I thought that I'd have time to blog yesterday, but it just didn't happen. We're waiting on a delayed flight right now from Ohio - or I wouldn't even have time right now to write either.
My Dad is flying in today with my stepmother, little brother (6), little sister, (5), and 3 nieces (6, 11, and 13)... so we're meeting them at the airport to pick up some of the kids so that they could just get a regular sized rental car instead of a van.
They were supposed to be landing in about 30 minutes, but ended up being delayed 2 hours... so it gave us plenty of time to get to the grocery store this morning as well as get the yard done for the week.
This is going to be a crazy busy weekend - so it's good to know that at least on Sunday after church we can sit back and relax... probably spend some time napping too!
Once we get to the airport - we'll drive to Brenham (1 hour from our house) to my sister's house... where we'll be going out for Mexican food tonight - because my Dad simply must have his Tex-Mex fix when he comes home. HA! We'll drive back when the kids go to bed... so that's roughly 2 hours driving today.
Tomorrow we'll head back to my sisters in the morning... then around lunchtime we'll drive another hour to my in law's house for our niece's birthday party. We'll hang out at the party, have some cake, take some pictures... then head back to my sisters again for dinner. Back home when the kids go to bed... so that will be about 4 hours driving on Saturday...
I'm sure we'll have LOTS of pictures to share at the end of the next day and a half... and that might be the one thing I still have the energy to do at the end of it all. We're excited though because we haven't seen my siblings/Dad in a while - and it's always fun when we all gather in Brenham just to hang out.
I'm hanging in there so far with these medicines - I can't tell if they're working or not, but I really didn't expect that I would be able to at least for a week or so. I am breaking the pill into four pieces so that I can make sure that I get maximum absorption of the medication - because if I'm going to spend the time and money on this treatment for the chronic fatigue - I want to make sure that I do the most I can to make it effective. I'm hopeful that it will start to work enough so that there is a marked change in my energy level in the next week or so - it would be nice to be able to get some workouts in... and to get back to a more active life - like I was enjoying right after my weight loss surgery... although - I don't think I ever truly felt the increase in energy that John has felt - or my other cut & paste girls have felt... which is sad, but maybe that is coming soon!
I'm going to ask you to pray for us several times over the next few days - but please begin praying for our appointment on Monday. We need God's wisdom and guidance so that we will have the knowledge and confidence to choose a treatment plan with the doctor... you know that money doesn't grow on trees, and it makes choosing a treatment plan a little more stressful because there are no guarantees with any of this.
For now, we'll be working on deciding if it would be better to put all of our eggs in the IUI basket - we could potentially afford to go through two cycles of that if needed.... OR if it would be better to hold off for a little bit and do one IVF cycle. It's very scary for me - and puts a bit of pressure on these treatments to work... so I pray for wisdom and peace to decide on a treatment plan and to know that it will work for us.
You could pray that we win the lottery - but since we don't play... that might not be a viable option.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Diagnosed
Yesterday morning, I was actually feeling pretty good - spunky even, if you ask John. I was back in a great mood, woke up with some energy... did good throughout the day - then when I needed a little kick of energy to help out at church... it tanked... died... caput...gone... finito! (I guess you get the point)
The day did however have some positive notes - being that I finally have a definitive diagnosis as to what has been going on for the last 5 weeks... (really for the last 16 years or so... but we'll get to that)
I officially got word that I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I was diagnosed with this 16 years ago, but they really (once again) didn't know how to treat it at the time... their answer was thyroid medicine... which I've been taking now for well over a year and it certainly hasn't helped with the symptoms.
Want to know what the symptoms are? (with - CHECKs - next to the ones I have)
From what my doctor says, there are viruses that cause this problem to be aggravated at different times - and apparently mine have been kicked into overdrive this summer. Oddly enough, those of you that were reading last summer... might remember that I went through a similar episode back then that was an extremely long period of being sick.
There are two main viruses that I tested positive for - only one of which I truly learned by name - Epstein-Barr virus is the one that I know I tested positive for back in 1995 - and still have active today.
Some interesting information I found online about Epstein-Barr:
Epstein-Barr virus occurs worldwide. Most people become infected with EBV sometime during their lives, and therefore gain adaptive immunity, preventing repeated sickness from re-infection through EBV antibodies. In the United States, as many as 95% of adults between 35 and 40 years of age have been infected. Infants become susceptible to EBV as soon as maternal antibody protection (present at birth) disappears. Many children become infected with EBV, and these infections usually cause no symptoms or are indistinguishable from the other mild, brief illnesses of childhood. In the United States and in other developed countries, many persons are not infected with EBV in their childhood years. When infection with EBV occurs during adolescence or young adulthood, it causes infectious mononucleosis 35% to 69% of the time.
While it is a pretty common virus that most of us carry - I'm guessing that it is like other things... where some people have a natural immunity to it and never even know it's in their system - while others are heavily effected by the virus.
It sort of reminds me of a story I've heard all of my life about when I was a toddler - apparently I picked up the hepatitis A virus and gave it to my mother. She was sick for a long time - but I never showed any signs of having the virus... so I was determined to just be a carrier. I wonder now if that has something to do with this mess that I'm in... but that would be FAR down the list of things that I'd like to ask the doctor about.
