If you haven’t already discovered this gem on the internet, then you need to go ahead and check out Natural Fertility and Wellness.

This site is a wealth of information on healthy diet, detoxing, charting, supplements, healing from miscarriage, etc.

All of her information is written in an easy to read manner and in bite-sized chunks.  Dealing with trying to conceive can be very overwhelming….add in the crazy amount of information out there and you can seriously suffer from information overload.  Donielle presents it in such a way that it makes overwhelming tasks seem very doable.  She also is open with her own story and sharing her life and experience with her readers.

While you’re at it, make sure you scroll down a bit and find her weekly fertility challenge on the right.  Sign up.  I wasn’t sure what it would be about, but it definitely has been very encouraging and once again she broke it down into manageable chunks.  It makes you feel like, “Ok, I can do this.”  It’s still an overwhelming road but it gives you a good place to start.

And no I didn’t get paid to say all this. 😉  I was just excited to discover her site and I thought I would share it.

-Bonnie

It is so easy to feel alone in this.  It is so easy to feel like no one understands what you’re going through.  It’s easy to feel alienated by your TTC journey.  It’s easy to feel like the odd one out when you can’t participate in the motherhood or moms-of-multiples discussions.  It’s easy to feel less-than when other moms indicate that you just can’t relate because you “only” have one child.

So on those days where you feel like no one can see you…..

Remember that you are not alone.

Infertility affects 1 in 8 couples.  There are millions of other people in your shoes right now.  On the one hand, that is not at all encouraging and it can be quite discouraging.  On the other hand, it is somewhat encouraging that your trials are not off-the-wall or crazy.  There are people who understand.  There are online forums, Facebook communities, and church Bible studies.  Connect yourself with people who understand.  Check out this post which links to a lot of infertility bloggers!

Chances are, you probably have family or friends who would love to be there for you.  Maybe they “get it” and have been through it themselves, maybe they don’t.  But they love you.  Decide what you are comfortable sharing and then allow them to be there for you.  Don’t lie to yourself and say that nobody cares.  Trust me, I’ve been there.  That’s a great way to make a discouraging situation even more discouraging.

Above all, you are not alone because the Lord is with you.  David says in the Psalms, “You keep track of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle.  Are they not in your book?”  (Psalm 56:8)

Now, that verse is specifically talking about David’s life being threatened. But throughout Scripture we can see the great love and care that God has for His people.  He cares.  Psalm 139 talks about how God knows exactly who you are, exactly what you are doing, and exactly what you are feeling.  He is in that doctor’s office with you.  He is in the car crying with you.  He is in the bathroom seeing that negative pregnancy test with you.  You are not alone. 

He already knows 100% what is going on inside your body.  He sees your pain.  He cares about your pain.

Pour out your heart to Him.  It is ok to be honest.  Read the Psalms and see how honest David got with God!!!  So often we think that we have to be ultra spiritual and push our questions and fears down so that the true Christian responses can surface.  David (and Jeremiah for that matter!) show that those questions, doubts, and fears are not only completely normal, but it is completely fine and good to talk to God about them.  It is in working through those feelings that true Christianity shines through.

“Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.  Selah.”
Psalm 62:8

You are not alone.

And I know I’m just a blogger, but I care about you too.  Whatever your story and whatever you are going through.  If you would like to talk, go ahead and shoot me an email at lifewithyou1222 (at) gmail (dot) com.

-Bonnie

I just entered my 2ww.

That means “two week wait.”  It is the dreaded period of time between ovulation and the date that you either find out you’re pregnant or your period starts.

There are no words to adequately describe this window of time.  If you’re TTC, maybe some of this sounds familiar.

For the first day or so after ovulation, I’m feeling good about it.  I gave it my best shot, DTD every day or every other day, depending on which method we decided to try this month, and I really think this month could be it.  It’s probably not.  But you never know.  It could be.  I sure did try!

Then day 3 hits, and I plummet to the depths of despair.  I still have another week and a half to wait.

Hmm.  I wonder what the earliest date is that I can take a test?

No, don’t even think about it.  This month I am. going. to. wait. until. my. period.  I can do this.  *stares at self in mirror and gives pep talk*

Day 4.  Wellll…..I’ll just take a quick peek at Countdown to Pregnancy.  IF I’m pregnant, my due date would be in May.  But I’m sure I’m not.  But I wonder what it would be like to have a spring baby?

Day 5.  I’m going to just get super busy with stuff and try not to think about it.

