Baby on Board

   It's been a whirlwind of a month, but we've made some wonderful memories and more people in our family are vaccinated!  My sister and I spent many, many hours calling pharmacies to add a bunch of family members to a "no waste list" in case they had leftover vaccines they needed to use up at night.  We've successfully managed to get every single one of those seven people in for their first vaccine!  It's a huge relief knowing that we're protected, and we're looking forward to a little more normalcy in the near future.  Whatever that might look like?

Spency, Jack-O, and Chloe sledding

     We were able to sneak in some sledding and visiting with Spencer, Chloe and their Daddies before the snow melted.  It was a wonderful outdoor visit, and I'm looking forward to some hugs in the near future.  They were our last hugs before covid...gosh, I miss those hugs!!  They're excited to watch this journey from a different perspective this time.      

    On March 4th, I went in for and ultrasound to make sure my lining was thick enough and my blood-work was ready for the tentative transfer on March 11th.  I had a PA who did the ultrasound this time and she struggled finding my right ovary.  After about 15 to 20 minutes she had the ultrasound tech from two weeks earlier come in and find my missing ovary.  They want to see a lining measuring at minimum a of 7, and my lining came in at a 9.2!  I was directed to start my progesterone suppositories two days later and our transfer was confirmed for March 11th.     

Last snuggle before Jeff's surgery

    On the morning of March 11th, I dropped off our sweet bunny, Jeff, to get neutered on the same day I was getting pregnant.  I just think its kind of a funny coincidence that we both were having reproductive procedures on the same day!  He did great and is all healed up now.   

32oz of water

    Anyway, I was told go to the bathroom and empty my bladder at 10:30 am, and then I had to drink 24-32 ounces from 10:30-11:00 before the 11:30 transfer.  Of course I drank the 32 ounces because I needed to be the A+ patient.  I needed to have a ride home from the transfer and only one person was allowed in the clinic for the transfer, so my IF picked me up at 10:45 to take me to the transfer and watch the IVF proceedue.  After getting all changed and settled on the table, the ultrasound tech looked at my bladder and it was too full.  She asked me to empty two small cups full of of urine so my uterus was in a better position for the transfer.

Sweet Baby's First Photo

    I hopped back up on the table and my uterus was in a much better position.  The doctor walked in and introduced himself and gave my IF this sweet first photo of their baby prior to the transfer.  We had to review that they were transferring one girl embryo, who is genetically connected to the IF who brought me, and sign one last piece of paperwork.  After that, they did a little trial run with the catheter and were ready to do the transfer.  They opened the window to the lab and placed the tiny catheter through the cervix and right into the lining of the uterus.  The doctor was happy with the placement of the embryo, the lab confirmed the embryo was out of the catheter, and I had to lay on the table for five minutes.  IVF is so simple, painless, and fast.  My IF dropped me off at home and I took it easy for the rest of the day. 

Lydia's post

     In case you wonder what a teenage child of a surrogate feels about her mama becoming a surrogate for the third time...worry no longer.  Lydia has only posted a few times on her Instagram, and this is one of the few posts of her life!  It's pretty amazing the positive impact this has on our kids!

Can you see the line?

    The soonest and at home pregnancy test will show up is three days and twelve hours post transfer.  I took my first test at three days and seventeen hours after the transfer.  Only a seasoned eye would look that this test and feel the excitement I felt that day knowing that's a positive line!  I'm sure the people I sent this picture to were doubtful that it was truly a positive test.

    I took the next test at four days and 17 hours post transfer.  I didn't want to take the digital one until we were a full four days post transfer.  This one doesn't leave you guessing...

     The last home test I took was just about seven days post transfer.  It's fun to see the line getting darker!

     I had a beta test on Monday, March 22nd to "officially" confirm the pregnancy took.  My blood work came back positive with a number of 810.  They like to see that number double at the next check on the 24th, and it came back at 2,210!  I'll head in for a confirmation heartbeat ultrasound on April 9th. 

    I'm starting to feel the symptoms of a healthy pregnancy already.  I  always think that cramping after the transfer is my greatest sign that the embryo is snuggling in and implanting into the uterus.  I've had a lot of cramping!  I'm in full swing of pregnancy fatigue and have a heightened sense of smell.  All beautiful signs that it's a healthy pregnancy!   

