The Coblentz family expansion continues!

The morning we went to the hospital to have Ella, I very vividly remember speaking out to Chris - “We will get to experience this again.” The years have gone by in the blink of an eye but the ache for more children has never wavered in either of our hearts. God blessed us with the gift of Ella and while we were and are so grateful for her miraculous presence, our hearts desire has always been for her to not grow up alone. We wrestled with what avenue God would have us take to expand our family all while pleading for an easy, natural way. While the easy, natural part of that desire hasn’t been part of our story, we are so grateful we had the opportunity to trudge through IVF all over again. There were times when I questioned, doubted, and worried, BUT GOD. One our our largest concerns with the entire IVF process has always been that conception begins the minute those precious embryos are created and the medical field doesn't exactly view it that way. There is such a heavy emotional load to carry when you are taking the “science route” to create life. During our retrieval process with Ella, we ended up with 3 healthy miracle embryos that were able to be used. The first transfer was not a success. The second attempt ended in an early miscarriage (Ira Jude). Ella was the result of the final remaining embryo transfer. We grieved the loss of those we lost before Ella, including the eggs that were retrieved and fertilized but didn’t progress but were so grateful for God’s provision in easing our worries that we would have more embryos than we knew what to do with. It was also incredibly discouraging to know that should we desire to have more children and it wasn’t happening naturally, we would need to go through the entire IVF process all over again which was emotionally and financially devastating.

The years have marched on and we tucked money away as we were able so that we could afford IVF again if that was what God called us to. At the end of 2023, we decided it was finally time to take the leap of faith yet again. Normally when you walk through something unknown, the second time through it can be easier knowing what to expect, etc. I have to say it was extra hard for me emotionally because I knew what toll it took on my body the first time. We also knew that this would definitely be our final round of IVF and there were so many more worries attached to the amount of embryos we would end up with. God took care of that too. 3 miracle babies again. So much hope, relief, and joy coupled with moments of crippling fear and doubt. In early December, we decided with our doctor’s approval to transfer the first 2 embryos at the same time. We hoped for at least one miraculous implantation but would have been overjoyed with both taking hold resulting in twins. Unfortunately, that wasn’t part of the story God had for us and we found out just before Christmas that neither of those embryos stuck. ONE LEFT. The final chance for God to expand our family through the route of fertility treatment. We transferred that embryo with equal parts hope and worry. On February 26th after a morning blood draw, we got the results call that afternoon that God had indeed worked a miracle on our behalf. There was life inside of me! FINALLY, we could reveal to Ella she would finally get to be a big sister! It was so fun giving her this paper and letting her read it all on her own to discover the news.

I will not miss the endless drives to Frederick for countless blood draws and monitoring appointments. I will not miss the 100's of shots in my stomach and behind (seriously, who comes up with these locations anyways?). I will not miss having an itchy allergic reaction that caused a rash on my hands and arms and sent Chris driving to a specialty pharmacy in Virginia to get me new meds. I will not miss sitting in a fertility clinic waiting room surrounded by wrecked women just waiting for a glimmer of hope to be their reality. And while I won't miss these things I had to walk through again, I am beyond grateful that this opportunity COULD be part of our story and that God worked out every single detail. 

To those who have faithfully prayed for us along this roller coaster journey, we could never thank you enough for literally praying children right into our lives when it seemed impossible!

Special thanks to Amber Buckel Photography for capturing the above announcement photos for us! Look her up if you are in need of family photos, etc! She was so amazing to work with!

Mother's Day Prayers

The last nine and a half weeks of having Ella physically here with us has been nothing short of amazing. Words can't even describe how it feels to have her finally join our family after waiting so long and yet it feels like she's just always been with us. We can't imagine our lives without her! Our hearts burst quite possibly every single time we look at her precious face.

