Letting God Take Over My Life

Yesterday was a horrible day for me; I was all tears for so many reasons.  For starters this is my first thanksgiving away from my family, and what has been breaking me down the most and I've been trying to hide it, is the fact of not being able to conceive.  I at times hold my head up high and I let everyone know I have faith that some day we will become parents, but deep down my heart is broken into so many little pieces.  And yesterday was the breakdown for me.  I had so many things in my head, from family, marriage and baby issues.  And while I was working I kept on saying WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT FROM ME LORD? Funny part I never thought he would answer.  He answered me through so many people I cried even more.  See I’m a very open person, throughout the years I've learned that saying the truth is worth so much more than lying.  So lately I was questioning my faith and God’s existence. I was so angry on how life is.  I questioned the fact that there are so many women that have unwanted babies, kills them, and rapes them; and yet here we desire a family and nothing happens.  How could this be possible?  Why these things happen? Where is God when things like this are happening?  Why us?  These were all my questions, I was angry, I was depressed, and crying, you name it there is no words to describe how I've been feeling.  But like I said; yesterday was the day my Lord answered all my questions.

Below is the sequence of how He answered.  I’m amazed and I have asked for forgiveness so many times because I doubted.  I doubted the Lord, I doubted His promise, and I doubted His existence.  

In short words my cousin told me she would carry my baby

Then my friend Marieliz posted this on Instagram

My other friend Michelle posted this on her Facebook 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

 And to end the night a Pastor I follow on Facebook posted this

Then I had other situations disturbing my head, I was emotionally wrecked and between conversations with my mother and my friend I felt a lot better.  See in just one day I received so many messages from different people and I know for a fact it was God talking to me.  As I’m typing tears just come out because I’m just simply amazed on how wonderful God is.  I can say that I’m still emotionally broken but for the first time after so many years I can say I have accepted Christ not just by words but by heart, I have accepted Him to rule and take over my life.  I have accepted Him to do His will.  Let Him take charge of my life and let me obey what He has for my life.  My Dad always told me to kneel down and pray and I would say “yes yes I will” but then I would forget or simply didn't want too, and for the first time yesterday I got on my knees and prayed.  Like I said in a previous post of mine I don’t know what plans the Lord has for me, but I will patiently wait, pray and have faith that He will provide in His own way. 

Happy Wednesday, Happy Long Day Weekend & most important Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Natural FertilityTreatment

Okay well I’m guessing that maybe plenty of you have read my past blog on my situation with trying to conceive.  Here’s a little more about my story.  When I got my first period I learned that I was irregular.  And when I mean irregular I mean terribly irregular.  I would get my period maybe two times a year, and it would last a month, my hemoglobin was extremely low all the time.  When I hit 28 I got really sick due to my hemoglobin, I had to go to a Hematologist because my Gynecologist was concern that I might develop Leukemia (thank God I didn't),  but I now will have to continue drinking iron pills for the rest of my days every time I get my period.  Good thing about it my hemoglobin has been perfect ever since.  Bad thing, my period is still irregular they wanted me to get on a birth control treatment but obviously I reject anything that has to do with birth control. In this month (October) I have my first OB/GYN appointment scheduled for this month (October 2013) here in Ft. Bragg, and I hoping they can help me with my irregularity and my TTC situation, but in the meantime I did my research and one of my friends (she should be a Nutritionist or something) gave me so many suggestions and well this is what I will begin doing:

PHASE I

Menstrual cycle!!!

PHASE II
Step 1: Body Cleanse 

I think we all know by now that habits like smoking, drug use, and high caffeine intake can severely impair fertility. There are many other factors that contribute as well:

- Lack of sleep

- Exposure to toxins

- Lack of exercise or too much

- High stress

- Certain medications or supplements 

This one was a shocker for me because honestly with two jobs and school, I am always under stress and I can't sleep.  

That's why before starting the process of natural fertilization I decided to detox my body.  

Benefits of detoxing:

-  Supports the liver in detoxification of excess hormones and toxins

-  Assists the uterus in cleansing out old blood

-  Reduces occasional reproductive system discomfort

-  Promotes normal circulation to the reproductive system for optimal health

-  Works with the menstrual cycle for optimal cleansing

What will I be taking for Phase II during menstrual cycle and 1 week after:

Detox Cleansing Tonic (the Vitamin Shoppe - Promotes healthy liver and kidney function. Tea tastes nasty but it’s totally worth it.

Super Detox (4Life) - supports a healthy liver and promotes its natural detoxification process. 

PHASE III
Step 1: Supplements 

Belle Vie (4Life) - Helps strengthening the body’s natural immune system response to promote healthy cell growth and function.  Belle Vie includes a potent and proprietary phytoestrogen blend of red clover which has a very high vitamin content and contains almost every trace mineral. It has been known to help balance hormones and restore fertility.

Omega-3 - Can help reduce inflammation and boost proper hormone production.

