tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41743185524760475072024-03-13T00:45:28.220-04:00A Distant MiracleTraveling 7,500 Miles to Grow Our FamilyShannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545093875481027737noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-86691718016027203582013-01-12T15:39:00.003-05:002013-01-12T21:08:59.527-05:00Happy 2013!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Just want to say Happy New Year to everyone! Although we are no longer blogging, we are still keeping up with other blogs and we are continuously contacted by new IPs considering the process and some that are in the thick of it. Thank you for confiding in us! We are happy to answer questions, to calm nerves and to send best wishes - just as so many did for us. It is so wonderful to read about the perseverance and success stories. For those of you still trying, keep your eye on the prize and don't give up - good things DO come to those who wait. <br />
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Life is wonderful for us and Archer is an incredible boy. Believe it or not, he will be two years old on February 17th! Not a day goes by without Geoff or I commenting on how lucky we are and how remarkable Archer is. Here are some recent pictures for you to enjoy...<br />
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545093875481027737noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-16586193034371727362012-12-01T20:06:00.000-05:002013-01-12T15:57:19.821-05:00Reflections<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Archer was born almost two years ago. Throughout that time people have asked, "So, big life changer having a baby, huh?" In truth, Shannon and I worked so hard to make Archer a reality that our lives had already changed long before February 17, 2011. I might go so far as to say that having a baby in our lives was a relief. This was life back to normal. We slipped into parenthood like it was a favorite slipper. We were home.<br />
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Success has a way of ironing over difficulty. Wearing Archer-colored glasses, our thoughts about the India experience can't help but be influenced by our knowledge of a happy ending. I mean, it worked! Once upon a time, our first attempt with S ended in a miscarriage. Those days were filled with sadness, steely optimism, and a wish that the damn thing would just work. Today that first attempt is a convenient anecdote adding suspense to a tale with a guaranteed happy ending. The fact is surrogacy in India doesn't always work any more than surrogacy at home would work. It's not a guarantee, just an alternative for those with limited alternatives. Shannon and I were tattooed by that experience and will carry it with us everywhere but we were one of the lucky ones.<br />
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Archer is an exceptional boy. Bear with me here as I know what you're thinking. I'm reminded of something my father once said. "Look. I realize that as a grandfather, I am expected to be biased. Let me tell you, being as objective as a person can be - Archer is the cutest, smartest, most amazing little baby to ever be born on this earth." He does smile, really, just about all the time. Only cries when he has good reason. Sleeps well, eats well and lights up around others. He loves his parents and he couldn't make us more proud. But sure, he's not the first baby to be like this. But he's still amazing. Let me explain...<br />
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There are 7 billion people on our planet. Sounds like a lot but consider that every time a man and woman join, over 300 million sperm fight for the right to grow. And consider how many unions fail to result in any pregnancy at all. And consider how many people of the seven billion fail to meet one another, the number of possible joinings that never happen. That 7 billion actually represents a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of the possible number of people that could have been or would be born. And even then, after all of these caveats, after factoring out all of the reasons standing in the way of each individual being born - Archer still would not be on this planet.<br />
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It took one other additional step. It took the meeting of a couple with a woman willing to carry a baby to term. A woman who nurtured the baby not just in a general sense but in quite a personal way. Her whole life experience had an impact on our son. Her physical health and her emotional health. Studies tell us that even personality can be influenced in-utero. Archer is the product not just from the coupling of mom and dad's DNA but of the world given to him by S in, of all places, Mumbai, India.<br />
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Archer is truly an amazing boy. And if you are contemplating surrogacy, we wish you an amazing child all of your own.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-65048398154350771202012-07-25T14:00:00.000-04:002012-07-25T19:36:45.335-04:00Homecoming<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Leaving nothing to chance, Shannon, Archer and I arrived at the airport about four hours early. Built on a swamp, Mumbai International must be borderline unbearable during the rainy season. March, relatively dry and temperate, is no more considerate. Filled with a hot, humid air, the terminal made every effort to reproduce Archer's very recent uterine experience. This leaden sensory weight was enhanced with thrill ride-like movement undertaken by mom and dad to spare Archer from attack by squadrons of mosquitoes. Leaving was bittersweet but desperately welcome.<br />
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Praise be, we found ourselves in a center row with an empty seat. This meant we could put Archer, resting in his awesome <a href="http://www.lillebaby.com/products_eurotote.html">EuroTote</a>, between the two of us. Resigned to the idea that one of us would be holding Archer for every minute of the 16 hour flight, we celebrated this karmic gift, India's going away present.<br />
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Archer very excited to be going HOME!</div>
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The flight itself was uneventful. We even discovered that our worries about disturbing other passengers were misplaced. The engine noise more than drowned out Archer's month old chirps. The layover in New Jersey for our connection to Boston was stressful only to the extent that seconds passed like hours. The transition itself was easy enough.<br />
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We had traveled for over twenty hours with a newborn, a boy so young that his passport photo was borderline comical, and we hadn't had one inconvenient minute.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">We deplaned in Boston and flew through Customs to meet a</span> crowd with signs and flowers. Archer met his extended family for the first time and then somehow managed to fall asleep, leaving his parents to fend for themselves as they fought a potent combination of exhaustion and relief. <br />
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The entire India experience was over. We were just another family.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-59683109421328187882012-07-24T00:00:00.001-04:002012-07-25T19:35:09.269-04:00The handler handles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We had no hotel receipt and no summary hospital receipt. Indian bureaucracy was salivating at the thought of how much longer we could be kept in India. I'm not a panicker but this was too good a moment to pass up a respectable emotional breakdown...<br />
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Our handler took over and kicked ass. He called the hospital and ensured everything was ready and waiting for me when I showed up so they would quickly sign it over. He also called the hotel and arranged for them to fax a document attesting to their possession of a credit card pre-charged with the outstanding balance, ensuring they'd be paid in full. We went to the final interview room, shared the news with my very crestfallen wife, and then I ran outside to grab our driver for a sprint to the hospital.<br />
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Get a driver while in India. Surrogacy India ensured we always had one and they were worth their weight in gold. Driving in India is a test of courage for anyone but to drive paranoid foreigners takes real skill. And I don't care how safe India can be. I want to know that my driver isn't taking a detour to Mugging Central. You are at their mercy so get someone trustworthy. Once you have them, they literally sit around and wait all day for your call. Our driver was outside the FRRO. He gunned the (tiny) engine and sped me to the birthing hospital.<br />
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Needless to say, I got the receipt and - upon returning to the FRRO - drove with the handler to a local Internet cafe to receive a fax from the hotel attesting to my ability to pay. With all of these documents in hand we returned to the FRRO for our interview. Shannon and Archer were sweaty and cranky but relieved.<br />
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The interview comprised mainly of my sitting humbly in a chair while a blue-shirted government employee flipped through my binder and collected fees. At one point we were sent away and told to wait. The handler spoke to the employee one-on-one to find out the delay and then came to us with a request for 500 rupees. You got it! Problem solved, I sat back down at the desk, eyes lowered in submission, and collected Archer's officially stamped exit visa.<br />
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Holy crap. It was 4pm on Thursday, March 10. We had been in country for 24 days. In my hands were every document we needed to leave India with Archer. The process was over. Now we were just tourists heading home.<br />
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Oh handler! How I love thee! Let me count the ways..... 2000 rupees will do the trick? You got it!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-85980849296642404742012-07-24T00:00:00.000-04:002012-07-25T19:34:22.423-04:00The beginning of the end<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
[With Archer came release in more ways than one - including my drive to publish new entries. Shannon has been begging, pleading, threatening me to finish this blog. There is more to share and the story should be told. Let's pick up the thread...]<br />
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All told, it took us three weeks of aimless waiting to get Archer his US passport. We literally had to sit around and bide our time on a three week waiting list because the US Consulate had limited visitor hours and one heck of a backlog. The only solace was our understanding that once we established Archer's nationality and got our hands on a passport, the final pre-departure step - getting our little guy an exit visa at the FRRO - could occur the morning of the flight home. As our three week clock (and aimless pleading with the US Consulate for an earlier visit) wound down, we gambled on this next-day fact and booked a Thursday evening flight out of Mumbai, the day after our Wednesday appointment to get Archer his passport.<br />
