One Hot Mama!

    Last April (2010) I had an abnormal pap smear, it turned out to be nothing to be concerned with, however my obgyn strongly encouraged me to get a hysterectomy, it was time.
    When I was 16 years old I found out I had endometriosis. I have been struggling with this for many years, taking different medications and having several laparoscopies in hopes of controlling it. When I was 24 the doctor told me if I wanted to have kids I needed to start trying. I went home, talked to my soon to be husband at the time and made the decision that we would start trying. We tried naturally for several months with no luck. The doctors suggested fertility drugs. I took clomid for several months with no luck. We then decided to try IUI (Interuterine Insemination) we had two failed rounds and then success! Almost two years after we started trying we were expecting our first child! Big B was born on November 15, 2005. This day was very significant. He was due on my dads birthday December 11th, however came on November 15th, which is my moms birthday! It was also the first anniversary of my husbands dad's death. He had passed away November 15, 2004. He was 4 weeks early and had a really hard start at life, but he is now healthy and growing way to fast!
   After our son was born we weren't sure we were going to have any more kids. I went back on medicine to control the endometriosis and ultimately had two more laparoscopies to have the scar tissue and endometriosis removed. I continued to have problems. We had talked about having more kids but it really never became a priority for us, and in fact had been talking at that time about being happy with one child. Then the news, hysterectomy... I wanted a hysterectomy, I knew I would feel so much better, however I could not have it without really trying for one more child. I felt very blessed to have my son, and if I had no more children, I would have excepted that as Gods will, however I could not have the hysterectomy without trying. I never wanted to wonder what if? So my husband and I immediately went to the fertility clinic. He and I agreed we would do four rounds of IUI, but if they didn't work, we weren't doing IVF. I would have the hysterectomy. On May 26, 2010 we started the process and on June 20, 2010, which happen to be my birthday and father's day, we had a positive pregnancy test! Two days later a blood test confirmed we were expecting! February 11, 2011 our miracle daughter Baby J was born! We are so blessed.
   Six weeks later I had a full hysterectomy and gallbladder removal. Blessed beyond belief I am having to adjust to having a baby and menopause all at the same time! The hot flashes are insane. My husband is freezing and I am stripping in front of a box fan, it's crazy! This mom with it all is trying to balance work, motherhood, wife and life in between hormonal outbreaks and hot flashes! It's not easy, but know that it is a small price to pay to be healthy and have the ability to be the best mom and wife I can be!