« Breathes life into | Main | Christmas wrapup »
12/24/2009
All is calm and improbably bright
Okay, so nothing makes my eyes glaze over faster than reading a post that explains in rococo detail why the blogger hasn't been posting. Wait, that's not true. Writing such a post does. That eye-glazing thing also happens when I'm lubricating the Christmas ham while half-lubricated myself, and, damn, does that sorghum burn. But that is neither here nor there, and this is not such a post. Consider it a summary.
Oh, I could tell you that I've been spending the last month doing something important, like caring for the elderly or working among the poor or converting the heathen or writing a book or, I know what! Relactating! But the truth is that I haven't been up to anything of great moment. More like small moment. Small good moment. We went to Louisiana. Charlie turned five. I made some stuff. Ben learned what to do when stopped by the po-po on suspicion of grand theft, necklace. I have been largely absent online, but entirely present off-.
It's been good, but really weird! I missed a lot. I missed that horrible Times piece on surrogacy, and a good thing, too, because I get all SFR'EOPQ4
;;PWp
tAGQPQ3THJQT3
}(_U}{""{
just thinking about what I might have posted about it. I missed plugging my cameo appearance at Mommy Wants Vodka, where Aunt Becky kindly allowed me to rearrange the furniture and soil her nice fresh guest towels. I missed Michelle Duggar giving birth to a 25-weeker because of pre-eclampsia, and, I mean, damn, there'd be a lot to say about that if I hadn't been too wrapped up in that whole relactation thing.
And I've missed y'all. Thank you so much for checking in on me. I feel sheepish to have worried you, and I appreciate your concern. It's really kind. I'm eager to get back, and will resume posting as soon as we finish letting Charlie play with fire. I mean, sacrifice a perfectly good letter to Santa — never did nothin' to nobody — on the Satanic pyre that is my mid-'70s red brick brass-trimmed fireplace. You know, as soon as we've waded through Christmas.
I hoist my nog to you, and hope you and yours are well.
Comments (41)
Verify your Comment
Previewing your Comment
This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.
Glad all is well with you!
A long-time lurker, delurking to say "Happy Holidays, and Thank You for posting an update" :-)
Yay! Glad you have been busy with happy things. That is all to the good.
Merry, merry!
Yeah, that article on surrogacy made me start snarling and snorting and yelling "YOU JUDGMENTAL PIECE OF PIG SHIT!" in the break room, which is probably not the best way to get in the holiday mood, but hey.
Merry Christmas and stuff.
Thank you for your post. Glad to know all is well. I had memories of a couple of your bad times with the lack of news, so ordinary, holiday busy-ness is just wonderful, especially when pictures of the kids are included. It's surprising how attached a person can become to a family never met, but I have missed hearing from you. Glad you're back! Did you make your usual hundreds of cookies for the world? Happy holidays. mesue
Glad to hear all is well, Happy Birthday, Charlie, Merry Christmas, and OH MY GOD is that *my* fireplace? :D :D :D
I find that posting anything worth a damn with frequency greater than monthly at best really never happens.
Fortunately, I can come up with drivel rather more often than that. But you don't stoop to poop tales, right? :)
g
So glad all is well in your world. It was your blog that helped me understand the ride I was in for way back in the beginnings of my IF adventure, and it was your blog that inspired me to begin my own, (which has introduced me to the strongest, most compassionate group of people I've ever met. I do not know how I would have survived the last two years without their support.)
All of which is to say that while I miss reading about your adventures in childrearing when you don't post for a while, I also find it incredibly inspiring that your life is simply happy enough that daily posts aren't necessary. I love that the drama in your life is now drama about Christmas hams & birthday parties.
I hope you and your family are having a wonderful holiday and that the new year brings you new joy each and every day. You don't know me, but you made my life better because of this blog. Thank you.
Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas!! So glad you're all well, and that you've had so much time to just "be" and enjoy life!!
That surrogacy article was really, really bad. Even by the NTY-covers-infertility standards. I love how the author of the piece basically blames infertile couples for choosing surrogacy, rather than totally idiotic states like Michigan with idiotic laws that permit non-genetically related surrogates to claim custody. On the basis of a mental health issue! Unless the woman in question had set her house on fire with the new babies in it, I cannot BELIEVE a judge took her children away on that basis. Although the story should give a shock to any of the "why doesn't everybody just adopt" folks out there. (Or I guess maybe the judge sided with the surrogate because the state doesn't view surrogate agreements as legal, and therefore a challenge on any grounds would have been successful. In my opinion, it's the surrogate rather than the mother than should have been subject to greater mental health testing.)
Love to hear your thoughts on Michelle Duggar and preeclampsia (or the insane reactions to it). But I hope you have wonderful and serene holidays. And good luck with that relactating!
I really missed your contribution to the whole Duggar thing (though I was sufficiently outraged for the both of us), but I guess we all deserve a break. Merry Christmas!
so good to hear from you!
merry christmas and a happy, healthy new year to you guys!
karen
So glad you're back and so psyched to discover your craft blog!! Off to drool over your quilts...
So glad you're back. I was among the worried that something had happened to one of you.
Ben is growing like a weed and absolutely adorable and Charlie's sacrificial letter to Santa is great.
Happy Holiday to you and yours.
