And it begins.

Cancer/CT/PET scan news:

Nada. The PET scan is still tomorrow, we won't know anything until next week most likely when we meet with the oncologist down here on Wednesday.

Baby news:

We met with the fertility specialist for the first time today. Whoa. Our heads are still spinning a bit from all of the information.

The doctor seemed kind and extremely intelligent with all kinds of awards and plaques covering a wall of his office. Even better, there was a whole wall full of babies he has helped bring into the world. He is very logical and realistic, though optimistic. He took our histories, asked a hefty amount of VERY PERSONAL questions, scribbled lots of notes and described to us the process of fertility treatments.

Dan asked me to use the same analogy the doctor used with us, so I'll try to paraphrase as well as I can: over the next few weeks, we will gathering all of our 'cards' (information, stats, etc.) through tests and monitoring. Once the 'deck' is ready, we'll meet with the 'expert card player' (the doctor) to help us play the best 'hand' with the 'cards' we've been given.

The doctor made it clear that he is not going to be making "something impossible possible, but something improbable probable." We liked that, especially Dan, who has recently taken to thinking like an economist. Math teachers.

As it stands with the information we have now, the doctor has given us fairly impressive odds of having children. Yay! Even with the chemo-induced low numbers, the doctor said that that alone would not prevent us from conceiving naturally. Which led to him thinking that maybe something is going on with me. (Or, he said we just have incredibly unlucky timing!)

Somehow, with all of the focus on Dan's cancer and treatments and the well-known probability that chemo reduces fertility, we never stopped to think that maybe I was contributing to this whole lack of baby issue. Well, Dan did, but he thought it wasn't likely. So, now that that door has been opened, we are a step closer to finding any possible problems and fixing them. Which also puts us a step closer to becoming parents!

The not-so-fun part of the appointment was going over The Plan. Lucky for Dan, most of his part of The Plan is done for now. Unlucky for me, I have a lot to do in the next couple weeks. We'll spare you the details, but if you find me to be a little moodier or grumpier than usual in the near future... sorry. X-rays, blood work, glucose testing, ultrasounds, scary needles going scary places, etc.

Dan keeps reminding me (in a faux French accent): "Iz for de bebe!"

Anyway, once all these tests are done, we meet with the doctor and decide upon the next steps of The Plan. This will include a cost-benefit analysis, too. I hope I don't fall over after hearing the final numbers!

We found out today that my insurance will cover 50% of all the diagnostic work which is FANTASTIC news. This is very rare. Thank you, LORD. That being said...the next 2 weeks alone will be around one of Dan's paychecks. God will provide.

We left feeling encouraged and more optimistic than we have felt for a long time. I'm not expecting a pregnancy to be right around the corner or anything, but I no longer feel that it is a never type of situation. This is a big blessing.

Praises:

1. Insurance coverage

2. Good timing with tests

3. Jamie made it back from Israel safely

4. We feel optimistic!

Prayer Requests:

1. Dan's PET scan tomorrow...let it show nothing lighting up or abnormal at all. With God it IS possible :)

2. Grace in scheduling all of my tests next week.

3. Clear results and wisdom for the fertility doc to help us make a plan.

4. Patience and peace as we wait.

5. NO MORE CANCER!

6. Success in starting a family.

7. Oh, and Dan has a cold that he'd really like to get over soon.