TICK TOCK

Time is flying by, and it looks like a c-section will take place on December 15th.  However we will be arriving on the 22nd.  This gives the babies a solid week on breast milk, which is a good thing.  It has finally hit me that we are having twins, even though mentally I have known about it for months.    I just ordered two baby bouncers, and have all of the clothing ready to be placed in the suitcase.  It looks like we will not need to stay in Anand, India for long, most likely just a couple of days, than we are off to Mumbai for the passports.  We will stay in Mumbai overnight, than head to New Delhi.

I'm thrilled about heading to New Delhi, to look at property for surrogate housing.  What I have found is that almost 99% percent of intended parent's want their surrogate to be housed and feed properly.  A number of doctors in New Delhi, who have until now only worked with locals, had no need for surrogate housing.  Being involved in this process gives me reassurance that while in the surrogate housing, these women will have mentally challenging things to do, and hopefully when they have time to reflect later on in life, they will look back on the process with happy thoughts.  The surrogates will have a driver who takes them to and from doctor's appointments, as well as a Den mother to preside over the housing. 

Before we leave, I will ask on of my neighbors to transcribe a letter from English to Gujarati, for our surrogate, thanking her for giving us all three of our children.  It is hard to believe that this one women has helped  to give us our family, both of us from totally different lives. We both have had an impact on each other, and I will be grateful to her always.

Twin Prep!!

 

We are starting to get ready for the twins!!!  I'm hoping that this double stroller will come in handy at the airports, not just for the twins, but for Mark.  Bugaboo finally has a double stroller to be released Spring 2011, so I will hold onto this  new Mcclaren double stroller until then.   The Bugaboo stroller that we currently have, I'm willing to give to a good home and it is in great shape.   I love Bugaboo because it is easy to use, and it is light.  It folds down  easily and it is great to use in large cities. The carriers in the photo are great to use in India with twins.  I will not be needing them after we arrive back to the US, but I will make them available to others who are going to India to pick up twins.  The twins room is not yet done and it may not get done until we get back.  We have two bassinet's and we still have Mark's crib.  I will be shipping diapers and formula to India next week, so that we do not have to haul that stuff through the airports

Our departure date is December 19th, so we are hoping that the twins stay put until we arrive.  This will be our first time flying Turkish Air.  When I told Colin, that we would be flying Turkish Air, he immediately said that he heard not to long ago that one of there plans had gone down , so I'm feeling a little nervous.  The price of tickets at this time of year for India were outrageous and this was the best deal that we could get.  We will have a layover for 1 1/2 in Istanbul, then we will arrive in Mumbai.  I have been downloading all sorts of educational games on my Ipad for Mark.  Mark LOVES my Ipad, that of course he says is his.

Christmas will be in Anand  India, and I'm sure we will share some festivities with many the friends that we have made along the way, as Gujarat has a very high Christian population.  I did download Susan Boyle's new Christmas album, and I have Josh Groban's Christmas album.  I have been putting of work all day, so I better blog off.  I will be blogging while in India for those who want to follow along.

Mark and his Question

This past week-end we were at a friends house, and they had not seen the BBC segment on TV.  We decided to go to Utube to watch the video.   When Mark saw me, of course he was happy to see his  mom and was kissing the screen, but then he looked at  Nayana our surrogate and said who's that.  For some strange reason his question  caught me off guard.  In an instant I felt some strange sort of angst come over me, but than I caught myself and  finally said she is mommy's friend.  I'm starting to realize how much little kid's as well as grown up really do not understand the process of surrogacy.  I think I would like to write a short little children's book that totally simplifies the story.

My BBC Debut

India to regulate surrogacy industry

www.bbc.co.uk

Surrogacy is a rapidly growing industry in India, but concerns about irregularities have induced the government to bring in regulations.

A Collage of Photo's over the past 30 days!

Chicago from my Iphone

Colin & Mark

I decided to turn on the Christmas lights for Mark's 2nd Birthday! October 15, 2010

Beth Kohl with husband,  The honorable Gary Feinerman, along with Justice Kennedy

Eric & Dakota

Mark at Sukkot 2010

Mark at the Pumpkin Patch

Mark with his Boston College T-Shirt from Sean

Mark eating his cupcake at his party on Friday.  October 15th, 2010 he turned 2

Mark with a birthday present that Colin returned the next day!  He wanted a Redskins shirt.

Chicago Art Institute

Photo at Millenium Park Chicago, taken with my Iphone

Mark's camel from Dubai

Chicago skyline taken with my Iphone

A MUCH NEEDED GIFT!!!

                                                 International Surrogacy Advocates



                                             http://surrogacyadvocates.blogspot.com/

My trip to Anand, India & New Delhi India

I just loved this!

Crystal & Nayana 18 1/2 weeks pregnant

Computers at the Surrogate House

One of Dr. Patels staff went to locate this couple, because this guy is from Libera and is studying for his Masters degree in Anand.  He was thrilled to meet another person of color.  He meet his wife while in Anand, and they will be going back after he finishes his studies.

Ceremony at the Surrogate House

International Airport in New Delhi

Well I'm back home and I had a very interesting time in India. The BBC filmed Najla and I while we were in Anand and it seemed to go well, but we shall see when it is broadcast within the next 7 days. The BBC was very interested in our thoughts about regulation of surrogacy in India, and I told them that I thought it would just breed more corruption. After having several meetings in India with IVF doctors, I still think the same way, however I do feel that regulation is needed but who would really enforce it. The BBC reporter asked if I thought the surrogates were being exploited at all, and I said no, and that I'm so tired of that thinking because no one every says that American surrogates are being exploited.  Indian surrogates get compensated as well as American surrogates when you look at the economics of the situation.   I was very happy to visit several clinics in New Delhi, so that I can offer my clients more options as well as make them aware that India does have state of the art clinics and several doctor's that make sure that intended parents get the highest optimal choice for success.
 
 
 
While in Anand, I shared in a ceremoney with the surrogates as well as visited with surrogates of clients who asked for photo's and for fresh fruit for their surrogates.  I was luckly enough to see my surrogate (Nayana) and be there when she was sonogramed.  It was thrilling to see our babies move around, because it makes you feel so much more connected.   While in Anand 3 surrogates gave birth to twins, and they were all one boy and one girl.  I will be back in Anand in December for the birth of our twins.  We are serioulsy thinking about moving to New Delhi, or Bangalore, India for 3-4 months of the year, so that our children will have a global life. 
 
It was great to seeing all of our friends that we have made in India and to break bread togather once again.  I know that when we arrive in December not only will there be celebrating during wedding season, but there will be lots of celebration in Anand and New Delhi for our son Mark as well as the twins.