Where are we now? In the last 6 months:

This was our first try.  December 2014, My boys came down and stayed in Melbourne while at my most fertile. (Using Ovulation Predictor sticks) and (Period Tracker)

Sadly it wasn't to be...so we waited for the next month and tried to even the score.

This is my 'kit'.  We have: ClearBlue Advanced Stick, Clearblue Advanced Monitor (Straight from the UK via Amazon), Bulk Ovulation Strips and Bulk Pregnancy Tests. 

 (See my little bag for recipes to keep track of money spent for the Parenting Order.)

I had enough to get me pregnant..with Octuplets!!

Every month we were bang on...all machines and tests looked great.

(Left : ClearBlue Stick Fertility Monitor.  Right: ClearBlue Advanced Fertility Monitor)

http://uk.clearblue.com/clearblue-ovulation-test-range/clearblue-advanced-fertility-monitor 

Computer stick said NO.

Boo.

Put ya legs up in the air! I soon got a 'method' of turkey basting right.  I became a dab hand at it.

But. No Baby.  Seriously.  Ugh.

Things just got serious.

Eggs Ahoy.  Lets get some of them suckers.

Apparently C's sperm and my eggs have 1% comparability rate.  

1. Freaking. %.

So lets up the odds and bring the pain.

Its on like Donkey Kong.

This is the face of determination.  

'My Boys' will be the most AWESOME Daddies ever!!

24 weeks and Im a Drama Illama!

Where to start...?

I haven't written in a bit as it got a bit emotionally draining for a while.  

Eldest son is being sorted, its looking positive for now.


I am 24 weeks as of yesterday.  But its not been smooth..well the pregnancy has but everything else..sheeeeeesh, add the 'S' word to anything and it just seems to cause confusion and trouble...far out, I was getting so angry, confused and upset..

Ok..I have given birth 4 times...the last 3 were fast, easy and with no drugs or intervention..so you think the 5 would be simple right? Hmmmm, well sure it would be but it has the word "Surrogacy" attached..OMFG!!!!! Someone get me some gas now to deal with people!!!!!

Started off as I had to rearrange my midwife appointment as my girl decided to whelp and I was delivering them and wasn't going to leave...'my' Midwife says, "oh it doesn't matter you've been shifted to Specialist Midwifery Care".  Wait.  What?  No one told me!?  I ask "whhhhyyy?" 
"Um er, um...oh your on anti-depressants, are 35 and have asthma issues..oh and your a surrogate.."
Silence.
Wait.  What?

Did ANYONE look at my records from previous births/pregnancies???  Yes, I had asthma, yes I've always been on Anti-depressants - I am a chemical depressive, so I treat my depression as a Diabetic treats Diabetes. I take my meds, I am ok.
 

Seems my hopes of having an intervention free birth in a calm environment were slipping out of reach.  You see people, the way I see it is THE BIRTH is what I get to take home...take that away from me and what am I left with, shit memories...which should be beautiful.

Got off phone blubbering, emotional wreck, rang IM..she was horrified too!

The I left it.  I had too.  Sometimes I just close off and have to stop processing things until I feel ready to deal with them.  
Hubby was wonderful as he knows how important it is I get the birth I want, once again, poor fella <3

Fast forward to this week..
A Midwife Helen rings to see why I wasn't at an appointment...erm, what appointment?  Seems I had been lost in translation and no one had actually told me!
So I began to have a long chat to her, and was pleasantly surprised.  She was lovely, and explained things to me about Specialist Midwifery.  (Seems in my case it was so we could schedule extra appointments, longer appointments etc, not because of my 'conditions'  
Today I had my OB appointment, Midwife Kate was attending too...sooo relieved.  OB was lovely and unless my 'conditions' play up I wont have to see her again, although she's actually one OB I think would be pretty cool...(whoa, did I really say that?!)
Midwife Kate was also awesome and if the other two attached to SMC are the same it will be totally cool.  I am feeling so RELIEVED for sure!  We also had a meeting with the Social Worker for the Hospital..that my friends is another page I think...I get so mentally fatigued by it all sometimes....the short of it all, she is lovely but there is only so much she can do..

Baby Skippy is getting more vigorous, and measuring well.  Heartbeat great.  The OB did book me into growth ultrasounds at 28 and 34/6 weeks to watch babies growth.

