Otteroo: A Total Must Have!
Okay, so if you follow us on social, you probably know we introduced the Otteroo to Thea at 8 weeks. And we may or may not have bought it before she was even born. All I have to say, WE ARE OBSESSED.
Okay, so if you follow us on social, you probably know we introduced the Otteroo to Thea at 8 weeks. And we may or may not have bought it before she was even born. All I have to say, WE ARE OBSESSED.
A looooong time ago, I think even before Sydney and I were married, I had seen their Facebook Ads video and thought, “That’s cool, but is it legit?” and just kept scrolling through my newsfeed. Then, once I started to see it again when we were pregnant, I thought, “This is going to be a waste of money — but what the hell, if it sucks, it’s only $35.” I’ve wasted more money on lesser things so I clicked the ad and purchased it.
When Thea was born, I was itching to put her in it but it says you need to wait until they are 8 weeks old. So when she was exactly 8 weeks, we warmed the hot tub up and tested it out with her ... and oh my gosh ... she was so happy. At first she seemed confused. She had never experienced the hot tub before so she was taking everything in. Once she became adjusted, the most amazing part was watching her discover that she was free to move as she pleased. She was moving her arms and legs as if she was becoming reacquainted to her body again outside the womb as Sydney said her movements looked like what it felt like when she was inside. It was so exciting to watch.
Sometimes she relaxed and floated, just enjoying the warmth of the hot tub and at other times she was looking around and curious about the world around her.
At the bottom of this post is a video of her experience that really captures the essence of Thea’s time in the Otteroo. As a new mom and someone who loves the water, I was blown away.
If anyone has any questions about the Otteroo, feel free to leave them in the comments and I’ll respond as best as possible.
*Otteroo and The Sharon Moms have no personal or business relationship. This is just an honest review of a product.
Our Baby Shower
We had such an amazingly beautiful baby shower and it may have been one of the most Pinterest-worthy events I had been to.
We had such an amazingly beautiful baby shower. Our only job was to show up. which is our favorite kind of party! We did our best to keep it intimate and small, only inviting our family and closest friends (and in our case, that means hosting over 50 people) . It took place in my parents backyard — my #1 favorite spot to host events — and was picture perfect.
The day itself was perfect. It was sunny without being too hot, a huge plus for when your 32 weeks pregnant. Unfortunately, I woke up that day not feeling well. To this day, I 100% believe I wasn’t feeling too hot because of how overwhelmed I was with emotions. Something about making it to the baby shower signified a milestone in my head that had me feel extra connected to my baby and solidified me becoming a ‘mommy.’
We played some awesome games (yes, we are THOSE kinds of people), ate some amazing tacos, and were treated to some seriously kick ass desserts. In short and in long, it was a memorable, emotional, beautiful day.
It may have been one of the most Pinterest-worthy events I had been to, so we of course want to share it all with you. And thanks to our amazing family and friends, we were able to capture the essence of what was our baby shower.
Our Maternity Shoot
Like most pregnant couples, Brit and I wanted to document our pregnancy in as many ways possible. From iPhone shots to professional shoots, I wanted it all, and Brit was more than happy to oblige.
Like most pregnant couples, Brit and I wanted to document our pregnancy in as many ways possible. From iPhone shots to professional shoots, I wanted it all, and Brit was more than happy to oblige. As for choosing our photographer? That, luckily, was also a no brainer, as I had stumbled across Breezy Ann Photography nearly two years prior to even being pregnant. I knew she was the one. And she more than delivered. We booked her for our maternity shoot and newborn shoot, and I am already looking forward to having her shoot Thea’s cake smash for her 1 year birthday!
My Birth Story
Home birth. Natural and unmedicated. 13 people in attendance. 6 hours and 45 minutes. 7 pounds, 9 ounces. 20.25 inches long. 10 finger and 10 toes. Welcome to the world Thea Madison Quinn.
December 1st began like any other day. Granted this was the estimated due date all my doctors gave me, so I was a bit more excited that I had reached a full 40 weeks. Otherwise, my mom had gone to her annual eye doctor appointment and my dad and Brit (my wife) left for the office for their monthly philanthropic clinic.
