Ground Breaking Update....
It has been A LONG time, I realize since I have written an update about our lives here in Wisconsin. Time has flown by these past few months and I find myself coming to the end of yet another school year, and summer vacation just around the corner.
So..... where do I even begin? We still are fostering Hannah and Jeremiah. They are our lives right now and we love them more than anything else in this world. We are coming up to our one year anniversary of accepting placement of them, even if we didn't get them full time until August- but it was June 28th that our lives were forever changed when we said that we would take both of them into our homes. This past year in the foster care system has sucked to say the least, but the kids have been wonderful. When I have a day when their mom has been a you know what or the court system has let us down yet again, I can't help but hug them and look into their eyes and remind myself that I am going through all off this for them- not their parents- but because I am in their lives, their lives will be enriched and made better. The kids are approaching the "15 month" out of home anniversary, meaning the workers should be starting termination of rights paperwork- but who knows. After being in this system this long it seems like the only people that the system looks out for is the parents. So frustrating!! Our journey with these kids has been a roller coaster to say the least, and we really don't have an end in sight- we've been told that if the parents don't get it together we could be looking at this process being drawn out another year or two AT LEAST! :-(
This month also marks Jim and my 5th anniversary and we then approach our "5 Year" anniversary of being infertile- SUCKS!!
Never did I think that after 5 years of marriage we would still be without a biological child. We have have had a tough year dealing with our infertility, and many arguments because we haven't been on the same page when it comes to family building choices. I have maintained that I need a "deadline" when I know that if we still aren't pregnant (Jim is confident that we will get pregnant on our own still- he chooses to ignore the fact the RE said we had a 3% chance of it happening on our own because of the antibodies that attack his swimmers) by this date, we will either A- start adoption paperwork or B- do IVF. Jim didn't want to give me that peace of mind, and man was I pissed. Many nights of crying on the couch because I resented him for holding us back on this journey. I do trust that God has a plan, but I can't help but wonder if maybe one of those options are His plan for us.
Well ladies, after 5 years I have come to a break through with my dear husband. A few weeks ago I decided to take the bull by the horns and do something to at least start saving for our family's future- whether adoption is the way or IVF. I decided to start up a Tastefully Simple business to help start a "Family Building" fund. I didn't tell DH of my intentions until I had earned enough host credit to buy my start up kit at a considerable discount and not have to "invest" our money. When he found out he wasn't thrilled, but when I started booking parties he has since jumped on board. Throughout this whole process I have also been doing some research on some fertility clinics somewhat close to where we live, and have found a few that have a partial money back guarantee attached to IVF. Last night I approached DH with some facts and info, because the only thing holding us back from IVF was the tremendous financial risk involved. DH has agreed to do IVF under a few conditions: 1. I make enough money selling Tastefully Simple to fund our IVF without having to drain our savings or take out a loan and 2. We don't even attempt IVF until the things with the kiddos we have right now is settled by either us adopting them or them going back to the biological parents. Even though we are being told we might not have answers and closure with the kids for up to two years, that is okay, as I have to make over $20,000 in this business to pay for the IVF in cash!
The other point that sold DH on this idea is that the adoption agency we are looking at would cost us at least $28,000 from the discussions we have had with them, and possibly more with travel costs to get the baby. I have found a clinic that gives 100% of the cost of IVF- minus the medicine of course- for $24,000- and that would give us 3 fresh cycles and 3 frozen cycles, and if we don't take a baby home we get the money back. So from the way I look at things, it will cost about the same, or less than adoption and we would have our own biological child. Plus, if for some reason IVF doesn't work for us after 6 tries, we would get the money back and then can proceed with an adoption. I realize my luck is that we would get pregnant on the first try, and we would have paid a lot more doing the shared risk route, but it would eliminate the stress of worrying about the money.
So, yeah!! We have a plan. If I am able to earn the $$ in the next two years I will only be 33 when we do IVF, which is still relatively young. The doctor said that he would give us at least a 70% chance of getting pregnant- which is pretty good odds if you ask me.
I am excited and at peace for the first time in a long time. I have a goal in mind and have booked my first 12 parties already (I first signed up this past Monday!) If anyone would be interested in helping my cause and purchasing any Tastefully Simple products, I would love to become your "long distant consultant". Tastefully Simple is a direct selling food company and has great products. My website is www.tastefullysimple.com/web/sgreen4 Please check it out and feel free to place an order. Things are shipped directly to you within 5-7 days.
Thanks so much if you are still reading this update, as I realize it is very, very long- but I had to sit down and give you an update and ask for extra thoughts and prayers as we continue down the path of fostering Hannah and JJ, and as we begin a slow and steady journey toward IVF!
