Hello, dear friends...it's been a while since I last updated...things have continued to go smoothly for us. :)
I began the shot regimine about 2 weeks ago. This first round of shots was Lupron...it's a pituitary glad suppressant and the purpose is to stop my ovaries from function - basically to stop normal ovulation. When they go in to transfer the embryos, they don't want any 'stray eggs' floatin' around... The first shot was a bit scary - it's one I give to myself, in my stomach. It's a tiny needle, the same one diabetics use for insulin, but it was still scary. I shook so bad and had to do the 1-2-3 a few times before I just said "screw it" and did it. I barely felt it at all and there were no crazy side-effects. Each day has been easier ... the hardest part is remembering to alternate sides because I forget which one I used the day before. LOL I keep asking Si if he wants to practice this one before he has to start giving me daily intra-muscular shots in my behind and he politely passes...he did give me the shot ONE day and it was a breeze! He's a natural! :)
I've noticed a few of the mild side-effects they've mentioned; fatigue, nausea and rollercoaster-type emotions. Like I said before, nothing too crazy, but noticable. All is worth it and I'm trying to take them in stride. My close friends and husband may say that my 'stride' needs some work, but I'm trying!
Tomorrow the dosage of the Lupron changes, I start taking a daily baby asprin and on Monday the doozy starts - estrogen patches! (Watch out Si...here comes the REAL rollercoaster!) Again, I'll try to take it all in stride and hope he and my friends don't get too crazy annoyed with me!
The last few weeks have really had me contemplating a miracle birth - the scripture readings through Advent contain both the Annunciation (the Angel Gabriel telling Mary she's going to become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and bear a Son) and the story of Elizabeth, Mary's cousin (who was said to be barren but conceived John the Baptist in her old age...like 80+). Both of these stories have taken on new meaning for me this year. I have heard these stories a bagillion times throughout my life yet I am hearing them differently this year. While reading the Gospel lesson last week, I read the story of Mary hearing from the Angel Gabriel and he said to her: and now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible for God. (Luke 1)
Those words have never had more impact on me than they did this year. My eyes welled up with tears and a huge lump clogged my throat and I had to pause from reading the Gospel lesson. I knew that if I looked up at the people who I have come to care about so much, who have been and continue to be so supportive of Silas and I, I would fall apart, so I didn't. I continued to look down at the reading...until I realized my voice was gone....I looked up and there were so many kind, loving eyes; some offering encouragement, some curious, some wondering why the pause...but they gave me my voice back. I finished the reading and continued the service.
It made me think about why the Angel Gabriel told Mary about Elizabeth in the first place - shortly after Mary's conversation with the Angel, she took off for Elizabeth's place to see her. She went to support her and to receive support, to encourage and to receive encouragement, to love and to be loved. That is what we are here for - to give and to receive. Elizabeth and Mary share the experience of a miracle conception and resulting births... I have come to be even more convinced now that any women blessed by becoming pregnant and giving birth experience a miracle conception and birth. God's fingerprints are all over each soul, each moment and each birth.
I guess you could say that these days I am praying for our own miracle conception and birth...I am praying that God is guiding this process and will be holding us carefully when it comes to transfer day in a few short weeks.
As we all celebrate the miracle birth of Jesus this weekend, please pause to consider the miracle that YOU are - the miracle conception that occured when you were created and the miracles that your children, nieces/nephews, neighbors and friends are...
God continues to bless us with good friends and an amazing family. I can't wait to see what is coming in the weeks ahead.
Merry Christmas to each of you...thank you for your prayers. Please keep 'em comin'!
Love-
Stac & Si
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
The first of many...
Sorry for the delay in updating. There isn't a whole lot to update, but as I was sitting here today enjoying Thanksgiving with my Kansas family I was feeling particularly thankful for all that has transpired in the last 2 months.
8 months ago Silas and I were just days away from our wedding - we were literally bursting with excitement as our family started arriving in town and last-minute details were being attended to. Today we have a similar level of excitement as we prepare for our embryo transfer in January - just approximately 50 days away.
