MR. STORK, ARE YOU PLANNING ON EVER COMING MY WAY AGAIN???

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.

Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows in a warrior’s hand

Psalm 127: 3 and 4

“HOPE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE"

Our son is home for a month for Christmas holidays and every day, more and more, I find myself thinking about a certain very elegant ,white, feathered fellow, and wondering if he has any plans of ever coming our way again.

Our son needs a sibling so badly, as he seems to think that we, his parents are his siblings. Throughout the days, he constantly wants me to build fortes on his bed and read stories to him under those fortes, (picture a three year old and an adult on a toddler bed, and he does not seem to understand that the bed is just not big enough for both of us). I must say, I enjoy reading stories to him, even if it is on a toddler bed, under a forte, because I have tried on many occasions to read to him when he was a baby and all he wanted to do, was to spin the pages of the book himself and eat them. He also wants me to bounce with him on the beds and for me, after a couple of bounces, I have to collapse on the bed because I am out of breath. The other day he had me outside doing laps around the apartment with him. Before long I was totally out of it and he seemed as if he had just started. I sat down for a while with my hand on my cheeks, only to have him come up to me and asked ‘Mommy, why so sad, what’s wrong?’ I told him I was tired from running. He immediately said to me,” that’s alright mommy we can still run” and before I knew it, he had me running again. By the way, can anyone guess my age? Medical experts say, the best time to have children is in your twenties and it is not only for the reason that women are more fertile at that age, they also have more energy to deal with these babies who, before long turn into very active toddlers. It was never the intention, for a woman aged  forty-something be running behind toddlers (smile). I am however, not complaining at all, in fact I am very grateful for my son, and would not exchange him for anything.

I am finding out that almost everyone I know who had just one child, has a second one on the way and that is giving me the encouragement to continue our efforts in this regard. I would be lying if I said that my age was not scaring me, because it is and I also have my PCOS issues to contend with.  All in all, I owe it to myself, my husband and most of all, our son, to do this, because I strongly believe that every child needs at least one sibling to be there beside them as they grow up. I had the privilege of having six siblings and my life would not have been the same if I did not have them.

I talk a lot about adopting, if our efforts to have another biological child fails, but more and more I am hearing how long and tedious adoption is, and so I would prefer to see what our chances are with a biological one first, then if those efforts fail, we will then put all those efforts into adoption and be prepared to be in it for the long haul, because our bottom line is, We are scared to think that our son might have to grow up alone and it was never our intention for that to happen. He does have cousins, but they are far away and many are much older than he is and so even when they get together, he would still be disadvantaged, given his age.

I know God is on our side and I know you are too, continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Guest Post by Tania - Trying to Conceive with PCOS and Importance of Nutrition

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.

Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows in a warrior’s hand

Psalm 127: 3 & 4

"HOPE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE"

 

 

 

Polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS is one of the most common reasons why a woman is unable to become pregnant when trying to conceive. A woman with PCOS has cysts or fluid filled sacks on the ovaries, which can prevent ovulation and hinder normal functioning of the reproductive system. Though PCOS has been a recognized disorder for more than 75 years, the causes and reasons behind it are still unknown. Some experts feel it can be related to hereditary and others believe there to be a link between PCOS and diabetes, which is also plausible.

While most women diagnosed with PCOS will have an insulin resistance problem, there are some that do not. Ovarian cysts are common with PCOS, however; there are also cases of women being diagnosed with no cysts at all. Trying to conceive with PCOS can be very difficult, but not impossible, especially when a woman is proactive about her health and employs a battery of different things to address the symptoms of the disease.

A woman with PCOS and insulin resistance will have higher than normal levels of insulin and the body does not use the hormone effectively. Insulin resistance is normally handled through the use of certain medications and for some women; a special diet can also help alleviate some of the side effects. By working to stabilize insulin levels it can help with PCOS-related obesity and can promote fertility, making it much easier to become pregnant when trying to conceive.

With insulin resistance, some women with PCOS can find weight gain and obesity a very disturbing, but genuine problem. One research study showed that women consuming certain diets and having PCOS put themselves at a higher risk of gaining weight. A low fat diet plan may not be ideal for a woman with PCOS, a standard low fat-high carbohydrate diet may not be the best approach either because of the way the body converts these foods into fats. When fats and carbohydrates are converted to sugars, it can result in a fluctuation of insulin levels which can lead to a crash in blood sugar and overeating.

There are certain dietary recommendations which a woman can use when dealing with insulin resistance due to PCOS. It is recommended not to consume carbohydrates alone, but to combine with protein and fat in order to balance out the meal. Choosing foods low on the glycemic index will cause a slower rise in blood sugar, having more fiber content also means it takes longer to digest, which means insulin levels are more likely to remain stable. Do not limit carbohydrates so much that ketosis (incomplete metabolism of fatty acids) occurs; eating less than 40 grams of carbs per day is not recommended.

Other dietary recommendations for a woman with PCOS include spacing out carbs through the day and avoiding carbs which can trigger hunger or cravings. It is also recommended a woman takes a vitamin/mineral supplement to help fill in any dietary gaps and ensure optimal health. With certain dietary and lifestyle accommodations made, a woman can live with and manage the symptoms of PCOS in the healthiest way possible.

Trying to conceive with PCOS is something that can present a challenge for many women. When considering all the ways there are in which to treat and manage the disease, it pays for a woman to check into all the various possibilities. PCOS does not have to result in infertility for a woman and once brought under control through medical care and lifestyle and dietary changes, the chances of pregnancy improve as does the woman’s health.