Eve Feinberg's North Shore Half Marathon

As I mentioned in a previous post, Dr. Eve Feinberg, a reproductive endocrinologist at Fertility Centers of Illinois, dedicated her run at the North Shore Half Marathon to us in an effort to raise money for our cause. To show our appreciation, Greg and I attended the race in Highland Park last Sunday to cheer for Eve. It was such a fun event. We were able to see Eve at several spots throughout the race. We first cheered for her around the 8 mile mark after she had come up a hill. Then we saw her in her final mile before the finish line. We also met her after the race to thank her once more and take pictures. Eve ran a great race!! Her time was 1:59:16. She also raised a grand total of $789 for our July Birdies for Babies Charity Golf Outing. We have chosen to use some of this money to sponsor a hole on her behalf and the rest has been submitted as a monetary donation. Congratulations to Eve on a great race and a big thanks for helping us raise money and get closer to our dream of having a baby!!

My Old Neighborhood-Hyde Park Ave/Elmwood Ave

I spent about 12 years of my life living in a two-story house on the corner of Hyde Park Ave and Elmwood Ave in Waukegan. It was a great house. It was 3 bedrooms and had 2 and a half baths. My sister and I shared a huge bedroom and my brother had his own room. The basement was unfinished which was great for rollerskating and pushing each other around on scooters and hot wheels bikes when we were younger. I also remember my mom drawing hopscotch squares on the basement floor for one of my birthday parties. However, the best part of the house was the huge side yard. Many sports were played with the neighbors and family in that yard. Every summer, we had a huge block party with all of the neighbors....soda from Glen Rock, a skateboard ramp, different sports being played, water balloons, etc. I could not have asked for a better neighborhood in which to spend my early childhood years. We moved to the other side of town when I was in 7th grade and fell out of touch with many of the old neighborhood friends, but whenever we would drive somewhere I would always ask if we could pass the old house. Such good memories were made there.

The years have gone by and I have not thought about that old neighborhood for awhile. I have found a few of my old neighbors on Facebook and just the other day was reminded of how special that neighborhood really was. One of the girls from my old neighborhood that I had found on Facebook sent me a message asking for clarification on how to make a donation to our July Birdies for Babies Golf Outing. I told her to email me the confirmation that she received and I would check on it to make sure things had gone through correctly. As I was scrolling down the email confirmation she had sent me, I was in shock by the amount she had donated. As I kept reading, I learned that she was donating on behalf of my old neighborhood. 

When she had read my blog for the first time, she contacted all of our old neighbors to share my journey and round up donations. Several of my old neighbors gathered money to sponsor a hole at our golf outing and make a cash donation. The sign at the hole will read: The Old Neighborhood--Hyde Park Ave/Elmwood Ave. Reading her email brought me to tears. I immediately called my parents and my husband to tell them the story about our old neighbors and their overwhelming generosity. 

I have mentioned in many past posts how in awe I am of the support that people have given us. This is yet another example of how people really do come through for you in times of need. I never would have expected this type of support and want to express my gratitude to the old neighborhood and everyone else in our life that continues to show us support. We are truly blessed!! 

School's out....for summer!!

The end of the school year for teachers is often bittersweet. The months of hard work and dedication to all that goes into running a classroom of 20-25 students comes to an end. It is amazing to see the progress that each student makes academically and socially. I know that my job is finished with them, but it is still sad to say goodbye and begin to take down all that was set up in the classroom. I just finished my tenth year of teaching and my fifth year of teaching first grade in Lake Bluff. This year has been particularly hard for me for a number of reasons. It is now the second school year that has come and gone without a baby on the way for me and Greg. While these past two school years have been difficult with having to take time off for surgeries and fertility treatments, it is seeing my students each and every day that also helps me to stay strong and reminds me of my ultimate dream of having a child. This year my class presented me with one of the sweetest, most heartfelt gifts I have ever received. It was a serving plate that they had decorated with each of their names and thumbprints.

The class also gave me a Visa gift card. I have been thinking about what I would like to use it for and have decided to dedicate the money to our July Birdies for Babies Golf Outing in honor of this group of students. I am so thankful to work in a profession in which I am able to impact the lives of children in such a big way. They brighten all of my days.