My Grandfather is 94 years old and he came to visit his great great granddaughter, Priya Madala, my daughter.
He was telling me stories from the past. He was saying that his mother, Ragamma (nickname is Aga) used to like kids and people that were very fair. So apparently my mom was very fair and my pedamma (My moms elder sister) was not so she used to really take good care of my mom and give her lots of attention when they were growing up. This conversation came up, because my daughter is very fair and she was holding his hand and he told me this story, while he was giggling.
Sometimes I see a lot of people are very commercial in India and care about money more than anything else.
So on May 12th my grandfather's sons daughter daughter (His sons granddaughter(Iswarya Mounika) is getting married and I told him that my mom and I were going to the wedding in Gudivada and if he wanted to come. He said no, and said that he will attend the reception in Hyderabad.
I asked him why and he said that he does not like to sit in a car for such a long time, because the bottom of this feet start hurting, and then he told me that his daugther-in-laws sisters husband had called and said that he was not welcome at Nalani's house anymore. Apparently he had yelled at this Nalini's husband and he did not want him coming over anymore. My grandfather says that he does not remember yelling at him. So anyway he said, he does really feel like they care if he attended the wedding or not, and since it was painful for him physically, he was going to skip it.
I think these are those typical family fights that happen over long periods of time when you are together.
When he was talking about Nalini's family he was was also saying that GPP Chandrasekhar Rao (His eldest son-in-law) does not talk to him anymore. He said that he was unsure what he did to him, but his exact words were, when I go there, he sits like a Bellam Kottin Rai (Block of Jaggery hit by a rock). I am unsure what that means. But I think he does not interact with him at all when he goes for a visit.
I asked my dad what the issues were, he said it is those typical issues that have built up over a lifetime. Even he is unsure but he is guessing that the issues are:
1) He had asked for help long back and my grandfather did not help. - But this was the same time that he was gambling a lot and even if my grandfather had given him money, he would have wasted it.
2) He comes to Tenali and usually goes and visits lots of other friends that he has and they are always worried that he may get sick. They want him to stay in the house at his age and travel like he does.
I am sure there are lots of other issues that I do not know about. But these are all guesses.
He told me a lot more stories and we will explore them tomorrow.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Priya Madala - Just The Way You Are - Video
Here is a Video of my Daughter to a song I thought that was perfect of how I feel:
Kiran Infertility Center
I promised to write about my experience at Kiran Infertility Center in Hyderabad, India.
Here is their website:
http://www.kiranivfgenetic.com/
Contact Details:
Dr. Samit Sekhar: 0091-9948-17-5768
Anjani Kumar: 0091-9014-75-4934
You can call and ask questions directly, but I will try and give an idea here as to the process and costs involved.
Initially I had tried the IVF procedure in Michigan and spent hundred of thousands of dollars and did not have any success.
I came to India since the costs in USA were bleeding me and I wanted to keep trying. Initially my mom took me to some doctor that charges around Rs 1,50,000 ($3000) for the entire procedure including medications. When I first saw this clinic my first thought was Railway Station. It reminded me of a railway station. There were people everywhere and the lines were outrageous. I actually spent the entire day there and accomplished very little and I was a little disheartened.
The next day Moms friend Shilpa told us about Kiran Infertility and we went there. It was so nice and comfortable. There an AC waiting room, there were very few people their also, it felt very comfortable. It was embarrassing in retrospect, we went in claiming poverty and asked for a discount to their prices, but they were firm in their costs and we signed up with them.
The costs were very transparent: (I think this is what I paid, but I am not 100% sure, but it is pretty close to the actual costs)
$10,000 when you sign up
$5000 at month 3
$5000 at month 6
$2500 at month 8
$5000 on delivery
$1000 for legal help to take care of the paperwork
$300 for the hospital where the delivery took place
$400 for tests on day 4 at the hospital (This was a waste of time and money, do not do it)
$550 for DNA test kit
$29,750 Grand Total
You initially pay $10,000 and this includes a total of 3 try's at IVF and all medications needed and for egg retrieval.
The Indian Government has started issuing a new type of visa for this purpose called Medical Visa:
So I guess we can get back to my story.
I went into the clinic and met with Anjani, he is the office manager and he turned on the AC in the waiting room and I waited to meet with Dr Samit. Dr Samit is a very young doctor, but from all the interactions I have had with him, he is very forthright and will tell you the truth, good or bad.