Last week I had an appointment with Dr. Blackwell at Tulsa Fertility Clinic. Si was not able to make it to this appointment - we need to save his vacation time for other, 'more critical' appointments. My dear friend Pam was able to travel with me and was awesome in keeping me calm and steady.
While I was there she did the first of many ultrasounds and a trial transfer. She spent some time mapping out and ensuring that my cervix and uterus were healthy and ready for the transfer. After the exam the results were great! She told me that everything looks healthy and ready for the events that are to come! Once again, I kind of floated out of the clinic!
It's hard to explain but it was almost surreal to pull out of the parking lot thinking about the Seger embryos that are living there. It was hard to just leave - I already feel so attached to them and almost felt bad leaving them there. Every night I pray that God will keep them safe and will prepare my body in all the ways it needs to be prepared. I also pray that God will prepare Si and I for whatever is to come in the next 2 months....there is so much excitement and optimism that I have to remind myself that nothing is guaranteed.
We don't have to go back to the clinic until January now. I started taking a few of the supplements and vitamins a few weeks ago and will start lupron shots & estrogen patches in 3 weeks. More shots and other supplements will follow in January. (I should also pray that God will temper my emotions and bit so I don't completely drive Si nuts! lol)
Thank you all so much for your prayers, phone calls and notes. Your love and support mean the world to us! On Thanksgiving we are especially reminded of the blessings in our life; family, friends, vocation and this wonderful journey we are on. God has blessed us in many ways and we count each of YOU among our blessings.
God's peace and blessings to each of you!
Stacy & Si
8 months ago Silas and I were just days away from our wedding - we were literally bursting with excitement as our family started arriving in town and last-minute details were being attended to. Today we have a similar level of excitement as we prepare for our embryo transfer in January - just approximately 50 days away.
Last week I had an appointment with Dr. Blackwell at Tulsa Fertility Clinic. Si was not able to make it to this appointment - we need to save his vacation time for other, 'more critical' appointments. My dear friend Pam was able to travel with me and was awesome in keeping me calm and steady.
While I was there she did the first of many ultrasounds and a trial transfer. She spent some time mapping out and ensuring that my cervix and uterus were healthy and ready for the transfer. After the exam the results were great! She told me that everything looks healthy and ready for the events that are to come! Once again, I kind of floated out of the clinic!
It's hard to explain but it was almost surreal to pull out of the parking lot thinking about the Seger embryos that are living there. It was hard to just leave - I already feel so attached to them and almost felt bad leaving them there. Every night I pray that God will keep them safe and will prepare my body in all the ways it needs to be prepared. I also pray that God will prepare Si and I for whatever is to come in the next 2 months....there is so much excitement and optimism that I have to remind myself that nothing is guaranteed.
We don't have to go back to the clinic until January now. I started taking a few of the supplements and vitamins a few weeks ago and will start lupron shots & estrogen patches in 3 weeks. More shots and other supplements will follow in January. (I should also pray that God will temper my emotions and bit so I don't completely drive Si nuts! lol)
Thank you all so much for your prayers, phone calls and notes. Your love and support mean the world to us! On Thanksgiving we are especially reminded of the blessings in our life; family, friends, vocation and this wonderful journey we are on. God has blessed us in many ways and we count each of YOU among our blessings.
God's peace and blessings to each of you!
Stacy & Si
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Yesterday was a GOOD day.
Wow...yesterday was a whirlwind, a bit overwhelming, exciting and AMAZING! On our way to see the judge we got to peek our heads in and see a real, shiny, BIG courtroom with a jury area, press seating and HUGE judges bench and everything. It's the little things that get me excited these days...
Then we moved on to the judge in her private chambers. She was very kind and it was a simple process. A few questions, a couple of smiles and with one stamp from the her it was done; we officially adopted 2 embryos! WOW! It was the coolest feeling walking out of her chambers knowing that we have them now...officially ours; our responsibility to love and care for. WOW. Then it was back to the clinic...
We met with our nurse and received all the details about what we can expect in the next couple of months leading up to the embryo transfer. So many details, so many prescriptions and so many 'rules'. We met with the financial coordinator and got all those details wrapped up. Not a lot of complications there...pretty straight forward. We ran into our doctor, Dr. Blackwell, in the hall and thanked her a hundred times for helping us and getting us set on this path. Her response was a simple, kind, warm smile and a "my pleasure."
