infertility awareness week

it's national infertility awareness week.

it took me a while to open up about our infertility. i figured if i never talked about it, it wasn't real. i also worried that i would become defined by infertility if i told anyone about it, and i didn't want that. i have come to realize that infertility does not have the power to take away who you are: your kindness, your happiness, your smile and your laughter. it's a choice and almost every day for the last 5 years i have chosen not to let infertility define who i am or take away my happiness.

we've had some pretty funny times because of our infertility, including that one time when...

-a very expensive bill for a certain test which you normally wouldn't tell anyone about was sent to mike's parents instead of us. what a fun conversation to have with the in-laws!

-an awkward technician once smiled and said, "oh honey, this shot is MUCH too big for your arm." i felt like responding as steve martin might, saying, "do i! know! you!?

-that same awkward technician opened the door on two seperate occasions while i was still getting ready for an ultrasound. so basically i was standing there with my pants off and he walked in. twice. ever heard of knocking?

-we went to our first appointment with a new specialist last year and his nurse, seriously lacking personality, completed her routine check list of questions and in the most monotone and unconcerned voice asked me, "do you feel threatened by anyone around you." mike looked at me and said, "don't you dare answer that." i don't think the nurse even noticed, but i had a hard time keeping a straight face.

so infertility isn't all bad! it's funny and awkward and humbling and everything in between.

i plan to check in later this week for one more post. in the mean time, check out this article for ways to have fun during national infertility awareness week.