Hello, let me introduce myself first..
For the first 30 years of my life, everything was smooth and worry-free. I was my parents’ most beloved child, found my true love in college, and happily married him after graduation.
At work, I was my boss’s most valued employee. Whenever I was in charge of a project, colleagues would inevitably say, “Oh, then I’m totally at ease.” I was constantly named “Employee of the Year,” with generous bonuses every year.
Later, I started my own business. Within just three months, I had broken into the market and started making money. By the fifth month, I was earning twice my previous salary. Growth was steady month after month. Right when the business needed more hands, I serendipitously met an amazing partner, and the company reached a whole new level.
Really, it seemed like at every step, whatever I needed, a pair of hands would always place it right in front of me, just in time.
My Two Girls: Ellie & Mia
Meet Ellie, My Firstborn
In 2020, my husband and I decided to have a child. After trying for over a year, we finally got the news in 2021 that a little one was on the way. In 2022, we welcomed our first child, Ellie. She made me a mother.
She is utterly adorable—big eyes, rosy skin, chubby little hands. Every time I look at her, I can’t help but give her a kiss. She is pure joy, and I love her more each day.
But as a first-time mom, I faced unprecedented difficulties. The postpartum tearing wouldn’t heal, and the pain was excruciating. Clogged milk ducts made my breasts hard as rocks. The severe sleep deprivation… And what was even more crushing was that, with zero parenting experience, I was clueless when faced with her unexplained wailing, night terrors, refusal to nurse, constipation, diarrhea, fevers… I desperately searched online, longing for one accurate, truly useful answer!
It was during this time that I thought, once I make it through this “dark” path, I must leave a light on for other new moms.
And Then Came Mia
Ellie had just turned one when I got pregnant again. In 2024, we welcomed our second daughter, Mia.
Completely different from Ellie, Mia is a great eater and sleeper. Although she had her fussy moments in the first two months, starting almost from month three, she became super easygoing. She feeds on schedule, gradually sleeps through the night, loves her solid foods, and adapted quickly when I had to stop breastfeeding due to mastitis.
This made me realize just how vastly different babies can be! It made me even more determined to write about my experiences.
Why I Had to Start This Blog
The Catalyst: A Life Pivoted
After Mia was born, my business also began to decline sharply. I had no choice but to close it and become a full-time mom. My work no longer involves Excel and Word, but instead revolves around changing diapers, washing bottles, making baby food, and managing household chores…
This has been a monumental challenge for me. All my past achievements seem irrelevant now. Managing two young children has brought me a sense of frustration I’ve never known before.
The Daily Reality
They are always fighting over things. When one is in my arms, the other immediately demands to be held too. When I try to cook, Ellie wants me to read her a book. When I attempt to load the washing machine, Mia has a diaper blowout, and I must drop everything to change her…
By the time I finish all that, I see the cup of hot coffee on the table has gone cold again. And it’s not until evening that I remember, “Oh my goodness, the clothes are still in the hamper, unwashed!”
Of course, being a mom is filled with happiness, but that doesn’t negate how hard it is.
My Promise to You
Because I’ve walked this path myself, I won’t just tell you how joyful motherhood is, like many websites do. I want to share my real, unfiltered experiences so every new mom can find a “companion” here.
I want to tell you: you are not alone. What you’re going through, I’ve been there too. Your breakdowns, your helplessness, your moments of losing control—I’ve had them all. You don’t need to feel guilty. This is just a small, necessary stretch of the journey for every mom.
My Hope for This Space
I really want to share my parenting experiences—not just the warm, glowing moments, but to honestly document the pitfalls I’ve stumbled into, the tears I’ve shed, and the “survival wisdom” I’ve scraped together in utter exhaustion.
The Goal: A Mom’s Toolkit
I hope this blog becomes a “mom’s toolkit,” filled not with vague theories, but with:
- Practical Tips: Like how to quickly figure out why a baby is crying, tried-and-true methods for dealing with clogged ducts, or how to efficiently manage the daily grind with twins (or two under two) solo.
- Pitfall Avoidance Guides: Sharing the baby products I regret buying the most, and those “game-changer” parenting hacks. Letting you know which parenting anxieties you can let go of, and which principles are worth holding onto.
- A Community for Moms: I hope my stories connect me with more moms like you. We can cheer each other on in the comments, share our own tricks, turning the storms we face alone into a journey we walk together.
The Bigger Vision
My previous career taught me to analyze data, solve problems, and optimize processes. Now, I’m applying all those skills to this new “position” of Mom. I want to prove that a mom’s value is absolutely not confined to the home. The mindset, resilience, and creativity we built in our careers can shine just as brightly—perhaps even brighter—in this more complex, long-term “project” of raising humans, and can even be transformed into a force that helps others.
