oh, the headaches!

I'm not entirely sure it's the BCP's, but it's the only thing that's changed in the last couple of weeks. This may be a prelude to what I hear are horrible headaches with Lupron. I didn't use Lupron with my first surrogacy journey, so the protocol and subsequent side effects will be all new to me.

The flip side is that all of this is only temporary, I know that! Only to be replaced by morning sickness. Hahahaha... but I can deal with morning sickness much better than all day, every day headaches.

Now, lest you have pity on me or think I'm complaining too much, remember this is where I journal... good, bad or indifferent... and I am not looking to impress or depress anyone in the process. It's just my way of giving you some insight into this "amazing, wonderful, unbelievable, miracle..." journey!!

Leftovers

I don't do leftovers. Ask anyone. I've never been one to like anything better the next day. Well, maybe just lasagna. Everyone loves lasagna better the next day, right?

But the kind of leftovers I'm talking about now are "baby fat" leftovers. The post-pregnancy kind. Some like to refer to it as muffin tops. Ewwwww. I used to like muffins until I heard of this reference. Okay, I still do like muffins, blueberry ones from Starbuck's, but I digress.

And why does the fashion industry think we all like the low-rise, belly hang over the top style of jeans? I've got leftovers! I don't like leftovers, but I've resigned myself to not worrying about it this year. Next year, let's say sometime after April, I'll worry about it.

So I bought myself a new pair of jeans this week. Actually, a friend found them onsale and mailed them to me. Even with shipping it was cheaper than I would have found locally. These jeans will definitely hide my leftovers! I don't think I'll fill them out for quite some time. When I got excited about them, JP asked if the packages will begin coming in the mail again soon?! Yes, I must admit, I have somewhat of a maternity clothing fetish. This pregnancy will take me into a season completely different (by trimester) than the last. But... I must... restrain... myself!!

I couldn't resist. I tried on the jeans this morning, just to make sure they fit (below the leftovers) and I absolutely love them! Maybe I should take before and after pictures. Now, that would be funny! I folded them back up and will tuck them away with the other clothes for this fall/winter season.



Ooooh, and just in case you thought shopping during pregnancy was all about the women, I bought something for Tommy today too! He'll just have to wait until he travels here to see what it is.

Almost ready for a calendar...

I received an email from Dawn and have scheduled a few dates for appointments with CRM in June/July. That means we're full steam ahead! I start Lupron on Father's Day, June 15th.




We will be doing a five-day transfer and are looking at the week of July 13th right now. Hanne and Tommy will get to come back when summer will hopefully be in full swing in Minnesota.

Hanne ~ what's your start date for injections? Are you ready to become a human pin cushion too?

The little things..

It's funny how the little things in a surrogacy or pregnancy journey can make a person smile! For instance, in a regular month, I would not be excited to be getting my period.

Caution: I realize for some of you this is rather personal, so you don't have to read any further. Don't worry, it will just be surface level reading if you continue.

So, back to me. I honestly despise AF (also affectionately referred to as Aunt Flo) and would rather not have a period again in my life. However, when it signifies the start of something beautiful, a journey and cycle to create a human life ~ it can truly put a smile on my face! So here I am, walking around with cramps that buckle me over, a small headache and bloating... but secretly, on the inside, I am excited for the next two months and all that this signifies!! The huge smile on my face is surely indicative of great secrets and lots of success in our future!!

On one of the support groups I belong to I posted the following:

We interrupt this regularly scheduled program to bring you a quick update on rarejule....

AF came a visiting today, she emailed the clinic, and starts BCP's on Sunday! Hanne is going in this week for blood work to verify ovulation calendar. Slow and steady...

Now, back to your regularly scheduled program!

to which a male friend writes:

My friends think I am insane for getting excited about you pre-pregnoids getting your period. But I am! LOL!

Gotta love it!!

So for those of you reading along and learning about surrogacy, you'll have lots of interesting and new acronyms and things to share with your friends soon! Are you keeping track?

