Excitement in Waiting

Well, I am officially on Madigan’s waitlist for my procedure! I know Traci already posted on this, but I wanted to share just how excited I am about this whole thing. Its takes me making steps forward in a situation like this for it to feel real. Although we still have many other things that need to fall into place, we are moving in the right direction. I feel like the worst part is behind us and I truly feel that we can only move forward from here. With our limited timeline, and the timeline Madigan gave us, it appears that I will have my procedure completed prior to me leaving for WOCS! Even if we don’t have ample time to get pregnant prior to my school, the hardest part will be complete, and we will be able to try any time after that.

Now we get into what I consider the “fun part”, and believe it or not, its looking through all the different things that we will need to get for the baby once we conceive. Everything from co-sleepers, to strollers, to clothes. All of these things make this whole experience seem like its coming to us at a faster pace. I guess that things like that, and planning our pending PCS help this whole waiting period not seem too mundane. I guess anything to help pass the time.

Today Elijah started back up at school and his teachers gave him nothing but praise when I came to pick him up. I was honestly worried about him going back, especially with how he can act at home. I really couldn’t be more proud of that little guy, and its these kind of events that make me excited about another child. I was able to relive the moments I had with Jayson, through Eli, and now I’ll be able to relive those moments again with our future child. I can’t express the joy this thought brings me.

Well, I know this has been one of my shorter posts, but I just wanted to give you all my update, and thank you all again for reading these posts. Once again, it means the world to Traci and I.

Til next Time,

Jay

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Yesterday, we called to find out where we were on the wait list. We got a whole bunch of info, from where we are on the wait list, how long it should take us to get called, to how they deal with calling locals vs non-locals for cancellations. It was all very interesting and sounded as fair as they could be.

First of all, we're 21 out of 25 on the list. The scheduler said it would take about 4-6 months with being that position. I think we will call once a week to find out what position on the list we are. We also informed them we are willing to take cancellations and could come up with little notice. That's when they explained that they call locals on the list when they have a few days to a few hours notice because they don't have to worry about as much travel time to get there. Now if they have a few or more days notice to call people for the cancelled appointment, they give out of town patients on the wait list first dibs. I feel this is fair as I'm sure there are quite a few last minute cancellations and the locals get called quite often. Either way, the list is moving and eventually we'll be at the top with a week or so notice to get up there. As much as I'd love to be called for a cancellation, I don't really mind WHO get's called as long as those appointments are being filled and the line is progressing. Back in February they did 15 surgeries that month. Hopefully, they'll keep up a similar pace and we'll be called in 3-4 months. 

Our current schedule of events fits nicely into that 4-6 month window, if we are able to get called before that 6th month is up. As of yesterday, 4-6 months would be early August to early October. Jay leaves for WOCC late October so it could work out perfectly, if he gets seen with in that time frame. Of course if he goes in August, he'll be all healed and we might even have the opportunity to try for a cycle or two before he leaves. If we get pregnant before he leaves, we could have another summer baby. So I'll either be ready to pop over a move or moving with a newborn. Eh, it sounds do-able to me! 

I just have to wait for that phone call that Jay has a date for surgery and see where it all goes. I'm sure something will end up not perfect but if we're able to get this surgery done, I'll be happy! Timing won't matter as much anymore, unless there is a deployment on the horizon. With our luck, we'll get word that Jay's deploying and then 2 weeks later I'll find out I'm pregnant. How many babies can we possibly have while he's gone? Maybe we'll be able to avoid another deployment baby and have an R&R baby. If there is even any R&R to get pregnant during. Only time will tell. With the draw downs, I'm sure we're not as likely to have deployment babies as we were in the past. 

I'll give you guys another update when there is something new to update you with! :) 

Until Next Time!

<3 Traci

Sunshine on a Rainy Day

We can all only imagine what a family goes through in tough times. Some are more severe than others, but regardless of the situation, we try and be there for all parties involved. We listen to stories, try and give our “expert” advice, and just do anything we can to support where we can. A big way people have supported Traci and I has been reading this blog and continually making sure we’re doing well, and encouraging us to keep trucking on, even when things look grim.

If you have been following us recently, you know that we have ran into numerous road blocks on our journey to extend our family. Everything from referrals getting screwed up, to finding out some options aren’t feasible for our family, to thinking that this ultimately will not happen. Well let me just say that the Lord works in mysterious ways.

A couple weeks ago, it seemed like this whole thing really wasn’t going to happen. Traci and I were eating at Chilis discussing what we should try and do next. As the conversation drew to a close, we decided that we would put a time limit on how long we would continue trying to find ways to make this all work. Once that was decided, I became very fearful that another child just may not be in the cards. And I really was quite sad about it all.

Then Traci, in her infinite wisdom, suggested that I approach patient advocacy about the referrals getting messed up. And guess what. As usual, her idea played out in our favor! My referral was overruled and switched to Madigan Army Hospital. So now I am on a wait list and anxiously waiting for that phone call to come in. I am now feeling like we finally have a foot in the door. Traci and I even discussed what I would do if I got a call to have the procedure during our trip to Vegas. Well, needless to say we both agreed that this is a once in a blue moon type opportunity and we can plan another Vegas trip to include myself sometime down the road.

So we’re in it to win it now folks and I cannot thank you enough for the continued support. Please keep reading and commenting, because it means the world to our family.

 Til Next Time,

Jay

One Step Closer

Jay called Madigan AMC at Fort Lewis this morning to find out if they had received his referral yet. They did! YAY! Thank goodness! I was so nervous that a repeat denial would happen. After being burned once, it's hard to trust that all will work out perfectly the second go-round. 

While speaking with the Urology department at Madigan, he asked what the wait list looked like now. Our information was outdated since we received our information over a month ago. He was informed that the wait list was about 6 to 9 months long but due to cancellations, we could receive a call in as little as 30 days from now. Since Madigan is probably the largest location with the most frequent surgeries done, a lot of people tend to get on the wait list there and then cancel due to PCS, TDY, change of heart or deployments. (PCS - Permanent Change of Station, TDY - Temporary Duty Assignment) 

How that works is that when the surgery scheduler calls to schedule surgery for the next patient in line and they have to cancel or postpone, the scheduler then calls the next person in line until they reach someone who can come for the next available surgery. Let's say there are 60 patients on the waiting list. They call #1 and he can't come to that scheduled surgery but wants to remain on the list. So they call down the line until #25 says that he can make it to the scheduled surgery. All the patients from #1-24 remain and everyone from #26 down to #60 move up one slot. If #1 drops out, the same happens except everyone from #2-24 move up one, and everyone from #26 to 60 move up two. 

We've been informed that if we receive a call, we could have as little as a week or a few days to get out there for the surgery. So it looks like we'll be saving as much money between now and when we receive that call. We have even agreed that he would miss out on our family vacation scheduled for May if they call him with a date that would interfere. 

If he does receive a call in the next 5 months and we're able to get pregnant right away (slim chance), I would be able to have the baby here, which I've already had a couple people giving me information on local OBs and home birth Midwives. I would love to have a baby here! So many important people here that I'd want to meet my new bundle of joy! I'm starting to get off track here. Daydreaming about having the baby here. I suppose one can never been too prepared! 

Until next time,
<3 Traci