Adoption Journey pt. 1- Infertility

Our adoption journey started around 5 years ago when Jordan and I (just boyfriend and girlfriend at the time) were on a date at The Coffee Shop, sipping our Americanos, talking about our future family. I asked him what he thought about adoption and shared that I always saw myself adopting. He replied that he had also considered it and would be open to the idea. Fast forward a few years, a wedding, pregnancy, baby, house, and dog later; we were talking and praying about how to grow our family. I actually made a pro-con list of all the options we were considering: Foster care, adoption, or pregnancy. After some discussion we decided to try for another pregnancy.

When we started I had some fears that we would have a hard time getting pregnant again. A few months after Parker was born, I had surgery and a few complications that left me feeling uneasy. After almost a year of TTC, using tracking apps, OPKs, and supplements with no luck, I was left feeling even more concerned. So I reached out to a Dr., gave him my info and asked him if we could do exploratory surgery to see if there was any damage from that previous procedure I had after Parker's birth.

Going into surgery I had so many emotions. I looked at Jordan and said, "we should be here right? I'm not just being crazy?" I felt like maybe I had let my anxieties drive me to imagine a problem that didn't exist. After all, a lot of times I would share my concerns with someone I would hear the usual, "just relax" or "maybe you're over thinking things, just stop trying and it will happen". Maybe they were right.

While I was still coming out of anesthesia, the Dr. stopped by and I remember him saying gently, but bluntly, that we wouldn't be able to get pregnant without help. When I was feeling more awake, I got to talk with Jordan who had more info from the doctor. Apparently, both of my fallopian tubes were blocked, with one not even connected to an ovary, and the other badly damaged and adhered to the outside of my uterus. (Probably associated with my previous surgery). This was much worse than anything we had anticipated, and IFV will likely be the only option for another pregnancy, if we choose to pursue it.

While this news was disappointing, it was not devastating. We took a few weeks and grieved over this news. We cried together, sat in stunned silence together, prayed together, and were comforted by our friends and family.

Pic from: http://womenlivingwell.org

It didn't take us very long to feel ready to look at adoption agencies. We always knew we would grow our family through adoption, we just didn't know when. We quickly found an agency we love, and jumped right into classes! Hopefully the Lord will direct us soon to our future baby.

Our infertility situation is pretty unique, and I don't pretend to understand what most women with infertility go through. We got a straight forward answer right away. I know a lot of women can go through years of trying, treatments, miscarriages, and unanswered questions. My heart goes out to anyone struggling to get pregnant. It can be heartbreaking and isolating. My hope for any one struggling would be that you would find your hope in Christ, and trust His perfect plan for your family! Also, don't give up! Our God is a mighty God that overcomes the devastating effects of sin for his own mysterious purposes, and we continue look forward to what He will do with our story.