I had woken up around 8 am with the family to see them off. Once they had left I went back to bed. Being 40 weeks pregnant, getting crappy sleep, and the pending arrival of our baby girl looming, I was exhausted. Around 11:30 am I woke up suddenly with an immediate urge to poop — to the extent that I thought if I didn’t run to the bathroom, I’d have an accident in bed. So I made my way to the bathroom, peed, and went back to bed. Minutes later I woke up again. “Wait! I am 29 years old. I won’t poop my pants. That’s ridiculous.”
At this point, I texted one of my friends who had just given birth 8 weeks prior. “What do contractions feel like?” After a quick texting conversation, I decided I was in early labor. These contractions were barely lasting 30 seconds and were happening sporadically, anywhere from 10 minutes apart to 20 minutes apart. By the time it was 1 pm, I decided it was time to call my mom. I didn’t want to bother her earlier as I knew her appointment would be over soon anyways, and I definitely didn’t want to bother my wife because I didn’t want her to panic that I was home alone.
“I think it’s time. I think I’m in labor.”
Within an hour, my wife, mom, aunt, and mother-in-law were all back at home with me. It was all very exciting and equally nerve-racking. Leading up to their arrivals, I had taken a nap, eaten a PB&J sandwich, noshed on a red bell pepper, and was found doing a puzzle while watching TV. After all that, my next job was to go for a walk around the neighborhood and see if my contractions would pick up. So I went with my wife and mother-in-law for a walk. By the time we circled back around, my contractions were lasting about 45 seconds and were happening every 9 minutes. It was 2 pm. And I was officially in active labor.
By 3:30 (ish) I was desperate to be in water. Our birthing tub hadn’t yet been set up so into the jacuzzi I went, butt naked, with my mom. By this point, my dad and another aunt had shown up. While talking in between contractions and relaxing during them, Brit had decided to call our midwife, Leslie, just to inform her that I was in labor (even though she had told us to only call her when my contractions were 4 minutes apart and lasting 1 minute). And sure enough, Leslie thanked us for calling but told us it was still soon. Right before Brit hung up, my contractions changed again. “Oh! Wait. Her contractions are 6 minutes apart now lasting over a minute,” Brit told Leslie.
Leslie asked where I was feeling my contractions. I felt everything in my lower back and was having tremendous rectal pressure. That was all it took. Leslie hung up her end of the line and drove like crazy to get to our home. When the phone call ended, we noticed the water in the hot tub became murky. My water had broken. It was time to move to another location to continue my labor. So into my parents bed I went. It wasn’t planned that way. But in the moment, all I wanted was to feel safe, and there is no place greater than my parents bed.
So my caravan of a team helped me out of the water, dried me off, and walked me upstairs. By this point our dear family friend and shiatsu massage therapist, Steve, and our photographer/videographer, Rebecca, had arrived. During our birthing classes, we had learned about back labor. My mom had it with all three of us kids and the best solution is counter pressure. When I had initially asked Steve to be apart of my birth team, he was more than willing and happy to be my counter pressure expert. And thank goodness for that. Between my back labor and rectal pressure, I needed every ounce of natural relief I could get. Steve’s job was to apply as much pressure as possible to my lower back, while my mom’s job was to make sure I stayed relaxed through deep breathing and guided imagery.
I labored on the bed. And on the toilet. And on a yoga ball. My contractions were on top of each other lasting 1 minute and 40 seconds. I threw up. I was freezing. I had started moaning, or what was later described to me as my birthing song. I was in transition. And still no midwife. I could feel it in my bones — I knew I was close.
By 7 pm, Leslie had shown up. She came right upstairs and began examining the baby’s heartbeat, my vitals, and eventually, checked to see how dilated I was. 9 centimeters. I was already at 9 centimeters. She asked me if I wanted to push. “YES!”
The birthing tub was set up in our living room. An appropriate room to bring more life into. Those in attendance? My wife. My parents. My in-laws. 3 of my aunts and 1 cousin. My midwife and her assistant. My photographer/videographer. My massage therapist. My cantor.
Knowing my contractions were happening so close to each other, I had to figure out the timing on moving from the bed upstairs to the birthing tub downstairs. I made it down and was in the water by 7:20. The water was warm. Brit held onto me with all her love and might. And my contractions finally started to shift to pushing contractions. They felt so good. I was finally able to do something … push! I kept changing my position in the tub to try and find my rhythm, but after 30 minutes, I didn’t feel like I was making any progress with getting the baby down and out. The water was too high and thus, gravity was working against me.
