I'm really doing it

I'm so thrilled to finally be a part of this amazing community.  I have thought about blogging for a long time, and have even been lurking for awhile, silently cheering many of you on, as you've shared your stories.  I am not sure what kept me from actually sharing my own story, but I am thrilled to be officially "out" in the IF community, and to able to rally around all of you.  I know that I will definitely benefit from the love and support that I've seen flowing from comments and posts.

I invite you to visit my TTC Timeline and My Journey pages, to learn about my story.  I am not quite sure where I fit in, in this community.  You will learn that I am one of the truly lucky individuals who has "crossed over" and successfully carried and given birth to a baby after years of struggling with IF, failed ART procedures and repeat pregnancy losses.  I used to pray to whatever higher power is out there, that if I could have just one baby, I would never ask for anything else.  Here we are, almost 2 years after my daughter Smiley (because you never see her without a smile) was born, and the desire to have another baby is just as strong as my desire was, for a first. The only difference, is that I'm fortunate enough to be able to wake up every single morning and swoop up my beautiful, special, miracle baby.  That fact, in itself, separates me from so many of you strong, incredible women, who continue to struggle every day in pursuit of a baby, and I can't help but have some guilt for wishing for more than one. 

You will learn a lot about my family through my posts. My husband, R, daughter, Smiley (of course I've already introduced her), and our miniature schnauzer, Rocky (his real name :) are everything to me.  You will learn about how losing my mother 9 years ago unraveled the lives of my father and brother, and how R and I almost cancelled our wedding, which was 4 months after her death.  There were many things that R and I were dealing with way before we knew we would spend years fighting so hard for a baby, and some of those issues have not gone away.  I am so happy that I now have an outlet where I can share and get feedback, support, and empathy.

Please feel free to share my blog with anyone and everyone you are connected with, I can't wait to "meet" you all!