IVF Frequency On the Increase?

I am utterly amazed at the number of people in my life who have done IVF. While the topic seems to be kept on the down low, time and time I've come across someone who conceived through IVF.

Two cousins. A friend at church. An old high school friend. A former colleague. It's truly amazing, and pretty awesome.

I'd be interested to see statistics on the rate of conceptions through IVF. I assume the numbers must be increasing - not just that the procedure is getting more successful, but that more and more people are turning to it as a last resort (versus believing that a baby is not in their future because they cannot conceive naturally).

Is it because the science is getting so good that couples, who in the past may have tried and tried for many years with no luck, are turning to IVF sooner?

Is it because it is covered under SOME health insurance plans? Yes, I know, the rate of coverage isn't nearly where it should be.

I wonder about our own scenario. We tried for about a year and a half before turning to IVF. I know that many of my blog friends tried for much longer than that. In the past, was IVF just for those who had tried for many, many years? And now it is an option sooner in the process?

I don't know, I'm just brainstorming on this Friday because I'm so intrigued by it all.

Feel free to leave your thoughts.

Am I Taking A Break?

That's sure what it feels like. It's been over a month since my last post. Almost daily I check the blog and read the blogs of the friends who I follow, but I've just not gathered the motivation to write a piece of my own.

Why? I guess I don't know.

I always looked at this blog as a way to, first, chronicle my struggles with infertility, and then, to document my journey to motherhood. And, finally, to capture all the milestones in my little girl's life. But now, with work, and just plain life, I don't have a lot of motivation. I hope that changes.

I will let you know that we found out on Monday that Emma is going to have a baby sister in October. Yep, another girl in our household. Hubby is getting dramatically out-numbered. Finding this piece of info out definitely makes it seem more real and I've even started poking around online looking at nursery bedding.

As far as Emma, she's full blown walking, really starting to walk well on her 14 month birthday. She's also talking up a storm, able to repeat back almost any word that you say (might not be intelligible, but it's a try). She completed her first set of swim lessons and she clearly loves the water. While most of the other babies were tentative, Emma showed no fear and was happy to be dunked completely under or to blow bubbles. Our neighborhood pool just opened so I foresee a lot of hours spent there.

And then one other thing. Hubby and I are going to the Bahamas next week to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. This will be the first time we've both left Emma overnight (will be a total of 4 nights). I know she'll be in good hands with our moms, but I'm still a little nervous.

Ok, so in the midst of typing this piece about not having motivation, I got a little motivation to provide a quick update. It's a start.