Friday, February 11, 2011

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Every morning is the same thing - I wake up, pour myself a delicious bowl of cereal, start reading my most beloved blogs, and link to new ones.  Except, this morning was a little different.  This morning, I woke to find myself receiving one of the most wonderful compliments a blogger could--blog awards.  As a very new blogger, I find blogging itself so interesting.  This blog was something I simply had to do, a straw I grasped at at the last minute, the last thing I thought I'd try before I had to admit it was official, that I had completely fallen apart.  I began the blog as a means of getting my emotions out of me.  They were beginning to take control of my body.   And all the words--everything I wanted to say and couldn't--kept  swirling in my head, making me nauseous and keeping me up all night.  But, surprisingly, blogging has saved me from all of that.  Now I can get the emotions out.  I can get all of the words out.  And, best of all, I really can connect with others who truly understand my journey--the roller coaster ride of thrilling highs and stomach turning lows.  I never knew if there would be even one person out there that read my words, but it is wonderful to know that my words are reaching another.  I know what a difference it has made to me to be able to read beautiful, heart-felt words of fellow bloggers that not only affect me deeply emotionally, but also make me feel like I am not living on a deserted island.  It is an odd, but incredible feeling to think that my words could do the same for others.  So thank you, thank you, thank you!


The Rules of accepting the awards are:

1.) Thank and Link back to the blogs that gave you your awards
2.) Share seven things about yourself.
3.)  Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.
4.) Contact the bloggers to let them know you've given them an award.





First and Foremost:  Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Princess Wahna Bea Mama from http://theprincessandthepeestick.blogspot.com/  and Alli at http://areyoudoingitright.blogspot.com/ for the awards.  The Princess and the Pee Stick has everything--an emotional story, humor, well-crafted writing, wit, and of course, a princess theme.  Are You Sure Doing it Right? is fabulous as well as she writes about the truths of not only the emotional journey we all go on, but also comments on others often insensitive comments and attitudes.  It is all about the truth of interactions and emotions.  I love that.  They are both on my must check daily blog list.   You absolutely must check them out!

Second: Share 7 (or 14 for both?) things about yourself.  Wheww!  
Here it goes . . .

1.  I am a country turned big city girl and wouldn't have it any other way.  While I have fond memories of barefoot summer days in the fields spitting watermelon seeds and laying in the sun, I currently enjoy the energy and vibrance the big city brings with its flashing lights and soaring skyscrapers.  I think I've had the best of both worlds.  

2.  When I was younger I used to dream of being a travel show host on The Lonely Planet.  At times I still wish I could jet off to one mystical destination after another and learn the ways of every culture around the world.  

3.  One of my favorite things to do is to get lost.  I know so many people who become panicked if they are one block off course, but I find it relaxing to be lost and simply exploring new places, even if they are just another city block.  Of course, this is only if I have no where to be when I am lost.

4.  When I was a student, I travelled a great deal on study abroad trips.  France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, and England were visited while studying in Europe and China, Thailand, and Vietnam were visited while studying in Asia. 

5.  I lived in Thailand with a Thai family while studying abroad.  I became very close to this family and after 7 years, we are still in close contact.  One of my dreams is to adopt a Thai baby and raise them with my family, my husband's family, and my Thai family.  I can't stop smiling when I think about this!

6.  When I met my husband in college, he was a great friend.  However, once his roommate and I were discussing how we were ready for a romance.  "How about E?", he asked.  I scrunched up my face and said, "Really?  He is sooo not my type!"  A year later, we were inseparable.  

7.  I have never felt as intense emotions as I did the year or so I was relentlessly flirting with my now husband and beginning our relationship.  Falling in love should be included as one of the wonders of the world!

8.  I have always dreamed about becoming a mother.  My best friend and I used to cut out pictures of cute kids from magazines and choose elaborate names for them.  These were our children.  Yes, that's right people--I had a made-up family scrapbook with pictures of people from catalogs.  But I was 8!!!

