20 weeks....12 weeks until Mommy arrives!

Our trip to Israel was one of the most amazing experiences of our life! There really are no words to explain how it felt to meet Shahar and Roi....It was so natural and beautiful. When we walked out of customs, I saw Shahar, and we ran into each others arms. We held one another and just cried. No words needed to be spoken....we knew exactly what each of us were feeling. Roi and Bar were there and all of us instantly hit it off. Conversation came so naturally and there was never an awkward or uncomfortable moment. After we left the airport, we they took us to our hotel and we got settled and walked around Tel Aviv and grabbed some dinner.

 

 

Jake and I adjusted to the time change no problem. Sunday morning we went to breakfast and then walked through Tel Aviv. We also went to have an ultrasound and Shahar and Roi got to see their little ones! We also found out that the Placenta Previa that I was diagnosed with a week before we left, had cleared up!! That night Jake and I got to walk along the waterfront and watch the sun set into The Mediterranean. Then went out and met some of Shahar and Roi's friends. Such a fun day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Monday we stopped by Shahar and Roi's home on our way to Jeruselem. I was able to meet her Mother and she is sweeter than sweet!  Then off to Jerusalem we went and got to tour the Western Wall tunnels. Everything in Jerusalem is built with the same stone.

 

 

Tuesday we walked around Tel Aviv some more and then Wednesday we went to The Dead Sea! The Dead Sea gets it name because the water is so salty that no life can survive in it. The weather was a beautiful 86 degrees and when you go into the water, you float more than when you have a life preserver. It was incredible!! That night we went to a gathering of Intended Parents that have surrogates in the States. My doctor and IVF coordinator from Oregon Reproductive Medicine were there as well as the Israeli representative for NW Surrogacy Center. I was asked to share my journey as a surrogate with everyone. It was such a wonderful experience to be in a room filled with so much love as they are all on their journey to happiness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday was our last day in Israel and we went to a little Wine Country town called Zikhron Ya'aqov. It was such a neat little town with lots of shops, cafes and wineries. After that we went to Shahar's parents home where we were able to meet her Mom, Dad, two of her four brothers and her sister. It was surreal to be sitting around their dinner table for a meal. I had only seen pictures and it was a dream come true to be sharing a meal with this amazing family that we now call our own!

 

 

 

Then it was time to say "See you later" and my goodness that was so bittersweet. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to go see where Shahar and Roi live, see where these babies are going to be raised and loved on, and spend time with incredible people! I also know that we have so many memories ahead of us and we will forever connected with them. Shahar will be coming to Oregon when we are 32 weeks and then Roi and Bar will come out closer to when the babies will be born. Shahar's parents will also be joining them out here and I am counting down the days until we will see them again!

 

Jake and I had a 53.5 hour trip home from Tel Aviv to Portland but we were greeted with these three loves of our life and my parents!! They made our homecoming extra special and we are so grateful that our kiddos were taken care of by my Parents and Jakes mom while we were away!