Yes, She's "Mine, Mine."

Hello friends!  Long time no blog...and no wonder!  If you can believe it, I'm teaching one of my babies how to drive and another one how to walk!  I'll be the first to admit that I feel older this go around.  When I had Maddy and Nick I was in my early 20's...having a baby in my mid-late (ahh!) 30's has been quite an adjustment!

Cut to the Chase.  What Does, "Yes, She's Mine, Mine" Mean?

You know what?  In recent weeks I've learned there is still so much educating to be done in the world of surrogacy.  Not just gestational surrogacy, but surrogacy in general.

When Ashley and Jason, George and I, embarked on our journey, it was a gestational surrogacy.  What does that mean?  My eggs and George's swimmers were used to create eight tiny embryos for us to transfer into Ashley's belly (Don't panic - we only transferred two and the remaining six are still frozen!).  So what has my feathers ruffled?  Well, I'll just be blunt here.  I cannot believe the number of medical professionals (doctors in particular) who do not understand that Hopelyn is my biological child.  I don't want to dime out physicians on this blog, but, just this week one rather important one asked me, "Did you have an egg donor?  Because when you hold her, she really looks like you."  Good lord.  Does it not say, "gestational surrogacy" in the baby's medical chart?  I know it indeed does, which leads me to conclude that there is still much confusion about the genetics of these miracle babies, and in the grand scheme of things, surrogacy in general.

I can't tell you how many times I've been asked, "Is she yours?  I mean, I know she's yours, but is she yours, yours?"  Yes, my friends, Hopelyn is, "mine, mine."  I don't take offense to the curiosity, but, I do take offense when doctors ask such questions.  In my mind, they should just understand that when they hear the words, "gestational surrogacy," the baby is my biological child.

I know I'm feeding into the insanity by posting these pictures, but, I just feel compelled to.  Hopefully, they'll help make my point clear.

This is a side-by-side of me and Hope as babies.  Clearly, she's a cuter version of me.

This is Hope's brother, Nick, when he was about three years old.  He always has a chocolate face (even to this day), so, just focus on his facial structure.

This is Hope today, at 10 months.

And, this is us last month.

Why Do You Care What Others Think?

You know, I don't care what people think about me or my family at all.  However, when someone asks, "Is she yours, yours?" I can't help but to wonder about the friends I've made through the world of infertility and surrogacy.  Many of them have used egg donors or chosen traditional surrogacy (in which the baby is made with the father's swimmers and the surrogate's eggs).  I wonder how on earth such questions would make them feel?  It's one thing to ask politely, but for heaven's sake, ask with some polish!  Those of us who can't bear children have been through enough - please be mindful of the roads we've stumbled upon to choose surrogacy to have a baby.

Why Couldn't You Carry Your Own Baby?

You know, this is a question I've often skirted around online, but, I think it's fair for me to be completely upfront about my own road to surrogacy.  There were actually a lot of things that worked against me in terms of ever carrying my own child again, the first being a pulmonary embolism when I was 27 years old.  Because I had so many blood clots in my lungs, I was advised to never get pregnant again, and when I shockingly did get pregnant at age 29, I was advised to terminate the pregnancy; The high-risk specialists felt the pregnancy could end my life.  Sadly, I was never able to make my own decision in that scenario, because the pregnancy was ectopic, and, it caused my left fallopian tube to rupture.  Because I had such horrible endometriosis and adenomyosis, it was recommended that I have my uterus removed during my emergency surgery.  I agreed to that, and, I lost so much blood in surgery that I had to spend seven hours in the recovery room before I could even be transferred to a regular hospital room.  I was able to keep both of my ovaries, however, the one on my left side (where my fallopian tube ruptured) flipped, and, it is stapled in place to this day (it will eventually need to be removed).  I still have the tube on my right side and my right ovary, and, those ovaries are how I was able to create Hopelyn Jane.

What I Want You to Know...

For us intended parents, how our babies got to us is no different than traditional pregnancies, adoption, you name it.  The instant our babies are born, the torch is passed from the saints who brought our miracles to us, and, we take over from there.  We are no different than any other parent out there.  PS: Please don't ask us, "Why didn't you just adopt?"  Would you ever ask that to a pregnant woman?  Please take my word for it - that question is just as bizarre to me, as a former intended mother, as it would have been when I was pregnant with my first two children.

