National Infertility Awareness Week

Happy Monday! Yesterday marked the start of the 19th Annual National Infertility Awareness Week. Since infertility affects 7.3 million Americans (1 in 6 couples--and we happen to be part of that statistic) I thought I would write a post to mark this week.

We have been so fortunate in our journey and have had the most supportive friends and family. How they knew how to be supportive-- I have no idea how, they just knew! I know many out there are not so lucky!! Many out there have to deal with the myriad of questions-- invasive and sometimes ignorant. Resolve.org is an organization dedicated to infertility. For me-- it has been a great resource!

I came across this site last night and it touched me deeply. Whoever created it-- surely felt the pain and heartache that infertility can bring. I wanted to share with you all b/c I thought it was beautiful.

Empty Arms Video

Thank you to all our friends and family that have supported us-we couldn't/ can't make it through this journey without you!

St. Gerard-Patron St. of Mothers

Today is the Feast Day of St. Gerard-- Patron Saint of Mothers.

If you feel so inclined, please say a prayer today for all the mothers and mothers to be of the world.

For Motherhood:
O good St. Gerard, powerful intercessor before the throne of God, wonder-worker of our day, I call upon you and seek your help. While on earth, you always fulfilled God's designs; help me, too, always do God's holy will. Beseech the master of life, from whom all parenthood proceeds, to bless me with offspring, that I may raise up children to God in this life and heirs to the kingdom of God's glory in the life to come. Amen.

For Mother With Child:
O almighty and everlasting God, through the Holy Spirit, you prepared the body and soul of the glorious virgin Mary to be a worthy dwelling place of your divine Son. Through the same Holy Spirit, you sanctified St. John the Baptist, while still in his mother's womb. Hear the prayers of your humble servant who implores you, through the intercession of St. Gerard, to protect me amid the dangers of childbearing and to watch over the child with which you blessed me. May this child be cleansed by the saving water of baptism and, after a Christian life on earth, may we, both mother and child, attain everlasting bliss in heaven. Amen.

Power of Prayer

Okay, I know I said yesterday I wasn't going to have much to post about...but this I have to post about!

On one of the infertility message boards that I visit daily, one of the girls decided to start a 9 day novena to St. Theresa. I have done it before, so I decided to join in again. We started last week and we were checking in daily for 9 days. Each day we would post our intention, say the prayer that was posted and answer a question of the day. With this St. Theresa novena we asked for confirmation of our prayers being heard by asking to be shown or showered with roses.

Yesterday was our last day-- so our question of the day was to state how we saw our rose. The other girls-had very obvious sitings-- me on the other hand-- all I could remember seeing was a green rose on the alter at church this past week. I thought, well, that must have been it-- that must have been my sign. So I posted my intention and answered the question of the day and went back to work.

Around noon yesterday, while I was on the phone with my sister, I noticed DHL pull up in front of my house and they rang the door bell, but since I was on the phone I didn't get up right away. So once I hung up with my sister, I went to get the package. It was a box from FTD. I opened the card-- from my sister-- the flowers were for my birthday which was last week. She was crazy busy with a wedding that she was in over the weekend and hadn't had a chance to send anything. I open the box... ROSES and calla lilies. ROSES!!! I just stood there in amazement. St. Theresa heard my prayers and wanted to let me know!

The power of prayer is amazing!

Just nothing to write about...

HI
So I haven't written anything in over a week...b/c...I just don't have anything to write about! Last week was rough. I had some really bad days. Basically just feeling sorry for myself and Gary. My birthday came and went. Nothing spectacular-- which at 31-- is just fine! :) Gary did get me a Wii and a Wii Fit though and I have been LOVING it! I have used it everyday. Not really sure if I will lose weight with it, but it is fun to use and I figure 30-60 minutes on it vs. sitting on my butt-- gotta be worth something, right?

So no real updates. We are still laying low on the baby situation. The last couple months of this year will be extremely busy with work travel, vacation travel (YAY! Mexico!!) and holiday travel (YAY!! CT!!), so really no time to be trying to do anything IVF related. We are focusing hard, paying down some bills and maybe in 2009 we can regroup and decide what to do baby related. Although my desire is as strong as it was in...well...forever... the mental break of not having it be in EVERY thought has been nice. I have had a chance to refocus on things I was pushing to the side earlier this year.

My posts may become few and far between as I have some busy weeks ahead. I apologize in advance, but still check in (if you have interest) as I may come up with things to post about!! :)