The Baby Journey

So I thought perhaps I would write a little something about our journey to finally get this baby brewing! It's nothing too complicated really, nothing like what some people have to go through, but a journey nonetheless.
We had decided before we got married that we would wait a year to try to have kids. Time for us to just be us, get used to each other and married life and so David could finish his last semester of grad school.  When we first started trying, it was more of not really taking preventative measures and letting things happen as they would. My mom and my oldest sister basically had honeymoon babies and my youngest sister who had started trying for a baby around the time we did had no trouble, so I figured it wouldn't be long. I never thought it would take over 3 years! :-)
So I did a little research and had learned that it's not uncommon to take 6 months to a year for couples to conceive. So after that first year I started  being more proactive about things and did the ovulation kits, basal body temps, etc., but still nothing, so I started getting a little concerned that maybe something was wrong with one or the other of us.
One day I heard an ad on the radio for a clinic in Anchorage that had a fertility specialist, so I thought, why not give that a try? So I went in and got tested to be sure everything was working right. Good news for me was that everything was spot on and looked great as far as my ovaries both functioning properly and me ovulating normally. The only thing was my thyroid was a little low--still within normal range, just on the lower side of normal. So while we were working out the kinks in getting that up, I made David go in and get tested, just to rule that out. Turns out everything for him was great as well. My doctor was sure it was my thyroid that was the issue, but after another year of trying with zero results, I wasn't so convinced so I went to another doctor for a second opinion.
WORST DECISION EVER! Not in wanting a second opinion, but my choice of doctor. I'm going to get into it because it was that bad. So after having my appointment being moved 3 times, a month after my original appointment date, I finally got in. She had an intern (I am all for that normally, don't get me wrong), but the doctor talked to the intern the whole time instead of to me--I felt like something growing in a petri dish that they were discussing instead of being involved in the conversation. I told them I  wanted to see what other options were available as far as fertility treatment goes. I was told there were tests they could run if I really wanted, but that I was young and would be better off waiting it out. I was told to look into adoption because "a lot of couples miraculously conceive once they start the adoption process", to "tell your friends and family you don't want kids", and a bunch of other equally unhelpful and hurtful things. No joke--my doctor actually said those things word for word. After waiting a month to get in to see her, that was the biggest waste if money and time. Needless to say I left feeling discouraged and cried the entire drive home.
During this whole time it was one giant emotional roller coaster. If my period was a little late, I would get so excited thinking maybe this was it, to have it come and then I would crash hard. Kudos to David for putting up with me during that time :-) I would bawl my eyes out every time someone I knew announced their pregnancies. All my sisters were pregnant at the same time, followed closely by one of my best friends and I'll tell you that was hard. Of course I was happy for them--I hadn't ever got to the bitter or angry stage, just sad that it wasn't my turn. It's funny because you know how in traumatic or life changing events you remember all the details about where you were and what you were doing? I remember what I was doing and where I was when I got each of my sister's and friends announcements. After each announcement David would look at me to gauge how bad it was going to be that night :-) I was growing tired of people's words of wisdom like, go on a vacation, then you'll get pregnant. Or just stop trying, don't think about it and it will happen (cause that's so easy to do :-) ).
In the spring of last year my doctor bumped my thyroid meds up from 50mcgs to 75mcgs. I don't know if it was that or it just being the Lord's time or the amazing summer we had here, but whatever it was I am thankful for it!
It was the end of July, early August when I found out I was finally pregnant. David made me wait a week after my missed period to take a pregnancy test to confirm it. I really don't blame him after all that we'd been through with the ups and downs the past few years :-)  I am thankful and excited for it to finally be my turn. 6 weeks to go and I can't wait to meet our baby boy!