CHANGES

Today was a good day. After much soul searching and discussion, I resigned from my current position as Director of Nursing. For the first time in 8 years I will be punching a time clock, wearing scrubs and just being responsible for me and my patients. No long days, constant stress, calls in the middle of night, responsible for everyone anymore!!!

I am SO excited to be taking a break from all of this and finally just be going to work, doing my job, coming home and being able to concentrating on just me, my husband, our puppy, and our upcoming family.

I have to give a 30 day notice, but it is nice to see the light at the end of the tunnel. My staff has been so incredibly supportive and all have said what a wonderful job I have done and how I will be greatly missed. That makes the last year so worth while.

I am getting my priorities in order and Gerry always says it best, "We work to live, not live to work." A job, is a job, is a job, and they come and go, but family is forever and you only get one shot to do it right. I'm going to do everything in my power to try and get it right my first go around.

Everyone keeps reminding me that this is my first official Mother's Day. WOW...I keep forgetting that I am a Mommy. Won't be much longer before it is a constant reminder. I can't wait!

I am amazed we are already at 22 weeks. We are still without pictures of our scan done while we were in Mumbai. Dr. S's computer crashed and so we are patiently waiting for our keepsake photos of our precious angel. Looks like so far you think its a boy...

Your Baby at 22 weeks:

Your Mini's hands have grown bigger and stronger and the nerve endings in her fingers have developed her sense of touch. She's in there testing out her newfound abilities by touching her face and grabbing the umbilical cord.

Other cool developments:

You're already raising a little Einstein. Your baby's brain is developing at a clip this week and will continue to do so until she's five years old (so load up on the Omega 3)! Baby's hair is now a short, bright white crop (Billy Idol, eat your heart out!). No matter what color it will end up—red, blonde, black—all babies' hair lacks pigment at this point.

Your baby has started growing taste buds and may be able to detect strong flavors in the amniotic fluid. If you could see inside, you might catch her sticking out her tongue for a taste and then grimacing, a sign that perhaps you should chill on the chili powder. (or curry powder in KT's case)

Your baby now weighs almost a pound and measures almost 11 inches from her head to her heel, which is how the Stretch Armstrong in your uterus will be measured from here on out. Up 'til now your baby's legs were curled tight up against her torso, so she was measured from her head to her bottom (or crown to rump) and not head to toe. This week your mini is about as long as a package of Oreos and as heavy as a large bag of tortilla chips. Who's hungry?

More pics of our Amazing trip...

What a truly perfect vacation.

So much to tell.

We had a jam-packed week full of fun. Mid-week we ventured out on our own since we are getting to be old pro's at getting around Mumbai by now. We took a cab close to where KT lives and J met us to direct us down a long dirt road to their home. It was truly a scene from a movie when their eldest son (7 year old H) yelled with excitement to see our cab and ran along the path of the sidewall that separated us from their community. J told us the 'whole colony is awaiting our arrival.' What a wonderful welcome it was.

KT has 3 younger sisters who were all at her home welcoming us with open arms. The next oldest to her speaks English very well and was able to help to translate for us. She was waiting with her henna tubes in hand, ready to decorate my arm and hand. First KT had to serve us the food she had prepared. Of course she didn't listen and cooked way too much! It was a traditional meal of curry chicken (that she didn't spice up too much for me...how very sweet) with rice, parathas (small round bread) and finished up with a delicious mango desert. Every time Gerry's plate got near empty one of the girls would come out of no where to place more food on it. The meal was truly amazing.

We met KT's Mom and Dad, and we could see how very proud they are of their daughter. I told her Mom she has a very special daughter and she replied that she was there to take great care of her daughter. It was apparent the entire family was there to lend support and that made us so very happy.

Their home was a one room loft with a separate bathroom. SI requires all surrogate homes to have electricity, running water and a separate bathroom. KT and J decided on this place as it was close to her family. Each surrogate has the ability to find their own place or have SI arrange one for them.

We felt very special to have been invited to their home. It was truly an unexpected honor and for us to experience it on our own was a great bonding experience for both families.

A couple days later, KT and family came back over to our hotel for the boys to enjoy the swimming pool. We found out that it was their first time ever in a pool. The kids squealed with delight as Gerry joined them in the pool.

KT's sister came along, which we were grateful for, as it helped us to really communicate. We had lunch and chatted for what seemed like hours. She asked if we have servants and Gerry jokingly said, 'yep I am her servant.' We learned so much about each other. KT loves clothes and jewelry. Her and J had an arranged marriage where they met on their wedding day, but fell in love. She smiled and asked, 'yours was a love marriage?'

She has been feeling great so far in the pregnancy. She has been 'just a little bit sick', and craving 'spicy foods.' When Gerry offered her apple juice she politely refused telling us that she had prayed to the prophet (a Muslim belief) that you give up something you really like for your dreams to come true. She sacraficed apples, as she loves them, until her dreams of the baby being born and having her home come true.

The kids enjoyed riding up and down with Gerry in the glass elevator. The hotel staff was so wonderful and accommodating. Both boys held our hands when walking to the pool and even gave us kisses good-bye. We were so touched.

