National Infertility Awareness Week

Some of you who don't know our story are confused by the title, we do have 3 kids we can't be infertile, right? Those of you who do know are story might think I need to quit talking about it, after all I do have 3 kids right?

But little do some of you know, I think about this week every year and I think it is about time to share our story and what God has done for us and through us. No better time than now, National Infertility Awareness Week, April 25th through May 2nd this year !

I read a post today on Kelly's blog that had a video posted with it about this and I decided it was time for me to share.

I found this article today...Most people still think that infertility is all in your head. That it isn't a real problem and that it certainly isn't something you go to the doctor about. They tend to think you should just relax and let it happen. For those of us who suffer or have suffered fertility challenges, we know that there is more to it than that. National Infertility Awareness Week is a time for people to see that infertility is a prominent problem facing one out of every six American couples. It is not something whispered about by women anymore and it is definitely not just a woman's problem. The causes of infertility are split evenly over the male and female problem.

This sums up a lot of how I felt at times, so here is our story...

In February 2001 I had exploratory surgery to see what was causing some of my problems and the doctor found endometriosis. I was told there was quite of bit there and he could do nothing about it. He couldn't remove it because it was too close to the nerves in my uterus. This doctor told me to get pregnant quickly and that would help. We tried for about 6 months on our own with nothing. Meanwhile, several friends and even a couple of students (I taught junior high) were pregnant. This was hard to take to say the least! I was getting frustrated and was pleading with God for a child.

So at this point, I went to another doctor who reviewed my surgical photos and decided on a more aggressive form of treatment. In July of 2001, I started taking some serious hormone injections which put my body into menopause for about 6 months...fun stuff let me tell you! Then after that we started the monthly doses of fertility drugs and testing. I was driving twice a month to this doctor for the drugs, ultrasounds, etc. At some point during this part of the process, a close friend had gotten pregnant, miscarried, and gotten pregnant again. My sister-in-law became pregnant, and even another student was pregnant. Really, people you know me...I was ticked! This was such a hard time in my life! Cory was so great and encouraging. You know him, Mr. laid back...it will happen when it is supposed to. Hello honey...I know, but I still want a baby!

During all of this, I prayed, we prayed together, I read books about God allowing women to conceive. You name it, I have probably read it! I read all about the women in the bible that couldn't conceive and then God touched them and blessed them with babies. I put my faith and trust totally on God and allowed Him to be in control. Yes, I had down times where I would cry out to Him and ask why, what are you teaching me, etc. But I knew that He had a bigger plan and he would bless us in some way with a child.

We took the monthly meds until about August-September 2003. I can't begin to tell you how many ovulation kits and pregnancy test we went through during this time, but I am sure you can imagine! I then went to another doctor because I was so frustrated. The new doctor was great, she reviewed my file and talked with me at length. But her words to me still bring tears to my eyes. "I am sorry, Kara, but there is nothing more I can do. You will have to go to an infertility clinic." I know that doesn't sound that bad, I mean lots of people go get help at these clinics and that is great, but it was not the news I was wanting to hear.

I remember going home with a heavy heart and crying out to God. I knew we didn't have the money saved up for any procedures and I knew insurance wasn't going to help. Cory and I talked about it and prayed about it for several days. We knew God had something in store for us and we decided not to go to the clinic. I truly felt a peace about this like I had never known! It was amazing.

Well most of you know the ending to our story! I quit taking the meds after that appointment so by the time we conceived they were out of my system! We conceived some time around Thanksgiving and took a pregnancy test on December 20, 2003. Imagine my shock to see the two lines! We were thrilled and gave total praise to God! Caden is one of our little miracle babies and we love him dearly. We were once told by one of the doctors that if we were able to get pregnant and have a child, that this would help the endometriosis greatly. If we wanted more children, we were to try and get pregnant every couple of years. So when Caden was 18 months we decided we should try again. After about 2-3 months we were pregnant with Carter, PRAISE GOD!!! Then as most of you know with Cole...God was just showing us His Mighty Power again! We weren't trying and it just happened!

God has blessed us in so many ways and we are so thankful for that! Looking back we see how He used us in many ways that might not have been possible if we had children. We were able to go on mission trips, participate in programs at our church, serve in a variety of capacities at church, etc. This would have been challenging to say the least if we had a child. We also started a new Sunday school class for newly married couples and led separate husband and wife bible studies for the class. God definitely used this trial to strengthen our marriage and our relationship with Him.

I am sharing our story with you to testify what God has done with us and through us and to give Him the glory. May this be an encouragement to you or someone you know this week. Also remember the people struggling with infertility, especially as Mother's Day approaches!

Here are the lyrics from a Matt Redman song that several of you know. This song came out while I was pregnant with Caden and it so perfectly fit our life!

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

Praise God for still being in the miracle business and for giving and taking away! I am so privileged to be a child of the King and so thankful to Him for seeing us through this trial!

Also, just in case Cory reads this, thank you so much honey for walking this journey with me. Your faith, courage, patience, etc. were so amazing and inspiring to me. God blessed me far more than I deserve with a man like you and I am so thankful to Him. Thank you Cory for standing by my side through good times and bad, I love you!