Location. Location. Location?

A lot has happened in the last few days. I finally got my Official "Cleared" email from Growing Generations. Now that I'm good to go, they were able to send the Intended Parents (IPs) my profile.

They had actually sent me the IPs profile a few weeks ago. Rick and I looked it over and we thought they sounded splendid. I have always said one of the best things about Growing Generations is their ability to help match you with the perfect IPs. As long as you're honest with GG about what you're looking for in your journey, chances are the profile that you get will be spot on.

Getting the Intended Parents profile is like Christmas. It is so exciting. You get an increased heart rate and butterflies once you realize the profile is actually in your email inbox! When you read through it and look at the pictures, you immediately start thinking of what the next year will look like. It's like seeing pictures of a house you are thinking of buying- you start to imagine your furniture in the living room, the kids will love that backyard, with a kitchen like that, I might actually cook more, etc. And you haven't even seen it in person yet! Surrogacy matching is very similar.

First of all, my potential IPs are in Australia. Even though we aren't matched, I already feel the need to learn about their home. After all, I know there's a lot more to it than The Wiggles. It is crazy- all of a sudden I have this feeling that I need to learn the didgeridoo ;)

I am glad that I am excited about this because I'm also a little nervous. Historically, I have had major reservations about doing an International Surrogacy. I just had this feeling that I'd never see them again and I couldn't imagine that, especially now after having 2 sets of IPs that I continue to talk with and visit. I have lucked out that up till this journey, my matches were in California with me . . . but as I've learned from other surrogates, regardless of where the IPs live, it doesn't guarantee you'll see them a lot through the process or after. So, when Growing Generations asked me to rethink my view of International Surrogacy I did. They said that they had a great match for me. They were everything I was looking for except they did not live in the United States. I said okay, I'd take a look at it . . . and they couldn't be more right! After working so closely with Growing Generations over the last four years I think they know me better than I thought.

So yesterday, before they left for the day, they sent the guys my profile . . . which was 9:30 am the next day their time (they're 17 hours ahead). I was told I'd hear back in a day or two and that sometimes with the time difference, it could be a little longer. This is when you start getting nervous . . . Will they like me? Are they making fun of the pictures I choose? (Damn It! I knew I shouldn't have used that picture) Have they already shared my profile with their friends or family for input/ridicule? And you start to doubt yourself. And no matter who you are, how many times you've done this, or how many of your blog followers who are IPs say that you're awesome & you're going to make someone happy, etc. you doubt yourself. I remember doing this last time too.

Really! When I woke up this morning I was going to blog all about it. About how I got cleared and how they sent off my profile . . . about my new found curiosity with Australia- but then I decided NO. Not yet.

Because what if they came back and said NO straightaway?

What if they didn't think I was as marvelous as I think I am?

What if they were luke warm about me?

What if they saw how great I was (who are we kidding right?) but they didn't think we'd be a good match? (Oh)

What if?

What if?

What if?

It happens to the best of us. Even though I always talk up my uterus and joke and brag about my "beautiful uterus" or that my uterus was over looked for a GLAAD award, I still have these thoughts.


However, this morning I heard from Growing Generations that the guys liked my profile. YAY! So now we move to the next step. They already had a trip booked to the U.S. at the end of August, so that's when we'll try to plan the official, in-person, Match Meeting. For now, Growing Generations is going to set up an informal Skype meeting for us to talk more and introduce each other. This brings about more random thoughts . . . What should I wear? What if I say something stupid?

I do know one thing for sure. I will have to prep my husband who thinks he's funnier than he really is at times. For those of you who watch Modern Family, I swear the character Phil was loosely based on my Rick.

* No stories about his experiences (or lack thereof) with Boomerangs

* Under no circumstance should he refer at all to the movie Crocodile Dundee (in conversation or accessory choices)

* And he can't utter anything about Dingo's eating someones' baby.

* Even though he can do a great Steve Irwin impression, the match meeting is not the place for it. Actually, I'm not sure there is any place where that really works anymore.

* The words "Shrimp on the Barbie" should not leave his lips, not even once.

I am sure Rick will do great (with some ground rules) and my kids seem pretty excited too. They all voted that we should help one more family have a baby and once Ruby heard they were from Australia, where one of her favorite shows (H2O) is made, she was 100% on board. The more I think about it the more excited I get. And maybe someday, we'll take the kids to Australia, you know, to say Hi really quick.