Bestie became a mother

She delivered a healthy baby boy 3 days ago. Strangely, jealousy didn't hit me when she announced it. In fact, I cannot wait to see the newborn. Saw his photo. Such a lovely looking little chap. Looking forward to seeing and holding him for the first time on Tuesday. I have set the date especially for it. Thinking of getting something special for the mother and little boy too. <3

My bestie, AO, is one of the most kind hearted person I know. She is always careful with her words and does not mind going to great length just to do others a favour. I think that is why there is not even a tiny hint of hatred or jealousy or any kind of negativity that manage to hit me everytime she shares stories of her pregnancy and labour. It is amazing how she can make you feel like you are also part of the process. And that is why I admire this wonderful lady I have known since my uni days. Can't believe she is now a mother.

I hope I get to become a mother too someday and we can arrange for playdates and mengaji and tuition and football for our kids together. Ok, can start daydreaming about it now. Hehe.

Mockery

Just when I was about to be all normal and indifferent towards all of my TTC-related problem, a cousin announced the birth of her second daughter in the family Whatsapp on Friday and as you can guess the other cousin-mummies gushed excitedly, "Oh... I know the feeling! You must be over the moon!" 

Of course everyone knows "the feeling" of giving birth, right? Right? Except this one infertile-by-marriage cousin of yours hahaha! *this is my bitterness talking*

To top it all, the birth announcement came in just after the proud grandmother of the new baby forwarded the good-hearted message below (I'm sure the same has been circulating everywhere, not just in my family Whatsapp):

A lot of men think they doing women a favour by asking for her hand in marriage, but lets think about this : she changes her name, changes her home, leaves her family, moves in with you, builds a home with you, gets pregnant for you, pregnancy change her body, she gets fat, almost gives up in the labour room due to the unbearable pains of child birth, even the kids she delivers bear your name. Till the day she dies everything she does benefits you. So who is really doing who a favour? Dear men appreciate your wife today, it is not easy to be a woman.*Being a woman is priceless *

W - Wonderful MOTHER
O - Outstanding Friend
M - Marvelous Daughter
A - Adorable Sister
N - Nicest Gift To Men From God

complete with pesanan penaja : Kalau boleh buat semua tu kerana Allah senang masuk syurga.

So how did that make me feel? Of course, mendidih inside!

Mind you, it's my extended family group chat with 42 participants. I have four cousins who are about the same age as me - all have become mothers except myself. Of course the forwarded message is a general one but at the time of reading it, I could almost see the texts dancing up and down, mocking me. As you would have guessed, I replied:

"Saidatina Aisyah tak pernah melahirkan anak. Masuk syurga juga. Assiyah isteri Firaun, ibu angkat Nabi Musa A.S. juga begitu. Tinggi ketaqwaan kepada Allah. Firaun yang mandul tapi Assiyah tetap bersifat keibuan membela Musa A.S. dan berjaya pujuk Firaun untuk bela Musa A.S. Kalau hari ini, asal mandul je masyarakat akan salahkan perempuan."

That was when I think the aunt, along with several cousins got the message. However, as non-TTCians they advised me to be patient and believe in Allah's plan etc. Hahahaha as if we do not know any better.

I told them off back that it is not in their place to tell me what to do. As someone who has been in this battle for over three years, of course I know what to do. All I did was pointing out to them that it is not right to be over-glorifying the joy of motherhood when not everyone has the chance to experience it. I told them what to do on their part instead, that is to be more aware of infertility issues, as that is what is lacking in the society at the moment. As someone who is experiencing it, whether biologically or by marriage, of course we know what it takes to face the test, right? What we need is family support and not continuous isolation. No one replied after that LOL.

I have yet to visit my cousin's baby. Not intending to, not anytime soon. I told my mother the same. She told me to reconsider and visit them anyway but bring DH along. We'll see.

From this entry I think you can tell that I have been going on an emotional roller coaster ride. Not proud of myself. So I decided to just go on living as normal. Went to a friend's wedding on Saturday evening, spring cleaned the house, called my mother to have a chat, just tried my best to be normal but of course there is still that bugging feeling I do not know how to get rid of.

It is not helping that our blood test / semen analysis results from the Health Clinic have not been out yet. They asked us to call again sometime next week.

In the meantime, I have signed up to attend the TTC Breakthrough Programme organised by Jay and friends. Hopefully I can gather my spirit back with it. A soul tuning is going to do me some good. Aamiin.

Sister-in-Law (DH's sister) is pregnant

She announced it in the family whatsapp group chat a couple of weeks ago. Honestly both DH and I were crushed that night. I did not immediately read the message as soon as it came in because I was just about to solat Isya' but DH did and he came to me and hugged me. I had no idea what was going on then. I thought it was just a normal hug so I just excused myself so I could pray. 

Finished praying and just like my everyday routine, I checked my phone one last time before going to bed. That was when I saw THE announcement in the form of positive UPT photo captioned "Alhamdulillah rezeki kami tahun ini."