One of my favorite moments at the clinic came when Si and I were waiting for our names to be called and around the corner walked a young couple - she appeared to be 5-6 months pregnant; her hand on her baby belly, tears in her eyes and smile on her face. Her husband had an ear-to-ear grin that said it all. I immediately flashed forward about 7 months in our own lives and felt my heart skip a beat and I grabbed Si's arm...our dreams are closer to coming true. We floated out of the clinic yesterday. This was the best day the Seger's have had in a long time...
God is good. God is faithful. God has certainly led us to the right people at the right time. I am being reminded of God's greatness through this process. And I'm learning to listen to my own sermons - this past Sunday I talked about the power that there is in a group of people who all believe the line of scripture that says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I do believe that...I DO believe that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
We keep going, making plans and celebrating each day, each encounter, each appointment as a victory!
Yesterday was a GOOD day.
Then we moved on to the judge in her private chambers. She was very kind and it was a simple process. A few questions, a couple of smiles and with one stamp from the her it was done; we officially adopted 2 embryos! WOW! It was the coolest feeling walking out of her chambers knowing that we have them now...officially ours; our responsibility to love and care for. WOW. Then it was back to the clinic...
We met with our nurse and received all the details about what we can expect in the next couple of months leading up to the embryo transfer. So many details, so many prescriptions and so many 'rules'. We met with the financial coordinator and got all those details wrapped up. Not a lot of complications there...pretty straight forward. We ran into our doctor, Dr. Blackwell, in the hall and thanked her a hundred times for helping us and getting us set on this path. Her response was a simple, kind, warm smile and a "my pleasure."
One of my favorite moments at the clinic came when Si and I were waiting for our names to be called and around the corner walked a young couple - she appeared to be 5-6 months pregnant; her hand on her baby belly, tears in her eyes and smile on her face. Her husband had an ear-to-ear grin that said it all. I immediately flashed forward about 7 months in our own lives and felt my heart skip a beat and I grabbed Si's arm...our dreams are closer to coming true. We floated out of the clinic yesterday. This was the best day the Seger's have had in a long time...
God is good. God is faithful. God has certainly led us to the right people at the right time. I am being reminded of God's greatness through this process. And I'm learning to listen to my own sermons - this past Sunday I talked about the power that there is in a group of people who all believe the line of scripture that says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I do believe that...I DO believe that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
We keep going, making plans and celebrating each day, each encounter, each appointment as a victory!
Yesterday was a GOOD day.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Si & I are sitting in a hotel room in Tulsa...waiting for the hours to pass. Waiting for time to tick-tick-tick away.
We meet with the judge tomorrow morning at 8:45am. It is a private hearing, behind closed doors in the judge's private chambers. It shouldn't be anything crazy, long or complicated. From what we are told, she will just ask us if we understand all the legalities of what we are doing.
The legalities are simple - after the judge signs the adoption order tomorrow, we will be official. The genetic parents will have no rights or responsibilities to or for these embryos or any children that result. We, on the other hand, accept ALL right and responsibility for them; now and for the future. This is something we joyfully and whole-heartedly accept. This is where we begin. This is the first step.
Once we are finished in court, we go to the clinic to meet with several people to talk about all the details. They'll explain to us what we can expect in the next couple of months and guide us in how to navigate what is to come.
So here we sit...waiting...willing time to move just a titch faster. It might be a sleepless night...but it's the good "I can't sleep before the first day of school" kind of sleeplessness. :)
Thanks, again, for your support, love, friendship and prayers. We are blessed a million times over - and we do not take that for granted.
Good night...
We meet with the judge tomorrow morning at 8:45am. It is a private hearing, behind closed doors in the judge's private chambers. It shouldn't be anything crazy, long or complicated. From what we are told, she will just ask us if we understand all the legalities of what we are doing.
The legalities are simple - after the judge signs the adoption order tomorrow, we will be official. The genetic parents will have no rights or responsibilities to or for these embryos or any children that result. We, on the other hand, accept ALL right and responsibility for them; now and for the future. This is something we joyfully and whole-heartedly accept. This is where we begin. This is the first step.
