Feeling Grateful

Today is one of those days that I just feel so grateful.

I have written before about gratitude and being grateful for even the little things that I often take for granted.

Today is one of those days where I’m feeling grateful for something more important, my children.

I am one of those fortunate women who did not have to work hard to become pregnant. With both boys, I was pregnant within a couple months of trying to conceive. Both pregnancies went pretty much without incident (though there were issues at the end that I might talk about later). I was even one of those annoying pregnant women who only gained weight in my belly.

I have several friends and family members with fertility issues and babies with health issues. I know all too well how blessed I am that everything worked seamlessly and that I conceived easily and delivered healthy babies.

Today is one of those days that I realize it even more so. We have some friends who desperately want to be parents. They have tried various fertility methods, all without success. They have since decided to adopt and have been waiting for “their” baby to arrive any day. He was born last week. It’s an open adoption, they were there for the birth. He’s beautiful, perfect. Their faces as they hold him say it all.

However, now the birthmom is having second thoughts. They knew this could happen, however it doesn’t make it any easier. When I saw his sweet little baby face in the photos, I was thinking how on Earth the birth mother could give him up. Those are reasons and decisions I know nothing about and certainly do not pass judgment at all. I can only think how incredibly hard it would be, regardless of her reasons. As a mother, my heart goes out to her.

But, my heart is also hurting for my friends. My friends who want so desperately to be parents and would be such wonderful ones too. My friends who hand painted this baby’s room, who named him, who have held him and called him “theirs”.

My heart is breaking for them. My heart is breaking and is so unbelievably grateful for my own children. I can’t even begin to put into words what I feel for my children and how full they make my life. I will always remember a card I received with a shower gift that said simply, “Get ready to meet the love of your life”. So true.

So, as you hug your kids today, think of those women and men who so desperately want to be doing the same thing, but have not yet been blessed… and be grateful. I know I will.

04/11/2009 | Gratitude.

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5 Responses to “Feeling Grateful”

Pregnancy Dates Calculator Says:
April 11th, 2009 at 6:39 am

[...] Feeling Grateful | Fly Away Family [...]

Jessica Says:
April 11th, 2009 at 10:31 am

Thank you for feeling blessed! It is so difficult sometimes when you just get negative after negative after negative tests. I’ve just begun my TTC journey and I knew deep down that it would be a struggle for us and guess what? I was right. We’re at 1.5 years and I know that there are so many couples who struggle for much longer.

Mama Bird Says:
April 11th, 2009 at 5:27 pm

I have quite a few friends and a few family members who struggle with this also. I can’t imagine the frustration and disappointment of each passing month. Words of encouragement always seem trite coming from someone who never had these issues, but know that they are still heartfelt…we just don’t know what else to say.

Jessica Says:
April 13th, 2009 at 9:01 am

Sadly, there isn’t much to say. I prefer just to cry alone in the dark while my husband is sleeping but I think that was when I needed to grieve because now I’m doing a whole lot better.