At around 8 pm, my mom suggested to me that I try laboring and pushing outside of the tub. At this point I wanted the baby out more than I wanted a water birth. So I went out of the tub and onto the couch. My team had propped me on my side with pillows and helping hands. My mom stroked my head and continued coaching me through my pushing while my dad held onto my mom. Brit held my right leg and right hand while showering me with love as her mom held her hand. One of my aunts held my left leg to give me something to push against. My cantor played guitar while I pushed and pushed and pushed. My midwife was in the end zone.
The room was dark and warm. The fire place was going. The twinkle lights were on. My family gathered around me and sang songs as our little girls headed began to bulge. My midwife coached me on how to push and when to push. Brit told me the head was out and encouraged me to reach down and touch her head. I did. It gave me the extra focus I needed. The next thing I hear are the shoulders are out. Everyone is encouraging me to reach down and pull my baby out. I did.
It was 8:46 pm on December 1st. And just like that our baby girl was born. On her due date. In the comfort and warmth of our home. Surrounded by family.
There she was, in all her glory. She was perfect. She laid on my body as I rubbed in her vernix while we waited for her umbilical cord to stop pulsing.
Thea Madison Quinn came into this world fast and furious. 7 pounds 9 ounces. 20.25 inches long. 10 fingers and 10 toes.
Our Newborn Shoot
Sydney had found and fallen in love with Breezy Ann Photography (BAP) nearly two years ago and was set on Anna (the magician behind BAP) one day doing our maternity shoot and newborn shoot.
Sydney had found and fallen in love with Breezy Ann Photography (BAP) nearly two years ago. And for those of you doing math, yes, this was before we were pregnant — before we had even begun the process of getting pregnant. Sydney was set on Anna (the magician behind BAP) one day doing our maternity shoot and newborn shoot.
Fast forward to finding out we were indeed expecting, and Sydney booked Anna when she was just 13 weeks pregnant. Well, the months came and went, the maternity shoot was nothing short of beautiful, artistic, and intimate, and Thea’s birth day was celebrated. It was go time!
Now for those of you expecting your first, having a newborn shoot sounds picturesque. All the photos we have seen look serene and picture-perfect. What we didn’t know — or really understand — until we were in the shoes, was that a newborn shoot happens as close to the birth as possible. Why? It’s when the babes sleep the most, allowing the photographer the most leeway into creating all sorts of cute and ridiculous poses. What else does that mean? In the midst and height of sleep deprivation, new parents need to face what will most likely be their first outing … to a photoshoot … where they too will be photographed in all their glory.
Luckily for us, Anna is a warm, caring, thoughtful, creative, loving, gentle, genius photographer. We both felt right at home and captured the beginning moments of our new little family. Here’s a look at some of the awesome images captured…
Still Not Convinced
When I found out I was pregnant, I was in complete disbelief. We had done one IUI using one frozen-then-thawed sperm vile. How could it happen in one shot?
When I found out I was pregnant, I was in complete disbelief. We had done one IUI (intrauterine insemination) using one frozen-then-thawed sperm vile purchased from the California CryoBank. How could it happen in one shot? I mean, yes, it is exactly what we wanted. And yes, it was a day I had been dreaming about since I was about 3 years old. And yes, it would be the most miraculous of miracles for us to get pregnant on the first try and be able to actually save our money for the baby (versus spending the money on trying to start our family).
Nonetheless, I was in complete disbelief. In fact, today I am 5 weeks, 4 days pregnant and I still don't believe it. Every day I experience mild cramping, similar to the cramping I get prior to leading up to my periods. Granted, this type of cramping is also normal with pregnancy as the uterus has to grow and expand, this whole pregnancy phenomena still has me unsure. Every time I need to pee, I hold my breathe in anticipation, half expecting to see I have started my period. I am 11 days late and still I am anxious.
I think at this point, I am most fearful of miscarrying. I have only been officially pregnant for one week and losing this pregnancy would in fact be utterly heartbreaking.
How have/are you handling being pregnant during your first few weeks? Comment below!
How We Told Our Family
We found we were pregnant on Wednesday. Two days later was the first night of Passover and my parents were hosting.
We found we were pregnant on Wednesday, March 28th. Two days later, after our second hCG blood draw going really well, the doctor felt strongly about this being a healthy and viable pregnancy. Well, that same day was the first night of Passover and my parents were hosting.
