We left the hospital on May 17 but found ourselves right back in it one week later. Elinor had struggled to breathe and was continuously making a sound that sounded like a puppy barking. Her blood oxygen levels were consistently low (79%-86%), and was hospitalized as a direct result. Our doctors ran an intense amount […]
Ten tiny toes are becoming bigger. I look at you and realize I’m growing, too. The last few years moved swiftly. And yet, here we are quietly rocking. I look down at you and see my newborn And all at once, I realize this may be the last. The last time that I hold […]
In a parent’s life, there are certain areas that any given parent finds him or herself in more than others. For us, it’s the bedroom–or at least the concept of “the bed.” We work our tails off from infancy to get the baby to “go to bed,” to “take a nap,” or “sleep in his […]
I found myself at my highest weight post-baby two months into my husband’s unemployment. I was legitimately eating my feelings. I worked a part-time job and felt I was too busy to make it to the gym–or too overwhelmed. Whatever free time I had, I wanted to spend it in the bathtub with a bath […]
2017 was a massive year of growth for our family. We were stretched and fortified. We learned to focus on what truly matters and makes us happiest. We humbled ourselves often–many times, without choice. However, we ended the year on the happiest note that we have had in a while. In one word, I’d […]
Yesterday, Adam and I gave talks in church to our ward (congregation) on the Light of Christ. I don’t feel like that was a coincidence because this entire month, I’ve been thinking about how I can help others and be joyful each day. I want light to permeate each aspect of my life this year: […]
Hey, birth-mom! I’m looking for you. I want to find you. I’ve written several posts throughout the last few years, regarding my adoption and emotions around the issue. I’ve talked about the statistics and what I want people to know about being adopted. A year ago, I received my DNA results. I found out what […]
Adoption. Some people treat even the suggestion of it as if it were a four-letter word. When a woman finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, she sees three options: 1. Abort the baby 2. Raise the baby 3. Place the baby for adoption Most women find even the idea of carrying a baby that you will not […]
To my toddler, things are busy: You are busy. My mind is busy. We are both doing our best. I may tell you “no” or “please make the right decision” all too often, but what I do know is that when I look at you, I feel an immense amount of love. It surpasses the […]
It took me exactly three years to finish my Master’s degree and arrive at graduation. The day I graduated with my Master’s in English–Technical Writing was the first day I ever set foot on the Northern Arizona University campus. Flagstaff is stunning. Truly. You quickly pass from the desert into mountains which seem to pull […]
