dark eyes

We will go to Mumbai 22nd of April, that's a definite now.
However, first we will go to Spain, we're leaving this Friday night, and sadly (not really) we are flying! We really want to have maximum time in Spain and if we were to drive over there, it would consume to much time, so now we will fly from Malaga to Paris the 22nd and then off to Mumbai! Just can't wait.
We haven't heard if the clinic already has found a surrogate yet, and actually I am still a bit apprehensive to call. I know we have to be patience and at times and I can be 'pushy'. I will wait till wednesday and then I allow myself to call.
Last Friday we got our tourist visas for India, mine was ready in a day but since A is british, it took a week to get the visa, we both could only get a visa for one year maximum, afterwards we have to renew our visas. Americans can have visas for India up to five years(!): how unfair!

Anyways, I for one haven't got any news at the moment, just that we are very anxious to go to Mumbai India, for me it will be a first and I am curious to experience what the country is like.
Last Saturday we went out for dinner to an Indian restaurant; since A and I REALLY love food, we enjoyed it very much, can't wait for all the great food we'll eat there! After that we went to a show of Pam-Ann. It's an Australian woman about airline staff. If you do not like to fly, do not google it! It is meant for a hilarious no brain moment. Of course we went to a club afterwards and we had to recover most of our Sunday, can't believe I have managed to get through today.

I also like to share some personal thoughts, cause I wonder if other people have experienced the same.
Everytime I see an Indian person, I think that our baby could look like that too. Perhaps a little lighter, but then again, A is half british and half indonesian, so it really will be a surprise for us. I know I should not whish for anything but good health, but I do hope that our baby will have dark eyes, cause I have dark eyes as well. My biggest contribution to this journey is hope, good thoughts for the ED, good thoughts for our to be GS and my love for Alex.
We are really in this journey together. And then all of a sudden, I am thinking of the colour of eyes and I find myself hoping for good health and dark eyes...

Good thoughts for the Mikes! and everyone else who is expecting or 'en route'!

camp

Earlier today I was reading some other blogs, one of them reminded me that I have to do some tax work :( so I planned to do that today. However, I accepted every excuse not to do this today haha. First I went to the gym, then I just had to read 3 newspapers, a long and relaxing bath, lunch with a friend and then of to my father for a visit.. and now it is almost bed time and I just got back home: joehoe, no tax work today... well, the next coming days I have enough time to work on it. 

Anyways when I was reading some of the other blogs earlier today, one of them had a music button; fab idea! With arms wide open from Creed, I even didn't know the band, but the band is great, lyrics are great and it just touched me.

So I thought I would send some camp feeling into the world. Here in Europe we have the Eurovision Song contest every year, the last time the Netherlands was in the final is years and years ago. But still, all the camp folks here in Holland get their hopes up when the song selection contest starts again. Here's the link to a vid of the Dutch and the British one... I usually cheer for both of them: have to keep my man happy :)

As you can see the Dutch one is very camp, and supposedly the act in the live show is going to be over the top with glittery costumes and things. The Brits took it a bit more serious, the singer is dead serious and cries a lot. Since Eastern Europe countries enter the contest none of the western European countries win.. or even make the final. So if you can't win, just poor some camp over your act and have fun! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HdGUNm6-qI =Creed With arms wide open
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te1w81E8L5A =The Toppers Netherlands EuroVision 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eADt1lFpmCA =Jade UK EuroVision 2009

Even better

Well, our first choice egg donor wasn't available anymore.

So we asked for other profiles and we have chosen another one! How easy does this sound?

We thought it was best to act really quick, so after we phoned India once again, they emailed us some new profiles, within the hour we were able to make a decision and we rang the doctor back; deal secured! Even we were surprised how fast things could go. 

Monday is another day of phone calls, 'cause the docs had to look into the menses of our ed and sm before securing any travel dates for us. We prefer a "fresh delivery" opposed to a frozen one, due to the fact that A does not have to work the whole month of April it is immensely important to us that April will be possible.

The date March 10 will always be remembered by us, A had some good news on a contract and we now know the other 'half'! We celebrated with close friends that night all the good stuff in our lives.... and of course drinking away the CC (creditcrunch:) haha.

We have been following numerous people who are far ahead in this journey and we learned early on that money is or can be an issue. However, we both worked on this as a 'regular contract' and hopefully there won't be any problems at all. But we did learn that if something is so desired by us, we cave in in an instant. But at the same time we learnt (thanks to various other bloggers) that you have to be very clear on the money side and that securing the amounts is very clear for both parties. (... we should have done this part better with our solicitor:(

It still feels strange to talk, write or think business like in such an emotional ordeal.

Last week was Restaurant Week in the Netherlands, it is a great week because a lot of restaurants offer a three course dinner for only 25 euro! Even better is that a lot of the more expensive restaurants joined the Restaurant Week 09 as well, gotta love bits of the CC.

We had our fair deal of exclusive dining for this month.

Our workweeks are better again since we didn't get a new contract for March so we do not have to work 24/7 anymore. 

