For us, it wasn’t just a matter of wanting to be parents. We were meant to be parents, which made our years of infertility difficult to endure. We went to doctors, weighed our options, and seemed to always conclude we’d rather adopt than go through IVF. Adoption has touched our families on mine and Mark’s … Continue reading Easy-Shmeezy
Take one Kids can be embarrassing, am I right?! Nothing gets you over embarrassment than being a parent, especially of a special needs child. Let me explain. Yesterday began just fine. Nothing out of the norm. We did have a blissful weekend of lazy mornings, so maybe being back in the swing of things made … Continue reading A Tale of a Special Needs Parent
The anticipation of the coming of a new baby into this world is almost too much to bear. Often eagerness and anxiety overwhelm the thoughts of the parents-to-be. Then, something remarkable happens. When they hold their baby for the first time, the fear fades. Instead, they are overcome with adoration and love for their tiny … Continue reading Choose Life, Choose Adoption, Choose Love
There are few places on this Earth where the separation of before, now and after is as thin and obvious as what you may find in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of your local hospital. Call it what you will – religious, spiritual or even scientific – but there is something unexplainable and beyond … Continue reading I need you to fight.
Our first child, Brynn, is adopted. Going through the adoption process is one of the most beautiful, memorable of experiences of my life. I will share more about it another day, but today I write about our boy. After years of Mark trying to impregnate me, we presumed we would never ride the pregnancy wave. … Continue reading The Face We Call Pace
Today, I arrived at my daughter’s school earlier than usual. I decided to surpass our normal routine of waiting in the pick up zone and parked my car in the lot. It was one of those days in the Pacific Northwest when the sun was out and temperatures mild. It’s basically mandatory to be outside … Continue reading Autism, Fear, & Elopement
Anyone who truly knows me, recognizes I’m not one to repress my feelings about anything. I’m especially candid about the difficulties of parenthood. Then, in our case, the addition of having a special needs child has caused me to become incredibly transparent. At times, I’ve fallen victim to pitying myself and our life. Every outing … Continue reading Embracing & Celebrating Autism
For Boo. There’s a fertility doctor in Detroit, Michigan who owes me college tuition for my second born. You see, if you tell me “less than a 5% chance” of anything, I’m going to let my guard down. Like way down. Like I may never put my guard up again. I may never buy another … Continue reading How I Met Your Brother
When I knew she was the “One” Don’t worry. This isn’t some sappy post about I how I met Melissa and how we fell deeply and madly in the love the moment we first saw each other. That’s a silly notion and I don’t subscribe to it. Love doesn’t just materialize. It doesn’t come out … Continue reading Love at First Sight
Imagine a dream job you wanted, yearned, even ached for. You’ve tried to get this job for quite some time, but begin to lose hope you’ll ever get it. Then, one day, you get a call. A glorious, out-of-the-blue call. That’s right, you got the job! You are shocked, but overjoyed with the news. You’re … Continue reading Feeling Inadequate in Motherhood
Boldly Beagley 