About Me

I remember the first time that the words "on the bright side" affected me. I was 18 years old, pregnant with my first son. A lot of people would say, "Look on the bright side; at least you'll be in your 40's when your kids are out grown and out of your house"....as if there was nothing else good that comes from bringing a new life into the world. Did I ever plan on being a "teen mom"? No. I didn't want to start a family until I was 28 and out of college, etc. This was forever my plan, and I "planned" on sticking to it. But in May of 2003, the month of my high school graduation, I found my plans shattered. I couldn't see the "bright side"of things. I didn't know if me and the father could make it work, how I was going to attend college, where we were going to live. But the first time I saw my baby on an ultrasound screen, I was in love. More in love than I had ever been in my entire life. I didn't care that I was (very) unprepared, or that most of my friends were going to parties while I was going to my baby shower. None of that mattered. I knew then that the "bright side" was my new son, and I didn't understand (or enjoy) the stares, dirty looks, nasty comments, and unsolicited advice that I received. I was overjoyed about this new life, and giving him the very best that I could. God gave my son to me, whether I was ready or not. I looked at him as a blessing, and the first time I saw him, I remember the automatic love that I had for him. I wouldn't let him go! Everyone complained about not being able to hold him, but I was so infactuated that I didn't care. Me and his father got married six months later, and have never looked back.

Fast forward four years. We had welcomed our beautiful daughter in 2005, were a happy family of four. Struggling? Of course. Blessed? Even more so. We had discussed for a couple of years the idea of having another child. After months and months of trying, and the removal of one of my ovaries at the age of 21, I began to think that my dream of a family of 5 would never come. I came to terms with it. Most people called us crazy for even wanting another child because of our age. But this whole time, God was working in our lives...in our favor, for a reason. 2008 rolled around, and I told my friend that I knew it wasn't going to happen, and I was okay with the two children that we have. A week later, I had a positive test! We were in shock. Not knowing how we would afford it, we were still ecstatic and eagerly took pictures of my growing belly every chance we got. God always provided. We welcomed our third blessing in September of 2008. He is a wonderful miracle and I thank God for him every day. In May of 2009, I was told I needed another surgery on my remaining ovary and that it might not be salvagable. I was devestated inside, but through prayer and knowing that God had a plan for us, I was okay with it. It was at this time that "looking on the bright side" really got me through it. I checked into the hospital knowing that when I came out, I might have to start hormones at the age of 24. But how could I complain? I had been so blessed, and I kept thinking of people that have it way worse than me. People who are truly suffering. I told my doctor to do a partial hysterectomy, and to leave just my ovary if he could. Thank God I made this decision, as he found problems with my uterus. It worked out perfectly...for four days. I ended up in the hospital, again...this time almost passing out and in terrible pain, being made to sign a consent for a blood transfusion. I was terrified. I had to go it alone, because my husband had to go home to the kids. I started questioning my decision to have a hysterectomy at such a young age, and as a laid in bed miserable, turned on Regis and Kelly. They were having a Mother's Day Special, and the young mom who was their contest winner had just passed away...from cervical cancer. As I laid their bawling my eyes out, it smacked me like a ton of bricks why I had made my decision. God was guiding me the whole way. Who knows what could have happened to me had I not made that choice. I had been in and out of the OB/Gyn's office and hospitals for the last five years. I am so glad that a lot of those problems are gone now. I have learned a lot through the chaos that has been my life for the past seven years, and the main lesson is to look on the bright side.