Thursday, July 10, 2008

Holy crap! This is really happening!

My mom and dad made it to Alabama just fine, and my kids were of course thrilled to see Grandma and Grandpa. Forget about their poor, fat, weebles wobble but they don’t fall down mom, who was embarking on her own grand adventure in just a few days …. For now, it was all about them and getting to see the grandparents. Probably just as good, since I was so big by that point, even my dad, with his muscular dystrophy and wheelchair, could keep up with them better than I could! Ha!

Still hopeful that I would hold out until induction day, I planned a few fun activities for when M&S arrived with their son in tow. It was kind of an odd feeling --- yes, we were all thrilled to see one another again, and so excited for what was in store. But at the same time, I felt a little tourist-guide-hostess-y, and wanted them to enjoy their time in Alabama … not just sit around and watch me gestate those few final days.

My IP’s first night in town, my parents stayed home with my kids while the grown ups went out to dinner at Longhorn and chatted. Thanks to the distance between us, it had been since our match meeting, a year and a half ago, that they and Blaine had even seen one another. So despite *my* constant communication with my IM, it was nice to sit and catch up.

After dinner the three of them came back to our house for dessert. That night, in the living room, the baby started kicking. I didn’t want to move for fear it would stop, so I just said, “Come quick, feel my stomach!” I thought my IF was going to break his leg jumping over the coffee table to get to me. It was actually really sweet (well, considering he didn’t break a limb, that is.) I had a few contractions that night …. Four, to be exact. Of course, everyone held their breath that “maybe this is it!” but once I said something, they stopped, and I felt sort of silly and over-reactive-y.

The next day we got up and had brunch at the Officers Club, then our families went to a local strawberry festival. That night they came back over to our house and we grilled out for dinner. It was all fun and exciting, and my kids loved them because they brought toys (hey when you’re under the age of five, that really is your main concern in life) but of course everyone’s minds were on the big event, still scheduled for the 7th.

It was also really nice during this time for my parents to have the chance to spend some time with my couple and their son. My mom had supported the surrogacy from day one, in a “I’m not sure I understand this, but if that’s what you want to do, then it’s fine with me” sort of way. My dad, bless his heart, was just along for the ride and I suspect still thought I had had sex with my IF in order to get pregnant. Regardless, I felt it was good for them to see in person the positive experience this had been, and see my IP’s excitement, up close and personal.

The next morning, the 6th, we took a tour of the hospital labor and delivery floor. The nurses and staff had been prepped for our “special’ situation, and as far as we were concerned, it looked like things would work smoothly. Sometimes, thankfully not often but sometimes, surrogate situations are not handled well by hospitals. Whether it’s due to ignorance, or prejudice, I’m not sure. Thankfully, the staff at this hospital appeared to understand this was a positive, happy, we-are-all-here-because-we-want-to-be scenario, and they seemed enthusiastic, and eager *for* us, which was nice.

Then we headed over to the doctor’s office for one final checkup. He hadn’t met my couple yet, and I made introductions all around. Dr. S had been fabulous throughout the entire pregnancy --- well, except for that one time at the beginning of the pregnancy, when he forgot I was a surrogate, and cluck-clucked his dismay when he asked if I planned to breast-feed the baby and I said no …. Then, after I reminded him I was a surrogate, he promptly turned three shades of red for forgetting, apologized all over himself, and I pretty much adored him from that point on. Not only that, but his wife had been the recipient of a kidney transplant a few years prior, and he seemed to have great appreciation for the concept of surrogacy …. For the concept of helping someone in this way. While I was happy for him that his wife was doing so well, I can also admit, selfishly, that I was grateful that God put a doctor with that personal experience in my path as well, since I was able to benefit from his enlightened viewpoint.

He asked my couple to leave the room so he could do a quick exam, and discovered I was dilated to a four, almost five. He brought my couple back in the room, and asked the three of us, “Tonight? Or tomorrow morning?” He repeated, again, that since this was my third delivery he thought it would go quickly, and said, “If you guys want to go ahead, your baby could be born this very evening. Or we can wait until tomorrow; it’s up to you.” I looked at my couple, and they looked at me, and we decided …. Why not? Everyone and everything is in place, so let’s just go!

It was definitely one of those “Oh my goodness, this is really happening!” kind of moments. I felt like I was sitting in the roller coaster, almost to the top of the first, big hill. And at that point, figured I should just throw my arms up in the air and yell, “Wheeee!”

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can't believe how excited I'm getting over this birth that I'm not even connected to, AND that happened years ago!!

Pat in Ca

Tami said...

I love reading about this!! I can't wait to hear the rest - I'm super excited :)

Anonymous said...

I feel like I am reading this great book that I can't put down. I am so excited to see how it turns out but will be so disapointed that the story is over. Which leads me to......... Are you going to tell us the next surogate story? I know you should write a book. I can see you on Oprah's book club now.

Machelle

Anonymous said...

Dang it !! You sure know how to leave us hanging !!!! Thanks for bringing the story back !!!!

Anonymous said...

are you kidding me?!! You left it at that? Its 10:23 pm and I want to know the end of the story! And the crazy part is, I will check this site first thing in the morning for the next update!! Please don't disappoint me and make us wait all weekend to deliver this baby!
Kristina
OHIO

Anonymous said...

Oh I'm so glad that you got back to this! Not that your adventures in the water park haven't been fun to read about (and yes I love that mom of the surly teenager too) but selfishly, I'm *really* reading your blog for the surrogacy story. So exciting!

Anonymous said...

Dang Kristie, you are the mistress of cliffhangers! How in the world am I supposed to sleep tonight? Yes, I will also be checking in first thing in the morning for an update, hope you set your alarm tonight!
Sheila in MN

Anonymous said...

Loving this ongoing saga! What a truly amazing story.

Messy and Wonderful said...

You are such a tease!!!

Anonymous said...

Tease, tease, tease, you know this is the first time that you stopping has bothered me. I am going to guess that it will still be at least the next day, no matter that you are dilating already. I hope you can't sleep tonight (sorry) and have nothing to do but finish writing the story;)
Kathy in NC

Sandie said...

Seriously, I am getting goosebumps!

Anonymous said...

Dang it...push already!! Don't leave us hanging.

Anonymous said...

shoot! with my little one I didn't get to a 5 until after the pitocin and after the ob broke my water! so it seems to me so far that this is going well! :)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! Just Beautiful. What more can be said.

Anonymous said...

Goosebumps!!!!! I can't wait to hear all about the hilarity that is about to ensue - why am I so sure that this will not be a quick and uneventful delivery. Thank you for telling us ahead of time that everything's gonna be allright...

Sherri said...

Hi Kristie,

I'd like to chime in here to say that I for one don't mind you telling this story in short bursts. It gives me an opportunity to savor the experience slowly. Well, that and I have a really short attention span too.
Waiting (but patiently!) to hear the rest.

Sherri in NC

Love Being A Nonny said...

I sure hope this baby didn't take this long to get here! WAITING........and loving your birth story!

Angela Conklin
NC friend thru your entries

Anonymous said...

I love reading your blog.
You can take something so totally embarassing and make it so hilarious that I almost peed my pants. And the rollor coaster comment almost did the same thing.

Anonymous said...

Okay, so let me guess.....this ends up being another 24 hours of labor type of delivery again, right?????!!!!!!

Eloise said...

Another great installment to this wonderful story! Loved the comment to "push already." You certainly how to write cliffhangers!

Nate's Mom said...

This post is so exciting. You write so well; I feel I'm there with you! Thanks again your sharing.