2005 – Married. Kissing. Honeymoon. Delightfully oblivious at what is ahead.
2008 – Started having the talk about starting our family. Moved off of birth control pills. If it happens … Yay!
2009 – Let’s do this! Began actively trying with diligent timing to start our family.
2010 – Um, what’s going on? Visited the doctor after a year and learned more about my PCOS diagnosis. We’re starting to understand things might be tricky. Had an HSG and everything looks great.
2011 – Went through 6 clomid cycles – starting at 50 mg and ending at 200 mg. Only ovulated once during that time, all other cycles resulted in no/low follicle counts. Feeling worn.
2012 – Changed to an RE for treatment. Went through 4 monitored Femara cycles and an IUI. Josh had a sperm analysis done and his swimmers are rock stars. Looks like it’s all me. Decided to move forward with IVF. Started our first cycle in November/December and on day 5 transferred one blast and one morula. (Froze 1 blast) We’re pregnant! Unfortunately it was short-lived and I began to miscarry on Christmas after celebrating with our families. Heartache.
2013 – Went into another fresh IVF cycle in April. Transferred 2 morulas and froze 2 day-6 blasts. Transfer did not result in a pregnancy. Frozen Embryo Transfer #1 happened in July, transferring 2 of our 3 blasts. We’re pregnant again! Unfortunately we lost this pregnancy as well. I miscarried incorrectly and needed to have an emergency D&C 3 and a half weeks later. Frozen Embryo Transfer #2 happened in October, transferring our last hatching blast. Again, we were not able to achieve a pregnancy from this. Decided to step back, pray and see where God is leading us. Began working with a naturopathic doctor and making herb diet changes.
2014 – Ended relationship with naturopathic doctor. Began seeing my acupuncturist regularly. Had a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy done in April with results showing that there is nothing wrong with my reproductive system. We continue to pray and wait.
Nov 2014 – Diagnosed with a severe Factor V Ledden mutation.
Dec 2014 – Let’s step back into this ring! A December IUI is planned but resulted in a negative.
Jan 2015 – Heading into our 7th letrozole/femara cycle and IUI. Lucky number 7? Dealt with a cancelled cycle due to overstimming and not being willing to sign a multi-fetal reduction form.
Feb/March 2015 – Another IUI and another positive pregnancy test! Unfortunately it resulted in miscarriage #3. Back to a cycle or two of birth control to reset as we rethink our future steps.
May 2015 – An endometrial scratch was completed in preparation for a June IUI.
June 2015 – Another IUI, BFN.
Spring 2016 – Final IVF cycle with Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine – Minneapolis. 7 babies on ice!
Sept 2016 – Frozen Embryo Transfer 2 embryos.
Oct 2016 – PREGNANT! With boy/girl TWINS! Praise the Lord! Due date – June 2, 2017
May 2017 – We welcomed Logan and Kirsten into the world at 35 weeks. They are our greatest joys!
A few pictures of the journey, surgeries, babies created, and love shared thus far!
Infertility is literally a pain in the butt. HA! (Hey, can’t lose our sense of humor in all this, can we??)
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Trials Bring Joy 
Just wondering if you’ve ever heard of or considered Reproductive Immunology. There are pretty much 3 places in the country that specialize in this field of medicine- Dr Braverman in New York, Dr. Kwak Kim outside of Chicago, and the Beers Center in California. The best are Dr Braverman and then Dr KK. A lot of their work centers around recurrent miscarriages…hope you get your rainbow soon!
Thank you for this bit of shared knowledge! I really appreciate it! I will have to look into them … sounds like a wonderful resource and option! Plus Chicago’s not far from us. Thanks friend!
Thank you for sharing your story. I too have PCOS. My husband and I struggled for years with infertility. All the drugs, shots, stress, and heartache are worth it in the end. Do not give up. I promise, you will be a mommy!! But remember to cherish the one standing next to you and holding your hand through it all… without him, you wont be a family. I look forward to following your story and seeing pictures of your beautiful baby. Good Luck.
Diana
I’m so encouraged by your words! So thankful to hear your happy ending and continue to be hopeful! And YES! What wonderful words of advice! I couldn’t imagine doing any of this with Josh, he’s truly the best thing. We married for each other, not for a baby and although we would love that more than anything, our marriage is truly the grratest gift! Thank you Diana! XO!
