The Lovebug in Pittsburgh

Thanks to technology, it's taken a while to get the photos from our time with the Lovebug Locket from one device to another, but here they are.

I got the envelope when I was going through a somewhat tumultuous time - trying different levels of my post-partum medication to see if I was ready to be done with them. I was not.

Chickie needed to touch it and bat it around from the moment it came out of the envelope. It had a comforting weight to it.

 



I was able to put everything on the back burner while I had the necklace. Kelsey was so enthralled with it that she couldn't keep her fingers off of it, and was constantly touching, poking, moving it around to watch it sparkle and to hear the charms dangle inside. I told her about the moms and babies it represented, and told her Isaac and Porter's story, showed her photos on Kim's blog. I told her about Q and A, and Walker, and their stays in the NICU.

As I told her about the strength my newfound friends had given me over time, whether they were aware of it or not, I felt a sense of peace come over me. I might not have friends and family close by who can just come over and help out when asked, but I do have a hundred other women who know what I'm going through, who I can turn to for help. Who I can ask stupid questions, get advice, get opinions, and have a civil debate with. Several of whom had dealt with post-partum depression and knew what it felt like and could talk me down from the panic attacks.

I hope that expecting friends of mine (and Kelsey in the future) can find a similar support group, because I know I would be in a much worse place without those who I have been lucky enough to call my friends. It doesn't matter whether or not I'll meet them all in person, we have forged a relationship centered around our children that has branched off into personal friendships. The fact that this necklace exists and is making the rounds from mother to mother is tangible evidence of this bond we all share.