Our Little Miracle

Well our journey starts here.....actually I should say this journey started long before we came to this earth.  We had no idea that we would be beset with the trial of infertility.  No one has ever been able to find out "why" we haven't been able to have children, we have just been one of those "unknown infertility cases".  We have had lots and lots and lots of testing over the years.  It has been a long road but well worth the wait.  We have enjoyed our time together, just the two of us.  I feel we have become so close through all of this.  This trial has helped us learn a lot and has turned into a blessing in our lives as all trials can if we let them. 

It was really crazy, right before Christmas sometime last year (2013), I just looked at Kade in one of those quite moments and said out of the blue, "We are going to have a baby next year."  I don't know where this came from, I don't know why I said it, there was just something deep in my soul that decided that we would have a baby the following year.  I didn't know how, I didn't know why, this year.  He looked at me and said, "Really? you think so?" Kinda sarcastically, and I said, "YEP!" in a very sure, positive way.  It was a shot in the dark, and I'm sure Kade was thinking, "ok, sure, uh hu".  Because after 9 years of marriage, 8 years of trying for a baby, it becomes something that "will never happen for you" in your mind. But then he said, "Well, you do always get what you want so I'm sure it will happen" again very sarcastically :)

On Christmas Day night, a very special thing happened to us, we were presented with the opportunity to do IVF!   I was baffled, and bewildered.....and filled with so much love......love that was overwhelming. I was also filled with the question, "How can we accept this?  This is too much and theres no possible way that we can accept it".   How could this be possible??? We went to the temple and we both felt a feeling that this was what we needed to do.  Its hard to be on the receiving end of such a gift.  I think we all have in us the want to give, but receiving is a different story. There's no words that can express our gratitude for this sweet angel who provided this for us!  Miracles miracles miracles!  They are real, they exist!  And so often they happen through other people.  People are so good.  There is so much love in this corrupted world.  There is so much good that comes from people and miracles happen everyday!  Angels are around us helping us and guiding our lives where they should go.  And just because this is an extremely happy moment in our lives, its the times when we are downtrodden and beat up that are the hardest to have faith and believe that miracles really happen.......I know that feeling....but I promise they do, they do for whatever circumstance you may be in.  I am proof.

 

 I decided to document our journey because it has been a really neat experience!

We had our first meeting with the infertility Dr. (Dr. Faulk) in February and after talking to him, it was even more sure that this is what we needed to do!  So we got started right away.  I was on hormone shots for about a month and a half.  In the beginning, it was just one shot a day and towards the middle/end it was three shots a day.  I DON'T miss the shots one bit, but I did realize that they weren't quite as bad as I thought they'd be. 

I did give them all to myself because the nurse, while explaining to me how to give myself a shot, said, "to go in with confidence" and I decided that I wanted my own confidence....and not Kade's ;) But doing it myself was definitely a mind game everyday!

We tried to figure out how many shots I gave myself and it was about 50 we think.  To many people this is probably no big thing!  But to me......someone who never goes to the Dr.......EVER, it was a little different!

After all the shots were over, I got to go in for my egg retrieval.  They were able to harvest 9 eggs.  And then they fertilized them.  Of the 9 eggs, 7 of them successfully fertilized, which was really good.  Of the 7 that fertilized, 5 of them developed good enough to keep and use!  We were so happy with that!  So we were implanted on March 23rd.  They implanted 2 embryos(pictured above) They are the 2 tiny white dots with the arrows pointing to them.  It was such a cool thing to watch on the monitor!  It was so exciting because that was the potential of our babies lives starting!

I wasn't suppose to take a pregnancy test, and I actually debated and debated weather to or not.  And at times I was NOT going to and at times I WAS going to! And then I decided NO....and then I just did it! haha! I took the test 3 days before I was suppose to go in for my blood draw to find out the results.  I went in the bathroom, took the test, ran out of the bathroom (because you have to wait to see).  So I didn't know what it said, and I told Kade to go look at it that I didn't want to see it first!  So he got up and went in and looked at it, and I can always read Kade's face, so I ran in there to see his face and I knew it was positive! We hugged each other forever! He said, "We've never gotten a positive on one of these before hu!" It was pretty exciting! I also told myself in the back of my mind to not get to excited to try to keep a neutral mindset because it was still early on....but it was definitely a very happy moment!

So here's the first baby bump picture taken before we had gone in to hear the heartbeat.  I feel like when you are on the hormones in the beginning you swell up quite a bit, so that's why I put this pic in here.  I will probably be a bit bigger than I normally would due to the IVF circumstances, but maybe not too.   We went in a couple weeks after implantation to confirm that we were pregnant and to see what the levels were.  They looked good.  My first level was 216 at a day 10 blood draw.  Then we had to go in a week later to see if my levels were doubling.  They were!  My 2nd level was 1642!  So we were happy about that!  Then we awaited the appointment to go in for the ultra sound to hear the heartbeat and to find out if both embryos had implanted! Talk about a nail biter! 



