And Just Like That, It's Over.

After spending 7 hours in the ER last night, we lost another baby. I am numb and heartbroken, and angry.

Thank goodness for my friends - my elephants. And for my amazing husband, who should have been coming back from deployment to our baby. Not fair. Not okay.

That's all. No more blogs for a while.

We All Need Somebody to Lean On.

I don't know what I would do without my friends. I've been so blessed to make the friends I have on my board. I never expected to connect like this with women I don't even know in real life, but we've been there to support each other, understand each other, and laugh and cry with each other. I've also been lucky enough to have a good handful group of girls I now consider some of my best friends.

What's really amazing right now is that through the last 6 months, we've all been at different places in our struggles, cycles, and plans. My "buddy" and I have been on opposite ends of the spectrum. I've had 26 day cycles, with late O/LPD combo, and she's had a 100 day cycle and no O. Yet I've had this feeling that we would be doing this together. Something in my head that said when it happened for one of us, it would happen for both of us. I chalked it up to wishful thinking. Until it happened.

Becca and I have talked for months about me visiting and us having matching baby bumps. Sharing so many positive thoughts and prayers for BFPs each cycle, even though we were normally testing at different times. Even when it was easy to lose hope, she always kept me so optimistic. I don't know what I'd have done without her in my life the last 6 months. She helped me keep belief in my heart that things would work out, and to have faith in God. Last week, she got her BFP too! 2 days after me, and we are due 2 days apart. I can't even explain how happy it makes my heart that we are in this together. I am so looking forward to visiting her and going shopping for our little ones. She is truly one of my best friends, and she understands my feelings better anyone I know. I love you, Becca - and your growing little one, too!

The last week or two in general was a huge wave with the board. I am so happy and blessed to also be sharing my due date week with my dear friends Celeste and Val! Stick babies, grow babies! We all want to meet our little February bundles of joy.

Wonderful Weekend.

Justin and I have been making the absolute most of our time together. We've been going to whatever restaurants he wanted to go to, which has been fun but bittersweet because we know each time that it's our last trip there together for the next year. Going to movies, going on trips - just anything we feel like doing while we still can. Thursday night we went bowling on base. We went bowling on our first date 4 and a half years ago, and we still enjoy going together! On Friday, we went to see Killers, which was pretty funny. On Saturday we went to the lake for the day, which was so fun. We swam, lounged on on the beach, and Justin got to do the water slides.



Sunday was of course Father's Day, and I wanted it to be special for Justin. Mother's Day was a pretty big fail, but yesterday we certainly had something to celebrate. I made him a car from the cats, Pumpkin Angel, and Baby Longhorn and he loved it. We went to lunch at our favorite mexican restaurant, and tried out a new church last night.

We chose to try this church because they had an evening service, but now I feel like we found it for a reason. We'd yet to find a home church in our 9 months in Texas, and it kind of stinks that we find it right before Justin leaves, but we are still so grateful. I'm thrilled that I will have this church to be a part of while he is away. Before the service actually started, the pastor made a few announcements. One of them was looking for a few more volunteers for Vacation Bible School, and Justin just looked at me and smiled. It felt right, and I wanted to get involved, so in July I'll be teaching VBS! I met a great woman who runs a lot of the youth events, and I look forward to joining a women's group as well.

As much as I don't want Justin to leave, things are at least coming together for while he's gone. I know that is helping out Justin's mind at ease - and that's the most important thing. He's going to have enough on his mind, and I don't want him too worried about me. I knew this was in the Army Wife job description when Justin and I decided to commit to this lifestyle. My husband is my hero, and I'm so proud of what he's doing. It's my job to support him, and that's what I'm going to do. He's so strong for me, and I owe the same thing to him. I'm so lucky to have him as my husband.

Elephant love.

Elephant fact: 
When a mother elephant loses her baby, the herd will stand around her, supporting her, for as long as it takes her to be ready to move forward. Even years later, elephant have been observed revisiting the site where one of their herd or family had died. They will remain here for days at a time, mourning the loss of that one.

My heart goes out to the amazing women I know going through this again. Sending you lots of love. I'm so sorry, and I'm here for you if there is ever anything I can do. (HUGS)

The power of prayer...

...is astounding. God is so good.

"For this Child, I have prayed..."
-1 Samuel 1:27-

Miracles happen. I got mine yesterday.



I'm ecstatic. Nervous. Grateful. And about 10 other emotions that can't be conveyed in words. Justin leaves this month for deployment. This was our last chance to start a family for the next year, and we were trying to be positive without setting ourselves up for disappointment.

Which I guess, is the same boat I'm still in. Cautiously optimistic, I should say.

I always hated the cliche "everything happens for a reason" when people tried to comfort me about losing Savannah. It hurt to think I lost her for a reason, but I'm starting to learn more that God really does have a plan for us, and we just can't see it at the time.

