What it's all about ... #StrongStart

I'm a day late, but not a dollar short.

I woke up after a rough night of sleep and non-sleep with my daughter yesterday morning to a whole load of tweets about an incredible initiative. My daughter battled some sort of need to sleep brought on by fever? Broken sleep? I don't know exactly. But she fell in and out of focus for a few hours.

And during that time, I read.

I had already checked my email and found out about the initiative underway by Katherine to raise money to support Postpartum Progress. I made a note to myself. You will donate. This website and many more have helped you, and helped you help others. I clicked through to paypal, but it was an iffy connection upstairs, so I held off so as not to screw anything up.

Then I hit twitter. Holy Hashtag, mommas! #Strongstart (I hope that link worked!) was happening, and the challenge was ON! There was talk of bacon and abstaining (a non-issue for me, I don't eat it anyway) and supporting fellow #PPDChat mommas, and so much more. I was completely oblivious, having just returned from New York and fallen straight into the Friends You Love extravaganza I'm participating in this month.

The stories continued throughout the day and I knew I had to link up and share some of my own. Just a few snippets from the details I've told in the past. Notes to myself to remind me that I'm not alone. And why do I know that?

Because of people like Katherine and sites (or communities, if you will) like Postpartum Progress.

A few of my own words on my PPA experience can be found scattered throughout my blog. You can read them here, here, and here. And below I've quoted a bit of myself from one of those posts, in case my going link crazy was too much for you to bear. I don't blame you. Sometimes I'm too much for myself to bear, too!

**Obviously I made it through those early days. I found a way to hang in there, to survive. There was so much going on, but having people to talk to - to count on - to listen, that's what made it pass so smoothly. And to remind myself of how strong I was, that helped make it all okay. But the interesting thing to me about postpartum anxiety is that it never really, truly seems to go away. Because - after all - you are ALWAYS postpartum after your child is born. At least that is my perspective, four years+ into motherhood. And so the story continues ... stay tuned. **

So you know that I most definitely am thankful for these incredible women I have met in the blogo/twitter-sphere. And I so DO love these people I am proud to refer to as my friends. My blogging and twitter friends are a tremendous part of my life. And because of that I need to remind you all that you taking a moment to donate just a few dollars to Katherine's cause, my cause, OUR CAUSE, can help in ways beyond words.

Help me help a friend. Because she helps so many friends. And the next person she helps might be you or one of yours. Donate today. Every little bit counts.

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