tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89195485817077303362024-02-19T02:55:30.640-05:00India CallingRyan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-38584685153520195442013-01-19T14:38:00.002-05:002013-01-19T18:36:01.910-05:00The End and The Beginning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We've been home just over a week now. The flight home turned out to be much better than I had anticipated. From Delhi to Zurich, we were able to get bassinets for the babies. They slept most of the 8+ hours. It was so beautiful landing in Zurich. It had just snowed and everything was lightly dusted in white. Just as I thought we had finally left the menacing "where's the mother?" questions behind, they started again as soon as we landed. A Swiss Polizei stopped me and gave me a minor interrogation for traveling with such young babies. Maybe they thought I was trafficking children, who knows. I've come to the conclusion that twins attract attention period. Two men carrying for two babies even more so. We'll just have to get used to it I guess. The flight from Zurich to Miami was a little more stressful. We didn't have bassinet seats so we turned our tray tables into bassinets. Luckily we were sitting in the middle of a group of Israeli grandmothers on their way to Las Vegas. They took it upon themselves to hold the babies and give us tips for the next 10 hours.<br />
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We've slowly settled into a routine, although we can't tell if we're still jet-lagged or are exhausted from getting up every 3 hours with the babies at night. Aiden and Zara had their first check up with the pediatrician this week. They checked out fine. Although Aiden is getting huge and gaining so much weight, I did ask if we should switch his formula to Slim Fast. We have no concept of time these days. The days creep by, all divided in 3 hour feeding increments, and before you know it, a week has passed. I find myself spending most of the day in my pajamas, not remembering when was the last time I brushed my teeth or took a shower. I wouldn't trade any of it for the world. I love being a parent.<br />
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I've been reading lately about the changes to surrogacy laws in India. I guess we did this at just the right time as it appears surrogacy in India would no longer be available to us. That is truly unfortunate. The people I met on this surrogacy journey in India will make the most awesome parents. No one embarks on this journey unless you really have the desire, will and capability to be a great parent. Hopefully these laws will one day be reversed. As it stands now, the recent changes exclude most Australians, as reported <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-15/india-surrogacy-arrangements/4465198" target="_blank">here</a>, and definitely leaves out homosexuals everywhere, as reported in the <a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-18/india/36415052_1_surrogacy-fertility-clinics-home-ministry" target="_blank">Times</a>. Maybe Panama or Thailand are still options, I'm not sure. <br />
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I've decided this will be my last blog post. I originally started this blog to be a journal of our journey to have children. I had hoped this might one day be of interest to our little ones, while also providing a little insight to those contemplating the journey themselves. I hope I've succeeded. I wish my fellow bloggers all the best on your journey. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.<br />
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Signing off,<br />
Ryan<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hindu baby blessing, New Delhi</td></tr>
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Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-79641213808819153912013-01-09T10:58:00.000-05:002013-01-19T13:31:53.432-05:00Last Day in Delhi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I sit here in Svelte, our bags are packed, babies are bundled up and we are leaving for home in half an hour. I must admit, I'm having mixed emotions. Being here for the past month has been a roller coaster ride of emotions. I am a different person going home than I was when we landed here just over 3 weeks ago. There's no doubt about it, we've been blessed. Never in my wildest dreams could I have predicted how perfect things would turn out. Becoming a father to two beautiful children has been one of the most wonderful moments of my life. I'm excited to take them home and start our lives together. On the other hand, I'm also feeling reminiscent. India will forever maintain a special place in my heart as the birthplace of Aiden and Zara. I can't wait to one day bring them back here and show them this crazy, fascinating and intriguing land. I will never let them forget where they came from. The people I have met on this journey have been amazing. No one on earth, no matter how hard we try, will understand what we have gone through besides these people. I sincerely hope our bonds will be lifelong. I can't wait to take them to Australia to visit their "cousins." Mel and Andrew, you guys have made this journey special for me indeed. Gachy and Fernando, ahora tienen casa en Miami - mi casa, es su casa. Preet, you are definitely going to have to help me with Zara. You can be her pseudo "mom"! No, I will never forget this time or these people. Next stop, home!<br />
