Well, I just wrote a nice long post about this week and the visitors we had, but my browser crashed, and now I'm too grumpy to re-write the whole thing.

Here's the abridged version:

My sister Becky visited Monday - Thursday. We had some great conversations and fun hanging out. I miss having her nearby. (I didn't take any pictures with my camera while she was here, but I know she took some with her point-and-shoot. I'd like to get the same one she has...I don't tend to lug the DSLR around as often).

Rachel, Ben, and Sam visited Thursday - Saturday. I had a lot of fun with the boys, and they were so good. Sammy is an amazingly happy baby, and Ben is gregarious and hilarious. It was also great catching up with my good friend, Rachel. I miss her. (To see some pictures of the boys, click on the 'Recent Photos' on the left.)

Today, our house is quiet. It has been great having some quality time with Drew, but it is difficult coming down from the excitement of such great visitors and kids in the house. I am very thankful for the visits, though. Thank you, guys, for coming.

Now, we are looking forward to a shortened week for the holiday. Then, on Sunday (Drew's birthday), I fly out to D.C. for a public relations conference. It's too bad I have to leave on Drew's special day, but I am looking forward to the conference itself.

-Em

I have been asked by many of you about how I'm doing...since our most recent disappointment during this baby-making journey. I am OK. I'm sorry if I worried anyone. I wasn't doing so good for a while, but I have (mostly) turned the corner and am picking myself back up and moving on. Yes, we are taking a break from fertility treatments...we need to regroup emotionally and financially...all of this has taken a huge toll in both areas. We are still paying for my surgery in February (shit, that was expensive), not to mention the procedures that've been done since. My goodness, the bills. We were really hoping that having that cyst removed from my fallopian tube would be the key to enabling us to become pregnant, but that just hasn't been the case. It is disappointing for sure, and leads us back to believing that, again, there is more that's wrong with me.

I just wanted you all to know that we are alive, keeping very busy with work (I will be teaching my first university-level technical and business writing classes this fall, so I am busy developing those courses), and trying to just enjoy our summer. I love West Michigan in the summer...feels almost like we don't need to take a vacation elsewhere!

Hope this finds you all well.

-Em