tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73769325180123556292024-03-16T13:50:34.531-05:00I Believe in MiraclesAmy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.comBlogger397125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-40616871425777925692020-04-27T22:16:00.000-05:002020-05-11T22:34:10.978-05:00Emerging from Infertility?<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">It is interesting
to think of me emerging on the other side of infertility, because to most
people, we definitely have after the birth of our 4 children: twins, Elijah and
Will (9 years old), Caleb (6 years old) and Evelyn (2 years old). Most people
wouldn't look at our family of 6 and think we had trouble conceiving. But
we definitely did. And honestly, I don't think one can ever truly leave
infertility behind. Therefore, I know I haven’t fully emerged from it. It’s a
big part of me and who I now am. It will never leave me. And I am amazingly
okay with that.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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Even after the miracles of our twin boys in 2010, my husband and were thrown
right back into the ugly world of infertility as we continued to struggle
conceiving again for over a year in 2012 and 2013. My infertility story is just
one of many. And each story is so very different. Although there are many
similarities of pain and grief, there are so many more differences: different
doctors, different techniques, different procedures, different results, and
different outcomes. For some couples it is the "male factor" because
of low sperm count, or low motility, or the shape of the sperm. For others it
is the "female factor" because the woman doesn't produce eggs, or she
doesn't ovulate, or her fallopian tubes are blocked, or she suffers from
endometriosis, etc. For others, the woman can easily become pregnant but
cannot carry a baby without miscarrying over and over again. Having a
gestational carrier may be an option for some of these couples. And yet for
other couples, it is both "male and female factors" and surrogacy
and/or adoption may be their only options. For others there are "no
factors" which is called "unexplained infertility", meaning
doctors cannot find anything wrong. And some have "secondary
infertility" which is being able to conceive after you have successfully
conceived other children. So yes, so many different factors and each story is
so very different.It took my husband and I over 3 years to conceive. We wed in
2004 and started trying after 2 years of marriage in 2006. After one year of
"trying on our own," we started doctoring and had many tests and
treatments in both our own town and at the Mayo Clinic in </span><st1:place><st1:city><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Rochester</span></st1:city><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">, </span><st1:state><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">MN</span></st1:state></st1:place><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">. We had 5
unsuccessful IUI's (intra-uterine inseminations). At one point, we were given a
3% chance of conceiving on our own, as the doctors came to the conclusion that
my husband's sperm could not penetrate into my eggs. Finally in 2010, we became
pregnant with our twins on our first round of a fresh cycle ICSI
(intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) IVF (in-vitro fertilization) transfer where
they injected 2 embryos. We were grateful, overjoyed, and ecstatic to be doubly
blessed and finally hold our own little miracles in our arms, almost exactly
four years from when we first started trying to conceive. Elijah and Will were
born in September of 2010.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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When the twins were about 20 months old, in May of 2012, we started trying
again on our own for another baby, but with no success. We started doctoring at
the Mayo Clinic again and had a FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer) with 1 embryo in
February of 2013, but I did not become pregnant. We were devastated. We tried
again right away and had another FET (with 1 embryo) in April of 2013 and
became pregnant. But at a little over 6 weeks gestation, I miscarried and we
said goodbye to our miracle. Heartbroken does not even begin to describe what
we felt. But we took comfort in knowing that the first thing our baby ever saw
was the face of Jesus.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">So yes, we had emerged
on the other side of infertility, but then were thrown right back in it again.
And like I said, it never really left us anyway. And now we have a miscarriage
to add to our infertility story. Yet another part of my life story that I never
thought would happen to me. Many questions remained. Do we keep trying on our
own? Do we do another FET? Or do we see this as a sign that it's time to stop
trying? Do we try a gestational carrier? Do we adopt for our miracle? Or do we
adjust to a life of no more children and move on?<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="background: white;">While we </span>pondered these questions
over the summer after our miscarriage, we kept trying to conceive. And 3 months
after we lost our baby, we experienced another amazing and very unexpected
miracle. We conceived on our own for the first time since we had first started
trying 7 years earlier. Overjoyed and shocked and grateful doesn't even begin
to describe our feelings. We couldn't believe this had happened. Praise God!
Our Caleb was born in May of 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="background: white;">Even with those incredible miracles, we still
have fears. And we still feel the pain from infertility. And most likely always
will. Infertility is many things. I know a lot about the medical side of
infertility. Although most of it doesn't truly make sense to me. Because
wow...our bodies are absolutely amazing and there are so many things that have
to be absolutely perfect to conceive and carry a healthy baby. I know that each
and every baby, no matter the circumstance, is nothing short of an absolute
miracle. And I know that medical treatments can only go so far and do so much.
Because that is where God comes in and the true miracle occurs.</span><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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I've experienced many different aspects of infertility. I've had a twin
pregnancy via IVF, a FET that wasn't successful, a singleton pregnancy via FET,
which resulted in a miscarriage. And 2 singleton pregnancies on our own with no
medical assistance. I often think about how we've experienced all this and why
we've had to experience each of these. I know I won't ever fully know or
understand it, but I'll just keep trusting. This was God's plan.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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I truly believe that God has a bigger plan for all of us than we have for
ourselves. And I trust in that. No matter what happens, no matter what your
struggle is or what your cross to bear is, I pray you find hope and joy in His
plan for your life, just as I have. I will continue to share my story in hopes
of comforting and inspiring others. And if anything else for YOU, for everyone,
to know that no matter what you are going through, to know that you are not
alone. You are never alone. God has a perfect plan for your family and for your
life. Everything is happening for a reason on your path that was planned just
for you. Trust in that. Try not to second guess what you have done or what you
are planning to do. Keep the faith. Whatever it is will be worth waiting for.
And remember that there is always, always, always HOPE.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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My story is meant to be shared. I feel it in my heart to do so. I always have.
It’s a story of God’s perfect timing and God’s perfect plan. I don't share my
story for attention. I don't share it for pity. I share it because there are
many people out there who desperately need support. They may not be able or
willing to speak out, so I will help be their voice. They need to know they are
not alone. They need to know it is okay to be sad. They need to know they are
supported.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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While raising our 3 boys, in the back of my mind, I still questioned about
trying for more children. I was afraid of the pain and disappointment that
could come if we had trouble conceiving again. I didn't know if I wanted to
open my heart to that again. But after praying for over one year trying to
decide and feeling the tug in my heart, we decided to try for another baby. We
decided that we would try for 3 months - if it happened, that was God telling
us yes and if it didn't, God was telling us no. Little did we know that the
very first month we tried, we would conceive. And that would become our
precious little girl, Evelyn, who was born in February of 2018. Well God, that
was a very fast answer of yes. ;)</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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But I know even more about the emotional side of infertility. I know most
people won't understand just how truly destructive infertility is. Just as you
cannot truly understand something unless you've been through it yourself. It's
like the saying, "For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For
those who do not understand, no explanation is possible."</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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Infertility kills dreams. It makes you feel like you are losing every good
thing about yourself. It exhausts your body with endless medications and
injections. It makes you feel so frustrated with your body as to why you cannot
do something so natural as create a baby. It breaks hearts. It makes you feel
jealous. Then it makes you hate yourself because of those feelings you don't
want to have, but can't stop. It makes you gain weight. It, along with the
medications, makes your hormones all over the place. It makes you angry and
bitter. It crushes your heart. It makes you feel lonely. It opens the most
private parts of your life to random nurses and doctors, therefore making you
feel awkward and invaded. It messes with your hope. It makes you feel
irrational. It makes you wonder what you did in your past that was so horrible
that now you are being punished for it. It emotionally drains you from
happiness you used to so easily feel. It makes sex become a chore instead of
pleasure. It steals your money. It consumes you. And worst of all,
it makes you question God as to what is so horrible about yourself that
you aren't good enough to be a mother. It makes you feel unworthy. Infertility
pretty much sucks. Yup, it sucks.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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You smile your way through baby showers, births, holidays, baptisms, and
birthday parties of families and friends even though your heart continues to
break inside. And it's not because you aren't happy for them and love children,
because you truly do. You treasure the miracle and sweetness of babies and
children. But your heart aches because you so desperately see the parents' joys
and want to feel that in your own heart with your own children. You want to
hold your own baby in your arms, but never know if you will get the chance.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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1 in 8 couples will struggle with infertility. Therefore, odds are you know
someone who is suffering. If you know any of those people, I encourage you to
pray for them, support them, and just let them know you care. Because if they
have told you about it, that is them reaching out for help. Women and men with
infertility unfortunately do not usually get the support they need because it is
commonly a hidden subject. People are ashamed, but they should not be. Be their
support. Help give them hope.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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One of the hardest things to describe and express about infertility is the loss
each and every month: the extreme grief and despair. I have experienced the
loss of month after month of not becoming pregnant. 52 times to be exact. That
is 52 months/cycles we tried with not becoming pregnant. And it is a pain like
no other. You grieve your baby that could have been. And then you feel crazy
for being so devastated for losing something you never had to begin with. But
it is real. And it is deep. You grieve the hopes and dreams of yet another
child that you so desperately wanted. You grieve time lost and thousands upon
thousands of dollars lost with nothing to show for it. You grieve because you
never know if you will ever conceive a baby. And every month you wait, for half
of every month (during the 2 weeks you wait to find out if you are pregnant),
you do just that: WAIT. Waiting, waiting, and more waiting. You spend half of
your "trying to conceive" life pretending you are pregnant, just in
case you are, only to be crushed when it is another negative result.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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You tell yourself over and over that "It will happen in time." But
did you know that if you have sex at exactly the right time with all perfect
conditions, that you still only have a 20% chance of becoming pregnant each
time? Seriously! A 20% chance! That is amazing. So, sadly the odds are often
against you. Just another example of how each and every pregnancy is an
absolute miracle. Also, along with the statistics that 1 in every 4 pregnancies
results in a miscarriage. One in every four! You cannot tell me that each and
every baby born isn't meant to be.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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My miscarriage was hard. I was heartbroken. But I can honestly say that for me,
many of the months of not getting pregnant during years of infertility were
many times almost as hard as our miscarriage. Imagine grieving a loss every
month for years. It tears your heart apart. You stay hopeful and then drop to a
low again each month. But it just seems like the next time you get back up, it
is not nearly as high as you had been the time before. You feel defeated. But
somehow you keep on moving forward. Because we all know that if you want a
child, making a family is worth anything.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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The pain of infertility is deep: the waiting, the questions, the taking
chances, the struggles, the longing, the sacrifices, the statistics, the money,
the bills you owe, the crying, the loneliness, the praying, the enduring, the
stresses, the planning, the countless medications, the many appointments, the
questions, the never knowing if you will be able to conceive, the pain of
watching so many around you having children, hearing of abortions, seeing yet
another teenager become pregnant who doesn't want a baby, listening to pregnant
women complain about being pregnant, reading about child abuse, and on and on.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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By far, one of the biggest struggles for most couples is stressing over the
cost. Unfortunately, many states and insurance plans have no coverage for
infertility. None. Most people are paying for everything out of pocket.
Fortunately, I had some coverage for our first round of IVF, but we used up our
lifetime coverage right away, so everything since has been 100% out of pocket.
I don't even want to think about how much we've spent on the other two rounds
of FETs (Frozen Embryo Transfers). But, I am truly grateful that we can afford
these treatments, as I know there are many people who cannot because of
finances. Many do not even get that choice. The treatments are expensive and
the medication costs are atrocious. The fertility drugs need to be shipped from
specialty pharmacies. I searched all over the country and usually ordered mine
from </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Texas</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">, as they were the
cheapest for us. Then when they arrive, you stress over measuring the doses
correctly and giving the shot properly because you know if you mess it up, it
can cost you hundreds of dollars.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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As much as I wish I could take away infertility from everyone, I can't. And who
are we to choose why suffering happens, who it happens to, and how it happens
as well? We all have our crosses to bear. Illnesses, disease, addiction,
depression, anxiety, loss, divorce, abuse, disabilities, financial
difficulties, death, etc. Suffering is suffering. And everyone needs
support. Everyone needs hope. Yes, the struggles are awful. But your
struggle is part of your story. And I truly believe God will not leave us and
will give us the strength to carry on even when we feel like we can't take
another step forward.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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Perhaps one of the hardest things about infertility is the unknown of not
knowing what to do and not knowing what the future holds. You never know how
long your journey will be or what the outcome will be. How many
medications do we try? How far do we go? What do we try next? How many
treatments are we able to do? How many more thousands of dollars are we willing
to spend? How much more are we willing to put ourselves though before we
realize we are wasting our time, money, and hearts? If we only knew that by a
certain point, we would be guaranteed a child, we know we would do anything.
Anything! But it is all a gamble. There are no guarantees. That unknown is
horrible. The waiting, the not knowing, is a pain I wouldn't wish upon anyone.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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But I would be lying if I said infertility hasn't brought good things to my
life. Because it certainly has. My faith and relationship with God is stronger.
I trust more, I believe more, I hope more. I'm more compassionate and more
giving. My relationship with my husband is stronger. We have always had an
amazing, loving, and supportive relationship, but infertility has made our
faith in God together stronger than strong. My husband did not grow up in a
family who attended church, so to watch his faith grow has been nothing short
of incredible. We have become even stronger as a couple and stronger in our
faith together. What a true blessing! We had over 6 years of marriage
with just him and I alone before we had our twins. I know him better than I know
anyone. I am so grateful for our years together. We celebrate 16 years of
marriage next month.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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Another blessing is that I have supported and encouraged many lives upon
starting my “infertility journey” blog. I have "met" people from all
across the country who read my blog and so deeply relate to what I write, which
has given them comfort and hope. I hope and pray that through my blog and
through my story, my heartache will help be someone else's hope. Because I
truly believe that with hope, the odds don't matter.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Another incredible
blessing is how I found a large part of my life's purpose. While deep
in infertility, I had quite my job working with children because it was
just too much to bear. It was consuming me and I had to step back. During my
time at home, I sort of fell into starting my own business, Vincelli Designs
and Decor. More as something to do to pass the time and create as I loved
doing. It has grown into a great little part time business and is
something that gives me unlimited joy. I create and hand write custom
wooden signs part time out of my home. It's something I can't imagine not
having in my life. I know that if had I conceived and had children right away,
I wouldn't have had the time, energy, or drive to start Vincelli Designs. And
through it I am able to live out my passion and share my faith with others
these past 11 years. It's just such a blessing to have discovered that my
business helps me live out part of my life purpose. It's the perfect balance of
staying at home with my children and also having some time to "work." (<a href="http://www.vincellidesigns.com/" style="color: #ff6fcf; line-height: 20.8px;"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.vincellidesigns.com</span></a>) <o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="background: white;">Blessings definitely come out of sufferings,
even among the pain. Infertility changed me. For years, I fought my way through
feelings of anger, loneliness and unworthiness. I felt like I was losing every
good thing about myself. And even worse, I felt that I didn't deserve any good
things. But I didn't give up. God always filled me with faith and hope. And
after those 52 months/cycles of not becoming pregnant, 52 times of deep hope
followed by deep heartbreak, my pain slowly turned into passion. And that passion
drives me to keep sharing my story. Infertility changed me again. But this time
it made me more empathetic, more trusting and more full of faith.</span><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Looking back, even
if I could go back and take away all our infertility, I wouldn't. After all, infertility
has shown me that God's timing and purpose are good and perfectly planned. It
has shown me that God works through our pain to help our purpose reveal itself.