In the end, we clearly still have a long way to go in terms of educating the public on the surrogacy process.  It is a miraculous blessing, but it is clearly still misunderstood by many.  So, I will keep on blogging until I feel that my job is done.

Coming Soon...Hopelyn Jane's First Birthday Celebration!

Ashley is coming from Texas to celebrate with us - we can't wait!  Be on the lookout for some adorable photos from our ladybug-themed bash!

Cheers!

Hope's Month of Firsts...

"Medicine has made many a miracle possible.  But this one, Suzanne, tops them all." 

~ Anthony Embessi (Hope's Pop Pop upon meeting her for the first time).

My dad, "Pop Pop" to lucky #13, her siblings, and her cousins.

Before I begin with Hope's one month old post (that is officially a full week late), I cannot proceed without acknowledging the loss of a truly great man, Ashley's father.  While I will always regret never getting to meet him, I will always be thankful Ashley was able to take a picture of Hope to see him so he could see firsthand what an amazing job he did raising a selfless daughter who is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.  Rest in peace Doc - you fought a hell of a battle, and, I will be eternally grateful for you and your family.

Hope's First Month

Wow!  I can't believe it has only been one month.  Really, that's not a very long time, but, Hope sure has enjoyed a ton of firsts.  She took her first plane ride at six days old, hit the Jersey shore about two weeks later, met her future husband Jack at his beautiful christening, visited our beautiful local community park as she tagged along with Mommy and big brother Nick as we were training to run our first 5k together, and, had her first trip to the Emergency Room at 27 days of age (boo!).  I have pictures of all of these fun firsts below!

The Emergency Room at Age 27 Days?!

Yes.  What we thought was a little bout of tummy trouble turned into something much greater in a very short period of time.  Nobody wants to hear all of the icky details, so, I'll just leave it at this: Hope had symptoms that could have meant a wide range of diagnoses, and, her pediatrician felt it was best for her to go downtown for a full workup to see exactly what was going on.  The verdict?  She is allergic to all protein.  That means dairy and soy for sure - the two most common ingredients in baby formula these days.  So, she is on Similac Alimentum.  Within the first 24 hours of her formula change, Hope was like a new baby.  I've posted a picture from the Emergency Room and one from the next morning for you to see for yourself.  Having a baby who became so sick so fast was scary - I cried as the doctor gave me a list of possible culprits responsible for Hope's symptoms.  So, after several different types of lab tests confirmed she was allergic to protein I was relieved, but also concerned for her future as we simply don't know what that means for her diet going forward.  The two greatest lessons I learned from this?  1) Don't be afraid to call your pediatrician...EVER.  Nobody's ever been called a  bad parent for being too concerned about their child's well-being.  2) It doesn't matter if it's your first child or your fourth; when something is wrong, it's equally concerning, whether it's your first rodeo or not.

Planning a Baptism Fit for a Princess

One thing that is very important for us Catholics (especially the Italian breed) is the baby's christening.  To be completely honest, I considered baptizing Hope before we were discharged from the hospital in Texas to get on the airplane to fly home.  Dramatic, I know, but I'm wicked superstitious!  Anyway, George and I have decided not to baptize Hopelyn Catholic; instead, we have chosen to baptize her as a non-denominational Christian.  Some may wonder why we made this choice, and, there are a few reasons for this.  First and foremost, there are three women in my life who deserve to be Hope's Godmother; asking me to choose just one didn't feel right.  Equally, all three women adore Hopelyn and we knew they would be beyond honored to be her Godmother.  The Catholic church doesn't allow for three Godmothers - only one is permitted.  To add to this, the Catholic church hasn't exactly been welcoming to George and me as a result of our decision not to annul our first marriages.  I understand rules are rules, but, a representative of the church never once took the time to even ask why we got divorced, and, they certainly haven't checked in to see how happy and healthy our new, blended family is, so to penalize us by not allowing us to take Communion, for instance, does not fly with me under those circumstances.  Besides, the definition of a christening is, "A christening is a symbolic celebration and statement that you intend to raise your child with Christian values and beliefs, with God as his overseer.  The terms of christening and baptism overlap and are used interchangeably."  We fully intend to raise Hopelyn as a devout Christian, and, it doesn't matter what building we choose to attend services in to compliment that objective.  So, Hope will be baptized by the wonderful, God-loving pastor who married George and me at a local restaurant (Zappa for all who are wondering who I would trust for such a special occasion).  She will be surrounded by her parents, her siblings, her three Godmothers, and her Godfather - just the way it should be.  Her dress is here and it is gorgeous.  I don't feel right posting a picture of it here since she's not wearing it, but you can sneak a peak of it on my Pinterest page here.  I can't wait - Ashley will be here, and we'll be surrounded by the family and friends who love her the most - it promises to be a beautiful, wonderful celebration for our baby girl!  Congratulations Renee, Jenna, Denise, and Tom on your new role of Godparents to Hopelyn, and, thank you for honoring us by accepting our request to assume this very special role in Hope's life!

