let her sun never set...

wife.uu.mamaturtle.pansexual.jerseygirl. photographer.wanderer.etc

[lickyvobo]

Hello

Hello friends.  It’s been a while since I posted here.  Ah... retail management at Christmastime.  I just wanted to write a short post about an observation I made a few nights ago.

The other night we had our niece over to wrap her Christmas presents.  While she was upstairs (we live in a small apartment over my mother-in-law, niece, and nephew), she was admiring our one of our three snakes named Edna.  Edna had just shed her skin, and of anyone who isn’t aware, a good shed is the sign of a healthy snake.  Joyce (my Baby Turtle, Bean, Llama) is an animal lover, and without hesitation popped the top off Edna’s cage, to reach in to grab her shed to make sure it was whole (snakes need to shed everything, i.e.: eyes and the tip of their tail).  As Joyce was looking over the shed, I was listening to her comments and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Oh yes, Edna, very good, very good.  Good shed, good girl.”

She (Joyce), sounded just like her uncle, her Papa Turtle.  I realized then how happy I am that this 12 year old girl has Jax to look up to.  That he is such a role model for her.  They go on dates for Chipotle.  He holds the door open for her.  He surprises her with little trinkets here and there.  I am so thankful for their wonderful relationship, and the values and morals he instills in her.

[lickyvobo]

[lickyvobo]

Sometimes...

...the only way to help a friend is to hurt them. This is a hard realization I've had to come to these past two weeks. And while I know it has nothing to do with being transgender or having a baby, but I just had to get it off my chest.

[lickyvobo]

Kind Of A Big Deal

So I had a doctor’s appointment today (kind of what our whole lives have been for the last year or so it feels like).  My yearly ultrasound with our reproductive doctors.  Today we found out we’re close to insemination.  All that stands in our way is a few more pounds (I’ve lost 45 lbs. to date) and a few more tests.  Our awesome PA Kristen told us that my birth control has been doing the trick and doing away with a lot of my symptoms of PCOS.  I almost cried when she said all of my follicles looked good and were big and open.  Now we just need to make sure that my eggs are making it down to my uterus so that when insemination time happens, there’s something there to meet the very expensive little swimmer.  

Jax has been doing well.  We just recently bought our own business and that is certainly keeping him busy.  We’re both anxious to go back to the endocrinologist to see about upping his testosterone prescription again (it has been six months since our last visit).  He’s starting to feel edgy as we near injection days, and his fuse is just a wee bit shorter it seems.

That’s all for now as my Mexican food (having a business right next to an amazing Mexican restaurant is dangerous) is getting cold.  Be good kids.

[lickyvobo]

9/8/15 A double celebration of sorts. My 29th birthday and one year to the day Jackson started testosterone. I cannot believe it has been an entire year of injections. An entire year of needles and battling insurance companies. High highs, and extreme lows. It feels like just yesterday we were sitting in that Walgreens waiting for that little vial. Your bravery amazes me. You are living your authentic life and look how far you've come in a year. We're embarking on two new adventures (ok, one is more like picking up where we left off), but I couldn't be more excited to walk through life with you.

[lickyvobo]

It's Been A While

To the man in Walgreens this morning with his two young daughters. The entire store could hear you yelling at them near the drink cooler. They simply wanted a drink with the fun cartoon characters on it. But you yelling "No! You can't have that! Just stand there, it's not that hard! Jesus Christ." And then a slew of expletives under your breath while you made sure you got your iced tea and cigarettes... Not cool. At all. They are children. They are to be to be cherished no matter how demanding the job of being their parent might be. I didn't tell you then how much your behavior hurt my heart, probably because I was very close to crying. You don't know that my husband and I have been dealing with infertility. You don't know the struggles of someone who wants so badly to be a parent, but despite all their efforts isn't successful. I'm not saying that my husband and I would be "better" parents. And maybe you don't normally treat them in that manner... All I'm saying is, cherish your children. Cherish them as babies, as young people, and as adults, because being a parent is the most difficult job in the whole world, but it's also the best and only afforded to some.

[lickyvobo]

Gender Confirming Surgeries to be Added to Benefits in Student Health Insurance Plan Effective August 15, 2015

Read more at montclair.edu

[lickyvobo]

6.26.15

Today is completely amazing. I am so proud of the decision our Supreme Court made and the efforts of everyone countrywide to make this day possible. Through all the celebration, it's easy to forget that not even ten years ago, marriage equality was seemingly out of reach. Today I live in a country where a basic civil right is afforded to all. It's not about religion or politics. Today is simply about love. Today I also pause for reflection. Up until a year ago, Jax and I were still second class citizens in the eyes of our country. Obviously that changed when Jax's gender marker changed, however our lives are still not without struggle. Today is a HUGE victory. But the fight still isn't over. There is still work to be done. Second parent adoption or reproductive rights for LGBT couples. Transgender rights, having trans issues recognized by insurance companies. The list goes on and on. Today we celebrate, tomorrow, we go back to work. Congratulations America.

[humanrightscampaign]

Love Wins!

[lickyvobo]

#lovewins #marriageequality

[sandandglass]

The Daily Show, June 2, 2015

[lickyvobo]

Today is Transgender Day of Visibility. A day to celebrate those who live their lives openly and authentically. I love you Jackson David.

[lickyvobo]

Birthday boy with his birthday ice cream! First Dairy Palace run of the season! (at Dairy Palace)

[lickyvobo]

Beachside selfie #jacksonturns29

[lickyvobo]

Celebrating this hunk's 29th birthday today! #mywholeheart #jacksondavid (at Purple Parrot Grill)

[lickyvobo]

Driving into Philly for doctor's appointments in rush hour traffic are a pain... But the views are pretty epic. (at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals)

[lickyvobo]

6 Months

I can't believe it's been six months since Jax first started T. We're sitting in the waiting room at the incredible Mazzoni Center in Philadelphia waiting to be seen by his endocrinologist. It's time for a level check and fingers crossed his dose of weekly testosterone will be increased. I look at the journey still in front of us. I don't think it will ever stop, but then I look back at how far we've come, especially in the last year and it blows my mind. It isn't always easy but this has made me realize how strong not only our relationship is, but my husband himself. I can only imagine what this is like for him, but I am so incredibly proud of the man he's always been and is now being able to become.

[lickyvobo]

There are small moments and there are big moments. Today was a big moment as Jax walked across the stage to receive his Bachelor's degree. What made the moment even bigger, was the fact that this was the first time he received a degree as "Jackson David"... Yes, I cried. Congratulations baby! You did it!