Ahh... Julie. I've never come close to meeting you but I've been reading your blog for a couple of years. I came across it after I suffered a miscarriage in 2007. It was a surprise pregnancy, and subsequent loss, right before my wedding.
Today I sit at my mom's house, seperated from my husband who I sent on the trip I was supposed to take. I had a positive HPT last week and confirmed by a blood test. We have been trying since July and were so excited that we foolishly told our visiting family, thinking that surely we wouldn't miscarry again. Which, of course, is why I am sitting here recovering from a laprascopy to remove an ectopic pregnancy and a D&C.
I write this to say that you've been such a comfort to me. You provide laughter and compassion and even in the past year when I wasn't in the throws of mourning the loss of my baby I came to your blog faithfully every day, excited to see new photos of your boys or what you had to say about some asshole who has no business writing articles about infertility. I write this to say thank you, for sharing yourself and your time. And to tell you thank you, on this particular Christmas, when I am feeling particularly mixed feelings, thanks for the new post. It made me smile.
Of all the posts you might have left sitting up for a long while with no explanation I think the one you did, was a great one to choose (even if you didn't plan it).
Welcome back. Glad all is OK (well, give or take the relactating?).
I'm sorry for what you are going through, Lisa.
I spent this Christmas with my two newly adopted toddlers celebrating their first Christmas. What a joy!
I did feel a twinge of sadness thinking about the positive pregnancy test I received two Christmas-eves ago. That test ended up as a miscarriage and d&c six weeks later. What heartbreak.
I'm turning 44 next week and am thrilled to finally have my children in my life, but it doesn't ever take away the sadness at never being able to carry a child and meet my child at birth.
I'm glad to hear you're alright. Merry Christmas to you and your family, and I look forward to new blog posts soon!
Glad to see you are back!
I hope you had a Merry Christmas!
Don't think that I didn't obsessively stalk you, because I did. That's how I roll, because THAT is the way I roll. Stalkery and delicious. Kind of like butter cookies only without the calories.
Looks like Ben was working the show and tell angle at mardi gras in that necklace!
Welcome back. Missed ya. Those kids sure are cute!
Hello! I would love to host a giveaway to your moms group. Please visit my website at: illiakids.etsy.com Thanks:)
I've missed you. Not that I should talk, the way I've been (not) writing myself. But it's gooooood to hear from you.
Also? True story-- I kept checking to see whether you'd said something about Michelle Duggar. I was so hoping you'd unconfuse me about the whole thing. But then they said that this will be great (not exactly like that, but close) because the rest of their kids will grow spiritually, and I think I was thoroughly unconfused.
He cannot be five. That is impossible.
Happy Holidays!
Glad you're back, been interested to hear what's next.
After about a month of obsessive non-stop reading I have finally perused every post in this blog, and all I can say is 'Thank-You!' I have learned so much about IVF and the highs and lows that come with it. I have a very close friend going through treatment right now, and reading your posts has allowed me to understand what she is going through on a very personal level. I have a whole new perspective of pregnancy and fertility, and it's all thanks to you. You're fantastic!!
Whew. I thought you were dead and Paul didn't have your password. And he doesn't have my phone number to let me know that life would never be the same.
Or worse yet, you and Paul were both dead and you had neglected to list my phone number as potential Fairie Whatever Pseudomomishly to your boys and they were out foraging the neighbor's bulbs for food.
DON'T worry me like that again.
That stupid times piece was awful. Go enjoy your life. We'll all still be here.
Welcome back - you were missed terribly!
Wait, I thought you lived inside the Internet?
Oh god - those people (in the Times article) must live near me. I've eaten at that restaurant. What a horrible article about a horrible story. I'm going to be eyeing parents of twins suspiciously now every time I'm at Kroger or the library.
On the other hand, it's good to hear from you. See you in the New Year - and can we maybe discuss the Duggar thing then? Kthxbye. :^)
I have also create a website on pregnancy click on the link to view it
http://sites.google.com/site/pregnancyinfoclub
Busy is good. Merry and Happy New!
And there is an even more horrible article on, of course, the NYT website out today. They get some 'experts' to spew their opinions. Of course they don't talk to anyone who has been through infertility.
I think my brain just exploded.
I agree, Charlie can't be 5, its not possible.
Oddly, ever since you took taht break and regrouted your back porch, I never worry when you take a break. I just figure you are 'living without narration' and you'll be back.
Nice to see you!
Loved your cameo! Loved Becky's bit as well. I'm not sure if I can decide if I liked your bit or meeting Becky more! Hope about equally? I snarfed it a smidge for my blog and gave you and her all the credit, as credit was due. I am a faithful reader, and sadly a bit of a delurker. Thanks for all the diligence and commitment to your site! I appreciate!
Yey! Good to see a post, I always swing by your corner of the interweb for some refreshing sarcasm/outrage/insight and now - crafting bloggery too! Fun :)
Have a wonderful new year :D
glad to hear your ok
I tracked down that article, and feel differently. The woman was on antipsychotics and even the husband stated paranoia. The birth mom was heroic in doing the right thing and not giving those babies to that person.
Aside from your hysterical humor, I'm loving that having just stumbled upon your blog I'm realizing that there is life after being infertile! I'm right in the middle of the whole baby-less thing so sometimes it's hard to realize that life doesn't totally suck. Reading your blog has helped life suck less! :)