On this, our 31st show, we want to wish you the happiest of new years! We are hopeful that 2008 brings you all that you are wishing for, but most especially your baby. The new year always holds hope and promise. Embrace it, and remember to keep your head high. This could be YOUR year.
We are happy to present to you the 30th installation of Journeys To Motherhood. In the midst of this very busy holiday season, we take a moment to remember the guests of this past year who have been gracious enough to share their most personal of stories. We have been so blessed by so many lovely women, and this show is a tribute to them.
Plus, I have included one of the most recent ’success’ stories, which has happened to one of the women on our poetic prayer chain! Her name is Addison, and her story is the quintessential Christmas story for reproductively challenged women.
It’s fabulous to hear of a miracle as it’s actually ‘happening’, especially when it’s happening to one of our listeners whom we’ve been praying for! The baby will be here December 20th! (what a Christmas gift!) But the route in which this baby has come into Addison’s life, is one that isn’t traveled often.
It reminds us that we never know from where, nor from WHOM, our baby is coming. And this story will also remind us that miracles DO happen! Addison wasn’t going to have a Christmas tree nor a Christmas dinner, no celebration, nothing. NOW she is preparing for the Christmas of her life!
If this wasn’t ‘your’ year yet…there’s a good chance 2008 WILL be ‘your’ year! Keep that in mind when those difficult moments arise. Holidays are rough, but you will be fine. Never give up. Press on. For nothing in the world can take the place of persistence when pursuing your dream.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!…and especially inner peace, joy and happiness as the New Year approaches!
First of all, I want to say that I have been very blessed with a plethora of authors sending me copies of their books to read, and I thank you all very much. Due to the multi-faceted life I seem to be leading these days, I’ve been very slow to complete the reading of some of these books. I usually wait until I’m able to give each one a block of my undivided attention with each reading session, in the order in which I receive them. From the many books I’ve been sent, I wanted to mention the following:
The first book is one that I’ve actually just begun, but it is a BEAUTIFUL book that is written in a lovely fashion. It is very spiritual in nature, and there are many scripture references given. The book is entitled Hannah’s Hope, and the author is Jennifer Saake. As you may know, in 1 Samuel, chapters 1 and 2 of the Bible, you will meet Hannah, a barren woman who experiences deep grief and great anguish. She was suffering from the heartache of empty arms. This book is an inspiration for all who have also suffered, or ARE suffering, from the empty arms syndrome. It is also a great buy for those you may know of that are on your gift list that you want to uplift and encourage. Hannah’s Hope has been called “a soothing balm for your aching heart”…and that is quite true. At the end of each chapter, there is a “Burden Bearers” section that gives wonderful words of advice for those also bearing the burden of their loved one’s infertility, who don’t know what to do or say. This is such valuable information, as what our loved ones say to us during this very difficult time, can make our situations even worse…OR they can help be more supportive in ways and words that they may never have thought of before. People need to be instructed, as they have NO idea what their reproductively challenged loved one is going through. You will love this book, and you can order it through the website, which is www.hannahshopebook.com., where you can preview Chapter 1. You can also purchase Hannah’s Hope through Amazon.com or through Christian Book Distributors.
For those of you looking for something more on the comedic side, something that looks at infertility and laughs at it in the face, then you will want to check out InVitro Fertility Goddess. Written by Austrailian author, Jodi Panayotov, it is a book written in a worldly sense, sometimes a bit over-the-top in its humor, which gives the reader some good chuckles, at a time when a good laugh is hard to come by. It is written in a diary style, therefore foregoing conventional composition at times, which may take a moment to get used to. But once you do, you will get the feel for Jodi’s unique style. And there are times that I can completely relate to the humorous content, and as I was reading, I’d think to myself, “Gee! I thought only I MYSELF had those feelings!”… once again, confirming that we all who go through this infertility ride, at times have very similar experiences and thoughts, and this contributes to our sisterhood. You can order InVitro Fertility Goddess from the website, which is www.invitrofertilitygoddess.com.
I am hoping to have the above-mentioned authors on my show in 2008. I will keep you posted on the scheduling of that. But I also want to remind you of another book, who’s author has already been on Journeys To Motherhood. Her name is Patricia Dischler, and her book is Because I Loved You: A Birthmother’s View Of Open Adoption. I loved this book, and it is a great read for everyone. If you know of anyone on your gift list that is in a confusing place, finding themselves pregnant and considering their options, it is a truly inspirational piece of work that will help that person see the benefits and the beauty in loving their child enough to give him or her up. But, as I’ve said, ANYONE would enjoy this amazing story, and its outcome is something to sit back and ponder…as Patricia shows how HER decision of open adoption actually opened her life up to greater joy than she could have ever imagined. You can order Because I Loved You by going to www.patriciadischler.com.
These are just a few ideas for you to consider for people that you might find hard to buy for…especially if they can relate to a struggle obtaining motherhood. While there is still time left before Christmas, these are treasured little pieces of literary works that you’ll be happy to give, and your recepient will be happy to receive. (Or why not give as a New Year’s gift?…giving hope and encouragement for the new year to come?) In the meantime, good luck with the rest of your holiday shopping!