I knew the process well and having tried so many times in USA, but I heard from Dr. Samit again the entire process and I felt comfortable with him and we signed the documents to go ahead with the procedure.
The egg retrieval takes anywhere from 30-60 days depending on what part of the cycle your spouse is at, when you visit the clinic. They give medications and retrieve the eggs and you give three samples of sperm on 3 different days and they freeze everything and use them as needed.
They first attempt itself was unsuccessful and I got the new on April 11, 2011. The pain and sadness from the previous failures had by now had done enough damage to my emotiions that I really did not feel any pain any longer. I expected failure and that is what I got.
The second attempt was done and on May 27th, 2011 we got news of a positive pregnancy test. I was crazy happy. Then on June 22, 2011 the below email came:
So happiness to failure again.
Our third attempt was done and on Jan 13, 2012 again we got a positive pregnancy test.On Feb 2, 2012 here was the news:
So failure again and this was the furthest that we had gotten along in the process. I forgot my reaction at this point, but I think I had pretty much given up hope and had resigned myself to the fact that I would not have children.
Emotionally I was a mess at this point and was having problems with my partner in my business at that same time and I had to buy him out for $150,000 since the relationship had deteriorated so much. I would have doubted that you would have noticed much difference in me, since I can control my emotions so well. I have part Vulcan in me.
That was my third attempt and Dr Samit could have asked me to pay another $10,000, but when I met him I think he sensed some sadness and hopelessness in me at that point and I was on the verge of giving up. He wanted another sperm sample and did not take another $10,000 for 3 more attempts and promised that he could keep trying until we were successful.
On the forth attempt I get another positive pregnancy and got that news on August 23, 2012. From that pregnancy we got our daughter, Priya Madala who was born on April 19th at 11:10am.
I was expecting failure throughput the process at some point. Since we had so many miscarriages, I was so worried about genetic abnormalities at birth, but after I heard that Priya was born perfectly healthy, I was so happy. That was a night that I finally felt a sense of relief and happiness and I slept in bed a very happy daddy. I tend to prepare for the worse but hope for the best and this keeps me always at an even keel, emotionally, since I am prepared for any situation.
That was my story. My experience at Kiran Infertility was fantastic. Dr Samit is extremely honest and I like people like that. Anjani will keep you in touch with the process by sending you updates on the procedure and the progress.
You are welcome to call and talk to me, if you want to learn more: 540-449-4401 Vijay Madala.
Most of you that read my blog know me, and you know I always tell it like it is. You can trust me, if you want to have children and have to choose Invitro, Kiran Infertility is the place to do it.
Here is their website:
http://www.kiranivfgenetic.com/
Contact Details:
Dr. Samit Sekhar: 0091-9948-17-5768
Anjani Kumar: 0091-9014-75-4934
You can call and ask questions directly, but I will try and give an idea here as to the process and costs involved.
Initially I had tried the IVF procedure in Michigan and spent hundred of thousands of dollars and did not have any success.
I came to India since the costs in USA were bleeding me and I wanted to keep trying. Initially my mom took me to some doctor that charges around Rs 1,50,000 ($3000) for the entire procedure including medications. When I first saw this clinic my first thought was Railway Station. It reminded me of a railway station. There were people everywhere and the lines were outrageous. I actually spent the entire day there and accomplished very little and I was a little disheartened.
The next day Moms friend Shilpa told us about Kiran Infertility and we went there. It was so nice and comfortable. There an AC waiting room, there were very few people their also, it felt very comfortable. It was embarrassing in retrospect, we went in claiming poverty and asked for a discount to their prices, but they were firm in their costs and we signed up with them.
The costs were very transparent: (I think this is what I paid, but I am not 100% sure, but it is pretty close to the actual costs)
$10,000 when you sign up
$5000 at month 3
$5000 at month 6
$2500 at month 8
$5000 on delivery
$1000 for legal help to take care of the paperwork
$300 for the hospital where the delivery took place
$400 for tests on day 4 at the hospital (This was a waste of time and money, do not do it)
$550 for DNA test kit
$29,750 Grand Total
You initially pay $10,000 and this includes a total of 3 try's at IVF and all medications needed and for egg retrieval.
The Indian Government has started issuing a new type of visa for this purpose called Medical Visa:
Update
on the Visa Issue.
All
Commissioning Parents intending to undergo Surrogacy Arrangement in India are
advised to travel on Medical Visa stating Surrogacy only. Government of India
gave a notification in this regard on 2nd Jan 2013. Copy of this is
attached herewith.