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Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-46711755619230018302013-01-07T14:21:00.000-05:002013-01-19T13:44:06.558-05:00FRRO... The Good, the Bad and the Ugly<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'll try to recap today's events at the FRRO. First off, we chose not to use Poonam, SCI's lawyer, as I didn't think she was worth the expense since she doesn't actually go to the FRRO with you. She mostly makes copies and tells you what to say. Anyway, I made my appointment on line for 9:30 this morning. We got a nurse to come with us to help with the babies while we were there. We arrived at about 9:00am. It was freezing and crowded, but not packed. I would definitely recommend making your appointment for first thing in the morning. There is a ramp on the left and lots of people sitting in chairs on the right. An older man with a microphone was screaming at everyone in Hindi and English to sit down, be quiet, don't stand there etc. Most of the people looked like they had just got off a caravan from Afghanistan. We walked up the ramp to the left and tried to get in with the babies but were told we needed to sign our name next to a number in a notebook next to the guy screaming with the microphone. Sound chaotic? It was. After signing in, we waited. Someone showed up at the desk and started calling out the numbers next to our names. When my number was called, I was given a one inch piece of paper with something scribbled on it and told to go inside. Off we went.<br />
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We walked in and took the first left and walked down a small hall. I was 3rd in line at a check in desk. Ruben and the nurse went inside and sat down with the babies. I approached the clerk and told him I was here to get exit visas for my children. "Surrogacy?" he barked. "Where is Wife?" he asked. I sent her home to America. She's ill. He wrote on a piece of paper Single Parent and circled it. He proceeded to ask for my documents. Being the over prepared geek that I am, I had about 600 copies of all sorts of documents. He said to give him the following documents: on line registration form with attached photo for both babies, copy of both babies passports, copy of babies birth certificates, copy of my passport, copy of my Indian Visa, surrogacy agreement, sworn affidavit from the U.S. Embassy, letter from SCI, no objection letter from surrogate, Form C from your hotel (it's a foreigner's registration form the hotel fills out when you check in), and copy of my plane ticket home. He also made me write on a blank piece of paper that I would be financially responsible for the children and I paid no one for them. I gave him everything he asked for and then he abruptly stood up and said, "YOU - sit down."<br />
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As we sat with the Afghans and waited, I realized what a bureaucratic nightmare this place is. We waited and waited. After about 45 minutes, a man sitting behind a desk stood up and called my name. He handed me my packet of documents I had given to the other guy and told me to go to desk 10. Off I went. I stood in front of desk 10 while an older gentlemen finished his cup of tea. Once finished, he took my documents and started flipping through them one by one. "Where is Wife?" he asked. At this point, I seriously almost pointed to the nurse and said "She's right there with the baby." If you've seen these nurses, you would know he wouldn't buy it. I gave him the same line as the other guy - she's ill and home in America. He continued flipping. "Tourist Visa?" Yes I responded. He then took my passport and looked for the entry/exit stamps from my last visit to India in April. A random woman walked up and they started speaking in Hindi. I stood there silent but they were definitely talking about me. All I heard was: Hindi, Hindi, Hindi, "tourist visa", Hindi, Hindi, "single parent" etc. this went on for about 10 minutes. He finally took both babies passports and stamped them. He handed me my packet of documents and said go to the cashier. I went to the cashier and was charged 4360 rupees for the two exit visas. I gave the guy 4500 and got no change back but I wasn't going to argue over $2 in a place like this. I was told to take my packet to a desk that said "in charge" above it. The supervisor took my documents and the receipt from the cashier and started flipping through them again. He called someone over and they started speaking in Hindi. "YOU - sit down."<br />
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So far it was going well. After about 5 minutes, a guy comes over and asks where is the letter from Eden hospital. Uh....... What? I tried playing stupid. Oh yeah, SCI is the hospital. "You bring me letter from hospital or no visa." But I'm thinking to myself, you already stamped their passports moron. I asked if the babies could leave while I went to find this elusive letter. He said yes. Off we went. We dropped the babies and the nurse off at the hotel. I called Rachna at SCI and told her I needed a letter on Eden hospital letter head that stated that my surrogate gave birth to my two children on December 18 and she was released from the hospital, is in good health and doing fine. She said she could make the letter and I could pick it up and then take it to Eden hospital to have it signed by Dr. Gupta, the doctor with no personality that delivered our children. Off we went. At this point, I'm in a race against the clock as the FRRO comes to a complete stop at 1:30 for lunch. With letter in hand, we barged back in at 1:15. I walked straight to the front of the line and pushed my way in front of the supervisor who wanted the letter. He found my packet and not even looking at the letter, tossed it in the pile with my papers and signed the babies passports he had stamped before. You are finished he said.<br />
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It was over. In retrospect, I don't think we were harassed for being single or on a tourist visa. It was however an issue at each desk or person I had to speak to - they brought it up. Neither were a hindrance in me getting the children their visa though. Could it change in the future? Who knows... We met some friends staying Svelte at the FRRO on our second visit. They chose to use Poonam. They didn't have anything from Eden hospital either. They also didn't have copies of their tourist visa. From observing this place, one guy could ask you for something and then turn around and ask for something completely different from someone else. There is absolutely no rhyme or reason to this chaotic place. I'm elated this hurdle is complete. We treated ourselves to massages this afternoon.</div>
Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-43615955533148384392013-01-06T08:19:00.001-05:002013-01-06T08:19:30.528-05:00Day 22ish<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
To be honest, I'm not really sure what day it is, how long we've been here, when exactly we're leaving or what time it is. Someone said the other day that they felt like Tom Hanks in the movie "The Terminal" except we live in a mall. I couldn't agree more. We are more than ready to go home. Christmas and New Years holidays have slowed us down considerably with our paperwork and passports. Friday was a great day as we finally got our passports. Aiden and Zara are officially U.S. citizens! We celebrated by having chicken tandoori and jalebi - although we really wanted hamburgers and maybe a slice of cheesecake. Tomorrow morning we are headed to the dreaded FRRO. We continue to hear that laws surrounding surrogacy in India have changed/are changing and aren't sure what to expect tomorrow. All just part of the experience I guess...<div>
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Babies are doing great but their daddies are a bit exhausted. This morning I was so exhausted, I realized I had my pants on backwards as I was in the breakfast buffet line. We have good nights and bad nights but overall, each day it gets a little better. Aiden is huge. I'm worried the pediatrician at home is going to wonder what the heck we've been feeding him. Two nights ago we ventured out to the mall with the babies in their Baby Bjorn carriers. Evidently we were quite the attraction. I lost count at the number of times strangers came up to us and asked "where's the mother?" We alternated saying, she abandoned us here in India or she's on vacation and we don't know when she's coming back.</div>
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Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-87744015431037392962012-12-29T02:02:00.000-05:002012-12-29T02:05:40.256-05:00Fatherhood<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I can't believe how time has flown. Aiden and Zara were released from Eden hospital on December 20. We've settled in nicely at Camp Svelte. Needless to say, we've had a crash course in everything baby since then. It's amazing how my life has changed from one day to the next. I find myself staring at them constantly... did this really happen? Are we really fathers? Suddenly a blood curdling screach awakens me from my daydream.... time to change another diaper!!! It's definitely real... Nights have been the most challenging. They sleep like angels during the day. Party time starts at about 3am! We've been getting a night nurse about every 3rd night just to remain sane and get some sleep. It's also amazing how different they are... Zara is definitely my little princess. She sleeps beautifully for the most part and has been so easy to feed. Aiden is what I call a "fine diner." He takes almost an hour to finish an ounce of formula and has no problem voicing his displeasure! Passports and other documentation are coming along. We hope to have passports by Wednesday or Thursday next week and plan to leave on January 9. I'll post some tips for future IPs in a few days. Happy New Year everyone!<br />
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Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-343803444610479952012-12-19T09:21:00.001-05:002012-12-19T21:53:06.575-05:00The Happiest Day of My Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I will never forget the events of yesterday, December 18. This amazing day will remain seared in my mind as long as I live. Yesterday I became a father. At 1:30pm we were called and told to be at Eden hospital at 3pm because our surrogate would be undergoing her c-section. As we sat in the adjoining lounge, at 3:38 I heard the first cry and burst into tears. Our son, Aiden Ishan Guzman was born and weighed exactly 7 pounds (3.17 kg). At 3:39pm, Zara Neena Guzman was born and weighed 6 pounds (2.74 kg). A beautiful, healthy baby boy and a gorgeous, healthy baby girl. I couldn't have asked for anything more. We are absolutely thrilled beyond words. Our surrogate is doing fine and we hope to see her next week. Tomorrow morning the babies will be discharged from Eden and coming back to Svelte with us. These photos were taken 20 minutes after birth - the four of us were moved to tears!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with Aiden</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruben with Zara</td></tr>
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Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-53212431518677321402012-12-15T08:17:00.001-05:002012-12-15T08:17:52.155-05:00Expect the Unexpected<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We made it to Delhi. Not without a little drama of course. Not to worry fellow bloggers, I swear these things only happen to me. The babies and our surrogate are doing great so far. Our drama started before we left at about midnight when we discovered that the woman we had entrusted to watch our house and our furry babies was a convicted felon who did time for drug trafficking. "Where do you meet these women?" Ruben always asks me. At the JFK ticket counter for Air India, we were informed we had too many bags and would either have to re-pack or pay over $500 in excess baggage fees. We had to make quick decisions - keep the diapers or the size 12 tennis shoes. The diapers won. We arrived at the hotel in Gurgaon. What the $&@/ was I thinking booking our hotel all the way out there? Seriously, our hotel is a compound in the middle of nowhere. I think we are moving to Svelte on Monday. Last night we had a great time catching up with "M" and "A" from New Year Dreaming. Today we met our surrogate at Dr. Jolly's for her 36 week scan. What an awesome experience. Our surrogate is extremely shy and somewhat difficult to read or converse with but we are so grateful she allowed us to be present for the scan. Twin 1 now weighs 6.7 pounds and twin 2 is coming in at 5.9. This woman is seriously huge. I can't believe they weigh this much. From the looks of things, it won't be much longer.</div>
Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-42427560872709487462012-12-10T21:19:00.000-05:002012-12-10T21:20:00.015-05:00What Happened to October and November?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
These two months seemed to have disappeared and I need them back! Tomorrow morning we leave for New York. We plan to spend the night in the city and will leave on Wednesday afternoon for Delhi. As hard as I tried to be organized and have everything ready, I'm going crazy packing and buying last minute things I forgot to pack. We are super excited nonetheless. So far, so good...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who knew 2 babies needed so much stuff?</td></tr>
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So far, I've packed the following:<br />
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2 Phil & Ted's cocoons<br />
2 Baby Bjorn carriers<br />
2 newborn inserts for carriers<br />
Diaper Bag<br />
410 diapers (preemie and newborn)<br />
20 burp cloths<br />
12 blankets<br />
22 bottles<br />
6 pacifiers<br />
Electric bottle sterilizer<br />
Diaper cream/diaper rash ointment<br />
800 baby wipes<br />
small trash bags (some hotels don't put them in rooms)<br />
hand sanitizer<br />
Thermometer and grooming kit<br />
nasal aspirator<br />
clothes - 20 onesies (short and long sleeves), 4 night gowns, t-shirts, socks, 6 caps, mittens, 4 sleep & plays, 8 bodysuits<br />
6 swaddler wraps<br />
1 bottle of champagne<br />
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I don't think I have space for our own clothes!<br />
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In the meantime, my house has become a mini baby store:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> The dogs like the City Select stroller, my favorite toy of all!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I'm being told I need to stop wasting time on the computer and start packing! Next stop, Delhi!!!<br />
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Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-91986426712294639082012-12-03T19:47:00.000-05:002012-12-03T19:47:15.448-05:00Kudos to Princess Mette-Marit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This story is too good not to share. I like the part about the clinic thinking she was the nanny!!! I like stories that show there are still good people in the world.</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Norway princess, incognito, rushes to aid surrogate twins</span></span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit rushed to India on her own dime in October to help care, incognito, for twins delivered by a surrogate until their parents, a Norwegian gay couple, could arrive, the palace said Monday.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mette-Marit flew to New Delhi to help care for the babies until their parents -- a male couple who are friends of the princess and her husband Crown Prince Haakon -- could resolve a visa delay.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">During her stay at the clinic with the newborns, the 39-year-old royal, often praised for her modern ways, went unrecognised. According to Norwegian media, medical staff thought the blonde woman was a nanny.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The princess, a commoner who was a single mother until she married Haakon in 2001, said she did not want to get involved in the debate over surrogate mothers, a practice prohibited in Norway.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Sometimes in life, we find ourselves in a difficult situation where there are few, or no, good solutions. In those situations you have to make difficult choices even if it sometimes comes at a price," she said on the palace's website.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"An important debate is taking place in society about the issue of children brought to the world by surrogates. In my eyes, this was not a contribution to the debate. For me, this was simply about helping two newborns, who were alone in the world, because I could," she said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">While the practice is illegal in otherwise liberal Norway, the former national chief of police Oeystein Maeland recently had a child with his male partner through a surrogate in the United States.</span></div>
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Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-27076030864003165052012-11-25T19:59:00.001-05:002012-11-28T16:48:07.441-05:00Baby Name Obsession<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As the days quickly pass by and the upcoming trip to India becomes increasingly more imminent, I've delayed packing and am focusing my attention on my most recent obsession: baby names. It's certainly not an easy decision. The babies will carry these names for their entire lives - this can't be a flippant decision. Since Ruben's family is from Puerto Rico, he wants names that are easy for Spanish speakers to pronounce. At the same time, the names can't have so many vowels that my family can't pronounce them either. For awhile, we thought we had settled on the perfect names. They sound great on a resume and aren't crazy like Gwyneth Paltrow's baby "Apple" or Beyonce's "Blue Ivy." I mean really, even if both of these kids went to Oxford or Harvard, would you really hire them for a job? Apple? Next... Then I started "googling" and found that all four names we picked (2 boy names and 2 girl names) were all in the top 10 baby names this year. Maybe it's back to the drawing board...<br />