In those broken moments, He is working. Because God's promise is that He loves
me and will never leave me. And ultimately, my story isn't even about me. It's
about God's strength, love and grace shown to me among my heartache, brokenness
and tears. It's about the God who molds my life and heart so I can lead others
to Him. Because He is good and with Him, we can know our lives are safe in His
hands. He is always there, beautifully piecing it all together.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><br />
I praise God everyday for my 4 precious miracles: Elijah, Will,
Caleb and Evelyn. I am grateful for what I have endured. It has
changed my heart. And that's a good thing...a very good thing. Infertility has
helped make me who I am today. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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So, no, I don't believe I have emerged from infertility. Because it will
definitely always be a part of me. And I embrace that. I don't want to lose all
that it has given me. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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Yes, I have infertility.<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">But it does not have me.</span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><br /></span>Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-48575930560866176372018-02-22T10:23:00.000-06:002018-06-07T10:24:02.848-05:00Evelyn Lillian Vincelli<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IDsnUcWcMaY/WxlNj_o14vI/AAAAAAAAh8s/s4T20vxSKaAqFGpLAdR8T7M5fhUyC725QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3231-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IDsnUcWcMaY/WxlNj_o14vI/AAAAAAAAh8s/s4T20vxSKaAqFGpLAdR8T7M5fhUyC725QCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_3231-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Beyond overjoyed to share our newest miracle, born on my half birthday. </span><span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f0/1/16/1f5a4.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">🖤</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Evelyn Lillian Vincelli</span></div>
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Evelyn pronounced: “ehv-eh-lyn”</div>
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February 8, 2018</div>
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7:56 AM</div>
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8 lbs 10 oz</div>
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21 in</div>
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We praise God for our precious little Evie. (pronounced “eh-v”)</div>
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Thankful. Grateful. Happy. Healthy. Sleep Deprived. So in love. </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OV8wpTZqUdU/WxlNr2tX3QI/AAAAAAAAh8w/zJ6mIG-FLackGypR4URAi5y3fMzUkMaTgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OV8wpTZqUdU/WxlNr2tX3QI/AAAAAAAAh8w/zJ6mIG-FLackGypR4URAi5y3fMzUkMaTgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_3171.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span>Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-75715717714815766122017-11-30T06:37:00.001-06:002018-01-09T21:07:13.047-06:00Happy 7th Birthday Will & Elijah!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ghQ-TFcB4Sk/Wh_7UCEq3pI/AAAAAAAAGd0/taJ3OLIpcswKe17_gsmmpJiTjZpSQg-zwCLcBGAs/s1600/birthday%2B2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="960" height="398" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ghQ-TFcB4Sk/Wh_7UCEq3pI/AAAAAAAAGd0/taJ3OLIpcswKe17_gsmmpJiTjZpSQg-zwCLcBGAs/s400/birthday%2B2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And just like that my first little babies started the first grade and turned 7 years old!!</div>
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Their LEGO party theme was a blast to plan for. And fairly easy considering we already had so many Legos. And with using primary colors in the theme, that makes it so much easier to shop for and use items you just have around. Classic and fun!</div>
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That's typically what I do, try to plan a theme around things we already have and can use. Convenient and inexpensive! :)</div>
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We celebrated their birthday at my parent's farm in early September. It was a beautiful day to be outside!</div>
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Big 7 year olds on their birthday party day:</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--9okQpo6gas/Wh_02YmlaXI/AAAAAAAAGbk/5E6s4i34ECAzzj-5-H_QEWLDyUjSzIKlACLcBGAs/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--9okQpo6gas/Wh_02YmlaXI/AAAAAAAAGbk/5E6s4i34ECAzzj-5-H_QEWLDyUjSzIKlACLcBGAs/s400/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B843.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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The twins designed their own Lego creations to go on the cake! </div>
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Easy peezy!</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dZSoKHPmIjg/Wh_01oVFDDI/AAAAAAAAGbg/uOg1UZvlA9wTD5vx74Swcpwa2ONGpt0LgCLcBGAs/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dZSoKHPmIjg/Wh_01oVFDDI/AAAAAAAAGbg/uOg1UZvlA9wTD5vx74Swcpwa2ONGpt0LgCLcBGAs/s400/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B842.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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I had purchased Lego plates, napkins, and banner on clearance at Walmart the year before knowing we would someday do a Lego themed party! What a deal! :)</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fBm8RVB-vB8/Wh_00JaoJ4I/AAAAAAAAGbc/fLAhiQ4I6OgHZnEEQ0UwaHGV1pmd8OC6ACLcBGAs/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fBm8RVB-vB8/Wh_00JaoJ4I/AAAAAAAAGbc/fLAhiQ4I6OgHZnEEQ0UwaHGV1pmd8OC6ACLcBGAs/s400/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B841.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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We borrowed mega blocks from a friend to use so we could build a creation for the display table. Here's the cake "stand" Elijah made:</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xLd2bo0ngEw/Wh_0-DhRzuI/AAAAAAAAGcE/8L8wbYLobgMtfdFgAHHa362ww9KADt5NwCLcBGAs/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xLd2bo0ngEw/Wh_0-DhRzuI/AAAAAAAAGcE/8L8wbYLobgMtfdFgAHHa362ww9KADt5NwCLcBGAs/s400/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B852.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And the utensil holder Will created:</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSnrpcKeLCA/Wh_4Jdrui4I/AAAAAAAAGcw/xAqjzVYJFiM8Gik5TP25qBguXIPwm3P8QCLcBGAs/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B839%2Banother.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1342" data-original-width="1130" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSnrpcKeLCA/Wh_4Jdrui4I/AAAAAAAAGcw/xAqjzVYJFiM8Gik5TP25qBguXIPwm3P8QCLcBGAs/s400/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B839%2Banother.jpg" width="336" /></a></div>
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Guess how many Legos are in the jar! Always a fun and easy game. Forgot a prize though so gave out 4 one dollar bills instead. ;)</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S-OBkJvjBPE/Wh_0z9G-eWI/AAAAAAAAGbY/rboZFFbHoc84llX8HMHWwKW4GvJdn9YfQCLcBGAs/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S-OBkJvjBPE/Wh_0z9G-eWI/AAAAAAAAGbY/rboZFFbHoc84llX8HMHWwKW4GvJdn9YfQCLcBGAs/s400/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B840.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Purchased yellow cups and drew on Lego faces! Fun fun!</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fYw3GoS-qxk/Wh_03WQMVlI/AAAAAAAAGbo/J2CMFVgamU0AuvBdXX8FH_F9xInvXGDHQCLcBGAs/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fYw3GoS-qxk/Wh_03WQMVlI/AAAAAAAAGbo/J2CMFVgamU0AuvBdXX8FH_F9xInvXGDHQCLcBGAs/s400/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B844.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And of course party hats!</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4_L8WZ6e--Y/Wh_03_2cX6I/AAAAAAAAGbs/o9id-h6PO5YCZ2PNphNxzHxqNHdNSGHNgCLcBGAs/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4_L8WZ6e--Y/Wh_03_2cX6I/AAAAAAAAGbs/o9id-h6PO5YCZ2PNphNxzHxqNHdNSGHNgCLcBGAs/s400/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B845.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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We had this Lego table the bigger kids could create on:</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PjC04xn3UNQ/Wh_057fGuII/AAAAAAAAGb0/RiFxnWpy-esTyoJrFyX74XWu3rWa0XRigCLcBGAs/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PjC04xn3UNQ/Wh_057fGuII/AAAAAAAAGb0/RiFxnWpy-esTyoJrFyX74XWu3rWa0XRigCLcBGAs/s400/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B846.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f7vdIxCO1tA/Wh_0_P434bI/AAAAAAAAGcM/Hli0c-JoTpIlZWVyFyiHm0Epxc71ZnEKgCLcBGAs/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f7vdIxCO1tA/Wh_0_P434bI/AAAAAAAAGcM/Hli0c-JoTpIlZWVyFyiHm0Epxc71ZnEKgCLcBGAs/s400/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B857.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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And mega blocks for the babies:</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MsXcLrDpyLM/Wh_05nCmFaI/AAAAAAAAGbw/JWX8jmLhpS8oBNejd6ucYGFrtZiADaehgCLcBGAs/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MsXcLrDpyLM/Wh_05nCmFaI/AAAAAAAAGbw/JWX8jmLhpS8oBNejd6ucYGFrtZiADaehgCLcBGAs/s400/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B848.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Already have books with your theme? Create an easy reading nook!</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yBNS-ILfrLs/Wh_07wUAowI/AAAAAAAAGcA/gxODipOAiz4w_ZXUaHHQJ43YSlLmD9dXACLcBGAs/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yBNS-ILfrLs/Wh_07wUAowI/AAAAAAAAGcA/gxODipOAiz4w_ZXUaHHQJ43YSlLmD9dXACLcBGAs/s400/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B849.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Printed these sheets so everyone could create their own Lego person:</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V1TLUNWMKUo/Wh_077z_qhI/AAAAAAAAGb8/49meX8yiT8wko8wbv3MSicFXPGw8ghUNwCLcBGAs/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V1TLUNWMKUo/Wh_077z_qhI/AAAAAAAAGb8/49meX8yiT8wko8wbv3MSicFXPGw8ghUNwCLcBGAs/s400/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B850.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Made up a Lego memory face game:</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bRt1zH3HD1A/Wh_07hHMjiI/AAAAAAAAGb4/Baz61kTs8rIEL_XRQn7O73mKTWou2GC5QCLcBGAs/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bRt1zH3HD1A/Wh_07hHMjiI/AAAAAAAAGb4/Baz61kTs8rIEL_XRQn7O73mKTWou2GC5QCLcBGAs/s400/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B851.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm a sucker for creating signs on a computer program and printing like crazy:</div>
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Happy 7th Birthday, Elijah!!</div>
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Happy 7th Birthday, Will!!</div>
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The twins share a birthday with my dad so we made him blow out a candle as well. </div>
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He was super thrilled about it. HA! ;)</div>
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And Uncle Barry's Birthday in September too:</div>
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Opening gifts: Go Vikes!</div>
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Then later in the month, the boys had a friend birthday party! </div>
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We let the kids run around crazy in the yard! :) </div>
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And I was quickly reminded why I am not an elementary school teacher. </div>
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I don't have enough patience. ;)</div>
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Invitations:</div>
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The only problem was it was CRAZY WINDY so things kept flying all over the place!</div>
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Just did cupcakes for this party and since I have no cake making abilities, </div>
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it worked well to simply put a Lego on top. Pretty cute!</div>
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Party loot bags for this party:</div>
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Creating area:</div>
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Reading nook:</div>
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Thankful for great friends and cousins for the boys:</div>
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Making the same face as the Lego person cups they used! ;)</div>
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Cake and ice cream time:</div>
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Lego people they created: It was seriously so windy they didn't have to hold these up, </div>
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they just stuck to their faces. :) :)</div>
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What great parties! :)</div>
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<br />Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-54772486601620758922017-11-30T05:58:00.001-06:002017-11-30T05:58:49.707-06:00It's a.....................GIRL!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(News previously shared to family and friends in September 2017)</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Because of God's grace upon grace upon grace, we have been blessed. So very blessed. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">We are overjoyed and beyond grateful to add a precious little girl to our family. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Appropriately due on Valentine's Day 2018 as we are already so very much in love with this miracle.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Thank you for your continued love and prayers.</span></div>
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Is this really happening? ;)</div>
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The big balloon pop reveal:</div>
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Pink cookies to celebrate!!!</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-88054985711227933822017-08-27T16:12:00.000-05:002017-08-27T16:12:54.969-05:00Caleb is 3!<br />
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So....now that Caleb has been 3 for almost 4 months...I finally found some time to blog about it. Cut me some slack...it's summer. ;)<br />
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It's crazy hard to believe that my little baby is now 3 years old. These past 3 years have seriously flown by. Caleb brings such joy to our lives. We are so so grateful.<br />
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My love of themed party planning this year brought me to.....CURIOUS GEORGE!<br />
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All of my boys LOVE Curious George.. It's one of the few shows they all can sit and watch nice together. So, when one of our local little party dollar stores was going out of business and had Curious George plates and napkins on mega sale, I snatched them up and bam...I had a theme planned in January. ;)<br />
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Fast forward to mid-April and I realize Caleb's birthday is a few weeks away. Yikes! Time to plan! Why does it always sneak up so darn fast?<br />
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So just some quick ideas were thrown together mostly with things I already had for party supplies, other random Curious George books and things we already had around the house, and some work on Print Shop.<br />
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One of my favorite parts is creating the invitation. This one may be one of my all time favorites:<br />
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Party Table</div>
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I lucked out and remembered there are "Curious George" fruit snacks so got those as a party favor.</div>
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Beautiful cake made by Anna Minutillo. She never disappoints! </div>
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It was sooo pretty! Love the simple bright primary colors. </div>
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And of course it tasted AMAZING!</div>
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We had the Curious George lunch box and I used a $1 black easel from the Dollar Tree to display a book we also already had. In the red bowl is dried bananas which no one was a fan of. ;)</div>
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I wrote Caleb's name on a cute little banner I bought on clearance.</div>
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And the Birthday chalkboard was a $3 Target find that we can use over and over again!</div>
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Monkey Juice!</div>
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I purchased this drink jar a few years ago for around $20 and wow, </div>
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we've used it so many times for parties. Definitely worth it!</div>
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As I mentioned before, the clearance birthday plates and napkins that made me pick the George theme!</div>
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Took all our Curious George books and made a little reading nook for guests!</div>
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"Snuggle Up and Read A Book!"</div>
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We had a triple birthday party with Caleb's cousins, Ava and Cora. </div>
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They all have birthdays within 12 days of each other.</div>
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Here's the gift table:</div>
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So grateful it was a gorgeous day and we could all be outside!</div>
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I googled "Curious George free printables" and found some word finds, coloring sheets etc. to set out for kids to work on.</div>
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The May birthday kiddos!</div>
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Opening gifts!</div>
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Look what big brother, Eli, made for Caleb. So sweet...</div>
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Love this sassy birthday girl!</div>
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Cake overload!</div>
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Happy 13th Birthday Ava! </div>
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Happy 3rd Birthday Caleb! </div>
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Happy 10th Birthday Cora!</div>
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Big boy blowing out his candles!</div>
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All the Cox grandchildren. AND ALL LOOKING AT THE CAMERA!!!! </div>
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It's a miracle!</div>
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Silly kiddos</div>
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My boys and both sets of their grandparents!</div>
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My sisters and parents took a quick selfie together. </div>
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We need more of these!</div>
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Happy 3rd Birthday, Caleb. We love you dearly!</div>
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<br />Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-2528132824037659352017-07-31T05:48:00.000-05:002018-06-07T10:27:13.835-05:00Vincelli Family - Party of 6!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Sometimes you pray and wait for 1460+ days for the miracle of one baby. But after many treatments, procedures, and one round of IVF, you hold not one but two babies in your arms. </span><span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v9/f6c/1/16/1f499.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">💙</span></span><span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v9/f6c/1/16/1f499.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">💙</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Sometimes you pray for another baby.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">But after one unsuccessful round of FET (frozen embryo transfer), followed by a successful round of FET, your baby's heart stops beating and you lose a piece of your heart you'll n</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">ever get back.<br /><br />Sometimes when you feel like you are stuck among the darkest place of your life, God shows you He can do anything and you conceive a baby with no medical assistance. <span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v9/f6c/1/16/1f499.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">💙</span></span><br /><br />Sometimes your family still doesn't feel complete but you are terrified because infertility never truly leaves you. But you still trust and conceive a baby that very first month you decided to try. <span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v9/f15/1/16/1f49b.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">💛</span></span><br /><br />Lots of pain. Lots of joy. Sad tears. Happy tears. But through it all, one thing has never ever changed. God has been there, never leaving us....orchestrating all of the happenings of our lives to work together. Through all the ups and downs, we just keep trusting.<br /><br />I know many people think I'm an over-sharer. Think what you will. But God's miracles aren't meant to be hidden. His grace and faithfulness in my life are something I will never hide. And I pray you see His hand in your life as well. Our story definitely wasn't our plan but it was God's plan. And that's more than enough for me.<br /><br />Faith. Hope. Trust.<br /><br />Nick, the boys, and I are beyond overjoyed and absolutely thrilled to share our latest miracle with you....due Valentine's Day 2018</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-12387715533363683752016-11-04T14:11:00.002-05:002016-11-10T14:06:00.021-06:00HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY, ELIJAH & WILL<div style="text-align: center;">
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And then they turned 6 years old on September 13th!</div>
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{But I'm posting this in November. It always seems to take me awhile to get these birthday blog posts up!}</div>
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Here are my big boys on their special day after Kindergarten...with surprise balloons. You have no idea how much these kiddos like balloons. They mostly use them as weapons, but it was their day. ;)</div>
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The boys love "Wild Kratts" (an educational children's animated show on PBS) and wanted that to be their theme. But time is limited and that theme seemed to specific for me and wanting to find easy, fast, and inexpensive decorations, etc.. Plus when I started looking up things to do with that theme, my brain went crazy with seeing so many great ideas. I wanted to do them all and had to tell myself...NO...STOP!!</div>
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So....after some begging, I convinced them to just have a WILD ANIMAL theme. (And it was so much easier to find cheap and fun items to go along with this!)</div>
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Whew!</div>
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Here are the invitations I created on my print shop program on my computer:</div>
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It worked out again this year to have their family birthday party on my parent's farm in August before school started. The weather was beautiful and we had a special time celebrating. </div>
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I found these adorable animal masks for super cheap online. </div>
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Thank you, Amazon Prime, I don't know what I would do without you!!</div>
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Cousin fun:</div>
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The table:</div>
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* The black banner was purchased at Walmart for only $3. </div>
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It's chalkboard paper so the letters written with chalk can be erased and the banner can be used over and over!</div>
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I hit the jackpot at the Dollar Tree because they had so many "National Geographic" items there that were perfect for wild animals. What a coincidence. I was so excited!</div>
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Goodie bags were filled with these goodies I purchased there:</div>
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- activity place mats (16 sheets for $2)</div>
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- tear off sheet animal activities (40 sheets for $1)</div>
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- animal print pads of paper (4 for $1)</div>
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- 8 packs of Crayola crayons (3 for $1)</div>
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- sheets of animal stickers (4 for $1) (I cut them up.)</div>
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- colored pencils (12 for $1)</div>
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And the zebra print loot bags were for $1 (20 bags) at Walmart.</div>
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So I split them all up and goodies bags were filled very inexpensively:</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0QS5KXmJoQ/WBzPTHz8QzI/AAAAAAAAF9c/K1-OFIpKrMws1glfJMeRh5xjPsE0SqopwCLcB/s1600/DSC_2249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0QS5KXmJoQ/WBzPTHz8QzI/AAAAAAAAF9c/K1-OFIpKrMws1glfJMeRh5xjPsE0SqopwCLcB/s400/DSC_2249.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xGBXG_c2g7A/WBKwYH29nII/AAAAAAAAF6M/MGXrytYpIkkIPeyvUlLNUMzGXGQb1kSAACLcB/s1600/DSC_2196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xGBXG_c2g7A/WBKwYH29nII/AAAAAAAAF6M/MGXrytYpIkkIPeyvUlLNUMzGXGQb1kSAACLcB/s400/DSC_2196.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I used little animal figurines we had at home for decorations on the table:</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z39_ms5u2xc/WBKwYN4cE3I/AAAAAAAAF6Q/DkMWb8tHPrYyZZY1xWS_AcLNdVFvnJfyQCLcB/s1600/DSC_2197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z39_ms5u2xc/WBKwYN4cE3I/AAAAAAAAF6Q/DkMWb8tHPrYyZZY1xWS_AcLNdVFvnJfyQCLcB/s400/DSC_2197.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The cake!</div>
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My friend, Shaylah, created their cake this year. Not only was it beautiful, but it was delicious as well. The photo isn't the best but on the tiger print it says, "Eli" and on the zebra print it says, "Will."</div>
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Everyone loved it!</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sr4x6OeXHcU/WBzKOnBE0TI/AAAAAAAAF9A/R54ivAF0Yd8kY5CgdTAOxt9QO3sLVHCegCLcB/s1600/DSC_2184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sr4x6OeXHcU/WBzKOnBE0TI/AAAAAAAAF9A/R54ivAF0Yd8kY5CgdTAOxt9QO3sLVHCegCLcB/s400/DSC_2184.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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She even made the inside cake to be animal print!</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6WY0ZC6ZMWM/WBzMl4vFtKI/AAAAAAAAF9M/otGA8CHBuaoZn3jVNAl9b0531visfcKFQCLcB/s1600/inside%2Bcake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6WY0ZC6ZMWM/WBzMl4vFtKI/AAAAAAAAF9M/otGA8CHBuaoZn3jVNAl9b0531visfcKFQCLcB/s400/inside%2Bcake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I still can't believe they are SIX!</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKVKYDqCMho/WBKwnLw9FLI/AAAAAAAAF6g/LBpku2BdRvwn97BkbBE9-g4eMY3m6VQHgCLcB/s1600/DSC_2202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKVKYDqCMho/WBKwnLw9FLI/AAAAAAAAF6g/LBpku2BdRvwn97BkbBE9-g4eMY3m6VQHgCLcB/s400/DSC_2202.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Eli's turn:</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-81womqpJrLs/WBKwmpA94sI/AAAAAAAAF6Y/DedGlWd1cI0oYTHwqAE-5m53ylQDfrrKgCLcB/s1600/DSC_2208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-81womqpJrLs/WBKwmpA94sI/AAAAAAAAF6Y/DedGlWd1cI0oYTHwqAE-5m53ylQDfrrKgCLcB/s400/DSC_2208.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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Will's turn:</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xJRNB8xKh50/WBKwm9b-BpI/AAAAAAAAF6c/3w5HWHN9ic4iFQLJHb9ZIJq-Jox--Id7wCLcB/s1600/DSC_2210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xJRNB8xKh50/WBKwm9b-BpI/AAAAAAAAF6c/3w5HWHN9ic4iFQLJHb9ZIJq-Jox--Id7wCLcB/s400/DSC_2210.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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Like I said before, I hit the jackpot when looking at the Dollar Tree and found a bunch of "National Geographic" items including these alphabet animal cards. I purchased 2 packages so they could do a matching game. $2 total. Win - win!</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eoKPMgt2i2A/WBK1AiHaGeI/AAAAAAAAF7s/a0BE5Cl3UbItsnKAorfmIH1AEel0JSNeACLcB/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eoKPMgt2i2A/WBK1AiHaGeI/AAAAAAAAF7s/a0BE5Cl3UbItsnKAorfmIH1AEel0JSNeACLcB/s320/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B920.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Wild animal placemat worksheets the kids could color and work on during the party:</div>