The house smelled incredible, we had a beautiful white tent with fairy lights in the backyard set up, and my family sitting all around it. Not only was it the first night of Passover, it was also Shabbat. One of our family traditions during Shabbat is to go around the table share what you are grateful for. It's my most favorite time of the week.
I also should warn you that my family is not like most families. We are a family of listeners. We share, talk, emote, love, all with open arms. It's not unusual for one person to share a piece of news and by the time they hang up the phone the rest of the family knows. It's just how we work.
I felt like news like this should be shared in person and would need to be done in one foul swoop. I also know that there are a lot of superstitions about waiting until you're out of the first trimester to share the news. Here is our thinking...
Whether good, bad, or sad ensues during the first trimester, having a support system to celebrate the good and carry you during the bad is so important for us. We don't want to keep such happy news from our community and on the other hand, we want and will need them in case of a miscarriage. We also believe that there is so much taboo about the M word. Not to take away from the heartbreak, sadness, anger, and fear you can experience with a miscarriage, it's also important to know the facts. Approximately 15% to 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage and 80% of miscarriages occur in the first trimester.
So we felt like the time to share was then and there. Just a mere one month pregnant, we ripped the band-aid off and shared the news.
When, how and with whom did you share the news? Comment below!
To Progesterone or Not To Progesterone
Do I need progesterone? What are the benefits and risks to taking progesterone and not taking progesterone? These are the questions I have.
Do I need progesterone? What are the benefits and risks to taking progesterone and not taking progesterone? These are the questions I have.
First, let's discuss what progesterone is and what it provides during a pregnancy. Progesterone is made early in pregnancy until about 10 weeks. One of progesterone's most important functions is its role in thickening the lining of the uterus each month such that it can nourish and care for the fertilized egg.
Second, let's talk about why and how I knew to ask about using a progesterone supplement. When I was first diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) in May 2013 I was asked during that same appointment if I was ever planning on becoming pregnant. I was advised then, 5 years ago, that when I do become pregnant, it may be beneficial to also be on a progesterone supplement during my first trimester, due to PCOS and the imbalance of hormones my body suffers from.
Now, we are at present day. Today I had my second hCG blood draw. With my first one, two days ago, and 16 days post insemination/ovulation, my hCG was at a 272. Today's reading, which needed to approximately double to show that my pregnancy was on the right track, came in at 629. Yay! Great news, right? Well, with the foresight from that PCOS diagnosis 5 years ago, I had also asked my doctor to run a progesterone panel. My progesterone level came back at a 10.1. What does that mean?
An average progesterone level should be between 6 and 20 but above 20 is preferred while pregnant. It's also important to note that progesterone levels lower later in the day and also lower if blood is drawn not during a fast. My blood draw was taken in the late morning and I had no fasted. So I was left with a choice to make -- to progesterone or not to progesterone? My fertility specialist, OB/GYN, and endocrinologist all said the same thing. There is no risk to taking it and there could be a risk to not taking it if my progesterone levels fall. There is really no guarantee one way or the other. So with no risk to my health or the babies, I decided to take it.
Progesterone comes in many forms: vaginal gel suppository, pill/capsule, and injection. My doctor and I both decided that the vaginal gel suppository would be best as it offers a lower amount of side effects. He also wanted me to try it for a week first to make sure that those side effects. And so, that is how we came up with the answer to this important and perhaps not very talked about question.
We're Pregnant
Writing these words, with tears coming down my face, I am not sure how to process the last 3 minutes of my life.
Writing these words, with tears coming down my face, I am not sure how to process the last 3 minutes of my life.
My cell phone rang at 4:42 pm from 'No Caller ID' -- it was my doctor. "Well, Sydney, it worked. Congratulations. You're pregnant and your hCG levels look great."
I didn't know what to say. I have wanted this to be real, for this to work on the first try, for it to be effortless. And as of right now, it's been all of that.
All the is running through my mind right now is figuring out how to tell Brit....and my mom....and my dad...and my brothers...and my friends....But I also want to keep taking this journey step by step, one day at a time.
I couldn't have asked for better news, and I want to wait until I hear the baby's heartbeat to tell people.
My heart is racing. My body is shaking. This. Is. Happening.
Pregnancy Blood Test
The first two weeks after my insemination flew by. I was busy and kept busy. In a blink of an eye, 14 days came and went.
The first two weeks after my insemination flew by. I was busy and kept busy. In a blink of an eye, 14 days came and went.
