Thoughts of Thanksgiving: Gratitude in Infertility

November 27, 2015 By: Jessicomment

Today I am guest posting on WithGreatExpectation.com and sharing my thoughts on gratitude in infertility. Logan asked me to provide a guest post while she is visiting family over Thanksgiving, and I was honored to get to share my heart (and my confessions) on her blog. Please check out the post and leave it some love! If you’re not following Logan regularly yet, you should. I love her blog and look forward to her posts every week.

Thoughts of Thanksgiving:
Gratitude in Infertility

I’m going to be completely transparent with you: I often find it difficult to see anything “grateful” in my infertility. It’s easier for me to see the grief of my circumstance and to throw myself a pity party. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t want this for myself or for my husband. And I definitely didn’t want this for my daughter, who is rapidly approaching 6 years old and asking us daily for a sibling.

But you know what?

Life is so much more than my infertility, and for that, I have gratitude.

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Fertility Authority: The Five Stages of Grief

November 19, 2015 By: Jessicomment

Today on Fertility Authority, I am sharing on the five stages of grief and how to forgive yourself when fertility treatment doesn’t go as planned. This was a hard topic to write on, but it flowed from the heart. Please check it out and consider sharing it on social media. These posts are helping me earn extra funds to cover the twice-weekly follicle ultrasounds I’ve been having. Every page view adds up!

The Five Stages of Grief and Learning to
Forgive Yourself When Fertility Treatment
Doesn’t Go As Planned

It was my 23^rd day of Follistim. I had just finished my 5^th ultrasound of the cycle, and was still waiting on my 6^th estrogen lab results. Things weren’t looking good. My three leading follicles were gone, and my lining decreased from 10mm to 4mm. The long walk from the ultrasound room, to the elevator, to the parking lot, to my car… was sad. I think I held my breath the whole way to my car, and I could feel my heart beat hard with every step I took on the cold, wet pavement. I felt like my lungs were about to burst. I could feel the tears welling up inside, and if they weren’t going to come out of my eyes as I held them back, they were definitely going to come out of every pore on my body. I got into the car, put my head on the steering wheel, and wept.

And wept.

And wept.

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Fertility Authority: A Glimpse into a PCOS Patient’s First Follistim Cycle {plus a quick cycle update}

October 28, 2015 By: Jessicomment

First thing’s first, the cycle update if you missed it on Facebook & Instagram:

Today is CD8, day 7 of Follistim.
My baseline E2 on CD2 was 83.
My second E2 on CD6 was 65. It went in the wrong direction!
As a result of the decreasing E2, we increased my Follistim dose from 75 IU to 100 IU. I’m still in the “baby steps” phase of this cycle, and still feel pretty hopeful, but was definitely discouraged to hear my E2 went down. But, as I said before, this cycle is the “trial and error” cycle… I’ve never done Follistim before now so we’re taking it slow.
My third E2 is tomorrow, CD9, and we’ll see what is going on from there. I’ll have results after work.
The injections make me pretty tired and fatigued, but I’m sleeping well at night because of it, so that’s a win.
The injection sites are starting to get tender. Most of the time it’s not too bad, and some bleed more than others, but I’m definitely noticing tenderness the next day.

Now down to business:

Today on Fertility Authority, I am sharing a glimpse into a PCOS’s patient journey to the first Follistim cycle. This post was really hard for me to write. I’m not sure why I struggled so much, but I eventually got it out of me and I am pleased with the final result.

Please go check it out and share it on social media. As previously disclosed, my posts for Fertility Authority are paid opportunities for me. I get paid based on the number of views each article receives within a 30-day period. All funds are going towards our cycle. The first pay I received covered my first ultrasound last week that I had to pay cash out of pocket for. The second pay I received will cover my next ultrasound. Every little bit helps.

A Glimpse into a PCOS Patient’s First Follistim Cycle

Essential Oils to Soothe Anxiety {Guest Post: In Due Time}

October 16, 2015 By: Jessi13 Comments

Today’s post is one I was really excited to read! I learn a lot about essential oils and natural living thanks to Caroline’s blog, and today is no different. In fact, the oil Deep Relief that she mentions in her post is one of my absolute favorites, and I bought it from Caroline several months ago. I use it for tension headaches, back aches, fatigue… you name it, it works. Thanks Caroline for sharing your expertise! Be sure to check out her blog In Due Time for more information on essential oils and natural living.

I’m Caroline and I blog over at In Due Time, which I started back in April of 2012. In 2011 my life changed for the better when I got married to my sweet husband, Colby. Besides working as a financial analyst and blogging, I enjoy spending time with Colby, traveling, watching football, and attending various small groups and bible studies. I’m a health nut, who enjoys working out and eating healthy including using natural alternatives to medicine, when possible. I have a passion for those who are going through trials, especially those who feel like they are waiting on God to answer their prayers. Thank you Jessi for giving me the opportunity to share with your readers! Blog Facebook Instagram Pinterest Bloglovin

If your life is anything like mine it is very overwhelming. Between work and everything else going on throughout the day, stress and anxiety can easily creep in. Add infertility or another health problem into an already busy day and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. While some people prefer to seek medicine including anything from advil to antidepressants, I have always preferred the natural remedies. I started using essential oils in May 2014 and haven’t needed any medicine since. If you aren’t familiar with oils, their is an oil for most needs including infertility, sickness, mental health, beauty, cleaning, etc. Today, I will be sharing on oils specific to anxiety.

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I Was the Sibling-in-Waiting {Guest Post: A Sweet Aroma}

October 14, 2015 By: Jessicomment

Today’s post had me in absolute tears, in the best way! The heart and soul poured into this story is just beautiful. And oh, how I can relate so much… Brandy, thank you for sharing this with us. It’s like you peeked into my (and my daughter’s) soul and articulated what we are thinking and experiencing…

I remember her. She wore purple overalls and had stringy red hair. Her face was dotted with little freckles just like my own. The problem was this though: No matter how much I packed her around and no matter how much she looked like me, she wasn’t my baby sister that I wanted so so much. She was just my Kid Sister doll.

