Please Pray for Eve

Remember Eve? If you would like the full backstory, please see my post Backstory: My Crazy Idea to be a Surrogate . I posted an update on GP a couple of weeks ago, but felt compelled to update my readers as well.

First, Eve and her husband successfully adopted twin boys last summer; Noah and Nathan. In their first pictures, you could tell they were as different as can be! One has blond hair and blue eyes, the other dark hair and dark eyes.

I will occasionally send them care packages with clothes and other goodies, and I am shocked to tell you that the boys aren’t quite 9 months old, and are wearing 12-18 month clothes already. They are both doing well,  but goodness they are growing like weeds!!

Eve did find out that Noah has many albinism-like traits. His hair is blond, not white, but he is suffering from the near blindness that often accompanies albinism. The doctors are concerned that his impaired eye sight may impact his learning and cause some delays as compared to his brother.  Also, his skin is very sensitive to sunlight, and they have to be very careful in what he wears, and that he always has on sunblock.

Now for an update on Eve. Through all of her reproductive issues, Eve’s OBGYN has encouraged her to have a full hysterectomy. After adopting, she reluctantly agreed but needed to build up her time off after her leave of absence when they first got the boys.

On April 3^rd, Eve was scheduled for her hysterectomy. Of course she was emotional, full well knowing she would never bear a child of her own. Just prior to the procedure, they did a routine pregnancy test and lo and behold it was POSITIVE! Eve is pregnant, after all the years of torture and heartbreak.

She is of AMA (advanced maternal age), and with all of her previous losses she is very high risk; but she is pregnant! Her bloodwork has all been positive and she has all of the early symptoms. I will continue to pray for her every day, and hope this is the baby she will finally be able to carry and take home, after 23 years of infertility.

Yesterday, Eve texted me to tell me that she had some cramping and a little spotting. Her doctor took additional blood yesterday and although it is increasing, the doubling time has slowed. Sometimes that can be completely normal, being that her numbers are well over 1,000 now, and sometimes that can be a very bad sign.

I can only hope that God has blessed her with this baby at such an unexpected time for a reason, and pray that he continues to watch over her throughout her pregnancy. If you pray, please pray for Eve.

The good work continues

Our community lost a soldier a couple of weeks ago in Afghanistan. As sad as it is, the part that really made me choke up was the fact that his wife is due to give birth any day now. The entire community has offered their help to the wife and baby, and I sincerely believe that he will not long for anything.

They’ve set up trusts in the baby’s name, drop off points for donations, and even had nationwide support through social media outlets. I asked my department if they would be willing to each donate 5 new articles of baby clothing ranging from 6m to 3T, or money. We’ve had a great outpouring of support and thus far have enough clothes for the baby to need nothing at all until he is 3 years old. We will also be buying Walmart and/or Target gift cards with the money we receive from inside and outside of the department.

I’ve been in contact with the family’s pastor, trying to better understand their needs but will be calling the wife today. I am concerned that I will get choked up on the phone when I speak with her. I am/was once a military wife, and I cannot even fathom the heartbreak of losing my husband in war; especially at such a young age.

If you’re a religious person, please keep this family in your prayers and continue to pray for their comfort during this difficult time.

Meltdown

It has just been one of those weeks! Work has been busy and I've been so frustrated with the silos of my company that don't communicate appropriately. I've been working on a project for literally weeks, and tasks are added nearly daily. I don't have any support as of yet, since they haven't approved any of the three positions to be hired for my team, and I feel like I am drowning.

I had a bitter infertile meltdown earlier this week. Just one of those days where I want to scream, "why me?!" up to the high heavens. It seemed as though nothing could go right. Work was frustrating, my body wasn't working correctly, my credit card payment auto-debited from the wrong account overdrawing my checking account by $300, then the only thing I had been looking forward to ALL.DAY.LONG., my nice dinner out, was spoiled. Looking back, it really doesn't seem that bad, but I am telling you, it just felt like the hits just kept coming.

I've tried to channel my unhappy feelings into helping others, and most days it really does help me. It give me the sense of purpose I sometimes feel I am lacking. Recently my office went to a special needs school to do an Easter egg hunt, egg dying, meet the Easter bunny and just enjoy the day. I met some of the most amazing individuals and have fallen in love with the school. Some of the girls were in their spirit gear that day, and I found out that they have a cheer squad. I've danced my entire life and would love to volunteer with the school to help coach the squad. I don't have too much experience working with children and people with special needs, but I hope they might consider allowing me to help.

Quick update on my broken body: We've had a completely natural cycle #31 aside from the progesterone post-ovulation. I am not expecting a miracle, but hope is a heck of a thing; it won't let me go. But with hope, comes heartache and disappointment.