It's Official...

I'm married to an attorney!  No, we didn't tie the knot today--that was 6.5 years ago, but he did get sworn in as an attorney today!  I'm so proud of him for all of his hard work.  It's been a long road, but well worth it.

FET #1: Medications and a Miracle

We thought long and hard about whether or not we should post all the details surrounding our treatment process again.  In the end we decided that many of you have helped us get to this point, through donations or prayers or both, and we want you to take this journey with us.  We have witnessed so many miracles and have seen the Lord's hand throughout this process and this is a great way to share some of those experiences with you.  I hope that as you read you'll be able to relate to some of our experiences and emotions no matter what trial you are facing in your life right now.  I also hope that by reading our story you'll be able to gain empathy for couples who struggle with infertility, even if you've never struggled with it yourself.  These posts are like journal entries and are deeply personal, but we feel inspired to share them in this public setting.

I wrote all of these entries on the dates listed, but we weren't ready to post them until now.  If you know the outcome of our latest treatment, please don't give it away in the comments until after the "FET #6: Results!" post has been posted.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Today I ordered all the medications for our Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET).  They were only $400 this time instead of a couple thousand like last time.  A frozen embryo transfer is basically where they take frozen embryos from our IVF cycle in July, thaw them, and transfer them.  There is still quite a bit involved, but it's less expensive and I don't run the risk of getting OHSS like last time.

It's hard to believe that FIVE months have passed since our last cycle.  We never really wanted to wait that long.  After our last cycle failed we prayed and prayed about what to do next.  I remember telling Matt, I don't want to wait 5 months, but it feels right to me and I can't deny that.  We had done our part.  We studied it out in our minds calculating potential due dates and the possibility of twins that would come early.  We thought about how far along I'd be when we move in May and about Matt taking the bar exam in July.  We knew it would be stressful for him if we had a newborn baby right during exam crunch time.  Doing a transfer in January just made so. much. sense!  It was confirmed when we prayed about it and felt peaceful about the timing.  Of course there is always a part of you that wonders if you're interpreting the revelation accurately.  It's been amazing to see how everything has fallen into place since then.  Our decision is constantly reconfirmed.  I've realized time and time again that you often have to take a few steps into the dark before the pathway is lighted in before you.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Today we witnessed a miracle.  Here's the story.

In January 2012 I felt an overwhelming prompting that I needed to open up about our infertility.  It had already been 3 years and I felt pretty alone and discouraged.  I thought that maybe if I could help just one person who was also struggling that it would help me feel like there was a purpose for all this madness.

I had hoped I could help others in some small way, but I never imagined how much sharing our story would help us and how many miracles we would experience along the way.  If we hadn't made the decision to open up about this trial we wouldn't know many of the amazing people we have met who also struggle with infertility.  We wouldn't have been sponsored by Pound the Pavement for Parenthood.  And, we wouldn't have experienced this latest miracle.

Our first treatment was paid for by the funds raised through our race.  So many generous friends, strangers, and many of YOU sacrificed to help us become parents.  That cycle resulted in a negative pregnancy test, but we were blessed to have some additional embryos to use for our FET.  A FET is less expensive than traditional IVF, but we still didn't have a few thousand dollars lying around to pay for it.

A few months ago Jill Witt, Founder of Pound the Pavement for Parenthood (PPP), contacted me to ask how we were planning to pay for our next treatment.  I told her we were planning to go into debt for it.  She asked me if we might be interested in being sponsored by Sage and Harper.  They had created this bag and 100% of the proceeds would go to help us pay for our next treatment.  I was so humbled and grateful.  I couldn't believe the ways the Lord was blessing us.  Again and again.  In my mind I was thinking it would be incredible just to have a few hundred dollars to put toward our expenses.  I had no idea how big this would be.

Here is a picture of the bag they designed and sold for us!

Today we came him from work and checked the mail like usual.  Matt opened a Christmas card and said, "Do you know these people?"  I thought for a minute and it clicked, "That's the lady who owns Sage and Harper!"  The Christmas card was accompanied by an incredible letter and a check that was larger than we ever could have imagined.  It will cover our entire treatment cost.  It was one of the most humbling experiences of my life.  We broke down.  How could these people we don't even know be so kind and generous.  Then this scripture came into my mind.  Surely the Lord is providing a way for us to obey His commandment to multiply and replenish the earth.  We have seen so many doors open.  We have witnessed so many miracles.  So many blessings have been laid at our feet.  Sometimes it feels like the Lord is parting the Red Sea right before our eyes.  We know the Lord has not forgotten us.  There must be some really special spirits waiting to come to our family because the Lord is moving mountains to get them here.

I hope you'll go and check out the Sage and Harper website--their bags are to die for.  I'm a big believer in supporting business like theirs and incredible people like them.

Tip of the Week

This may or may not become a regular thing, but this was too good not to share.

I don't know why, but it seems like we have a TON of dust here.  I feel like I'm dusting all the time.  A few months ago I discovered these disposable dusters.  They are a lifesaver!  I love that they are small enough to get in those tight spaces and my favorite part is that you can just throw them away after a few weeks!  You only have to buy one handle and then you can buy replacement dusters for the end for pretty cheap.

 I recently found another really great use for these dusters.  We had a vent in our laundry room that was disgusting, but I wasn't quite sure how to attack the problem.  Well, I used my duster and the end was thin enough to fit right in each slot.  It was so easy and fast!

Here is the before and after picture :)

These would also be really great for dusting blinds!

The Windy City in the Summer!

The second day my parents were visiting we took a little trip to Chicago.

Isn't Chicago gorgeous in the summer??