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The US Consulate visit proceeded, shockingly, just as expected. With all our documents in order - including Archer's super cool dual language Hindi/English birth certificate - the local personnel needed no more than 45 minutes to process everything. Shannon and I raised our right hands, swore that all the information we provided was true, and then collected the new passport. Archer was now formally recognized as ours and as a US citizen! Shannon and I locked eyes at the enormity of this moment. All it lacked was a puff of smoke as, like magic, with one hand-raised incantation, Archer officially became our boy. We left with a letter attesting to this fact, a key ingredient for acquiring his exit visa. Overall, it's hard to complain about this process considering the comparatively low hurdle next to most other countries. Try bringing a baby born of surrogacy into, say, Italy or England. Commercial surrogacy is illegal in those countries and the red tape can literally require months of India-based residency before permission is granted to return home.<br />
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We ran back to the hotel and packed. The plan was to hit the FRRO - India's exit visa-granting agency - early the next morning and then kill time before our flight. On the spur of the moment we decided to formally enlist the aid of a handler to help us through the FRRO process just to be sure our departure wouldn't suffer any delays. As it turns out, this was the greatest decision we made throughout our entire stay....</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-48173979179447540442012-07-23T13:30:00.000-04:002013-03-21T12:10:46.806-04:00No exit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The final step for bringing a child of Indian surrogacy home is to get him/her an exit visa. Sure, your country's consulate has determined that the little guy or girl (or multiple!) is really yours and really a citizen, but India needs to independently reach this conclusion as well. That's the role of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office - or FRRO. Well, that's the stated goal.<br />
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The unstated goal is they want to make sure you've paid your bills while in India. Seriously, one of the most crucial stumbling blocks to getting an exit visa for your child is to have paid-in-full receipts from every single vendor you interacted with during your stay. This was the source of our problem at the FRRO - but more on that in a moment.<br />
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Our research had led us to believe that use of a handler at the FRRO was a smart move. It could cost us more than 100 USD but the benefit was having a local who understood the official and unofficial processes enforced by this Indian agency. To guarantee a same day departure, and after spending tens of thousands of dollars, another $100 or so seemed a pittance if it would get us the heck out of India. So we called a guy recommended by Surrogacy India and booked his time for Thursday, March 10 - the morning of our flight home.<br />
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Consulate papers now in hand, we gathered every scrap of material ever produced in advance of and during our stay in India. The idea was to anticipate any possible question or objection, to have proof of every decision and every step taken, giving the FRRO no leeway to delay our request. We even packed extra rupees to, you know, "accidentally" overpay the bureaucrat handling our case. And let's be clear - our handler told us to pack these extra rupees. It's just how things work.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpUWPPXbhHFdk4SWKY9yb69NBRUa0K9z0BkLO828ovSpGJ2iAlNH7p7Vim_aERW1xbHOkeYbegfYjm9QSx0O5z0p8_QwidnP1VQ0oPNMT6T7f9USynkwUD7ul64CLa-f-GveH4HqEoUTK/s1600/P1000450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpUWPPXbhHFdk4SWKY9yb69NBRUa0K9z0BkLO828ovSpGJ2iAlNH7p7Vim_aERW1xbHOkeYbegfYjm9QSx0O5z0p8_QwidnP1VQ0oPNMT6T7f9USynkwUD7ul64CLa-f-GveH4HqEoUTK/s320/P1000450.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The Mumbai office of the FRRO was located in a building that, like most building in India, exuded an aura of untrustworthiness. Is it safe? Will it collapse? Who are all those people looking at us and why aren't there more lights?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmjs79_cqhu2LEXqI-lfNJAIIkbEWIWjm2H-9EuTHPnSfXQdOqQ3qvAhjB84eMEWMRxpacZpA-WQr4xvX20usFdLq27CESqYSpgv_ENxiRETpw0J8bcxtMfLnYV9xiXp5zC9wqJ2FuE8w/s1600/P1000448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmjs79_cqhu2LEXqI-lfNJAIIkbEWIWjm2H-9EuTHPnSfXQdOqQ3qvAhjB84eMEWMRxpacZpA-WQr4xvX20usFdLq27CESqYSpgv_ENxiRETpw0J8bcxtMfLnYV9xiXp5zC9wqJ2FuE8w/s320/P1000448.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">And like any government office, the FRRO - located on the fourth floor of a walk-up - was a line making machine.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Get there early, we were told. So we met our handler at 10am - the earliest he could meet us - and walked up the four flights with Archer and our 10 pound information-packed binder to start our first line. This line existed to make sure you had what you needed to sit in the second line. Shannon and Archer grabbed a seat in the room where the final interview would take place. I sat with the handler. He went through our materials. Documentation from Surrogacy India capturing the entire process? Check. US Consulate materials? Check. Hotel receipts? Wait, what? We didn't even check out yet. We have to check out before coming here? Well, a few rupees could smooth that over. Hospital receipts? Sure. But where is the final paid-in-full receipt? A what? Here are the receipts.... Sure, but where is the final paid-in-full receipt? I don't have a general receipt saying paid-in-full. I have lots of little receipts.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
No paid-in-full receipt, no exit visa.<br />
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It was 11:30 in the morning and I had to go to the hospital - 90 minutes away - to get a receipt. The FRRO closed at 5pm. There was a huge line ahead of us. Shannon and Archer are sweating their butts off in a crowded waiting room. I was in India!<br />
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We may not be leaving after all.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-40361855700100435892011-10-27T18:15:00.002-04:002013-04-12T08:00:16.620-04:00My Farewell<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
Understandably, you may be asking - "Why haven't they been blogging?" It's no surprise to me that I've delayed writing because I've known this will be my last post, closing the book on a long, emotional but very successful journey. Geoff and I knew when we began this blog that we wanted to limit ourselves to the details of our Indian surrogacy experience. We certainly had no intention of carrying on the blog beyond our child's birth. (All bets are off if there's another child in our future. If so, our supportive readers will be the first to know!)<br />
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Before sharing some closing thoughts and photos, I'd love to list just a few of Archer's latest and greatest achievements... Archer is now eight months old! He has two very cute bottom teeth that seem quite content to live without neighbors. Our tiny giant weighs 24.5 lbs. and is 29" long. He's rolling, sitting up on his own and just starting to test the waters for crawling. Archer is a cheerful, happy baby who hardly ever cries or makes much of a fuss. He eats well (boy does he eat!), sleeps well, wakes up smiling, is very alert and aware of his surroundings and has REALLY found his voice. (Our next door neighbors are quite impressed!) For some reason, as much as we tell him to be careful with strangers, he gives more gummy grins than one can imagine, luring in crowds of swooning women. Geoff figures that as a single guy he could have really used Archer well.<br />
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I am now a stay-at-home mom and there is not a day that goes by when I don't thank my lucky stars (and my husband) for it. Life with Archer is simply superb and it gets even better each day. When it comes to him, I am complete mush. I never knew I could love someone so much. He tugs on my heartstrings when he is upset and fills my heart with love and happiness the rest of the time. The bond I share with him is one I could not have dreamed of, one I will never forget and one I am eternally grateful for. I'm so, so happy that Geoff and I took a leap of faith together to go through this process. Without a doubt, Archer was worth the wait.<br />
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I recently spoke with a couple who is considering the surrogacy route and it was so surreal. Not too long ago, it was Geoff and I on the phone with others who successfully had babies through surrogacy in India and now, we are those parents telling people that dreams DO come true. Archer is everything I could have wanted and more. He is the love of my life (aside from Geoff) and I'm so incredibly thankful that options like surrogacy in India are available. We would love, Love, LOVE to have more children and although there are some bumps in this process, we recommend it to others researching surrogacy. My advice in a nutshell is to research the agencies that are available until you are blue in the face and then speak with others who have gone through the process. Not only are their experiences helpful but they (and now we) will inspire you and bring you hope.<br />
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With endless gratitude I'd like to thank Surrogacy India and all of the couples who shared their skills, experiences and insights. Archer would not exist were it not for the patience, honesty and devotion granted to us by all of these wonderful people. And if you're still trying to make this work, still trying to find your own distant miracle - keep your eye on the prize because all I know is that sometimes, with effort and perseverence, dreams do come true! xoxo PS, Keep an eye open for Geoff's final post(s).<br />
