. Reiter is really serious while taking his NT measurements and does not like to talk much while he concentrates, so that makes me feel as if I need to be quiet also, it is kinda funny.   It is also difficult, because when  the ultrasound comes on and you see the babies you just want laugh and sigh at how sweet it is and I wanted to talk with K but felt odd.   And she was so cute because she kept watching his facial expressions and he raised his eyebrows alot and she got nervous wondering what that meant..LOL..she even asked one time and he smiled.  

Surrogacy is great and I love it and yet sometimes it can be a bit odd.  Sometimes, I am not always sure what I should or should not say.   I am usually very open and honest and considerate, but you know sometimes you question yourself and would hate to hurt anyone.   I have never been in the place that an intended mother has been in.  I do not know the pain they have been through and stuggle with.     I just hope that I have made my past IM’s and my current IM, K…feel involved and welcomed and almost like it is their actual pregnancy experience even though I am physically going through it for them.    I know that Ty and K have made me feel so cared about.   They even sympathize and say they wish I did not have the discomfort or pain that comes along with it.  

I am feeling much better this week.   The queezies have just about completely faded, now I just deal with gastrointestinal issues and weird but I am not getting really sleepy.   Normally that is strong during the first trimester, but it has been hitting me hard this week.    In fact, I am very drowsy right now…so this may no be my best journal entry…sorry.

I am still running and exercising, in fact on Sunday I ran 8 miles…I can not believe it!    I did pay for it the next day…LOL…my legs were ver sore.   I felt great though.    Oh and the week before that I ran 7 miles and while also being chased by about 4 horse flys!   They would not leave me alone and I am sure if anyone was watching me they had to be cracking up because I was like really jumpy and waving my arms around and squeeling a little.   Just a mess, and those bugs are just vicious!      I am still seeking a job closer to home but not having much luck.   I guess I am at a cross roads about it because I feel I need to work closer to home for my family,  yet all the doors keep closing.   Then I wonder if God has a different plan for me, maybe I am suppose to stay where I am or maybe I need a completely new path and I am just not aware of it yet.   I love coaching and I feel that God took me in that direction, however sometimes I wonder if it the best thing for my family.  My kids are gettting older and are involved in several activities and I do not want to be the reason they can not participate.    We shall she what happens.