So..... where do I even begin? We still are fostering Hannah and Jeremiah. They are our lives right now and we love them more than anything else in this world. We are coming up to our one year anniversary of accepting placement of them, even if we didn't get them full time until August- but it was June 28th that our lives were forever changed when we said that we would take both of them into our homes. This past year in the foster care system has sucked to say the least, but the kids have been wonderful. When I have a day when their mom has been a you know what or the court system has let us down yet again, I can't help but hug them and look into their eyes and remind myself that I am going through all off this for them- not their parents- but because I am in their lives, their lives will be enriched and made better. The kids are approaching the "15 month" out of home anniversary, meaning the workers should be starting termination of rights paperwork- but who knows. After being in this system this long it seems like the only people that the system looks out for is the parents. So frustrating!! Our journey with these kids has been a roller coaster to say the least, and we really don't have an end in sight- we've been told that if the parents don't get it together we could be looking at this process being drawn out another year or two AT LEAST! :-(
This month also marks Jim and my 5th anniversary and we then approach our "5 Year" anniversary of being infertile- SUCKS!!
Never did I think that after 5 years of marriage we would still be without a biological child. We have have had a tough year dealing with our infertility, and many arguments because we haven't been on the same page when it comes to family building choices. I have maintained that I need a "deadline" when I know that if we still aren't pregnant (Jim is confident that we will get pregnant on our own still- he chooses to ignore the fact the RE said we had a 3% chance of it happening on our own because of the antibodies that attack his swimmers) by this date, we will either A- start adoption paperwork or B- do IVF. Jim didn't want to give me that peace of mind, and man was I pissed. Many nights of crying on the couch because I resented him for holding us back on this journey. I do trust that God has a plan, but I can't help but wonder if maybe one of those options are His plan for us.
Well ladies, after 5 years I have come to a break through with my dear husband. A few weeks ago I decided to take the bull by the horns and do something to at least start saving for our family's future- whether adoption is the way or IVF. I decided to start up a Tastefully Simple business to help start a "Family Building" fund. I didn't tell DH of my intentions until I had earned enough host credit to buy my start up kit at a considerable discount and not have to "invest" our money. When he found out he wasn't thrilled, but when I started booking parties he has since jumped on board. Throughout this whole process I have also been doing some research on some fertility clinics somewhat close to where we live, and have found a few that have a partial money back guarantee attached to IVF. Last night I approached DH with some facts and info, because the only thing holding us back from IVF was the tremendous financial risk involved. DH has agreed to do IVF under a few conditions: 1. I make enough money selling Tastefully Simple to fund our IVF without having to drain our savings or take out a loan and 2. We don't even attempt IVF until the things with the kiddos we have right now is settled by either us adopting them or them going back to the biological parents. Even though we are being told we might not have answers and closure with the kids for up to two years, that is okay, as I have to make over $20,000 in this business to pay for the IVF in cash!
The other point that sold DH on this idea is that the adoption agency we are looking at would cost us at least $28,000 from the discussions we have had with them, and possibly more with travel costs to get the baby. I have found a clinic that gives 100% of the cost of IVF- minus the medicine of course- for $24,000- and that would give us 3 fresh cycles and 3 frozen cycles, and if we don't take a baby home we get the money back. So from the way I look at things, it will cost about the same, or less than adoption and we would have our own biological child. Plus, if for some reason IVF doesn't work for us after 6 tries, we would get the money back and then can proceed with an adoption. I realize my luck is that we would get pregnant on the first try, and we would have paid a lot more doing the shared risk route, but it would eliminate the stress of worrying about the money.
So, yeah!! We have a plan. If I am able to earn the $$ in the next two years I will only be 33 when we do IVF, which is still relatively young. The doctor said that he would give us at least a 70% chance of getting pregnant- which is pretty good odds if you ask me.
I am excited and at peace for the first time in a long time. I have a goal in mind and have booked my first 12 parties already (I first signed up this past Monday!) If anyone would be interested in helping my cause and purchasing any Tastefully Simple products, I would love to become your "long distant consultant". Tastefully Simple is a direct selling food company and has great products. My website is www.tastefullysimple.com/web/sgreen4 Please check it out and feel free to place an order. Things are shipped directly to you within 5-7 days.
Thanks so much if you are still reading this update, as I realize it is very, very long- but I had to sit down and give you an update and ask for extra thoughts and prayers as we continue down the path of fostering Hannah and JJ, and as we begin a slow and steady journey toward IVF!
Replies
Wow! Sounds like you have a lot going on! Praying that things work out for you!
Wow what a busy life you have right now. I remember going through the foster care system myself and it was hard. I can only imagine what Hannah and Jerimahia are going through. It wouldn\'t hurt to ask if the rights are in the process of being terminated. espically since they\' been with you for a year and a half. I\'m rooting for you either way you decided to go.
Oh my goodness! I\'m so happy for you! I know how important it is to feel like you have a plan in all this, so that\'s awesome! I\'ve wondered how the fostering was going with you guys. I\'m so glad you are enjoying those two precious little ones! Even if the parents and the system are a pain to deal with. I know exactly how that can be! And I think you\'re right about it being more for the parents than the kids. That\'s how it was here in WA too. The system is messed up!
Anyway, I hope you guys truly get the desires of your heart! And I can\'t wait to hear how things go. And I would love to help you out by ordering!!! What a great idea. My pc is down right now, but I will try to remember to look at your site the next time I\'m on a computer! Sending big hugs your way!!!