Anyone who suffers from a chronic illness knows that the effects of living life as "the sick kid" reach far beyond what meets the eye. Whether you know exactly what it is or, like me, you receive a new diagnosis every few years because doctors honestly don't know what's wrong with you, the consequences of chronic illness can filter into many different segments of your life, including fertility. 

Anyone who has made the decision to grow their family knows that it is a journey, and sometimes that journey is full of trial and waiting. And chronic illness can definitely exacerbate the issues surrounding the decision to carry naturally! Here is the beginning of our story of trying to conceive, punctuated by the various delicacies of being chronically ill.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! This year I am especially grateful for this wonderful life and those whom I love the most. Thank you to family, friends, and strangers who have made me so joyous and kept me going through this crazy year and all those before it!

Miscarriage is hard! The loss rocks your happy world and leaves you lost and broken. But, there is a rainbow after the storm and God helps you recover little by little. Your baby may be gone but the time you spent with them, their existence, and your status as a parent does NOT go away with their passing! No matter how little time you shared with them, they are yours forever! Your child!

Expecting Wonder by Brittany L. Bergman is a wonderful little read, with just 26 light chapters in under 200 pages, that helps the worried new mom morph into a trusting woman of strength. Find courage within these pages to trust both your miraculous body and the goodness of God to get you through your journey into motherhood; what perhaps began with fear can end in hope for the wonderful new beginning that you are about to experience!

One of the best days of my life, when Joel proposed! Of course, Joel made fun of me for my original blog because I wrote a short and sweet version so here is the wonderful and fairy-tale-liscious full story!