Ohhh...BEAUTIFUL!

 

I celebrated George's 13th birthday and being a mother of three teenagers by getting my second covid vaccine on February 11th.  It literally brought tears of joy and relief to my eyes as the emotions of the last year flooded though me.  It feels as though somewhat of a normal life is within reach.  I'm so grateful that my whole office is now fully vaccinated.    

Just a quick update on where things are at in our journey...

I started my lupron injections on February 9th and discontinued taking the birth control pills on the 13th.  This morning I had my first of two monitoring ultrasounds and blood draws.  I had the best phlebotomist I've ever had in my life!  Seriously, I didn't even feel the needle poke into my arm.  Today they were looking for thin lining and to make sure my ovaries are "quiet" and not ovulating.  Julie, my ultrasound tech who has the most luscious white hair, inserted the ultrasound probe and said exactly what you want to hear when someone is looking at your insides, "Ohhhh...BEAUTIFUL!  Your uterus looks just perfect.  Here's your thin lining.  See your ovaries?   They are nice and quiet."

I'm to start estrogen and a low dose aspirin tomorrow and decrease my lurpon amount (only 10 more pokes!).  In two weeks they'll look for a nice and thick lining that will be ready to have a sweet embryo snuggle into.  As long as everything looks good on the 4th of March we'll have our transfer a week later!  It's really happening!!            

We Have a Tentaive Date

I have the strangest story to share about how I ended up getting scheduled for my covid vaccine that I'll share in another post.  I'm SO GRATEFUL that had my first one done on on January 21st.  I truly believed in the depth of my soul it would happen before the transfer.  And it did!

After the painless injection, I was instructed to wait for fifteen minutes after the vaccine to make sure I didn't have any kind of reaction and then I was free to leave.  About five minutes into my wait I received a call from Jill, our nurse coordinator at CRM.  All of my labs came back normal and we are ready to proceed!  I believe my response was, "Jill, I didn't know the day could get any better!  I'm literally sitting here waiting after getting my covid vaccine and now you're telling me we're ready to schedule the transfer!"  I was elated!  Jill shared with me that she had just gotten back from receiving her first covid vaccine, too!

Jill was aware of my days off of work and double checked with me that the monitoring appointments and transfer would work in my schedule.  Starting February 9th I'll begin prepping my body, and we have a tentative date of March 11th (my favorite brother-in-law's birthday) for the transfer!!!  This means, if all goes as planned, we could have a baby in T and J's arms around Thanksgiving!  Although, I always seem to go late.  So, by early December they should be Daddies!

 Just when I thought my day couldn't get any better - it did!  As I was gathering my things to leave after waiting my fifteen minutes, I saw my cousin's husband sitting down to get his vaccine.  I was fairly confident that it was Brian but I asked him to make sure.  He told me that my cousin, Amanda, was out in the hall waiting for her turn, too.  We did an air hug and then she was called back.  We snapped a selfie quickly before she went back.  It made me so happy!!!  It also makes me miss living close to all of my relatives.  I love just randomly bumping into them.  Hugs are coming to all of you soon!  I can't wait!!

So far I only have one odd reaction to the vaccine other than the typical sore arm.  I ate an apple with peanut butter on it and the peanut butter tasted so salty that I had to spit it out.  I had the kids try the apple and peanut butter combo to see if they though it tasted weird but it tasted normal to them.  It did bring back some feelings from when I had the tainted progesterone suppositories and became sensitive to sweets when I was pregnant with Spencer.  Hopefully this won't last nine months!   

Magical Uterus

 Happy 2021!  The list of reasons 2020 was the worst year ever is decently long; however, the list of reasons 2020 was a wonderful year is longer.  Us introverts aren't having as hard of a time with all of this.  I actually felt like it was a much needed slow-down for our family.  I gained so much time with our busy teenagers and have really enjoyed spending our nights in the hot-tub we purchased this fall.  We've had so many great conversations and laughter in that tub.  I think it's quite possibly the best purchase of our life.  I wish we would have had it higher on our list of goals so we could have gotten it years ago.        

