Sign the petition! Then, tell all your friends to sign the petition!

There is a petition to get IVF coverage for Alberta.
Basically the argument is :
(from the site listed below)

" In countries around the world that fund fertility treatments it has been proven that public funding actually saves money by reducing the incidence of complicated and expensive multiple pregnancies and improving medical outcomes for both the mother and the babies. Assisting Albertans is therefore not only the right thing to do but also it is the logical and smart thing to do.

The purpose of this petition is to inform our government of the importance of family and to demonstrate that Albertans support public funding. This will not only save money but also facilitate safer pregnancies and healthier babies when fertility treatments are required. "

http://www.generationsofhope.ca/petition.php

Please sign this petition if it is on your heart to do so

Today is the day, you have made and I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Ever have one of those days where it was really super hard to stay positive and be in a good mood. Of course you have, we all have. Today is one of those days. Instead of getting all bent out of shape and grumpy I am choosing to fill my mind with the word of God through the Bible and song and focus on all the positive things in my life.
Positive #1:
Our IVF consult with Calgary is over. We got some great information and had a much needed mini-break from life in GP.

Positive#2:
That news about my medications being covered is still making me giddy!! I cannot believe how awesome that is! Praise the Lord!

Positive#3:
Steps have been taken in getting things set up with the Victoria Fertility Clinic and the staff I have interacted with there have been amazing. My paperwork/medical information is being forwarded to them and I feel like I take steps closer to my dream of being a mom everyday!

Positive#4:
God is good always. In all ways God is good <3
He hears our prayers, our cries for help and he is always there. What an awesome God we serve.

Positive#5:
I have an amazing husband, family and friends and I love them all so much because of the love, care and support they have shown me.

Positive#6:
We leave for California in less than a week and I am so excited. YAY!

Positive#7: 
I have an amazing job that I love. Teaching is something that God made me for. I enjoy what I do, and even though it's summer break and I'm not teaching everyday, it is my passion and I love it.

Positive#8:
I have the cutest dog in the world. I mean, have you seen her? She is so cute. Just to look at her puts a huge smile on my face.

Positive#9:
Did I mention I serve the most AWESOME God?!

Positive#10:
Even when people try to bring me down, I know that their hearts are just hardened to the love Christ has for them. It is only by remaining positive and loving and showing mercy that we can reach these people and help them to open their eyes and their hearts and their entire lives to living for Christ and loving Him fully.

Those are just the first 10 things off the top of my head. I didn't even mention that I have a roof over my head, food to eat, and all the luxuries I have the privilege to enjoy everyday!
Thanks to all you loving supporters who are reading this. Not sure why it's an off day today...but I'm not letting it get me down!

Love always,

Jen

How Can I Keep From Singing?

From "How can I keep from singing?" by Chris Tomlin   
 How can I keep from singing your praise?
How can I ever say enough, how amazing is your love?
How can I keep from shouting your name?  I know I am loved by the king, and it makes my heart want to sing!!
I can sing in the troubled times,  Sing when I win.
I can sing when I lose my step  And I fall down again. 
I can sing 'cause You pick me up ,  Sing 'cause You're there.
I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord,   When I call to You in prayer.
I can sing with my last breath, Sing for I know that I'll sing with the angels  and the saints around the throne




Why am  I so happy you might ask?? Well....today has been a great day and I have only been awake for just over 2 hours!
First thing, I got an email from Dr.H in Victoria. As soon as I am able to get the information sent to him from Dr.M's office and we fill out our information packages we can have our telephone consult and the dates of treatment are flexible to what works for our schedule....completely opposite of Calgary (where you call in and get on a waiting list that is from 2-3 months...and when they offer you treatment it is your job to be ready.)
SECOND....I called my insurance this morning. I had already called them once, but I didn't give the exact Drug Identification Numbers...I asked more of a general question. This time I had the information I needed. My medications are covered, even when prescribed out of province and even if the meds are dispensed by the clinic itself and not at a pharmacy.
I could not be happier right now. Knowing the meds are covered is the difference between IVF costing $6000 and $16000.....it saves us tens of thousands of dollars.
So that is why I am singing praises to my Almighty Saviour this morning. He is watching over us always and this whole process would be impossible without Him.
Just a bit of an update there for you all! Great start to a great day. To quote another of my favourite songs, "Today is the day You have made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it!"

