The Itch & Looking Ahead

I have two  friends in the TWW right now, trying to conceive for themselves with the help of IVF and I'm so anxious for them!!!  I also have a couple of good surro friends in the matching and cycling phases of repeat surrogacy journeys.  I have to be honest and say, I've got the itch!!!  Talking about the process with them gets me excited about possibly either helping K&S complete their family or helping another couple have a child through the miracle of surrogacy.

As some of you know K&S asked last December, when the boys were only 8 weeks old, if I might carry for them again. I answered without hesitation and told them I absolutely would love to help them with a sibling journey.  We hadn't discussed a timeline so I chatted with K again the other day, 8 months after our initial conversation, and my impression is that she may feel she was overly ambitious to think they'd be ready for another baby anytime soon. LOL  We didn't come to any absolute decisions but, the game plan is to touch base about this again in March and see where they are at with the idea of adding to their family.  At the earliest we'd be looking to move forward end of Summer 2014.  If come early next year they aren't sure of a plan, I may look to help another couple but for now I am completely content to give K&S some time to decide what they want for their family's future.

My sweet surroguys are now 10 months old and on the move, crawling and "walking" with help.  K said they are always off in separate directions which keeps Mom, Dad and Nanny very busy.  The boys have been getting their share of bumps and bruises from pulling themselves up and falling down - it's hard to watch over TWO babies at all times but, according to a short article I recently read, 7 Surprising Perks of Raising Twins, it's a good thing.  Twin parents don't get to be "helicopter parents" so their children are more likely to be independent and stand on their own two feet (pun intended).

We have a visit with K&S and the boys coming up in a few weeks, can't wait to spend some time with them all again.

Goofy Lil Guys

The boys are getting so big and really expressing themselves these days.  I just love that K shares pics and videos with friends and family on a regular basis, I adore watching the boys and peeking in on their family moments.

Ryan and Mason are now 9 ... almost 10 months old!!  I can.not.believe that their 1st birthday is coming up so quickly.  They both have a couple of teeth, are on the move learning how to crawl and keeping their parents busy this summer for sure.

I knew having two babies would change the simplistically modern decor of
K&S's home but, this isn't quite what I had in mind. LOL

Ryan up to no good!

Silly boys

Blogging for Surrogacy

As part of the Surrogacy Together - Blogging For Surrogacy campaign I'd like to introduce you to a few new surrogacy blogs I've recently started following.   Thank you ladies (and gentlemen) for sharing your stories!

Newer to me blogs ....

• Unexpected Grace  This is our kinda normal.  The norm of love and life in a petri dish. Our family's story of faith, love and determination thru 9 IUI's, 8 IVF, and 8 miscarriages ... not to mention dealing with all of that in the mist of 7 overseas deployments.  Gearing up for the exciting new journey of IVF #9 and the selfless heart of a gestational surrogate and her family.  Where there is a will, there is a way ... and unexpected miracles.   
• New York Stork Exchange  Documenting a first journey through surrogacy.  Kristen - a 26 year old mother of two and wife to a solider is carrying for a same sex couple in New York, NY.  
• It.Started.With.A.Bump  The bumpy road of a surrogate, military wife and mother of one.  Kristen was a surrogate for a family member and they all welcomed sweet Liam early April 2013.  

You can find links to these and several other wonderful surrogacy related blogs in the right margin under "Blogs of Interest".   Enjoy!

Surrogacy Together

Awhile back I made a post about Sharing Surrogacy and how I have a passion for educating and helping potential gestational surrogates and intended parents navigate the process.  A campaign was started somewhat recently bringing attention to just that very cause and I wanted to share some information.


Surrogacy Together; Mission Statement; Surrogacy Together is non-profit organization based in San Diego, CA. Our Mission is to share inspiring stories about the Surrogacy community with the world.  We will educate and advocate for Surrogacy by sharing our uplifting, compelling, and empowering personal stories.  We will share stories about our successful Surrogacy journeys and our happiest moments.  We will create a visual story through our Photo Campaign sharing "What Surrogacy Means to Me" with the world.  We will host events to educate future Intended Parents and Surrogates about the process and how to get started.  We will provide financial grants to individuals and couples that otherwise would not be able to move forward with Surrogacy.  We will host annual Celebrations to share our joy with everyone that has helped us Co-Create our "Family through teamwork".

I've revised a previous post from my blog to share on their site. It gives a glimpse of my surrogacy journeys and described what it means to me to be a surrogate. (A Journey of Love & Passion Towards Parenthood)  I couldn't imagine having a more worthwhile passion.  I am so very proud of the 3 beautiful lives and 2 special families I've helped create through the surrogacy process and I'm forever grateful to have had this life changing opportunity.

Please visit their website for more information.

Bringing Everyone Together

It's been a week ago already but, wanted to share that I was able to have a wonderful visit with both of my surrofams recently at our house.  I'm so very lucky that they are close and we can do this from time to time.

K&S arrived with the boys late afternoon and we were able to visit together and play with babies for a little while.  This was the first time my girls had seen Ryan and Mason since they were about 8 weeks old.  They enjoyed  the lil chubby guys and got a lot of smiles out of them.  A&T got to our house a little later and Giovanni immediately ran off with the girls.

We all enjoyed dinner together over some wine.  There were some laughs over me accidentally adding Russian whiskey to my rhubarb vinaigrette reduction vs. balsamic white vinegar (the bottles were nearly identical!!) and the fact that we have a shortage of steak knives in our house and T resorted to using an 8" chefs knife to cut his steak. LOL  The meal was great and we all enjoyed each others company and as always had plenty to talk about.  Good times.

After some delicious dessert from a bakery in the city, K&S packed up the their sleeping boys and headed home.  A&T lingered well into the evening and we finished off another couple more bottles of wine.  The day came together perfectly.  A little time with each family individually and some time all together as well.

I didn't snap any pics, we were just so busy talking and eating that I never even got out the camera.  I had hoped I'd get a picture or two of all the kids together, our four plus the three surroguys but, maybe next time - as I'm sure there will be a next time.

255 Days and Counting ...

As of this week, Ryan and Mason will have been in K&S's arms the same number of days they grew under my heart.  It was an amazing 255 days that I will never forget.  Thank you K&S for trusting your lil guys to me for those 36 weeks.

The last 8 months are only the beginning for this family and I can't wait to watch them as they continue to love, laugh and live together.

Love you all,
Tiffany

September 2012 - 255 days then ...

May 2013 - 255 days now.
(Ryan - L, Mason - R)