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Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-58062386143640635492012-11-06T15:06:00.000-05:002012-11-28T16:50:47.806-05:00In Awe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Late last night I decided I needed to see a picture of my surrogate. Seriously, I want to see how she looks. It's bad enough the scans have all been detailed images of baby brains. At least let me see my surrogate's belly... I fired off an e-mail to the clinic and woke up this morning to this:<br />
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O-M-G. I've been staring at it all day long. I'm not sure how she's going to make it to the end of the week, much less hold out until next month. I'm amazed on so many levels... that we will be parents soon, at what this woman is doing for us, that our babies are really in there... So many things are running through my head. I'm still staring in awe...<br />
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Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-55163449994713116282012-11-04T21:09:00.003-05:002012-11-06T16:35:58.012-05:00Nursery Reveal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After several weeks working on this room, it's finally open for business! The only thing we're missing are the babies of course. At this point, if we don't have it, they don't need it! We've even started hoarding diapers!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sad before picture.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Future daddy at work.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> I'm so glad we found these for the walls. Check them out <a href="https://www.tatouagedesigns.com/default.asp" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-72630605310391505192012-10-22T13:47:00.000-04:002012-10-22T15:45:23.743-04:00My Big Day in Court<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today was my first time ever in a courtroom. I have to admit, I was a little nervous. Granted, this isn't the trial of the century or the O.J. Simpson case, but it's important to me. Today I'm officially getting my name changed. <br />
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My lawyer briefed me before our appearance before the judge. "Is she going to ask me why I'm doing this and what should I really tell her," I asked my lawyer. "Just be honest. I know this judge and I don't think she's one of those conservatives who'll give us any problems," my lawyer told me. "I've never had a petition like this denied."<br />
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We marched into the huge courtroom. The only people there were my lawyer, myself, the judge and the bailiff. "So, Mr. Lindsay, why are you changing your name," the judge asks. "Well your honor, my partner and I are expecting twins in a few weeks. We decided that we would like our children to carry his surname," I told her, hoping that would be sufficient. "And why is that?" she smilingly asked. I didn't really want to go into too many details about India, surrogacy, the fact that Americans get confused by hyphenated last names, or that if we kept our separate names one of us would forever be the "real" father in the minds of many. "I wanted both my partner and myself to give something equally important to our children. I've already contributed their DNA. Now I would like my partner to contribute his last name. Both are gifts from each of us that they can carry throughout their lives." With that she smiled, granted the name change and wished me luck.<br />
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Now if I can just get used to being called Mr. Guzman.<br />
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Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-56453286020095375912012-10-17T20:33:00.000-04:002012-10-17T20:35:29.700-04:00And the Baby Shopping Spree Continues<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm not really a big spender. Actually, I get no intrinsic joy out of shopping whatsoever. I suppose that's one way of saying it... Ruben would just call me a tightwad. I'm not sure what happened, but today I let down my guard. We've needed a new car for awhile now. I drive a truck and Ruben has a motorcycle - neither of which will comfortably fit 2 adults and 2 car seats. We bit the bullet and bought a small station wagon/hatchback. I think this means I'm officially old - I drive a station wagon. There's no going back now... I'm destined to be a "soccer mom" and not the distinguished middle-aged man driving a convertible Porsche as I had envisioned myself!<br />
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Hopefully the kids won't be too embarrassed by it one day. I remember when I was a child, I hated my mother's station wagon - the one with the wood paneling on the side. They'll probably look back on this car one day, as I look back on the car my parents had when I was young. We called it "The Green Monster."<br />
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Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-88221594658993078162012-10-13T10:44:00.000-04:002012-10-13T10:44:49.367-04:0028 Weeks and Counting...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today we finally received the 28 week scans. So far, so good. The gestational age of Twin I is approximately 27 weeks 6 days, while Twin II is coming in at 29 weeks, 1 day. Looks like #2 is starting to overtake #1. The scans were a little disappointing again. I don't know, maybe I want to see something along the lines of a little Gerber baby in there but all we're getting are head shots (I think that's what that is anyway)!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPFI40GQeZWtF7LO7O7f6_CMzs3rI9144R2Z2tfjXdJ05RBakK_5vcz_pwGyaXcEt9HV7n3tsXrSv49KpizGQkwPuSjszk1OJWjH7mE3q9WIMZrDpwmHT-vN8tk6M74XELS8lo44YkLk/s1600/scan2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPFI40GQeZWtF7LO7O7f6_CMzs3rI9144R2Z2tfjXdJ05RBakK_5vcz_pwGyaXcEt9HV7n3tsXrSv49KpizGQkwPuSjszk1OJWjH7mE3q9WIMZrDpwmHT-vN8tk6M74XELS8lo44YkLk/s320/scan2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Time is starting to speed up very quickly and I'm starting to freak out (in a good way - kinda!). I've been making to-do lists for my to-do lists. So far, flights are booked. We're scheduled to go over on Air India from JFK to Delhi on Dec. 14. For the flight back home, we're booked on Swiss Air from Delhi to Zurich to Miami on January 10 (my birthday!). The Marriott in Gurgaon is booked for our stay. Yesterday I contacted <a href="http://chromosomal-labs.com/" target="_blank">Chromosomal Labs</a> to discuss getting the DNA kits and have them sent to the embassy. In other exciting news, the nursery is just about complete! Pics to come... I'm taking next week off just to get myself together and cross off a few more things on my list. <br />
