Our Frausted Life

This fall has been a season of intentionally growing our family, whatever way that looks like. Nik and I decided to take a break from “trying” last year after our second IUI failed. It was a much-needed break that was so freeing for us both. It really brought us closer together as a couple, and closer to the Lord. We knew that when we arrived in Guam, that we would begin to look at our options of growing our family. I immediately began looking at our adoption options on island, but that door quickly slammed in my face leaving me discouraged. The agency told me that they were full and had no openings for new adoptive families. We were to be put on a wait list, but I put it out of my mind that it wouldn’t be an option for us while in Guam.

Nik and I had a discussion in late July that we needed to come into a season of intention about growing our family. There aren’t many options on island so we had to turn to the states. As I was getting ready for my trip back in September, I decided I should reach out to my GYN to see if she could refer me to a REI (Reproductive Endocrinologist & Infertility). Although I personally am not for IVF for us, I wanted to get more information, so I made an appointment for a consult. I had to go through my PCP (primary care physician) in Guam to get a referral sent back to Texas. It was a lot of back and forth, but I finally got an authorization and onto my appointment I went.

( Quick pause and side note: The day they told me I needed more for this appointment’s authorization was end of day Thursday here, Friday morning in Guam, and Nik was already leaving on his short deployment. He was not on island to help me there. I cried and told Nik I just didn’t know what to do. I felt defeated. I am NOT someone to call around, but he said, “Sydnie, the enemy KNOWS how much we’ve wanted this and that God put this desire on our hearts to grow our family. He knows that this would make you feel defeated and he wants you to QUIT. He doesn’t want us to have this joy. Make the calls. Show him we don’t give up. We are Team Fraustro. You can do this.” And… I did. I got on that phone between the two clinics/offices and I did everything I could to get every appointment authorized from calls, to emails, to screenshots, to research, to more calls. Nik said he owed the person in the Guam referral office a gift basket, and that’s actually not a bad idea. God gave me the guidance and peace to work through all the hiccups. He made a way because this procedure was always in His plan. No mountain is too big for Him.)

It was the second week I was in the states that I went to the appointment (consult), and I anticipated the worst (or to talk just about IVF). It actually went SO much better than I expected! The doctor didn’t see the need for IVF for us. He wanted to schedule 2 procedures: a laparoscopy and a hysteroscopy. They needed to see inside to make sure everything was clear and remove any cysts, fibroids, scar tissue, or anything hindering us from conceiving naturally. We set the appointment for 2 weeks later. Getting the referral for that was even WORSE. Lots of emails and phone calls. Back and forth, and of course, the hospital liked to fill me in on what they needed on FRIDAYS. Lots of stress. The authorization didn’t arrive at the hospital until 2 days before my procedure (I had the email the week before, so I wasn’t sweating it…)!

But LOOK AT GOD: In between those 2 weeks of waiting, I got a very UNEXPECTED email from the adoption agency in Guam. We never thought they’d get back with us so soon, or EVER really, but they emailed me the Saturday afternoon of my 5K mudrun and told us that if were still interested, they have a spot available for us. I reached out to Nik that afternoon and we agreed that we would move forward. We felt that if the Lord was going to open this door, we wanted to walk through it with faith and hope that the Lord is moving during this season of growing our family. I set up a virtual meeting with the agency in Guam that week. It went WELL, and we hit the ground running with all things adoption. Application. Fees. Forms. We began a GoFundMe to help with costs that come up so quickly and were so thankful for so many friends and family to come together for us to do a fundraiser. I’m pretty excited for that! Find our GoFundMe Here: https://gofund.me/df0796d0

The day of the procedure was LONG. I’m so thankful that my sister, Candice, went with me. She was amazing the entire day! My procedure was supposed to begin close to 11am, but I wasn’t wheeled back until after 2pm. I was a little nervous, but my nurses, Melissa and Audrey, were pretty great setting me up to be comfortable as I waited. I watched Friends, Bluey, and Mike and Molly while I waited. I did take little naps here and there, and when it was time to roll back, they wasted no time. As soon as I moved from my bed to the surgery bed, the anesthesiologist asked me some questions (Are you from Caldwell? Where were you born?) and that’s the last thing I remembered. I honestly don’t even remember getting settled. It was SO fast.

When I came to in the recovery area, I was so groggy. I had no idea where I was, and the pain was intense. I couldn’t quite talk yet, but I sure moaned to try to get the attendant’s attention. He came over and gave me more meds through my IV and eventually gave me zofran for my nausea. My throat was very dry so they gave me lots of water. After a good half an hour, I was wheeled back upstairs to the recovery rooms where we try to eat a little something and get dressed to go home. I decided I would take my time. Why rush? My sister was there with my things, and she was so wonderful at taking care of everything. Apparently, the doctor called her and spoke to her about everything they found.

Apparently, I had endometriosis, and they removed ALL of that. They removed ALL the scar tissue and fibroids they found as well. According to what the doctor told my sister, it was a huge success. They will tell me more at my post-op appointment coming up in a week, but Nik and I are hopeful that this is an answered prayer. We KNOW it is. God made a way. We knew that our issues conceiving were with me. They had confirmed years ago I had scar tissue. We just never knew how much or how it was hindering conception. We are so thankful to have been able to have this procedure, to gain answers, and to know that the Lord is working through this all. He just opened door after door and made a way for this all to happen.

Whether God has adoption for us, a biological child, or BOTH, we will trust in His timing and plan for our family. We are just going to do everything we can to be obedient to the calling on our lives and know He will fulfill the desires of our hearts, in His way, and know His plan for us is so much better than anything we could have ever planned for ourselves.