Destruction & Chaos!

Happy Monday friends!  Thank you for joining me during our last few weeks of pregnancy!

Holy Hanna...where to begin?!  Well, I guess I'll get to some  housekeeping (the legal part that is) out of the way.

In the last week, George and I were thrilled to receive our completed pre-birth-order.  What is this golden ticket?  It is a legal document that was finalized by a judge here at the Orphan's Court in Bucks County.  This little ditty was signed and stamped by a judge stating that George and I are the biological and legal parents of "Baby Sabo" and that our names are to be placed on her birth certificate (if this document was late, we would have been left to adopt our own baby).  A copy was sent to George and me and a second copy was sent to the hospital where Ashley will give birth.  Sending a copy to the hospital alerts the staff that not only are our names to be placed on the birth certificate, but, we are the only two people authorized to make medical decisions concerning Baby Hope.  I don't really know if a lot of Intended Parents and Surrogates discuss the pre-birth-order with one another, and, it hasn't really been a hot topic between us and Ashley.  It's just something kind of awkward that legally has to be done, and heaven forbid, if Ashley went into labor while George and I were on our plane flying to her hometown, I'm certain she would keep a watchful eye over our newest princess and the medical team caring for her to make sure she was receiving the best treatment possible, just as Ashley has done caring for our baby in the womb.  Still...legal documents and pay are definitely two "weird" (read awkward, uncomfortable) issues that have to be addressed during gestational surrogacy, so, there you have it. 

Reading the document was actually pretty surreal.  Of course I cried like a buffoon, but, I have throughout this entire process, so, that's nothing new!  Receiving the pre-birth-order was also a huge wake-up call...as in, "Hi Suzi (Mom).  Your baby is coming SOON...get ready!!!"   Cue the panic.  I'll get into the panic in a bit.

Today we also received the document we need for all of Baby Hope's paperwork to be sent to Social Security noting that George and I are her parents.  I wondered how we would get her Social Security number and card, so, now we know.  This document was also sent to the hospital where Ashley will deliver.

On a more fun note, Bean isn't a bean anymore!  Check out Ashley's growing belly!!!  And yet, she still looks fantastic!

"Hi, I'm Ashley, and I'm just a few weeks from giving birth.  Jealous?!"

Now, on to literal housekeeping.  GOOD GRIEF!!!!!  Today was day one of destruction (cough, cough...I meant construction) at our house.  We're undergoing a major renovation of our home...now...eight weeks before George and I fly to Texas to camp out with Ashley and her family as we wait for Hope's grand arrival.  This little "six week project" may have been started a tad too late.  Essentially, we live in a small cape with four tiny bedrooms.  Our house is being modified into a Colonial with five larger bedrooms.  Today was gutting day, and, even with the tarp shown below on our staircase, I can assure you there was dust and insulation everywhere...not good for the allergies!!!  I'm still calm, and, today was supposed to be the worst day of this entire renovation, so, I'd say I'm hanging in there!  Take a peek at our current living situation!

This is the dumpster that occupies our entire driveway.  During the second story gutting on Day #1 (today) the dumpster began to overflow, requiring the order of a second dumpster.

This is the wood that will be used to frame our new second floor.  As you can see by the size of the tarp, there's a lot of it!

The view of our staircase from the living room.  The plastic is there to keep the majority of the dust out (despite the crap that got through, this sucker really worked well - I was so thrilled with how little cleaning I had to do when the crew left today - they even cleaned most of it, but, I'm psycho about dust).

So, back to that panic I mentioned earlier.  Am I in total panic mode?  Surprisingly, no.  Maybe it's because George and I have enough children in our blended family that we know not to sweat the small stuff, and, eventually everything will be done.  This addition is supposed to take six weeks, and, we're leaving when Ashley is 38 weeks pregnant (8 weeks from now).  So, is our timeline tight?  Absolutely.  Will I die if the house isn't 100% completed before Hope comes home?  No...it's times like this that our beach house comes in awfully handy!  If the house isn't far enough along by the time Hope comes home (which it definitely should be), I'll head to the beach with her until it's done, but, I've been assured this will be done soon.  Let's hope...sleep deprived Mommies may get cranky living in sub-par conditions!