Here is a copy of the Government Order:
I went into the clinic and met with Anjani, he is the office manager and he turned on the AC in the waiting room and I waited to meet with Dr Samit. Dr Samit is a very young doctor, but from all the interactions I have had with him, he is very forthright and will tell you the truth, good or bad.
I knew the process well and having tried so many times in USA, but I heard from Dr. Samit again the entire process and I felt comfortable with him and we signed the documents to go ahead with the procedure.
The egg retrieval takes anywhere from 30-60 days depending on what part of the cycle your spouse is at, when you visit the clinic. They give medications and retrieve the eggs and you give three samples of sperm on 3 different days and they freeze everything and use them as needed.
They first attempt itself was unsuccessful and I got the new on April 11, 2011. The pain and sadness from the previous failures had by now had done enough damage to my emotiions that I really did not feel any pain any longer. I expected failure and that is what I got.
The second attempt was done and on May 27th, 2011 we got news of a positive pregnancy test. I was crazy happy. Then on June 22, 2011 the below email came:
The surrogate had bleeding early morning. On scan there is no
heart beat. Gestational Sac has also reduced in size. There is internal
haematoma near uterus. It’s a case of early spontaneous miscarriage.
So happiness to failure again.
Our third attempt was done and on Jan 13, 2012 again we got a positive pregnancy test.On Feb 2, 2012 here was the news:
I am afraid that I have some bad news for you.
The scan done today shows a Hematoma (internal bleeding) in the
sac.
The CRL - Crown Rump Length- is 2 cm and the GA - Gestational
Age- is 8 weeks 4 days.
But there is no heart beat seen. I have attached the report.
This can happen if there are some random chromosomal
abnormalities in the fetus.
Emotionally I was a mess at this point and was having problems with my partner in my business at that same time and I had to buy him out for $150,000 since the relationship had deteriorated so much. I would have doubted that you would have noticed much difference in me, since I can control my emotions so well. I have part Vulcan in me.
That was my third attempt and Dr Samit could have asked me to pay another $10,000, but when I met him I think he sensed some sadness and hopelessness in me at that point and I was on the verge of giving up. He wanted another sperm sample and did not take another $10,000 for 3 more attempts and promised that he could keep trying until we were successful.
On the forth attempt I get another positive pregnancy and got that news on August 23, 2012. From that pregnancy we got our daughter, Priya Madala who was born on April 19th at 11:10am.
I was expecting failure throughput the process at some point. Since we had so many miscarriages, I was so worried about genetic abnormalities at birth, but after I heard that Priya was born perfectly healthy, I was so happy. That was a night that I finally felt a sense of relief and happiness and I slept in bed a very happy daddy. I tend to prepare for the worse but hope for the best and this keeps me always at an even keel, emotionally, since I am prepared for any situation.
That was my story. My experience at Kiran Infertility was fantastic. Dr Samit is extremely honest and I like people like that. Anjani will keep you in touch with the process by sending you updates on the procedure and the progress.
You are welcome to call and talk to me, if you want to learn more: 540-449-4401 Vijay Madala.
Most of you that read my blog know me, and you know I always tell it like it is. You can trust me, if you want to have children and have to choose Invitro, Kiran Infertility is the place to do it.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Priya - Her First 5 Days
Priya was born on April 19th at 11:10am and hung out in the hospital the first day.
My mom cried when she saw her for the first time. We were all very happy that she was healthy.
On day 2 she came home to my moms house in Hyderabad.
On day 2 she saw her mom for the first time about 35 hours after birth.
On day 2 she was switched to Enfamil and she did not really like it and drank very little, and had us all worried.
On day 3 she drank very little, cried very little and had us all super worried.
On day 4 she had a doctors appointment and she did a lot of tests on her and the poor girl had blood drawn from her and she cried and cried. We were in the hospital from 10am until 4 pm. Her results were normal expect for a slight elevation in Bilirubin levels. She is O+ and the blood she shared with her mother is being destroyed and changed over to O+ and this is causing an elevated level of Bilirubin, but it is very slightly elevated.
On day 4 night, she was very fussy and stayed up until 4am and my mom and her mom were up with her until then and tired them both out. I woke up the next morning and everybody was dead asleep.
From Day 4 onwards she has been drinking very well and is now crying for more milk. This has been a good sign. She has been pooping a lot and we were worried about the diarrhea, and my mom took to the doctor again and he said not to worry unless it is red or she is not drinking her milk. So she is drinking very well, but had to check just to make sure.
