Sunday, June 5, 2011

Baby Dreams and Celebrations

Today I attended the baby shower for my dear cousin Elizabeth. This has been the most anticipated event of the century, in my opinion. If you know Elizabeth and Danny and what it took to get to today then you might agree as well.  Just about 7 years ago I had the joy of participating in Elizabeth and Danny's wedding. It was a wonderful day. A little while after they were married they decided they wanted to start a family like lots of new couples will.  But unlike most young couples Elizabeth ran into many roadblocks on the journey to becoming a Mommy.

Like myself and many people I know, Elizabeth suffered from infertility. A few tries at insemination brought them those much sought after double lines that every woman who struggles with infertility looks for every month. They were having a baby!  As fate may have it , Baby decided to  set up camp in the tube and as a result Elizabeth lost her tube and her special little angel.  We were very lucky that we didn't lose Elizabeth in the process and are so very thankful.  After so much heartbreak some people would decide to give up. But as anyone who has been on this type of journey knows, that yearning will always be there so to quit is out of the question.  Many months went by of wishing and hoping each month and praying for that miracle. And in that time they underwent IUI eleven more times to no avail. At the end of all that they were lucky enough to be able to try IVF. This unfortunately failed as well.

Deciding to take a break, a year went by before attempting IVF again but not before trying other options. A trip to see a fertility god in Atlantic City to try and up their odds was tossed into the mix. But before they made it there it was moved to Ocean City, MD, so off they went to Maryland.  Hey, it couldn't hurt right?
And then.... the fall of 2010... Their 2nd attempt at IVF.  The odds are not with them as Elizabeth is working with only 1 tube.  And yet.. this is it. This is the one that works and this the one that will bring them their miracle.

After so much waiting and wanting, praying and hoping only to be let down and disappointed this was their special gift. (I still get goosebumps thinking about the phone call I got from Elizabeth telling me she was pregnant. I get happy when someone is blessed with a pregnancy but this was different. I still tear up thinking about how happy I am for her and Danny. Wiping the tears thinking about it now.)

So now we all have to wait. Wait for baby Ross to make his or her arrival. He/she was originally due in August but because issues with the placenta and baby's size (great so far) Elizabeth and Danny (and all of us) will get to meet their own special someone in July.  God Bless you Baby Ross and may your Mommy have a smooth and wonderful delivery.

No comments: