National Infertility Awareness Week

Disclaimer: This post will be rather blunt and not so "puppies and rainbows". Feel free to skip on to a different one.


Infertility. What a nasty bitch. I don't know how else to put it. I think many have no idea how prevalent infertility is in our society...I know I didn't. And then I saw it affect someone I love, I have watched her handle it with grace and optimisim. But nomatter how you hash it, infertility sucks. It takes away a lot from a person, from a couple, from a marraige. We were lucky, my husband and I were able to get pregnant after a relatively short period of time. And through all of the sickness and aches and pains, the reality is, we are SO lucky. But why us? Why is it easy for us and not for someone who is just as deserving... I guess those are questions that can never be answered...at least not in this life.

I could fill you up with facts and numbers and try to explain everything that goes in to not just the treatments but the tests to even decide the course of treatment. But instead, I will tell you this, nomatter how many needles, biopsies, tests, surgeries...I am willing to say none of them match the pain of a negative pregnancy test month after month. So why do these women continue to go through all of this? Because in the end, if they are able to become parents, nomatter the method...none of it matters.

So start talking about it, talk about it until you are blue in the face. Tell anyone that will listen. The best thing we can do is to make people aware, because eventually awareness leads to cures.

Approaching 22 weeks...

And it feels like time is flying. I cannot believe I am more than halfway through my pregnancy, whenever I feel him kick I am reminded of just how soon he will be here. Around 2AM this morning I woke up to the beat of a little foot tapping away at my bladder. Thanks buddy! I am beginning to wonder when this little guy sleeps, he is active at night, he is active during the day....hmmmmm. Dave seems pretty pleased about this, whenever I mention how active Jackson is, Dave smiles and says "he is busy!". Either way, I certainly feel blessed, I am growing this little guy and he is letting Mommy know that he is getting bigger and stronger everyday!

Linds and I are planning the shower more every day, I cannot believe all the adorable ideas she has come up with, it is going to be so much fun!! Other than that, life has kept me fairly busy. Work is busy as usual, Dave's work is pretty busy as expected. But mostly we are just enjoying the last couple months of it being "just us" and excitedly awaiting our little man's arrival!

20 Weeks and.....

ITS A BOY!!!!!

We couldn't be more excited!! His name is Jackson Eric, middle name is the same as his daddy's!
And now...

This is a profile shot...really makes us laugh that they had to specify "Attempt" Little man was moving around SO much that the poor tech couldn't get a good shot no matter how hard she tried! That's our boy! (I had to crop these a bit to remove personal info...dont want to attract the attention of any internet crazies!)

A foot!

And our proof that Jackson is indeed a boy...imagine him sitting on the camera with his legs apart. (Upper right) I am not sure what The white part is....placenta I think.

And finally....

Me at 20 weeks and about 5 days :) (and no I do not have spots all over my shirt, I dont know why that popped up like that)

18 weeks...holy cow!

Okay, this week, I promise there will be a picture of the belly. PROMISE.

•How far along?: 18 weeks!

•How big is baby?: Around 6 inches....and a half pound! About the size of a large Mango!

•Maternity clothes?: Yep!

•Stretch marks?: Yes. And they are still angry looking. And yes I use cream, but the stretch marks laugh at my cream I think.

•Sleep?: Eh! Some nights I get a really great night of sleep and others I think I am up at least 10 times!

•Best moment this week?: My doctors appointment last friday hearing that beautiful lub-dub on the doppler!

•Movement?: Still flutters and what I call "whooshes" Still waiting for that big kick!

•Food cravings?: No real cravings to speak of, just hungry All. The. Time.


•Labor signs?: Nope!

•Belly button in or out?: Innie. However it seems as though it is getting more and more shallow...hmmmm


•What I miss: Being able to walk to the mailbox without feeling winded...for real.

•What I'm looking forward to: Finding out the sex a week from today!!!


•Milestone: I feel like our milestone this week is getting our birth plan firmed up. It feels good to have a better idea on what our plans are!

Boy or Girl?

Bad Blogger!

Ooops! I dissapeared! But now I am back and we are on to our weekly-ish quiz...


How far along?: 16 Weeks 1 day

•How big is baby?: Jelly is the size of an ONION! About 5 inches long and around  5oz...grow baby grow!

•Maternity clothes?: Yes...and I dont see that changing anytime soon.


•Stretch marks?: Blegh. Yes. Purple ones. Yippee.

•Sleep?: Welllll, I was sleeping much better, then I got this horrible cold/infection that is causing me to not be able to breathe. However on the bright side, my babe will have all sorts of immunities built up if I keep getting sick! ;)


•Best moment this week?: Finding out we will be able to avoid daycare all together!!!! YESSSSSS!!!!! (I love my father in law!)



•Movement?: Ummm, well I get little quivers that I am pretty sure is baby, but I only feel them every once in a while. I am SO looking forward to feeling little (or big) kicks, and especially when Dave will be able to feel it.


•Food cravings?: I really havent had many lately, which is probably due to this cold and my lack of appetite!


•Labor signs?: None, thank goodness!



•Belly button in or out?: Innie, I am hoping it wont pop, maybe just smooth out and stay flat?


•What I miss: Really...nothing. I am starting to just really be able to enjoy being pregnant. I love knowing I am growing a little person :)



•What I'm looking forward to: Appointment next week, then the gender scan the following week...yay!!!

New title.

Well, I supose Dave and I aren't exactly "newlyweds" anymore, so I decided we needed a new, more permanant title!

We had an ultrasound last week at what was supposed to be 12 weeks...the baby is perfect and measuring 12 weeks 3 days! Each appointment the baby seems to measuring a bit further ahead...Oh boy I am going to have a 10lb babe! The baby looked amazing, moving all around, kicking it's little legs, too cute!

Last Monday Dave and I headed over to South Bend (I actually had a work holiday on the same day as him for once!) And we decided to make a trip to Babies R Us. Well, Dave suggested that we start the registering process since his busy season will be starting soon and we really wont have too many more chances to get out there. So we registered for all of the non gender specific things, and we had so much fun! We spent forever looking at everything and trying strollers and carseats and toys! I cannot believe how fast time seems to be going!

Ok, now for the weekly quiz...


How far along?: 13 weeks 2 days (which apparently means I am in my 14th week...it's all very confusing)

•How big is baby?: Baby Jellybean is the size of a large lemon!


•Maternity clothes?: Yep...

•Stretch marks?: No, ok thats not true. I have one precarius little mark that seems to be a baby strechy...I am hoping I am wrong.

•Sleep?: Meh...the same, up a couple times at night.


•Best moment this week?: Playing with my registry and planning baby purchases! And possibly movement....

•Movement?: Wellll....the other night I was laying flat on the couch (on my back) and I suddenly began to feel a fluttry quivering sensation in my lower abdomen. Maybe baby?

•Food cravings?: Not really any cravings this week, just trying to get myself to eat! I am still sick at night and I get so full so fast that I hardly eat anything!


•Labor signs?: None, and we'd like to keep it that way.


•Belly button in or out?: Innie.

•What I miss: Eating a normal meal!


•What I'm looking forward to: Finding out the sex! I am dying to know!

•Milestone: The "movement"