There is a viral suppressant medication that they are going to be putting me on for around 3 months - then we'll retest the viral levels in my blood. There has been some success with symptoms lessening and people feeling better after having taken the medication... so I'm hopeful that this will be the answer that I've been looking for.
I am happy that someone is finally able to put all the pieces together for me and give me some hope that this can be treated - and that I'm not just some sort of crazy hypochondriac. It does all fit together, and I can rest in the fact that I know enough about my own body that something wasn't right.
I'll be picking up the medication this evening and starting it - I'll take it in the morning and evening - so we'll see how long before it makes a true difference for me. I'll be cutting the pills into smaller pieces because I want to make sure to get maximum absorption.
You might be wondering, as I was, if this means anything for our moving forward with fertility treatments - and they have assured me that it will be perfectly fine for me to move forward with those treatments and with getting pregnant while on this medication. So hopefully in just a few more days we'll be moving forward with bigger and better things.
Before I leave this post - I just want to tell you all that if you are experiencing any number of the symptoms listed above and want to talk with me more about what has been going on and the day to day issues with all of this... please drop me an email - I'd be happy to talk to you about it and help you seek the right doctor to be able to help you figure out if you have a similar problem going on.
Please don't think that you are crazy if you are experiencing things with your body that just don't seem normal... don't take one doctor's word for it - because as you might already know with me - one doctor doesn't believe this condition exists while another is ready, willing and able to treat me right now... Know that you know your body the best, and if something doesn't feel right... don't stop until you get an answer that seems appropriate for you.
The day did however have some positive notes - being that I finally have a definitive diagnosis as to what has been going on for the last 5 weeks... (really for the last 16 years or so... but we'll get to that)
I officially got word that I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I was diagnosed with this 16 years ago, but they really (once again) didn't know how to treat it at the time... their answer was thyroid medicine... which I've been taking now for well over a year and it certainly hasn't helped with the symptoms.
Want to know what the symptoms are? (with - CHECKs - next to the ones I have)
- flu-like symptoms such as pain in the joints and muscles - CHECK
- unrefreshing sleep - CHECK
- tender lymph nodes - CHECK
- sore throat - CHECK
- headache - CHECK
- post-exertional malaise, a worsening of symptoms following physical or mental exertion occurring within 12-48 hours of the exertion and requiring an extended recovery period - CHECK
- word-finding difficulties
- inability to comprehend/retain what is read - CHECK occasionally
- inability to calculate numbers - CHECK
- impairment of speech and/or reasoning
- visual disturbances (blurring, sensitivity to light, eye pain, need for frequent prescription changes) - CHECK
- psychological problems (depression, irritability, anxiety, panic attacks, personality changes, mood swings) - CHECK
- chills and night sweats - CHECK
- shortness of breath
- dizziness and balance problems - CHECK
- sensitivity to heat and/or cold - CHECK
- alcohol intolerance
- irregular heartbeat
- irritable bowel (abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, intestinal gas) - CHECK
- low-grade fever or low body temperature - CHECK
- numbness, tingling and/or burning sensations in the face or extremities - CHECK - I think... I have occasional pain in my toes that feels like someone jabbing a needle in them
- dryness of the mouth and eyes (sicca syndrome) - CHECK occasionally
- gynecological problems including PMS and endometriosis
- chest pains
- rashes
- ringing in the ears (tinnitus) - CHECK occasionally
- allergies and sensitivities to noise/sound, odors, chemicals and medications - CHECK
- weight changes without changes in diet - CHECK
- light-headedness - CHECK
- mental fogginess - CHECK
- fainting
- muscle twitching - CHECK
- seizures
From what my doctor says, there are viruses that cause this problem to be aggravated at different times - and apparently mine have been kicked into overdrive this summer. Oddly enough, those of you that were reading last summer... might remember that I went through a similar episode back then that was an extremely long period of being sick.
There are two main viruses that I tested positive for - only one of which I truly learned by name - Epstein-Barr virus is the one that I know I tested positive for back in 1995 - and still have active today.
Some interesting information I found online about Epstein-Barr:
Epstein-Barr virus occurs worldwide. Most people become infected with EBV sometime during their lives, and therefore gain adaptive immunity, preventing repeated sickness from re-infection through EBV antibodies. In the United States, as many as 95% of adults between 35 and 40 years of age have been infected. Infants become susceptible to EBV as soon as maternal antibody protection (present at birth) disappears. Many children become infected with EBV, and these infections usually cause no symptoms or are indistinguishable from the other mild, brief illnesses of childhood. In the United States and in other developed countries, many persons are not infected with EBV in their childhood years. When infection with EBV occurs during adolescence or young adulthood, it causes infectious mononucleosis 35% to 69% of the time.
While it is a pretty common virus that most of us carry - I'm guessing that it is like other things... where some people have a natural immunity to it and never even know it's in their system - while others are heavily effected by the virus.
It sort of reminds me of a story I've heard all of my life about when I was a toddler - apparently I picked up the hepatitis A virus and gave it to my mother. She was sick for a long time - but I never showed any signs of having the virus... so I was determined to just be a carrier. I wonder now if that has something to do with this mess that I'm in... but that would be FAR down the list of things that I'd like to ask the doctor about.
