Glass half full

Last night, I was finally able to fall asleep rather easily (to be specific, it was 8pm - and it was glorious).  However, my slumber didn't last long as I woke up several times throughout the night; the most lengthy of the wake-ups being at 3am where I was up for about two hours.

Other than infomercials (which are dangerous for me...I always buy!), there really isn't much else on television at that time of the morning.  And when you can't fall asleep, you're desperate.  Anyhow, I managed to stumble upon an episode of "Oprah."  While I have a great deal of respect for Oprah (don't judge me or hate me if you disagree, I'm not a super-fan or anything), I cannot even tell you the last time I saw an episode of her show.  This particular show was not the one I needed to find today.

The show was about a couple who lost their three children in a terrible car accident.  Miraculously, the couple conceived triplets (two girls and a boy - just like their other children) and had them almost a year to the day that they lost their children.  Instant goosebumps, right?  Yeah, that plus many, many, many, many tears for me.  And when I start crying, it's really hard to stop...so it was not good.  The couple ("The Cobles") talked about how they each thought about suicide, but through their grief counseling (which they are thankful they took), they were able to keep the lines of communication between them open at all times and were able to be honest with one another about what they were thinking.  They decided to make a pact that they wouldn't do anything to leave the other alone...they knew they were the only two people who know what they were going through and for one to be without the other, things would only be a million times worse.

I was so impressed and amazed by the strength of these two.  First of all, I commend them for immediately seeking counseling - and not to be sexist or anything, but I was really proud of the husband for being so willing to go to counseling and be open with his wife about his feelings and thoughts.  I know, for one, that is not how my husband is at all.  This man said that if he would have kept his feelings bottled up and never shared them with his wife, who knows what he would have done.  Not to mention the fact that the closed communication would have really probably pushed them apart and been terrible for their marriage.

Oprah kept saying how the overall message of this episode is for people to realize that no matter how low you are in your life, you can get through it and miracles do happen.  It was such a great story and really made me step back and realize that things could be so much worse.  I hope to God that I never have to endure the pain and suffering that the Cobles had to experience.  I can't imagine even losing one of your children like that...miscarriage was hard enough on me and my marriage, I wouldn't want to test it any more.

Throughout the day today, even though I am incredibly tired, I would think back to that inspirational couple and remind myself that it's not so bad.  Sure, my life hasn't been as easy and happy as the lives of many other people, but I could never come anywhere near what this poor family had to experience.

I had my second acupuncture appointment today (which I love - more on that in another post later) and while I'm fairly certain I'm not pregnant this month, I don't feel sad.  I feel hope and optimism with the plans for us in the future and I will never forget the couple I saw on television at 3am this morning.  They are truly inspiring to those of us who have struggled and been challenged through life.  For those of us who are considered the "fighters", I am confident that we come out better people on the other end and have the horrible things in our life to thank for making us that way.

I will never forget the baby we lost and I can't lie and say I won't have days where the struggles of trying to have a baby will make me sad or depressed, but I can be certain that I will also remember that it could be worse, we can get through it and that miracles do happen.

May God bless the Coble family and their dear children they lost.  I may have never met them, but they will always be in my thoughts.

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Coble-Family-Miracle