Do they know how blessed they are to be able to Be Mamas?

I have not given up totally on the hope of being able to concieve and give birth to our own child, BUT in order to do so I really need a miracle! However, I realize the odds are NOT in my favor. I regret not being more assertive in my younger years when I tried to tell my Primary Physician when I was in my thirties that I had very painful periods. The response: "Take Three Aleve!" Yes, I was sent to an OB/GYN by this same Primary Physician when it was discovered I had a cyst on my ovary after suffering from a kidney stone in 2004, but that OB/GYN did nothing. I visited her three times and all she did was give me a pelvic exam, make me take the CAT test (which scared me to death because I am NOT a dummy and knew she was testing me for ovarian cancer!), and tell me "No, you do not need surgery. We just need to keep an eye on this cyst." I can't help thinking that if I had been more assertive, opened up my big mouth, and asked for a second opinion, maybe, just maybe all the damage done to my reproductive system by the endometriosis stage four could have been lessened and just maybe, the hubby and could have been more successful in being able to concieve a child.

I also regret that when I was single, I did not take a greater interest in learning how to eat more healthy, lose weight, and exercise. When I became engaged to hubby at age forty, I remember becoming very anxious whether we would be able to have children, but somehow it never dawned on me that eating more healthy, losing weight, and exercising has such a major part in being able to concieve. Yes, I did order high quality pre-natal multi vitamins recommended by a good Catholic friend in the hopes of being able to concieve once we were married, but that wasn't enough. I needed better medical care, a primary physician who was better aware of the signs of endometriosis, and could give me a referral to a specialist who could have given me the medical help I needed. Instead I was told by the primary physician, I was "Fertile Myrtle", and I should have no problem being able to have children. Maybe if I had done that I would have been able to give my husband the children he really wanted. Maybe if I had done those things I would not be sitting here with an aching heart and empty arms.

Now I fear it's too late. I am forty five now. We were seeing a wonderful Napro doctor for three years who I really liked, but during the last visit in October 2011 Hubby spoke the fatal words that ended our visits: "We are no longer interested in fertility." He might no longer be interested in fertility, but I still am! I still take several vitamins in the hope for a miracle. I still hope and pray for a miracle - every day I've been praying the rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and St. Gianna novena prayer with rosary beads touched to St. Gianna's relics.

As a woman who seems barren as a stone, it upsets me so much that other women see their fertility as a curse instead of a blessing. I know so many women who after being blessed with children, opt to have their tubes tied. What upsets me even more (to the point of tears) is when I hear men and women speak that unborn children are just globs of tissue and not people. They speak about how it's their body, their uterus, and their right to abort if they so choose. As a woman who longs for the gift of a child, but cannot concieve it pains me so. Several times after reading articles about women being pregnant with multiples, but electing for "selective abortions" I have just broken down in tears, had to leave the computer, kneel down, and cry "Why?" in front of our Divine Mercy Picture of Jesus in the living room. I pray for these women every day. I just can't understand why or how could a Mother murder her own child in the womb.

I have even encountered a few women online declaring they are planning to have abortions and have offered to adopt their babies, but are met with an indifferent, often angry response. I have noticed that if you find out someone wants to abort their child and you offer to adopt it, the angry feminists will say things like "I am not a breeder for infertile women." Can you say ouch? After encountering these kind of responses and being very hurt, I spoke to a Priest about it. He advised me to pray for these women. I do pray for them. I pray for them every day.

I have this dream where a woman who does not wish to be a Mother to the cherished child in her womb, finds me somehow, asks me if I want to adopt her child, and totally overjoyed, I tell her "Yes!" If I had my way, I would adopt every child in danger of being aborted. How I wish I could!

Maybe someday my dream will come true and I will become a Mama! It is my hope and prayer! In the meantime, I pray for all Mamas and Dads to choose and value life! I also pray for all my family and friends who are blessed to be Mamas! I hope they know how blessed they are to be able to be a Mama!

The Susan G. Komen Facebook Page

I spent practically the whole weekend on the Susan G. Komen website after they decided to fund PP again. It was awful! Every post I wrote trying to speak up for the unborn babies, the pro-abortion people had a retort to: they lashed out at me, ridiculed me, and bullied me. They kept on trying to twist my words around and run me off the page, BUT I DID NOT BACK DOWN! In fact, I replied to many of their posts, answered questions, ect.