Although she seems to be a night owl and likes to wake up and play late at night. If you take her away from the fan also she cries. Priya's preferred position seems to be someone holding her close to their chest under the fan. I have to say that the wife has taken to being a mother like a duck to water.
Ok, everybody keeps asking for more pictures and I will post more soon.
She has been having visitors everyday. Yesterday, Vasant, Jyothi and Ananya came by. Her cousin Happy and her parents Sandeep and Yogitha also came by.
She also got her car yesterday. We bought her a new Toyota Innova this year and will likely buy her a new Mercedes for her next visit when she is a little older. I am unsure if she will come when she is 1 back to India, but will likely come when she is 2 and can interact more with her relatives.
Today will be a big day for her, since a whole bevy of visitors are slated to come by. Possibly 10 relatives will be showing up, if not more for Priyas day 5.
Day 5 big activity is that she is now turning 90 degrees onto her side. So no more putting her on the dining room table to change her, that has become too dangerous now.
My mom cried when she saw her for the first time. We were all very happy that she was healthy.
On day 2 she came home to my moms house in Hyderabad.
On day 2 she saw her mom for the first time about 35 hours after birth.
On day 2 she was switched to Enfamil and she did not really like it and drank very little, and had us all worried.
On day 3 she drank very little, cried very little and had us all super worried.
On day 4 she had a doctors appointment and she did a lot of tests on her and the poor girl had blood drawn from her and she cried and cried. We were in the hospital from 10am until 4 pm. Her results were normal expect for a slight elevation in Bilirubin levels. She is O+ and the blood she shared with her mother is being destroyed and changed over to O+ and this is causing an elevated level of Bilirubin, but it is very slightly elevated.
On day 4 night, she was very fussy and stayed up until 4am and my mom and her mom were up with her until then and tired them both out. I woke up the next morning and everybody was dead asleep.
From Day 4 onwards she has been drinking very well and is now crying for more milk. This has been a good sign. She has been pooping a lot and we were worried about the diarrhea, and my mom took to the doctor again and he said not to worry unless it is red or she is not drinking her milk. So she is drinking very well, but had to check just to make sure.
Although she seems to be a night owl and likes to wake up and play late at night. If you take her away from the fan also she cries. Priya's preferred position seems to be someone holding her close to their chest under the fan. I have to say that the wife has taken to being a mother like a duck to water.
Ok, everybody keeps asking for more pictures and I will post more soon.
She has been having visitors everyday. Yesterday, Vasant, Jyothi and Ananya came by. Her cousin Happy and her parents Sandeep and Yogitha also came by.
She also got her car yesterday. We bought her a new Toyota Innova this year and will likely buy her a new Mercedes for her next visit when she is a little older. I am unsure if she will come when she is 1 back to India, but will likely come when she is 2 and can interact more with her relatives.
Today will be a big day for her, since a whole bevy of visitors are slated to come by. Possibly 10 relatives will be showing up, if not more for Priyas day 5.
Day 5 big activity is that she is now turning 90 degrees onto her side. So no more putting her on the dining room table to change her, that has become too dangerous now.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
View From Grand Hyatt - Dallas
 | |
| View From My Room - Dallas Grand Hyatt |
I had to stay at the Grand Hyatt in Dallas while I waited for the old passport to arrive and here was the view from my room. I watched the planes land and take off all day. It was nice to watch.
Pictures from Cancun Mexico Wedding
Here are a few more pictures of a wedding we had attended in Cancun Mexico:
 |
| Bride Arriving on a Horse Drawn Carriage |
 |
| View From Our Room - Just Beautiful |
 |
| Flower Girls and Bride Walking Down Aisle |
 |
| Reception Area |
Priyas First Party All Set - May 9th at 10am
The cradle ceremony is all set for Priya Madala. Here are the details:
Date: May 9th
Time: 10am - 3pm
Place: Regenta One, Hyderabad
Re:gen:ta One, Hyderabad
115/1, ISB Road,
Financial District, Nanakramguda,
Gachibowli, Hyderabad - 500 032.
Type of Event: Cradle Ceremony
I am sure I will not be able to invite all of you in person, but the readers of my blog are welcome to come and share in our families happiness.
If there any changes, I will make a note of them here.
