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I'm a wife, mom, and gestational surrogate. I've been blessed to be able to have 2 beautiful daughters of my own and 2 cute little surro babes for IPs. With the support of my WONDERFUL family and friends, I'm doing it again!! Follow me on my journey...

Thursday, July 28, 2011

25 weeks...

...and I just wanna say that it's hot as hell in Texas! FML. We are on day 26 in a row of triple-digit heat in Dallas...and the friggin' A/C is broken at work. FML x2!
This is just ridiculous...















Anywho, enough of my bitching and on to Baby L's development ☺

Baby's the size of an eggplant!

Head to heels, baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

I'm still feeling good, it's just taking me a little longer to get from point A to B these days, lol. And, OMG, I had the WORST cramp in my calf yesterday morning. I could barely catch my breath, it was so bad. And it's still sore today! Apparently leg cramps are "common" in pregnancy. Whatever. I don't recall this happening when I was pregnant with my girls, but then again, I was younger...sigh...

In other baby news, my IPs have been shopping away for Baby L! I ♥ when I get texts from my IM telling me all about her "baby shopping sprees"! I can't wait to see the completed nursery, I know it's gonna be so cute! Here's a little preview of the "theme" of Baby L's room:

Isn't it so cute!?! I really like the soft colors and the whole "ocean theme" (btw, no, this is not his room. It's just where the pic of the glider and bedding was taken ☺)

Well, nothing else to report so I'll TTYL! Here's my 25 week belly pic. (I feel like I grew over night!)











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Thursday, July 21, 2011

24 weeks!

Woohoo for 24 weeks!!
I guess the saying is true, "be careful what you wish for", because I was hoping that Baby L would start moving enough for his parents to be able to feel soon. Well he's certainly havin' a party in there! During the day I can feel small movements, but at night he's definitely awake! (Get ready for some sleepless nights M&M) 
Other than feeling a little uncomfortable at times, I'm feeling good! I try to keep my feet elevated while I'm at my desk because I've noticed they tend to get a little swollen towards the end of the day. Boo!

So, what's new with baby this week?
  Baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. (Then why have I gained 2 lbs?!) That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Sounds like a lot of important stuff is going on this week
I don't have anything else to report on my end, which is kind of a good thing. A nice, uneventful pregnancy is always good!
Until next week...

Here's an "uncamoflauged" pic ☺

















Aren't maternity jeans so stylish?
...and here's my collage for weeks 21 - 24, enjoy! 
click to enlarge









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Wednesday, July 13, 2011

23 weeks!!!

Is it just me or is time flying!?!
Before we know it, Baby L will be here! I have a lot of different emotions about this...no, not because I want to keep the baby or anything! That's not even a thought in my mind. I've just been thinking a lot lately about what it's gonna be like; the delivery, post-delivery, etc. I don't know if it's because I've been reading about other ladies (surros) that have delivered recently and their experience, but it's on my mind. I've seen surros that still have contact with the IPs and baby(ies) months or even years after the birth and then I've seen surros that are shut out of the family's lives almost as soon as the baby is born. I guess I'm just nervous and not sure what to expect. Should I have expectations or just let things play out? I know the main goal here is to help create a family, and for that I'm grateful...I suppose the best thing to do is to discuss, with my IPs, exactly how they see things going afterwards and that might help put my mind at ease. I just know that people can change their minds, and I don't want to set myself up to be let down, does that make any sense? I'm rambling, but it's nice to get these thoughts written down and out of my mind.

So.....what's going on with Baby L this week, you ask?

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With his sense of movement well developed by now, baby can feel you dance. And now that he's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing him for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb.

This picture freaks me out...

















I've been feeling him move a lot more this past week so maybe we'll be able to see/feel him move from the outside soon! I think that he finds it amusing to start having a dance party as soon as I lay down and get comfy!
TTYL peeps!



















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Sunday, July 10, 2011

Better late than never...

I know, I know...I was supposed to update on Friday after our appointment, but truth be told, unless I'm actually forced to sit in front of a computer, I usually don't. I'd rather sleep...thus the reason mostly all of my posts are done while I'm sitting in front of my computer at work. Shhhh!

