first post

Our journey to adoption started in the summer of 2015. Having been married for a few months, we started to try. Even from the beginning, Ryan and I decided that they would try to conceive naturally, but didn’t want to go too far into fertility medicine or treatments. To us, it just wasn’t what we felt was right. Fast forward to the beginning of 2017 and we were having no luck. Because there was inconsistencies in my cycle each month, I decided to start seeing a fertility specialist. In the beginning, the specialist had me taking Progestrone, a hormone medication to stimulate and regulate a woman’s cycle. The Progestrone starting working immediately and helped my cycle regulate. After a few months, I grew more and more upset at the fact that I wasn’t getting pregnant and there didn’t seem to be any answers.

Then, finally, in June of 2017, my doctor recommended an ultrasound. I agreed, though scared of what the results would be. Once the results were complete, I learned that I had Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a hormonal disorder causing enlarged ovaries with small cysts on the outer edges. As the doctor read me the results, the symptoms and the plan to move forward – I was in a daze. I didn’t hear a word she said – only that it causes infertility. I went home that day and felt completely hopeless. After reseaching more about PCOS – a lot of things made sense. Symptoms include: obesity, fast weight gain, menstrual irregularity, acne….all things that I’d experienced the past few years and didn’t know why. A part of me was relieved to know what was causing all of this. The other part of me was devastated. No cure. Only treatment that ‘may’ help.

After a very emotional summer off from doctor appointments, I went back in for an ultrasound. This ultrasound showed no ovulation happening and I was devastated again. After a long discussion with my doctor about the risks even if I did get pregnant naturally, Ryan and I had some decisions to make. In mid-October, after talking with some family and friends, we made the decision to adopt a child. We are beyond excited to add a precious child to our family.