Ridiculous levels of cuteness

Waiting

Last night was our first night with Lucy home. It was tough. We were up every 2 hours or so. She is still adjusting to her new environment and like Mila is very vocal when she is unhappy. We will start having a nanny come for a full day so we can catch up with sleep by the pool. Because of holiday here Lucy's passport appointment is delayed til tuesday. The means we will probably get it on Monday November 5 and hopefully by Wed Nov 7 be in Delhi for final paperwork and home by Friday, this is if all goes well. 

Here are some pics of Mila and Estella

Finally PICTURES

Here are some older pics of Mr. M, Mila and Estella as well as the girls swanky ride. And here is baby Lucy.

Welcome Lucy

Yesterday our second surrogate went into labor and at 4pm local time Lucy was born. She is huge compared to Mila and Estella (4.6lbs). She is doing great and should be out of hospital in a few days.

We went to US consulate this week for CRBA, passport and DNA test for twins. As others have said, it is pretty drama free. We were in and out in less than an hour. We didn't even need to use our ready-made Similac! The only snag we almost had was that the Affadavit for Physical Presence needed to be filed for each girl (I assumed they only needed one) but upon good advice I had with me multiple copies of everything so I was easily able to pull another form out of my folder. In terms of what we needed:

For Consular Birth Abroad/Passport

CBRA form
Passport form
Physical Presence form (with two separate lists, one for time in US and one for time out of US)
I used an old Passport as proof and I also brought bank statements but they didn't even look at them
They recommended I file social security forms back in US as it will be quicker
Two passport photos of each girl (with eyes open and ears showing--trying to get that was fun)
US passport of genetic father
Original Surrogacy Agreement and Copy of it
Original Birth Certificates and Copy of them
Letter from Clinic explaining their role
100 USD fee
Consular Appt receipt made online

For DNA test
DNA test kits already there (we used Chromosomal labs in Arizona)
Passport of genetic parent and copy
Original Birth Certificates and Copy
Receipt from Local Doctor for DNA test (our clinic paid the 1200 rupees per test)
Two passport photos for each person being tested including father
email from consulate scheduling DNA test

BRING EXTRAS OF EVERYTHING!!!!!
You will get back all original documents. There is a brief interview with consular officer but it was very relaxed. Mr. M and I didn't mention our relationship but it was clear he knew and was cool about it. Our clinic was really helpful in getting many of these documents for us and putting them together nicely as well as arranging photographs (part of an extra fee).


We should get results of DNA test by midweek and Emergency Passports soon after. We are scheduled to go back to consulate with Lucy on thursday (you can schedule visit when babies are born but be careful if they are in NICU. I had to reschedule DNA test at last minute cause Estella was not released and they warned me I could only do this once). I'm hoping we can have Lucy's passport by end of October and head home in first days of November. We are a bit nervous about overnight with three without any help (Mr. Ms mother should be here by next weekend) but so far this trial by fire method has worked well. Again, I promise pictures soon, but it might have to wait for a US server.

Two Weeks Old

Tomorrow the girls will be two weeks. We moved from self-service apartment to hotel because it seems to be easier. Both girls are home and Mr. M and I are adjusting to nappies and bottles pretty well. We kind of have a system, M. is the main comforter/changer and I am in a supporting role, making/cleaning bottles and getting him the supplies he needs. I bought a bottle sterilizer and stroller and both have been lifesavers. Mila has a big mouth while Estella is more understated but they both have their own unique personalities. The hotel has been able to get us a nanny (15usd a day!) though we haven't used her yet. On tuesday we have passport appt and thursday DNA tests. After that we have a few weeks to chill out by pool anjd bond with twins. It's a pretty nice life so far...

1 Week Old

The girls are one week old today and doing great. Mr. M arrived on Saturday and we spent the whole day yesterday training to care for the girls. I admit was was so scared to handle them when I first got here. They are so tiny. The doctors kept encouraging me to start feeding them and changing them but I noticed a strange resistance with the nurses. It took me a day or two to realize they were waiting for mother to show up and that because I was a male they weren't sure I could do it. I finally decided they are my kids and I will just do it so I did. I had to gently push some of the nurses aside when the girls needed a feeding or burping but by Friday my inner grizzly mama came out. By yesterday I felt much more comfortable even though half of India was staring at me through the NICU windows. Look, they seemed to say, a man caring for a newborn! In general everyone at the NICU has been lovely and I have had fun explaining to some of the nurses that in America you can have two daddies or mommies. They are surprised but take it in stride. Deep down I suspect some of them think mother is still going to show up.

Today Mila is coming home. She has put on weight and is eating like a champ. Stella lost a bit of weight yesterday so we are waiting to see if she is ready to come home today or not. In general aside from mild jaundice the girls have been healthy. Mila has a really strong personality. She is a fast drinker (like her dad Mr. M.) and she lets you know what's up. Estella is more mellow and takes a while to finish the bottle, but is very cuddly. They both threw up a couple of times after feeding, so one nurse put them to sleep on their front for an hour while we watched them and they looked like a pair of frogs (I know, a big no no in the USA).

