Shows
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityS2E03 - Dealing with Disappointment in InfertilityHow do we deal with disappointment from day to day, month to month, cycle to cycle? How do we wait well? We talk about those things and about a future series we hope to start aimed guiding us through this continued season of infertility. Scriptures mentioned: Genesis 50:20 "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do no...2024-06-0224 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityS2E02 - Huddle Up and RegroupWe're back after the work travel assignment and a decided "trying" break. We discuss the work assignment but then how we "regroup" with my NaPro doctor after returning home.This episode focuses on the frustration and validation of feelings we feel through this journey but focusing on who and where God is in the midst of it.Are we seeking a relationship with the Lord as much as we are trying to search for a solution for our infertility?I (Naomi) also mention how I was able to find a local infertility group...2024-05-1933 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityS2E01 - Failure vs Unsuccessful vs MiracleWelcome to Season 2! We continue our journey into another year. In this episode, we wanted to talk about the recent monitoring I (Naomi) did prior to starting my new temporary work assignment, but also how the use of the word “failure” isn’t helpful. Why do us women (more than likely than men) use that word to describe ourselves in this journey of infertility and striving for a healthy pregnancy/baby? Hopefully you can relate, but let us all change our mindset to a higher purpose, giving it over to God. It is a constant, minute by minute...2024-01-2132 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp20 - What We've Learned, Update, and Year End RecapSeason One of the podcast comes to a close in 2023. What a year it has been! Listen in as we discuss our updates and future plans on our infertility journey and also as we reflect on what 2023 has meant for us. God is faithful, even when we don’t truly see it at the time, in all He has done.We look forward to sharing more (hopefully good news soon) in Season Two, starting in 2024.Scriptures mentioned:Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am...2023-12-3141 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp19 - Advent and Love in InfertilitySo the last advent is Love. Love means something so special to us especially in relation to God's love and how massive and incomprehensible it is. How do we know God loves us even in these trials? How do we realize He is in control and truly rest in that? We give several scriptures throughout this episode to help point you back to Him and Him as the Creator and who sees all things, even when we don't.First and greatest commandment is to love the Lord, your GodSecond commandment is to love your...2023-12-2424 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp18 - Advent and Joy in InfertilityHow do we have joy in the midst of life in general and with going through infertility? How is Joy different from happiness and how can we find this? These are some of the questions we answer in this week's episode on Advent: Joy in infertility.It is not a easy journey but having the right tools to help during this unexpected and sad times are key.Scriptures mentioned:James 1:2 (NIV)“Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials.”John 10:10 (NIV)“The thief comes only t...2023-12-1718 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp17 - Advent and Peace in InfertilityWe continue our mini series of Advent with the next topic of Peace and how we can apply it to our journey of infertility. We also touch on just how each of us (male and female perspective) apply this aspect of peace to us as individuals and as a couple. Advent devotional for inspiration: I'm reading the @YouVersion plan 'Finding Peace: An Advent Study'. Check it out here: https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/41405 Scripture mentioned: ”Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to yo...2023-12-1023 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp16 - Advent and Hope in InfertilityLet us celebrate this Advent season (which starts the first Sunday of December leading up to Christmas, so 2023, the last Sunday is Christmas Eve). The first is Hope and that is the topic of this podcast. It is very fitting, since it is what is in our podcast title. We have Hope but where does hope come from and where did it start in relation to Christ. We discuss this and then tie it back to our infertility journey and how we can use this knowledge to help us not only in this holiday season...2023-12-0419 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp15 - Infertility Journey: Expectations vs RealityThis episode is a recap of the 2nd surgery follow up that then lead into our 2 week overseas vacation. We talk about next steps now that my body has healed. We also discuss how our vacation was a nice break from reality and how often times we use things like this to escape. We continue to lift our eyes to God and ask for His help and provision in our lives in this continued journey.Romans 15:13 NIV"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so...2023-11-1829 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp14 - Infertility Journey: 2nd Fertility Surgery and RecoveryWell, we made it through surgery #2! We do a recap on what lead to this and then our (mostly Naomi's) experience with this round. It is amazing what technology we have and what our bodies can go through. We are this much closer to our #miraclebaby (babies ;-) )This episode references previous episodes for certain topics. You can find them here.-We have met with my OB (Ep04),-a RE (Ep05)-are now with a NaPro MD (Ep08 and since Ep11)-Ep13 references what was found from first surgery2023-10-1426 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp13 - Infertility Journey: Doctor Followup After First SurgeryIn this episode we discuss what was found from surgery (laproscopic, hysterscopy, selective HSG) back in August. This is my (Naomi's) first time to ask the NaPro MD my questions based on what was found and find out some interesting stats. We are preparing for future surgery and all that entails as we get closer to ending another year without our miracle baby. Scripture mentioned in this episode: 2 Corinthians 12:9 "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect I weakness.' Therefore I will boast...2023-09-3028 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp12 - Sharing a Success Story of a Journey through InfertilityJoin us in this special episode as we welcome Priscilla Harlan, a friend of ours, as she shares her and her husband’s story of trying to conceive.It starts with an emotional loss and increased desire of wanting to start a family. The reality vs expectation was difficult to understand in this area because like so many, they thought it would be easy.She shares her struggle with trust in God and His perfect plan and wanting to control the situation. She talks about how she and her husband battled with inconsistent advice from me...2023-09-161h 03
