On Becoming Donna

[Stevi]

Donna,

Maybe I will come off as harsh.  I have a daughter who chose to exclude me from her life and, as much as I would have it otherwise, it was her choice, so I think I have some cred here.  It is difficult in the extreme to loose a relationship with those we cherish but sometimes we have no say in the matter.

Your obligation is to care for and protect your wife.  Your wife's obligation is, as is true of us all, to care for herself.  Her children are in my opinion are being abusive, not loving.  They need to be called on it in no uncertain terms.  There is the chance they may choose to be selfish and insist on being abusive brats but the current situation is not sustainable.  As you wife's circumstances are not likely to improve much how can this continue.  It needs to be addressed.  Your wife needs their help with achieving as high a quality of lie as is possible.  They need to understand, or at the very least be told, how their behavior and demands are so not helpful.

.02 and keep the change,
Stevi

[Donna]

Thanks peeps. I appreciate all the comments.
My wife did notice how off I was last night and we discussed what was going on with my mind.
She has basically said what has been said here, she will handle her boys and even though it's making me crazy she seems to be dealing bettter with them than I am.
I did write a long email to both of them explaining the whole thing from my point of view and how they are affecting her. I forwarded it to her and she can send it if needed. She has informed me she has been having it out with the youngest son (43) because he is being the biggest jerk.
It just hurts so much with all the things I've done for them and I just didn't expect it at all.
They are selfish beyond belief and so far from the way they were before.
My dear wife helped me straighten out my head last night and talked me down from yet another ledge. She is my rock for sure and made a very good point , I am way to emotionally scrambled right now and she reassured me she is dealing with it better than I can know.
This whole emotions thing is so new and fresh and raw with me than I'm a mess beyond reason. I've only been learning emotions for less than a year now as they were so deeply suppressed.

[christinej78]

Thanks peeps. I appreciate all the comments.
My wife did notice how off I was last night and we discussed what was going on with my mind.
She has basically said what has been said here, she will handle her boys and even though it's making me crazy she seems to be dealing bettter with them than I am.
I did write a long email to both of them explaining the whole thing from my point of view and how they are affecting her. I forwarded it to her and she can send it if needed. She has informed me she has been having it out with the youngest son (43) because he is being the biggest jerk.
It just hurts so much with all the things I've done for them and I just didn't expect it at all.
They are selfish beyond belief and so far from the way they were before.
My dear wife helped me straighten out my head last night and talked me down from yet another ledge. She is my rock for sure and made a very good point , I am way to emotionally scrambled right now and she reassured me she is dealing with it better than I can know.
This whole emotions thing is so new and fresh and raw with me than I'm a mess beyond reason. I've only been learning emotions for less than a year now as they were so deeply suppressed.

Dear Donna,                     06 June 2018

Hope you are feeling better now and in the future. You're lucky to have a great wife that loves you and helps you.

I on the other hand don't have a wife and God forbid a Husband; the thought of being stuck with someone like I was is repulsive as it gets. I do have my Dogs, who do provide me with advice on how to act. When I get upset, they leave and don't come back until I settle down. They make me see how foolish I must look to them and anyone else that happens to be in proximity of my wrath. They should open a school on anger management.

Take care mis amiga, give me a yell if I can do anything for you folks.

Best Always, All my Love,
Christine

[Donna]

