Friday, March 20, 2009

Welcome ICLW commentors, please make yourself at home...

I am ICLW No. 104 - Double Delight

I am so proud of myself, I did it, I managed to get myself included despite having some weird mental block when it comes to anything related to this blog (I am usually quite tech savvy honest, I dunno why I struggle here???)

Anyway, enough punctuation abuse, let me introduce myself for those of you kind enough to stop by for the first time.

I am the Villagepig (VP) and just so that you don't think I am being harsh on myself, it is the English translation of our house name. I live in a little village in North Wales, England with my husband (the RO or Respective Other) and twin boys who turn 3 this year.

I am South African born and bred but moved to the UK nearly 6 years ago for a change. Little did I know at the time that the change would arrive in the form of bearded geek from the North East of England. We met 3 months after I arrived and were living together 10 months later. We married after 18 months and the twins arrived (early) 7 months later. I have gone through the details leading up the birth of my boys in an earlier blog which you can find here if you have the time and inclination.

Pregnancy was an awful experience for me which wasn't helped by a particularly complicated twin pregnancy. Full details are in the other blog but the short of it is that anything that could go wrong did and we developed twin to twin transfer syndrome. Tom & Nate were born by c-section on 06 June 2006 (that's 06-06-06 for the observant among you) and we were proud to have reached 31 weeks gestation. They spent 3 weeks in NICU and we were really lucky that we had no complications other than jaundice. I wish someone had told me how physically easy that part was because what followed seriously kicked my 'normally pretty in control' ass!

9 months of weight issues complicated by terrible reflux and shocking sleep deprivation resulted in a diagnosis of post natal depression. Happily the right medication sorted that all out and I am now happily pill free (well except for the ones I take for all those other ailments).

Good crap, this is proving to be a loooong post, I hope that you're following, especially those of you in the back because we're nearly done ;-)...

I disappeared from here for a while last year while I gathered up the reins of my new identity as a full-time mother/wife/employee and have returned because I missed my outlet and because I feel that the time is right because I have at least 7 free minutes a day to spare so why shouldn't I fill them with something? :-)

I have a new passion, one bourne out of the courage and drive that so many of my blogging friends have shown as they struggled with infertility. Before joining the blogging community, my experience of infertility was fairly pedestrian in that I knew people who had experienced it but the realities were hidden behing the social graces. The first story that I read which brought home the true scale of the impact infertility has on lives was from another South African blogger, Tertia and her story literally made me cry for days. There are so many more which have touched me over the years, not the least of which being Trish who has also been my BFOL (best friend on-line) that I realised that it was within my power to do something proactive to support the cause. This step is egg donation and I am about halfway through my first cycle and I have decided to make it my mission to get people talking about what they can do too. I have written about it here and more posts will follow.

I hope that I haven't alienated any of you by now, please come back, I don't usually go on for so long and I will make up for it by being suitably cheeky by back reading all your archives (which I do even if it means I give up precious sleep hours). I shall leave you with a photograph of my lovely boys and please tell me a little about yourself when you leave a comment ;-)

Love
VP

15 comments:

Eva said...

Strange circle -- I used to read your blog regularly, and now I just saw your comment on my SIL's blog. Your boys are gorgeous and I'm happy to see you're all doing well.

Anonymous said...

I'm just curious--what is an ICLW?

I can't wait to read more about the egg donation. I've thought of doing it, but I am too old (how is that possible? I'm only 34! Fertility issues are strange).

I just found out that one of my acquantiances is being a surrogate mother. So cool!

'Murgdan' said...

You have a beautiful family... Best of luck with the egg donation process---You can click over to my blog to read a little more about me--I put a brief introduction post up as well.

:-) ICLW

Melissa said...

Your boys are absoultely adorable!!! (Sorry I have been told that I overuse punctuation so pay no bother to it! :0)) I congratulate you on coming back and on your decision to do the egg donation. You are truly going to help someone out there that may have had no other options. I tip my hat to you. :0) I have an intro post on my page as well so you can get my background. Good Luck with everything.

ICLW

Lifeslurper said...

Wow! A real live egg donor? I so wish there were more people like you....do you mind if I don't call you a 'Village P-'?? Great to read someone drawing more attention to DEs, lovely to hear the 'other' side as I head down a well-worn track likely to lead to a search for my own DEs - possibly overseas. Thanks for your blog...oh and your family is gorgeous! Congratulations!

Ashley said...

Hi, here from ICLW.

I think it's wonderful you're doing egg donation, and am too braindead to say anything else interesting. Sorry.

Kristin said...

All three of your boys are adorable. I think its wonderful that you are doing egg donation.

~ICLW

Mo said...

Glad to find your blog! what adorable boys!

Mo
ICLW

Faith said...

Great story -- your boys are just precious!!! Happy ICLW.

Mrs.Joyner said...

Great intro post and your boys are gorgeous!!

Carrie said...

Here from ICLW. Your guys are darling! I loved reading your story and cannot wait to learn more about your journey to egg donation. It sounds wonderful.

I am a mom of one, infertile and had to do IVF. We are waiting to find out if our transfer "took" in a week and a half... but who is counting? I might be a little on edge.

Hugs,
Carrie

♥.Trish.♥ Drumboys said...

Well done Amy, your intro post is stellar.I hope you have a great week.

Your boys (3) are gorgeous.

Here from ICLW...No. 103 ;)
My Little Drummer Boys

Shayne said...

Hi Amy,

Great catchup post - found you via the blog awards. So great that your doing egg donation - how is it now going? I wanted to but am too old (37) can you believe it!

I live in the Eastern Cape, and am slowly learning the ropes to farming!

I'll be back!

Shayne

~ Katie ~ said...

You have a beautiful family.

UnicornMommy said...

Thank you for dropping into my Blog.

I'm new to the blogger-ville. but I have learned I love it.

I really enjoyed reading your post.

You have a nice way of writing.

Your boys are beautiful.

R
ICLW