But then day 14 hit. Monday, March 26th. Not only is March 26th my wedding anniversary (just celebrated year #2), it's also my second day being late. The doctor had told me initially that if I don't get my period and it's been 16 days post-insemination that I should go in for a blood draw to find out if I was pregnant.
Well, I made it to today with no period (yet) and just got back from seeing my doctor and giving my blood. Now I wait. They said they should get back to me by the end of the day but it could take until tomorrow morning.
If I thought the last couple of days was bad...this is worse! Fingers crossed! 🤞🏻
2018 — The Year We Are Starting Our Family
It's been seven months since we've updated this blog. Not a strong start to this whole "journal our story" shpiel we want, but nonetheless, we are back.
It's been seven months since we've updated this blog. Not a strong start to this whole "journal our story" shpiel we want, but nonetheless, we are back.
So to catch you up, back in August, we did an at-home insemination. We were unsuccessful in getting pregnant, however, it was the first time I had ever been late. My OB/GYN thinks I had a chemical pregnancy but since I never saw a positive read on a pregnancy test, it didn't feel like a total loss. We also felt like it wasn't meant to be, as a month later, we went to Italy for a 3 week anniversary vacation where we drank ... a lot. We also learned that one of our best friends was getting married in August 2018 in London -- a wedding both of us want (need) to attend.
All of a sudden October had rolled around and in a blink of eye so did November and December. The rest of 2017 flew by for us. We simply didn't make the time to jump start the baby conversation again. Which brings us to these past few months.
Once we entered 2018 we both agreed we were ready and it was time but that we needed to make sure I wasn't too pregnant so I could still travel to London for the wedding. After some simple math we both agreed on March. March would be when we picked up this whole baby making journey again. January was all about meeting the right doctor; February was a waiting game; March was the trigger month.
On February 24th I got my period. A very happy day. It meant that approximately two weeks later I would be ovulating and ready for my first IUI (intrauterine insemination) with my doctor. Little did I know that those two weeks would be somewhat of an ordeal.
February 24 - Cycle Day (CD) 1
February 27 - CD 4, baseline ultrasound, and begin Clomid
March 5 - CD 10, ultrasound to check on size of egg (present on the right side)
March 8, CD 13, ultrasound to check egg growth progress (13 mm)
March 11, CD 18, ultrasound to check egg growth progress (17 mm) and received hCG trigger shot
March 12, CD 19, insemination
After the insemination I felt like I was having an out of body experience. I had felt the catheter go through my cervix. I had felt the release of the sperm into my uterus. It was surreal. A few hours following the "procedure" I felt very light cramping. But that was the extent of it. Now the tricky part came...
In 16 days I could go back to my doctor to take a blood test to see if I was pregnant. For 16 days I needed to not stress or worry. I didn't want to get attached. What if it didn't work? But how could I NOT get attached? I may actually BE pregnant! Oh right, no stress...no worry...
Well, surprisingly, the next two weeks flew by. I kept busy and went on with life like normal. This brings me to today, right now, as I type this. It's about to be 1 am on Monday, March 26th. According to my period and ovulation tracker, the first day of my period was supposed to be yesterday. If I don't get my period today or tomorrow, I'll be heading in to see my doctor on Wednesday for the pregnancy test. Stay calm, right? Well today marks our (my wife and my) 2nd wedding anniversary and this Friday begins Passover, a holiday about freedom and the rebirth of the Jewish people out of slavery. It's all quite poetic. I'd prefer for it to be a romantic poem where it ends with a positive pregnancy blood test, but I am doing what I can to stay realistic.
Our Little Secret
This past weekend was weird. And I don't mean in a bad way, but in a way where I feel like I am living a double life, or in a parallel universe.
This past weekend was weird. And I don't mean in a bad way, but in a way where I feel like I am living a double life, or in a parallel universe. We spent the whole weekend with our parents so it felt strange. No one knows we inseminated. It’s our little secret (and I tell my parents everything!!). And we don't want anyone to know because we feel like there isn’t anything to share...yet. Since we have to pay a premium for half of the ingredients, we figure we should be as cautious as possible. To us, that means keeping our insemination attempts to ourselves until one sticks.
It becomes a bit tricky, though. I noticed so many time where both Brit and I wanted to share with our parents and friends what we were up to. How we are abstaining from alcohol, caffeine for a more important reason. Or that the real reason I severely tweaked my lower back wasn't because of the heavy lifting we did (really it was only Brit) but in fact because of how I was laying on my back with my legs in the air for an hour. Or why I had suggested a dip in the hot tub but then refrained from really going in.
