“I let myself live in the land of denial for quite a long time. I allowed myself to live under the ‘she’s a preemie’ excuse as we began to notice delays. Surely she’d catch up.”
‘This can’t be happening. They can’t take our baby!’ We couldn’t just have ‘normal.’ Only 200 people in the WORLD have this.’: Special needs mom shares daughter’s journey, ‘Love is strong’
‘Oh my gosh, there’s a HEARTBEAT! I’m a MOM!’ The doctor looked puzzled and NOT happy.’: Couple experiences infertility, NICU, ‘I’m enjoying life as a mom’
“I caught my breath. I asked the doctor, ‘Is that a heartbeat?’ He didn’t look happy. I couldn’t understand. He then answered ‘Yes, but I’m sorry.’ I was completely numb.”
‘If I get deployed, do you want to get married?’ I was married to the military. I was constantly lost, never sure what would happen next.’: Military spouse encourages ‘love your own dreams again’
“I was alone for 6 months. Nick was in the military and I wasn’t prepared. You love him, but you’ve both changed. ‘What is wrong with us?’ It hit me. I didn’t need to give up my own dreams to be a military spouse.”
‘Why not have your OWN kid first?’ He’s JUST as much ‘our own’ as any biological child. He crushes every ‘impossible’ goal.’: Family adopts son with autism, ‘It’s better than we dreamed’
“They told us, ‘He may never speak full sentences or want to leave the house.’ His smile lit up the room. We pushed him to be the BEST he could be.”
‘He’s a biter. Will you take him?’ He was dropped off with nothing but the clothes on his back. By the time he left, he called me ‘Mom.’: Single foster mom shares journey, ‘I was made for this’
“He ran from me, crying and frightened. ’What has he been through? What has he seen? Can I do this?’ God sent him to tell me I COULD do this. It’s not an easy calling, but I am living God’s word.”
‘We have an 11-year-old with identity issues. Would you be able to take him in?’ We said yes to 30 days from now. Then we received a call: ‘Can he move in today?’: LGBT couple adopt 4 children from foster care
“‘Am I too young? Am I good enough?’ The fear set in. Soon, he arrived at our house with nothing but two trash bags, his life packed away in them. His shoes were too small, his clothes barely fit. The days of bouncing from home to home would finally be over.”
‘It’s not good news.’ Our hearts sank. How did I lose both of them at the same time? I didn’t know how much more I could take.’: Couple battles infertility, ‘We aren’t ready to give up.’
“While grieving another month with no baby, I called my doctor to set up more appointments. I’ve got 8 more embryos waiting for me. Waiting to become a life. One day, I will be called mommy.”
‘I begged for a miscarriage. ‘I don’t want this. I’m not going to be good at this.’ I was in SUCH a dark place.’: New mom shares pregnancy acceptance journey, ‘It’s okay if it feels scary’
“I peed on that little stick. ‘One line…. phew. Oh, wait, another line is forming. Holy smokes, that line is AGGRESSIVELY dark. Can these things be wrong?’ Immediately, I just started sobbing.”
‘Uh, excuse me? What are you doing?’ I noticed my husband taking an empty milk cup out of the dishwasher. It sparked a fight that resulted in days of angry feelings.’: Woman urges ‘never stop trying to understand your partner, the kids are watching’
“I am so glad we had this argument over the milk cup. It wasn’t about the cup of milk.”
‘There’s nothing more we can do.’ I hit his chest to wake him up, screaming his name. My world turned upside down.’: Woman beats drug addiction after losing brother, ‘It is possible’
“When I woke up, I was starting to withdraw. I asked Anthony if he wanted one and he grunted. Because he was sick, I helped him shoot up. When I looked down, his eyes were rolled back into his head.”