Monitoring Appointment

On October 24^th I packed my bag, kissed my husband goodbye and reminded my tearful daughters that mommy would be back the very next day and that even though we will miss each other like crazy, sometimes we sacrifice to help others, especially family. My daughters, ages 11 and 7 are so strong and wise beyond their years for understanding this concept so clearly. Surrogacy does not just affect the Surrogate, but it has a ripple effect though the surrogate’s whole family. It is a team effort, everyone has to help, each person inevitably has to give up a little bit and in the end ultimately we all get to rejoice and celebrate together. After giving all the hugs and love we could possibly muster, I walked the 2 minutes to the BART station and took the train to the airport. I love to travel, I love to be in the midst of the hustle and bustle, people watching, sometimes silently judging, often making up history’s and pasts and wondering why they are traveling to their destination. I get to the airport, get through security, grab me a Starbucks and walked up to my gate. As I was approaching my gate number an airport worker kindly let me know my zipper was down. These were tight jeans, so when the zipper is down…its ALL on display if you know what I mean. GREAT Amanda! You let everyone on BART, then everyone on the connector train from BART to the Airport and then every man woman and child in the airport see all the goods. I guess I shouldn’t be too embarrassed, as a surrogate more people have seen that area than I can even begin to count. Whatever, I zipped up, and sat down at my gate and enjoyed one of my last Venti Iced Coffees and began texting my besties all about my zipper conundrum. 

Then a middle aged business man in a suit and tie who was sitting across from me comes over and says “excuse me Miss, can you watch my bags and jacket so I can go over and get a coffee” I laughed thinking he was joking because is that NOT the cardinal rule of airports? They repeat that rule 10,000 times over the loud speaker “Do not leave your bag unattended for any reason, do not watch other people’s belongings of bags, report all unattended baggage immediately” But this man looked at me, dead serious, waiting for my response so I said “uhm…well that’s against the rules” feeling like I sounded like a child but also wondering if this was security testing people or maybe a “what would you do” type show. Again, dead serious and a little taken aback that I said he, he says “I am just going to Starbucks, right there” as he pointed to the Starbucks that was about 4 gates away. I said “No, I won’t do that. That is against the rules and we can both get in trouble” (again…I realize I sounded like a 3^rd grader but whatever) he was so shocked that I said no. It was so strange, has he NEVER flown before nor heard the announcements on replay saying to NOT do that? So he walked back to his bag all frustrated, rolled it a few seat rows closer to the Starbucks and walked off to get his coffee, a few other passengers and I all exchanged strange looks, I was glad to know I was not the only one wondering what we should do. Then I made eye contact with the gate attendant who saw him walk off and she went to go get him. He then comes back after being reprimanded by the attendant, grabs his bag and wheels it to go get his coffee making it obvious that he is so inconvenienced having to wheel is belongings around….welcome to the airport life buddy, we all have to do juggle a million things at once. So he gets back with his coffee and bag and gives me a glare like I just ruined his entire life, I rolled my eyes in return. This guy then realizes he needs somethings, so he placed his coffee, lid OFF on the ground of the airport, and left that and his bags to go walk back to Starbucks. We all just looked at each other like “what is up with this guy?!” He came back, drank his coffee and life went on. I know that is not a Surrogate related story but it we noteworthy nonetheless. The flight was smooth and quick, I landed, did a few “oohs and aahhs” at the size of this airport and went out to meet my IP’s. They greeted me with the biggest smile and warm welcome and we were off to the hotel. Which was amazing! We spent the day in the pool and traveling down the lazy river, laughing, catching up and talking about the excitement that lays ahead. We went to dinner then to ice cream at the best ice cream place ever! That night IF had to give me my delestrogen shot. Up until then I had never given myself the large shot, I always had my husband do it. So despite how many times I tried in the mirror I just couldn’t. I was thankful they were there to help!

The next morning we got up and headed to the monitoring appointment, I struggled though that morning with a headache that almost borderlined a migraine. Lupron tends to give me awful headaches. We got to the Fertility Clinic and I met our doctor for the first time (I have spoken to him on the phone prior) he is awesome, so funny, so positive, just a happy person in general. He measured my lining and reported that my lining was measuring 17mm which is OUTSTANDING! I think 13 was the thickest it has ever been before with my last surrogacy’s and 13 was impressive. I joked that no embryo was escaping this 17! Lol Then we raced like mad men to the airport as the appointment was running late and we had less than an hour until my plane leaves. We quickly said our goodbyes and I ran to my gate just in time. The plane departed and I was so joyous and hopeful that everything in the next week would work out perfectly.