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp11 - Our Infertility Journey: A Little Bit of Hope After 1st SurgeryIn this episode we discuss my surgery that the NaPro MD wanted to do, essentially an exploratory surgery to see what was really going on. We give our experience and then recap on results and next steps. We officially get a diagnosis (well, technically, I get a diagnosis)! Heartbreaking but then grateful to finally know what has been going on all these years...Our Hope is still present and slightly renewed with this news.Scripture at end of episode is,Isaiah 40:31"but those who hope in the Lord will renew their...2023-09-0940 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp10 - Our Infertility Journey: Sex While TTC(to be added)2023-08-2630 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp09 - Infertility Journey: Doing vs Waiting (The Struggle is Real)Another year and no baby, no pregnancy. More waiting and hoping. In this episode we talk about what we did in the 6 month wait leading up to our appt with the NaPro MD. We talk about fertilysis and the findings we discovered, a year using the kegg device, life continuing to move on for our friends and family and them growing their own families. I (Naomi) talk about my first public breakdown in regards to fertility. It is hard and even when trying to keep an optimistic approach and faith in God, we are still human and easily broken.2023-08-1932 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp08 - Infertility Journey: Still Trying to Fix "Something"We discuss our time after the LEEP and waiting to TTC again. We mention the NaPro MD again and about just NaPro technology in general and the long wait to see if this would be better vs IVF. We desperately want to fix "something." And the waiting continues...Scripture mentioned in this episode:Ephesians 3: 16-19“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted an...2023-08-1226 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp07 - Infertility Journey: All The Things We've TriedIn this episode we discuss all the supplements/herbs, diets, acupuncture and clean products we have tried or are currently using. It can be overwhelming so we definitely recommend starting off slow and changing what you can because it can only benefit you, however, don't let it stress you out. Just because the things mentioned didn't work for us thus far doesn't mean it won't work for you. We just give our opinion on what we have liked so far and felt worked for us. We talk about our current situation and upcoming surgery as a side note, but...2023-08-0552 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp06 - Infertility Journey: Feeling Left BehindDo you ever just feel left behind? Like the world just moves on without you and you just feel stuck? In this episode we talk about what that is like going through this infertility journey, just being stuck, left behind, while everyone is moving forward with their lives and getting pregnant and having their babies. We talk about how we were literally forced into taking a break from this TTC time due to health issues that arose in Naomi and how we dealt with that and moved forward knowing God continues to love us where we are and is...2023-07-2932 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp05 - Fertility Clinic Results and Next StepsThis episode 5 continues on with our visit to the RE's office (reproductive endocrinologist) and finding out our results of bloodwork and scans. We then discuss our next actions including another procedure to check for any outstanding issues (hysterscopy) with my uterus. We go further into navigating the possibility of IVF/IUI, seeking more clarification and then just wondering if we need to take a break. We also talk how our viewpoints on this journey begin to vary slightly but are still focused on God's ultimate plan for us and our relationship with Him and one another.Scripture...2023-07-2248 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp04 - Infertility Journey: Clomid Rounds and RE ReferralIn this episode we start off by sharing a loss of a pet and just discussing how life moves on even though we are still waiting for our miracle baby. The animals, family members or loved ones our little one will never get to meet can be a hard process. We also discuss how our journey continued after getting a clear HSG and bloodwork from OB and good semen analysis, so now we move on to fertility drugs and then referral to the RE (reproductive endocrinologist)/fertility office.We mention a clinic called CNY (Central New York...2023-07-1536 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp03 - Trying to Conceive (TTC) after the MiscarriageThis episode starts our journey at almost a year after the MC (miscarriage) and about how we were moving forward with trying to get pregnant. We mention doing the semen analysis, HSG, and various supplements. These were our first stepping stones to try and figure out what went wrong or was preventing us from having child. We also talk about just the struggle of seeing everyone else get pregnant or have their miracle baby after we lost ours. It is important to let others celebrate their joy but also have our own boundaries on social media. Resources that were...2023-07-0837 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityE02 - Infertility Journey: The MiscarriageIn this episode we share about our miscarriage and the events of the days prior and after. It was hard to even tell our family and friends. We were so excited and stunned at the thought of being parents and then it was over so fast. We also really want to connect to others about the shame and isolation that can be brought on from events like this and fertility struggles in general. We share encouragement on talking about it more, seeking help if needed, and just communicating with your spouse about your individual grief and other feelings that...2023-07-0837 min
Hope Ahead: A Journey of InfertilityEp01 - Intro and Summary of Our Infertility JourneyListen in on our now 4-year journey of trying to start a family after experiencing a miscarriage. We give a brief overview of what we have dealt with and things we've tried while trying to conceive.Going through this has been difficult and sad but, as Christians, we know that life is not always sunshine and rainbows. We place our hope and trust in God and in His promises for good in our lives.Scripture at the end of the podcast is:John 16:33 (NIV) "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In...2023-07-0742 min