That Mother Lode

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...

27 weeks   My 2nd trimester was very eventful!  I experienced the following: Moved to my new home Anatomy scan revealed fibroid growth and higher risk of preterm labor Moved from midwifery care at a birthing center to obstetrician and MFM specialist at a hospital Baby movement Got a bigger vehicle Reached 24 week milestone for viability Stepfather hospitalized and subsequently died Failed 1st glucose test  Passed 2nd glucose test, so no gestational diabetes  Hired a doula and more Biggest symptoms: fatigue and heartburn, heartburn, heartburn 😫  I believe that my pregnancy is a miracle, and I'm grateful that Baby Joy and I keep progressing. 

The Tamron Hall Show took a very comprehensive look at the egg freezing process.

I find it funny everytime I get an email about a sale from my cryobank. Who knew that sperm was such a commodity? Black donors are rare across the assisted reproduction spectrum. I encourage everyone who is eligible (healthy women under 30 and men under 40) to consider becoming a donor. Also, consider being a surrogate. I know families that benefitted from the generosity of surrogates and donors, and they are forever grateful for the gift of their children.  

    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...

I am grateful that my pregnancy has been smooth so far. My 1st trimester symptoms were so mild that I might not have known that I was pregnant if I didn't already know. I also haven't experienced any symptoms associated with the fibroids. I'm exhausted and constantly need to pee. I'm at the beginning of my second trimester, and supposedly, I'm going to get a burst of energy and stop peeing so much. I've officially moved into my new home in Dallas, so I'm looking forward to getting settled and nesting.  I shared my pregnancy news with people closest to me, and I know soon enough most people will know because of my growing belly. I'm grateful for my village. I have received love, support, and a bit of curiosity. For many of the people I know, especially family, I am the only person in their lives who has intentionally pursued pregnancy via IVF, and I chose to do it without a partner, and I'm in my 40s. I break barriers. Hopefully, sharing my journey wi...

For the first 10 weeks of my pregnancy, beginning 2 weeks before the transfer, I had to take hormones to make sure my body would support the early growth of my baby. The nurse drew this diagram of my butt so I would know where the progesterone in oil (PIO) injections should go. I drew those same lines on my butt every morning to be sure I did it correctly. At the same time that I was doing these daily injections and other medications, I was in the process of moving from Houston to Dallas. It was a lot! I saw my fertility doctor for the last time during my 9th week. She did another ultrasound, and I could actually identify the baby this time. I heard the heartbeat, and I cried. They gave me a copy of my medical records to give to my OB, and I was released to regular prenatal care. It felt like a graduation ceremony. I completed my final shot a few days later, which was the day before I moved. I had a contingency plan with my doctor just in case my move happened earlier,  but I'm gra...

Luke 1:28 NKJV‬ [28]... the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one,  the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”   https://bible.com/bible/114/luk.1.28.NKJV ‭Luke 1:34 KJV‬ [34] ...How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?    https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.1.34.KJV  ‭‭Luke 1:36-37 NKJV‬ [36] Now indeed, Elizabeth... has also conceived... in her old age ... [37] For with God nothing will be impossible.”    https://bible.com/bible/114/luk.1.36-37.NKJV ‭Luke 1:65-66 NIV‬ [65] All the neighbors were filled with awe, and... people were talking about all these things. [66] Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.     https://bible.com/bible/111/luk.1.65-66.NIV My first positive home pregnancy test