I was asked to write a guest blog for National Infertility Week. They wanted it written about the motto for this year 'you are not alone'. They wanted it written by women who sometimes felt alone in their journey even though their husband stood right next to them.
I was all down with writing the blog, but I also wanted my husband to have a chance to share his side of it. I will admit there are times that I have felt alone. I have an amazing husband whom I love for so many different reasons. I also know that he doesn't show a lot of emotion and he doesn't make things a big deal. When Drama is your middle name, you can sometimes get frustrated.
So, here is my husbands story. The man who gives me light, who gives me hope and most of all, the man who has loved me through times I truly believe others would have walked away. He is my rock, my anchor and my shoulder to cry on.
"The struggle to start a family is real. Having spent most of my life avoiding starting a family makes this statement a bit ironic to actually write down. Even so, the struggle is real. The struggle has been depressing, humorous, exhausting and maybe even a little fun.
I will get to how going through this could be fun in a second. I need to first mention (if it isn't obvious already) that I don't want to talk about this. I think everyone who knows me understands that I am an extremely private person when it comes to matters like these. I am a man who gets uncomfortable at the grocery store when others look in my cart (what I eat is my business). I am writing this for my wife, hoping it can bring some peace and maybe a little hope that I truly am walking along side of her through this issue.
When I said before the struggle can be fun - it can. Trying to start a family is the most important choice you can make in your life. The decision to start a family was unlike one either of us had EVER made. It was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time for the same reason. Being responsible for another human being, for the rest of your life. When I think about the relationship I have with my parents, it is an amazing thought that I can develop that relationship with my child. When I think about the possibility of my kid growing up and starring in Teen Mom, the thought is a tad bit less amazing.
We were on cloud 9 when we decided to bring a life to this word. It wasn't until we had trouble and Amanda made the decision to go on Clomid that my fortunes changed. Now I must say that I have no idea what Vietnam was actually like - but I'm damn sure I can relate. Upon prescribing that medicine it should be required the husband enter pre medication counseling for his own safety. I am not going to pretend that I haven’t experience pure rage from the opposite sex in my relationships in the past, but experiencing Clomid was a much different experience. I will keep most of the details private, all I will say is that Amanda wasn’t herself and the thought of having a child seemed too much work to be worth it. That is when I felt Amanda lost all hope, and thought I stopped walked beside her.
I will get to how going through this could be fun in a second. I need to first mention (if it isn't obvious already) that I don't want to talk about this. I think everyone who knows me understands that I am an extremely private person when it comes to matters like these. I am a man who gets uncomfortable at the grocery store when others look in my cart (what I eat is my business). I am writing this for my wife, hoping it can bring some peace and maybe a little hope that I truly am walking along side of her through this issue.
When I said before the struggle can be fun - it can. Trying to start a family is the most important choice you can make in your life. The decision to start a family was unlike one either of us had EVER made. It was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time for the same reason. Being responsible for another human being, for the rest of your life. When I think about the relationship I have with my parents, it is an amazing thought that I can develop that relationship with my child. When I think about the possibility of my kid growing up and starring in Teen Mom, the thought is a tad bit less amazing.
We were on cloud 9 when we decided to bring a life to this word. It wasn't until we had trouble and Amanda made the decision to go on Clomid that my fortunes changed. Now I must say that I have no idea what Vietnam was actually like - but I'm damn sure I can relate. Upon prescribing that medicine it should be required the husband enter pre medication counseling for his own safety. I am not going to pretend that I haven’t experience pure rage from the opposite sex in my relationships in the past, but experiencing Clomid was a much different experience. I will keep most of the details private, all I will say is that Amanda wasn’t herself and the thought of having a child seemed too much work to be worth it. That is when I felt Amanda lost all hope, and thought I stopped walked beside her.
Soon after we stopped the medicine the choice we made of starting a family, that was once promising, became depressing. When Amanda came off the medication she pretty much lost all hope of having a child naturally. Seeing her go through that has been hard. I would compare the emotion to being a fan of the Chicago Cubs. You just feel helpless. Trying to help her through this realization was like me attempting to put together an entertainment center – it justwasn’t going to happen, and my jokes didn't help either.
Given a bit of time, both of our attitudes have improved. We are looking toward our next steps. Adopting has never been an option for me, so we have turned our sights to IVF. People can think less of me if they wish, but raising another person’s child is just not my style. Speaking of IVF, I would actually like to add an E to the end of the IVF acronym. IVFE - I'm Very Fucking Expensive.
I know that Amanda and I will wind up doing IVF. I was meant to be a father, Amanda was meant to be a mother. It is just unfortunate that our fantastic trips to the mall are going to have to take a backseat to paying a doctor. And, my shoe collection probably won't grow for a while. However, when I think about how amazing it would be to raise a family of my own – I can’t place a price on it. Even digi-camo Air Force ones don't hold a candle to the thought of holding my own child in my arms.
Throughout this whole event I have learned a few things. Even if we don't have kids I am so lucky to be married to the woman that I am married too. We are lucky to have the supportive family that we have. I am also very lucky that even through the struggle – we have never lost our sense of humor. (Well, I have never lost my sense of humor)
Will we have kids? I honest don't know. What I do know...I have to best wife and family in the world - and that's all that really matters."
Throughout this whole event I have learned a few things. Even if we don't have kids I am so lucky to be married to the woman that I am married too. We are lucky to have the supportive family that we have. I am also very lucky that even through the struggle – we have never lost our sense of humor. (Well, I have never lost my sense of humor)
Will we have kids? I honest don't know. What I do know...I have to best wife and family in the world - and that's all that really matters."
Nathan--I admire you and I appreciate you. Thank you for loving me through days I ask you not to. Thanks for sticking beside me even when I tell you to find someone who can give you the children you want. Thank you for the jokes, the laughter, the fun. On a scale of 1-10, I love you 987,654,321!
