Contracts Done, Cycling Has Begun

Things came together quickly and we are moving forward full steam ahead with the new journey.

After Jason and I got our med clearance it was immediately onto contracts.  We were able to work out the details within a couple of weeks time but not without a few revisions and compromises - which is to be expected when negotiating something so complex.  We made it just under the wire, legal was due to the clinic by 4:30 PM on Friday the 17th in order for me to start my med protocol the next Monday.  The final changes were approved just after 4:00 PM and Jason and I were signing our copy of the documents to be faxed minutes before the deadline.  It was a little intense.

We've also run into some challenges when it comes to verifying that I can use the maternity benefits under my insurance policy to cover a surrogate pregnancy.  You'd think that they would simply be able to tell you "yes" or "no" but as with most things related to insurance, that's not so easy and getting it in writing is near impossible.  We finally were able to get documentation that will hopefully satisfy the requirement, but it was not without a lot of hassle and headache.

Meds began on Monday and all is well so far.  I am experiencing some headaches from the Lupron but they usually don't come until late evening and at that time I just head to bed and sleep them off.  My first monitoring appointment is this upcoming Wednesday which is for a baseline u/s and bloodwork.  If all looks good we will continue to move forward with the protocol.

Ryan (left) & Mason (right) - One year photos

On a side note. Today marks two years since two little embryos were lovingly transferred to me for safe keeping.  Can't believe that much time has passed by already and that they are 16 months old now.  Many hugs to my sweet surroguys Ryan and Mason.  XOXO

Tiffany

New Beginnings - The Start of GSx3

This blog entry has been a difficult one for me to piece together.  I'm excited to share what's ahead but a lot has transpired in the last couple of months and I don't want to be so incredibly wordy that no one gets to the end of this post.

I'll start with a quick summary of the last year .  A few times throughout my journey with K&S they expressed how happy they were to be expecting twins so that they would not have to go through the very emotional experience of IVF and surrogacy again.  They would have a beautiful family of four and two little boys who had one another as lifelong friends.  However, not long after Ryan and Mason were born, they brought up the topic of a sibling and for the last year we've all entertained the possibility of another journey.

Now lets go even further back ... when I was 30 weeks along with the boys a hopeful Intended Mother reached out to me looking for guidance through the process of surrogacy and curious to know if I had plans to carry again.  Of course at the time, VERY pregnant with twins, I was uncertain what the future held but knew that if I were able I would complete another journey.  In short, I couldn't really answer her question but I was more than willing to help her and her husband navigate the often overwhelming world of surrogacy.  We kept in touch, months went by ... they contacted the agency (FSC) I had used both of my previous journeys hoping to find a local match.  While waiting, she went through a couple of ER cycles hoping to have embryos ready to go when they did find their Angel.  This past fall they successfully created "maybe babies" that were frozen in hopes to transfer them to a GS in the future.

As the year has flown by the idea of a journey in the upcoming year has become questionable for K&S, their dose of double trouble is keeping them very busy!  On my end, the more time that passed the more anxious and ready I've become.  My original thought was that I wanted to start next fall, then I thought summer, then spring ... then I realized, I was ready now!  Surrogacy is such a huge part of who I am and I was becoming restless with the idea of waiting, but also didn't want to pressure them or give a deadline.

As the other couples journey began to unfold we continued to stay in touch and I felt more and more connected to this IM.  I wanted to do more than just help them navigate surrogacy - I wanted to be their surrogate, but still felt committed to K&S.  I reached out to K again wanting her thoughts and decided, that if in time they wanted to add to their family I'd be happy to carry again for them, but that I would regret not exploring the possibility of working with the wonderful IM I had been in touch with and had developed a relationship with over the last year.  That was late October.

After making my decision things moved quickly.  I excitedly told them I would be their surrogate!!!  They were excited as well but cautious because we had one major hurdle to overcome, my grand multipapa status and getting the RE's approval.  My pregnancy/delivery records were reviewed and without issue, I was given the go ahead to schedule a med/psych evaluation. Everything still hinged on the saline u/s and the condition of my uterus, especially since my last delivery had been by c/s.  Yesterday I got the thumbs up and was told everything looked "beautiful".  I even left with a cycle calendar, med schedule and transfer date - very exciting!  We've already retained attorneys so the next step is to get contracts finished so that I can start meds mid January for our February 20th FET.   That's less than 8 weeks away!

So with that news ...

We are all very eager and I can't wait to tell you more about this wonderful couple, share the story of how they came to surrogacy, and the journey that will hopefully bring a miracle to this very special family.

Baby Steps,
Tiffany

Lights Galore

This past weekend we headed into the city to visit my first surrofam, A&T and Giovanni.  We were welcomed by a little voice behind an open door, "Hello, come into my house".  Mr. G had fun showing the girls his toys while A&T, Jason and I warmed up with some festive cocktails and catching up.