Once we are finished in court, we go to the clinic to meet with several people to talk about all the details. They'll explain to us what we can expect in the next couple of months and guide us in how to navigate what is to come.
So here we sit...waiting...willing time to move just a titch faster. It might be a sleepless night...but it's the good "I can't sleep before the first day of school" kind of sleeplessness. :)
Thanks, again, for your support, love, friendship and prayers. We are blessed a million times over - and we do not take that for granted.
Good night...
Saturday, October 22, 2011
And so it begins...
Our journey began on January 25, 2011 with a simple email. "How are you doin' after that tough Vikings loss yesterday?" He had me at the word "Vikings". That was the introduction I had to the love of my life. After some emails, phone calls and chats, we met in person, fell in love, dated, got engaged and made it official on March 25, 2011 when we got married. Those months were full of joy, excitement, love and anticipation...
We both knew that we wanted to have children shortly after we got married. So our plans included talking about kids, dreaming about the future and preparing ourselves for all the excitement to come.
You know what they say about making plans, right...well we've been learning about that since March. We didn't have any luck getting pregnant those first few months of marriage but didn't get too concerned. It sometimes takes a while; and I'm 'getting up there' as far as baby-making goes (36) and we had had a lot of excitement. I had a regular appointment with my doctor in June and she mentioned running some routine blood work just to be safe and make sure we didn't have any other complicating factors. My blood work all came back good. She recommended using an ovulation predictor kit for the next month to be sure we were going the 'right things' and the 'right times'. :) Another month passed with no success. She called us back in to check Si's numbers.
July 13 is a day we'll never forget. We got a phone call at 9:45 am that changed our world. Si's numbers were not normal and as far as they were concerned, we weren't able to have biological children and there was nothing more they could do for us. The next couple of months were a whirlwind as we saw a urologist here in Rogers where we heard the same news and then were referred to a urologist in Tulsa. He offered a glimmer of hope through a surgical procedure where he would do a physical biopsy on Si and check the numbers under a microscope for himself.
My husband is the bravest man I know...the surgery he went through was extremely painful with a slow recovery, but he faced it with courage and determination. When we got the results it wasn't good news, but wasn't bad. They had found immature sperm cells, but none were maturing - so we were referred again; this time to a fertility endocrinologist (Dr. Blackwell) at Tulsa Fertility Clinic. After she reviewed our results, she gave us the final news we were dreading - the news we assumed was coming but just afraid to imagine - we are not able to have biological children.
Through all of this we have had moments of anger, sadness, frustration, confusion, and grief. It took it's toll on my faith and on Si's relationship with God. It has easily been the single most-difficult thing we have faced. But we have faced it together. Each day we have woken up thankful for one another and that we are not facing this alone...or with anyone else. God clearly knew what he was doing when he caused our paths to cross...Si's constant love, calm & stable support and logic has been the balance to my emotions, doubt and grief.
The day that Dr. Blackwell told us we were not able to have biological children she also opened a new door for us - the door that we are now walking through - and that is the door to embryo adoption. It is something that Si and I had never heard of. It is something that is one of those things that is a game-changer...and a LIFE-changer.
Over the last few weeks, we have learned that couples who go through IVF often have embryos that they are not going to use themselves for a myriad of reasons (they are able to have the biological children they desire, they are not able to maintain a pregnancy, etc...) and they need to decide with to do with them. They can choose to a) discard them, b) donate them to medical research, c) pay to keep them stored forever or d) donate them to another couple who cannot create their own embryos.
We asked to be put on the list to be considered to receive donated embryos. We were accepted as recipients and told there were donated embryos available for us the very next day. Since then we have been filling out paperwork, researching, learning and preparing ourselves for what is to come.
And what is to come? Well - on Monday, October 24 we have a hearing where we will officially adopt 2 embryos - embryo A and embryo B. It is almost surreal! Once it is legal, the clinic will begin to prepare my body to accept them via embryo transfer. Once they are transferred to my uterus it is up to God and my body to produce a pregnancy and, hopefully, children that we so lovingly desire.
