Don't Ignore Infertility: The Costs of Infertility

As if the emotional and physical costs of infertility aren't enough to handle, the financial implications are huge. Unless you live in one of the 15 states that mandate infertility coverage, most insurance plans do not cover any infertility treatments or medications. Please watch the video below to learn more about just how costly our options are.



We have paid close to $5,000 already for our labwork, ultrasounds, one surgery, medications, and two IUIs. We are currently faced with saving nearly $24,000 for a shared-risk IVF refund program, and this program fee does not even include the medications which cost an additional $3,000-$5,000 per round. We've got a long way to go to reach our goal!!!

Don't Ignore Infertility: Infertility Etiquette

Although we just publicly announced our infertility diagnosis on facebook, we've been pretty open about it with our close family and friends and with anyone else if it's come up in conversation. Most people have been genuinely supportive. Despite their good intentions, however, some responses are unknowingly insensitive and hurtful. Click here for a must-read of the dos and don'ts of infertility etiquette.

And for some comic relief, here's a video on $h!t said to those dealing with infertility:

Don't Ignore Infertility: National Infertility Awareness Week

"This week is National Infertility Awareness Week. Infertility is a heart-wrenching, relationship-testing, faith-questioning, life altering experience. Infertility affects 1 in 8 couples of reproductive age, so chances are you have a friend or family member who has, is, or will have to deal with infertility. For many this is a silent journey, but no one should ever have to face this alone. Show your support this week and keep in mind those individuals who deal with the emotional and financial struggle of infertility every day."

In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, we officially "came out" of the IF closet on facebook. We hope to share information that will increase awareness, education, and sensitivity on the topic. More posts to come later!

Seattle Bound!

We're going on a much-needed vacation to Seattle in May! We can't wait! We've instituted a moratorium on all talk related to infertility during the trip. We hope this vacation will help us forget about our current reality and refocus on ourselves and our marriage.

Inspirational Wednesday

For today's post, I am sharing my inspirational playlist that helps me get through the tough days. It's definitely an eclectic mix. Some songs give me a good cry, others remind me of God's faithfulness, and some just make me feel good!

Blessings by Laura Story ("Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops/what if Your healing comes through tears/what if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near/and what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise")

Stronger by Kelly Clarkson ("What doesn't kill you makes you stronger/stand a little taller")

Before the Morning by Josh Wilson ("Would dare you, would you dare, to believe/that you still have a reason to sing/'cause the pain you've been feeling/can't compare to the joy that's coming/so hold on, you got to wait for the light/press on, just fight the good fight/because the pain you've been feeling/it's just the dark before the morning")

In the Middle by Jimmy Eat World ("It just takes some time/little girl you're in the middle of the ride/everything, everything will be just fine/ everything, everything will be alright")

He Holds Everything by Point of Grace ("Oh but every single sparrow flying/and every broken soul that's crying/He can see, yeah you're in His reach/if He can hold an ocean back with one little shore/then what's all this worry and doubting for/Oh I believe/He holds everything")

Dog Days are Over by Florence and the Machine ("The dog days are over/the dog days are done/the horses are coming/so you better run")

Big Girls Don't Cry by the Jersey Boys ("Big girls don't cry/they don't cry")

So Hard by the Dixie Chicks ("It felt like a given/something a woman’s born to do/a natural ambition/to see a reflection of me and you/it's so hard when it doesn't come easy")

Smile – Harry Connick Jr (“Smile though your heart is aching/smile even though it’s breaking/when there are clouds in the sky/you’ll get by/if you smile through your fear and sorrow/smile and maybe tomorrow/you’ll see the sun come shining through/for you”)

Breathe by Anna Nalick ("Cause you can't jump the track/we're like cars on a cable/and life's like an hourglass/glued to the table/no one can find the rewind button, girl/so cradle your head in your hands/and breathe... just breathe/oh breathe, just breathe")

Don't Stop Believin' by Journey ("Don't stop believin'/hold on to the feeling")

Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi ("Whoa, we're half way there/whoa, livin' on a prayer/take my hand and I'll make it I swear/whoa, livin' on a prayer")

You Lead by Jamie Grace ("You lead, I'll follow/Your hands hold my tomorrow/Your grip, Your grace/You know the way, You guide me tenderly/when You lead, I'll follow/just light the way and I'll go cause/I know what you got for me is more than I can see/so lead me on, on, on and on")

Any others I should add?!?!

Inspirational Wednesday

IUI #2 = BFN

Big Fat Negative, that is. :(

We will be taking the next two months off as we will be out of town too much to schedule another treatment cycle. We also need to think through our options and do some soul searching. We aren't sure if we are even going to do another IUI, but if we do, it will likely be in June.