9.  I am a teacher of vivacious, precocious little Kindergartners.  It is never where I thought I would be, but I love everything about the job.  I could write for days about some of my best memories, but as this is a baby blog - here are some baby related memories:  Last year, my principal was having a baby and for her teacher shower, I had my each of my student write a page for her.  They titled it "What to do With Your New Baby".  Advice ran anywhere from "Hold him and read to him a lot.  If you do not hold him,  he will cry a lot." to "Don't forget to put the nipple in his mouth," with a wonderfully illustrated picture of a mother breast feeding.  However my favorite was from a student who wrote, "Your baby will be just like me."  Five seconds after I read that at the shower we were having at school, he pulled the fire alarm!


10.  I have one adopted sister and three biological brothers.  My sister is the oldest, a result of my parents moving to adoption because they thought they couldn't conceive.  Obviously, that didn't turn out to be a problem.


11.  I find people's attitudes towards adoption extremely intriguing.  Because I am from an adoptive family, I have never really thought twice about it.  The first time I realized people had different views on this was in college, when people began asking what it was like growing up with an adoptive sister.  What?  It was just like growing up with all of my other brothers and sisters!  I honestly have never seen or felt any difference whatsoever.  If it were up to me, I would adopt right now and then continue trying to get pregnant on our own.  But so many people feel so differently.  I don't judge others for their choices or beliefs, but I honestly never knew so many people wrestled with the idea of adoption, or bravely admitted they wouldn't be good adoptive parents.  I never knew adoption itself came with such a stigma.  


12.  I need to get my emotions out creatively.  I like to write, draw, and paint.  I have a series of paintings that will hang in a row when finished that are a tribute to my husband and my love and this long journey.  The first is that dreamy state of falling in love, the second the magical night we decided to start trying to make a little bean, and the third the devastating moment when I was already low, that my best friend announced her pregnancy.  It was the moment that made me spiral out of control, even though I was very happy for her.  I have no idea how I would have dug myself out of this hole if he would not have been there to save me.  


13.  Hubs is a bio-medical scientist and has such an interesting way of looking at this pregnancy stuff.  He is just as ready as I am at this point, but he is always spouting off medical reasons for things happening or not happening.  Usually, it is nice and comforting.  Usually.


14.  We have four names for our four children conceived only in our heads:  Sophie Leone, Kenley Shea, Andrew Davis, and Liam Frederick.  We have had these names now for three years.  I always said that they are subject to change, but that I wouldn't look at any baby name books until I was actually pregnant.  Lately, I haven't been able to do this at all.  Some of my new favorite names are Lilya, Alliana, Lizbeth, and Lorelei.  Can you tell I've only made it through the L's?   


15.  My constant image while trying to conceive, indeed, throughout my entire life is of all of my babies lounging on a cloud, just waiting to come down.  At my crazier moments, I talk to them, try to coerce them to tumble down off that cloud right into my belly.  Thus far, they are not listening to their mother! 


Third:  Bloggers I love.  I am extremely new to the blogging scene, but these are some blogs that I have found that have moved me, help lower my anxiety and just made me feel that I am not lost at sea.  They are in no particular order and I just had to include the two who nominated me as well as they have been very instrumental to my healing process.  They are all recently discovered to me, as I'm the newbie.  Thank you to each and every one!  You have a wonderful way of using beautiful words and humor to express your emotions.  I wish you all well on your journeys to babyland!


1.  A Journey Through Infertility
2.  Fresh Conceptions
3.  Life and Love in the Petri Dish
4.  For We are Bound by Symmetry
5.  Weathering the Storm
6.  The Princess and the Pee Stick
7.  Someday
8.  My Dusty Uterus
9.  Empty Arms, Broken Heart
10.  My Path to Insanity & Beyond
11.  The Sun Will Come out Tomorrow (I Hope)
12.  The Infertile Gynecologist
13.  Me and You, Just Us - Two 
14.  Buck Up, Buttercup
15.  The Infertility Doula

Fourth:  Contact - I'm working on it!


Thank you again and definitely go and check out these blogs.  They have all touched me in some way, helped ease the isolation, and given hope.  Enjoy!

