Mother's Day

It's my first Mother's Day. I spent a lot of time thinking about what exactly Mother's Day means to me. Even as the day progressed yesterday, I had to stop and remind myself that it was my day too now. I guess its still hard for me to wrap my brain around the fact that I'm somebody's mom. 2 somebody's!

One year ago, I didn't even know if I would ever be a mom. We knew at that point that for us, IVF would be our only good chance at having kids. And that was a very daunting thought for us.

I don't want to take away from any other moms in the world, but there is something so special about Mother's Day for someone who battled infertility. I think it's because you are faced with the realization that you might NOT be able to have kids, and that makes you realize how truly truly much you want to be a parent. Most people just have a fun night at home, and boom! They are expecting. It's easy and seamless. They don't have to pay anyone, don't have to go through shots and surgery and all kinds of medical intervention. It's just all very normal and natural and every woman's god given right.

Not true for someone battling infertility. We had to go through such a long and hard process to get to the point where we were pregnant, that I feel like it means so much more to me. All the shots, the surgery, the retrieval, the transfer, the fears, the cost, the wait. It makes you really think about what it means to you to be a parent. Nothing makes you realize how much you want something like the thought of not being able to have that something.

And now I look and see two of the most perfect beautiful babies in the world. And I am so thankful for the amazing doctors at RMA who helped make me and Eric's dream come true. I'm so thankful to my parents who basically paid for us to go through the process. I'm so thankful that my body was able to carry those fatties to 36w3d.

Mother's Day is probably the hardest day in the world for those who battle infertility. Everywhere you look, people are celebrating something that seems like a God given right, and yet you aren't able to get there easily. And it sucks. So my Mother's Day wish is that all the women in the world who really want a baby are able to have one.

I know how lucky Eric and I are. As overwhelming as IVF was, it worked for us the first time we tried. 2 embryos in, 2 babies out! Can't ask for better than that! And I'm thankful every day for all our friends, all our support, our amazing families that saw us through that difficult and emotional time.

So I guess Mother's Day to me is so much more than just a day to celebrate my mother, or have my kids celebrate me. It's more than a day where I expect to be pampered and get flowers or breakfast in bed. It's a day for me to celebrate my kids, and how lucky and happy I am to have them; a day to celebrate modern medicine, that made it possible for me to have my babies; a day to celebrate my parents, who helped make my wish of having kids possible. So Happy Mother's Day to all you mother's out there. Really take the time to appreciate what a blessing having children is, because although it seems like everyone is having babies all the time and it is the easiest thing in the world to have a child, it's not that easy for everyone.

And of course, I can't finish any post without pictures of the kids! Here are pictures from celebrating Mother's Day at Grandma's house!