 Had to go to the hospital and get the scope done on the bladder again. To many infections and it been an issue for close to 30 yrs. I had a couple concerns about the paperwork and name issue. Last week I redid all my ID with my new name and due to a policy change we can now request F, M or X with nothing more than asking for it. My health care name change hasn't come thru yet so I knew all the paper work would have the other name on it.
I was surprised to arrive and see that every page of my paperwork had a sticky on it that said " goes by Donna". This was amazing that someone took the time to do that. Unfortunately they had to put the other name on the wrist band and I was stuck wearing it. Typically they will read your name off before taking you to the procedure area to properly ID you. Five peeps ahead of me all had theirs read out loud right in the waiting area and I was getting a little uncomfortable over it. Well damn now it's my turn and the nurse calls Donna up to the counter and just walks off with me in tow. We got to the room and she just said I didn't need to read the band out there. Wow I was impressed with the kindness and consideration all thru this process. Well everything inside is good and no need for any cutting of the bladder neck this time.
The urologist is also my cancer surgeon and the one that will do my orchi. It is confirmed for August but on a short call basis in case he gets a cancer patient the may need the room more than I. I'm ok with that as I know peeps got bumped when it was my turn.
Greatest news of the day and then I went home. My wife wanted to talk and she just very bluntly said with out warning she can't go on this journey with me. She doesn't want it for her or for me but knows I need it to survive. She knows I need to get more involved in the community and with volunteering with the young trans community. She knows she can't talk with me about most thing because she doesn't feel it or want it. This is saddening but has at the same time opened a new path for the two of us. We will be staying together and I will have my space to explore what is new around me. She will not block these needs and changes by holding me back, in exchange I will give her equal time as a couple of girlfriends, roommate or companions. We do deeply love each other and have too much history to walk away from each other so we will make the best of the whole situation. Then she goes and does something even further out there, she bought me a years worth of unlimited laser treatments that I start Thursday and they are going to remove three moles on my face I hate as well.  Like wow that caught me off guard even more until she ask why I am hiding my feelings about bottom surgery. She told me that she knows I won't be happy without it and she will still accept me after the boy bits are replaced. I'm speechless but did tell her it could be 5 years before that happens due to a 30 month wait to see that doc for a first appointment. Next crazy thing out of her is pay to have it done where there is no wait. Wtf just happened is all I could think. She said she would rather have a happy me as a girlfriend than a miserable bastard as a husband. I just can't stop crying now, I'm so overwhelmed with crazy amounts of emotions. I'm a kid in a candy store right now. Hell I lost a $9000.00 job yesterday and I don't even care, it's not important at all. I can always replace a contract with a bigger better one, I could never replace my girlfriend/ wife/ best friend ever.

[Northern Star Girl]

Dear Donna:  Thanks for updating your followers on your thread.
UGhhhh..... scopes !!!!  up the nose, down the throat, in the ying yang, and colonoscopies...  torture to contemplate and not very comfortable to endure..... please for me, knock me out first then do the scope.
I love how the medical office had sticky notes on all the papers with "goes by Donna" on them.... and the sensitivity of the nurse that called your correct name for all to hear.

Wow, reading about what is going on between you and your wife... bittersweet story for sure, but there are a lot of sweet thoughts and actions coming from her as well.... be very thankful for that part anyway

Thank you for your update... please keep them coming.
Hugs,
Danielle

[annaleaver]

This is long and I appologise in advance.
Well I should have done this earlier but didn't so now is as good a time as any ( thanks Christine)
Been a strange life for me but the major parts started in 2015 at my dads funeral.
The children of the person that molested me where at the funeral and I got hit by all the terrible thought and feeling all at once on top of dad passing. I was angry and desired to confront them about it until I found out he had died already. I broke out in crazy laughter and people at the viewing must of thought I lost my mind when I reality I just found it. This time in my life had never been brought up to anyone until counseling this year and I'm glad it out and open and done other than one unfortunate repercussion ( more on that later).
For the next year I started examining myself and my life, I started loosing weight and by the end of 2015 I had started wearing a bra because it just felt right.
2016 went by without to much difference, weight lose and a little more breast development. Wearing a bra with more regularity and more examining of my mind.
2017 is when thing started changing and I can't figure of why other than my yearly cancer follow up with my urologist got me thinking.
The thing is due to nerve damage I lived with severe incidents of priapism for the past 21 yrs which was destroying my life. My urologist suggested reducing my testosterone as a treatment and I said yes. This had been done in the late 1990's but I had bad reactions to it.
Well needless to say I really got pissed off when coverage was denied for the injection and at $1770. Every three months I couldn't afford it.
I went a different route while I fought for coverage with my insurance company. I started this in May of 2017. By October my T had dropped to 14.8 ( 426 ) so on a follow up call to my doctor he decided dutatriside May work in the mean time and my family doctor put me on aldactone after discovering my bra and breast growth. She was concerned about the growth and wanted to know what I wanted done with them ( removal) I told her I wanted them bigger.
Between October and the end of November weight dropped and breast grew till I went for my first fitting. 46C and happy for some strange reason. My wife had already seen my bra and breast by then and wondered about it all. I unfortunately did not talk to her then about my feeling which had turned to thoughts of transitioning.
Well in December my wife just innocently asked in a conversation if I liked my breasts, I told her I loved them and wanted them bigger. This started the conversation angrily that should have started a year ago.
Well more weight loss and more changes in mind set and by January I was down to a 42C and buying more bras and some female clothes for me. I started going out on my own in fem cloths and thinking about the differences I was felling. My wife and I talked and talked and talked, I started therapy and she did shortly after wards. Started on estrogen in January
It's been tough on us both but has taught us a lot about each other. We have talked more in 5 months than we did in the 13 yrs we have been married.
In February I basically stopped wearing male cloths but was trying to live in both worlds. My wife was angry but we were still talking which was good. End of February down more weight and down to a 40 band and C cups.
In March after lots of talking I shaved and my wife gave me make up, she suggested a wig and piercing my ears, both of which I did.
We talked and came to the conclusion that I needed to come out full time as I could not live the lie any more. My therapist calls me unique and I do feel special and blessed to be where I am without crashes. I've had not time for them. From the hugely disastrous emotional start to me life and to this end journey I will talk about that stuff later. It's been to emotional already.
Fast forward to May and I'm waiting for my name change paper work to be returned, I'm 1/2 in off being a 38 band and that will put me in a 38 DDD bra I'm wearing 16 tops and 18 pants and haven't been at this weight in over 20 years.
This is all I can do for now but I will be back with more.
Thanks for putting up with the lenght of this.

