Showing posts with label fertility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fertility. Show all posts

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Four



Today I write to honor the life of my smallest son, my Rowan.  My FIRST son.  My heart was stolen on the day that pregnancy test was positive.  I fell to my knees in tears & humble thanks.  For years we waited, we cried, we screamed, we hurt, we laughed, we loved, we wanted, and we worked hard to make a baby.  And then, I peed on a stick & 3minutes later our lives were forever changed. 

I will NEVER forget the feeling of sweet relief and overwhelming joy at seeing the smallest flicker of life on that black and white ultrasound machine.  The immense, deep, never ceasing LOVE of Jesus flooded me so quickly in that moment & spilled over from Him to me and from me to the little spark within me.

And, then, my God, my God...5 weeks later and a heartbeat was heard.  A heartbeat that stopped all of time for a moment.  I didn't want them to take the wand away from my belly.  I wanted the sound to go on forever.  And the person growing within me, on the screen, small and perfectly at peace.  Only knowing love.

But, not all stories of becoming a momma & daddy end with a cooing, squirmy, love bug.  Some end with a worn out momma sitting down to use the bathroom and catching her 13 week old baby in her hands.  Some end with daddy's dropping to their knees and praying for a twin to be inside that no one noticed before.  Some end with momma's not having any contractions, without any bleeding and without any warning.  And some of the stories end before they even really begin.  But, I say it again (and I will continue to shout from the roof tops) you are (we are) all mommas & daddys.

Rowan came to us quickly, quietly and without pain.  I like to believe that is how he left too, how he experienced it I mean.  No pain, only love.  No pressure or harshness, only mercy and grace from Abba Father.  

Psalm 139:13-16  " For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,  your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."


 
If I allow myself to sit & think about all I felt and struggled to grasp onto as my life was spinning so fast in those moments after Rowan came to us...  I can feel the tiny weight of him against my hand.  I can remember the warmth.  I can recall staring at him, taking all of him in...fingers with nails, toes, a face that looked exactly like my husband, the cutest little teeny tiny booty.  All the things a momma would notice.  I would want Rowan to know that I noticed.  I know that he was 9 oz in weight.  I know those things because I am his momma.  He mattered, his life MATTERED, it matters still.  

My heart aches for Heaven to be with my boys, Rowan and Levi.  But, my heart also rejoices here to be with Matt and our little Noah.  The Lord is good and He will fulfill ALL of his promises.  What we think we know and understand of God's character is only a whisper of His glory and grandness.  And our small journey here is only a tiny speck in the grand scheme of eternity...but it matters. To us and to Him.  










Thursday, March 5, 2009

He'll wipe away the tears

Well, I took the fertility pills last month... Then on Monday I got my period. Alas, no baby this month either... *sigh* I am feeling a bit down, well, 'a bit' doesn't really encompass my heart right now. I'm actually not sure how I feel. I truly believe God has called me to be a momma...and I know my heart cry is to birth babies and raise them up to love Jesus... I don't understand why it's so hard for some, and then so easy for others (some of whom don't even want little sweethearts to adore -- but that's a tangent I will not jump on for now)... I am just hurting now... so forgive me for not having anything insightful to say... I certainly don't feel strong enough for this challenge from the Lord...

and that statement "God will never give you more than you can handle." What a crock...He loads it on so we are FORCED to lean ... lean into Him. I get it...I never wanted to do it on my own... just take it away... please Father... I am so weak and so tired... and so broken...

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I know my Father is loving and I know He desires good for me... I just wish with all of my being it didn't hurt so terribly much to learn the things He teaches...

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

but it hurts...

Romans 5: 1 - 5
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

I have been saved, but not from painful experiences, or sad things. I have been saved from the pit of Hell, and an eternity without the love of Christ. I have been saved so that others may know Him, and so that I may anthem His glory with my life...

I have a hope and a future, and many good things are headed my way. But, that does not mean that I will not face trials, and that bad things won’t happen to me. Christ is not only all knowing, and completely loving...but He is totally just - - without any bias towards those whom He has saved.