After our day at the beach in this same lake, I wanted so badly to jump in and go for a swim. :)

While we were in Chicago we went to the Shedd Aquarium.  I was extremely impressed and Matt loved it.  He once said, "Fish are my favorite animal because they don't come out on land and bother me."  :) 

I didn't get any pictures of the really cool things they had like sea otters, penguins, MASSIVE snakes and really colorful frogs, but here were a few of my favorite little fishies.

We also went to see a 4D planet earth movie that was pretty sweet.  Our favorite parts were when they sprayed your face with water, and of course the glasses...

Ha, their serious faces are so much better than ours--think invasion of the body snatchers... :)

One of my favorite parts of our visit was the water show where they showed how they train the dolphins.  Check out the view of lake Michigan with all the sailboats!

Dad, Mom, Matt, and I in Chicago :)

After the aquarium we were going to go on an architecture cruise, but we were all really exhausted so we just went to dinner at a nice mexican restaurant instead.  I'm not sure if we were just really hungry or what, but they had the BEST chips and salsa I've ever had! :)  Until next time...

Favorite Day

I think the first day my parents were here was my favorite.  We slept in a bit and then went to breakfast at my favorite breakfast place of all time--the American Pancake House.  The food is amazing and they have fresh squeezed orange juice.  I ordered french toast with hash browns and Matt ordered a bacon, egg, and cheese panini with hash browns (we LOVE hash browns around here:)).

After breakfast we drove up to St. Joseph, Michigan and enjoyed walking through these lake side shops.

We even even stopped for ice cream :)

After walking around town we made our way down to our favorite beach. :)

Next time we go, I'm definitely spending some time on these swings.

Then Matt auditioned for Baywatch...

Haha, such a babe.

It was a perfect day for swimming.  It was little overcast, but still really hot.

Matt and I spent a couple hours just playing in the water like kids again--it was definitely the highlight of our summer.  My parents swam for a bit and then sat on the beach and played paparazzi with my camera.

I'm not sure what I said in the first picture but apparently it was hilarious.  In the second one we were waiting for that wave to hit us, and in the third you can see the effect of that wave on my legs. :)

I'm so glad I married my best friend because he makes my life so fun!

My cute parents :)

Matt and I after playing in the water

My mom's cute toes.  This picture also shows how amazing the sand is on this beach.

Yep--he's a babe ;)

Clear Water and NO SHARKS! :)

 While Matt's parents where here we had to show them our favorite place in the area--the BEACH!  You might think that because we don't live near the ocean we don't have a good beach, but I submit to you that our beach on Lake Michigan may be better than the beach on the Ocean! :)  *Note: this may or may not be due entirely to the lack of sharks.*  It's warm and not salty, but there are still some decent waves and it's CLEAR and clean.  Perfect for swimming.

One of our favorite beaches on Lake Michigan is in a little town called St. Joseph.  They have cute stores along a little main street near the beach.  We started there and had to get a few pictures with the random pirates they have along the walk. :)

I love that they have this little snack shack on the beach.  So fun!

Before this, Matt and I had only been to this beach in October when it was freezing cold and windy, so we weren't expecting to swim.  Once getting there and dipping our feet in we both ended up going in all the way--fully clothed! :)

 P.S. I have a really cute husband. :)

 Matt, Dad, and Mom on the beach.

They are so cute. :)

Our beach even has great sand!

I think we might need to move into one of these houses on the beach and Matt can commute to Notre Dame. :)

Chicago in the Summertime

We have done so many fun things this summer that I haven't had time to blog about.  We've just been busy having fun I guess!  Every night was a party this summer and it's really sad to see it come to an end... SO, instead of just skipping to the next part of our lives, I'm going to do a little post about some of our fun adventures.

At the end of June, Mom and Dad Purcell came out to visit us!  It was such a blast eating good food, staying up late, watching every episode of Shark Tank with them because Matt and I love it so much, and going on adventures with them.

One of the days they were here we took a little day trip to Chicago to visit the Science and Industry Museum.

Mom, Dad, and Matt in the car on the way there. :)

The museum really was incredible.  I didn't get any pictures of my favorite parts, but I have to say that one of them was all the human bodies they had in the health section.  The human body really is amazing!  I was a little weirded out by the "pickled fetus" section though.  I don't really know what else to call it, but they had fetus' at each week of development throughout a pregnancy in little cases filled with liquid.  The first few weeks were cool, but as soon as it started to really resemble a baby it just made me sad.  The entire museum was incredible though--best one I've ever been to!  It was so informative and just amazing (have I said amazing enough? ;)).

Here is a picture of Dad with his favorite plane... I can't remember the story behind it, but I think it was a WWII plane?

We also saw this little chick hatch, which was super adorable.  He couldn't even really stand up yet. :)

I also liked all the little town replicas they had.

This is the U-505.  It's the only German submarine captured by the Navy in WWII.  We went on a tour of the inside and it was SO cramped and hot in there.  I can't imagine living down there with so many smelly men.  Our tour guide was awesome and even made me jump a couple times.

After walking around we were exhausted so we went out for Chicago Style Pizza.  It is SO good, but I can only eat it once a year or it will clog my arteries and I'll die.

Mom and Dad at dinner

All of us at dinner with our pizza :)

More posts about the rest of our summer adventures--coming soon!

Scenes from Our Life

Shortly after we arrived in South Bend last summer, Matt and I took a walk on campus and I snapped a few shots.  I stumbled upon them the other day and thought I would share them with all of you.  I'm constantly in awe of this beautiful place where we work and study each day.  The architecture and landscaping is breath taking.  We feel so blessed.