Hey,

Thanks for sharing your story and all the help in the past

anastasia x

[Donna]

Dear Donna:  Thanks for updating your followers on your thread.
UGhhhh..... scopes !!!!  up the nose, down the throat, in the ying yang, and colonoscopies...  torture to contemplate and not very comfortable to endure..... please for me, knock me out first then do the scope.
I love how the medical office had sticky notes on all the papers with "goes by Donna" on them.... and the sensitivity of the nurse that called your correct name for all to hear.

Wow, reading about what is going on between you and your wife... bittersweet story for sure, but there are a lot of sweet thoughts and actions coming from her as well.... be very thankful for that part anyway

Thank you for your update... please keep them coming.
Hugs,
Danielle

Thank You Danielle and I do so much appreciate her. The dynamics of me are changing every day so I can't expect hers to be any different.

[Nicole70]

Donna,

Good news on on the scope front, although it can't be a pleasant procedure, lovely that they used your name.

Your wife is a special person and you can see she loves you, I'm glad for you that you have found a comfortable place with each other, I can definitely relate to the sentiment of having a happy wife over a grumpy husband.

Hugs

Nicole

[christinej78]

Had to go to the hospital and get the scope done on the bladder again. To many infections and it been an issue for close to 30 yrs.
.
.
She told me that she knows I won't be happy without it and she will still accept me after the boy bits are replaced. I'm speechless but did tell her it could be 5 years before that happens due to a 30 month wait to see that doc for a first appointment. Next crazy thing out of her is pay to have it done where there is no wait. Wtf just happened is all I could think. She said she would rather have a happy me as a girlfriend than a miserable bastard as a husband. I just can't stop crying now, I'm so overwhelmed with crazy amounts of emotions. I'm a kid in a candy store right now. Hell I lost a $9000.00 job yesterday and I don't even care, it's not important at all. I can always replace a contract with a bigger better one, I could never replace my girlfriend/ wife/ best friend ever.

Dear Donna,                     16 June 2018

I hope you keep a copy of all your writing; I think when you have accomplished your goal you should compile it into book form then find a publisher to turn it into a marketable book. You and your wife's story is a remarkable journey on a road not well traveled. Considering the size of our community in relation to the general population, I think it would sell well and give the average person a greater understanding of the trials and tribulations experienced by many in our community and a better understanding of just what it means to be a transgendered person.

If you should seriously start considering going elsewhere for treatment, let me know. I have a great network of doctors and therapists that could help you attain your goals in a very short time. In the 5 weeks and one day it took me, I could have gone the full route with SRS and FFS had I desired to do so. I stopped with HRT and an Orchiectomy. One piece of advice I can give to anyone contemplating an orchie, is to have a Radical, Bilateral, Inguinal, orchiectomy. Much less trauma to the pubic region, less pain and much quicker healing. The scrotum is not cut so you don't have that to worry about. The two incisions are about 2 inches long one on each side of the inguinal canals. I had no real pain and just minor discomfort. I think I took a total of six Tylenol during the first three days. Didn't even fill the prescription for major pain meds. I had very little swelling, which was gone in a day, very little bruising which was gone in short order. My scrotum has shrunk to about the size of a 25 cent piece. I'm hoping it just continues to shrink until it disappears. I have my third post op checkup in November; if there is anything still dangling around I am going to see how much he will charge to remove the excess tissue. I want it smooth under there so Willy isn't reminded of them. I know he doesn't miss them; it was good riddance.