Thanks for reading, caring and praying!! Those prayers are working wonders, just as they always do!!
God Bless you all!!

Love,
Jen

The Verdict

Today we had some testing done, I'll spare you the nitty gritty details because I feel that is inappropriate, but given the long list of options of how to treat our specific situation....IVF with ICSI is the plan the doctor most recommended, given my results and Luc's results. The other options he gave were options that, though less invasive, were sort of "you can try them but chances are they won't work" type of options. He even said I could try ovarian drilling surgery and then MAYBE I would ovulate. Basically he didn't seem to think it was worth my time, and I certainly do not want any unneccessary surgery (especially if it involves burning holes in places that should not have holes burnt) if it won't guarantee me a baby in the end.
I found out that I have lots of eggs....stupid ovaries just don't want to release them!! I aslo found out that because of my PCOS I have a very high risk of OHSS (hyperstimulation)...which means I could realease too many eggs (another reason he was leary of the aforementioned other options). In otherwords, those nightmares I was having about having triplets...let's just say they are not so far-fetched...so pray that God will give me healthy children, no more than I can handle at one time. Obviously I would be exstatic with 1...2...3...however may babies....but I want them to be healthy!! I hear to often of multiples who do not make it to term and have health issues...I don't wish that on myself or anyone. It's certainly not that I don't want the babies....it's I want them all to be healthy.
Anyways, the doctors and nurses and lab/ultrasound techs in Calgary have been fantastic. Very helpful and very courteous. We are still electing to go to Victoria. Especially now that we have discovered we need IVF with ICSI and the cost of that alone is $1300 less in Victoria. The cost of everything is less in Victoria...and I know it is further away...but I can fly there for free on airmiles, and the cost of a hotel is the same in both places (actually i checked vacation rentals in both places and Victoria seems to have the better availability with better pricing and amenities).
Now I know I had this great plan to walk in and demand my results be given to me in hand, but they are being sent to Dr. M's office....so I can call and have them directed to whichever clinic I need them to be, as well, I can call and let Calgary know we are electing to receive treatment elsewhere for personal reasons and they would have to forward the information to our clinic of choice.
I can't really describe what I am feeling. I didn't really learn anything I didn't already know, other than the ICSI part (and all the information I learned last night at the info session)...which I have to say I had a feeling we'd need the ICSI...so I wasn't extremely surprised and it is not really a big deal (it's more money but it's not like it's an obstacle we can't overcome). I guess I also got some reassurance from the fact that I have all the right parts and pieces required..lol...just need some help to put it all together. So am I happy???......I'm happy to have the information I need to move forward with the process. I feel more relieved than anything. Relieved to have the testing done and there is no big issues with cysts or fibroids or anything!! Also happy to have a plan of attack in black and white and the ability to move forward when we're "ready" (if you know me...you know i'm READY...it's the money and the time off work that are really dictating when we can actually go for treatment).
So...verdict. IVF with ICSI.
Place of treatment...Victoria
We have a plan...it's time to take steps towards executing it and making our dreams a reality.
I hope this all makes sense to everyone. We are happy to have a plan of attack...now we work towards executing it =0)
Thanks for reading, for praying and for caring!!!
Love you all

Jen

Decisions Decisions Decisions

Oy vey! I feel like my brain is going to explode from all the information I just got at the information session tonight at the Foothills Hospital. So many things I did not know about and so much that I have to ask and research and find out. Wow!
After returning to the hotel and further comparing Calgary to Victoria it still seems so clear in my mind that Victoria is the right clinic for us. Cost, treatment options, communcations and philosophy all line up...where is with Calgary I have a few objections to their way of seeing and doing things...and I think you should be on board with the doctors/clinic who is giving you treatment.
Here is an excerpt from the Victoria Fertility Clinic homepage:

"We acknowledge the stress caused by infertility and believe that no one should have to wait for treatment. Once our patients have been seen and evaluated, there is no delay in starting any form of treatment. We at the VFC will do everything we can to help our patients achieve a successful pregnancy."

