Today is the start of autumn according to the meteorological calendar, and I’ve been taking some time to reflect on the year so far. It’s been a turbulent one for us, full of changes and unexpected challenges as both my husband and I started new jobs, a member of my family spent four and a half months in hospital, I temporarily lost sight in my left eye, there were two deaths in my husband’s family, and my 92-year-old nanna moved into a care home. Yet in the midst of all the stress, sorrow and upheaval, we received one piece of very welcome good news – we’re expecting a baby in February. I’m not one to count my chickens before they’ve hatched but with every passing week, we feel more hopeful and excited about starting this new chapter of our lives.
Our journey to parenthood has taken longer than expected, long enough for ten colleagues, three close friends, two cousins and my sister-in-law to announce their own pregnancies and welcome their babies into the world; long enough for us to be diagnosed with “unexplained infertility”; and long enough for us to imagine that children of our own might not be in our future at all. Our little miracle has taken longer than expected, but we’re so looking forward to meeting them.
I haven’t written about this before – and I’m very aware of how lucky we are – but too often online we only see the celebrations and successes from the graduations, new jobs and new homes to the engagements, weddings and baby announcements without any context or mention of the hard work, stress or uncertainty that often preceded them. Yet there have been so many times over the years that I’ve drawn comfort and inspiration from seeing how others have coped with and overcome adversity, from illness and infertility to redundancy, divorce and grief. Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, I’ve been humbled more time than I can count but I’ve been overwhelmed with joy and gratitude just as often. Have a lovely week. X
Very best wishes – It is good to have some good news after a difficult year. I hope all goes well for your family.
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Thank you so much, it’s been a challenging year but hoping next year will be better.
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Congratulations on your wonderful news! It seems like it couldn’t have come at a better time after all you’ve been through. I’m so glad that the sight in your left eye has returned. It must have been a frightening time for you. It seems there is so much to look forward to in 2020.
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Thank you so much. It’s just been one thing after another since February, but hoping that things are starting to improve now. X
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Congratulations on your lovely news 🙂 I’m sorry you’ve had to endure greater hardships than most on this journey but I wish you and your family the best for the future 🙂
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Thank you so much. X
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Congratulations! After all that turmoil you needed some good news x
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Thank you so much. We’re very much hoping that next year is better. X
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Congratulations and very best wishes to you! And oh, what a year. Hoping for more peaceful times ahead. x
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Thank you so much. X
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Congratulations, what wonderful news! You must be so excited and so full of trepidation as well. We rise to the challenges! X
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Thank you – it’s very exciting but nerve-wracking too. Life is never boring, change is constant and inevitable. X
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The best possible response! It is going to be wonderful!!
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Oh, this is fabulous news. I’ve been there on the infertility front and I know it’s not easy when everyone else seems to be so lucky. I’m so happy for you both !!
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Thank you so much, it’s been a very lonely and frustrating journey but I feel very lucky and grateful now. X
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Congratulations! 🙂
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