Before we even moved towards growing our family through biological means, we both agreed that someday we wanted to adopt. Adoption has a special place in our hearts because we've seen the beauty of it in our families; we have a birthmother, adoptees, and adoptive parents in our family.
Adoption became a decision we reached sooner than we'd orginally planned because of the physical danger and risk of Eden's pregnancies. While pregnant, Eden has a rare condition that affects less than 1% of all pregnant women called Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG). This condition is characterized by vomiting and nausea to the point of starvation, dehydration and severe weight loss.
Eden had HG in all three of her pregnancies, but it has become more severe with each subsequent pregnancy. During her first pregancy she gained 10 pounds over her slender prepregnancy weight and required frequent IV fluids, and in the second pregnancy required a Nasojejunal feeding tube and daily IV fluids which resulted in a 5 pound weight increase at term. In the last pregnancy, Eden couldn't eat or drink anything and only survived because of a Nasojejunal feeding tube placed at 6 weeks which was replaced at 18 weeks by a surgically placed PEGJ feeding tube after developing cysts and ulcers from having the NJ tube. The PEGJ feeding tube was in place until birth. Even with all this help she barely gained 4 pounds, the high risk doctors had never seen a case so severe and strongly discouraged future pregnancies.
We are so beyond excited for the adventure that adoption holds for us. We feel very strongly that God has directed our path and we are grateful for the events that have led us to this point of finding the baby meant to be ours to love.