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We had a joint party with their cousin, Ryder as her birthday </div>
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is the week before Eli and Will's. She is one year younger. </div>
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We tried to get a nice photo of them all together. You can see how well that went...</div>
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Ha! Love kids! :)</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RKzGyOAovMM/WBK1Hp4lceI/AAAAAAAAF8I/-YmNMgA_eUwAuzPMEfqPe2lQsD61oV7fQCLcB/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RKzGyOAovMM/WBK1Hp4lceI/AAAAAAAAF8I/-YmNMgA_eUwAuzPMEfqPe2lQsD61oV7fQCLcB/s320/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B968.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Happy 5th Birthday, Ryder!</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iA-mwk7_NOw/WBzNXJgS-bI/AAAAAAAAF9Q/iYH8vPiECoUTKV6uBsXfxkLpNuZgOw6aACLcB/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iA-mwk7_NOw/WBzNXJgS-bI/AAAAAAAAF9Q/iYH8vPiECoUTKV6uBsXfxkLpNuZgOw6aACLcB/s320/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B963.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Happy 6th Birthday Will & Eli!</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMpO2rhT9Xs/WBK1GUv-HEI/AAAAAAAAF8E/LiLuOhaGEsEcjKCjb9LRZSaQIOqneBs6ACLcB/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMpO2rhT9Xs/WBK1GUv-HEI/AAAAAAAAF8E/LiLuOhaGEsEcjKCjb9LRZSaQIOqneBs6ACLcB/s320/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B962.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The birthday party guests enjoying lunch:</div>
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(I forgot to take a photo of the food spread! </div>
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But trust me, it was good!)</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D-7J-TLKUvQ/WBK1GKw72fI/AAAAAAAAF78/Z7PD1mkJjQQGJk7BL0h-IeSZWrpLlxk0ACLcB/s1600/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D-7J-TLKUvQ/WBK1GKw72fI/AAAAAAAAF78/Z7PD1mkJjQQGJk7BL0h-IeSZWrpLlxk0ACLcB/s320/Amy%2527s%2BiPhone%2B958.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Spoiled with gifts:</div>
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And......the</div>
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FRIEND BIRTHDAY PARTY:</div>
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In early September, at our home we had a friend birthday party for the twins. I used all the same decorations, etc. </div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_zcGQO70yOw/WBzVtzSxJPI/AAAAAAAAF-I/ZEyp7gcRB2My3AolaBJMnOQV7a8VhvuBgCLcB/s1600/DSC_2255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_zcGQO70yOw/WBzVtzSxJPI/AAAAAAAAF-I/ZEyp7gcRB2My3AolaBJMnOQV7a8VhvuBgCLcB/s320/DSC_2255.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Although I made cupcakes instead of doing another cake. I found smaller plastic animals at a party store in my town for $2, so we put those on the cupcakes and then each child took one home.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsYcDmqhTWE/WBzUZLyyH4I/AAAAAAAAF90/G8MlWG46yIUnRRTNeyRS1t6tZ4lC8tDtQCLcB/s1600/DSC_2242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsYcDmqhTWE/WBzUZLyyH4I/AAAAAAAAF90/G8MlWG46yIUnRRTNeyRS1t6tZ4lC8tDtQCLcB/s320/DSC_2242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The table:</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ieoVZk-Odrc/WBzUh8dkUDI/AAAAAAAAF98/sykhdSb6OJoxFhW6kh5sQcFTGZ8vKamGgCLcB/s1600/DSC_2248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ieoVZk-Odrc/WBzUh8dkUDI/AAAAAAAAF98/sykhdSb6OJoxFhW6kh5sQcFTGZ8vKamGgCLcB/s320/DSC_2248.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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The punch:</div>
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We already had an animal game where you match the mommy with the baby. So, we did timed team races to see who could do it the fastest!</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-deH9yHB1XkY/WBzUTqNXqUI/AAAAAAAAF9w/LAqAio9oDq8Oab-ZJFrG-OhunhhxBXMEQCLcB/s1600/DSC_2259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-deH9yHB1XkY/WBzUTqNXqUI/AAAAAAAAF9w/LAqAio9oDq8Oab-ZJFrG-OhunhhxBXMEQCLcB/s320/DSC_2259.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And the animal alphabet card matching game again:</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dHU4vxM74t4/WBzUTvOo1fI/AAAAAAAAF9s/rfRkujkTLdM_agyB89Ktc8M1gT2_fJsVACLcB/s1600/DSC_2261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dHU4vxM74t4/WBzUTvOo1fI/AAAAAAAAF9s/rfRkujkTLdM_agyB89Ktc8M1gT2_fJsVACLcB/s320/DSC_2261.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another game: a different version of "I Spy" with little animals.</div>
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And there you have it. The "Wild Animals" theme! </div>
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I just love planning themed parties. I wish I had time to do more but this keeps me happy for now. :) You can do so much with a little creativity and finding inexpensive items. </div>
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I think all the kids had a blast. I sure did too.</div>
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Mission accomplished! :)</div>
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Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-43392691653944073132016-06-02T21:51:00.001-05:002016-06-15T21:22:55.727-05:00Caleb's 2nd and Golden Birthday<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">And just like that, my little baby turned 2 years old.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Caleb Pasquale. (Pronounced "pass-kwa-lay") </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Two years old. (What?!?!?!) </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Happy giggly boy. (Most of the time.) </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">My big little miracle: Big lips. Big smile. Big laughs. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">But little boy. (25 pounds 6 ounces. 16th percentile for weight. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">34 inches tall. 37th percentile for height.) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Loves milk. (Like really really loves milk.) </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Doesn't love food so much. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">(Obviously he does not take after me.) </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Great n</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">apper and sleeper. (Obviously he takes after me.) </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">(Would have them all day long if we let him.) </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Loves to read books. (Often says, "Read! Read!") </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Loves music. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">(He catches on to tunes quickly and hums/sings often.) </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Loves being outside. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">(But throws the ugliest fit when it's time to come back inside.) </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Has now entered the stage </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">of wanting to do everything on his own. </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Hits and wrestles. </span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Always screams, "I baby!" when asked to say, "I'm a big boy." </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">(And toddlers are always right, you know. So no arguing there.) </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Whenever I ask him to say, "I'm two!", he replies, "I tree!!!" </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">(He's saying, "I three." </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Poor kid doesn't know if he's three or a baby. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">He'll figure it out eventually.)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Happy 2nd Birthday AND Golden Birthday my sweet boy. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">You are loved. So very very loved. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of us at Caleb's Birthday Party - Mother's Day!</td></tr>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Caleb turned 2 years old on May 2nd. His Golden Birthday! We had a triple birthday party this year (and probably will continue to for years to come!) because two of his cousins here in our town also have early May birthdays. And with family members being about 3 hours away, it's so much easier to have all their parties together so everyone can attend. So, we celebrated his birthday with family on May 8th, which also was Mother's Day. </span></span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Caleb loves the board book, "Little Blue Truck" (and all kinds of animals) so I thought this was a great theme for him this year. If you don't know the board book, it's super cute.</span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><em style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;">"Beep! Beep! Beep!</em><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"> Meet Blue. A muddy country road is no match for this little pick up--that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they're willing to do whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;" /><span id="caseCorrespondence_32603239805_text" style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">With a text full of truck sounds and animal noises to read aloud, here is a rollicking homage</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"> to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others."</span></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">My friend, Jodi, made the amazing cake. Not only did it look fabulous but it tasted delicious! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">She did such an amazing job and we are so very grateful for her talent! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Everyone loved it. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Especially Caleb!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Caleb's Cake Table</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Happy 12th Birthday to Ava, 9th Birthday to Cora, </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">and 2nd Birthday to Caleb!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The girls helping Caleb open gifts.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Caleb loved his cake!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Blowing out candles! He blew so gently and not nearly enough to blow it out. It was so cute.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aPU_qsaLAfM/V0S2Ckh8xTI/AAAAAAAAFyQ/x9uoSOrlyHoAGDF32OmJPHH6x2xzLhr8ACLcB/s1600/DSC_1500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aPU_qsaLAfM/V0S2Ckh8xTI/AAAAAAAAFyQ/x9uoSOrlyHoAGDF32OmJPHH6x2xzLhr8ACLcB/s400/DSC_1500.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">But then he actually waved his arms in excitement and that is how one blew out!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The weather was gorgeous. So glad we could be outside!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I won a free bounce house rental last month. How cool is that?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">And perfect timing for this party with so many kids there. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">They all had a blast jumping. So much fun!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">But poor Eli got a knee right to his eye among all </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">the jumping in the bounce house.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">And here was his pretty swollen shiner the next day:</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JJTnSJ7KVB8/V1DsRsmUi6I/AAAAAAAAFzw/84mALLtS4WUmcmJmDoF3EWqGqYl-JaP0QCLcB/s1600/birthday%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JJTnSJ7KVB8/V1DsRsmUi6I/AAAAAAAAFzw/84mALLtS4WUmcmJmDoF3EWqGqYl-JaP0QCLcB/s400/birthday%2B3.jpg" width="331" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">All the kiddos at the party. Cousins and "honorary" cousins!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Here are me and my boys!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">{If you look, you can see a little "orb" above my head. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I like to think it's our angel baby in heaven popping in to say, "Hello Mommy!"}</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">It was an awesome Mother's Day. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Beautiful weather and amazing company!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">So grateful for these moments!</span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-27987803320661645462016-04-25T21:00:00.000-05:002016-04-25T21:00:40.458-05:00National Infertility Awareness Week 2016: Emerging from Infertility?<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">It's National Infertility Awareness Week. NIAW is a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">project of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. The goal of the week is to raise awareness about infertility, to encourage grassroots advocacy, and help couples with infertility cope with their disease. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet, 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">Infertility affects 1 in every 8 couples. 1 in 8!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet, 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">7.3 million Americans are diagnosed with infertility. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">In 2013, my friend, Jen, asked me to write a post on her blog about what it's like to have struggled with infertility and what it's like to emerge on the other side. I'd like to share this again, (with a few revisions and additions) for this year's National Infertility Awareness Week.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><u><b>Emerging from Infertility?</b></u></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">It is interesting to think of me emerging on the other side of infertility, because I definitely have after the birth of my twin boys, Elijah and Will (who are now 5.5 years old!) and almost 2 year old singleton, Caleb. Others who don't know me, most likely look at me with 3 children and would never guess infertility is a part of my life. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">But it definitely is. And honestly, I don't think one can ever truly leave infertility behind. So, no, I know I haven’t fully emerged from it. It’s a big part of me and who I now am. It will never leave me. And I am amazingly okay with that.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My family</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">Even after the miracles of our twin boys in 2010, my husband and were thrown right back into the ugly world of infertility as we continued to struggle conceiving again for over a year in 2012 and 2013. My infertility story is just one of many. And each story is so very different. Although there are many similarities of pain and grief, there are so many more differences: different doctors, different techniques, different procedures, different results, and different outcomes. For some couples it is the "male factor" because of low sperm count, or low motility, or the shape of the sperm. For others it is the "female factor" because the woman doesn't produce eggs, or she doesn't ovulate, or her fallopian tubes are blocked, or she suffers from endometriosis, etc. For others, the woman can easily become pregnant but cannot carry a baby without miscarrying over and over again. Having a gestational carrier may be an option for some of these couples. And yet for other couples, it is both "male and female factors" and surrogacy and/or adoption may be their only options. For others there are "no factors" which is called "unexplained infertility", meaning doctors cannot find anything wrong. And some have "secondary infertility" which is being able to conceive after you have successfully conceived other children. So yes, so many different factors and each story is so very different.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">My story is meant to be shared. I feel it in my heart to do so. I always have. It’s a story of God’s perfect timing and God’s perfect plan. I don't share my story for attention. I don't share it for pity. I share it because there are many people out there who desperately need support. They may not be able or willing to speak out, so I will help be their voice. They need to know they are not alone. They need to know it is okay to be sad. They need to know they are supported.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">It took my husband and I over 3 years to conceive. We wed in 2004 and started trying after 2 years of marriage in 2006. After one year of "trying on our own," we started doctoring and had many tests and treatments in both our own town and at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. We had 5 unsuccessful IUI's (intra-uterine inseminations). At one point, we were given a 3% chance of conceiving on our own, as the doctors came to the conclusion that my husband's sperm could not penetrate into my eggs. Finally in 2010, we became pregnant with our twins on our first round of a fresh cycle ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) IVF (in-vitro fertilization) transfer where they injected 2 embryos. We were grateful, overjoyed, and ecstatic to be doubly blessed and finally hold our own little miracles in our arms, almost exactly four years from when we first started trying to conceive.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">When the twins were about 20 months old, in May of 2012, we started trying again on our own for another baby, but with no success. We started doctoring at the Mayo Clinic again and had a FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer) with 1 embryo in February of 2013, but I did not become pregnant. We were devastated. We tried again right away and had another FET (with 1 embryo) in April of 2013 and became pregnant. But at a little over 6 weeks gestation, I miscarried and we said goodbye to our miracle. (Blogpost about my miscarriage: <a href="http://www.amycoxvincelli.blogspot.com/2013/08/goodbye-sweet-baby.html" target="_blank">Goodbye Sweet Baby</a>) Heartbroken does not even begin to describe what we felt. But we took comfort in knowing that the first thing our baby ever saw was the face of Jesus. At this time, we still have 4 frozen embryos in cyropreservation. I call it "frozen daycare," because it isn't cheap to keep them in storage!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet, 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">So yes, we had emerged on the other side of infertility, but then were thrown right back in it again. And like I said, it never really left us anyway. And now we have a miscarriage to add to our infertility story. Yet another part of my life story that I never thought would happen to me. From there, many questions remained. Do we keep trying on our own? Do we do another FET? Or do we see this as a sign that it's time to stop trying? Do we try a gestational carrier? Do we adopt for our miracle? Or do we adjust to a life of no more children and move on?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">While we pondered these questions over the summer after our miscarriage, we kept trying to conceive. And 3 months after we lost our baby, we experienced another amazing and very unexpected miracle. We conceived on our own for the first time ever. Overjoyed and shocked and grateful doesn't even begin to describe our feelings. We couldn't believe this had happened. (Actually I still don't quite believe it and baby boy is almost now 2 years old!) Praise God!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">Even with another incredible miracle, we still have fears. And we still feel the pain from infertility. And most likely always will. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">Infertility is many things. I know a lot about the medical side of infertility. Although most of it doesn't truly make sense to me. Because wow...our bodies are absolutely amazing and there are so many things that have to be absolutely perfect to conceive and carry a healthy baby. I know that each and every baby, no matter the circumstance, is nothing short of an absolute miracle. And I know that medical treatments can only go so far and do so much. Because that is where God comes in and the true miracle occurs.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet, 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">But I know even more about the emotional side of infertility. I know most people won't understand just how truly destructive infertility is. Just as you cannot truly understand something unless you've been through it yourself. It's like the saying, "For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">Infertility kills dreams. It makes you feel like you are losing every good thing about yourself. It exhausts your body with endless medications and injections. It makes you feel so frustrated with your body as to why you cannot do something so natural as create a baby. It breaks hearts. It makes you feel jealous. Then it makes you hate yourself because of those feelings you don't want to have, but can't stop. It makes you gain weight. It, along with the medications, makes your hormones all over the place. It makes you angry and bitter. It crushes your heart. It makes you feel lonely. It opens the most private parts of your life to random nurses and doctors, therefore making you feel awkward and invaded. It messes with your hope. It makes you feel irrational. It makes you wonder what you did in your past that was so horrible that now you are being punished for it. It emotionally drains you from happiness you used to so easily feel. It makes sex become a chore instead of pleasure. It steals your money. It consumes you. And worst of all, it makes you question God as to what is so horrible about yourself that you aren't good enough to be a mother. It makes you feel unworthy. Infertility pretty much sucks. Yup, it totally sucks.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet, 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">You smile your way through baby showers, births, holidays, baptisms, and birthday parties of families and friends even though your heart continues to break inside. And it's not because you aren't happy for them and love children, because you truly do. You treasure the miracle and sweetness of babies and children. But your heart aches because you so desperately see the parents' joys and want to feel that in your own heart with your own children. You want to hold your own baby in your arms, but never know if you will get the chance.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">1 in 8 couples will struggle with infertility. Therefore, odds are you know someone who is suffering. If you know any of those people, I encourage you to pray for them, support them, and just let them know you care. Because if they have told you about it, that is them reaching out for help. Women and men with infertility unfortunately do not usually get the support they need because it is commonly a hidden subject. People are ashamed, but they should not be. Be their support. Help give them hope.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet, 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">One of the hardest things to describe and express about infertility is the loss each and every month: the extreme grief and despair. I have experienced the loss of month after month of not becoming pregnant. 52 times to be exact. 52 times of heartbreak. That is 52 months/cycles we tried with not becoming pregnant. And it is a pain like no other. You grieve your baby that could have been. And then you feel crazy for being so devastated for losing something you never had to begin with. But it is real. And it is deep. You grieve the hopes and dreams of yet another child that you so desperately wanted. You grieve time lost and thousands upon thousands of dollars lost with nothing to show for it. You grieve because you never know if you will ever conceive a baby. And every month you wait, for half of every month (during the 2 weeks you wait to find out if you are pregnant), you do just that: WAIT. Waiting, waiting, and more waiting. You spend half of your "trying to conceive" life pretending you are pregnant, just in case you are, only to be crushed when it is another negative result.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet, 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">You tell yourself over and over that "It will happen in time." But did you know that if you have sex at exactly the right time with all perfect conditions, that you still only have a 20% chance of becoming pregnant each time? Seriously! A 20% chance! That is amazing. So, sadly the odds are often against you. Just another example of how each and every pregnancy is an absolute miracle. Also, along with the statistics that 1 in every 4 pregnancies results in a miscarriage. One in every four! You cannot tell me that each and every baby born isn't meant to be.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet, 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">My miscarriage was hard. I was heartbroken. But I can honestly say that for me, many of the months of not getting pregnant during years of infertility were many times almost as hard as our miscarriage. Imagine grieving a loss every month for years. It tears your heart apart. You stay hopeful and then drop to a low again each month. But it just seems like the next time you get back up, it is not nearly as high as you had been the time before. You feel defeated. But somehow you keep on moving forward. Because we all know that if you want a child, making a family is worth anything.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet, 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">The pain of infertility is deep: the waiting, the questions, the taking chances, the struggles, the longing, the sacrifices, the statistics, the money, the bills you owe, the crying, the loneliness, the praying, the enduring, the stresses, the planning, the countless medications, the many appointments, the questions, the never knowing if you will be able to conceive, the pain of watching so many around you having children, hearing of abortions, seeing yet another teenager become pregnant who doesn't want a baby, listening to pregnant women complain about being pregnant, reading about child abuse, and on and on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #660000;">Infertility isn't easy. I kept notes/charts and recently went back to add it all up. Throughout my personal infertility journey, I have:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;">- Taken 547 pills</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #660000;">- Received 160 shots
(most given by myself in my stomach and some from Nick in my butt, yes my butt!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #660000;">- Given myself 169
vaginal suppositories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #660000;">- Given 8 sperm samples
(Nick's duty, not mine!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #660000;">- Had 25 vaginal
ultrasounds<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;">- Had 19 blood
draws/tests</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;">- Had 61 doctor
appointments (40 appointments at the Mayo Clinic in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;">Rochester</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;"> and 21 in </span><st1:place><st1:city><span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;">Owatonna</span></st1:city><span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;">, </span><st1:state><span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;">MN</span></st1:state></st1:place><span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;">)</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt;">- And t</span><span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;">herefore driven a
total of 3200 miles for those 40 appointments at Mayo. That's approximately 54
hours spent driving. That's a lot of time to think.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #660000;">- Had 1
Hysterosalpingography Procedure (HSG) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #660000;">- Had 5 Intrauterine
Inseminations (IUI)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #660000;">- Had 1 Egg Retrieval
Surgery (With 10 fertilized embryos!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #660000;">- Had 1 round of In-Vitro
Fertilization (IVF) with ICSI (Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #660000;">- Had 2 rounds of Frozen Embryo
Transfers (FET)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #660000;">- Had 1 miscarriage<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #660000;">- Currently still have 4 remaining
frozen embryos in cryopreservation from original 10 (2 embryos became our precious twins, lost 2 embryos that did not survive the
thaws for FETs, lost one embryo transferred that did not become a pregnancy,
and lost another embryo due to miscarriage)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #660000;">*None of these totals
include pre-natal pills or anything pregnancy related (such as ultrasounds,
appointments, etc.) with the twins or our singleton. This was all