And in one more exciting note as I sign off, I would like to scream from the rooftops that I have lost 14 of the 30 pounds of weight I gained making Hopelyn!  The doctor said it would take about a year for the weight to come off (September is our one year mark).  But, her early arrival has meant tons of time spent pushing a baby stroller around the hilliest neighborhood in town, and, that's resulted in 14 pounds gone in 6 weeks.  Holler!!!

Until next time!

George, Nick, & Hope: Hope's first campfire at the beach!

Gabby & Hope: Feeding time at the beach!

MomMom & PopPop drove all the way to the beach on Memorial Day to see Hope!

It's official!  Uncle Tommy is Hope's Godfather!

Hope & Her Godfather, Tom

It's official!  Aunt Denise is one of Hope's three Godmothers (Aunt Renee & Aunt Jenna were announced in my last blog).  Here she is holding Hope's boyfriend, Jack, after his beautiful baptism!

Hope's trip to the Emergency Room at C.H.O.P. at age 27 days.  You can't see it here, but, she was attached to heart monitors, a pulse/ox, and an IV for dehydration.  Boo!  :(

Hope the day after her hospital trip, already feeling a million times better!

The first time Hope smiled at Mommy!  I was so happy!  :)

Sunflowers made Hope very happy!

Our big girl can lift her chest up at age six weeks.  Go Hope go!

Hope's first trip to our local community park.

Big brother Nick texting while feeding Hope (which he asked to do).  The boy's got more skills than his mama that's for sure!

Hope is a daddy's girl in every sense of the word.  She smiles at Daddy more than anybody, and, they have their own language (true story - they make the same cooing noises back and forth to one another).

Hope and Daddy napping.  She adores her father - look at that tight grip she has on his shirt!

George's first Father's Day with Hope.  You may be able to tell she was a little grumpy in this photo!

Mommy and Hope today after I had two injections in my spine.  The doctor said no lifting, but he didn't say no cuddling!

We Did It!!!

Well folks, all of my snoozer blog posts have led to this moment...the post I have been dying to write about!  I don't even know how to put all of my feelings into this one post, but, an overall summary is that God has blessed me with two more miracles in my life.  I have been blessed by the birth of my daughter, Hopelyn Jane, and I have been blessed by the saint of a woman who cared for my baby as if she were her own for eight months, and most heroic of all, stoically delivered our daughter to George and me, an act that had to be bittersweet, and, Ashley will be posting soon to share her personal feelings with you herself.

So, Hope was Due May 25th.  What the Heck Happened?

Ashley went for an ultrasound on Monday, May 6th, to monitor Hope's weight.  The ultrasound determined that Hope weighed 7lbs. 2oz.  I'll be honest - the baby's weight alone worried me.  I knew a baby who weighed that much at 37 weeks had no shot at making it to term.  George and I had flight reservations to head to Texas on Monday, May 13th, and, we booked our hotel room for a week and a half figuring we'd play the waiting game for a few days.  After Ashley called me that Monday to report on Hope's progress, I felt so incredibly torn - I just knew in my gut that Hopelyn was not going to wait for us to arrive in Texas on May 13th.  That evening I asked Ashley and George if they thought we should fly out that evening, as my mother's intuition had kicked into overdrive - I knew Hope was coming before our scheduled arrival, and, I was sick at the thought of missing her birth.  Ashley insisted that she was not ready for labor just yet, and, George told me we should take a wait and see approach.  Well, we didn't have to wait very long; Ashley called us 12 hours after we spoke (at 6:00 in the morning) to tell us she was fairly confident her water broke and suggested we get on a plane to Texas...stat.  As I was on the phone with Ashley I could hear the pain in her voice that the contractions were causing, and, I instantly knew not only was our baby coming that day, but, she was coming soon, and, we likely would not make the birth.