We later set out for the Lincoln Park Zoo where they do an event each year, lighting up the zoo with thousands of Christmas lights.  The displays were quite impressive.  The weather was not as frigid as it had been in recent days but cold nonetheless.  The kids surprisingly lasted a full two hours as we walked around looking at the sights and admiring the Chicago skyline.

We then headed back to A&T's home to thaw out and have dinner. T made us a fabulous meal.  We enjoyed each course with a bottle of wine to compliment the region of Italy the dish originated from.  We wrapped up with dessert around 1 o'clock in the morning and then retired for the night quite content from all the food and drink.

In the morning we woke ourselves up with some coffee, gathered up the girls and said our goodbyes.  It's always so nice to see them and can see this outing becoming a yearly tradition.

There are more photos in the RECENT album. :)

Happy Thanksgiving

I've cooked a few "turkeys" in my day and they each have a special place in my heart.  I am thankful for my four beautiful daughters, I'm so fortunate to have been a surrogate to three handsome surrogys and consider my ability to help the families I have through surrogacy such a blessing.  Much love to each of them.

Speaking of blessings, I'm hoping to help a wonderful new set of Intended Parents I have been talking with expand their family in 2014 as I embark on GSx3!!  More details to come soon!

Happy Fall Y'all !!

Mason

A couple of weeks ago we meet up with K&S and the boys (GSx2) for a day filled of fun at the Pumpkin Patch.  We thought we were going to be rained out but actually we just missed the dreary weather and the sun came out for our get together.  There were animals galore of all varieties, Ryan and Mason loved watching them - especially the giraffe!  They cruised around in the stroller while my girls ran about exploring all the neat sites and activities.  We are definitely going to make this a yearly get together and I can't wait to watch the boys join in on the fun as they get older.

Ryan

The boys are getting so big and have been on the move for some time now.  They cruise around things without any trouble and have been taking unassisted steps as well.  They are both lil chatterboxes talking lots of jibberish but no real words as of yet.  They are hitting all their milestones and doing great!  K says she's been getting them out more and awhile back enrolled them in a play gym where they get to socialize with other little ones.  They keep everyone busy and on their toes.

Double Trouble - Mason (L) Ryan (R)

The family recently said goodbye to their Au Pair Jackie who has been with them since just before the boys arrival.  She was a great help to K&S as they adjusted to parenthood and took such good care of the boys.  Their new caregiver joined this bustling household a couple of weeks ago and it sounds like the transition is going well.

I just love spending time with these guys and I'm looking forward to possibly seeing them again over the holiday season and also hoping to connect with A&T and Giovanni (GSx1) soon too.

Be sure to check out the pictures.  You can find photos of our afternoon together under the RECENT album. :)

Happy Birthday Sweet Surrotwins !!!

36w2d - eve of their arrival

September 17th last year started out like most any ordinary day, well as ordinary as being 36 weeks pregnant with twins as a surrogate can be that is.  I knew the days of carrying K&S's babies were numbered but had no idea what the next 24 hours had in store.

Around 2 PM I got the first inkling that I might be in for a long night but wasn't ready to admit I was experiencing the very beginnings of labor.  I'd said it before when very pregnant with Giovanni (GSx1) that although I thought I of all people should know what labor would feel like, seeing as I'd been through it several times before, those last weeks bring so many aches, pains and twinges that it starts to become difficult to differentiate between what is normal and what could be labor.  Finally at 10 PM I let K&S know they should be on high alert, I was going to go in for monitoring and see what became of it.  Jason and I drove off to hospital and chit chatted about this and that and at some point realized, this very familiar trip had just become the norm for us. We arrived at the hospital and headed to our destination very relaxed and calm, nothing like our first experience doing this together more than 12 years ago.  I know however that back at K&S's Chicago home the atmosphere was very different.  Oh how I wish I could have seen their reaction when I called them right around Midnight and said it was time to get the car and drive - they were likely going to meet their boys very soon!!

The next few hours after that went by so very fast and early the morning of September 18th, 2012 Ryan Brady made is entrance into the world at 5:38 AM weighing 5lbs 6oz and Mason Andrew just minutes later at 5:41 AM weighing 5lbs 12oz. They were perfect in every way.  Living those moments as I watched K&S lay eyes on their sons for the first time were surreal.  If you'd like to read the birth story in it's entirety you can find it here, WELCOME BABIES!!!

I've been so very lucky over this past year to have been able to watch these two lil guys grow.  Since their birth we've been to one another's homes multiple times, we've vacationed with them in Mexico and we just recently visited them in Minnesota where we celebrated their baptism and birthday surrounded by friends and family. You ask anyone that knows me and they will tell you how very thankful I am that K&S continue to share these two lil munchkins with me and how very proud and blessed I feel.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN & MASON 

- Love, Miss Tiffany -

Mason  (L) & Ryan (R)

I've added lots of photos to the album.  Contact me for the password.