The Beginning of Merely Surviving

In a world that often forces us to thrive, the idea of merely surviving might seem simplistic or even negative. However, embracing survival during certain seasons of motherhood is a win. I often say in my current season of life, "Merely Surviving is thriving."

Hey there World, with this being our first blog I want to talk about my hopes and dreams for this platform as well as introduce myself and share my motherhood journey that has brought me to where I am today.

What the Blog?!

I want this to be a safe space for every mother in every season. Here is where you can come to relate, to be heard, to laugh when all you want to do is cry, to cry because being a mom is hard and to just simply be without any form of judgment.

This is a place where we can joke about "accidentally" leaving our kids out by the street for someone else to take care of because they're driving you nuts, WITHOUT being a terrible mother. If that isn't something you've ever thought about doing email me NOW becuase I need your advice.

This is a place where you can talk about loss, infertility, disability, illness and the hardships that you have gone through and be welcomed with nothing less than open arms and all the support you deserve. You are seen and I am so thankful you're here to Merely Survive with us.

This is a place where we can talk about all the outrageous things the female body has go through during pregnancy and birth, WITHOUT being called ungrateful for your pregnancy.

This is a place for YOU. Come as you are.

My Motherhood. (well the beginning anyway, gotta save some content)

When my husband I got married we had plans to wait atleast 3-4 years before we started trying to get pregnant, following that plan the T we were pregnant in just 7 short months! It was par for my very type A personality and my husbands, well I'm not sure there is a letter for that type (insert soft smile here).

I tested positive on Mother's Day in 2019, we had our first apt on june 14th (the heart rate was 58), then two days later began the process of miscarrying on Father's Day. Being the weekend of course we had to wait to see my OB so the next few days were filled with prayer for the process to go as easy as possible. My husband was so hopeful in that moment and I needed him to be. With my medical background it made it merely impossible to have hope and then when I was for a brief moment it made the unknown of the damage a low heart rate like that could cause. When we were finally able to confirm the miscarriage, I was given the option to pass what was there of our child natuarally or speed the process up with a cytotec or misoprostol. In that moment of my life I knew that the best way for me to process this was to speed it along, so that is was I chose to do.

Later, at home I went into labor, very unlike the contractions of active labor but very disruptive (if you will) for me at that time.

Please know that I am not and will NEVER compare losses or journeys, I am simpley telling you my experiences to offer you comfort and support to share yours and/or know you're not alone. There are journeys that some of you walk that I cannot begin to fathom or understand nor will I ever try. What I will do is offer you this space.

Like all good nurses do, I followed the directions of my OB and did not get pregnant again for at least 1 normal cycle, I got pregnant in 5 weeks! Like I said, our plan was several years but after the loss of our first, we decided to change the plan.

Due in April 2020 (Pandemic, talk about a freaking plot twist)

We will talk all things Pandemic delivery, baby #1 + transition from 1 to 2 (may wanna sit down for that one, mama gets a little psycho) next week.

I am so glad you're here, you are doing a great job and you are seen.

-ts

*I would love to hear your thoughts and if you feel inclined to write an entry for us here we would be more than happy to have you, email us merelysurvivingmotherhood@gmail.com