Monday, May 23, 2011

Blessed



There are so many things I've wanted to blog about in the past few days. In all honesty, Cam has had to physically restrain me a couple of times because things are just so exciting! We both wanted to wait to spread the news until we had a solid plan in place, though. Yes, both of us.


The past week and a half has been unbelievable for us. We have laughed, cried, let our jaws completely hit the floor more than once, and made phone call after phone call. We have felt your prayers, thoughts, love, and support more than ever these past few days. You're really not going to believe this. Let's start on Thursday of last week.

Thursday: We were going in for our 3rd (and last) IUI before IVF was on the table. We knew it wasn't going to work, but we had to do it before our Dr. would consider us for IVF. We had to do it in order to move forward. In the middle of the treatment, I was sitting in the waiting room and the nurse called me. She didn't know I was in the clinic, but she wanted to let me know that the Dr. had looked over our charts and wanted us to know that he didn't recommend us doing this 3rd IUI because our chances were so low. He said we could go through with it if we wanted to, but that he recommended us saving our money for IVF. We spent the next hour meeting with a nurse and asking all of our questions about IVF. Scheduling out everything, learning about medications and procedures, and asking about how everything works. We left the clinic and stopped at Cheesecake Factory (Free slice of cheesecake with purchase of $30 + $25 gift card = AFFORDABLE!) to celebrate actually being able to move forward. We were thrilled!

Friday: Because we were both fully and completely on board for this expensive procedure ($25,000 minimum), we decided to pull out all the stops and really organize our resources money-wise. At work, I got an e-mail letting me know that it was the last day to add money to a tax-free medical account that is put into the account at the beginning of the year and is paid back throughout the rest of the year. It's like a tax-free cash advance. Love it!

Saturday: We went to support Pound the Pavement for Parenthood. It was my first 5k ever and I was nervous! We were friends with the couple that was being sponsored and they asked how our the treatments were going. We told them how the Dr. stopped our last IUI and recommended us for IVF. They stopped the conversation right there and told us to talk to Jill, the race coordinator. Jill had received an e-mail from a fertility specialist in pleasant grove who was donating 50% off IVF to anyone who ran the race and needed it. WHAT?! We ran really, really fast that day. And this was when I wanted to blog so SO bad!


But we didn't know the details of the 50% off offer. Both of us thought it was too good to be true, or some sort of scam or something. We had to wait. Jill met with the Dr. (Dr. Foulk) on Saturday. She called us with the details on Sunday night. I will never ever forget what it felt like for me and Cam to be up in the second bedroom hearing about this man who was going to change our life while we had company playing games downstairs. Dr. Foulk is an extremely successful reproductive endocrinologist who has opened practices in Reno and Boise. He is ranked among the top 6 RE's in the nation. He was at the point of his life where he could retire, go golfing, go  on a mission, etc. He decided to send himself on a medical mission to Utah County in order to help the people here have families. I've looked over his statistics and success reports for the past 5 years. 60% of the IVF cycles he has done incorporate a procedure called ICSI that we will need. He is a specialist for our specific type of infertility. Because he's on a medical mission, he does all of his procedures at cost. He doesn't make a dime. This is his passion - helping people. So....the amount we put in the account last Friday? It just happens to be exactly the amount for the procedure and the medications.


We are floored. And we've been really thinking about what to do with our auction. The support and excitement it has generated is too much to pass up, but we would be incredibly ungrateful to keep it for ourselves. We don't need it. We want to help another couple reach their dream of parenthood. I asked Jill if her and her husband were taking Dr. Foulk's 50% off offer. She said they'd like to in the future, but they are still paying off a failed IVF cycle. I can't imagine the emotional turmoil a failed IVF cycle would cause. My heart hurts for this beautiful, selfless couple that, regardless of their own dreams of parenthood, have started an organization to help raise funds for other couples to have children. Especially when they have a huge debt to pay off from their past cycle before they can move forward and try again.


I asked Jill if, as a way of saying "Thank You" for this amazing offer her organization brought into our lives, we could change routes a little bit and do the auction for her and her husband. We're still working out the details, but we are so excited to get this going for them. To make things even better, Cam got a phone call on Friday from the insurance company. Remember when our car got totaled? Over 5 months ago? They wanted a fax number so we could sign a form for them to send us another check for our "pain and suffering."




Yesterday, the lesson in Relief Society asked the question: "How has God provided a way for you to be obedient?"

We have seen his hand, so clearly, in our lives the past 10 days. We're so stunned that things are moving so quickly, but we couldn't be happier. There are days when I look at Cam, just terrified and say, "What if this doesn't work?" and then minutes later I look up at him just as terrified and say, "What if this DOES work?"

