Home Cooked Meals

Stuffed Chicken

Zuchini Pasta

Wild Rice, Chicken, & Green Beans

Enchiladas & Mexican Rice

Green Salad

Potato & Eggs

Taco Salad

Wild Rice, Chicken, Brocolli, and Grilled Chicken

Sushi

My Journey to Pregnancy : Our Struggle with Infertility

I was always the careful type.  Overly cautious when intimate because I always wanted to fall in Love, get married, buy a house, and THEN have kids.  We were careful so much so that even after we were married, we decided to wait until I graduated from college to TRY and get pregnant.  Little did I know, it turned out, that it wouldn't be quite as easy as I thought.

It's funny how you're either on one side or the other when it comes to sitting in the bathroom with a pregnancy test in your hand.  It's like that insurance commercial where the two characters are expressing the exact same dialogue with two very different emotions.  You're either jumping for joy, or sobbing.

I know I've talked about our journey somewhat on this blog already in various posts, but I just wanted to take the time to put an cumulative version all in one place as well.

Sean and I always knew we wanted to have kids.  We love kids, we've always talked about wanting kids, and we both knew that we really wanted to be parents.  We actually ended up buying our house together a year before we got married, got married, and then I finished college the following year.  We began trying, but it just wasn't happening for us.

I'd always had irregular cycles growing up, but that kind of ran in my family.  However, after almost a year of trying, I decided to go speak to an OBGYN about it.  We talked about family history and charting.  I went through 5 or 6 rounds of Clomid, natural Progesterone, and OVPK (Ovulation Predictor Kits).  Luckily, I wasn't suffering from any of the side effects.  I seemed to be balancing out slightly in terms of my cycle appearing after each round of progesterone, but other than that, the balance was not consistent and I was experiencing some highs and lows.  I only had one ultrasound and my interactions with this doctor were not as encouraging as I'd hoped.  Throughout my time with this first OB, I didn't feel like communication was consistent.  I never felt like we were on the same page.  We would communicate through the online medical message center and I would describe, in detail, my experience with each round of Clomid, but I would always just get a response along the lines of, "we'll just have to see how next round goes."  I needed someone who was going to be an advocate for me.

Along with visiting the OBGYN,  I also tried some natural methods as well.  Diets, vitamins, etc.  A friend of mine introduced me to doTerra oils.  Ieventually became a wellness consultant after amazing results with some of the various oils.  I began using Clary Calm, an oil blend used to bring balance to "emotions and hormones."  For more information about doTerra oils, click here.  I also tried a few appointments with an acupuncturist. 

Around the end of the 5th or 6th cycle of Clomid with no success, I decided that I needed a break emotionally.  Every time I took a pregnancy test, I was met with more disappointment.  Why wasn't my body doing what it was supposed to be capable of?  I struggled with faith, I cried more times than I could count, and it was sometimes a struggle for my very supportive, but frustrated husband to relate completely.  It was time for a clean slate.  After all, in everything I had been reading, (and it was extremely annoying when the statement kept being brought up) most people who struggled to become pregnant and had been trying for a long time, finally got pregnant after they had finally stopped trying.

At the beginning of December of 2014, I decided to go see a new doctor.  My sister in law who was about to have their baby girl very soon referred her to us.  We met Dr. Gordon (yes, same last name) and immediately noticed a significant difference all around.  This doctor was proactive, attentive, and listened and was there to answer any questions or address any concerns.  This time, I had multiple blood tests done and we tried to really get to the "root" of the issue.  I was not immediately put on hormones or any drugs.  The previous OBGYN had tossed around PCOS as an answer to my struggle with becoming pregnant.  It was always"assumed" due to my symptoms.  However, to this day, I'm still not 100% sure that this is the appropriate "label."

Eventually, we decided to try again with Clomid, except this time, I was told to chart, had multiple blood tests throughout the cycle, and was always followed up with an ultrasound to measure for follicles.  A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE in practice.  We also decided to use Progestin, instead of the natural Progesterone.  I had done a lot of reading the past couple of years and I also talked to the Doctor about trying out Metformin.  After discussion, we decided that it wouldn't hurt to try.  I did experience some of the side effects (nausea, feeling sick, and weight loss).  I lost about 10-15 pounds while on Metformin. 

After a couple rounds of Clomid with good sized follicles, but no pregnancy, we decided that I should have an HSG procedure.  An HSG procedure is one in which they check to see if there are any blockages in your tubes.  They use a small balloon like object to expand your cervix and inject glow in the dark ink into your tubes to check for blockages.  I spent the next month and a half "recovering" and healing from this procedure (like a super long menstruation cycle).  The results came back with no blockages (a good thing) and eventually I was able to start a new cycle.  After jump starting with Progestin, I did another round of Clomid, produced two good size follicles, and this time, I was given an HCG shot.  3 additional weeks later, one (or 6) positive tests!  FINALLY!