And of course, this may all be for nothing this time around. I may not actually be pregnant. I may just be normal Syd going above and beyond and out of my own way to ensure a healthy first trimester for nothing. Most of me is SOLD on the fact that I am not pregnant. There is no way that our very first attempt could be successful. There is also no way that we could get the timing right. No way. But then again, there really is no way of knowing; so I am a bit skeptical and hopeful it did work.
Only time will tell...
Insemination Day
It happened. Insemination day(s) quickly came and went and it was beyond surreal.
It happened. Insemination day(s) quickly came and went and it was beyond surreal. I had received the peak symbol for my ovulation on Monday, the day we hit the road to for a mini-cation to Las Vegas. I knew that I had one more peak day coming on Tuesday and that we wouldn't be home until Wednesday to swing by the California Cryobank (CCB) and pick up our package. I was a bit bummed and feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place. Should we cancel our trip? Do I sit around and just wait every month for that happy face to appear until I do indeed become pregnant? Even though the peak symbol doesn't guarantee ovulation and it can occur anywhere from one to three days after, how will I know? Will I ever know? Is it all going to come down to luck? Well, we decided to continue with our trip, enjoy ourselves, and r-e-l-a-x for a couple days. We both needed it.
On our drive to Vegas, I called the CCB to place an order for our sperm pick up. It felt normal. Nothing out of the ordinary. It didn't really seem to phase me or Brit. In fact, it wasn't until our drive home several days later from Vegas TO the cryobank when the video above happened. Wednesday was day one of I-Day (Insemination Day). On this first round of trying at-home insemination, we decided to take home two vials. Our first round of insemination happened yesterday, Wednesday August 2nd, at around 4:30 p.m. When I woke up today, I decided to try one more OPK test. I was still in high fertility and from what I gathered from all the reading I had done, being able to do two or three inseminations per cycle can make a huge difference. So this morning was our second try, at around 10:30 a.m.
Now we wait. Until August 23rd. We wait 35 days per my OBG/YN's recommendation. That's the day where I take a pregnancy test (provided Aunt Flow is busy and can't make an appearance). So for now, it's no caffeine or alcohol, and a whole lot of wonderment.
My First OPK Test
Today is day 7 of my cycle and according to the chart that came with the ovulation test, it recommended starting taking the tests based on the shortest cycle I have had in the past couple of month.
Today is day 7 of my cycle. According to the chart that came with the Clearblue Advanced Digital Ovulation Test package, it recommended starting taking the tests based on the shortest cycle I have had in the past couple of month. Even when I was on birth control, my period didn't come like clock work. However, my cycle was always between 27 and 31 days, still within normal.
Well, I knew I today wasn't going to be a fertile, let alone in my peak fertility, day. But I'll follow the guidelines and try again tomorrow. I may have a bit more anxiety knowing that Brit and I will be out of town between July 31st and August 2nd, which is when I do believe I will be ovulating.
It was definitely a bizarre and surreal moment peeing on a stick and having to wait the 5 minutes. My tummy is full of butterflies as we enter this next week leading up to hopefully a positive and successful insemination.
It Came — Finally
It's no surprise. Since puberty, women have been greeted monthly by their Aunt Flow. For me? Not so much.
**WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS INFORMATION PERTAINING TO A MENSTRUAL CYCLE.**
It's no surprise. Since puberty, women have been greeted monthly by their Aunt Flow. For me? Not so much. One of the tall tell signs of having PCOS is irregular periods. I would go anywhere from two to four months without getting my period. Back in my high school days, and even college, I saw it as a blessing. I used to hate getting my period. It was annoying, time consuming, I was always grumpy and irritable, and I had to deal with remembering how many hours ago it was that I put in my last tampon. The last thing I needed was to be diagnosed with a fatal Toxic Shock Syndrome. Highly unlikely, I know. But still...
