Beat, Beat, Beat.... That's The Sound of Life

We were anxiously awaiting our next ultrasound, which was scheduled for February 3rd according to our personalized itinerary. February 3rd in Mumbai would actually be the evening of February 2nd here in Arizona, WOW! where did the time go? It's here already! This was an important test. It had been on both our minds from the very first day we learned that we were pregnant, but being a positive guy, I didn't really put any thought into the fact that we may receive bad news.

I was 100% certain that everything was alright and I went about doing things around the house to keep busy, while we waited to hear from the docs. Rhonda and I decided to go on the internet to check out our fellow bloggers and as we were looking and reading, up popped a message on Skype from Dr. Sudhir. He was letting us know that our amazing surrogate KT had arrived at the clinic and was with Dr.Yash, and she would be going to get the ultrasound done very soon. Dr. Sudhir said how beautiful KT looked and how wonderful her husband was and what great care he was taking of her. This was all so exciting. Rhonda and I had been to the clinic and more specifically, Rhonda had an ultrasound done in the doctor's office downstairs by Dr.Yash on our last trip. In our minds we were able to picture what it looked like and we also were even able to see the doctor as we had the pleasure of meeting him as well. Here is a picture of Rhonda at the clinic (just insert KT instead of her).

Rhonda and Dr.Sudhir talked back and forth and I asked him to be our ears and listen to the heart beat for us. At one time he wished us luck that everything would go well. What? Luck, you mean there is a chance that there could be something wrong? Rhonda was so excited and ran off to the shower. I then got on the computer and talked with Dr.Sudhir as I waited anxiously for the results. Why was it taking so long? Was something wrong? Minutes seemed like hours! Still no results. I continued to wait patiently. Dr.Sudhir then said that it could take some time, so Rhonda and I should both go and get some sleep since it was very late, and he would call when he had the results. Sure, easy to say, how could I sleep? I was a nervous wreck!

Rhonda on the other hand was calm. So we tried to sleep as best we could, which in reality, I just laid there hoping and praying that everything would be alright. After an hour or so, the phone rang. This was it, would our journey continue, or would it come to an abrupt end?

Rhonda answered the phone and Dr.Sudhir gave her the results. She put it on speaker phone and told him to repeat what he said. "A single live fetus is noted in well defined gestation sac with good fetal cardiac activity." Fantastic news, we reached another milestone!

We could finally sleep...ya right! Now we were way too pumped to sleep. We both laid there in each others arms talking of our dreams coming true and how very elated we were, was this really happening? We were having a baby!

Here is our little one's first photo (it's kinda hard to see) he/she is there with their little heart beating away. We created a life...AMAZING!


On to our first trimester mark...March 10th!

Okay, so I cracked....

I bought something! Just a little something....so does it really count? Just a great big stuffed elephant from IKEA, that I just COULDN'T resist! I know, I know, I totally went against my word! But...I couldn't resist and it reminds me of India.

Then, I went into work on Monday morning to find a gift bag stuffed with gifts sitting on my desk from my good friend and assistant Jo . She tried to pull one over on me, by saying, 'Well, you said that YOU weren't buying anything, but you didn't say WE couldn't! Then she said, well, you can leave it in the garage if you want, I won't be insulted! She is way too cute! She truly has been such a huge fan of our blog and an even bigger support to me since we first met in April.

Today, it's Super Bowl Sunday and it will be interesting this year. With Dad, a die-hard Pittsburg Steelers fan playing our very own home town Arizona Cardinals it is sure to make it a fun time at our home in front of the big screen TV, watching and cheering on each team and enjoying Mom's home made chilli.

In the meantime we are keeping busy. Gerry's 24 hours off from the Fire Station are spent trying to convince me 'that the next 7 months will go by very quickly, so he REALLY needs to start work on the nursery.' I came home the other day to see our 'office' (which I am now required to refer to as 'the baby's room') empty. He just makes me laugh. I did however purchase the Baby Bargains Book on Amazon (Thanks Mike's) to keep him occupied. So far it has helped as now I get phone calls from him while he is at work about 'no bumper pads in the crib' and the 'best car seat' to purchase. I think he has almost read the entire thing.

We also have been doing some finishing touches on our home decorating. We took our hand made Indian elephant rug we purchased while in Jaipur, and had it framed. The shop owner in Jaipur told us that it took 2 men, 15 days of stitching by hand to complete and we literally paid only a few dollars for it. In fact the framing cost at least 10 times the amount, but it was so worth it to have this beautiful keepsake preserved for us to enjoy daily. This picture of it on the wall totally doesn't do it justice as the elephant is actually sewn to be 3 dimensional. When you all come to visit you will truly be able to see how beautiful it is.

Last night was a fun time. We met S & J and talked non-stop over supper about their clinic Rotunda, and our clinic SI, Mumbai, Indian food and so much more. What wonderful people they are and we had so much to talk about. We were able to show them pictures on our I-touch right there at the restaurant of Dr. Soni (who will deliver their baby) and of the Hiranandani Hospital where their baby will be born (and are's too!!). Funny enough, we also found out they will be picking up their little one at the same time as other members of our extended surrogacy family, The Mike's. It truly makes you realize what a very small world we live in.

Well, gotta run it almost time for the pre-game Super Bowl show.... GO CARDINALS!!!!! (shhhh, Don't tell Dad.)

7 weeks and counting....

Today is our seven week mark, YAY!!!! Another milestone. We are anxiously awaiting our next scan. The Docs keep us regularly posted that our surrogate KT is doing great. She is home resting till her next trip to the clinic sometime this coming week for her 7-8 week ultrasound.