I plan to keep Willy as a relatively more pronounced clitoris. I don't need a vagina as I cannot think of ever having a desire to have a male climbing all over me looking for a place to stick his Willy. That just won't happen. If anyone should try to force themselves upon me, I carry a small tool that injects a compound that will put that idea to permanent rest.

I admire you and your wife. You both are lucky to have each other. I wish you both all the success in the world; you both deserve it.

If you want to discuss coming here for treatment, call me.

I hope you folks get down this way in the not too distant future.

Best Always, All My Love,
Christine

[pamelatransuk]

Thank you Donna for this thread and your latest update. You original post painted an interesting and remarkable story. Your latest shows things are progressing really well.

I am so pleased that the nurse unexpectedly called you "Donna" and happy your wonderful wife has bought you unlimited laser and absolutely delighted she is seriously considering your GCS without the 30 month wait.

Your wife truly loves you. You are so lucky. All in all an excellent and uplifting latest instalment.

I hope you achieve all your goals.

Hugs

Pamela 

[Donna]

Thanks for the comment. As for the orchi I have to discuss which way the surgeon wants to do it and I will go with his recommendation. If it's scrotal I will have him reduce the excess. Inquinal May present a problem due to scar tissue from previous hernia operations on both side. That I don't know about but I see him again on July 23 for my second eligard injection and to finalize the surgery details. He is confident that I shouldn't be bumped as he is not currently dealing with any new cancer patients. I respect the fact that he will only bump me for someone else if they need priority. When I was diagnosed and we decided surgery was the best choice I was in the hospital within the month and I know I will have bumped someone else for my care.
As for my posts any of the longer one that are hard to write  I transfer to my journal as well so I can go back and read them later. I can't read some of my very original ones from the beginning of the year with out crying.

[christinej78]

Thanks for the comment. As for the orchi I have to discuss which way the surgeon wants to do it and I will go with his recommendation. If it's scrotal I will have him reduce the excess. Inquinal May present a problem due to scar tissue from previous hernia operations on both side. That I don't know about but I see him again on July 23 for my second eligard injection and to finalize the surgery details. He is confident that I shouldn't be bumped as he is not currently dealing with any new cancer patients. I respect the fact that he will only bump me for someone else if they need priority. When I was diagnosed and we decided surgery was the best choice I was in the hospital within the month and I know I will have bumped someone else for my care.
As for my posts any of the longer one that are hard to write  I transfer to my journal as well so I can go back and read them later. I can't read some of my very original ones from the beginning of the year with out crying.

Hi Donna and Good Morning,                18 Jan 2018

Three more days and it will be the first day of summer and the longest day of the year (daylight wise). I dread the shorter days though they won't be too noticeable for a couple of months.

As I said in a previous post "you have been to hell and back." I admire you and your wife for fighting that long battle. You both are War Heroes. It is an honor to know you and to read and follow your story. It has taken tremendous bravery for you to write your story in such detail; unfortunately few are willing to be so brave.

Just for additional info I had two prior hernia surgeries. My right side inguinal hernia was repaired in 2007 using a Kevlar patch in the inguinal hernia repair. The umbilical hernia repair did not require it. The patch did not present a problem for the orchie surgery as the two incisions were further down the canal about two inches below the hernia scar. They used Kevlar because I was a cop and it made my groin "Bullet Proof," which is pure BS, just something I tell as a joke.

Best of luck with your shot and surgery consultation. As I mentioned I am going to see how much more my old 25 cent pouch shrinks by November; if still pronounced I think if the "Price Is Right" I'll have it removed. Maybe I should apply for the show and have it removed on TV. I'd be a TV star in my own mind.

I really like the look of no balls and/or no scrotum. It's too bad we cannot donate those two items to our FTM brothers. Maybe someday.

