My Husband, My Rock

I have seen this link on a few of my nesties blogs, and wanted to start participating. Every Friday, I'm going to try to remember that this infertility battle is not just about me, and I couldn't have found a better support than my husband.



Warning. . .could get mushy



When we first started trying, my DH had all the confidence in the world that it would happen right away. I faced the situation with hope but doubt, but he was our cheerleader from the start. He was interested in my charts, he asked about my temps, and brought me the pillow to prop my butt :-)



When we first start recognizing problems and decided to see a fertility specialist, his attitude became "Whatever it takes". I know that for some men, that MFI diagnosis hits them hard. Not mine. It's just another thing to deal with, nothing to be upset or embarassed about. He would have been ready to start IVF right away if that was what the Dr. wanted because more than anything, he wants this to work. If that was the only way, then that was the only way. Of course, to be fair, he really didn't have any idea what the process entailed :-)



He comes to every appointment I ask him to come to. He stays for the IUIs to hold my hand, and reminds me to take my medicine. When it came to shots, even if he doesn't give me the shot that day, he stands with me, helps with needle disposal, etc. and gives me a kiss. My bruises bother him, I know, because if he could be the one in pain, I know he would be. He takes his vitamins. He turns down beer in front of friends and family, because we want to do whatever it takes to make his samples better.



I am a hormonal mess on fertility drugs. He holds me when I cry, lets me yell and scream and loves me anyway, and has been very patient with the ups and downs I go through. The term we use is "Progesterone Rage" and he deals with it even when I'm at my worst. I have put on 30 pounds since we got married. Most of that weight came from this IF nightmare we're stuck in. Not only do the hormones affect my body, I am stressed and eating too much comfort food. I get upset about it, and even if he might be lying, he always tells me that he loves me just like I am, and I know he knows that it is all part of the process. He is my Rock.



I have always known that he was good with babies and kids. I have seen him with other people's babies, and it makes me sad that this is his dream that is not coming true too. He is going to be a terrific Dad, and through this process I've learned that being a Dad doesn't start when the baby is born. He is an awesome wannabe Dad, who has taken on this challenge to get there.



I do believe that this whole process has made us stronger as a couple. We have gone through what no couple should ever have to, and come out better. I don't know how much I want to believe that our infertility was for a reason, but I've never seen a much better example of the phrase "What doesn't kill us, only makes us stronger." Assuming this doesn't kill us, our marriage will only be stronger, and when we someday do have that baby (or two), we will be able to look back and see how hard we had to work to make that dream a reality. But we did it together, and we did it as a team, and we did it with love.



My husband rocks. How about yours?



As promised, I also did my "Before" belly pics. Ignoring the bloat that just doesn't go away anymore, here is the last belly shot before needles.