Welcome to the 29th installation of Journeys To Motherhood! We hope you all have had a loving and beautiful Thanksgiving, as we now head into the high winds of the Christmas and Hanukkah season!
I am SO looking forward to this Christmas, as my little one will be just shy of two years. She is quite aware of everything around her, and has already been saying her “wows” whenever we’ve walked passed anything Christmas! I still realize and remember, however, that this season can be quite difficult, even devastating, for the reproductively challenged woman.
I know this personally, from going through nine heartbreaking holiday seasons, feeling emptiness in my heart and soul. But I got through it, and I NOW have such excitement and joy as I look forward to this upcoming Christmas! Please know that YOU will find that in your life as well, even if it may not be this year. If motherhood dwells within your heart, be persistent and NEVER give up on your dream. NEVER. It will happen…one way or another. I promise you that.
On this show we delve into Part 2 of Tracy Jo Devereaux’s magnificent story. I hope you had a chance to check out Part 1, and I hope you’ve also looked at her website. If not, go to our Archives Page and take a moment to listen to the last show, and be sure to go to www.MaceyD.com. As Tracy Jo shares with us today, you will hear about her life transforming, as she finds herself pregnant with quads. She had been hoping that the quads would be home for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case; however, they ARE doing great! And that, of course, is the important thing. Check out her website to see these beautiful babies in their Thanksgiving garb, and their sweet big sister, Macey, who was the first miracle to enter Tracy Jo’s life.
Also covered in her story, are the inevitable changes that infertility inflicts upon one’s marriage, the internal conflicts that Tracy Jo’s husband has been facing, the issue of selective reduction and myriad other aspects of this life surreal. When I personally am having a day that is making me feel weathered and worn, I now think of Tracy Jo. Thoughts of her and what she has had to face, put everything back into perspective for me. And at that moment, I say a little prayer for her and her family, and I always find myself then smiling.
For those of you that are considering adoption, now is the perfect time to check into it further. November is National Adoption Month, and although we at Journeys To Motherhood celebrate adoption all year long, it’s nice to have a month dedicated to the idea of adoption. As Tina Tyra mentions in her latest newsletter from A Labor of Love, “National Adoption Month is a great time to celebrate, educate and bring out the awareness of adoption.” She also mentions that if you download the lists of famous adoptive parents and adoptees from the internet, you will be surprised how prevalent adoption is. You probably already know this to be true. Almost everyone knows someone who has been touched by adoption.
If you are in Pennsylvania, remember you can also contact the local rep for A Labor of Love, Monica Marks. Though she is Corporate Liaison, she is looking forward to also working with adoptive families whose place of employment may already be adoption-friendly. You can reach her at 412-266-8839.
Adoption has changed my life and given me joy beyond belief. It can do the same for you.
On this, the eve of Thanksgiving, I wanted to give thanks to all of you out there…the listeners, the guests, the industry providers, and the women who are helping other women to achieve motherhood. And please remember to take a moment, if even just in your thoughts and hearts, to give thanks to your birthmoms and surrogates. They are amazing women that give deeply of themselves in ways that no other human beings ever could. Pray for them, especially the birthmoms, and that they are at peace with a decision that had to be one of the hardest ones they will ever make. Yet they are whom we adoptive families have to thank, for changing our lives, by giving us our completed families.
And a special thanks to my dear friend, Sue, for connecting me with the agency that got our baby to us…A Labor of Love Adoptions…and ALSO a congratulations goes out to Sue for the adoption of her second baby…a big, healthy beautiful baby boy named Adam Edward. He is one lucky little boy, and Sue is one lucky mommy.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all! And to those of you who are feeling less thankful because you are still longing for YOUR baby, keep the faith and KNOW that your baby is coming to you. Never NEVER give up on your dream.
On this, our 28th show of Journeys To Motherhood, we have with us a guest that I consider to be a Super Woman in every sense of the word. Tracy Jo Devereaux was kind enough to sit down and take her story, step by amazing step, and re-live even the most difficult moments.
This is Part 1 of her deeply touching (at times heart-wrenching) story of her struggle into motherhood. Her undeniable strength and her solid commitment to her faith got her through unbelievably tragic times. In the midst of calamity, however, a miracle happened …something that could not be explained…other than through the power of prayer. I suggest you have some tissue by your side when listening to this show. It will tug at your heartstrings and leave you astounded.
If any of you happen to remember a print ad for some stereo company a while back, where the guy was sitting in a chair, holding onto the armrests, and his hair was flying back, as his stereo was blowing him away….well….that’s how I felt after speaking with Tracy Jo…only it wasn’t just my hair flying back. If I were to take that visual and apply it to how this story impressed me, the entire chair would have been blown back with me…right through the wall behind me. And that’s no exaggeration.
Though there is a lot of sorrow peppered throughout Part 1 of our story today, there is tremendous joy. And in Part 2, which we will air on November 30th, there are even further events to astonish you in Tracy Jo’s journey! (i.e…the birth of quads, just to wet your whistle!)