Well now that Brit and I are trying to start making a baby, I have been praying for my monthly visits from Aunt Flow. See, about three years ago I was put on birth control, as it's one of the main methods to treating PCOS. I was only taking active pills. In other words, when it came time to my week of placebos, I'd skip them and go straight to my next month's active pills. This is actually a great way of reducing the risk of getting breast/ovarian cancer. Then, about six months, I began taking those placebos. My doctors wanted me to start having a period again to ensure a healthy uterine lining was being released. It took until my third cycle on placebos for my period to arrive. I screamed! Brit was obviously concerned. She came running into the bathroom to make sure I was okay. I was. Beyond okay, actually. I looked at her gleefully and said, "It came! It's here! I got my period!" She just shook her head, laughed, and congratulated me. Something I dreaded getting when I was younger, I was now over the moon about coming. Of course, I am happy about getting my period, only to wish it not come back for about 10 months.
I have now been off birth control all together for a month. Well, 32 days to be exact. When I was taking my birth control, I was getting my period like clock work. But now, not so much. Until today. It came...late...but it came! And so now the countdown is on for ovulation. I am keeping track with two different apps, Ovia and Flow. They are both giving me a similar time frame but are off by about a day or so. In order to time this as pefectly as we can, I'll start peeing on those OPK sticks in about a week.
The kicker? Brit and I are leaving for Vegas on July 31st, returning on August 2nd for a merchandising convention. When am I supposed to be at my peak ovulation? Sometime between August 1st and August 3rd. And so the journey continues...
The Beginning: A Very Good Place to Start
Over the weekend, my wife and I began what I consider, seriously talking about growing our family.
Over the weekend (July 16, 2017), my wife and I began what I consider, seriously talking about growing our family. It was by no means the first time we brought it up, but it was the first time we spoke about it where we were both on the same page time-wise. My thinking wheels began to turn.
On May 16, 2013 I was diagnosed with PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome. My heart was crushed. I felt broken. First, what you need to know about PCOS is that it is not life-threatening. In fact, it's one of those conditions where all I need to do is take some meds before going to bed. There are some hurdles I face, like irregular periods (potentially ovulating only a few times a year), weight gain, and acne. It is definitely not a big deal and something I have to manage every day — like brushing my teeth. Well, after my endocrinologist broke the news to me, she immediately followed up by saying, "Don't worry. You will still be able to carry your own children and have babies. All of my PCOS clients who want to be moms, are moms." What did I hear? "YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO BE A MOM!!" Silly. I know.
Now if there is anything you need to know about me, it's that since I was about 22 months old, I wanted to be a mommy. That was around the time my first baby brother was born. I was in love. I knew then, that when I grew up, I was going to be a mommy.
Fast forward to March 26, 2016. The happiest day of my life. My wife and I were married in Malibu at our temple, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains. It was a perfect day. On March 27, 2016, I began the baby conversation. Wait, is that too soon? Lucky for me, my wife has known me since high school, so this baby thing came to no surprise. And yes, it was too soon.
At the start of 2017, I brought it up again. I knew I was ready. I also knew that our journey to becoming parents would be different. We had to plan. There is no 'oops! we're pregnant' conversation or, 'it just happened.' For us, we were going to have to plan, plan, plan. We were going to need sperm, we were going to have to know how our bodies worked like clock-work, we were going to need to pick a time and day this was all going to go down, and perhaps above all, we were going to have to save money. And a lot of it. Fortunately, our family and friends had given beyond generously at our wedding, specifically so when we were ready to start our family, we would have a serious leg up.
After months and months of conversations, we finally landed on the same page. The page belonged to sperm donor 14030. Standing tall at 6' with light brown hair, hazel eyes, and a cleft chin, we had found our match. We purchased 12 vials of sperm and sat there in shock and awe. Had we really just done this? Now what? We decided we didn't want family to know. We both come from very big, supportive families who love to talk and share (in a good way). So for us, we knew we wanted this to be our little secret until we had good news to share. But we knew we would explode of excitement if we didn't tell anybody. So we told a handful of close friends.
And here we are today, July 18, 2017, waiting for my Aunt Flow to arrive. We are hoping to do our first round of at-home insemination during my next ovulation cycle, which hopefully will happen in a short couple of weeks. In the meantime, I realized our story and journey will be a unique one. I guarantee we will have some lows. I also guarantee we will have questions and need to learn to as we go down this path. But I also guarantee that we will have so much joy and happiness in the end.
I am documenting our journey with all its trials and tribulations so that if anyone else is going through what we are going through, has questions that we may have the answers to, or that has the answers that we are looking for, we have a safe place to come together. I am beginning this blog on July 18, 2017. I am not yet publishing the site until we are further along in our journey and our families are the first to know. So when this does go live, hopefully you'll take the time to read through these earlier posts.