My Surrogate Life: my perception of a miracle part 11

I researched far and wide as to how to explain to a 4 and 6 year old the whole surrogate thing, and in 2003 there was nothing......no suggestions anywhere from any one! Again, almost a decade ago this was not a very common occurrence so we were on our own (not that everyone is now doing it, but you get what I mean.....)

I loaded my boys up in the car and buckled them in their car seats. I figured this was the best shot for them to listen.....a true captive audience. So I said, "Ok, I have something I want to talk to you about so listen carefully. Aunt Missy and Uncle Dave want to have kids, but Aunt Missy's tummy is broken right now...SO, God gave the doctors a way where her baby can live in my tummy and then, when the baby is born , it will go live in Michigan with Missy and Dave......do y'all have any questions?"..........crickets.........it was so quiet I checked the mirror to see if they were asleep!!! "Is there any thing you want to ask.....or say???" Finally, Payne (6)  said "ok, that's fine......so can we go to the park and play or what?!?!?"

So there you have it! Talk about anti-climatic!!!! I mean, I knew they were young but I thought they would ask something.....I wasn't sure what, but SOMETHING!!! So life carried on. From the very beginning, Mis and I talked about it and I told her that I wanted to be completely open with everyone around me, so when I got to Payne's last t-ball game everyone was dying to know if it worked. We had been at the ball park several times a week together since March, so they were totally in the know. I think they felt a vested interested (as did MANY in our tight knit community). I told them yes and I was so surprised by the excitement this generated!!! It wasn't long until everyone knew, and the support was amazing! I wasn't exactly sure how people (outside my immediate circle of friends) would react.....the books Missy had read warned that some people may be opposed, especially in the South. I was prepared for some negativity, but I can say I NEVER once heard or felt anything but total excitement! If people were opposed then they were kind enough not to share it with me.

During the next 2 weeks I was extremely tired and nauseous. Although, with my own 2 kid's pregnancy I felt extreme fatigue, I never felt the nausea. I figured it was due to the meds and my age (I was after 36 at that time). Needless to say I spent a great deal of the time sleeping. My mom and dad helped with my kids during the day and Chris stepped up and did it all when he got home. I was ALWAYS thirsty, and since Diet Coke (or anything with artificial sweetener) was not an option I drank a ton of water. He feed us and keep the family running and let me add he did it with a joyful spirit! He dubbed himself  "the baby farmer"! Still to this day he doesn't realize that without him, I couldn't have done it. Yet again....it was all in God's plan!

Missy and Dave flew into to the Atlanta airport on Friday afternoon, and I went and picked them up. We enjoyed the weekend and were excited for the 1st doctor's appointment on Monday. Again, Chris had to work that day so he couldn't be with us. As I signed in at Dr. Harris' office it was very surreal. We were so excited for the ultra sound because we knew we were about to see the baby and hear the heart beat!!! Sheila,  the ultra sound tech began. She was scanning and stoping and clicking her her keyboard and typing. It went on forever, it seemed like!!! Missy, Dave and myself were just waiting...... So she finally turned on the screen and began talking (because they record the whole thing on video for the parents).... we were holding our breath and she said "Well....I see 2 healthy babies........" I'm not really sure what she said after that because we were all crying and and hugging and talking and crying!!!! It was TWO..... THEY BOTH WORKED.....we were having twins!!!! I can't be sure but I think even Sheila was choked up!!!! We tried to calm down and she she went on and snapped pictures of Baby A and Baby B!!!! She showed us the measurements and the heart beats!!!! The miracle babies........WOW.......2.....WOW!!!!

When we finished , we meet up in a different room with Dr. Harris. We were elated and shocked and full of joy!!! Missy brought a paper full of questions and began going down the list. Missy asked something about twins and Dr. Harris looked her straight in her eyes and said, "I've never actually delivered twins but am excited and confident to give it a try!" I thought Missy was going to faint...and then she realized he was just teasing her!!!!  She finished her questions and we all felt ready...or as ready as we could be!!!! The due date was February 6, 2004 when we thought it was just one (which, ironically was our other BFF, Jill's birthday, AND Missy's only sister, Nikki's birthday. I also want to take a second and point out that Nikki did offer to carry a baby for Missy too. I was just a better fit at that time)..... But now that there were twins, the whole game changed!!! My adjusted due date was January 23, 2004.......Noted!!!

We set the next appoint for 2 weeks later, and off to the airport we went. As soon as we got int they car they both were calling their parents with the news! Chris was working in town on the way to the airport and we stopped and shared the news and pictures  with him. The excitement was infectious and it all seemed like a dream!

As I dropped them off and they gathered their luggage, I gave them a hug, and said I would see them again in 2 weeks when they returned for the next doctors appointment. Missy just looked at me and not a word needed to be said......we were on a journey that very few people will EVER be privileged enough to travel.....and we weren't taking this amazing blessing for granted for even 1 second!!!