Happy New Year!

It's 2025! We made it to January just as I believed that we would.  The past year was challenging to say the least. 

January 

  • I started 2024 recovering from the egg retrieval surgery. My embryos were frozen and tested. 
  • I celebrated my 43rd birthday with a legendary ladies luncheon and a trip to Bali at the end of the month.



February 

  • I returned from Bali.
  • I met with a realtor to discuss selling my house. 
  • I gave myself a deadline of May 1st to decide what I wanted to do concerning the fibroids and pregnancy.

March 

  • I started preparing my house for sale.
  • I decided that I was ready to move forward with implantation without a myomectomy.
  • We toured assisted living facilities for my stepdad, and he moved at the end of the month. 

April 

  • My house was listed for sale and showings began. 
  • My doctor performed a hysteroscope.
  • I started my last cycle.

May

  • I completed a frozen embryo transfer (FET) and received a positive pregnancy test 2 weeks later.
  • I self-administered shots and hormones for the next 10 weeks. 
  • I continued decluttering, packing, and making repairs to my house. 
  • I traveled to NYC, my favorite domestic location. 
  • My stepdad was admitted to the hospital, and we were told he had a limited time to live due to kidney failure.
  • I found a birthing center in Dallas that I loved.

June

  • My stepdad recovered and was released from the hospital. 
  • I completed my hormone regimen, and I was cleared by my fertility doctor for regular prenatal care. 
  • I closed on the sale of my house in Houston and moved back to Dallas. 

July

  • I completed my 1st trimester. 
  • I closed on the purchase of my house in Dallas. 

August 

  • I moved into my new house and started unpacking and getting settled. 
  • At my 19-week anatomy scan, I was told that I was no longer considered low risk because of the growing fibroids. The large fibroids put me at high risk of preterm labor. 
  • I could no longer be under midwifery care, so I had to switch to an obstetrician and prepare for a hospital birth. 

September 

  • I started seeing the OB and a maternal fetal medicine (MFM) specialist. 
  • My stepdad was admitted to the hospital. 

October 

  • My stepdad passed away, and I managed the funeral arrangements. 
  • I became my mom's driver.
  • We made it to 24 weeks, which is a major milestone for fetal viability. 
  • I failed the initial gestational diabetes test, so I had to take the 3-hour test. I passed.
  • I completed my 2nd trimester.
November 
  • My friends hosted beautiful baby showers for me in Houston and Dallas, as well as a motherhood blessing ceremony. 
  • We received confirmation of a medical diagnosis that I suspected.
  • I started a HypnoBirthing class to prepare for the birth of my baby. 

December 

  • I started seeing the OB weekly. We discussed my birth preferences. I toured the labor and delivery ward at the hospital. I met with the doula.
  • My friends setup the nursery and helped me prepare my home for the baby.
  • We reached 36 weeks! 
  • Since I'll be a new mom on my birthday, I hung out with friends to celebrate early. I also planned a babymoon staycation.

Now that it's January, I finally feel like I can relax and allow my body and my baby to do what's needed. I had faith that we would make it to this point, and I focused on creating a positive environment. I endured a lot of stressful situations and kept myself grounded by remembering to prioritize my peace and My Joy. All is well,  and we are safe.

We ready!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Frequently Asked Questions

Image
    What are you having? A baby. I don't want to know the gender prior to delivery. When is the baby due? The estimated due date is between my mom's birthday and my birthday in January 2025. What will you name the baby? I'll share the name after baby is born.  My nickname for now is "Joy". Do you want a boy or girl? I just want a healthy baby. Who is the father? Read the previous blog posts. Will you stop traveling? No  What did you do about the fibroids? I chose to pursue a natural health plan with Muhimu Oils Wellness Center . The largest fibroid was 10 cm and shrank to 8.5 cm following the plan prior to FET.  Since becoming pregnant, the hormones that help my baby grow are also helping the fibroids grow and putting me at risk for pre-term labor.  I believe and pray that my baby will keep growing and the fibroids will shrink. Where are you registered? registry details Does Isis know you're pregnant? Dogs know us better than we know ourselves. I smell diff...
Read more

Diamonds or Pearls

Today, I learned that the home visit report was submitted to the agency.  They will review the report and approve my application in the next few weeks. Then, I'll be licensed to foster/adopt. I'm excited about the progress. I've been asked about my placement preferences several times by the agency and home visit contractor. Everyone in my circle who knows about my journey has asked me the gender question. "Do you prefer boys or girls?" I'll use this post to address those questions. Boy or girl? I don't have a gender preference. I just want to connect with them no matter the gender. How many? I am open to having 2 kids placed in my home, because I want to accommodate siblings, and I don't currently have the capacity for more. Age? This is the answer that surprises most people. I am interested in children who are 10 years old or older. Why? I know that is the hardest group to place because they are not cute little babies. Older kids who age out of the...
Read more

School Daze

This morning, I saw school buses on my way to work. This morning, I saw school buses on my way to work. And I cried.  I know I've been in recovery mode for the past few months, and I've been allowing myself to feel all the feelings associated with grief.  I thought I was finally in the acceptance stage.  However, while crying in the bathroom at work this morning, I realized that I'm not there yet.  Something about learning that a new semester just started was very triggering for me.  I remembered that I was supposed to take off this week to help my kid transition to high school, and that wasn't going to happen.  I cried for all the other experiences that we wouldn't have together.  I cried because I missed her.  I cried because she's still in my heart. I have never experienced the loss of a baby, but I imagine that what I am feeling might be similar to what a mother of a stillborn child might feel.  For months, I prepared to welcome this chil...
Read more