Blogger Meet Up!

A little bit ago I discovered that Tammy from the blog Tammy's Journey and her husband Mark travelled to a city about a half an hour from me (but hours from their home) for their social worker visits for their adoption of their sweet and adorable baby girl Hannah. Once we found that out, we instantly started making plans to meet up the next time they were in my area. 

Tammy is such a caring and genuine person.  She's been following and commenting on my blog long before Sam and Anna existed- since the early days of this little ol' blog when I was in the thick of our infertility struggles and our IVF journey. She and her husband Mark have been through an amazing amount to become parents, and I am overjoyed that their long journey brought them to adopting Hannah.  You only have to spend a moment with them in person to know that they are wonderful parents to Hannah and that she is very lucky to have them as her mom and dad! 

I am so glad we were able to meet in person!

Bubbles for Ainsley and Evelyn

On Saturday, Jennifer & Mark Knepper lost their 16 month old daughter after a lifelong battle in the hospital. Jen's blog, Maybe If You Just Relax was quite possibly the first infertility blog I began reading years ago.  At least some part of the existence of this blog is due to reading hers, although I lack the wit and humor that she graciously shares with anyone who happens upon her little corner of the internet.  I remember the successful pregnancy test after IVF from their first daughter Olivia, following her birth and beyond to the frozen transfer that resulted in the twin pregnancy of Ainsley and Evelyn.  Evelyn tragically died at birth, and Ainsley fought a long, hard battle in the hospital for the past 16 months.  Ainsley Knepper passed away this weekend; the day before Mother's Day.  I cried when I read the news Sunday afternoon.  I cannot fathom what Jen and Mark have been through since the day Ainsley and Evelyn were born, nor can I wrap my head around what they are going through now.  You can bet that I've hugged my own little ones a bit longer; a bit tighter and lingered at their cribs a bit later at bedtime in the past few days.   Tonight, from 5-8pm the Knepper family is having a memorial service for Ainsley. During that time, a large number of people will be blowing bubbles to show Ainsley and Evelyn how many people care about them and have been touched by them during their short presence on earth.  Sam, Anna and I headed outdoors after getting home from daycare to remember another very special set of twins, together again in heaven.     No one should have to lose a child. Losing two in less than two years is unimaginable. Hug your loved ones and remember that life is fragile and tomorrow is never a guarantee. From the facebook group:  If you want to read more about the Knepper family, you can find their blog here: www.jennepper.com. If you want to do something else to help them, there are many things in the works. Please email knepperfamilydonations@gmail.com for more information.