From ParentsConnect online:

Your Baby:

This week your baby's brain is growing at a mind-boggling 100 cells per minute within a see-through skull. If you could peer inside, you'd see those tiny brain cells growing and growing and growing.

More high points include:

Your baby's face is becoming more defined this week. A tiny mouth hole (which will be ready to wail before you know it!), tongue, nostrils and ear indentations are visible. His or her eyes are wide open, but he doesn't have irises (the colored part) yet.
Baby's arm buds are growing. At this point they look more like microscopic ping-pong paddles than arms. Baby's leg buds are also forming and will look like tiny paddles by the end of the week.
The umbilical cord—the connection between your baby and the placenta—is now visible.
Your baby is now between 1/3 and 1/4 inch long—about the length of a Tic Tac and about as heavy as an eyelash. While that sounds tiny, he or she is approximately 10,000 times bigger than at conception. Crazy, huh?

We have plans for dinner tonight with S & J, the local couple who we have been chatting with over the phone. It should be a lot of fun to actually meet people face-to-face who also have a surrogate pregnant in India and share in our feelings and anticipation. I begged S to bring ultrasound photos so we can share in their excitement.

This is a beautiful plaque that I received as a gift from a very special woman I worked with last year. We look at it every day and it truly does give us the inspiration to keep plugging away.

How quickly they grow up...

HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY FRANKIE GIRL!!!!

Hamburger birthday cake, ice cream, a new collar, party hats and balloons! What a PARTY!!! Definitely one we won't soon forget.

Today we spent some time out with friends enjoying the awesome Arizona weather. We also were able to chat with Kristin, Gerry's youngest daughter (21 years old). She is heading to India in just over a month to do missionary work with her church. She is traveling to a small village outside of Kolkata and will be there for 3 months. She is very excited, as are we. What an amazing cultural experience for her. We have a care package to send to her that includes her sari that we had purchased for her during our last visit to Mumbai, and a surprise gift that we know she will LOVE and we will also throw in some Rupees for her to get started once she hits the ground running in India.

Gerry has recruited my Mom to be the official seamstress for the nursery curtains, bumper pads, blankets, etc. I have some sewing experience, but Mom...she is the bomb when it comes to that! Mom and Dad leave to head back to the Great White North in early April, so Gerry is chomping at the bit to get me to allow him to start things early. He has already picked the unisex theme (for those that don't know, it is illegal in India to do sex determination so...the gender of our baby is a complete secret until delivery day). He has also picked the color scheme and has drawn up a complete layout of where the crib, change table and toy storage will go. I know, I know, I am such a big meany by holding him back until the second trimester!

Just 7 weeks to go Sweetie, I know you can do it!!!!

Baby steps (pardon the pun!)

We are officially at 6 weeks today!!!

From ParentsConnect online:

Your Baby:
This week starts a period of rapid cellular development for your baby-to-be, who looks like a mini tadpole, with a tiny head and tail. His or her eyes, ears and mouth have begun to form (though they're a little more Discovery Channel "creatures of the sea" documentary than Gerber Baby at this point).

Other exciting milestones include:

Your baby's heart is now beating to a regular beat, although it's still too faint to hear.

His or her arm buds are just beginning to, well, bud. They look like teensy swollen bumps at this point. In a few days, they'll resemble itsy-bitsy flippers.

Your baby has grown to ⅛ inch long—about the size of one of the chocolate sprinkles on your last cupcake.

Our journey is slowly creeping along, just like baby steps. Our next scan will be the first week in February. We are keeping busy baby window shopping and trying to keep our minds occupied without thinking about our baby growing so far away every single minute. I have been keeping a close eye on Gerry so he doesn't buy out the baby store. He already has all of the plans completed and ready for my go-ahead to start the nursery. I made him promise to wait until we get past the first trimester before we buy and start any baby stuff. But as Carrie Jo said 'if he has to buy, just do it in secret.' Thanks a lot Carrie Jo....now I will be wondering what he is up to for baby when I am not around!

We had an unexpected surprise the other day. I received an email from another couple right here in Mesa (S & J) going through surrogacy in India, who wandered upon our blog. They go and pick up their baby in Mumbai in April. We are planning a supper very soon, to meet and chat about surrogacy stuff. We are really excited about it! What a small world we live in.

Tomorrow is a big day in the Wile household! Frankie turns 13 (that's 91 in dog years!!) and we are planning a Birthday party for her. We are not sure how many more Birthday's we will have with her,(not something I like to talk about) so we are taking advantage of every single day we have with our beautiful girl. She truly is a huge part of our world. Those of you who are animal lovers know EXACTLY what I mean. She has been a part of our family for so long and we include her in just about everything we possibly can. She is like a child to us. I know that everyone thinks their dog is the greatest, and of course we are no different, but she is truly a very special animal. An amazing companion who gives us both her unconditional love and is always full of personality and spunk.

These are pictures of our beautiful Indian brass bell that we received as a gift from the Docs on our very first trip to India. Dr. Sudhir says that it is one of his favorites and that if someone rings it, it wards off evil spirits. It is a good omen and should be hung out at the front of your home. It took forever, but we finally found the perfect place for it outside our front door, right next to our 'Welcome' kokopelli (a Native American fertility God) sign.

We continue to keep track of all of our extended surrogacy family and those that are traveling soon to India for their up coming cycles, those that are in their 2 week wait and especially those that are going to pick up their babies.