Joe Grows a Family

 Dang.  Did March and April fly by for everybody else too?  It was Christmas and just like that, it's practically summer! Anyways, I have not posted an entry since January.  It's mostly because I'm diligently and passionately working on my next book.  My goal was to finish it before the baby came (August 8th) but it's looking more and more likely that it won't quite be completely finished.  I'm done with the manuscript, a campy cozy starring drag queens, but it will now go through several edits and revisions and it'd be a miracle if I got it out to literary agents by August...But that's what I am still striving for.  So, when I do have time to write, it seems silly to write this blog, to be honest, when I could be writing my book.  Hope you all understand and can forgive me :-) I've also been busy with school and the kids (Ella's learning how to drive!) and trying to keep the spark in Adan and I's relationship (if you know what I mean) and tr...

I'm having an avocado for my baby? Hello, Friends! It has been almost two months since my last post.  Although a lot of "choices" and "emotions" have occurred during this time, there hasn't been that many significant events to describe.   Okay.  Fine.  Lets be honest...A lot of things I don't feel comfortable talking about in a public blog has happened.  There's been difficult decisions made and there's been frustrations.  Like I said, I won't explain them here.  But it hasn't totally been easy.  However, everything is great with the baby as of now and our surrogate is still pregnant and due August 8th!  I guess that's all that truly matters! The girls enjoying some laughs in a greenhouse. Our surrogate and I have been texting a bit.  I usually text her on Sundays to get an update on how everything's going.  She's been having some morning sickness and an extremely strong sense of smell.  In fact, she said she had her worst...

 Hello, friends! Everything in life is a Disney metaphor. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.  As difficult as 2020 has been, I do believe it’s made us re-evaluate our lives and realize what we’re truly thankful for.  At least it has for me.  Thanksgiving with the Kids and their mom (my little sis)   Anyways, quick, brief update:   As many of you know, our transfer occurred on November 20 th .   (A little later than the original date of November 16th because of a minor hiccup).   This procedure is where the doctors at Wisconsin Fertility Institute takes one of our embryos and inserts it into our surrogate (more or less).   Our doctors said it all went beautifully.   We have been waiting the last ten days to see if the embryo “has stuck” (more or less) and if a viable pregnancy has sprouted.   The waiting has been nerve-racking.   But we finally got word this past Monday the news… Great news!   Drum r...

Our volleyball team won...One game! Alright!  It’s been a long time friends!   Here's a quick update with some very exciting announcements. I wrote to you guys last time over two months ago.  Many of y’all have come up to me saying “So what’s going on?  I haven’t read your blog recently.”   And I’m like “I haven’t written a blog recently.”  Bwahaha.  Ding Dang. Jakey has become a little man in less than a year! There were some pretty significant things happening behind the scenes but I’ve been busy.  I just published my second novel available for purchase on Amazon HERE .  Thanks to all that have got themselves the book.  You’re all awesome! The new book! My surrogate, after completing a Parentage Agreement with her and her lawyers and ours, suddenly brought up the fact that she had a trip to Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii planned for next summer.  If she went on the trip, she would’ve been possibly 6-8 months pregnant...

Adan, Ella, and I...All pics are from her Quince BBQ we had at our house :-) Okay so things are finally cookin' 'round here. Shit's got real, yo! I mean, knock on wood and cross my fingers, because nothing's been easy and fast on this journey. However, things are finally moving and happening. Here we go! My sister, great niece, and Grandma Ellen  Not surrogacy related...But my 1st novel The Closeted Life of Claude Hartel is ready to grab on Amazon. All profits will be utilized to assist Adan and I in our surrogacy journey. Get it here: The Closeted Life of Claude Hartel  The response has been awesome. It has been a beautiful experience having people read the story that has lived in my mind and heart. It's almost like I had a baby. Bah! Everyone seems to be enjoying Claude and Jim's story. I'll be doing a live Q&A on Facebook Live this Thursday, August 20th at 8:00 PM CST. If you've read the book or are interested in reading t...