We have spent the last 2 weeks thanking God for the couple that had the courage to donate their embryos to a couple they have never met, for trusting that God has a plan for the lives that are just waiting to come to fruition.
This blog will track the rest of our process. We invite you join us through the journey we are about to take.
We ask for your prayers.
We welcome your thoughts, comments and questions. We feel like this is our chance to make a difference and raise awareness of something we've never heard of in embryo adoption.
God has very graciously led us to this point and we are confident that God's grace and love will continue to light this path.
We both knew that we wanted to have children shortly after we got married. So our plans included talking about kids, dreaming about the future and preparing ourselves for all the excitement to come.
You know what they say about making plans, right...well we've been learning about that since March. We didn't have any luck getting pregnant those first few months of marriage but didn't get too concerned. It sometimes takes a while; and I'm 'getting up there' as far as baby-making goes (36) and we had had a lot of excitement. I had a regular appointment with my doctor in June and she mentioned running some routine blood work just to be safe and make sure we didn't have any other complicating factors. My blood work all came back good. She recommended using an ovulation predictor kit for the next month to be sure we were going the 'right things' and the 'right times'. :) Another month passed with no success. She called us back in to check Si's numbers.
July 13 is a day we'll never forget. We got a phone call at 9:45 am that changed our world. Si's numbers were not normal and as far as they were concerned, we weren't able to have biological children and there was nothing more they could do for us. The next couple of months were a whirlwind as we saw a urologist here in Rogers where we heard the same news and then were referred to a urologist in Tulsa. He offered a glimmer of hope through a surgical procedure where he would do a physical biopsy on Si and check the numbers under a microscope for himself.
My husband is the bravest man I know...the surgery he went through was extremely painful with a slow recovery, but he faced it with courage and determination. When we got the results it wasn't good news, but wasn't bad. They had found immature sperm cells, but none were maturing - so we were referred again; this time to a fertility endocrinologist (Dr. Blackwell) at Tulsa Fertility Clinic. After she reviewed our results, she gave us the final news we were dreading - the news we assumed was coming but just afraid to imagine - we are not able to have biological children.
Through all of this we have had moments of anger, sadness, frustration, confusion, and grief. It took it's toll on my faith and on Si's relationship with God. It has easily been the single most-difficult thing we have faced. But we have faced it together. Each day we have woken up thankful for one another and that we are not facing this alone...or with anyone else. God clearly knew what he was doing when he caused our paths to cross...Si's constant love, calm & stable support and logic has been the balance to my emotions, doubt and grief.
The day that Dr. Blackwell told us we were not able to have biological children she also opened a new door for us - the door that we are now walking through - and that is the door to embryo adoption. It is something that Si and I had never heard of. It is something that is one of those things that is a game-changer...and a LIFE-changer.
Over the last few weeks, we have learned that couples who go through IVF often have embryos that they are not going to use themselves for a myriad of reasons (they are able to have the biological children they desire, they are not able to maintain a pregnancy, etc...) and they need to decide with to do with them. They can choose to a) discard them, b) donate them to medical research, c) pay to keep them stored forever or d) donate them to another couple who cannot create their own embryos.
We asked to be put on the list to be considered to receive donated embryos. We were accepted as recipients and told there were donated embryos available for us the very next day. Since then we have been filling out paperwork, researching, learning and preparing ourselves for what is to come.
And what is to come? Well - on Monday, October 24 we have a hearing where we will officially adopt 2 embryos - embryo A and embryo B. It is almost surreal! Once it is legal, the clinic will begin to prepare my body to accept them via embryo transfer. Once they are transferred to my uterus it is up to God and my body to produce a pregnancy and, hopefully, children that we so lovingly desire.
We have spent the last 2 weeks thanking God for the couple that had the courage to donate their embryos to a couple they have never met, for trusting that God has a plan for the lives that are just waiting to come to fruition.
This blog will track the rest of our process. We invite you join us through the journey we are about to take.
We ask for your prayers.
We welcome your thoughts, comments and questions. We feel like this is our chance to make a difference and raise awareness of something we've never heard of in embryo adoption.
God has very graciously led us to this point and we are confident that God's grace and love will continue to light this path.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)