"infertility" related.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">As you can imagine, by far, one of the biggest struggles for most couples is stressing over the cost. Unfortunately, many states and insurance plans have no coverage for infertility. None. Most people are paying for everything out of pocket. Fortunately, I had some coverage for our first round of IVF, but we used up our lifetime coverage right away, so everything since has been 100% out of pocket. I don't even want to think about how much we've spent on the other two rounds of FETs (Frozen Embryo Tranfers). But, I am truly grateful that we can afford these treatments, as I know there are many people who cannot because of finances. Many do not even get that choice. The treatments are expensive and the medication costs are atrocious. Also, the fertility drugs need to be shipped from specialty pharmacies. I searched all over the country and usually ordered mine from Texas, as they were the cheapest for us. Then when they arrive, you stress over measuring the doses correctly and giving the shot properly because you know if you mess it up, it can cost you hundreds of dollars.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet, 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">As much as I wish I could take away infertility from everyone, I can't. And who are we to choose why suffering happens, who it happens to, and how it happens as well? We all have our crosses to bear. Yes, the struggle sucks. But your struggle is part of your story. And I truly believe God will not leave us and will give us the strength to carry on even when we feel like we are ready to give up.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">When you cannot conceive a child, it is more than unfair. Reproducing is supposed to be so natural and a normal part of life. And as the Bible says, "Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him." Psalm 127:3. Children are a blessing, so why can't we all create new life so easily? I know there are people who will argue that infertility is "not that big of a deal." Yes, I know there are much "worse" things in life. So many devastating things that occur to people, from painful diseases, to abuse, to tragic deaths, etc. But honestly, someone will always have it worse. And I do not think it is fair for people to belittle other's emotions or what they are going through just because someone out there has it worse. Like I said, we all have our crosses to bear, and we never really know what is going to be our "worst" or who will have it worse. Suffering is suffering. And everyone needs support. Everyone needs hope.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">Perhaps one of the hardest things about infertility is the unknown of not knowing what to do and not knowing what the future holds. You never know how long your journey will be or what the outcome will be. How many medications do we try? How far do we go? What do we try next? How many treatments are we able to do? How many more thousands of dollars are we willing to spend? How much more are we willing to put ourselves though before we realize we are wasting our time, money, and hearts? If we only knew that by a certain point, we would be guaranteed a child, we know we would do anything. Anything! But it is all a gamble. There are no guarantees. That unknown is horrible. The waiting, the not knowing, is a pain I wouldn't wish upon anyone.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet, 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">But I would be lying if I said infertility hasn't brought good things to my life. Because it certainly has. My faith and relationship with God is stronger. I trust more, I believe more, I hope more. I'm more compassionate and more giving. My relationship with my husband is stronger. We have always had an amazing, loving, and supportive relationship, but infertility has made our faith in God together stronger than strong. My husband did not grow up in a family who attended church, so to watch his faith grow has been nothing short of incredible. We have become even stronger as a couple and stronger in our faith together. What a true blessing! We had over 6 years of marriage with just him and I alone before we had our twins. I know him better than I know anyone. I am so grateful for our years together. We celebrate 12 years of marriage next month.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">Another blessing is that I have supported and encouraged many lives upon starting my “infertility journey” blog. I have "met" people from all across the country who read my blog and so deeply relate to what I write, which has given them comfort and hope. I hope and pray that through my blog and through my story, my heartache will help be someone else's hope. Because I truly believe that with hope, the odds don't matter.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">And ultimately, if I hadn't left my job to take time off because of infertility, I would have never started my own business (Vincelli Designs and Decor) selling crafts online that I design and create.(</span><a href="http://www.vincellidesigns.com/" style="background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet, 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px; text-decoration: none;">www.vincellidesigns.com</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">) It is something that has brought much needed confidence and joy to my life these past seven years. It is the perfect balance of staying at home with my boys and also having some time away for myself.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet, 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">Blessings definitely come out of sufferings, even among the pain. This quote describes it perfectly: "Sometimes the hardest storms to get through are the ones your soul needs the most. And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. But, survive you did. And one thing is certain: when you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in. That's what the storm's all about." - The Horse Mafia</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">I've experienced many different aspects of infertility. I've had a twin pregnancy via IVF, a FET that wasn't successful, a singleton pregnancy via FET, which resulted in a miscarriage. And a singleton pregnancy on our own with no medical assistance. I often think about how we've experienced all this and why we've had to experience each of these. I know I won't ever fully know or understand it, but I'll just keep trusting. For some reason, this was God's plan.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">I truly believe that God has a bigger plan for all of us than we have for ourselves. And I trust in that. No matter what happens, no matter what your struggle is or what your cross to bear is, I pray you find hope and joy in His plan for your life, just as I have. I will continue to share my story in hopes of comforting and inspiring others. And if anything else for YOU, for everyone, to know that no matter what you are going through, to know that you are not alone. You are never alone. God has a perfect plan for your family and for your life. Everything is happening for a reason on your path that was planned just for you. Trust in that. Try not to second guess what you have done or what you are planning to do. Keep the faith. Whatever it is will be worth waiting for. And remember that there is always, always, always HOPE.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet, 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">Looking back, even if I could go back and take away all our infertility, I wouldn't. After all, it’s ultimately given me my three beautiful boys. I praise God everyday for my precious miracles, Elijah, Will, and Caleb.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">I am grateful for what I have endured. I am strong. I will keep surviving. Infertility has helped make me who I am today. It is part of me and will be forever. I embrace that.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">Yes, I have infertility.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet, 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">But it does not have me.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><br /></span>Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-64137082511220921662015-10-12T20:20:00.002-05:002015-10-12T20:20:55.063-05:00Happy 5th Birthday, Elijah & Will!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FzACP_8RxmM/VhsjUvSwZlI/AAAAAAAAFnI/KDoo_UlaAmc/s1600/5%2Byears%2Bold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FzACP_8RxmM/VhsjUvSwZlI/AAAAAAAAFnI/KDoo_UlaAmc/s400/5%2Byears%2Bold.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The twins are 5! They had 3 awesome birthday celebrations...lucky ducks!</div>
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The first was a mini-birthday party while we were on vacation in August in northern Minnesota with their cousin Max, who also turned 5, four weeks before the twins. We did this so we could party with all the Vincelli family at the same time. We did a cute little and simple "build your own ice-cream sundae" party. It was a great time.</div>
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Next we had a birthday party with the Cox side at my parent's farm. We did this as a joint party with two of Eli and Will's cousins. Instead of doing a separate, individual party, we decided to do a joint party for all of them. I think my days of big themed parties are coming to an end. As much as I enjoy themeing and party planning, it just isn't feasible anymore. On the Cox side, there are 8 grandchildren. Three of them have birthdays within 2 weeks of each other in May and four have birthdays in August/September within 4 weeks of each other. Therefore, it is sooo hard to plan separate parties for all of them where all of our families members can attend especially since they are so close in the same time frame. And also because we live 3 hours away from them. </div>
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So this year we coordinated and planned all the food together and each had our own separate decorated tables with individual themes and cakes. I think it turned out great. And everyone could have pieces of cake from 3 separate cakes. Win-win-WIN! ;)</div>
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In May, we will do the same for the other three with birthdays then. And the other grandchild has her birthday all by herself in February, so we will see if she gets her own separate party. :)</div>
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And their last party occurred on their actual birthday, which fell on a Sunday. We had a little "friend" birthday party at a local park. It was a beautiful September day and the kids all had a great time. We asked for no gifts. We just wanted the boys to be able to play and enjoy being with friends. I made cupcakes with white frosting and used black/white checkered flag tooth picks. Simple!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--dfQFC_Rpwc/VhseutVzWoI/AAAAAAAAFms/iPJ1nLfltVk/s1600/DSC_9690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--dfQFC_Rpwc/VhseutVzWoI/AAAAAAAAFms/iPJ1nLfltVk/s400/DSC_9690.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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The twins helped me put together cute little party favor bags, but I forgot to get a photo of what we put inside! There were crackers, granola bars, a pad of paper, a pencil, and a little gold toy trophy, all in a "race car" see through gift bag. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z05CUJbafuo/VhsfAM5t7ZI/AAAAAAAAFm8/qYQbrWu8lbE/s1600/DSC_9694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z05CUJbafuo/VhsfAM5t7ZI/AAAAAAAAFm8/qYQbrWu8lbE/s400/DSC_9694.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's the invite I created and designed for their friend party:</div>
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And......</div>
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I didn't realize until right now that I misspelled Chief. Ughh! Crew Chief not Crew Chef!!! Seriously. Party invitation FAIL! Oops! I guess all I can do about it now is laugh. ;)</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uY1BWfL69mo/VhseIC4YtBI/AAAAAAAAFmk/eE5yq_r2JSc/s1600/invite%2Brace%2Bcar.jpg%2Bnew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uY1BWfL69mo/VhseIC4YtBI/AAAAAAAAFmk/eE5yq_r2JSc/s400/invite%2Brace%2Bcar.jpg%2Bnew.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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When I asked what kind of birthday cake theme they wanted this year, they both said, "race car!" And they said the same thing each time I asked. Thank goodness they agreed with each other and didn't change their minds.</div>
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All smiles!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z0hOuiAmPZ0/Vhc0d5L3g7I/AAAAAAAAFkc/Wc-RFwARriM/s1600/DSC_9525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z0hOuiAmPZ0/Vhc0d5L3g7I/AAAAAAAAFkc/Wc-RFwARriM/s400/DSC_9525.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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It took awhile to get a photo of them actually LOOKING at the camera. I thought this one was hilarious. Must be a twin thing. Their smiles and eyes looking to the right are exactly the same. Ha!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnY7wcZGSWE/Vhc0eMWPwxI/AAAAAAAAFkg/n-_jpptc1v8/s1600/DSC_9519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnY7wcZGSWE/Vhc0eMWPwxI/AAAAAAAAFkg/n-_jpptc1v8/s400/DSC_9519.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I saw what I thought would be a super easy cake in a "Family Fun" magazine. I looked at the photo and thought, "Easy peezy! Just bake 2 round cakes. Cut it in half. Make a tunnel. Cover with white frosting. And BAM! Done!" Well, once again, I thought I was a better cake decorator than I really am and it was a lot more work than I intended. I made a few mistakes along the way but was able to fix it...thankfully! </div>
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I also thought it'd be fun to do a red velvet cake. But what I didn't know was that the frosting was going to stick so much and it just kept pulling up the dark cake with it. So there were brown/red specks all over the white frosting. My sister saved the day and said, "Well, it's a race track, it just looks like dirt splattered up!" Yes, yes, nevermind. That's exactly the look I was going for. I totally meant to do that! Just don't look too closely and the cake looks okay. :)</div>
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Needless to say, I'm over cakes. So I will say I'm never making one again. Until I forget next year and start planning another one. Ha!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywC6dnj5kf8/Vhc0sI1ty3I/AAAAAAAAFlM/u8UQNCJ2rzA/s1600/DSC_9544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywC6dnj5kf8/Vhc0sI1ty3I/AAAAAAAAFlM/u8UQNCJ2rzA/s400/DSC_9544.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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But turns out it didn't really matter what the cake looked like because the race track going through it totally rocked and worked great. The twins and all the kids LOVED it! Whew!</div>
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It ended up being soooo hot that day. Why does it always seem to be hot when my children have birthday parties? Crazy! I thought the cake would melt but it survived!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iiU_VVhkNus/Vhc0cMbceKI/AAAAAAAAFkU/nn7sK8YF7D0/s1600/DSC_9529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iiU_VVhkNus/Vhc0cMbceKI/AAAAAAAAFkU/nn7sK8YF7D0/s400/DSC_9529.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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I threw in a few red accent colors to coordinate with the black and white. The punch worked great for that. I'm so glad I bought this glass jug for Caleb's birthday last May. I have a feeling we are going to get a lot of great use out of it over the years!</div>
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"Refueling Station!"</div>
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Here's a view of the whole table with cheap black and white checkered flag decor (flags, napkins, duct tape, etc.) I found at a party store and some at the Dollar Tree in my town. Great deals! And the 2 bigger nice race cars were a gift last year from a friend. Who knew that would end up being our theme and we could use them as decor!?</div>
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Little goobers! I can't believe they are FIVE!</div>
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Silly boys...</div>
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Shooting cars through the cake! We already had the hot wheels race track already so it worked out great!</div>
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Ryder turned 4 years old! She loves Sophia the First!</div>
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Eleanor turned 2! She had an adorable Minnie Mouse theme!</div>
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Happy Birthday Elijah</div>
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Happy Birthday Will</div>
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Opening gifts!</div>
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Silly cousins!</div>
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We had so many great celebrations with family and friends. </div>
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So grateful!</div>
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<br />Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-55357247818984858732015-05-14T14:59:00.001-05:002015-05-14T20:44:12.810-05:00You Are My Sunshine - Caleb is 1!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our little sunshine is one year old!</div>
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I thought "YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE" would be a super cute theme for our sweet little boy. Because he brings such joy and happiness into our lives and brightens all our days!</div>
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{My Grandma Cox used to sing the "You Are My Sunshine" song to me when I was a little girl. She lived right next door to us on the farm but passed away when I was just 9 years old. I always wish I had more time with her. She was lovely. I know that popular song holds a special place in so many people's hearts!}</div>
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And here's the Birthday Boy! </div>
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{not walking on his own at that time...</div>
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holding on tight to daddy's hand}</div>
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Caleb is such a sweet little guy. He's very easy going and such a calm, happy baby. He's a great napper and LOVES his pacifier. He can say "dada" and "momma"." He loves to clap and wave "bye-bye." He is a music lover and "dances" by bobbing his body up and down or shaking his shoulders back and forth every time he hears music. He squeals with delight when he is excited and waves his arms around. He now weighs 19 pounds 14 ounces (10th percentile) and is 29 inches tall (24th percentile). He started walking one week after this photo was taken (on Mother's Day!). Two more teeth just popped through this past week for a total of 8 teeth now. That smile, those big lips, and the little curls in his hair...such a cutie pie. </div>
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I asked my friend, Karli, to create this adorable onesie for Caleb. </div>
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Didn't she do an amazing job?!? I love it. It's just perfect!</div>
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I made the invites off of a print I liked that I found on the internet. </div>
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This is the invitation front:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z7ffQ_Riuy0/VVT4boAaVFI/AAAAAAAAFdk/R6Qp5Eo2N8o/s1600/caleb%2Binvite%2Bfront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z7ffQ_Riuy0/VVT4boAaVFI/AAAAAAAAFdk/R6Qp5Eo2N8o/s400/caleb%2Binvite%2Bfront.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And then I designed the backside myself:</div>
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Cake & Lemonade Table:</div>
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You'll have to excuse the lovely "garage wall" behind the table! I wanted to have this table outside in our backyard with a better "view" but it was so hot out, the cakes would have started melting! So inside the garage it was. ;)</div>
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For the theme I went with yellow, yellow, yellow with a mix of white and light blue. Most everything I already had around the house and used that to decorate. The photo of newborn Caleb was in his bedroom along with the "Caleb" metal word decoration his Uncle Josh made. And I used inexpensive, fake flowers in mason jars for some random decorations. I did purchase the "you are my sunshine" sign at Kohl's a few days before the party. I randomly saw it as I walked past and just had it get it because it was only $2.50. Meant to be and a perfect addition.</div>
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The cakes were amazing! Not only gorgeous but incredibly delicious! A local woman here made them and I was so pleased with how they turned out. I went with lemon poppyseed flavor to stay with the "yellow" theme. Something a little different, but I think all the guests enjoyed it! Thank you, Anna!</div>
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It was so gorgeous, I didn't want to cut into it! I painted the wooden number 1 and meant to put it on the cake, but totally forgot! I was also going to write "Caleb" on the number 1 but just didn't have time. </div>
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Here's Caleb's smaller smash cake with one candle.</div>
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I made the "art" in the white frame. I already had the frame and then I copy and pasted the top part off the internet. (Same as invitations.) Then I designed Caleb's name and birthdate to match below and printed it off. Easy and inexpensive art!</div>
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Me and my precious little guy!</div>
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Food spread:</div>
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Here's a view of our guests partying in our backyard. But we weren't out there long. It was so hot and humid...well over 80 degrees and super sticky out. Not your normal May day in Minnesota. I wish it could have been a little cooler so it wasn't so uncomfortable, but we survived. ;) And I'm thankful the rain held off until toward the end of the party!</div>
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I printed off a photo of Caleb from every month (newborn through 11 months) and displayed on this old wood pallet. I attached them with blue clothespins that I had in my craft room. Worked perfectly!</div>
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Click on link to see close-ups of pics here:</div>
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<a href="http://amycoxvincelli.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-little-caleb.html" target="_blank">My Little Caleb</a></div>
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And we had a Bouncy House!!!!</div>
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Our wonderful neighbors own this and about an hour before the party, I received a text asking if we wanted to use it for the party. Umm...YES!! They helped set it up fast and it was a great surprise when everyone arrived. So kind and thoughtful of them. We were so grateful. Thanks Kory & Melissa! The kids all had beat red faces from jumping in the heat. But they all had a BLAST!</div>
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I had a blast too! ;)</div>
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And so did Caleb!</div>
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Singing "Happy Birthday!" This was right before he tried to grab the candle. Oops!</div>
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But poor Caleb didn't have a blast with his cake.</div>
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"This is a smash cake? And you WANT me to rub it all over my face and make a mess? I'm so confused. Everyone, stop staring at me. Stop taking my photo. Too. Much. Pressure!!!"</div>
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Quite the audience! We also wanted to do this outside in the backyard, but by this time it started raining outside. So stuck in the garage it was. At least we all stayed dry!</div>
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Nick cut a piece of cake out and Caleb finally tried a little bit.</div>
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Opening gifts with daddy:</div>
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The Cox Family: my parents, my 3 sisters and their families.<br />
A total of 8 grandchildren. What a blessing!</div>
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Papa & Grammy Vincelli with their 5 grandsons!</div>
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We decided to try the cake with Caleb again the day after his birthday party. But as you can clearly see, he still didn't want anything to do with it. Poor kid is probably traumatized.</div>
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It was a great party and I am so thankful to have celebrated it with family! Happy 1st Birthday, my baby Caleb. You are so very loved!</div>
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I have to share a very special moment from the party. As the party was ending, the rain finally stopped and we opened up the garage door to see this view: 2 beautiful rainbows. I call Caleb my rainbow baby, so this was just incredible. In fact, I almost did a "rainbow" themed party but then changed it to sunshine. {A "rainbow baby" is known as a baby born after the loss of an angel baby. Caleb was born almost exactly one year after my miscarriage. Click to read that post here: <a href="http://www.amycoxvincelli.blogspot.com/2014/08/my-rainbow-caleb.html" target="_blank">My Rainbow Caleb</a>.}</div>
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The double rainbow we saw made me think of our angel baby in heaven and also our sweet boy, Caleb. Two rainbows. Just for them. I'll never forget that moment. {And this double rainbow happened on May 3rd, which is the exact day that I met my husband, Nick, 14 years ago! If we only knew at that time first meeting each other what our lives would hold together!} </div>
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Thank you, God, for this beautiful artwork in the sky. I love how He creates these amazing moments just when we need it. If only we take the time to really see them. I'm glad I caught this one...</div>
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"The beauty of a rainbow doesn't mean the storm and the devastation never happened; but that something beautiful and full of light has emerged from the darkness."</div>
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There is a rainbow of hope at the end of every storm.</div>
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I choose to believe that.</div>
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<br />Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-47098834016530201612015-05-13T14:19:00.002-05:002015-05-13T14:20:34.553-05:00MY LITTLE CALEB<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I displayed these photos on a pallet at Caleb's first birthday party for a fun decoration to show him through the months of his first year.</div>
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My sweet, beautiful baby boy.</div>
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So many amazing moments.</div>
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So thankful. So blessed.</div>
