Mom, Mama, Drew and Jack

Mom, Mama, Drew and Jack
the adventures of 2 boys and their moms

Monday, November 30, 2009

I Did It!!!

I made it - 30 posts in 30 days!  Quite an accomplishment if I do say so myself!  It has actually been quite enjoyable and I have learned that I don't have to do a long post each day - just a quick update will do.

We came home today to find the sweetest message from one of the docs just lettings us know whe was thinking of us and hoping that she would see a BFP from us sometime next week.  It's those little things that make us really like the practice we go to - they really do care and we aren't just a number.

I'm taking the day off tomorrow to take Willy to the vet as he has started with running fevers again.  Hopefully we can catch this early and not have a long drawn out process with him being sick like we did all summer.

And now we are off to U.P.S to pick up a camera we ordered last week that was supposed to be delivered on Sat.  After arguing with everyone involved, we figured it would be easier to just go and get it ourselves.

T minus 9 days until we can test.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Couldn't Have Asked For Anything Better.......

Today's IUI went very well.  We met the doc at about 8:45 this morning and chit chatted with her for  bit bout the new office that they have moved into (which is VERY nice!)  I gave MJ a little tour of the place -  which really means that I have been there way too much already!  We then waited for her to thaw out the goods - we came armed with the Sunday paper and our coffee!

She called us back a bit after 9 and let us know how awesome the swimmers looked - gotta love that!  As she inserted the catheter  with ease, she said "That's a good sign ladies!"  The whole procedure took less than 5 minutes.

After our obligatory 10 minute "rest" the doc let us know that my numbers looked great, the IUI was perfect, and I  should have had a good ovulation.  She said that there wasn't anything about this cycle that she would have changed. 

I came home and took a blissfull 2 hour nap and now we are hanging out and watching football.

Other than that, we sit and wait!  T minus 10 days!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Today

Today was a fun day.

Today we scored some amazing d00rbuster deals at J0A.nns.

Today Laura, Sue, and Olivia came to visit for the day.

Today we played W.ii with Olivia.

Today we decorated the Christmas Tree.

Today we were supposed to get a new camera and even paid for Saturday Delivery, but it did not come.

Today I spent a good 45 minutes on the phone with U.PS and Ama.z0n, but didn't get the delivery problem figured out.

Today I spent the day thinking about the fact that we could be making a baby tomorrow.

Today I tried to let myself not get too excited about the fact that we might make a baby tomorrow.

Today is coming to an end and I am ready for 9AM tomorrow to come.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Crazy Day!

Whew! Busy, busy day today! We started off with early morning blood work at the hospital an extra 20 minutes away because of the holiday and my doc needing to be on call for the results. Then, we headed to one of our favorite scrapbook stores for a “Cr0p instead of Sh0p” 12 hour scrapbooking extravaganza. We LOVE going to these crops. We always get so much done! Today I accomplished 17 pages and just about finished up our Dis.ney album from the summer of 2008. MJ wins the prize though as she completed 20 pages in our 2008 album. We only have 2 months left in that album and then we’ll only be a year behind – not too bad, right?!?! We went with two other people from work and just had a wonderfully productive day.


Stopped at W.al Ma.rt on the way home to pick up some $3 PJ’s for Olivia to have when she comes to our house and some new ornaments for the tree. Headed to bed so we can get up early and hit some d00rbusters at J0An.ns tomorrow morning – they have some scrapb00king albums on sale for dirt cheap. Then we’ll spend the day with Laura, Sue, and Olivia.

But the big news of today is:

Estr0gen: 385

LH: 16.5

Pr0gesterone: 0.8

Triggered already tonight and IUI is Sunday at 9AM!

Please, please, please keep everything crossed for us. We know our angel baby will be looking down on us and we appreciate everyone who is rooting for us this try. It certainly would be a great way to end 2009 and a wonderful Christ.mas present for us!

I still have that good feeling about this try- we’ll see how it all plays out.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thankful

We have so very much to be thankful for!

*Family - we both have incredible families who accept us for who we are - we realize that we are very fortunate to have BOTH families support us!