She still seems to be a night owl and I find myself reading/on computer at about 2am every few nights! lol!!

Interesting to write is that Ive been craving asian food like mad...Ive never really been interested in rice and noodles etc..but boy does Skippy say nom nom nom now!!

After appointment yesterday IPs, I and Miss 3 went for Yum Cha, mmmmmmm :)  (I made more mess then the 3 year old!)

I have also taught IPs how to buy second hand, near new baby stuff! (ie source what you are after, note name and product number and then go ebay or gumtree it!! 9/10 someone has had only one baby and ready to sell! ;) )  They have got some super cute clothes and an awesome pram already :)

Just a 2.30AM Blog :) weight, hubby and bubs..Oh my!

Nothing exciting to report, but I'm awake at 2.30AM again so thought Id jot a few things down while its quiet..

Little Miss S is bumping around, I feel her more and more every day..I forgot to post in the Ultrasound Post that she is measuring 2WEEKS AHEAD!!  No surprised here, I do big babies, lol!  Plus I'm sure everyone seeing me waddle around at dog shows and trying to stay in my suits that are popping at the seams are not surprised!  YES I AM FAT...AND PREGNANT...sadly not just Pregnancy fat...LOL  Oh well, its only for a few more months and for a good cause :)  Thank god for spandex in material!! ;)

On my weight, I'm totally fascinated..I am actually the heaviest I have ever been, pregnant or not..I was at my current weight after i gave birth to my first, Corbin...

Interestingly enough my weight has not changed but fluctuated between 500 gms up and down over the last 6ish weeks (I have a totally awesome FITBIT scale)  I am not a huge garbage guts like normal or even when pregnant and find myself leaving food on my plate (That NEVER happens, preg or no)  or just feel full all the time...Also I am craving very healthy food, salads, sandwiches etc
Absolutely no complaints here, I just find it very interesting compared with my other pregnancies...I'm wondering if baby because of different genetics is playing a roll in this?  Its also fascinating as now my belly is growing and usually EVERYTHING grows with it (arse, thighs, arms etc..boobs are a given)  but looking in the mirror yesterday in my gorgeous IP bought pregnancy dress, I actually looked a lot 'All baby'  (This was in the toilets at Hogsbreath Cafe mind you waiting for Miss 3 to go to the toilet...oh and NEWS FLASH I didn't finish my Potato Skins or main course...Hubby asked if I was not feeling well..LMAO..

No new stretch marks either, but then again I have plenty to re-stretch from the others, so I'm not worried by it.  Boob are totally massive and annoying.  One thing Hubby doesn't complain about, ;) 

Just a note on my Hubby. 

He is AWESOME.

He is the most amazing man and I thank my lucky stars every day I met him.  He puts up with my moods, deals with things when I can't.  Is an awesome, super dad.  Lets me have my dog showing and all it involves.  Works hard to pay bills etc.  Sleeps on the couch when he knows he will keep me awake with snoring after long shifts.  Cooks for me.  Does more then his share of housework.  Loves and supports me.  Tells me Im beautiful when I am feeling not...OHhhh and remembers our wedding anniversary when I do not!!!  I love him and admire him SO MUCH xoxo

Crap blogger award..slack so slack

Wow, I am so slack.  Actually I hate writing on my laptop so wait until I am on my home computer which isn't very often these days!

We had our appointment at the Angliss..with what seemed like everyman and his dog..ok I lie, but there were a few people there.  Head OB, Head Midwife, Social Worker, My assigned Midwife and someone and someone else...I got a bit busy entertaining Miss Ayla while everything was 'disscusssed'. 

To what purpose I am unsure of still...but there you go.


Then had our booking appointment straight after with my Midwife.  John hung out with Ayla in the lounge playing with the toys.  Then down to book 20 week Ultrasound through the hospital and more bloods.

Glad I'm not scared of needles..the amount Ive had I could be a watering can!

BABY HAS A NICKNAME!!!!!

So Miss Baby is now called "SKIPPY"

Yup, true!  Why:  John is Filipino American while Pam is a White Aussie...so in the USA there is a brand of peanut butter called "Skippy" and as (John explains) baby will be born with a lovely caramel complexion she has earned the nickname after a peanut butter~ could have been worse, ie KRAFT! LOL

Bub is kicking a bit more now, feeling very low still. Still keeping me up at night :/

Yay! Asthma sorted!