We are so lucky that both of our surro-fams live close by.  Spencer and Chloe brought their dads for a quick outdoor visit just before Christmas.  The connection our kids have with these two is undeniably unique and greater than anyone could have dreamed.  Jack had Chloe laughing more than I've ever heard her laugh before.  It's in those moments that I have to pinch myself to realize it's not a dream.  A perfect dream!  I sure hope that this new wombmate will fit in with all of these sweet kids.  Can you imagine their reunions when they grow old?  Generations of people connected by the passion of surrogacy and a magical womb!  I just don't think there could be a better story written.        

Speaking of a story...Through the surrogacy community, I was able to connect with the author of the book Milo's Adventures: A Story About Love.  I purchased the book as a gift for Spencer and Chloe as one of their Christmas gifts.  It was signed by the authors and Milo himself.  The book traveled from the place where all of this began - Toronto, Canada.  It's a perfect book to add to your children's collection. 

https://www.gayswithkids.com/life-plus/books/milos-adventures-a-story-about-love

Our family added a new bunny earlier this week.  Jeff is a 10 week old Holland Lop who has stolen our hearts.  He is far different than our first bunny but seems to be warming up quickly.  He was much needed after our first bunny passed just a couple months after we got him.  I feel a little sad that their personalities are so different.  Our first bunny, Bill, was the best, sweetest, most cuddly little bunny ever.  I hope Jeff does well with our energy healing and calms down enough to enjoy the snuggles.  George instantly felt better when he held Jeff for the first time.  We needed him, and we hope he loves his new home.    

I've kept guarded feelings around this next surrogacy journey.  It's not that I wasn't excited about it, but trudging through the screening process I felt the need to guard my heart.  Deep down inside I know I'm meat to carry again.  Every part of my being loves the journey!  I think I understand all the hiccups that can come along with this process, and I just didn't want to get my hopes up that things would move so quickly in case they didn't.  It's going so much faster than I actually expected.  As fast as I had hoped.  I'm crossing my fingers that my IFs have their baby in their arms by Christmas.  I need to be on the beach by then anyway.

I had to get on birth control last month before heading to my medical screening this morning at CRM in Minneapolis.  I've heard rumors from many people that Dr. Casey is amazing.  She definitely lived up to my expectations.  I first met with Nurse Jill.  I've been communicating with Jill for a couple months now, and she obviously knows this process well.  She went through the medication protocol with me and we discussed the covid vaccine in depth.  The protocol isn't too different from my first two journeys, and they made a couple of minor changes to mimic what my body has already done and proven successful.  It's a win for suppositories over injections!  Woohoo!!  I'm also skipping the Valium for the transfer.  I've never had to use that before and I'm petrified of that stuff!  I'm ultra sensitive to medication.  I know, I'm an introvert, a highly sensitive person and empath all wrapped in one.

After chatting about the protocol I was off to get my blood drawn and a urine sample.  They check for communicable diseases and do a drug test prior to moving forward with the transfer.  The phlebotomist had to readjust the needle once it was in my arm.  It wasn't that big of a deal but worth mentioning.  Once the blood was sucked from my vein I was off to the the bathroom to collect my urine.  "Pee in the cup and use this pipette to fill this vial in-between the two black lines.  If it's under or over the line they won't test it.  It HAS to be in-between the lines.  Then put them in the separate bags and drop them off here when you're done."  Seems like easy enough instructions, right?  Here's the thing...as I squatted over the toilet to collect my pee in the cup, I accidentally dropped the cup in the toilet!  I've never done that before.  Thankfully, I was able to retrieve the cup that was floating on top without touching any of the toilet water!  I obviously can't use the toilet water contaminated cup to catch my urine, so I gathered my thing with my clean hand and headed back to fetch a new clean pee cup.  I was so humiliated telling the phlebotomist that I dropped the cup in the toilet.  She somewhat giggled and annoyingly said, "How did you do...never mind, I'll get you a new cup."  In addition, I ran seven miles (I'm still training for the Lake Wobegon Marathon because there are so many unknowns) before my appointment and my pee looked like I hadn't had a cup of water in days.  I'm not sure if it was a funny color because of all the beets I eat or that I just ran.  OMG!!!

