everyday Ann

living the ordinary seeing the extraordinary

Infertility Awareness

(source)

It has been a few years now since I experienced the heartache and carried the burden of infertility, but all it takes is for me to pause a moment and reflect on that time and the longing becomes tangible and the pain so real.

This week marks Infertility Awareness Week. Bringing awareness to a struggle that so many couples face in their marriage with one in eight couples affected by it in the United States.

Whenever I hear of a couple struggling to have a baby my heart literally aches for them, because I was once there and know the depths of the desire. The emotional roller-coaster, the waiting, the anger, the hope. To wonder if it will ever happen or only a dream to let go of. Guarding your heart and praying for that miracle. Trying to trust that there is a plan yet questioning where God is in all of it.

Studies show that couples who experience infertility are three times more likely to divorce. Infertility puts a real strain on the marriage. Each spouse grieving in their own way and the all consuming desire that sometimes can blur our vision.

Spring seems to be a season filled with pregnancy announcements and baby showers. New life all around us. A reminder to some of the emptiness they feel. The void always present wondering if it will ever be filled.

What can we do? If you know of someone going through it reach out, send a card, a note or flowers. Even if you don’t have the words simply let them know they are not alone, but supported in thoughts and prayers. Don’t be afraid to talk about it, they need to know they have a community behind them.

For those waiting and longing, you are daily in my prayers and always on my heart. Never lose hope, trust in the silence and see the flicker of light shining on the darkest of days. You are beautiful and enough, whole and complete. Do not let this define you.

You are beautiful in every way, my friend!
– Song of Songs 4:7

 

 

Motherhood is Beautiful

This is a follow up to my post from a few months back Motherhood is Messy. I realize it could have come across sounding negative which was not my intention, but rather to build solidarity as we share in the hard days, the daily grind of it all. Yes, being a mom is difficult at times, exhausting and messy. It requires giving of ourselves completely at all hours of the day and night, but I wouldn’t trade it for a thing.

In a society where the focus is about rising to the top, having more and instant gratification it should not be surprising that motherhood is often looked down upon. Seen as an option for those who can’t make it, aren’t motivated or don’t have the intellectual ability to thrive in corporate America. All the more if you are populating more than the quota amount of offspring.

Sometimes I feel like writing “mom” on the occupation line of a form is not good enough or seem blushed and stumble over my words when I am asked what my career is. The responses that follow can often make you feel like crawling in a hole. The truth is they are missing what we are seeing.

Our children are a gift, all of them. Souls entrusted to our care with a great responsibility to someday return them to God. Lives on loan to us to love, care for, mold and shape.

They may write off mothers as weak, but what they don’t realize is we are the game changers. It is mothers who have the greatest power and influence to change the culture because we are raising the next generation. The next leaders, teachers, priests, politicians, police officers, CEO’s, and missionaries.

Motherhood is beautiful. The moments of wasting time reading and playing with our children, allowing the to-do list to be put on hold. Rocking the baby to sleep and just sitting there a bit longer to breath in the smell and kiss the soft cheeks just a few more times.

Having a dance party in the dining room as your older children act like they are embarrassed as their mother spins them in circles. The kids asking to have a sleepover on your bedroom floor just so they can be closer to you and in your presence.

Smiles beaming on their faces when they accomplish something new or finally hit the ball. The joy and sparkle in your children’s eyes as they make a wish and blow out their birthday candles.

The older boys sneaking in your room and quietly getting the baby out of his crib in the morning so mom can sleep a little longer. Watching the toddler mimic every single action in hopes of being just like you someday.

Being knocked over by ginormous bear hugs when you pick them up from school. Knowing you are the only one that can calm the toddler down in the middle of the night.

These moments are indeed beautiful and what a treasure that we are right in the middle of it. The pearls that the world does not see and chooses to write off as an inconvenience are the most prized possessions, richer than gold finer than silver. Truly a blessing to be called a mother.

Perhaps next time when I am asked what my occupation is I will respond with a bit more gusto. My career you ask, it is the most important in the world. I am a mom and it is amazingly beautiful!

If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.
-St. Teresa of Calcutta

Snowmagedon

We are half way through April. May will be here before we know it. By the looks of what I see out the window I think we are still in January, January 98th to be exact. It’s official we live in Narnia, always winter and never spring. I am not sure if we will ever thaw out or see summer for that matter!

This weekend we got hit with the second largest snowstorm in our area’s history with 21 inches of snow. No exaggeration, the last time these parts saw that kind of blizzard was 1888. Everything was shutdown, churches were even cancelling services.