If you’d like to follow this story in a visual manner, go to www.maceyd.com. That site was established by Kelly McCausey of Moms Talk Radio, as to assist in Tracy Jo’s efforts to keep family and friends up-to-date with the goings-on of her new family. Tracy Jo is Kelly’s niece, and she talks about how her family has helped her so greatly in her times of need, especially ‘Aunt Kelly’.
So prepare for a story unlike any you’ve ever heard before, as we listen to the voice of one of the ‘Super Women’ that walk among us…Tracy Jo Devereaux.
On this, our 27th show of Journeys To Motherhood, we celebrate our one year anniversary! We are also celebrating our uterus and learning more about ‘her’, with the help of our guest, Angel Baney.
Angel is an inspirational soul. After going through reproductive assistance, then losing twins in a domestic act of violence, THEN having a difficult time in conceiving again with her new husband…Angel refuses to take ‘no’ for an answer. As I’ve said before, she will NOT be denied motherhood. So she is taking steps down another path now…the path of adoption. She is the quintessential example of determination.
She is strong, resilient and yet effervescent in her journey and her life. I am blessed to know her, and now YOU will be too. You will find her interesting in the work she does as well. Her spa, Centre Ave. Massage and Spa, located in the Shadyside area of Pittsburgh, is not only welcoming and relaxing, it is also quite beautiful…a work of art in and of itself. She talks today about the details of Arvigo, what it means and what it can do for you. Raise your glass and join us in a toast, as we celebrate our 1st anniversary…AND our uterus!
Happy Realignment to you all!
I have had a challenging past week and a half with dental issues/procedures. Seems like my teeth have decided to rally against me all at the same time. Fortunately I have found a great dentist in the SouthSide of town by the name of Ronald DiCarlo. What prompts me to write about this is this: even though I’ve been being drilled on for what seems like hours at a time (but it’s not quite that long), for more days in a week and a half than most people put in at the dentist in a couple years…and even though my face was feeling like it was vibrating to the point of loosening itself and falling off, (even though there really wasn’t any pain)…it was actually a piece of cake, compared to what I had gone through in my ferility treatments. Once you go through all of the probing and proding and invasive fertilty testing and surgeries…guess what!? Everything else becomes easier.
For example, I went to Long Island for two treatments that someone had told me about after seeing it on Oprah. These were treatments that were to open ones tubes nonsurgically. As I laid there, they had a drip going into me for an approximate 2 hour period…a special ‘formula’ comprised of antibiotics and other magical components (that my memory has erased)…plowing through the blockage. This doesn’t sound like such a painful treatment to go through, as you just lay there and let that thing drip away. But for some reason, it was excruciating. I pretty much laid there and breathed so deeply that I hypervenilated (and that took place in between loud screaming!..no kidding!) It felt like fire going through my lower area into my abominal region. I was to go back for a third treatment, and the morning we were to leave I told my husband I just couldn’t do it again. It was just too torturous. Afterward I was unable to stand up straight for about 24 hours. The doctor proclaimed it successful, however, as the drip kept going. If my tubes weren’t opening, it would have backed up. This is just ONE example of some of the pain I endured in my quest to become pregnant. I would say that this was one of my top five most painful procedures, if I were to rate them.
So, if there is any good to come from all of that yuck we go through (sometimes for years and years and years), then maybe it’s that it makes us so much stronger to face other issues, whether they be health related or even traumatic in nature. It’s one positive effect of a very negative situation. I hope any of you who have been through this, understand what I’m saying and feel the same way. It’s a walk in the park compared to the 9 1/2 years of sporatic torture I’d been through (mental and physical.) So drill on, Dr. DiCarlo! Drill on! ….Peace.
On this, our 26th show of Journeys To Motherhood, I am thrilled to have with us a woman that is in the midst of HER journey to her baby. Her name is Angel Baney, and she is a woman that I had spoken of in the past on my show and on my blog page…the woman that introduced me to the amazing Arvigo massage technique, which can greatly help with any female issues we may have…including fertility struggles. The experience I had when she had given me the Arvigo massage in her beautiful spa, Centre Ave. Massage and Spa, was one that profoundly effected me…to the point that I NOW incorporate this massage technique into my daily life. Angel taught me how to do that, and she can teach you too.
But we get very personal in this Part 1 of Angel’s story, as she has been through traumas and ordeals that I know will surprise you. One instance in particular will possibly shock you, as it did me. It was tragic and unbelievable. Yet she has the loveliest demeanor and a calming, positive attitude… something that we can all strive for. She is a woman that radiates love and peace, and you will hear that in her voice. Though she has been through the trenches, she is battling forward. Angel will NOT be denied motherhood. She KNOWS she will get to her baby.
We will delve into the depths of Arvigo and its benefits in Part 2 of our interview. (If you can’t wait until then, call Angel for more information at 412-661-7724 or go to www.centreavespa.com.) But for now, let’s get to personally know the woman who is bringing Arvigo to the women of Pittsburgh, and bringing it out to the world through this podcast. Let’s get to know a true angel….Angel Baney.
Journeys To Motherhood with Barbara Winters © 2007
Contact Email:
barbara@journeystomotherhood.com