After the pee experience I was ready for my saline ultrasound.  They look for polyps in my uterus and make sure it looks like it's ready to host a baby for nine months.  Any of you ladies out there have a uterus that's tipped?  I've known I am tipped for as long as I recall having exams.  I stopped counting after the fourth time the doctor tried to put the speculum in my vagina.  She apologized after the fifth or sixth time that she'll get it eventually.  It doesn't hurt but it's not the most comfortable experience ever.  Once she finally got it in the right place she inserted the saline (only about a tablespoon worth) and it took just a couple of minutes.  There was an area on my uterus that they double checked to make sure it wasn't a polyp.  She said it looks like the lining is waving but not a polyp.  Of course, It's like, "Hey girl, I'm ready for you to put that embryo in me!  I know they're here frozen somewhere.  I'm ready when you are."  We chatted about the protocol and the vaccine.  We were given the green light to proceed as soon as the lab results come back from the bloodwork and urine samples on the 25th.  

Ben heads in tomorrow morning for his bloodwork and then we just play the waiting game again.                                     

Contract Update

"And don't forget to take ibuprofen so you don't get the contract headache!" said every surrogate ever.

I'm quickly discovering that a returning surrogate can fly through the whole screening process as fast as she would like.  I'm amazed that it was only the end of August when I contacted my coordinator, Kim, to tell her I was ready to jump on board with one more surrogacy journey and asked her what I needed to do.

 I realize I've gone through this process twice already, but I actually needed help walking through the initial steps again.  It's the same but it's all so different.  Our first two journeys I would anxiously look in our mailbox everyday for paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork.  Everything is online now!  It seriously expedited the process by having everything conveniently submitted through the interweb.  My monthly cycle began being tracked last month, and I've started prenatal vitamins already.  We're seriously flying through this process.   

A couple weeks ago Ben and I were able to go on a walk with J, T, J's Mom.  I'm grateful that we were matched while the weather was nice enough to meet them outdoors.  This was the second time we've met in person, and it definitely feels natural and easy to chat with all of them.  I'm really looking forward to getting to know them all better and meeting more of their family members.  They come from extremely small families.  I think there were more people at Chloe's birth than family member they have.  I hope our gigantic family doesn't frighten them.  I mean, doesn't everyone have 72 first cousins?!      

We've spent the last few weeks working through the contract phase.  The contract headache is no joke.  I have gotten one each time I've read through that intense document.  I even gave T and J a heads up that they might want to take an ibuprofen before they start reading.  It takes quite a bit of time for each of us to read through it.  Once that's complete, Ben and I had a two hour over-the-phone meeting with our attorney.  It's definitely a process to get through, and today WE SIGNED THE CONTRACT!   

This week has been full of exciting updates with this journey.  Not only did we sign the contract, the ovum donor made her donation on Sunday.  They have little embryos growing already!!!  They'll let those littles grow, freeze them, send them off for testing, and then the perfect little one will be ready to jump in and make itself nice and cozy in my magical uterus for nine months before going home.

We DO NOT KNOW when the transfer will be yet.  I still have medical screening to go through.  I bet you can't wait for those blood draw photos that will be coming.  I'll keep you posted as I learn more.  I don't have anything scheduled yet. 

Thank you all for your continued support, care, and love!  This whole process still fascinates me and brings me so much joy.   

Say Whaaaat?

 “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”

 -Michael Altshuler

   The last four years have flown by. It’s hard to believe how old our children are getting, and I am in awe of the kind of people they are turning out to be. I’m proud of each one of them. We already have two kids in high school and all of our kids are competing in high school athletics. They keep us on our toes, and I have to admit that this great pause has been a welcomed slow down in our home to regroup so we’re ready to take on these last several years while we have kids at home.

   Trying to recap the last several years with our surrogacy journey seems like a huge undertaking, and this highly sensitive person feels overwhelmed by the task, so I’m going to recall some of the highlights of the years gone by. 

Our relationship with our surro-family continues to be better than I could have ever dreamed of. I’m so grateful for the joy these little people bring to everyone they encounter and for their incredible Daddies. This family will always hold a special place in my heart. Being an active part of their lives is absolutely magical!

