4 Years and 2 Surgeries Later.....

If you have followed my blog for long you know that the past 4 years have been full of loss, grieving, love, and big decisions in our family.  

When most people think of starting their family, they are naive and think that everything will work out just like they dream and within the time frame they hope. For lots of families, it does go as they imagine with excitement, joy, happiness, and so many more wonderful emotions. Unfortunately, for many other families, even the thought of pregnancy is scary and a place that leaves them on edge and living minute by minute.   

Over the past 4 years we have suffered 6 pregnancy losses, 4 miscarriages + 2 ectopic pregnancies both ending with surgery.  Last January was my 2^nd surgery, removing my only remaining fallopian tube.

It was a tough reality to face, knowing that we could never conceive naturally again.  We both desire to have a child that is biologically ours.  As we were making the decision for my final surgery, both of my doctors (OB and fertility specialist) indicated that we were excellent candidates for InVetro Fertilization (IVF).  This is basically our only option to have a baby that is truly “ours."

Since January I have battled with going down the IVF route for a number of reasons. I actually wrote a post about this, so check it out here for some of the reasons that we have struggled in deciding what our future holds for a family.  

We have met with several doctors, asked many questions, prayed about it, and feel that we are ready to try IVF in order to finally have a baby in our arms.  We know it will not be an easy journey, but we are ready to face it so we can finally have a child of our own.

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Unfortunately, insurance does not cover IVF. In order to even begin IVF we have to pay $9,000 cash up-front.  The $9K does not cover any of the hormones or other prescriptions that are required for IVF.  It will be at minimum another $1,500-$2,500 for meds, also not covered by insurance. 

So we are needing at least $10,500 to make our dream of a child a reality.  We have a little less than half of it saved.  We are tentatively scheduled for the January cycle, which means we only have a couple months to get the remaining amount raised. 

In order to come up with the remaining money, we have decided to do some fundraisers.  I will be doing several craft fairs in the coming months as well as selling baked goods, laundry soap, spices, and more. I am also going to be offering sponsorship ads here with 100% going to our "Make A Baby Fund."  More information on sponsorship ads and our other fundraisers are coming soon! 

We understand that not every one can support us financially. So if you are not able to help us out financially, we ask that you help spread the word about our fundraising efforts. Please share our fundraisers with friends and family!

Thank you to our friends & family for supporting us the past 4 years by giving me a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen to me vent, sending special cards & gifts, praying for us, understanding when we just can not handle some situations, and so much more!  It has not been an easy journey for us, but all of you have made it a little easier. 

I look forward to where the next 4 months takes us and we are praying for a happy ending with a healthy baby!  I'm trying to keep Psalm 37:4 running through my head, even though I am still struggling with why everything the past four years has happened.  I believe, somewhere deep within me, that the Lord still wants to give us the desires of our hearts. 

Delight yourself in the Lord and 

he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4