Category Archives: 31 Days

Write 31 Days

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So many bloggers linked up this year with the Write 31 Days challenge!  It was so much fun scrolling through the categories and finding some new blogs to check out.

Here are a few of my favorites from this year’s challenge!

31 Days of Praying For Your Family

31 Days of Breaking Religious Chains

31 Days of Celebrating Who You Are

31 Days of Sorry, Not Sorry

31 Days of Overcoming the Comparison Trap

31 Days to Putting Down Your Phone

31 Days of Scripture During Infertility

31 Days of Natural Beauty

31 Days to Annihilate Sugar

31 Days of Useful Kid Crafts

Definitely check the full list at Write 31 Days though if you would like to look for more!  Have fun browsing! 🙂

-Bonnie

Giveaway Winners

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Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaways during my 31 day series!  I am so excited to announce the winners.

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Praying Through Infertility ebook – 

  • Ivana
  • Heather C.

Making Babies book – 

  • Em M.

Ovulation Prediction Kits – 

  • Em M.

Congratulations!  Check your inbox for an email from me in the next couple of days!!  🙂

-Bonnie

31 Days of TTC Recap

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I can’t believe October is already over!  More than that, I can’t believe I completed my first 31 Days series!  (Hopefully not the last?)  It has been a unique experience that I both enjoyed and somewhat hated.  It is hard to write about such personal things, especially with the timing of this series.  But it has been so good for me to share a bit!

For my final post, I am simply going to link all the posts here for easy reference.  If you missed any posts in the series, go ahead and find them below.

Also the giveaways will be closing TONIGHT!!  So make sure you get in on those before they end!

31 Days of TTC

Monthly Emotional Cycle

When You Feel Alone

Natural Fertility and Wellness

Finding Peace When TTC – Guest Post

Praying Through Infertility and GIVEAWAY

The Comparison Trap

Nothing Like a Bit of Humor

Secondary Infertility – Guest Post

Being Intentional With Children You Already Have

Exercising and TTC

Weep With Those Who Weep

Ovulation Prediction Kit and GIVEAWAY

What Not to Say to Someone Who is TTC

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

The Ache of a Miscarriage

My Child – Guest Post

Care Package Ideas: Miscarriage

The Power of the Pen

Rejoice with Those who Rejoice

It is OK to Grieve

TTC Encouragement

Be Your Own Advocate

Apps for TTC

Natural Fertility Info

What If God Does Not Provide?

To My Precious Child Yet to Be

Resources for Those TTC

Miscarriage Resources

31 Days ttc infertility

Miscarriage Resources

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Here are a few resources that I have collected regarding miscarriage.  For all of you who have or are going through this, my heart is breaking with you.  😥

miscarriage resources

Books:

  1. Hannah’s Hope: Seeking God’s Heart in the Midst of Infertility, Miscarriage, and Adoption Loss (Note: I have not read this personally but it has been recommended to me!)
  2. Inheritance of Tears: Trusting the Lord of Life When Death Visits the Womb
  3. Hope for a Mom’s Heart
  4. Silent Grief: Hope for Surviving Early Miscarriage

 

Blog Posts:

  1. The Miscarriage Secret
  2. Mourning a Miscarriage
  3. I’m Not Always Ok
  4. Growing Through a Miscarriage
  5. You are Not Alone
  6. When You Lose a Baby
  7. The Thing About Grief
  8. Infinite
  9. Grief With No Apologies
  10. Picking Up the Pieces
  11. Fog Rising
  12. Still a Mother
  13. 7 Things I’ve Learned Since the Loss of My Child

 

For the Friends of Those Who Have Had a Loss:

  1. Six Things I Wish People Knew About Grieving the Loss of a Child
  2. A Letter to the Friend of a “New Normal” Grieving Mother
  3. An Open Letter to the Loved Ones of a Grieving Mother
  4. The Complete List of Do’s and Don’ts When Supporting the Bereaved (Note: I do disagree to an extent with some of the content.  While I do 100% believe that God is in control, I do agree with her that it is not at all helpful to say, “It was meant to be.”  But I disagree that you shouldn’t mention faith at all.  It was so encouraging to my heart to hear people simply tell me they were praying for me.)

Health:

  1. Healing After a Miscarriage
  2. Healing Physically after a Miscarriage
  3. Healing Emotionally after a Miscarriage
  4. I also want to add that it is so so important to take care of yourself if you are experiencing a miscarriage.  With my first miscarriage, I hardly ate and I only took one supplement one time.  I was so exhausted, dizzy, and weak.  With my second one, I ate and took my Iron and Vitamin C supplements.  Such a huge difference!  Even though the second miscarriage was somewhat harder physically, the recovery was much easier.

