Just Give Me a Hug

Show Summary

Joy doesn’t always arrive on the timeline we expect, but when it does, it can be profoundly sweet. In this episode of Contagious Joy, hosts Kim and Jenny sit down with Kim's dear friend Wendy to pull back the curtain on the emotional rollercoaster of reproductive grief, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), and infertility.

Wendy shares her raw and beautiful story of traveling across the world to Ukraine during the Orange Revolution to adopt her eldest son, Eagan. Just when she and her husband thought their family map was set, a switch in medical care led to the absolute shock of back-to-back natural pregnancies. From dealing with dismissive medical advice to navigating the beautifully chaotic reality of raising three boys, Wendy’s story is a vibrant reminder that your story is never truly finished.

Show Notes

Episode Highlights

• The Isolation of Infertility: Wendy discusses the painful emotions of facing years of negative test sticks, the pain of Mother's Day, and dealing with well-meaning but clumsy comments from people around her.
• The Power of Validation: Why a simple hug is often the best thing you can give a friend navigating reproductive grief.
• The International Adoption Journey: Packing up in two weeks to fly to Ukraine, staying with an attorney’s mother (and surviving endless bowls of cabbage borscht!), and bringing home 15-month-old Eagan.
• The Medical Shift & Miracle Pregnancies: How switching to a female gynecologist who understood PCOS led to a new medication regimen and the shock of two back-to-back natural pregnancies (Cooper and Brock).
• The Beautiful Chaos of Motherhood: Raising three kind, active boys on a lake in Northern Minnesota and finding joy in their unique personalities.