After our phone call with Ashley, we made our flight reservations, and, we had 20 minutes to pack, shower, and get in the car to head off to La Guardia (naturally, Philly couldn't get us to Texas before 6:00 p.m.).  We must have looked like lunatics - we were literally running to my minivan, throwing in suitcases, Hope's carseat...and the absolute bare essentials we could survive on.  After all, we expected to be flying home the next day.  As we would soon learn, that was another plan that would quickly derail.

George and I had a layover in Atlanta on our way to Texas, and, we were on plane number two when we learned our daughter was born perfectly healthy, but because we her parents weren't there, she was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to await our arrival.  This really ruffled my feathers...as a matter of precaution, I sent Ashley an email the night before the delivery granting her permission to care for the baby (if she wished to) for as long as she wanted.  Since I didn't have this email notarized, it was invalid, and, Hope was literally whisked away from Ashley immediately after the birth, something I will always feel terrible about.  I feel bad that Ashley carried this beautiful baby for so long, and when the grand finale arrived, the baby was literally stripped from her.  Likewise, I felt that Hope missed out on the loving care I know Ashley would have provided for her, and instead was left alone in the NICU without anyone to hold her (when we arrived at the hospital, we were told Hope cried the entire time she was in there, with nobody to console her).

As we were washing our hands upon entry to the NICU, I asked our nurse where Hope was.  When she pointed to the first crib right next to us, I put my hand on my chest and could barely speak; I just stood still with my hand on my chest, and, I just cried and cried.  She was just beautiful with her dark hair and complexion, and, reality hit me...it didn't matter that I missed the birth, that I didn't carry her...none of it was relevant.  What mattered most was this precious little angel laying in her crib waiting for us.  Eventually, George stood behind me and sort of pushed me along to Hope's bed as the tears didn't stop.  When we got to Hope's crib, I held her first, and, I couldn't say much of anything.  I remember telling her how beautiful she was, how much we prayed for her and loved her before we even knew she was coming, and that she had a big, wonderful family waiting for her back home.

George couldn't take being in the passenger's seat for long, and, he reached his arms out for me to pass her over to him.  Seeing his reaction will forever be one of the most beautiful moments of my life.  George cried more at that moment than he did at our parents' funerals, our wedding...I never saw him cry so much ever in the years we've been together.  The poor thing's glasses were all fogged up, but, he did manage to muster one line that I will never forget..."Thank you Suz."  As he held Hope crying his happy tears, I wrapped my arms around him and our baby girl, and, I couldn't stop thanking Jesus for that moment.

What Happened After Hope's Birth?

After Hope was born, standard blood tests were performed on her, and, when she was 24 hours old we learned that she was Coombs positive.  Long story short, this meant that Hope was developing a severe form of jaundice, and would have to stay in the intensive care unit in an incubator under bilirubin lights 24 hours a day.  This was heartbreaking for us as we weren't even allowed to hold Hope's hand during her treatment.  In fact, we weren't even allowed in the NICU to visit her unless it was feeding time.  I felt like I had been kicked in the gut, and, that was only the start of our woes.  In addition to the Coombs positive result, Hope also tested positive for bacteria in her blood, which was another reason she would have to stay in intensive care; she had an IV which administered two different types of antibiotics for 48 hours.  In all, Hope spent five days in intensive care.

Tell Us Something Good!

Despite the fact that Hope's birth and NICU stay were not remotely close to anything George, Ashley, her husband Jason, and I had imagined, it was still a magical experience.  Imagine if, nine years ago, your doctors told you having children was no longer an option for you, and, here you are now with a perfectly healthy, precious, beautiful newborn daughter.  It's nothing short of a miracle, and, "miracle" is how our families and friends refer to Hopelyn.  It's a miracle that my eggs were strong enough to make her, it's a miracle that Ashley came into our lives and got pregnant on the first try, and it's a miracle that she's here in perfect health.