Here are a few pictures of how it will look:
Date: May 9th
Time: 10am - 3pm
Place: Regenta One, Hyderabad
Re:gen:ta One, Hyderabad
115/1, ISB Road,
Financial District, Nanakramguda,
Gachibowli, Hyderabad - 500 032.
Type of Event: Cradle Ceremony
I am sure I will not be able to invite all of you in person, but the readers of my blog are welcome to come and share in our families happiness.
If there any changes, I will make a note of them here.
Here are a few pictures of how it will look:
Priya 2nd Day Pictures
Priya came home today to Mom's house in Hyderabad. The wife should be there in another few hours, Vijay is still in Dallas another 30 hours away.
But here are some new pictures of Priya:
But here are some new pictures of Priya:
Friday, April 19, 2013
Delay for Vijay to India
We got on the plane and got to Dallas and they wanted us to check in again and exchange our American Airline tickets for Emirates tickets. I get to the counter and she looks at my documents and say, you cannot get on the plane but your wife is fine.
I ask why?
She says that my PIO card is associated with an older expired passport and I have to have the expired passport with me to be able to travel or the PIO card has to have an endorsement with the new passport number.
What can you do, I let the wife go to India and I am sitting now in a hotel at the airport, The Grand Hyatt, waiting for my old expired passport to come to Dallas from Detroit. I will get it tomorrow and I will be going to India tomorrow.
So, Priya I guess this is a lesson for you. Daddy will not be around all the time and you will have to depend on your family for help.
So my expired passport will be here before 9:30am on Saturday and I will be leaving for India on Saturday at Noon.
I looked at how to get the endorsement for the PIO card and the amount of paperwork and documents that you need is crazy. I thought I could just fly into Houston and take care of it at the same time, but the Indian Embassy has outsourced all this work to a private company and there is no way to get this done in 1 day.
Meanwhile I have to say a big thanks to the amazing ticketing person at Emirates. She did a fantastic job to get me a seat tomorrow. Everything was booked for the next few days and she called Dubai and made a few changes and got me a seat. Simply amazing.
Emirates could have gouged me, since this was completely my fault, but they only charged me $200 for the date change. I would have paid $2000-$3000 for this change.
Thank you Emirates, your staff was wonderful and very helpful.
I ask why?
She says that my PIO card is associated with an older expired passport and I have to have the expired passport with me to be able to travel or the PIO card has to have an endorsement with the new passport number.
What can you do, I let the wife go to India and I am sitting now in a hotel at the airport, The Grand Hyatt, waiting for my old expired passport to come to Dallas from Detroit. I will get it tomorrow and I will be going to India tomorrow.
So, Priya I guess this is a lesson for you. Daddy will not be around all the time and you will have to depend on your family for help.
So my expired passport will be here before 9:30am on Saturday and I will be leaving for India on Saturday at Noon.
I looked at how to get the endorsement for the PIO card and the amount of paperwork and documents that you need is crazy. I thought I could just fly into Houston and take care of it at the same time, but the Indian Embassy has outsourced all this work to a private company and there is no way to get this done in 1 day.
Meanwhile I have to say a big thanks to the amazing ticketing person at Emirates. She did a fantastic job to get me a seat tomorrow. Everything was booked for the next few days and she called Dubai and made a few changes and got me a seat. Simply amazing.
Emirates could have gouged me, since this was completely my fault, but they only charged me $200 for the date change. I would have paid $2000-$3000 for this change.
Thank you Emirates, your staff was wonderful and very helpful.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Priya Madala has Arrived!!!!
I would like to announce the birth of my first child:
She is healthy and the Baby is crying, my mom is crying and Vijay as usual is cool, calm and all warm inside.
She was born on Friday at 1:40am EST USA time, around 11:10am India time and weighs 5.5 pounds.
Apparently today is a very auspicious day, so congrats to Priya. You have started your life astrologically very auspiciously.
I would like to welcome you to the family. We will do our best to take care of you and provide the best we can for you.
(This picture is taken immediately after birth and I am sure that she will kill me for positing this picture of her when she gets older.)
She is healthy and the Baby is crying, my mom is crying and Vijay as usual is cool, calm and all warm inside.
She was born on Friday at 1:40am EST USA time, around 11:10am India time and weighs 5.5 pounds.
Apparently today is a very auspicious day, so congrats to Priya. You have started your life astrologically very auspiciously.
I would like to welcome you to the family. We will do our best to take care of you and provide the best we can for you.
(This picture is taken immediately after birth and I am sure that she will kill me for positing this picture of her when she gets older.)
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