I rejoice for my salvation is complete and can never be questioned. I rejoice because God has called me to be His own, and to share Him with others. I rejoice because He loves me and has a marvelous plan for me.

Here is where I get fuzzy though... If He has this great plan, why I am so ‘out of the loop,’ why is it that I cannot see even the glimmer of the edge of the plan? Is it because my heart could not take the knowledge? Is it because He wants to keep me protected? Or, is it because His best plan for me isn’t what I think is best for me? Is it a test of faith? Is it love like no other – guarding my heart from it’s worst enemy – me?!?

‘...we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us...’

It is refreshing, and I take great joy in knowing that I am not alone in this journey. It is a blessing to have been given the gift of a godly husband to travel this way with... and though my heart is full of sadness and my womb an empty vessel, I will praise the Lord for He is timely and He is wise...and I will strive to love Him as He loves me... without question...

rejoice - feel or show great joy. triumph.
triumph - dwell on with satisfaction. the exultation of victory.
persevere - persist. continue.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

new

Happy New Year!

Why is that this time of year always seems to bring about deep thoughts...for me I think it's because I can't believe another year has passed, and I tend to get caught up in the shoulds, and wish I hads.... I admit that I have a tendency to focus on what I haven't done rather than remember all the amazing, and even little, things that I have done. Every year...why am I so weird!?!?

Anyhow. So, with PCOS comes this insulin resistence that I didn't know about. In all of my reading and research it has been revealed that I am almost diabetic...with an even greater chance of actually becoming diabetic when I get pregnant! yikes! That is serious!

Psalm 119:49-50 "Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life."

So, here's to the new year...and a new lifestyle. Matt and I are praying that God will heal my body, and take away this awful affliction. Mostly, we'd like to be able to get pregnant and healthier without the use of that little bottle of fertility meds sitting on my bathroom counter... We would love for you to join with us in asking God for a full reversal of my PCOS. It happens, and since I only developed the symptoms this year there is a good chance I could rid myself of the symptoms with dietary change and some exercise!

So, my new year's resolution (the real reason for this post) is to live an intentional life and leave behind the incidental lifestyle of my past.

in·ten·tion·al // in-ten-tion --
1. Done deliberately; intended: an intentional slight.
2. A course of action that one intends to follow.
3. An aim that guides action; an objective.

in·ci·den·tal // in·ci·dent --
1. Occurring or likely to occur as an unpredictable or minor accompaniment
2. Of a minor, casual, or subordinate nature
3. A usually minor event or condition that is subordinate to another.

Monday, November 17, 2008

my husband, making babies and salvation

Only a small portion of the things I take for granted. How did I become so smug, so self-assured that I was deserving of an amazing husband, sweet babies or a Holy Savior?

God has been so good to me…only 'good' isn't descriptive enough – there isn't anything I can say about the way He loves me. It is indescribable…yet I am constantly trying to put limits on it…and trap Him in a box. I want Him to be someone I can understand, or wrap my mind around….and yet He is always going to be so much more.

I so easily forget the good things He has done for me … just as soon as He isn't giving me something else… I wouldn't have described myself as a selfish person, yet I am. When I pray or cry out to my Father I have a long list of 'what I need.' I rarely stop to just be with Him. That is all He has ever asked of me…to just be with Him. He never demands for me to do anything, or be anything….except to just 'be.' Seems easy enough, 'eh?

I have been blessed by God with the most loving, gentle, gracious husband. I thank God daily for this gift…this man who loves me in spite of myself. I love you always Mattie. I'm sorry for ever taking one second with you for granted, and I choose today to begin recognizing each moment as a treasure to be kept safe…. You are amazing, and brilliant, and a million other wonderful things!!
I love you.

Babies… Long have I waited and long have I wanted… Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart – I have been given this promise by the Lord. Yet I demand that He give me what I desire exactly when I desire it…and yet again and again He withholds… because He knows the appropriate time and place for such things. And, He always knows how to amaze.

