I made it!!!

After a long flight, which was about 20 hrs total, I finally made it to Vienna. My flight went well, uneventful. I couldn't not sleep on the plane, except to doze off for a few minutes here and there. (And I didn't sleep for probably more than an hour the night before I left) So needless to say, I was TIRED!!
J's mom picked me up at the airport. J had to stay an extra couple days in czech, due to minor complications from the egg retrieval, that took place monday. After leaving the airport, we took a long bus ride and ride on the subway and I finally made it to my room. I did not take any pics at the airport. I thought about it, but I looked like I felt so I decided against it.
After dropping my stuff off in my room, we ventured out to get some breakfast. I got here at 8:30 in the morning. I had already had breakfast twice, too. Once on the plane before landing in Frankfurt, and again on my flight into Vienna. But I was down to eat again. We stopped at this little bakery cafe and had little ham and cheese sandwich platters with a bread basket. Very yummy. I've already come to find out, they have some very good breads here in Austria.
We then went to grab a few items at the grocery store, picked up a outlet converter (as my plug-ins wouldn't fit their plug ins), and an international phone card. We got back to my room around 11ish in the am. I was able to call Shawn and let him know I made it safetly, (it was 4am where he was, hehe) and check my facebook and email...then I crashed out!! I slept for probably 10 hours, only to be awake from about 10pm-3am Vienna time. I facebooked it for a little while, made a couple other calls and watched what little english tv I could find.
On Wednesday I woke up and got ready for the day. I went out with J's mom again. She took me to St. Stephen's Catherdal.

We ride the subway everywhere. I must say, Vienna has a great public transportation system.

A few pictures of the city center

We then went to Weiner Prater. It is an ammusement park, except its free to get it, and almost like a public park too. It was very cool. It had a ton of rides I thought looked fun, and a few I would never get on. I very muched enjoyed my self there. It was about 90 degrees today.

This is a huge farris wheel. I did not ride any rides while there, some looked fun, but didn't want to raddle my insides any. hehe



After leaving the park we came back to my room. I was tired so we just relaxed for a few minutes, until J & H came. It was so nice to finally meet them. They are so wonderful and I'm so excited to continue getting to know them. We visited for a while then went out. We got some lunch, authentic Weiner Schnitzel. We made another quick stop at the grocery store and a bakery and headed back.

I rested for a bit, slept maybe 4 hours, then woke up around 10:30-11pm and have been awake since. Its now almost 3am. Thank goodness for out grocery store runs, gives me something to eat. I thought about venturing out tonight, but even though I'm awake, I feel exhausted. I haven't turned the tv back on, since I can't really find anything to watch. I have been watching a few you tube video's and just mindlessly surfing the web. I have a lot better internet connection tonight then I did last night. (knock on wood)

I got to call both my kids tonight. Spoke with Jackson for a while. He's counting down the days until I get home. Bless his little heart. I didn't talk to Rylee, as she's not yet much of a conversationalist, but I talked to Andrea, and she reported Rylee is doing very well. Sleeping well at night, and only throwing her regular tantrums (remember the whole clothing incident)

So I will sign off for now. I really need to try to get back to sleep. I'm hoping I can get ahold of Shawn first. He gets off work at 6 (I think) and is back to his hotel around 8.

Will update again tomorrow...hoping its not at 3:00 am again.

Ready, Set....GO!!!

Getting all packed up is no fun at all...I'm such a procractinator. I leave in less than 18 hrs and I've packed....NOTHING!!! But I know my self well enough that I don't need to worry. I do my best work last minute.

We have all the plans set. The intended mother (J) goes in tomorrow morning for the egg retrieval. Were hoping for good numbers. Tomorrow the little embryo's will be made and start to grow!!! I start my progesterone tomorrow as well.
I will stay on my estrogen 3 times a day and the progesterone twice a day until about the end of the 1st trimester.

I will go in on July 2nd for the transfer. Thats a good day!!! As that was Jackson's due date. Thats the day I looked forward to and counted down too for 9 months. Unfortunatly Jackson didn't want to wait that long and graced the world with his presence June 15...but July 2nd will always be a special date to me!!!

I hope everyone keeps me (and my uterus) in your thoughts Saturday.

I am experiencing lots of different emotions right now. I'm super excited!! I have never been to Europe, I can't wait to meet these wonderful people, who's child will occupy my body for 9 months. I am also very hopeful!!! We've gone through a lot to get to this point and I really hope this transfer is successful. I've seen a lot of my surrogate sisters experience heartache and disappointment, especially lately. I'm also nervous, of course. I have never travelled this far alone. I'm meeting these people for the first time. Although we email on a regular basis. I don't know what to expect. I have never been apart from my kids for this long. I'm not so worried about me leaving Jackson, as he's been going back and forth between his dad's and me almost his whole life. Although he's never been gone from my house more than a couple days, and when he is gone that long he usually calls me in tears asking if he can come home. (and of course I go pick him up) But Rylee is a differnt story. I have never been apart from her for more that 2 nights and one day. How am I gonna leave my little girl? I know she will be in the best hands. And I'm SOOO thankful she has an awesome second mama.

I will try to update this when I'm gone. I'm told the place I'm staying has wifi. My last day will be a day of rest, so to speak. After the transfer I have to have 1-3 days of bedrest, to give it the best chance to stick. Of course 2 days after, I'll be flying home, which requires some walking, but mostly lots of sitting.

Lots of Questions

So since I've "come out of the surrogate closet" I've received nothing but support and encouragement. And I thank you all for that!!