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545093875481027737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-63875263822650692252011-04-11T21:14:00.000-04:002011-04-11T21:14:07.044-04:00Archer & His New Pad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PBBxBLqH6guGBegtlELV-RLbDjm0o-afaI6aPRv2UFlUwpoe9PZB8C9adOn2o4Bpkj5VelXBmshJOzmRPzfIhaeDb61Ik9AxO2AH__9sy4zQjpbfUU5PhlVoE75xmKJauUi30Ze7bzfF/s1600/P1000577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PBBxBLqH6guGBegtlELV-RLbDjm0o-afaI6aPRv2UFlUwpoe9PZB8C9adOn2o4Bpkj5VelXBmshJOzmRPzfIhaeDb61Ik9AxO2AH__9sy4zQjpbfUU5PhlVoE75xmKJauUi30Ze7bzfF/s400/P1000577.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Could he be any cuter?!?!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWlgjoyeEnmd4l6B9iQGZazqYGw0Ov_B0Z97a2mv-g8hfgSzo9rDergL5vKfC-ma94f6kqkkoKicYk6pBjIil_VRC8UBEYyoMCWB6EwdqdXjlQQhRJ1oJ43XGn_ZWPfrdX2MUFT5p651L/s1600/P1000556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWlgjoyeEnmd4l6B9iQGZazqYGw0Ov_B0Z97a2mv-g8hfgSzo9rDergL5vKfC-ma94f6kqkkoKicYk6pBjIil_VRC8UBEYyoMCWB6EwdqdXjlQQhRJ1oJ43XGn_ZWPfrdX2MUFT5p651L/s400/P1000556.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx89fKqH5aRnejFa6Kl00wTr3dPXXONbIJHQCyIitPtQ8h1Ws4YYZXRlyUfyR2ln7yaYKFyQepVFdjxRyidt5czDiZfqQGj4H1uJpyy-NdT02htduHgmdKZW6ajXNo0bRk5axxX5B0vIAb/s1600/P1000582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx89fKqH5aRnejFa6Kl00wTr3dPXXONbIJHQCyIitPtQ8h1Ws4YYZXRlyUfyR2ln7yaYKFyQepVFdjxRyidt5czDiZfqQGj4H1uJpyy-NdT02htduHgmdKZW6ajXNo0bRk5axxX5B0vIAb/s400/P1000582.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89XzxpQEJENJy1JkHllLF0EfAyGGULypmW4_iAQdBIfyTQLsHRmJ6sjbRnURcWgLs9dfM9NZ1KTvEqH7heMrpO0LyroKa42Oxv3RH-FvsEcRKZSggkFafY-3k48nEp234uFcA2B7kEO0u/s1600/P1000561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89XzxpQEJENJy1JkHllLF0EfAyGGULypmW4_iAQdBIfyTQLsHRmJ6sjbRnURcWgLs9dfM9NZ1KTvEqH7heMrpO0LyroKa42Oxv3RH-FvsEcRKZSggkFafY-3k48nEp234uFcA2B7kEO0u/s400/P1000561.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3FVN97QasNXwcEoTVw3JZ3doZqX1NodsD5Ib_a-n52HevJwKiRvUFeHEhhaJiir_WR6wE_A345aKCtmcgb8mJRIh44LrOLdjBiQ8JIrOxZIYQlmJ-6Oz1l7MTgyM236ozWrCZp3dhlm9/s1600/P1000553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3FVN97QasNXwcEoTVw3JZ3doZqX1NodsD5Ib_a-n52HevJwKiRvUFeHEhhaJiir_WR6wE_A345aKCtmcgb8mJRIh44LrOLdjBiQ8JIrOxZIYQlmJ-6Oz1l7MTgyM236ozWrCZp3dhlm9/s400/P1000553.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">PS, Check out the blog entry right before this one (two entries in one night!)</div>PPS, Keep in mind that you can click on any picture to make it larger</div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545093875481027737noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-61418886975325863242011-04-11T20:44:00.005-04:002011-04-11T21:16:05.925-04:00My Social Network<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I know, I know, this is long overdue and for that I do apologize. Life with Archer is phenomenal and we've been busy enjoying each minute we have with him! For being the kind, patient supporters you all are, tonight I'll post two entries and lots of photos!!<br />
<br />
At just over seven weeks old, Archer is sleeping longer and even getting used to his crib (although he looks like such an itty bitty thing in it). He's too darn cute! He is also starting to smile, all the while growing like a weed. Or maybe I should be saying he's growing like our house. Why do I say that? Refer to Exhibit A...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvrGcImPV0GZrFfbJ_feBoYNBDwRYvUua4pCPgyupz1N5clwIu-EHvYc27BJLgLftNcWnDfwwSLqHCesV6wt5zaiGb2xf1G_W4BLMxcGgZEFk2mM4Z8heu7rifwZ1zJaxgfHgCQSM79F_/s1600/P1000594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvrGcImPV0GZrFfbJ_feBoYNBDwRYvUua4pCPgyupz1N5clwIu-EHvYc27BJLgLftNcWnDfwwSLqHCesV6wt5zaiGb2xf1G_W4BLMxcGgZEFk2mM4Z8heu7rifwZ1zJaxgfHgCQSM79F_/s320/P1000594.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I swore I'd never have all of this baby gear but every time I think we're done, something else suddenly feels very important. The latest - a wipes warmer for Archer's tushie. He really doesn't like being changed so I thought if the wipes were warm, perhaps he wouldn't hate it as much. I'm not sure if he's getting used to having his diaper changed or if he likes the warm wipes but it's working! (And, our lovely downstairs neighbor brought up an excellent point - who wouldn't want warm wipes to clean our bottoms?!) Next on my "need list" are toilet paper warmers for the guest bathroom and the master bathroom! <br />
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We are privileged because not only did we have an unforgettable baby shower, but we received so many incredible gifts that we haven't had to purchase too much. Our shower was at a beautiful oceanfront inn located in Rockport, MA and several friends and family contributed, truly making it a very special day. The gift side of the dining room overflowed, coupled with the swelling sounds of family and friends and live music from the inn's piano. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmWSldJt37Mh8V2xUH6I1i2f7LshwbMAW6h7Chzz9yh3gesYN-Bov1TKu_2trz16taMwRpY60Xx_iH3_IRwV3L6tHluWrkhkOzppEqM8VHiV2K0_cyLTWm9hFEEKccqB1Rce54xViGWq_/s1600/Shannon+Shower+061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmWSldJt37Mh8V2xUH6I1i2f7LshwbMAW6h7Chzz9yh3gesYN-Bov1TKu_2trz16taMwRpY60Xx_iH3_IRwV3L6tHluWrkhkOzppEqM8VHiV2K0_cyLTWm9hFEEKccqB1Rce54xViGWq_/s320/Shannon+Shower+061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The tables were decorated with gorgeous linens </div><div style="text-align: center;">and place cards in the shape of prams. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1rYFnraKwoBwmc6OzWV_99FHL2Qfv9uFWpOMX6TYlPLFYHQGp977PlhDrAFKJDJ0AIOU0MI6Fa-vaPQGd3PVxoI4Rhxy6_3LrVIRjLspRg-1garNxr1c57BfhBsYr9fuVOsE0OUH9Ntc/s1600/Shannon+Shower+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1rYFnraKwoBwmc6OzWV_99FHL2Qfv9uFWpOMX6TYlPLFYHQGp977PlhDrAFKJDJ0AIOU0MI6Fa-vaPQGd3PVxoI4Rhxy6_3LrVIRjLspRg-1garNxr1c57BfhBsYr9fuVOsE0OUH9Ntc/s320/Shannon+Shower+029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FBAmiklPbzjeeBXimZIcuFHMr_kbh2pjLMU-YmAsAeCp8gc4VyTnm_tqAPvnWOmaOIXcRQ__k9LIZ6ZV5gxadCIwy82QA6jdp4jvU1V-AJku1tLumFmggFPvMQrUQzgZKqVhFw1QZ8k-/s1600/Shannon+Shower+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FBAmiklPbzjeeBXimZIcuFHMr_kbh2pjLMU-YmAsAeCp8gc4VyTnm_tqAPvnWOmaOIXcRQ__k9LIZ6ZV5gxadCIwy82QA6jdp4jvU1V-AJku1tLumFmggFPvMQrUQzgZKqVhFw1QZ8k-/s320/Shannon+Shower+020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">In the center of each table were large glass cylinder vases topped with flowers and filled with charming baby do-dads, such as hand painted blocks, baby shoes and custom printed onesies... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKXIDerDoa_ljD694M53jleDNqiFFjN4FIjbwHJY15a1QlTRQ85ZMBH3G-_XcCSARF-_CKB3iKaTv9_M6qSSIl1rU-fsX7Ezj6Fmv71SAJ4k7QU8rLFGHAaUkqUiCZ6qffYJhrkizcN4K/s1600/Shannon+Shower+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKXIDerDoa_ljD694M53jleDNqiFFjN4FIjbwHJY15a1QlTRQ85ZMBH3G-_XcCSARF-_CKB3iKaTv9_M6qSSIl1rU-fsX7Ezj6Fmv71SAJ4k7QU8rLFGHAaUkqUiCZ6qffYJhrkizcN4K/s320/Shannon+Shower+026.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVe_eMa67DPGhg1hN7nQCFY80rJwdjALUhg6wt-0RieW87vPkU5mvvtWTrIiIx_ovcAxljNzZrGGYPgzYi_i1ggJM81FM8SQrZqkfg2ZK2OYOAv_DNuVQwJ6is-3_gV480UeQfsw9t8dHB/s1600/Shannon+Shower+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVe_eMa67DPGhg1hN7nQCFY80rJwdjALUhg6wt-0RieW87vPkU5mvvtWTrIiIx_ovcAxljNzZrGGYPgzYi_i1ggJM81FM8SQrZqkfg2ZK2OYOAv_DNuVQwJ6is-3_gV480UeQfsw9t8dHB/s320/Shannon+Shower+023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Who can forget the take home gifts?! Mocha buttercream filled chocolate cupcakes topped with adorable polka dot elephants from an amazing pastry chef. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjze6Xu8ClU4sFmRH5tprLua06zJoj5B5JYWf1WS0tV5yiwx4A2sGZQZN9skGS17MxxxY_FdYkBwY2hC1M1QXK0h630JLhHO3diP-zRSTLrt4cObutV6y1IGiIjIezGeMjDsNW2dfMaCAh-/s1600/Shannon+Shower+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjze6Xu8ClU4sFmRH5tprLua06zJoj5B5JYWf1WS0tV5yiwx4A2sGZQZN9skGS17MxxxY_FdYkBwY2hC1M1QXK0h630JLhHO3diP-zRSTLrt4cObutV6y1IGiIjIezGeMjDsNW2dfMaCAh-/s320/Shannon+Shower+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The view and all of the decor were memorable but nothing can top the sense of genuine happiness that filled the room. Over 50 close friends and family were there and it warms </div><div style="text-align: center;">my heart to know we're so loved.</div><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/AVvXsEhOge447e-pNAvubvvvec1W7QzRUNwO0XWY5ODSQfE7aqheVY4XCsvqyc28YXCsviWtAKBVBOWKGCsIrPQaXBW-Eqb2r4uWyTxS3-EymYMY7r6eJQ_rigazpp3ICJzYGQsDM98WwJl54DZs/s1600/Shannon+Shower+074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOge447e-pNAvubvvvec1W7QzRUNwO0XWY5ODSQfE7aqheVY4XCsvqyc28YXCsviWtAKBVBOWKGCsIrPQaXBW-Eqb2r4uWyTxS3-EymYMY7r6eJQ_rigazpp3ICJzYGQsDM98WwJl54DZs/s320/Shannon+Shower+074.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Archer's cousin, baby Isla in her stunning pink ruffle dress with Nanny, Auntie Shannon and Mommy</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545093875481027737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-64563003044618677062011-03-17T09:00:00.000-04:002011-03-17T09:00:12.283-04:00We're Home!Sorry for the long delay but between jet lag and an immeasurably large mob of family and friends, we've just not had the time or ability to post. The good news - great news! - is that we're home and can now lose sleep in our own house, and not a hotel, like any other couple with a newborn. We have much to share about our last couple of days and will do so soon. For now, however, it's stunning merely to realize we're near the end of the Indian chapter in our lives.<br />
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Our pediatrician tells us that Archer is supremely healthy and quite impressed at how our little guy has already grown over 1 pound (to 8 pounds 13 ounces) and 1.5 inches (to 22 inches) in less than a month. Today is his one month birthday and let me tell you, after all we've been through, it's hard to believe Archer's just barely 30 days old.<br />
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Our love to everyone out there in the blogosphere for your support during that oh so long stay in Mumbai. Here are some pictures to say thank you. (Clicking on them opens a larger size.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuS4Qj1u6KV1DhGOZhB_4YxL7A7UdwB-LEcEEf4ytTPUqtCjNWPIELWH6pzNdAInWihxQHZowbQqehwb3GbL8Mv1L4f7ZtSS2_FOI-On3am7QTFrf03nsgQ5en6q2-Bhd9tqdW4Kf27I/s1600/IMG_0682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuS4Qj1u6KV1DhGOZhB_4YxL7A7UdwB-LEcEEf4ytTPUqtCjNWPIELWH6pzNdAInWihxQHZowbQqehwb3GbL8Mv1L4f7ZtSS2_FOI-On3am7QTFrf03nsgQ5en6q2-Bhd9tqdW4Kf27I/s320/IMG_0682.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just after Archer's first real bath. Sponge baths on Marriott beds don't count!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40spQxLdAd8XrcV8tkEyYKpb5YdZg6YCv3FNQ9PhalrlX16kIqqYDnJE2xhJmvPFESrP1bNKWAa8tAG2MJN2JHsVgDeMbotaWyjcdAufCZjut8nKZHXbSLc9WpVgHW5x8BkKfKnLoDFo/s1600/P1000473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40spQxLdAd8XrcV8tkEyYKpb5YdZg6YCv3FNQ9PhalrlX16kIqqYDnJE2xhJmvPFESrP1bNKWAa8tAG2MJN2JHsVgDeMbotaWyjcdAufCZjut8nKZHXbSLc9WpVgHW5x8BkKfKnLoDFo/s320/P1000473.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In his very own Moses basket.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwras7kszvxGeADcPQEGu9KTpZ8YjKTxiEDlA8TjwRaQnvtoMYzIKZuDeVW94n4GpWhz-wDbKR_XfJ1r-C2XdexF5tq6TAYvwkCUuZTDNHqKkpezIt3C5et10cnO6XEo9fshDMB6wzDg/s1600/P1000477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwras7kszvxGeADcPQEGu9KTpZ8YjKTxiEDlA8TjwRaQnvtoMYzIKZuDeVW94n4GpWhz-wDbKR_XfJ1r-C2XdexF5tq6TAYvwkCUuZTDNHqKkpezIt3C5et10cnO6XEo9fshDMB6wzDg/s320/P1000477.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the white mitten. Archer's always landing planes with his hands, <br />