I was recently told by a doctor that I have PCOS…and in the same sentence 'although it doesn't mean you can't have children it does mean it will be extremely difficult.' Then she smiled and I cried and she wrote a prescription and just like that I was on my way out into the world – back to work, back to life...just like that…

I was a virgin for 26 years…and then I got married…and I guess I thought I was 'owed' the gift of making babies because I'd been so good, so decent. I've only every kissed 2 fellas in my life, and one of them is my husband…. Again, I thought God, how can this be right – I've been so good… I've really strived to be pure…to keep myself for one special man – your man – my husband, the father of all of my unborn sweet angels… But this isn't the way it works…and though I know that my God is loving and kind, along with many things, trying to get your heart to be okay with the things your head knows are certain – can sometimes be overwhelming….

There is more to say, but I am exhausted. I needed to write this all out. I think I feel a little better.

Mostly, I need your prayers….if you are reading then please pray now…. Pray for peace…

Thursday, November 13, 2008

taking things for granted - who, me??

from Elisabeth Elliot's – Keep a Quiet Heart

On page 135, in the chapter called Waiting she quotes several Bible verses and then writes the following:

"Restlessness and impatience change nothing except our peace and joy. Peace does not dwell in outward things, but in the heart prepared to wait trustfully and quietly on Him who has all things safely in His hands."

These words comfort me, and along with Psalm 40:1 "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry," make me glad that I have a God who is big enough to have my life worked out...and yet humble enough to lift me up into His big arms and love on me personally.

We had some news re: our 'no baby' status from the doctor, but I'm not emotionally ready to post it for the world to see. I will be glad to receive your prayers on the matter...but I need some time to process information and to learn more about what may be in store...

Sunday, October 5, 2008

certainty

Psalms 37:25 "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." (NKJV)

Matt and I attended a church in Flomaton, AL, this morning. He had a concert there, and I tagged along. I'm so glad that I did....isn't it encouraging to see the way God gets a message straight to our hearts (even if we aren't in our 'home' church).

Anyhow, the psalmist (and I think it was David) is thinking back on being young, and knowing he is more advanced in age...he is saying that through ALL the stuff he's lived through NEVER ONCE has he seen a 'righteous' person 'let down' by God. So, I've been really disappointed in God before, only to realize I'm disappointed in the circumstance I'm in the midst of rather than God, or I'm disappointened in the people I was counting on...rather than God. So, I'm not 'that' old, but I am almost 28 (which is, let's face it) almost 30!! Anyhow, I cannot think of one time in my 12 years as a Christian that I have been 'let down' or 'forsaken' by God.

So, as of late I have really been struggling with the fact that Matt & I don't have babies, and that for some reason I don't seem to be getting pregnant....and it's not for lack of practice :-)... I have been so wrapped up in thinking God doesn't think we are ready, and God doesn't want us to have kids, and I'm doing this wrong, or Matt's doing that wrong...and really taking on a victim mentality (ugh, totally not like me). And then today happened...and this verse was shown to me in a new light.

...I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread...

I know in my soul that Christ has called me to raise up a handful of kingdom heirs...and I know in my soul that they will be born of my womb....and I know in my soul that my God does not disappoint...and I know in my soul that all the good in my life has been well worth the wait...and I know in my soul that I am sad to be so late in getting started having babies, and I am sad that I want something so badly that I've made myself crazy, and my husband a little crazier... But, I know in my soul that I will not be forsaken. I know He loves me, and dotes on me, and longs to give me the desires of my heart...but I also know in my soul that He sees so much more of a situation than I ever will.

I also take courage and hope in the last portion of this verse, 'nor his seed begging bread.' For I know that as much as I love and pray and hope for my unborn babies the Lord has an even bigger heart for them. He adores them and has them taken care of already! What a brilliant thought, and such an amazing place to lay your trust!

So, I will wait....unpatiently at first, and over time I will learn to settle down. My heart is weary, and it's time to try something else... I think I'll start believing, with a renewed heart, in the God who brought me salvation, freedom, redemption, eternity, love and strength.