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Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-68024756173653525812012-09-19T13:17:00.000-04:002012-09-19T13:19:47.111-04:00Nanny Interview Questions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As we get closer and closer to the pending arrival of our babies, the to do list is getting longer and longer. We've started thinking about getting a nanny or someone to come in maybe one or two days a week to help out with the babies and do light housework. A friend of a friend of a friend has recommended someone, so we may be interviewing her soon. What kind of questions can I ask to make sure she isn't a psycho killer? I've been googling this topic and these are the questions I've come up with. Spanish is her first language - this is important to us as we want them to be bilingual - so some questions may be lost in translation but we'll give it a shot:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>On a scale of 1 to 10, how weird are you? </b><br />
How would you describe an atom to my newborn twins?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Who is more responsible for original sin, Adam or Eve?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If a train leaves Los Angeles bound for Honolulu at 1:20 pm carrying 300 passengers, what time does flight 286 from Brooklyn land in New York City?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>For the next 10 minutes, I will remain silent. Entertain me.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We will be giving you a Christmas bonus every year. Would you prefer ice cream or candy?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>We like to let our babies scream for hours while we watch TV and drink martinis. Is this fine with you?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I do not think I am qualified to lead this interview. Actually it has become quite boring. What is your opinion?</div>
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Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-59021768040619850492012-09-05T12:25:00.000-04:002012-09-05T19:53:03.025-04:00Shopping Mayhem<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today I decided to swing by the Babies 'R Us store and start browsing for baby things. After doing a few errands, I pulled up to the store to find hundreds of people outside with a huge sign out front: "Moving Sale - Everything 40% Off." First, I must admit I'm not much of a shopper. Actually neither Ruben nor I can be described as "brand queens." Just the other day I tossed one of Ruben's t-shirts in the trash that I'm pretty sure he has had since high school.<br />
<br />
I was a little lost to say the least. Pregnant women were scurrying around the store like mad throwing all kinds of things in their carts while I was just trying to figure out what everything was and what I really needed. After 2 meltdowns and circling the store about 7 times, I had had enough. This whole experience reminded me of the annual Filene's Basement wedding dress sale.<br />
<br />
I have no idea what I bought. I had to put two little outfits back that said "mommy loves me" - not sure how they ended up in my cart. I remember buying 2 mattresses for the cribs, a digital thermometer and a stuffed monkey. The rest of the stuff is still in the back of the truck. I think the rest of the shopping I will do on line.<br />
<br />
It was something like this, except all of the women were pregnant and I was wondering around like a fish out of water:<br />
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Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-84796366122016986312012-08-19T19:48:00.002-04:002012-08-19T19:49:47.102-04:00Our Little Martians<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This week we received the e-mail we've been anticipating: the arrival of the 20 week scans. The 3D scan I find a little creepy. It's all getting a little more real by the day...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzYVH2GCqljk1REmoGw3t6f82QTsCNMOYckNfVq-KKIYM3VruKri7hYHTVjFWopXi6UNgr5mN1uYMHd_K6XxQVHPC3703PY0K2ce_G9-0EIfeyIAZoPjV758wYOQ7TLw05PNW6m6f5b8/s1600/scan1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzYVH2GCqljk1REmoGw3t6f82QTsCNMOYckNfVq-KKIYM3VruKri7hYHTVjFWopXi6UNgr5mN1uYMHd_K6XxQVHPC3703PY0K2ce_G9-0EIfeyIAZoPjV758wYOQ7TLw05PNW6m6f5b8/s320/scan1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martian #1 - 20 weeks, 1 day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-74g7KY4kjI1zWmxNsl4v60zvc2gqqqoEFcw7ma2u80SXZeq5KnyeFsKdDRZTGD7yylnwEWHFnAmXxqNEtZZXciB116YJccS93Go_a-_4Lv-Tko5tp8Rid0nVKMklYmYD5qqRyVRpuvQ/s1600/scan2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-74g7KY4kjI1zWmxNsl4v60zvc2gqqqoEFcw7ma2u80SXZeq5KnyeFsKdDRZTGD7yylnwEWHFnAmXxqNEtZZXciB116YJccS93Go_a-_4Lv-Tko5tp8Rid0nVKMklYmYD5qqRyVRpuvQ/s320/scan2.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martian #2 - 19 weeks, 6 days</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-86199489096886943942012-08-10T10:04:00.000-04:002012-08-15T21:28:35.168-04:00Human Resources Hell<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yesterday I decided it was time to break down and let the powers that be at work know of our upcoming baby plans. I was kinda dreading explaining the whole process and answering the nosey questions. Turns out women from 5 cubicles over where listening in to my story and a small crowd gathered around me and the maternity coordinator. "Why India?" "How much did it cost?" "I saw this on Oprah!" "Are your babies going to be Indian?" All I wanted to figure out was how much time off Ruben and I were going to get.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVZD2tQcL1xDNZFd0CLxrEcQbLniffIdcX_sOdzYeOB99ZuYTWejrbqDfJE_rtPlJ6hcK45syskrIk0nkO-QvlR19DZ6b1evPNQZfLBGGlMBM45swazCeh5gyot6jsDADvJcYXA_JtFc/s1600/ernestine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVZD2tQcL1xDNZFd0CLxrEcQbLniffIdcX_sOdzYeOB99ZuYTWejrbqDfJE_rtPlJ6hcK45syskrIk0nkO-QvlR19DZ6b1evPNQZfLBGGlMBM45swazCeh5gyot6jsDADvJcYXA_JtFc/s1600/ernestine.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This must be my HR coordinator.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After a lengthy explanation, I was handed a 75 page "Maternity Packet." As I flipped through the packet later in the day, I wondered if anybody was listening to me at all. The packet was clearly not meant for me. Bullet number 9 was "How to discretely express and store your breast milk while at work", while Bullet number 2 explained the importance of not going into labor at work.<br />
<br />
Later in the day I marched back into her office. "I'm not lactating, not adopting, and not going into labor. Ruben and I are leaving for India on December 14. What do you need from me?" She had no idea. After a 45 minute phone call to headquarters in Dallas, she still didn't know. Turns out a company with 80,000 employees doesn't have a clue what to do with 2 gay men working for the same company having children via a surrogate in India. Looks like somebody in Dallas is gonna have to get busy making a new folder for this scenario! <br />
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Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-84297069865013686722012-08-03T19:36:00.001-04:002012-08-03T19:36:09.509-04:00Baby Practice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Every year at about this time, it seems that half of the island of Puerto Rico descends on my house, turning it into a bed and breakfast for Ruben's family. We do enjoy the visits, but they can be exhausting after several weeks. The other night at about 2 am I got up to have a bowl of cereal (one of my bad habits). As I crawled back into the bed, I asked Ruben, "Who's that woman sleeping on the floor in the living room?" "Oh she's my cousin's godmother's sister," he said. I guess most would flinch but I've gotten used to it...<br />
<br />
Part of the posse this year is Ruben's nephew, born on my birthday and now about 6 months old. He's a handsome little fella and providing us much needed practice in all things "baby." Tonight just might be the night I attempt my first diaper change!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2NpOgmvrkS5KjhPgpIlQhzMoSoRSB4edNcZFN8TsIE1iZGtz916yeM_eC7u2fOqDYuaJ-jrPMNn0CzHPiT0ODJVnDkrrFAnRD81jn7AcZqaq2buScQJWkAA_yqP09qTMhswx3nBSZks/s1600/IMG_0296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2NpOgmvrkS5KjhPgpIlQhzMoSoRSB4edNcZFN8TsIE1iZGtz916yeM_eC7u2fOqDYuaJ-jrPMNn0CzHPiT0ODJVnDkrrFAnRD81jn7AcZqaq2buScQJWkAA_yqP09qTMhswx3nBSZks/s320/IMG_0296.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken right before a major spit up landed all<br />
over my iPhone.<br />
I was told to get used to this!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJB_PxAlxUQZEu9FydDwd0rz44KEVuy3mXalLRIXsl0kee34MxiB2W74QeCddU9BhwvDKth6JlfyTbtYFo91YjNZDrqfJrM8gmQjTIr0Vkfz9yI_jj3bx2DhZZFU7uZGdiU6Va_vKwIgU/s1600/IMG_0297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJB_PxAlxUQZEu9FydDwd0rz44KEVuy3mXalLRIXsl0kee34MxiB2W74QeCddU9BhwvDKth6JlfyTbtYFo91YjNZDrqfJrM8gmQjTIr0Vkfz9yI_jj3bx2DhZZFU7uZGdiU6Va_vKwIgU/s320/IMG_0297.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feed me Tio Ruben.</td></tr>
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<br /></div>Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-66094851406489082672012-07-31T11:20:00.000-04:002012-07-31T11:32:59.730-04:00Babies and Bell Peppers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well I haven't updated my blog lately because not much has happened. That's a good thing! No news really from SCI at all. Sixteen week scans came over a week ago. They were pretty bad actually and we couldn't see much at all. I'm fine with that as long as they are still growing strong! I've been referring to my new favorite website <a href="http://www.babycenter.com/" target="_blank">baby center</a>. This is what they say about the babies at this point, about 18 weeks:<br />
<br />
Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper)
and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are
now in their final position, although they're still standing out from
his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form
around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's
born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed
and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now,
but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.<br />
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I'm starting to get really excited. Time is starting to move really quickly. I still have so much to do, learn and buy before this really happens. I hope I can get it all done! Cheers to several more weeks of "boring" scans from SCI!</div>Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-21392924794770667732012-07-16T20:21:00.000-04:002012-07-16T20:38:44.034-04:00Grieving with a Friend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today I received horrible news that a friend I met in blog-land lost their twins - at almost 7 months. I know that no words can express the pain and sorrow they are feeling. I just wanted to dedicate this post to them and let them know they are in my thoughts and prayers. This was a real wake up call for me that nothing is certain about this process. In the spirit of grieving, moving on and trying again, I thought this quote was appropriate from my favorite poet/writer:<br />
<br />
Joy and sorrow are inseparable. . . together they come and when one sits
alone with you . . remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.