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<br />Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-15209477349139511352015-04-21T20:59:00.001-05:002015-04-21T21:25:19.122-05:00National Infertility Awareness Week 2015: Emerging from Infertility?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">It's National Infertility Awareness Week. NIAW is a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">project of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. The goal of the week is to raise awareness about infertility, to encourage grassroots advocacy, and help couples with infertility cope with their disease. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">Infertility affects 1 in every 8 couples. 1 in 8!!!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">7.3 million Americans are diagnosed with infertility. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oMyoxSW7MU4/VTab2CKt15I/AAAAAAAAFRQ/414u7TC3Bko/s1600/infertility%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oMyoxSW7MU4/VTab2CKt15I/AAAAAAAAFRQ/414u7TC3Bko/s1600/infertility%2B2015.jpg" height="400" width="288" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">In 2013, my friend, Jen, asked me to write a post on her blog about what it's like to have struggled with infertility and what it's like to emerge on the other side. I'd like to share this again, (with a few revisions and additions) for this year's National Infertility Awareness Week.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><u><b>Emerging from Infertility?</b></u></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">It is interesting to think of me emerging on the other side of infertility, because I definitely have after the birth of my twin boys (who are now 4.5 years old!) and almost one year old singleton. Others, who don't know me, most likely look at me with 3 children and would never guess infertility is a part of my life. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">But it definitely is. And honestly, I don't think one can ever truly leave infertility behind. Therefore, I know I haven’t fully emerged from it. It’s a big part of me and who I now am. It will never leave me. And I am amazingly okay with that.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z7SwnXzeEug/VTadJJ5YCGI/AAAAAAAAFRg/See63avepCM/s1600/family%2Bfor%2Bblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z7SwnXzeEug/VTadJJ5YCGI/AAAAAAAAFRg/See63avepCM/s1600/family%2Bfor%2Bblog.jpg" height="400" width="326" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My loves. {Florida - March 2015}</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">Even after the miracles of our twin boys in 2010, my husband and were thrown right back into the ugly world of infertility as we continued to struggle conceiving again for over a year in 2012 and 2013. My infertility story is just one of many. And each story is so very different. Although there are many similarities of pain and grief, there are so many more differences: different doctors, different techniques, different procedures, different results, and different outcomes. For some couples it is the "male factor" because of low sperm count, or low motility, or the shape of the sperm. For others it is the "female factor" because the woman doesn't produce eggs, or she doesn't ovulate, or her fallopian tubes are blocked, or she suffers from endometriosis, etc. For others, the woman can easily become pregnant but cannot carry a baby without miscarrying over and over again. Having a gestational carrier may be an option for some of these couples. And yet for other couples, it is both "male and female factors" and surrogacy and/or adoption may be their only options. For others there are "no factors" which is called "unexplained infertility", meaning doctors cannot find anything wrong. And some have "secondary infertility" which is being able to conceive after you have successfully conceived other children. So yes, so many different factors and each story is so very different.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">My story is meant to be shared. I feel it in my heart to do so. I always have. It’s a story of God’s perfect timing and God’s perfect plan. I don't share my story for attention. I don't share it for pity. I share it because there are many people out there who desperately need support. They may not be able or willing to speak out, so I will help be their voice. They need to know they are not alone. They need to know it is okay to be sad. They need to know they are supported.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">It took my husband and I over 3 years to conceive. We wed in 2004 and started trying after 2 years of marriage in 2006. After one year of "trying on our own," we started doctoring and had many tests and treatments in both our own town and at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. We had 5 unsuccessful IUI's (intra-uterine inseminations). At one point, we were given a 3% chance of conceiving on our own, as the doctors came to the conclusion that my husband's sperm could not penetrate into my eggs. Finally in 2010, we became pregnant with our twins on our first round of a fresh cycle ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) IVF (in-vitro fertilization) transfer where they injected 2 embryos. We were grateful, overjoyed, and ecstatic to be doubly blessed and finally hold our own little miracles in our arms, almost exactly four years from when we first started trying to conceive.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">When the twins were about 20 months old, in May of 2012, we started trying again on our own for another baby, but with no success. We started doctoring at the Mayo Clinic again and had a FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer) with 1 embryo in February of 2013, but I did not become pregnant. We were devastated. We tried again right away and had another FET (with 1 embryo) in April of 2013 and became pregnant. But at a little over 6 weeks gestation, I miscarried and we said goodbye to our miracle. Heartbroken does not even begin to describe what we felt. But we took comfort in knowing that the first thing our baby ever saw was the face of Jesus. At this time, we still have 4 frozen embryos in cyropreservation. I call it "frozen daycare," because it isn't cheap to keep them in storage!</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">So yes, we had emerged on the other side of infertility, but then were thrown right back in it again. And like I said, it never really left us anyway. And now we have a miscarriage to add to our infertility story. Yet another part of my life story that I never thought would happen to me. Many questions remained. Do we keep trying on our own? Do we do another FET? Or do we see this as a sign that it's time to stop trying? Do we try a gestational carrier? Do we adopt for our miracle? Or do we adjust to a life of no more children and move on?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">While we pondered these questions over the summer after our miscarriage, we kept trying to conceive. And 3 months after we lost our baby, we experienced another amazing and very unexpected miracle. We conceived on our own for the first time ever. Overjoyed and shocked and grateful doesn't even begin to describe our feelings. We couldn't believe this had happened. (Actually I still don't quite believe it and baby boy is almost one year old!) Praise God!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">Even with another incredible miracle, we still have fears. And we still feel the pain from infertility. And most likely always will. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">Infertility is many things. I know a lot about the medical side of infertility. Although most of it doesn't truly make sense to me. Because wow...our bodies are absolutely amazing and there are so many things that have to be absolutely perfect to conceive and carry a healthy baby. I know that each and every baby, no matter the circumstance, is nothing short of an absolute miracle. And I know that medical treatments can only go so far and do so much. Because that is where God comes in and the true miracle occurs.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">But I know even more about the emotional side of infertility. I know most people won't understand just how truly destructive infertility is. Just as you cannot truly understand something unless you've been through it yourself. It's like the saying, "For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">Infertility kills dreams. It makes you feel like you are losing every good thing about yourself. It exhausts your body with endless medications and injections. It makes you feel so frustrated with your body as to why you cannot do something so natural as create a baby. It breaks hearts. It makes you feel jealous. Then it makes you hate yourself because of those feelings you don't want to have, but can't stop. It makes you gain weight. It, along with the medications, makes your hormones all over the place. It makes you angry and bitter. It crushes your heart. It makes you feel lonely. It opens the most private parts of your life to random nurses and doctors, therefore making you feel awkward and invaded. It messes with your hope. It makes you feel irrational. It makes you wonder what you did in your past that was so horrible that now you are being punished for it. It emotionally drains you from happiness you used to so easily feel. It makes sex become a chore instead of pleasure. It steals your money. It consumes you. And worst of all, it makes you question God as to what is so horrible about yourself that you aren't good enough to be a mother. It makes you feel unworthy. Infertility pretty much sucks. Yup, it sucks.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">You smile your way through baby showers, births, holidays, baptisms, and birthday parties of families and friends even though your heart continues to break inside. And it's not because you aren't happy for them and love children, because you truly do. You treasure the miracle and sweetness of babies and children. But your heart aches because you so desperately see the parents' joys and want to feel that in your own heart with your own children. You want to hold your own baby in your arms, but never know if you will get the chance.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">1 in 8 couples will struggle with infertility. Therefore, odds are you know someone who is suffering. If you know any of those people, I encourage you to pray for them, support them, and just let them know you care. Because if they have told you about it, that is them reaching out for help. Women and men with infertility unfortunately do not usually get the support they need because it is commonly a hidden subject. People are ashamed, but they should not be. Be their support. Help give them hope.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">One of the hardest things to describe and express about infertility is the loss each and every month: the extreme grief and despair. I have experienced the loss of month after month of not becoming pregnant. 52 times to be exact. That is 52 months/cycles we tried with not becoming pregnant. And it is a pain like no other. You grieve your baby that could have been. And then you feel crazy for being so devastated for losing something you never had to begin with. But it is real. And it is deep. You grieve the hopes and dreams of yet another child that you so desperately wanted. You grieve time lost and thousands upon thousands of dollars lost with nothing to show for it. You grieve because you never know if you will ever conceive a baby. And every month you wait, for half of every month (during the 2 weeks you wait to find out if you are pregnant), you do just that: WAIT. Waiting, waiting, and more waiting. You spend half of your "trying to conceive" life pretending you are pregnant, just in case you are, only to be crushed when it is another negative result.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">You tell yourself over and over that "It will happen in time." But did you know that if you have sex at exactly the right time with all perfect conditions, that you still only have a 20% chance of becoming pregnant each time? Seriously! A 20% chance! That is amazing. So, sadly the odds are often against you. Just another example of how each and every pregnancy is an absolute miracle. Also, along with the statistics that 1 in every 4 pregnancies results in a miscarriage. One in every four! You cannot tell me that each and every baby born isn't meant to be.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">My miscarriage was hard. I was heartbroken. But I can honestly say that for me, many of the months of not getting pregnant during years of infertility were many times almost as hard as our miscarriage. Imagine grieving a loss every month for years. It tears your heart apart. You stay hopeful and then drop to a low again each month. But it just seems like the next time you get back up, it is not nearly as high as you had been the time before. You feel defeated. But somehow you keep on moving forward. Because we all know that if you want a child, making a family is worth anything.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">The pain of infertility is deep: the waiting, the questions, the taking chances, the struggles, the longing, the sacrifices, the statistics, the money, the bills you owe, the crying, the loneliness, the praying, the enduring, the stresses, the planning, the countless medications, the many appointments, the questions, the never knowing if you will be able to conceive, the pain of watching so many around you having children, hearing of abortions, seeing yet another teenager become pregnant who doesn't want a baby, listening to pregnant women complain about being pregnant, reading about child abuse, and on and on.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">By far, one of the biggest struggles for most couples is stressing over the cost. Unfortunately, many states and insurance plans have no coverage for infertility. None. Most people are paying for everything out of pocket. Fortunately, I had some coverage for our first round of IVF, but we used up our lifetime coverage right away, so everything since has been 100% out of pocket. I don't even want to think about how much we've spent on the other two rounds of FETs (Frozen Embryo Tranfers). But, I am truly grateful that we can afford these treatments, as I know there are many people who cannot because of finances. Many do not even get that choice. The treatments are expensive and the medication costs are atrocious. The fertility drugs need to be shipped from specialty pharmacies. I searched all over the country and usually ordered mine from Texas, as they were the cheapest for us. Then when they arrive, you stress over measuring the doses correctly and giving the shot properly because you know if you mess it up, it can cost you hundreds of dollars.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">As much as I wish I could take away infertility from everyone, I can't. And who are we to choose why suffering happens, who it happens to, and how it happens as well? We all have our crosses to bear. Yes, the struggle sucks. But your struggle is part of your story. And I truly believe God will not leave us and will give us the strength to carry on even when we feel like we are ready to give up.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">When you cannot conceive a child, it is more than unfair. Reproducing is supposed to be so natural and a normal part of life. And as the Bible says, "Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him." Psalm 127:3. Children are a blessing, so why can't we all create new life so easily? I know there are people who will argue that infertility is "not that big of a deal." Yes, I know there are much "worse" things in life. So many devastating things that occur to people, from painful diseases, to abuse, to tragic deaths, etc. But honestly, someone will always have it worse. And I do not think it is fair for people to belittle other's emotions or what they are going through just because someone out there has it worse. Like I said, we all have our crosses to bear, and we never really know what is going to be our "worst" or who will have it worse. Suffering is suffering. And everyone needs support. Everyone needs hope.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">Perhaps one of the hardest things about infertility is the unknown of not knowing what to do and not knowing what the future holds. You never know how long your journey will be or what the outcome will be. How many medications do we try? How far do we go? What do we try next? How many treatments are we able to do? How many more thousands of dollars are we willing to spend? How much more are we willing to put ourselves though before we realize we are wasting our time, money, and hearts? If we only knew that by a certain point, we would be guaranteed a child, we know we would do anything. Anything! But it is all a gamble. There are no guarantees. That unknown is horrible. The waiting, the not knowing, is a pain I wouldn't wish upon anyone.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">But I would be lying if I said infertility hasn't brought good things to my life. Because it certainly has. My faith and relationship with God is stronger. I trust more, I believe more, I hope more. I'm more compassionate and more giving. My relationship with my husband is stronger. We have always had an amazing, loving, and supportive relationship, but infertility has made our faith in God together stronger than strong. My husband did not grow up in a family who attended church, so to watch his faith grow has been nothing short of incredible. We have become even stronger as a couple and stronger in our faith together. What a true blessing! We had over 6 years of marriage with just him and I alone before we had our twins. I know him better than I know anyone. I am so grateful for our years together. We celebrate 11 years of marriage next month.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">Another blessing is that I have supported and encouraged many lives upon starting my “infertility journey” blog. I have "met" people from all across the country who read my blog and so deeply relate to what I write, which has given them comfort and hope. I hope and pray that through my blog and through my story, my heartache will help be someone else's hope. Because I truly believe that with hope, the odds don't matter.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">And ultimately, if I hadn't left my job to take time off because of infertility, I would have never started my own business (Vincelli Designs and Decor) selling crafts online that I design and create.(</span><a href="http://www.vincellidesigns.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #ff6fcf; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px; text-decoration: none;">www.vincellidesigns.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">) It is something that has brought much needed confidence and joy to my life these past six years. It is the perfect balance of staying at home with my boys and also having some time away for myself.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">Blessings definitely come out of sufferings, even among the pain. This quote describes it perfectly: "Sometimes the hardest storms to get through are the ones your soul needs the most. And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. But, survive you did. And one thing is certain: when you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in. That's what the storm's all about." - The Horse Mafia</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">I've experienced many different aspects of infertility. I've had a twin pregnancy via IVF, a FET that wasn't successful, a singleton pregnancy via FET, which resulted in a miscarriage. And a singleton pregnancy on our own with no medical assistance. I often think about how we've experienced all this and why we've had to experience each of these. I know I won't ever fully know or understand it, but I'll just keep trusting. For some reason, this was God's plan.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">I truly believe that God has a bigger plan for all of us than we have for ourselves. And I trust in that. No matter what happens, no matter what your struggle is or what your cross to bear is, I pray you find hope and joy in His plan for your life, just as I have. I will continue to share my story in hopes of comforting and inspiring others. And if anything else for YOU, for everyone, to know that no matter what you are going through, to know that you are not alone. You are never alone. God has a perfect plan for your family and for your life. Everything is happening for a reason on your path that was planned just for you. Trust in that. Try not to second guess what you have done or what you are planning to do. Keep the faith. Whatever it is will be worth waiting for. And remember that there is always, always, always HOPE.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">Looking back, even if I could go back and take away all our infertility, I wouldn't. After all, it’s ultimately given me my three beautiful boys. I praise God everyday for my precious miracles, Elijah, Will, and Caleb.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">I am grateful for what I have endured. I am strong. I will keep surviving. Infertility has helped make me who I am today. It is part of me and will be forever. I embrace that.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">Yes, I have infertility.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">But it does not have me.</span>Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-34996579279938807502015-01-04T22:36:00.000-06:002015-01-04T22:36:38.739-06:00Merry Christmas from the Vincellis!<br />
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2014. Eventful year. Busy year. Blessed year. Dr. Nick became full partner and co-owner of Horizon EyeCare Professionals. Went on our last vacation as a family of 4 to Anna Maria Island. Learned that just because you go on a beach vacation, it doesn't mean you get beach weather. You may get rain and cold. Lots of rain. Lots of cold. Amy celebrated 5 years of her business, Vincelli Designs & Decor. Nick celebrated 5 years at Horizon EyeCare. Welcomed another miracle. Named him Caleb Pasquale. Confirmed our suspicions that yes, a singleton baby is way easier than twin babies. Like WAY WAY easier. Celebrated 10 years of wedded bliss. Elijah and Will turned 4 years old and continue go to daycare/preschool part time at Lisa's. They love it. We love it. One child had 3 trips to the emergency room with 9 stitches total. Someone is a little accident prone. We'll leave it at that. The twins also started Sunday School. Superman and Batman make frequent appearances running throughout our home usually holding various household items that are turned into "shooter guns." Overall, we are busy learning how to juggle life being outnumbered by our children. 3 boys. Chaos. Great times. Hard times. </div>
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But always love. And always praising God for His faithfulness. </div>
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We are grateful. We are thankful. We are blessed. Merry Christmas! </div>
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Jesus is the Reason for the Season! </div>
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~ The Vincelli Family: Nick, Amy, </div>
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Elijah (4 years), Will, (4 years) & Caleb (7 months) ~</div>
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Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-9042342887148683792014-10-30T11:30:00.000-05:002014-10-30T20:14:37.144-05:00A SUPER 4TH BIRTHDAY PARTY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, here it is. The long awaited birthday blog post. I've received a lot of comments asking to see photos. So, here it is! Thanks for your patience. </div>
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I love party planning! But people have made comments to me like, "How do you have time to do that." or even "WHY do you spend time on that?" Someone even asked me one why I wasted my time doing this since the boys won't remember it anyway. That stung a bit. Well, it's simple. You MAKE time for what you like to do. And I enjoy this, so I make the time. It makes me happy. So, please don't judge me or don't make fun of people who party plan just because it's something you don't do yourself. It's a hobby for them. It's a hobby for me. For example, I don't watch a lot of tv. So instead watching tv or movies, I spend some time in August planning their birthday party. Is that so wrong? Not at all. It's therapeutic. It's crafty. I love it! </div>
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So, please don't be hard on the party planners out there. If they're like me, they aren't trying to outdo anyone, they are just doing something they enjoy. Okay, my rant ends now. ;)</div>
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Although I must say that now with a 3rd child, I'm not sure the parties will be like this much longer. This is a fun hobby for me so I'll keep doing as much as I can. But I do realize I will probably have to take a step back from all of this as time is so limited. Hopefully I can make sure Caleb gets a few super cool themed parties too.</div>
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Okay, back to the superhero party details:</div>
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I can hardly believe the twins are 4 years old! This year they wanted a superhero themed party. We had a great day celebrating with family on their actual birthday, September 13th. We held the party at Memorial Park in Spirit Lake, Iowa so it was in more of a central location for everyone attending. Nick grew up in SL and his parents still live there. We had hoped to be able to use the brand new free outdoor waterpark "splash pad" there at the park, but it was a cool day so that wasn't an option. But the sun shone bright and it was still beautiful. Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate!</div>
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They had fun helping make this giant "birthday" sign as a decoration. Will asked for the names of each person who would be at the party and drew them up at the top!</div>
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Each year I make a Birthday Banner with favorite photos of the twins each month over the past year. You can see it in the photo above but I took "close-up" photos below so you could see the photos better. Let's see if I can keep up with this tradition in future years!</div>
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Elijah and Will have never even seen any superhero shows or movies but for some reason they still think superheroes are the coolest. Elijah has loved superman from the beginning and Will has loved Batman. They've never switched it up. They also decided that was what they would be for Halloween this year. So, we bought used costumes from a friend who also has twin boys. We wrapped them up and gave them to E & W as birthday gifts. So they use them to play with for dress-up and can also wear them for their Halloween costumes. Win-win!</div>
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The park is so beautiful right by the lake.</div>
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Invitations I designed:</div>
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We asked everyone to dress up as their favorite superhero, if they wished. Or to just wear a superhero shirt. A lot of people did. So fun! Here's my crazy family:</div>
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Superbaby Caleb!</div>
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First, we had a special concert from the "Kumbayaya's!" Grammy Carolyn plays in a band with her friends and they gave Eli and Will a special surprise concert. They sang a few songs and ended with "Happy Birthday!" So fun!</div>
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Next was the mask/bracelet/ring making activity. It was a big success! I found a great deal on prepacked kits so it was easy for each child to take one set and make.</div>
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How cute is this SUPERBABY!? My niece, Eleanor!</div>
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Awesome job on your mask, Spiderman Max!</div>
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Here they all are sporting their awesome creations:</div>
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Here are all of Eli, Will, & Caleb's cousins except for Ryder. We wish she could have been there!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IZqF_FnUndc/VFGw4KObRXI/AAAAAAAAFJ8/CaWiX_kIdKY/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IZqF_FnUndc/VFGw4KObRXI/AAAAAAAAFJ8/CaWiX_kIdKY/s1600/2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Superhero Dress-Up area:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IyhpQZYGHcc/VFGe1NLLSHI/AAAAAAAAFE8/HnPDfe1y3KQ/s1600/DRESS%2BUP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IyhpQZYGHcc/VFGe1NLLSHI/AAAAAAAAFE8/HnPDfe1y3KQ/s1600/DRESS%2BUP.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Awesome!</div>
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Superhero Tattoos!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9CYjuRyMZZM/VFGfGpy8RNI/AAAAAAAAFG8/Ye7Y_yS0fAE/s1600/TATOOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9CYjuRyMZZM/VFGfGpy8RNI/AAAAAAAAFG8/Ye7Y_yS0fAE/s1600/TATOOS.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Guestbooks:</div>
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These exact books are out at every birthday party each year. I just turn the page each year and asks guests to sign their name and write an individual note to each boy. Then all the years are there together for them to cherish when they are older.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XXVaKfRLqfI/VFGeqM-5KCI/AAAAAAAAFDk/SJ9JuIcwH4U/s1600/BOOKS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XXVaKfRLqfI/VFGeqM-5KCI/AAAAAAAAFDk/SJ9JuIcwH4U/s1600/BOOKS.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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My normal cake decorater was on maternity leave. But HyVee did a great job making it too. Half superman, half batman. Eli loves vanilla, so his half was white cake. Will loves chocolate so his half was chocolate. I love how different my little boys are! And they each got 4 rings that were used as decorations on the cake. They thought that was pretty awesome.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HgHq_bo4FMw/VFGe32j4IbI/AAAAAAAAFFM/ty_E5iaDgLk/s1600/ELI%2BBLOWING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HgHq_bo4FMw/VFGe32j4IbI/AAAAAAAAFFM/ty_E5iaDgLk/s1600/ELI%2BBLOWING.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BZbDqmmmAXE/VFGfJha5mjI/AAAAAAAAFHE/wtkJkPNaRi8/s1600/WILL%2BBLOWING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BZbDqmmmAXE/VFGfJha5mjI/AAAAAAAAFHE/wtkJkPNaRi8/s1600/WILL%2BBLOWING.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Cupcakes and "toppers" I made:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bXZw7I63CeQ/VFGet4OG34I/AAAAAAAAFEE/t3_B_4TjPfo/s1600/CUPCAKES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bXZw7I63CeQ/VFGet4OG34I/AAAAAAAAFEE/t3_B_4TjPfo/s1600/CUPCAKES.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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And what fun is a party without food?</div>
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I forgot to take a photo of the entire table of food. Oops!</div>
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But we served pizza, chips, watermelon, a few salads, veggies and dip, etc.</div>
