For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a mom. After 35 years my journey is finally under way.
My life to date has been a whirlwind: everything has taken a backseat to my education and profession, including opening my own general and cosmetic dental practice in Lakeview called Sugar Fix. The next step in this whirlwind, though, is to slow down a little so I can embrace what will undoubtedly be the most amazing experience in both mine and my husband Andrew’s life—our baby.
So what of my journey so far as a mom? The first five weeks I was in a complete state of euphoria. All I could think about in weeks one through five was how wonderful life is and what a beautiful experience being pregnant is. A severe dose of reality hit in week six. I went from a"Beautiful Euphoric State” to"Hormonal Hell.” I was stricken with the"feeling” of being sick from the time I woke up to the time I went to bed. I managed to survive by eating cheese, cheese and more cheese. It was all I could tolerate. I was eating cold cheese pizza for breakfast, cheese slices in between patients and Mac and Cheese for dinner.
It wasn’t until week 15 that I started to feel human again. My energy came back as did my taste buds.
When my husband and I found out we’re going to have a little girl, the surreal started to become very real. My tummy seemed to pop almost overnight. Finding comfortable clothes has been a challenge. My husband is starting to wonder if Bella Band shares are being traded on the NYSE.
Seeing the ultrasound has been the most incredible part because you get to see this little being growing inside your belly. I’ve saved everything along the way, including a picture my husband took of me holding the positive pregnancy test. I can’t wait to start working on a scrapbook for our daughter. What a wonderful gift for her 18th birthday, our"Labor of Love.” There is, of course, lots to think about for the future but for now I’m trying to slow down and live in the now. I don’t want to miss anything.
What a journey it’s been so far. After the initial shock and thrill of seeing the positive pregnancy test, there have been feelings of excitement, anticipation and joy as well as exhaustion and just about every other human emotion possible. The most obvious emotion is that connection and immense love I feel for a daughter I’ve yet to meet. I feel so incredibly blessed. I have a very caring and supportive husband who I know will be a great dad, a career I absolutely love and the support of my family and friends. So, thus far all is good but I still have a way to go. Until that time when our daughter is born, this story is …"to be continued.”
Jessica Emery lives with her husband, Andrew, in the Roscoe Village neighborhood of Chicago.
