9 Months & Growing!

It's been nine months of parental bliss!











We have been loving life with our sweet little ones. Both are growing and doing awesome; getting more active & fun with each passing day. Our lives are filled with kisses, snuggles & hugs. Sometimes it still feels unreal. The struggles in our personal journey to become parents - searching for the right clinic; the waiting & waiting; the discouragement and disappointment of bad news  (complications & miscarriage); the worries related to complications late in pregnancy (weeks hospital stays) - it's all become but a distant memory now, overshadowed by hearts filled with a lifetime of new joyful memories. 

We wish you all the best of luck on your own respective journeys...CHEERS!


 

 

5 Months & Growing

It's already been 5 months, unbelievable! At times it feels like life is speeding by at lightning speed.

We can not even imagine life without our sweet little kids. I've been staying at home with the kids, while John keeps us financially afloat. He takes off every possible day he can and as many work from home days as his company will allow. It really has been going great. Here is a few pictures of the kids.

 

 

                                                     Here they are at about 3 months.

 

                                               

                                                   These were taken at about 5 months.
They've been eating good, and growing fast. The doctor always comments on how healthy they look. They are such sweet babies, they seldom cry or fuss, and are no trouble at all.
I just wanted to say "Hi". I hope everyone is doing well. I wish all you soon to be parents success on your journey. To all you parents who've successfully circumvented the hurdles (or are in the process) I wish you all the best. What an amazing ride life is. Through the all the fears and tears, the coos, poops, and pees there is the joy beyond all compare.

I don't know what else to say, so I'll say good-bye.... life is good, so I'll go for now and get back to living it. CHEERS!

 

 

I See Little People!

I arrived last Thursday, 1/11/13, & the next morning I held our son and daughter for the first time. Love at first sight. So tiny, so helpless. I couldn't bare to be parted from them. So I took them with me immediately, back to the hotel.

So begins our journey together, from little beginnings...

I wouldn't say our last 5 days together have been leisurely.
Oh, no, they have been some of the busiest days of my life, and remember, I do have experience working with small kids, lol. Our angels are 33 week preemies, so they do require a little more careful care. The round the clock feedings every 2 to 3 hours alone have tested both my mental & physical strengths. But when I cuddle them. When I look into their helpless little brown eyes, smell their newness, hear their gentle coos (or their earth shattering screams) it's in these moments that I realize, what I'm experiencing now, is one of life's greatest experiences & gifts. It truly makes life worth living.

The only thing that would add to this joy, is when my dear sweet John is here to join me.

Here's a couple of pics in which I endeavor (I think successfully)  to showcase their more adorable qualities....

 Ava on the left, & Aiden on the right...enjoying a little twin time nap in Ava's portable bassinet.

Here's Ava, enjoying her third breakfast, lol. Perhaps she' part Hobbit (little Lord of the Rings joke, sorry)

 

                                                                     Ava sleeping

 

cuddling Aiden

 

 

They're Here! Pink & Blue!

We got some awesome news yesterday, at about 2:15 AM (Delhi, India time) Saturday January 5, 2013, our lovely children were born into this wonderful world! 

Anouncing the birth of our tiny girl weighing a little less than 4 lbs (drum rolls please):

Ava Linh T...

...And her bigger brother, weighing in at almost 5 lbs (drum rolls continue):

Aiden Kai T...

 
(Pictures taken soon after birth, courtesy of SCI Healthcare)

SO HERE'S THE BIRTH STORY & OUR CURRENT PLANS...
They're more than a few weeks early, Monday would have be 34 weeks, but they are healthy, breathing on their own, only requiring tube feedings for now, which is really good for babies so tiny, late preemies. The doctor is confident that perhaps they'll be feeding on their own in a week.

Some of you already know that they've been trying to escape the womb for almost a month (they just couldn't sit still in there). About 3 weeks ago our surrogate was hospitalized for 9 days with early labor. She was eventually sent home last Sunday (12/30). We thought things were back on schedule, but sometimes as you know babies have other plans. Was it to much curry? To much Bollywood? I guess we'll never really know...

We had planned to arrive in India to leisurely prepare for delivery on 1/20/13. We had already booked plane tickets, hotel, etc. (that would have been about 36 weeks, plenty of time to wait, right? LOL). We've been scrambling since yesterday to rearrange things, wooosh!