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea - A well know fertility herb that is also good during pregnancy. It has a high nutrient profile and is especially high in calcium and is a uterine tonic. It is available in capsule form, but makes an excellent hot or cold tea.

Maca- A hormone balancing herb that is known throughout the world for its fertility and vitality promoting properties. Good for both men and women to increase fertility, though women should only take between menses and ovulation and MAKE sure it is not taken during pregnancy. It is a very potent herb that often has very noticeable effects on fertility. It comes in powder form or capsule form.

Vitex- Nourishes the pituitary gland and helps lengthen the luteal phase. It lowers prolactin and raises progesterone. For some women, this alone will increase fertility.

·    Folic Acid- Folic acid is well known as a necessary vitamin in early pregnancy to prevent complications, but it is most beneficial when taken for several months before the pregnancy as well as during. It helps cell division and promotes ovulation.

Royal Jelly (do not use if you're allergic to bees)- Balances hormones, supports the endocrine system, helps raise estrogen levels in women, and helps increase sperm quality and testosterone levels in men. I put one tablespoon in my morning smoothie 

IMPORTANT: Do not take any of these herbs in combination with fertility drugs, hormone treatments, or hormonal birth control! As with any herbs, supplements, or medication, consult a doctor or health care professional about your specific case and do your own research!

Step 2: Nutrition

This is by far the most important step.  You have to nurture yourself with the healthy good stuff. 

To optimize fertility through nutrition:

Be at your optimal weight, a BMI that's too low or high decreases your fertility. A BMI between 19.5 and 25 is optimal.

Exercise regularly, walk more.  Decrease stress, start yoga for fertility and for relaxation.

Remove grains, processed foods, sugars and starches from the diet. Obtain necessary carbohydrates from vegetables, some fruits and starchy sources like sweet potatoes and squash.

Increase healthy fats in the diet especially from sources like coconuts, coconut oil, olives and olive oil, butter, grass-fed meats, eggs, avocado and nuts.

Get enough protein especially from grass fed meats, eggs, and nuts (pumpkin seeds are the best).

Eat a lot of vegetables, especially green leafy varieties like lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collard, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and similar veggies.

Drink enough water- your urine should be very lightly colored. For most women, this is around 4 quarts a day.

Drink at least one serving a day of whole milk, ice cream, or yogurt. Temporarily drink less skim or low-fat dairy.

Get plenty of iron from fruits, vegetables, beans and supplements, not from red meat.

AVOID processed dairy and if you eat dairy, eat raw, organic dairy.

AVOID CAFFEINE

AVOID trans fats, found in FAST FOODS and many commercial products.  Check package labels for amounts of trans fats and AVOID anything that contains a “partially hydrogenated” ingredient.

Here are some of the pages where I did my research:

http://wellnessmama.com

http://babymed.com

If you have any type of questions you can contact me at melinad32@gmail.com

I hope this was all helpful for all of you!!!

Trying to Conceive

If you are reading this, I guess it is because you too are trying to have a baby and are experiencing challenges. My story is written here in my blog because I'm pretty sure there are other females out there experiencing the same pain.  And believe me it's not good to deal with it on your own.

Just to bring you up to date, I am 33 years old, hard to admit that - as I still feel like 20 but being in my 30's well it sounds so old in terms of child bearing years. As a teenager I envisaged being a stay at home mom with at least three kids. My daydreams included the whole deal - the station wagon, the handsome husband, the maid, and teaching and supporting my kids through all their various interests, hobbies, friends and stages of life, just like my mom did with my sisters and I. I saw myself as supermom! All that changed when I started working, saw myself as an independent woman and decided that I would be better off traveling, buying all my fashion designer stuff and just be free from marriage and everything that had to do with compromising my life (childish of me at that time) but there was no room for kids in my scenario.

Well, years later, I no longer wanted to be childish and immature. I had crossed 32 with no baby pangs, but it was brewing quietly. Unfortunately when my husband and I decided that we were prepared to have babies, that's when all the pain begins. 

I was sure it would happen within a few months but being a control freak, I scoured the internet to learn about learning fertility signs and possible issues. More than anything else I wanted to learn how to optimize our chances of conceiving quickly. 

Well the months passed with no success. I tried every tip my friends would give me because each one worked for so many others I talked too. But none of those tips resulted in a pregnancy for me.

Finally, I learned that it's not just about wanting a baby.  I realized I have the most understanding, loving, caring, extremely supportive husband I never knew I would love so much. A marriage that keeps getting better and better with each passing day. I never knew love could be this good, this supportive, this honest, and this passionate. I love him so much and for the first I don't just want A baby - I want OUR baby. I want our family. I ache to see him with our baby. I ache to see this tiny beautiful little product of our love - looking and being a little bit like him and a little bit like me. It makes me smile just to think of it.

For the last year we have been aggressively trying to have a baby. We will begin several 'natural' methods, doctor and even natural herbs. And if this does not work our next step is the invasive methods of all the clinical doctors. But I am determined that before 2013 ends, will bring us a baby. So please, join us on our journey to motherhood.