This is the last time________(fill in the blank)!

This seems to be the start of most of our sentences lately, ended by..... without a baby. It is SO much fun to think about how drastically our lives will change. I stopped for a moment over the weekend just to enjoy the peace and quiet of our empty house.

We have been in constant contact with the Docs, just in case KT goes into labor. She has been resting lots at the clinic and being taken great care of. She is anxiously awaiting our arrival in Mumbai.

Yesterday, I truly learned how I think it feels to be an impending mother. My cell phone rang at work and it was the Docs. They NEVER call my cell phone. I immediately began to panic and a million worse case scenarios ran through my mind. I tried to call Gerry and he was on a call at the fire department and couldn't answer his phone. I started sending message after message after message to the Docs, and finally got a response. It was only a short while, but it truly felt like hours with my stressed state. KT was at the hospital and had a scan. It showed her amniotic fluid was low and so they did a nonstress test (NST) on our baby. All was normal. Thank goodness!!! Dr. Soni decided as a precaution and KT being 37 weeks along, that she would admit KT to the hospital for closer observation. A NST will be done everyday, until delivery and hopefully KT and baby will remain healthy and can possibly wait for Gerry and I's arrival. We know she is in great hands and if at any point KT or the baby are in any danger they will go ahead with delivery. We wouldn't want to compromise either of them. OH the stress of being so far away and a mother-to-be. We are litterly days away from the big moment and I truly cannot believe it has arrived. God, help me to be patient and take many, many deep breaths (right Dr. S?) over the next few days.

We have completed our last minute shopping for gifts and a few odd additional baby things. We are packed and ready to go.

There is ONLY one thing that I am so very sad about. That is leaving my Frankie girl. She has been doing better (touch wood), but I still worry about her constantly. The great news is that our wonderful neighbours who usually take care of her, have their granddaughter Lauren staying with them and she is going to house/Frankie sit for us. Now, that doesn't mean I won't miss my whitey dog like CRAZY! ( I can't wait to see how she will react being a big sister) I am thinking she will be very protective of our newest family member.

Gerry has already been in contact with the US consulate to make our appointment. They definitely help our men in uniform as we have an appointment this coming Thursday and will have our little one's passport the following Tuesday morning. We are going to be heading out with Amit (our SI friend and old friend from the VITS) to look at a few places to stay. We still have the VITS as a back up, but Gerry wanted to 'try something new.' maybe the Sahara Star.

I am finding it harder and harder to sleep. My mind is going a thousand miles a minute with last minute preparation and 'what if's' and excitement of the coming weeks.

We had a great weekend visiting new and old friends. We even got to FINALLY meet up with Jax our surrogate friend who was in town visiting for a few days. Her little one is due with SI in November and so we had lots to chit chat about. It was nice to do this outside of Mumbai for a change.

We both said our good-bye's today at work and we were showered with hugs and sentiments of love. It was a wonderful feeling to have so much support.

I suppose as the title of the post states, this will also be our last post till we arrive in Mumbai late Saturday night. Fingers crossed and legs crossed (that one is for KT) for safe and uneventful flights. WE CAN'T WAIT!!!!! See you in Mumbai.....

Gerry came across this quote quite some time ago when we were doing our research into surrogacy in India, and I believe it explains why someone half a world away would carry another persons child that they don't even know.

"There is a social dimension to their service, an empathy with the childless in a society that views reproduction as a sacred obligation and believes good deeds performed in this life are rewarded in the next one."

Your Baby at 37 weeks:

Huge news this week: You're carrying a full-term baby! If KT were to go into labor today, all systems would be a go. Woohoo! Even though you can't wait for the little bambino to quite literally rear his head, keep in mind that your bun benefits from every day in the oven.

Other ticker-tape-worthy developments:

Baby's growth slows down dramatically this week, which is great news for your birth canal. His bones are still soft and pliable and will solidify after he's born. More great news for KT's birth canal.

So if he's all cooked and ready to go, what the heck is he still doing in there?! He's busy practicing for "life on the outside," working on his breathing, sucking, sleeping, gazing and peeing abilities. The only thing he can't practice yet is his ability to scream at the top of his lungs when he's hungry—but he'll do plenty of that in a few weeks.

At this point babies vary in size, but the average length is between 19 and 20 inches and most babies weigh approximately 6 pounds. About the size of an average largemouth bass.

Book em' Danno~!!!!

