The Waiting Game and Money

I know I have mentioned it before, if not here, verbally to friends, I do not know what wait is worse, the TWW or the search for the next journey. 

I have been working with a couple for a few weeks. We have shared emails, IM's, texts, and phone calls. I was asked to share my fees and expectations and I sent them off January 18, 2011. I have heard back a couple of times, but I am still waiting to see where this is going.

Emailing my fees was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Money is a subject that is the end of many relationships; marriages, friendships, churches, purchases,... I do not want to offend. I do not want to come across as though I am only in it for the money. The facts are; it costs money to be pregnant, it costs money to go to the Dr., the amount of food changes, a clothing allowance toward maternity clothes only goes so far, one phone call used up most of my monthly minutes and the texts are not free on my end.  Will money be the deal breaker?

I am going independent again.  I sent paperwork to two agencies.  The person interviewing in both cases said my "no abortion" stance will make it harder to match me.  Going with an agency would be so much easier.  The talk of money would have already been taken care of before we met, the "negotiation" would be on contact more than money.  I was offered up to $32,000. with one agency because I was experienced and if I carried twins.  That is not what I am asking of this couple because I am not in this to get rich.

I am a part of a social network for surrogates and IP's. One blog/conversation I came across was questioning why we(surrogates) wanted money, why we want clothes, if we love being pregnant why do we want to be paid to do it.

Doing the first surrogacy it was at an expense to us($$$$.); insurance premiums (now higher after a pregnancy), food, clothes, gas to the appointments, and parking.  At the lowest fee I found online the pay rate comes out to $2.678 per hour if the pregnancy is 40 weeks long, that is not including the time at the start of the meds "pre transfer" or the healing time post-partum. My last pregnancy would have been at an hourly rate of $2.575, not counting the start of the meds or the healing time post-partum (I had a c-section and had to go back to work 5 days later because I had to go back to supporting my family).  A pregnancy is not a 9-5 job, it is a 24/7 job.  Every activity must be approached with the other family considered.  It is no longer just you and your family.

Why do we want compensation?  Why do we want to feel appreciated?  Why do we want to feel as though what we are doing has a value? 

Why the wait?  Is it the money? Have I offended?

Praying and seeking God's guidance.  Please pray for me.