Day 6.  I’m not pregnant.  I never get positive tests, why would this month be any different?  I will fall apart if I have to see another negative test.  I have to wait until my period shows up.  Because I know my period will show up.

Day 7.  Are my boobs tender?  I think I’m cramping.  *gasp* Maybe it’s implantation twinges!!!  No, calm down.  Calm down.  It’s not.  Welllll…..I’ll just take a quick peek at Countdown to Pregnancy and see statistically if these symptoms tend to mean pregnancy or not.

Days 8 and 9.  Torture.  I alternate between being hopeful and being extremely cynical.  I know that my regular PMS symptoms are nothing like this.  But then again, why should I get my hopes up when I know that I will obviously never see another BFP (big fat positive) again.

Day 10.  I’m obviously not going to take a pregnancy test, but I mean I am acutely aware of the fact that most tests boast the fact that you can test 5 days before your expected period.  That’s today.  Not that I’m counting or anything.

Day 11.  I’m going to wait to test.  (Five minutes later)  Maybe I’ll test later today.  (Five minutes later)  No, I should really wait.  What’s a few more days anyway?  (Five minutes later)  I CAN’T WAIT A FEW MORE DAYS.  (pushes on bladder to see if full enough to pee yet)  (Five minutes later, sets stick with sample down on the counter)  I can’t look at the test.  It will kill me to see a negative.  I can’t handle this right now.  Has it been three minutes?  Ok, I’m just going to step outside the bathroom, take a few deep breaths, pray, and then go back and in and it just is what it is.  (paces outside for a few minutes, then goes back in)

Test is negative.  I stare at it, my soul crushing into tiny pieces.  I try to hold back the tears, reminding myself that it’s still early for a positive.  I pick it up and hold it closer to the light, turning it this way and that way, just in case I’m missing a faint line.  But, no.  It’s a very clear negative.  I can’t tear my eyes off of it.  That one line staring back at me, mocking me.  I finally throw it in the garbage and cover it with toilet paper so I don’t have to see it.

Days 12-whenever my period starts.  As much as I tell myself to stop testing, I can’t help myself.  I somehow end up testing once a day, sometimes more.  And each negative test is like a knife wound.

Period starts.  I climb into bed and sob my heart out, dreams for another month dissolving.  When I finally get out of bed, I stress eat.  Who cares about my diet, it won’t matter anyway.  What do these supplements matter, they aren’t helping.  I don’t need to exercise anyway, I don’t have a baby to be healthy for.

Period is over.  Deep breaths.  I can do this.  Let’s try another month.  Hope slowly builds up again, I work out, take my supplements, and get back to my diet.  It’s a new month and a new chance.

-Bonnie

I am so excited to be doing my first 31 day blogging challenge!  I have wanted to for a while, but this is the first year where something just clicked and I knew what I wanted to write about.

Throughout October, I will be posting about TTC, or Trying to Conceive.

This series is for the person who has been TTC for any period of time.  It will be for the woman who has been trying for two months.  For the woman who has been trying for two years.  For the woman who has been diagnosed with infertility.  For the woman who has no diagnosis.

If you have ever done the walk of shame (you know the one….when you have to pick up your purse at your friend’s house and walk to the bathroom announcing to the world that you are not pregnant and instead you’re on your period…yeah that one), then this series is for you.

Infertility affects 6.7 million people in America.  It has many repercussions.  Obviously physical ones…but also emotional and spiritual.  It is a tough road to travel, regardless of how long you have been trying.

If you read this series, I’m assuming it is because either you or someone you love is TTC.  First of all, I want to say I’m sorry.  I’m sorry that you have to read this series.  I’m sorry for your struggle.  I wish I could give you a big hug!

I had been planning to do this series for months but honestly now that October is here it hasn’t been very good timing for me.  We’ve had a lot of bumps and difficulties recently that have made it difficult to write this series.  As a result, some posts that I wanted to write I was unable to.  And overall the series is not what I had planned.  But God’s timing is perfect, so I trust that some of this series will be beneficial to at least one person.  I have some wonderful guest bloggers as well and I am so thankful for those who have shared!

I have 31 posts ready for this month….including giveaways and guest posts.  I hope that it is encouraging to you in some manner.  ❤

I also plan to do a few Scopes about the series throughout the month.  You can follow me on Periscope @EasyGreenClean

Warning: These posts will contain information about TTC…so if you are bothered by words like “period” “ovulation” or “cervical fluid” you might not want to read. 😉

-Bonnie