As referenced in my last post, I spent last Mother's Day planting a tree in honor of our precious baby in heaven. My body had healed from the miscarriage and we were gearing up for another round of treatment at Shady Grove Fertility. The meds had started for our FET (frozen embryo transfer) and we were anxiously awaiting for my body to be fully prepped so we could go get our baby! When you go through IVF and know that you have precious miracle babies just WAITING for you, it is an indescribable feeling. As I was processing all of the many emotions and feelings surrounding our loss and our anticipation for the future, these are the words that flowed from my heart...

Mother's Day Prayer May 14, 2017:

"My first Mother's Day. Jesus, thank you for life and breath to see this day through. Although this is not how I had hoped to spend this holiday, God has so much bigger ahead. Mighty blessings ARE coming. Through the grief and pain, He is so much greater. Today I am thankful for this crazy journey because of the person it has shaped me into. I never knew God could stretch me this far. I know the pain and lessons learned will be used to bless and HELP others someday. May Jesus be glorified through these ashes. To my dear sweet baby Ira Jude - I miss you and long to hold you someday. I know that Jesus is holding you so close and that makes me smile through the pain and tears. Today I lay down all the hurt resting on my shoulders from expectations and harmful words anyone has ever said regarding our infertility. Babies will run free in this home and Jesus will get all the glory and honor. Laughter will fill each and every room. Worship will flow abundantly and these walls will be a haven for weary souls of all kinds. Thankful, so thankful for what is to come. Amen."

Ella isn't running yet but her laughter bounces off the walls of our home and worship music is her happy place that has calmed her since we brought her home from the hospital. Having her here with me to celebrate Mother's Day this year brings so many joyful tears that I feel like they may never end! As I hold her in my arms each day and tell her just how very much we love her and how special and amazing she is, I am continually overwhelmed by God's goodness to us. Going through all the phases of fertility treatment (which eventually led to IVF, something I never ever thought I could do - physically and emotionally), having 6 unsuccessful cycles, a failed embryo transfer & surgery due to fluid complications, and then the miscarriage....it wasn't what we wanted for our journey to have children but it's the story God is writing through us and without Him, Ella wouldn't be here today!

Many women struggle to face Mother's Day with joy because of infertility and other reasons. For those that are missing little ones that should be here with you to celebrate and those longing to become a Mother, my heart and many prayers go out to you. This journey has brought people into my life that I otherwise wouldn't have met or had the opportunity to get to know in a deeper way. The days/months are long but the rewards of seeing pregnancies come out of fervent prayers for others who are walking a similar road is so special!

High on the mountain I will be lifting my voice...And in the valley I will be dancing for joy....

This is undoubtedly one of the most bittersweet things I’ve ever had to share my heart about. I’ve spent the last few weeks processing just how to go about this, and there just isn’t an easy or perfect way. This is my attempt to share our story of God’s provision for those who have been faithfully carrying us with love and prayer, yet all the while weeping deeply for those I know who are still in the painful waiting season.

I always felt like I have been a pretty patient person growing up but patience takes on an entirely new meaning when your hopes and dreams are put on hold for YEARS at a time. Waiting, hoping, with little to no answers of why you are being called to walk the road of infertility. Something that seemed so easy and normal for everyone else, turned into a very long unknown nightmare of trust like I’ve never known before. In the early years, we endured the “when are you going to have kids” teasing that for awhile seemed like it would never relent. As time continued to pass, people simply stopped asking and while it was a relief, there was no shortage of people in everyday life complaining about how hard their lives were with children. Something we so desperately wanted to experience and most seemed to be taking the blessings for granted.

For years we simply carried on with life, wishing and hoping that it would just finally happen and we could end the nightmare and get back to the life we had planned for ourselves when we said “I do” and walked down the aisle hand in hand to conquer our future together in October of 2004. Little did we know that our future of “for better or worse” would get extremely dark and painful at times when the months would continue to pass with the same news over and over again -- not pregnant. We walked through the birth of 5 nephews and 3 nieces. All precious gifts whom we love dearly, but so painful for us to process through.

