For those just joining us, here's a timeline and recap of the major events of the last few years that are shaping my life (and this blog):
September 2006 - Married Matt at the ripe age of 33, after dating for two years.
May 1, 2008 - Our sweet furbaby Fizzgigg passed away. I told Matt that the only thing that could help us fully get over losing that dog would be to have a real baby.
September 2008 - Bought our first house, moved in with our two cats, and adopted a chihuahua puppy.
January 2009 - Got laid off.
March 2009 - Started freelancing to make ends meet. Decided to take a leap of faith and not renew my birth control prescription and "see what happens."
June 2009 - Got adopted by a stray cat that we named Boudica.
After more than 6 months of nothing happening on the baby front, we figured that kids must not be in the cards for us, and decided that although we were a little sad and wistful, we were mostly okay with the idea of being child free. We started talking about plans to do fun stuff like buying an RV and becoming vagabonds or going to teach English in Asia together. And then...
November 13, 2009 - Found out I was pregnant.
After the initial shock wore off, we realized how stoked we both were to be becoming parents, and that we both really, really wanted to have kids after all. And then...
December 2, 2009 - I miscarried. Everyone told us that it was just one of those things, and that it's very common, and that if we kept trying I'd most likely turn right around and have a healthy pregnancy.
So we kept trying.
February 2010 - Got pregnant. We were cautiously excited and did everything within our power to prevent another MC. And then...
March 29, 2010 - Started spotting.
March 31, 2010 - Had an ultrasound that confirmed no heartbeat.
April 1, 2010 - Had a D&C.
Went back on birth control shortly thereafter and took a hiatus from trying to give ourselves plenty of time to recover. Had a follow-up appointment 2 weeks later where the GYN had a strong suspicion that I have PCOS, but my insurance ran out before they could run any tests to verify. I threw myself into building up my business enough to be able to afford insurance premiums so I could get the testing done. Almost a year later, I still haven't quite gotten there.
Milestones came and went, including both due dates and the anniversary of my first MC. We both grieved, but we were starting to get on with our lives. And then...
December 12, 2010 - Matt's mom passed away, suddenly and unexpectedly, leaving no will or life insurance. On top of grieving and memorial service planning, we had to deal with cleaning out her apartment before the end of the month, putting Matt's step-dad, Rob, in a nursing home, and adopting their elderly cat, Bobo.
December 25, 2010 - Christmas sucked.
January 23, 2011 - Held a memorial service for Mom. Rob got to see all of his friends and loved ones together.
February 16, 2011 - Rob passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. We ordered a cremation, but we're still too spent from the last one to be up to planning another memorial service any time soon, if ever.
March 7, 2011 - Bobo passed away, because apparently we didn't have quite enough grief to deal with. We buried him at my mom's house out in the country, next to Fizzgigg.
March 20, 2011 - Began Project Oven Repair, because I'm tired of waiting until I can afford insurance to start doing something about my reproductive health.
April 6, 2011 - Turned 38.
April 27, 2011 - Started writing a new novel.
May 5, 2011 - Decided to take the leap and become an indie author/publisher.
May 16, 2011 - Officially diagnosed with PCOS.
June 15, 2011 - Released my debut novel, Restless Spirits, as an e-book.
Currently - just focusing on taking care of ourselves and coping with a ridiculous amount of piled-on grief. Attempting to "cure" my PCOS by eating a low-glycemic diet and exercising regularly. Using this blog as a therapeutic outlet. Trying to build up our income and get our finances turned around as we prep for another round of trying for a baby later this year.