There is a viral suppressant medication that they are going to be putting me on for around 3 months - then we'll retest the viral levels in my blood. There has been some success with symptoms lessening and people feeling better after having taken the medication... so I'm hopeful that this will be the answer that I've been looking for.
I am happy that someone is finally able to put all the pieces together for me and give me some hope that this can be treated - and that I'm not just some sort of crazy hypochondriac. It does all fit together, and I can rest in the fact that I know enough about my own body that something wasn't right.
I'll be picking up the medication this evening and starting it - I'll take it in the morning and evening - so we'll see how long before it makes a true difference for me. I'll be cutting the pills into smaller pieces because I want to make sure to get maximum absorption.
You might be wondering, as I was, if this means anything for our moving forward with fertility treatments - and they have assured me that it will be perfectly fine for me to move forward with those treatments and with getting pregnant while on this medication. So hopefully in just a few more days we'll be moving forward with bigger and better things.
Before I leave this post - I just want to tell you all that if you are experiencing any number of the symptoms listed above and want to talk with me more about what has been going on and the day to day issues with all of this... please drop me an email - I'd be happy to talk to you about it and help you seek the right doctor to be able to help you figure out if you have a similar problem going on.
Please don't think that you are crazy if you are experiencing things with your body that just don't seem normal... don't take one doctor's word for it - because as you might already know with me - one doctor doesn't believe this condition exists while another is ready, willing and able to treat me right now... Know that you know your body the best, and if something doesn't feel right... don't stop until you get an answer that seems appropriate for you.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Contest/Giveaway
Alright - who wants to win some cool free stuff?!
Did I get your attention? Go over and check out my friend Summer - in honor of her 300th post and 100th follower... she is giving away an awesome prize package.
Did I get your attention? Go over and check out my friend Summer - in honor of her 300th post and 100th follower... she is giving away an awesome prize package.
giveaway includes:
- lacoste beach towel
- blue & brown damask wine carrier
- skin-free extra moisturizing soap
- essie nail polish in mini shorts
- blue cupcake bath fizzy
- touch of ivy lily scented satchet
- fiorenza cocktail napkins
- crate & barrel tea bag squeezer
- juicy couture socks
- crate & barrel ice cream cone cookie cutters
- cupcake flavored dental floss
- foot petals: tip toes and stopperz
- violet lip balm
- sephora snag free hair elastics
- thyme oolong cassis candle
- neon orange checkered scarf
- "green" water bottle
- printed no-scratch kitchen sponges
- yum yum cupcake & donut key caps
- yardley soap in lavender
- sephora lavender blotting papers
- mini anastasia's lash lifting mascara
- mini purell bottle & holder for purse
- mini smashbox o-gloss
- sephora hot pink lip gloss
- mini pig birthday candle
- "green" tote bag designed by stella mccartney
- gummy raspberries and blackberries
- popchips in bbq flavor
I know that you guys would all love Summer's blog - she has great stories about life in New York City, great shopping ideas, DIY projects... and so much more!
In addition: I've asked you to pray for Summer this week, and as she prepares for her embryos to be implanted on Thursday - I ask that you pray for her again. Please pray that she is able to find peace in the wait, that the embryos implant safely and develop into healthy babies, and for a healthy pregnancy for Summer.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Beyond Angry
So it just keeps getting better - I've waited ALL day for a phone call back from my regular doctor and the only suggestion on his part is completely irrational. He seems to think that I have an ulcer - which is completely not even on my radar.
I looked up the symptoms of ulcers, and while I have the nausea - that is the ONLY symptom of an ulcer that I have. That doesn't even begin to get into the issue with the extreme fatigue. He told me to take some Prilosec OTC in the morning and evening - and if that helps - then we know it's an ulcer... if not then I need to have another endoscopy to make sure there is no ulcer. (Ummm, sure - lets just keep putting Kim under anesthetic and check for things that don't exist!)
Until the man suggested it - I haven't even had an ounce of stomach pain... but of course my blood is boiling right now - so I don't trust it.
Oh my goodness... ya'll - I could SCREAM! John is pretty ticked off - and something is up with Dr. Weinstein - I don't know what it is, but we're considering finding a new doctor. Which makes me sad - because honestly - I used to think that he hung the moon, but lately he just hasn't been giving me the same quality of care... and I just am not willing to waste any more time.
I've been dealing with this for 5 weeks, and I'm over it - as you know from my earlier post - I'm pretty much at the end of my rope with this one. The only thing that might change my mind would be talking with Dr. Mac (my infertility doc) to see if this could be a result from the continual birth control therapy... or something along those lines.
I'll be talking with them probably later this week, and I'll ask a few questions then - but then we'll be grilling him on Monday with every question we can think of. Until then - I might be unbearable to be around... or at least for the people that have to actually see me in person - before I am able to filter what I say.
Ok - so I'm going to go boil myself in the bathtub and try not to spend the rest of the night crying out of frustration at the highest level. It's probably a good thing that I forced them to have him call me instead of making my 4th trip over there in 5 weeks... because I literally might have kicked him in the shins - as the Other Kim suggested.