We purchased a fold out mattress and 2 fluffy pillows for KT to sleep on at home (it is quite common in India to sleep on just a rug on the floor). We told her we wanted her and the baby to be comfortable, and I'm sure that the boys will snuggle up on it as well. It was quite the scene earlier in the day to see us on the Rickshaw returning to the hotel with a mattress and pillows and bags jammed in between the two of us.

We spent more time then we had ever dreamed of with KT and her family. They were so wonderful and wanted to spend as much time as possible with us as well. This was one of the main reasons that we decided to stay the entire time in Mumbai this trip and not venture off for a few days. She wanted to see us off at the airport but when the Docs called her, her husband said she was sleeping. I guess that mattress came in handy after all, and we probably wore her out from all the visiting during the week. It was definitely more important for her to rest.

We took a day trip to Elephanta Island, finally after 3 visits to India, and it was well worth it. Its only 375 INR (less than $8.00 US) per person and a really nice time.

We are back home and almost a week has already passed. We knew that when we got back from our trip, time would fly. Tomorrow our little angel is already 21 weeks.

Your Baby at 21 weeks:

Chances are KT is feeling someone performing a round-off back handspring in her uterus by now. Is there any other feeling this cool?

Other highlights this week:

By now your baby looks like a mini-version of what she'll look like when she's born. All her facial features are formed and hair is growing on her head. She's even acting like a baby and will occasionally suck her thumb or yawn. Aww ...

Baby's heartbeat is getting stronger and can be heard using a good old-fashioned stethoscope. Ask for a listen at your next prenatal visit! By 21 weeks, fetal bone marrow starts making blood cells—previously done by the liver and spleen. This may not sound that exciting, but it's good news.

The amniotic fluid that has been cushioning your little bean now serves another purpose: Your baby uses it to "practice" chowing down. Yes, it sounds gross (as many aspects of pregnancy do), but it's an important step for your baby toward being able to chow down in the real world. Your baby has been swallowing amniotic fluid for a while now, but now the intestines are finally developed enough that she's absorbing small amounts of sugars from it. And let's face it, being able to effectively digest sugar is important at every stage of life.

Your baby now weighs between 10 and 11 ounces and is approximately 7 inches long—the size of a delicious, cold, frothy bottle of root beer. Float anyone?

Pics of our trip...

Playing catch up...

1/2 WAY THERE...I can't believe we are already at 20 weeks! It is just amazing to know that in just 4 short months we will be traveling back to Mumbai for the birth of our sweet angel. We couldn't help but say to everyone while there, 'When we come back we will be three!' Time really has flown by and I a sure that Sept. will be here before we know it. So many questions go through my head...Will we be ready? Will our baby be happy with his/her new home? Will I be a good Mom? So many questions, stress, excitement, and wild wonderful emotions. I had to giggle with glee the other day at the store when the ladies asked about my mehndi and then proceeded to say that I was a 'glowing Mommy.' I look at the nursery everyday and imagine what it will be like when it is officially occupied. I am a Mommy, and it feels so real. WOOO HOOO, come on baby we are waiting for you!!!!

Your Baby at 20 weeks...

This is the week most women get that ever-important gender-revealing ultrasound. If your baby isn't shy, the genitals can be clearly seen at this point. Will the baby pee standing up or sitting down? Well, that depends on how you potty train—but if you're interested, you could leave the appointment knowing if you're carrying a boy or a girl.

Other highlights this week:

Your baby has established sleep patterns akin to a newborn now. Many babies even have a favorite sleep position already. Some snooze with their chins resting on their chests, while others nap with their head flung back. Many babies at this age fall into noticeable cycles of sleep and activity, so you may know before she arrives whether you have a night owl or an early bird.

If your baby is a boy, the testes have begun descending from the pelvis into the scrotum. If it's a girl, her uterus is completely formed and the rest of her "parts" are in development. (Is that TMI?)

From this point forward, your baby will put most of her energy into gaining weight and, not coincidentally, so will you! Right now your baby weighs approximately 10½ ounces and is about 6½ inches long, about the size of a can of Red Bull (which has way too much caffeine for a pregnant woman to be drinking).

Your Baby at 19 weeks...

This week your baby starts bulking up and packing on the grossly named "brown fat" he'll need to keep warm when he gets evicted from his comfortable uterine home.

Other highlights this week:

Vernix, a milky white coating that protects your baby's skin, appears all over your baby's body to keep his skin from getting pickled in the amniotic fluid. Think of it as if your baby has been dipped in yogurt, like those delicious but fake-healthy yogurt-covered raisins and pretzels. Ooh, we feel another craving comin' on. ... Under the vernix, a fuzzy layer of hair called lanugo now covers baby's body. Don't worry, your Mini won't look like Cousin It when he's born. Most of the fuzz will fall off before baby makes his grand entrance.

Good news: Your baby's kidneys are fully functioning and producing urine this week. Bad news: That means there will be lots of diapers in your future. But so far you're safe—at the moment the pee just passes into the amniotic fluid.

He or she now weighs about 8½ ounces and measures 6 inches, as long as a turkey sub from Subway on warm, delicious Italian Herbs and Cheese bread (or Honey Oat bread, or Oregano bread or ...)

Pics to follow...