"Waiting"

I love artwork. It is one of the ways I’ve been able to heal. One of my favorite artists is Caitlin Connolly  She is so unbelievably talented. I have a few prints by Caitlin and she just shared this painting called “waiting,” on her Instagram.

This painting took my breath away. It is my soul. My heart. That is what I feel like. Especially the past few days.

I’m waiting. Waiting for my arms to cradle a baby again. Waiting to do more fertility tests. Waiting to heal emotionally and physically. Waiting for more clarity on what Heavenly Father has planned for me and my family.

Caitlin also battled infertility and has the cutest 6-month-old twin boys. She is so inspiring. There was a great news article about an interview she did, it is awesome. I’ll add the link to the link tree in my bio.

Today is a better day. I feel like I’ve been able to breathe a little easier and start tackling the day again. Most days I really am ok. Great even. ...but sometimes a wave of grief just comes from nowhere that brings me to my knees.

If you feel like you’ve been brought to your knees keep praying and keep trying. God wants to hear from you and he wants to bless you. Sometimes the blessings don’t come right away, when we want, or how we think they should. There is so much power in being still and waiting. Then trust Heavenly Father has a plan to have everything work out better than you could imagine.♥️♥️♥️

I Am Brave, Strong, and Broken

I had a really great Mother’s Day yesterday, but it was also very bittersweet. I only cried a couple times at church and I didn’t have to leave early like I did last year. But today is hard again. Like really hard and maybe a little bit of a Mother’s Day emotional overflow. I’ve cried happy tears, and very broken tears today.

I keep trying to convince myself that I don’t need another baby. I am so happy with my family. I am so blessed. I have a 9-year-old and 5-year-old. I have BIG kids! I haven’t been in the “diaper bag” phase for a long long time.

Then it hits me. Hard. I ache for another baby. My heart aches. My empty arms ache. The grief of losing my ability to even try again without risking my life is heavy.

It is definitely all the feelings. I called my husband and cried. I called my friend who can empathize and we cried together. I’ve eaten an enormous amount of skittles. I have to rally and be strong for my kids and getting through the day. There is homework, dinner, and baths. Then at bedtime, after they are in bed I will probably break down.

I’m going to let myself feel all of it. Process it. Own it. Be kind to myself and then move through it. Tomorrow will be a new day.

Being brave, strong, and broken is going to shape me into the person, wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend I was meant to be. The person God would have me be. ...but today, today just hurts.

And that’s ok...♥️

Does anyone have a favorite scripture, song, mantra, or quote that fills you with light or hope? Please share in the comments below. I would super appreciate it so I can read through them after my kids are in bed. 💕

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you! Happy Mother’s day if you are a mom in heart and still yearning to have a sweet baby in your arms. Happy Mother’s day to those who like me have both heavenly and earthly angels. Happy Mother’s day to all the moms who are doing their very best.

As women, we have divine power to nurture and love all of those around us. We are able to love unconditionally and lift others. A woman’s love reminds us of how God unconditionally loves us.

To everyone you may nurture, your own children or children around you, you are important. You are significant. You are divine. You are enough, what you do and who you are matters.

It is ok to have all of the different feelings today. Be kind to yourself. I know how aware God is of each of us and knows our struggles. Have hope that good will come and you are so loved.

Love and Loss on Mother's Day

I have so many emotions surrounding Mother’s Day this year. I have had so many wonderful mothers in my life who have made a big impact on my life. My own mom especially is beyond amazing and I love her so much.

I am also so beyond grateful for my 2 beautiful children. They are my heart outside my body. I am so proud of them and love them so much. I am grateful I get to snuggle them and sing them to sleep every night. Their little hands in mine help heal my heart.

I am also aching this year. I am feeling my losses hard. I am missing my babies I never met, and the baby I would have had in just a few months. I am feeling the loss of unmet expectations and failed dreams. I am feeling angry that my body couldn’t do what it was meant to do. I am feeling anxious because I am not sure what is going to come next. Do we have more babies? Do we do IVF? I don’t know if I can mentally handle another ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.

To the mom that is meticulously planning hormone injections, pills, doctor’s visits, and tracking your cycle I see you. I see your broken heart every time you have to drive by that “expecting mom” parking spot. I know what it feels like to get another baby shower announcement and be excited for them and sad for yourself all at the same time.

To the mom who is constantly thinking of the baby that you carried only for a few weeks and never met I see you. I see you trying to picture your baby’s sweet face and tiny features in your mind. I see you dreaming of what “could have been.”

To the mom who has small children and is beyond tired, I see you. I see you questioning if the work you are doing to take care of those small kiddos is enough. I know grocery trips are more like marathons, sleeping is non-existent, and every surface is mysteriously sticky.

To all of you, I stress that you are enough. You are doing so much better than you think you are. You’re amazing and strong. You are beautiful. Be kind to yourself and let others around you love on you!

What kind of feelings is Mother’s Day bringing up for you this year?

My Experience With Grief

I remember seeing this picture and thinking “YES! That is me. That is what my grief feels like!” I’m all over the place!

Most days I really am ok and happy. I get out of bed and I get after my morning, but everything feels heavy and hard today. I can feel my anxiety tight in my chest while my mind races. I think I could probably either scream or burst into tears at any moment. I wonder if it’s Mother’s Day coming up? I both love and dread Mother’s Day.

It’s only been a few months since my last loss and 2nd ectopic pregnancy that changed everything. I’m still healing and today is a grief day, and I’m reminding myself that’s ok.

I was struggling with what to share today but nothing was coming. There is just the grief. I’m sad, anxious, and tired. I had plans for what this Mother’s Day would look like. I would be in my third trimester. Now those plans are different, which is ok. Today is hard.

I’m trying to be super transparent and honest to help others know it’s ok to have days like this. Grief comes in waves. Sometimes it comes out of nowhere when you least expect it. Thankfully there is a tomorrow. Tomorrow has lots of opportunities to be better.

So if you’re having a hard grief day be kind to yourself! I’m sending you all the love! ♥️ Share below how you get through the hard days of infertility, pregnancy losses, and grief...Hopefully, we can all help each other.