John is totally ticked off - which is understandable - because if it were me watching my husband go through this - I'd be desperate to help. He's going to be seeing his surgeon on August 10th - and we've really liked him... so he's going to ask him if he knows of any good primary care doctors that are skilled with people that have had gastric bypass/gastric sleeve surgeries. That is the sucky part of this - is that I am comfortable in his knowledge with my vitamin levels... but lately other things don't seem right. I think he ticked John off when he told us that he doesn't believe in chronic fatigue syndrome... which is what Dr. Mac is testing for me right now. Dr. Mac's office says that there is treatment that will help with that - and seriously - at this point... I'll try anything.
I looked up the symptoms of ulcers, and while I have the nausea - that is the ONLY symptom of an ulcer that I have. That doesn't even begin to get into the issue with the extreme fatigue. He told me to take some Prilosec OTC in the morning and evening - and if that helps - then we know it's an ulcer... if not then I need to have another endoscopy to make sure there is no ulcer. (Ummm, sure - lets just keep putting Kim under anesthetic and check for things that don't exist!)
Until the man suggested it - I haven't even had an ounce of stomach pain... but of course my blood is boiling right now - so I don't trust it.
Oh my goodness... ya'll - I could SCREAM! John is pretty ticked off - and something is up with Dr. Weinstein - I don't know what it is, but we're considering finding a new doctor. Which makes me sad - because honestly - I used to think that he hung the moon, but lately he just hasn't been giving me the same quality of care... and I just am not willing to waste any more time.
I've been dealing with this for 5 weeks, and I'm over it - as you know from my earlier post - I'm pretty much at the end of my rope with this one. The only thing that might change my mind would be talking with Dr. Mac (my infertility doc) to see if this could be a result from the continual birth control therapy... or something along those lines.
I'll be talking with them probably later this week, and I'll ask a few questions then - but then we'll be grilling him on Monday with every question we can think of. Until then - I might be unbearable to be around... or at least for the people that have to actually see me in person - before I am able to filter what I say.
Ok - so I'm going to go boil myself in the bathtub and try not to spend the rest of the night crying out of frustration at the highest level. It's probably a good thing that I forced them to have him call me instead of making my 4th trip over there in 5 weeks... because I literally might have kicked him in the shins - as the Other Kim suggested.
John is totally ticked off - which is understandable - because if it were me watching my husband go through this - I'd be desperate to help. He's going to be seeing his surgeon on August 10th - and we've really liked him... so he's going to ask him if he knows of any good primary care doctors that are skilled with people that have had gastric bypass/gastric sleeve surgeries. That is the sucky part of this - is that I am comfortable in his knowledge with my vitamin levels... but lately other things don't seem right. I think he ticked John off when he told us that he doesn't believe in chronic fatigue syndrome... which is what Dr. Mac is testing for me right now. Dr. Mac's office says that there is treatment that will help with that - and seriously - at this point... I'll try anything.
Out of My Way
Whew, today is one of those days to steer clear of me... at least here at the office. Everyone and every word is getting on my last nerve... which is sad because I'm not really mad at them - I'm totally ticked off at my body.
Can I have a whiny pity party for a minute? (I am anyway - so either keep reading or ignore me)
I am so incredibly tired of feeling like complete and utter crap. I wake up exhausted, go to bed exhausted... and the waking hours in between are completely filled with crippling nausea. The kind of nausea where you wish that you could just throw up and feel better - but that moment never comes.
In the past these episodes - at least the nausea - last a few weeks and go away... but this one is hanging on longer than any I can ever remember... and I'm at the end of my rope. I'm frustrated and on the verge of tears... that is how I really feel. So putting up appearances so that everyone in the office can spend their 9 hours trampling on me for information only makes me more ready to snap at someone. UGH!
I know that in the grand scheme of things - this is a minor thing to deal with... I mean it's not like I have an incurable disease or anything, BUT it is extremely hard to function like this. It's all I can do to get out of bed and maybe get a couple of things done during the day.
The kicker is the guilt that I feel over wanting so badly to take care of my husband - and do things FOR HIM (for a change) because he's taken such good care of me. I want to be able to cook a meal for him and let him relax... mow the grass for him... do the laundry without his help... all the things that I'd normally do - but I just can't muster up the energy. I hate this!
I'm going to go pout for a little while... and maybe when I'm done - I'll feel a bit better.
Can I have a whiny pity party for a minute? (I am anyway - so either keep reading or ignore me)
I am so incredibly tired of feeling like complete and utter crap. I wake up exhausted, go to bed exhausted... and the waking hours in between are completely filled with crippling nausea. The kind of nausea where you wish that you could just throw up and feel better - but that moment never comes.
In the past these episodes - at least the nausea - last a few weeks and go away... but this one is hanging on longer than any I can ever remember... and I'm at the end of my rope. I'm frustrated and on the verge of tears... that is how I really feel. So putting up appearances so that everyone in the office can spend their 9 hours trampling on me for information only makes me more ready to snap at someone. UGH!