   I was awestruck when my IPs asked me to be one of Chloe’s godmothers. I already had the surprise and honor of being one of Spencer’s godmothers, so I was completely shocked when they asked me to take that role along with two of her aunties.  It’s one of the greatest honors of my life.

   Spencer and Chloe’s birthday parties are always pure joy to attend. Watching the kids play with their cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents is like frosting on the cake. It feels so natural to hang out with their extended family and friends. Several years ago one of their grandpa’s told me, “You know, Josie, we consider you part of our family.”  It was so sweet to hear. It was a feeling I already had, but hearing him say that just confirm that feeling. We gained a whole extra extended family and it couldn’t be more wonderful!

   Sleepovers! We tested a sleepover with just Spencer one night. Spencer and I had so much fun while our kids were at their sporting events. We went biking and had a popcorn and movie night. He even joined me at one of Jack’s baseball games where I may have lost him. I needed to grab something from my car, so I brought Spencer with me back to the car, and he silently ran away from me. I screamed for strangers to help search for him with me. It was probably five-ish minutes of pure terror. It turns out he ran back to my sister and parents who were at the ballfield. They asked him confused, “Where’s JoJo?” and he said, “Oh, she’ll be right back!”  I wasn’t sure if my IPs would ever trust me to watch their kids again. It turns out they asked us to watch both of their kids when they went on a weekend trip. I didn’t lose any of their children that weekend! It was such a great time to connect with their kids, read stories, play, and snuggle.

   Spencer graduated from preschool and was off to kindergarten last year. His graduation ceremony was complete with caps and gowns and songs. It was fun to be a part of his celebration. He has as much energy as George and he’s going to do some great things in his life!

   Random dinner dates at each others houses or meeting at a restaurant are always a highlight. In fact, our surro-fam were the last people we had over BC (before Covid). They were here Sunday night, March 15, 2020. We weren’t even sure if we should hug, but we did, and I’m so grateful for those hugs! I can’t remember if that was the night I made my favorite chicken coconut curry with green beans and coconut rice for dinner or if that was a different night they were here. Spencer loved that meal! We now exchange photos when we make it for dinner or his daddy makes it for his dinner. Spencer even requested his daddy make that for his sixth birthday dinner. We always enjoy catching up on those dinner dates. 

  

Could you ever imagine that I would be asked to be in the bridal party at my IP‘s wedding?  Guess who was asked to walk their kids down the aisle and even read at their ceremony (I’ve included the reading below)?  Me, that’s right!  I mean seriously, never in my wildest dreams would I ever think I’d have babies for a random couple, build a relationship with them, and be in their wedding!  Could you write a better story?  We should probably have a movie made about us. 

   

   Covid throws a wrench in so many aspects of life. Visiting with our surro-fam is no different. It has been relatively easy to do with the nice weather. We were able to visit outdoors and Spencer and Chloe were very excited to show off their running, baseball, and swinging skills. Now that the crummy weather is upon us, I don’t exactly know what kind of visiting we’ll be doing with anyone until spring. Perhaps we will just need to get creative and have sledding dates or outdoor hot tub visits. At least we live close so just swinging by to say “Hi” in person is always a possibility.

   Surrogacy continues to be my life‘s passion. Ben had requested I stop having babies after I had Chloe. He’s been supportive of my unconventional dreams that I’ve fulfilled, so I’ve been respectful of his request. I always kind of probed to see if he would budge on supporting me through one last journey every now and again over the last four years; not pushing the subject. Much to my surprise, after talking with each of our children individually, he gave me the green light again in late August to carry one last time.

  Somehow I flew through the screening process and we’re already matched! Our psych eval is complete and we’re in the contract phase already. Due to Covid, I requested a couple that was working with a local clinic so I won’t have to travel for the transfer. I also requested transferring only one embryo this time. My preference was a gay couple from Minnesota again, and I think our agency scored a second time with a perfect match! They live across the river from us, maybe 10 minutes away, and I also think that my first IP’s are going to get along great with my second IP’s. I envision a photo of all of these wombmates one day!  

   There needs to be a fun connection with our IPs, of course. About a year ago I had a friend ask me about surrogacy because she has a coworker and his husband she wanted to carry for.  Unfortunately, she was unable to carry for her friend/coworker. Fast forward to the day we had our matching call. My new IF and I realized we have a mutual friend. It turns out that couple my friend wanted to carry for was the couple I just randomly matched with!  It’s such a small world. 