I find that I am the first surrogate most people I know, has ever know. So I've been asked a lot of questions so far. I'll try to answer some of them here.

Where will I deliver the baby?

I will only go to Czech for the embryo transfer, then I will return home for the remainder of the pregnancy and deliver here.

What if the transfer doesn't work?

I have agreed to go 3 times. I am very confident that if will work on the first try.

How long have I been wanting to do this?

Last June (2010) I met with the first Agency. There are 4 or 5 surrogate agencies in the Boise area and I've met with 3 of them. I've interviewed with 4-5 sets of intended parent's and just didn't feel it was the right match, until I interviewed with J & H, at the end of April. And since then, I've been getting my medical records together, had to get some tests done, and started on my meds.

What meds to I take?

At the end of May I got a lupron depot shot. It acts to decrease estrogen and supresses ovulation. Then a couple weeks ago I started estrogen pills, which I believe help thicken the lining of my uterus. And when J (the intended mother) goes in for the egg retrieval, which will be about 5 days before the transfer I'll start taking progesterone, which helps impending implantation of the fertalized egg. I do not know yet how long I'll be on those too things. I suppose I'll find that out with I get there and meet with the Dr's.

Will it be hard for me to give the baby up?

Nope, I do not want a baby. Don't get me wrong, I love babies, and I hope to have another one one day, but not right now. I know what I'm getting my self into before I even start. I want to help make someone else's dream of becoming parents come true. I love my kids to the ends of the earth and back and I want to give that special gift to these awesome deserving people.
I also have an awesome support system. I have a really close friend that has done this before. I have also become friends with 5-6 super ladies who are all surrogates. We get together once a month for a ton of laugh's and dinner. They are amazing and I'm so grateful to have met them.
I am also with an agency and we do monthly support group meetings. The agency is run by a 2x surrogate and she is also amazing and will help me with anything I need, including picking me up at 5:30 to take me to the airport.

That's all I can think of right now. If anyone has any other questions, feel free to ask. I am an open book and will answer anything to the best I can.

Thanks again everyone for all the support.

Getting Ready

Getting ready to Jump....

I leave for Czech in less than 2 weeks and I have a lot to do before then. I got my new passport in the mail last week. My last one didn't expire for a few months, but I got it when I was in high school and had my maiden name on it. I didn't want to go through the hassle of taking proper documentation, so I just ordered a new one.

I'm contemplating buying a new camera. I've heard great things about the Nikon Coolpix. Not sure yet if I'm gonna splurge. If I don't, I might buy an Ipod. I have a long flight to entertain my self.

I have my ride to and from the airport arranged. Thank You Tess and Shawn.

I have to get everything together for my kids. Jackson will be staying with his dad, so I don't have too much to do there. Shawn will be at work in North Dakota that week so Rylee will be going to spend the week with her favorite second mama, Andrea. I will need to get her a week's worth clothes and whatever else together.

I'm so excited that I'll be getting home July 4th at 8:30 in the evening...just in time for fireworks. 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. I love that its in the heat of summertime, BBQing, swimming, family and friends and of course fireworks. Yay I won't miss all of it.

With all the excitement of this trip, I don't want to forget the reason I'm going...

I have been faithfully taking my meds. At the end of May I got a lupron depot, and for over a week I've been of estradiol. End of next week I'll start progesterone.

I am hoping with everything in side of me that this transfer is successful. I want to help 2 wonderful people become parents finally.

I go in next Tuesday for an ultrasound of my uterus to check the thickness of the lining. If need be they will adjust my meds at that point.

In other news...My little man turned 6 yesterday. We had a great day. He invited his best buddy Jacob and we spent the day playing at Wahooz. Shawn and I had a blast racing go carts...I won all 3 races. (my driving record would concur) We played a few rounds of mini golf, laser tag, bumper boats and arcade games. We all had the best time, got a little too much sun and can't wait to go back. Think Shawn and I will have to make a regular date out of it. (he thinks he lost go carts because his carts were broken and he's determined to beat me, HA)

We have the kids' birthday BBQ coming up on Saturday and I've been busily preparing for that. We just moved all of our stuff in to our home last night, so I have a lot to do to get that put away. We have to get all the food still. I bought all the plates, cups and stuff today. Can't wait to see everyone that can make it out, but also can't wait for it to get over with. Its a lot of work.

Rylee's bday is Sunday, Father's day. Were heading up to the hot springs for the day. We've been talking about going for a while, Sunday will be perfect. I have a little project I need to do with the kids for their dads.

Gosh I have a lot to do...better get going.

First Post

Its my very first post...I've been wanting to get started on a blog for awhile now. I just always wondered who would want to read about my boring life? Would I ever have anything exciting to write about?

Who am I kidding...I have some very exciting things happening in my life right now.

First things first...Jackson had his last day of school today. So I thought what better time to stop working. Today is also my first day as a stay at home momma. I'm gonna spend this summer with my kids, having fun and making life long memories.

Shawn is in a good place, working in N. Dakota, home every 3rd week, for a week. He's been incredibly supportive emotionally and financially of my decision to stay home with my kids.

I also enrolled back in school a few weeks ago, and staying home will give me the time to get through school.

And my next exciting adventure in life...I'm going to be a surrogate. That's right, I'm going to get pregnant with someone else's child. I hope to have nothing but support on this journey of mine.

I will be carrying a child for a wonderful couple. They live in London. They have chosen to use a fertility clinic in the Czech Republic. So in just a couple weeks I'll be EUROPE BOUND!!!

I'm sure some people will have some questions about this...feel free to ask. Or check back frequently for updates. Take this journey with me.