I know that in the grand scheme of things - this is a minor thing to deal with... I mean it's not like I have an incurable disease or anything, BUT it is extremely hard to function like this. It's all I can do to get out of bed and maybe get a couple of things done during the day.
The kicker is the guilt that I feel over wanting so badly to take care of my husband - and do things FOR HIM (for a change) because he's taken such good care of me. I want to be able to cook a meal for him and let him relax... mow the grass for him... do the laundry without his help... all the things that I'd normally do - but I just can't muster up the energy. I hate this!
I'm going to go pout for a little while... and maybe when I'm done - I'll feel a bit better.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Mellow Sunday
I've told you guys before that I'm married to an amazing man, but he really is a trooper... I owe him so much! He takes amazing care of me while I'm so sickly. I truly could never come up with words that would mean as much as how grateful I really am.
A few weeks ago - I was sitting in our living room looking down the hallway toward our front door, and noticed something only Jenn I. would understand... but check out the symbolism on my front door! Do any of you see something symbolic there? (you might have to look sideways)
I had to make a quick return to Bed Bath & Beyond... and that store is just a bad place for John and I to be set loose together. We ended up with some great coasters with our monogram on them - and just before we left... we saw a door mat that we both REALLY liked. So of course we bought it. This is what greets you at our front door now.
It has been a pretty low key weekend - being that I still feel like crud from the test. I suspect that the Benadryl, Steroids, and antibiotics are still running rampant in my blood stream... and I know for sure that they are causing me to have trouble keeping up with my liquid intake. 
This is Missy enjoying her "church treat" (a special dental treat that they get every Sunday after church) and the way she is laying cracks me up. She looks like a squished frog in the road... so cute! She has been taking good care of me too - or well - taking total advantage of having someone to cuddle up with all day.
A few weeks ago - I was sitting in our living room looking down the hallway toward our front door, and noticed something only Jenn I. would understand... but check out the symbolism on my front door! Do any of you see something symbolic there? (you might have to look sideways)
I had to make a quick return to Bed Bath & Beyond... and that store is just a bad place for John and I to be set loose together. We ended up with some great coasters with our monogram on them - and just before we left... we saw a door mat that we both REALLY liked. So of course we bought it. This is what greets you at our front door now.
It has been a pretty low key weekend - being that I still feel like crud from the test. I suspect that the Benadryl, Steroids, and antibiotics are still running rampant in my blood stream... and I know for sure that they are causing me to have trouble keeping up with my liquid intake. My eye sight is horrible right now - steroids totally jack up my eyes for about a week. Just long enough for me to need glasses, but not long enough for me to ever get used to wearing them. UGH!
I still don't really know what's going on with the rest of my symptoms, but I do know that the sinuses are acting crazy again. DARN IT! I'm praying that the antibiotics that they had me take for the HSG will just go ahead and knock it out. I've been taking my allergy medicine hoping that it will help too - but at this point - it just proves to make things more challenging.
I wonder if by now my body is just sick and tired of being on the continual birth control pill therapy... it's been since April that I've been taking them nonstop - meaning that I only take the active pills - no week break in between. Maybe that is causing the exhaustion, nausea, and headaches? Who knows.
The fatigue panel that my RE's office drew should be back sometime this week - so we'll see if that gives us any news that we might be able to use to make it go away. I'm not really sure what the therapy for that would be, but if it's anything other than vitamins - we'll have to seriously think about that before adding anything new. I'd rather start getting off of anything that I can before we get pregnant. I know that my doctors are being careful to only put me on things that I can continue after that point, but the less that I'm taking - the better.
So - I've been banned to the couch again for today - and have even gotten some grief from the husband the few times that I've gotten up... but he's taking great care of me, and I thank God that he put John in my life!
One more picture for the road...
This is Missy enjoying her "church treat" (a special dental treat that they get every Sunday after church) and the way she is laying cracks me up. She looks like a squished frog in the road... so cute! She has been taking good care of me too - or well - taking total advantage of having someone to cuddle up with all day. Back to work tomorrow - but it's a short week... we're off on Friday because my Dad, stepmother, and the kids are all coming to town. My Dad and Lynne have a annual summer camp at their house for two weeks for the grandkids to come spend some time at their house... and they are flying in with all 5 kids (3 grandkids and their 2 kids). We're meeting them at the airport to help taxi the kids home. HA!
Next weekend will be a busy one with my family in the area, and then it's also our niece Taylor's (on John's side - we have two nieces named Taylor) 7th birthday party... so we'll be making the rounds to hang out with everyone! Can anyone tell me what I'll likely be doing after church next Sunday too?! Yep - probably napping heavily! I wouldn't miss the time hanging out with everyone though... my Dad and family haven't seen John since before his surgery - and I'm so excited for them to see him in person.
Have a great night, friends. If you don't mind saying a few prayers for me tonight - I would appreciate it greatly.
Have a great night, friends. If you don't mind saying a few prayers for me tonight - I would appreciate it greatly.
1) That God will help me struggle through whatever is going on in my body until we can get the answers... and if it miraculously went away tonight - that'd be even better!
