Getting Ready For Round Two

Dan devoted his body and soul to the yard sale in 100+ degree heat and was still able to maintain a sense of humor.

Our family still has eleven embryos in frozen storage waiting patiently for a chance to grow and be born!  Dan and I definitely don't take this lightly.  I feel the weight of responsibility for their little lives.  We are finally getting ready for our next frozen embryo transfer (FET).  We are not sure about the timing yet.  We prefer sooner (especially Dan) but don't want to rush things considering how hard it has been for me to lose my pregnancy weight.  We are thinking somewhere between this November and February.  Regardless of the exact date, we are excited at what God will do to grow our family and feel ready for the challenges that the FET process can bring:  i.e. daily injections, waiting, two hour drives to Dr. K's office, more waiting, bed rest, more waiting, lots of blood withdraws, waiting some more, the excitement of anticipation, the fear of disappointment and loss, and... medical bills.  As familiar as we are to the FET process this time it will be decidedly different.  After having Lena we have hope that this process works.  We have a realistic perspective (from experience) in also knowing that the FET process sometimes doesn't work.  I am not working full-time except as a wife and mother which is far less stress!  We are now on one income and have less insurance coverage for our procedures.  We have Lena.

I made 20 loaves of bread to sell at the yard sale. (Banana walnut streusel, banana chocolate chip, lemon poppy seed, zucchini spice, and zucchini walnut spice)

One of our first steps we have taken towards our next FET (besides getting back in shape) is raising money for our meds ($500+ a pop), FET costs ($2200), and other associated medical expenses (unknown just yet).  Our frozen storage fees ($600 per year) are also due in the fall.  This past weekend we held a two day "Shack Adoption Yard Sale" and we were able to raise $1501 towards our adoption expenses - and in 100+ degree heat!  It was amazing and touching to see so many of our friends and family help us by donating items for our sale, shopping the sale, helping to run the sale, etc.  My parents helped watch Lena and organize the sale at their house and sweat buckets moving boxes and tables etc.  What was also great is that we were able to talk to so many people about embryo adoption and share our story with them.  When our kids get older I am going to love telling them how much people prayed for them and worked for them to be born.  They were loved and served by so many before they were ever a few days conceived!  I get emotional just thinking about what a miracle Lena and her siblings are and how privileged Dan and I are to be their parents.  I can only pray that by God's grace more of Lena's siblings will be born to join us on this earth.  Let's get this party started!

Adoption FET Booty - and we also sold our 2001 Chevy Tahoe at the sale!

(We will be having another yard sale towards the end of September and possibly a photography fundraiser sometime in October.)