This was our miracle BFP after all we've been through and with the obstacle of the deployment. Justin's scheduled R&R falls when I'm due - and I wasn't pregnant when he requested those dates. I just have to believe that there is a reason the timing worked out like it did, and that this will be our take home baby.

I miss Pumpkin. I will love her forever, and she will always be our first baby. But I also think about that I was due July 11. Justin would have come home next year to a 1 year old that didn't know who he was. Now I would obviously rather have dealt with that situation that to have lost her, but like to think our angel baby is looking out for her little brother or sister. That there will be a baby that we never would have known if we hadn't gone through losing SG. That there was a reason for it after all. My heart needs to believe that.

I am praying everyday that this baby grows stronger and bigger. Praying for the safety of their Daddy and the other men and women serving around the world. That Daddy will get to meet them when he comes home from war. That he or she will be healthy and happy and know how much we love them. Please little baby, stick with me. I promise you, Daddy and I will love you more than anything.

I guess that's about all for now!

I've taken the link to this blog off of my Facebook. The only people that know about the new baby are the girls on my board, and my parents. I would appreciate if anyone reading is my friend on Facebook, that you not mention it on there so I may share with family in my own time. Thank you!

Well, that's just lovely.

I knew it was coming. I was getting to that age where the distance between where I'm at with life, and where some of my friends are, was just too vast to bridge. It's happened slowly but surely. Not to mention painfully. Little by little the people I spent my fun and free college days with have dropped from my life. I look at my amazing husband, and forget sometimes that we aren't the same 20 year old kids that think love, and a few cold drinks, is all you need in life. But we aren't those kids anymore.

We are 5 years older, a little bit wiser, and have slightly different priorities. I'm still crazy in love with Justin, just like I have been for years, and I'm lucky to have him as a husband and best friend. But we've changed. We've grown up together, and grown stronger as a couple. It's necessary to do that to keep a strong, healthy relationship - whether it's as husband as wife, or in friendships.

I lost someone from my life today that I didn't expect. I thought we had done such a good job growing in the same directions, had seen each other through some dark days, and some great times. Today I realized that sometimes, even if you think you're on the same page with someone, you might actually be in different books. When that happens, it's best just to just turn the page in your own book, and move forward. It hurts. Pretty deeply. It makes you question years of a relationship that maybe wasn't what you thought it was. But like they say - sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same.

If you read the blog, you already know that my husband will be heading to Afghanistan very soon. The last thing I have is the time, patience, or energy to deal with drama. I'm still young, but I'm too old for that. If there is one thing I've learned from all that I've been through this year, it's that you find out who you friends are when things go bad. A real friend will happily support you, be a shoulder for you, and won't judge you - because they know you'll do the same for them. If someone expects those things from you, yet only tolerates you when you're not at your best - they aren't worth it.

I'm going to be okay. For every friend I've lost due to time, age, or situation - I've gained a wonderful one. I have amazing women in my life who respect where I'm coming from. Respect me. I am so blessed to have them.

Time To Play Catch Up.

So I've been a massive blog slacker! Actually, it's just been a shift in priorities and this, and a lot of my internet time, have not made the cut. Justin will be deploying soon, and as much as possible, my time has been his. However, right now he is happily occupied with the Wii, so I thought I'd try and recap our life lately.

We went home at the beginning of May to NC. It was so nice to be able to go home, relax, and see our families. We also got to spend a night in our college town to see friends, and we had a blast. It was a much needed trip overall, and we were fortunate to get to make it.

I've been feeling a lot better lately. I'm eating completely differently. Better. And my friend Becca and I have been workout buddies with the 30 Day Shred! I lost 15 pounds in 2 weeks with such simple changes. I have more energy, better self esteem, and I just feel good. It's a nice change.

The last 2 weeks have gone by pretty quickly - though that seems to be the case the closer it gets to Justin leaving. I do not like it one bit. He's had a ton to do to get ready, and things have been kind of crazy. This past weekend was nice though, because he got a 4 day holiday for Memorial Day. Last night we had a cookout with our neighbors and some other friends, and it was a lot of fun. We also got a giant kiddy pool that we've been thoroughly enjoying in this nice hot weather. Plus beer. Also enjoyable.

We've gotten all out blood work back from the RE, and all is well. In fact all of the testing we've gone through so far has come back normal. Which is good, yes, but it's hard not to have answers. I'm on 100 mg Clomid this cycle (currently CD15) and honestly, I'm not going to stress about this cycle. My husband, my very best friend, the love of my life - is about to go to Afghanistan for a year. I'm going to enjoy my time with him, and not freak out about the IF issues. We've done all we can at this point, and that's that.

We are going to Austin this weekend, our favorite! We managed to get a suite on 6th Street downtown, so we don't have to worry about traffic or a cab to go out. Thanks to an awesome tip from one of the TTCAL girls, we scored 2 gift certificates for each night we are staying for dinners! One to our favorite chinese place in Chinatown Center, and another to a rooftop place downtown. Very excited! I'm also lamely excited to go to Whole Foods. I've recently gone back vegetarian and there just isn't a lot of variety around here for that. I just can't wait for the trip, I know it will be so much fun. We just want to make the very most of the time we have together.

