This blog comes to Colorado Ski Country from Veronica Whitney, the Editor of El Montas – the Hispanic newspaper in Garfield and Eagle counties.
Two years ago, when my husband Charlie and I were getting ready to do an IVF (in vitro fertilization) it was fall. Winter was approaching and so was ski season, my favorite time of the year.
Aspen Mountain
So I tried to push the IVF to accommodate some skiing. We decided to plan it for March 2011.
I must say, I felt quite guilty that my love of winter sports would interfere, and somewhat prevail, over the urge and want of being a mother. I even thought I was frivolous and that the IVF was not going to work sort of a punishment. I know, it sounds silly, but I guess thats how we operate sometimes.
Well, March came, and after several days on the hill, either resort skiing or backcountry, I was ready to do the procedure. I thought, “Great, I can get pregnant now, have the baby in Decemberand still ski next season!”
Again, feelings of guilt over the fact that skiing seemed to be more important than becoming a parent. Maybe they are both important? I always thought I didnt want to become one of those parents who drop all their hobbies for their kids. Am I too selfish? I asked other mothers who are my friends who still ski and ride their bikes despite having three kids.
Then my doctor said I was going to need a small surgery before the IVF. So I did that and postponed the IVF till August, which then became November due to some scheduling issues. So there we were right back in the throes of ski season 2011-12. If everything worked out with the IVF, I probably was not going to be able to skiat all, according to the doctor, who likes to not take any chances after putting in so much effort.
It was mid-November, and on our way to Denver to do the procedure we stopped at Loveland for our first day of skiing in the season and what I thought it would be the last one.
After two weeks I found out it hadnt worked; the day right before Thanksgiving. I had not been able to do any sports for two weeks so I went out for a run, and the next day I went backcountry skiing, and on the weekend we went skiing in Aspen.
So we decided to wait a couple of months and try again. I was going to enjoy skiing a little bit (yes, again) more feelings of guilt.
We would do it in March. I got ready to head back to Denver and guess what? Of course that was the best snow week in the season. I did get out for some runs in two great powder days before heading down, but as we came back from Denver and I had to put in two weeks of rest, we had probably the best one-foot powder day and it was sunny!
I started regretting not having waited till May to do the IVF. Everybody told me what I was doing was more importantand of course it is. But many will understand my conflicting feelings about all this. Im an active person, I cant sit still.
Well, the IVF didnt work again. We will try again later this year. So Im back on my skis enjoying what I have now. Last weekend we had a great time on Aspen Mountain, we even stopped for a glass of champagne at their new Veuve Clicquot champagne mobile spot by the way thats a great addition to the mountain. And we toasted not to the baby yet, but to a wonderful day of spring skiing.