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Superhero Water:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--m_MgRrs-TE/VFGfFb0mVkI/AAAAAAAAFGw/J5o1pavN4Sg/s1600/SUPERHERO%2BWATER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--m_MgRrs-TE/VFGfFb0mVkI/AAAAAAAAFGw/J5o1pavN4Sg/s1600/SUPERHERO%2BWATER.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Lemonade:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gr5VhvausrY/VFGe8LZuGfI/AAAAAAAAFFs/O565ccLW308/s1600/JUICE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gr5VhvausrY/VFGe8LZuGfI/AAAAAAAAFFs/O565ccLW308/s1600/JUICE.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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It frustrates me at parties when you see cups everywhere and never know which one is yours. </div>
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So I made everyone their own individual superhero cups! I designed these on the computer and then printed them off on full sheets of sticker paper.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SvIbjvODmFY/VFGobf0M_wI/AAAAAAAAFJM/PpzB9Oa0YCk/s1600/CUPS%2BMORE%2Bne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SvIbjvODmFY/VFGobf0M_wI/AAAAAAAAFJM/PpzB9Oa0YCk/s1600/CUPS%2BMORE%2Bne.jpg" height="148" width="400" /></a></div>
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And if you consumed these goodies, you received these superpowers:</div>
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* builds muscles *</div>
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*enhances agility *</div>
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* boots invisibility *</div>
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* energy blast *</div>
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* increases elasticity *</div>
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* improves laser vision *</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T2YhxLWS70o/VFGescS-toI/AAAAAAAAFD4/-w_sUYirimM/s1600/CANDY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T2YhxLWS70o/VFGescS-toI/AAAAAAAAFD4/-w_sUYirimM/s1600/CANDY.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Opening gifts: </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JgeFY5vs40s/VFGe0CAMT9I/AAAAAAAAFEw/0JCANaUMcKM/s1600/Copy%2B(1)%2Bof%2Bgifts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JgeFY5vs40s/VFGe0CAMT9I/AAAAAAAAFEw/0JCANaUMcKM/s1600/Copy%2B(1)%2Bof%2Bgifts.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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The twins are blessed to have been born on my dad's birthday! How special to share a birthday with their grandfather! So we celebrated my dad's birthday too. </div>
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Eli and Will were my dad's first grandsons. And I had delivered them on his birthday. So, I think that was a good enough gift in itself. Therefore, I'm not sure I really need to give him anything else in future years. And this year I gave him his third grandson. I'm his only child to give him grandsons so far!</div>
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Happy 66th birthday, dad!!</div>
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Party favors for the kids:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JWVT-urlur4/VFGfAP57d1I/AAAAAAAAFGM/6aBJuMEYtGU/s1600/PARTY%2BFAVORS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JWVT-urlur4/VFGfAP57d1I/AAAAAAAAFGM/6aBJuMEYtGU/s1600/PARTY%2BFAVORS.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Full of superhero candies and tattoos I found for super cheap at the Dollar Tree!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tI5kE11NrxI/VFGrTi50YbI/AAAAAAAAFJY/DHE-cEEfueY/s1600/DSC_5857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tI5kE11NrxI/VFGrTi50YbI/AAAAAAAAFJY/DHE-cEEfueY/s1600/DSC_5857.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Thank you cards I made that we sent out with Eli & Will's drawings on the inside.</div>
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And here are a few photos of some of the superheroes still partying the next day at Grammy & Papa's house! Here are Elijah & Will's Halloween costumes for tomorrow!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wtXNlhA09KM/VFGei2ofpUI/AAAAAAAAFC0/rqhr6YQH3UM/s1600/3%2BSUPERHEROES%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wtXNlhA09KM/VFGei2ofpUI/AAAAAAAAFC0/rqhr6YQH3UM/s1600/3%2BSUPERHEROES%2B2.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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I can barely handle the cuteness!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_4yYtn4Dj80/VFGeh5mU4mI/AAAAAAAAFCs/jxOTu0x0W8g/s1600/3%2BSUPERHEROS%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_4yYtn4Dj80/VFGeh5mU4mI/AAAAAAAAFCs/jxOTu0x0W8g/s1600/3%2BSUPERHEROS%2B1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-15283074569323428332014-09-10T19:01:00.000-05:002014-09-10T20:42:59.554-05:00PROUD BIG BROTHERS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I meant to post this months ago. Oh well, better late than never. The twins are so sweet with Caleb. They are so loving and gentle to him often asking to hold him and help feed him. I catch them sneaking hugs and kisses and it just melts my heart. I'm cherishing these times because I know soon enough they will all start tackling each other and those sweet kisses will end.</div>
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So, here are a few photos of my big boys adoring their baby brother...</div>
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{3 beautiful blessings...}</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BGEEYUOkmjQ/U735bpNSTdI/AAAAAAAAE4w/CUHJ_ZKfwjA/s1600/3+boys+happy+dusk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BGEEYUOkmjQ/U735bpNSTdI/AAAAAAAAE4w/CUHJ_ZKfwjA/s1600/3+boys+happy+dusk.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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{Will meeting and holding Caleb for the first time.}</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XZ6ESToMCmE/U735Qh5mfUI/AAAAAAAAE4c/KCILwGZ48WE/s1600/will+holding+caleb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XZ6ESToMCmE/U735Qh5mfUI/AAAAAAAAE4c/KCILwGZ48WE/s1600/will+holding+caleb.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
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{Elijah meeting and holding Caleb for the first time.}</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V8riknd16ok/U735SBfiwAI/AAAAAAAAE4k/00XvsxBlDk4/s1600/eli+holding+caleb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V8riknd16ok/U735SBfiwAI/AAAAAAAAE4k/00XvsxBlDk4/s1600/eli+holding+caleb.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
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{Sweet boys...}</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HNCpHFLiMDw/U735biKspCI/AAAAAAAAE4s/icKL2nFkJQ4/s1600/3+kissing+another.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HNCpHFLiMDw/U735biKspCI/AAAAAAAAE4s/icKL2nFkJQ4/s1600/3+kissing+another.jpg" height="219" width="320" /></a></div>
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{The twins adore their baby brother!}</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9JjfJuOymJM/U735hST15NI/AAAAAAAAE48/sFrItKgRax0/s1600/brothers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9JjfJuOymJM/U735hST15NI/AAAAAAAAE48/sFrItKgRax0/s1600/brothers.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-37803932946154717032014-08-18T21:37:00.000-05:002014-08-19T12:03:54.786-05:00MY RAINBOW, CALEB<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1bgR7ZTIIo0/U_KzBbbvNUI/AAAAAAAAE9o/-lPi7r8rVPI/s1600/caleb%2Bbaby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1bgR7ZTIIo0/U_KzBbbvNUI/AAAAAAAAE9o/-lPi7r8rVPI/s1600/caleb%2Bbaby.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">To my rainbow, Caleb</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">You may never fully
understand how much I prayed for you, how much I hoped for you, and how much I
now give thanks for you. But my hope and prayers are that you always know that
you are loved beyond measure.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Because you have truly
been the biggest surprise of my life.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Your daddy and I have
struggled with infertility for 7 years. 7 years of ups and downs. 7 years of
prayers, smiles, and tears. 7 years of not knowing what the future held, but
always holding onto hope.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="color: #222222;">After your big brothers,
Eli and Will, you had another sibling. We were devastated to never hold that
baby in our arms who was born into heaven on<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><st1:date day="15" month="5" year="2013"><span style="color: #222222;">May
15th, 2013</span></st1:date></span><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="color: #222222;">. But I do hold that angel baby in my heart every day. Being a
mother is hard, but being a mother to an angel baby is even harder. </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="color: #222222;">After we lost our
third baby, we never knew if we would be blessed with another miracle. We
cried, we questioned, but we kept on moving forward. Even after two FET (frozen
embryo transfers) in 2013, with one where I did not become pregnant and one
where I had the miscarriage, we were all set to start another round of FET in
September at the Mayo Clinic. But that August, God had other plans. You
were conceived! Contrary to what many people think, we hadn't stopped trying. We
had never stopped worrying or stressing. But even through all of that, we
always, always held on to hope. We kept trying. We never gave up. And just 3 short months after we lost our 3rd
baby, you were conceived. It was the first time your father and I had ever
become pregnant on our own, with no medical assistance. It was something we were told would most likely never happen on our own. We were shocked and
overjoyed. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">That was almost exactly one year ago. One year ago at this very time, we were still so saddened and we never knew if we'd ever be have another baby. Little did we know it would all change so soon. And now here you are and 3 months old already. We</span><span style="color: #222222;"> are still so surprised and amazed that it all happened in
this way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">You quickly became our light and our hope.
After our loss, God showed us that He is faithful through all the seasons of
life. Just as He always has been and will be. He is faithful through the pain, He is faithful
through the happiness. God is always there. And I share my infertility story
with the world because I want everyone to know that our God is awesome!</span> And
His plans and timing are truly perfect, even though they don't always make
sense in our minds.</span></div>
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<span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">I have read that a
"rainbow baby" is a baby born after the loss of an angel baby. With
the meaning being that "the beauty of a rainbow doesn't mean the storm and
the devastation never happened, but that something beautiful and full of light
has emerged from the darkness.</span>"<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T0XEemImWdM/U_K7EH7g3mI/AAAAAAAAE94/8rk-gsbJvDE/s1600/caleb%2Bdusk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T0XEemImWdM/U_K7EH7g3mI/AAAAAAAAE94/8rk-gsbJvDE/s1600/caleb%2Bdusk.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Yes, Caleb, </span><span style="color: #222222;">you are my rainbow. You will always be my
rainbow. Your big twin brothers are so incredible and special and loved as
well. But there may be times in your life where you might feel like they are more unique than you because they are twins. But, they are not. You
are equally as amazing and fascinating. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are my <u>precious twins. </u><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are my <u>precious rainbow. </u><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And your other sibling in heaven is my
<u>precious angel.</u><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are all loved. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are all miracles.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are all the biggest parts of me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are all the best things I've ever done. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">And I will spend every day of my life giving
thanks for each of you, my four children.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0v0M2TPR5g0/U_KvPDKtCsI/AAAAAAAAE9E/bQnl9SrvrmY/s1600/rainbow%2Bbaby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0v0M2TPR5g0/U_KvPDKtCsI/AAAAAAAAE9E/bQnl9SrvrmY/s1600/rainbow%2Bbaby.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">"It is understood
that the beauty of a rainbow</span><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"> </span><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;">does not negate the
ravages</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"></span>of any storm. When a </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rainbow</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"> </span><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;">appears, it does not mean that the storm</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"></span>never happened</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"></span>or that we are not still dealing with its
aftermath. It means that</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"></span>something
beautiful and full of light has appeared in the midst of the darkness </span><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;">and clouds. Storm
clouds may still hover, but the </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rainbow </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;">provides a counterbalance of color, energy and hope."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will never forget our angel baby. But among
our sadness, we found joy in the news of you. Yes, it's hard to see the
rainbow during the storm. But I pray that you and everyone remembers that after
every storm in your life, there will always be a rainbow of hope. And it is full of
promise. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Sweet little Caleb, whenever I look at you, I see hope. Whenever I see a rainbow, I think of my angel baby in heaven and I think of you. And in your life, you may not always know what your
rainbow may be or when it will occur, but it will come. It will come.</span> Many times. Oh, sweet baby boy...your rainbows will come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though pain is
not enjoyable, without suffering, joy and happiness become commonplace. I truly
understand that now. We wouldn't really know what joy is. But suffering and
loss teach us to appreciate life's blessings. We can't truly open ourselves up
to the joys if we do not know what pain is. And no matter what pain you
experience in your life, moments of great joy will eventually be added. And it
will be okay. Everything will be okay. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Everything will always eventually be okay.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">We need to remember
that without the rain, there would be no rainbow. We have to take the good
times with the bad. And as long as rainbows are in the sky, you can know
that God is faithful and keeps His promises. He is faithful through it all.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">I will always remember
my journey to have children, the heartache, the questions, the waiting, the prayers, the setbacks, the blessings, and the
tears. I will also always remember those going through similar heartaches and I continue
to cry for them and with them. Infertility and losses of children never go
away. But everyday, you, dear Caleb, will remind me
that there is always hope. There is always joy after pain. There are always miracles.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I waited for you. I prayed for you. And my
prayers were answered. Our prayers are always answered. We just have to be
faithful. We have to be patient. We have to trust. We have to keep on hoping.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Always know and believe that your miracle is waiting to happen. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You never know how close it may be...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{This photo was taken by my friend from her home 2 weeks after my miscarriage. My house is at the end of the rainbow on the left side. What a gorgeous full rainbow! I'm not much for "signs" but I am definitely cherishing this photo. It's a memory of our baby in heaven and a promise of our rainbow baby that was soon to come!}</span></div>
Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-77562252286031880892014-07-21T21:00:00.000-05:002014-07-21T21:00:42.869-05:00MY FAVORITE SURVIVOR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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{My favorite survivor and I at this year's Relay for Life!}</div>
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I've been involved with the Relay for Life for the past 9 years. I started a team called "Light Your World" and in those 9 years, I, personally have raised $7500 for the American Cancer Society through yearly donations from wonderful family and friends! That's an average of $834/year. What a blessing!<br />
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An this year I raised my highest ever with a total of $1380! And that is only from 31 people donating! Thank you to all who donated and supported this great cause. Together we can and WILL make a difference!<br />
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To learn more about or to donate, click here: <a href="http://www.relayforlife.org/" target="_blank">Relay for Life</a><br />
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I have lost many family members and friends from cancer and walk yearly in their honor:<br />
my uncle, Gary Cox<br />
my grandpa, Clarence Cox<br />
my grandmother, Diddie Flandrick<br />
my grandfather, Russ Flandrick<br />
my friend, Karla Embrock<br />
my friend, Joel Vasgaard<br />
my friend, Carmen Klatt<br />
my friend, Pat Johnson<br />
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I also walk in honor of those who are currently battling and/or are cancer survivors:<br />
Alan Cox, Michael Klumper, Mia Post, Cindy Minske, Connie Versteeg, Sue Rosenau, Jodi Houser, Barb Ripka, Duane Hess, Kelly Tripp, Georgia Taylor, Delores Potter, Christina Van Heel, Pat Vincelli, Sister Mary Nicholas Vincelli, Nicky Schaub, Tiffany Eckerson and many others<br />
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I wrote a letter about my father in July of 2007 to display at "Inspiration Point" at the Relay for Life. And I wanted to share it again because my uncle, Gary Cox, passed away 54 years ago TODAY, on July 21st, 1960. I often wonder how different all our lives would have been with him around. From what other say about him, he was a handsome, talented, incredible, and well loved man. I wish I could have known him. But we trust in God's plan and Gary's legacy lives on through his 2 siblings, his wife and 3 children. And now also grandchildren and great grandchildren.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-76sptYKLt-4/U8299qOVr-I/AAAAAAAAE6k/BFhapHtox08/s1600/relay+for+life+dad+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-76sptYKLt-4/U8299qOVr-I/AAAAAAAAE6k/BFhapHtox08/s1600/relay+for+life+dad+2.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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The following is my letter (with a few updates/revisions) that I wrote back in 2007:<br />
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My father, Alan Cox, is a cancer survivor. But my dad is more than a survivor. He is my dad…my hero…my love! Here is just a bit of his story told through me, his daughter who admires him more than he will ever know.<br />
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It was 38 years ago, back in 1976, and my dad was 27 years old at the time. He had been married just one year and found out he had testicular cancer and had surgery to remove the cancer. The doctors also wanted to remove lymph nodes that, as a result, would cause him to be infertile. After lots of prayers, my father decided against it. He let go, and let God. He trusted completely that what was to happen would happen and God’s Will would be done.<br />
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Previously, my father’s brother, Gary, had testicular cancer. Gary was married with 3 young children, the youngest being just a few months old. Gary lost his battle with cancer and went on to be with his Savior at the young age of 24. My uncle, Gary passed away 54 years ago on July 21, 1960. And the Steele County Relay for Life is always held around this exact time in July!<br />
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I can’t imagine what was going on in my father’s mind of what the future was to hold for him. Especially after he, an 11 year old, watched his own brother lose the battle to testicular cancer, the very same cancer he now had. If my dad would have had the extra surgery, he would not have been able to have children. And I would not be here today. That one decision truly affected his life in many tremendous ways. He went on to have four children – all girls! And he is now a grandfather to 8 beautiful grandchildren (5 girls and 3 boys)! My dad says that is not the reason he decided against the extra surgery, but I am sure glad that God lead him to that difficult decision. I sometimes wonder, what if I had cancer? Would I be able trust God completely just as my father did? I believe I would because of what my father has spent his whole life teaching me through his words and actions!<br />
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When I think about how my father is a cancer survivor and how I was born 4 short years later, I am reminded of God’s true power. He works miracles everyday, even in the simplest of ways when we do not see it happening right in front of us! I count my blessings and thank God that I am able to be alive…able to live, laugh, and love each day. Whenever my time on earth is done, I hope that I have lived a life much the same as my father – full of faith, hope, and love. Always showing and never doubting God’s perfect love.<br />
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Often, I ask my father if he has cancer right now. I worry that if he did have it again, he wouldn't tell anyone because he wouldn't want to worry anyone. He’s always more concerned with other’s feelings above his own! But as much as I fear losing my dad, I know that if I did, I would survive. I would live my life looking ahead to the day we would meet again in heaven. And even if I couldn't be with him in person, I always find him close to me in my heart because...<br />
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my dad is my heart.<br />
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My father is an amazing person. I am thankful God kept my dad around to share himself and his love to the world for many more years! He has truly touched the hearts of everyone he has met. My dad, a quiet and patient man, so full of wisdom and love. He is always a true comfort, knowing the exact thing to say in any and every occasion of life. As a faithful Christian dedicated to his family and his Savior, he is truly my inspiration, Thank you, dad, for all you do and all you are. Thank you for teaching me what life is all about. I LOVE YOU!<br />
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May my dad’s story bring you hope, peace, and joy. Hope to know that God holds you in His hands. Peace to trust that everything happens for a reason. And joy to remind you that one day you will be together with your loved ones for eternity in heaven.<br />
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In the words of my dad, "Count Your Blessings!"<br />
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"Onward & Upward!"<br />
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I love you dad!<br />
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All my love, Amy<br />
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{A few grandchildren walking hand in hand with Grandpa Cox during the "Survivor Walk" at the Steele County Relay for Life 2014}</div>
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Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-26828858593205788652014-07-15T22:32:00.000-05:002014-07-21T20:24:39.848-05:00SIMPLY BLESSED {newborn pics}<br />
I decided to save money and take Caleb's newborn photos myself. My goal was just to get a few good shots for his baby announcements to mail out. Mission accomplished. I actually got more than a few ones that I really liked. I am no professional photographer, but I had fun trying. And I suppose it's hard to get horrible shots when newborns are so darn adorable!<br />
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Here is Caleb at 12 days old.<br />
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{The white blanket Caleb is laying on was hand crocheted by my mother.}</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lyhjznxuKg8/U7Wt_Vw7OfI/AAAAAAAAE2Y/64OhFO-yP7Y/s1600/Caleb+3+new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lyhjznxuKg8/U7Wt_Vw7OfI/AAAAAAAAE2Y/64OhFO-yP7Y/s1600/Caleb+3+new.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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{Sweet baby yawns!}</div>
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{"I prayed for this child, and the Lord gave me what I asked him for." 1 Samuel 1:27}</div>
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{Caleb is laying on my Bible with my name "Amy Cox" engraved on the front. I received in 3rd grade at my hometown church where I was baptized, confirmed, and married at: Our Saviour's Lutheran.}</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WzeUDS7UdUo/U7Wt_cjaypI/AAAAAAAAE2U/R1yBvnI7K6M/s1600/caleb+bible+2+new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WzeUDS7UdUo/U7Wt_cjaypI/AAAAAAAAE2U/R1yBvnI7K6M/s1600/caleb+bible+2+new.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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{I adore this little miracle!}</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lh14ou2cXe0/U7WuATTTCzI/AAAAAAAAE2s/VsEWakZvmwY/s1600/caleb+dusk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lh14ou2cXe0/U7WuATTTCzI/AAAAAAAAE2s/VsEWakZvmwY/s1600/caleb+dusk.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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{The blue knit hat Caleb is wearing is the same one that Eli and Will wore when they were newborns!}</div>
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{simply blessed}</div>
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I took all the photos using natural daylight and my Nikon camera. The photo below shows where we took them: Caleb laying on various blankets on our bed! Then I played around with a program on the computer to add different tints and borders. I had fun doing this and am glad it all turned out!</div>
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Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-34155747873513989012014-07-14T21:03:00.004-05:002014-07-14T21:03:46.437-05:00OUR MIRACLE HAS ARRIVED!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18px;">He's beautiful, he's healthy, he's precious. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18px;">I still can't believe he's ours. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18px;">Praise God from whom all blessings flow. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18px;">Thank you for your love and prayers!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18px;">Caleb Pasquale Vincelli</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">6 lbs 15 oz</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">20.5 in</span></div>