Friday was a great day, even if it did start off at the dentist office! I had to get a deep cleaning done, which they normally give you an anesthetic for, but of course, since I'm preggo, I couldn't get it. It actually wasn't so bad and I'd have it done again without it, even if I weren't pregnant. The needle they stick you with to numb the gums hurts worse than the procedure itself!
Anywho, I'm sure you don't wanna hear about my adventures in dental land...
So, after I was done at the dentist, Kevin and I headed to the OB appointment where we met up with M&M. Once we were back in the room, we had to wait a little while for the Dr. to arrive, but we talked and caught up with what's been going on with each other. It was nice. ☺ Dr. D came in and, since this was their first time meeting, introduced himself to M&M. It's weird, but I was kinda nervous...I was hoping they'd like him and thankfully after it was all said and done, they did! Dr. D began the u/s and it was so cool to see how much bigger Baby L has gotten since the last time! He was pretty cooperative for the u/s, although he did kick a couple times. I think he was just showing off for mom & dad! ☺ All of his measurements were perfect and coincide with the due date of November 9th. (He's head down and he weighs 1 lb!)  In all likelihood though, I'll be induced before then, but that won't be decided for some time.
We also learned that I have an anterior placenta, which is really no biggie, but is good to know in case we have to have c-section because it means that the placenta is attached to the front of my uterus, so they'd have to do some maneuvering in order not to cut through it during the procedure. Of course I researched all the information I could about it, once I got home. ☺ This also explains why I hadn't been able to really feel anything but an occasional flutter from the baby up until about a week ago. Since the placenta is in the front, it absorbs the "shock" of the kicks from the baby and most women with this won't feel much, if any, movement until around 23 weeks or so. Good to know, cuz I was gettin' kinda worried after reading about other ladies feeling movement at 13, 14, 15, etc weeks.

We mostly got anatomy pictures printed out, but in this pic you can see his nose and lips:
I've dubbed this the "paranormal activity" photo.

After the appointment we headed over to L&D for our tour. So COOL! The nurse that showed us around was really nice and thorough. She showed us the delivery room, the OR (in case of c-section), L&D triage (in case of false labor, lol), and of course the postpartum rooms. My IPs will even get to have a room next to me after the baby is born! Well...as long as there's not some huge baby boom on that day (So ladies, keep those babies in! My IPs need a room! ☺)
I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!! It's becoming more and more real as the weeks progress! And I love to hear about my IPs planning things for the baby and themselves. It has to be a wonderful feeling to be able to pick out a nursery theme, go shopping for a registry and plan baby showers after all this time.

Once we were done with the tour we went to lunch at my favorite restaurant, Gloria's. Mmmmmmmm!!!!!! It was such a fun time...and I think the guys might have enjoyed their margaritas a little too much, lol! Kevin was so giggly and M, well...he couldn't quite get his words right. I'm laughing right now, just thinking about it! Needless to say, I drove home and my IM drove home as well. It really was a great day; I love when we are all able to spend time together.
Oh yea, my IPs brought a Lullabelly for me to wear! It's so neat! They recorded themselves singing and reading for the baby, so all I do is plug up their iPod to the Lullabelly, strap it on my tummy, and Baby L can hear his mommy & daddy!

Here's Baby L listening to Daddy read to him in Spanish.
That's about it! A good day and a good appointment! What more can you ask for?
My next appointment is August 9th and I'll have to do the 1 hour glucose tolerance at that one. Blah! I actually don't mind the syrupy orange concoction they make you drink; it's the being hungry part that gets to me! But, hopefully all will be well with the test and they will come back and say I don't have gestational diabetes. If I can't have my Fruit Loops in the morning, I might snap on someone.
TTYL!


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Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Twenty-Two...

...weeks, that is! Yay!

Baby's now the size of a papaya!

Baby's settling into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. At 11 inches and almost 1 pound, baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

We'll see just how big 'Baby L' is on Friday! I'm so excited!! Baby L and I have a full day on Friday...we go to the dentist at 7am, Dr. appointment at 9am, L&D tour at 11am, and then lunch with his mommy & daddy! I think I'll need a nap after all of that. And hopefully Baby L will cooperate to let me sleep and not kick me!
I'm interested to see his position on Friday because it seems like everytime I feel his little thumps, he's almost on my bladder! I still don't feel anything from the outside and I wonder if it's because of where he's laying? I told him that he has to practice on kicking a little harder so that mommy & daddy can feel him moving on Friday, we'll see if he cooperates. (Plus, he has to become a soccer player! No negotiations there)And I know he can hear me because when we went to see fireworks he jumped as soon as there was a big boom!

I'll update on Friday after our appointment!

Here's the 22 week belly:

Here's a view from the top...yep can't see my toes anymore. Unless I lean forward, but then I might lose my balance and it's hell for a pregnant woman to try to get up off the floor.
(I stole this idea from Jeni )
See ya on Friday!

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