2) For my friend Summer, she's having her first IVF egg retrieval tomorrow - and I know she would appreciate prayers that it all goes well. She is one of the sweetest people I have met through the blog world, and it's been a rough road for her... so she deserves every happiness and success with this cycle.
3) For all women out there trying to overcome infertility - because it truly is a battle that has extreme highs and lows...
4) For all women out there that are pregnant - because a baby is a gift from God, and all of them should be lifted up and wrapped in prayer.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Testing Complete
I meant to sit down and write this yesterday, but realized that I was more out of it than I originally thought. Apparently there were things that happened and were said during the test that I wasn't even aware of. Maybe that is because I was in so much pain - but I also blame the crazy amount of Benadryl that I was on too.
When we got to the testing facility - things went fine - until the one guy you meet right before the test tried to tell me that John couldn't come back into the testing room with me. Ummmm... not acceptable! We got that straightened out - I got changed and oddly enough had to do ANOTHER pregnancy test.
They made such a big deal about me having that blood pregnancy test and the results of that test with me for them to put with the files... but then they did another one right there on the spot?! Whatever...
They did an x-ray of my belly before explaining the procedure in it's entirety to both John and I... deep breaths... I'm not kidding when I tell you that the moment I saw a speculum in there - I knew it was going to be bad. Those are like some sort of torture device that I can't even explain...
So anyway - the doctor comes in and gets started... in which lets cue extreme nausea and pain for me...
The test went well - but I did have both tubes partially bocked - which I didn't really know until today. They had a hard time getting the dye to move through them at first, but now they are all clear. One side was a little more blocked than the other - but they didn't actually see any blockage exactly. It just had trouble moving through at first. Everything looks good and we're ready to move on with whatever the doctor decides with us at our meeting on August 3rd.
The only remaining odd thing was that there was a surgical clip in the general area of those organs that we aren't sure what it might be from. All of my reproductive organs look good - and I'm unsure if that might be something on my intestine from my Gastric Bypass Surgery, but if Dr. Mac can't help us figure it out - we'll have him send those images over to Dr. Weinstein to see if he can tell us what it is. Our only concern is that we don't want it to become a problem for the baby or for me when things start to stretch.
Overall, it was a good successful day. The killer was that I forgot to take the Tylenol before the test because I was so worried about getting in my steroids and Benadryl... so I took it completely without any sort of pain/inflammation reducer.
I guess now though - I know what to expect for the actual insemination... or at least I assume that it is pretty similar in terms of the instruments used. Maybe the next time it won't induce a serious nausea reflex... but of course who knows. There will be much more at stake during that visit - so I'm sure that I'll be REALLY keyed up to begin with.
We've been resting most of today - we did venture out and get a little shopping done today... but John went with me - because I still am not feeling completely well. I am having some sort of residual migraine... I've had it since we were about half way home yesterday and I'm not sure if it has more to do with the Benadryl/Prednizone combination therapy or what the issue is, but I sincerely hope that it is gone by tomorrow.
When we got to the testing facility - things went fine - until the one guy you meet right before the test tried to tell me that John couldn't come back into the testing room with me. Ummmm... not acceptable! We got that straightened out - I got changed and oddly enough had to do ANOTHER pregnancy test.
They made such a big deal about me having that blood pregnancy test and the results of that test with me for them to put with the files... but then they did another one right there on the spot?! Whatever...
They did an x-ray of my belly before explaining the procedure in it's entirety to both John and I... deep breaths... I'm not kidding when I tell you that the moment I saw a speculum in there - I knew it was going to be bad. Those are like some sort of torture device that I can't even explain...
So anyway - the doctor comes in and gets started... in which lets cue extreme nausea and pain for me...
The test went well - but I did have both tubes partially bocked - which I didn't really know until today. They had a hard time getting the dye to move through them at first, but now they are all clear. One side was a little more blocked than the other - but they didn't actually see any blockage exactly. It just had trouble moving through at first. Everything looks good and we're ready to move on with whatever the doctor decides with us at our meeting on August 3rd.
The only remaining odd thing was that there was a surgical clip in the general area of those organs that we aren't sure what it might be from. All of my reproductive organs look good - and I'm unsure if that might be something on my intestine from my Gastric Bypass Surgery, but if Dr. Mac can't help us figure it out - we'll have him send those images over to Dr. Weinstein to see if he can tell us what it is. Our only concern is that we don't want it to become a problem for the baby or for me when things start to stretch.
Overall, it was a good successful day. The killer was that I forgot to take the Tylenol before the test because I was so worried about getting in my steroids and Benadryl... so I took it completely without any sort of pain/inflammation reducer.
I guess now though - I know what to expect for the actual insemination... or at least I assume that it is pretty similar in terms of the instruments used. Maybe the next time it won't induce a serious nausea reflex... but of course who knows. There will be much more at stake during that visit - so I'm sure that I'll be REALLY keyed up to begin with.
We've been resting most of today - we did venture out and get a little shopping done today... but John went with me - because I still am not feeling completely well. I am having some sort of residual migraine... I've had it since we were about half way home yesterday and I'm not sure if it has more to do with the Benadryl/Prednizone combination therapy or what the issue is, but I sincerely hope that it is gone by tomorrow.