even in his sleep, so the mittens keep things soft and safe.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb7AE_M7EuXFlnYPdxayRGNFCQbiQTWK0XE6OaGoKbdgmwKFfMu9QTw8ai1TwOL3DIkBwSWdUrGmfsE7lfjWR2ih2Bl9IIg_iWcJ5DV8pkN3zMs1LMvJro8U8bs3fxfW2r943U7Tqrxo/s1600/P1000482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb7AE_M7EuXFlnYPdxayRGNFCQbiQTWK0XE6OaGoKbdgmwKFfMu9QTw8ai1TwOL3DIkBwSWdUrGmfsE7lfjWR2ih2Bl9IIg_iWcJ5DV8pkN3zMs1LMvJro8U8bs3fxfW2r943U7Tqrxo/s320/P1000482.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kind of hat mommies go crazy for.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwab9820mAuTTwPzvHtd21yh2rrVAq4j2PV5MfxhlXOdkbl2JJVT_FNMizumMcFq9fB0TcPt91q8yH3GTI56meB1o5Bip4qNzeCo5gxAiAI1SpwBWPVSneKwwQSX81jpHa5GA8RgQeNXs/s1600/P1000484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwab9820mAuTTwPzvHtd21yh2rrVAq4j2PV5MfxhlXOdkbl2JJVT_FNMizumMcFq9fB0TcPt91q8yH3GTI56meB1o5Bip4qNzeCo5gxAiAI1SpwBWPVSneKwwQSX81jpHa5GA8RgQeNXs/s320/P1000484.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what greeted us at the airport.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0x0YKwMs17WWnMTNPIxxAklJJAmBgqjMw7Q_AOZn3Tqmc3ysWWhWgOWLy3en51fyH9y_rIy-37ObYNpvl3fuUV51KT-U_9Xr8dth9fOtuFeM2i0jntJLvXqd9QhODcmbQsx2u1sZpfA/s1600/P1000485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0x0YKwMs17WWnMTNPIxxAklJJAmBgqjMw7Q_AOZn3Tqmc3ysWWhWgOWLy3en51fyH9y_rIy-37ObYNpvl3fuUV51KT-U_9Xr8dth9fOtuFeM2i0jntJLvXqd9QhODcmbQsx2u1sZpfA/s320/P1000485.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this is what greeted us at the house.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><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/AVvXsEiM2J17b3WzRVI8TN6pV7wqoS4ZUmaFetFOWfuSL02M6tikhd7Yr3e-zHSMnbTsr924i6rY957eow_9aXqZFKV0xcB80RrbHxyc2_bbp4cpp2jCj7v_cqTj5rGlwkVxlgbC63LrghOYvlU/s1600/P1000514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2J17b3WzRVI8TN6pV7wqoS4ZUmaFetFOWfuSL02M6tikhd7Yr3e-zHSMnbTsr924i6rY957eow_9aXqZFKV0xcB80RrbHxyc2_bbp4cpp2jCj7v_cqTj5rGlwkVxlgbC63LrghOYvlU/s320/P1000514.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view outside our house. It's good to be home!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-27600630616494694672011-03-10T11:22:00.000-05:002013-03-13T14:56:49.170-04:00Our Big Break<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Three cheers for Shannon's kidney stones and the pain she's been in for about two months! Thanks to a note faxed by Shannon's physician to the US Consulate about this chronic kidney condition, our appointment was moved up. First it was moved from the 15th to the 11th, a Friday. Nice - better than nothing - but still keeping us here an extra weekend as the passport takes one business day for delivery. Then, magically, a phone call Wednesday asked if we could come in Thursday. Um, yes! The beauty of this last shift is it means we can fly home Friday instead of Monday. Shannon's already put in a cheeseburger order to <a href="http://www.fiveguys.com/">Five Guys</a>.<br />
<br />
Shannon's kidney stones make infrequent but always memorable visits, particularly when she's under a lot of stress. In fact, the last serious bout before this trip to India occurred during the weeks leading up to our wedding. Shannon was literally on bed rest and Vicodin for the week following our I do's. It's a good thing we'd put off a serious honeymoon until later in life because we would have had to cancel it. Anyway, as our return to Mumbai loomed, coupled with the threats of an early delivery due to R's placenta previa, the stones decided to reappear. We typically don't even think to mention the pain because, sadly, it's just something Shannon periodically needs to tolerate until either natural elimination or surgery. But once we heard a medical emergency could expedite our appointment, silence went out the window.<br />
<br />
Having just come back from the <a href="http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov/reporting-births-and-citizenship-questions.html">US Consulate</a> we remain a little dumbfounded about why they limit each day to two Birth Abroad visits. Getting through security took longer than the actual governmental red tape - maybe ninety minutes all told. Certainly, it helped that we had our act together. Here's what was required:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Completed passport and social security applications, no different from applications one would complete in the US</li>
<li>Completed Consulate Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) form</li>
<li>Copy of the surrogacy agreement we'd signed with R during our first trip to India back in February of last year</li>
<li>Copy of letters from our clinic, Hiranandani Hospital and Babies R Us IVF, all of which attest to our pursuit of surrogacy and the birth of Archer</li>
<li>Two 2" x 2" photos of Archer (we had a photographer come to our hotel room last week to take these photos)</li>
<li>Copy of our passports and marriage certificate</li>
<li>$205</li>
</ul>
That's it. We handed over the above, waited about 25 minutes, and then - with right hands raised - attested to the fact that Archer was indeed our son and that all the information we'd provided was accurate. Boom! Archer became a US citizen.<br />
<br />
The Consulate was, as expected, a bit of a compound, populated with armed, Indian guards inside and out. We had to check in at a non-descript kiosk behind bullet-proof glass and then put up with a fairly extensive bag search that included my tasting of Archer's baby food. Limited to one bag and not allowed to bring in our bottles of hand sanitizer and hand cream (the Consulate's tougher than an airport), we put excess items in a locker and then walked through a metal detector and metal turnstile onto the grounds. It was a short outdoor walk to what appeared to be the main Consulate building, climbing marble stairs into a sterile lobby with doors off in all directions. On the wall was a picture of President Obama - and yes, I couldn't help but feel a bit of pride and place. Shannon and I were buzzed through to a small, heavily air conditioned room filled with straight-backed chairs facing another bullet-proof window. It was with the folks behind this window that we exchanged all of the above paperwork. Throughout the entire experience, all interaction was with locals except for the very end when we were sworn by a young American woman, Christy.<br />
<br />
The passport will be available for pickup at 9:30 in the morning tomorrow. The three of us will grab it and then immediately head on over to the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (<a href="http://mumbaipolice.org/frro/frro3.htm">FRRO</a>) - an Indian agency tasked with doling out, among other things, exit visas. Shannon and I will be enlisting the help of a partner to our surrogacy clinic who specializes in work with the FRRO. We want smooth sailing, no surprises and an exit visa for Archer on the same day. (Technically, exit visas can take anywhere from 1 to 15 days for delivery.) If all goes to plan, we'll be done sometime around lunch with perhaps a little time to spare for a visit to the <a href="http://www.indiatravelguide.org/colaba-mumbais-most-tourist-friendly-neighborhood.html">Colaba</a> markets before our 2pm late check out. We'll be begging for an even later check out as our flight doesn't leave 'til 11:40pm. That's a lot of time to kill.<br />
<br />
Cross your fingers. We were able to purchase two aisle seats in an empty three seat middle row. (No bassinet seats were available.) If that middle seat remains empty we'll have a place to put Archer during the 16 hour flight back to the States. Otherwise, we'll be holding him all the way back - a nice capper to a long stay away.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VEbOGFMdxLWlX84gfB1NvvfjOunz9WsIWiZXtXJh-HGEKDz7orfPk-0llIuG3SSCBSyQlVEckGuPXdyF8bhMXGl9qe6fC-nqceNFfLBUe-WHbyJHmR7cO-1xlxtnz60Mr0FNa1DCHaI/s1600/P1000436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VEbOGFMdxLWlX84gfB1NvvfjOunz9WsIWiZXtXJh-HGEKDz7orfPk-0llIuG3SSCBSyQlVEckGuPXdyF8bhMXGl9qe6fC-nqceNFfLBUe-WHbyJHmR7cO-1xlxtnz60Mr0FNa1DCHaI/s200/P1000436.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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We're ready. You can tell just by watching Shannon. She's skipping right now and will do so right until we're seated, buckled in and on our way home.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-4367497496650795972011-03-08T12:33:00.002-05:002011-03-08T12:39:21.730-05:00Random Thoughts While Killing TimeMy hair grows like a weed. This fact isn't normally at the top of my 'share with others' list but I have to mention it because I'm approaching afro stage. We always knew this was a possibility and even took the precaution of a visit to my hairdresser a mere day before our departure to Mumbai. As we enter the uncharted waters of week four and I'm Code Orange for excessive hair, I have to confront one of two options - let it approach comical proportions, only minorly tamed by hair products, or let Shannon grab a pair of scissors and embrace her inner <a href="http://www.answers.com/tabatha%20coffey">Tabatha Coffey</a>. This decision is further complicated by relationship-bearing overtones. If I go with the 'fro, is it because I have trust issues? If I truly love my wife, particularly on <a href="http://www.internationalwomensday.com/">International Women's Day</a> - completely unknown to me until the Mariott Courtyard slipped a card, addressed to my wife, under the door - shouldn't I throw caution to the wind and let her untrained hand give it a go? Me and my mane will sleep on it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioD9YH4xwLGSspF7CBxWVumGzvUXg8f6FQuPrDPB4IoAsPWo7ahFOaLnOscMj4vIn1Tu51vm_tE38s5v1XMOPa0-Z9Fuw65UMfbpXvGHqKQtBKgoAN4EaKGh0bwsjCLD67oqUu4mfE0U8/s1600/P1000338-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioD9YH4xwLGSspF7CBxWVumGzvUXg8f6FQuPrDPB4IoAsPWo7ahFOaLnOscMj4vIn1Tu51vm_tE38s5v1XMOPa0-Z9Fuw65UMfbpXvGHqKQtBKgoAN4EaKGh0bwsjCLD67oqUu4mfE0U8/s200/P1000338-1.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Today we'll be ordering Domino's for dinner. The store's only a three minute walk from the hotel but, as you read in an earlier post, that walk takes one via time warp into an earlier age that screams pizza delivery. The trick is communicating what we want over the phone. Look, we're in India. The fact that most locals speak English at all is such a blessing for an outsider that I remain quite humble and patient in my communications. Nevertheless, I confess to a slight bit of frustration when trying to get past the accent. (Yes, they have the accent - not me!) If I could communicate with Domino's by written word, Shannon and I would be golden. Unfortunately, that's not the case.<br />
<ul><li>Restaurant - "Domino's pizza. [something something] you?</li>
<li>Geoff - "Yes, I'm at the Marriott Courtyard right down the street. I like to order a pizza for delivery, please."</li>
<li>Restaurant - "[something] [something]" that I think sounds like "Small or large?"</li>
<li>Geoff - "What? Sorry. I'm at the Marriott Courtyard."</li>
<li>Restaurant - "Marriott? Ok. Delivery?"</li>
<li>Geoff - "Yes. I'd like one large pizza, half cheese and half sausage."</li>
<li>Restaurant - "Two large sausage pizzas with cheese."</li>
<li>Geoff - "Yes. Absolutely. That's it."</li>
</ul>Mind you. The person on the phone is speaking perfectly correct English. I just can't weed through the accent, apparently no better than they can weed through mine.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbHllozyvrcm83JGq4lGVJ8TgO0Ukir068Id96gCjx0wgZioemEI6E8dfk5ysyENGhQSvEyd5NMSAlETBOWQVzkLPfu5pHv9JDAPeL7PeM409eyou2RvJjvfmOzPhyphenhyphenOji7RTIqqJFSGo/s1600/P1000412-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbHllozyvrcm83JGq4lGVJ8TgO0Ukir068Id96gCjx0wgZioemEI6E8dfk5ysyENGhQSvEyd5NMSAlETBOWQVzkLPfu5pHv9JDAPeL7PeM409eyou2RvJjvfmOzPhyphenhyphenOji7RTIqqJFSGo/s200/P1000412-1.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
