Tag Archives: IVF baby

An update

Posted on by under feelings

Hello, friends.

I never intended for this blog to drop away as soon as Euan came, and stop writing. But I also don’t think I could have anticipated how little time I would have to use that part of my brain. I’ve honestly wanted to write, but seeing how little I have touched my piano or done any sort of interest that isn’t knitting, I’m not too surprised it hasn’t happened.

When I last wrote, all I wanted was some more time with my boy. Sorry, y’all. I didn’t mean to start a pandemic trapping us all in our homes (I kid, I kid). But it has been the only silver lining – I’ve had more time with Euan than I thought I’d get for sure, and it has given us more time to work on the things Euan needs help with – his gross motor skills, his language. When he turned 18 months there was a sudden shift in communication and he has at least 15-20 words and he’s trying to sign and copying a lot more.

He’s just over 20 months now and is getting so much stronger at standing and moving around furniture and is so close to walking, we think! The combination of his low tone and his lack of balance with his hearing are the causes of the delay but he is strong and determined and pushing his wee feet hard to propel his little trike around most days. He’s a champ.

In other news, my brain has used any free moments it has had in the last 6 months to think about another baby. It’s weird because there’s this guilt almost that how dare we contemplate having another when so many haven’t even managed to get their first yet and I feel a little awkward even writing about it. Infertility never really leaves you. But we have 1 embryo left and we do plan to try it in the next 6 months. I’ll keep you posted.

I am still thinking of and sending love to all of my friends still in those treatment trenches or hoping their adoptions come through. I still find it hard to believe sometimes that this beautiful boy is in our lives and after all of those years we became this family — it once seemed so impossible and I really hope it is possible for you all too, soon.

I promise not to leave it so long until I update again. I hope you’re all okay.

100 Days

Posted on by under feelings

I have 100 days left at home with Euan. Well, it was 100 two days ago so now it is 98– in 98 days he will be one and in daycare away from me, and sleeping in his own room and I will just have to trust at night that he is still breathing.

I often fear that he will just quietly and unexpectedly die – a worry many parents have I’m sure – but I do not know if I am carrying on the family tradition of anxious mothers or whether it is infertility rearing its head yet again to say, he is a gift. He is a blessing and a gift but you don’t get to keep him. It still feels unreal sometimes. 

I’m still floating between bottomless grief and highest joy, wondering when I will stop forgetting and remembering in a constant loop that my dad has gone. Euan is giggling and shouting and hitting his toys together and men wearing hats in my father’s favourite orange hue are sending me into sobs in the New World carpark. Life is full of unexpected multitudes and gut punches and bubbles floating through the spring air while my son cackles and I wonder if my heart is built to take all of these feelings.

I don’t know if next year will be a good year – a year with no death would be good but my father’s death will follow me into every year I suspect. I am full of anxiety about being away from my son and returning to a world that requires me to use my brain and time and energy to solve other peoples’ problems that in my mind no longer really matter. My son and my husband and my dog and my home and my family matter and yet I can’t find a way to conjure up the money that will allow me to continue to live in this lovely cocoon with him and so I must return to work and he must go make friends with strangers that I have to trust will nurture and grow to love him. I have to hope that he will be happy when not with me, though the idea breaks my heart little by little. I wish the world (or at least my part of it) didn’t value paid office-based work so much more highly than being on a playmat with my son helping him to grow and learn and be.

And so I plan to make these 98 days count and appreciate that I have had this luxury – this privilege – of being at home with him for a year.

It has been exhausting and challenging but 98% wonderful and I’ll never forget it.

On grief and growth

Posted on by under feelings

Firstly, let me apologise for the long delay between posts. I have a lot still to say about the aftermath of E’s birth, but haven’t have time or energy yet to post.

And my dad, who had been sick since last June, unfortunately passed away 3 weeks ago today.

Our sweet baby boy is just over 5 months old and doing great. He has a high frequency hearing loss so started wearing hearing aids 2 months ago but is doing well in most respects.

It feels like it has all gone too quick yet like he has been with us forever.

It is difficult to reconcile this being such a happy time in our lives with it also being a time of intense grief. E has my Dad’s hair and some of his funnier facial expressions, which I am grateful for – yet in a way means I am always reminded of what has been lost. He has been a great distraction and crutch for myself and my wider family, who are still coming to terms with it. At the moment to be honest, I’m not sure if I’ll ever be used to it.

So. Good days and bad days. A hell of a lot of amazing support. And this wee man’s smile. Keeping us going, always.

More to say, soon. I still can’t believe we have a son. He is the light in every darkness and I am still just so, so grateful.