Can I Borrow Your Faith For A While?

Well, Monday's procedure went great, Chris and I were even able to have a nice breakfast together in Cincinnati.  We were there for about 2 hours.  The procedure was only slightly uncomfortable but two hours after leaving, I was hit with the worst cramps that lasted through the day.  I feel good now and right now we just wait.

A friend told me recently that my faith was contagious.  That is probably the nicest compliment I've ever gotten.  I feel I have manged to have a lot of faith and hope through this experience, however, if I'm being completely honest, right now is not one of those times.  I trust God, I really do, but since having the IUI on Monday, I am stuck somewhere in between believing this is really going to happen AND it's going to happen after just this one try and between protecting myself and not getting my hopes up at all because the thought of seeing one more "not pregnant" sign on a stick makes me want to crawl out of my skin!!! 

 I feel like I should be happy and anticipating something great since Monday but I have felt worse since Monday...weird, huh?  I'm ok with being sad and I know this is only a season in my life, this too shall pass, right?!?!  However, what I can do is ask for mega prayers, I am hoping that each one of you will read this and will pass it on to one or more other  person to simply pray that God will plant a miracle inside of me after this first try of IUI and we will finally see or hear the words "you are pregnant".  I hope that is not asking to much, I believe so much in the power of prayer so I am begging that I can get as many of you and your friends and family to pray.  Also, if you have a scripture verse that has really helped you in troubling times or you think would help me please write it down in the comment section on this blog or on my facebook.  Your support means so much to Chris and I and the littlest words have helped.

I am so grateful to all the people who have stood by Chris and I and supported us through love and kindness.  Please know we have not forgotten about all the blessings God has given us. I have several copies of  "How To Love Someone Who Is Infertile", if you would like to purchase one for $10, please let me know and I will get it right to you.  Shari DeGraff Stewart has kindly donated these books to me to sell so my friends and family can learn. This book is a masterpiece...I have one friend that I know has read it and it has made all the difference in the world in her ability to understand me. 

Thanks and Blessings to you all!

All Faith or Nothing at All

Well, we went back to Cincinnati again yesterday (Thursday) to have yet another ultrasound to see how many follicles I had and how big they were (fancy language for when to take the shot and come in for the IUI).  Everything is looking good.  I will take my shot tomorrow and Chris and I will drive to Cincinnati early Monday morning for the procedure. The IUI does not take long once it is injected but the process will take a couple hours.  We are hopeful in God's ability to create a life using the meds and doctors but we understand the percentage is low for us to conceive with an IUI the first try, however, we serve a mighty God so if He wants it to happen on the first try then it will (can I get an amen, lol)!
So many people have asked me lately how I feel, if I'm excited, anxious, weary, skeptical, emotional, optimistic, pessimistic etc... Well, what best describes me right now (and I think Chris too) is waiting.  That is the best word I can come up with to describe my feelings at this time, waiting on the Lord. 

"Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord" Psalm 27:14

"The vision is set for the appointed time...Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay" Habakkuk 2:3

"The process of waiting for a message from God can be as important as the message itself. In waiting, my faith and intimacy with the Lord grow. Often something I learn while waiting prepares me for the message so that I am not as surprised by it as I might have been otherwise; thus, I am more willing to obey" -Priscilla Shirer from Discerning the Voice of God

These are verses and quotes that I believe in so I'm trying (not that I'm perfect at it) to figure out what I am supposed to get out of this struggle and especially what I am supposed to learn in the waiting period.  I ask that you all please pray for me to have ears to hear and eyes to see whatever God wants me to learn from all this.

On another note, if any of you are on pinterest, please follow my infertility board. There is great inspiration, knowledge, faith and power offered on there. I have included a link to an AMAZING song and video: http://youtu.be/JqfGqOx2iDQ This is the only song I've heard that is specifically talking about infertility and as many of you know music really speaks to me. I really hope you will take a few minutes to listen and watch the video, hopefully it will speak to you in some way too.

Blessings!

All Good News So Far!

Well, I went to Cincinnati today (my mother-in-law accompanied me) and my Ovaries are finally back to a normal size and looking good so that means I can proceed with the IUI this month.  Our next appointment is next Thurs where they will check me again and tell me the exact day to give myself a shot and when to come back in for the procedure, which will probably be that Monday 3/19.  I have been told it is rare implantation occurs on the first try but the good thing is, I serve a mighty God and I believe if it is his will he can make it happen! So for now that is our prayer. Thank you is not a big enough word to explain our appreciation for all your prayers!

"As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the maker of all things." Ecclesiastes 11:5

Baby or Bust!

I just wanted to let everybody know our next step. This week, I will call my doctor, Dr. Scheiber in Cincinnati, on the first day of my cycle.  He will have me come in that same day or the next day and he will perform an ultrasound of my ovaries to see if they have shrunk to normal size. If they have returned to normal size then I will begin more medication on day 3 and he will also tell me when to take a shot to promote ovulation. Then he will call us and tell us exactly when to come in for him to perform a super stim IUI.  To learn more about an IUI you can go to: http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/iui.html this site answers a lot of questions about IUI's but does not go into much detail about a super stim IUI, which varies a little (mainly with cost).

We hope that you will be praying for us this week and would like to say thank you in advance for all your prayers and kind words.  We can definitely feel your prayers and thoughts upon us.  So many of you have reached out and really taken the time to educate yourself and support us.  Thank you will never be enough!

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:28-31

Blessing!