JANUARY 2ND, 2019 - HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY!!!

“It takes a village to raise a child is an African proverb which means that it takes an entire community of different people interacting with children in order for a child to experience and grow in a safe environment. The villagers would look out for the children.“

Above is from Ru & Miguel’s beautiful wedding 4 years ago in December!
It is beautiful to see Ru, Miguel and the Triplets surround by a village of their friends and family. There is an incredible abundance of love and happiness here.

Every year, just before 11 pm CST, I make my blog entry wishing the Triplets a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!   Eleven pm CST is the time (eleven years ago) that my water broke for Baby B. Thus began the final part of my journey as their surrogate. Nurses tried to tell me that my water had not broken because their high tech tests said so. Thankfully I refused to go and the doctor ordered the ultrasound to reassure me. THANK GOD, right?! This is when they rush me to deliver the babies! :)

At 4:05 am CST on Jan 2, 2008, Xia was born, followed by Ru at 4:09 am and then Zhen at 4:12 am! I am crying as I write this... as always... I can remember their cries and seeing them first before each baby was taken away with their team of nurses.  And here they are with their dads today...

Happy “11th” birthday, Xia, Zhen and Ru! 

It’s amazing how much you have grown since I got to see you the Summer of 2017! You three are so truly blessed and I thank God for letting me help bring you into this world for your Dads! Hope you have a wonderful birthday!


Miguel & Ru, you are amazing parents. Sending LOTS OF LOVE & HUGS from Minnesota!!!


Love Always,
A Surrogate Mom (Kerri)

JANUARY 2ND, 2018 - HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY!!!!

"The Triplets first 2 weeks of life were spent in very snowy, very COLD, very friendly Minneapolis, MN..."

Ru & Miguel, Triplets' Daddies

Ten years ago on this day and time it was 11 degrees, just saying.
Today at this time as I write this, it is 11 below ZERO.  Nevertheless, it was COLD then and now.  I still can recall Ru showing up at the Court House in Hennepin County with a jacket lined with wires and a remote going through security!  To us in MN, that is pretty funny.  For those of you who did not get this... he had a heated jacket!  

This year was so special for me because for the first time after carrying them for 33 1/2 weeks, I finally got to HUG the Triplets!  I am not the children's biological mother but I am the birth mom.  I saw each baby as they took them out of my belly and cried happy tears.  I didn't hold the babies, but then I never held my own (until they were cleaned up, lol).  I realized later on that I would have been ok and wished that I had taken a few moments to hold each baby to say good-bye.  Their dads mentioned that they would bring the kids to MN when they were older so they could see where they were born and to meet me.  So thankful and blessed to have that time with them this summer.

July 2017

When we started this journey together, Charlie and Kaitlind were able to fly out to California with me for our first transfer.  That was a lot of fun, especially because Charlie was in Kindergarten at the time and Ru was a Kindergarten/1st Grade teacher.  Emma was too little.  She is 3 years older then the Triplets.

Thank you, Ru & Miguel and Triplets, for always remembering me and I am so thankful for Social Media.  I have enjoyed watching your family grow over the last 10 years!  You are amazing parents.  

Xia, Ru, Zhen,

A VERY HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY!!!

Much Love & Hugs & Kisses,

Kerri

A Surrogate Mom

JULY 2ND, 2017 - MINNEAPOLIS, MN

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA....THIS IS WHERE IT BEGAN...

9 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS AGO

Which WAS 114 MONTHS AGO

Which IS 3.469 DAYS AGO

The date was... January 2, 2008.  The Stevens-Ortiz's family became a Family of 5... The Triplets were born... healthy and ready at just 33 1/2 weeks!  Not bad for Triplets.  My work of growing and keeping the Triplets safe in my womb had come to an end.

I am very proud to be their Birth Mom. In our contract, I chose no contact after other then a request for a picture Christmas Card every year because I knew I'd be curious as to what they looked like.  (Mind you, I am not their Biological Mom.)  Having been adopted at birth, I always wondered who I looked like.  So I am thankful that their parents allowed me to change my mind because it has been incredible to watch them grow up... thanks to Social Media.  I know too that their dads wanted the Triplets to know about me, so that truly is a blessing.

The Triplets are greatly blessed, highly favored and deeply loved.  I am thankful that I was chosen to be the one to help bring them into this world.  I am not sure if I publicly shared this in my blog but one thing I really wish I had done after the triplets were born was to hold them and have closure. I am not sure if closure is what I'm trying to say but there was an emptiness (for a little bit) from not having that opportunity.  I assure you, it was NOT post-partum depression.  It was more like something I needed to do for myself.  I did go on to do another surrogacy and the family let me hold their baby after he was born... and I was totally fine.  I guess you just never know how you will feel in this situation until it actually happens.  It's the chance you take.

Honestly, I'm not sure if "emptiness" is what you call it because I know through being in contact since the Triplets were born, my life has been full of joy and happiness watching them grow up, being loved by a Village of Family & Friends. Maybe it was just one of those times where you think...I should have but now I know for next time.

I have to get going now... shower and get ready.  The kids and I are going to have dinner soon with the Stevens-Ortiz Family!  I anticipate LOTS of hugs!!!

Love, Hugs & Kisses,
Kerri - A Surrogate Mom

JANUARY 2ND, 2017 - HAPPY 9TH BIRTHDAY!!!!

It's been 9 years gone by.  The memories still strong in my heart.  This is my story exactly 9 years ago at this very minute....

