Hello Friends!
I hope that Spring Break has been a wonderful time for you and your families. Here in the Mott nest it has been a week of new beginnings! We took the first step toward parenthood with a visit to a reproductive endocrinologist (RE from now on in this blog). At my yearly appointment after we discussed the challenge Donny and I had encountered in having a baby, my OB/GYN Dr. Straughn referred us to Dr. Steinkampf at Alabama Fertility Specialists. She also suggested that I do an ovulation test kit to be sure that I was actually ovulating, though was were almost positive that we were experiencing severe male-factor infertility. I know understand why pastors and mentors always tell you to have regular morning quiet times! When you do something first-thing in the morning, every morning, it sticks with you all day. The missing second line on those little strips each morning began to eat away at me - even though I was sure I was ovulating. It was such a relief when that second purple line finally appeared.
Yesterday was the big step, the RE appointment. Both Donny and I were so nervous! We really didn't know what to expect. The drive in to the AFS office was quiet. I imagine the staff at AFS is very familiar with the scene in the waiting room, a nervously squirming couple, exchanging little smiles and squeezing each other's hands reassuringly. Well, maybe most couples don't have a big black lab napping at their feet. When she called us back, the nurse smiled reassuringly. She showed us into an exam room, then took my to do the normal BP and weight checks. I warned the nurse that my blood pressure would probably be high since I have been fighting high blood pressure. The nurse explained that most of their new patients have high BP the first time they come in. The blood pressure was normal!
I returned to the room feeling a bit more calm and carrying a big packet of papers explaining recommended tests before attempting to become pregnant. We looked through them an tried to make sense of which ones we needed and didn't need. About that time we heard a cheerful whistle coming down the corridor followed by a couple quick, light raps on the door. Dr. Steinkampf entered, flashing a friendly smile and squeezing my hand warmly. Isn't it incredible what small, simple mannerisms alleviate tension? He listened attentively to our concerns, jotted notes, smiled and nodded, or furrowed his brow thoughtfully at all the right times. We were briefly interrupted for Dr. Steinkampf to go check on another patient. Before walking out he said he would return soon and departed with the comment, "We can help you." Again, wow! The relief one simple phrase can bring flooding into your heart!
After he returned, he went over our options for pregnancy: IVF, IUI with donor sperm, and embryo donation (a possibly we asked specifically about). Due to financial constraints, IVF was not an option for us and Dr. Steinkampf understood that perfectly. He explained the process for both IUI and embryo donation and also encouraged us to speak with his nurse practitioner. Because I had done the ovulation test kit, he knew when I'd ovulated this month so I could go ahead and come back this week for the progesterone test and be ready for either option. He gave us information on IUI and donor embryos and again reassured us that we should have the best chances for pregnancy with either option.
Next was labs . . . Yay (please read this dripping with sarcasm). I don't like needles, but I bet I'll be getting used to them. This was the only lab I've been in that was decorated with cartoony sperm stickers! There were surfer sperm, Hunter-camo-clad sperm, sperm in Trojan helmets, and the ever popular smiley-faced sperm squiggling over the doorway. To top in off, as the nurse prepped me, tying the tourniquet above my elbow, and I stared in the opposite direction she handed me a stress ball to squeeze. "Here, hold Mr. Sperm -he loves to help! Pump your hand for me." Wow! Just wow!
After I was done with labs, we went to visit with the nurse practitioner, Karen, to go over our choices more in depth. She turned out to be the exact type of lady that sets you at ease and feels trustworthy at first introduction. She settled herself, criss-cross-applesauce, in an office chair across from us. That made me like her right away. She instantly felt like a friend. She handled our questions and concerns beautifully.
After talking with her, and taking what Dr. Steinkampf had told us into consideration, Donny and I have decided to pursue IUI with donor sperm! We are praying about starting treatment next month. Wow! God does make all things beautiful in HIS time.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Welcome to my nest!
