Let's go back to the beginning...

As of today "we" are 12 weeks pregnant with twins!  By "we," we mean the two of us plus our gestational carrier.  There's a lot to catch up on so to tell the whole story, let's go back to the beginning...

On October 29, 2008, Brad Lidge threw the filthiest slider of his life in an 0-2 count to strike out Eric Hinske and win a World Series for the Phillies for the first time since the year of both of our births. Take a second to relive the glory...

Under normal circumstances, we would be in some loud setting watching this momentous occasion with legions of other fans. However, we were at home - just the two of us - as Rachel was recovering from surgery from the day before. 

You see, approaching our 2 year wedding anniversary in August of 2008, Rachel felt a lump in her breast. After calling her Gyn & going for some studies & a biopsy, she received a phone call that the biopsy showed two tumors - one benign and the other malignant.  The diagnosis was Interductal Carcinoma but thankfully the cancer was found very early.  It would have been stage 1 but because she was so young, 28 years old, they moved her to stage 2.  

We shed many tears and had many difficult conversations.  We had to make hard decisions.  Chemotherapy?  Breast mastectomy?  In the end, with the guiding of Rachel's surgeon, oncologist, & radiation oncologist, we agreed upon a lumpectomy, which was done on Tuesday, October 28th, 2008. This was that very bizarre day between both portions of Game 5 of the World Series. The 2008 playoff run and World Series win could not have come at a better year for us as we were scared and heartbroken.

 Mordecai comforting Rachel after her surgery.

 Jon celebrating the Phillies winning the World Series!

After the surgery, Rachel's treatment then entailed 6 weeks of radiation followed by 5 years of medication.  The 6 weeks of radiation ended the day before Rachel's 29th birthday. Then, on her birthday - February 13, 2009, she began the next phase of treatment - 2 years of monthly Lupron injections & 5 years of Tamoxifen. While on this medication, pregnancy was not permitted because it would be harmful to the baby.

So, we took advantage of having an unexpected, extended period of time without kids.  We took many trips & really enjoyed that time.  We went to the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Canyonlands, & Arches National Park.  We saw new cities - San Francisco, Sonoma, Chicago. Jon pursued a seminary degree and Rachel enrolled in a nutrition program.

 Us at the Grand Canyon

Us on our Arches National Park trip

Approaching the end of the 5 years, our plan was to finally expand our family.  It had been the 2 of us and our 2 dogs, Mordecai & Boaz, but we were now ready to add kids to our family.  The 5 years of Tamoxifen would be ending February 2014.

In the summer of 2013, Rachel had her biannual appointment with her oncologist.  The doctor asked if Rachel had heard about the recent study on Tamoxifen, which she had not. Recent studies were recommending that patients with her type of cancer & age take Tamoxifen for a total of 10 years, not the previously recommended 5 years.  

We were definitely not expecting that news.  She said the decision was ultimately up to us but if Rachel were to continue on the Tamoxifen for another 5 years, the chances of reoccurrence would drop to below 5%.  We asked if there were any studies on women stopping the Tamoxifen to have a baby & then restarting.  She said since the recommendation was so recent, there weren't any studies on that and therefore she didn't recommend that.  She was ok with Rachel being off of the Tamoxifen for a month in order to preserve her eggs.

We came to terms with the first 5 years on Tamoxifen and used it as an opportunity to travel but all that was with the assumption that we would start our family after those 5 years.  To hear the news of continuing for another 5 years was heartbreaking and frustrating...