Sometimes God has a different path in store for us. After being diagnosed with POF, I set out on a journey to "repair" my body and get pregnant naturally. Somewhere along the line, although pristine health and self care is my goal, the necessity to "prove" the doctors wrong became less important and we sought the perfect solution to grow our family. We decided on Embryo Donation / Adoption. Read about our journey. Blessings!

It WILL get better!

Feb. 27, 2014

Well, today started out as an exhausting day. I haven’t been sleeping well. My TCM mixed some herbs that are suppose to help me relax in addition to detoxify and replenish my system yesterday and they taught me some meditation to help with my insomnia and some massage of points that help my ovaries and reproductive organs. Out of curiosity, I asked my TCM how many herbs were in this wonderful mixture and she told me well over 20. Yowzer. That in addition to all the supplements I’m on. Wow!

I did my castor oil pack last night and then did the meditations, but two hours later I was wide awake. I tossed and turned for a few more hours then after 2 am was up for good. I just can’t shut my mind off.


I took a brief nap this afternoon, well, shut my eyes for 25 minutes and am feeling better after eating lunch and taking my herbs. I’m still really struggling with weaning. I know it sounds absolutely silly, but it’s really hard. I miss bonding with Reed during those times, and I know he does too. When he’s tired especially, he keeps turning his body in to nurse. I feel serious “mommy guilt” over this.

Weaning and Whining

Feb. 22, 2014

Well, today was one of my worst days in regards to my healing “process.” It was the first day that my son was officially weaned. And, it was miserable L For the last four days, I’d already weaned him down to this last nursing session in the morning, and it was our special time together. He’d nurse sometimes as long as a half hour, then we’d snuggle, sing or read stories after before getting ready for the day. I loved it. So did he.

This morning, I went in and he began crying immediately when I didn’t nurse him. I turned on his turtle light and distracted him with letting him push the buttons to change the colors and singing him songs. When he seemed fully awake, I turned on the light and we read some stories.

He seemed fine until nap time. My son hasn’t nursed BEFORE a nap for months now, but he was intent on it. He kept crouching into me trying to get my breast. I offered a bottle and he refused so I laid him down and he SCREAMED!! I came out, my eyes brimming, and my wonderful husband went in to give him the bottle.

My husband came downstairs, looked at me, held out his arms and we both hugged and cried. I have never had such guilt as a mommy as I did today. He kept reassuring me I was doing what is right for my healing and for our future as a family. He was so gentle making sure I know how much he supported me, yet reiterating he knew how difficult this was. He understood, as much as he was able, what a sacrifice it was and how much it hurt me. We’ve prayed so hard, and I keep asking God to bring me peace.

I watch my son playing alone sometimes as I make dinner or do chores and it breaks my heart to think he won’t ever have a sibling to play with, and I know our decision is right. Mentally, I know he is 15 months old, that we have months of frozen milk, that he is healthy and strong and has benefited from nursing to long, but emotionally, it crushes me. I had wanted to nurse him until he was ready to wean, and I feel selfish for making this decision.

When my son work from his nap, when he would typically nurse, I went in, picked him up and we danced. I hummed him a song and just danced with him laying his head on my shoulder for 15 minutes. He pulled his head up, kissed me square on the lips, and laid it back down and we danced some more. The rest of the evening he just wanted to be held and cuddled. My usually active little boy, just laid down on my lap and played in place.

I love my little boy so incredibly much. I know in a few days he will move past this, and I know my heart will hurt much longer than his. I just want him to know I can’t even fathom loving a little person more. I want to be healthy so I can be the best mommy for him long term. I want to give him a little sister or brother so when his dad and I pass on, he has family, someone to love and depend on like my husband and I do.

I know God has given me this burden for a greater purpose. I pray I can be strong, be faithful, be optimistic and be an example to others.

And…my goodness, those herbs are HORRIBLE! It’s like drinking sludge.

On a happy note, I decided to try an OPK. Since my LH was insanely high before, they just always appeared positive. And it was NEGATIVE!!! I suppose it could have been diluted urine, but I hadn’t used the bathroom in three hours and we’d taken a walk and I forgot my water bottle, so I really, really don’t think it was. If my OPK was negative, that means my hormone levels are dropping into a normal range. OPK’s don’t show positive until your LH is 25. My last blood draw, my LH was 98 (yikes!!!)

I also did a castor oil pack tonight. It was actually pretty relaxing. Normally, after Reed goes to bed, I clean, shower and work. Tonight, I put the pack on, put a heating pad over it and surfed the web on my phone and began reading a play. The thought of having 30-45 minutes three days a week to just read a book or magazine seems indulgent and divine. I haven’t done that in almost a year and a half.

I cringe going into any forums or “support groups” for POF because the only “support” I see is that people have completely accepted what the doctors have told them and are supporting each other through that horrible journey. Whenever anyone seems to mention trying to get pregnant, they give each other the same horrid adoption / egg donor speech they received. There is MORE to health than an ovary not working. I’m really starting to embrace Eastern medicine. The body as a WHOLE must be healthy for reproductive health. Western medicine has done amazing things, but I think this is one area they really need to explore. Western medicine treats POF symptoms, but not the underlying cause.

I’m feeling pretty optimistic in spite of the rough day. I just trust I will have restored health and that we will be blessed with another baby. This journey is for a purpose. I will shed light on this disease. I will let others be at peace this is not the end. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.


God Bless.

Game On ~ The Herbs Commence

Feb. 21, 2014

My last day of acupuncture…for now. Today was surprisingly relaxing. Normally I can’t tune out everything going on around me, but today, it was peaceful. She said my pulse was good. That’s a first. Normally, it’s getting “better” but she actually seemed pleased at how strong it was before she put the needles in.

Normally, they hurt for a second going in, but today I barely felt the ones on my abdomen at all. I wonder if that is because my energy paths were opening already? Now, the ones on my feet really hurt. She said that was the one to reduce stress. Um, yeah. I guess those ones would still be killers. It was a bit of a stressful week. Family drama.

As soon as the needles were in, she dimmed the lights, put on the wonderful heat lamp and set the music and left and I dare say I almost fell asleep. A good rest at least.

Afterwards, they confirmed that I’m done with acupuncture for now and she seemed rather sure my period would start as soon as I’m entirely done breastfeeding. They wanted to start me on herbs to replenish my system and regulate my hormones, but hesitated until I’d weaned Reed.  I reassured them I wouldn’t start the herbs until I was done and that the last four days I’d gone down to one feeding, that I’d be ok to stop. I hated saying those words, but realistically, I knew if I waited until next week, I’d still be upset over it, Reed probably wouldn’t wean on his own by then, and one extra week of breastfeeding wasn’t going to affect him much either way.

They asked about my hormone levels at my last testing and since it was only a month ago they said they’d use those as the starting point. Surprisingly, she didn’t seem phased as I muttered my levels. They just said they’d like them retested at some point to see how the herbs were working. For about 15 minutes she was busy writing, every now and then asking a question or two, and then she got up and went to her herbs “dresser.”

I watched in awe as she pulled out bottle after bottle. Why I thought there’d be a mixture of a few herbs, I have no idea. She must have pulled out 25 bottles. She began precisely measuring them out using a scale. When she was done, her husband handed them to me and told me to take them twice a day, three scoops each time. In a little warm water.


Alrighty – game on! I decided since I was starting my herbs, I might as well start my “regimen” or supplements. When I got home I pulled out my geriatric vitamin organizer. After lunch, I warmed my water, poured my herbs and drank, er, gagged it down. My husband was dry heaving just watching me. Not a cocktail I’d recommend.