Breakdown of the day:
-Flight 7:30am
-Dr. Consult and exams 10:30am
-Meeting with parents and counselor 12pm
-Lunch with parents
-Pick up for flight 3pm
-Flight 5pm
Why do I never go to bed early the night before a long day?! Oh yeah, because I had to catch up on The Bachelorette and there are about 1507998547 commercials :) I was also freaking out about everything. I fell asleep around 1am...... and was back up at 4am.
We had our windshield wipers on our car fixed, so no fear or delays if rain came (which it didn't for the first time). Staying true to tradition I bought hummus and pretzels from the kiosk for breakfast on the plane. Also, necessary reading materials.
We were dropped off at the entrance to the hospital. Shady Grove Fertility Clinic was on the 3rd floor. I have a thing about doors. I get a little nostalgic. Walking through a door for the first time can change your life. You don't know what or who is behind it! Pretty intimidating.
The office was very nice. I turned in my paperwork and sat down. I had picked up a couple of the pamphlets to read about infertility. My heart was so sad being in the clinic. Thinking about all the couples who have fertility issues and come here to get help and what they have had to go through. It's an amazing feeling to be in someone else's position.
Within 5 min of sitting down I hear Chris say something and look up. Right around the corner was our couple walking with Dr. Mottla towards us. I wasn't expecting to see them so soon! I didn't know what to do! I just couldn't believe they were no longer over Skype...but in the US! He was so tall and she was so beautiful. I mean I knew she was already beautiful, but she looked like a princess. Like Elsa from Frozen! haha!! This sounds new-age but her spirit was beautiful. She is so loving, sensitive, and peaceful. I immediately felt connected to her. I prayed and prayed over this situation and can only praise God that He would bless it the way He has. We jumped up and gave them hugs and were quickly whisked away to the Dr's office. He told them to grab coffee and come back in 45 min.
We were obviously in good hands with the Dr the family and clinic chose. He is one of the best and I can see why!
Then the scary stuff.
First, weight check. That was scary. Probably should loose about 10 pounds before I gain 50. Urine sample and blood drawn followed. Normally I freak out about blood....but there was more scary stuff ahead. We were then taken to a room with a paper gown.
He did a routine breast exam. Well, it was routine until he made me feel myself so I would "be familiar with myself"....in front of my husband and a nurse. Haha, after 2 babies my poor husband knows the inside of me more than I do. Awkward.
He did an ultrasound to "map" out my uterus, so when it came time to implant the baby he would know exactly how I was. There were no cyst or problems thankfully. Yay! That was my biggest fear. My uterus apparently was extremely tilted to the right side. Which he said was no big deal. I'll pretend that's why my stomach sticks out so far when I'm pregnant :) Next he filled my uterus with water to flush out the tubes. This is done in case there was any infections or tissue that could potentially harm the baby. It wasn't painful...but it didn't feel good. At all. Uncomfotable and extremely crampy. Almost like a contraction. That was it and I was done!
We went back to the waiting room and talked to our couple for like 3 more minuets and were taken back for an "injection class". Oh dear. I thought the scary stuff was over. I will be having a mock cycle soon. After I have an X-ray type exam on Tuesday. After that is clear and I start my cycles I will have to start estrogen injections for a month. This is done to see if my body responds well enough to the estrogen to do a sucessful transfer. In the Dr's terms he wants my uterus to be "fluffy". If it does, I am put on birth control pills so my cycle and the egg donors cycle can be matched up. Then, I will start back estrogen, progesterone, and 2 more hormones until the transfer.
Crazy lady days ahead.
I couldn't focus on all the details she said. I was focused on the huge needles that my husband will be sticking in my hip. They are big. I almost passed out when she said, "they have to go all the way down to the plastic part".
We met with our counselor just so she could ask us how everything was going and explain some things and then we went to lunch- finally! Wait, I said I needed to loose weight didn't I?! Does The Cheesecake Factory count :)
They were so giving and offered to buy our lunch She kept saying how big everything in america was and how many options we had. It was so cute. Lunch was great and the cheesecake was even better! They also brought both of our kids gifts from their family, me a bracelet and the best chocolate I've ever had, and my husband a cd from a band they enjoy. Being able to just sit with them and talk was so refreshing. Hearing their story in person was life changing.
About having to use an egg donor she says, "it wouldn't matter if it's my egg or a donors. That's still my baby". I couldn't imagine not helping them have their baby. I couldn't imagine not knowing them now. I couldn't imagine walking away from a family so loving and deserving.
She became my favorite person after she ordered a diet coke. My unhealthy habit addiction. I ordered a water so I wouldn't be judged ;) Haha joking. Kind of. They talked about some of the american TV shows she likes (he mainly just watches hockey). It's so funny because she's such a girly girl like me. She likes 16 and Pregnant, I'm having their baby, The Bachelorette. All the things I wouldn't actually admit to watching! I love their culture and learning from them. I also love listening to them talk, it's great. I have to send their son macaroni and cheese- he's never had any. About to rock his world. It was also interesting when they asked about tipping. They had no idea how much or who to top because no one tips there. All the little things you have to learn when traveling!
After lunch we had to say goodbye :( We will see them again at the 8 week ultrasound. Fingers crossed that's soon!
Prayers please that things go well with that and we can move along!