Friday, February 29, 2008

Popular, are we?

It would seem that there is a nosey newsboy out there causing problems! For those who have been invited, welcome back! I'm not sure what it's all about, other than this news reporter does not shed good light on surrogacy. For the sake of privacy, we are now a site "by invite only". So if you know of others who wish to come along on this journey with us, please send me an email address so that I may invite them.

"Sorry, ol' chap... this site's closed to you!"

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Spring has Sprung!


Hanne & Tommy sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers as a thank you for assisting in their Minneapolis stay. How very sweet! You are most welcome.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Look what she did for us!

When we arrived at our hotel room in Minneapolis we were meet by a very nice surprise. Julie had pre-arranged a basket with all kinds of lovely snacks, soda, chocolate, Minnesota Moose Mints, olives etc into our room. And even a caps and a sweater stating that we were the Vikings.

Again, its was such a thoughtful and wonderful surprise, thank you! Hanne & Tommy

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Flying Home

Hanne & Tommy are airborne now on their way back to Norway. I'm betting that their friends and family are very anxious to hear how their trip went in Minnesota. It was, of course, probably the coldest week of the year... and now the sun is shining and the temperatures are going up. Hmmmmm. We promised them an extremely different climate and visit when they return in July.

Our last visit was over dinner at Figlio's. The dinner was scrumptious and the conversation never-ending! We all agreed that this was a beautiful start to a wonderful journey... and most likely, a long-lasting friendship!

Hanne & Tommy, please post a few comments when you wake up on Saturday!

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Minnesota Meeting

We did it... no, not the transfer, not yet... but the first step of meeting each other is now behind us! I realize that some of you across the ocean are very anxious to hear how things are going. I'll let Hanne & Tommy post their thoughts as well, but for now here's a couple of pictures to hold you over.

I picked them up at the hotel yesterday and brought them back to our house. JP prepared a homemade chili & cheese bread, and some scrumptious berry parfaits. I think we're all still in agreement that our paths have crossed for a reason. It will be fun to hear how their appointments go these next couple of days.

On Wednesday evening we will pick them up again for dinner. Stay tuned for more details and photos.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Safe Travels & Weather Forecast

Time is drawing closer when you will fly to Minnesota... I can only imagine the last minute packing you're doing and how excited you must be getting!! As you can see from the forecast, there will be a few flurries to make you feel at home. If you get the itch to go sledding, I'm sure the boys wouldn't mind letting you borrow their sleds on Monday either?!

Thinking of you both and wishing you safe travels!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Contracts

We are in the midst of contract review... the goosebumps are standing my hairs on end! I'm so excited to be making this next step with Hanne & Tommy! After a little indecision on who I would be using as my attorney for contract review, I'm back with Suzanne. She, of course, is off on another vacation so cannot help with my review until next week. Hanne & Tommy will be in Minnesota by then, but it won't matter much yet!

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Getting Excited to Meet

We are all getting excited to meet in two weeks! I received the following email from Hanne and asked if I could share it with all of you.

Hi Julie!

Hope you are having a great day :) It will be interesting to hear more
about your studies when we meet, you definitely have a lot of good
things in your life :) I am so happy you can guide us during our stay.
Lunch the three days will be great. Its nice to be able to meet several
times and get to know each other better. My fellow IM in Norway and her family are also going to the US the same week as we do, they travel the 18. of February for their first meeting and the clinic in Cleveland. They have booked a car for rent. We haven't thought about that, but do you think we should? Is it necessary for the stay? I didn't think so at first, but have heard that American cities normally request that people comes around with a car.

We are actually reading through the contract drafts tonight - its so
exiting, it makes the journey so real, and it feels just so great to
have reached this far. And we have recently got new electronic
passports, we had old ones that's no longer accepted to enter into the
states. So now we are ready, eager and ready. And all the time in the
Norwegian media we hear about the American election process and the
super-Tuesday. Its Obama and Hillary everywhere.... If you hear even
more about the candidates than we do, I guess you must be done up with them long before the real election :)

The family vacation must be lovely for you - I guess there will sun and
its possible to swim in the ocean in Florida. That must be grand :)

Yes, less than two weeks now... time flies, before we know it, we will
meet in Minneapolis. Its almost like a fairytale for me, like I have to
clip my arm just to be sure this is real - that we actually have reached
this stage of the journey.

Travel fever hug from Hanne, Tommy sends his greetings too!