Infertility Update

July 2008

Many of you are a little familiar with our journey of infertility, so we wanted to take just a moment and send an update...In June, Kimberly and I traveled to Charleston for our final round of infertility treatment. Knowing this was the last medical option with which we were comfortable, things have been a little emotional. A few weeks ago, as we awaited results from our treatment, Kimberly began experiencing some pain. After a day of grieving what we thought was coming, she decided to take a pregnancy test to "get it over with." The thought was to go ahead and find out that we were not pregnant, so that we could move on and seriously begin pursuing adoption. Instead, she called me at the office and said, "Um, Jerry, I am not sure, but I took a pregnancy test and well, I think, uh, that um, well…it might be positive." I asked her about false positives on the tests and we decided not to talk about it anymore that day - yeah, fat chance. The following day was the day we were to touch base with the doctors—so sometime around midnight, we prayed together and tried to go to sleep. About 2:00 AM, Kimberly got out of bed and laid on the couch - she couldn't sleep. Shocker!! At 4:15 AM, I realized she was not in bed and walked into the living room and said, "take the test."

About 8 hours later, after positive tests, a doctor’s visit and much anticipation, we received a phone call from Charleston with the news we’ve hoped to hear for over 2 years now…we are pregnant. We have laughed; we have prayed; we have cried. And here we are. We went to Charleston Monday and watched the miracle of life in a tiny heartbeat. Kimberly and I sit in utter amazement of our Lord and His goodness. He says in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." God is good all the time. We just don't always know what is happening in the heavens. We have left it all in the Lord's hands and trust Him each step of the way. We know that He allows rain and storms to come into our lives, but He does it to prove how big He is and how much He desires to comfort us.

The journey of infertility has been a long and painful one. About 2 years ago, Kimberly’s doctor began to suspect that there were some hormonal issues preventing us from having children. After working with us for about a year, that doctor referred us to some specialists in Charleston. In the world of infertility, there are just a few options of treatment. Some of them involved some aspects that made us both uncomfortable. Once we had narrowed down the options available, we were not left with a whole lot of routes to take. Months of medications and hormone-altering treatments, combined with the anger we both experienced in the valley of what seemed like unanswered prayer, has led to an emotional roller-coaster that has lasted, literally, for several years. Through it all, we have continued to sing…around the first of the year, Kimberly sent out an update including the lyrics to an old hymn recently updated by Chris Tomlin. The words remain the cry of our hearts: “How can I keep from singing Your praise? How can I ever say enough? How amazing is Your love! How can I keep from shouting Your name? I know I am loved by the King, and it makes my heart want to sing.”

Again, we rejoice at God's goodness and His love for us at all times. Thank you for being rope holders with us in this process. We pray now that this child carries to full term and is healthy. Mark your calendars for March 9, 2009. There will be a quite a celebration in the Freeman house…sometime around that day.

We love you all very much!

Blessings!

Jerry and Kimberly