Follower of the Month: Jocelyn

I am really honored to introduce you to August's Follower of the Month. She is a very good friend of mine, who definitely has had a major impact on my life. Jocelyn, of Michelle...And All That Came Before and After, was one of the first angel mommies I met online after the loss of my daughter, and certainly the first to take me under her wing. I met her on the Compassionate Friends Chat one day a few months after loosing my daughter. In fact, I believe it was just a few days before my expected due date. It was she who lead me to the SHARE boards and played a role in pretty much saving my life. I can only hope to be half the friend she is to me.

Jocelyn is mommy to Michelle Elizabeth, a beautiful angel who celebrates her 6th birthday later this month. I thought it was fitting to make her my Follower of the Month for August.

Please allow me to introduce you to my friend:

1.What's your name? (real or user)

My name is Jocelyn. I often go by mom2michelle in chats, etc. My Blogger user name is Joc(e) because some people abbreviate my name with an E at the end and some just say “Joc”.

2.Tell us a little bit about you.

I’m a forty-something wife and stepmother of 2 adult children. My only biological child (my husband’s third child), Michelle Elizabeth, was born prematurely at 24 weeks of pregnancy on August 25, 2004 – I had life-threatening preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. Sadly, she died a week later on September 1, 2004, and I have not had any other children, though I haven’t quite given up! I was born and raised in New Jersey and moved to Florida 20 years ago – in a bittersweet coincidence, the anniversary of my arrival here is also September 1.

3.When did you start blogging and why?

I’ve blogged on and off for a few years now, and I have several different blogs. I do like to express myself through words, but often I don’t leave enough time to post, or I forget what I was thinking when I was driving and couldn’t write it down! When I was on MySpace, I blogged there as well.

4.Tell us a bit about your blog(s).

One of them is private and for my innermost thoughts (or vents!). Another is a general blog, but I rarely post there. Earlier this year, a friend gave me space for a blog about my angel baby as well, and I’ve been updating that most often. I am hoping it can be a place where I share both the smiles and the sorrows that having and losing my little girl have brought me, and to be a place where other angel moms can read my stories and not feel alone.

5.Has blogging changed you or your outlook on life at all?

Not really, but I do like that we have the technology now to share our thoughts so easily with people who we might never get to meet or talk to in real life. Some people are really amazing bloggers, and rather than being bored with their stories, I love to hear what they’re thinking and doing.

6.Link us to 1 - 3 of your favorite posts from your own blog(s)

Here is Michelle’s story, from my blog about her: Michelle's Story

This one is about something I’m particularly proud of, also from Michelle’s blog: Promise Walk for Preeclampsia - Success

I was going to share one from my generic blog…but while reading through it I realized it’s really negative and has a lot of venting about personal things. So I’ll stay positive and not send you there :-) (You can get there from my user name on here – Joc(e) – but remember, I warned you!!)

7.Link us to 1 - 3 of your favorite fellow bloggers

Obviously, your blogs, Ter…you have a lot to say and I think you do a good job. (Don’t think I need a link!) In addition I love the following:

My friend Lissa has an interesting blog that covers a lot of different subjects, including pregnancy and infant loss, but definitely not ONLY about PAIL. Hiding Scars in My Yarn: Crafting My Way Through Grief

Another friend, Lacey, has a very touching blog about her son, Landan, who was 3 years old when he passed away suddenly from Meningococcal Meningitis. So This is Life: Journal of a Bereaved Mother

Emily at Stepping Stones is the founder of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ribbons and I finally got to meet her in person a few weeks ago! Love her posts too. Stepping Stones: A Path Towards Healing After The Loss Of A Child

Of course, I visit quite a few blogs that are not by my angel parent friends but I couldn’t possibly list them all! I have a lot of interests that I like to keep up with.

8.How did you come to be a follower of mine and why do you follow me?

You’ve been a friend (and a good one at that!) since we met up in The Compassionate Friends’ Pregnancy and Infant Loss chat room a few months after you lost your sweet babybear. I have seen you come a long way since then, despite the subsequent tragedy of your husband’s death a few years later. I feel like you have done a lot to try to better your situation in life, to find happiness, and to bring happiness to others. You have also always been there to listen when I needed you.

9.What, if anything, have you gained from reading from my blog?

That no matter what a person has to endure in life, that life can still go on, and inspire others. I love reading all the things you write, whether they’re sad, funny, helpful, inspirational or just everyday life moments. You also share a lot of great information…and some of those things you cook look just scrumptious!! :-)

10. Tell me the truth, you're going to brag to all your bloggy friends that you were my follower of the month, aren't you? ;)

Well of course…I don’t get to brag very often!

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Thanks for being my Follower of the Month, Jocelyn!!! It's an honor to be your friend.

Take a moment to go say hi to Joc(e). If you are here from Jocelyn's blog, please leave a comment so I can say hi!