*Work - even on the most stressful days, we are both thankful that we have a full time job.

*Each other - 'nuff said!

*Hobbies - it is so nice that we are both interested in the same things and we can enjoy doing them together.

*Our furry friends

*Mim0sas and the Ma.cy's Pa.rade - can you tell what we are doing right now?!

And the list could go on.....

Wishing all of our blog friends and friends in real life a very Happy Than.ksgiving!

And, a special Happy Birthday Wish to my Dad who shares his birthday with Turkey Day this year!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

It's All Good.....

After minor meltdown last night when I found out that the swimmers were sent a day early meaning that we had less time on the other end to use them - all is well! My U/S today showed that the cyst is gone, a 15mm follicle on the left and an 8mm lining. Estr0gen was 84. So, I continue F0llist.im for 3 nights and early bloodwork on Friday.

We are looking at a Sunday or Monday IUI. Tank with swimmers is good til Tues, so we are good to go. Thankfully, there is a doc who is willing to be on call for me as they are closed for the weekend after tomorrow and they are having a doc from another practice be the on call doc. But, one of our regulars said she would still do my fertility stuff. YAY!!!

I have a good feeling about this one!

Monday, November 23, 2009

A Day Early

Well, Thanks.givi.ng vacation starts a day early for me - I'm not going to complain. I was going to have blood work and Ultrasound on Wednesday, but they pushed it up to tomorrow because of the impending holiday.

I'm a little nervous that things aren't going real well this cycle. But, maybe this will be the cycle that works amongst all of the craziness and snafus!

I'm even more excited that it means I don't have to get up on Wednesday - we can just hang at home for the day and bake pies and get ready for Turkey Day.

Please, oh please, cross everything that something will come of this cycle!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Two Hundred and Fifty!!

This is our 250th post! That's a lot of posts!! I have enjoyed posting every day in November, but I don't see how people can post EVERY day ALL the time! One month is enough for me!

To celebrate the 250th post, I'll make a bullety post!

*I am majorly procastinating on my work that is due for class tomorrow night....We have to take two school budgets and reduce them both by 3% and 5%. But it's hard - we didn't get any information about the schools.....How are you supposed to make an informed decision about cuts when you don't know the demographics?!?!

*OK, I'll stop whining about homework now!

*We only have to work for 2 days this week - SWEET!!!

*The Pat.ri0ts are currently kicking some N.Y J.ets booty!

*We are doing well in the football pool this week - did I mention that MJ is currently in first!

*I ordered some swimmers the other day - to be delivered on Wed - hopefully to be used sometime over the holiday weekend.

*My es.tr0gen level isn't rising - it actually went down from Mon to Fri - I go in for a scan and bloodwork again on Wed - I hope I don't have to send the swimmers back again!

*We had a great time with Olivia this weekend.

*Secret Spirit starts at work this week - LOVE IT!

*I'm not ashamed to admit that I've already broken out the Chris.tmas music!

*I WILL make myself wait until after Th.anksgiving to decorate for above holiday - maybe....

*Life is GOOD!!!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Kid's project with Olivia

Yay! Olivia is here for the weekend!

This morning we went to L0w.es because they had a kids project thing going on. It was actually super cute and lots of fun - and FREE!!

It was a cute snowman picture frame.

Here she is putting on the hat...


Working away - putting the arms on...



and showing off the final product...



We got to keep the apron and goggles. She also got a certificate and a patch to sew on her apron - TONS OF FUN!

And then, of course, we had to make a trip to my parents' house to collect eggs!



I love it when she's around!
Posted by Picasa

Friday, November 20, 2009

Fantastic Evening...

Just spent the evening "directing" 45 kids ages 5 - 11 in our school talent show. It was TONS of fun, had an awesome time and I'm worn out. Dress Rehearsal Wednesday, school performance Thursday, and family performance tonight makes for one tired girl - and I'm sure some tired kids! We had such a fantastic time!
Oh, and Olivia is here for the weekend - YAY!
And. on the TTC front - My est.r0gen level went - nowhere since Monday - UUGGHHH! Bloods and ultrasound on Wednesday....

Thursday, November 19, 2009

I Stole the Idea.....

