A single TV segment changed everything. Terry, one of the dads of the triplets Ellen carried nearly two decades ago, shares how a late‑night 2020 feature on surrogacy opened a door he never thought he’d walk through. What follows is a vivid, funny, and deeply human account of choosing an agency that championed gay dads, aligning with a surrogate who wanted to stay involved, and navigating the messy, beautiful realities of IVF, donor selection, and the ultrasound that counted “one… two… three.”

We dig into the decisions that matter: how psychology and medical screening protect everyone, why this team chose to transfer four embryos despite low quality and long odds, and how honesty about post‑birth connection transforms the experience from transactional to relational. Terry walks us through high‑risk pregnancy realities, the moment the call came to fly across the country, and the remarkable support they found at the hospital and Ronald McDonald House. He reflects on picking an egg donor with an eye on health, Jewish heritage, and complementary traits, and how they shared the story of their beginnings with their kids—honestly, early, and often—accepting that understanding develops over time.

This is also a love letter to everyday family life: a big Georgia nursery with three cribs, PTA meetings, soccer sidelines, and traditions like “candy breakfast” after Halloween and dessert‑first New Year’s Eve. You’ll hear why openness with the surrogate yielded rare, healing moments—bracelets that granted NICU access, quiet hours rocking babies, and the privilege of seeing a new family board a plane home. Terry closes with practical advice for intended parents: be truly ready to be selfless, build a real support system, choose teams you trust, and decide the relationship you want before the match.

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