And what a perfect way to bookend this blog, with this post.

I’m making the switch with you!

“With each word, I’ve written myself closer and closer to the future I want to make for myself. That’s the incredible power of writing…”

That is also something I have learned and gained from my own experience with (secondary) infertility and loss.

I couldn’t agree more that “our infertility stories matter.” I am so very proud of you for being such a powerful and effective voice within and for our ALI Community. I am excited to follow this next part of your journey with your new blog/website. You go girl!!!

Thank you for suggesting this wonderful topic for our Time Warp Tuesday blog hop/writing exercise this week, as well as for linking up and participating in the discussion! I would love for you to join us again next time. Just a reminder that from now on I will be hosting on the 2nd Tuesday of every month and on my new blog (which I hope to launch/move to by the end of this month). I look forward to doing the Time Warp again with you in the future on our new blogs!

Though I felt sad for her at the time and in the years to follow, I never fully realized UNTIL RECENTLY what that must have been like for her or what it is still to her today, to have received such a diagnosis that early in her adolescence young adulthood.

I really appreciated learning all the details of your journey that brought you to your infertility diagnosis. I think I have shared with you before that one of my loved ones also was diagnosed with POF when she was in high school. Though I felt sad for her at the time and in the years to follow, I never fully realized what that must have been like for her or what it is still to her today, to have received such a diagnosis that early in her adolescence young adulthood.

Anyway, it doesn’t surprise me that your first blog post what written this well and with such intention. Right from the start you have known that you have an important story to tell and also realized how voicing our experiences with infertility can be a vehicle to help others who are also suffering, as well as to raise awareness which will hopefully give those who follow in our footsteps more options for treatment or whatever they want/need to help build or expand their families.

I am so moved and inspired by getting to see where your blogging journey began and knowing where you are now is even more awesome!

On a deep level, I was terrified that the minute I set a goal I would set myself up for disappointment – a “philosophy” that would follow me long past my wedding date and prevent me from pursuing some really interesting things in life – like a family.

All that aside, I do want to share some good news with you: I found that my 30s were WAY better than my 20s, for several reasons. Mostly because I knew who I was as a person far better, and that just made life a lot more fun. That’s definitely my wish for you – and that you finally cross the family-making finish line!

I totally agree with Justine: you rocked your 20s and no doubt will do the same in your thirties

Also, is it weird that I like my gray hairs?

You rocked your 20s, Keiko. I suspect that your 30s will kick ass.

We went to Menton, an extremely upscale restaurant in downtown Boston. We’re both foodies and we tend to celebrate big milestones at fancy restaurants. Since his 30th birthday marked the occasion, I bought him a nice watch he’d been eyeing for months that really fit his personality and style. For me, I wanted to get him something that marked the all the time-related parts of this milestone (turning 30, having spent half a life together) but also there’s something about celebrating with food that really forces you to live in the moment.

And then great sex afterward

I know what it’s like to be the “young one” crackling and creaking my way through a yoga class, or even just walking around. It was so embarrassing watching my 77 year old grandmother walk the SF hills and climb the stairs better than I could at 23. Arthritis sucks.

Above all, I relate to the list of things to do in the 20s. Like you, I had them all checked off–except for the kids thing. 3 years later I still don’t have it checked off, but I’m getting closer. Hopefully in the next 2 months a donor egg embryo or two will be transferred to our gestational surrogate, and we’ll be parents by this time next year.

Good luck finding your egg donor. It took a while, but we were able to find one with the ethnic background we wanted.

It’s such a shame that certain parts of our bodies feel so much younger than they are physically and other parts (like our eggs) act older than we feel.

I have so much hope for you that your 30′s will bring you a child or children.

Look forward to an amazing decade!

feel better about the gray hair! i found my first when i was 17, and am now about half gray, and spend way too much having my hair colored on a regular basis.

at 30, you only have to wait 5 years to run for president!

“Lame,” he said.

Well said, Larry. I always agreed with him on that strategy, but even that fun gets taken away. Boo.

Ironically, when my husband and I found out that we can’t make a baby without an RE and an embryologist, we were more sexually liberated. No more timed intercourse or mucus checking for us! And while doing the nasty is out pretty much between retrieval and beta day, every other day on the calendar is pretty much up for grabs. Unless you get pregnant and are put on pelvic rest, or have a miscarriage…etc etc etc.

Thanks for keeping us up to date on the legislation.

I’m going to define the fertile life for myself as one in which seeds (of whatever … the future? understanding?) can be sown, and one that brings forth new life … perhaps a new job? Have to think about how I can meet that one.

Most of all I have major respect for your openness, I’m still keeping my struggle to myself/my husband and this blog definitely goes a long way towards making me feel like I’m not alone.

Thanks!

My husband and I are leftover elitists. We so rarely eat them and we always end up wasting so much good food. We’re working on it though!

Awesome job on the fitness and food commitments!

I’m so proud of you for your healthy eating/exercise efforts! That is amazing! You’ve inspired me to make some changes in my life too. (First thing – stop drinking Diet Coke, but oh how I love Diet Coke!)

As for one good thing? I’m finally working on my children’s book and I even emailed a few blogger friends a rough draft of my first page. This is my February Year of Fertile Living Challenge and I’m seriously kicking its ass. Also, I’m acting on a project I’ve had in my mind for over a year. For the first time in all that while I feel like I might actually be able to do this. It feels amazing. Stay tuned on my blog at the end of the month for a sneak peek at what I’ve been doing!

The good news for us is that my husband finally feels like the hormones are having an effect and said the other night, “You could be pregnant by the end of the year!” How crazy is that?

Oh, and that is Hipster Belle.