Music:

  1. Your Hands by JJ Heller
  2. Still by Gerrit Hofsink
  3. Gone Too Soon by Daughtry
  4. Glory Baby by Watermark
  5. Hug Him Once for Me by Erica McClure
  6. Slipped Away by Avril Lavigne
  7. Beauty Will Rise by Steven Curtis Chapman (This song was written after his 5 year old daughter passed away.)
  8. I Will Carry You (Audrey’s Song) by Selah (This was written when Todd and Angie’s sweet baby went to be with Jesus the day after she was born.)
  9. With Hope by Steven Curtis Chapman
  10. The Hurt and the Healer by MercyMe
  11. Homesick by MercyMe
  12. Even If by Kutless
  13. Beauty from Pain by Superchick
  14. He Will Not Let Go by Laura Story

Facebook Pages:
After my first miscarriage, I found some of these pages.  I sobbed as I looked through some of their beautiful images.

  1. Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss
  2. Missed Miscarriage
  3. Miscarriage, Stillborn, and Child Loss Support for Women

Check out Small Bird Studio.  While they are not exclusively for remembrance items, they do have some beautiful shirts, mugs, journals, prints, phone cases, etc.

Please add to the list in the comments!

-Bonnie

 Note: Life With You is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

31 Days ttc infertility

Resources for Those who are TTC

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Here is a list of resources that I have compiled about trying to conceive.  I hope that it is encouraging to you!

TTC Resources

Encouraging Blogs and Posts:

  1. Amateur Nester
  2. A Sweet Aroma  (Note: Brandy was blessed with their miracle baby and is now pregnant.  Her entire blog is encouraging, but if this is a sensitive time for you, you can scroll through to find her infertility posts.  Well worth it!)
  3. But Why Does She Get Babies?
  4. Infertility 101: Ch. 1 The Handbook No One Gives You
  5. War of the Infertiles
  6. Coping with Infertility
  7. When You’re Waiting on God to Answer Prayer
  8. Why We Keep Quiet About Infertility
  9. Being Still When God Makes You Wait
  10. Perspective
  11. Honest Faith
  12. I Finally Get It
  13. 4 Good Ways Infertility Changes You

For the Friends of Those TTC:

  1. Five Ways to Pray for Couples Struggling to Conceive
  2. 9 Things Infertile Women Want Women with Children to Know
  3. What Your Friend Might be Thinking When you Ask if She Could be Pregnant

TTC Health:

  1. How to Increase Your Egg Health in 90 Days
  2. Stronger: How Infertility Has Taught me to Take Care of Myself
  3. Natural Guide for Menstrual Health
  4. How to Use Fertility Herbs to Boost Your Fertility Naturally
  5. 4 Tips to Enhance Fertility Through Exercise

Books:

  1. Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 20th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health
  2. Making Babies: A Proven 3-Month Program for Maximum Fertility
  3. Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet: Tasting the Goodness of God in All Things  (Note: I haven’t read this book personally, but it has been recommended to me!)
  4. Best of 999 Reasons to Laugh at Infertility
  5. Hannah’s Hope: Seeking God’s Heart in the Midst of Infertility, Miscarriage, and Adoption Loss
  6. Moments for Couples Who Long for Children (New Life Live! Meditations) (Note: I haven’t read this book personally, but it has been recommended to me!)
  7. Dancing Upon Barren Land: Prayer, Scripture Reflections, and Hope for Infertility (Note: I haven’t read this book personally, but it has been recommended to me!)
  8. 31 Days of Prayer During Infertility

Periscope:

  1. Natural Fertility Info.  She has had some great Scopes recently that have been very helpful.
  2. You can also follow me if you would like.  I am EasyGreenClean on Pericope.  I don’t Scope regularly but my goal is to cover a variety of topics, including TTC.

Personal Testimonies:

  1. Waiting for Baby Bird – Testimonies
  2. Infertility Stories

YouTube:

Music:

  1. Your Hands by JJ Heller
  2. The Hurt and the Healer by MercyMe
  3. Even If by Kutless
  4. Beauty from Pain by Superchick
  5. Blessings by Laura Story
  6. Make Something Beautiful by Laura Story
  7. Keeper of the Stars by Laura Story
  8. Walk by Faith by Jeremy Camp
  9. Need You Now by Plumb
  10. Because God is Good by John Waller

Feel free to add any other resources in the comments!

-Bonnie

Note: Life With You is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

31 Days ttc infertility

To my Precious Child Yet to Be

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My precious baby,

Words cannot describe how much I love you already.  As of yet, you aren’t even a line on a stick, but I long for you.  I long to have you in my belly, to feel you kick, to hold you close once you are born.  I want to kiss your head, your face, your hands.

I pray for you.  I hope every day that God will give you to us.  You will be our rainbow baby, our precious miracle that comes after miscarriage.

infertility TTC rainbow baby

You have such an amazing father.  Such a wonderful big brother.  He will be so happy to meet you!!  I know he will help take good care of you.  You have two precious big siblings with Jesus as well and someday we will all be together.

Sometimes I feel like it will be forever until I can meet you.  Until I can get some sign that you will in fact one day be a reality.  But I have hope.  Hope that someday you will become two pink lines.  That you will grow in my belly and I will be nauseous and starving because of you.  That you will kick me in the ribs and as I rub away the pain I will smile knowing that my precious little one caused it.