Since we're not certain yet how long their hospital stay will be, I'll be traveling there this Wednesday, arriving Thursday (1/10/13). When things are more certain, and an exiting schedule can be arranged, John will fly over and join me with all the legal stuff. It could be a few weeks, or longer, we really don't know right now. 

We so wish we were there to hold our little ones, but we know they're in very good hands until we arrive. Thank you for sharing our joy on this happiest of days. 

There is still so much to do and so little precious time. Please, forgive us if we can't answer our phones or respond to messages as soon as we'd like. We will keep in touch. Talk with you all soon!!! 


ABOUT THIS BLOG
I started this blog last summer (but never published it). It started as something therapeutic for me. I used it to articulate answers to questions about our journey through surrogacy, and a little about our history. We agree that it would be useful to share with family and friends what's going on, to help answer questions you may have, but not feel comfortable asking. Please, feel free to read through the past posts. It will catch you up nicely, on the where's whens, & whys. We will also try to keep it updated as "Operation Out-of-India" unfolds. 


 

30+ WEEKS!

We wait, wait, and wait, as time snails along at such a slow pace since last May. Finally though, we're over 30 weeks along, and the pace has quickened. The goal is within reach! I know time will now start to fly as we breeze through the holiday season. Our to-do list is lengthy. When I think of all the preparation still needing to be done it feels at times a bit overwhelming.

We will be ready! We must be ready! But please babies give us at least 6 more weeks at least!

All our reports about the surrogate have been great, no issues, a problem free pregnancy...we are so thankful!
The USG pictures we've been getting now are mostly head shots, top of the head with nothing to see. Our babies have brains! See below a picture of one of baby's lovely brains...

Who's Our Kids' Genetic Father?

We understand people are naturally curious, and that this question is likely one we will encounter often. Most families that are readily identifiable as atypical--whether they're gay, multiracial, or adoptive--should expect more questions than the typical Brady Bunch. [Although the Bradys would probably generate a raft of questions these days, too, come to think of it.] 

From the outset, John and I have agreed that who supplied the genetic material for our children is of less importance than the fact we are both 100% committed to our children. They are, and will always be greatly loved by their devoted 2 fathers.

As far as their ethnicity is concerned, we have insured that our children have genetically one parent who is of Asian descent (with similar features to John), and one parent of Caucasian descent (with similar features to me). Our children are biracial, and they will blend seamlessly into our biracial family.

Though we understand it’s only natural to be curious about who supplied the genetic material (sperm & eggs), we are under no obligation to satisfy people’s curiosity in this respect (remember the old proverb “curiosity killed the cat”). We don't think as gay parents, we should have to seek "acceptance" or "get fans," any more than a straight married couple "needs" such external validation. And why should anybody have the implied obligation to satisfy someone's curiosity. That having been said we feel that this question is too personal to answer. 

We respectfully say to anyone inquiring (outside of our immediate family of 4) that the answer to this question is none of their business. 

Cheers!

Our Gay Pumpkin Family

It's Autumn in Clifton, and we've been decorating with pumpkins...

It's our future family in pumpkins. Only John & I know the significance of this display. I'm the one on the left, John's on the right, & our little unborn twins are the cutey pumpkin heads.

We're so ready for them to be born. I can't wait for the day I can to do crafts like this with them. They will be so loved... Please be born kids; we need you desperately; but come on time, not too early.

Here's some other Autumn pictures from around our house.
As you likely know, one of my hobbies is gardening...

    Left side view as you approach the front of our house.

 I'm surprised these roses are blooming so well, so late. These are called 'Easy Going' roses, & are so fragrant. I wish this picture was a "scratch & sniff" 

This is the 2nd year for these 'Autumn Joy' sedum. They are doing so well, the big ones are over 3 ft. tall!

The mums are doing beautifully. I planted these mums in 2010, & they do so well. I feel so good when I see them come back every year. They are like my dear little garden friends. 

Last big harvest of the basil. The nights are getting too cold. The stems are blackening, leaves yellowing & wilting. But I was still able to harvest this last big pan full. Pesto anybody? :o)


Thanks for letting me share these pictures with you.