I just received word from our social worker, Debbie, that all of the agreements have been signed and notarized making our adoption of five snowbabies official!
Ways you can pray for us:
* Pray that each little embryo that is thawed for our transfer survives the thaw
* Pray that each embryo that is transferred implants and grows into a healthy baby
* Pray for safe travels up to Knoxville and back
Monday, August 29, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
A Provoking Look at Youth Ministry - Watch it Free!
As you look on the church landscape, youth are leaving the faith in droves. The modern church, overall, is struggling to reach the next generation with the gospel. What has happened? Whether for good or bad, men, for many years, have been inventing solutions or brainstorming ideas without fully relying upon the foundation of God’s Word. God, however, is greater than man, and as the heavens are above the earth, so are His ways higher than ours and His thoughts than our thoughts (Is. 55:8-9). We have substituted the greater for the lesser – God’s wisdom for man’s ideas. Jesus said that he who hears His Word and does it, is like a man that built his house upon a rock, and when the storm came, it stood firm. On the other hand, he who rejects His Word, is like a man who built on the sand and when the storm came, the house fell (Matt. 7:24-25). Shouldn’t the church, as a whole, abandon the sandy ideas of man and shamelessly return to the firm rock of the Word of God? God’s Word sufficiently identifies how youth are to be reached. For more information on this issue, please see the film Divided, which is a documentary on age-segregated youth ministry in America. Watch it for free (for a limited time) at www.dividedthemovie.com. For an in-depth study, the book A Weed in the Church delves into the topic and more thoroughly handles the Scripture passages that address ministry to young people. For other details or to help spread the message, visit www.dividedthemovie.com.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Embryo Adoption 101
This is a continuation of my post A Less Traveled Path Explained. I have heard that my post caused quite a stir out there! Whacko Tom and Kristine! What are they thinking at THEIR AGE?!!! Don't they know how expensive children are? They've already got four kids! Why do they think they need to adopt more? They're never going to be able to retire, and when they do, they won't have any money! They might even die before all of the kids are gone from their house! I suppose to some, our philosophies and beliefs might be eccentric. In a culture that values pleasure and comfort over sacrifice, and extravagance over simplicity, our belief that the highest calling given to a husband and wife is that of raising children is extreme and bizarre. We're OK with that, and we are certain that all of the children out there that need families -- children already born and tiny children frozen in time -- would gladly choose an "old mom and dad" over "no mom and dad." We are confident that the Lord will abundantly provide in every way for any more children He brings into our family. Young age does not guarantee health. Old age does not guarantee illness. We trust in the sovereign and perfect will of God almighty, who has ordained all things (Psalm 139), including the number of children He has already chosen to add to our family (or not). We'll officially retire when we stand face-to-face before our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Until then, we pray that everything said and done in between then and now brings Him glory!
And now on to embryo adoption . . . . .
In my previous post on embryo adoption, I told you where embryos available for adoption come from. In this post, I'll explain how one goes about adopting embryos.
I first heard of embryo adoption years ago on the radio when I was listening to a program being broadcast by Focus on the Family. The program was discussing the first child born through embryo adoption, and how this amazing process gave women who couldn't conceive on their own the option of experiencing pregnancy and birth. You can read about the birth of Hannah Strege (born December 31, 1998), the first adopted embryo, here. From the time I learned that there were babies frozen that nobody wanted, I wanted one -- or two or three!!!! However, that journey wouldn't begin for some time.
The Clinic We Chose
Today, there are multiple websites, clinics, and agencies across the country offering the services of embryo adoption. In choosing a clinic to work with, integrity and success rate (in that order) were most important to Tom and I, which is why we chose to apply to the embryo adoption program at the National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC) in Knoxville, TN. Everything we read about Dr. Keenan on the NEDC website and the testimony of his patients spoke of his faith in God and his conviction that life begins at conception. That's the kind of doctor we want to work with! As an added bonus, the NEDC's rate of pregnancy per transfer is 50% -- the highest in the country!