My water broke for baby B at 11 pm on Jan 1st. An hour later DH and I made it to the hospital. Wasn't having any significant contractions. Was hooked up to monitors and stuff. They did a test 3 times that came back negative, meaning my water never broke. LOL well there is NO way I would have pee'd like that on accident! And the nurses were telling me that their tests are quite accurate...best on the market. OK whatever. So they were going to send me home...but do an ultrasound before I went. So DH calls the IP to tell him false alarm b/c I knew that he probably didn't listen to me when I said to wait about flying out until I heard from the dr. lol DH said he did make a flight but couldn't get out until 6:30 am his time (which was 8:30 am our time). Anyways...the gal was having a hard time measuring fluid for the babies...the dr comes in and says baby B has no fluid....Prep her for surgery. LOL what? You just told me I was going home and we told the IP it was false alarm. ROFL So then I was super bummed b/c I was thinking I'd be going to Bingo that Saturday! lol DH called IP back and said it was time...for real! By this time, I think it was 2:30 am?? I think it took over an hour to get prepped and stuff.

And just like that...9 years ago on January 2nd...with 3 Teams of Nurses waiting...

AT 4:05 AM CST...XIA WAS BORN!!!
AT 4:09 AM CST.... RU WAS BORN!!!
AT 4:12 AM CST.... ZHEN WAS BORN!!!

I can still see images in my mind of the babies as they came out.  So beautiful and healthy. To watch them grow up through pictures and videos on Facebook has been a blessing.  The Triplets and their Dads are the luckiest people in this world, surrounded by many friends and family who love them dearly.  


I love you all....Xia, Ru, Zhen, Ru & Miguel!!!

Happy 9th Birthday, Xia, Ru & Zhen!!!

LOVE, HUGS & KISSES!!!
Kerri - A Surrogate Mom   

JANUARY 2ND, 2016 - HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY!!!!

EIGHT YEARS AGO...I was laying in the bottom bunk of the kids' bed...the only bed in the house that was comfortable sleeping on at the time...

EIGHT YEARS AGO AT 11 PM CST...I either PEED in the kids' bed on accident or my water broke!!!!

EIGHT YEARS AGO....I realized it was time...bag not packed!!!

EIGHT YEARS AGO I was calling Ru to let him know I was on the way to the hospital, then Chuck calling Ru to tell him it's a false alarm and then Chuck telling him again that it wasn't a false alarm and they were rushing me to the OR....

EIGHT YEARS AGO AT 4:05 AM CST...XIA WAS BORN!!!

EIGHT YEARS AGO AT 4:09 AM CST.... RU WAS BORN!!!

EIGHT YEARS AGO AT 4:12 AM CST.... ZHEN WAS BORN!!!

That Day EIGHT YEARS AGO ON JANUARY 2ND....God Blessed Ru & Miguel with 3 BEAUTIFUL BABIES!!!  And what a wonderful journey it has been for me to watch the triplets grow...watch all 5 of them and their family and friends... (lol sounds a little stalkish, doesn't it?!)  I can only imagine the journey it has been for you, Ru & Miguel!!!  I have enjoyed watching your beautiful family grow.  It brings tears of joy to see pictures of the triplets from birth until today!!!

I love you all....Xia, Ru, Zhen, Ru & Miguel!!!

Happy EIGHTH Birthday, Xia, Ru & Zhen!!!

LOVE, HUGS & KISSES!!!
Kerri - A Surrogate Mom  

JANUARY 2ND, 2015 - HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY!!!!

SEVEN YEARS!!!  
I can not believe it's been SEVEN YEARS!!!

Ru & Miguel...  First of all....CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WEDDING!!!  I am so happy for ALL of you!  The perfect family in my eyes!

The kids sure are growing up.  It's fun to read back on my blog about our journey and now your journey!

Please give the Triplets a huge hug from me!

I love you Ru, Xia, Zhen, Ru & Miguel!!!

HAPPY SEVENTH BIRTHDAY, RU, XIA, ZHEN!  AND HAPPY "BIRTH" DAY TO ME!!!

HUGS & KISSES

Kerri, A Surrogate Mom

JANUARY 2ND, 2014 - HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY!!!!

SIX YEARS AGO TODAY...around this time, it happened!  And right now I have tears in my eyes as I think about this special day that means so much to me!

My water broke and 5 hours later, THREE BEAUTIFUL MIRACLES WERE BORN!!!

Xia- (pronounced "sheeya") was born first at 4:05 am and she weighed 4 lbs. & 9.7 oz. measuring 18 inches!  
Ru- came next at 4:09 am and he weighed 4 lbs. & 1.6 oz. measuring 17-3/4 inches

Zhen- was last at 4:12 am and she weighed 3 lbs. & 15.7 oz. measuring 18 inches

AND SIX WONDERFUL YEARS LATER.....

Ru, Xia, Zhen

Ru & Miguel, I can not thank you enough for letting me continue to be part of your family.  To watch your beautiful family grow has been such a blessing!  The children and you are so loved and blessed by your family and wonderful friends!  You are truly the best parents in the world and are the true meaning of what a real family is today!  

I love you Ru, Xia, Zhen, Ru & Miguel!!!

HAPPY SIXTH BIRTHDAY, RU, XIA, ZHEN!  AND HAPPY "BIRTH" DAY TO ME!!!

HUGS & KISSES

Kerri, A Surrogate Mom