How do we get our kids to TELL THE TRUTH? The answer may be more simple…and more complicated than you think.

Un-showered, unrecognizably swollen from the severe preeclampsia that had caused me to gain 30 pounds of water weight overnight, connected to several IV lines and a foley catheter bag…I wasn’t the picture-perfect postpartum mom I had envisioned.

She had done nothing wrong. She was smart. She was pretty. She was in love. She had done nothing to deserve it, and yet, she became a victim of intimate partner violence…

It only takes a moment…a fraction of a moment…a turned back…an unlocked cabinet…a detergent pod left on the counter…a bottle of nail polish remover sitting next to the sink…or a Tylenol bottle left open in the bottom of a purse…only a moment for the unthinkable to happen. 

This waiting room should have been filled with comradery, with moral support, and ultimately with friendship. Unfortunately, our emotions were too raw. We each sat with our heads down, our hearts heavy, and our minds consumed with INFERTILITY.

I was nervous but excited to start IVF. This was our chance to make a baby! I stared at the needles, willing myself to see them as a golden ticket to motherhood rather than a necessary evil.

The day had come. I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and stepped off what seemed like a 1000 foot drop with no end in sight. Instead, I found myself standing at the infertility check in window.

I wrestled with idea of sharing our infertility struggle with others. Saying out loud that we couldn’t get pregnant somehow felt like confessing a deep dark secret.

My biological clock was ticking. I was 30 years old. I had done everything right. Why was infertility my fate?

The costs of infertility are multifaceted. In addition to the emotional costs, infertility also costs a pretty penny for those seeking treatment.

There’s no denying that the inability to get pregnant is laced with stigma and shame. Who wants to admit that sex doesn’t “work”?

Our infertility journey took a turn when I traded in my white coat for a patient gown…

Our Infertility Diagnosis Confirmed…

Walt Disney World is a magical place…but depending on your family dynamic it can also be hard to navigate everyone’s sensory needs. Here are some tips to minimize meltdowns at Disney World!

With spring break and summer fast approaching, make sure you are protecting yourself and your kids with safe and effective sunscreen.

A Swan Birthday party meant for a queen!

Florence is a city full of romance, history, and intrigue, but it’s also a wonderful place to visit with kids. Magical carousels spin in the streets. Art comes to life through captivating architecture and street artists. Tiny shops filled with trinkets, sweets, and meat line the angled streets. Florence is well known for the House […]

This art themed birthday party takes the cake! Vibrant swatches of color, bold cake table and decorations, and simple but fun crafts…

The Island of Capri is the perfect day trip when visiting Italy! Ideal for couples and families with kids.

Barcelona is a must see with kids!
It’s a place where art comes alive. Where each street corner is filled with vibrant color.

Little did we know our infertility journey was just getting started…

Some of our favorite Valentine’s inspired picture books that might just be read year round!

We had a “swell” time pulling together this Surf’s Up Ocean themed party for my little dude’s second birthday.

You only turn one once! Better make it a party to remember!!! Our Outback themed party was so much fun to plan for my little guy’s birthday. From Koala cakes and Land Rover props…to cactus cupcakes and gorgeous art prints. Natural wood and a black and white motif along with pastels and pops of green […]

Nothing feels quite as magical as Spring time in Narnia! When my daughter, Ayla, asked for a Narnia inspired birthday party that didn’t have a “winter feel” to it I was more than excited to start planning! Besides…the end of winter marks the coming of Aslan. What could be a better theme! The party was […]

The worst sex is baby-making sex. It starts off romantic, even inspired, but it quickly loses its charm.