Meet Greenola Girl Sarah!

10 years ago, if you had asked me if I were interested in being part of a green living blog, I would have probably laughed at you. But things happen in your life to change you, to alter your perception, and for me, it was my quest to get pregnant. But I'll start from the beginning. 

Up until my senior year in high school, I was the "skinny" girl, I was a competitive swimmer, I was actually told by my coaches to GAIN weight, and I ate like a football player. When I was 17, I found out that I had a form of genetic cancer, thyroid cancer, and I had to have my thyroid removed. I should have relearned how to eat then, but, I thought my metabolism was the same as it always had been. I gained some weight, and then when I went away to college, I got really sick. I have a blood disorder, called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura, or ITP. In layman's terms, it's a platelet disorder, and occasionally, my platelet counts drop, and I have to watch for excessive bleeding and bruising. I was in the hospital for a long time, and took an exorbitant amount of steroids, which made me balloon up to the highest weight I've ever been, and I've been struggling since then to get it off. 

Fast forward to 2009- a newlywed, happiest I have EVER been in my life. But we wanted a baby, and I couldn't get pregnant. Found out that I have PCOS, a fairly common thing, especially with women who have packed on some extra LBs over the years. I underwent a year of fertility treatments, hormones, shots, the works. I have a GORGEOUS 17 month old now, courtesy of a process called Intrauterine Insemination (IUI). 

The day after she was born, I promised myself that I was no longer living my life for me, but for my daughter, Allyson Faith. She deserved more than a mother who didn't have the energy to run around crazy with her.  I began watching what I ate, with better food  choices, like organic and locally grown veggies, locally butchered meats, and less processed foods. I also make an effort to choose natural remedies for things around the house, like household cleaners, or headache remedies! All of these changes coupled with exercise, I lost over 40 pounds, and then discovered  I was pregnant! We conceived naturally this time, and, are overjoyed to announce that on April 14th, I delivered a healthy baby girl, Makenna Joy. 

I am excited to continue my journey to a healthier me, and a healthier family!