We're timing our food order so it arrives just as we finish feeding Archer. This process takes about 45 minutes to an hour between waking him up - he almost never wakes himself - changing his diaper, delivering between 3 and 4 ounces of formula, and playing/cuddling with him until he's ready to drop off for another nap. Every step is an absolute joy and characterized by some overly cute maneuver that just floors us. For example, he's got this very rapid 'angry fish caught on a hook' head shaking maneuver - it must be some sort of rooting instinct - when the bottle first goes in his mouth and it makes us laugh every single time. The burps - adorable. The gas - endearing. Those gummy cries - how can you not hug him? Right now Shannon's doing a little Jazzercise with Archer, pumping his legs back and forth. He's this little beeping, grunting and gasping squeeze toy in the midst of a king-size bed that's burrowed his way into our hearts.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiHJOMtmExfdOwqerMk7nZWunYm3S8vuMIjZ2FxYMppEjfiEF1VSPOzzq4pU4qkzg9cBS2ChBbnIDJDxG22zAo69WGllbllS3clvDGLUbEqn7e1gwOQfudjAIjUZ-bhQehC4_aT_yd1Q/s1600/P1000396-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiHJOMtmExfdOwqerMk7nZWunYm3S8vuMIjZ2FxYMppEjfiEF1VSPOzzq4pU4qkzg9cBS2ChBbnIDJDxG22zAo69WGllbllS3clvDGLUbEqn7e1gwOQfudjAIjUZ-bhQehC4_aT_yd1Q/s200/P1000396-1.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Shannon and I are very much an eat-dinner-with-tv-on couple. I think it comes from being married late in life - both of us were in our mid to late thirties and thus had our fair share of home alone meals. Mumbai is no different but this presents a problem. We've already talked about the limited tv options and how frustrating the Web can be. I've managed to make <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Instant-Video/b?ie=UTF8&node=16261631">Amazon Instant Video</a> tolerable but we still default to the potluck randomness of India tv. Sometimes we get lucky with quality like <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265086/">Black Hawk Down</a>. Other times we're lucky if Kenya has extended it's innings performance into the ninth hour of it's Cricket World Cup match. On the list of things Shannon and I have learned about India is the fact that there are only five commercials on tv in any given week. You name the commercial, we've seen it about 183 times. You may have wondered why during both trips Shannon and I settle upon a favorite tv ad. It's because there's so few to choose from and so many repetitive viewings that you can't help but enjoy some rarity and despise most. The Mute button on our remote is about to fall off and the inane tunes from a couple of particularly annoying commercials are plaguing us in our sleep. We practically welcome Archer's whimpers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGq8LidcpbARx_9ef8GLT_oJ4gbCnTzvAk9exgaa4AwO0SMU01kRQAF7RTXVGyiQeZAsJKxUYwYWUhyO-SRgG2S_xuKL0ZA-tFFrIUWINoBwHh8aID9mS6DLleoO1O6v-XGI3DgwwU9L4/s1600/P1000335-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGq8LidcpbARx_9ef8GLT_oJ4gbCnTzvAk9exgaa4AwO0SMU01kRQAF7RTXVGyiQeZAsJKxUYwYWUhyO-SRgG2S_xuKL0ZA-tFFrIUWINoBwHh8aID9mS6DLleoO1O6v-XGI3DgwwU9L4/s200/P1000335-1.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Time to call Domino's. I'm hopeful that with a couple more orders I'll be able to keep things really simple. "Hi, it's Geoff. The usual please!"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-77975517328421325862011-03-05T05:46:00.000-05:002011-03-05T05:46:58.163-05:00Travel Weary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">It's been twenty days since we left home and I'm just going to come right out and say it - I'm officially homesick. Don't get me wrong, life could be much worse and I fully recognize that some have it much tougher than us. Life with Archer is absolutely wonderful and I wouldn't give up this special bonding time for the three of us for anything. I'm just ready to go home and bond there. I miss my favorite foods, our washer and dryer, the salty smell of the ocean, cooking in our kitchen, our beautiful house, driving my car, the snow covered trees and our amazing friends and family. We're dying to show this little guy off and to introduce him to everyone who has been so supportive!<br />
<br />
While up at all hours of the night, we find ourselves channel surfing for some show/movie other than those we've already watched multiple times in India. We have the streaming option using our laptop, but when we're feeding Archer at 3am, setting up the laptop is by no means a priority. We have a few more English language channels in the hotel (approximately 10), but that has not proven to be much better than the hospital. Honestly, I can only handle so many reruns of Friends from the 1990's, the same Indian commercials that they run not once, but two - three times at EACH commercial break, the same Animal Planet episodes of animals fornicating and I can only handle watching fossilized movies such as Junior, Throw Mama From the Train and Rush Hour a maximum of three times in my life - let alone in one trip. Just like our last trip though, we have a favorite Indian commercial that does manage to make us both chuckle every time we see it. It's for Virgin Mobile - an Indian cell phone company - and the commercial is a guy intentionally angering his girlfriend off so that she'll dump him because he wants out. His rooster dance at the end is funny - or at least we think so. You'll find it <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCTxDflFzco">here</a>.<br />
<br />
The hotel staff are nothing short of amazing with us and they love Archer. While there is a plethora of International food options at the hotel, there are also American-ized options and believe me when I tell you, I've exhausted them all. If I don't see a club sandwich or flatbread pizza for years to come, it will be too soon. We've become friendly with a few of the chefs and I've begun inventing my own dishes, but even that is getting old. Along with being tired of the options, I'm now correlating the food with being in a place I no longer want to be and therefore I don't have much of an appetite for any of it anymore. What I would give for a big salad from the Cheesecake Factory, a fat steak from the Capital Grille, a Boston Creme donut from Dunkin Donuts, a burger from Five Guys and a cold margarita from On the Border! If only clicking my heels and chanting "there is no place like home" would get us someplace other than the Courtyard Marriot in Mumbai... <br />
<br />
A couple updates to report....Archer's pediatrician appointment went well this week and he is now a half pound heavier. He also had a Hepatitis B vaccination and took it much better than I would have. He's been a bit fussy since, which is not normal for him, but he seems to be shaking it off like a champ. That's my boy! The US Consulate has been in touch with us and there is a possibility our appointment will be moved up to next week. Fingers crossed and we'll elaborate more on that in future posts. <br />
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I shall leave you with some newer pictures for your viewing pleasure....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hWENY5a-nZOjpBDghGnSQh4c5PXDQvKmcBPqlWoN1TjeJAWaEFFEzNGhgItn81P9lUEJUwfwr5lu2rER58RF0YYp4OWU6dygMBwfOoJU9I1Iw9tGVKfBUpca7QBpPiXsjQOh9w4huxTp/s1600/P1000301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hWENY5a-nZOjpBDghGnSQh4c5PXDQvKmcBPqlWoN1TjeJAWaEFFEzNGhgItn81P9lUEJUwfwr5lu2rER58RF0YYp4OWU6dygMBwfOoJU9I1Iw9tGVKfBUpca7QBpPiXsjQOh9w4huxTp/s320/P1000301.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVlCsFlIVUOGdvHmmbwcA8L2UVKfV3ngip1aqCbBE1kXSusPGpqdmY2CrHtczEBjUK-4t5Y7uFYuvraOw-XOpWzo8tcw9CLq2YrA0Mc8jkgfAklGXCRQLVeIQX33MJvhQaUskdrQ210Jq/s1600/P1000311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVlCsFlIVUOGdvHmmbwcA8L2UVKfV3ngip1aqCbBE1kXSusPGpqdmY2CrHtczEBjUK-4t5Y7uFYuvraOw-XOpWzo8tcw9CLq2YrA0Mc8jkgfAklGXCRQLVeIQX33MJvhQaUskdrQ210Jq/s320/P1000311.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0bFaxwosVyb3YD53iQr8Ytt4v6kwHOALlKuIMFDE9M9qk6H_nlHqp1niEf2gh-Q5rgbRjMi1HUN3tSDyDbt34gt5LiPMjZ3LV26P2MUrFBBiemtCiY1AF3L-NNVySu_2SYHw4O-SVr5q/s1600/P1000331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0bFaxwosVyb3YD53iQr8Ytt4v6kwHOALlKuIMFDE9M9qk6H_nlHqp1niEf2gh-Q5rgbRjMi1HUN3tSDyDbt34gt5LiPMjZ3LV26P2MUrFBBiemtCiY1AF3L-NNVySu_2SYHw4O-SVr5q/s320/P1000331.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><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/AVvXsEimqo7KYkQMNJBMQ05nLbs02qSLdPApPHP23-97XBhYgLUnuaomlj1IAdXZKcfuNsQgIPjpddfE5zGM1dyozwAkhzHI4pS_WgtRQHvj_Z4Y1ywmGWmNk-4hGX-gT5Co8fEALOyyuTN3b4lS/s1600/P1000228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqo7KYkQMNJBMQ05nLbs02qSLdPApPHP23-97XBhYgLUnuaomlj1IAdXZKcfuNsQgIPjpddfE5zGM1dyozwAkhzHI4pS_WgtRQHvj_Z4Y1ywmGWmNk-4hGX-gT5Co8fEALOyyuTN3b4lS/s320/P1000228.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Yash with Dr. Sudhir holding Archer</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span id="goog_242923113"></span><span id="goog_242923114"></span></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545093875481027737noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-40900507518353352082011-03-02T10:46:00.000-05:002011-03-02T10:46:59.818-05:00Hotel LifeLike most modern hotels in Mumbai - and, I suppose, throughout India - the <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=marriott+courtyard+in+mumbai,+india&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=48.555061,114.169922&ie=UTF8&hq=marriott+courtyard&hnear=Mumbai,+Maharashtra,+India&ll=19.106892,72.857723&spn=0.11403,0.222988&t=h&z=13">Marriott Courtyard </a>looks very out of place amongst a dense tangle of aged, sooty, low-to mid-sized store fronts and buildings. An oasis, just getting onto the Marriott grounds by car requires a thorough search by a bomb-sniffing dog and two security guards poking about the hood and trunk - and that's before the metal detector fronting the lobby. The streets just outside the grounds are another world and fairly intimidating. They're thronged with speeding tuk-tuks, garish trucks the length of a scooter but two stories tall, Ford Figos, Chevy Sparks, Toyota Innovas and a swarm of locals on foot. The men wear slacks and a button down long sleeved shirt; the women wear saris. A good portion of these people, let's face it, just look dirty, like street people. In many cases they are dirty and likely live on or close to the street. I'll be honest - leaving the hotel to walk those streets feels risky.<br />
<br />
The reality is that the majority of these folks could care less about you and those who do are only interested in giving you a smile or a brief "Namaste". Walk into any of these seemingly decrepit businesses and you encounter well-dressed professionals with a good grasp of English and a work ethic putting most of us to shame. The poverty here is so rampant it's inescapable. The streets are covered in grime and refuse, the needy crowd every street corner, but the locals are used to it and spend little time judging it. It's just how things are. The high and low born mix together so neatly, they're inseparable. It's a crazy, high energy Indian stew that's worked for centuries. We're just another bunch of outsiders passing through who, other than having an atypical height and skin color, are not particularly interesting.<br />
<br />
The staff in our hotel can't be friendly enough and gather about little Archer whenever the three of us head down to the restaurant off the lobby. We time these trips to correspond with Archer's naps so the staff are continually frustrated with closed eyes and an unresponsive little cutie. The lobby is quite expansive and modern-looking, giving off a pleasant, well-scented, business professional vibe. The smoggy smell so familiar to us at the Novotel is still outside though less pronounced here in the city center. Our room is thankfully spared the smell entirely, letting in - through a floor to ceiling window - only a brightly lit view of the pool, construction sites and a vast urban landscape.<br />
