Hi everyone, I'm Megan! I'm a 28 year old Army Brat turned Army Wife and a new mom. I spent the last 2.5 years of my life in the gorgeous Pacific Northwest but Uncle Sam moved us to SE Alabama in October 2012. I'm an old soul. An infertile, tattooed, pierced, lapsed Catholic, a bleeding heart liberal and hippie at heart. On August 10, 2012 I gave birth to our IVF miracle, Hazel Evelyn. I had an amazing natural birth with the help and support of my husband and doula and I wouldn't have changed a thing. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!
I met my husband on my first day of college in August of 2002, where he played football and I played volleyball. The rest, as they say, is history. Mike enlisted in the Army shortly after graduation and we were married on May 28, 2004 on a quiet little beach in Virginia, where Mike was going through AIT. We spent the first few years of our marriage at Fort Drum, where we survived two Iraq deployments and many endless winters. I graduated from the State University of New York in 2007 with a B.S. in Community and Human Services. In March 2010, we relocated to Fort Lewis in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and we absolutely love it! We try to take advantage of every opportunity life throws at us because life is too short to stay in one place!
Mike is in Army Aviation and I fill my days with HH6 Duties (Household 6 aka "the boss" for you non-military folks) as well as taking care of Hazel. We began trying to add to our family in February 2008 and after many failed treatments I was diagnosed with endometriosis, a partially blocked left fallopian tube and diminished ovarian reserve in August 2011. After less than stellar care at an Army hospital, we switched to a civilian provider and did our first IVF in November 2011--on St. Nicholas Day in December I found out I was pregnant!
I started this blog is my place to record our battle with infertility as well as a place vent my frustrations and feelings of what it's like to be an infertile woman in the ranks of Army Wives, where it seems there is a never ending amount of baby bumps and newborns. Now I find myself on the other side, part of the mommy club--the "in" crowd-- but the scars of infertility run deep and I don't feel like I fit in anywhere anymore.
I try to live a natural lifestyle and believe in raising my daughter with gentle parenting. I believe breast is best and Hazel and I have a very successful breastfeeding relationship. Mike and I are loving every single minute of parenthood. We are a cloth diapering, babywearing, bedsharing family and this is our story.
Thank you for going on this journey with me,
Megan
TTC February 2008 to October 2008--All charts show a clear, bi-phasic and ovulatory pattern
One year forced break due to deployment
October 2009: Resumed TTC
May 2010: Sought referral for IF but was told we had to try for 12 consecutive months. In the Army? Yeah, okay...
Sep 2010: Urology Appt.- Numbers are great. No male factor infertility.
20 September First RE Appt (finally!): By the time we saw a specialist we've already TTC for 19 months. All appears normal yet doctors refused to do any other blood work because "I'm young."
Diagnosis: Unexplained Infertility
Oct 2010: HSG- Abnormal; possible polyp
Jan 2011: Hysteroscopy- all clear!
Feb 2011: Clomid Cycle #1 (One Follie-25) BFN
Mar 2011:Clomid Cycle #2 (two follies- 26.5 and 14) -BFN
Apr 2011: Clomid Cycle #3 (two follies- 17 and 19) + Ovidrel+ IUI= BFN
Jun 2011: Clomid Cycle #4 (one follie- 19) + Ovidrel + IUI = BFFN Doctor finally did CD3 bloodwork on me. My AMH should be at least 2.0 but is only .87, suggesting Diminished Ovarian Reserve. AMH: .87 FSH: 8.02 LH: 4.14
Jul 2011: Femara Cycle #1 + Ovidrel + IUI #3= BFFN
Aug 2011: Laparoscopy revealed Stage I-II Endometriosis, left ovary adhered to my pelvic wall, fallopian tube fused to my bowel and partially blocked. My left side is basically worthless but thankfully my right side, which always produces rock star follicles, is perfectly healthy and functioning great. Finally a "real" diagnosis!
Sep 2011: Femara Cycle #2 (two follies- 19.5 and 20.5) + Ovidrel + IUI #4 = BFFN.
Nov 2011: IVF #1. Stims started 11/16, ER 11/25, 5DT on 11/30, +HPT on 12/6, Beta #1 12/9= 153!
December 2011: Ultrasound shows one beautiful heartbeat!!! Estimated Due Date: August 17, 2012
March 2012: It's a GIRL!
August 10 2012: Hazel Evelyn arrived! I'm finally, finally a mommy!!! Read my birth story here.
