Ryan + Kayla | A Baby Announcement !

One of the things I can’t thank my client’s enough for, is the open invitation to allowing me to be a part of their story.  Each and every day, I photograph normal people in their most extraordinary life moments. A baby being born, a young woman being proposed to, a family taking their yearly Christmas Card photo, a couple committing their lives to each other on their wedding day…  Both big and small, these moments all mean something.  They’re absolutely beautiful.  Every session has a story, and Ryan + Kayla’s is no exception.  Kayla did the honor of pouring her heart out and it is my pleasure to let her take things from here.

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In February of 2014 we started trying to have children. Just like every other couple who starts the family building process, we thought it would be a few shorts months, and we would have our little bundle of joy. However, after many, many months of complications, we finally decided to go see a doctor about the issue. Shortly after, we were referred to a fertility doctor. As soon as I heard that word I thought, “Nope, no way this is happening!“.

After a few months of blood work, ultrasounds, even more blood work and talks with the Doctor, we found out my body did not make a very important hormone it needed to be able to conceive a child. This is called PCOS. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Neither of us had ever heard of it, and neither had anyone in my family. It is a genetic disorder that happens at conception.

So, ever since I was in my mother’s womb, Jesus knew what we would walk though. He was never surprised.

We started the grueling process of fertility treatments in February of 2015, exactly a year after the diagnosis. First it was pills to replace the hormone my body was lacking.  Then, when that was not working, we moved to more aggressive treatment: hormone injections.

Starting in June, I had to give these to myself every night for about two weeks and then have blood work done every few days.  During this process, everything was textbook perfect and we were so hopeful that this time it was going to work. After two rounds of failed attempts with the injections, we decided to give my body, and our bank account, a break. I was also starting a new teaching job and was not able to go through treatment at the time.

Ryan and I began to come to terms with the very real possibility that the Lord may have not willed it for us to be parents to a biological child neither now, nor maybe ever.  Honestly, we did not come to terms with this overnight.  Many, many weeks and months were spent on our knees, crying out to the Lord.  We were broken.  But, we knew that Jesus would never leave us that way.  Somehow, someway, he had the best for us.  Trusting Him like that had never been so hard.   However, his faithfulness never ceases to amaze.

With healing, comes life.  As we began to heal from our idea of a family would look like, we began to see things differently.  The kids in our apartment complex that lacked parental figures, suddenly became lives we desired to invest in.  The kids that I taught in my classroom suddenly became so much more precious to me as well.  Something in Ryan and I decided that if we couldn’t have kids of our own, we would love others as if they were ours.

From day one of this process, our motto has been “It is well with our souls”. That song/saying seemed to show up every time there was a discouraging day, or we would have an appointment that would allow us to know we were not pregnant. Little did we know, he was making it well with our souls.

After about a month of having no treatment whatsoever, or trying for a baby, we got the surprise of our lifetime! On October 1, I (Kayla) first, found out we would be having a little miracle baby! Once I found out I immediately called my doctor because I was so afraid something would be wrong because of my missing hormone. They got me right in, minutes after I found out this incredible news, and did blood work and an ultrasound. As if this news wasn’t already a miracle in itself, the nurses informed me that my body was producing the hormone it was not making before all on its own!

We all literally marveled over the little life inside of me.  Like, I can not even handle the Lord right now!!! How gracious is He? I told my husband the wonderful news later that night after bible study was held in our home, and I think we are still in disbelief 6 weeks later!

We cannot fathom the goodness of Jesus, or why he chose to answer our many, many prayers for this sweet little one, but we are ever so grateful that he did! I love the fact that He allowed us to go through the process of medication to show us exactly what a woman’s body needs to go through to be able to conceive a baby. It is nothing short of a miracle, and that is exactly what he did inside my womb. He is not limited by medication, illness, or anything. He is Lord, and we will continue to praise him for this sweet gift!

Aren’t Kayla + Ryan gorgeous?!

Kayla– you are absolutely lovely.

How cute is their +1 ?!

These two are inspiring…

So. much. LOVE.

Excited to hear about the next steps in Ryan + Kayla’s journey??  Stay tuned!!!!  You’ll be seeing much more of them in the future!  Happy Thursday!!

xo

AnnaFilly