When we finally decided to take the leap and apply for me to become a surrogate I was overly excited and ready to go. When I make my mind up about something I tend to go at it full steam ahead and even though I was prepped for the lengthy process I was determined to be so on top of things it would just fly by. Well, I was on top of things but it did not make things fly by. Maybe to Westcoast Surrogacy, but there is sooooo much waiting in between each step. Tons of hurry up and wait. But let's start with the first step.
In the middle of August I got sent over a bunch of forms to sign - medical release forms, release forms for photographs and private information, background check forms for both Mike and me, Zika virus forms... as well as an information package to fill out about myself and our family. 20 pages to be exact. And this 20 page package wasn't yes or no questions. It was mini essays for each question. Okay, I'm exaggerating a little but you get what I'm talking about. These questions covered everything from the obvious - why do you want to be a surrogate? Do you have any health concerns/issues? Information about our kids and family life. - to very personal and almost silly sounding questions - what is your favorite color? Favorite books? What were you like as a child, teen and young adult... The agency told me to take my time but I sat down and filled the entire thing out, including a letter to potential intended parents to read summarizing everything in the questionnaire. I did take a few days to re-read and change a few things but I didn't wait too long before sending everything off that was requested.
And then, the waiting began. Waiting for my doctors to send my records over to them. Waiting for my file to be reviewed. Waiting for Westcoast Surrogacy's IVF Doctors to approve my medical records. This was only the beginning and I was not very patiently waiting. But I also couldn't stop thinking about how the people on the other end of this were feeling. People that have been waiting for SO long already for the baby that they've dreamed about long before that. That they may have already tried for naturally, through IUI and IVF, maybe on the wait list for adoption... That was always humbling to think about. I've been waiting for nanoseconds compared to them.
I got word my medical records were approved at the beginning of November. All the other initial ducks were in a row. The excitement started to build back up and then, time to wait again! Time to get matched with intended parents. At the time I thought this was the biggest and most nerve-racking step. Looking back I have felt that way with each new step. It makes me think of when I had Kendall and my Aunt Lex told me that every age of her kids was her favorite. 6 weeks is my favorite because they start to interact and smile at you. Wait, now 4 months is my favorite because they REALLY interact. No, 6 months because they are sitting and really getting a personality. Ok, no really. 9 months..... you get the idea.
Matching process to come soon!
In the middle of August I got sent over a bunch of forms to sign - medical release forms, release forms for photographs and private information, background check forms for both Mike and me, Zika virus forms... as well as an information package to fill out about myself and our family. 20 pages to be exact. And this 20 page package wasn't yes or no questions. It was mini essays for each question. Okay, I'm exaggerating a little but you get what I'm talking about. These questions covered everything from the obvious - why do you want to be a surrogate? Do you have any health concerns/issues? Information about our kids and family life. - to very personal and almost silly sounding questions - what is your favorite color? Favorite books? What were you like as a child, teen and young adult... The agency told me to take my time but I sat down and filled the entire thing out, including a letter to potential intended parents to read summarizing everything in the questionnaire. I did take a few days to re-read and change a few things but I didn't wait too long before sending everything off that was requested.
And then, the waiting began. Waiting for my doctors to send my records over to them. Waiting for my file to be reviewed. Waiting for Westcoast Surrogacy's IVF Doctors to approve my medical records. This was only the beginning and I was not very patiently waiting. But I also couldn't stop thinking about how the people on the other end of this were feeling. People that have been waiting for SO long already for the baby that they've dreamed about long before that. That they may have already tried for naturally, through IUI and IVF, maybe on the wait list for adoption... That was always humbling to think about. I've been waiting for nanoseconds compared to them.
I got word my medical records were approved at the beginning of November. All the other initial ducks were in a row. The excitement started to build back up and then, time to wait again! Time to get matched with intended parents. At the time I thought this was the biggest and most nerve-racking step. Looking back I have felt that way with each new step. It makes me think of when I had Kendall and my Aunt Lex told me that every age of her kids was her favorite. 6 weeks is my favorite because they start to interact and smile at you. Wait, now 4 months is my favorite because they REALLY interact. No, 6 months because they are sitting and really getting a personality. Ok, no really. 9 months..... you get the idea.
Matching process to come soon!
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