What sucks:
1. Endometriosis.
2. Having one miscarriage after another for years.
3. Crying in your closet because your body is a useless failure.
4. Crying in your office when another coworker announces they are expecting.
5.
Spending your afternoons curled up in fetal position on the couch,
moaning incoherently because you are passing a razor-laden
endometriosis clot the size of a baseball.
6. Being told to "relax," 10,000 times for every miscarriage.
7. Being told "Maybe it's God's will," 10,000 times for every miscarriage.
8.
Having your IVF cycle canceled at the last minute due to a mistaken
notion that you are a poor responder, only to waste 15 egg follicles.
9.
Having to deal with the pain and mild OHSS that accompanies 15
unaspirated egg follicles and the subsequent dropping of your ovary
behind your uterus from the sheer weight.
10. Having to have a d&c when your 9-weeks pregnancy fails.
11. Watching your husband go through hell as you are being wheeled off to the OR for d&c.
12. Being told you require laparoscopic surgery to alleviate endometriosis.
13. Still having pain after laparoscopy.
14. Developing e-coli bladder infection from laparoscopy.
15. Require a 2nd laparoscopy to fix what first doctor failed at accomplishing.
16. Developing another bladder infection from 2nd laparoscopy.
17. Enduring waiting room after waiting room full of pregnant women, regardless of what doctor's office it is.
18. Enduring years of assvice from uberfertiles.
19. Getting samples of baby products for years after d&c.
20. Fielding the question, "So when are you having kids?" or "Do you have kids?" from everyone in the freaking world.
21. Finally having a pregnancy only to be riddled with 1st trimester vomitous amundus.
22. 1st trimester round ligament pain that cripples you.
23. Pelvis disorder that further cripples you.
24. Having no a/c during 2nd and 3rd trimester, which coincides with hottest summer on record.
25. Excruciating gallstones that crop up during your late 2nd trimester.
26. Seeing your daughter's ailing kidney repeatedly pop up on the ultrasound screen.
27. Being told your daughter may require surgery in her first year for the kidney problem.
28. 2 months of closely-timed contractions that mean nothing.
What doesn't suck:
Presenting Lauren Emeline
20.5" long, 7lbs 9 oz, 9.9 APGAR.
...and she's perfect.
Congratulations!
Posted by: Casey | September 07, 2007 at 05:17 PM
Hopefully she does suck!! And well. Congrats on finally reaching the end of that horrible road.
Posted by: victoria | September 07, 2007 at 05:23 PM
Congrats! Is it strange that I have tears in my eyes for someone I don't even know? I'm so thrilled for you. Her name is beautiful!
I hope she's nursing well and she lets you get some rest tonight :)
Posted by: Amy | September 07, 2007 at 05:26 PM
YAY!! I bet she's just perfect and everything you imagined.
Laurie
Posted by: Laurie | September 07, 2007 at 05:28 PM
Lauren Emmeline is a BEAUTIFUL name (I considered Emmeline but thought it was too close to my name) and I am so so so happy for you guys!! She looks perfect, her stats are perfect, and you look great!!!
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
Evelin
Posted by: | September 07, 2007 at 05:30 PM
Lauren Emmeline is a BEAUTIFUL name (I considered Emmeline but thought it was too close to my name) and I am so so so happy for you guys!! She looks perfect, her stats are perfect, and you look great!!!
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
Evelin
Posted by: | September 07, 2007 at 05:31 PM
That's the most beautiful picture EVER. I am over the moon for you. Really and truly.
And I love her name! Especially the second one.
Now, get some rest and take care of you.
Posted by: Julia | September 07, 2007 at 05:33 PM
What doesn't suck are the tears of joy in my eyes!
How simply beautiful!!!!!
Please let me know if you need anything.
Posted by: Jo | September 07, 2007 at 05:39 PM
Congratulations! I have read your blog for years and I am so happy for you. I wish you, Brad and Lauren all the best.
Posted by: | September 07, 2007 at 05:49 PM
Congratulations! She's simply breathtaking.
Posted by: arubagirl | September 07, 2007 at 05:59 PM
You both look pretty perfect. Congratulations.
Posted by: Jill | September 07, 2007 at 06:00 PM
CONGRATS!!!! Beautiful baby, beautiful name, beautiful photo, beautiful mommy, BEAUTIFUL DAY!!!!
So happy for you!!!!
Posted by: dawn | September 07, 2007 at 06:18 PM
oh oh oh... crying now! So happy for you! You made it!!! You got out!!!!! You have a BABY!!!!! Now just promise to keep blogging and not fizzle away like so many infertile mommys do!
What abeautiful picture!!! Can't wait to see her face!!!!
SO SO SO SO SO happy for you!
Posted by: Jamie | September 07, 2007 at 06:27 PM
Congratulations, Olivia and Brad! And welcome to the world Miss Lauren!
I came across you about 3 years ago on a miscarriage board after my 2nd m/c and I've been following you (not stalking you!) on and off since then. No one is more deserving than you = enjoy!
Posted by: Lori | September 07, 2007 at 06:35 PM
Look at her perfect little c-section non-egg head. oh I'm so happy for y'all!!!! more pix more pix!! Can you just believe that she is actually here and she is YOURS YOURS YOURS!!!
Posted by: suzanne | September 07, 2007 at 06:43 PM
Doing a naked happy dance for you...under my clothes. ;o) I am so friggin' happy for you I could just about pop! She has one of the cutest ears I've ever seen. And you look absolutely divine.
Huge hugs and congrats to you all,
Katrina
Posted by: K&M | September 07, 2007 at 06:48 PM
Congratulations!! I'm so happy for you all :-)
Posted by: Beth | September 07, 2007 at 06:51 PM
Yay!! Yay yay yay!!
I'm so very very happy and will raise my glass to toast this miracle baby!
Congratulations to you and Brad!
Posted by: jen | September 07, 2007 at 07:08 PM
Congratulations. I am so happy for your family.
Posted by: Anne | September 07, 2007 at 07:09 PM
"And they lived happily ever after. The End."
I know it was a true grind to get here, but I'm so glad you finally, finally, finally got the storybook ending you all so richly deserve.
Congratulations!
Posted by: mar | September 07, 2007 at 07:18 PM
Congrats on your beautiful daughter. You guys have been through everything, and now - you have a special miracle baby to love and hold. I'm so happy for you!
Posted by: Keri | September 07, 2007 at 07:20 PM
i am so happy for you all, i just cried when i scrolled down to that gorgeous picture! little lauren is one lucky baby. take care of yourself and just ENJOY!!!!!
Posted by: kim | September 07, 2007 at 07:21 PM
Congratulations!!! I have tears in my eyes... what a beautiful name. Enjoy every minute :)
Posted by: Sheryl | September 07, 2007 at 07:26 PM
There are parents that you are happy for at the birth of their child, then there are parents like you. There really are no adequate words to express it, but my heart is just swelling with joy (and my eyes filling with tears) to see you with your DAUGHTER in your arms!!! Thank you for inviting us on this journey.
I'm at a loss for further words... :D
Posted by: Lisa | September 07, 2007 at 07:40 PM
Congratulations!! Enjoy her but I know you will!
Posted by: Candice | September 07, 2007 at 07:42 PM