Northbrook's Surrogate Mom

Jennifer Cox Weglarz has been blogging about her family since March, but she first thought of being a surrogate mother 12 years ago. 

The inspiration came under devastating circumstances. Jennifer's sister Julie lost a baby in pregnancy. Heartbroken and eager to help, Jennifer offered to be a surrogate for Julie, but Julie eventually chose to adopt and help foster children instead. 

"She found a different calling," Jennifer said. "She's saving children now."

But Jennifer never forgot about surrogacy either. Today, she's a stay-at-home mother of four, with her own small dessert company called The Marshmallow Fairy.

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As if it doesn't sound like she's busy enough, soon she will be surrogate mother for a couple in Ohio. 

"It's a way of helping my sister, even though she doesn't need help anymore," Jennifer said. "It's a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Jennifer was an ideal candidate for the surrogacy agency in Lincoln Park that set her up with a family. She's carried four children full term, including twins. 

"My kitchen is closed, I wouldn't do this if I wanted more kids," she said. "I'm keeping this baby safe [for the family]."

Jennifer still has a month of hormone therapy and preparation before her body is ready to be a gestational surrogate. Eventually, a fertilized embryo will be implanted in Jennifer's body.

"This whole journey has been so rewarding," Jennifer added. "I hope my kids take away from this that you can give back. Anything is possible if you want it to be."

Read more about Jennifer's journey at her blog, My Bucket Baby.