Speaking of my beach house, HUGE SHOUT OUT TO MY SISTER RENEE AND HER HUSBAND DEREK!!!!!  They have given me every single thing I need to set the place up for Hope later this month.  I am so grateful!!!   In addition to a ton of baby gear, they've given me bags of the most adorable clothes that their twin girls wore.  THANK YOU GUYS!!!  XOXOXOXOXO

Thank you all for your words of encouragement and overall support and prayers.  We feel them, we love them, and we will always ask you to keep 'em coming!

Until next time...Cheers!

Welcome to the Third Trimester!

Holy Hanna!  I cannot believe we are in the third trimester already!  Props to Ashley for taking such perfect care of my little bambina as she prepares for life in the outside world.  I'm thrilled to report that Baby Hope (that's what we call her this week) is very long, just like her daddy, and her weight is perfect.  My first two children were very big (Maddy weighed 7lbs. 5oz. at 36 weeks and Nick weighed 8lbs. 11oz. the day he was due), and, Ashley's doctors think Hope will stay under the eight pound mark.  That's actually a relief to me - I was terrified she'd have to deliver a Nicholas-sized baby, and, all I can say about that is, "OUCH!!!"

We are now 28 weeks along, and, if you follow my Facebook page you can see our newest milestones update automatically each week.  For those of you who don't regularly visit my Facebook page, here is a glimpse of what Hope looks like this week.

At 28 weeks, Hope weighs approximately 2.2lbs. and measures approximately 14.8" long.  The doctor did say that Hope is a little longer than most babies, and, that would make sense since her father is very tall, and though I am so short, both of my kids were the longest babies in the nursery.  Go figure!

As for Ashley, she looks amazing, but I think the glorious feeling of the second trimester may be wearing off now that we're nearing the end.  The poor thing has swollen ankles, is tired, you name it.  But, she looks ravishing!  Here is a picture of her this week - you can barely tell she's pregnant!

As you can imagine, I continually catch myself going into panic mode as there is just so much to do!  I have to prepare two homes for a newborn, and, construction won't start on our house for two more weeks!    Typically, I would have ripped my hair out by now as I really dislike the possibility that the house may not be finished in time for Baby Hope's grand arrival, but, one thing surrogacy has taught me is to expect the unexpected and never prepare for anything to go as planned.  Our contractors have sworn up and down that this will be a 6 week project, so, I'm hoping 10 weeks will be enough time for them.  What are we doing to our house?  Well, it's pretty simple.  We live in a little Cape, and, we have two bedrooms downstairs and two bedrooms upstairs.  We're ripping off the entire second floor, adding four bedrooms where there were once two, and, we're tearing down the wall between the two bedrooms on the first floor to make one large master bedroom.  We're almost done moving our furnishings into storage while construction takes place, and, our living room and family room will become our family quarters for the next few weeks.  Deep breaths...deep breaths.

In order to get ready for Baby Hope's arrival, we've started packing everything up that will be going to the shore with us.  Thankfully, my sister had a ton of baby gear, so, that will be heading to the beach with us, and, our new gear will be staying here at our house.  We've also ordered Hope's furnishings and bedding.  Take a peek...

Bratt Decor Venetian 3-in-1 Crib

Bratt Decor Chelsea Dresser & Changer

Bratt Decor Chelsea Night Stand

Lulla Smith Helsinki Crib Linens (Bumper & Skirt in Rosy, Crib Sheet & Bows in Buttercream)

To see the rest of Hope's style, visit her Pinterst board here:  Baby Hope's Style

On a sadder note, Ashley's father is extremely ill with Stage IV cancer.  Quite frankly, I don't know how she does it; she manages to stay upbeat and positive as she's managing a hotel, raising two young children, caring for a disabled family member, and coping with her father's illness...all while she's carrying another woman's baby.  I'm begging her to take a trip somewhere - anywhere - after she delivers to recoup and just take some, "me" time.  Ashley, I know you're reading this - please heed my advice and pamper yourself, even if it's just for a short getaway!

As always, I cannot thank my online friends and family for your continued support of our journey.  There have been twists and turns along the way, and, as I talk with other Intended Parents, I'm discovering that's just the way surrogacy is - no matter how much planning you do, something unexpected will occur.  In our journey, I would have to say that "something" would be the health of Ashley's father.  I don't think any of us realized just how advanced his cancer is until recently, and, I'm asking all of you to please say a prayer for Ashley and her family as they come to terms with his illness.

Until next time...