Life is GOOD!

I know I sound like a broken record, but we truly are blessed, blessed, blessed!!! Those people I am surrounded by, never cease to amaze me with their goodness and selfishness. You never really know how special some people are until they take you by surprise. I have been in my line of work for many years, and still to this day I am amazed at how wonderful some of my staff can be. Gerry and I have certainly not been shy about telling everyone about our journey. Through the highs and lows we have had so much support and so many kind remarks made to us. One of my Certified Nursing Assistants, who I see once in a blue moon, left me a beautiful card and gift the other day. A Willow Tree ornament and a toy for the baby. When I read the card, it brought tears to my eyes. Then the very next day, I received another smaller version of a similar ornament from a different C.N.A. I never imagined this kind of bighearted gestures from my staff. Being the Boss, you are not always well-liked, and I still believe that its the little things in life that make you a better person. Seeing my staff give to us and more importantly give to my patients so selflessly and with such compassion, makes going to work each and every day worth every moment. I do believe in the old saying, 'what goes around comes around!' and over and over it always proves to be so. The good people prevail and the not so good, well....need I say more.

Dr. Yash called Gerry the other day to say 'hello'. He said that hearing her voice really brought a smile to his face and brightened up his day. It had been a while since he had last heard from her since she was swamped with all of the IP's, surrogates and egg donors that they had to take care of for the past 2 weeks. He took the opportunity to ask how KT was doing and she said "GREAT!, she is so happy" Dr.Yash also said that both her and Dr.Sudhir think of our baby as their own and they are taking great care of KT as if we were there to do it ourselves. That kind of personal service and devotion to their clients is what sets SI apart from the others. And yes, I am a little biased!!

Kristin, Gerry's youngest daughter, and my step-daughter, leaves in just 2 days for India. We couldn't be prouder or more excited for her. We are certain she will adore India and all it has to offer. We are jealous that she will be able to be there for 3 months. We sent her a digital camera, so she can take thousands of photos to remember her once in a lifetime experience. Safe travels Kristin, we love you!

Well for our movie review. Slumdog Millionaire we loved it! Okay, so maybe because we love Mumbai and India in general, but it was a great movie! What made it so special for us was that we knew the places they were talking about and recognized so much of the movie. We are so happy at what it will do for India and for the people of Mumbai. It makes us proud to be a part of such an amazing and diverse country, it's culture and especially, its people.

Life is good...we are on an upward swing right now. Everything in our life is amazing and is going so well, I want to pinch myself every day! It has been so long since our lives were this wonderful. Our dreams are becoming a reality. I truly can't remember the last time when we felt this GREAT! Please God don't let me wake up from this beautiful dream!

It's the little things in life that make you smile!

This week, as each day passes we wonder how KT is and how the Docs are doing with so many clients to take care of all at once . Tonight we got an unexpected phone call from Dr. Sudhir while he was sitting in the infamous cafe at Lilavati Hospital. Both him and Dr. Yash had just one more egg retrieval to do after a very long and busy week. He sounded so exhausted and we are certain that Dr. Yash is feeling the same. They work so hard and give 110% to each and every client. But I don't need to tell that to those of you that know them!! It was wonderful to hear his voice and it really made our evening. He said KT was 'feeling well and is very happy, and her husband is a very nice man and also very happy.' Those little bits of information are the things that allow us to picture in our minds how our pregnancy is progressing acrosss the miles.
We found some great surrogacy themed t-shirts on the internet on Cafepress.com. We are both so very proud and excited about our journey and the fact that we are having a baby. Gerry's t-shirt got a few funny looks tonight as we went out for supper with my Mom and Dad. I wonder if people understand it when they read it?

There are so many clients of Surrogacy India now in the 2 week wait. We can't wait to hear the great news on many positive pregnancy's in the coming weeks. (Jojo and Jackie you are not far from our thoughts)

Tomorrow our plans are to go and see the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" It has gotten such great reviews and seeing it i'm sure will bring back so many memories that we got to personally experience in Mumbai. We will be sure to give you all our personal opinion of the movie once we see it.

