Here we go!

As I sit here holding a sweet two week old baby girl in my arms, it seems remarkable to consider that we're only a short 3 days away from our transfer of two of our sweet embryos! Over the past two weeks our household grew by 4 feet, and we're praying will grow by two more little lives in the next 10 days!

In the past 3 weeks I've gone to two different appointments, where they did blood draws and sonograms to check my "status" and see how my body was reacting to the medication. As of a couple nights ago we started the progesterone shots, which are quite the trip since this lady isn't a big fan of needles. I was blessed with an amazing husband, who willing takes the burden of giving them to me every night.  If we get pregnant then these will continue to 12 weeks of pregnancy, so in my eyes I'm trying my best to get used to this!

For now we are waiting on a phone call from our doctor to assign the specific time for our transfer on Thursday. That's right, Thursday!  It seems remarkable to consider we're only a few days away, and also slightly terrify. The last two weeks have been a whirlwind of a new "normal" with the addition of two little girls though foster to adopt, starting meds, and husband going back to work.  When people ask how I'm responding to the meds, I cannot help but laugh because all and all its hard to tell what emotions are based on what situation.  Overall I have felt pretty good, and although tired, I'm trying desperately to trust that God is going to allow this to work. We feel confidant that he has called us to this, but it doesn't mean there aren't a few fears going forward.

With the incredible support of so many people, we were able to pay by check the first installment (which saved us the generous 3% fee for using a credit card).  The next large payment will be due at our next appointment, or the BIG day as I should be calling it!

We continue to crave your prayers and continue to thank you for walking alongside us in this journey.   Lord willing in a couple weeks we will have some BIG exciting news to share!

If you feel called to give towards our adoption here is the link: https://www.youcaring.com/the-houghtons-645260

Please continue to pray for my body to adjust to all the medicine, for our marriage to persevere despite all the busyness of life, and for these two sweet embryos to implant and HOLD ON TIGHT!

1st Doctor's Appointment in the Books!

CHECK! 1st doctor's appointment (of many) in the books for our embryo adoption! (And this one was only $625...haha.)  

Today we had our first appointment, and let's just say that it was a bit of an "exploratory" event.  Essentially they did a trial run of what will be happening end of this month. Yup, you heard that right! We're scheduled for the BIG transfer of our little ones on August 31st! 

As far as the next few weeks will look, I am currently on birth control to alter my own biological system, then I'll begin estrogen, which will gradually increase (to 3 pills a day).  During this time I'll have two scheduled appointments to see how I am progressing.  On August 25th we will begin the Progesterone, which is a lovely injection in the bum.  If all goes as we pray, I'll continue these injections until 12 weeks of pregnancy. This is a common track for anyone performing IVF, or even a surrogate.  It is amazing to think that we could be caring two little ones in a months time! 

How can you help? I'm so glad you asked! Well, first off, pray! We are still on the open bed list for foster to adopt (I know people think we're crazy, but we really feel that this is the Lord's calling, even though it may seem odd), and placement could happen at any time.  Prayers as we adjust to the meds, prayers as Olive prepares for new siblings, prayers for our  marriage to be strengthened in the midst of all the changes.  And PRAYERS that both embryos (we will be implanting two) attach!  

Secondly, funding.  We are confident this is where the Lord is leading us, but it is certainly not without a cost.  The price tag is far less then our adoption with Olive, but it looks like we'll be making a rather large payment in the next week or so (unlike the months of time we had with Olive's adoption).  We have already been so blessed by many people, and we cannot than you enough! We've been told the total cost will be close to $10,000. This will include the appointments, procedure, and medication.  I understand that this is not your "average" adoption story, and therefore fundraising might seem a bit odd...but quite honestly the only difference from our first adoption is that we are blessed to be able to carry them in utero! 

If you are feeling called to give, then I've attached the link below. One of our greatest joys in our adoption journey, with Olive, is acknowledging the MANY individuals and families that played a vital role in bringing our baby girl into our lives! They say it takes a village to raise a child, but in an adoption - it takes a village to bring that baby into the family! 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of your encouragement and prayers! We'll keep you updated!

Fundraising Website