It's been a while, but believe me, worth the wait!

I've been lazy about blogging, well, not lazy, but I have a 2 month old who is very demanding and takes most of my time out of the day. She's had a lot of firsts in the past two weeks, her first party, her first Halloween costume, her first coos and giggles and the list goes on.

These are pictures of her first party. It was Kylee's (my sister's) Sweet Sixteen Party that we put on for her. It was formal, so Ella put on her party suit! But she didn't like it very much.



These are pictures of Ella's first Halloween celebration. Every year, Colby puts on a Halloween celebration and even though we did all of the activities for her, Ella was pooped!



These are pictures of Ella's first photo shoot with Austin, her future husband.



And these are just random 9 and 10 week photos, enjoy!!

Infertility Awareness Week

1 in 6 American couples are considered infertile. This is a week where it is important to try and promote awareness on the subject and how it affects family, friends, and life in general.
The world has made so many medical advancements in fertility treatments in the past 10 years or so. I'd like to list a couple of the most common medical efforts in which doctors (typically reproductive endocrinologists) do on a daily basis to try and fight infertility.

IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)-IVF is the process of fertilization by manually combining an egg and sperm in a laboratory dish. When the IVF procedure is successful, the process is combined with a procedure known as embryo transfer, which is used to physically place the embryo in the uterus.
~The American Pregnancy Association

IUI (Intrauterine Insemination)-performed by threading a very thin flexible catheter through the cervix and injecting washed sperm directly into the uterus.
~Fertility Plus Website

These may seem like two very simple procedures, but there are so many factors to take into consideration when making them successful. There are many drugs (most injectible) which have to be used in conjunction with the procedures. The female has to be careful of OHSS (ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome). There have to be good quality embryos made when using IVF. The list goes on and on.

Infertile woman have got to be strong and stubborn. Not willing to give up. In my experience through a baby board I frequent on the internet, they are the most strong willed women I've ever encountered in my life. Loss after loss, continuing on and fighting for what they want most....a child in their arms.

A post of pictures

Because Ella May is so darn cute. This is from week 6 and 7!

More posts about endo to come.

I've decided to post more about my endo and the symptoms as they come because some have started already.

I had my six week follow up with my ob/gyn. I told him that we would like to wait for a couple of years or so to try again for another child. He said it is attainable, but I need to breastfeed as long as I can to suppress the endo. I plan to breastfeed until about 9 or 10 months and then pump exclusively afterwards. I hope that my supply maintains long enough to do so. In the meantime, we have to be on some form of birth control just to make sure I don't get pregnant. The doctor put me on Micronor. It's progesterone based as I'm creating enough estrogen breastfeeding. What is even better is that I don't get a monthly cycle. The pills just continue throughout the month!
It seems funny to try to prevent getting pregnant. After everything Adam and I went through, you would think we would just welcome another one with open arms. We want to give Ella all the love and attention she deserves in the next two years because she is such a miracle. To have another baby right off wouldn't be fair to her.
There will be these posts on my blog here and there and definitely more as Adam and I begin the process of trying again!

Ella's First Trip To The Apple Orchard

dam and I, along with my parents and Cameron (my brother) went to the apple farm today. Ella enjoyed the sun but was a bit cranky, because, well, she has been cranky lately. We're hoping it's just a growth spurt.
I took her in the bjorn, which she seems to like most of the time and almost always falls asleep when I walk her around in it. There were lots of bees at the farm, so we had to watch out that Ella didn't get stung, but all in all, we had a great time.

6 weeks today!

My how time flies. It feels like Ella was born yesterday. She is starting to smile at Adam and I and making eye contact with other people more often. We caught her watching tv yesterday which was so cute. She is a lot more playful and when she is awake isn't crying as much. We went to Paiges birthday party yesterday and she was the hit of the party as always;)


In sad news, Adam goes back to work on Monday and I already miss him and the help he has given me. He is such a good father and husband. He would do anything for the baby and I and we are so grateful. I don't know what I'm going to do without him.

We got her one month pictures back yesterday and they turned out SO cute. Here it is!

Go Red Sox!!!

The Sox are in the playoffs and Ella is totally ready!!