Definitions

Because I've had a couple people ask what certain words and phrases mean, I figured I would attempt to clarify.

IP -Intended Parent(s).  The people that are receiving the greatest gift, a baby.
IM- Intended Mother
IF-Intended Father
Traditional Surrogate - A woman who carries a baby for another person or couple, and is also the egg donor.  The husbands sperm is placed inside of her for conception.
Gestational Surrogate - A woman who carried a baby for another person or couple, but has no biological tie to the baby.  Conception happens via IVF.
IVF- Invitro Fertilization.  Eggs are harvested from the biological mother and sperm is collected from the biological father, and are combined.  This is the "petri dish" method.  The goal is to make multiple embryos because a percentage will die in the process of conception, before they can be transferred to the uterus.  Also extra embryos can be frozen for future cycles in the case that the transfer does not take with a pregnancy or the parents want siblings for their child.
IUI- Intra Uterine Insemination.  Done in a doctors office, sperm is collected, washed and then inserted into the woman's uterus, bypassing the cervix which is a hurdle for the sperm to find their way through.
ICI - Intra Cervical Insemination.  This can be done in a doctors office or at home, this is the "turkey baster" method.  It's chances are equivocal to normal intercourse.  Sperm is collected and put into the vagina by a needless syringe and/or placed into a cup designed to sit on the cervix.  The woman elevates her hips for about a half hour and then goes on with her day.

Check out http://www.sharedjourney.com/ for a great resource on explaining all thing infertility.

We are doing a Traditional Surrogacy, using ICI.  A big part of the reason for this, besides cost, is that we cannot find a doctor in northern Colorado willing to work with a surrogate.  When I called up my infertility doctor's office I was told (rather snottily) to try to find a doctor in Denver.  So while we wait to find a doctor in Denver we are trying what we can.

And on that note.... SO EXCITED FOR THIS WEEKEND!