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I’m studying fertility and just learning about PCOS and how common it is. You are so brave for sharing your story- and so generous. I’ve recently fell upon Alisa Vitti who also struggled with PCOS and is now pregnant. She is a Holistic Health Coach and CEO of FloLiving where you can check her out online. She also has a book that you can get on Amazon called “Woman Code”. It’s all about how to get your body back. I also just met a woman who overcame PCOS with her diet and supplements where her blog is called “Beauty Through Ashes” and is http://beautythroughashes.com/exercise/getting-past-infertility/. She’s on FB and more responsive than Alisa. Alisa’s big time now which is understandable why she can’t respond as quickly. All the best to you next month and God bless you and your family.
Thank you so much for reaching out and connecting! I appreciate your sharing what you have learned recently as well. I will certainly have to check out that blog as well as that coach! Such a blessing to share resources like that. I am thankful for your kind wishes and time spent connecting! XO!
Thank you for writing this. This is the first time I have read your blog and it sadly found me in a moment of giving up. It’s nice to know we are not alone. I hope your next round goes well. Thinking about you and your husband and hoping you receive blessings over and over again. No matter what they may be
Hi, Chelsea. I just started blogging about our journey with infertility. We are at the fork in the road of IVF or adoption. I found your blog today, and am looking forward to seeing the outcome of the story the Lord is writing for your life.
Hi Lauren! I’m thankful for a new friend and look forward to reading your blog and adventures as well. Hugs and prayers sent your way as you determine what the Lord has planned for your future. Thanks for connecting!
I too just found your blog. We conceived our son in 2010 after trying for a year and then were successful on our first IUI procedure. Did 3 IUIs in the last 18 months that were unsuccessful. I now realize how miraculous that first procedure was and how blessed we were. Now we are dealing with my husband’s motility issues and my PCOS. We are going to do one more IUI and then move on to adoption. My prayers have changed to God giving me the grace to accept whatever the outcome is. I hope you hear good news soon. Thanks for your blog.
I just wanted to let you know how happy I am to have found your blog. I feel like you are speaking the words inside my head. After 10 minutes on your blog I thought to myself “Can we be friends?!” lol. I am 30 years old, and on the IVF journey as well.Thank you for sharing!
I just wanted to let you know how happy I am to have found your blog. I feel like you are speaking the words inside my head. After 10 minutes on your blog I thought to myself “Can we be friends?!” lol. I am 30 years old, and on the IVF journey as well. I pray
This is a great blog. Lots of wonderful insight and inspiration. I particularly liked your IVF section. I just agreed yesterday to start my firs IVF cycle. I am someone who likes to know as much as I possible can before I get into something. Bottom line, your words helped.
All the best! Bless you for sharing!
Your story brings tears to my eyes as I too am experiencing many years of the “emotional roller coaster” that infertility brings. I’m so very glad I’ve found your website, thank you for sharing your story! I’ve had 7 IUI’s, 1 ectopic on our 7th IUI, and zero IVF’s (we’re not sure about taking the money jump just yet). We took a break from fertility for a while after the ectopic and are jumping back into the fertility program with both feet – or at least trying to. I have my second HSG this thursday, and I’ve never been more nervous about something then I am now about this one (first one showed no problem, but a saline test a couple months ago showed a possible blockage on right side where tubal was). I’m seeing an acupuncturist now which I’m hoping brings me some luck as well. I’m in such a funk wondering if success will ever be our story, but I will say that reading all of this with blurred vision and tears welled up in my eyes really helped. Thank you.
Hi Chelsea, I am grateful to have found your blog. I have been struggling with Infertility for many years. I have always felt alone. I have never talked about it with anyone except my family. I was diagnosed yesterday with Poor Ovarian Reserve. I will be starting IUI with meds next month. Thank you for sharing your story!
Hi Chelsea, I am grateful to have found your blog. I have been struggling with Infertility for many years. I have always felt alone. I have never talked about it with anyone except my family. I was diagnosed yesterday with Poor Ovarian Reserve. I will be starting IUI with meds next month. Thank you for sharing your story!
I’m so thankful you stumbled here too Laura! Though my response is delayed, my thoughts have been with you. I am so sorry you are struggling with infertility as well and will be praying for your IUI. Please keep in touch!!! I mean it! I would love to hear how things are going. Big hugs!
Not sure if you have been tested for any auto-immune issues, but I’ve had 3 miscarriages and found out in October after our last loss that I have hyperactive NK cells in my uterus. Basically these cells are hyperactive when I become pregnant and attack the embryo. With this diagnosis we are now on our first round of IVF with Intra Lipid infusions. It has high success rates. I had never even heard of this until we found our new RE and he tested for it. I’ll be praying for your next IVF cycle!
