Impatiently waiting

I did FINALLY get a draft of the contract (after buggin everyone and their mama).
I went over it with the attorney and there were some things that I wasn't comfortable with that I asked to be changed. (a cap on lost wages, being the biggest change) In my opinion, my attorney should be more than happy to change or ask for these changes for me, right? Well, apparently not in this case. I felt like he was trying to pressure me into just keeping the contract the way it was and I almost did, but after I got off the phone with him and had more time to think about it, I emailed him and asked that the changes be made...I'm sure he was reluctant, but he agreed and said that he would revise and send over to my IP's attorney. (This was on March 20th...almost 2 weeks ago)
I got an email from my agency a few days later asking for me to send over my disability policy info, so maybe that's a sign that my IPs are considering not having the lost wage cap...
I know that my IP's have to discuss and review the changes, but I just hate not knowing what's going on! It's driving me insane! Are they ok with me not wanting a cap? Do they not want to be matched anymore because of what I want? So many questions....

I just know that, especially because of being on bed rest for so long last time, having a cap on lost wages is a big 'no-no' in my book. I understand that my IPs want to be protected, but I also have to look out for my family; hopefully they will understand.

So now we wait....again....sigh

Still no contract

Not too much to report...things seem to be going at a snail's pace this time around. (We've been matched since mid November) On one hand I'm okay with that because it gives me more time to do things that maybe I can't do while we're cycling or while I'm pregnant (i.e. have margaritas!), but on the other hand I'm like "hurry up, already!!" I'm not the most patient person :-) I know my IM is ready to get things moving, she texted me and told me that they should have the contract over to the attorney by this weekend and that she couldn't wait for the paperwork to be over with so we can get started! (Thank goodness I'm not the only one with very little patience!)
Kevin and I are going to have lunch with M&P next weekend, so that will be nice. I like being able to hang out and get to know them even more.

That's all I have for now. I'll keep ya updated as things progress. Ttyl!

Keep it movin'

I know, I know....I suck. Let's get over the fact that I haven't kept up my blog like I should, k?
Thanks.

So I'm gonna try to streamline this update because we all know I can get a little wordy...

1. Brunch with the potential IPs went well. The girls liked them, Kevin & I liked them; we even made plans to have dinner at their house sometime in the near future. ☺ So since we all decided that we liked each other, we're moving forward!!

2.  Kevin and I both had our Psych evals done...not really sure how Kevin passed that one, but whatevs. We both passed and are officially deemed mentally acceptable...at least for now.

3. Here's the sucky part...I went in for my medical eval; got an ultrasound (which was fine), got blood work done and then the RE did a hysteroscopy and he saw some "old tissue" which caused concern to him. He said that it needed to be removed and that he'd talk to the IPs to see if they "still wanted to move forward with you as their carrier"....gee, thanks, doc. His bedside manner was lacking, to say the least. Anyway, this was over the holidays, so the wait to hear back from the IPs and/or the Dr was agonizing. I felt like a failure...like my uterus let me down. I know my other surro girls know what I mean. Anyway, I got a text from the IM saying that they still wanted me to be their carrier and that I just needed to schedule an appointment to have the tissue removed. I must have smiled from ear to ear when I got her text...the thought of surgery freaked me out, but the fact that they were still willing to allow me to carry for them really meant a lot to me.
So I called the RE's clinic and they wanted me to come in to get another hysteroscopy before they scheduled the surgery, just to make sure the tissue hadn't resolved itself...well it did! Nothing was there!!! Whew! So then Kev went to have his blood work done and all is now well on the medical eval front!

4. Here's where we are now: M&P got their blood work done last week and now they are trying to decide on an egg donor. In the meantime, we are having the contract drawn up and are getting things rolling! The contract phase is definitely my least favorite part, but I suppose it has to be done. I'll be glad when it's over, that's for sure.

Anyway, that's all for now. I PROMISE I'll do better with my updates! ☺ TTYL!

1 Step Closer

1st I'd like to say thank you to all of you that left me comments and sent emails regarding my last post, One More Time, whether you know it or not I really do appreciate your input and insight! So thanks! ☺

Things are moving right along, so I just wanted to give you guys a quick update on what's happening. I received a profile from my new agency a few days after my previous post; Kevin, the girls, and I looked it over and decided that we liked what we saw! ☺ The agency set up a conference call for us which was scheduled for this Monday, unfortunately, Kevin was still at work and the call kept dropping when I tried to conference him in so he didn't get to participate. I filled him in on what he missed though. ☺

So anyway, I was super nervous....didn't think I would be since I've been through this 2 other times before, but it felt like I was going on a first date;  I was all jittery and it was awkward at 1st because the coordinator called me first then connected my call to "M&P" and said "Ok, Krystal I have M&P on the phone now".................................................................................................Literally...dead silence. AWKWARD....I guess that was my cue to say something, but whatevs.  After that initial weirdness, the conversation was much better. (between the stupid phone breaking up every 3 minutes...thanks AT&T, not!) We laughed and discovered some things we have in common and after about a 30 minute conversation they asked if we could meet! Yay!! I really liked them and was hoping they were feeling the same way, so I was glad they asked...we decided that we're gonna meet for brunch this Sunday. Eeeekkk! I'm so excited and nervous at the same time! To be continued..... ☺

1 More Time?

As many of you know I've had "the itch" since Baby L was probably a month old....no, not that kind of itch, get your minds back on track!