Best Always, All My Love,
Christine

[Donna]

I've been quiet lately as I got into a bit of a crisis mode. Due to work I missed my counseling two weeks ago and wow did I feel it. I've burnt my wife out listening to me and got blasted by a couple family members  over a Facebook post I made. I was trying to be inclusive but I have blocked them now.
2.5 yrs to see the gender doc and then 4 year waiting list for surgery and I was at my wits ends. My current HRT doc closed up shop with no notice and disappeared
Then I meet her, just the sweetest and totally friendly transwoman on a local group. She informed me that a new transgender doctor had just opened up practice and she is trained by one of the best here in the city. I figure what the heck I call and get an appointment and hope the wait is not too long. Called Monday afternoon at 16:00 and was schedule in to see her. OMG 10:00 the next morning, seems she keeps one assessment appointment open every single day and I got in. What and absolutely charming young woman she is. She is setting the appointments to get the two referral to get me on the surgery wait list which I can tolerate. So hopefully wishing 6 months I'll be on that list. Yes surgery will be in my future and even my wife has agreed I need it.
She is going to redo my E therapy and take over as my GP.
On another front I went off on a couple very rough comments in another site that stated they can tolerate people in transition. What a BS statement for someone in the community when they should know only acceptance is the proper term and then to say as transgender we shouldn't FORCE our views on other. Especially children. My god that is so wrong in every way.
What are they thinking, that is so counter to everything I believe is true. As a woman and as an abuse survivor. I truest hope there are not too many with that kind of mindset lurking in the background in the Transgender community.
I am back in good spirits and happy and free feeling again and so relieve to have a proper doctor

[Northern Star Girl]

Dear Donna:  Thank you for sharing you latest update.   That is sure good news about your new Doctor and getting scheduled much earlier than previously thought.   ....   and you wife is encouraging you too !!!! 

OH, and good for you, using the blocking feature on FB.....  take control !!!!!!

And the "tolerate" comment from that other site is, like you said, "a BS statement" for sure.

Again, thanks for your update, please keep them coming and continue sharing both your good news and not-so-good news as you feel comfortable  doing....  everyone here following and regularly reading your thread is in your corner and we are rooting for you.

Hugs,
Danielle

[Donna]

Different experience today. Started laser and did my face, chest and stomach today. Got a free facial with it which was my first and it felt amazing.
I got 5 moles removed today. Four on my face and one in the right breast. Little scabby now but will be worth it. It will be strange as I've had them all my life.
Changed my health care card today and received a letter The was all to MS Donna except the outer address and it was Mr Donna. Lol dummies

[Donna]

I've notice some changes in thinking of late, oh good more HRT please. I'm so fine being asexual and still very much in love with my wife, don't get me wrong I'm not looking outside the home for anyone but I have noticed lately that i am picking up on ? Signals or cues that someone may be interested in me( as a female). I've notice different odours coming off some men that are very drawing and this is so strange to me. I noticed someone that actually reminded me of how I used to smell body wise. (Not BO smell. Lol)
Yesterday while i was out on a service call another tech from another company was there as well for their part of the call out. Mike is a very pleasant guy and didn't seem the least bit restrained around me. You have to picture me right now though. I just had four moles removed by electrocautery on my face so I sort of look really bad right now. Forehead, nose, lower lip and my chin. All are still very scabby and ozzing so overall not hugely an attractive feature right now.
I also didn't do any make up as I got rushed out of the house for the call. Lipstick and a bit of body spray was it.
Anyways I got my end of the job done and part overlapped his end being i cleanup up and found the source of the flood and he was there to fix the source. So we sort of meet over a broken sewer pipe. How romantic.
Mike came  across so sweet and we chatted about how customers will call in a call as so disastrous yet we arrive and it's a tiny issue. The pipe leaked on a concrete floor in a parking structure right beside a drain, it was not a river of water flowing thru the building as reported. Lol
He didn't seem to mind the face and I don't try to hide my voice, it's still my old selfs voice. He chatted with me like we were long time friends, didn't even ask any sort of gender type questions like I've heard from others and he seemed truly at ease around me. Held doors open and everything.
He seemed so kind and gentle when he placed his hand lightly on my shoulder as we said goodbye and said he would like to talk again and we exchanged business cards. Of course my business cards have Donna written on them and the other name crossed off until the new ones arrive and it didn't even bother him at all.
This is just so strange and new for me and I'm not going to take it any further but it was sure nice to see such a different side of a person. I know we will cross paths again as they are one of the contractors I have to deal with in these new building, I'm the maintenance manager for this property now.