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We have been provided with a microwave and electric teapot - our bottle sterilizer and bottle warmer, respectively - so the room is fairly self-sufficient. We have most meals brought to the room just because it's easier so we keep a stack of 100 ruppee bills (about $2.25) for tips. Archer spends his days in our arms or on the bed. To give the room service crew access, Shannon and I will take Archer to the exec lounge - we managed to get ourselves on the Exec floor - which is air conditioned enough to store beef for days but offers free drinks and tea biscuits so we can call it even. We even think of this lounge as our escape hatch should Archer get inconsolably crabby at 3 in the morning. Our neighbors didn't pay good money to be awoken by even the cutest of babies - which, of course, he is.<br />
<br />
Surely news to my American friends and family, the cricket world cup is underway with, no kidding, India top ranked. Most days are fairly open ended for us so I've had lots of time to become a cricket "fan" and actually follow along with these eight hour matches. (The quotes mean no, not really, I'm no fan. But hey, sports are sports.) Otherwise, Shannon and I do some reading and have learned to tolerate the very random and often disappointing selection of English-language movies on the tv. As a treat we bundle up Archer and take him down to the pool for some time under an umbrella. Or we search high and low for a bag of Lays potato chips which, for some reason, represent home as well as anything for Shannon.<br />
<br />
I'd mentioned in an earlier post my efforts to figure out a way to stream Netflix and Hulu to my laptop here in Mumbai. The good news is I solved the problem. We're using <a href="http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fproxpn.com%2F&rct=j&q=proXPN&ei=mC5uTfPROoLWrQeExvmBDw&usg=AFQjCNGHl3ZLaz_3oNoWqTkzB2EsV1Popg&sig2=RPnMZma8AuEram5ksU4fqw&cad=rja">proXPN</a>. Another option is <a href="http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.intl-alliance.com%2Fstore%2F&rct=j&q=iaps%20vpn&ei=sS5uTcO1C4-rrAfdu6jwDg&usg=AFQjCNEUdNQk5iI5-v5fNE8lBdSFGHdcfA&sig2=7eRQdDNTaJZFxfXRnURgqg">IAPS</a>. The bad news is that the streaming bit rate from the US to India is so slow that Netflix is completely unwatchable - the video endlessly freezes - while Hulu is tolerable but also a trier of patience. It's possible that some company can help compensate for this sluggishness but I've yet to find them.<br />
<br />
This is our one room home. We've yet to figure out a way to move our US Consulate visit earlier than the 15th of March, far longer a stay than we'd anticipated. Assuming we can't move that date up, figure another three to five days to physically get a passport in hand and then another day or two to get Archer's exit visa. All told, we may not be out of India until around the 20th. That's over one month in India, nothing compared to the length of time suffered by some of our European blogosphere friends but still a struggle. We'd love to introduce Archer to his own home, not this borrowed one.<br />
<br />
And introduce him - through scent, anyway - to a chicken parmesan sub which sounds abso-friggin-lutely fantastic right about now.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-13482974950524831912011-02-26T03:32:00.001-05:002011-02-26T11:02:47.680-05:00Hospital Survival Info<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">As a follow up to Geoff's last post, I wanted to share some very important information - "Shannon & Geoff's Hiranandani Hospital Survival Guide" - for other intended parents that will soon be staying at the this birthing hospital.<br />
<br />
For those that don't know, Hiranandani Hospital is not a shabby place and has an excellent reputation. It's known as an upscale hospital throughout Asia and although we refer to it as a birthing hospital, it is in fact a full service hospital. This happens to be the hospital that our agency - along with several other surrogacy agencies - works with as it accepts the legality and morality of surrogacy (unlike Lilavati Hospital, for example). There are different grades of rooms from which we were able to choose at check in. It's pretty straight forward - they shared a chart showing the type of room, what floor it's located on and the associated cost. We were able to visit any empty rooms/suites with security and I'd highly recommend doing so. We opted for a deluxe suite on the 12th floor, which is a newly renovated floor. Once we made our room selection, a full deposit was required upon check in and included in that fee is a guesstimate of medical costs as well as three meals a day. The nightly cost for this suite is currently 7,500 Rupees - the equivalent to $165.17 USD. Outstanding balances must be paid in full upon discharge. <br />
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Our suite had two rooms separated by pocket doors. On one side was a sitting area, kitchenette and full bathroom while, on the other, a second full bathroom, a hospital bed and a chaise lounge we easily used as a second bed. Flat screen TVs and DVD players were located on both sides of the suite. Finally, this room came with a microwave, refrigerator, sink and a very sweet nursing staff who took excellent care of Archer. See pictures below... <br />
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Just like our last trip to India, we packed some food and snacks, but this time we packed a little differently for obvious reasons. Not that any hospital has good food service but I can honestly say the food service was horrific and sparse - and that's sugarcoating. (please keep in mind that this is our experience and others may very well disagree!) There was no rhyme or reason when meals were delivered and when they were, they were often minimal and inedible. Geoff can choke down anything whereas there was not one meal that I ate even 50% of. I mostly ate microwave popcorn, peanut butter crackers and stale toast. The meals of champions! <br />
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Without further ado - Shannon & Geoff's Hiranandani Hospital Survival Guide. (Apologies to those for whom this does not apply!) Aside from clothes and everything baby....<br />
<ul><li>Snacks - lots of them! Microwave popcorn especially!</li>
<li>Nuts, peanut butter and anything with protein that you can travel with</li>
<li>We'd recommend stopping at a local grocery store and picking up some bread and jelly to make PB&Js</li>
<li>Juice boxes and/or powdered gatorade/lemonade</li>
<li>All toiletries</li>
<li>Outlet converters for each plug</li>
<li>Hair dryer (for those that need one)</li>
<li>Slippers/flip flops</li>
<li>Hand soap</li>
<li>Disinfectant wipes and spray</li>
<li>Room air freshener</li>
<li>Bottle brushes, antibacterial soap, sponge</li>
<li>Antibacterial gel </li>
<li>DVDs (there were only 3 channels that had English language movies/shows and they repeat them over and over and over and over and over)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Medela-Quick-Clean-Micro-Steam-Bags/dp/B000096QQ5">Medela</a> micro-steam bags for sanitizing baby bottles and bottle parts (I love these things and each bag gets 20 uses)</li>
<li>Diapers (the hospital only uses a padded hospital chuck)</li>
<li>Swaddling and receiving blankets (the hospital only has sheets and they're rough)</li>
<li>Pacifiers or soothies (the hospital does not provide any)</li>
<li>Formula - only if you do not want to use the hospital's formula or you are not breast feeding (the hospital provides an Indian brand of formula called <a href="http://www.nestlebaby.com/au/baby_nutrition/products/infant_formula/NAN_HA1.html">NAN</a>)</li>
</ul><div>Things to expect & things to do - </div><div><ul><li>The nursing staff are truly great and will assist you in anyway - either fully hands-on or second to the parents, but you should set the tone</li>
<li>There will be a parade of people who come through your room each day at all hours regardless of whether or not they're invited (nurses, residents, pediatricians, senior level management, housekeeping, nursing assistants, food service...)</li>
<li>A variety of hospital staff will be picking up your child, so get used to it</li>
<li>If your child is in the NICU, it is a very sterile environment and there are always nurses in the NICU. You will need passports to get in and out of the NICU each time</li>
<li>If interested in having Internet access, ask for a user name and password right away</li>
<li>Construction is taking place all over the hospital and can be disruptive at times</li>
<li>When in doubt or if you don't understand exactly, ask to have it explained</li>
<li>Security is at each outside exit and is present in the lobby, on each floor, at each elevator and especially more visible at high risk areas, such as the NICU</li>
<li>It's not necessary, but we'd recommend bringing a gift to give the nurses at the end of your stay (chocolates or candy or something small) Note, flowers and balloons are not allowed in the hospital.</li>
</ul></div>Any questions on what you should/shouldn't be packing, feel free to email us and we're happy to help!</div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545093875481027737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-85083834577833045112011-02-24T07:06:00.003-05:002011-02-24T07:10:32.626-05:00And.... We're BackLack of Internet access at the hospital and lack of sleep kind of puts a damper on blog posting. As you can imagine, we've got a lot to talk about. Most importantly, Archer has done extremely well since his release from the NICU - well, aside from some constipation that's par for the course. He's already taken to a routine quite well (or tricked us nicely) and has only gone through one scare-the-hell-out-of-mom-and-dad crying jag. (It occurred while Archer was in our care at the hospital. In retrospect it was probably a bout of gas but at the time we were convinced something life threatening had descended to take him away.)<br />
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Babies are required to remain in the hospital for a minimum of three days for jaundice observation. Archer spent two nights in the NICU so Shannon and I anticipated one full day with him in the hospital suite we would move into until his discharge. The timing of our move into the hospital was lousy. Although Archer was available to us Saturday morning, we delayed pickup to the afternoon so Shannon could have a few more nap-time hours to kill off her lousy cold. After checking in, settling down and taking possession of our beautiful baby, the clock had moved past 5pm, leaving us without an IT department to provide us with network access. Worse, the same IT department was closed Sunday.<br />
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Come Monday we figured we'd just wait until our return to the hotel. Unfortunately, our local pediatrician asked that we stay in the hospital an additional day to monitor Archer as his antibiotics were finally discontinued. To keep our family from thinking the worst - all we'd done since moving into the hospital was spend a few expensive minutes on our mobile phones - we finally got ourselves access to the Internet and Skyped. Once we returned to our hotel room on Tuesday we did what we could to get photos up for all of you to see. Actually writing complete sentences and coherent thoughts had to wait as we adjusted to life with an infant.<br />
