Sunday, May 14, 2017

Encouragement for NICU Moms This Mother's Day


Mother's Day is today, and I want to share with you a little encouragement while you're in the NICU with your little one that's fighting for their life. Motherhood is a beautiful gift from God.  To be able to look at your child and know that he/she are apart of you is such an amazing feeling.

My journey to motherhood was no cakewalk, as I encountered many challenges- a diagnosis of infertility followed by premature birth. My diagnosis of PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) was given to me in my mid 20's.  It inhibits women from having regular, monthly periods and ovulating on their own.  After seeking the help of a fertility doctor (RE-Reproductive Endocrinologist) and two ectopic miscarriages later, I FINALLY conceived my little one via FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer). I was so thrilled and ecstatic about this new life growing on the inside of me, yet fearful that I may miscarry or something terrible may happen again.  Then, my worst fear became my reality on December 5, 2012 when a normal doctor's appointment with my perinatologist (High-Risk OB) showed that I'd already dilated 1.5 centimeters, and had a bulging water bag due to an incompetent cervix.  I was immediately put on strict hospital bed rest to lie in the T-berg (Trendelenburg) position where the feet are higher than the head while you're lying on your back.  The goal was to make it to 28 weeks so that my son's lungs would be more developed and he'd have a better chance of survival .  However, almost 2 weeks later, 25 weeks, 5 days I gave birth to a micro-preemie.  I watched his really tiny body get poked and prodded, be resuscitated several times, fight for life, cry in pain, but his cries could only be seen, and not heard.  It was a very challenging time that I felt and knew was totally out of  my control, which was very difficult for me because I can be a bit  of a control freak.  But, I had to rely and depend totally on my faith in God to pull my son through, and I'm so forever grateful that He did just that...thank you God! My 25 weeker is now a funny, loving, silly, rambunctious 4-year-old that loves everything about Blaze and The Monster Machines, Lighting McQueen & Mater (from Disney Cars), and anything monster trucks related.  Being a mother is so incredibly rewarding.  

NICU mom, it's Mother's Day and I'm sure you are grateful to be able to walk in that role, but I know that being in the NICU during a holiday such as Mother's Day is not your desire today.  You would love to be able to hold you baby, and cuddle with him/her anytime your heart desires, but that's not the case.  Right now the most important thing is that your baby remains stable, strong, and continues to progress so that he/she can some day be in your arms at home.  I want to let you know that while you are feeling mixed emotions about this day, and wanting to just see the light at the end of the tunnel for your little one, I am praying for you both.  I pray that God would send His divine healing and wholeness in health to your sweet one.  I pray that the blood of Jesus Christ would saturate every organ, red & white blood cell, vein, tendon, bone, and ligament. I know that you are afraid of the worst happening.  I want to remind you that God will never leave or forsake you.  Know that Your Daddy-God doesn't want you to fear because He is with you and your little one every step of the way during this NICU journey and beyond.  He is your God and will strengthen you both, help you both, and hold you both up with His victorious right hand (Isaiah 41:10 NLT).

In addition, it's my hope that you're able to hold, love on, and cuddle you little one today.  I hope that you will take some time to celebrate your strength, courage, fight and resilient spirit as a NICU mom as well.  Allow family and friends to celebrate you-take you to brunch, lunch, dinner, the spa, to get  a mani/pedi, or take a walk in nature.  It's okay to take a moment to celebrate the life that you've created who will someday call you mom. You deserve some much needed self-care, pampering, and relaxation although I know that's very hard to do right now.

So, take a deep breath and have an enjoyable Mother's Day! My thoughts and prayers are with you today, and always!


Connect with My Predestined One:
  1. FacebookInstagram , & Twitter.
  2. My Predestined One now has a private, faith-based support group for TTC & preemie moms.  If you'd like to get connected with other women who will encourage and pray for you in a safe, loving nonjudgmental space to help renew your hope and strengthen your faith on your journey. Email Contact@mypredestinedone.org to request to join. 
  3. Also, stay tuned for our website launch and other big news coming soon!!!

