Wednesday, September 5, 2012

A long journey ...

Wow, what an amazing 11 days it has been!  Thank you for all your prayers and support.  We are so unbelievably blessed right now.  Jeremiah is absolutely perfect and we are so in love.  He is a wonderful baby, very laid back and loving.  His smiles melt your heart along with his little voice.  Our time at the hospital with Stephanie's extended family was amazing as we got to see her support system and the legacy of adoption that already exists in her family.  It was a time I will never forget. 

As I celebrate Jeremiah's arrival and download millions of pictures to facebook, I'm reminded of the last five years of our journey.  We began trying for children over 5 years ago.  We saw a specialist when things didn't work on their own.  After shots, blood draws and too many appointments, we took some time off to just enjoy time as a couple.  Then with David's illness in 2009, our door was pretty well shut.  Once he became healthy again, we prayed about our options.  We realized it was time to begin the process of looking into adoption.  We spent a year and a half trying embryo adoption with more shots and appointments, waiting and big ups and downs.  We knew that God had a plan for us, but it seemed so far away and hard to get to. 

Meanwhile, during the last five years I watched so many people I knew having babies and growing beautiful families.  Don't get me wrong, I was happy for them and am blessed by so many children in our friend and family circle.  However, I would be lying if I said I didn't shed a few (or many at times) tears at their good fortune and our losses.  If you've never dealt with infertility, it's exhausting, frustrating, heartbreaking and can really put you into a downward tailspin.  Especially when people ask (with good intentions, I know), "when are you guys going to have kids?" or say "everyone should be a mother."  It's excruciating when hope goes away.  So even though I am now one of those annoying people posting pictures daily of her sweet baby, I want to acknowledge the sadness that people are facing out there when they see another baby that isn't in their family.   If you have a story like ours, I know it is a lonely battle.  But know that you're not alone.  We have spent many years in the "valley" waiting for it to be our turn.   If you ever want to talk, I'm here.  We are proof on so many levels that God is good, all the time.  :)  He knows the plans He has for you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Our sweet Jeremiah is here to remind us of this promise, and we are forever grateful.

Blessings,
Leah