I want to be there for you (and your family) physically. Trust me, if I could be present for you at every single outing, bridal shower, baby shower, trip, birthday party, etc...I would! I promise to make it to as much as I can! It pains me to have to keep my distance time time to time, whether because it’s cold and flu season or because I physically can’t be that far away from my child in the event that something goes wrong. My hope is that I can be more present as the years go on and my child becomes more stable. I can’t wait to bring her around, too! Please know that my heart truly is with you even when I can’t be there in person! I appreciate you checking in (and being patient with slow - or no - responses). As with any journey of motherhood, there is never enough time. My journey has some “extras” that demand my attention. At the end of the day, sometimes I just need to hold my daughter for 15 minutes and thank God for another day with her. There are also instances where I don’t see a message for weeks because I’m so used to seeing the little red numbers on my social media and communication apps. I’m in a constant period of “catch-up” and have to tackle it in chunks. Thank you for understanding that you mean so much to me even if my poor communication doesn’t indicate so! I want to hear about your life. Don’t be afraid to talk about your struggles with me - even if you think mine are bigger. Everyone has their challenges, and comparing them always leaves one person feeling invalidated. I want to support you the way you’ve supported me! Share with me how I can help. Let me do for you what you’ve so graciously done for me. I am happy for you. I truly am! While it may not be expressed outwardly as before, please know that I am still your #1 fan and wish you nothing but the absolute best in life. When you cross my mind, I send a prayer up that you don’t join this medical momma club I’ve been thrown into. While I wouldn’t trade my life or my daughter for the world, I couldn’t bear the thought of you experiencing such pain and hardship. So when you take your kiddos to the zoo and want to share how much they loved it, please don’t refrain from telling me about the gleam in their eyes just because my child can’t visit a zoo yet! Let me celebrate your special moments with you! Thank you. I know I don’t say it nearly enough, but thank you for being you. Thank you for letting me sit in my grief and sadness when I needed to and for lending a word of encouragement when appropriate. Thank you for the prayers you send up for my family and for sticking by me when things got tough. Thank you for being the friend I don’t deserve!