If only it were just about the birds and the bees.

It is the end of 2009.  During this year, I have gotten married, discovered I have endometriosis, recovered from my laparoscopic procedure, dealt with a crazy economy where I had to learn to live on a budget, and Jeff and I have just purchased our first home together.  It was a life changing year for the two of us, to say the least. It is late November and we have just settled in our new home, and we start thinking about "Baby Ridlen".  We decide the best month to start is January, after the holidays.  For Thanksgiving, we head off to see our grandparents in Abilene for the day with my mom, sister, brother-in-law, and my brother.   I love Thanksgiving...you get to eat your face off and nobody judges (well not totally).  My grandmother has the table beautifully set, the kitchen smells wonderful, everyone is getting ready to say the prayer, and I suddenly become super sick.  Side note: I always get ...

I met Yazzel through my sweet friend, Peggy.  Yazzel reached out to me when she heard I was going through fertility troubles.  She has been an inspiration and my guidance counselor  over the past couple of months.  She was one of the very few people I knew that actually went through the IVF cycle.  It was so refreshing to sit down with her and talk to someone that knew what I was going through and tell me what to expect.  I also got the opportunity to hear about Yazzel's story and how she made it through 4 years of this process.  I have asked that Yazzel share her story... Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. This bible verse is what got me and my husband through 4 rough years of infertility.  Being told time after time that my egg reserve was extremely low and the quality was no good, that my chances of getting pregna...

My laparoscopic surgery was done at an out patient hospital.    Two days prior to my surgery, I had to do pre-op where they take your blood and give you the run down of what is about to happen.  On the day of the surgery, I checked in around 9:00 and my surgery was set for 11:00.  I signed my life away and paid a hefty little fee for what my not so great insurance would not cover. I am going to take a quick detour for a second because I thought this was pretty cool.  At the time, it was 2009 and the recession was in full swing and my industry got hit really hard.  I was a straight commission sales rep., so needless to say, I was not rolling in the dough.   When I found out that this surgery was going to cost me over $1200, I was not totally sure of the timing.  Jeff assured me to not worry and that is why we have savings.  One week prior to my surgery, I randomly get a bonus check for guess how much?!?!?  You...

Fast forward from my last blog on the birds and the bees to 2009.  Jeff and I had just gotten married, and we were enjoying the honeymoon stage...if you know what I mean.  I started to notice that intercourse was really painful.  I ignored it and just thought it would go away.  A couple months later, the pain was still there, so Jeff suggested I go see the doctor.  I was super embarrassed to talk to the doctor about my painful sex life, especially since he was a dude.  My doctor at the time was a young guy that tries to make awkward checkups more comfortable by using humor.  He is the doctor that calls our lady part a "va-j-j"..seriously, not kidding.  The visits were always short and to the point which at this stage in life I appreciated, since I have never felt really comfortable about anything that involved my lady parts.  Many of you know how modest I am. So, I go in and he...

Check out Proverbs 31 devotional today...it is awesome!  http://devotions.proverbs31.org/ You can subscribe to receive daily devotionals to your email.  I highly recommend this daily encouragment. I was feeling beyond stressed today with work.  After reading through this devotion before I headed out today, it made me feel BEYOND STRONG .    Feel free to post in comment section what you were feeling today and what "BEYOND" statement you feel after reading God's promise. XOXO

We did not do any fertility treatments this month, but tried at home with ovulation.  Jeff's birthday was last Wednesday and I was a couple of days late, so I took a test right before he got home in hopes I would have a special birthday surprise for him.  I know that there is only a 1-2% chance of me getting pregnant without fertility help, but I still feel a small glimmer of hope.  So, when the stick says, "no, not right now", it still breaks my heart.  Does it ever get easier, and why not right now. How much longer do I have to wait?  It has been over 2 years... After reading my blog, my dear childhood friend, Leslie Bunt, sent me a very encouraging verse last week.  Since ancient times, no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. Isaiah 64:4-5b Leslie went on to say, "Also, after I ...

Not sure how it went down for you in 5th grade.  But, that year at Birdwell Elementary, we were separated into boys and girls.  The girls had to go into Mrs. Perry's class, while the boys stayed in Mrs. Boseley's class.  They proceed to play a video, and our good old friend from "Annie" tells the girls about the birds and the bees.  Our favorite red headed orphan explained our bodies and the basics of how a baby is made in a simplistic approach that a 5th grader could understand.  Pretty straight forward. Fast forward to 9th grade at Robert E Lee High School in Health class...we get separated into boys and girls again. As we head to a different room, I remember thinking, "Seriously, I think Annie already covered the basics. I think we are mature enough to handle being with the boys" (because I was so grown up/mature - NOT).  As the video starts, it goes into an overview of our anatomies and the biological ...