Things I’ve learned on this journey.

Things I’ve learned on my TTC journey:

1. Everyone isn’t meant to be included in your pain. Telling people what you are going through can backfire. No joke, I’ve had two family members try and give me their grand kids because they felt that their daughter’s weren’t ready.
It can also backfire because then everytime you walk past a baby aisle or hear someone announce their pregnancy, concerned friends will pause slightly and look at you to see if you can handle it.

2. Fertile people are clueless. I’ve learned that for people who getting pregnant is not an issue, the fact that there are others who can’t, is mind-boggling, if it ever crosses their mind at all. Some, who do think about it, begin to wonder what the reproductively challenged must have “done” that they can’t have a baby.

3. PLAN AHEAD. Had I known that my few menstrual issues from my latter teen years could have lead to the pain I am enduring now, I would have immediately began getting checked out the day after my husband proposed. Waiting because you think, “well, its not like I want to get pregnant right now”, is stupid and irresponsible.

4. Smile a lot. I learned this one from Wey. Smile, even when you think your face my crack and fall to the ground. This song comes to mind:
Quote:

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though its breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, youll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
Thats the time you must keep on trying
Smile, whats the use of crying?
Youll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

5. Enjoy the marriage. If it weren’t for the fact that I truly enjoy and love my husband, I’d have flipped out by now. He has gotten on my nerves in the beginning, but then we just settled into kickin it. LOL We have tried to enrich the quality of our lives together so that even after we are blessed with a baby, we will have already had such a great time together we can take that into the new phase.

6. Cry when you need to. I cry a lot. Nothing has changed after the cry itself, but it somehow gives me peace knowing that before a tear fell, God had counted all of them. Kind of reminds me that He does see me and knew that this would happen, and knows the outcome. Did that make sense?

7. Just keep swimming. I cannot, as bad as I may want to, climb in my bed, pull my covers over my neck and watch the Muppet show. I have to embrace the journey so that I can share it with someone who needs it. I have to embrace the journey so that I can be a better me. I have to embrace the journey because obviously, God told me to, and that settles it.

8. It will be alright. I couldn’t get pregnant last year. But the sun kept coming up, the wind kept blowing, the earth kept turning. I still haven’t gotten pregnant. But the sun is shining, the birds are flying, God is still on the throne. Friends have gotten pregnant, coworkers have gotten pregnant, family members have new infants, I don’t….but the sun is shining, the Earth is turning….it will be alright.

9. Look ahead with hope. Not worry, not trepidation, not anxiety.
Philippians 4:6

Quote:
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

10. Learn every lesson. Pass all the tests. Graduate.

*Bonus lesson – There is no greater confidante and cheerleader than someone who understands and has been or is still there.