A Word on Infertility

Infertility is an issue that I honestly never thought we would have to struggle with. Since we were able to have Jack with relatively no problems, I always assumed we'd perfectly space our four-or-so children two years apart and call it good. But with anything in life, things rarely turn out exactly how we plan them. We decided to try for another child in March 2009 and made sure to carefully wean my body off of some high-risk medication that I'd been taking. We didn't expect things to happen right away but we hoped for a pregnancy by Christmas. As the months passed, we tried to not get discouraged. I kept telling myself that there had to be a reason for the delay.

In 2010, Ty applied for the agent position and we really focused our energy and time on the career change. By September, we knew he'd be heading off to Virginia sometime in the near future. I told myself that this was why Heavenly Father hadn't blessed us with a child yet--it would be much more difficult to be on my own with a small baby. It seemed to make sense and I was sure that once I got to Virginia, I'd be able to get pregnant. I have to admit, there were a few times that adoption crossed my mind, but all I could think was that I wanted my own baby. Surely, we just needed to be more patient.

Once again, things did not turn out how I'd planned them. We had a wonderful time living on the other side of the country, but the pregnancy I had anticipated did not happen. When we returned to Phoenix in June of last year, we started the tests. And drugs. And treatments. But every test came back "normal" and every doctor told us we were "fine." We had three unsuccessful rounds of IUI. We were told that the only option left for us was IVF.

In January, after lots of fasting and prayer, we decided to pursue adoption. It was not an easy decision. Honestly, I thought that maybe if I stopped obsessing about pregnancy so much it would happen and we wouldn't have to adopt after all! Obviously, that didn't happen and it's not going to happen. I still don't understand why we've had to endure this trial. Maybe I never will. But, I know that in this three-year waiting period my heart has been softened completely toward adoption. I truly believe that Heavenly Father does have a plan for our family. When the time is right, I know that He will help us to find the baby that is meant for us. And that baby will be my own. My very own.

So, we're waiting happily and hopefully.

Officially Certified

Our official court certification of adoption came in the mail last week. This means that we can adopt a baby literally any day now. We are so excited and can't wait to find the baby that's meant for our family.

Havasupai

Ty and I just got back from the trip of a lifetime: a three-day backpacking excursion to Havasupai. Ty had done it before, but it was my first time. We drove up Friday night to the hilltop and camped in the parking lot at about 11 pm. At 5 am, we woke up and started packing down in the canyon. The 10 mile hike took us about 5 hours.

On the hike down: mule trains come racing by you with little or no warning. 

We made it! Cooling off in Havasu Falls after the long hike.

Washing my hair never felt so good!

Our little camp site along the beautiful river.

We spent all day Saturday and Sunday playing in the water and going for day hikes. The water is so amazingly blue! These pictures do not do it justice. I just couldn't believe that in the middle of the dusty desert, you could suddenly feel like you were in Hawaii. 

 

Exploring some caves in the walls of the canyon.

Playing in the gorgeous Little Navajo Falls: these waterfalls were created in the flood four years ago that wiped out and changed Navajo Falls.

This area is what's left of the original Navajo Falls.

Ty taking a much needed bath.

We got a nearby hiker to take this shot of us on the hike out. We woke up at 4 am to beat the heat and, surprisingly, made it out in the same time that it took to hike in: 5 hours.

At the top! Thanks to prayers and ibuprofen, we made it out without any injuries and feeling great. This was the best feeling in the world. Woohoo!

Napping

Ty's not going to love this post when he sees it, but I just had to share this picture:

When Ty naps, he has to cover his "light sensors," which just means he wraps his head in a blanket so it's nice and dark. After seven years of marriage, I still get the biggest kick out of seeing him like this!

Bedtime Story

Sometimes bedtime stories get a little crazy at our house.

Pretend Birthday

Jack's preschool has a really cute idea of celebrating pretend birthdays for all the kids whose real birthdays are in the summer months. Jack's really isn't, but because it was in the Fall and he's only been going to preschool since January, they celebrated his this week. 

Jack chose to sit with the girls for the party :)

Also, one of the moms volunteered in Jack's class several weeks ago and took all these cute pictures. I think it's so fun to see what Jack is doing when I'm not around.

Jack and his "best buddy" Sam

States PJ's

Last week, my mom and I were shopping at Hobby Lobby and we passed some fabric that had pictures of all 50 states and their capitals on it. Of course, Jack fell in love with it. He picked the bolt up and started walking over to the fabric cutting counter. Our conversation went something like this:

"Mom, I'll ask the lady to cut it and you can pay for it!"
"Jack, not today. C'mon we need to go."
"But you could make me a quilt with it! Let's buy it.
"You already have too many quilts. C'mon, let's go."
"But I need some pj's.
"Well, your birthday is coming up. Maybe I'll get you some on your birthday."
(Looking at my Mom) "But Mimi could get it for me and make pj's!"

So, that ended the struggle and the very next day Jack had new state pj's made by Mimi:

Mom had a little leftover fabric and made Raffe some pj bottoms, too.

It's going to be a struggle for me to get these in the washing machine. Jack's worn them every night this week. Thanks, Mom!