I was four. My mom had waited the average time for our neck of the woods when she got pregnant with the baby that we never got to meet. I had pleaded to Mom, Dad, and God for a baby sister and it seemed that I might be getting my wish. I don’t remember a lot of the details…. how they told me, the questions I asked, or even where we bought that “Kid Sister” doll from. But I do remember the longing. I remember the desiring of a baby sister and the not comprehending why I couldn’t just have one. I was at the age when everyone made having a baby seem so simple. In my “needing to know every detail” mind, the stork put the baby in Mom’s belly and when SHE (yes, I specifically wanted a sister) was done growing the stork would come make sure she arrived safely. That’s how it worked right? So in my mind, what could have gone wrong? But of course I didn’t understand…. I was only 4.

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Foster Parenting – How it Changed my Struggle with Infertility {Guest Post: Waiting For Baby Bird}

October 12, 2015 By: Jessi2 Comments

This week’s first guest post is provided by Elisha from Waiting For Baby Bird. Elisha is sharing her experience of fostering through infertility. Her story is compelling and has driven me to tears. Not just because of the infertility involved, but because of her continuous encouragement and praise to God through all things, good and bad. I hope you enjoy this post!

It’s quiet. I don’t hear the sounds of a Disney movie playing in the background, toy horses galloping down the hallway, or the theme song from Frozen being sung over and over and over. And it is because I just tucked our four-year-old foster princess and her four (or was it five?) Minnie Mouse dolls and Mermaid toy into bed for the night.

It’s odd really. Not the quietness, but the fact that I am tucking a foster child into bed. I never thought I would be a foster parent. But then again, I never thought I would struggle with infertility nor have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) listed on my medical file. And even more than that? I never thought I would need In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or that my first treatment cycle would end not only in a celebratory positive pregnancy test, but also a devastating miscarriage. And it’s sometimes hard to comprehend. There are days I go to bed feeling like I have been through the spin cycle of a washing machine as my emotions are all tangled, my thoughts are mixed together, and my body feels beaten and worn down.

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Fertility Authority: It’s PCOS Awareness Month – What You Need to Know

September 18, 2015 By: Jessicomment

Today on Fertility Authority, I’m sharing some pretty important points on PCOS and how it just doesn’t look the same for every woman. I have talked to and met women of all walks of life, who all look different and carry PCOS differently as well. It’s very easy to be misdiagnosed by a doctor who may not understand that one size does not fit all with PCOS, and it has to be treated on a case-by-case basis. Since it’s PCOS Awareness Month, it’s a good time to take charge of your PCOS and make a change in your life.

Please check out my post and share any additional thoughts you may have.

It’s PCOS Awareness Month – What You Need to Know

As previously disclosed, my posts for Fertility Authority are paid opportunities for me. I get paid based on the number of views each article receives within a 30-day period. All funds are going towards our Follistim + IUI cycle NEXT MONTH! EEK! Just click on the link and share with your friends on social media. 🙂

7 Ways to Prepare Your Body for Fertility Treatment, Physically and Mentally

August 10, 2015 By: Jessi1 Comment

Today on Fertility Authority, I am sharing 7 ways that I am preparing for our next round of fertility treatment. As previously disclosed, every page view the articles receive over their initial 30-day period add up. I will get paid based on the number of views, and all of that income will go towards our next round of treatment, which is rapidly approaching! As you all know, treatments can get expensive fast… so anything extra I can do to pay for the treatment is a bonus. Thankfully I enjoy writing enough to make it happen…

Read & Share:
7 Ways to Prepare Your Body for Fertility Treatment
Physically and Mentally

After you read, I would love to get your thoughts – how do you prepare (physically and mentally) for fertility treatment?

My Story of Infertility is on Fertility Authority

July 8, 2015 By: Jessi4 Comments

My friends, I wanted to share with you a post that I wrote for FertilityAuthority.com that shares my story, in a nutshell, from my PCOS diagnosis to where I am today. I’m also going to be very transparent with you:

Writing for Fertility Authority will help us pay for our next round of fertility treatment. Basically, I will get paid if my posts can hit a certain number of page views within a 30-day period. Fertility Authority will promote the posts, and I’m going to ask if you would consider promoting as well. Just share on social media, that’s it, just like you would share any other news article. It doesn’t matter if it’s Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest… just hit the share button. I’m not asking for donations, I’m not Crowd Funding, nothing like that. I just want to share my story, encourage and inspire others, and try to earn some extra funds for Follistim + IUI. You guys know how expensive an injects cycle can get. Every little bit will help.

So, without further ado, here is my first post for Fertility Authority:

The Second Chapter is Harder: My Infertility Reality

Thank you for your support!

LWM: 5 Tips for Working Mom Meal Planning

February 27, 2015 By: Jessicomment

Today over at Liberating Working Moms, I’ve shared 5 tips that help me with meal planning as a working mom! I only have so much time between work, focusing on spending extra time with Zoey, blogging, cooking, church activities, etc. To me, meal planning is so vital to family function – not only keeping you accountable with healthy meals, but also keeping you financially responsible because things are planned. Please check it out and share if you have any meal planning tips I should know about!

These tips aren’t just for working moms – these are great for anyone to consider!

I’ve talked to a lot of working moms about meal planning and I’m often surprised by how many say they are intimidated by it, that they can’t do it, or they just laugh at me. Meal planning isn’t just for pinning on Pinterest to forget about later. It really is a reachable goal for your family if you keep things simple and realistic.