That Mother Lode

Today is my 44th birthday. I usually take the week off and travel somewhere fun. However,  the only place I wanted to be today was at home with my baby. I got my wish. We were discharged from the hospital finally after waiting for Ayomi's jaundice to clear. I didn't have to get on a plane this year to experience something new and exciting. Who knows where we'll be next year. I'm excited to have a new travel buddy. I can't wait to show him the world.

  I'll write my birth story later. I appreciate everyone who has reached out to me, but I don't feel like talking right now. I'm tired and slightly overwhelmed at the moment.

God has not given me the spirit of fear... I was told the risks of having a baby at my age and the challenges that I might face with the fibroids prior to IVF and pregnancy. Medical professionals have continued to tell me the risks, and I keep overcoming hurdles. After the most recent "fear talk" from a doctor, I received the devotional above the following morning.  I believe that I will deliver my healthy baby within the next week or so. We are well. We are safe.   On another note, Isis started heavily shedding this week, which is very unusual for the winter. I mentioned the shedding at our vet appointment yesterday, and the tech said it could be caused by stress because she senses the arrival of the baby. I usually bathe and brush her at home, but I need help now. I want to be sure that she's ready for the baby. I packed a baby blanket that will specifically be given to Isis so she can smell the baby's scent before they meet. She's going to be a great big sister...

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 lat...

I got a henna tattoo on my belly today. The lady kept saying how active the baby was while she was doing it. Maybe the pressure tickled my Joy.  😊

A year ago, I self-administered my first hormone shots. I was nervous, scared, and hopeful. Now, I am weeks away from birthing my miracle baby. My birth team is assembled. My bags are packed. My birthing plan is written. The nursery is mostly done.  What a difference a year makes!

We reached 33 weeks today! The baby's estimated weight is 4lbs 12 ozs and is measuring about a week ahead, which is great. My fundal height measured 38in because of the large fibroid distorting my belly. I've gained approximately 25 pounds since the start of my pregnancy. My weight has been steady over the past 2 weeks, which prompted my doctor to tell me to start eating more today. The baby is going to be packing on weight until birth, so I need to consume more calories to keep up. I've followed a pescetarian diet for nearly 10 years, and the pregnancy hasn't changed my appetite. I'll add more snacks to keep My Joy growing. The cooler weather makes me want to hibernate, and I nap whenever I can. Since daylight saving ended, I've stopped walking after work, and I've generally been less active.  My dog used to guilt me into walking after work, but I think she knows how tired I am and doesn't bother anymore.  Our next major milestone is 36 weeks when we wi...

My Joy will be here in less than 2 months. I still haven't felt a burst of energy or the urge to get the house together. My friend came over yesterday to work on the baby's room, so I was kinda pushed into nesting. My mom helped me with the baby's laundry. There's still a lot to do, but we've made good progress. Cloth diapers on the drying rack

As a kid growing up in the 80s, one of the worst insults hurled on the playground was "test tube baby". We didn't actually know what it meant, but we just knew it was something bad. Now, I understand exactly what it means, and it's no longer viewed negatively, at least not by me. I am carrying a "test tube baby", and I'm doing it with pride and great joy.  This week, I watched  Joy: The Birth of IVF on Netflix . It's about the UK team that first tested and successfully launched IVF. There were many scientists, medical professionals, and couples who participated in the trials inspite of the backlash from the church, relatives, and the community at large. Nevertheless, they persisted. Thanks to their efforts, I am able to fulfill my dream of being a mother on my own terms.  I am grateful for the women who went ahead of me, whether they planned for a baby with IVF or they had an unplanned pregnancy. I am grateful for the women who are mothers to childre...

  I remember a conversation with my former PCP in 2016 when I first explored the idea of freezing my eggs. At that time, I decided not to do it. She shared her own story about becoming a mother of twins later in life. She told me that we think there's a straight line to what we want, but our paths could take many unexpected turns to get us to the destination. Dr. B was the best medical professional I ever met, and her words still help me today. I gleaned so many nuggets of wisdom in the past that I didn't know would influence me so much in the present. God put me in places to receive the seeds that I needed, and I'm seeing them grow.  No one is ever prepared to become a parent, no matter how many kids you babysit or how many books you read. However, I believe I am more prepared than many because of life experiences, planning, and formal training. Life experiences Being alive for 43 years, I've had a myriad of experiences, good and bad. I have won, lost, loved, broken up...