The Adoption Courtroom

The adoption courtroom.

If you’ve been there, you know this is a room flooded with emotions. The adoption courtroom filled my soul with all of those incredible emotions.

I cried tears of joy… I cried tears of grief.

The same tears I cried during each…

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IVF: Part 1 – The First Weeks

Our first IVF treatment was quite the adventure, as it is for most. There are lots of emotions, and so many new things you learn about your body and reproduction, you know, the things you’re not taught in your fifth grade sex-ed class. Like most things in life, the IVF experience is unique to each person, each couple, and the details of your fertility journey.
So, what are the first couple weeks of an IVF cycle like?
What can you expect?

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Infertility: IUI

An IUI procedure often falls somewhere in the middle, costing couples only a few hundred dollars to a couple thousand dollars, still offering a more affordable option to becoming pregnant.

So, who can benefit from an IUI procedure, and is it worth it?

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IVF: Finding the Right Specialist

Remember, this is a trying and sensitive time in your parenting journey.  Emotions are high, and hormones might be all out of whack.  Between the stress and medications, your body will physically be in a foreign state which can take its tole.

You want someone who is wholeheartedly in this with you…

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Sending A Little Off To Preschool

We did it!  We signed up our little boy for preschool last week.

In just a couple days, we will wake up, get ready, and take our first baby to first-ever first day of school.  

He will be dropped off, and have a great time, and I will try not to cry as we’ve reached this big milestone with our first “baby.” Parenting is quite a journey, and as our kids grow, our plans change from time to time…

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IVF: Getting Started, Testing, and Diagnosis

Building a family can look so different, for so many people.  For some it comes easy, for others it doesn’t.  And even for others, there are surprises along the way!

What do you do when you suspect you might dealing with infertility after some time trying to conceive?  How long should you try to conceive before seeking medical advice?  And when you decide to explore your options, where do you even begin?

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Infertility: Preparing for Conception

There are so many beneficial things you can do to help improve your chances of conception, and quickly.  Ideally, you would want to start detoxing your body and consuming the proper nutrients a year prior to conception.  If you are just starting to think about growing your family in the next year, start doing these things now!  However, you may be on the opposite end of the spectrum and perhaps have been TTC for years and may have already started fertility treatments.  Wherever you may be in your journey, adding these things to your daily routines and regimens can help support a healthy pregnancy, and may help to heal your body naturally of any fertility struggles you have endured.

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IVF: Costs + Medications

If you’re ready to move forward but want to know about getting started… here is some other information that you may find helpful, like how much it costs, how to cover those costs, and which medications are used during an IVF cycle.

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IVF: The Basics

Venturing into the IVF world can be daunting, especially when infertility treatments were not in your original conception plans.  There are so many different treatment variables, medications, appointments, and verbiage you may be completely unfamiliar with.  High school biology doesn’t compare to the amount of knowledge you will learn about reproduction and learning your own body through the process of infertility and pursuing fertility treatments.

So, where do you begin? Who is IVF for?  Is this something you could benefit from?

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Foster Challenge 2018: Part 1

Check out a snapshot of our Fostering experience.
Introduction, Statistics In Our Area, Our Story to Foster Care, Attachment, Reform In Foster Care, Foster Care “F” Words, Birth Families/First Families, Foster Care Tribe, Asking For Help, A Funny Story, and more!

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Helping Children with BIG Emotions

When you have a child with big emotions – be it toddler life, teen life, or trauma life – don’t underestimate the power of aromatherapy!  Therapeutic grade essential oils can be a powerful addition to your child’s therapy sessions, daily routines and coping method practices. We have read books and attended training classes about the behaviors we may see with drug-exposed infants as they get older.  Boy have we seen a fair share…

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Kids With Big Emotions + Essential Oils We Use With Our Kids Daily

When you have a child with big emotions – be it toddler life, teen life, or trauma life – don’t underestimate the power of aromatherapy!  Therapeutic grade essential oils can be a powerful addition to your child’s therapy sessions, daily routines and coping method practices.

I wanted to show you all what I use with my kids on a DAILY basis!

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Our First Night Home With Our First Foster Placement

I remember receiving what must have been a dozen phone calls over the course of a week… just waiting for a placement.
We waited… and waited… and waited.  I thought, “Surely, there is a child out there for us.  During training classes, we heard nonstop about the great need for willing families.” 

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Asking For Help As A Foster Parent

Oh man. Where do I begin? I’ll be honest when I say this prompt* caught me on a bad day. A really. bad. day. And even when I’m about done, and about to my breaking point.  I still find it hard to ask for help. I can’t speak for all foster parents, but I know […]

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