We recently put out a call on Twitter to our alumnae to contribute things they've checked off on their bucket list. This one from SB in St. Louis is one of the most joyous I've received. A deep and heartfelt congratulations, SB! Hope we get to see a picture of the little one come November.
Since I left Magnolia Creek on Jan. 31, 2010, I've crossed a few things off my bucket list, including graduating with my masters degree in communication from the University of Missouri - St. Louis. But the most significant milestone occurred earlier this year, when I found out I was pregnant with my husband's and my first child.
This is no small feat, considering that I didn't get a normal period (without the aid of birth control) from 1994 to 2009. Miraculously, I started back on a regular cycle just a week after walking through the doors of Magnolia Creek. Since discharging, I've maintained a healthy weight and cycle, but was afraid that I had damaged my reproductive system too severely to be able to conceive.
On March 30 of this year, I discovered I had been wrong. I endured two months of extreme nausea (during which the only palatable foods seemed to be Chinese and pizza) and subsequently gained enough weight to cause my OB/GYN to exclaim in surprise, "OH! You HAVE gained weight!" Still, I didn't let it derail my recovery - I just trusted that
my body was doing what it needed to do to support the pregnancy. Since the nausea subsided, I have been able to eat a healthy, balanced diet and exercise moderately, and for the first time I can remember, am eating intuitively without obsession or fear. If that means having pizza for breakfast (which it has, on a fairly regular basis!), so be it. My doctor says both the baby and I are healthy and doing great, and that's all I care about.
Last week we found out we are having a baby boy on or around Nov. 26. I can't even begin to wrap my head around the life changes that parenthood will bring, but I am confident I will be a good mommy to our son. I am grateful to the staff and the friends I made at Magnolia Creek for helping me reach a place in my life - physically and mentally - where these miracles could unfold. After struggling with ED for more than 15 years, and three stints in residential treatment, I was convinced that I would never recover. Thankfully, my time at MC proved me wrong.
SB from St. Louis, MO
@ MC Dec. 2, 2009 - Jan. 31, 2010
