Sharing Surrogacy

It's a snow day here in Northern Illinois - schools are closed and several businesses including the dental office I work at.  I figured this would be a good time for me to catch up in the blog world and see what all my fellow surrogates have been up to.  That's when I came across a post that I wanted to share with you all regarding talking to others about surrogacy.

Just like my fellow surro-sister and blogger Jeni (Love Makes a Family), I get emails frequently from both woman considering to be a surrogate and woman (men)  looking to build a family through surrogacy.  I find great joy in answering questions and helping them navigate the complex world of surrogacy.  I am an open book and I'm proud to share my experiences and also the knowledge I've acquired over my almost six years in the surrogacy community.  My dream would to be able to do this as a job, perhaps working for or owning an agency but, until then I'm content connecting with these women in my free time.

I hear from hopeful intended parents praising me for what a selfless thing I've done but, I always respond by saying that my life has been enriched by surrogacy just as much as the couples I've helped.  It's an amazing process that has helped me grow emotionally and challenged me to be a more loving, caring, understanding person.  I also love to share my experience with other woman hoping to follow in my footsteps and become a surrogates themselves.  I can't say I've ever convinced anyone to be a surro, it's something they already feel and have a passion for - they just sometimes need a helping hand navigating the process and an idea of where to get started.

The following post has a lot of useful information and tips about how to broach the topic of surrogacy and discuss the subject with others.  Love Makes a Family - Talking With Others About Surrogacy

As always, please feel free to email me - surrogates & intended parents alike.  I love hearing from blog readers and being of help if I can.

Time for a Mini Update

Hello there everyone!  I hope the start to the New Year has been treating you all well.  We've been very busy getting settled into our new life and routine.  I've been back at my old job at the dental office for several months now and I really am enjoying it.  Getting accustomed to the new schedule is another thing, I'm not use to being away from home and the girls so much but, we're chugging along.  We LOVE our new home and hosted a housewarming party last weekend with a wonderful turnout.  Thank you so much to all who joined us or sent their congrats.

Besides the obvious day to day stuff that's been keeping me busy, I've challenged myself to become more fit and spend several hours at the gym each week.  Although I feel comfortable in my own skin and think that despite 6 pregnancies and 7 babies over the last 18 years I'm doing alright, it is my mission to get in even better shape so that once I reclaim my body for good it will be one I am proud of.  (Yep, I'm not done with surrogacy just yet but no details to share at this time).  I've got some great motivators that keep me going and make the workouts fun.  Five months postpartum with twins and I'm a good 5+ pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight now, 10 pounds from my goal weight and gearing up for my second 5k in a couple of weeks with several others planned for later in the year.  I'm working on increasing my speed before considering longer distances, not sure I'll ever be a "runner" but for now this works. :)  Our family adopted some new eating habits while I was pregnant with the twins so this was just the next step and it's been more enjoyable then I'd have ever imagined.

Another big motivator for the "Me Revolution" was when K&S invited Jason and I to spend a week with them  and the babies in Cabo as our Christmas gift!  We are floored by their generosity and feel so blessed that they have continued to be so kind and so grateful for our role in their journey to become parents.  We are Mexico bound in just 6 weeks and can't wait to spend this time with them enjoying each others company and the sunshine.

Just after our return we'll be visiting with A&T to help them celebrate Giovanni's 3rd birthday - WOW can you believe it!

I'll be sure get lots of pics and I'm sure will have some great stories to share after both visits.  I'm hoping to get us ALL together this summer here at our home too - I'd love a picture with all SEVEN of the "babies" I've had a hand in bringing into this world.

To be continued ...

Transfer Anniversary (Thing 1 & Thing 2)

One year ago today we held our breath as two little embryos were transferred.  It was one try of many ... IM had undergone six  cumulative cycles of IUI and IVF herself and we'd attempted IVF twice already with me - we prayed that this would finally be "it".  I remember how K treated each cycle as if it was the first, she never let the past discourage her and each try brought new hope.  She's one of the most amazingly resilient women I've ever met.