Thanks for this! It’s been something we’ve been tested for and we haven’t found a clinic up here that will do the infusion yet but is something I’d like to give a shot, since I’m sure there have to be some tests I haven’t done! I’m hopeful that this works wonders for you! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience with me!!! Baby dust!
When you were tested, did you test positive? I hope you can find a clinic who will do the infusion! Thank you, I’m anxious to see how this cycle works out for us. Excited too, but as I’m sure you can relate after having losses it’s hard to not let your emotions get be best of you! Trying to just trust God one day at a time and not look at the whole picture. Baby dust to you too!
Chelsea,
I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your story. I discovered your blog last week and have read many of your posts in hopes of finding encouragement. My husband and I have only been TTC for a year, but it has felt like a long one. Apparently I am borderline for PCOS. My cycles are irregular and I haven’t really been ovulating. We hope and pray that with medication paired with timed ultrasounds and intercourse, we will be able to conceive.
Reading your posts has brought me to tears, because I never realized how truly painful this journey could be. And even though you have been on this road for much longer than I have, I am going through similar emotions. How wonderful it is to know you are not alone in this. You and your husband are fearless, and y’all are such an inspiration to me. Please don’t stop sharing your story. You have touched the lives of countless hurting women struggling with infertility. God is doing some mighty things through you! I pray that you are blessed with motherhood, and that it is everything you hoped it would be and more. :)
In Jesus – Our Savior,
Christina
Christina above me said it perfectly and I couldn’t agree more. You have been such an inspiration for the countless women on this journey to stay positive and to never give up. I love following you and look forward to the happy ending to your story.
Lindsay
@frills_and_drills
Chelsea, thank you so much for sharing your story! I will be praying for y’all and am excited to see the Lord bless you in so many ways!! You’ve encouraged me, that’s for sure! :)
Just started reading your blog. I too have been diagnosed with PCOS, and will be undergoing my first IVF cycle in January (God-willing…there have been so many roadblocks and delays that it’s hard to be confident on when it will really begin). I am so in awe of your openness on your blog and your ability to post in such an optimistic way. I have a very hard time talking about my infertility to anyone other than my husband and find it almost impossible to stay upbeat! You inspire me. Sending many thanks, prayers and hugs your way.
I just stumbled upon your blog and look forward to reading. We’ve done 6 IUIs and one (very disappointing) IVF cycle. We just did a phone consult with CCRM and are trying to decide whether to pursue treatment there or with our local clinic. The amount of money and logistics with CCRM scares me.
I apologize if this posts twice, wordpress is being weird.
Anyway, I just stumbled upon your blog and look forward to reading about your journey. I’m wishing you all this best during this next cycle.
I recently did a phone consult with CCRM and am trying to decide whether to pursue treatment there. While I was impressed, the money and logistics scare me…
I am so thrilled for you and Josh! After chatting with you a few times last year after our BSF small group I was anxiously awaiting good news and that it is!! I will continue to pray for healthy babies and mommy.
Came across your site. TODAY is 6/2/17, your DUE date! Thanks for sharing your story!
I find this whole story so amazing! We just started our infertility journey in April 2017. To say I’m scared is an understatement. I pray for the day I can hold a beautiful healthy baby/babies in my arms. Thank you for sharing your story and showing me I am truly not alone.
I am currently starting your section in the devotional book In The Wait. First off this study is amazing and every time I do a session I have so much revelation and you ladies are all amazing. Your section intrigued me most so far because right away you shared your waiting season is infertility. My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for a year (which is nothing compared to what you have endured). Right away I googled your name because I wanted to see if you had become pregnant since you wrote the book. I am so overjoyed to see the picture of your babies on your home page! It brings tears to my eyes and hope to all the women who want to be mama’s. Thank you for what you wrote in that devotion and encouraging women everyday. You are a blessing and made an impact on my life. Thank you.
I am beyond touched reading this … thank you for sharing your story with me and for your encouraging words. You are going to beat this! I am praying for you and please, if there is ever anything I can do (or listen to), shoot me an email. Hugs!!!
Just started my infertility treatment and had my first IUI done. I had been feeling very hopeless. But your blog and positive attitude gives me hope. Thanks for sharing.
I am so glad you were encouraged and I wish you the VERY best as you take on this 2WW. Sending prayers + sticky baby dust!
Your blog kills me, puts me in all the feels and gives me sooo much hope. We just finished our 4th Ivf cycle and fourth FET. Testing on Christmas Eve. 🎄🤞🏻 Thank you for sharing your story.
Been thinking about you! (Hugs)