Hoplyn was discharged from the hospital at 4:00 a.m. Sunday, May 12th (Mother's Day - talk about an amazing gift!).  We drove straight from the hospital to the airport so I would be home in time to celebrate Mother's day with my children.

Where are You Now? 

 Hope has settled into her current routine of daily snuggle sessions that last hours at a time (if we put her down, she screams within minutes to protest).  At night, she sleeps soundly in her Pack 'n Play right next to my bed, in the bedroom we moved back into just yesterday.  As soon as we moved into my bedroom, Hope began to sleep really well at night, waking up once (maybe twice) at night for a feeding.  Before now, we were living in our family room, which Hope didn't like (I still haven't figured that one out), and, we were up all night.  My poor dad has come to visit twice on two separate evenings, and both times, Hope and I were passed out cold, and, I was so tired I couldn't even get off of the couch either time.  Padre, I owe you a lot of snuggle time with Hopelyn; I'm sorry!


In addition to having parents who absolutely adore her, Hope is lucky enough to have two big sisters and a big brother who absolutely love her.  My two children were always super excited that Hope was coming, but, it took George's daughter a while to come around.  Once she met Hope and gradually became familiar with her, her worry turned to love, and, I am so grateful for our happy, blended family.

Though Hope is here, her story isn't over.  I will keep posting as milestones approach,  and, I'll pop in to provide the occasional update here and there.  In the meantime, check out some of our favorite pictures to to date.

Hope's First Picture (May 7, 2013)

George holding Hope for the first time

Me cuddling Hope on our second day in the hospital

Ashley taking her final belly shot on the way to the hospital and again a few hours later holding Hope

Ashley and her family, who loved and cared for Hopelyn during the eight months she grew in Ashley's tummy

Hope's name tag in the NICU.  All of the other girls had leopard print, and, Hope was the only baby whose name tag had ladybugs (and I believe Hope was the only baby whose birth date was incorrect on her tag).  Her Grammy was with her when she needed her most.  :)

The first time I was able to hold Hope after she went to the NICU

Hope getting ready to leave the hospital.  Her IV was put in the hand she uses to suck her thumb.  :(

Ashley and Jason coming to say, "See you soon!" as we prepared to leave the hospital.

George, Hope, and I getting ready to leave the hospital.

Our flight home was on Mother's Day, so, George told me to let loose on the plane (he felt bad that he didn't have time to buy me a Mother's Day gift, and, I told him Hope *was* my  Mother's Day gift)

On the plane after we landed in La Guardia coming home

Our first night home: Hopelyn and I caught up on the previous week's episodes of my favorite show, Nancy Grace

Big sister Maddy loving Hopelyn

Big brother Nick promising Hopelyn he would always look out for her

Meeting Aunt Renee, one of Hope's three Godmothers

Meeting Aunt Jenna, another one of Hope's three Godmothers

Hopelyn meets her cousins!

Hopelyn today, exactly two weeks after her birth

Next up...planning a Christening fit for a princess!

xoxo

Xanax Anyone?

Disclaimer: There is quite a bit of whining in this post.  Please...just go with it...Mama needs to vent.  :) 

Happy 36 weeks my friends!  36 weeks...wow!  Since we will likely be inducing Ashley's labor, Hope will probably be here sometime in the next two or three weeks!  When George and I first learned that Ashley was pregnant, we thought the pregnancy would last an eternity (No time is wasted in IVF world - Ashley's home pregnancy tests started to show the positive line around the sixth or seventh day post-transfer, and, the doctor confirmed her pregnancy somewhere around the 2 week mark.  For those who don't know, pregnancy is estimated to last 40 weeks, so when we learned we were expecting, we still had 38 more weeks to go!).  Our friends were quick to point out that our family would be going through a lot of busy work during this pregnancy that would likely make the time fly by, and, boy did it ever!  During the pregnancy we spent four months traveling to Maddy's cheerleading competitions, spent many weekends at the baseball field watching Nick's team play fall ball (and now regular season baseball), we flew to Texas to visit Ashley's family and participate in Hope's anatomy ultrasound, and, oh yeah...we practically knocked down and rebuilt our home.  All of this combined with unexpected bumps along the way (sadly, the ailing health of Ashley's father tops this list), and, I think it is safe to say this pregnancy had many unpredictable moments for both Ashley and me.  It's gone from nerve-wracking (are we really pregnant?), to nervousness (surviving the first trimester and fear of the unknown since neither Ashley or I have ever done this before), to being super excited, confident, and ready to meet our little miracle and bring her home to her loving family who will be at our house, waiting for grand entrance when our plane lands back home in Philly.

