Mumbai...Fort Knox!

Firstly - just want to say thank you for all your posts. We are reading them with much affection and feeling very supported (which is great right now). Big Mwahs...

Right - Mumbai....

Amit, our lovely travel agent (who works with the agency) got out of bed to meet us at the airport at 2.30am and escort us, with his driver - who had an air conditioned car (thank god) all the way to our hotel. He, like Katie suggested, was full of useful information and tips and is just SO lovely and supportive.

I must admit, at this point that I couldn't understand why he had got out of bed to greet us. I was thinking a range of "emotional" explanations, believing that we had overcome all the hurdles in getting the embryos here. But, as we pulled up to our little oasis amongst the organised chaos, it became clear why he had got out of bed for us. Security at the hotel was worse than any check point we endured.

After the recent terrorist attacks, security at the top hotels is like "Fort Knox". We were initially greeted by sniffer dogs that went over the entire car (no problem, the dog had just given birth and was sniffing in between feeding, poor thing). But, up to the lovely grand entrance and right there in front of us was a dirty big x-ray machine. Every one and every thing must go through it.

Amit, spoke the local lingo and got it through, just! they were by-no-means happy and just kept asking what it was and why wouldn't we open it. We tried our best to explain but cultural and language barriers prevented the message from getting through.

We checked in and at 4.30am and went to bed. Wake up call ordered for 8am so we could go to the hospital and deliver the embryos.

7.30am we received a call from security, asking if they could visit our room to discuss the "bag" that we refused to have x-rayed. Fate would have it, when they arrived, Dr Sudhir called and we were able to put him on the phone to explain. That being said, they were not happy and asked us not to "break their rules" again.

Soon after we were picked up and heading toward Lilavati hospital. Our first taste of mainstream Mumbai....that is another post entirely.

We arrived at the hospital, were told to keep the camera in the car and had to cross our first road, embryos in hand....OMG! Ajit, our beautiful driver, escorted us to level 2 of the hospital where we met, for the first time, the agency. Both doctors were there to greet us and give us a much needed hug.

Sudhir then went through all the medical aspects - this part must stay confidential for legal reasons so, I will leave a bit gap in the blog at this point. But, just know that we feel very reassured that we, and the embryos are in safe hands.

We are very pleased to report that the embryos have a new home at Lilavati hospital and that we get to meet our surrogate and her family tomorrow. Big day ahead. Exhausted and relieved, happy and excited, and of course, totally scared....

But, we did our best, we got them here and are giving them the best chance at life, as parents (born or unborn) there is no more we can do but pray and finally, relax a little.....

Sorry, very long blog - Obie not impressed!

Oh stop it - I can't believe the doggies lost. How good is this, get to watch the footy live drinking Fosters.