Requirements
Our first step was to determine if we met the NEDC's criteria for adopting couples:
Mock Transfer Appointment
We left for Knoxville and the Soaring Eagle Campground on July 6th with Sarah, Luke and Kristin Hawkins with us. The plan was for Sarah and Kristin to babysit while Tom and I went to our appointment with Dr. Keenan. The worst part of the appointment was having a VERY FULL bladder after drinking 60 oz. of water in order for Dr. Keenan to do the mock transfer (which included a transvaginal ultrasound -- sorry if TMI!) so he could visualize and take notes on where exactly he needed to place the embryos for the actual transfer. We were very glad to hear that following our interview and my exam, we were cleared to proceed to transfer!
Profile Selection
On July 15th, we were sent via e-mail four profiles of donor families who had embryos available for adoption. We had no idea prior to receiving the profiles how difficult the selection would be. What is the most important criteria when selecting embryos for adoption? When one knows that the fingerprints of God are all over each and every embryo, how in the world do you choose one over the other?! Choosing some means that you reject the others. The profiles gave us the ages of the biological parents, family heritage, physical characteristics, medical information, hobbies, favorite colors, food, and music preferences. We were given 24 hours to make our decision. We based our decision for the donors we chose as our first choice on the fact that we felt a connection with the biological mother because she is adopted and the couple was around our age (we'll call them B & N). Some people may see those as negative factors because N does not know her genetic history and younger women have healthier embryos. Not knowing her genetic history doesn't scare us because as the child of a closed adoption, I don't know mine either. The IVF cycle that produced the embryos B & N are putting up for adoption gave them twin boys, so we know their embryos are capable of producing a pregnancy.
The process of choosing our embryos has caused Tom and I to ask some very weighty questions. Would we have chosen Luke if we had seen his biological parents and genetic history on paper? Would my parents have chosen me if they had seen my biological parents and genetic history on paper? Is that what the value of human life comes down to -- who ones biological parents are and genetic history? Our conclusion was ABSOLUTELY NOT! All human life is fearfully and wonderfully made by God, the creator of heaven and earth and all things contained therein.
B & N only have four embryos available for adoption, so we needed to make another choice as the NEDC wants us to have 6 embryos available at transfer time. In making our second choice selection, the stage that the embryos were frozen at became the deciding factor. B & N had embryos that were frozen at the 5-day blastocyst stage, therefore our second choice would have to be at the 5-day blastocyst stage as well. When we were given the profiles for review, I was told on the phone that we needed to have 5 embryos for transfer, so we chose E & M's profile who only have 1 blastocyst available for adoption. After we informed the NEDC of our choices -- B & N and E & M equaling 5 blastocysts -- I read in our paperwork that we needed 6 embryos for transfer because only 75% of the embryos typically survive the thawing process. (I absolutely shudder as I write that!! What in the world are we doing freezing babies if it can kill them???!!!) I inquired about the fact that we only had 5, but didn't hear anything back, so I am assuming that we are fine with 5 embryos for transfer day.
Negotiating the Open Donation Agreement
After we made our donor family choices, a social worker (SW) from Bethany Christian Services contacted us to begin the mediation process between donors and recipients. Our profile was presented to each couple and they had to accept or decline our request for their embryos. It took a few days for our SW, Debbie, to get in touch with both couples, but she eventually made contact and they both indicated that they had accepted our profile and would sign an agreement releasing their embryos to us. The next step was negotiating the terms of the agreement. Unlike traditional adoption, there aren't any laws governing embryo adoption given that it is such a new area of practice. How does a country make laws recognizing the fact that the earliest stage of life is indeed human, has rights and is adoptable, when this same country has made it legal to murder the tiniest of these lives? And therein lies the quandry for a country who has turned its back on God. Embryo adoption is not recognized as adoption in the United States -- it is called "transfer of property." We know that it is more than a transfer of property! The NEDC also knows that and has partnered with Bethany Christian Services, the largest adoption agency in the world, to assist their clients through the process of donating and adopting embryos.
We have a completed and signed agreement with E & M, and we are currently waiting to hear back from Debbie that she has received a signed agreement back from B & N. Our understanding is that the embryos from both couples have already been shipped to the NEDC. Once the NEDC has received word that the agreements have been finalized, we will have officially adopted five little people, making us the parents of 9!
