Tuesday, July 9, 2013

We Are So Blessed!

Hi Everyone!

Wow, I can't believe it's been so long since I've written anything.  April!  That's crazy.  It turns out that lately I just don't have much to say when it comes to our infertility and since this blog is an infertility blog, it has been seriously neglected.  Sure I still have moments when I think about babies or being pregnant, but for the most part, I am really just enjoying the moment.  I'm seriously too happy to be sad!

Today actually marks one year since we drove to Durango and signed the lease for our house.  One year.  I find it so hard to believe that one year ago we were walking around this big, beautiful, empty house feeling so giddy and blessed that it was available for rent.  You've all seen the pictures.  It doesn't get old.  Sometimes I think it's so easy to get caught up in what we don't have or what we want.  I'm so guilty of that!  I spent the last few years struggling with the fact that everyone around me was having babies and we weren't.  We didn't have that family that we so desperately wanted and I felt so left out and angry.  It was all I could focus on.  It was so painful and if I'm being honest, it still is sometimes.  But, if I've learned anything this last almost year (August 1st marks one full year of living in Durango), it's that I have been so blessed with opportunities that other people dream about and I am so thankful.  Yeah I might not have the things that I thought I wanted, but man, living in Durango has been awesome so far!!  And I can honestly say that I wouldn't trade any of it.  I really love our life right now!!!  By the way, we signed another year lease so we will be in Durango for at least another year!! Visitors welcome!!

That's about all I have for right now.  I just wanted to give everyone a little update.  Nothing too new is happening over here.  Just working and enjoying the beautiful outdoors with our boys!  Oh and we recently got back from an awesome vacation in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.  Good times!!

Pictures for your enjoyment!

One year ago today!!! Getting ready to start a new chapter!

 On our way to the Dominican!

 First drink! Yummy!
 Pina Colada
 Vacation rocks!
 Beach.

 Before dinner
 I love the beach!!
 Group shot! It was really windy...
 Beach
 Leaving for San Juan
 More beach

 So beautiful!
 I'm hiking!
 Creek!
 More creek
 Beautiful meadow! 
 We love it!
 The water is so clean and clear!
 Scoping out a good fishing spot.
 Yay! He got one!
 Kashy!
 Michael really wanted that stick. 
 Adrenaline Falls. You can jump that. We might do it next time. Yikes!
Adrenaline Falls. 

As you can see we've been living it up over here!! I'll try not too wait so long between posts next time, but I make no promises!  We have a lot more exploring to do. 

~Tonya

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Life is good!

Hi Everyone!

Wow, I didn't realize how long it's been since I last wrote.  With National Infertility Awareness Week coming up next week, I've been doing some thinking.  Lately, I feel like I haven't been the infertile woman struggling to have a baby.  My thoughts haven't been consumed with creating a family.  It's been so refreshing.  I'm not exactly sure what happened, but we are in such a good place right now.  You'd think that after two failed treatments it would be the exact opposite, but we are so happy.  So much so that I stopped going to my infertility support group.  The last couple of times I went, I left there feeling so sad and depressed. I realized that right now in our journey, the support group is not supporting me the way it's meant to.  I'm honestly not even thinking about our infertility right now.

I feel like the longer that we are childless, the more appealing the lifestyle becomes.  At this point, pregnancy announcements, pregnant women and babies just don't bother me that much.  That is such a huge difference from where I was one year ago!  There is something so freeing about being able to do whatever we want, whenever we want.  And I can't even begin to describe how much fun it is to live in a small, awesome town where we can ride our bikes downtown and enjoy a beer and appetizers at a local brewery before riding back home again, or go hang out by the river behind the house, or go for a hike on any number of the mountains around here. There is a healing power to the mountains and river.  I realize I sort of sound like a hippie and I think I might be turning into one a little bit, but if you guys could come live where we are, you'd get it.  The best way for me to describe it is to say that we've basically been on vacation since we moved here more than 8 months ago.  It's fabulous!

I'll probably write a blog post next week to participate in the bloggers unite program for NIAW.  Even though I feel like our infertility is not front and center in our lives right now and I've definitely backed off of the blog, I'm still passionate about educating people, raising money and getting the word out that if you are one of the 1 in 8 couples, you are not alone.  So many people deal with infertility.  I feel like I learn about someone new in my life almost every other day.  It's important for me to let these people know that they are not alone and the feelings they are feeling are normal. I've said it a millions times, but I'm saying it again, infertility sucks!

I'm not sure what the future holds.  I'm not sure if we'll have kids or not, but right now, I don't care.  I think for the first time in my life, I am not stressing about the future.  I'm not worried about what might happen.  I'm truly living in the moment and going with the flow and it feels so great!

And now for your viewing pleasure, some pictures from the last few months. A couple of weekends ago my brother and his girlfriend and their puppy came to visit and we drove to Telluride (probably one of the most beautiful places I've seen in my entire life), and came home through Ridgeway, Ouray and Silverton.  The mountains on this drive are breathtaking. There are honestly no words to describe the absolute beauty and awesomeness of this part of Colorado. I wish I had more pictures, but luckily I live here and I'm sure we'll go again! Enjoy, I know I do!

View from our deck with Snow!
Pretty snow covered trees
 More snow covered trees
So pretty
 Kash loves the snow and his Christmas pjs!
 Taking a walk in the snow
 Christmas time
Michael loves his new toy
 New scarf and beanie made with love by our friend Becky!
 Kash loves his new toys
 Ryan loves his new toys. Ha!
 Christmas table
New Years Eve
Aw Michael!
Picture before my birthday dinner 
 Pooped out after their haircut
 Snowshoeing for the first time!
 Snowshoeing
 So beautiful
 We love snowshoeing!
 Going for a drive to Telluride
Hi!
 Amazing mountains on the way to Telluride
So pretty
Beautiful snow covered mountains. 
More mountains
 And more
And still more
 Baby Ella (my brother and his girlfriends puppy) is queen of the mountains!
 Bridge in Telluride
Us on the bridge
 Frozen waterfall in Telluride
 Lookout right outside of Ouray with my brother and his girlfriend
 Ryan and Michael hanging out in the grass
 Getting ready to go for a walk
 Bike ride!
 So much fun!
 Stop for beer
 The four of us getting ready to ride back home

 Foggy morning
 Elk
 Lots of elk
 Kashy doing a little yoga
 Michael just hanging out



 Stay tuned!

~Tonya





The Animas House

I will never forget the first time I walked into the Animas House seven years ago. I walked in, saw the view and was in awe. But I also walk...