It was with great eagerness that I went to San Diego again on November 8th for the babies 20th week ultrasound. This would be the first time I would be able to see my babies. But, when I was in the exam room to observe as the ultrasound was being performed, things did not go exactly as planned. Instead of finding two babies, only one baby could be found and it was a boy. The nurse performing the ultrasound was pretty funny about this, she said “There is no question about it. I think you have an exhibitionist on your hands, He is really flashing his junk.” Upon further examination, the remnants of the twin were seen and from his crown to rump measurement, it could be determined that he/she had passed away during his/her tenth week of gestation. Below, is the very first picture of my son _____________ Christopher Johnathan Washburn, whose due date is now anticipated to be on April 7th, 2018. I am still working on his first name, but my son is going to have two middle names. I was going to give my twins the names of my foster sons as their middle names, in memory of my foster sons. But with the passing of his twin, my son will now have both middle names.
My son’s due date will now be approximately 3 1/2 years from the due date of my original surrogate. It has been a rather long and difficult journey with several disappointing valleys along the way. When I was told four years ago that a surrogacy journey was very much an emotional rollercoaster, they weren't kidding. It takes a very strong and determined person to persevere and keep going despite all of these difficulties that one happens upon. But, nothing else in the whole world can quite compete with the emotional fulfillment that one feels while nurturing and parenting children of your own. It was a feeling that I felt when taking care of my two foster children eight years ago and is a feeling that I have yearned to experience once again. My journey into fatherhood is now nearing an end, which I am super excited and happy about, as after the first IVF transfer failed in February 2017 I really believed that it would never truly happen for me.