[KathyLauren]

I can't say that I've noticed any pheromones from myself or anyone else.  I never used to stink, and if I stink even less now, that's good.  Of course, I don't tend to hang around men much these days: I'm retired, so no workplace associations, and I am making a point of trying to socialize with other women.  So who knows what would happen if I spent more time with men?

I wonder how much of what you notice in Mike is that being a polite, sensitive human being is rare enough to be very sexy.

Nice to be working alongside someone that you like.

[Donna]

Thanks Kathy. I've noticed I have no real body odour anymore and my wife has said the same thing. I can go without deodorant for 5 days or more if need be where as before it was sometimes twice a day in the summer. When I first stared E I noticed a very sweet smell coming from my skin and I think it's still there now, I have gotten used to it.

[Donna]

Well the continuing story of Donna, wow mind changes and surprises and being overwhelmed and depressed and that was just last night.
Well been up to discovering that beautiful is costly and for me a part that is now underway. I'm not going to say stupid stuff again like it's not in my plans but it's not in my plans until it is. I've started laser for the hair and it will be gone face to toes. It's my vision and direction. Going to electrocute allthem nasty white whiskers, getting offered microblading to beautify the brows as they are rather non exist and towards the outer end. Big desision though as it comes with strings attached. I have to be a face model for the salon doing the work, sort of a scary though but also an affirmation to me that they want me to represent them as well. I've remove some life
Long moles on my face and I can see a much prettier lady underneath the scabs. It really shows better now that I can hide those with concealer and foundation. It so different and that for now is the extent of facial work. Well except for ————-
So in case any have missed it my wife's youngest son has not spoken to me since December and her oldest will say hello but that's about it. The six grandkids don't know who Donna is and haven't seen their grandma Marilyn since last fall. This may all be changing as of Tuesday as all 8 of them are coming to the house to see grandma Marilyn and no request was made for Donna  not to be there. My wife and I suspect one granddaughter may have figured it out already and it's time to open up.
I really hope they don't back out or decide to show up when I have to go to counselling in the afternoon. As soon as I find out when they are coming then I will  switch counselling to another day as this is so important to bring the family back together. The sons have really stuck my wife in the middle. I love them but I have been vocal about their lack of understanding or even trying to and it hurts her to have me feel the way I do.
They were already grow men when we married but I still accepted them as our boys.
I've gotten myself a new doctor finally with out the huge long wait and that has taken such a load off my mind. She is a wonderful young lady and so supportive of everyone. She has the control now of all things transition wise and I know she will get me to my goal once I figure it out. I can now bypass one wait and get to the medical wait list sooner, then I'll have 4 years to figure out the surgical end of things. And again with the thinking that even though the girls are growing like weeds on super changed fertilizer I'm now tossing around augmentation as another future idea for down the road. Right now triple D seems almost too small for my frame but I'll see how they look with more weight loss. Chest has dropped from 46 inches to 38 since May of 2017 and there is about 100 pounds (doctor supervised) of me gone so far. I may be happy with another 20 gone but it could also be a fleeting thought as well by the time I get there. It's been 20 plus years since I've been under 200 pounds and it looks and feels so good. I have a picture of me from 1973 at 135 pounds that is my reminder to be healthier. I won't go to that weight as it was before a growth spurt in height. Yes I had no puberty and I was almost 20 when I started to grow again. 5.3 to 5.9 in less than a year. Ouch that felt like crap and made cloths an interesting issue.
I still can't help but start to feel depressed sometime when I see how I wasted so much of my life due to my early abuse but I have become very vocal about protecting everyone from abuse. I've also become outspoken about LBGTQ+2 issues. I've signed up to volunteer wit a youth peer support group in the city and have already connected one transmale with my new doctor which has helped him greatly. His mother works for me and is so happy with his change in mood since then. I have 2 transwomen working for me now that business is taking off. Yes that's what I said, since coming out my business has started to grow. More to follow

[Michelle_P]

WOW!  Donna, you've gone through some fantastic changes already.  Congratulations on the weight loss!  That's a tough one, but so worthwhile in the longer run for our transition and our lives.

I do hope all goes well with the visit from the son and grandchildren.  Family can sometimes be the roughest part of the 'coming out' process.  I hope things go smoothly and we just have good news!