Carla's Story: An Intended Parent's Point of View, Part 2

Hi Everyone,

It has been a very interesting three months as Michael and I have now realized we are becoming parents. And we are so excited. The first couple of days when we got the good news (via Jackie which was great) Michael and me could only walk around going 'PAPA - 'MAMA'. We both had not much to say, just smiling and those two words was enough to keep us going. Our friends and family must have thought we are a very weird couple.LOL.

It is a little bit strange because the last six months we only have been focusing on, blood-test, contracts, medication, flights, date's that you almost forget what the outcome will be. We were also (at least I was) preparing myself for the fact that something could go wrong, such as the eggs would not be a good quality, not enough embryos, the embryos did not nestle in Jackie womb (that would have been very rare as even I nestled close to her after the egg transfer). Jackie just has this fantastic glow about her, very familiar to me.

So after the first 8 weeks: more pregnant worries, will the babies be healthy? What if, What if..blah blah. It was nice that Amy always told me that worrying is normal and it will not get less, it will only change the type of worry when kids grow older.

However when Jackie got really ill, I was feeling a bit worried and not completely myself because there was nothing I could do to make her feel better and she is doing the hard work for me. It really made me realize that I definitely made the right choice about not carrying babies myself. Pregnancy is not a simple and easy thing. Jackie is a strong healthy woman in all matters and she has been really sick. I think the twins look like Mike and I already, strong minded and energetic, they have not left Jackie alone for a minute. She is doing great and we are so happy!

It is a delight telling people that we are pregnant. When I told the Grandmother of Mike she said: wow I will have a grandchild! When I said, well you will have two, we are expecting twins. I am still deaf on one side as she screamed her lungs out. That was such an enjoyable moment for us. My mom told all my Aunties and Uncles on the New Years Reception and recorded the announcement with a camcorder!! When Mike told his mom she thought he was joking regarding having twins and Michael had to say, ' I am not calling you on Christmas Day to tell you a joke' She was saying afterwards she needed a drink (she never drinks). It was a real good time and these moments make you strong for the comments who are not so sophisticated and comments you prefer not to hear. Such as: But how do you know they are yours? Maybe they swapped stuff around in the lab? What if your surrogate does not give your babies to you?...We heard these comments, and it gives me goose bumps. Michael seems to deal with them very easy and he helps me (again) dealing with that with less tress and he helps me to understand that some people just do not know much about surrogacy these days because the media only publishes the negative stories of the old days and that is a shame. Because all the moms who now are surrogates deserve a compliment. It is a fantastic thing to do! I am the lucky one, I have a prince on a white horse and a lovely surrogate called 'Jackie'

So how is our pregnancy going, very good, we are 12 weeks and 2 days today! Jackie is only sick once a day but still very tired. However we are again all excited because our 'big scan' will be on the 20th of February and Michael and me are 'coming to America’!!