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Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-13521064563830585492014-04-22T21:43:00.001-05:002015-04-21T13:26:26.196-05:00National Infertility Awareness Week - Emerging from Infertility<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">It's National Infertility Awareness Week. NIAW is a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">project of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. The goal of the week is to raise awareness about infertility, to encourage grassroots advocacy, and help couples with infertility cope with their disease. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">Infertility affects 1 in every 8 couples. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">7.3 million Americans are diagnosed with infertility. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">Last year, my friend, Jen, asked me to write a post on her blog about what it's like to have struggled with infertility and what it's like to emerge on the other side. I'd like to share this again, (with a few revisions and additions) during National Infertility Awareness Week.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">It is interesting to think of me emerging on the other side of infertility, because I definitely have after the birth of my twin boys (who are now 3.5 years old!) and now currently being almost 38 weeks pregnant with another baby boy. Others, who don't know me, most likely look at me and would never guess infertility is a part of my life. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">But it definitely is. And honestly, I don't think one can ever truly leave infertility behind. Therefore, I know I haven’t fully emerged from it. It’s a big part of me and who I now am. It will never leave me. And I am amazingly okay with that.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">Even after the miracles of our twin boys in 2010, my husband and were thrown right back into the ugly world of infertility as we continued to struggle conceiving again for over a year in 2012 and 2013. My infertility story is just one of many. And each story is so very different. Although there are many similarities of pain and grief, there are so many more differences: different doctors, different techniques, different procedures, different results, and different outcomes. For some couples it is the "male factor" because of low sperm count, or low motility, or the shape of the sperm. For others it is the "female factor" because the woman doesn't produce eggs, or she doesn't ovulate, or her fallopian tubes are blocked, or she suffers from endometriosis, etc. For others, the woman can easily become pregnant but cannot carry a baby without miscarrying over and over again. Having a gestational carrier may be an option for some of these couples. And yet for other couples, it is both "male and female factors" and surrogacy and/or adoption may be their only options. For others there are "no factors" which is called "unexplained infertility", meaning doctors cannot find anything wrong. And some have "secondary infertility" which is being able to conceive after you have successfully conceived other children. So yes, so many different factors and each story is so very different.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">My story is meant to be shared. I feel it in my heart to do so. I always have. It’s a story of God’s perfect timing and God’s perfect plan. I don't share my story for attention. I don't share it for pity. I share it because there are many people out there who desperately need support. They may not be able or willing to speak out, so I will help be their voice. They need to know they are not alone. They need to know it is okay to be sad. They need to know they are supported.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">It took my husband and I over 3 years to conceive. We wed in 2004 and started trying after 2 years of marriage in 2006. After one year of "trying on our own," we started doctoring and had many tests and treatments in both our own and at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. We had 5 unsuccessful IUI's (intra-uterine inseminations). At one point, we were given a 3% chance of conceiving on our own, as the doctors came to the conclusion that my husband's sperm could not penetrate into my eggs. Finally in 2010, we became pregnant with our twins on our first round of a fresh cycle ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) IVF (in-vitro fertilization) transfer where they injected 2 embryos. We were grateful, overjoyed, and ecstatic to be doubly blessed and finally hold our own little miracles in our arms, almost exactly four years from when we first started trying to conceive.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">When the twins were about 20 months old, in May of 2012, we started trying again on our own for another baby, but with no success. We started doctoring at the Mayo Clinic again and had a FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer) with 1 embryo in February of 2013, but I did not become pregnant. We were devastated. We tried again right away and had another FET (with 1 embryo) in April of 2013 and became pregnant. But at a little over 6 weeks gestation, I miscarried and we said goodbye to our miracle. Heartbroken does not even begin to describe what we felt. But we took comfort in knowing that the first thing our baby ever saw was the face of Jesus. At this time, we still have 4 frozen embryos in cyropreservation. I call it "frozen daycare," because it isn't cheap to keep them in storage!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">So yes, we had emerged on the other side of infertility, but then were thrown right back in it again. And like I said, it never really left us anyway. And now we have a miscarriage to add to our infertility story. Yet another part of my life story that I never thought would happen to me. Many questions remained. Do we keep trying on our own? Do we do another FET? Or do we see this as a sign that it's time to stop trying? Do we try a gestational carrier? Do we adopt for our miracle? Or do we adjust to a life of no more children and move on?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">While we pondered these questions over the summer after our miscarriage, we kept trying to conceive. And 3 months after we lost our baby, we experienced another amazing but very unexpected miracle. We conceived on our own for the first time ever. Overjoyed and shocked and grateful doesn't even begin to describe our feelings. We couldn't believe this had happened. (Actually I still don't quite believe it and I am currently 37 weeks pregnant with another baby boy!) Praise God!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">Even with this incredible miracle, we still have fears. And we still feel the pain from infertility. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">Infertility is many things. I know a lot about the medical side of infertility. Although most of it doesn't truly make sense to me. Because wow...our bodies are absolutely amazing and there are so many things that have to be absolutely perfect to conceive and carry a healthy baby. I know that each and every baby, no matter the circumstance, is nothing short of an absolute miracle. And I know that medical treatments can only go so far and do so much. Because that is where God comes in and the true miracle occurs.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">But I know even more about the emotional side of infertility. I know most people won't understand just how truly destructive infertility is. Just as you cannot truly understand something unless you've been through it yourself. It's like the saying, "For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">Infertility kills dreams. It makes you feel like you are losing every good thing about yourself. It exhausts your body with endless medications and injections. It makes you feel so frustrated with your body as to why you cannot do something so natural as create a baby. It breaks hearts. It makes you feel jealous. Then it makes you hate yourself because of those feelings you don't want to have, but can't stop. It makes you gain weight. It, along with the medications, makes your hormones all over the place. It makes you angry and bitter. It crushes your heart. It makes you feel lonely. It opens the most private parts of your life to random nurses and doctors, therefore making you feel awkward and invaded. It messes with your hope. It makes you feel irrational. It makes you wonder what you did in your past that was so horrible that now you are being punished for it. It emotionally drains you from happiness you used to so easily feel. It makes sex become a chore instead of pleasure. It steals your money. It consumes you. And worst of all, it makes you question God as to what is so horrible about yourself that you aren't good enough to be a mother. It makes you feel unworthy. Infertility pretty much sucks. Yup, it sucks.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">You smile your way through baby showers, births, holidays, baptisms, and birthday parties of families and friends even though your heart continues to break inside. And it's not because you aren't happy for them and love children, because you truly do. You treasure the miracle and sweetness of babies and children. But your heart aches because you so desperately see the parents' joys and want to feel that in your own heart with your own children. You want to hold your own baby in your arms, but never know if you will get the chance.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">1 in 8 couples will struggle with infertility. Therefore, odds are you know someone who is suffering. If you know any of those people, I encourage you to pray for them, support them, and just let them know you care. Because if they have told you about it, that is them reaching out for help. Women and men with infertility unfortunately do not usually get the support they need because it is commonly a hidden subject. People are ashamed, but they should not be. Be their support. Help give them hope.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">One of the hardest things to describe and express about infertility is the loss each and every month: the extreme grief and despair. I have experienced the loss of month after month of not becoming pregnant. 52 times to be exact. That is 52 months/cycles we tried with not becoming pregnant. And it is a pain like no other. You grieve your baby that could have been. And then you feel crazy for being so devastated for losing something you never had to begin with. But it is real. And it is deep. You grieve the hopes and dreams of yet another child that you so desperately wanted. You grieve time lost and thousands upon thousands of dollars lost with nothing to show for it. You grieve because you never know if you will ever conceive a baby. And every month you wait, for half of every month (during the 2 weeks you wait to find out if you are pregnant), you do just that: WAIT. Waiting, waiting, and more waiting. You spend half of your "trying to conceive" life pretending you are pregnant, just in case you are, only to be crushed when it is another negative result.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">You tell yourself over and over that "It will happen in time." But did you know that if you have sex at exactly the right time with all perfect conditions, that you still only have a 20% chance of becoming pregnant each time? Seriously! A 20% chance! That is amazing. So, sadly the odds are often against you. Just another example of how each and every pregnancy is an absolute miracle. Also, along with the statistics that 1 in every 4 pregnancies results in a miscarriage. One in every four! You cannot tell me that each and every baby born isn't meant to be.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">My miscarriage was hard. I was heartbroken. But I can honestly say that for me, many of the months of not getting pregnant during years of infertility were many times almost as hard as our miscarriage. Imagine grieving a loss every month for years. It tears your heart apart. You stay hopeful and then drop to a low again each month. But it just seems like the next time you get back up, it is not nearly as high as you had been the time before. You feel defeated. But somehow you keep on moving forward. Because we all know that if you want a child, making a family is worth anything.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">The pain of infertility is deep: the waiting, the questions, the taking chances, the struggles, the longing, the sacrifices, the statistics, the money, the bills you owe, the crying, the loneliness, the praying, the enduring, the stresses, the planning, the countless medications, the many appointments, the questions, the never knowing if you will be able to conceive, the pain of watching so many around you having children, hearing of abortions, seeing yet another teenager become pregnant who doesn't want a baby, listening to pregnant women complain about being pregnant, reading about child abuse, and on and on.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">By far, one of the biggest struggles for most couples is stressing over the cost. Unfortunately, many states and insurance plans have no coverage for infertility. None. Most people are paying for everything out of pocket. Fortunately, I had some coverage for our first round of IVF, but we used up our lifetime coverage right away, so everything since has been 100% out of pocket. I don't even want to think about how much we've spent this year with no baby in our arms. But, I am truly grateful that we can afford these treatments, as I know there are many people who cannot because of finances. Many do not even get that choice. The treatments are expensive and the medication costs are atrocious. The fertility drugs need to be shipped from specialty pharmacies. I searched all over the country and usually ordered mine from Texas, as they were the cheapest for us. Then when they arrive, you stress over measuring the doses correctly and giving the shot properly because you know if you mess it up, it can cost you hundreds of dollars.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">As much as I wish I could take away infertility from everyone, I can't. And who are we to choose why suffering happens, who it happens to, and how it happens as well? We all have our crosses to bear. Yes, the struggle sucks. But your struggle is part of your story. And I truly believe God will not leave us and will give us the strength to carry on even when we feel like we are ready to give up.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">When you cannot conceive a child, it is more than unfair. Reproducing is supposed to be so natural and a normal part of life. And as the Bible says, "Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him." Psalm 127:3. Children are a blessing, so why can't we all create new life so easily? I know there are people who will argue that infertility is "not that big of a deal." Yes, I know there are much "worse" things in life. So many devastating things that occur to people, from painful diseases, to abuse, to tragic deaths, etc. But honestly, someone will always have it worse. And I do not think it is fair for people to belittle other's emotions or what they are going through just because someone out there has it worse. Like I said, we all have our crosses to bear, and we never really know what is going to be our "worst" or who will have it worse. Suffering is suffering. And everyone needs support. Everyone needs hope.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">Perhaps one of the hardest things about infertility is the unknown of not knowing what to do and not knowing what the future holds. You never know how long your journey will be or what the outcome will be. How many medications do we try? How far do we go? What do we try next? How many treatments are we able to do? How many more thousands of dollars are we willing to spend? How much more are we willing to put ourselves though before we realize we are wasting our time, money, and hearts? If we only knew that by a certain point, we would be guaranteed a child, we know we would do anything. Anything! But it is all a gamble. There are no guarantees. That unknown is horrible. The waiting, the not knowing, is a pain I wouldn't wish upon anyone.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">But I would be lying if I said infertility hasn't brought good things to my life. Because it certainly has. My faith and relationship with God is stronger. I trust more, I believe more, I hope more. I'm more compassionate and more giving. My relationship with my husband is stronger. We have always had an amazing, loving, and supportive relationship, but infertility has made our faith in God together stronger than strong. My husband did not grow up in a family who attended church, so to watch his faith grow has been nothing short of incredible. We have become even stronger as a couple and stronger in our faith together. What a true blessing! We had over 6 years of marriage with just him and I alone before we had our twins. I know him better than I know anyone. I am so grateful for our years together.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">Another blessing is that I have supported and encouraged many lives upon starting my “infertility journey” blog. I have "met" people from all across the country who read my blog and so deeply relate to what I write, which has given them comfort and hope. I hope and pray that through my blog and through my story, my heartache will help be someone else's hope. Because I truly believe that with hope, the odds don't matter.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">And ultimately, if I hadn't left my job to take time off because of infertility, I would have never started my own business (Vincelli Designs and Decor) selling crafts online that I design and create.(</span><a href="http://www.vincellidesigns.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #ff6fcf; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; text-decoration: none;">www.vincellidesigns.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">) It is something that has brought much needed confidence and joy to my life these past five years. It is the perfect balance of staying at home with my boys and also having some time away for myself.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">Blessings definitely come out of sufferings, even among the pain. This quote describes it perfectly: "Sometimes the hardest storms to get through are the ones your soul needs the most. And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. But, survive you did. And one thing is certain: when you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in. That's what the storm's all about." - The Horse Mafia</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">I've experienced many different aspects of infertility. I've had a twin pregnancy via IVF, a FET that wasn't successful, a singleton pregnancy via FET, which resulted in a miscarriage. And a singleton pregnancy on our own with no medical assistance. I often think about how we've experienced all this and why we've had to experience each of these. I know I won't ever fully know or understand it, but I'll just keep trusting. For some reason, this was God's plan.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">I truly believe that God has a bigger plan for all of us than we have for ourselves. And I trust in that. No matter what happens, no matter what your struggle is or what your cross to bear is, I pray you find hope and joy in His plan for your life, just as I have. I will continue to share my story in hopes of comforting and inspiring others. And if anything else for YOU, for everyone, to know that no matter what you are going through, to know that you are not alone. You are never alone. God has a perfect plan for your family and for your life. Everything is happening for a reason on your path that was planned just for you. Trust in that. Try not to second guess what you have done or what you are planning to do. Keep the faith. Whatever it is will be worth waiting for. There is always, always, always HOPE.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">Looking back, even if I could go back and take away all our infertility, I wouldn't. After all, it’s ultimately given me my beautiful twin boys and this other precious baby boy who will be born very soon. I praise God everyday for my precious miracles, Elijah and Will and baby boy Vincelli whose name is not being released yet! :) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">I am grateful for what I have endured. I am strong. I will keep surviving. Infertility has helped make me who I am today. It is part of me and will be forever. I embrace that.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">Yes, I have infertility.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">But it does not have me.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><br /></span>Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-15243991386261665862013-11-14T10:31:00.000-06:002013-11-14T12:27:56.907-06:00BEYOND BLESSED<br />
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We are overjoyed to share the news of another precious miracle with all of you.<br />
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I am 15 weeks pregnant.........with ONE baby! :)<br />
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May 8, 2014 is our due date.<br />
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<u><i>We ar</i></u><u><i>e beyond blessed.</i></u><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Vincelli at 11 weeks.</td></tr>
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<i>For this child we prayed. 1 Samuel 1:27</i><br />
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It has been quite the emotional year. As you may or may not know, we began trying for another baby in May of 2012, but with no success. So we started doctoring at the Mayo Clinic again and did a FET (frozen embryo transfer) this past February. But I did not become pregnant. We were heartbroken.<br />
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But we tried again right away and did another FET in April. I became pregnant and we were thrilled for another miracle. But at just a little over 6 weeks along, I miscarried and we lost our precious baby. (Blog post: <a href="http://amycoxvincelli.blogspot.com/2013/08/goodbye-sweet-baby.html" target="_blank">Goodbye, Sweet Baby</a>) We were devastated. But still not near ready to give up.<br />
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I was all set up to start medications again in September with another FET in October, but we were shocked to become pregnant on our own in August.<br />
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ON OUR OWN!!<br />
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With no fertility medications or treatments. An absolute miracle!<br />
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I was able to call and cancel our appointment in Rochester. I had always dreamed of doing that! Some people we've told have said, "See what happens when you stop trying." Well, I can guarantee we definitely hadn't stopped trying. And I did stumble across some research that said you are most fertile 1 to 3 months after a miscarriage. I had never heard that before. But we did conceive almost exactly 3 months after our miscarriage. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it, but it is definitely interesting.<br />
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So in less than one year after our miscarriage and losing our third baby, we will hold baby number four in our arms. I could have never imagined we'd go through all we have this year. Even through all the ups and downs, we have always continued to trust in God's perfect plan for our family.<br />
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But we have had some scares along the way already:<br />
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The day before I was supposed to go in for our first ultrasound at 6 weeks, I began spotting. Just like I did, at the exact same time during my miscarriage in May. I cried and cried and seriously thought we were losing our baby again. I went in for an ultrasound that day, but it was too early to see a heartbeat. So for the next 9 days, I continued to bleed and started mourning what I thought was the loss of another baby. But the bleeding didn't become worse like it did during my miscarriage in May. I started feeling hope, but didn't want to be overly positive. Finally, after bleeding and worrying for those 9 days, we went in for an ultrasound and there baby was with a strong heartbeat. It was one of the happiest moments of our lives! Relieved and overjoyed just doesn't even begin to describe what we were feeling!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUumt3GD0TM/UoOaTOD-gRI/AAAAAAAAEa0/hrAPIYP4pjI/s1600/new+baby+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="97" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUumt3GD0TM/UoOaTOD-gRI/AAAAAAAAEa0/hrAPIYP4pjI/s400/new+baby+1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Unfortunately, we also found out right away that I tested positive for the Jka antibody. I used to be negative for this antibody, but Nick is positive. (Which is very rare and of course Nick likes to think he's pretty unique because of this!) So this means that Nick passed it onto one of the twins. And when I delivered the twins, it entered into my bloodstream. It's just been floating around me with no problem, until you become pregnant.<br />
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To make a long story short, this antibody has a chance of crossing into the placenta and attacking baby's red blood cells and destroying them. If that happens the baby may become anemic. If that occurs, the doctors would either have to give baby a blood transfusion inside of me, and/or deliver baby early. This is called Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn.<br />
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But from everything that I've researched, it seems like even if it did cross over to the baby, that it would be very rare for it to be serious. So, I continue to be closely monitored by blood tests every month (and then every 2 weeks after 24 weeks along) to measure my blood titers, which will tell how much antibody is in my system and getting to baby. So far my numbers have been right where they need to be. Praise God!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IjmW7rWm4q0/UoOaTvjWt-I/AAAAAAAAEa8/XEVH344VVgg/s1600/excited+big+brothers+to+be!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IjmW7rWm4q0/UoOaTvjWt-I/AAAAAAAAEa8/XEVH344VVgg/s400/excited+big+brothers+to+be!.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excited big brothers-to-be!!</td></tr>
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It's still hard to believe this is all really happening. And in this way! <span style="text-align: center;">We feel so very grateful and blessed.</span><br />
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Besides being absolutely exhausted every day (literally falling asleep when I sit down sometimes!), and other little pregnancy symptoms, I have been feeling wonderful. I really can't complain at all. I am so thankful for that because I know so many women feel horrible for so very long in their pregnancies. I am excited to feel what a singleton pregnancy will be like. I imagine I won't be quite as big as I got with the twins. Ha! And I hope to deliver a full term, healthy baby! :)</div>
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Thank you for your continued support and prayers during all these years. We are so grateful for your love in our lives. Please continue to keep our precious baby in your prayers.<br />
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Amy & Nick<br />
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Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-88231146372829179442013-11-04T20:00:00.000-06:002014-01-07T15:30:55.473-06:00EMERGING FROM INFERTILITY?<br />
I was asked to be a guest blogger on my friend, Jen's blog. I am honored. Beyond honored actually. You see, this woman is nothing short of incredible. Not only does she work full-time traveling all over, but she lives dealing with a horrible disease named lupus. She is also a mother and step mother to five children, including two sets of twins. She is also a mother to three angel babies in heaven. She buried one of those tiny precious babies named Samuel last November. Her grief after losing her son is unbearable, but she keeps fighting. I truly admire her. Jen is an also an amazing blogger. Her writings are a perfect mix of honesty, hilariousness, creativity, and genius. When she writes about her health stories or her work happenings of chemistry, I seriously have no idea what she’s talking about. No idea. She’s beyond intelligent. Is Jen perfect? Nope. But is she real? You bet. She is many things, but most of all, I think she’s fabulous because her blog reminds me that it’s okay to feel what I feel. Her words give me comfort. Her strength gives me hope. Her will to keep on fighting fills me with courage.<br />
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We were RA's together in the same dorm complex back in our undergraduate days 12 years ago. What? 12 years? Seriously? Doesn't feel like that long ago! We were acquaintances, but didn't truly connect via facebook until 2010 when I became pregnant with twins and I bombarded her with endless twin questions. She was so kind and sweet and willing to share advice. I am so grateful for her support. Her personal words of encouragement and comfort during normal "twin life" and after my miscarriage are what I so desperately needed. She has such a way of pouring her heart into her writings and expressing it so eloquently. I am thankful she so openly shares both her happiness and grief with everyone, as she has truly blessed many more than she will ever know.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RA's together in the same dorm complex together! - Jen is on the far left and I am in red!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West End RAs at Southwest State University 2000-2001 <br />
{Jen's on the far left side in the 2nd row on couch. And I am two people over from her!} </td></tr>
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You can find Jen's amazing blog here: <a href="http://twomoremakesfive.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">& Two More Makes Five</a><br />
And my guest post on her blog <a href="http://twomoremakesfive.blogspot.com/2013/11/guest-post-amy-cox-vincelli.html?spref=fb" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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The next two paragraphs underlined are what Jen wrote for the intro about me on her blog for my guest post:<br />
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<i><u><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I have this one story, this one reality, but there are as many unique stories as there are individual people in the world. So, when I decided to start incorporating guest bloggers, it was with the intent to bring together other voices that might touch your particular reality. The very first person I thought of was Amy, someone I knew my sophomore year of undergraduate. I’ll tell you a little secret about Amy: I was ridiculously intimidated by her in college. She was just so well-liked, so competent, so comfortable with herself, so organized, so cool. She was everything I wanted to be and, so, my own insecurities kept me from getting to know what an incredible person Amy is. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span></u></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><u><span style="background-color: white;">Thankfully, though, we’ve developed a connection years later, first through our mutual experience of raising twins, then, through my loss of Samuel and her loss of a very desired pregnancy. But, beyond our similarities, Amy has stories of her own, many of which she shares on her own blog.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Today, I'm thrilled to share part of Amy's reality with you below. Her writing is beautiful, truthful, open, eloquent, honest and - quite honestly - painful. But there is loveliness in our pain, and Amy shares that with us, as well.</span></u></i></span></div>
