Monday Movement

This weekend was a weekend for family and luncheons. 

My mom is a member of The Links, Inc. 

Every year in Baltimore they have a luncheon that supports several scholarship efforts for high school and college students. 

My mother couldn't come but she made sure that her whole family would be there to represent. 

Myself and Amos, My cousin Qiana (pictured below) and her husband, My Cousin Blair (also pictured below) and my Uncle Carl and his fiance as well as two of my good friends all came to support my mom's luncheon. 

Although we are really close, we don't get the chance to see each other often so it was so good to get to see my family. The last time I was able to see Q was at her wedding that I wrote about here. 

By the way, the newlyweds are going to Brazil in two weeks -- I can't wait to see pictures from her trip. 

We definitely didn't plan to be in the same color but it was funny that we showed up in purple and red alike anyways. 

Here's my handsome cousin Blair. 

He lives in NYC close to my sister with his wife and children and is thinking about moving back to my area, so I am happy about that. He is definitely more like a big brother than my older cousin. 

So we left that luncheon in Baltimore and immediately drove towards to D.C. to attend yet another luncheon. We literally went from eating to eating just to show our support. 

I am sure Amos would hate this picture but I love it - candid and random and he looks so cute dressed in his suit and sweater for this semi-formal affair. Mind you that dress code was followed very loosely. Unfortunately I kid you not - I saw a person there with a Nautica t-shirt and Adidas jogging pants.

This weekend was filled not only with family but with Church and other gatherings. 

This weekend was my church's 13th Year Anniversary. 

Our Youth were so excited that they did a Flash Mob in the middle of Pastor's announcements and did the New Harlem Shake with their mascot and all. 

I only wish that I had a video to show you guys but I was laughing so hard that I couldn't get my phone out in time to tape it. 

It was too funny and my Pastor had no idea what was going on. 

But it wouldn't be a weekend in the DMV if crabs weren't involved. 

This particular weekend, I decided to add Louisiana Crawfish to the mix. 

Boy was it GOOD!

And in other news: 

This week is National Infertility Awareness Week

• Infertility is the inability to conceive within one year of unprotected sex during childbearing years and six months if you are 35 years or older. 
• Infertility affects 7.3 million people in the United States, which breaks down to 1 in 8 couples.

That means more than likely one of your married couple friends, or friends who are trying to conceive are unable to do so without the help of fertility treatment. (and may not know it). 

If you don't already know, I was diagnosed with unexplained infertility in April of 2012. Unexplained infertility means that despite several tests, dye shoved through my uterus and fallopian tubes, my husband taking tests that proved that there was nothing wrong with him, my doctor stamped my chart as "unexplained" - he can't figure out why at this point we are not able to conceive. Its something that we have not been able to do in 2 1/2 years.

I had no idea that I would have a hard time conceiving children until we tried to conceive children.

Then as I started talking to my friends, found out that they too hard trouble conceiving children. 

It was not as easy as we had been told all our lives. You know those constant threats of "it just takes one time!" did not prove to be true at all. I kid you not, MOST of my friends are having hard time conceiving due to common issues with women like : Endometriosis, Fibroids (in African American women), irregular cycles and God knows what the effects of the hormones in non-organic foods and other contributing factors. And quite honestly, some men are just shooting blanks and don't know it.

• A couple ages 29-33 with normal reproductive systems only have a 20%-25% chance of conceiving each month. 
• After 6 months, only 60% of couples would have conceived, the other 40% would be considered infertile if they have not conceived within another 6 months following depending on age.
• 85% to 90% of infertility cases are treated with drug therapy and surgical procedures. Less than 3% need more advanced surgical procedures like IVF. 

Fertility treatments are not always covered by insurance companies and can cost at minimum $1000 to $10,000-$20,000 depending on how much monitoring and subsequent medications are also not covered. So drug therapy is a considerable investment and neither is guaranteed to actually work.

And only Fifteen states have passed laws requiring that insurance policies cover some level of infertility treatment: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and West Virginia.

One of my favorite bloggers on the subject, Keiko Zoll who blogs at The Infertility Voice, created this video that kind of explains the whole emotional aspect and impact that it can have on a family when you realize in your twenties that this may be your fate for life.

Also know, Infertility can just be a temporary diagnosis. After for struggling for several years with infertility, Keiko Zoll and her husband are actually expecting their first child due this summer. She is blogging about that experience here.

It depends on the circumstances that surround why you are not pregnant: timing, other diagnosis that affects infertility, etc. 

The cure is pregnancy at times and often times people are diagnosed with secondary infertility, which is not being able to conceive easily after you have already had a child. 

Just wanted to make sure that people are more aware of where we really are a nation with infertility. If more insurance companies would cover it, it would definitely cut back on a lot financial restraints and concerns of a family who just wants to expand or start a family. 

To be in situations where you have to chose between a fertility treatment and major bills because they can cost as much as a mortgage is wrong when it effects 1 in 8 couples in our country. 

My prayer has ALWAYS been, when I realized that infertility had affected our house as well, was that God would give me the strength to kick unexplained infertility's butt! I'll never give up because I believe all things happen in his timing. So whether it be with treatments or natural, unexplained infertility will not be our status for life: I have faith. 

Share your personal experiences this week or maybe of someone you know - 

know that you are not alone 

and Join the Movement!