Spoiled, Spoiled child!

Our baby is truly so spoiled already and they aren't even here yet.

I arrived at work to find that Jo had put a huge (not exaggerating) lamb on my office chair. Of course there was also a big toad (for those who are familiar with my nickname they will toad-ally get that one) and a whole bag full of lotions, and Bath and Body stuff for KT. She never ceases to amaze me! She is the most sweet and thoughtful person. The real funny thing about it all, was the card she attached to the stuffed animals that said they were both for Frankie because she knew she wasn't supposed to be buying for the baby just yet. The card read:

Frankie,

I saw these and thought of you. If you want to give them to your brother or sister that's okay.

Love, Jo

Okay Jo...only 2 more weeks to go, then you don't have to get so creative, but I still absolutely adore you for it. You are the BEST!!!

My amazing stylist, Amanda who is a busy new Mom to her sweet little girl, Riley Love born Dec. 6th is already set to plan the whole baby shower. My big Sis, Tracy who is already very busy planning a wedding and moving says, 'this is the first of the gifts!' My lovely boss, Pat who leaves me much to soon to take on another job says she has started to knit and of course my Mom, says she 'can't wait to buy, buy, buy!' I know I must be missing someone (sorry for that) as it seems like everyone who finds out is ecstatic for us. We are very blessed!

So once again I repeat we have a truly spoiled baby...already!

10 WEEKS tomorrow....

Your Baby

By the end of Week 10, your baby graduates from embryo to fetus, which literally means "little one." It also translates to "I'm just going to keep getting bigger and bigger and so are you(KT)!"

Other highlights this week:

Your baby has finally morphed from a little tadpole into, well, a baby. Not only is the face more human-like, but that unflattering "tail" (really just the developing spinal cord) has disappeared, fusing into the spinal column.

Your baby now has discernible fingers and toes, which will explain the steady stream of kicks and punches you'll(KT'll)feel down the line.

Junior's skeleton is starting to grow and harden. The ears are beginning to take shape and the eyelids are no longer transparent. Tooth buds are forming, although your baby won't get any teeth until six or seven (or eight or nine or 10) months after birth.

Baby's brain will make an incredible 25,000 new neurons every minute this week.

If you're baby is a boy, he's started producing that macho hormone testosterone. And whether your baby is a boy or a girl, the kidneys are creating copious amounts of urine. Lucky for you, you won't have to change a diaper for another 30 weeks.

Baby weighs only 4 grams and measures 1½ inches, about the size of a mondo Brazil nut.

Penny from heaven...

9 WEEKS!!!!

Your Baby:

Big news! You may be able to hear the heartbeat this week with the help of a Doppler, an ultrasound device that captures the chug-a-chug sound of baby's heart. (Oh how wonderful that would be!!!!) The first time you hear baby's heart, your own heart may skip a beat—it's the first real evidence that there's someone growing inside you (or KT)!

Other amazing developments this week:

Baby is beginning to move, but KT won't be able to feel anything for some time.

Baby is growing nipples and hair follicles (although there's still a chance you'll be giving birth to a baldy!) His pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and anus are all in place, ready to poop and pee a dozen times a day when he's born. Your baby's head is half the size of his body and his little chin is tucked into his chest. His tiny tail is beginning to shrink away, giving Junior a more human and less amphibious look.

Until now, all pre-babies look the same "down there." This week, however, your baby will begin to develop either male or female genitalia. In layman terms, your baby is beginning to develop her hoo-ha or his wee-wee. While you won't be able to find out the gender of your baby for several more weeks (or in our case till birth), the version you'll give birth to is being developed right now.


At this stage, your developing fetus is 1-inch in length, about the size of a martini olive (you remember martinis, don't you?) and weighs a mere 2 grams—a little less than a penny.

I woke this morning to 3 Valentines cards? 1. from my wonderful husband 2. from my sweet girl Frankie and 3. from my soon to be baby. AWWWW...It brought tears to my eyes. My husband is so thoughtful, I think he's a keeper!

