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About Me

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Caledonia, Northern Illinois, United States
I am a Thirty-Something mother of four beautiful girls. My love for them, and the joy I've experienced during this crazy ride called motherhood, has inspired me to help make the dream of a family become a reality for couples through gestational surrogacy. I've proudly helped A&T, as their lives were forever changed when they welcomed a son in April 2010 and K&S were blessed as parents in Sept 2012 when we welcomed their twin boys. I completed my final surrogacy journey Nov 2015 when I helped a wonderful local couple J&W and Big Brother add their family with the birth of twin boys. I am so very fortunate to have wonderful relationships with each one of my surro-families and continue to share in their lives.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Searching ... Finding ...

Over the last week my profile has been viewed by a few different couples. Exciting! I've gotten great feedback from each one which was wonderful but, a lot goes into a match so sometimes although every thing seems great one small detail can mean not being a perfect fit. For me the one thing that's setting me back is that I don't want to transfer till spring, after my surrobabes 1st birthday. Realistically May isn't all that far away but, to a couple anxiously ready to get the process started, waiting even an extra month to transfer after getting all the preliminary details out of the way can feel like a lifetime.

So, this Thursday I got a call from my agency to say that one couple in particular is very interested in meeting me and willing to wait on my time line. They [FSC] thought we'd make a very good match so late the other night I was forwarded their profile and some pictures. After looking it over Jason and I had a great feeling about moving ahead and setting up a face to face.

My only hesitation was wondering if I should, for lack of a better phrase, "shop around". Not because I'm unsure about them, only because this is the first profile I've viewed since I started working with the agency again. However, I reminded myself this is one of the reason I'm working with an agency. They look over a number of IP and GS applications alike and then present each party with only the potentially good matches dismissing the ones that aren't a good fit. There really is no need to view multiple profiles if all the criteria are there. Getting an initial good vibe after looking over a profile is just icing on the cake. With that in mind I have no problem jumping in with both feet and making the next move. Besides, A&T were the first ever IP profile I saw and look how amazing that turned out.

I'm looking forward to meeting K&S, a Chicago couple in their mid/late 30's who have gone through so much in the past two years trying to achieve their dream of a family. It is stories like theirs that inspired me to be a surrogate and I'm honored that they are considering me to help them create their family.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Anniversary of Sorts

Today couldn't have been a better day to wake up on an air mattress in my surrobabes nursery. Three years ago today A&T, two ladies from FSC, Jason and myself all sat around a large conference table for a match meeting. It was awkward, it was emotional, it was exciting. I remember it like yesterday. Three years ago we began working on a dream and the beautiful journey that brought Baby G to A&T's arms.

I enjoyed a slumber party with my surro family last night following a concert attended by myself, a good friend and FIM. The music was great, the food good, and the company was perfect. We ladies had a wonderful time sharing margaritas and then back to join FIF (who was on baby duty) for some late night (morning) conversation. We woke up early and I was happy to get in some snuggles with Baby G and gush over some goofy baby grins & giggles before heading home.

Three years ago ... Wow, once again amazed.

Also just a quick Baby G update. His 6 month appointment went well ... still at the top of the charts 18lbs 12oz (75th) and 28 inches (90th). His new highchair has arrived and he'll be enjoying his first home cooked meal tonight, butternut squash. He also got to test out the new bouncy I got him .. pretty fun stuff!!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Another Journey ???

I wasn't sure where I wanted to share this ... Here? Another separate blog? Well, for now I'll keep everything in one place ... somewhere familiar.

Let's see where do I want to start. First I'll begin by saying ... I shared some news prematurely on my last entry and have since edited it. Here is where you will find "the latest" so read on.

I guess I'll first rewind to a few months ago when I was contacted by a wonderful traditional couple about being a gestational carrier for them. We talked via email and phone multiple times and began to get excited about potentially matching but, after some consideration we decided we were not perfect for one another.

Then in the midst of that I was contacted by another individual seeking a surrogate. This time it was a single intended father who is currently working with a GS friend of mine. His baby boy is due in March and he wanted his family to continue growing with out much delay and was interested in starting a second surrogacy, a "sibling project" in the spring. We discussed matching and decided to move forward with a "match meeting". Over dinner we got to know one another, it went great and we decided to move forward. My desire was to not start the process till after the New Year so for the time being things were on pause. In the weeks following our match I began to do some soul searching and decided I wasn't entirely comfortable with my choice. My original inspiration to pursue surrogacy was my heavy heart for those couples affected by infertility. I realized I wasn't passionate about my new match and it was missing something. I made the hard decision to contact the IF and express that I just didn't feel I was the right surrogate for him.

So that brings me up to present times. I'm proceeding cautiously after now talking with two IPs and realizing that neither was my perfect match. It was just so easy the first time ... I think I expected it to be the same this go around especially considering I'm "experienced" and know (or at least thought I knew) what would be my ideal match. I try to remember that although I felt connected with A&T from the beginning we weren't instant friends. Our relationship was built over 2.5 years and shaped by our journey; the ups, the downs and everything in between. I'm anxious to find my perfect second match and have decided to go back to working with the agency I used the first go around. I know one thing, I want to be a surrogate again ... the questions is for whom?

~ Tiffany ~