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Dana
I never like to hand out parenting advice. Even when someone comments that I “must know so much” because I have four children. Honestly … they are all so different that my hubby and I are constantly looking at each other and shrugging when faced with a new question to answer or problem to solve. It is still trial and error, even four babies in. But, one thing I have learned in the past 12 years is to stay involved … with their school, with their activities, with their friends. That’s advice I’m happy to share. The secret is they…
*This is the ninth piece in my surrogacy series. Thanks for following along! Bedrest Boredom? The #1 response from people who found out I was on bedrest was, “Aren’t you so bored?” Bored was not at all the term I’d use to describe it. You know how your brain turns on as you settle in to bed each night? And everything you need to do the next day (or week or month) races through your mind? That was my brain on bedrest. Each person’s bedrest instructions are a little different, according to their situation and doctor…
*This is the eighth piece in my surrogacy story. Thanks for following along! When I was sent home from the hospital (just one day shy of 20 weeks along), the only plan was for me to be on strict bedrest, complete my prescription of antibiotics, and to come back to the hospital if I started contracting or bleeding. There was a chance the tear would repair itself, but that was unlikely. Most often with PPROM, the sac completely breaks open, labor begins or an infection develops. I had asked every nurse that came into my hospital room for advice. They…
*This is the seventh piece in my surrogacy story. Thanks for following along! I knew what it was when it happened. I knew in my heart it was my water breaking. I’d felt that bizarre, spontaneous “pop” twice before. But, it was too early for my water to break. I was only 19 weeks and 4 days along. My babies prefer to arrive 2-3 weeks before that magic 40-week target, but this was just. too. early. I kept saying, “This can’t be my water breaking. That can’t be what it is.” I never thought I…
You are my precious middle child. Well, you are in the middle of four. You are second born, with two littles behind you. You are the one who wants to hang with your big brother and take care of your little brothers. You want to be like that firstborn in so many ways, but you also want to do everything opposite of him so you feel different and unique. You want to explain the world to your littles and be in the same teenager world of your big. So, yea, you’re my middle child. And those littles look up…
*This is the sixth piece in my surrogacy story. Thanks for following along! I distinctly remember several of the reactions we received from people as we shared our happy news. Some thought it was strange, some thought it was “interesting,” but the majority thought it was just as wonderful as we did. (Those are my favorite to remember!) I know surrogacy is hard to comprehend for some people. And I know there are a million questions that come to mind when the topic arises. I never minded (and still don’t mind) talking about it and helping others understand why…
You know when someone you love is in a sad, heart-wrenching place and you just want to fast forward life to get them to happiness? That’s how I felt about my little sister three years ago. She was going through a divorce and was so upset, and scared, and anxious about so many things. Every time we spoke, her voice was soft and sad, and I knew she was struggling to talk or think about anything else. We prayed and prayed for her to get through that crazy, difficult time and find something to make her smile again…
*This is the fifth piece in my surrogacy story. Thanks for following along! The embryo transfer was on May 11 in Miami, and my bloodwork appointment was early in the morning on May 20 in Gainesville. Nine days of trying to just go about our lives. Nine days of praying (at least 20 times a day) for God to bless this sweet couple with at least one child from the two embryos that were transferred. Nine days of knowing in my gut that I was pregnant but trying to be calm, just in case this time my gut was wrong…
*This is the third piece in my surrogacy story. Thanks for following along! In preparation for a surrogacy, you have to be evaluated both physically and mentally to make sure your body and mind can handle all that will take place over the next year+. I had never been to a psychologist before this. I imagined the office (and the doctor) would be warm, calming and inviting. Yea, not so much. First, I was given a 500-question personality survey on a clipboard, and asked to sit on a hard bench in the waiting room to complete it. An hour…
Yes, I’m singing Flo Rida’s “My House” as I type this and laughing at myself. Is that the most addicting song or what? (I bet you sang along as you read the title too, didn’t you?) 🙂 Well, here is my crew. Miles, Carson, Sawyer and Finley. They are my busy, hilarious, loving little guys, but also each very different, which is awesome to witness. (I’ll share more about each of them from time to time, to give you a peek inside our little world.) When someone imagines four boys in the house, I…