We managed to be that crazy family and go Saturday evening to Mass hoping we could make it up our road which had yet to be plowed out. I hid in my coat as the neighbors out shoveling watched us attempt to get out of our driveway three times. I was so excited when we made it to the main road that I began hip-hooraying and hollering that I managed to scare both Grace and Caden with my excitement in which they both began screaming with tears.

I am not the least bit amused by mother nature’s humor and tricks. At least the kids are enjoying having another day off of school. I am becoming more and more convinced that flying south for the winter sounds like a really wonderful amazing idea.

April Survival

1.  This little man is seven months old!! I can’t imagine our lives without him. He is a mini-me look alike from when I was a babe with the most contagious laughter and a little mullet tail in the back that I can’t bring myself to cut just yet.

2.  We survived the most terrible stomach bug ever and I am so grateful that only myself and Grace got it. Why was it so terrible you may ask, of course besides the obvious. There was no end in sight.

Day 2: You think I will most certainly feel better tomorrow, most stomach bugs only last 24-48 hours.
Day 3: You tell yourself you are at the end of it only to continue to feel awful.
Day 4: You try to sleep off the fact that you are still knocked down. The toddler has the bucket system down, making the puke clean up a breeze.
Day 5: After not eating the past five days you give into the temptation and eat a slice of pizza for dinner. You regret it after going to bed with a belly ache, still somehow you magically wake up on day 6 feeling like a new person. Even ready to finally have a cup of coffee, that’s how you know you are officially back in the game.

Me: I am so glad you are feeling better.
Grace: Yep! Bye, bye sick!

3.  While I was out of commission the boys decided to attempt making the Saturday morning pancakes. This time they tried to follow the directions a little more or at least had the recipe card in front of them to reference the ingredients. I think it ended up being close to a 1:1 ratio of flour, sugar and oats. With sugar coming out on top. One cup of flour, one cup of oats and one cup of sugar and then another half cup.

4.  Ethan also wanted to surprise me and clorox wiped the entire bathroom including the mirror. (I think he was also taking precautionary steps so he wouldn’t be the next flu victim.) It took a little scrubbing on my part to get the film off that the disinfectant left on the mirror.

5.  Summer sign-ups are in full swing and I am feeling overwhelmed with what to register the boys for and what to leave out. They are ambitious and want to do everything. I am all for having some structure to their summer and participating in activities, but I also want it to be a time for them to just play, relax and have care-free days. I remember my summers growing up and during those days there wasn’t a lot to participate in. Still running through the sprinklers, playing outside and making up games with friends were the best times.

6.  Movie recommendations, theater or rentals. Ready go….

7.  Word on the street is we are suppose to be getting hit with the snow storm of the century this weekend. Really, this is mid-April. I am dreaming of sunshine and warm weather. Coping mechanism, large bowls of ice cream, hot chocolate and candy. Back to hibernation we go.

So glad it’s Friday! Linked up with Kelly.

3 Under $30

I told the boys that it is suppose to hit 60 degrees later this week. Their reaction, “Woah, that is sooo hot! I am wearing shorts to school!” I had to laugh, just a few years ago that would be freezing to them, but how quickly they acclimated and after a long winter 60 may indeed feel like summer.

With one day officially feeling like spring this week I may get the energy to finally pack away winter clothes and go through closets to weed out what’s too small and what will be needed for the warmer days ahead (eventually).

 

24.00 // francesca’s

I am loving the basket weave, straw purse and tote bag look for this season. I have spotted several cute small handbags, but practicality sets in and I remember I never leave the house without a child, so bigger is better. This one looks to be big enough to hold everything, although I may not be able to find a nuk or diaper when I need it. The pink poms add a fun pop of color.

 

9.00 // The Pink Penny Boutique

A friend of mine recently started this Etsy shop and the earrings look fabulous. A lot of different colors and patterns to choose from, most of them coming in two sizes. Statement earrings are an easy way to dress up an outfit from jeans, leggings to a fun springtime dress. My only dilemma will Caden be enamored with them as much as I am and attempt to pull them out.

 

34.50 // LOFT

The color of these pants may shock all the neutral tones in my closet, but it may be good to shake things up a bit. I have found girlfriend chinos to be my postpartum best friend when it comes to finding something that fits well and flatters without accentuating the leftovers. I have also spotted these that are a bit more subtle in color. Now if the weather would stay warm enough to wear pants that show my ankles.