April & May Joys

What a crazy two months it’s been! So many highs, some lows… but we power on!

Before I discuss my April & May Joys, I wanted to flag that It’s Mental Health Awareness week and the topic this year is anxiety. As some may know, anxiety has affected me for many many years. I think I’ve touched on anxiety maybe once or twice on my blog.

I overcame my social anxiety a few years ago, however, I still suffer with generalised anxiety. Going through IVF/DEIVF and infertility complications has definitely increased my anxiety and caused me to have many ups and downs. These days I take each day as it comes… life can be unpredictable and uncertain, but you also need to make the best out of a bad situation. Or so I like to tell myself.

I generally tend to have the attitude of ‘cracking on’ most of the time, but sometimes you need to sit, write and reflect how you’re feeling, go out for long walks, see friends and family and do the things you love doing. Equally it’s just as important to rest and recover when life is throwing you some huge curveballs.

Any who…

I will discuss some major highlights that have happened recently.

I was on BBC Breakfast

I was on BBC breakfast recently! It was completely out of my comfort zone and very unlike me to do anything of the sort! I discussed good and bad challenges I’ve faced in the work-place while undergoing fertility complications. Fertility Matters at Work are doing some incredible things, so if you’re in a big or small company, please please consider having a fertility policy in place!

Eurovision Antics

Me, Joe, his uni friends and partners celebrated Eurovision in Manchester and Liverpool this year. We have a yearly tradition of getting together every year to celebrate. We may go to Sweden next year as Joe’s friends wife is actually Swedish and they are currently living over there! Anyway, a four day break was very much needed. Lots of laughs were had. And, lots of bottles of prosecco consumed.

Embryo Transfer Date confirmed

Depending if all is ok with my thyroid and everything else… we should be going ahead some-time next month! I actually had blood tests done yesterday and some results have come back already. I still have low iron levels and they think a stomach virus/bug has caused ‘infection markers’ in my bloods, but they have asked to take bloods again when I’m well. Hopefully next week. Still waiting on thyroid blood tests results…

Lots of Bank Holidays

We’ve been quite lucky here in the UK to have been graced with so many bank holidays this year. We had additional days off due to the coronation – I don’t agree with having a big expensive celebration for the king, when the UK is really struggling right now. However, I’m not going to sit here and complain about having a extra day off.

Upstairs Bathroom Renovation

We had our bathroom completely re-done! It’s B-E-A-utiful. Can’t wait to show you some pics – unless you have me on the gram, then you may have already seen some snaps!

I have been meaning to do a blog post on it for agessss… but just haven’t got round to it yet!

Long walks

I’ve been trying to do around 7,000-12,000 steps a day. Not going to lie, it’s been tough! However, I’m doing all I can. Just depends on my energy levels on the day. It helps going on long walks with friends and family. I need to be encouraged haha.

I did go on a really nice walk in Hertfordshire a few weekends back, seeing the bluebells in bloom. So so lovely.

Recent TV/Music/Book Favourites

I’ve been watching quite a bit of TV, trying to read books that have been collecting dust (when I can) and falling back in love with music again.

Of course, Eurovision was a highlight! We re-watched Normal People on BBC Iplayer – one of my favourite TV shows. Binge-watched the Ed Sheeran documentary on Disney+, and the Miley Cyrus one on Disney+ too. LOVED the Wrexham documentary on Disney+ as well! I’m in the middle of watching a few things on Netflix… Dubai Bling, Unstable, Formula 1, Drive to Survive, Love Life, Lewis Capaldi’s How I’m Feeling Now documentary, How to get rich and The First Monday in May. Honestly, I have about 100 things to watch. But struggling to find the time at the moment. I think I just need to dedicate a week of my life to watching Netflix solidly.

I didn’t listen to any music for around six months, possibly longer. I’ve recently started listening to Apple Music again and I’m in love with Cat Burns. Major girl crush. Miley Cyrus has some bangers too. SZA is another girl crush. Also been listening to Harry Styles quite a bit as I’m seeing him live soon! I’ve also been listening to some old rock and pop/80’s tunes. If you know me quite well… I’m a Magic FM girl at heart. I grew up listening to Magic pretty much my whole life… thanks to my mother!

And lastly, a few books I’ve been on and off reading/listening to for about a year. The mental health books are more recent and were recommended by my well-being coach. Quiet. How to Kill Your Family. The Myth of Normal. How to Be Human: The Manual. And, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.

A Final Note….

I think those are my major highlights from the past two months… of course there has been other great times as well. Such as catching up with close friends and family. My mother-in-law has been visiting quite a bit when Joe’s been on stag do’s and what not, which has been really nice and get’s me out of the house! As well as my mum visiting once a week, and popping round my grandad’s when I can. I ring my grandad every day though… we always ramble on for about twenty minutes each day.

Joe and I have quite full-on weekends for the next couple of months.

Weddings, baby showers, birthdays, DEIVF, hospital/doctors appointments, music festivals, gigs, family gatherings, a break in Oxford, Wimbledon, Ladies World Cup… hope I haven’t missed anything! I would like to catch up with my best friend/close friends as well, as it’s been months since we last saw each-other! Just so hard to squeeze everything in at the weekends. So don’t think we will see each-other till July or August!

I’m so behind with my blog posts as well! I had so many posts planned for the past couple of months but life has been hectic! Lots of exciting things happening! And, as always there are sad moments too… it’s coming up to a year since my dearest nan passed. We are having a little get-together round mine and Joe’s house. And, as always, constant health battles… but we’re getting there slowly.

It’s been about six weeks since I’ve been on thyroid medication, it’s really hard to say whether I feel differently. It’s going to be tough being on this medication for the rest of my life, but a silver lining is that I’m exempt from paying for any medication now due to my condition. I really need to cancel my NHS yearly medication subscription… too much to sort!

RIGHT, I’m off for a walk with my lovely neighbour in a bit, so I will press publish (just need to re-read as I’ve scrambled my thoughts together in thirty minutes haha)! Hope you’re all doing ok, how’s your month been?

Also, before I dash off. Just wanted to say thank you for the comments/messages on my blog and on the gram. You are all such a wonderful and supportive bunch!