This was one of the coolest days of our lives!  We went in for our appointment, and I had so much anxiety....just not knowing if there was one or two.  When the nurse started doing the ultrasound, she said, "There is one baby in there, can you hear the heartbeat?"  Then she turned up the monitor so we could hear it.  It was the neatest thing!  It was REAL! It is there, growing!  I was overwhelmed!  What a miracle!  Everything turned out the way it was suppose to.  I was excited for the thought of twins but I also did not want the complications during pregnancy that can come with twins.  But I know that the Lord knows me better than I know myself and he knows what is best in my life, and one baby is best, and we couldn't be happier!

The nurse said the heartbeat looked great!  117 bpm at 7 weeks!  

So now......... we await the arrival of our sweet little miracle, estimated to join us on December 11th, 2014!  We couldn't be more blessed!  We can't wait to spoil the heck out of this kid! :)

A little of everything :)

It's been SO long since I've posted and I realize how much happens everyday by looking through my camera roll and seeing so many pics. The bottom line is...I'm a slacker...or I'm busy....or both! So here is a bit of an update of what's going on in life with us:) I recently started painting my banister which I've been wanting to start for quite sometime but keep putting it off because I know it will take me a good 3 solid days to finish it....so here is the work in progress. 

Most of you that know me very well know that I love to find bargains and fix them into something awesome. I found these babies at an indoor yard sale for $1.00 a piece! Spray painted them black and hung them on my wall:)

Kade really surprised me this year for Valentines. He never gets me flowers on Valentines because that's what "everyone else in the world is doing" and he likes to do it when it's spontaneous.....so I had no clue that I would get flowers on Valentines Day, but It was an awesome surprise! I loved them!!

New Beginnings for young women's was fun. We had it around Valentines so we kind of incorporated that a bit with roses for the girls. 

A few months back, I stumbled across a free horse! (It's a long story) but I was elated to get this little horse! He had kinda been neglected so we took him in and feed him well and now he is thriving! I knew when we got him that he would be the BEST kids horse ever because of his temperament. He is only 2 or 3, never been ridden and I went down there one day, put the saddle on him and started to ride! He's a gem!!!

This picture is one of my new favorites! I love my dad so much! And I live this new little dog:) 

A little runner sledding :) ways one of my favorites! 

Daisy.....such a sweet dog. I seriously have not gotten mad at her yet because she is so well behaved....and for a puppy, I'm beginning to wonder if something is wrong with her:) she's just got the sweetest temperament and wants to do everything right! I love her to death! 

Snow College with the young women:)

Fashion show with the young women! I love Abby:) she's a riot! 

Ice skating with the young women.....my life kinda revolves around them right now and I love it!! 

Finally got my door bed finished! But now that it's done....I think I want different colors! 😩 I always do this!!!! :( 

Christmas this year was amazing in so many different ways, it was kind of overwhelming (in a good way). It just makes me think of , "My cup runneth over". We are truly blessed and have so many angels around us who care and it's wonderful! I hope we can be those angels for others someday! 

My Trip Home

 My trip home seemed to fly by! I don't know where it went!  It seemed like it would be such a long time that I was home (a month) but for some reason it just flew by!  It was long in some ways, like not seeing Kade was not fun.  But I got to do so much stuff that I miss during the summers in Utah.  I went horse riding, I went on the mountain, hung out with family, played with my dog, planted flowers, went yard saleing with my mom and lots of other things.  The above pic is of my dad and his sheep camp, he was invited to enter it into  the car show in Fountain Green.  Everyone loved it!  He has done such a good job with it, its so nice.  It was fun hanging out at the car show with my mom and dad.

 The mountain is so pretty in the spring/summer.  Its so green and TONS of flowers everywhere!  I miss it so much!!!! 

 I got to hang out with Trent and Cass while I was home and it was a LOT of fun!  She made us wraps one day and they were HUGE! So we had to get a pic of them!

 Of course the parade and festivities in Moroni are such a hit!  Its always something that my family enjoys!  I didn't quite know how this year would go with my grandpas house being sold.  The whole family used to just go to his house and hang out during the parade.  The people who bought the home are good friends of our family, and they INSISTED that my mom and dad come and sit on the swing on the porch of my grandpas old house. So it felt like it always has!  What sweet people! They made it so fun for our family again!

 Little Cooper is running around like crazy!!!! He's so big and I just love him!  :)  I enjoyed my family, the mountains, and just being home in my house!  It was so nice!  And the thunderstorms that came through while I was there were awesome! They smell so yummy.  And I loved yard selling with my mom.  We found so many good deals!  I got an old trunk for decorating my hselves in my living room, for $7.00!  I also picked us up a nice shovel for $2.00.  I got 2 boxes of beautiful, brand new, (wrapped in the original plasic) beaded garlands for my Christmas tree for $1.00 a box and a few other things!  And Cass found some snowboarding boots that had been worn a couple times, that looked like new, for $8.00! We had so much fun!  