Hope will be arriving home from Texas in style with this custom carseat cover designed by my colleague Basia, who owns Nollie Covers.  To learn more about the benefits of Nollie Covers and to see the designer's collection at my boutique, click here!

What Ails You Child?

Sigh...To say the last few weeks have been emotionally draining would be an understatement.  Nobody wants to read an essay of the challenges we have (and are continuing to) faced, so, I figured I'd spare you all and condense this to a numbered list (you're welcome!).

1. First and foremost, there is nothing more important to me than the health, happiness, and safety of my children.  I pray to God for these blessings every night (and often throughout the day).  Unfortunately, Maddy broke her index finger during her private tumbling lesson last week. To make matters worse, she required surgery to pin her broken finger back into place on Friday, and, she woke up feeling sick on Saturday morning, leading to a trip to the pediatrician...where she tested positive for strep throat.  That's just not fair - no child should get sick the day after surgery!  So, the mommy in me had an achy heart for my daughter over the past week.  My friend Steph recently went through something similar when her husband suffered a horrendous leg injury.  One question she asked was, "When are the grownups coming?"  She hit the nail on the head with that one; I wanted my own parents to be at the hospital with me for Maddy's surgery, but, they had to work, and, just like Steph did, I had to wake up and realize I am the grownup now.  (Side Note: Steph is the author of an awesome, hilarious blog, Life According to Steph.  Click the link is here and check out her blog - her humor will leave you in stitches!)

   

   Maddy leaving the Emergency Room in her temporary wrapping that was used to hold her over until her surgery a week later.  At least she was smiling!

2. My house!  George and I are leaving for Texas in two weeks...which means we have two weeks to get our house in order before we leave.  I actually lose sleep over this at night!  Our second story is a few tweaks away from being done and will be completed before we leave, and, phase two of our project (our master bedroom) will begin next week, with construction forging on while George and I are in Texas for Hope's birth.  Can you say, "terrified?"  That is how I feel about leaving my house in the hands of contractors.  I am honestly petrified of the condition of the home I will be bringing my newborn baby into.  Between all of the dust and ick that comes with construction, I have become certifiable at this point and am terrified I will burst into tears when Hope makes her grand entrance into our home for the first time.  If the cleanliness of our current crew is any indicator of what to expect, we're in trouble. 

   

   Before & After!  We are still waiting on two more shutters that had to be custom-ordered, but, even I didn't realize just how much our house was transformed until I compared these before and after shots.  I'm in love...

   
   

3. Nick has his first national karate tournament next week...AHHHHHH!!!!  Back to my protective mama bear instincts...my son will be competing in board breaking and sparring.  Need I say more?  

   

   Here's my favorite second baseman fielding right before he got a double on an awesome shot that landed just a few inches shy of the outfield fence.  When I feel stressed, Nick's baseball games are just what the doctor ordered.  :)

   
   

4. As if Ashley wasn't feeling crappy enough as she nears the end of her pregnancy, the poor thing got the stomach flu this week.  I know what you may be thinking..."Big deal, she got sick."  But, when a woman gets the stomach flu so close to the end of her pregnancy, the risk of dehydration is huge, and, dehydration is also a leading cause of pre-term labor.  Did I mention the fact that Ashley, who I care for like a sister at this point, is also carrying my baby...in Texas???  Thankfully the illness was short-lived, and, she was able to hold down fluids in a relatively decent amount of time after the onset of her symptoms.  On a happier note, doesn't she look fabulous for being eight months pregnant? 