I'm going to miss him like I can't even describe. It breaks my heart and he's not even gone yet. It's been helping me a little to make plans. I'm trying to find us a new house, so that he's got something great to come home to. I'm going to be in school. I'm going to take Tae Kwon Do. I'm going to take dance. And I've been planning stuff for us to do on his R&R and when he gets home. It's helping by having things to look forward to.

Anyhow, I'm getting sad and I don't want to be, so I'm going to spend some time with the hubs.

It all just feels so fake, ya know? This idea that good things happen to good people. That there's magic in the world, and that the meek and the righteous will inherit it. Too many good people suffer for that to be true. Too many prayers go unanswered. And every day it just gets worse. Every day we ignore how truly broken this world is, and we tell ourselves it's all going to be okay. But it's not going to be okay. And once you know that, there's no going back. There's no magic in the world...at least today there isn't.
-One Tree Hill-


I'm not in depressed mode. At all actually. I just heard this quote while catching up on Tivo and it reminded me of my wonderful friends on TTCAL. How unfair it is that these amazing, giving, kind, women have to go through such awful things that they don't deserve. I do have dark days still once in a while. I just liked the way this was said, because on those dark days, sometimes you just can't find the words. 


I love you ladies. On your happiest or darkest days, I'm here. Just like I know you are for me, and I can't thank you enough for that.

International Babylost Mother's Day.

It falls on the first Sunday each May. This years was yesterday, May 2nd. This explantation of what this day means and honors comes from the Facebook page for the event. 

"United in grief, we find love and strength. IBMD recognizes babylost women all over the world as mothers. Just because a woman loses her first baby does not mean that she is not a mother anymore. She will be a mother for the rest of her life. On this special day in May we come together to celebrate our connection, our children and our hope for the future. IBMD is a day for love, peace, remembrance and recognition. If you know a babylost woman why not tell her today that she is a beautiful mother."

It meant so much to me to have friends acknowledge the day, what it meant, and our little Pumpkin angel. Everyone gets so caught up in Mother's Day next Sunday, and generally think there is only one definition of what a mother is. There's not. There are so many types of moms out there, and they are all equally important roles to the women that fill them.

I am the mommy to a beautiful angel baby. Pumpkin will always be my first baby, and she will be a great guardian angel big sister if we are blessed with another baby. I am also a mommy to my furbabies. They don't understand that they are cats. In their world, they are little people and I'm their momma. They love me and depend on me to take care of them. 

I don't expect everyone to understand where I'm coming from with those things. And frankly, I don't care, because they work for me, and that's what matters. That's what helps me heart feel healed and gives me peace. No, I don't expect you to understand my feelings, but I do expect that you respect them. I don't think people grasp how hurtful it is for them to pretend that I am not going through all this. I don't want sympathy, or puppies and rainbows. What I do want is for people I *thought* were my close friends to not completely ignore that I told them about the child I lost as if I never told them at all.

So to anyone out there that has a friend who has lost a child... you don't have to know exactly what to say. Just tell them your sorry, ask how they are once in a while, and acknowledge that they are going through something. Something that you don't understand, but that is still very real. If you expect them to listen to you whine about your job and be supportive - the least you can do is not blatantly ignore that they told you about their loss. That's just crappy.

So reach out to a friend that may be hurting, or needing a shoulder to lean on. This day is about recognizing all mothers, and supporting people. Happy IBMD to all my beautiful friends and mothers of angels.

Angels Among Us.

I believe that people come into our lives for a reason. As much as I hate the way I've met a lot of my new friends, I can't imagine life without them in it. That my heart can be touched so deeply by women I've never met in real life constantly amazes me.

The last week or so, I've been a mess for some reason. I haven't been particularly unhappy, in fact there are a lot of things I'm looking forward to. I think I've just been overwhelmed with so much going on. On Thursday, I got a message from a good friend - the amazing Becca - to check my mail.

That night I opened a box with a beautifully wrapped gift and hand made card inside. I cried before I'd even ripped off the paper, and the tears flowed freely when I saw this.





As I read the beautifully written card, I realized how lucky I was. The hardest thing I've ever gone through brought me to the greatest people I've ever known. Becca had bought herself this same Willow Tree angel in memory of her angel baby, and decided that I needed one too. Just because. It made my heart just swell to have such a beautiful person inside and out as a friend. Even though we haven't gotten to meet in real life yet, I'm so thankful to have her in my life. But we will meet, as I plan to fly up to see her later this year after Justin deploys, and we hope to have cute matching baby bumps to compare!

I just wanted to share this story again on here, and take another opportunity to say "thank you!" again. Becca, you are amazing and I love you!