It was a long road getting there, years, to be exact, but with the right Doctor, a supportive partner, and the right treatment, it became possible.  I'm not sure what exactly it was that made everything click, but Everything eventually falls into place.

 

During our journey, I did a lot of reading and struggling.  It's easy to get down on yourself, to feel alone.  There are also going to be times when your significant other feels helpless and won't quite be able to relate.  There were times when I felt broken. I would cry in my room, cry in the bathroom, cry in the shower.  I experienced some depression and a lack of faith.  It's actually very interesting to discover how common infertility/or struggling to become pregnant really is.  It doesn't make it any easier.  Whenever some one I knew got pregnant or posted an announcement on social media, or took photos of their babies, a large part of my heart hurt.  There were times I felt anger.  Everyone always had something to say, or some advice to give, and sometimes they would just flat out, say the wrong thing.  We kept it very private and people who didn't know we were trying, would constantly ask us when we were going to have a baby.

Luckily, despite the struggle I did have a good support system.  A wonderful husband and family and friends.  It can happen.  Everything happens for a reason and in its own time.  Patience is a hard thing, but when it finally did happen, it was worth it.  Also, I believe it made me appreciate and experience every moment of my pregnancy even more. 

 

Disneyland with an Infant

For our Anniversary this year, my husband and I decided to go on a mini Vacation to Disneyland with our 7 month old daughter.  Obviously with an infant, we knew we'd be a little more limited than we had been on previous trips to Disneyland.  I tried to do some research ahead of time just to have a better planned out idea of how it would be and to have somecreative ideas in regard of how to enjoy the trip to fullest extent, however, I found very little.  Sooooo...I decided to put together a blog post based on our experience!  HOPE THIS HELPS and gives some GOOD TIPS!

PLANNING

Different ways to go about purchasing Disneyland Tickets/Places to Stay

Disneyland.com
AAA
Costco

Here, you can shop Vacation Packages, Disneyland Tickets, Meal Plans, and Hotels

One of the Pros of visiting Disneyland with an Infant is that we only had to purchase Park passes for ourselves and (not the baby).  Disneyland does not require you to purchase passes for children until they are 3 years old.

HOTEL TIPS:
If you have an infant, it may be smart to book a Hotel as close to the park as possible.
While we were visiting the park, we found ourselves returning to the room a couple times a day to refresh, nap, feed the baby, and escape from the heat.  (We visited in August)

Because it was a significant anniversary for us, we decided to splurge and stay in the Disneyland Hotel.  This was very helpful for us as the Hotel is in walking distance from the park and we could come and go as we'd like without having to use the transit system.  We also had access to the Monorail near to the hotel.  The Grand California Hotel is obviously the closest, with Disney's Paradise Pier in near vicinity as well.  Obviously if you're on a budget, the surrounding good neighbor hotels are more user friendly and easier on your wallet.  Here is a helpful resource for finding the best Good Neighbor Hotel for you!

ITEMS WE COULDN'T GO WITHOUT:

Baby Bjorn Front/Backpack - Baby Carrier One - My husband and I are very much "Get up and go" people.  We considered bringing a stroller, but ultimately didn't want to worry about weaving our way through the crowds, or having to leave the stroller somewhere while we were on rides.  Therefore, we chose to tag team and alternate holding the baby and packing her throughout the day.  This is the pack we used and though I suffer from scoliosis, back pain with this pack was actually amazingly minimal.  It provides great support, and made it easy to explore the parks with our Little!  The best part?  You can wear your baby on your front and back.

Backpack Diaper Bag - Another lifesaver for us was a backpack diaper bag.  (Another item that we could put on our back and go)  We tried to pack as minimally as possible for inside the park.  We didn't want to have to carry a diaper bag, a purse, a freezer pack, a wallet, a waterbottle etc.  Also, the more items or bags you have going through security, the longer it takes.  Here is the bag we used:

FisherPrice FastFinder Diaper Bag

In the Bag we carried:
Diapers
Wipes
(2) Changes of Clothes for Baby + Hoodie (In Case of Cooler Nights)
Teething Tablets
"Pouch" Food for Easy Feeding
Nursing Cover
Water Bottle
Baby Sippy Cup
Burp Cloth
Our Disney Spray Bottle/Fan
ID/Form of Currency
Sunscreen
Sun Hat

Rides/Attractions you can Experience with your Infant:

One of the biggest things I had tried to figure out was what rides we would be able to go on with the Baby.  I couldn't really find a list anywhere of rides you could go on with your infant.  So, while we were there, my husband and I took a map and circled the rides/attractions we went on/the rides we could have gone on/experienced with our Little.  I'll star *next to the rides/attractions that we went on.

