We have had many questions and mistaken assumptions/presumptions about the miracle that has taken place in the Justice household. Just to clear up any confusion, here is the shortest version I can give.
March - December 2013: We actively pray and "try" for another baby. We hear clearly from God that our family is not finished. We do not get pregnant.
January 2014: We discover that I have classic PCOS. I will not ovulate again unless I pursue treatment (FSH and LH are inverted; AMH is high; I have many of immature follicles occupying my ovaries). We pray, seek Godly counsel, and have peace about moving forward with conservative treatment.
*The Fire
Febuary: Clomid. No follicles, no eggs. No pregnancy.
March: Femara. 1 mature follicle (maybe). Intrauterine insemination (IUI). All this does is put Steve's "men" in my uterus. It gives me THE SAME 20% chance as any healthy fertile woman to get pregnant in a given month. We find out on Easter that I am not pregnant.
April: Emotionally spent. We decide that this will be our last try with a doctor. Femara. No response. VERY low dose of Gonal at end of cycle. No response after 2 checks. At final and last check, I have one 21 mm (mature) follicle and two 16mm (immature) follicles. Doctor feels confident that highest risk would be twins IF I even get pregnant. I still only have a 20% chance of pregnancy par healthy fertile women. God gives us peace. IUI number two.
*The Battle
May 16: Positive pregnancy test at 4AM. Steve's 30th birthday. I get to surprise him over a long, intimate dinner with 2 of our closest couple friends. We always said we would want to celebrate another pregnancy this way, if it happened. God's grace is amazing.
*The Story
June: 6 week ultrasound: 6 pregnancy sacs. 3 yolks. Doctor says "mind boggling" over 20 times. Tears in his eyes. No natural, scientific, logical explanation. Miracle. We go on vacation. God's timing is perfect. On the way home, we see the mileage "77,777" in our long drive. We take a picture.
*The Surprise
July: 8 week ultrasound: 7 living babies. 7 perfect heart beats. 7 placentas. The best medical advice is to reduce. We decline immediately. We have all doctors' blessings and support.
*Names
*11 Week Update
August: One of the babies fails to survive. We name him Isaac Joseph. The remaining 6 are perfect. They are all girls.
*Isaac
*Not Wasting It
*Cries
*Glory
*Jesus
*Real Life
*Fear
September: 6 girls are still perfect. Fluids, measurements, heartbeats, activity...everything looks as it should. My cervix shortens from 4cm - 2.1cm in 2 weeks (from week 18 - week 19). We pray. Doctor puts in a pessary. We pray.
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This is not a story about medicine, doctors, or measly old us. This is a story about the one true God of the Bible and His Son, Christ Jesus. This is a story about His greatness, His sovereignty, His mercy ... His GLORY.
We are desperate for the lives of our 6 unborn daughters. We and many others pray for their lives morning, noon, and night ... and all of the times in between.
Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy.
Nehemiah 1:11
But even if He doesn't ... He is better. We don't know how this journey will end. God owes us nothing. He is not in our debt. We are in His.
The Christian life is not one of karma. Just because our house is built on the Rock does not mean that storms won't hit. Suffering is a guarantee in the true walk of faith (just read the Bible).
Oh the beauty of God's sovereign will.
God will be glorified OR God will be glorified.
