Two bits of GREAT news

Hi loves,

I've totally forgotten to share a couple of bits of good news with you. I'm so forgetful! One of these pieces of news I shared on Twitter and Facebook but not here, so that first.

Good News #1

A couple of weeks ago I had some fabulous news from the DWP. The dreaded brown envelope of doom appeared through my letterbox which I assumed would contain news that my ESA appeal had failed. A quick recap for new readers - I've had Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome since 2007 and have been on ESA since about 2009. Under the Coalition Government's welfare reforms, I'd been put in the work focussed group which meant once my Incapacity Benefit switched over to ESA, I'd only be paid it for a year. This would've meant my money would have been stopped in February 2014 (as I was transferred from IB to ESA in Feb this year) and I'd have to either try to get a job (and totally bugger up what's left of my health) or else we'd have to cut back severely. I'd sent off an appeal letter months ago and didn't hold back anything. Every ounce of frustration, every fear, every unvarnished truth about the stuff that goes on (that I don't even want to admit to myself because it's so embarrassing.) I laid it all out in no uncertain terms - sod the stiff upper lip and sod my pride. It only bloody well worked and it found someone with a heart! I was put in the support group. This means - pending further medicals of course - that they admit I am not fit for work and will be financially supported indefinitely. This is a massive weight off and it hasn't sunk in yet.

A sick or disabled person has enough on their plate without money worries. I just wish I could say all the other people I know in the same situation as me had been so fortunate, but unfortunately that's not the case. Quite a few friends have been found fit to work when they clearly are NOT. Many are worse off physically than I. I've ranted before about the welfare reforms so I won't do it again here... except to say I know I'm phenomenally lucky to have reached a decision maker with a heart.

Good News #2

In January this year my husband told me he didn't like kids, didn't want kids and never had. This was a shock to me as we'd been trying to get pregnant for a while before this and I'd thought we were on the same page when we got married...and I'd already been pregnant twice and had had 2 ectopic pregnancies. Anyhow, we'd talked it about it on and off since January, and the upshot is he has now changed his mind. Our niece is absolutely adorable, a dream baby, and he came back from our holiday after spending lots of time with her and said he is BROODY! He has said he wants us to try again. It's not as simple as that - my health is poor, I don't even know if my remaining fallopian tube even is viable (it hasn't been tested) and of course there's a great risk I could have another ectopic pregnancy. Plus I'm 39 and fat. I'm not expecting things to be easy - getting pregnant, staying pregnant and coping with a baby afterwards will not be easy. But the heart wants what it wants.

I want to be as healthy and prepared as I possibly can be for trying. I read some study recently which said babies get a taste for foods the mother eats in pregnancy and will crave those all through its life. I eat quite a bit of fruit and veg already but there's always room for more and eating lots of fruit and veg makes me happy. It's good for the body and the soul. I'm also endeavouring to take more exercise, and the current warm weather is great for walks. I want to give myself the best possible chance of being a healthy baby-carrier, since I will essentially be the host for a parasite, hahaha!

I know if I do fall pregnant things will be so hard, but I have an amazing network of friends and family and a fantastic husband so I'm brave (or stupid!) enough to try again. If I do fall pregnant I will be hounding the early pregnancy unit at my hospital to make sure the bun is in the right oven this time, and I look forward to baby-making practice! I know as someone who's had 2 ectopic pregnancies and surgery on my reproductive equipment I'm at very high risk of having another ectopic pregnancy and possibly stiffing it if it isn't caught in time, but there are no guarantees in life - ever. I could be run over by a bus tomorrow. I can't think about the risks. I can only try. We'll see where that gets us.

Wish me luck!

Have you had any good news lately? Care to share it with everyone?

Thanks for reading.