I stole this from a couple of blogs - Me and She, and Don't Lick the Ferrets. I agree with them that it is a good post for filling up these 30 days of November....

Outside my window it is dark, very dark - but I can see the twinkling of the fall orange lights on the front porch.

I am thinking about the fact that I have to get up early in the morning for bloodwork.

I am thankful that MJ and I both have extremely loving and supportive families.

I am wearing my pj's - it's 9:00 at night - almost time for bed!

I am remembering our Chicklet who should have been making their entrance into our family soon.

I am going to have a great weekend with Olivia!

I am reading the seventh book in the Ha.rry P0tter series - it is taking me forever to finish!

I am hoping for a BFP this cycle...

On my mind are all of the kids at school who are going to put on a fabulous performance at the school Variety Show tomorrow night.

From the kitchen is the smell of the Chex Mix we just made.

Around the house there is lots of stuff- we really need to get rid of some of our junk!

One of my favorite things is to spend time with MJ.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Question from Katie

Ok, folks - not too many questions out there - just two, but at least that gives me two days of blogging. Feel free to ask away though - we'd love to answer...

This question is from Katie who said, "I don't know if this is too personal, but I'm just wondering if you've considered a surrogate or something of that nature."

Not too personal at all- and here is the answer

A surrogate is EXPENSIVE.....so is IVF - and we do not have insurance coverage for IVF or the procedure for harvesting my eggs that would be needed if we used a surrogate. We simply don't have the money for that.

So, how have we done all of these IUI cycles on injectibles you may ask? Well, my insurance covers most of that. We found a bit of a loophole where my insurance covers the meds and monitoring. They will cover bloodwork and ultrasounds that are used for "monitoring" my condition, but they will NOT cover the IUI. If we submit an IUI to the insurance company, they will stop paying for all the monitoring, etc.

So, in some strange way, we get the majority of an IUI cycle covered. We only have to pay for the sperm and the IUI out of pocket. This runs us about $550 for a cycle with everything else covered. When you look at the fact that the insurance company pays around $4500 for a cycle, we get off pretty easy.

Now, I have to think that if they would have covered IVF, they probably would have out of this for a lot cheaper - I figure that the insurance company has paid out between $45,000 - $50,000 since we started TTC..

So, we just keep plugging away with our IUIs because we don't really have another option financially.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

17 days and still posting

So, today is Day 17 of posting every day, but I'm running out of stuff to say. So, I'm sending out the request for questions from my readers...What do you want to know about us?? Ask away and I'll use up the next few posts answering your questions.

In TTC news - I got yesterday's lab results this morning. Slow and steady as usual - back on Friday for more bloodwork.

Ok, folks - what do you want to know?

Monday, November 16, 2009

Lab Issues ..... again...

So, I went for bloodwork again this morning and the problems started there! I arrived and signed in at 7:28 and there were 6 people in front of me. Usually this is no big deal as there are 3 ladies working in the lab. Oh not today - only ONE person was working. I finally left at 8:13 - and I'm supposed to be at work 15 minutes away at 8:15. I knew then that it was going to be bad!!!!

At 3:30 I called my doc's office to check on the results and they said, "Funny you should call because we were just talking about you and the fact that we haven't seen your labs yet." ARRGGHHH!! She tells me she'll call the lab and call me right back. The call right back goes something like this: "Well, they have you in their system and they are still working on it - they assured me that they would have the results by the end of the day, but who knows what the end of the day means to them..." So, we laugh a bit and joke about how much of a pain this lab is and I'm told to call back before 4:30 when they close to check in again.

Fast Forward to 4:22 - it's the nurse from the doctor's office - "Well, they sent us a page with your name on it and nothing else - a lot of good that is going to do us!" So, you guessed it - no results.

Luckily I am in the beginning of my cycle and they told me to just do my regular dose of F0ll.istim and we'll talk in the morning when my lab results hopefully make it there. I guess there is one good part about this being TRY #12 - it's the fact that we can pretty much follow past protocol and we know my body works the same every cycle....Maybe all of these hurdles are so we can look back and have a good story to tell about the try we finally got pregnant!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Cute Thank You

Every year at one of the schools I work at, I coordinate a Variety Show. It is tons of fun and quite enjoyable to see the kids (ages 5 - 11) sing and dance, do magic tricks, tell jokes, etc. The show is this coming Friday and I wanted to do something cute to say thanks to the adults who help me run auditions, work backstage, keep the kids in line, run the lights and sound, etc.

I saw this basic idea at a scrapbooking store, so I decided to try them out myself. I am so happy with the way that they came out and I can't wait to give them to everyone!



Saturday, November 14, 2009

It's Sadie's Birthday

Happy Birthday to our furry kid - Miss Sadie Jane Pea Brain. The old girl is 11 today! She celebrated with a special bone.







Posted by Picasa

Friday, November 13, 2009

G00gle Logos

Did you see the G00gle logos last week in honor of Se.same S.treet's 40th Anniversary? They were fantastic! In case you missed them, here they are:







Awesome!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Almost a Bust

Well, folks, Try #12 was almost over before it started. I got up nice and early on my day off yesterday to go for bloodwork, then went for my baseline ultrasound. As the doc is doing the scan, she says, "You've got a big 'goomba' on your right ovary!" Yeah, a cyst, or a goomba as she likes to call it - too funny. It was 3.5 cm, so it's a hefty one - or in her words - HUGE!

So, I leave the office with the thought that I probably can't go for it this cycle. She tells me that if my numbers are elevated, we'll do BCP and go from there.

Fast forward a couple of hours.......

The nurse calls me and says, "Did you get your blood drawn this morning?" Ummm.....yeah - I was there at 8. She so nicely informs me that as of 12:30 I'm not even in the lab's system. Never fear though, the nurse promises to "knock their block off...."

So, I figure at this point it's really going to be a bust.

Fast forward to 3:30 - Doc calls

WE ARE ALL SET FOR THIS CYCLE - THE LABS SHOW NO INDICATION THAT THEY CYST IS MESSING WITH MY LEVELS!!!

WAHOO!!!!!!!!!

HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!!!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Happy Veteran's Day



Today's blog post is in honor of the men and women who have fought or are currently fighting for our country. Thank you for preserving and protecting the freedom that we are so blessed to have. You all are heroes.

A special thought for my dad who is a Vietnam Veteran - thanks dad for being the amazing man that you are.




Tuesday, November 10, 2009

W.ii Fun

Over the weekend, we bought this:

and this:




Boy, did we have fun playing tonight! I love the W.ii - it is just too much fun! The balance board is definitely a cool addition. My only complaint is that you can't hook up 2 at the same time - it would be fun to be able to both play on the balance board together.
What are your favorite W.ii games?
Baseline ultrasound and bloodwork tomorrow morning - I start my Foll.istim tomorrow night. Fingers, toes, etc. all crossed for this try!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Camera Advice

We take a lot of pictures - and I mean A LOT, and we would like to get a new camera. We want to get a digital SLR camera and figured some of you might have some advice or experience with them. We are rather amateur photographers, so we don't need tons of bells and whistles, but definitely want a good quality camera. So, do any of you have any suggestions - feel free to comment away!

In other news, Aunt Flo must have read our letter to her as she has slowly begun to make her way here today! Cycle Day 2 bloodwork and scan scheduled for Wednesday - here we go again! This will be Try #12 and will be quite bittersweet as the IUI will be right at the time that our Chicklet was due. Tomorrow would have been 37 weeks - full term.....

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Dear Aunt Flo.....

Dearest Aunt Flo,

I am not sure what is delaying your visit, but would you hurry up and get here already! We are anxious to get Try #12 started, but we can't do so without your presence. Of course, once you do finally come for your visit, please let it be the last one for the next 10 months. That would make us the happiest!

Sincerely,

Carrie and MJ

Saturday, November 7, 2009

First Saturday Quilt Blocks

It wouldn't be the first Saturday of the month if I didn't share our quilt blocks from this month. We have already decided that we are definitely going to do this again next year as it has been both fun and a great learning experience. We also signed up to do a monthly wall hanging next year, so that will be something to look forward to. We decided to skip our scrapbooking club this month because we didn't really like the kit, and our friends weren't going this month either. I'm not sure we'll do that again next year as we haven't been real excited about the kits and it is an hour drive to get there.

