Join In On Jimmy & Christine's 'Beads Of Hope' IVF Fundraiser

As you already know, my wife Christine and I have decided to try to have a baby using IVF/ICSI as a means for getting there. Christine goes to the reproductive endocrinologist on Wednesday morning for her baseline numbers and begins taking the injections (all 60 of them over a 10-day period!) beginning on Friday. We'll be traveling to Virginia for Thanksgiving with her family, but she's ready to begin this journey to what we hope will be a happy ending in about a month from now.

THANK YOU to everyone who has been and continues to pray for us during this process. We've felt a peace about this decision to start the in vitro fertilization cycle and it undoubtedly has come about in large part because of the sincere care and concern that so many of you have shown us. We will not forget how you stood with us during this entire journey and we love and appreciate you more than we could ever express to you. God bless you all!

As I wrote about in my previous blog post about our infertility, the costs involved are astronomical. When all is said and done from just ONE attempt using an IVF/ICSI method for getting pregnant, the costs of the shots, drugs, tests, and the embryo transfer totals a staggering $18,000. Yes, that's a whole lotta moolah and our budget is gonna take a hit. It will be worth it, but we're also thinking of ways we can bring in an extra dollar or two to help with the expenses.

One of Christine's favorite activities is beading. She discovered the fine art of bead jewelry-making last year and has been hooked ever since. As you'll see from some of the examples of her work below, she's gotten to be very good at it, too.



People at church have been asking Christine about where she got her bead jewelry from and she beams with confidence when she tells them she made them herself. Needless to say, quite a few of them have asked Christine to make some homemade jewelry for them using her talent and skills to customize a piece to match their favorite outfits.



What started out as a simple hobby has now turned into a bona fide business opportunity that Christine is ready to help bring in some extra money to offset the costs associated with our IVF treatments.



We invite you to join Jimmy & Christine's "Beads Of Hope" IVF Fundraiser to bless us with the funds to pay for what we are embarking upon this week while giving you a special homemade gift just in time for the Christmas holidays. Christine stands ready to create whatever bead gift you may be interested in.



The following are SUGGESTED DONATIONS for the various pieces of jewelry Christine can make for you in the size and color of your choice:

NECKLACE (18'-20'): $40
NECKLACE (22'-26'): $45
BRACELETS: $30
WATCHES: $45
EXTRA WATCHBAND: $25
EARRINGS: $20
MATCHING NECKLACE/BRACELET/EARRING PACKAGE: $75

NOTE: These prices include shipping and handling via USPS Priority Mail.



If you'd be interested in helping us out with this endeavor, then please e-mail Christine at muzikgirl@charter.net. Let her know your name, mailing address, what you would like to order, the color scheme of the jewelry, the sizes, and the quantities of each piece. An acknowledgment e-mail will be sent back to you along with a PayPal bill from us requesting payment. As soon as we receive confirmation of receipt of funds, your jewelry will be shipped out to you.

THANK YOU in advance for what I'm sure will be an overwhelming response from the wonderful readers of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. You all continue to amaze me by your selfless generosity and willingness to help a friend in need. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, let me just say how incredibly grateful I feel to be a part of such a loving community of people who have willingly rallied behind us through this emotional journey. May God truly bless you all!