Kyen Birth Update & Video Montage of Our Journey!

*Click this link to view our Surrogacy Montage Video*

Kyen has arrived! I'll write a more in depth birth story soon, but I'm leaving in the morning for a week long vacation down to the Texas coast w/my family (stopping by to visit my former IPs and surro babies on our way home - Friday).

Here are his stats:

Kyen Spencer was born at 12:53pm Friday March 10, 2006 weighing 7lb 13oz and 19.5inches. He was smaller then we all thought he'd be (smallest little boy I've carried anyway), but every ounce of him is amazingly precious! He looks so much like Taryn (her "mini-me"), but you can clearly see his proud papa, JD, in him too.

Labor was VERY difficult (dry labor/no fluid to easy my pain & cranked up to full dose of Pitocin), but quick and extremely easy once I finally received an epidural (near 8cm at that time). The delivery was heavenly - a room full of people w/cameras in hand (15+), lots of emotion (tears, laughter, you name it) - it was total bliss for baby Kyen's arrival.

I wanted to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers for us during our journey. A HUGE thank you goes out to my loving husband, Noel (he's absolutely my rock through these surrogacies and especially during this particular labor/delivery)! Also a giant hug goes out to my Mom (she was the BEST labor coach ever!) & the rest of my family! Grandma, Dad, and Angie thank you for being there w/us & Jen for coming up to visit...Nicole, it's been so nice that you've been so supportive of us too!

I came home from the hospital yesterday (just a 24 hour stay this time - I feel incredible!), but Taryn and JD stayed w/Baby Ky an extra night by choice - feeling more at ease having the nurses around - especially once he was circumcised yesterday afternoon. Everyone is doing well - a little sleep deprived, but wonderfully so!

Oh, and there was NO problems with the birth certificate - our pre-birth order worked! Taryn and JD are legally, as well as biologically Kyen's parents! It couldn't have gone smoother! The staff at the hospital were very accommodating.

Tonight my family and I went over to my IP's hotel (after Kyen was released from the hospital) to say our goodbyes. :( We will miss them all VERY much - I already do so much! Tomorrow they leave very early to return to Delaware. Wish us all safe travels, if you would - thanks!

And I uploaded the still shots I took to a photo montage (sorry no time for captions). I set it to music - a song by Oklahoman, American Idol Winner, Carrie Underwood - some of the lyrics are found below and VERY fitting to our surrogacy journey, if you'd like to read them.

Whenever You Remember

When you look back on times we had I hope you smile And know that through the good and through the bad I was on your side when nobody could hold us down We claimed the brightest star And we, we came so far And no they won't forget Whenever you remember times gone by Remember how we held our heads so high When all this world was there for us And we believe that we could touch the sky Whenever you remember, I'll be there Remember how we reached that dream together Whenever you remember *Click this link to view our Surrogacy Montage Video*

Night before induction

Well, Kyen didn't make his presence known today. So I guess he prefers we stick to the schedule and allow his birthday to be tomorrow the 10th after all. I've come to terms with the fact that my body is doing just fine holding this 'lil angel in and I truly do feel blessed to have had this time with his family (and him). When I look back on this week, I'll cherish the time we shared together in Oklahoma. :)

Today was hectic for me. I've been going non stop since I woke up (can't believe I'm giving birth tomorrow when I feel so damn good - it's just not natural, I tell ya).

We had lunch with my twin sister's IPs before their 4D ultrasound this afternoon (I went to take pictures as Ang did for me) - it's a BOY!...penis vibes radiated off me and stuck to them, I think, LOL.

After the ultrasound,

I came home to pack a bit for my upcoming vacation with my family (after I deliver and get out of the hospital - Monday - we have plans to go to Port Aransas, TX - if all is well).

Then we went to my IPs hotel and drove to a small town called Okarche for some Oklahoma fried chicken (Eischen's - Oklahoma's oldest

bar) - YUM! It's a dive, but we had a great time! My parents, grandma, and mom's boss and fiancé (Fred and Janeal) were all there too.

My family is staying the night w/Fred tonight so they can come visit me at the hospital tomorrow. At the restaurant we exchanged a few gifts - Noel got an amazing thank you card (had me teary) and gift certificate to Bass Pro from aunt Suzanne and uncle Bob! Overall, I think it was a nice evening to end my

IP's time here w/o baby in tow. ;)

Now, it's baby birth'n time! I've got to be up at 3:00am tomorrow, so I'm going to bed now (if I can). I hope to be hooked up to Pitocin by 5:00am (dreading it, but not much else I can do - it's my OB's induction protocol) and then I'll get my water broke by 8:00am...my OB better be on time too - we've waited long enough for baby to get here and that's all I've needed her to help me with.

Please pray that all goes well for us and I'll post again after the little miracle arrives! :)