In April we will drive(!) to Spain. One way is 2000 miles. A has done it a couple of times before, for me it will be a first. First we will drive to a very picturesque village in France and stay there for the night, then we'll stay in a wonderful picturesque motel close to the motorway and our last stop is in Madrid which is crazy! I love Madrid! It can be as busy, hectic, lively, colorful, hot, green, grey, cold as New York can be. 

Our family house, available for rentals btw, will be finished by then. Mumbai is either before that trip or after that trip. And if Mumbai has to be in the middle of April, Spain will have to wait until October. 

It is also a definite that we go together to Mumbai. At first I thought that A might as well go to Mumbai by himself this time. I mean, he has to deliver something and that is it this time. Since I do not have to many paid days of absence, I thought I better save them. But it is a journey we are on together, so we'll go together and we will take the opportunity to visit the country and get to know its culture better than just read books about India. 

The next time when we're there, we hopefully don't have to much time to wonder around and about anymore! 

Well this was it for tonight folks, I am of to the gym (still a few kilos to get rid off after stopping my very very bad habit)

will we make April?

The last two weeks were hectic and in many ways it still is. 

We received profiles, made a choice but haven't heard since... this morning we phoned the clinic and talked to the doctor and she promised to respond today; I just came back from work but still no email which means we will call again tomorrow morning.

I joined A to the hospital earlier this week, the doctor advised to do a second test on his swimmers, if the results are as good as the first one, we can be more sure (?) I guess he just wants to earn an extra buck:).

A told me that his "deliver" room wasn't very romantic and it sure as hell wasn't! In the main lobby was a door to a little room.. the lobby was crowded of course, so now I knew what A meant when he went the first time haha. It is just awkward  to do your thing when people are literally just a thin wall and a meter away.. In any case, I am sure the results will be fine again.

At the gynecology desk we were the only ss couple, however, we did get the magazine "awaiting your first baby"! Some pictures should have been made!!!

Last Friday we met up with another ss couple, they are preparing for their second child, for us it is special to talk with them, 'cause they already faced a lot of things which we will face in the future. 

Anyways..... I hope so much (an I probably press so much) we can go to Mumbai in April!!!!

Ps. I love to read all your stories!!

just to let you know; we have an agreement

This journey we are enjoying for quite some time now, is at times strange.

We had a few last bits and pieces to agree on and we have! Today we officially agreed on the whole thing and it feels wonderful. The clinic responded really really fast, so know we are set to go... can't wait.

As stated in earlier post, we are really busy at the moment, but we had to finish the discussion on this last part, so we took the last two nights off to wrap things up, and it feels like a holiday!, but we managed to come to an agreement. Starting tomorrow we're working 24/7 again so it will take a while for us to publish soon, but I'll definitely read your posts.

If you're in Mumbai around April/May, do email us! We haven't decided yet if we both go to Mumbai or that A travels alone this time, we'll see. 

Positive thoughts for everyone!

A big question mark

I had a very long story in 'drafts'... just waiting to be published for two weeks now, but I just did not get round to finish it!

So I deleted it.

At the moment we are working 24/7, we are both tired since we had just one night of in 7 weeks now! But we're keeping the credit crunch in mind so every Euro we can make, we have to make it now :)

A gave me the night off, so here I am finally posting at least some text.

On the surrogate part: we are all set to go. Our solicitor explained what route to take, the swimmers are excellent... so... well, uhm, exciting! We still have to get on the right terms regarding the contract but that will be okay.

And hopefully we will still be able to go to India in April! Yes, that is a lot of time pressure to arrange the last few bits in just a week maximum, but heck, so far we're doin' alright. 

Till the end of March we have to work 24/7, but I will post our confirmed departure dates.

I just read some updates of people who are already expecting; wow! 

Mmm, normally the title is in line with my posting, but all our questions are answered...

One step at a time

It has been a few weeks since my last post, been really busy with lots and lots of things I can't even remember, good start of the year.
At the moment we have taken on an extra assignment, so on paper we are working 48 hours a day the two of us! With the credit crunch getting closer, or not, we might as well do whatever we can to secure the next coming two years, it also means I have no spare time to do the extra things I like, but all for a good cause!
Our surrogacy story continues of course too, this week we hopefully get back the results of the tests (finally), Thursday we have a meeting with our lawyer, which hopefully gives us the courage to take the final step.
Recently there have been some legal issues with IP's in the UK, and there has been a personel change within the office of the High Commission, which results in a whole new way of working...
However, we are hopeful and look forward to confirm our travel arrangements soon!!!
Last week A's mother was in the Netherlands for a visit, she arranged that there are new curtains in all rooms, jippie, and like all of our relatives and close friends, she is already anticipating on the future; since A's office is going to be a nursery, she bought pre made curtains for that room, so we would not mind throwing them away:)... dreams dreams dreams, still so many steps to take.
Please keep your fingers crossed and hopefully I can post a confirmed start NEXT week!
Regs to all