It was over 10 years ago when I was surfing the web researching everything I could find on ART. No, I wasn't looking for painting classes nor museums housing original Picasso masterpieces -- I was looking for information on
Assisted
Reproductive
Technology. It was a lonely world when it appeared that everyone I knew was or had been having kids ~ it seemed like it wasn't in the cards for us to be parents. Friends and family were a great support (really...you were!!) but unless you've walked the same walk, it was still difficult to comprehend the intense sadness infertility can create.
So one night I came across a message board on Babycenter.com and the name of one of the threads was "
1st Time IVF'ers." Little did I know that the group of strangers I was about to join would soon become lifelong friends. At one point, I think we had over 30 women in the group! But as the years passed, a core group of women continued to post -- even after having success and now coddling their little babies -- to cheer on the rest of us who were still trying realize our dream of being a mom.
Soon, the Babycenter boards changed formats and our messaging slowed down...significantly. Then Facebook emerged -- where we all found ourselves once again conversing back and forth to maintain our support for each other.
Four years ago in January, 2008, nine of us in the group met up in Las Vegas for the very first time. All had husbands and babies in tow -- except Dawn and me. Our dream was still alive -- just not made real - yet. It was a fun trip being Auntie Dawn and Auntie Laura but still....we just wanted a baby of our own.
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BC Sistahs, January 2008
(L-->R): Terrie, Karen Z, Maggie, JamieLynne, Karen vG, Missey, Laura, Jocelyn, and Dawn. |
Fast forward to May 2009, Kristina joined our "family" and then in April 2011, Dawn and Mike's surprise blessing, Dyllon, made his "family" debut! Finally -- our group could officially say that we were all moms!
Last weekend, 9 of us moms met up in Colorado from all parts of the USA to hang out at Terrie's home for almost 4 days. It was incredible. Ten children were there between the ages of 5-7 years old -- and Dyllon who is 14 months. We enjoyed every moment whether it was playing at the park, jumping in the Jumpy House (all weekend!) and trampoline, sliding on the Slip 'N Slide, playing in the children's pool, or "glittering" the house when doing arts and crafts. Terrie's home will never be the same! Personally, I loved sipping coffee in my pj's while all the kids ate (or didn't eat) breakfast, getting a massage (thanks to Terrie who brought in two massage therapists so all the moms could be pampered) and staying up late chatting with a friend, or two, or three...
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| Arriving at Burbank Airport and excited about heading to Denver, CO! |
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| wow...Kristina's first time getting on an airplane from an outside gangway! |
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| Now who wouldn't want to move into this house --- equipped with jumpy house and trampoline?! |
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| Kristina and Oliva hanging out together outside... |
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| Having a snack inside with Maggie and Olivia (it was almost 100 degrees F!) |
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| Terrie with most of the troop heading to the local neighborhood park. |
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| Kristina and Karsen off-roading together. |
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| The kids starting to get wet in the mini pools... |
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| ...and soon had a blast on the Slip 'N Slide! |
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| It always seemed to be feeding time, didn't it? |
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All our blessings
L-->R standing: Henry, Maggie and Teagan
L-->R sitting: Charlie, Karsen, Steven, Olivia (Charlie's twin sister), baby Dyllon, Cadence, Kristina and Zoey |
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| Mommy and Daughter |
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| Craft time! Each child made themselves.... |
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| ...and then Terrie lined the wall going down to her basement with each child's "image". |
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| This is Kristina...white hair and all! |
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| Steven and Kristina passing some time on the iPads. |
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| Last photo of the kids together on our last night. |
This blog's focus has been on Kristina -- how she came into our lives and how she made a couple into a family. Well, life before Kristina was paved with hope, anticipation, excitement, heartbreak, perseverance...and a lot of support from friends and family. Selah has a song with lyrics that say "
God blessed the broken road and lead me straight to you." Our group of ladies traveled that broken road - together - and the joy of hearing kids screaming and watching them run around last week was nothing short of 11 miracles!
We are blessed!
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Babycenter Sistahs...a unique bond!
L-->R in back: Jocelyn, Maggie, Karen vG, Dawn, Terrie, KarenZ
L-->R in front: MJ, Laura, JamieLynne |
