Q. Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Katie I am 35 years old from The North Shore of Boston MA. I work part-time as a realtor and my husband is a police officer. He has three kids- twin 13 year-olds and a 10 year-old who spend half the time with us.
I am responsible for their afternoon pick ups from school band dinner every day and take care of them five days a week in the summer while their parents are at work. This surprised people!
Q. How long have you been TTC and what challenges are you facing?
We have been trying to conceive for two years via IVF specialist. We knew we would need to take this avenue as I have one fallopian tube due to prior ectopic and diagnosed endometriosis. My husband has an extremely low sperm count and actually conceived his twins via IVF.
Q. On your blog you share about your battle with depression and how you beat it with exercise. Can you tell us more about that?
After our first round of IVF turned into an 11 week miscarriage I found myself depressed. I am talking not-showering, crying-all-the-time depressed. I am pretty in-touch with myself so I knew this was not normal. I did not want to feel that way. Seeking out therapy, I realized how important health and fitness are to me.
I did NOT want to work out at all. I wanted to sleep and be alone. Slowly with the help of my husband I got myself out of bed and out for walks.
Walks turned into runs and then into weight training. As the months went on and the weight stopped coming off I was able to figure out I needed to see a doctor. I was diagnosed in January with hypothyroidism and with medication have never felt better. Currently I have turned to calisthenics, yoga and cardio.
Q. You’re a step-mother to your husband’s children. How does that factor into your journey with infertility?
It has played a big part! Right from the beginning of our relationship, children and a future was a topic of conversation. He has 3 kids. Would he want more?
Getting to know his children has been amazing. I am a step-kid myself and I think because of this I am able to take nothing personally and just be myself and set the example on how to enjoy life!
I can easily see how being a stepmom may not be for everyone. It is friggin’ hard at times. I mean, who dreams of sharing their Christmas card with someone else’s kids, right?
Now when I think about getting pregnant and having a baby some of the things I look forward to most includes them! (Wow, I’m tearing up!)
Q. What has been your lowest point and how did you survive it?
My lowest point was when I first went to therapy two months after my loss. I didn’t feel like anyone understood me- not even my husband. I cried all the time. I was just so sad for myself. I felt like my life had no purpose and no new pregnancy could fill it. I wanted the baby I lost back.
I played Phillip Phillips’ Gone over and over. Yikes! I gained 15 pounds in three months.
Q. Which books, songs, blogs, verses, quotes, etc. have inspired you?
Book: The Invisible Loss
Quote: “I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish he didn’t trust me so much.”- Mother Theresa
Song: Happy by Pharrell Williams
Q. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone currently struggling with infertility?
Just go with it and take it day-by-day. Try not to think about tomorrow. (Dreaming is okay, though). Know there is never a defining moment of yes. You will wait for the meds, wait for the go, wait to inject, then the two-week-wait, not to mention wait for blood to wait for it to rise, wait for an ultra sound. Chances are things may not go as planned or as expected and thats okay. My advice for someone after a failed round is to take time off for yourself regardless of our age. You will know you have had enough time.
Q. Anything else you’d like to share with my readers?
Yes, that I am most thankful for the blogging community. I have found so many blogs and have had readers post on my site comments of similar struggles. It makes me feel like I am not alone. It is so comforting to be part of this community I am just so grateful!
Many thanks for Katie for sharing her story with us. Please leave a comment below to let her know you appreciate her. If you liked this interview, you can see all my previous interviews here.
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