Well, I was hoping for a different update, however, again, our journey needed a few more bumps in the road.
I am currently sitting waiting to have an emergency procedure after an internal rupture due to an ectopic pregnancy.
We did not think we would end up in this situation since we had caught it early and were able to treated it via medicine to help it asorb and miss carry.
However, for some reason, the medicine dropped the numbers related to pregnancy beautifully, but yesterday (Thursday), I had such sharp pains early evening that I knew (from friends and Drs) that I needed to get to the ER.
They gave us decent results and all my tests came back great- my pregnancy levels had even dropped a lot.
Well- pain continued- they sent us home with meds and this morning I felt more bloated than ever.
Sure enough, it was internal bleeding- something had ruptured between the ER last night and my dr appointment this morning.

I am scared. Anyone with internal ruptured or bleeding should be.
Looks like worst case from all this is I loose a Fallopian tube.

Good news as many know, one less tube does not decrease your fertility much at all.
God isn't done with our journey yet.
Please pray for the procedure and safety. Pray we get some rest a d reprieve from this roller coaster. Pray for financial provision as we are still recovering from last years medical bills.
Pray for our family as we continue on the journey- even if we are giving my body a break for a bit.
Pray that my visit with the Oncologist in June (standard procedure), bears positive results to extend our time to keep trying.

Thank you for all the prayers, assistance a with our family as we go through yet another unexpected visit to the hospital.

I had the D&C on Monday afternoon. The oncologist had told Jason there was no growth so pathology would be examine the sample at micro level for pre cancer or cancer.
So that was hopeful news. I still had to remain on the medicine until he told us otherwise.
Last night I had trouble sleeping and was praying a ton again.
Through this process I have had so many people praying for us, and I even called the 700 club for prayer as well. I have been on a diet that has almost completely eliminated any added hormones to all meat and all dairy-per the Drs instructions. I have also been taking my doTeRRa daily vitamins as well as their DDR prime which targets cell repair and restores healthy cell growth.

I was at work today and about to let all the parents in the door as we were preparing for our Christmas performance and pot luck- so I was all over the place.

She said that the results showed no growth and no sign of cancer or precancer cells. She proceeded to tell me I can stop the medicine and we can proceed to try and grow our family. She said in 6 months if you have not conceived, you will come back in for an appointment with the oncologist.

Some of the best words were- "stop taking the meds and start taking prenatal vitamins!"

Praise the Lord!!! God has chosen to bless us with this complete healing!!! We do not know if his answer is yes to have more biological children yet, but we've made it this far through a lot of prayer and lifestyle choices and we are excited to see what the future may hold for our family.
Thank you for the concerns, prayers, motovational verses and for your continued prayers as we continue to the next phase of this journey.

I will be updating a few more times as we move forward in this part of our journey.
Today we met with the oncologist and the brief visit was positive and he said all my physical responses to the medicine were all very good signs.
The D&C is scheduled for Monday and he said we will have the results by Thursday (one day before my birthday!).
I have to remain on the medicine until he tells me I can stop- assuming probably until at least Thursday after we have the results of the d&c.

Keep praying for complete healing!

Tomorrow (Tuesday, December 8th) we will be going back to the oncologist for a consultation and to schedule the d&c. I haven't gotten much sleep as it has been a long 111 days prepping for this next phase. I honestly do not know what to pray at this point. I know God has already written the story and that he can, if not already, 100% heal my body. However, that may not be his plan and I have to be ok with that. I know God doesn't ever want to hold back blessings from his children, but I also know reality and that God doesn't always give us the desires of our heart the way we think- he gives us what we need and in accordance to his will. I want to be super hopeful and I do have faith that he can heal me, but I also know that may not be Gods plan. So I am conflicted right now. I am basically saying ok God. You've got this- nothing I can do, or have done will change your all ready set plan for our family. I long, as most wives do, to grow our family- to have another pregnancy. But I am also prepared to let that it go- super hard, but ready. "Lord, here are my open hands. I am releasing control and desires to your will. I am not in control. I have been a steward of the task at hand and now trusting in you as my provider, comforter, great physician, and Lord of the details."

Please please pray for us Tuesday morning and the next few weeks as we go through this process.
Thank you. I will update as soon as we know more.

So, as of tomorrow, Monday the 9th, I have only 30 days left on the megace steroid/phytoestrogen. The first 2.5 months were the worst. However, now that we are coming to the end of the 111 day treatment, I have gained more weight than I have ever gained (other than pregnancy). I began my journey on the meds running and doing tae bo. I injured my foot (again) two weeks ago and so last week I began no carbs and no sugars. After one week, I have not seen much change. I am discouraged and I feel completely defeated despite my efforts to overcome the side effect of weight gain on this medicine. I am not backing down. My foot is almost healed, and I will soon be back running again. I will not quite the no carbs no sugars detox until my body has overcome this extra 20 lbs that has been gained.
I know it's a season. I know I will not give up my efforts because I would be in really bad conditions if I do. I have 30 days left. I am determined to keep fighting through the weight gain and refuse the urge to be depressed daily as I don't want to face the day or put on clothes that aren't my pjs right now.
Keep praying that I will fight through the weight gain, fight through the feeling of defeat, and ultimately for complete healing of my body.
We meet with the dr for a consultation on Dec 8. We will have our d&c within a week or two following.