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The big picture of our life with Archer has been pretty much by the book - you know, baby setting the schedule, no sleep for anyone but the baby, excitement about all poop found in a diaper, etc. (It's true. Shannon and I have actually cheered when opening a diaper and finding something that, a week ago, would have given me nightmares.) What's special are the little idiosyncrasies that make Archer who he is. Like how frequently he lifts his legs really high and bends them when swaddled. Or how he's a champion hiccupper and sneezer. (We witnessed eight sneezes in a row the other day. It's something we track now. "Let's go Archer. Eight is the high score!") Or how he loves to be carried very upright, pressed to our chest. Shannon's so in love that she has to keep stopping herself from kissing his face off.<br />
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Earlier today - Thursday - we were told that R has recovered extremely well and may, in fact, be going home. This is amazingly good news as things looked dire soon after delivery. Officially, Hiranandani no longer permits intended parents to visit their carriers and surrogates so we've yet to see R. What we'll end up doing is see her at the Surrogacy India clinic as we wrap up loose ends. The clinic won't permit her to see the baby so during the visit one of us will stay with Archer in a separate room. We have so much to thank R for.... We brought her a few tokens of our appreciation including a necklace with two charms, each printed with the name of one of her sons. We'll know more about this upcoming visit later this evening as Drs. Yash and Sudhir are coming to the Marriott to finally meet Archer.<br />
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In my original draft of this entry I'd put down a few more paragraphs. When my wife/editor saw the length of this entry she advised I split it into more than one to spare our audience blog fatigue. Consider it done. I'll see you in a later entry.<br />
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Archer says hello!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAqWK6IcvIUeYj4rqz21stybowr5hK75q53lB0cDDeNDln03jlj5kUmZdTe0J0_qq4bW9MgT-huhwFYJQry7EWwptJYj5adUrmF-CQ5bgVn6_pghE_eiQZUyXCQGBwp7pzFS9096bPC0/s1600/P1000156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAqWK6IcvIUeYj4rqz21stybowr5hK75q53lB0cDDeNDln03jlj5kUmZdTe0J0_qq4bW9MgT-huhwFYJQry7EWwptJYj5adUrmF-CQ5bgVn6_pghE_eiQZUyXCQGBwp7pzFS9096bPC0/s320/P1000156.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-4969871519017904672011-02-18T12:06:00.001-05:002011-02-18T12:10:11.945-05:00Recovery Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Seems we've all needed a little recovery this day after Archer's birth. Born at 11pm on Thursday the 17th, he was kept in the NICU throughout Friday for further observation. Hospital rules dictate that Shannon ("the mother") is able to visit Archer throughout the day while I ("the father") am only permitted a visit in the afternoon between 5pm and 7pm. During the morning visit Shannon found the oxygen hood in place, a feeding tube through his nose and an IV; this afternoon visit found the hood removed - good sign - but with the tubes still in place. We're told all is going to plan and that tomorrow - Saturday - the pediatrician will begin to wean Archer onto a bottle.<br />
<br />
You can blame me for no pictures. I just don't care to distribute photos of our baby hooded, tubed and IV'd. That said, we're hopeful that by tomorrow afternoon we can give folks an unimpeded view of our little one. All I can objectively relate is that he is easily the cutest baby born in the last century. Objectively speaking. He's certainly looking healthy enough. Surrounded by premature Indian babies struggling to achieve three pounds, Archer stands out like a very pink giant. Upon walking into the NICU for the first time I couldn't help but turn to Shannon, point to the huge Caucasian baby and say, "I'm guessing that one is ours."<br />
<br />
Shannon and I hardly slept Thursday night. I got away with it but Shannon's cold relapsed and she struggled to finish the day. We're going to play Saturday morning's visit be ear. I may go alone and take on the role of mother so Shannon has additional time to recover while sparing the NICU a cold flown over from Boston. Our hope is that Archer is deemed ready to leave the NICU by Saturday afternoon so he can shack up with mom and dad full time. If so, Shannon will join us and we'll move into a hospital room until Archer finishes the observation required by India law. (We were told the law requires three days of observation before release. What's not clear is if days in the NICU count. I'm guessing not; we'll know tomorrow.)<br />
<br />
Regrettably, no word about R today. We'll assume no news is good news but that'll be solace for only so long. We didn't have a translator with us during visiting hours so even if we could have seen her we'd have had no way to communicate. Very frustrating.<br />
<br />
There's more to relate from that packed Thursday night but it'll have to wait for a later post. Shannon's snoring away and I'm fading fast. Our last night of uninterrupted sleep? Let's hope so!<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-52117525625901118722011-02-17T14:45:00.005-05:002011-02-17T15:32:55.251-05:00Ladies and Gentlemen - Archer Shay!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">We had just pushed the Publish button for our previous post when the hotel phone rang and Drs. Sudhir and Yash informed us that R had started to bleed again due to the previa. A C-section was underway and we were to expect a car in 15 minutes.<br />
<br />
R managed to hold on for many weeks after the first bleed and for that we will be forever grateful. She remains in the hospital recovering from a significant amount of blood loss; her husband met us there, handling his own personal stress and concern gracefully as he congratulated us on our little one.<br />
<br />
Archer Shay is 7.25 pounds and a "male boy" according to the birthing doctor. We still don't know his length, time of birth, etc. for various reasons - some serious, some funny - but we'll fill you in on details tomorrow. He's staying in the NICU overnight with oxygen and an IV but we were told there's no reason he shouldn't be able to leave the NICU and join us full time by tomorrow afternoon. He was wide awake when we finally saw him, calm as a cucumber and - can you believe it - his name suits him!<br />
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No pictures yet. We were only able to see him for about five minutes and that was while wearing a full gown, hairnet and mask. We'll go back at 9am and we can't wait! I'll be able to sleep tonight - YEAH RIGHT!<br />
<br />
We did it!</div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545093875481027737noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-47337391897765450792011-02-17T11:58:00.000-05:002011-02-17T11:58:54.430-05:00Settled In<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">After watching three movies (four for Geoff), catching up on some reading and snoozing a bit, our 14 hour flight was over before we knew it and our arrival Tuesday evening was a-okay. It was as if we never left - the city was lit up like a Christmas tree, the air was warm and muggy, tiny cars, motorcycles and tuks tuks zoomed in all directions and everywhere you looked the streets and sidewalks were filled with loads of people and animals. <br />
<br />
I had high hopes for the Courtyard Marriott and our first impression was very good. The lobby and main restaurant are quite lovely, but once beyond the lobby, the hallways and rooms are average at best and - as a clean freak (and expectant mother!) - it's hard to believe this hotel is only two years old. I completely forgot to pack disinfectant cleaner and a diffuser or air-freshener, definitely needed to fight that unpleasant smell constantly wafting throughout the city air. Higher end hotels here in Mumbai pipe in some kind of refreshing aromatic (cucumber water, lavender, incense, citrus....) so guests can quickly forget about the city smell. It appears the Courtyard Marriott does not. Every now and then I can't help but pine for the Novotel, which I loved, but I understand it is much more expensive and we'd be burning through money during this multi-week stay. Our fingers have been crossed that we'd be in and out of India within 2-3 weeks max; however, we are now a bit concerned that might be impossible. While at Hiranandani Hospital yesterday, Geoff met another Surrogacy India couple who, having just welcomed twins into the world, discovered that the waiting list for an appointment at the U.S. Consulate was four weeks long. This sure wasn't news I wanted to hear. Agh!<br />
<br />
Our stay thus far has been fairly boring and uneventful. I managed to pick up a cold the day before leaving Boston and, combined with jet lag, it did its worst to me on Wednesday. I was in no shape to be out and about so I spent the day in bed pumping myself with cold meds and vitamin C. Geoff went off without me to the birthing hospital for an appointment with a hospital social worker. Aside from learning about the Consulate waiting list, he gained little from the meeting. We'd hoped to begin preparation of all the necessary paperwork but Geoff learned only upon arrival that this could only be done on the day of the birth. As during our first trip to India, this process hasn't come off as a well-oiled machine.<br />
<br />
If you need further proof - today (Thursday), we were scheduled to visit R with one of the SI staff. Awaiting a taxi to take us to the hospital at 4:30pm, we received a call at 1:30pm telling us the visit was cancelled. The birthing hospital just developed the policy that intended parents are no longer allowed to visit their carriers except on the day of delivery. SI told us that we still had an opportunity to visit R by not telling anyone at the hospital who we were actually visiting, but it didn't seem sensible to risk rule breaking and angering the staff. We made sure R was told that we were here and wanted to see her, but were kept away.<br />
<br />
The silver lining for us - tomorrow is delivery day!!! We've just found out (7:15pm our time) that we are to be at the hospital tomorrow at 2pm (or 3:30am back in Boston) for R's C-section. (The actual timing of the C-section is TBD, of course). We're given our room at the hospital following our baby's birth so we'll be bringing some of our belongings with us. If the baby is healthy and needs minimal time (if any) in the NICU, we could be back at the Marriott in just a couple days.<br />
<br />
The next time you hear from us, we hope to have wonderful news to share!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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</div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545093875481027737noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-43432697599392079682011-02-14T18:37:00.001-05:002011-02-14T18:38:22.851-05:00Mumbai BoundIt's Monday, about 6:30pm, and we're back in Newark International Airport, killing time 'til our flight to Mumbai. Seated in the exact same area as during our first trip, Shannon and I have made the requisite phone calls and are now just tidying loose ends before grabbing a bite.<br />
<br />
