This is a sponsored conversation from Mums the Word Network and The Stork OTC. All opinions are my own.
When deciding to have more kids, it can be a conversation that can either be one that leaves you feeling elated or in some cases absolutely devastated.
In my case, it was the latter.
The process of trying to get pregnant can be an emotionally draining one. The two week period of time between ovulation and taking a test was one of pure anxiety for me. I remembered thinking that every single symptom of nausea to being able to smell water was a sure sign that I was pregnant. It felt like those two weeks dragged on forever.
Then the time came to test.
After taking the test waiting the allotted time, needless to say, I was devastated.
I remembered telling my husband and having him tell me to be thankful with the four kids that we have. This had been the third time we tried and failed (in addition to two miscarriages). Dealing with secondary infertility was not something that was an easy conversation to have with anyone around me.
I already had four healthy and beautiful children at home. So in a way I felt that it was wrong of me to complain about not being able to successfully conceive anymore. I had plenty of close friends who dealt with infertility, and didn’t even have one child, there was no way I could talk to them about what I am going through.
Waiting cannot only be emotionally draining and frustrating, it can also physically painful. (There were many times where I became physically ill and even the emotional stress took a toll on my healthy).
While it can feel like you’re alone, you’re not. 1 in 6 couples are not able to conceive during the first 12 months attempting, additionally, 6.7 million women ages 15-44 do not have the ability successfully become pregnant, nor carry a baby to term.
For many couples spending tens of thousands of dollars on fertility treatments isn’t a realistic option. Most private health insurances do not cover treatments, and this expense can place a burden on many families.
If you struggle with infertility and are looking to try something different, I want to share an amazing product called Stork OTC. It is a cervical cap insemination method that you can do in the privacy of your own home. This method is shown to have a pregnancy success rate of up to 20%, and is considered to be a less invasive method.
Stork OTC. is a drug-free conception aid that helps optimize the chances of pregnancy each month. It has been cleared by the FDA for over-the-counter sales without a prescription. For more information on The Stork OTC, including how it works and links to where you can purchase it, visit www.storkotc.com. You can also follow The Stork OTC on Facebook and Twitter.
You can pick up Stork OTC for $59.99 at most retailers, discuss available at Target and also available online at http://www.storkotc.com
Love of impromptu dance parties, 80’s cartoons, and horizontal life pauses (aka naps); Natasha Brown is a stay at home mom of 4 kids, and wife to one lucky guy! In her spare time, she is co-editor of Grits & Grace, as well as editor for The Mother Hustler Blog and Creative Director for the Mother Hustler podcast.
![Circe by Madeline Miller is a wildly original, beautifully written novel about Circe, a goddess of magic or sometimes a nymph, witch, enchantress or sorceress in Greek mythology. My love of modern mythological adaptions should be evident by now. I've enjoyed the many stories released this year with this very theme, I'm so excited to constantly bring you more recommendations. In my opinion, Circe far surpasses Song of Achilles, which was a tough act to follow. Miller will surely become remembered as one of the literary greats. She has managed to take a classic story, and weave an entirely new legend into the tale while keeping its original mythos. Miller managed to cultivate a desire in this reader to keep reading, despite other demands. The anticipation and satisfaction of finally finding a true unputdownable book were amazing. Read on to find out why. About Circe In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child--not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power--the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves. Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of the mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus. But there is a danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love. My Review of Circe: I finished reading Circe in a day and a half. As soon as I began reading Friday night, I had to force myself to finally put it down and go to sleep. I was disappointed I had to go to sleep. Let that sink in. As a background character, there is not much written on Circe. The literature that is available on the character paints Circe as an evil, ruthless witch. Circe the book is not completely contradictory to everything you've read regarding the character. Good or bad, Miller paints an intimate portrait of Circe, allowing us to create a truly complete vision of this mythological woman. Circe is likable and human, not the cruel, sorceress or enchantress we know from Greek Homer's Odyssey. Working within the constraints of the original text, Circe shines a light on the story of a woman, we were so sure we knew. Circe's joy and loneliness of independence mirror my own, another reason I felt a relation to the character. Miller's empathetic character Circe was met with various obstacles and characters blocking her path throughout the novel, but the anticipation of reading on until the end was well worth it. (Don't worry I won't give any spoilers.) Circe is a beautifully complex character, full of flaws and guilt like us. Miller does an amazing job at painting all of the characters as that: contradictory and flawed. Jason may be beautiful and strong, but he is also “lost in the details of his own legend” Hermes is all very well as a lover, as long as one doesn’t ever commit the sin of being dull Odysseus is “lawyer and bard and crossroads charlatan at once”...“He showed me his scars and in return let me pretend that I had none.” Circe bridges [wo]man and myth perfectly to create a well-rounded plot, beautiful prose. The pure anticipation I felt reading this book, Feel free to check out Madeline Miller's other books: Song of Achilles Circe This post contains affiliate links. Any purchase you make will allow me to buy more books. See disclosure for more.](https://i1.wp.com/www.gritsngrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-04-23-11.42.05-1.jpg?resize=450%2C340&ssl=1)