Funny Videos
I found a couple of more videos that always make me laugh and cheer me up when I'm not feeling well.
This first one is pretty funny - it is about good songs to use for product ads - after he gets through with a little bit about Elmo.
This first one is pretty funny - it is about good songs to use for product ads - after he gets through with a little bit about Elmo.
This next one is hysterical - I don't know why, but it makes me laugh... almost as much as the wedding entrance video from yesterday. This one is called Achmed The Dead Terrorist.
Finally this one - I don't care who you are - it's funny... whenever I'm having a bad day - this is the video that I watch to cheer me up. It makes me laugh EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Too Funny
As I get ready to go for my test... you guys enjoy this video - and I'll be back with a full report later on this evening.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Email Response
I wrote a response to my intern... the teacher in me wanted to try to teach him something that he can use in his future jobs - instead of completely giving him the smack down. I wrote the response, and other than a couple of minor edits - my new boss thought it was good.
Here is what I sent:
Please let me know how many pictures you’d like – and I’ll send you the best ones that you took. You took about 85 pictures – and that is far too many to send in email. I also took about 500 photos that day as well – so if there are some specific parts of the event that you’d like pictures from – let me know that and I’ll find the best images for your project.
I will send you the information on my job by Monday. In terms of the projects that you have completed and that you are still working on – I want you to write a brief description of what you did. You should be able to find specifics on what you were asked to do in your binder. I would be happy to look over what you write about the projects when you are finished, but I think you need to lead that part of your project.
There are a couple of things that I’d like to let you know about email communication in general – for your internship and for your future jobs as well.
* Consider your audience. It is generally not a good idea to demand anything from your supervisor, instead form your requests into questions. It generally will be received better.
* Make sure that you are sending your email to the correct recipient. For example, please be sure that you are emailing the correct Claudia (Claudia McC) because several of your emails have gone to a different Claudia.
* When using email – it is best to be very clear about the intention of the correspondence. When asking someone to do something for you – you need to make sure that they completely understand what you need them to do. Often it is helpful to give them a sample of how you’d like the information to be given back to you.
Here is what I sent:
Please let me know how many pictures you’d like – and I’ll send you the best ones that you took. You took about 85 pictures – and that is far too many to send in email. I also took about 500 photos that day as well – so if there are some specific parts of the event that you’d like pictures from – let me know that and I’ll find the best images for your project.
I will send you the information on my job by Monday. In terms of the projects that you have completed and that you are still working on – I want you to write a brief description of what you did. You should be able to find specifics on what you were asked to do in your binder. I would be happy to look over what you write about the projects when you are finished, but I think you need to lead that part of your project.
There are a couple of things that I’d like to let you know about email communication in general – for your internship and for your future jobs as well.
* Consider your audience. It is generally not a good idea to demand anything from your supervisor, instead form your requests into questions. It generally will be received better.
* Make sure that you are sending your email to the correct recipient. For example, please be sure that you are emailing the correct Claudia (Claudia McC) because several of your emails have gone to a different Claudia.
* When using email – it is best to be very clear about the intention of the correspondence. When asking someone to do something for you – you need to make sure that they completely understand what you need them to do. Often it is helpful to give them a sample of how you’d like the information to be given back to you.
* Avoid sentences like “Don’t get into useless details, but don’t be too general. Expand to a limit.” Some people might find that to be offensive and/or confusing. The best way to handle that in the future would be for you to expect that you will get back more information than you need, but you can edit out any information that goes beyond the scope of what you are doing.
* Be sure that you use complete sentences in your correspondence as well. You want to give people the best impression of you in every encounter – so make sure that you are communicating effectively in a professional way.
Please let me know if you have any questions, and I will get you the information you need as soon as possible. Please let me know if you have gotten the information that you need from Claudia and Christina as well, and I will help you make sure that you have everything in time to get your project completed.
Thank you.
I'm now heading off to say the serenity prayer before I get his response.
Ahhhh The Intern
I don't know if I should shake my head or cry at this point... but this kid is killing me!! There are just some things that can't be taught... so I'll just lay out the five most recent stories for your enjoyment - and maybe so that you can't feel sorry for me in some small way too.
Last Tuesday, we asked the intern to attend the event that I took pictures of for an additional set of hands - and an additional camera to be strolling around. This couldn't have been more wrong on our part! For starters, in one of the classrooms they had an opening speaker for the employees of Shell (the sponsor of the day's event) - and the intern kept walking in and out of the room interrupting the speaker every time. I really didn't notice it being that bad until one of our Vice Presidents smiled and positioned himself in front of the door to the room. At that point - I told the kid to stay put and not move until the speaker was finished.
Second story takes place at the same event last week - this time... while taking pictures... (I truly shake my head at this one) he didn't know the concept of a candid photo. I guess I take this for granted because at his age - I was taking photos for the yearbook and newspaper at school - so I KNEW what I was doing. Anyway - back to the kid story... the premise of the event was that we'd have a couple of big events for the kids along with some smaller workshops for the to learn about finding a job and interviewing. Well, intern boy busts into the workshops and actually interrupts the speakers and lessons to get them to pose for photos. UGH! I had to stop him and explain to him that his job was to stand back and capture pictures of what was happening - NOT take posed pictures of the people. We needed images of their interaction with the youth... not a picture of some random people smiling together.