What if it does?!


 

 

34 comments:

  1. Holy Cow! Heavenly Father amazes me every.single.day.
    I am so happy for you guys.

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  2. Oh my! I agree with Lindsey, He amazes me every day! I am so grateful that you have found a route! We will pray that the procedure goes well!!! I want so badly for your dream to be fulfilled!!!
    love you guys!

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  3. I got emotional just reading that amazing story... I can't imagine actually going through it. What an amazing miracle!

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  4. Hooray! Can't help but cry happy tears for you as I read this. Isn't is nice to get a glimpse of heaven and see how much Heavenly Father really is aware of us?

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  5. I am so happy for you I have tears in my eyes. Love you!

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  6. Such a miracle! Congrats, guys!!!

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  7. Oh my GOSH Kristin!! Thats so exciting. Heavenly Father DEFINITELY knows whats going on and is watching out for us. Wow its amazing how everything falls into place. Congrats and good luck

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  8. Great news! Tender Mercies are wonderful blessings from the Lord. Where would we be without them?!

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  9. Kristen & Cam! This post gave me the goosebumps. I'm so so excited for you two. What a testimony that the Lord really knows EXACTLY what you need, WHEN you need it. Love you guys!

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  10. Wow. Hundreds of miles away and dancing for joy! Amazing.

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  11. WOW, and WOW!!! THat is amazing. Congrats!

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  12. Wow. So very very excited for you both! Tears of joy. This is just so wonderful and exciting.

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  13. Sweet goodness, that's fanTASTic!! So happy for you guys:)

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  14. Kristin this is AMAZING. I can't even contain my excitement right now. I am SO SO SO SO happy for you guys!! ahhhhhh this deserves some celebration!!

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  15. Wow! Oh man! that is SO AWESOME!!!!! What an incredible blessing and great idea to help Jill & her husband. What a neat man to do that and bless so many people. That's SO exciting for you guys!!!!

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  16. SUUUUUU-WEEEEET! cant wait to talk to you about it!

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  17. Why do you always have to make me cry! oh i love ya and I am sooo so excited! I love you guys so much and you deserve every bit of the blessings that are coming your way! We come back to az in august and i just cannot wait! i sure hope you'll be around at some point! when are you guys moving?

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  18. Kristin, I truly believe we were meant to meet at this time in our lives. I can't tell you how grateful I am to you and Cameron. I SO glad and feel SO blessed to have met you both. I'm so excited for you guys to begin this treatment. I want you to know that you are in our prayers. I am here if you need anything during your treatment. It is emotional and amazing and I know it can make the miracle we so desperately want happen for us both. And what an incredible day that will be...

    LOVE, Jill

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  19. Okay, that made me cry! I am so happy for you guys. Wow, Heavenly Father really knows what he is doing! Congrats!

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  20. Kristin I got goosebumps reading this. I have been following your struggle and am so excited for you guys :)

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  21. SO excited for you guys!! I know it has been a lot of patience and prayers for you, which I am sure has seemed like an eternity for you. Love your story and I love even more the fact that God knows everything and makes it all work out in the end. Hooray for Dr.'s who give so much back!!!

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  22. You were right....He helps those who help themselves! So glad you're paying it forward. :)

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  23. Got a tear in my eye I am SO happy for you both. :-)

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  24. Kristin,
    this makes me SO happy. Best news I've heard all week! We love you guys! I have some stuff i wanted to donate, so ill have to get in touch with you.....

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  25. Congrats! I am very happy for both of you. The Lord blesses our lives in his own way and in his own timing. Thank goodness we who struggle with infertility live in this day. I will keep you in my prayers.

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  26. This is so exciting! I'm so happy for you and will continue to keep you in our prayers!

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  27. Keeping our fingers, toes, eyes and, most importantly, our arms crossed for you guys!

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  28. I LOVE this story and all of the wonderful things that are falling into place for you guys!

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  29. YAY! This is so exciting! We are so happy for you both. You will be the best parents!

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  30. You guys are so amazing! We are praying for you!

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  31. [...] of this project. This organization, Pound the Pavement for Parenthood, is the organization that changed our lives forever last summer. The founder and my good friend, Jill, wanted a new look for the site, so I [...]

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  32. [...] of this project. This organization, Pound the Pavement for Parenthood, is the organization that changed our lives forever last summer. The founder and my good friend, Jill, wanted a new look for the site, so I [...]

    ReplyDelete

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