This is day 6 for my new routine of taking progesterone meds three times a day. So far, so good. Only a few minor reactions as my body is adjusting. The biggest constant is the headaches and occasional fast heart beat. But it doesn't last long and it goes away even quicker when I apply my essential oils. After checking with the oncologist, he approvede to be able to continue taking all of my vitamin supplements (doTERRA LLV), as well as the doTERRA probiotic (which was amazing relief to my digestive system), and DDR prime, which is commonly used by those fighting cancer.  I have begun my running journey again and am aware of carbs and sugars. The biggest concern for my diet the oncologist had for my situation was the hormones in milk and meat. Although we already try to avoid non-organic meat for the sake of adalyns future, we will also be switching over all dairy to organic, or use dairy alternatives. 

I have made a chart of the days remaining on this treatment to remember that despite any tough days ahead, I can do it!  If we do not receive the results we are praying for, at least we know we tried and worked hard in this journey.  I am excited for the challenge (as much as I can be!) and look forward to looking back on our journey and seeing how God was specifically working. I have already seen evidence of him at work for Jason and I, as well as through the abundance of prayer warriors and support through this.  So we want to thank you for taking the time to pray- especially these next 4 months as we take one day at a time on this medicine and pray for strength and joy even on the hard days. 

Oncologist

This is my third post about our current situation, to understand the background of this post, please refer to the other two posts.

So, I had my procedure on August 7. All went well, and the Dr. told Jason that it was not polyps, and that everything looked fine and we should be good to try to concieve in September. This was relieving and we were at peace. On Wednesday while in Greenville I was on my way to my parents after visting friends.  I receive a call from the Dr. She proceeded to tell me that she was very thrown off by a phone call from the lab from what she had removed from my uterus. It turned out to be pre cancer cell growth. After somehow getting to the end of the phone call, having a hard time making it home, laying Adalyn down for her nap, and finally being able to literally yell and wail into the bed, my mom came home from work early to help me cope and talk to Jason and my inlaws about what we had been told. No one ever ever ever wants to hear the word cancer in any shape or form in their body. Especially those of us who are younger and have young children. It was a very hard few days as we researched, talked to some dr friends, cried more, prayed a ton, and tried to be distracted.
The Dr scheduled an appointment for me with the gyno oncologist and in the initial phone call, she told me about a few possible options that I may be presented with by the oncologist.
She said that since we were trying to concieve, there was most likely an option to take a progesterone medication as an alternative to a hysterectomy.

Our appointment was today, Tuesday the 18th. Jason was able to come with me and some dear church friends helped watch Adalyn.

As we met the Dr, he began by saying "ok, I have all my notes here, but I want to hear from you what's going on." After I gave a quick recap and expanded on what I learned about my situation, he looked at Jason and said "Wow, I have my work cut out with her, huh? She has done her homework!"

So, during the conference, he explained that currently, even after the d&c, there is a good chance my uterus has hidden pre cancer or even cancer in my lining. So, we have two options, take a medicine to increase my progesterone levels and basically "kill" off all the cancer cells that could be in my uterus then be rechecked in 3.5-4 months through another d&c, or have a hysterectomy.
Considering how we want to have more children, and the progesterone treatment has at least a 50% success rate for fertility, we felt at peace to try.  Of course, at first, hearing the possible side affects, and taking through some more realistic things about it with the Dr, we had to discuss and decide what would be best for our family.  Since pregnancy provides the body with the amount of progesterone needed to keep the cells from creating, pregnancy is a healthy option for my condition, granted my uterus comes back 100% clear after the treatments.
As long as the progesterone clears up all signs of any cancer or pre cancer cells in 3.5-4 months, we will be able to try and conceive. If there is progress in the clearing of any growth, we will go through a second round of treatment and check again after 4 months. If we are not clear after the first treatment, and then not clear through the second treatment, we will have a hysterectomy. If we have an all clear after the first or after the second treatment, we can proceed to try to have another child.
We are in continuous prayer and are seeking Gods will about our fertility and also know that there is a chance we will not have success with this treatment and may have to proceed with surgery. We also know that we could do very well with this treatment and have at least one or even two more children in our future.

My brain hurts and my emotions are all over the place. We are clinging to each other as we prepare for some tough few months ahead.

God is in control.