Cycle Preparation
Once the NEDC knew that we had chosen 5-day blastocysts for transfer, they scheduled our transfer for September 19th and prepared a protocol for me to follow to prepare my uterus for acceptance of the blastocysts. The meds I have started taking and will be taking in the next few weeks will prepare the environment of my uterus to exactly mimic the hormonal state my uterus would be in naturally if the embryos had been conceived in my body. A 5-day blastocyst conceived naturally would have already traveled down the fallopian tube and would be ready to drop into the uterus and implant. The science behind all of this truly amazes me!
Meds
My protocol is as follows:
7-15 - Start birth control pills (puts my cycle on hold)
8-22 - Begin Lupron injections (shuts off pituitary disabling my hormone system giving Dr. Keenan total control)
8-26 - Take last birth control pill
8-31 - Go to local fertility clinic to have blood drawn and ultrasound of uterus - results fax'd to NEDC
9-1 - Begin taking Estrace (estrogen - thickens uterine lining - dose will be determined by blood and ultrasound monitoring)
9-10 - Last dose of Lupron (woo hoo!)
9-14 - Blood draw and ultrasound done at local clinic - results fax'd to NEDC
9-15 - Begin Progesterone in Oil (PIO) injections (progesterone keeps the uterine lining from shedding and is normally produced by the follicle from which ovulation occurred)
9-19 - Transfer!
And now on to embryo adoption . . . . .
In my previous post on embryo adoption, I told you where embryos available for adoption come from. In this post, I'll explain how one goes about adopting embryos.
I first heard of embryo adoption years ago on the radio when I was listening to a program being broadcast by Focus on the Family. The program was discussing the first child born through embryo adoption, and how this amazing process gave women who couldn't conceive on their own the option of experiencing pregnancy and birth. You can read about the birth of Hannah Strege (born December 31, 1998), the first adopted embryo, here. From the time I learned that there were babies frozen that nobody wanted, I wanted one -- or two or three!!!! However, that journey wouldn't begin for some time.
The Clinic We Chose
Today, there are multiple websites, clinics, and agencies across the country offering the services of embryo adoption. In choosing a clinic to work with, integrity and success rate (in that order) were most important to Tom and I, which is why we chose to apply to the embryo adoption program at the National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC) in Knoxville, TN. Everything we read about Dr. Keenan on the NEDC website and the testimony of his patients spoke of his faith in God and his conviction that life begins at conception. That's the kind of doctor we want to work with! As an added bonus, the NEDC's rate of pregnancy per transfer is 50% -- the highest in the country!
Requirements
Our first step was to determine if we met the NEDC's criteria for adopting couples:
- Couples must be married for a minimum of 3 years.
- Wife must be 45 years old or younger.
- The combined age of applicant couple must not exceed 100 years.
- The wife must not smoke during the application process, embryo transfer preparation and procedure process, or during pregnancy.
- At least one partner of the adopting couple must be a legal citizen of the United States.
- Couples must undergo and pass a home study.
- Wife must be medically cleared by Dr. Keenan to proceed to transfer.
Mock Transfer Appointment
We left for Knoxville and the Soaring Eagle Campground on July 6th with Sarah, Luke and Kristin Hawkins with us. The plan was for Sarah and Kristin to babysit while Tom and I went to our appointment with Dr. Keenan. The worst part of the appointment was having a VERY FULL bladder after drinking 60 oz. of water in order for Dr. Keenan to do the mock transfer (which included a transvaginal ultrasound -- sorry if TMI!) so he could visualize and take notes on where exactly he needed to place the embryos for the actual transfer. We were very glad to hear that following our interview and my exam, we were cleared to proceed to transfer!
Profile Selection
On July 15th, we were sent via e-mail four profiles of donor families who had embryos available for adoption. We had no idea prior to receiving the profiles how difficult the selection would be. What is the most important criteria when selecting embryos for adoption? When one knows that the fingerprints of God are all over each and every embryo, how in the world do you choose one over the other?! Choosing some means that you reject the others. The profiles gave us the ages of the biological parents, family heritage, physical characteristics, medical information, hobbies, favorite colors, food, and music preferences. We were given 24 hours to make our decision. We based our decision for the donors we chose as our first choice on the fact that we felt a connection with the biological mother because she is adopted and the couple was around our age (we'll call them B & N). Some people may see those as negative factors because N does not know her genetic history and younger women have healthier embryos. Not knowing her genetic history doesn't scare us because as the child of a closed adoption, I don't know mine either. The IVF cycle that produced the embryos B & N are putting up for adoption gave them twin boys, so we know their embryos are capable of producing a pregnancy.
The process of choosing our embryos has caused Tom and I to ask some very weighty questions. Would we have chosen Luke if we had seen his biological parents and genetic history on paper? Would my parents have chosen me if they had seen my biological parents and genetic history on paper? Is that what the value of human life comes down to -- who ones biological parents are and genetic history? Our conclusion was ABSOLUTELY NOT! All human life is fearfully and wonderfully made by God, the creator of heaven and earth and all things contained therein.
B & N only have four embryos available for adoption, so we needed to make another choice as the NEDC wants us to have 6 embryos available at transfer time. In making our second choice selection, the stage that the embryos were frozen at became the deciding factor. B & N had embryos that were frozen at the 5-day blastocyst stage, therefore our second choice would have to be at the 5-day blastocyst stage as well. When we were given the profiles for review, I was told on the phone that we needed to have 5 embryos for transfer, so we chose E & M's profile who only have 1 blastocyst available for adoption. After we informed the NEDC of our choices -- B & N and E & M equaling 5 blastocysts -- I read in our paperwork that we needed 6 embryos for transfer because only 75% of the embryos typically survive the thawing process. (I absolutely shudder as I write that!! What in the world are we doing freezing babies if it can kill them???!!!) I inquired about the fact that we only had 5, but didn't hear anything back, so I am assuming that we are fine with 5 embryos for transfer day.
Negotiating the Open Donation Agreement
After we made our donor family choices, a social worker (SW) from Bethany Christian Services contacted us to begin the mediation process between donors and recipients. Our profile was presented to each couple and they had to accept or decline our request for their embryos. It took a few days for our SW, Debbie, to get in touch with both couples, but she eventually made contact and they both indicated that they had accepted our profile and would sign an agreement releasing their embryos to us. The next step was negotiating the terms of the agreement. Unlike traditional adoption, there aren't any laws governing embryo adoption given that it is such a new area of practice. How does a country make laws recognizing the fact that the earliest stage of life is indeed human, has rights and is adoptable, when this same country has made it legal to murder the tiniest of these lives? And therein lies the quandry for a country who has turned its back on God. Embryo adoption is not recognized as adoption in the United States -- it is called "transfer of property." We know that it is more than a transfer of property! The NEDC also knows that and has partnered with Bethany Christian Services, the largest adoption agency in the world, to assist their clients through the process of donating and adopting embryos.
We have a completed and signed agreement with E & M, and we are currently waiting to hear back from Debbie that she has received a signed agreement back from B & N. Our understanding is that the embryos from both couples have already been shipped to the NEDC. Once the NEDC has received word that the agreements have been finalized, we will have officially adopted five little people, making us the parents of 9!
Cycle Preparation
Once the NEDC knew that we had chosen 5-day blastocysts for transfer, they scheduled our transfer for September 19th and prepared a protocol for me to follow to prepare my uterus for acceptance of the blastocysts. The meds I have started taking and will be taking in the next few weeks will prepare the environment of my uterus to exactly mimic the hormonal state my uterus would be in naturally if the embryos had been conceived in my body. A 5-day blastocyst conceived naturally would have already traveled down the fallopian tube and would be ready to drop into the uterus and implant. The science behind all of this truly amazes me!
Meds
My protocol is as follows:
7-15 - Start birth control pills (puts my cycle on hold)
8-22 - Begin Lupron injections (shuts off pituitary disabling my hormone system giving Dr. Keenan total control)
8-26 - Take last birth control pill
8-31 - Go to local fertility clinic to have blood drawn and ultrasound of uterus - results fax'd to NEDC
9-1 - Begin taking Estrace (estrogen - thickens uterine lining - dose will be determined by blood and ultrasound monitoring)
9-10 - Last dose of Lupron (woo hoo!)
