I have been “blogging” for a little more than 2 months. It has been a struggle for me to find the right words to say (and to hit the publish button once I do have the words). I currently have 34 posts started and only 9 finished. I am excited to participate in my 1st IComLeavWe and make myself write and finalize 7 posts in 7 days! My intent is to inspire hope, to help, and to advocate for infertility from an average Jane’s perspective. I hope you can relate to me and I hope to meet and get to know many more of you than I do now.
I originally didn't start a blog so I could actually blog. Um yes that is what I said… let me explain! I have been working on a project on and off for a few years that will help women that have gone through infertility treatments, like I did. The work was mostly “off” until recently but I won’t bore you with the details! So I was looking at reviving my efforts in this and here goes the story…
I was originally searching for ways that I could distribute my Infertility Treatment Tracking Survey so I could get feedback for an infertility web-based application that I am developing. I did what any other person would do and I googled it! I, of course, got about 1,790,000 results in 0.26 seconds.. or so I was told.
I really didn’t know what I was looking for in my google search but I surely didn’t realize that I could set-up a free survey with google docs and then embed it in a blog for free! (No I don't work for google ;-) On the first page of results I found this blog, A Girlfriend’s Guide Through Infertility. I was only looking to get my survey out in a more efficient, organized and professional manner until I was able to get my website up and running. I didn’t want to send individual emails out to my IF community and then spend time compiling the results based on their email responses back to me… there had to be a better way! I was inspired by the “girlfriends” and so I gave it a whirl.
Soon after I started the blog/survey I read the article called "Breaking the Silence on Infertility" by Jennifer Wolff Perinne and it inspired me to write my first post. I wanted to provide this article to the women that were coming to my blog to complete the survey. It was at that time that I started to read other infertility blogs and saw all the wonderful things that you all are doing. I really wanted to be a part of this community and I am regretful that I didn’t “join” earlier. After all, I have been part of the IF community for so many years (over 5 years). How had I discounted blogging all together? I don’t think I knew the true community that exists here OR that I had anything to really say that anyone would actually read or care about. I am so happy that I have found that both are true.
I know what you mean! I have been part of an IF forum community for nearly three years and it was only a few months ago that I discovered blogging. I had no idea where to start and how to get it out there but after awhile I put the pieces together, discovered Stirrup Queens List of Blogs and ICLW and the rest they say is history! It has definately helped me. Happy ICLW!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog! I bookmarked your survey to tackle it when I have more time. It looks like an interesting project you have here. Welcome to ICLW!
ReplyDeleteSorry to see you on the path of IF, but glad you are reaching out. It's a very welcoming community and you will find a lot of support.
ReplyDeleteHappy ICLW!
The blogging community has been a life saver for me, especially over the past year. Thank you for your kind words on my blog!
ReplyDeleteICLW
Welcome to the IF blogging community! While it's sucky that we're all members, we certainly like to make people feel welcomed and at home. When I started blogging last year, it was almost overwhelming at first. To see how the IF blogosphere has grown in a year is really pretty awesome (and sad at the same time... sad that we have more members who have to experience this, yanno?) Anywho, I loved the upbeat tone of this post and wanted to direct you to a 5-part series I did on infertility advocacy this past summer (Belly Full of Fire, Part 1 here) and a video that I made about my experience so far w/infertility that has actually won 2 awards (What IF: A Portrait of Infertility). ICLW is a great way to get to know a lot of other bloggers, so enjoy all the comments and commenting!
ReplyDelete~Keiko, Hannah Wept, Sarah Laughed (ICLW #142)
Blogging has been a wonderful place for me while going through infertility! It's a place where people can encourage each other, give support, and are understanding because many are or have gone though it themselves.
ReplyDeleteBefore I started blogging I found a blog through google myself not meaning to. Was feeling really down, very alone, and I don't even remember what I put in the search box.lol It led me to a blog that inspired me to start my own:) I had No Idea how to do anything either, but its one of the best things that I've did for myself while going through infertility.
Welcome to the Blogging world!
*ICLW*