No comments:

Friday, February 11, 2011

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Every morning is the same thing - I wake up, pour myself a delicious bowl of cereal, start reading my most beloved blogs, and link to new ones.  Except, this morning was a little different.  This morning, I woke to find myself receiving one of the most wonderful compliments a blogger could--blog awards.  As a very new blogger, I find blogging itself so interesting.  This blog was something I simply had to do, a straw I grasped at at the last minute, the last thing I thought I'd try before I had to admit it was official, that I had completely fallen apart.  I began the blog as a means of getting my emotions out of me.  They were beginning to take control of my body.   And all the words--everything I wanted to say and couldn't--kept  swirling in my head, making me nauseous and keeping me up all night.  But, surprisingly, blogging has saved me from all of that.  Now I can get the emotions out.  I can get all of the words out.  And, best of all, I really can connect with others who truly understand my journey--the roller coaster ride of thrilling highs and stomach turning lows.  I never knew if there would be even one person out there that read my words, but it is wonderful to know that my words are reaching another.  I know what a difference it has made to me to be able to read beautiful, heart-felt words of fellow bloggers that not only affect me deeply emotionally, but also make me feel like I am not living on a deserted island.  It is an odd, but incredible feeling to think that my words could do the same for others.  So thank you, thank you, thank you!


The Rules of accepting the awards are:

1.) Thank and Link back to the blogs that gave you your awards
2.) Share seven things about yourself.
3.)  Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.
4.) Contact the bloggers to let them know you've given them an award.





First and Foremost:  Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Princess Wahna Bea Mama from http://theprincessandthepeestick.blogspot.com/  and Alli at http://areyoudoingitright.blogspot.com/ for the awards.  The Princess and the Pee Stick has everything--an emotional story, humor, well-crafted writing, wit, and of course, a princess theme.  Are You Sure Doing it Right? is fabulous as well as she writes about the truths of not only the emotional journey we all go on, but also comments on others often insensitive comments and attitudes.  It is all about the truth of interactions and emotions.  I love that.  They are both on my must check daily blog list.   You absolutely must check them out!

Second: Share 7 (or 14 for both?) things about yourself.  Wheww!  
Here it goes . . .

1.  I am a country turned big city girl and wouldn't have it any other way.  While I have fond memories of barefoot summer days in the fields spitting watermelon seeds and laying in the sun, I currently enjoy the energy and vibrance the big city brings with its flashing lights and soaring skyscrapers.  I think I've had the best of both worlds.  

2.  When I was younger I used to dream of being a travel show host on The Lonely Planet.  At times I still wish I could jet off to one mystical destination after another and learn the ways of every culture around the world.  

3.  One of my favorite things to do is to get lost.  I know so many people who become panicked if they are one block off course, but I find it relaxing to be lost and simply exploring new places, even if they are just another city block.  Of course, this is only if I have no where to be when I am lost.

4.  When I was a student, I travelled a great deal on study abroad trips.  France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, and England were visited while studying in Europe and China, Thailand, and Vietnam were visited while studying in Asia. 

5.  I lived in Thailand with a Thai family while studying abroad.  I became very close to this family and after 7 years, we are still in close contact.  One of my dreams is to adopt a Thai baby and raise them with my family, my husband's family, and my Thai family.  I can't stop smiling when I think about this!

6.  When I met my husband in college, he was a great friend.  However, once his roommate and I were discussing how we were ready for a romance.  "How about E?", he asked.  I scrunched up my face and said, "Really?  He is sooo not my type!"  A year later, we were inseparable.  

7.  I have never felt as intense emotions as I did the year or so I was relentlessly flirting with my now husband and beginning our relationship.  Falling in love should be included as one of the wonders of the world!

8.  I have always dreamed about becoming a mother.  My best friend and I used to cut out pictures of cute kids from magazines and choose elaborate names for them.  These were our children.  Yes, that's right people--I had a made-up family scrapbook with pictures of people from catalogs.  But I was 8!!!

