Dear Infertility, I hated you. You steal dreams. You break hearts. You bring grief. You consume lives. You are the reason

Kayla Richardson's photos are incredibly emotional.

So frickin' cute!

While a little piece of my heart went to heaven along with you, I smile through the tears and heartache. You, my sweet son, brought me so much happiness in your short time here.

As she drove away that final time, I watched out the window with tears rolling down my face. My daughter stood next to me, blowing kisses. An important chapter in our lives had closed; our nanny was leaving for new adventures. This woman who first entered our home as a stranger, left as a family member. And in the process, she made me a better parent.

What a twist!

Ask anyone who has lost a loved one -- grief creeps up at the most random times. It doesn't matter how many months or years it has been, all it takes is one second for those memories and heartache to rush back. For me, all it took was an awkward moment to remind me that grief never goes away.

The night before their birthday, I was restless. I glanced at the clock several times, picturing myself in the hospital bed

It's a simple conversation starter, especially when you see my toddler in tow. But, for parents with children here on earth and in heaven, it's complicated. It's taken me nearly three years to figure out how to answer that question.

Smoothies made me a better mom. That sounds silly, right? Read on and you'll find out why giving my babies (now toddlers) smoothies helped me break free from a fear many preemie moms have... failure to thrive.

It's not uncommon for parents to wait until they see their baby to choose the perfect name. It makes sense -- this is their identity; what they will be known as for their entire life. But that wasn't our case.