My hope is simple: that every mom who opens this blog can let out a sigh of relief and say, “So it’s not just me.” Then, she can find a bit of practical info, a dose of comforting solidarity, and return to her sweet, chaotic mom-life with a little more confidence and a little less weight on her shoulders.
This road? Let’s walk it together.
Re: Weekly Check-In
1. ksgsmu - Katy from Texas
2. 20 months TTC... ( 7 since mc)
3. Where are you in your cycle? Honestly don't know.. after my cancelled cycle not even sure I ovulated.
4. Experiencing any weird "phantom" symptoms ladies in your 2ww? nope
5. How do you feel about this cycle? This cycle was already a bust.
QOTW:
Do you plan on watching the Olympics? If so what sport are you most excited about?
I love the Olympics! I love figure skating and skiing the most I think.
Me:36 DH:38 TTC#1 since 4/2012
Me DX: Hashimotos,Hypothyroid, DOR, MTHFR, DH: normal
IUI #1-#4 BFNs and a few cancelled cycles in the mix.
- poor responder
***Suprise BFP on 6/13/13. Natural MC @6wks 3days
IVF#1 and 2- Cancelled due to no response on max stimms
FET 5/20- BFP
1st Beta- 641
2nd beta- 2166
Sono- TWINS!!!!
Two Boys! Born January 2015 @36 weeks. Healthy and no NICU! So blessed!
Leanna from Virginia
2. How long have you been TTC?
3. Where are you in your cycle? If in the 2ww when will you test? ( Waiting to O, 2WW etc)
Waiting and waiting to O. First month BBTing.
4. Experiencing any weird "phantom" symptoms ladies in your 2ww?
5. How do you feel about this cycle? (Are you hopeful, anxious... etc)
QOTW:
Do you plan on watching the Olympics? If so what sport are you most excited about?
Me: 40 DH: 38
TTC since November 2012
Elias (Eli) born 9/2/17 at 7:07pm weight 8lbs 10oz and 20.5 inches long!!
2. Just finished first cycle actively TTC after waiting a few months for cycle to resume.
3. Waiting for AF--99.9999% sure I'm out this cycle.
4. N/A
5. The Olympics are this week? I need to be MUCH more attentive to the outside world....
Me: 41, DH: 45
DD, 6/15/2013
TTC #2 beginning January 2014
AMH 1.05; FSH range 7-11
July 2014: IUI #1. Follistim + Pregnyl. 2 follicles--BFN
September 2014: IUI #2. Follistim + Pregnyl + Ganirelix + Crinone. 4(?) follicles--BFN
October 2014: IUI #3. More Follistim + More Ganirelix + Pregnyl + Crinone. 4 follicles--BFP! Beta #1=10 Beta #2=33 Beta #3=97 Beta #4=158. M/C 11/1/14
December 2014: IVF #1. Microdose Lupron protocol. 9R, 9M, 9F. 3 5-day blasts transferred 12/15. BFFN.
August 2015: IVF #3. 14R, 13M, 11F. Froze 5 blasts for CCS testing. 3 normals. FET planned for 10/2015.
My Ovulation Chart
1. Becky from Pittsburgh
2. Started with RE 4/11
3. Waiting for donor and other girl to get their testing updated.
4. N/A
5. Nervous
QOTW: Love watching Olympics! Skiing, ice skating and snowboarding
ME:46 MH:44 DE IVF 2014
Met with RE 4/11. 2 IUI's BFN. DE best option. Switched clinics to do "shared" program. Had to retake all tests and a mamm that put me behind and then on a DE waiting list for 12 months. Picked a donor!! (10/13/13) Got matched. Estimated transfer in December. After 2.5 years of patiently waiting I will finally cycle....can hardly believe it. DE cycle got cancelled. One of her tests came back positive. Waiting for another donor. Donor picked!! (1/18/14)
DE IVF #1 (4/26) BFN DE FET #1 (6/4) BFP! Beta 1=339 Beta 2=852 Beta 3=9957 EDD 2/22/15!!
2. Trying for just a few months now - still trying to get the feel for charting and figuring out my cycle since going of BC in September
3. Where are you in your cycle? Waiting to O.
4. Experiencing any weird "phantom" symptoms ladies in your 2ww? N/A
5. How do you feel about this cycle? Not sure - since my cycle is still so wonky, I guess I don't really expect much.
QOTW:
Do you plan on watching the Olympics? If so what sport are you most excited about?