The surrogacy itch! I've contemplated back and forth on whether I want to do another journey or not and I've pretty much driven Kevin crazy with talking about it. So I'll just talk to you all this time! ☺

There are plenty of people that think I'm nuts for wanting to "go through it again", after having been sick for the first trimester and being on bed rest for 10 weeks. I understand, but what they don't understand is that I see the bigger picture. I see the struggles and heart break that the IPs have been through. I see the years of being told "no, you can't have a baby". So to me, being sick or the possibility of bed rest are small sacrifices for a greater good. Yes, I may complain and whine about it while I'm in the midst of it...Hell, most other people would too, but I know that it will pass and in the end there is indescribable joy.

So, after talking with Kevin for the bajillionth time, he finally said he'd be okay with me doing another journey!! Don't jump for joy just yet, that's just the first hurdle. (Albeit a big one)
This past Saturday I was invited by another surro to attend her agency's semi-annual luncheon, just so I could check out the agency and see if I really want to do this again. It was AWESOME! I'm not sure what I was expecting...cheese and crackers...a few surros...maybe the agency director...I didn't have high expectations after my shitty agency. It was WAY better than I expected; there were surros that are currently pregnant, surros that had already delivered, IFs, IP's, babies, 2 owners, 2 doctors...and a partridge in a pear tree. ☺ Seriously though, it was very well put together and needless to say, I was impressed and ready to sign a contract right then and there, lol. I met some great people and after I left I received an email saying that there were 2 sets of IPs as a possible match for me! WHAT!? Apparently I made a good impression at the luncheon. Ummm...yea....speechless. I wasn't expecting things to move quite as fast, I mean, I'm not even signed up with the agency yet!

So anyway, the one lingering question I have is: Is it selfish of me to do this again? Being a surrogate takes not only my own efforts, but that of my family as well. I don't want to be a burden, but I also want to do something that makes me feel fulfilled. Does that make sense?

Without getting even more wordy than I already have, what do you guys think? Should I just leave well enough alone and be happy that I was able to do it at least once or do I try for one last time?

Sigh.

The Day That Changed Lives

Today is a special day.
Today is the day that changed so many lives forever, including mine.
Today, Baby L is ONE YEAR OLD!!!

It's hard to believe that a year ago I was in the hospital setting off fire alarms and delivering the cutest little boy you've ever laid your eyes on! It was a surreal experience and a feeling that will stick with me forever.

This past year has been a great "after surrogacy" experience as well. I had my worries after Baby L was born that my IPs would just be like "thanks for your services, see ya!" Of course, they never gave me reason to think that, but my mind tends to worry. It's actually been opposite of that...I get pictures, videos and updates all the time! AND I LOVE IT!! They even came to visit this summer and my IPs let him stay the night with us! We had so much fun!

Pulling up on any and everything

How could you not love that gummy smile!? :-)

Being silly :P

The girls played with him for hours!

I think they wore him out!

We have all, truely, become family and I wouldn't have it any other way! I am forever grateful to my IPs for allowing me the honor to carry their son and I am enjoying watching them discover the craziness of parenthood. ☺

We'll be attending Baby L's 1st birthday party next weekend and I can't wait!! I'll leave you all with a couple more recent pics of the cutie pie! TTYL!

4 months, already??

I know I have been M.I.A., but I have been checking in from time to time on all of you ☺ I cannot believe that Baby L is FOUR MONTHS OLD!!! He has to be the cutest little guy on the planet (I'm not bias at all). We (my family and I) went to visit my IPs and Baby L for New Years and I LOVED it! Never thought I'd like feeding and changing diapers so much, lol.
He's getting so big now, nothing like the little 4lb 9oz guy he was 4 months ago. I enjoy getting all of the updates and pictures of him too!

We were both a little sleepy :-)

After bath time (he loves the bathtub!)

Kailey & Baby L

Kourtlyn & Baby L

Our family has gotten back in the full swing of things and it's non-stop now! School events and feild trips, soccer for all 4 of us, Kevin's basketball games, work....the list goes on! (I think I might miss bed rest! ☺) We surprised the girls with a trip to Disney World earlier this month and it was so much fun!! The weather was perfect and it was during the "non-peak season" so we barely had to wait in any lines! We definitely didn't want to come back!

As for me, I've still been doing Zumba and playing soccer, trying to get back in shape and lose what I like to call "bed rest weight" ☺. I've lost 33lbs so far of the 41 (eek!) that I gained. I'm definitely on a mission; we have our Puerto Vallarta trip booked for July and I don't think the "beached whale" look is in this year. :\

I have to admit that I've been contemplating doing another surrogacy, but I'm pretty sure Kevin acts like he's deaf when I bring it up, lol. It might help take it off of my mind if I actually put away all of my maternity clothes...I still have them in my closet and dresser drawers...hanging on to that glimmer of hope, lol.
Before I had Baby L I would wonder why so many ladies had more than one surrogacy journey; I wondered "wasn't 1 time enough?", but now I understand. There are no words to describe the overwhelming joy you feel knowing that you are helping create a family for someone that may not have had the chance otherwise. It's such an amazing privilege and I'm glad to say that, at least once, I was able to be a part of it all.

Anywho peeps, I just wanted to check-in with you all and say Happy 4 Months to Baby L!

TTYL!