2018 will be unlike any other year.

Hello Sparkpeople,

Mood: cautiously optimistic

I hope you all have had a great holiday season and are looking towards 2018 with optimism.

I have been a part of the Spark community since August 2010, and a few years ago I wrote some really intense blog posts here. Mainly about the conditions at the job I was at for my first two and half years in Germany and about my family. Some of those entries, upon re-read, were so intense I decided to delete them.

Yet, I feel today’s entry is not only the most vulnerable I will make myself to date but my rekindling with the people that make this website the wonder that it is. I hope to…realistically speaking...write here once a month in the new year. Our goal is other than a number on a scale, or number of inches on my waist or even fitting into a wedding dress (which went fantastic!)

I want to become a Mother. My Husband and I want to become parents.

In July I had my annual visit with the Gynecologist. I expressed my future hopes to bear a child. I am not sure if it is standard in the US yet but in Germany I was able to see with an internal ultra sound camera my internal situation. Perfect: a well-lined Uterus, unblocked Fallopian Tubes and well stocked Ovaries. I am thankful that as far as menstruation is concerned I have never experienced complications.
My yearly physical and blood check came back in November also perfect. Blood Sugar, Cholesterol and Thyroid…even better than last year! 😊
From a physicality standpoint what concerns me: I am 34 years old (as of October.) Will I struggle based on that alone?

Women of Sparkpeople…. Speaking as a hopeful Mom-to-be, professional, expat (no family around) and someone who is a ‘later in life’ mother I would love to have your advice and support. I hope to journal how the process goes at least once a month.
December:

This is the second month I have tracked my ovulation using the calendar and stick tests, everything happened (and was done: P) on time. I have continued taking the 800 mg of Folic Acid and Multi-Vitamin recommended by my Gynecologist. As of holiday break I began doing fertility positive meditations/visualations and prenatal yoga in addition to my normal treadmill based cardio workouts.

I am struggling with the idea of having to give up coffee, I know I need to reduce my intake to less than 200 mg per day but I am finding that difficult to take onboard as I am not confirmed pregnant. I am trying to vary my diet and eat a wide range of nutritious foods. I am finding myself more drawn to topics/practices drawn from Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine…but not sure where to start. Since I have dealt with Hip Bursitis and inflammation in the past (when I was still eating wheat products) I am curious to know if Acupuncture might be worth taking on in the future.

Otherwise physically I feel great... that is to say completely asymptomatic.