We waited in our lucky socks to be brought back and the procedure went off perfectly - well almost.  ("Transferred!") After that we waited a very long 4.5 days to test and were excited, but very cautious, when we saw that very first BFP. ("We Have An Overachiever").  Then there was a week of doubling betas, with slightly higher than average numbers, followed by a series of confirmation ultrasounds which let us know that yes indeed, there was not just one but TWO babies snuggling in. ("Two for Two!") It was a month long high filled with anticipation, excitement, and emotion.  Wow, how things can change in a year.

Happy Transfer Anniversary K&S, Ryan & Mason !!!

5 day old embryos

Ryan and Mason - 4 months

Love you guys,
Miss Tiffany

Family Pictures

Picture sharing time!  Finally, for the first time in probably what's been four years, my family had pics taken.  My dear friend Daisy's husband joined us at our new home for a lil photo shoot and the pics turned out wonderful.  The new lil family also had pics taken recently.  I've added a few to the PHOTO ALBUM here on the site.  The boys are getting so big and are just adorable!

I had the pleasure of helping K celebrate her birthday in Chicago last weekend.  Of course no visit would be complete without some snuggles.  The boys are "talking" and giggling and such happy guys.  They are just adorable together, cooing and smiling away at one another.  They have no idea how lucky they are to have each other and no doubt will be best buds.

I also recently chatted on the phone with Giovanni.  He's a lil chatter box and had no reservation telling me all about his Christmas.  They headed out this week for another visit to Europe, this is his third trip and this time he'll be seeing the sights in Paris. 

Here are a few of our family pics and don't forget to check out the others in the album. 

Isabelle (5)  Abrienne (18)  Chloe (12) & Lauren (8)

photos by Jacob Mathison

Happy Holidays (an update)

I've missed you all!  These last few weeks have been so busy it's unreal and my blogging time has been limited.  To catch you up to speed real quick.  While on maternity leave I decided to close my home daycare - a very hard decision but, it felt right for the entire family.  I'd invested six years into my business, one that I was very proud of but, with Izzy in Kindergarten now my passion to be at home wasn't as strong and I felt it was time to move on.  I was very excited to be hired back at my previous job returning to my position as a dental assistant.  Also during all of this Jason and I came across a house that we fell in love so, we've purchased a new home!  We moved in a few weeks ago and are getting settled day by day.  It's been a crazy few months and then throw in that we were right in the middle of the holidays and ... Yikes!!  Things are all falling into place.  We are adjusting to the new schedules and LOVE the setting of our new home - we've been blessed.

Ryan (L) Mason (R)

As for surro news, things have been fairly quiet.  I stopped pumping for the twins late November which is always bittersweet.  It was the end of me nourishing them and providing for them but, I'm happy to have my body back and be able to focus on me again.  K&S and the boys came out for a visit and final milk run early December and I was able to get in some snuggles.  Ryan and Mason are lil chunky monkeys full of smiles and cooing - just adorable.  (click pic to enlarge)

They all spent their Christmas in Minnesota visiting K's side of the family and made a few stops along the way.  One of those was to the ER, poor lil Ryan wasn't well so they spent the better part of a day in the hospital while the staff observed him and ran some tests.  It turned out to be a UTI, poor guy!  It sounds like after lots of TLC from mom and dad and antibiotics he is doing better.  We'll be seeing on another again in just a couple of weeks when Jason and I head into the city for K's bday - we plan to stay overnight and I can't wait to get in some cuddles with the boys that next morning before we head home.

I've been checking in on Giovanni and family this holiday season as well.  They spent Christmas with family in the area and have headed out to Myrtle Beach for their annual vaca.  They'll only be home for a short while before they travel to France end of January.  I'm hoping we can all connect soon and have them out for a visit after they return.

A year ago this time I was starting meds for the cycle that would bring about the twins - it seems like just yesterday.  This has been an amazing year for many reasons and I feel very blessed to have two beautiful surro-families and so many other loving friends and family.  Thank you all for a beautiful 2012 and can't wait to see what the new year brings!!

Happy Holidays and wishing you all the best in 2013!!!

Thankful for these Little Turkeys

How can Thanksgiving pass us by without a post of how very thankful I am for my surro families.  These lil faces and Mr. G's  are so very special to me and I feel so blessed to have the three boys and their parents in my life.