Flights are booked! We got an incredible deal with Continental, the best price ever of our 4 trips to Mumbai. Gerry being a Veteran really came in handy and it saved us about $1200.00, and we got the bulkhead with bassinet for the return trip already reserved. My hubby ROCKS! We are planning on trying to use our vacation club membership (which also saves us a ton of cash) and stay at our second home...The VITS hotel. Apparently it has also become a second home for some of the staff of SI. I think we started something?!

Yesterday was my Dad's 70th birthday. My brothers and sister planned a surprise party for him in Niagara Falls and everyone traveled from far and wide for the big event. Unfortunately us, being SO close to the birth of our little one, we couldn't make it. Thankfully we will be able to celebrate in person in just a few months when they come for their six month stint to Arizona. My Dad is such an amazing man. He has been a huge support to me over the years. Always believing in me, supporting me and giving me unconditional love. I am the baby of the family and very much a 'Daddies Girl.' My father worked 45 years to support his family. Never missing a day of work (difficult when its your own business I suppose), working in all the outdoor elements Canada has to offer, 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. None of us wanted for anything. We have SO many spectacular childhood memories, of ski-dooing, vacations, boating, etc. He raised 4 wonderful children and we all have learned to appreciate and excel in our chosen careers, because of his wonderful example he set.

Daddy's Girl,1972

Gerry has grown to love my parents like there were his own. Last year we had a medical scare with my father and it really hit home. All of us kids realized how lucky we are to have him in our life and I for one never take one day with him for granted. That is why Gerry and I try and spend SO much time with my Mom and Dad when they are here in Arizona. Life is much too short to not spend time with the ones you love. You can never get that time back. Gerry sadly lost his father suddenly 13 years ago. I unfortunately never had the honor to meet this great man. But, I know we would have hit it off with his love of fishing and the outdoors. My Dad and Gerry have become much more close since their snow-birding adventures and it is wonderful to see that Gerry is able to have that relationship with him as I know it means the world to Gerry.

So, to my Daddy, I love you more then you will ever know, I am blessed to have had you as a positive and constant support in my life for so many years and I am so excited for you to meet your newest grandchild very, very soon.

We spoke with the Docs the other night and got an updated belly shot of KT who is at the clinic resting till Birth Day! We can't wait to see her and give her a huge hug. Last night I had the pleasure of seeing KT in all her glory on Skype with the Doctors. Her smile was as big as day, as I am sure was mine. She looks incredible and says she feels great and 'Yes, the little one is kicking up a storm.' I hope we get there in time to feel it first hand. Thanks again Docs, it was GREAT to see you both too!

35 week baby belly

We are leaving on the morning of the 21st and will arrive on the evening of the 22nd. We have booked our trip till Sept. 14th to allow us enough time to take care of the necessary paperwork and take as much in of India as we can for our last visit for a while. As of now KT's cervical stitch will be cut on or around the 18th and we are hoping for delivery on or about August 24th.

I got to share some of our journey today with the girls at work. With starting a new job, many of them had no idea what we have been doing up till now. They were surprised and so supportive and blown away at our story. I even shared our magazine article with a few of them and one girl, became so emotional she had to compose herself before returning me the magazine. It was very humbling. Makes me realize how lucky we are to be where we are despite the struggles and pain we have endured. Tomorrow will mark one week till we are jet-setting once again! WOOO HOOO!

Your Baby at 36 weeks:

Your baby continues to put on weight at about ½ pound each week. This layer of fat will help your baby regulate his body temperature after leaving its climate-controlled womb. In fact, your baby will be 15 percent fat at birth (and KT ... well that's another story). Even in the womb, your baby can listen, feel, touch and see. The only thing separating him from living in the outside world is a little thing called the birth canal.

Other highlights this week:

His gums are firm with ridges that look somewhat like teeth, though his actual pearly whites won't start breaking through until he's between three months and a year old. Your baby has definite patterns of sleep and wakefulness—opening his eyes while awake and closing them while sleeping. Your baby will become alert and turn his head toward light and sound just as a newborn would—except when you put on that Celine Dion CD. Then the baby puts his hands up, turns away and gurgles, "Oh no you didn't!" Your baby is now around 18½ inches long and nearly 6 pounds—just about as big as a breadbox!

A Parents Weekend in Arizona.

It was a parents weekend all around. Saturday my dear friend and Mommy-to-be Danielle was in town visiting from Texas. Dani is 21 weeks along and we decided before we ran out of time with our little one coming any day, we would spend a Girls ONLY day together. We went and had pedicures, then a great lunch and finally some baby shopping. It was such a nice time. We laughed and reminisced and caught up on all the latest and greatest news of family, friends and work. It felt great to see one of my best girlfriends again and have some bonding time.