9.  I am a teacher of vivacious, precocious little Kindergartners.  It is never where I thought I would be, but I love everything about the job.  I could write for days about some of my best memories, but as this is a baby blog - here are some baby related memories:  Last year, my principal was having a baby and for her teacher shower, I had my each of my student write a page for her.  They titled it "What to do With Your New Baby".  Advice ran anywhere from "Hold him and read to him a lot.  If you do not hold him,  he will cry a lot." to "Don't forget to put the nipple in his mouth," with a wonderfully illustrated picture of a mother breast feeding.  However my favorite was from a student who wrote, "Your baby will be just like me."  Five seconds after I read that at the shower we were having at school, he pulled the fire alarm!


10.  I have one adopted sister and three biological brothers.  My sister is the oldest, a result of my parents moving to adoption because they thought they couldn't conceive.  Obviously, that didn't turn out to be a problem.


11.  I find people's attitudes towards adoption extremely intriguing.  Because I am from an adoptive family, I have never really thought twice about it.  The first time I realized people had different views on this was in college, when people began asking what it was like growing up with an adoptive sister.  What?  It was just like growing up with all of my other brothers and sisters!  I honestly have never seen or felt any difference whatsoever.  If it were up to me, I would adopt right now and then continue trying to get pregnant on our own.  But so many people feel so differently.  I don't judge others for their choices or beliefs, but I honestly never knew so many people wrestled with the idea of adoption, or bravely admitted they wouldn't be good adoptive parents.  I never knew adoption itself came with such a stigma.  


12.  I need to get my emotions out creatively.  I like to write, draw, and paint.  I have a series of paintings that will hang in a row when finished that are a tribute to my husband and my love and this long journey.  The first is that dreamy state of falling in love, the second the magical night we decided to start trying to make a little bean, and the third the devastating moment when I was already low, that my best friend announced her pregnancy.  It was the moment that made me spiral out of control, even though I was very happy for her.  I have no idea how I would have dug myself out of this hole if he would not have been there to save me.  


13.  Hubs is a bio-medical scientist and has such an interesting way of looking at this pregnancy stuff.  He is just as ready as I am at this point, but he is always spouting off medical reasons for things happening or not happening.  Usually, it is nice and comforting.  Usually.


14.  We have four names for our four children conceived only in our heads:  Sophie Leone, Kenley Shea, Andrew Davis, and Liam Frederick.  We have had these names now for three years.  I always said that they are subject to change, but that I wouldn't look at any baby name books until I was actually pregnant.  Lately, I haven't been able to do this at all.  Some of my new favorite names are Lilya, Alliana, Lizbeth, and Lorelei.  Can you tell I've only made it through the L's?   


15.  My constant image while trying to conceive, indeed, throughout my entire life is of all of my babies lounging on a cloud, just waiting to come down.  At my crazier moments, I talk to them, try to coerce them to tumble down off that cloud right into my belly.  Thus far, they are not listening to their mother! 


Third:  Bloggers I love.  I am extremely new to the blogging scene, but these are some blogs that I have found that have moved me, help lower my anxiety and just made me feel that I am not lost at sea.  They are in no particular order and I just had to include the two who nominated me as well as they have been very instrumental to my healing process.  They are all recently discovered to me, as I'm the newbie.  Thank you to each and every one!  You have a wonderful way of using beautiful words and humor to express your emotions.  I wish you all well on your journeys to babyland!


1.  A Journey Through Infertility
2.  Fresh Conceptions
3.  Life and Love in the Petri Dish
4.  For We are Bound by Symmetry
5.  Weathering the Storm
6.  The Princess and the Pee Stick
7.  Someday
8.  My Dusty Uterus
9.  Empty Arms, Broken Heart
10.  My Path to Insanity & Beyond
11.  The Sun Will Come out Tomorrow (I Hope)
12.  The Infertile Gynecologist
13.  Me and You, Just Us - Two 
14.  Buck Up, Buttercup
15.  The Infertility Doula

Fourth:  Contact - I'm working on it!


Thank you again and definitely go and check out these blogs.  They have all touched me in some way, helped ease the isolation, and given hope.  Enjoy!

No comments: