Have you ever noticed the amount of minivans in the suburbs? My children go to a preschool where the parking lot in the morning is about 75% minivans, 20% SUVs and 5% cars. The same is true when we visit the soccer or baseball fields. Have today's moms gone minivan crazy?
Most of us weren't born with the innate desire to drive a minivan. In fact, when I was a little girl vans were mostly used by plumbers, not the typical American family. Instead, we had the ever-so-popular station wagon! It even had the seat in the "way back" that faced the rear of the car. Would I be caught driving one of those today? Heck no! And I said the same thing about minivans...until I had children.
When I had my first child, I owned a Saturn coup with the third door. It was sleek, black and had a sunroof. In hindsight, it was a real young person's car. It didn't take me long to realize that babies come with a lot of "stuff." The paraphernalia that accompanied even the simplest outing, required much more space than my coup could offer. I considered buying a bigger car, like the sensible Ford Taurus, but it wasn't for me. I wanted an SUV, but it wasn't economical for us. The compromise was my very first minivan, a used Ford Windstar!!!
I thought that I would be embarrased to be seen driving a minivan. I thought that it would make me feel old. As it turned out, I loved it!!! It had the room that I need, the comfort that I didn't expect and the feeling of safety that I desired! It was perfect! I wasn't embarrased, and I didn't feel old. In fact, I finally felt like a Mom that others could relate to. I felt like I had finally become a member of the club.
When it was time to trade in my van, I had two children to consider. We opted for another minivan. This time it was a brand new Chrysler Town and Country. We were determined to have bucket seats in the second row and a factory installed DVD player. Both things were designed to make my life, as a mom of two boys, easier! You just can't get those kind of options with standard cars. I have loved it since the day I bought it. We have driven from NC to VT and OH with the boys in the back, and it has served us well.
Will I always drive a minivan? Probably not...but I will as long as I need to. I think about the day when I will no longer need a minivan, and it saddens me. It will be the end of an era, so to speak, and I am not looking forward to it. So for now- I proudly drive a minivan and encourage other moms (who haven't done so already) to make the leap! You won't regret it!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Welcome to the World of Infertility
I have two children that were conceived easily and quickly using the usual, natural conception methods. We had sex, and two weeks later we had a positive home pregnancy test. We thought that after our second was born, that we were done having kids, though no measures were taken to make our decision permanent. I've always said that since I had the kids, my husband would be the one to get "fixed." Thank goodness he didn't, because around Thanksgiving 2005 we decided that our family might not be complete. I had my IUD removed the next week and we immediately began trying to conceive #3.
To our surprise, we didn't get pregnant right away like we had in the past. In fact, we still have not conceived! Since my last child was born, my OB retired so I was seeing a new doctor. He wasn't very aggressive with treatment or testing until we had been trying for a year. I tried charting my temperatures, along with my cervical position and cervical fluid for 6 months, and we still didn't get pregnant. Finally I was tested and found that I was ovulating regularly and didn't have any tubal blockage or ovarian cysts. My husband had his sperm tested and the first specimen showed low motility. I researched on the web and found that L-carnitine and vitamin C had a positive effect on a man's sperm. He began taking the supplements immediately and his second sperm analysis, 3 months later, showed a significant improvement. His results were considered normal, but we still weren't getting pregnant.
After 14 months of not conceiving, I asked for a referral to a Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE). We went for our initial consultation and I absolutely adored the staff and the RE. She said that a rather mild intervention should be very successful for us. My file says that I have unspecified secondary infertility. Yipee! She suggested 5 days of clomid, an HCG trigger shot (Ovidrel) and IUI. We were on board 100% and began treatment the very next cycle. I was put on progesterone suppositories (They go in the va-jay-jay!) to lengthen the second half of my cycle. Luckily I was able to insert them at night before going to sleep, so the inconvenience was minimal. The inconvenience to my sex life, however, was great! It took much more planning if we wanted to be intimate, because it had to be done before I inserted the progesterone suppository. Planning has never been my strong suit, so you can imagine how often my husband got lucky!!!
Anyway, the first cycle didn't work, so I am now on a break from TTC. We are headed to Mexico in May, and I don't want to have to think about it while I'm on vacation. In June we will begin cycle #2. This time I will be taking Letrozole/Femara instead of clomid. We will do another IUI with the Ovidrel and progesterone. With any luck, we will win the battle against infertility on our next cycle. If not, we will try, try again!
The most important thing that I have learned from the roller coaster of infertility is that one should never take her fertility for granted. I made several decisions, including switching employers, based on the assumption that I would conceive quickly. I started thinking about baby names, and picked out nursery bedding, all before our journey really got started. I never thought that we would be affected by infertility. I never thought that I might not be blessed with the as many children as I chose to have. I have had to surrender to fate and realize that it may be out of my hands.
To our surprise, we didn't get pregnant right away like we had in the past. In fact, we still have not conceived! Since my last child was born, my OB retired so I was seeing a new doctor. He wasn't very aggressive with treatment or testing until we had been trying for a year. I tried charting my temperatures, along with my cervical position and cervical fluid for 6 months, and we still didn't get pregnant. Finally I was tested and found that I was ovulating regularly and didn't have any tubal blockage or ovarian cysts. My husband had his sperm tested and the first specimen showed low motility. I researched on the web and found that L-carnitine and vitamin C had a positive effect on a man's sperm. He began taking the supplements immediately and his second sperm analysis, 3 months later, showed a significant improvement. His results were considered normal, but we still weren't getting pregnant.
After 14 months of not conceiving, I asked for a referral to a Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE). We went for our initial consultation and I absolutely adored the staff and the RE. She said that a rather mild intervention should be very successful for us. My file says that I have unspecified secondary infertility. Yipee! She suggested 5 days of clomid, an HCG trigger shot (Ovidrel) and IUI. We were on board 100% and began treatment the very next cycle. I was put on progesterone suppositories (They go in the va-jay-jay!) to lengthen the second half of my cycle. Luckily I was able to insert them at night before going to sleep, so the inconvenience was minimal. The inconvenience to my sex life, however, was great! It took much more planning if we wanted to be intimate, because it had to be done before I inserted the progesterone suppository. Planning has never been my strong suit, so you can imagine how often my husband got lucky!!!
Anyway, the first cycle didn't work, so I am now on a break from TTC. We are headed to Mexico in May, and I don't want to have to think about it while I'm on vacation. In June we will begin cycle #2. This time I will be taking Letrozole/Femara instead of clomid. We will do another IUI with the Ovidrel and progesterone. With any luck, we will win the battle against infertility on our next cycle. If not, we will try, try again!
The most important thing that I have learned from the roller coaster of infertility is that one should never take her fertility for granted. I made several decisions, including switching employers, based on the assumption that I would conceive quickly. I started thinking about baby names, and picked out nursery bedding, all before our journey really got started. I never thought that we would be affected by infertility. I never thought that I might not be blessed with the as many children as I chose to have. I have had to surrender to fate and realize that it may be out of my hands.
An Introduction
I am a suburban mom who lives in "Middle America." Our house sits in a Planned Unit Development (PUD) community with white picket fences, a Homeowner's association and nosey neighbors. I live, as the title of this blog of suggests, in a cul-de-sac. I have 2 children, 3 dogs and an adoring husband. I work part-time as a real estate agent, but spend most of my time taking my children to the McDonald's, the movie theatre and the park.
While I don't presume to speak for all moms across America, I believe that there are enough women out there like me, that many will be able to relate to what I write. I am not writing this blog to make a statement, or to get recognition. Instead, I write to amuse and express myself, and hope that there are women (and men!) out there who may get some enjoyment out of it.
If you find this blog in the great world wide web, say hello in the comments section so I know that you're reading. Writing for an audience is always much more fun!
While I don't presume to speak for all moms across America, I believe that there are enough women out there like me, that many will be able to relate to what I write. I am not writing this blog to make a statement, or to get recognition. Instead, I write to amuse and express myself, and hope that there are women (and men!) out there who may get some enjoyment out of it.
If you find this blog in the great world wide web, say hello in the comments section so I know that you're reading. Writing for an audience is always much more fun!
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