Mommies-to-be

Spa fun with Dani

Sunday was a continuation Parent's Day. Gerry and I met up with Chantelle and Cyndi and our new blog friends Bobby and Greg. Funny enough last week I had been shopping at a store just around the corner from home, picking up some stuff to take to India when I looked over and saw 'Those two Daddies' and baby Sabrina. I immediately recognized them from their blog which I had happened upon through Cyndi and Chantelle's blog. What a small world! I went over and said 'hi' and we chatted about our experiences with new baby and baby to be and realized we lived very close to each other. What GREAT guys! We decided to all meet up. What a group we were...two gay men who adopted, two gay women who used a sperm donor and Gerry and I doing surrogacy in India. We all have different stories, but were brought together by our love for family and the dream to have children of our own. It was such a fun time. Each of us learning from each other and talking of our stories and feelings and fears and hopes and dreams. Not to mention adorable and attention stealer Miss Sabrina G. Okay, now I think all babies are cute, but this little girl, well she seriously could be in commercials. When she smiles she lights up the room. Her Daddies are so proud of her and rightly so, she is a beautiful, sweet little girl. We agreed we would definitely do it again soon and this time we will be with one added addition to the group, our little angel, and then not long after that in December, one more, a baby boy.

'Those two Daddies' Greg and Bobby and sweet Sabrina

Momma Cyndi getting her fill...isn't she a natural?

This is surreal! We are waiting and wondering and anxious and excited and, and, and...

I am sure we are driving the Doc nuts with our phone calls and 'just checking in' requests. Good thing they like us so much. We just love to hear their voices and get the latest news on our wonderful KT. She continues to do great. She even finally told the Docs what we can get her. 'A fleece blanket with leopard print to keep her warm this winter.' DONE! That was an easy one and we are so happy to be able to give her this small gift. We have been doing last minute shopping, which of course means last minute packing. We seriously need to STOP!!! Its just way too much fun and this being our 4th trip to India, we feel like old pro's in the gift departement. Although I must say we came up with some very special ones this time. It will be our last trip for quite a while (well maybe not that long!) and we just feel it is so important to show our appreciation and love for ALL the wonderful people who have made our greatest dream come true. KT and her family, Dr. Yashodhara, Dr. Sudhir, Dr. Soni and so many, many more over the last 1.5 years of our journey. Our small tokens of appreciation are not even compariable to the gift they have given us and there is no way we could ever repay them, but we hope they know that each and every one of them will be forever in our gratitude. We have grown to love and become like family to both Dr. Yash and Dr. Sudhir and we can't wait to see them again in just a couple of weeks. I am sure this good-bye will be so much harder as it will be one for much longer, but not for good! They are both such amazing people and we are truly blessed to have them a part of our lives now and forever.

So its just a few more days and we should have some definite news on when we will need to arrive in India for the birth of our precious angel. We are so thrilled that he/she has stayed put for such a long time now. We will be hopefully be meeting them in less than 2.5 weeks if all goes well. We couldn't be happier or more excited!

Your Baby at 35 weeks:

This week the final touches are being added to your mini-masterpiece and most of his development is going to packing on the pounds. While baby's movements may be becoming less jerky, he may do his final somersault in the womb soon—to put himself into the head-down position for birth.

Other fascinating facts:

Your little Karate Kid can't quite pack the punch he used to due to the limited space inside the womb these days. You're likely to feel more wiggles, stretches and rolls than kicks and jabs. The extra layer of fat your baby is adding will create those cute dimples on your baby's elbows and knees. His liver has begun processing his waste products, so you know which organ to thank when he has his first blowout up the back of his onesie.

Baby's nails are growing so long they may curl over the tips of his tiny fingers and toes before he sees a pair of clippers. He'll be in serious need of a mani-pedi once he's born.

Your baby is now about 5½ pounds and over 18 inches long—about the size of one of those price-club sheet cakes.

Ready and Waiting

Short update from our awesome SI docs...

On Tuesday, KT went in to see Dr. Soni and she is doing great. Our little one has decided to turn himself around (from the breach position) and is ready to be delivered normally now. Today was just a quick check up. KT will have her ultrasound on the 14th (36.5 weeks) and that will determine where we are at. If things look good. Dr. Soni will look at snipping the cervical stitch a few days later and then let nature take its course. I was dying when Gerry called me at work this morning and said, 'Pack your bags we have to go!' He was only joking and was only getting me back for waking him up so early this morning with text messages asking what the news was from the Docs. Ha, Ha, Real Funny!! So here we are, waiting another 10 days and then we will book our plane tickets and take care of all of the last minute details. We are so happy that KT is doing so great and that our little angel is staying put for so long, but we are getting more and more anxious to see him/her and finally get off our pins and needles. Recently we have asked everyone numerous times if they have any requests for us to bring from the U.S, and to our surprise, KT's only request was for a leopard print fleece blanket to keep her warm this coming winter.

Well, Gerry got to speak with Dr. Soni last night to get all of the first hand information about our darling KT's latest checkup. As Dr. Soni put it "she is doing absolutely wonderful" and when he asked how the baby is doing, she said in her normal no-nonsense tone "the baby is big!! really big!!" She confirmed that the plan is still to have KT go for an ultrasound on the 14th and then around the 18th she will have the cervical stitch removed. Dr. Soni said that KT will probably not go into labor right away after the stitch is removed, so we should start making plans to arrive around the 20th and that KT will then be induced. We definitely want to be there for the birth. Dr. Soni said for us not to worry, that KT is in good hands and that we will be having a party when the baby is born. Wow!! Reality is really setting in, we are definitely in the home stretch now for sure.

We also got to spend some time with S & J the other day. J's Mom is visiting and we went for dinner at our local baby friendly hangout Red Robin. S surprised us with a beautiful hand-made scap book of pictures from our recent party. She did an amazing job and her personal touch makes it a wonderful keep-sake for years to come. Savannah is growing and getting more and more cuter every time we see her. She just couldn't keep her eyes off of Gerry. She is such a good-natured baby. We are getting some great hands on practice with her while we wait for her soon to be playmate to join us.


So now we sit and wait and hope and pray that we can plan our arrival down to the 'T!'

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock...

Time is rapidly ticking down, it is REALLY flying by. We have been busy

"No Honey I don't think it will fit!"

removing tags and washing and folding all of our itty, bitty baby items.

They are all SO darn cute and it really touches my heart. Our suitcases are out and getting full of baby stuff. We have 3 large suitcases, 1 big duffel bag and a small suitcase carry-on each. Who will wheel it all at this point is still a mystery to us???

We have separated onesies, socks, caps, receiving blankets, etc. into 3 separate bags to place in each suitcase just in case any of our bags go missing we will still be prepared.

I finally caved in and bought myself the Skip Hop City Chic Columbus Circle diaper bag. I think it is super cute and just love it. Like my love for onesies and purses...I am totally in trouble, as I now have 2 diaper bags and no baby yet! I was waiting for a great deal on it, but I finally just bit the bullet and purchased it, along with a Skip Hop Diaper Bag Details pack that includes an insulated bottle bag, a zip case with strap, a diaper holder, pacifier holder and wipes case.

I am still completely overwhelmed with anxiety and excitement as each day passes and more and more precious perfect babies are being born in India. We are next in line for delivery (from our original due date) with Surrogacy India at this point and should be joined by one other SI client who we have yet to meet that cycled at the same time as us in late December. We keep in touch with the Doctors regularly and send frequent 'hello's and best wishes' to all the other IP's visiting right now. KT is scheduled for her next ultrasound this coming week. We should know a whole lot more by then as it will be at almost 35 weeks. We are hoping after this scan we will have a revised date and can finally book our much anticipated airline tickets and hotel.

We sat in front of our suitcases looking at each other last night and both said...'We could be off to India and meeting our new bundle of joy in less then 3 weeks!' Whoa! This is HUGE!!! I am still in complete disbelief at what we have done. I know that once he/she is in our arms it will all be a reality very very quickly.

Your Baby at 34 weeks:

Your baby kind of looks like she's coated in a layer of cream cheese these days. The thick, white substance that protects her skin from pruning in the amniotic fluid is called vernix. When she's born you'll probably see some vernix lingering in her "hard-to-reach" places like under her arms, behind her ears and around her va-jay-jay, if she's a she..

Other news from the womb this week:

The soft fur, lanugo, that covered your baby's body for much of her stay in the womb is now almost completely gone. Your baby begins to develop her own immune system, instead of relying solely on antibodies received through the placenta. This will come in handy when some grubby relative manhandles the baby without washing his hands first. This week, your baby measures about 17¾ inches, as almost as long as an American Girl Doll (!) and weighs almost 5 pounds, as heavy as a bag of sugar, minus the cup you put in your decaf this morning.