   

   Ashley 35 weeks pregnant.  Va-Va-Voom!!!
   

   
   

Quit Your Whining - Tell Us Some Good Stuff!

1. Last weekend my sisters, Renee and Jenna, and my best friend Denise threw me a lovely baby shower to welcome Hope in style!  The shower was small and intimate, which I thought was perfect.  I got to mingle and spend quality time with all of my guests, and, I must admit to being completely blown away by their generosity.  They showered Hope with everything from practical baby gear to gorgeous handmade outfits courtesy of my grandmother and cousin Kate.  It was absolutely perfect, and, I cannot thank Renee, Jenna, and Denise enough for coordinating such a lovely party in honor of Hope's impending arrival.

   

   Hope's delicious cake.  This creative photo was taken by my lifelong childhood friend, Jaime, who has been there for me through thick and thin.  Love her!  :) 
      
   

   2.  Yes, I realize my formatting just go screwed up - I don't have the patience to fix it, so, onward!         This week all of our new bedrooms upstairs got their carpets installed, and, we have begun the        process of moving the kids into their new rooms.  While we're waiting for the kids' bedrooms           to become finished, I figured I'd post some pictures of Hope's bedroom.  Please Note:                The furniture in these pictures is not where it will be staying.  Each furnishing was moved to allow George enough space to install the floor trim today.  I won't be posting any more room shots until her bedroom is complete, but, I will share bits and pieces of the nursery as we go along.  And of course, I promise to share full room shots once installation is complete!

   

   Our starting point: Hope's blank canvas...

   
   

   

   Hope's chandelier: We chose a ladybug medallion in honor of my mother (we want to tell Hope her Grammy is always looking over her), and, we accented the room in cream roses in honor of Maddy, whose middle name is Rose.

   

   More cream roses!  I would like to place a photo of Ashley, Hope, and me in this frame so she always knows how special her birth was.  :)

   
   

   
   

   

   Hope's bedding: I chose solid-colored rosey and buttercream silk fabrics by designer Lulla Smith.  While I want the room to be feminine and elegant, I felt it was best to choose a bedding set in solid colors so we can add meaningful designs such as the roses and ladybugs without risking pattern overkill.  This crib is Bratt Decor's Venetian 3-in-1 crib; it will convert to a toddler bed when Hope is ready for her first big girl bed!
   
   To check out all of the items we have selected for Hope's nursery, check out her Pinterest board here!

    3. Finally, on a somewhat funny note, the 30 pounds I gained during my fertility treatments have begun to take a hike!  Every doctor I've talked to about my weight gain told me it would take about a year for my body to return to normal, and, they weren't kidding!  At this point, I'm still not willing to step on a scale, but, the clothes I purchased to accommodate the weight gain just started falling off one day!  I'll admit; I was absolutely thrilled.  While I don't know how much I weigh, I can say that I am only one size away from where I was before my treatments started.  The weight loss actually started to really pick up last week, and, once that began, it really took off (hooray!!!!).  Every day I now notice a difference. It just happened out of nowhere, but hey - I don't care how it happens - I'm just so thankful it's finally begun!

   

   The last day I attempted to wear my "fat jeans."  I am now one pant size away from my regular, pre-fertility treatment size.  Whoop whoop!

   3.  If you are looking for me over the next two weeks, I'll likely be at this place wrapping up loose ends...

   
   

   
   

   

   My New Home - I love shopping for Hope!

   Thank you friends for letting me vent after a very stressful week!  And, thank you for putting up with Blogger's formatting meltdown which took place as I was in the middle of this post.  I appreciate your support more than you will ever know, and, please keep your own personal stories coming; I love reading them and being there for you as well!  We love supporting our friends, and, when they overcome infertility by either becoming pregnant themselves, via gestational surrogacy, or adoption, their dreams of parenthood are realized, and in my book, that's kicking infertility in the pants!

   
   

   On that note, I must send out a special congratulations to two of my friends who reached out to me in the past to share their own fertility struggles - through different means, they are expanding their families!  As they reach out to me confidentially I won't post their names on here, but, you two know who you are, and, congratulations on your impending arrivals!!!  George and I could not be happier for you.  :)  

   
   

   Until next time...Cheers!