Step by Step...

Jay and I decided to go forward and see what our options for having more children might be. We've discussed everything from vasectomy reversal and having our own children to adoption. The first step we've decided to take was to see if we could have a vasectomy reversal and have our own children. So as soon as Jay gave me the go ahead that he was on board with a reversal, I started doing as much research as possible! We're military so this is an "elective" surgery in which our insurance doesn't typically cover. I had Jay call Tucson to see how much it would be if we went through them and if he was a candidate. They said they'd do it and that it would cost us $7,700. YOWZA! We're a poor Army family of 4, we can't shell out that kind of dough, especially right before having another child. So I kept researching. I read blog after blog and thread after agonizing thread of other military wives trying to get vasectomy reversals until I found some women saying that there were military hospitals that did them and they didn't have to pay a dime. Oooooh really?! I was all over that. My next step was to tell Jay about my discovery and take it from there. We called the clinic on post to find out if they had Urologist on post, to find out nope, not here. So our next option was Fort Bliss, approximately 4 hours away. Jay called and found out that they do have a Urology department and they do reversals. They said all we have to do is get Jay's primary care manager (PCM) to refer him to their department and they'd try to schedule his surgery. YES!! So exciting. Immediately Jay called his clinic and scheduled his appointment to see his PCM. Well after about a 10 day wait, he saw his PCM on Feb 27th. After a few questions about medical history and why we came to this decision, his doctor gave him the referral. Now we have to wait 7-10 business days to get the referral from Tricare in the mail to more forward with scheduling appointments and getting the surgery done. I couldn't be more happy to be on this journey! After having both of our boys while Jay was deployed to Iraq via c-sections, I'm so excited to try to give him the experience he as a wonderful father and husband has never been able to experience. 

So much going on... I'll save the rest for the next post!

Traci <3

And it began...

February 18th, 2013, was going like most of the recent days. I was on TDY in Washington D.C.. and it was the time of the day where I was working out at the gym.  I was in the middle of my workout when my wife, Traci, send me a message via facebook. I looked at my phone and she had asked my thoughts on adoption. At this point, I had only ever thought of it sporadically, and it was never for very long. I didn't really know what to say. More recently, I had thought more of the possibility of us having another child together. We had hit a rough spot in our marriage the last November, and when things started getting better, we had discussed this possibility. We both agreed that it would be in everyone's best interest if we waited until we were in a better place in our marriage before seriously discussing our options. As time went on, through counseling, through open communication, and through everything, I felt like we were at a place where I could ask my next question."what about getting pregnant?"  After this was asked, it's been a nonstop, full throttle quest for information. Everything from vasectomy reversals to home birthing. I know this has been somewhat short, but this is where I feel the story really began, and I truly feel like it is bringing me and my wife closer together. We are a united front. This is all starting to become very real to me, and I'm so excited for this journey.

Looking Forward to the Future,

Jay