A late-night TV segment lit the spark. What followed was a bold, careful, and deeply human surrogacy journey: two dads navigating the 90s landscape of adoption barriers, a California surrogate who knew her boundaries and her strength, and a medical plan that started with four embryos and turned into three heartbeats. We revisit every pivotal moment—the agency search, the sticker-shock budget, the choice to separate egg donation from the pregnancy, and the courthouse win that put “parent & parent” on the birth certificates.
The heart of the story sits in the middle: the ultrasound reveal of triplets, a gut-wrenching reduction debate, a frightening scare that became their “do not interfere” sign, and a high-risk pregnancy powered by relentless care—calories, hydration, rest, and weekly milestones. On delivery week, a cross-country sprint lands the dads at the NICU, where five weeks of “suck, swallow, breathe” training turned worry into skill. Respect shaped everything: hospital access for the surrogate, a quiet hour for closure, and a tarmac goodbye that made space for gratitude rather than grief.
We also talk about what came next—telling the kids their origin story in simple language, the “California mom” nickname, a welcoming Atlanta school community, and the moment a daughter finally asked to see the egg donor’s photos. Along the way, we share what we wish more people knew about modern surrogacy: why a proven, ethical agency matters; how clear contracts protect relationships; what pre-birth orders unlock; and why the match should feel like family, not a transaction. Twenty years on, the triplets are thriving, the bonds are intact, and the lessons are clear: choose people you want in your life after the paperwork ends, and lead with care at every turn.
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