Category: TTC Journey

Anyone else a huge checklist person? I feel like checklists totally keep me in line and productive. Throughout this crazy journey, I feel like there has been this imaginary checklist, but it doesn’t give me the same feeling as the ones I make on my colorful post-it notes at work or home. It’s imaginary, but so prevalent in my mind. We have to go test-by-test to ultimately have an answer for Baby K.

These past weeks were tough. Like, the toughest waiting I’ve done thus far. The unknown is so scary, especially for someone who is a planner, a problem-solver, and a researcher like myself. I just wanted, or more like needed, to know what was going on with my baby girl.

The day I  turned 16 weeks (May 23rd), I woke up with sweaty palms and a racing heart. My anxiety was real and the thought of the risk factors involved in an amnio weighed heavily on my mind. Kyle and I made it to our appointment and spoke once again with the genetic counselor about the procedure, risk factors, and what would come after. We signed some papers and then got prepped for the procedure.

Since the very moment we began our TTC journey, we have been on the edge of our seats; really becoming good at playing these “waiting games.” After the results came back, we were just feeling so hopeful and relieved knowing that the most severe scenarios had been ruled out by the genetic screener. Unfortunately, Kyle and I seemed to be the only ones on the planet feeling confident about those results.

Never in my life did I think I would be in this position. Beginning this appointment was the highest high I have ever been on and I ended it at a scary low point. Now, getting scary news at a doctor’s office is not something new to me, as you may know. But scary news about the life you have created and are carrying is the absolute worst.

Lemons, pickle relish, and milk make up the foundation of Baby K. But, seriously. I get asked all the time about pregnancy cravings; if pregnancy cravings are real, if I have any funny cravings, and if my cravings have changed. This is one of my favorite pregnancy topics to read and talk about because it always gives me a good laugh and brings out some incredible facial expressions from everyone involved in the conversation.

These next few weeks were quite a blur because of my extreme pregnancy sickness. Unfortunately, I stayed cooped up in the house, mainly in bed, completely useless. However, I found a handful of opportunities where I felt good enough to get out of bed and actually be a human for a little bit. And, you better believe I took full advantage of those times!

I want to take you all back to health class in your teenage years and just think about everything you learned about sex, reproducing, and your body. My memories are very minimal, and by that I mean very little factual information about how the body works, stuck with me (was it even presented?). My memory includes the life lesson: NEVER HAVE SEX BECAUSE YOU’LL FOR SURE GET PREGNANT! Anyone else? We, as teenagers, were paranoid (probably a good thing), but didn’t know the slightest bit about everything that goes in to getting pregnant. Health education (relating to reproduction) was quite misleading, similarly to the phrase morning sickness.

Just as I’ve said plenty of times before about conceiving a child, no tells you all the things you should really know about TTC before you embark on the adventure and the very same goes for pregnancy. Some people love surprises. I’m not one of those people. I like to know. I like to plan. I like to have realistic expectations. You know? Well, my first trimester was one heck of a learning experience, that’s for sure.

Hello world! I am back to the blogging game (after a quick break due to health reasons you will all know more about VERY soon). I wanted to share a journal entry that I have been DYING to post on my blog for nearly 4 months now. Yes, I’ve been holding out on y’all for 4 months, but for a reason that you will also find out shortly…so here it goes…