We're famous! ...well sort of

~ by Kim

We are officially on the Canadian Surrogate Births Registry now! I guess a lot of people prefer to just have their initial listed, but we've used our names, and I'm proud to be on it and what we're doing. Check it out!

Surrogate Birth Registry

Also on the same website, there is a link to our blog. It's pretty cool. The site I mean, not the blog. Well, both really.

Canadian Resources Page

This website has everything you want to know about surrogacy in Canada, and was one that I went to frequently when we were in the early stages of our journey and I was seeking out more information. It's so neat to see our names on there now.

You never know...Spielberg may be knocking on our door any day now looking to tell our story.

I'm totally ok with that.

In pregnancy news, I'm now 18 weeks and feeling great! I'm showing more - which I love, as I'm starting to look more pregnant now rather than just heavy. I've been meaning to write for awhile, but time seems to get away from me, and I'm terrible for finding other things to do and then making excuses. I'll write a real update soon!

Till then, here's a recent belly pic from the weekend. I find it funny how a slight change in angle can really change the appearance of the bump - hence more than one shot.

Baby is about 5 1/2 inches now, and I can now feel him or her moving around inside of me, which is incredible. I never thought I'd feel this again, so I'm really enjoying it and marvelling at the miracle of life, as corny as that sounds.

I'll leave you with a couple pictures of the Easter Bunny, who has made an early appearance hopping around our house.

                                              

 


On the plus side, she wants carrots for snack. One day we were all out of carrots, so she settled for some romaine leaves and raw broccoli. Wish I could take credit for my kid wanting to eat raw vegetables, but honestly, credit will have to go to the bunny costume. I'm not picky though... whatever works.

My turn!

- by Janelle (IM)

It's my turn for some pill popping :)

Last week I had my appointment with a GP who specializes in breastfeeding to talk about inducing lactation. I was put on the lengthy regular protocol from the website I mentioned in my previous post - Baked Potatoes & Red Grapefruit.

Basically the protocol is meant to trick your body into thinking it's pregnant. This is primarily done with the birth control pill which I'll take daily (no stopping) from now until early to mid June. On top of this, four times a day I'm taking domperidone which stimulates the pituitary gland to increase production of prolactin – this is the hormone that signals breast cells to produce milk. When I stop the birth control, the milk should start coming in with the assistance of some pumping.

The pumping is the part I'm still trying to wrap my head around. When it's time to pump, the protocol is to do so every three hours for about 15 minutes per breast. The first thing that came to my mind when I fully realized this, and thought out the dates on a calendar, was that I'd have to do this at work for about 3 weeks! I don't know about you but to me this is very unappealing. Most of the office walls where I work aren't full height. Joel suggested I do it in the bathroom - uh, no thanks. The idea of sitting on a toilet in a public washroom and pumping doesn't sit right. Besides I'd have to feed in an extension cord because there are no outlets in the washroom itself.

Have no fear, this isn't going to stop me! I'll figure out some sort of an arrangement that works. Once I get over the personal/private aspect of it, my office mate and those nearby may just have to endure the sound of a breast pump a couple of times a day...this should be interesting!

For now I'm simply focused on not forgetting to take my pills. Sometimes I feel like those TV show characters who are constantly popping open their meds container and throwing back a pill for high blood pressure or pain, hehe. Check out the stash I have:

(400 doses of domperidone)

Telling our 4 year old...

~ by Kim


Awhile ago, Janelle and Joel sent us a children's book called "The Kangaroo Pouch", a children's book about surrogacy. We started reading it to Lily awhile ago, but never went any further than just reading it as a story. She loved the book, and it's often a part of our bedtime routine.

This week, we broke the news to her.

While Rowan was napping, Lily and I were together on the couch and we read the book again. When I finished, she wanted to read it again (usual response) but instead, we started talking. I surprised myself, as I hadn't planned on telling her that day, but it just felt like a good time. I told her what we were doing, as simply as I could. I told her that Janelle's tummy was broken, so we were using my tummy to help them grow their baby. She was excited right away. I'm not sure how much exactly she understands, but she understands there's a baby in my tummy, and that was exciting news.

Her very first question, and I think to her, one of the most important things: was it a boy or a girl? Before I could say anything, she told me that she wanted it to be a girl. After that, the questions started coming. After explaining the basics to her, the conversation went like this:

Lily: Is the baby in there right now?

Me: Yes, but right now it's small, about the size of an apple.

Lily: An apple?!? That's funny!

Lily: When did you put it in there?

Me: In the fall, before Christmas time.

Lily: I want it to be a girl.

Me: I know, but we don't know who's in there. It might be a boy.

Quiet.

Me: Janelle will be coming out next month to visit.

Lily: Is she coming to get the baby?

Me: No, the baby isn't ready yet, it still needs to grow some more. As the baby grows, so will my tummy. He/She won't be ready to come out until the summer.

Lily: Where will the baby go after it's born?

Me: Home, with Janelle and Joel.

Lily: Awwwww!!! I'm going to miss the baby!
        Will I get to go visit?

Me: Definitely! We can visit lots!

Rowan (almost 22 months) has now woken up, and hearing us talking about babies, repeats "baby, baby," and goes to get her 'baby'.

Lily: NO ROWAN! It's a REAL baby, NOT a doll!!!

(Lily is now rubbing my stomach)

Lily: Rowan....there's a baby in there. A real baby.
 
Lily: We have to be careful with mommy's tummy.