Our Story

Our story started when two best friend/ roomates decided to get together. We had no clue what the future would be holding for us. In our first year we moved 600 miles away from family for a job. In 2001 we got married. Right away we tried to start a family. Little did we know it would take two miscarriages, 4 years of infertility and 4 IVF's to conceive our first child. Oh, but, our luck didn't end there. My pregnancy was a nightmare from the start. I started contracting at 14 weeks. At 19 weeks I went into labor. I was put on magnesium to stop the contractions. Worst drug ever. You feel like your burning from the inside out. I got very sick. My lungs filled with fluid and I was paralyzed. But! It saved my sons life. At week 24 I was able to go home on strict bed rest. I had an IV pump in my leg and was monitored 3x a day for a hour. A home nurse came weekly do give me a shot called 17P. A progesterone shot that calms the uterus down. At week 35 my water broke. After 5 hours of pushing I had to have a C-section. Our beautiful baby boy, Camden was 5 pounds and 17 inches. Seeing your first born is the best feeling ever. 

When Camden was 3, we thought it was time to try for another baby. We had 3 frozen embryos left. We put all 3 embryos in and it failed. We knew the heart ache. We had been down that road too many times. Knowing I would have to do a fresh cycle was tough. Fertility drugs are hell. They turn you into this raving lunatic. My head would spin over the smallest things. Living with me was torture. But, seeing how worth it was before, we went for it. 

During my IVF egg retrievals I earned the name " master egg maker". I always made a ton! This last time was no different. I had 23 eggs! I was considered "overstimulated". The doctors pulled us aside and warned us we should skip this cycle. Putting 2 or more embryos back in was very dangerous. If I were to get pregnant the HCG would make the overstimulation worse. We didn't listen.... I tested positive right away and started getting severely overstimulated. The worst pain ever. I had to stay 2 weeks in the hospital. It took 14 weeks to feel "normal". But, my sweet girl made me sick all day and night until week 22. 

Preterm labor started at 14 weeks. I did the first trimester screening and failed. Genetics told us to abort. We did another test where they took fluid from the baby. Again ! It showed abnormal cells. Trisomy 2. Since I was contracting we chose not to do more testing and let fate decide the outcome. Genetics would call 3 times a week and tell us to abort. I remained on strict bed rest at home. At 23.6 weeks I went into labor. Luckily it stopped. I was able to get steroids for the baby's lungs.

At 28 weeks I was home alone. I went into labor. This time it was different. I knew to call 911 immediately. I thought I was going to have her right in my living room. My water broke in the ambulance. My placenta had abrupted and I was losing blood fast. The doctors could not find a heartbeat. I was knocked out and rushed to the OR. 

Ailyn Rose was born blue, not alive. She was resuscitated and started breathing. Her apgars were 1,1 and 3. The first few hours are a blur. The NICU doctor came in and told me how very sick Ailyn was. "Babies this sick usually do not make it". Each day she made it, Doctor Mike would say " No clue how she made it but she's still fighting" Life in the NICU is not fun. The first few weeks are hell. Ailyn had genetic testing done twice and all was normal. No Trisomy. 

In true Ailyn fashion, she fought her way through. She came home on day 75. A tiny 4 pounds. Ailyn is 4 years old today. The most stubborn, hard headed child you will ever meet. She has Cerebral Palsy, feeding issues, Apraxia of speech and is developmentally delayed. None of that stops her. She starts and ends each day with a big smile.... Even when she's getting into trouble.

I write this blog for me, it's therapeutic. I also write it for other special needs parents going through the same issues. I don't sugarcoat anything! My days are very long and hard but I wouldn't change it for the world.