9-14 - Blood draw and ultrasound done at local clinic - results fax'd to NEDC
9-15 - Begin Progesterone in Oil (PIO) injections (progesterone keeps the uterine lining from shedding and is normally produced by the follicle from which ovulation occurred)
9-19 - Transfer!
Here is a picture of my meds collection
So far, the medication process has been easy. I don't enjoy needles, but giving myself the Lupron injections hasn't been bad at all. I had to give myself the same injections when we did our IVF cycle, so I knew what to expect. The estrace comes in the form of a tablet so no problem there. The PIO shots, however, I am not looking forward to. I had to give myself those injections with our IVF cycle and they were positively dreadful. They must be given intra-muscularly in the bum, the needle is long, and the liquid is viscous, making injecting it a sloooow process. Ideally, one has someone who can give them their injection, but that is not going to happen for me. Tom is extremely squeamish and has tried to give them to me before. I remember that he gave me the injection without passing out, but he went a little too slow for my comfort and was quite weak and pale after he was done. Andrew has tried to give me one before, but he nearly passed out ended up laying on the ground after he did it. Christian and Sarah say they absolutely cannot. Since the injections are vital to sustain a pregnancy, I guess I will be giving them to myself. I did it before, I will find the intestinal fortitude to do it again! I only had to give them to myself once a day the last time -- this time I will be giving myself an injection in the morning and evening.
I have already been given the date of my blood pregnancy test, but Tom and I have chosen to keep that quiet. It's either going to be a really happy day or a really weepy day, but we promise to let you know after we have informed family of the results!
More Info on Embryo Adoption
The website Miracles Waiting has put together a very informative question and answer page about embryo adoption which I found extremely helpful!
I think I have been a bad blogger because this was the next post I needed to do and I knew it was going to be a long one. I'm glad I got it done, and now I can move on to other topics! But not tonight. Bubby Fuzz has been waking up before the sun comes up, so I am going to bed!
Friday, August 26, 2011
BAD BLOGGER
I have been such a bad blogger! I have four posts sitting as drafts right now, just waiting to be completed. I feel like a student who has papers to write but has writers block. I sit down to blog, but then I find myself moseying over to blogs I like to read rather than updating my own. ~SIGH~
I LOVE writing about my family and posting pictures of them -- so what in the world is wrong with me???!!! I am going to blame it on HORMONES. I am soooo tired. I have started taking meds in preparation for our transfer in September and they make me tired. And grumpy sometimes. And I've lost my appetite which is a big bummer. But it is all for the most wonderful cause -- rescuing babies from the freezer!
I am hoping that after a good night sleep tonight (God and Bubby willing) I will be full of blogging energy tomorrow!
I leave you with this -
I LOVE writing about my family and posting pictures of them -- so what in the world is wrong with me???!!! I am going to blame it on HORMONES. I am soooo tired. I have started taking meds in preparation for our transfer in September and they make me tired. And grumpy sometimes. And I've lost my appetite which is a big bummer. But it is all for the most wonderful cause -- rescuing babies from the freezer!
I am hoping that after a good night sleep tonight (God and Bubby willing) I will be full of blogging energy tomorrow!
I leave you with this -
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Tea Party
Sarah and I hosted a tea party for our Keepers group from church!
L - R - Riley Kuiper, Olivia Hull, Emily Upton, Naomi Coppock, Grace Fowler, Elizabeth Tully, Patricia Tully, Abigail Tully, Augusta Upton, Lydia Upton and Rebecca Sackberger
I found this darling tea pot planter at Walmart!
I talked to the girls about the verse that I have hanging in my bathroom as a reminder every morning when I get ready for the day. It's not what's on the outside that is most important to God, but what is on the inside.
"Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—4 but let your adorning be pthe hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."
I Peter 3:3-4
Patricia Tully and I
Sarah did a great job hosting her table!
Our littlest guests - Lydia, Naomi and Elizabeth
A few of the moms - LaRae Upton, Jill Coppock and Heather Tully
Katie Sackberger, Kristen Fowler and Lukey
Miss Judy serenaded the girls while they enjoyed the delicacies.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Silly Boys
The boys got together this past week with Bryan and William Anderson and announced that they were going "Planking" on the square in McDonough. I had no idea what planking was, but they assured me that it was legal and no one would get hurt. Knowing the integrity and character of these guys, I knew everything would be fine. Their behavior was a bit strange however! Christian is conspicuously absent from any of these photos.
This is planking. Planking just means you lay flat on something.
William planking
Bryan and Andrew "storking" while William is just doing something random.
William storking, Bryan planking, and Andrew "owling" - you learn something new everyday!
William and Andrew planking in parking spaces on the square. The amazing part about this picture is that there are three spaces open on the square. They said they couldn't believe it either, and as soon as they got up, the spaces were filled.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Stop the Clock!!!!!!!!!
Bubby Fuzz is changing faster than I can keep up with!!!!! Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! I tell him that every day, and do you know what he says? He squeals really, really high -- seriously high -- so high it hurts my ears -- and laughs! He does not care that my momma's heart is wanting him to stay my little baby forever! I tried it with the other three too . . . . they didn't care either. I'm seeing the pattern. Babies don't stay babies. Toddlers don't stay toddlers. Gap-toothed five-year-olds don't stay gap-toothed forever either. How fleeting and precious is each and every moment that our heavenly Father has given us to love, nurture and influence our little ones for His eternal glory!
We held a Bible study here at our house last night, and we listened to a CD by Doug Wilson on what the Bible says about how we are to raise our children. Something that he said has stuck hard with me, and I pray that the Holy Spirit never lets me forget it for a minute -- our children are the only eternal things in our lives! I realize that the statement is not so profound and maybe quite obvious to some, but I guess I've never pondered that truth. NOTHING else is as important as what I do for my children each day. That's not to say that nothing else matters each day, for certainly there are the essentials of eating, sleeping and taking care of ones daily work and chores, but I cannot allow my desires to do what brings me gratification (no matter how industrious those things may be) to interfere with the mighty task God has given me to teach and influence the four children He has blessed Tom and I with in His great mercy. Sometimes it's so much easier for me to check things off of my to do list than to do those things in which results cannot be immediately measured!
Things were pretty quiet around here today. This morning, Tom left on a trip, Andrew left for Alabama with the Fowler family to help some families rebuild following the devastating tornadoes a couple of months ago, and Christian spent the day at the library studying and then went to work, so it has been just Sarah, Bubby and I around here for the day. Too much quiet! I will be very happy when everyone gathers back here at home Saturday night for dinner!
I gauge when to do a new post on Bubby by how many pictures I have of him. I love grabbing the cameras to see what photos the family has gotten of our little cherub! Sarah wins for taking the most Bubby pictures this past week:
Bubby was mesmerized with the bubbles that Andrew was blowing for him! I am proud of myself -- I looked the other way while sticky bubbles popped on my floor and on my window sill. Bubby loved it! I can clean it all up later. Better yet, I can enlist slave labor for the task . . . .
"I'm gonna get you Sissy!"
"I'm climbing on your legs Sissy!"
"Gotcha Sissy!"
"Oh no! You got me!"
"I can smile for the camera now. See? Cheese!"
"I do believe I have more hair than Daddy does."
I said, "Let! Me! Out!"
Guess who now pulls up to everything, including his bed?
"Aren't you happy Mommy and Daddy that I can wake you up with my sweet face staring at you every morning? Daddy, I'm going to ignore that I heard you say that you think I might need my own room now!"
Luke's favorite night night position -- on his side, thumb in his mouth and clutching his blankey.
Asleep at last! This picture was taken at church Sunday afternoon. Lukey Britches was busy, busy, busy and fussy, fussy, fussy Sunday at church. It was also a church dinner Sunday, so it was a long day for the little guy. Just before we got ready to leave around 2:30, he finally gave up and drifted off to sleep. Yay Daddy! Whew!
Michigan Visit
Here are a few pictures of the kids and their cousins, Jacob and Marlena, while they were all visiting with Mimi and Papa in Michigan July 13 - 17. I sent a camera along for my kids to take pictures with, but they didn't take any! So glad Mimi and Marlena took a few!
Marlena edited this one - so pretty!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
