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