Embryo Adoption :: Blood Work

The nurse called this morning with my blood work results. I wasn't expecting to hear anything until tomorrow, so it was a nice surprise to get the results back early!

So the good news first: My thyroid and prolactin levels came back normal {yay!} and my vitamin D level came back really high! That's the first time in YEARS that my vitamin D level was not only normal, but really good. I consistently battle low vitamin D because of Crohn's, so I was shocked when the nurse told me my numbers. She even commented that it's the highest level she has seen in awhile. Such a blessing!

And now the bad news: My hemoglobin A1C came back at 5.7, which is at the lower range of being pre-diabetic. Boo! I know I don't get the benefit of normal, but it would be nice to not always have random health issues pop up...

As we prepare for a transfer and look ahead to a pregnancy, I will take medication {at a low dose} to lower that number. It's not the most ideal, but the best and safest option for me as I seek to get pregnant. I will stay on it for at least as long as I am with my RE. But there is the possibility that I can wean off the medication when I switch over to my OB. So it's not a long term deal, for which I am grateful. 

In the meantime, I will also start focusing a little more on my diet and exercise. Because of my other dietary restrictions, I have probably increased my sugar intake {I love me some sweet tea!}, simply because it's something that I can eat without causing any Crohn's issues. And I have become fairly lax with my exercise. So I think if I focus a little more on that, I should be able to lower those levels naturally and eventually come off the medication. 

I just have to always be mindful of ALL areas of my health; I don't get a free pass on anything and have to be super diligent about my health. To be honest, that's slightly frustrating and discouraging. And I don't love being on yet another medication. But if it means a healthy pregnancy, I am willing to do anything!

{iPhone Rewind} :: January

Sasha was just chillin', resting her chin on a table. No big deal. Crazy pup.

I am so excited about this new devotional! I plan to spend my mornings digging into the Psalms, and I think this book is going to really help me.

I stopped at Panera for a quick dinner to celebrate 3 years of remission from active Crohn's. While I still have bad days, I am thankful for God's provision, good doctors, and medicine.

This was all that was left of the pigeon that hit my windshield. It was so traumatic to hit a bird, but he was the only one of his friends that didn't move out of the street fast enough...

Date #2: Game Night! #wcsavethedate16

My sweet sister-in-law made each of us our own blanket for Christmas, and I have used it non-stop. It's so warm and soft!

A co-worker gifted me white chocolate biscotti for Christmas. It was so delicious that I asked for the recipe and decided to try my hand at it. So yummy! #coffeeandbiscotti

Ya'll. The invention of gummy vitamins is the best. It's such an easier way for me to 1) remember to take my vitamins, and 2) want to take my vitamins. I figure that since all my other medications have to come through injection, I'm allowed the free pass from swallowing pills (something I hate). Love me some gummy vitamins!

Date #3: Breakfast at Poor Richard's Cafe! #wcsavethedate16 

We went out with Ben and Lindsay and enjoyed a delicious dinner at Silver Fox. The leftovers were just as yummy!

I thought this was kind of fun...I was searching for a mantel wood sign on Etsy and one of my own listings popped up on the first page! So fun :)

Miss Henley Caroline made her debut and we were so excited to meet her!

This time of year means Girl Scout cookies!! #yum #thinmintsarethebest

Going through a memory box makes for a fun afternoon with my love :)

Embryo Adoption :: Virginia to Texas!

Today we got a completely unexpected but sweet surprise! Not only had our sweet babies shipped, but they are actually already snug and safe in our clinic! We got the call today that they had arrived in our clinic this morning, and the embryologist confirmed they were safe and ready for our transfer cycle. They had come all the way from Virginia, a little bit of a further trek than our previous embryos. 

Our embryos are stored in a cryopreservation tank, and they were shipped essentially via Fed Ex. There's more to it than that {dry nitrogen shipper, cryogenic safe temperature, etc}, but they shipped overnight. My dad is pretty fascinated by the whole process :)

I had a fleeting moment where I was a little sad that I didn't even know they were traveling so I could be praying for their safe journey. But when we shared the fun news with our close circle, every one of them said they had been praying! Of course, they didn't know they were traveling either, but it was such a comfort to hear how our little army of prayer warriors have been lifting us up through this whole process. 

The sad moment passed and was completely overshadowed by the joy and excitement of our news. This process was SO much less stressful than the last time, and we were just marveling over how much more quickly everything happened this time. Last time {from contract legalization to arriving in our clinic}, it took 76 days. This time? 8 days. We feel so very thankful tonight!

Embryo Adoption :: McCullough, Party of 12!

Today the final contracts came in, so we are now the legal owners of 4 more precious embryos!! 

{Me + Mike + 6 previously adopted embryos + 4 new embryos = 12}  :)

As I mentioned with our last embryo adoption, there are no laws that specifically govern embryo "adoption" agreements. We signed property contracts, not official adoption agreements. Any birthed children will legally be our children. But to us, we are already the parents to these tiny lives. 

So this time around, we're praying for 4 children to raise. We still have to have some conversations with my doctor regarding details, but if we transfer 2 at a time like we did last time, we'll be praying for 2 sets of twins :)

We pray that we get to meet all 4 this side of heaven, but we also know {now more than ever}, that these tiny lives are in God's hands. But since we have been entrusted with these tiny ones, we will do everything in our power to keep them safe and offer them the best chance at life.

Who would have thought we would have 10 total children??  ;)

I bought another living locket with 4 unique snowflakes to represent our snowflake babies. I had bought one with our last 6 embryos, but some of the rhinestones had fallen out. But I thought it was fitting to have a whole new necklace for our new embryos. Just like with the last locket, I will wear it until all of our babies are no longer frozen.

So now we wait for shipping coordination to happen between the two clinics. Our babies will be coming all the way from Virginia! 

You Are Ours

I follow a private Facebook group for embryo adoption. One of the member's husband wrote a song to help process the loss of their embryos. I think it's absolutely perfect. It's simple, but expresses exactly how we have felt in losing our 6 embryos.

We never even met and yet you meant so much to us

Some say you're insignificant, no bigger than some dust

But you're loved by God, and your mom and dad

I never even dreamed about the impact that you'd have

You brought us so much hope, and when you left we felt so sad

But you're now with God, and in Him we trust

You were ours. You are ours.

Your lives, they really counted. They were real, but not real long

Though longer than some think, cause lots of people, they are wrong

And you're loved by God, and you're loved by us

So we acknowledge life, and yours we never will forget

You mean so much to us although we never even met

And you're now with God, and in Him we trust

lyric