My problem with Calgary this whole time has been waiting games, $$$$ and philosophy...and reading through their webpage and Victoria's and comparing costs...it is clear as day which clinic really prides itself on helping people before making $.
We're still praying for discernment on this matter, and we're waiting for our test results and our consultation with the doctor tomorrow and I am also waiting on a response from Victoria with the answers to a few questions, but so far as we can see, Victoria is the place for us.

More to come tomorrow.

Thanks all!

Love you,

Jen

What is this I'm feeling??

So I woke up this morning and I feel so scared for what I am going to find out this weekend...well more specifically tomorrow and Friday.
I don't know why? I have been so relaxed about it but I have this little bit of fear just sitting there in the pit of my stomach. I think it is a fear of the unknown and what I am about to find out. I feel like the worst thing I could hear has already happened...and that was the day I was told "Your only option is IVF if you hope to conceive a biological child." But I guess I feel like...what if that is not the worst thing I could be told??
Please keep me in prayer today and the next few days. I will try to post more information as soon as I get it. Let's pray for really good news and for me to feel encouraged and empowered on this journey.

Thank you to all of you.

Love

Jen

The Do's and Don'ts of interacting with an infertile woman

Hello all!
Just thought I'd write a little do/don't list for my friends and family. It may not apply to every woman struggling with infertility but it certainly applies to me.
DO:

• Ask me how I am doing
• Ask questions if you are curious or interested in something related to my journey. I started this blog to reach out to my friends and family and if you have questions or if you're interested in what's going on...just ask. I LOVE to talk...lol.
• Invite me out/over for coffee to chat about how things are going
• Treat me like you would any normal friend who has normal problems that you would ask about and discuss
• Be supportive of our journey
• Pray for us
• Offer a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen
• Realize that IVF is the path we have chosen and be supportive of that and all that goes along with that
• Approach us and come along side us as friends and family who care for and love us

DON'T:

• Treat me like I am dying of a terminal illness, with pity and sadness (I cannot stand it!!)
• Tell me:
• To relax and let things happen (haha! yeah, that's the key to everything isn't it)
• To not worry so much
• About what worked for such and such a friend and how it might work for me. I have been through enough as it is, and in my doctor's professional opinion, IVF is our only option of concieving a biological child. If we get pregnant naturally between now and then, it will be a miracle of God..nothing more.
• That I am young and have years before I need to worry about having kids. (Not everyone wants to or has the luxury of waiting to be in their 30's before they have children!!!!)
• That I can always adopt. (We have decided that adoption is not for us, so you need to be supportive of that decision).
• Avoid talking to me because you are afraid it's going to be awkward. It will only be awkward if you make it awkward (by avoiding the topic like a pink elephant in the room). I am 100% comfortable with how God made me, and this is a part of how he made me.
• Pretend like you know what I am going through. Unless you have dealt with infertility or problems conceiving you have no idea what I am going through.
• Treat my situation as though I am over-reacting and jumping to crazy solutions for a 'minor' problem. I have been trying to have a baby for over 2 years and have been given medications and tried all sorts of natural remedies and they haven't worked...we are past "minor problems" and are not over-reacting.

In short, treat me like you always have, with care and concern for what is going on in my life. Don't treat me any differently and avoid this part of me like it is an elephant in the room. Infertility is part of who I am and I want my friends and family to embrace me for ALL of who I am, not just the parts they are comfortable with. I know it is not something people are traditionally comfortable talking about...but that needs to change in a big way. So again, I'm not a frail and fragile woman so stop pitying me and go back to treating me like the normal Jenny, Jen or Jennifer you know!!! If I need to cry I will cry, just like anyone else.
I hope this makes sense. I just thought it would be helpful, as I know some people are not sure exactly how to approach the subject or if they can talk about it. PLEASE DO! I started this blog to break the silence...so talk to me about it and know that it is ok. That doesn't mean we have to talk about it everytime we get together...lol...that might get depressing (and it shouldn't always be about me..hehe)....but if you wanna know how I'm doing or ask something, please feel free!

Love you all!!

Jen