Every Email Counts

I am generally not a very political person, but this one hits close to my heart! If you have time to spare, please send our Governor an email this week! With rumors of Governor Pawlenty possibly running as the VP on McCain's Presidential ticket, this will soon take on national importance too!

To All:

As many of you may already know, the Minnesota house passed the proposed gestational carrier legislation 86-46 on Monday. It went through without any hostile amendment by the opposition, and there is no marriage requirement. The house version was accepted by the senate yesterday, so all the bill needs is the Governor's signature to become law. Unfortunately, the Governor may still veto it.

The legislation is one of two bills that Republican Representative Kathy Tingelstad carried, and the Governor is still mad at her about her vote to override his veto on the transportation bill. Insider theory is that he may only give her one of her two bills, and the other bill (adoption birth record access) had more bipartisan support and is less controversial. The Governor also wants to be McCain's vice presidential running mate, so he is trying to look VERY conservative in all of his state duties. Some knowledgeable people at the capitol think the Governor will veto the gestational carrier bill, and we will have to start over next year. We need as much support as possible in the form of calls and letters to the Governor's office to maximize the chance that he will sign the bill (or, perhaps, at least let it go into effect without his signature).

The Governor is already against alternative families, so common wisdom from the house and senate authors of the bill is that we need LOTS of general, neutral support for the bill without drawing attention to the single/alternative families aspect. There is now a provision in the bill that allows the Department of Human Services to obtain reimbursement from intended parents who use surrogates on state funded medical assistance benefits for the pregnancy and delivery costs of having their children, AND the bill promotes substantial judicial economy by removing many uncontested surrogacy cases from the already overcrowded court system (that is funded at ~90% of its actual operating budget and is loudly complaining that it is overworked and under funded). These two positive fiscal effects may be the firmest basis to get the Governor's attention and support, not to mention the general overall benefit that the law will have for the 160,000+ Minnesotans struggling with various fertility obstacles. The bill is fair, sensible, and necessary. (I have attached a copy of the current amended version of the bill to this e-mail for review, if necessary.)

Please contact the Governor in support of the legislation at this time, but keep it short, keep it positive, and keep it focused on the less controversial benefits of the legislation. The opposition will now try to sabotage the bill in the Governor's office, so we need to be more vocal than they are!!! Because the Governor is "running" for the vice presidency slot on the McCain ticket, e-mails from people on a national basis referencing the positive effects of this legislation and their consideration of his signature of the bill as a factor in their likelihood to support that ticket may also be helpful. So, forward this on to anyone you know who will support us in any place in the country! In that way, we may still successfully get the bill enacted into law. The Governor and his health law policy person's e-mails are tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us and carolyn.jones@state.mn.us. Thanks in advance for your continuing support and effort!

Steve

Steven H. Snyder, Esq.
Steven H. Snyder & Associates

Update on Minnesota Law

I received an email today that the bill passed the Senate and House... now on to the Governor. Apparently he's said he will VETO it.

From my friend in the know:

Well girls, we did it!! We passed the house and the senete!! Now onto the governor. He has already said he will veto this bill. I need you to write to the governor and let him know how important it is to put this bill in place!!

His email: tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us

Pass this on to all our MN contacts so we can get this done!!
Thanks for all your help!!

I took this photo of him at the Minnesota State Fair in 2006.

Antsy...

I'm getting antsy, anyone else?? I mean, I know Hanne & Tommy are off getting married and honeymooning, but what about the rest of us? (smile) So I emailed Dawn today and asked about a schedule. She said she's waiting for a return phone call from Norway (hint hint) and then we'll be in business. The baby-making business!! So while this pregnancy may not fall into the true category of a "honeymoon baby" s/he will be darn close, right?! Let's get to the good stuff!! Not that we want to rush summer or anything, because in Minnesota Spring hasn't been in full bloom yet, but... I am getting antsy!