We decided to move from hotel to apartment with nanny as we thing that will be easier. We got the birth certificates in 48 hours and have appointments for DNA test and Consular Record of Birth Abroad/Passport on Thursday. We are actually not going to request emergency passports because we will be here for a while. We are trying to focus on our wonderful new family and enjoy this special time we have together rather than getting worked up about getting out of here.

I can't seem to load pictures from this connection but I will find a way and get them up soon

Mila and Estella

Just got to India at 4am this morning and have yet to sleep. I got to spend a bit of time with the girls. They are doing great, eating on their own and so far no complications. They are small so once they start gaining weight if all goes well they should be released from NICU (maybe four-five days). I'm in hotel til next week when babies come home and then we will do service apartment with nanny. The hospital is great. I got to massage babies but not feed them yet. Tomorrow the nurses will start teaching how to feed and burp. They are amazing. Here are some pics.

                                                                Mila

       
                                                              Estella

     
                                                                 Roomies

I need to sleep but more pics and news to come...

INTRODUCING....

Mila and Estella

They were born by C-section early this morning. They are 3lb 11oz and 3lb 15oz. They are breathing on their own and healthy but will be in NICU for next 10-12 days. I am on plane tonight to India and Mr. M later this week. I'll update with pictures as soon as I get there... Baby Trois still holding steady and hopefully we will see him or her in 2-3 weeks....

31 weeks and counting

We are at just about the 31 week mark, give or take for each baby. Dr.s at Clinic say we should expect twins anywhere between 34 to 36 weeks so we have about another 3-5 weeks to go for Un and Deux and Trois gets another few weeks of privacy. We've been working really hard to get everything ready. Here are some updates.

Baby Stuff
We have pretty much gotten everything on the list I posted earlier in the summer. For a stroller, I managed to find a used Bertini on craigslist for $120. Mr. M. calls this the tank.

We tried to take Lulu for a walk in the tank but she wasn't having it. It is so big, it can probably hold all three babies for first two months or so. Our plan is to use it (with ergo for one baby) until babies sit up and then get the foundation triple. My mom was generous enough to buy us a crib and a changing table which we will use in addition to a bassinett I got from a neighbor.

Otherwise we have tons of clothes (thanks in part to some lovely friends who gave us what their babies outgrew). And we are doing color coded Dr. Brown's bottles--they come in three colors, pink, blue and clear, perfect, one for each baby (though any boys we have are getting pink and clear--no blue for boys and pink for girls). Eight bottles per baby. I got three "bottle nannies" not sure if they work.

Xtra Stuff for India
We have three Phil and Ted Cocoons
Bottle Sterilizer: We are leaning toward a hotel stay right now and yes it's big, but it works great and
                           will make our lives easier
Lots of newbie diapers (I heard they hard to find)
50 pac of simulac ready made 2oz sensitive formula and nips for various embassys and flights.

Getting the Paperwork Ready
Here is where I made a lot of progress
1. I filled in some of online forms for US consulate (report of birth abroad, passport/SS app) and printed out multiple copies for each baby.
2. DNA kits (4 in total) ordered from Chromosomal Labs in Az already at US consulate waiting
3. Started process of second-parent adoption in NY state--we just waiting for birth certificates
4. Started process of getting a "suit of declaration" from an Indian Court which terminates surrogates parental rights by International Law, required by NY State as it does not recognize surrogacy (this requires multiple court dates in India and takes a month or so and might be a hassle-we shall see).
5. Got Indian Visas for M and myself--multiple photocopies of visa, passports, marriage license
6. To prove continuous US residency an old passport, tax records and a list of entry and exit dates of everytime I left the US since birth!!!!
7. 10 2*2 Passport Photos
8. Three copies of every medical-related email from clinic--part of medical records for FRRO
9. We are thinking for buying two one-way tickets for flight rather than changing round-trip dates and accruing fees. We will wait til last minute on that. Mr M.s mom, Mrs. M, will come to India towards end of trip and fly back to US with us so we can all come back together.
10. This weekend we go to Kmart and buy two or three large suitcases and pack them up.

We hired a baby nurse for when we get back. She will come over next week and make sure things look in order here so apt can handle three newborns hopefully sometime in early November.
Clinic told us with two separate births we should prepare to be there for 45-60 days! I'm hoping we can do it in less than 45 but trois has to cooperate.

All in all we are nervous and really excited. In a few weeks time our lives will change forever, we know that, but neither of us really have a clue what that means. For now we wait and try to encourage babies to cook a little longer

Last of my Globetrotting

I've been off for past few weeks and my original plan was to stay home and buy baby products on craigslist but the anticipation for the births in October was making me crazy and obsessive and even though I know I needed to save every last penny, Discover Card decided to "pre-approve" me (big mistake) and off I went for one last and quick adventure to South America on my own. I don't think I'll be doing this again for a long long time, though I did see some German families climbing Machu Picchu with some babies in backpacks so who knows...

Some highlights

 Cotopaxi Volcano outside Quito: It is very cold

I can't believe I actually took this picture

Lake Titicaca: Very high up!

Oh my God, this guy was cute. I wonder if you can have a Llama as a pet?

And of course a babies update. All three are doing great. We are roughly at 26 weeks. I managed to pull this off one of the scans. First time I feel like there might be an actual baby in there!