So, without further adieu, here is our fabric from this month.





And the lovely quilt blocks:





The funniest thing just happened - as I was getting ready to publish this post, I JUST noticed that I messed up on one of the squares - can you tell what the problem is???
Posted by Picasa

Friday, November 6, 2009

Celebrity Day

Friday is my day each week to feel like a celebrity. I work in one school Mon - Thur and in a different school on Friday. My Friday school is smack dab in the middle of one of the worst neighborhoods in the city. Lots of alcohol and drug abuse on the part of the parents, high poverty level, abuse, neglect, etc. It is a small school of only 70 kids who are all very needy.

Well, when I go there on Fridays, I always say that it is my day to feel like a celebrity. When I pull up and I'm unloading my car, there are always about 20 kids screaming my name. They fight over who gets to hold the door open for me. Walking up the sidewalk is like walking the red carpet. When the kids see me as they are all walking into morning meeting, they are waving and calling my name. They are so excited to see me each week.

Mostly they love it because we have fun - I take each class for 30 minutes on the computer in the morning, and then for 40 minutes in the afternoon for Science. I'm lucky - just the nature of my job equals fun to the kids - I don't have to try real hard! I don't have to worry about the reading and math, and all of that other day to day stuff.

So, I enjoy my celebrity day each Friday, but I also leave every Friday counting my blessings. Working in a place like that where the kids have such hard lives really makes me thankful for the wonderful life I have. I can't imagine living like they do. I am so thankful for all that I have!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Teachers make mistakes too.....

MJ was telling her 4th graders the difference between nouns and pronouns today.

What she intended to say was: "Pronouns are words like he, she, it, they...."

Instead she said: "Pronouns are words like he, SHIT, they..."

OOPS!

Many boughts of laughter and giggles ensued amongst the 9 and 10 year olds.

Do you ever remember a teacher of yours doing something like that??

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Gay Marriage

So, I'm sad for the same sex couples of Maine - sad that their right to marry was granted over the summer and then denied by the voters yesterday. Serioulsy, isn't it 2009 people - it isn't going to hurt anyone if you let same sex couples get married. People honestly don't realize how many rights we are denied when we can't marry.

Thankfully there has been NO hullabaloo here in NH since our law passed. It goes into effect Jan 1. I can't wait to be able to say that I am MARRIED to the love of my life.

To add insult to injury some idiot wrote a letter to the editor in our local paper saying that the reason that we had an abnormally rainy summer was because God wasn't allowing the sun to shine here because gay marriage is legal.

Are you kidding me?!?!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

The Naughty Dog Strikes Again...

One day last week, I just couldn't help myself and I got into the trash in the living room:



Then, I enjoyed a package of what was supposed to be my mom's birthday cake:



But I made sure I took my time out on the stairs when my mama came home:





At least I make my mom's laugh - it's a good thing they love me!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Halloween at School

On Friday at school, MJ's team all dressed up as Sn.ow Whi.te and the S.even D.warfs. They also won the school wide door decorating contest for being drug free! Last year they did a Wiz.ard of O.z theme and won as well. Now they have set a precedent and will have to come up with something even bigger and better next year!

Here is the beginning of their part of the hallway:

and here are the doors:






And here is the whole team decked out in all of their glory - I think they look great! Mj is the third dwarf from the left (green hat, orange top). Apparently this pic is going to be in the newspaper!


Posted by Picasa

Sunday, November 1, 2009

NaBloPoMo





So, I have decided to join in on National Blog Posting Month. I have been terrible about posting lately, so I figure this may be the kick in the pants that I need to get better about it! I can't promise that I will be really good about posting EVERY day, but I sure will try and we'll see how it goes!


We have both been pretty sick for the past week, so nothing really exciting has been going on around here! We did get out yesterday to have some stamping and scrapping fun. I'll share some pics later!

Here's to writing more this month - anyone care to join me?!?!