Updates since it's been so long

Well where to begin...

I celebrated being married to my best friend for one year in February! We just stayed home and hung out with the boys to celebrate. I can't believe that it has already been a year! We've definitely had our ups and our downs.

In other fun news, I went to the doctors in late March. She put me on Metformin for my PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome). I was put on it in June of 2008 to help regulate my cycles. PCOS causes women to not ovulate regularly resulting in irregular periods due to hormone imbalances. Also it makes it extremely difficult for women with PCOS to get pregnant, which is something that we're struggling with right now. We've been trying to add to our family since K (our now 2 year old!!) was about 6-9 months old. We tried without the help of medicine but after a year and a half of no success we finally decided that Metformin would be a good thing to try. Let me tell you, that year and a half was really difficult. I never expected to have a fertility issue. I mean come on I'm only 22. There were lots of tears from frustration and jealousy as everyone suddenly seemed to be popping out babies. It just didn't seem fair.

I've know been on Metformin for a full month and we're hoping that sometime in the near future we will have another chance to announce to the world that we will be adding to our family. Right now we're just in that dreaded waiting period that I've found myself so often in. I know that God will bless us when the time is right and I'm looking for that patience to get me through it. I've found a great novena to St. Gerard who is the unofficial saint of mothers and happy deliveries.

St. Gerard, Pray for me and all those dealing with infertility!

Susan G Komen

I have been involved with the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure affiliate here for about 7 years now. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer on December 12, 2002. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation. Praise be to God, she has been cancer free for 7.5 years now. Throughout her whole ordeal, my mom never once questioned God or her religion. She only missed one day of work when her hair first began to fall out and she never once missed her CCD (religious education classes) that she taught. If anything, the cancer made her ten times stronger then anyone I know. It truly amazes me how far she has come. I'm not quite sure but she was some how introduced to the world of Komen. She began volunteering the year after she finished her chemo & radiation and was the chair for the entertainment committee along with my dad.

This year, I am co-chair with my mom and another fabulous survivor, Kathy, for the Teams committee. We are responsible for making sure that team captains get their team boxes with all of their shirts and bibs and instructions for race day. We also have to reserve a spot for all of this to happen, electricity, water & team town (where our teams all congregate). I have absolutely loved being a part of this organization that is helping millions of women save their lives. The 5 year survivor rate because of early detection is now at 98%. I saw my own mom go through the diagnosis, the treatment, and life afterwards. My grandmother, was not so lucky. She lived in a time where cancer was a death sentence and it's amazing to see the strides we have taken.

That is why I support Susan G Komen, to give women hope. I know that they have been criticized for supporting planned parenthood. They have released multiple letters stating exactly what their money goes to. It is specifically set aside for the SOLE purpose of breast health & breast education. They allow women with no insurance to have access to life saving mammograms. I am still and will always be a Pro-lifer and just because I support Komen does not mean that I am not 100% behind my belief.

Who do YOU wear pink for?

The Beginning...

I'm beginning this blog as a way to document my always hectic and chaotic life. Here it goes!

In brief.... I'm a 21 year old mom of a one year old boy AKA Monkey, (as deemed by myself and his grandfather since he was born and has now stuck) and a step-mom to a 5 year old boy Andy. I got married on February 19 (yes to the father of my baby boy in case you're wondering which I'm sure you are). We have known each other for two and a half years and dated two years before we got married.

Now I was born and raised Roman Catholic and I know the church's view on premarital sex and I myself still feels the same way especially after having Monkey. I don't believe that makes me a hypocrite. I just think that I have a learning experience that I can apply to my belief and makes it ten folds stronger now.

I made a choice to have sex before I was married. I wasn't forced into it by Bee (my darling husband :) ) and he respected my decision to not have sex when it was brought up. My baby sister, although she's not a baby, she's now 16 but to me she will always by my baby sister, has asked me before why I chose to do it.The truth, I'm not really sure. I don't have one good reason for why I chose to have sex before being married.

Telling my parents that I was pregnant was the hardest thing to do. In fact, I was too chicken to do it. I made Bee tell my mom while my dad was at work. Needless to say she was upset and angry. She told me to pack my bags for the night and to get out. It was something I was somewhat prepared for but it still hurt. I cried all the way to Bee's house. I lay there thinking about everything and the hurt I had caused my family. I hate hurting people. Period. At the same time that I was sad, I was still excited. Ultimately I was going to have a baby and I knew I would keep him or her.

It never once crossed my mind to have an abortion. I am a staunch pro-lifer and especially after having a baby, I can not believe when people say it's just a clump of cells in your body. Um, excuse me, I heard that heartbeat and I saw that ultrasound, there's no way you're going to convince me that Monkey was just a clump of cells.

My baby boy was born healthy in March of 2009 and has been growing up magnificently ever since!

~Mandy~