INDIANAPOLIS -- Stories about babies who are born while their fathers are at war are pretty common, but a woman trying to conceive while her husband is overseas in Iraq is not so ordinary.

Kathy and Army National Guard Sgt. Chris Murdoch found each other later in life. Both are from big families.

"I'm one of six and Chris has several brothers and sisters as well," Kathy Murdoch said.

The couple knew they wanted to have kids right away but their effort was cut short when Chris was deployed to Iraq.

"We celebrated our first wedding anniversary and I sent Chris off to war three weeks later," Kathy said.

Murdoch was set to be overseas for 18 months, too long -- they decided -- to put their dreams of a family on hold.

With the help of Clarian North Fertility Services, they did not have to wait.

"We will cryo-preserve sperm for anyone who gets deployed at no cost," said Dr. John Jarrett. "We figure that's the least we can do for them."

Jarrett said the technology that makes the Murdoch's dream possible is constantly improving.

"We have the ability now, which we didn't have 15 years ago, to get down to a cellular level," Jarrett said.

Kathy said she has no qualms about taking advantage of the science, even if it is a little nontraditional.

"In our particular unit, I'm the only one who's trying to make a baby with my husband 7,200 miles away," Kathy said. "For me, it was kind of a matter of fact -- very scientific fact -- that we were leaving a part of Chris here so that I could continue on this venture."

So far, Kathy has had two procedures, but both have been unsuccessful.

Chris now has just 90 days left on his deployment, so Kathy might not try to conceive again until he gets back home.