My flight was at 9am yesterday. Yesterday was the day I was to start Lupron injections as well. From talking to other surrogates, I found not everyone has to do these. I think because we are using an egg donor and doing a fresh (instead of frozen) transfer I have to. Lupron is supposed to keep my ovaries from producing eggs or something. Honestly, I don't know. I just go along with the flow and try not to Google the side effects. After a week of injections, I have to go get an ultrasound and blood work to monitor uterus/lining and then I can be cleated to start estrogen. Oh, and yay only 3 more days of migraines. I mean birth control.
I was stressing out about these injections! Why am I starting these right before I fly away from home?!! That means I have to give them to myself! What if I had a reaction...or I got sick on the plane....or TSA threw me in a room for having needles in an airport.
Happy to report that none of that happened.
Abram was up and early. He was so excited that I was going on an airplane.....and that I was giving myself a shot. Weird child. It's amazing to see him starting to think things through and ask questions now. He must have known they were for the surrogacy because he says, "mommy, I was in your belly too. I grew in there and then they had to cut me out". This is where I'm thankful that I had a c-section so I wouldn't have to explain the other birth alternative :)
I told him when he got bigger than he could ride on an airplane as well. Secretly, I would just hate to pay full price for a 3 year old child! He always stands on chairs and says, "look i'm big now"! His birthday is in 2 weeks and instead of having a party...I actually found a place in Louisville that gives classic biplane tours and no age limit! He's going to freak out. His birthday is September 11th .......so probably not going to schedule a plane ride on that particular day.
Flight was uneventful...except for a creepy guy next to me (who was already creepy) and told me he "wasn't a creepy old man checking out my legs, but noticed I had a mole on my thigh and may want to get it checked out for cancer". It's just over an hour long (if you're flying Southwest). I've learned that the travel company doesn't make as much money when they book for Southwest; so they don't unless they have to or you request it. Last time I had 2 layovers and a 3 hour flight. The planes weren't as nice or friendly. Ridiculous. I ask specifically for Southwest now!
Group was at the Hilton Head Resort and Spa in Annapolis. Sounds fancy, right? Because it is. They even charge $10 to use wifi in your room. Oh, and that bag of m&m's in your room? $5. No thanks. It's nice, but they don't even have a vending machine. I had to walk down in my pajamas (in the middle of a fancy wedding party) to the front desk just to buy chocolate. I needed it. Well, my hormones needed it so don't judge me. However, the gym is extremely nice! Provided headphones and had tons of nice equipment. The shower head and beds were nice too. The rainfall ones. :) The surrogates share rooms. They ran out of rooms and I almost had to share a bed as well, haha! I heard they were looking at other options for the next group meeting. Yay.
There were around 50 surrogates at group!! I know there were also tons that couldn't be there. Barbra Cohen is the only counselor for the surrogates; that's a lot of work for her. I can't be 100% sure that she even recognized my face. Everyone has different stories, are at different points, and have different advice to give. Some great...some not so great stories. There were about 9 women with their birth stories and pictures. A lot of the girls there are on their 3 transfer because the other ones didn't work. It makes it real and almost a little discouraging. I want my first transfer on October 1st to work! I want everything to work the first time! If it doesn't, it's back to hormone injections and preparing for another transfer. I think they are usually 3 months apart.
One of the surrogates passed around a cute children's book about a little boy who's aunt was his surrogate. Think I may buy one for my babies and my IP's (intended parents) little boy!
After the 4 hour meeting, we went to eat at the little italian place across the street. SOOOO amazing! They had these marinara breadsticks they bring out to the table before dinner. See how excited I just got about that? No wonder I've gained 10 pounds. After dinner, some of the other surrogates took a trolley around town or went back to the hotel to hang out and have a 'slumber party'. I'm totally exciting and went back to my room to be alone in a big fluffy white bed and watch HGTV.
This morning was day 2 of shots! I hit the muscle yesterday and was sore all day! I actually had 2 little spots, one of them being where I freaked out last second and pulled away. Today, I did awesome. No pain. Right in the fat. Haha. I didn't want to freak out about these tiny needles because the big ones are coming!!!
The towne car picked a group of us up this morning at the hotel. The agency uses Aladdin Travel Agency. Their cars are never marked... so you literally just jump into a black car with blacked out windows and hope it's the right one! I was at the airport 2.5 hours waiting on my flight. I was able to catch up on Orange is the New Black and talk with my intended mother!!
I always love flying back to Kentucky. I love Kentucky. I love home. And I love that my husband stands there and waits for me as I'm walking out. It makes me feel like people are happy to see me....even if I was only away 24 hours :) Plus, he's pretty cute so that helps.
We went to Whole Foods to pick up a few things while we were in Louisville. What I don't love? 3 bags of groceries for $145. I'll go cry now.
Love. Pray. Eat.