Little Surro Man . . . Big Surro Cutie!

So my little surro-man turns one years old in less than two weeks!  Can you believe it?!  He is getting so big and is the cutest thing ever!  Here are a few photos that were taken a few months back.  I love all of them but of course, can't share them all, so here are a few of my favorites.

I am a mother and then some

I am a mother and then some. 

Since 2001, I have given birth to eight healthy babies.  I don’t actually have eight kids running around my house, but eight healthy embryos have flourished in my uterus over the years.  Three of those were my own children and the other five grew into babies for three other families.  You see, I am not just a mother but I am a Gestational Surrogate and even though I’m not the mother of my surrogate babies, with every hope their parents had, every pregnancy, every birth, every experience of placing a newborn in their parent’s arms, I relived my own journey to motherhood.  As I helped others realize their dreams of becoming parents, I was continually reminded how truly amazing being a mother can be.  Not just in the delivery room when your child takes their first breath but how every day you have with your child is an adventure and a blessing.

I was lucky that I had a very easy time conceiving, very easy pregnancies and very easy deliveries.  I loved, and continue to love being a mom.  I also loved being pregnant.  I learned about the concept of surrogacy pretty early on and thought, even before I had my own children, that it was something that I would like to do.  How amazing must it be to help people who can’t have children (for one reason or another) become parents?  Little did I know that it would be one of the most amazing things I’d ever do in my lifetime.  Who knew my uterus could be so marvelous?  And I am not alone.  Across the country there are women, who already know the joys motherhood brings, who are ready to help give something great to others.

Surrogates are amazing.  I think we are a lot like unicorns . . . you’ve heard about them but have never seen one in person.  When I meet people, most are intrigued and have a million questions.  Lucky for them, I have a million answers.  When women say, “I could never do that,” I simply reply, “Then don’t.”  It takes a very special woman to become a surrogate.  Actually, it takes a very special mom to become a surrogate.  For only mothers, truly understand the gift they are giving and the amazing lessons of love and family their own children are about to learn.  These surrogates are teachers, nurses, day care providers, etc. but above all, they are mothers.

Every year, when Mother’s Day arrives, I celebrate the fact that I am a mother to my own three.  I do not celebrate the births of surro-babies that day, that’s what their birthdays are for.  I do, however, think of the many surrogates I know, that have bestowed one of the greatest gifts you can give to someone.  Regardless of compensation, there is a certain amount of altruism that surrogates have.  I also think about all women who celebrate their own motherhood, regardless of how they got there.  Alternative Insemination? IVF? Adoption? Surrogacy?  There are so many ways to arrive at motherhood, not one better than the other.

I will always be a mother.  It’s part of who I am.  I will always be a Surrogate.  It, too, is part of who I am.  Years from now I will look back at my experiences and will swell with pride when I think of the families I helped create. Not just my own, but six other parents who have been able to live the dream.  Yes, I am a mother, and then some.

This was a piece for Mother's Day that was supposed to go on a different site . . . However, they decided to go a different direction and have me write something more about Surrogacy in general . . . and I hated to waste it.

My gorgeous ladies!

Sharing some photos I thought I had in the past, but apparently only on Facebook . . .

My surro-girlies at 4 years old . . .

And here's a photo from our last meet up (my boys and my surro girls)-

And here's a reminder of how much they've grown!

Hawaii!!

I just came back from a one week visit with one of my Surrogate families.  The kids and I ventured to Maui to visit with my surrobabe (who turned 9 months while we were there) and his amazing daddies.

They are all doing so well and I loved being able to have my family spend time with their family.  My kids are in love with M and S and of course the baby.  They are already having withdrawls.

Here are a few pictures from the trip. . .

Me with my surro babe in the morning

Building Sand Castle's with M and Baby

Heading out to watch whales

My boys hanging out with one of baby's Dads

Swim time!

We had such a marvelous time.  I am very lucky that I have been able to see my Surro Family twice since the birth!  I was a little worried about matching with an International couple at first, but that has proven to be no big deal at all!

Thanks to M and S who flew my kids and I out to spend a lovely "holiday" with them.  When I asked my kids what their favorite part of the trip was, they said spending time with M and S and the baby.  Yep, mine too!

NOH8 !!

So Cool!

The first NOH8 picture I took back in 2010 when pregnant with Gideon and Harper was highlighted today on NOH8's Facebook and Twitter pages.

Remember it HERE

Since some traffic may be driven to my own blog, here's a quick update . . . since my "Be Heard" was written I have given birth to Alexander, who is now 6 and a half months old and have come out. YAY!

Also- in case you would like to see other Surrogates and their families who have posed for NOH8, here's a LINK to Growing Generations Facebook Page.

Happy New Year!

Hope you had a great Holiday Season! Just wanted to share with you my End of the Year cards and some photos of all my surrogacy kiddos.

Here's Natasha and Anjali

Here's Gideon and Harper

Here's Baby Alexander

Friends of the Engel Family Fund

My heart still aches for the victims of last weeks tragedy. When something like this happens, sometimes you feel a connection to the events. For me, it is because I'm a mother and more specifically, my youngest, Sawyer is six years old too. As the news spread and days went by, I found myself amazed at how small the world is . . . and how few degrees separate us all.

It has come to my attention that one of my blog followers and friend who also had her own journey trying to become a Gestational Surrogate (with Growing Generations) was not only the best friend (since childhood) of Shannon Engel but "J" was also her daughter's God Mother. On December 14th, 2012, Olivia Rose Engel lost her life in tragic the events at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT.

There is a Facebook page I wanted to share with you, The Friends of the Engel Family Fund

This page is a wonderful place to celebrate Olivia and help her family make it through this devastating time. Whether it is offering comfort or support, you are welcome there. On that page or directly through THIS LINK, you can donate money to a fund they set up to help the family cover Olivia's final expenses, as well as allow the family to take the time to grieve and love each other. They report that, 100% of all donations will go straight to the family to help them in their darkest hour.

I leave you with a description of Olivia from her page.

Olivia Rose Engel was a precocious and completely endearing six-year old. She loved school, and was very good at math and reading. She was creative and loved craft projects and art class, and loved participating in as many sports and activities as she could- from tennis to swimming, ballet to soccer, and Daisy Girl Scouts to musical theater and her church’s CCD program, nothing was off limits for little girl who loved pink and purple and her stuffed lamb. Olivia loved taking a spin on the lake and sound on her dad and grandpa’s Whaler. She was a patient and great big sister to three-year old Brayden, lead Grace each evening at the dinner table, and was a six-year old with a lot to look forward to, according to her dad Brian. Olivia was smart, bubbly, and unbelievably entertaining. Her physical loss will be felt every day by those who loved her most, but her sparkly spirit will live on.