Monday, July 26, 2010

First of Many

Today is the day!! Our first posting here on "Keeping the Hope." I hope everyone is excited as I am. I have been contemplating on what to write. How can you express your hopes and dreams for something like this. I want to uplift sooo many and keep the hope going. I tried to put myself in readers shoes and think about what I would want to read. I have a million ideas floating around in my head that I feel like are going to explode any minute. How do I take all those and make it a blog that family, friends, couples, and individuals want to read? The thought finally came to me....Just ask!

So here is me asking you...."What do you want to see on this blog?" "How can we keep the hope going?" "How do you want this blog to differ from other infertility blogs?" My other concern is that in order for this blog to be successful we have to get a following going. How do we do that? All ideas, thoughts, and suggestions are welcomed!!!!

I will keep it short today because I am so anxious and excited to hear your ideas. However, I do want to point out one thing....Did you see our one and only rule on the right hand side? I hope I explained it clearly enough. We do not want this blog to be about how to get a child or baby....we want it to be about keeping the hope for you during this journey. Okay I have rambled long enough. keep those comments coming!

Hope this post finds you smiling......

10 comments:

  1. What a beautiful BLOG! I love this idea. I especially love the disclaimer on the side. It allows people comment about their IF regardless of where they are in their struggle and focus on support. You are one smart cookie.

    I think something I'd like to see might be a post on what to say to someone struggling with IF. I think there are lots of "Don't" which are helpful, but not too many "Do's." I think a lot of people want desperately to tell their IF friend or family member that they love and support them, but don't quite know how. Also something about holidays like Mother's Day. I think its important to recognize those woman who are mothers waiting for their children as well as mother's who've lost their children. I bet with your education, especially, you are highly qualified to answer such a dubious question! Great blog, can't wait to see more!

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  2. To all who struggle with infertility....hope is kept alive for you...by your family and friends. Thoughts are always...always with you. Even though incorrect words are said...or perhaps insensitive things are said....in our minds...our souls...our hearts...thoughts of you...swim..Prayers are whispered to God's ear on your behalf. We will begin this journey of this blog...as a central meeting place. A blog dedicated specifically for hope.

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  3. I agree with Sarah. This blog could be an amazing resource with everything from how to support someone experiencing infertility to information about common diagnosis, treatments and solutions for infertility. It wouldn't describe one person's journey but attempt to include many, so that people new to infertility were made aware of the many forms it takes.

    Good luck on a great start and I look forward to seeing how the blog progresses.

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  4. I love the idea of this blog. I like you have had many blog friends become pregnant and mommies through this journey and sometimes it's hard to watch feeling left behind, for those who do not. Having someone hold out hope when you can't muster it yourself, that is what IF is all about - because lets face it - some days we just don't believe anymore, or don't know what to believe. So what does Hope look like? Prayers? Daily Inspirational thougts? Quotes? We have seen and heard enough success stories and while they make us hopeful, they hurt. So how do we feel hopeful without hurting? It's usually when I turn my trust to God that I get that feeling. It's when I surrender and stop trying to control things I do not neccessarily have control over, however ironically, its feeling like I have some control over this, over my body. Those are some of the things that make me feel hopeful.

    I will spread the word...in the meantime just keep blog hopping. There's more of out there than there should be. Looking forward to Keeping the Hope. Thanks for finding me.

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  5. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I do think we need resources on feeling as if we have worth no matter the outcome of our journey. I don't have many ideas though--my M.O. is generally complaining :).

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  6. Ohh thanks so much for stopping by my blog! I love the idea of a blog to keep hope (rather than talking of infertility, cycles, pregnancy etc).

    I can tell you that for me it has not always been easy keeping hope. Not at all. Then I discovered meditation. Loved it. I think it's easier to feel hopeful when your mind is calm. Hope in this case didn't mean "I'm hopeful I'll have a baby one day" but more "I'm hopeful I'll be ok no matter what".
    Looking forward to read your next post!
    Fran

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  7. I'm surprised to hear the negativity about sucess stories! I think that this gives people hope. It always did and still does for me.

    I think hope is found in all avenues of life...with music, poems, quotes, uplifting stories of support and love. Keeping hope for others would also involve a growing community. A blogroll would be great! http://stressfreeinfertilityblog.com

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  8. Krissi,

    You make a great point. I hope that I did not come across as negative for other success stories. I completely do not feel that way! I would read their blogs all through their journey and pray and hope for the big fat positive. I would be over the moon for them. I would just feel lost afterwards. I don't know why, I just did. Because their blog suddenly became more about pregnancy not infertility. I would feel slight hope that that would be me one day but with each passing day it got hard to read thir blog everyday about how their pregnancy was going.

    The reason I made the rule was because too many times I tell someone about my journey or struggle, I feel that they brush my feelings aside by telling me about some friend that tried for years and finally got a baby or pregnant. For some reason, I would think that is just one more person that I know that is pregnant. I think because I panic and think I might be one of those people that never get a baby.

    So I decided instead of focusing on my journey on this blog I will just blog about keeping the hope. That is what I need to keep me going..."HOPE"

    Thanks to everyone for stopping by!!! I just realized I am very long winded

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  9. Hi There!

    I just wrote a blog post that conveys how I feel in those deep, dark moments. I figure, if I can give others a glimpse into what we go through, that they might better know how to support us. Feel free to take a look and post it if you'd like. Just link back to my blog if you decide to use it.

    Best of luck on your journey!
    http://funnylittlepollywogs.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/looking-in/

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  10. I am so excited for this blog Amanda! I will be a follower for sure!
    I really like that you are asking not to disclose child status. When you're hoping, does it really matter? You can hope for yourself, or for others regardless of children. And I can understand the pain that comes after the joy when you hear about one more person. In one aspect of my life I feel so much joy and happiness when friends of mine and even strangers experience something I have only dreamed of my entire life and will never have myself. As happy as I am, afterwards there is a severe pain. I cry, I feel down, I feel broken, and I pray to "heal" from my pain. And sure enough, just when I'm starting to feel ok, there goes one more person getting my dream. The cycle starts over.
    So here is to HOPE! A place of refuge to all who need it. I hope this blog becomes a place of education, support, refuge, and hope.
    Good luck with it!

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