The next day at Mass, one of the Franciscan Friars proclaimed that God wants us to spread the Gospel. So I prayed about it and somehow got the courage to return to the Susan G. Komen page. I used a different tactic this time. I used quotes about Blessed Theresa of Calcutta. I also noticed that many women were saying they used contraceptives to deal with bad cramps. So I shared my story about having endometriosis stage four, having monster cramps for most of my life, but No, I never used contraceptives, and why. I shared with them about Napro. Some people on the Susan G. Komen page claimed they were medical people and how dare I say this about contraceptives, ect. They tried so hard to discredit me. My retort: "I lived with endometriosis and bad cramps all my life. You haven't." Again, I wouldn't let them try to bully me. A few women thanked me for my post and shared their experiences with Napro too, which was great! But my worst experience in that room was when a woman came on there and told everyone she was getting an abortion the next day. I emailed that woman offering to adopt her baby and included my plea on the Susan G. Komen post. The Pro-abortion people got rather nasty and said: "Neither she nor I am a breeder for infertile woman" ect, which yes, did sting! Here I was trying to do a good thing, trying to save that baby, and they attacked me. But again, I have found many of the women on that Susan G. Komen FB page were bullies. When I tried to speak up for the unborn and they retorted: what about the victims of rape and incest?" and I answered: "Why should that unborn baby be punished for the sins of the father?" ect. one woman came back and told me: "I hope you are raped someday!" Very vicious!

Finally two days later when a woman started retorting about an "owl swooping down and giving me knowledge and wisdom" my husband informed me that was Satanic Symbolism and requested me to leave that room! So I did. But I still haven't recovered from being in that room. I can't believe there are so many women out there that that just think an unborn baby is a bunch of cells or tissue, that aborting a baby is NOT murder, that I am the selfish one because I want to save the unborn babies, and that some of these pro-abortion women can be so heartless and mean! The other day I was at a medical appointment and some of their comments especially the "I hope you are raped", "abortion is not murder", and "we are not breeders for the infertile" and almost started crying! I just hope and pray that being in that room for three days off and on helped save some unborn babies and converted some women back to God and His Commandments. I have been praying my rosary very hard for all these women, all men and women who have had abortions, and for the end of abortion! This is a topic very near and dear to my heart!

Please ladies, please pray for the women on the Susan G. Komen Facebook page, all women and men who have had abortions, for unborn babies, and for the end of abortion!

Anybody want to join me in praying the rosary for this intention?

Maria

if you ever hear of any adoption opportunities in the New England area?

If you ever come across an opportunity where you hear a birth mother is looking for a family for her child in New England, could you please let me know?

I am 44, married for almost for 4 years, and husband and I have been trying for almost four years with no success. I have been diagnosed three years ago with endometriosis stage four. I've had two surgeries so far. My fertility signs have been diminishing and I'm now skipping periods. The doctors say I have low or no chance of achieving a pregnancy of my own. My only hope for a child is through a miracle - adoption!

I have been a teacher at a daycare for tweenty three years. I adore children and always wanted my own. My heart and arms ache to hold a child!

Prayers always welcome! I feel like I have been praying to be blessed with a child forever and so far my prayers haven't been answered. I don't know why. I just don't understand it.

You may email me at: marialehan4608 at AOL dot com.

Thank you!

May God Bless you and your beautiful family!

Love,
Maria In Mass
prayrosary4life@aol.com

Mourning the fact we will probably never be able to have a biological child.

I think right now I am mourning the fact (due to the endometriosis stage four and that in August I will be forty five years old) that it is extremely doubtful that Ed and I will be able to have a biological child. It is so difficult to want something so much and not be able to have it. We've been praying for a child for almost the four years we've been married with no success. I think we've tried just about everything - diet, exercise, two surgeries, fertility specialists, ect. Nothing has worked.

I try so hard to be a good Catholic and pray for God's will to be done and offer up this suffering for sinners, the souls in purgatory, ect. but it's not easy. Sometimes trying to pray this way, I end up in tears and can't finish.

I think the only way I'll ever be able to be a Mommy is through adoption. I am open to adoption, but I really wanted to do the whole biological Mommy thing - experience the joy of carrying a child in my womb, giving birth, nursing, ect. Right now I am trying to mourn the fact we will probably not be able to have a biological child and start taking steps towards adoption.

Could you please pray for me? Thank you so much! I'm really having a difficult time with this fact. The only thing that consoles me is praying the rosary, praying for others, the hugs, kisses, and "I Love You's" I receive from the young preschool children I teach, and spending time with my six year old nephew and his almost four year old twin sisters. A couple of years ago my brother (Dad to my nephew and neices) said the nicest thing to me. He told me he would share his kids with me! Wasn't that so sweet? :) It really meant so much to me!

May God Bless you!

Love,
Maria

sensitive to gluten/wheat maybe?

I just read a very interesting post on another lovely Catholic lady's blog. This dear lady also suffers from endometriosis and infertility, just like I do. She wrote how the doctors she has visited tested her and her tests came out that she had strong sensitivities to dairy and wheat. What I found most interesting though was how this lady mentioned that she used an Aveeno skin care product with wheat in it and it caused her face to become very inflamed. This is very interesting to me because:

1) All my life I have been unable to use certain products on my skin. Some of these products had all natural ingrediants and caused my facial skin to become very red and irritated.

2) I was diagnosed in my twenties with sebborheic dermatitis on my scalp. I recently read in a book how sebborheic dermatitis could be caused by gluten sensitivity. When I read this, I remembered years ago how I used a conditioner using wheat protein in it, the next thing I knew my scalp started breaking out in pimples, and I developed an infection called folliculitis. I was told by my primary physician at the time and later the dermatologist, how this was caused by my hair follicles becoming clogged. I was recommended to start using dandruff shampoo (which never really worked for me) and not to use any conditioner. But now I'm wondering, hey could the root of this whole scalp problem really be a possible gluten allergy?

3) After making this discovery, I have been going through all my skin and hair products and giving away anything that lists wheat as an ingrediant.I have also been taking B complex vitamins. My scalp is now feeling a lot better.

I also ordered some wonderful vitamins from Vitacost.com which have caused my cycle to return to normal, cause a decrease in my cramps, and make me feel a lot happier and healthier! I still hope and pray to be able to become a Mother either naturally or through adoption. I am still praying every day for that intention. Could you PLEASE pray for this intention too? I NEED a LOT of prayers - a miracle! I know that God CAN do it if He wants to! I recently prayed the novena to Our Lady of Good Success and one of the evenings I prayed that novena I had a dream that my husband and I were adopting a little girl. Maybe God's will for my husband and I revealed in a dream? Could be. I did wake up the following morning feeling very happy about the dream. It is very rare for me to dream about fertility, pregnancy, babies, or adoption in my dreams. This was a very rare dream. (When I was single with no prospects in sight I used to have dreams sometimes that I was pregnant. Whenever I had those dreams, I would wake up feeling very relieved. Why? Because I think my secret fear was 1) I might never get married and 2) Once married, I would have some kind of fertility issue and be unable to get pregnant. And guess what? I was blessed with meeting the husband of my prayers, but my second fear did come true!).

More on these vitamins in the next post! Stay tuned!

May God Bless you!
Maria

Scared - need prayers please?

Could you PLEASE pray for me? I am feeling a little scared. Sometimes I get these unusual mid cycle bleeding episodes. Yesterday at work I felt something come out of me and ran to the bathroom and saw some bright blood. It stopped for awhile, but last night before I went to bed it happened again. When I woke up four am in the morning I saw more bright blood and lots of clotty stuff. It looked like my period, but I got my period about sixteen days ago so this is something different. It stopped right now, but my mid section feels crampy. I don't think it's my ovaries. I had a chat with someone at work with endometriosis and she told me this can happen if you have fibroids (I was recently diagnosed with three small fibroids and an endometrioma cyst on my right ovary.). I'm just afraid that if this keeps on happening I'm going to have to go to the hospital and they are going to tell me I need a hysterectomy. I just feel very scared about this and cried to Ed about this. We prayed and I began to feel a little better and the bleeding has stopped for now. But seeing bright red blood and clots and it isn't your period, well it is very scary for me!!

Could you PLEASE pray? I've had this happen a few other times but about one week or a little more before I got my period, but it wasn't bright red and clotty like this. And no, I don't think it is a miscarriage or anything like that because I had my period fifteen days ago.

By the way, is this normal if you have endometriosis? Fibroids? I could really need some reassurance and prayers! Thank you so much!

Thank you so much!

Love,
Maria Therese

Your opinion, please?

I made the mistake of going to see a fertility specialist and NOT back to my Napro doctor. I've had two visits with the fertility specialist, he did blood work, saw that my estrogen and progesterone are low, heard my complaints about headaches, and he has done NOTHING for me. Zero. Zip. He made a big deal about how he wanted blood work done on me, but still hasn't prescribed anything for me. Meanwhile I'm still suffering with headaches! He also tried to convince me to try donor eggs claiming he is "doing God's work". I told him "No."

He also did an ultrasound and discovered I have three small fibroids and an endometrioma. He told me I don't need surgery though because he thinks I will be going through menopause soon which will shrink everything.

I have the feeling I need to dump this guy and go back and see my Napro doctor. I feel sad and discouraged like nobody can help me or do anything for me.

I really wish the Napro doctor could help me get pregnant. I am sad about not being able to have a baby. If only I could get rid of this headaches!! I have a super size bottle of "Excedrin Migraine" and have to pop two pills every day!

Do you think I ought to dump the fertility specialist? And go back to the napro doctor? That's what I'm thinking!

You are all in my thoughts and prayers!

May God Bless you!!

Maria