Disneyland Park:
Alice in Wonderland*
Astro Orbitor
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters*
Casey Jr. Circus Train
Chip 'n Dale Treehouse
Disneyland Monorail*
Disneyland Railroad
Donald's Boat
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Enchanted Tiki Room*
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Goofy's Playhouse*
Haunted Mansion *
It's a Small World*
Jungle Cruise*
King Arthur Carrousel*
Mad Tea Party
MainStreet Cinema
MainStreet Vehicles
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh*
Mickey's House/Meet Mickey!*
Minnie's House*
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Peter Pan's Flight*
Pinocchio's Daring Journey*
Pirates of the Caribbean*
Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough*
Snow White's Scray Adventures*
Star Wars Launch Bay
Storybook Canal Boats
Tarzan's Treehouse
Disneyland Railroad
Mark Twain Riverboat
Sailing Ship Columbia

Holiday Attractions:
It's A Small World Holiday
Jingle Cruise
Main Street Pumpkin Festival
Trick or Treating at Mickey's Halloween Party

California Adventure Park:
Animation Academy
Flik's Flyers
Francis' Ladybug Boogie
Games of the Boardwalk
Golden Zephyr
Heimlich's Chew Chew Train
King Triton's Carousel
The Little Mermaid - Ariel's Undersea Adventure*
Meet and Greet with Ana and Elsa *
Mickey's Fun Wheel (though I don't know that I would ever personally bring an Infant on this ride)
Monster's Inc Mike and Sulley to the Rescue*
Princess Dot Puddle Park*
Red Car Trolley
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail (Again, probably a little limited)
Sorcerer's Workshop*
Toy Story Midway Mania!*
Turtle Talk with Crush

(Not to Mention that in both Parks, there are a ton of things and places/shops to look through and browse)

 Shows/Entertainment you can experience with an Infant: 

Disneyland:
The Dapper Dans
Disneyland Forever*
Fantasy Faire
Fireworks at Disneyland Park*
Tinkerbell and Friends At Pixie Hollow
Mickey and the Magical Map
Mickey's Soundsational Parade
Paint the Night*

California Adventure:
Disney Junior - Live on Stage!
Five & Dime*
Frozen - Live at the Hyperion
Meet Disney Pals on Buena Vista Street
Meet Friends from Toy Story at Paradise Pier
Meet Oswald
Meet Super Heroes in Hollywood Land
Meet the Residents of Radiator Springs in Cars Land
Pixar Play Parade
Red Car Trolley News Boys
World of Color - Celebrate!*

Character Dining
One of the best experiences for us on our trip was the character dining experience (which came with the vacation package we ended up purchasing).  Now, I know not every baby is going to react the same to Disney Characters in costume, but our Aria absolutely LOVED them.  At 7 months we were very surprised by how interactive she was with them.  Seeing her face and watching her interactions made the trip for us alone. =)  The best thing about character dining is that it's casual, you get to eat, and the characters come to you instead of waiting in long lines in the park.  Some of the characters loved her so much that they continued to return to our table multiple times.  This is one of the many reasons we LOVE Disney.

Restaurants for Character Dining:

Ariel's Grotto (California Adventure Park)
Disney's PCH Grill (Paradise Pier Hotel)
Goofy's Kitchen (in the Disneyland Hotel)*
Plaza Inn (Disneyland Park - Main Street) 
Storyteller's Cafe (Grand California Hotel)

Restaurants 
These are some of our Favorite Restaurants that we ate at on our Trip:

Blue Bayou Restaurant (Lunch/Dinner Ambiance)
Carnation Cafe (Best Chili/Potato Cheese Soup!)
Clarabelle's Hand Scooped Ice Cream (Amazing Ice Cream! They Serve the Large Scoops in a TUB!)
Earl of Sandwich (Amazing Sandwiches and Mac N Cheese)
The Golden Horseshoe (Snacks - Root Beer Floats/Chili)
Goofy's Kitchen (Character Dining Experience)
Naples Ristorant e Pizzeria (Amazing Italian Food)
Rainforest Cafe (Great for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner/Ambiance)
Storytellers Cafe (Character Breakfast/Buffet)
Tiki Juice Bar (Those Dole Whips though)
Tortilla Joe's (Great Mexican Food)

Baby Care Center
Did you know this existed?  Because I didn't!

The Baby Care Center is located at the end of Main Street on the right side (if you're facing Sleeping Beauty's Castle).  

Here you can breastfeed, change your baby, feed your baby, pump milk, and just enjoy some serenity from the energy of the park.  There are tiny potties and sinks for potty training toddlers also.

They also have baby supplies that you may or may not have forgotten to bring with you!  

Instead of Breastfeeding with my nursing cover or in a bathroom stall, I was able to take a rest in a rocking chair in the baby care center to nurse Aria without having to decide to take a trip back to the hotel room.

Rider Switch
Don't want to miss out on the "adult rides?"  Disneyland also has a rider switch option where you can use baby as your ticket onto the ride.  At the entrance of the ride, ask the "cast member" how to go about taking advantage of this perk so you can both enjoy without having to wait in line multiple times.  It's basically like doing a single rider and switching the baby off while you ride one at a time!


Anything we didn't touch on that you're curious about?  Ask in the Comments Section!