In situations like these, when the long awaited, long hoped for whatever is actually happening, one tends to think, wow, it was only yesterday that we first started down this path. Well we've got news for you. It seems like FOREVER ago that we made our first trip to India. Waking up this morning with an 'it's about time' moment, Shannon and I couldn't help but feel this trip has been a long time coming. Then reality hits. Life didn't owe us a baby. This whole experience has been a privilege that appears to be ending on the ultimate of high notes. We should be forever grateful. We absolutely are.<br />
<br />
As we've told our nieces and nephews, the stork doesn't always make it to a mommy and daddy's house. Sometime the stork is diverted to India. We're off to meet him.<br />
<br />
See you in India. And happy Valentine's Day!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-70767239601000537082011-02-11T14:36:00.030-05:002011-02-13T00:20:09.801-05:00Month of LastsAfter years of hearing others say it - "Wait 'til you have your own children. Your life will change!" - Shannon and I are less than one week from the change. We still don't know the sex of our baby and have no assurances of his/her general health and well being, but one way or the other we've got a baby on our hands in less time than it takes to send a letter to Mumbai by regular post.<br />
<br />
Yesterday was our last work day without a child. Thursday night was our last American Idol while seated on our own couch without a child. We're currently in the midst of our last weekend without a child. Sunday is the last 24 hours I'll ever have to goof off irresponsibly without consideration for a child. And so on....<br />
<br />
We've been spared another scare as R has gone above and beyond, confined to bed in a hospital for over three weeks now, bearing up with the discomfort and dislocation. This bonus time has allowed us to reach the point where we don't fear being unprepared. Like Santa before his big day, we've checked our lists twice and feel fairly confident that we're ready for the predictable and unpredictable.<br />
<br />
Folks have asked how long we think we'll be out there. Heck, even Shannon's asked about twenty or so times! The fact is there's just no way to know; there's too many assumings. Assuming the baby is born on the 18th and assuming he/she is healthy and requires minimal if any stay in the NICU and assuming all of our paperwork is in order and assuming we hit no red tape speed bumps THEN we're thinking ten days to two weeks would be the optimistic ideal. Don't tell this to anybody from Europe or elsewhere because their hurdles are much steeper than for us US-based folks. UK-based blogosphere friends of ours required over EIGHT WEEKS to get things in order. We keep telling ourselves ten days to two weeks but have mentally prepared ourselves for up to a month. Beyond that .... well, like it makes a difference. We're going to hang around as long as is necessary. As Shannon jokes, if the expenses keep mounting, we'll just have to work a corner. What do politicians say? Do it for the children!<br />
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For the sake of sanity over such an extended stay - and in anticipation of sleepless days and nights - we've focused on addressing two issues: comfort food and tv/movie entertainment. On the food front we're packing nutritious essentials such as, for Geoff, Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls & Peanut M&Ms / for Shannon, microwave popcorn & gummi bears. For tv/movies it's trickier. US sites like Neflix and Hulu prevent overseas video streaming, meaning that attempts to access those sites from India will fail with a "Sorry but you're not allowed to watch" rejection. I believe I've found a workaround but I can't tell for sure until we're actually out there. If it works, I'll let you know.<br />
<br />
Our destination is the <a href="http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bomcy-courtyard-mumbai-international-airport/">Marriott Courtyard</a>, a supposed hotspot for intended parents nestled in the heart of Mumbai. In India, such nestling pretty much means we're not taking our little one out for any walks beyond the perimeter. The hotel does have a pool, however, so we'll be able to escape the confines without having to dodge tuk-tuks. This fairly new hotel has made itself amenable to expectant parents - e.g. microwaves and cribs are available - and is closely situated to the birthing hospital. Interestingly, like most intended parents, Shannon and I will actually be spending a night or two in the hospital itself following our baby's birth. It's a nice perk allowing us to stay close by until our little one is ready to leave. We'll just hang on to our Mariott room, going back-and-forth if (heaven forbid) our hospital stay stretches a bit.<br />
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We're ready for this all to be over but can't shake the nerves that come from dealing with the unknown. Look, it's just odd to have never actually seen or felt the pregnancy in person. It's all been emails and photographs. We're pregnant but haven't had the slow dawning realization of this fact provided by a patiently growing belly standing at your side - or above your belt - for nine months. No morning sickness, no kicks, no strangers putting their hands all over Shannon. Well, not that I know of..... It's still a little academic so we can't help but ask - are we really ready?<br />
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Less than one week from now we'll be asking ourselves that question for the last time. Slowly but surely, we're running out of lasts.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-30861218365528531372011-02-09T22:45:00.001-05:002011-02-09T22:51:12.204-05:00Almost Packed, Almost There<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I know, I know, I haven't been very good at blogging lately and for that, I apologize. Time is simply flying by and the past few months have been filled with the holidays, settling into our new place, prepping for the baby's arrival, work and spending time with family and friends. My baby shower was a wonderful day and I promise to post soon about that. Until then, I have some happy things to report....<br />
<br />
1. We leave Monday for Mumbai<br />
2. R is stable and hanging in there like a champ<br />
3. Baby is doing well and growing by the second<br />
4. Unless things change (you never know!), we are having a baby on Friday, February 18th!<br />
<br />
I know one thing is for sure when we leave on Monday, that will be one heavy plane...<br />
<ul><li>1 lillebaby Eurotote</li>
<li>12 short sleeve onesies</li>
<li>2 long sleeve onesies</li>
<li>4 long sleeve shirts</li>
<li>8 gowns</li>
<li>9 one piece sleep & play outfits</li>
<li>7 hats</li>
<li>5 pairs of socks</li>
<li>1 pair of mittens</li>
<li>2 cotton swaddlers</li>
<li>5 swaddling blankets</li>
<li>3 fluffy cuddling blankets</li>
<li>273 diapers</li>
<li>360 wipes (and all of the fixins)</li>
<li>1 flannel changing pad</li>
<li>26 hospital chux</li>
<li>6 pacifiers</li>
<li>6 bottles</li>
<li>5 sterilizing bags</li>
<li>2 bottle brushes</li>
<li>1 formula dispenser</li>
<li>3 2.5lb. formula containers</li>
<li>18 burb cloths</li>
</ul><div>I told Geoff he could bring <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A</span> toothbrush :)</div></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06545093875481027737noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-41106360203210112862011-01-25T10:10:00.000-05:002011-01-25T10:10:53.077-05:00Near Miss<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A 2am phone call this past Tuesday shot Shannon to the ceiling. Unclawing herself, she dropped to our bed, grabbed the phone and shoveled it in my direction. Spying an Indian number on the Caller ID, I put the call on speakerphone and wished Dr. Sudhir a good afternoon (his time), trying to conjure positive reasons for such a late night call.<br />
<br />
Dr. Sudhir soberly told us he'd been trying to reach Shannon and I for some time - turns out they were calling our cell phones, stupidly left to recharge in the next room. Now that he had us, here's Dr. Yash..... The classic but feared symptom of placenta previa had reared its ugly head. R had hemorrhaged an hour or two earlier. The bleeding, which had stopped on its own accord, wasn't life threatening in and of itself but threatened a more significant bleed that could endanger both R and our baby. Bottom line, one more bleed and a C-section would be started immediately.<br />
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R was put on 24-7 bed rest at our birthing hospital, Hiranandani, and would be cared for by Dr. Soni, the doctor who was to be our OBGYN. A doppler told the doctors that our baby was no worse for wear and, hopefully, totally ignorant of what had happened just an inch or two away. Just in case, steroids had been administered to accelerate lung development. Our local fertility doctor confirmed that India acted perfectly by the book, believing R was well cared for. Of even greater comfort was his belief that having now reached the 33rd week - and achieving an (albeit guesstimate) jolly weight of over 5 pounds - our baby would likely come through this premature birth unscathed. Maybe a little siesta in the NICU but that was about it.<br />
<br />
Shannon and I have had a few days to process the news and begin the rationalization thing. The baby's fine, R is fine, the doctors are on top of things. As for the stuff we can control, it was time to get ready for a midnight call telling us to get on the next flight to Mumbai. The baby shower (whose story Shannon will share here) left us in fantastic shape. With a little more shopping this past weekend we're now well equipped for a three week trip to India. The only thing we couldn't pick up was a talisman that could keep everyone healthy and delay our baby's delivery 'til he/she is fully out of the woods.<br />
<br />
Here's something that in retrospect makes sense but had never occurred to either Shannon or myself nor was never made clear by our clinic. Now that R has been admitted to the hospital, we have no right to her medical information. Medical privacy! Could we ask R to share her information? Sure, if we could speak Hindi. How about the fact that it's our baby in there? Well, surrogacy is not recognized by Indian health privacy laws, laws deeply respected even (rightfully) by our doctors at SI. Of course, we're kept up to date through generalities - R is good, the baby is fine - but that's as far as it goes. As long as all goes well, such generalities are enough. If things turn badly, well, our baby's on the way out and that's our business!<br />
<br />
Our cell phones are by our bed and Continental Airlines is on speed dial. We very much hope for two to three more weeks of cooking time but our bags are packed.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174318552476047507.post-66324495914790601812011-01-09T16:21:00.000-05:002011-01-09T16:21:46.945-05:00Shower Day!Shannon and her closest friends are in the midst of celebrating the impending birth of our first baby. My dad and I made an early appearance to work the receiving line before disappearing amidst hors d'oeuvres and wine glasses. What a beautiful sight. An amazing, positive vibe flowed through the room, smiling faces everywhere.<br />
<br />
Unbeknowst to me, we're having triplets. I can only assume this is the case because there was a giant pile of gifts given to us by our amazing friends.<br />
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We love all of you for your support and friendship. Enjoy the party!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2