Not what I ordered but tasty all the same

I'm getting on a plane tomorrow for some more international travel, clutching my carefully measured carry-on bag sans liquids of any type. Hopefully I will arrive parched but intact at the other end.

I had to rootle around a bit to find the post in which I explained about my phobia of being separated for any length of time from my carry-on, but you'll be happy to know I fully intend to pack light and be a gold star luggage rule abiding citizen.  I'm operating on the mindset of "tra la la, it's just stuff" if my suitcase goes missing- though don't quote me on that if it actually does, in fact, disappear. Anyway.  I'll be gone for a bit but given my slack attitude to posting lately, you probably won't even miss me. Oh, and for good measure I might as well thow in an apology for people to whom I owe emails. I am bad, and I grovel for forgiveness for my utter laxity in that department.

One of the things that I have discovered is that if you set out to build a happy albeit childless life, you can actually wind up with a rather full schedule.  People talk about how when they have children, they are always so busy and have no life.  I too am also very busy and have almost too much life. Sometimes it makes me dizzy. 

All those things we put off while we were "trying" are now taking centre stage in demanding our attention. We're travelling a lot, even more than we used to.  I'm sitting on the board of directors of a charity (an obligation which seems to grow a hydra-like number of heads in terms of time commitment). We've pursuing a long held dream of buying a plot of land and building a house in the country. We've thrown ourselves into work, or at least tried to find ways to our make our occupations fulfilling.  Oh, and of course there is the impending arrival of a small and desperate cute puppy. He'll be here quite a bit sooner than originally planned and I am squirming with eagerness to behold his sweet furry face.

In short, life goes on and to my somewhat surprised and vaguely wary delight, it's going on a lot better than I could have anticipated. That may sound trite- of course time is a great healer and all that. But if you had told me a year ago as I sat in the ruins of our IVF attempt on the bathroom floor that I would eventually feel this much better, I honestly don't think I would have believed you.

I remain of the view that I don't know exactly what will happen to us and to our family building in the future. In the short term, the family is going to consist of the two of us and a little four legged companion. After that I can't get a clear picture. However, I am convinced that this peninsula of current contentment is no bad place from which to set sail.  At least I will have some idea of what the landscape holds if I run aground again. 

Comments

[Alex]

Congratulations (again) on the pending puppy.

Um. I wrote earlier about my "infertility puppy." Now a dog and I'm pleased to say, still with me. But only just. I'm going somewhere with this...my two dogs were wrestling and the other dog grabbed this dog's collar and twisted it -- and got it snarled in a figure-8 around his (dog #2's) jaw. I heard the ruckus, came running, realized I couldn't free either dog, got a knife, and by the time I cut the collar the dog wearing it had STOPPED BREATHING. I really thought he was dead...but thank heavens he revived, though very shakily at first (now fine).

I ordered these collars (I have no financial interest in the firm): http://www.keepsafecollar.com/pages.cfm?id=24. LOVE them. I know you will be a one-dog family but a quick conversation with my vet made me aware of how many dogs get strangled by their own collars. Um, sorry, I've gotten a bit evangelical on this topic, but in case you find this information useful...

[Pamplemousse]

Bon voyage! And um yeah, the whole replying to e-mails thing? Over-rated, apparently!!

[Ellen K.]

Lovely post. It fills me with much hope, since my husband and I have just this week decided to stop treatment after the 4th IUI. We go back and forth between being childfree and adopting. In all likelihood, we will try the first for awhile before the latter. In the meantime, I'm making peace with the idea that the three of us (including our dog) are a very nice, cozy little family. Happy and safe travels, and I hope your luggage arrives with you.

[SouthernComfortable]

I think this is an important post. It's so easy to get warpped up in all the TTC madness that we forget to live in the meantime. I'm so glad that you're enjoying your fabulous life! I'm trying to do a bit of the same, but TTC is still getting in the way. For instance, I was planning on signing up for a program that, in exchange for your raising money for a charity, trains you to run a marathon. Now, because of the lap I have scheduled, I don't think I can do it right now. It's kind of a bummer.

But we're doing other things-- planning vacations and weekends away, going out to eat, hanging out with friends. I want to take a cooking or wine tasting class. I'm trying to enjoy my work.

And we spend time with our dog! You'll love haging a puppy. I can't wait to see pictures!!

[SouthernComfortable]

Wrapped up. Argh.

[DebbieS]

We would too miss you! And I don't know about anyone else, but I'm dying to know what flavor of puppy you are getting. (I'm still convinced it's a border terrier. They have fuzzy faces, right?) Bon voyage-y, and may your luggage be with you =)

[zhl]

I actually love Southern Comfortable's typo above--warpped. I think that actually sums up the ART experience. Not that I wouldn't love to have a child but I do find myself busy in a good way now. And I am beginning to think all nonprofits must be run by infertiles--I too just joined the board of a local nonprofit, and I noticed that Millie has also. Coincidence, I think not.

Have a great trip.

[Tiffanni]

I hope you have a good/uneventful trip. I also can't wait to see puppy pics!!!!

[Donna]

It's never possible to see the other side while you're still in the trench. You have to climb out, and that takes getting muddy and wet and scratching the hell out of your arms on the brambles, but once you are on solid ground again and you've changed your clothes, it's pretty good. We put off a lot too, and now we get to enjoy our lives without so much of a dark cloud. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

[Mary]

This is my first time here. The name of you blog caught my attention over on Julia's blogroll.

I don't know why but is felt good to read this post. I don't know more of your story than the name of your blog and this posting suggest, but I am impressed by how you are dealing with your situation. A situation, which, in the few words about this time last year, has obviously been difficult and full of angst. You seem to be in such a positive place right now.

I'm glad.

[JennaM]

For what it's worth, I always feel better when I visit here.

Can't wait to see the pup. Please post pix if you can!

xoxo
JennaM

[Amyesq]

Have a fantastic trip, my dear. And email me when you get home.

[moohoo7]

Always a lurker, never a bride. I just wanted to say how much I liked your post.