Last night I got to chat via Skype with the Doctors and KT. She was at the clinic with her friend who is also a surrogate, so Dr. Yash decided to do a scan on KT while she was there. She was all smiles, dressed in a beautiful baby blue sari and her eyes light up when she smiles. She had her 5 year old son with her. What a cutie he is. I asked them what they would like from America. KT said 'whatever we would like to send.' Okay...that narrows it down??? So sweet she is. So, I asked Dr. Yash to see if she could get her to be a little more specific. She told me cars, guns and superhero's are all things her little ones like, but still wouldn't tell me anything special for her. We have done this a few times before so, we have quite a few ideas about what to send. Women are women and most love the girlie stuff, lotions, jewelry, outfits, personal stuff. So I will have lots of fun shopping for all of that and Gerry can shop for the superhero stuff and toy cars. A few minutes later Dr. Yash said KT's little boy was looking for his gift, he wanted it right away. So very cute, a true child ! I was so very surprised and happy to hear from the Docs as I know how very busy they are right now with quite a few clients currently in India. I felt very special that they took the time to call and let me talk to KT and see her beautiful face while she was at the clinic.

Only 3 short weeks till we hit another milestone...end of 1st trimester! I can't wait!!! and neither can Gerry for that matter. He can finally start buying, building and preparing for baby. (not that I don't think he secretly has already started)

What will they look like? Hmmm.....

A growing baby at 8 weeks:Well can you believe it, today we had rain! and of all things hail. It was only for a short time, but it still happened none the less. That is not a very common sight for us here in the desert of beautiful Arizona. After sleeping in a bit, since we were up late last night playing a board game with Rhonda's Mom and Dad and 2 of our wonderful neighbors, we decided that since it was a bit gloomy out, what a great day for more baby window shopping, my favorite!!

So we set off to Scottsdale and Babies 'R' Us. We decided to stop first for a bite to eat for lunch and happened upon a Red Robin restaurant which, from one of the recent Parents magazines was voted one of the top 10 family friendly restaurants in the US. We had never eaten there and thought let's see what it was all about. In we went and were immediately met by several children who were getting balloons at the front. Everywhere we looked there seemed to be families and lots and lots of children. I guess the word got out!!!

We were seated, and as we waited to be served we looked around and noticed that in the family next to us, several of the family members were from India. Rhonda noticed that they had a little girl with them and it was her 1 year old birthday and they were celebrating (my beautiful wife has a knack for noticing babies and dogs!). Rhonda said to me "Isn't she beautiful?" I looked over at her and said that she was a cutie. What Rhonda said next really struck me, she said "that's what our baby might look like." I looked back at the family. This time I noticed that the husband was white and the wife was Indian. She had a lot of similarities to our egg donor, some of the same features, the same fair skin complexion, and the same long dark wavy hair. We couldn't help but think that maybe that is what our baby will look like. Wow, it was very overwhelming. The thought of this brought tears to our eyes, tears of joy!!! I am certain that we are not alone with these thoughts. I am sure that other couples who have used an egg donor, wonder what their child will look like. We couldn't help but stare at the little baby, so beautiful.

I, being an overly-friendly guy, and a self proclaimed ambassador for India, couldn't help but want to talk with the family. I seized an opportunity when the Grandfather was about to take a picture of the family celebrating. I offered to take the picture with all of them in it, you can't leave out the Grandfather!! As he thanked me for taking the picture, I asked him where his family is from. He said he and his wife have lived in the US for 47 years, but were originally from Hyderabad, India. Wow!! this is where our awesome Doctor Sudhir is from, what a small world. As we talked, we told him that we were admiring his beautiful granddaughter, as we too were expecting a child, a child that will be born in Mumbai. He was very happy for us and this immediately made him open up to us. He grabbed my hand and said congratulations and continued to hold my hand as he talked. For those of you that have had the opportunity to travel and experience India, you would know that this is common in the Indian culture. It is a sign of friendship between men, and I knew this.

There are some little things in life that happen that bring a big smile to your face, and that moment we spent talking to him and admiring the beautiful baby girl was one of them.