Another day, another appointment :)

I went and picked IM up and dropped Miss3 to hang out with IM and off we headed to the Respiratory Specialist.

Was well worth the visit.

Seems my lung capacity was slightly less then half of what it should , as I surprised, nope.  It was fascinating to watch the little lines on his peak flow on his computer thingy and see just where I was at. 

He was almost shocked when I said I was having a good day and I had used Ventolin about 40min before.  I should have been in hospital! whoops.  

The other night I did consider the ER, but ended up heading to that useless GP....

So, Conclusion:  I have some kind of tablet (pkt is in kitchen so cant read what it is) for 5 days to rid inflammation.  I also have to take day and night (grabs it and reads) "Pulmicort 400" and back again for a check with him in 3 weeks.

He was a lovely Dr.  treated us like humans and was very pleasant and helpful.  I wish they could all be like this!

Once again I am away in the wee hours of the morning...

We have an appointment today with the Physio that specialises in my Pelvis situation in the city.  Alya (Miss 3) is excited to be going to hang out with 'her John' again! lol!

So in the last two weeks it seems everything is sorting itself out.  IM is becoming less stressed and enjoying 'her' pregnancy more too, which is lovely :)

9 weeks

9 weeks..I think?

I think I'm becoming really blasé about being pregnant...after all it is my 5th pregnancy.  

I don't know what it is...we have a appointment with P's GP on the 12th for more blood tests and to find a OBGYN and hospital to have baby at.  To be honest I don't really care who the OBGYN is, as long as they leave me alone and don't drive me crazy during Labour.  I saw Midwives only for all of my pregnancies, so you cant tell me to have an OB is better...

Whatever floats my dear IMs boat.  It is mainly for her information and to put her at ease.  Blood pressure - check, funds height - check, well being - check, heartbeat - check...pretty boring stuff.  I don't anticipate anything unusual to happen over the course of the next 6 months, so hopefully the OBGYN will be friendly, smile lots and say, great off you go, have a super day!

Theres one thing I do know quite well and that is my own body.  I will know if anything 'feels' slightly off and then people can worry.  Theres one thing I hate and that's people that make things problems that are not!! (because then it usually becomes a BIG problem)  

Until I meet a OB that suits me I wont settle...and that's one thing I am sticking too..after all its me that has to push out the watermelon out!

HORMONES:

Oh the joys of pregnancy playing havoc with your hormones..

My lovely little hormonal pregnancy trick is to add frequent migraines to my system..which of course you cannot knock out with a crapload of fun drugs to get rid of the thing.  Auras, numbness, blindness, nausea, you name it...come on 12 weeks! (this is something I had with all pregnancies)

Mood swings...call me Jekyll and Hyde....agghhh  

Naptime...love my naptime.."AYLA GO TO SLEEP!!"  At least she still loves her naptime too :)

Its interesting though, the more I progress with this pregnancy, the more I look around me when Im out with Ayla.  I am constantly thinking "theres no WAY I could have another baby now, Im too tired!"  its funny how your biological clock actually does stop ticking!

Genea IVF World First?

Dating scan tomorrow!!  Sorry for the lax updating...but really there has been nothing to update! lol 

So it looks like this lucky embryo embryo #9 was part of the guinea pig trial by Genea as to the solution they use to soak the little embryos.  IM rang me and was telling me all about it and said she didn't think much off it until she saw the article!

http://bigpondnews.com/articles/Health/2013/02/10/IVF_breakthrough_boosts_pregnency_chance_844213.html

Feeling much more off now...smells putting me right off and a constant ill feeling.  Joy.  It actually feels very similar to my last pregnancy.  My joints have all loosened too and my hips are already playing up a bit, so will have to watch that a bit in things that I do.  I suffered from Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction with my last...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphysis_pubis_dysfunction  

I actually didnt think Id have to worry about it this early on though, mmmm..oh well.  

I had to remind IM that it was IF baby too and he should be at the ultrasound when she suggested that he could mind my kids while we went, lol!!  Cant wait to see their faces!