D’Ann:
I really want to take a nap but I know I promised you details of the transfer. I hope you enjoy!
The flight and everything to Miami was perfectly timed and we got to the hotel in time for Lucy to give me my progesterone injection. Lucy told me I needed to eat 1 cup of pineapple for the next three days, starting that night per the instructions of the acupuncturist; something about the something in fresh pineapple being good for FETs (frozen embryo transfers). After eating the pineapple my mom and I were both pretty tired so it was a quick transition to sleep time and before I knew it, transfer day was upon us.
The morning of the transfer I enjoyed a LONG, hot shower as I knew it would be 48 hours before I got another one. We all dressed in matching transfer shirts that had a pink Pocket Bebe logo on it and I began drinking my first required bottle of water to help fill up the ole’ bladder.
Lucy picked up my mom and I and we headed over to her house where Lucy’s parents, Nana and Ay-Yi-Yi, along with Little Ricky were waiting for us. Nana had brought a Mexican King Cake that someone she knew created for the occasion and I was told to make the first cut, no pressure or anything, but to cut and find one of the four plastic babies that were hidden in it for good luck. For further history on the King Cake within the Mexican/Spanish tradition click here. Well, the very first cut, I landed on a baby. We ended the cake cutting with two little Mexican babies; we felt optimistic and thanked God for bringing us this far in the journey while remembering that the outcome of the day was ultimately up to Him.
After arriving at the clinic, I had my first session of acupuncture with Noelle who was super awesome; I felt totally relaxed and almost giddy when she was done. It was a little stressful wondering about the state of the embryos and if we were even going to have a transfer but Lucy said she’d be working on figuring that out while I relaxed. Most surrogates usually get prescribed Valium to take prior to a transfer but either our clinic doesn’t use it or they forgot to order it with my meds. I wasn’t upset with not having it, I was actually very happy; I don’t like feeling out of control and loopy (unless I’m at a Rascal Flatts concert or my 30th birthday party and margaritas are the reason). Plus, I have a tendency to say inappropriate things when in those kinds of states, usually consisting of much talk about the abundance or lack of abundance of someone’s bust size or liberally using choice four letter words to over emphasize my thoughts and feelings. I think I was spared great embarrassment to myself (especially because we videotaped the whole event) with the absence of this little drug and I felt much more at ease without it then with it.
Prior to my own transfer, I was able to attend a transfer with Surro Friend, and I was surprised that the room mine was taking place in was just a normal exam room. Hers had been in a sterile surgical room type of setting and mine just seemed anticlimactic in comparison. Nobody had to dress in blue gowns, paper booties, or paper hats -except the embryologist. Though the room was just normal, I did notice that they kept the medical supplies in a rolling tool chest like the one my grandpa used to store his greasy wrenches and screwdrivers in when I was little. I don’t know why I’m mentioning that, other than that was what I saw. My neck was horribly uncomfortable and while we waited Nana suggested I use my folded up jeans as a pillow and that helped a ton.
A few minutes later I was totally prepped for a transfer even though nobody had come to talk to Lucy about the state of their blastocysts yet. I figured something must be there to transfer or they wouldn’t have prepped me and had all of us ready and in the room. The embryologist finally came through her little magical side door with pictures of two blastocysts in her hands. I was relieved and then instantly about started to cry when I heard she’d needed to “defrost” ALL four of them to get those perfect two. This was our ONE and ONLY shot. I prayed that God wanted this for Lucy and Ricky as much as we all did.
The lights were dimmed for the main event and all of “Lady Town” was on display to everyone as Dr. B came in and began doing her thing. It went pretty quick and I realized how bad I needed to go potty when the speculum was in. We watched as both the little bebe blasts were shot into my uterus arriving in their little fluid bubble to the designated spot. Two vaginal progesterone suppositories later (these are INCREDIBLE fun by the way, NOT) my bottom was raised up above my torso to wait. I had a second 30 minute session of acupuncture in this position which was probably best as it didn’t feel as if might wet myself at any moment.
After the acupuncture the nurse came in and dressed me, underwear and all, which I thought was weird but then figured most women at that point probably still have Valium in their systems and can’t do it for themselves without risk of falling off the exam table. I got to use the restroom which was real interesting since I was trying not to push at all while doing it.
I walked out of the bathroom and out of the clinic where we took a ton of pictures and then I got in the car with my mom, Nana, and Ay-Yi-Yi. Lucy and Ricky went separately and stopped off at a church to pray. Lucy called Nana several times on our trip to the hotel to make sure I was lying down and had my feet up on the window. Once at the hotel, I got in my jammie pants and right into bed. Nana and Ay-Yi-Yi went to get my mom and I Panera for lunch but were ordered by Lucy to leave immediately after delivering it so I could rest.
For the next 48 hours, we ate food that Lucy and Ricky would bring over, watched TV, and talked. I didn’t watch a single movie or read a single book and the time seemed to go fast. The next day after the transfer, Lucy brought me her laptop which was able to connect to the internet when mine wouldn’t but I didn’t have the energy to do more than read a few blogs here and there between my hefty napping. I think I had a hormone headache from the extra 400 mg of progesterone I received after the transfer and that lasted for about 30 mind numbing hours.
On Friday at 4:30 pm I was sprung from bed rest and washing my hair NEVER felt soooo good. We went out to celebrate the transfer by eating at a beautiful restaurant called the Rusty Pelican with Lucy, Ricky, and Little Ricky. The food was excellent and we were right on the water, it was gorgeous. Lucy and Ricky gave me an amazing necklace that has three separate crosses that overlay each other representing the Godhead and our own journey as surrogate mother, bebe, and mother. It was perfect. Lucy concluded our evening by giving me my Progesterone injection in the parking lot while I leaned over the hood of her Honda, looking at the vibrant moon as it shimmered over the bay. I was sure we might end up on an episode of COPS at that point.
The next morning Lucy dropped my mom and me off at the airport and before I knew it we were back at home and our amazing trip to Miami was over. Now it was time to continue meds, wait, and pray.
Lucy:
It now seems like the transfer was a long time ago. The experience was a magical whirr of warm fuzzies and excitement. It constantly amazes me that D’Ann would willingly adhere, insert, inject and ingest medications just so we could have an opportunity to love and enjoy another child. Really incredible. I could not be happier with the results of our transfer. The blasts were absolutely beautiful and seeing them float into the depths of D’Ann’s endometirum reminded me of Horton Hears a Who somehow. It seemed like they were tiny specks of children floating along happily in their culture liquid, but once examined more closely under the microscope, a jumble of cells busy with potential. I can imagine them yelling “We’re Here, We’re Here!” Obviously I read too much Dr. Seuss. Now, we wait and wait and wonder and wait. I have been here before and it’s not fun. In the mean time we will be dissecting every possible sign and symptom until we reach testing time.
© Pocketbebe, 2010
P.S. Plan on checking back tomorrow Feb. 8th for more news!