Hi Friends,
I have been wrestling for a while with the idea of creating a blog to share the struggles and triumphs in my life as an encouragement to my brothers and sisters in Christ. I have been uplifted and encouraged numerous times by the blogs written by women brave enough to share their hearts and their lives honestly with the world through their writing. That bravery was my struggle, did I truly think I could honestly share my journey? Could I be that vulnerable? Then I realized, it was not about me. On some of my toughest days, it has meant the world to me to read from the heart of a sister in Christ, to know that I am not the only one with that same battle.
Christ is the only reason I could do this. The desire of my heart is to be an encouragement to others who are on the same journey of infertility that my husband, Donny, and I find ourselves faced with. We are only on the very cusp of this particular journey. I am by no means an expert, but I want other families who are desperately longing for children to feel the comfort of fellow travelers on the road to parenthood. That is why I have included the page Preparing for Chicks.
On a far less serous note, those of you who know me personally know that I am happiest when I am making things! Anything! I plan on posting pictures of my latest crafty endeavors and how-to directions for the crafts I think others, who are as quirky as me, may enjoy making.
Teaching is a passion of mine and eventually Donny and I plan to homeschool. Many times the first thing I hear from parents who would love to be their child's teacher is, "I just don't think I know enough to homeschool." That could not be farther from the truth! You are your child's first and best teacher! I plan on adding teaching ideas and activities to my blog on the Home+School page.
Another love, that I come by honestly thanks to very D.I.Y. parents, is old homes. I grew up in a folk Victorian cottage that my parents moved from a lot that was about to be developed in downtown Opelika to a patch of "kudzu and saw-briers", to quote my mom. No one else would have seen the potential in that old, run-down place, but my parents did. It is now a lovely Queen Anne house and the perfect nest. I followed in their footsteps and Donny and I now own a 1920 Bungalow in Leeds. The Nest page will be home to all the renovation realities and fun home projects we undertake.
I hope that I have not bitten off more than I can chew, but I look forward to sharing my life with you. I hope it brings encouragement, some laughs, and lots of creativity to your family!
From my nest to yours,
Leigh Mott
I have been wrestling for a while with the idea of creating a blog to share the struggles and triumphs in my life as an encouragement to my brothers and sisters in Christ. I have been uplifted and encouraged numerous times by the blogs written by women brave enough to share their hearts and their lives honestly with the world through their writing. That bravery was my struggle, did I truly think I could honestly share my journey? Could I be that vulnerable? Then I realized, it was not about me. On some of my toughest days, it has meant the world to me to read from the heart of a sister in Christ, to know that I am not the only one with that same battle.
Christ is the only reason I could do this. The desire of my heart is to be an encouragement to others who are on the same journey of infertility that my husband, Donny, and I find ourselves faced with. We are only on the very cusp of this particular journey. I am by no means an expert, but I want other families who are desperately longing for children to feel the comfort of fellow travelers on the road to parenthood. That is why I have included the page Preparing for Chicks.
On a far less serous note, those of you who know me personally know that I am happiest when I am making things! Anything! I plan on posting pictures of my latest crafty endeavors and how-to directions for the crafts I think others, who are as quirky as me, may enjoy making.
Teaching is a passion of mine and eventually Donny and I plan to homeschool. Many times the first thing I hear from parents who would love to be their child's teacher is, "I just don't think I know enough to homeschool." That could not be farther from the truth! You are your child's first and best teacher! I plan on adding teaching ideas and activities to my blog on the Home+School page.
Another love, that I come by honestly thanks to very D.I.Y. parents, is old homes. I grew up in a folk Victorian cottage that my parents moved from a lot that was about to be developed in downtown Opelika to a patch of "kudzu and saw-briers", to quote my mom. No one else would have seen the potential in that old, run-down place, but my parents did. It is now a lovely Queen Anne house and the perfect nest. I followed in their footsteps and Donny and I now own a 1920 Bungalow in Leeds. The Nest page will be home to all the renovation realities and fun home projects we undertake.
I hope that I have not bitten off more than I can chew, but I look forward to sharing my life with you. I hope it brings encouragement, some laughs, and lots of creativity to your family!
From my nest to yours,
Leigh Mott
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