A quick little visit

My surro fam came to Cali for a quick little visit.  It was so much fun to see everyone again.  My boys were especially sweet with the babies and kept entertaining them and bringing them toys to look at.  Some of my family and friends also came over to see everyone.  I can't believe they are already a year old!  They are doing great and keeping everyone on their toes that's for sure...


I just love how when they would play, they would sit back to back. 

Kelsie trying out the swing.

 

They were like little tornadoes {ADORABLE tornadoes though}.  Aaron was trying to get some giggles out of them, and they are back to back again...so cute!

 

 

At the end of the night, everyone was just exhausted.  It was a big day of travel and fun.  Caitlin passed out and the other two were not far behind, but we had to take one last picture.  I know it was a lot for everyone to make the effort to come and see me and I appreciated it so much.  I can't even imagine traveling with triplets!
 It's always so wonderful to see all of the {organized} chaos that goes along with three toddlers...I loved every minute of it!
I miss them already and can't wait to see them again. ;)

Triple the fun!

Ok, so I have been REALLY bad about updating my blog, so without wasting any time, here goes the update.
  Life's been busy on the home front with my two very busy boys.  Life's also been busy for my little surro-fam, as I'm sure you can imagine.  They are growing up so fast!  They are all just adorable and each of them has their own unique personality.
I was lucky enough to go for a visit in April.  My Hubby and I stayed for a long weekend with them and loved every minute of it!
I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of their everyday routines and let me just say, they have their routines down.
Seriously, like clockwork, color coded and all.
They had just moved into a home with more much needed space right before we came and crashed with them, so they threw a housewarming/meet the surro mamma party.  It was so wonderful to meet there whole network of friends.

This is probably the last time the three of them will fit on my lap!

Little miss Caitlin.  I swear she looks like a Gerber baby here.

Mister Riley always interested in how things work.

Little Kelsie bug the little dainty one.

I've been in the grateful mood lately and thinking A LOT about my many, many blessings in my life.  One thing that I will forever be grateful for is this surrogacy journey.  I have gotten so much from this experience.  The very best thing I have gained through surrogacy by far is the addition of their family to mine.

Happy Half Year Birthday!

My little surro sweeties turned 6 months old! They are growing up so fast and getting so big! I couldn't let this milestone slip by with out a picture. Enjoy.

A sad little Kelsie, Mr. Riley and Caitlin.  I think its hard enough to get one baby looking at the camera and smiling, it's gotta be near impossible with three!  That's gotta be the cutest sad face I've seen though. 

Happy half year sweetie pies!

Inquiring minds want to know...

I still get a lot of questions about my journey and I imagine I will for a while. For the most part I am more than happy to answer questions and talk about it.  I am pretty darn proud of this accomplishment.

One of the most common is if I am still in contact with the family.  

(I know they get the same question in reverse all the time.) 

My answer to this is "How could I not be? 

They are amazing and wonderful people.  We have been through such an intimate and experience together our friendship is only natural.  I love them all to pieces!

The other question I get A LOT is if it was hard for me to "give up" the babies.  

I have to admit, I really have to practice patience with this question because I know they were never mine to begin with so how could I be "giving them up"?  Problem is that so many people are just plain uneducated when it comes to surrogacy.  When I get this question, I know I have to go back to basics and explain the whole process. I patiently explain that there is no biological connection.  When you go into this knowing that simple fact, it is WAY different than when it is your own little bundle of joy poking you in the ribs.  People will either get or they won't.  My hope is that they WILL get it and share with someone else and realize what an awesome thing surrogacy can be.  

 Inquiring minds also want to know details into the compensation.  

From my point of view, the compensation for pain and suffering played such a minor role in the scheme of things.  I mean I carried triplets for goodness sake and to answer the next inevitable question...No, that does not mean that the compensation triples.  Let me tell you though, they want the details! I have had complete strangers ask me very specific questions and I finally have to say "Why don't you Google it?" 

Another really popular question is about my attachment to the babies.  

My answer to this is of course I absolutely care about there well being and I think they are  precious!  I care about them more like I care for my nieces though.  They are special to me and I want nothing but the best for the 3 of them.  That's why I signed up to be a surrogate in the first place.  The simple fact that their parents were willing to risk it all to have this family makes my heart swell. 

 

Happy Trans-iversary!!!

A year ago today was the day of our transfer.  A whole year people!  I can not believe how fast the time went.  Believe me when I say some days seemed to drag on FOREVER!  

A year ago today I was standing in the little doctors office making some difficult decisions on whether to transfer two or three embryos with my FIP's.  So many "What ifs?" were going through our minds and the biggest was "What if all three DO take?".  

We were all a bit freaked out.  I sat there inverted on the table with a full bladder and we all were concentrating on small talk.  Meanwhile our minds were racing with every imaginable scenario.  

I remember it like it was yesterday.  

 To think that now those three little embryos that all of our hopes were pinned on grew into such adorable, chubby sweet little babies is nothing short of a miracle. 
I look at all of the videos and pictures of those sweet little babes and I can't help but feel so grateful that all three did take.  

What a wild ride this has been, but I am grateful for every second. 

Happy New Year!

Better late that never, right?  

Someone recently told me you are totally allowed to wish everyone a happy new year through January so I'm sticking with that.  

I had to get that out there before February or I'd be outta luck.  

So, with every January I get sort of contemplative.  

I look back at all my old pictures and remember all of the good times past.  

Last year, was a good year.  

A little rocky, yes, but one of the most memorable ever.  

I decided in all of my contemplative-ness to make a little video of our surrogacy journey as a little gift to my "Former IP's".  (FIP's as we surros say)  I thought I would share it here with all of you.  

Just a little tip to save you some frustration, the video couldn't be shared on mobile devices because it is 1 minute too long.  

So get to your computer and click HERE to see it.  

I'm sure you can't believe this, well I can't anyway, but those little surro sweeties are 4 1/2 months old now!!!  They are doing fantastic and are absolutely adorable if I do say so myself.

Here's one of the latest pix.

Riley, Kelsie and Caitlin

So, to all you surros pregnant, playing the waiting game, just given birth...whatever, I hope you have a fabulous 2012.  To all of the IP's out there no matter where you are in your journey, I hope this is the year for you!  Of course for everyone else, I hope 2012 is your happiest yet.

Merry Christmas!

So for those of you that are not on my mailing list, here's a copy of our Christmas card.  We wanted to wish you a very merry Christmas!  

We hope your day is filled with family friends and love.