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And here is what I wrote for my guest post on her blog:<br />
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Back in May, Jen asked me to write about what it's like to have struggled with infertility and what it's like to emerge on the other side. I have been scribbling about this off and on about this for months. And so here it is, five months later, ready to share. Thank you, thank you, Jen, for wanting to share this part of my story.<br />
It is interesting to think of me emerging on the other side of infertility, because I definitely have after the birth of my twin boys. But honestly, I don't think one can ever truly leave infertility behind. Therefore, I know I haven’t fully emerged from it. It’s a big part of me and who I now am. It will never leave me. And I am amazingly okay with that.<br />
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Even after the miracles of our twin boys in 2010, my husband and I have been thrown right back into the ugly world of infertility as we continued to struggle conceiving again for over a year. My infertility story is just one of many. And each story is so very different. Although there are many similarities of pain and grief, there are so many more differences: different doctors, different techniques, different procedures, different results, and different outcomes. For some couples it is the "male factor" because of low sperm count, or low motility, or the shape of the sperm. For others it is the "female factor" because the woman doesn't produce eggs, or she doesn't ovulate, or her fallopian tubes are blocked, or she suffers from endometriosis, etc. For others, the woman can easily become pregnant but cannot carry a baby without miscarrying over and over again. Having a gestational carrier may be an option for some of these couples. And yet for other couples, it is both "male and female factors" and surrogacy and/or adoption may be their only options. For others there are "no factors" which is called "unexplained infertility", meaning doctors cannot find anything wrong. And some have "secondary infertility" which is being able to conceive after you have successfully conceived other children. So yes, so many different factors and each story is so very different.<br />
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My story is meant to be shared. I feel it in my heart to do so. It’s a story of God’s perfect timing and God’s perfect plan. I don't share my story for attention. I don't share it for pity. I share it because there are many people out there who desperately need support. They may not be able or willing to speak out, so I will help be their voice. They need to know they are not alone. They need to know it is okay to be sad. They need to know they are supported.<br />
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It took my husband and I over 3 years to conceive. We wed in 2004 and started trying after 2 years of marriage in 2006. After one year of "trying on our own", we started doctoring and had many tests and treatments in both our town and at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. We had 5 unsuccessful IUI's (intra-uterine inseminations). At one point, we were given a 3% chance of conceiving on our own, as the doctors came to the conclusion that my husband’s sperm could not penetrate into my eggs. Finally in 2010, we became pregnant with twins on our first round of a fresh cycle ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) IVF (in-vitro fertilization) transfer where they injected 2 embroys. We were grateful, overjoyed, and ecstatic to be doubly blessed and finally hold our own little miracles in our arms, almost exactly four years from when we started trying to conceive!<br />
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When the twins were about 20 months old, in May of 2012, we started trying again on our own for another baby, but with no success. We started doctoring at the Mayo Clinic again and had a FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer) with 1 embryo in February of 2013, but I did not become pregnant. We were devastated. We tried again right away and had another FET (with 1 embryo) in April of 2013 and became pregnant. But at a little over 6 weeks gestation, I miscarried and we said goodbye to our miracle. Heartbroken does not even begin to describe what we felt. But we took comfort in knowing that the first thing our baby ever saw was the face of Jesus. At this time, we still have 4 frozen embryos in cyropreservation. I call it "frozen daycare," because it isn't cheap to keep them in storage!<br />
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So yes, we have emerged on the other side of infertility, but we’re thrown right back in it again. And like I said, it never really left us anyway. And now we have a miscarriage to add to our infertility story. Yet another part of my life story that I never thought would happen to me. So, now what? Do we keep trying on our own? Do we do another FET? Or do we see this as a sign that it's time to stop trying? Do we try a gestational carrier? Do we adopt for our miracle? Or do we adjust to a life of no more children and move on?<br />
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Infertility is many things. I know a lot about the medical side of infertility. Although most of it doesn't truly make sense to me. Because wow...our bodies are absolutely amazing and there are so many things that have to be absolutely perfect to conceive and carry a healthy baby. I know that each and every baby, no matter the circumstance, is nothing short of an absolute miracle. And I know that medical treatments can only go so far and do so much. Because that is where God comes in and the true miracle occurs.<br />
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But I know even more about the emotional side of infertility. I know most people won't understand just how truly destructive infertility is. Just as you cannot truly understand something unless you've been through it yourself. It's like the saying, "For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible."<br />
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Infertility kills dreams. It makes you feel like you are losing every good thing about yourself. It exhausts your body with endless medications and injections. It breaks hearts. It makes you feel jealous. Then it makes you hate yourself because of those feelings you don't want to have, but can't stop. It makes you gain weight. It, along with the medications, makes your hormones all over the place. It makes you angry and bitter. It crushes your heart. It makes you feel lonely. It opens the most private parts of your life to random nurses and doctors, therefore making you feel awkward and invaded. It messes with your hope. It makes you feel irrational. It makes you wonder what you did in your past that was so horrible that now you are being punished for it. It emotionally drains you from happiness you used to so easily feel. It makes sex become a chore instead of pleasure. It steals your money. It consumes you. And worst of all, it makes you question God as to what is so horrible about yourself that you aren't good enough to be a mother. It makes you feel unworthy. Infertility pretty much sucks. Yup, it sucks.<br />
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You smile your way through baby showers, births, holidays, baptisms, and birthday parties of families and friends even though your heart continues to break inside. And it's not because you aren't happy for them and love children, because you truly do. You treasure the miracle and sweetness of babies and children. But your heart aches because you so desperately see the parents' joys and want to feel that in your own heart with your own children. You want to hold your own baby in your arms, but never know if you will get the chance.<br />
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1 in 8 couples will struggle with infertility. Therefore, odds are you know someone who is suffering. If you know any of those people, I encourage you to pray for them, support them, and just let them know you care. Because if they have told you about it, that is them reaching out for help. Women and men with infertility unfortunately do not usually get the support they need because it is commonly a hidden subject. People are ashamed, but they should not be. Be their support. Help give them hope.<br />
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One of the hardest things to describe and express about infertility is the loss each and every month: the extreme grief and despair. I have experienced the loss of month after month of not becoming pregnant. 52 times to be exact. That is 52 months/cycles we tried with not becoming pregnant. And it is a pain like no other. You grieve your baby that could have been. And then you feel crazy for being so devastated for losing something you never had to begin with. But it is real. And it is deep. You grieve the hopes and dreams of yet another child that you so desperately wanted. You grieve time lost and thousands upon thousands of dollars lost with nothing to show for it. You grieve because you never know if you will ever conceive a baby. And every month you wait, for half of every month (during the 2 weeks you wait to find out if you are pregnant), you do just that: WAIT. Waiting, waiting, and more waiting. You spend half of your "trying to conceive" life pretending you are pregnant, just in case you are, only to be crushed when it is another negative result.<br />
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You tell yourself over and over that "It will happen in time." But did you know that if you have sex at exactly the right time with all perfect conditions, that you still only have a 20% chance of becoming pregnant each time? Seriously! A 20% chance! That is amazing. So, sadly the odds are often against you. Just another example of how each and every pregnancy is an absolute miracle. Also, along with the statistics that 1 in every 4 pregnancies results in a miscarriage. One in every four! You cannot tell me that each and every baby born isn't meant to be.<br />
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My miscarriage was hard. I was heartbroken. But I can honestly say that for me, many of the months of not getting pregnant during years of infertility were many times almost as hard as our miscarriage. Imagine grieving a loss every month for years. It tears your heart apart. You stay hopeful and then drop to a low again each month. But it just seems like the next time you get back up, it is not nearly as high as you had been the time before. You feel defeated. But somehow you keep on moving forward. Because we all know that if you want a child, making a family is worth anything.<br />
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The pain of infertility is deep: the waiting, the questions, the taking chances, the struggles, the longing, the sacrifices, the statistics, the money, the bills you owe, the crying, the loneliness, the praying, the enduring, the stresses, the planning, the countless medications, the many appointments, the questions, the never knowing if you will be able to conceive, the pain of watching so many around you having children, hearing of abortions, seeing yet another teenager become pregnant who doesn't want a baby, listening to pregnant women complain about being pregnant, and on and on.<br />
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By far, one of the biggest struggles for most couples is stressing over the cost. Unfortunately, many states and insurance plans have no coverage for infertility. None. Most people are paying for everything out of pocket. Fortunately, I had some coverage for our first round of IVF, but we used up our lifetime coverage right away, so everything since has been 100% out of pocket. I don't even want to think about how much we've spent this year with no baby in our arms. But, I am truly grateful that we can afford these treatments, as I know there are many people who cannot because of finances. Many do not even get that choice. The treatments are expensive and the medication costs are atrocious. The fertility drugs need to be shipped from specialty pharmacies. I searched all over the country and usually ordered mine from Texas, as they were the cheapest for us. Then when they arrive, you stress over measuring the doses correctly and giving the shot properly because you know if you mess it up, it can cost you hundreds of dollars.<br />
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As much as I wish I could take away infertility from everyone, I can't. And who are we to choose why suffering happens, who it happens to, and how it happens as well? We all have our crosses to bear. Yes, the struggle sucks. But your struggle is part of your story. And I truly believe God will not leave us and will give us the strength to carry on even when we feel like we are ready to give up.<br />
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When you cannot conceive a child, it is more than unfair. Reproducing is supposed to be so natural and a normal part of life. And as the Bible says, "Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him." Psalm 127:3. Children are a blessing, so why can't we all create new life so easily? I know there are people who will argue that infertility is "not that big of a deal." Yes, I know there are much "worse" things in life. So many devastating things that occur to people, from painful diseases, to abuse, to tragic deaths, etc. But honestly, someone will always have it worse. And I do not think it is fair for people to belittle other's emotions or what they are going through just because someone out there has it worse. Like I said, we all have our crosses to bear, and we never really know what is going to be our "worst" or who will have it worse. Suffering is suffering. And everyone needs support. Everyone needs hope.<br />
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Perhaps one of the hardest things about infertility is the unknown of not knowing what to do and not knowing what the future holds. You never know how long your journey will be or what the outcome will be. How many medications do we try? How far do we go? What do we try next? How many treatments are we able to do? How many more thousands of dollars are we willing to spend? How much more are we willing to put ourselves though before we realize we are wasting our time, money, and hearts? If we only knew that by a certain point, we would be guaranteed a child, we know we would do anything. Anything! But it is all a gamble. There are no guarantees. That unknown is horrible. The waiting, the not knowing, is a pain I wouldn't wish upon anyone.<br />
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But I would be lying if I said infertility hasn't brought good things to my life. Because it certainly has. My faith and relationship with God is stronger. I trust more, I believe more, I hope more. I'm more compassionate and more giving. My relationship with my husband is stronger. We have always had an amazing, loving, and supportive relationship, but infertility has made our faith in God together stronger than strong. My husband did not grow up in a family who attended church, so to watch his faith grow has been nothing short of incredible. We have become even stronger as a couple and stronger in our faith together. What a true blessing! We had over 6 years of marriage with just him and I alone before we had our twins. I know him better than I know anyone. I am so grateful for our years together.<br />
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Another blessing is that I have supported and encouraged many lives upon starting my “infertility journey” blog. I have "met" people from all across the country who read my blog and so deeply relate to what I write, which has given them comfort and hope. I hope and pray that through my blog and through my story, my heartache will help be someone else's hope. Because I truly believe that with hope, the odds don't matter.<br />
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And ultimately, if I hadn't left my job to take time off because of infertility, I would have never started my own business selling crafts online that I design and create. (<a href="http://www.vincellidesigns.com/">www.vincellidesigns.com</a>) It is something that has brought much needed confidence and joy to my life these past four years. It is the perfect balance of staying at home with my boys and also having some time away for myself.<br />
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Blessings definitely come out of sufferings, even among the pain. This quote describes it perfectly: "Sometimes the hardest storms to get through are the ones your soul needs the most. And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. But, survive you did. And one thing is certain: when you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in. That's what the storm's all about." - The Horse Mafia<br />
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I know that God has a bigger plan for all of us than we have for ourselves. And I trust in that. No matter what happens, no matter what your struggle is or what your cross to bear is, I pray you find hope and joy in His plan for your life, just as I have. I will continue to share my story in hopes of comforting and inspiring others. And if anything else for YOU, for everyone, to know that no matter what you are going through, to know that you are not alone. You are never alone. God has a perfect plan for your family and for your life. Everything is happening for a reason on your path that was planned just for you. Trust in that. Try not to second guess what you have done or what you are planning to do. Keep the faith. Whatever it is will be worth waiting for. There is always, always, always HOPE.<br />
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Looking back, even if I could go back and take away all our infertility, I wouldn't. After all, it’s ultimately given me my beautiful twin boys. And I praise God everyday for my precious miracles, Elijah and Will. I am grateful for what I have endured. I am strong. I will keep surviving. Infertility has helped make me who I am today. It is part of me and will be forever. I embrace that.<br />
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Yes, I have infertility.<br />
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But it does not have me.<br />
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Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-89936586145713801732013-10-17T20:12:00.000-05:002013-10-17T20:40:22.100-05:003RD BIRTHDAY PARTY<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L2XYJjFfILI/Uly1yrRGxdI/AAAAAAAAETo/SauIPExQ0W4/s1600/black+and+white+fam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L2XYJjFfILI/Uly1yrRGxdI/AAAAAAAAETo/SauIPExQ0W4/s400/black+and+white+fam.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All dressed up in baseball gear for the party!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I enjoy party planning. And people have made comments like, "How do you have time for that?" or "I wish I had time for that!" and sadly even, "Why do you spend the time on that?" Well, it's just this simple: You make time for what you like to do. And I enjoy doing party themes for my children's birthdays. So I make the time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And this year I decided on a baseball theme!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go MINNESOTA TWINS!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, please don't judge me. I've heard it all before. People making fun of the "pinterest" moms who theme parties or make such elaborate decorations. Why make fun of them just because it's something you don't do? It's a hobby for them. It's a hobby for me. For example, I don't watch a lot of tv. So instead of watching tv, I spend some time in August planning their birthday party. Is that so wrong? Not at all. It's something I like to do. It's therapeutic. It's crafty. I like it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, and I'm actually not a "pinterest" mom. I've only been on there a handful of times. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are you surprised? :) It's true!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, enough of my ranting. Just had to throw that out there to defend myself and all the other party planners out there!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had Eli and Will's 3rd Birthday Party at my parent's farm in Pipestone, MN this year. We were home for a wild weekend, so we decided to throw one extra event in since many people would already be there! We had FOUR parties in TWO days. On Saturday morning, we threw my sister, Corrie, a baby shower in South Dakota. Then E & W's 3rd birthday party was back at the farm in the afternoon. Then we went back to South Dakota early Sunday morning for my niece, Eleanor's baptism. And then our another niece, Ryder, had her 2nd Birthday Party at the farm later that afternoon. Whew! Makes me tired just typing all that. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a fun and wild weekend. Lots of planning, prep, and preparing for both the baby shower and E & W's birthday party, but was totally TOTALLY worth it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are the invitations I made to look like ticket stubs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So fun to make!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Notice the special note at the bottom. I'd thought it'd be fun for everyone to wear baseball apparel. It was so fun to have everyone dressed alike for the party. Thanks to everyone for humoring us!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The menu was of course CONCESSION food. Hot dogs, nacho chips with cheese and jalapenos, and baked beans. (Well, baked beans aren't really a concession food, but just pretend!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I even found the fun hot dog holders to go along with the baseball plates and napkins.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yummy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And how could you have a baseball party without good ol' cracker jack, peanuts, popcorn, and "dubble bubble" bubble gum? You can't! So those were the goodies placed on the tables for munching!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are the boys enjoying punch in their new baseball cups with twisty straws. They were in heaven!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had the party outside because that was the only place that could fit us all. But mother nature played a cruel trick on us, and it ended up being over 90 degrees out, so we all got a tad bit warm. I had planned on everyone playing a game of baseball together out in the field, but none of us really wanted to move in that heat, so we skipped that and just ate. Works for me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loved everyone dressed in baseball gear!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wish we would have taken a group photo of the entire group together, but we just ran out of time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can see their "birthday banner" of photos hanging from the canopy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every year for their birthday, I make a banner of one photo of the boys together from each month. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a close-up of the year 2 to year 3 banner!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KUQjq7YmeGM/UlzGzogZbXI/AAAAAAAAEXI/vBmJ9avqzYg/s1600/DSC_1687+new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KUQjq7YmeGM/UlzGzogZbXI/AAAAAAAAEXI/vBmJ9avqzYg/s400/DSC_1687+new.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eQG4vXwVcTM/UlzGzmeSMMI/AAAAAAAAEXA/50YOrKr2Z6w/s1600/DSC_1689+new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eQG4vXwVcTM/UlzGzmeSMMI/AAAAAAAAEXA/50YOrKr2Z6w/s400/DSC_1689+new.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For decorations on the tables, we had old baseball bats, mitts and baseballs of Nick's for the centerpieces. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After getting back to the farm from the baby shower, I barely had time to get birthday party stuff ready, yet alone take the "pretty pre-party" photos I had wanted to. So I didn't get photos of everything. But these were the labels I had attached to the brown peanut bags:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And these popcorn bags, I filled with some treats, balls, bracelets, toys, etc. as party favors for all the kids to bring home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See the white house in the background of this next photo? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's the house I grew up in! Love that place!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember when I said it was over 90 degrees out? Well, this is what happens to your cake and cupcakes when it's that hot. Things start to melt....a lot. And when you use red frosting, it looks like a blood bath. It was a bloody baseball bloodbath. Oh well, it still tasted good!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cake was chocolate for Will, our little chocolate lover. (Which Will pronouces "fock-et." Oh my...our little potty mouth!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the cupcakes were vanilla, for Eli, our little vanilla lover. (Which Eli pronouces "'nilla.")</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those on the cupcakes are supposed to be 3's, E's, and W's. But yes, a blood bath did occur. I had planned on making these look like baseballs, but the frosting tip I was using was too thick, so it wasn't working. My cake/cupcakes were a disaster. But like I said, at least they still tasted good. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Opening gifts:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will blowing out his 3 candles!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elijah blowing out his 3 candles!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qtvm8AY8crc/Uly3fMZ218I/AAAAAAAAETw/La8TNMNbN2c/s1600/DSC_1622+elijah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="328" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qtvm8AY8crc/Uly3fMZ218I/AAAAAAAAETw/La8TNMNbN2c/s400/DSC_1622+elijah.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An attempt at getting a cousin's photo. (Cousins of Eli and Will!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But Max did not want to make an appearance. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few kids ran away but these stayed. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Golf Cart rides!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jq0yYyVT_OU/Uly3nX_zXYI/AAAAAAAAEUI/GB6cHNzTTRI/s1600/DSC_1635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jq0yYyVT_OU/Uly3nX_zXYI/AAAAAAAAEUI/GB6cHNzTTRI/s400/DSC_1635.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4-Wheeler Rides! Farm life is the BEST!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y4pPUjZfsjw/Uly3m_lPcEI/AAAAAAAAEUE/gSkZ7SVEWvs/s1600/DSC_1634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y4pPUjZfsjw/Uly3m_lPcEI/AAAAAAAAEUE/gSkZ7SVEWvs/s400/DSC_1634.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though we were SO hot, it was a fabulous party. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We made great memories and are thankful for our dear family for helping us celebrate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now to figure out next year's theme! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hum...anyone have any ideas? </span></div>
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Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376932518012355629.post-29951345357878413532013-10-15T21:04:00.001-05:002013-10-15T21:04:38.676-05:00PREGNANCY & INFANT LOSS REMEMBRANCE DAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Today, October 15th, is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day</span></div>
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Today I will light a candle in honor of all the angel babies. I remember and honor all of my friends and anyone who have lost babies through miscarriage and still birth. I remember my friends who delivered their premature babies who too quickly went to heaven. Especially babies: Charlie, Savannah, and Samuel. And I remember those who lost their babies after hours, days, weeks, and months of getting to know them. Especially Hope, Trey, and Drake.</div>
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There is no foot too small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world.</div>
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I am 1 in 4. One in four women will lose a child through miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, or infant loss. Exactly 5 months ago today, on Nick and my 9 year wedding anniversary, we lost our baby. If our baby was still alive, I would currently be almost 7 months pregnant. </div>
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Today we celebrate all angel babies. Today is a day for everyone to remember and honor all of the precious babies gone too soon. Today is a day for many of us to bond together and mourn and honor our precious lost little ones. </div>
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The loss of any child, no matter what age or gestational age, is heartbreaking. And the weight of bearing these scars is with us forever. Please take a moment to honor these babies. </div>
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They were loved. They were real. They will never be forgotten. </div>
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And we carry them forever in our hearts.</div>
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</span>Amy Cox Vincellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199596126683745616noreply@blogger.com0