ME:46 MH:44 DE IVF 2014
Met with RE 4/11. 2 IUI's BFN. DE best option. Switched clinics to do "shared" program. Had to retake all tests and a mamm that put me behind and then on a DE waiting list for 12 months. Picked a donor!! (10/13/13) Got matched. Estimated transfer in December. After 2.5 years of patiently waiting I will finally cycle....can hardly believe it. DE cycle got cancelled. One of her tests came back positive. Waiting for another donor. Donor picked!! (1/18/14)
DE IVF #1 (4/26) BFN DE FET #1 (6/4) BFP! Beta 1=339 Beta 2=852 Beta 3=9957 EDD 2/22/15!!
Me: 40 DH: 38
TTC since November 2012
Elias (Eli) born 9/2/17 at 7:07pm weight 8lbs 10oz and 20.5 inches long!!
2. How long have you been TTC? TTC#2 since October 2012
3. Where are you in your cycle? If in the 2ww when will you test? ( Waiting to O, 2WW etc) Waiting to O
4. Experiencing any weird "phantom" symptoms ladies in your 2ww? N/A
5. How do you feel about this cycle? (Are you hopeful, anxious... etc) After so many months, I don't see anything happening, especially after last cycle, which seemed like it worked, until it didn't.
QOTW:
Do you plan on watching the Olympics? If so what sport are you most excited about? We will probably end up watching various olympic events, but we're not excited about any one sport.
2. How long have you been TTC?
3. Where are you in your cycle? If in the 2ww when will you test? ( Waiting to O, 2WW etc)
4. Experiencing any weird "phantom" symptoms ladies in your 2ww?
5. How do you feel about this cycle? (Are you hopeful, anxious... etc)
QOTW:
Do you plan on watching the Olympics? If so what sport are you most excited about?
PrivateOne - CT
2. How long have you been TTC?
Since 2009, since 2012 with REs
3. Where are you in your cycle? If in the 2ww when will you test? ( Waiting to O, 2WW etc)
Today is the last day of bcps for my IVF cycle. Baseline appt is Monday and meds will begin that day as well.
n/a
5. How do you feel about this cycle? (Are you hopeful, anxious... etc)
QOTW:
Do you plan on watching the Olympics? If so what sport are you most excited about?
I start with good intentions of seeing some of it, but after days and days of non stop coverage, I get sick of it and do a little boycotting. I like the ice skating and skiing best.
**** siggy warning - bfp & loss **** ---- All Welcome ---
Me: 44 - Hashimoto's (under control), DH: 38 - (minor issues)
IUIs: 2 in 2012 ... Both BFN
IVF #1: 10/16/13 ... BFP, however it was not viable and ended in an early loss at 7weeks.
IVF #2: Feb '14 ... Cancelled. Positive beta at baseline appt, became very early loss.
IVF #2: Apr '14 ... Retrieval Only. 2 embryos made it to day 3 freeze & will be batched with IVF #3 for PGD testing.
IVF #3: June '14 ... Retrieval Only. 4 embryos growing, all arrested before day 5. Two from April thawed, but also arrested.
Currently benched while determining how to proceed.
"Keep going until you can't fail"
2. This is cycle #3
3. Waiting to O...should be tomorrow or Sunday.
4. N/A
5. Feeling hopeful, timing should be pretty good thanks to O falling on a weekend. Also trying Preseed this month.
QOTW: Not really, but we'll see.
1. Your Name or Screen Name ( not full names) and State you are from
Jenfer916-IL
2. How long have you been TTC?
#2 since Dec 2012
3. Where are you in your cycle? If in the 2ww when will you test? ( Waiting to O, 2WW etc)
BC pills in 1st IVF cycle.
4. Experiencing any weird "phantom" symptoms ladies in your 2ww?No
5. How do you feel about this cycle? (Are you hopeful, anxious... etc)
Hopeful. We're staying positive.
QOTW:
Do you plan on watching the Olympics? If so what sport are you most excited about? Yes. I've always loved figure skating.
Me:36 DH:38 TTC#1 since 4/2012
Me DX: Hashimotos,Hypothyroid, DOR, MTHFR, DH: normal
IUI #1-#4 BFNs and a few cancelled cycles in the mix.
- poor responder
***Suprise BFP on 6/13/13. Natural MC @6wks 3days
IVF#1 and 2- Cancelled due to no response on max stimms
FET 5/20- BFP
1st Beta- 641
2nd beta- 2166
Sono- TWINS!!!!
Two Boys! Born January 2015 @36 weeks. Healthy and no NICU! So blessed!
[MC 11.20.11] [DS born 9.24.12] [DD born 10.15.14]