<br />
―
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4196101.Khalil_Gibran">Khalil Gibran</a><br />
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</div>Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-45058497126038917172012-07-08T20:47:00.000-04:002012-07-08T20:47:46.128-04:00Babies and Airplanes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have a confession. I am secretly terrified of something when our babies arrive - we've got awhile but I'm scared nonetheless. No it's not staying awake all night feeding, burping, and changing the babies. It's not even the stress it may put on our relationship. I'm scared of flying with babies. Yes, I said it. I work on airplanes everyday. One would think I would be most comfortable there. I'm terrified. It's a 15 hour flight from Delhi to New York and then we will make a connection for a 2 hour flight to Florida.<br />
<br />
I've been having this nightmare over and over. Ruben and I are half way into our 15 hour flight. My baby won't stop screaming. I'm walking all over the plane trying to calm him/her. "I'll buy you a horse if you be quiet." Ruben of course is sitting with his Bose headsets on and his baby is fast asleep. Each time I walk past, he tells me, "You've got to see this movie." Passengers are screaming at me "Shut that thing up." The pilot even comes out and tells me they will land in Kenya to dump me off if I can't quiet my baby.<br />
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Since I doubt taking a boat is an option, I imagine I'll manage somehow. I hope this lady is working my flight when we return:<br />
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<br />
In other news, I finally broke down and told 2 of my six siblings about our impending baby plans. Surprisingly they were really cool about it. Even my conservative, Fox news loving younger sister was excited. And they asked no stupid questions from my prior post. I thought that was a plus. <br />
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<br /></div>Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-38612266340153741382012-07-01T23:39:00.000-04:002012-07-02T07:38:45.114-04:00Stupid Questions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
For weeks now we've been getting the same 3 or 4 questions from people curious about what we're going through. I think some people just can't comprehend surrogacy in itself and then you mention India and it really confuses them. I've decided these are my top most annoying questions:<br />
<br />
<b>You're having a baby? OMG! What are you going to do? </b><br />
When I get this question I have to pause. I think one of two things. First I think, well, I guess we're gonna keep it. We did go all the way to India and are spending lots of money to do this so yeah, we're gonna keep it. Besides, it's not like we're 16, went to the drive-in and I came home pregnant. We kinda planned this. Secondly, I think people ask this because we're guys. Deep down, I don't think they have confidence that we can handle it. I honestly think most people think us guys will do something like this if a woman isn't around to stop us:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkczUlBGSZoSuwwYEO5opw8v4oo6XbhlBdPk4oWjN0InoRfdA8ooBkLJmPwAIxKhICP9mBwSidkOKQlULjNBJg04hnotTLZynnWSP978hRXE1BQ5FXsDr9wL7PxSFqbXZeBznG2idztwQ/s1600/o-FATHER-DRAGS-CHILD-MOPED-570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkczUlBGSZoSuwwYEO5opw8v4oo6XbhlBdPk4oWjN0InoRfdA8ooBkLJmPwAIxKhICP9mBwSidkOKQlULjNBJg04hnotTLZynnWSP978hRXE1BQ5FXsDr9wL7PxSFqbXZeBznG2idztwQ/s400/o-FATHER-DRAGS-CHILD-MOPED-570.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>How much did it cost?</b><br />
Maybe I just don't like talking about money but I think it's kinda rude unless I know you very well or you want information because you are researching surrogacy in India yourself. I wouldn't dream of asking you how much your nose job cost so why is it ok to ask me how much I'm paying someone to have my children? <br />
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<b>Who's the father?</b><br />
This one gets me every time. My first response is, "Well we both are of course." Then they want to know who "donated." I find it so awkward. It feels like they are differentiating between who is the "real" father and who is not. I certainly couldn't do this without Ruben and I don't think he could do it without me. Lately we've just been telling people the surrogate is pregnant with both of our children - since she's carrying twins. Why not just confuse them even more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EX0CMMLKiOPBkN0r72CRlqkjkMnX4zgd-mZ9M9G-bwjP8PrfPknWIe2oLfa3iglBXe1Ozr6Mw1PHEjYNQ0Pjqy7lgaGPFs6rwabux-NKD469I6KhRWSrrACG-VptjJfg-tbWkHo-yq4/s1600/IMG_0418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="dfsgssdg" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EX0CMMLKiOPBkN0r72CRlqkjkMnX4zgd-mZ9M9G-bwjP8PrfPknWIe2oLfa3iglBXe1Ozr6Mw1PHEjYNQ0Pjqy7lgaGPFs6rwabux-NKD469I6KhRWSrrACG-VptjJfg-tbWkHo-yq4/s320/IMG_0418.jpg" title="" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday to the love of my life!<br />
You're gonna be the best baby daddy ever!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br /></div>Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919548581707730336.post-70178031345963304252012-06-23T09:32:00.001-04:002012-06-23T09:36:18.370-04:00Is this really happening?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The 1st trimester is officially behind us! I'm still trying to comprehend that this is all really happening. Twins... fatherhood... It seems like yesterday we were talking about how this would play out. Should we really go to India? Do you think we'll get pregnant on the first try? What if, what if, what if... When I saw these scans this morning, it all seems a little surreal. There are two real, live babies in there! Amazing!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmKbU_9R0XQZ5Z3JNPrvK5DwIVjeXFQnrxLD4woY5uzMML59CGRR-HS7H4C_Ei_ak_-_5JK0zpFrHf0XDwTe9sDouUEqej3PYahRa1kIiUiRX3yhccwdaUOcrFiP38TLmCKYCTZOznrk/s1600/scan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmKbU_9R0XQZ5Z3JNPrvK5DwIVjeXFQnrxLD4woY5uzMML59CGRR-HS7H4C_Ei_ak_-_5JK0zpFrHf0XDwTe9sDouUEqej3PYahRa1kIiUiRX3yhccwdaUOcrFiP38TLmCKYCTZOznrk/s320/scan.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>Ryan and Rubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00001083522138067908noreply@blogger.com10