I was confused with my own feeling at that time. I wanted to feel happy, I mean I felt happy at that time but I also felt sad with myself. I texted my congratulations and buried my face in my pillow. DH went around to hug me tight and said that, that was why he came to hug before. He knew how I would feel and it pains him too to see the pregnancy announcement by her sister and to see me all sad. I sobbed uncontrollably in his arms that everything he said after that was blur. I did not know what time I actually slept last night but I remember waking up with my pillow and DH's arms drenched in tears. Allahuakbar! How heartbroken I was.

I tried to go about my days like normal. I mean, I have my day job that needs my full attention, I also have my running hobby which I do enjoy doing with my friends, basically I just try to put all of my sorrows behind. I even reasoned it out. It was silly for me to feel down and jealous of my SIL just because she is pregnant for the second time and I am not even close to seeing my first BFP. So I left it at that and went about my life.

I thought I was doing okay until, the SIL decides to be on her oh-Im-pregnant-and-I-deserve-all-the-attention-in-this-world mode. The group chat is now full of her woes and whinings of how tired she is, how easily she becomes hungry, how her old clothes won't fit her, her cravings, etc you get it right? She became the most annoying person to me all of a sudden. It is not helping that the MIL is encouraging her. One night, the SIL said she was craving for satay so the MIL asked everyone to make time for dinner so we can take her out for satay as one happy family. According to MIL, we must support her since she is pregnant and all. I said no thanks but I have something more important to attend to. I hope they get the message. DH was not too keen of me joining them either. He was away at that time for a meeting so he managed to escape, himself hehe.

After the incident, you might think she has stopped with the whinings, right? Nope, it is getting worse by the day. Not wanting to torture myself, I have muted the group chat for one year. Yay! I also haven't seen her at all although Kajang is just a short distance from where I live (Putrajaya). No, I don't feel bad at all. At this point in time, I believe it is important for me to think of myself and how I feel first. And this has given me peace :)

I have also deactivated all of my social media accounts to avoid seeing her gloating about her pregnancy there. Trust me, I feel sooooooo much better now!

The Last Twenties

I turned 29, 2 days ago.

Went to court in the morning, and then continued my work at the office and decided to go on a run with several colleagues and friends. Just when I was about to reach 7km, my friend A who was part of the running group I had that night called me on my phone and said she had injured herself. I asked her where she was and ran as fast as I can her way. And then surprise surprise! The whole group waited for me with four slices of cake with candles on top. Hahaha I was honestly touched and did not expect anything. It was simply sweet of them to have done that :)

DH has been away since Sunday due to a work training/ course. I am thankful for the group of friends I have for keeping me company everytime I am alone. It is not that I am not close with my family but we live so far apart, I treat my friends as if they are also family. I keep in touch with my family on a daily basis but only through Whatsapp and Telegram. That is normal, right?

Now that I am in the final year of being in my twenties I am even more determined to fix this huge spot of bother in my life. May the luck be with me!

p.s. - Two weeks into 2015, my sister-in-law announced her second pregnancy. Details in the next entry.

Reflecting on 2014, Looking Forward to 2015

Left 2014 with so many memories. Both bitter and sweet. Among the highlights of my year:

January

Turned 28.

February

DH turned 29.

March

DH graduated from his police inspector training.

We went on a romantic getaway in Langkawi shortly after.

Came back from our getaway with a transfer order to another division. Something I actually have been waiting and praying for, for a long time.

June

Ran 16km for Mizuno Run

July

Received my long-awaited promotion.

August

Ran 15km in Larian MAKSAK

September

Broke my half marathon record in 2XU competitive challenge (21km in 2 hours 35 minutes)

Discovered the problem that prevented us from conceiving. Decided to do the second test. CD3 blood drawn.

October

Ran 15km Putrajaya Urban City Run with DH.

November

Ran my first trail run. 8km Petzl Trail Night Run, Putrajaya.

Ran 10km in UM Larian Gegar Neon with DH.

December

Ran my second trail run. 12km Salomon Trail Run, with DH.

Had my CD20 blood sample drawn.

DH had his semen sample taken for analysis.

DH's grandmother blamed me for being barren as if she knows. *deleting bad memories*

Mama asked me to stop running to better care after my womb, as if she knows better. *deleting this as well*

I think you can guess how I have used work and running as my distractions to not think so much about TTC or baby-related stuff. I want to do the same in 2015 but this time stronger. In 2014, I cried a lot. In the shower, in the car, everytime a friend/relative announced they are pregnant, after baby-showers/cukur jambul, you name it. I cared so much about people's remarks hurled at me during get-togethers be it during the festive season or at weddings, etc. I do not want to care as much in 2015. I will try my best not to let them know that they are winning. This is my battle, I should be in charge.

Here are among the amazing things that are going to happen to me in 2015:

January

A visit to the Jump Street with DH and our mutual friends.

100Plus Outrunner 12km with DH.

Progesterone test and semen analysis results.

Celebrate the last of my 20's :)

My first experience conducting a full civil procedure trial on my own. (oh I forgot to tell you I am a government counsel/ lawyer)

February

Nike We Run KL 21km with DH and my closest friends.

DH's birthday.

March

Women's Health Night Run 12km

April

Shape Night Run 11.2km

October

Holiday with DH in Melbourne + Melbourne Marathon (10km maybe)

Baby or no baby, it's going to be great!