There as so many people I’m thankful to, here are just a few:

My cousin Jennifer, girlfriend Christi (Flip Flop Girl) – thank you for being my rocks through this. I’m so grateful you had your babies first so you could share your experiences to help me (not that the timing was done for my sake), and I’m super grateful to you for responding to my 2am texts, for inviting me to continue contacting you at all hours so that you could counsel me back to sanity and support me with information, experience, advice, comfort, whatever I needed (which ARE things done for my sake). I’m so lucky to have you, and sheepishly also grateful you’re up having 2am feedings too so that you’re available to me via text at the wee hours. 🙂

My friend Diana – thank you for keeping me in the loop and for trusting me enough to come to ME for 2am vent sessions or questions. It keeps me feeling competent and it makes me feel strong that I have some answers and experience that could benefit you. Thank you for thinking of me and sending me the Stilltee, which I am drinking right now. 🙂

My parents – much gratitude to my parents for driving an SUV 40 miles each way at these current gas prices to bring food multiple times a week and to see their granddaughter, and for loving me enough to cook so often the foods that you’ve researched is meant to help a new breastfeeding mother (mom). We may not have the same opinions and ways of doing things especially given the new research between 35 years, but no one can deny how big and loving your hearts and intentions are.

My husband – you are the lifesaver in churning waters, the lighthouse beacon in the dark seas, the doorknob that opens the doorway to moving on and through to the “better.” It HAS gotten better, and so much was because of your sacrifices of sleep, peace, freedom, because you chose to love me and Allie before your own wants. Thank you for guiding and teaching me, for standing by me as I went nuts a little, for the patience lavished on me when you indulged me in my psychological ramblings and observations about myself and my feelings. You have done more and continue to do more than any father I have EVER heard of (unless it’s the single dad of a newborn). Also, thanks for weaning me off so that I could slowly be independent as a new mom when you returned to work. Thank you also for taking fussy baby duty right now so I could blog. 😀

“We like computers!”

“Lemme change the music myself…”

My readers – your advice and support and anecdotes in comments on this blog and private emails in response to things you have read have encouraged me, given me hope, made me laugh, given me things to try. Thank you for walking with me in this journey, and for bearing with my written psychological ramblings. 🙂 Dardy, thanks for doing independent research to help me get through some of the rough spots.

Rest your mouse pointer over the below photo to see Allie’s message to you.