In 2009, we had some basic testing done that left us feeling frustrated but not void of all hope. We continued on our own, desperately praying medical intervention wouldn’t be a necessity. Fast forward to the summer of 2012, we walked through the doors of Shady Grove Fertility to get a better idea of what we were looking at if we chose to go down that route. Unfortunately it was a very dark time for me personally and I went away feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. Angry. Bitter. Why me, God? You name it, I felt it. All I ever wanted was to marry my best friend and be a Mom. Why did this have to be such a monumental challenge I was called to overcome? Chris & I discussed our options but ultimately I still just wasn’t ready. I shut down and refused to believe I was strong enough to go through such an ordeal. ANOTHER 3 YEARS LATER. 3 YEARS!!! Summer of 2015, I was finally ready. Or ready as I’d ever feel. We walked back through those doors of Shady Grove Fertility with a new determination but an equal sense of sheer terror that if this was what God had planned for our story, we would make it happen somehow.

We endured more meds, shots, procedures, blood draws, and disappointment than I can even fathom. 9 treatment cycles and 1 miscarriage later, God has blessed us with the most amazing miracle of being pregnant once again. PRAISE THE LORD!! We are literally overwhelmed with joy and still pinch ourselves every day as we process this new reality that it FINALLY is our time! God’s timing is so much better than ours and we still don’t fully understand WHY we had to wait this long for our precious miracle but we do know that our journey, story, and testimony will not go to waste. Every 1 in 8 couples will go through this in some form or another, and I have every intention to walk along anyone I’m able, to hopefully help them navigate through what I thought I would never be strong enough to handle. And Jessie truly wasn’t strong enough, but allowing God to take my hand into the most terrifying season of my life and lead the way was a growing and stretching time that I could never do justice at putting into words. He is SO faithful. So truly amazing. The author of our dreams if we let Him.

To those of you who have taken it upon yourselves to intercede on our behalf for so many years, we humbly thank you and could never express just how precious you are to us. When the days grew long and dark, we were carried by such an amazing support system that we truly could never even begin to repay. Chris and I have shed so many tears for our children, and prayed harder for this miracle than anything we ever have before. We know many of you have done the same right along with us. We have been anointed, prayed for, prayed over and it is now OUR TIME for VICTORY & CELEBRATION that was declared over us years ago. Thank you, Jesus!

Fertility treatment is NO JOKE and it takes you on a roller coaster with more twists and turns than you could even explain to anyone who hasn’t endured it. If you ever encounter someone who is struggling to have children or going through treatment, I beg of you to intercede mercilessly on their behalf. I truly believe that the prayers of many (known & unknown to us) were what got us through each painful day. Sharing the news of our pregnancy in a public way is something that part of me really doesn’t even want to do because I know that it will probably ruin someone’s day (and probably several). When you’re walking the dark road of infertility, every single “my kids are driving me crazy bad day complaint”, pregnancy announcement, baby shower, or birthday party is just another knife to the heart. My sharing intentions are to give God all the glory for this miracle that He has so graciously blessed us with and to let all those hurting know that you’re not alone, and to hang in there.

I literally could write a book, and maybe someday I will do that but I just have one final shout out to send to my very deserving husband. Chris, my rock and my best friend, thank you for carrying this family when I felt like I couldn't even stand on my own two feet. Your quiet, steadfast support was the strength I needed when times were the darkest. You are the most compassionate and self sacrificing man I know who is already the best father our children could ever have. And folks, if you ever need a subcutaneous or intramuscular injection, Chris is a shot expert by now!

10 Years

9 Treatment Cycles

41 Blood Draws

35 Ultrasounds

166 Shots

Our IVF rainbow MIRACLE is due to arrive in February 2018!

To God be all the glory!

Hebrews 10:23 -- Let us hold UNSWERVINGLY to the hope we profess, for He who promised IS faithful.