 

 I took Shilo everywhere with me!  She loved it!  We went up on the mountain a few times and she of course heads straight for the water to swim!  Such a funny dog.

 I LOVE the flowers on the mountain.  They were all pretty much in bloom when I went home.  I love these yellow ones!  I want to transplant some of them into my yard....not sure how that would work, but I wouldn't care if these were everywhere in my yard, they are awesome!  I happened to get to go to the temple with my mom while I was home and saw these very yellow flowers on my way into the temple!

 another cabin pic

 Got to go to the fireworks with my family, and we all sat on the lawn and waited for the fireworks to start.  Snapped a quick pic of my beautiful sister!

The fireworks once again, didn't disappoint!

As much fun as I had at home, I was SOOOO happy to see Kade again!  When I first saw him at the airport in SC as he was pulling up in the car, I couldn't quit smiling!  And then a HUGE, LONG HUG followed!  It kinda was long without him:(   I'm glad I had my family to keep me busy.  Sure do love this boy, and Im so glad we are back together again, don't know what I would do without him!  And I know he's glad to be getting cooked for, laundry done, and house cleaned :) Now we only have 7 weeks left and I know its going to fly!  Good times!

Being Home

Being home has been SO nice! But of course I miss Kade:( I always miss Kade when we're apart. One of the first things I wanted to do when I got home was take Shilo out to the property. She loved it, and so did I:)

I swear Fairview is the promised land:) At least that's what Kade always says....and I think it's true. 

Shilo was loving the little bit of water spraying out. She gets do hot during the summer!

Me and Cass being crazy....it's been so fun hanging out with her:) She has stayed twice already! Lucky me!

My nephews wedding at the Salt Lake Temple was awesome! It was so neat being in the sealing room with a lot of my family. I love hearing an actual temple marriage ceremony, they are so beautiful!

This little guy is getting SO big and I just can't get enough of him! He's so cute and so fun and he's walking all over right now, which I haven't seen yet!

The new Mr. And Mrs. Oliver! They look great together!

Oliver Fam

I stayed the night at Katie's house with my sister to help her get a lot of stuff done and we were up until about 11 making these beautiful center pieces for the luncheon! I LOVED the Quaky trees that they used throughout the wedding! SO pretty!

The reception was beautiful as well. They had it in a barn and had dancing afterward. 

Oh I love this kid! Colt makes me laugh! He'll never smile for me! But at least he let me get a pic of his face!

Again, you'll notice they used a giant Quaky for the bottom of the cake! Love it!

It was a beautiful reception with lots of yummy food! A buffet style!

We got a little carried away with the bubbles during the send off! 

And last but not least, I'm loving my flowers! The yellow ones Kade and I replanted in the fall, but the pink and purple ones I planted yesterday with my bro. I love enjoying my house during the summer, just wish Kade was here to enjoy it with me:)

Morris Island Lighthouse

 On Sunday, we came home and took a nap....we're getting into a pretty good routine of getting a quick nap in after church so that we can go see stuff :)  Its nice though, I feel like sometimes, and especially with this job, you have to have a power nap!  I've been wanting to see Morris Island lighthouse, which is on Folley Beach, on the North end.  We didn't know that last time we came to Folley or we may have checked it out then, but that's ok.  Its a very old lighthouse, not in operation anymore.  Its so old that its out in the water now, because over time the erosion has taken it out to sea.  Its such a pretty place even though we didn't get to go inside it.

 There was some fun washed up wood that made picture taking more fun :)

 And the dolphins came to see us again!  I wish so bad I would have been by the shore line when we saw the dolphins because one of the dolphins was only about 8 feet from the sand, I could have waded out mid calf, and petted it!  I ran to see if they would stay, and if they would let me get closer but they were already moving along. 

 We're getting pretty good at taking pictures by ourselves!  We just set up the camera and run for it! :)

 It was a hot walk (about a block) to the beach but when we got here, it was so nice!  And it was just the two of us! No one was on this entire stretch of beach but us!

I'm getting ready to go home for a visit and I'm going to miss Kade a lot.  We have had a lot of fun together just hanging out, the two of us so it was nice that we got to spend time together all day!  And had we have known that there wasn't going to be any people we could have brought a picnic and planned a little better.  Oh well.  Still fun.

 I loved this old washed up wood.  It was fun to sit on and watch the dolphins swim by. 

I love lighthouses.  I think they are so pretty and they have such a great meaning behind them. They are to help those who are lost at sea, find their way back, they stand as a beacon, shining forth their light.  There are so many analogies of the lighthouse that we can relate to things in our lives, like letting our light shine to those around us to help bring them back to Christ.  Or looking to our Father in Heaven who shines through all the darkness of life.  Or, this particular lighthouse no longer has its light, which could mean, never let your testimony fade, make sure you keep it strong so that others don't look at you and loose theirs too....Lots of things can be related to a lighthouse.......I LOVE THEM!