You are our precious miracle.  I hope to meet you soon, but I am content to wait.  I know that God’s timing in giving you to us will be perfect.

I love you more than words can express.

Love,

Mommy

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31 Days ttc infertility

What if God Does Not Provide?

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One of my favorite infertility bloggers, A Sweet Aroma, graciously allowed me to re-blog one of her posts.  I was scrolling through her posts and this one stood out to me.  It truly encompasses so much of what this journey is like and I for one needed (and still need!) that faith booster.

Thank you, Brandy, for sharing your blog post!!

What If God Doesnt Provide TTC

———————————

Husband and I were on the last leg of our trip to San Diego.
It was a late evening flight on the Eve of Thanksgiving.
Most of the cabin (including Joel) was asleep.
I couldn’t seem to quiet my brain to join them so I pulled out my Bible, journal, and devotion.
The first real bit of peace and quiet I’d had all day.

I was a day behind on my Thanksgiving series so I decided to play catch up….
Interestingly enough the 2 days were “Give Thanks in Plenty” and “Give Thanks in Want.”
Just that morning I had shared my few day old letter to the Two Week Wait.
I knew that during our time with Joel’s family we would know one way or the other….
Was my womb filled with plenty or filled with want?

The perspective from the devotion left me in tears.
The moment held such chilling intimacy that’s not predicted on a plane packed with passengers.
As the tears faded and my eyes grew tired, I turned on my music, laid over on the window
and hoped to get some rest.
I dozed off while dreaming of having good news to share with our California family.

But that dream was short lived… even shorter than I expected.

I woke up on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, to find out that my womb was filled with want.
My baby-home was still empty and next summer would not hold a child for me to hold.

Visit A Sweet Aroma to read the rest of her wonderful post.31 Days ttc infertility

Natural Fertility Info

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Another great web site to check out is Natural Fertility Info.

I subscribed to their email list and I have enjoyed reading the tips and information that Heathir sends out.

You can sign up for the 10 Day Fertility Smoothie Challenge or the 21 Day Fertility Diet Challenge.

Read about various fertility issues, including PCOS, endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes, unexplained infertility, FSH infertility, and much more.

There is also a great section on different kinds of therapies, including acupuncture, herbs, aromatherapy, and cleansing.

It was also Heathir who educated me on egg health.  Did you know that what you do today (food intake, exercise, stress, oxygenation, etc) affects the eggs that will be released 90 days from now?  Crazy!

This site is definitely a great resource to add to your repertoire!

-Bonnie

31 Days ttc infertility

Apps for TTC

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There are so many great apps out there!  Several are specifically great for anyone TTC.  Here are a few that I have found…

TTC apps infertility

  1. A cycle tracker.  There are a lot of good ones out there, including Fertility Friend, Kindara, and Woman Log.  My personal favorite is Woman Log, although I believe it is only available on Android.  Whichever one you choose, you need one that tracks all things related to your cycle…ovulation, symptoms, BBT, cervical fluid, luteal phase, etc.
  2. My Fertile Food.  Available on iTunes.  This app has daily targets to help you achieve optimal diet when TTC.  It tracks healthy fats, protein, veggies, fruits, whole grains, and super foods.
  3. My Mobile Fertility.  Available on iTunes.  This app is for holistic fertility treatment and endeavors, such as acupuncture and advocacy groups.
  4. Momento (iTunes) or Journey (Android).  These are journal apps where you can record things from each day.  Studies show that the more you focus on the positive, the more improved your mood and overall outlook on life.  You can add pictures to entries or just do text.
  5. Bible app.  Take some time out of your day to read some Scripture.
  6. Positive Inspirational Quotes or Life Inspirational Quotes.  Encouraging and motivating memes for every day.

What apps do you recommend for those TTC?

-Bonnie

31 Days ttc infertility

Be Your Own Advocate

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No matter how far along you are in your journey of TTC, it is so so important to be your own advocate.

Research, research, research.  Know your options.  Find out things you can do on your own to improve fertility.  Discover something that you haven’t brought up to your doctor yet.

You know your own body better than anyone else, so if you are dissatisfied with answers from your doctor….find another one!

On this second round of TTC, I have seen five or six different doctors.  Not a single one of them has asked for a family history or my personal cycle history.  Just because they have impressive letters after their name does not mean that a doctor is to be trusted at all cost.  I am currently looking into options with our insurance for finding another practice.

Read about your body.  Read about different methods.  Some you might discard as crazy and others might seem like something you could benefit from.

So many doctors are quick to promote invasive and expensive procedures before even trying to find out the root cause of infertility.  (The Making Babies book also has some great information on that.)  Take the time to educate yourself so that you can be equipped when you step foot into the doctor’s office.  I learn new things all the time and it is very encouraging and empowering.

Kind of a tangent, but speaking about learning things….did you know that you can discover where your uterus and ovaries are??  Crazy cool.

Don’t settle for less than you deserve.  Do your research and proceed confidently.

-Bonnie

31 Days ttc infertility