"Miracle Family"
The Lyon family and their little miracles, Catherine, Ella, and Jackson; Overland Park, Kansas

It’s a typical afternoon. Laundry piles everywhere. “Teddy Bear Picnic” is on its 14th playing, as someone has hidden the stereo remote. Our 20-month-old, Jackson, donning one high-heeled shoe, is trying to perfect his somersault in the laundry. Fifteen-month-old Ella, diaper self-removed, is on a naked mission to “love” (a.k.a. torture) the cat, while her twin, Catherine, is on tiptoes pounding out a baby sonata on the piano. I can’t remember a time when this same house was quiet or clean, and I don’t really care.

As most are, our journey through infertility was long and difficult. After our second failed attempt at in vitro fertilization, along with years of clomid, ectopic pregnancy, surgeries, and 6 IUIs leading up to it, pregnancy was not looking like the way we were to fulfill our dream of a family. Almost 3 years of various treatments made us skeptical and burnt-out on the whole process. We decided to focus our energy on adoption. A still-optimistic Dr. Gehlbach recommended going “back to basics” on our treatment, doing IUI with a different drug called Repronex. We were reluctant, but since we had nothing on the horizon regarding adoption we decided to go for one last effort.

Adoption was an incredibly rewarding process, and, unexpectedly, a quick one, as we received a call 6 weeks after completing our home study process. A birth mother had chosen us. We were overjoyed, and began making plans for the long-awaited arrival of our son.

It gets better.... Two weeks after we had received the call about Jackson, another call came announcing I was pregnant; a result of the Repronex/IUI treatment. I’m sure the nurse found my laughter to be an odd response to the incredible news. Many I know would be overwhelmed by the thought of 2 babies so close in age. We thought it was wonderful. It became more wonderful, and the laughing became a bit hysterical when we found out we were expecting twins!

Today, our family includes 3 busy 1-year-olds. I don’t know if they realize how important they are to their dad and me. They adore Elmo, doggies, and mealtime. They climb everything in sight, know how to really shake it when provided with the right tunes, and give the best hugs known to man and most furry creatures. They don’t realize they’re our miracles…but we do.