   Thank you for your continued support in my crazy dreams. I know it’s hard for some people to wrap their brains around the idea of me carrying again, but just remember that my grandma had 14 babies in 14 years. I’ve only had five so far. My body was made for having babies and it brings me more joy than you can imagine. Our kids are all very excited and on board with another journey. My nieces are already asking if they can attend the birth. May we bring another healthy baby onto this earth and make this world and even more beautiful place! 

“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage.  Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves.  Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The constitution grants them that right. The judgment of the court of appeals for the sixth circuit is revised. It is so ordered.”

-United States Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy - June 26, 2015
THE DAY LOVE WON

The Mom I Thought I'd Be vs The Mom I Am

Again, nothing about surrogacy; however, I feel the need to remind others that you have no idea what a person is going through, so just be KIND.  Be kind always!

I've been doing some soul searching after overhearing a mother who does an astronomical amount of volunteer work with one of our kids' activities discussing with another mom about someone just like me...as I was in full force doing my volunteer job for the morning.  "I just don't understand who these parents are who help out just a couple of times and leave the rest for all of us regulars." was something similar to what she actually said.  This got me thinking - thinking about who I imagined myself to be before I had children...

I thought I would be the mom who is just like you. 
I thought I would be the one who's a part of every single booster club for each of our kids' organizations. 
I thought I would be the mom who volunteered in each of their classrooms every single week. 
I thought I would play a significant role in the PTO. 
I thought I would be the cool mom that would know all of our kids' friends AND acquaintances by name. 
I thought our house would be the hang out place; the one where there was an endless amount of soda, pizza, and snacks. 
I thought we'd have campfires every single Friday and kids crashing in our living room for the night.  I thought I'd have hot homemade caramel rolls ready for all of those kids to wake up to just like my mom made for my friends and me. 
I thought I would have endless energy. 
I thought I was an extrovert at that time in my life. 
I thought I would have all of my shit together. 

It turns out I'm nothing like I imagined myself to be.  I'm ok with that though.  What I didn't know then that I know now is that I would come to honor my needs far above anyone outside of our household (obviously our kids' needs come first)...
 
I honor the fact that I'm a highly sensitive person and that I get overwhelmed easily. 
I honor the fact that I'm an introvert. 
I honor the fact that our 12 day old baby almost died at the same time my husband was supposed to leave for Iraq and I haven't slept a full night in nearly 15 years. 
I honor the fact that I've overcome PTSD.
I honor the fact that you see me at many of our kids' games, meets, shows, etc. because that brings me so much joy, but volunteering is way too much for me.
I honor the fact that when I do volunteer that I'm going way out of my comfort zone and it takes a toll on me. 
I honor the fact that I had NO IDEA how much work it would be to be a parent.
I honor the fact that every single child comes with some kind of challenge. 
I honor the fact that not all of our kids are neurotypical and I need to be present more than I ever imagined. 
I honor the fact that I've spent years of research and implementation on supplementation, diet, and alternative/holistic medicine.  I never imagine that I'd be researching CBD oils and fecal transplants!  I'm pretty sure that before I had kids that my thoughts on medical cannabis were very much in opposition to it. 
I honor the fact that I know the staff at our schools on a deeper level that I ever hoped to.
I honor the fact that I set boundaries.
I honor the fact that I don't need many friends in my life.  I pick quality over quantity.
I honor the fact that I learned how to say "no" and not feel bad about it.
I honor the fact that devoting as much time as I do to running allows me to escape my brain and find my soul.   
I honor the fact the I recognize what I need before giving to others, outside of our family, so I can be a good human, wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend, and employee. 
I honor the fact that I'm maxed out and I recognize it. 
I honor the fact that I'm nothing like I thought I'd be and I'm ok with that.
I honor the fact that I'm not you and you're not me.  You have no idea what's going on inside our home and the stressors that life has brought; nor do I know yours.  I respect you and I'm deeply GRATEFUL for the fact that you spend an exorbitant amount of your time volunteering for our kids' activities.  Thank you, THANK YOU for all you do.