Predestined for Miracles,
Tiffany Finley




















Friday, May 12, 2017

To the Heartbroken Woman This Mother's Day


During my journey of TTC (Trying to Conceive) my first child, Mother's Day made me feel excluded and forgotten about as I struggled to get pregnant. I felt that my diagnosis of infertility left an arrow lingering over my head pointing down at me to remind me that my body has failed to do what is so easy and uncomplicated for other women. I felt like no one cared what I was experiencing as a woman struggling to achieve motherhood on one of the most celebrated holidays of the year.   I felt excluded, forgotten, and heartbroken.  Are you currently feeling this way as Mother's Day is quickly approaching? If so, I want to remind you that you are NOT forgotten...by God.  Additionally, I want to apologize in advance on behalf of your church, family, and friends who've forgotten to acknowledge your very real, hard, and difficult journey to motherhood on one of the hardest days of the year for a woman diagnosed as infertile.  I want to apologize in advance for those that will not be reaching out to you to offer a kind word of encouragement, or for the church that will pray for and celebrate all of the mothers in their congregation, but fail to acknowledge those that are struggling to conceive, suffered a miscarriage, or loss a baby.  I'm SO sorry. I'm sorry that your heart is breaking because you have yet to see a positive pregnancy test.



My heart breaks for you.  And, I long for you to be able to relish in the joy and happiness of having your baby in your arms some day soon. Not only do I want that for you, but your Daddy-God wants that for you as well. He desires to fulfill that longing of motherhood that rests in your heart.  And know, that he WILL fulfill it!  So let your heart be filled with confidence in God, confidence in His promise (word). Let you faith in God's ability to do what appears to be impossible for you be greater than the faith you've been putting into the thought of it never happening for you. I encourage you to "hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise (Hebrews 10:23 NLT)!"

Lastly, don't wait for anyone to acknowledge or celebrate you on Mother's Day.  Acknowledge and celebrate yourself and others around you who may be still waiting for the promise of motherhood to manifest, or may have conceived but lost their little one. It would be awesome to have someone in your life that reaches out and shows care, and concern for your journey, but you can choose to start the chain of celebrating other unyielding, brave, courageous, strong, persistent TTC Warriors like yourself that need a shout out, encouragement, hope, and acknowledgement this holiday.  Empower yourself and others around you in our fertility community on Sunday.  This way, you're choosing to acknowledge the struggle, but celebrate your successes and wins as a woman as well.


You're Predestined for Miracles,
Tiffany Finley














Thursday, March 23, 2017

Private Support Group




Hi predestined & preemie moms! It's been a minute since I've posted. I've missed being on the blog. How are you guys??? Me? I'm doing BETTER!! The past few months have been emotional  for me. So, I needed to take a break, as I felt like I had NOTHING to give to encourage you all (just keeping it real). Yes, I get discouraged, emotional, angry, and isolate myself at times too. I'm not immuned to any of the aforementioned emotions. I'm human just like you, and need prayers, encouragement, support, and a community of women to connect with about my current struggles with TTC and preemie parenting as well.

With that being said, Holy Spirit has led me to create a PRIVATE support group for those like myself who need and would benefit from this kind of support from their fellow fertility-sisters and preemie mom-sisters. This is a space where we'd meet to receive live encouragement.

So, think about and answer these  question:

Would you like to be a part of a private Christian fertility support group where you can 1) help renew another sister's hope and strengthen her faith, while your hope and faith is being renewed and strengthen as well? 2) a support group where you cover one another in prayer, and grow together in Christ while trusting His will and perfect timing on your motherhood journey,  3) a private support group where you can receive live encouragement (via periscope app), connect, share joys, and frustrations with other women experiencing what you experience. I know that women in the TTC/fertility & preemie parent communities could really benefit from one anothers experiences, tests, trials and joys on our different journeys concerning motherhood. If you're interested in this and would like to connect and join please email me (MyPredestinedOne@gmail.com) regarding your interest along w/ your first and last name, and I'll provide you more details.


You're Predestined for a Miracle,
Tiffany Finley