Paralyzing Fear

I wish I could promise you that the adoption process will be a piece of cake, easy-cheesy, no problemo. But then I wouldn’t be doin’ you any favors.  I would rather prepare you for the worst, then have you be pleasantly surprised!  J  ‘Cuz that’s just how I roll.  So my friends, prepare yourself!  It’s normal to be scared.  It’s okay to be afraid.  But when that paralyzing/just-put-me-in-a-straight-jacket-kind of fear closes in, you need to turn to your best supporters.  You know, those BFF’s that you’ve kept near and dear who lift you up always.  Or those inspiring adoptive parents that you are getting to know who want to help you in any way they can (trust me, they DO!).  Or a loving, supportive family member who totally believes in you and wants this child just as much as you do.  These are the people you need to surround yourself with.  Turn to them and ask for help.  Just talking about your fears with someone supportive will be extremely helpful.  I promise.  Really, it worked for me every time.  So start lining up your army of support!  Then, if you don’t need them you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Oh, and have I mentioned that it is worth every ounce of fear in gold????  :)

My favorite girl is now 4 years old.

I'm thinking about putting a brick on her head so she stops growing up.  Think she would mind????

Infertility - It's Not Really That Much Fun!

So, the hubby and I finally decide we are ready to start a family.  We TRY, TRY, TRY and TRY some more.  Each month, the dreaded period comes.  Each month, my frustration and anxiety grows.  Soon, a year has gone by with no pregnancy.  Panic starts to set in, and out of sheer desperation, we start seeing an Infertility Specialist.  Then the real fun begins.  Charting temperature, calculating ovulation, lots of needle pokes (I used to practically pass out when having blood drawn, now I barely blink an eye), racing (literally) to the lab to drop off samples (Seriously, we have to bottle sperm, keep it warm, and drive like 400 mph to get it to a lab?  Once, I missed the window of time and nearly fell on the lab floor in hysterics!). 

How about all those tests?  An Endometrial Biopsy involves collecting a small sample of tissue from the endometrial lining – and it is just slightly uncomfortable. The Hysterosalpingogram, which is an X-ray and involves injecting DIE (I mean DYE) into the uterus and fallopian tubes, was truly the sharpest, most nauseating pain I’ve ever felt in my life.  The recovery from a Laparoscopic surgery was MISERABLE- Yikes, I would not want to do that again anytime soon!  But if you are like me and you have endometriosis, this allows the surgeon to get inside and literally clean you out by removing your scar tissue.  Ladies, by the time you get done with all of these procedures, you have no shame!  Oh, the things we will do for babies.  I'm just saying...................