Third story is at the same event, yet again. (This was a tough day for us) At the end of the day they had a panel discussion so that the youth could ask questions about the things that they'd learned all day. For some reason, when the youth all gathered up in the gym - for the drums and for this panel discussion... the intern decided that he needed to participate instead of work. Whatever. Anyway, we actually lost him in the crowd. He had a different shirt on than all the other kids - so that we could easily pick him out during the day if needed - but he put on a black hoodie for this event, and we couldn't find him. Eventually - I did find him... and he'd put the hood up on his sweatshirt... and I'm not kidding when I tell you that he looked EXACTLY like the unabomber or something... he looked like he was ready to take the whole group out. Nice.
Fast forward to yesterday, and imagine the look on my face when I got a phone call telling me that my intern was wandering around the building and parking lot aimlessly. Seriously? He was just wandering... like as if he needed a break, but instead looked like he was going to break into someone's car. (He wouldn't do that, but it did look fishy.) We have told him before that he could get up and take a break from staring at the computer from time to time if he felt like his eyes needed a short break. By short, we meant 5 minutes... maximum. These breaks are becoming longer and more frequent... and creepier! By break, we thought he'd go out in the middle of our building and sit in the atrium for a minute... go talk to another intern for a minute... or go to the restroom... walk over to Wendy's (next door) and get a drink... NOT wander aimlessly in the parking lot!
Finally, the latest is that he's sending rude emails. Not only to me, but they were meant to be sent to a couple of other people in our department... only he got the names wrong and sent them to people outside of our department - who were completely offended by the emails.
Here is what the email said:
I wanted to know if you could get the R. House pictures to me by next Tuesday. Please tell me what exactly you do in NCI. Don’t get into useless details, but don’t be too general. Expand to a limit. Also tell me why your job is important to the development department and NCI. Your email will be a part of the script. Tell me the name of the projects I have completed, and the project I am doing, along with a brief description.
The bottom line with this one though is that email communication is just not something that I can teach him... because honestly - this is EXACTLY how he talks too. The social skills are lacking to a point that I don't know how to even begin to help him.
All I know is that I am sooooo ready for this internship graduation ceremony to begin on August 6th. (Don't get me started on how silly a graduation event is for a JOB!) Calgon... take me away... or directly to August 7th!
Last Tuesday, we asked the intern to attend the event that I took pictures of for an additional set of hands - and an additional camera to be strolling around. This couldn't have been more wrong on our part! For starters, in one of the classrooms they had an opening speaker for the employees of Shell (the sponsor of the day's event) - and the intern kept walking in and out of the room interrupting the speaker every time. I really didn't notice it being that bad until one of our Vice Presidents smiled and positioned himself in front of the door to the room. At that point - I told the kid to stay put and not move until the speaker was finished.
Second story takes place at the same event last week - this time... while taking pictures... (I truly shake my head at this one) he didn't know the concept of a candid photo. I guess I take this for granted because at his age - I was taking photos for the yearbook and newspaper at school - so I KNEW what I was doing. Anyway - back to the kid story... the premise of the event was that we'd have a couple of big events for the kids along with some smaller workshops for the to learn about finding a job and interviewing. Well, intern boy busts into the workshops and actually interrupts the speakers and lessons to get them to pose for photos. UGH! I had to stop him and explain to him that his job was to stand back and capture pictures of what was happening - NOT take posed pictures of the people. We needed images of their interaction with the youth... not a picture of some random people smiling together.
Third story is at the same event, yet again. (This was a tough day for us) At the end of the day they had a panel discussion so that the youth could ask questions about the things that they'd learned all day. For some reason, when the youth all gathered up in the gym - for the drums and for this panel discussion... the intern decided that he needed to participate instead of work. Whatever. Anyway, we actually lost him in the crowd. He had a different shirt on than all the other kids - so that we could easily pick him out during the day if needed - but he put on a black hoodie for this event, and we couldn't find him. Eventually - I did find him... and he'd put the hood up on his sweatshirt... and I'm not kidding when I tell you that he looked EXACTLY like the unabomber or something... he looked like he was ready to take the whole group out. Nice.
Fast forward to yesterday, and imagine the look on my face when I got a phone call telling me that my intern was wandering around the building and parking lot aimlessly. Seriously? He was just wandering... like as if he needed a break, but instead looked like he was going to break into someone's car. (He wouldn't do that, but it did look fishy.) We have told him before that he could get up and take a break from staring at the computer from time to time if he felt like his eyes needed a short break. By short, we meant 5 minutes... maximum. These breaks are becoming longer and more frequent... and creepier! By break, we thought he'd go out in the middle of our building and sit in the atrium for a minute... go talk to another intern for a minute... or go to the restroom... walk over to Wendy's (next door) and get a drink... NOT wander aimlessly in the parking lot!
Finally, the latest is that he's sending rude emails. Not only to me, but they were meant to be sent to a couple of other people in our department... only he got the names wrong and sent them to people outside of our department - who were completely offended by the emails.
Here is what the email said:
I wanted to know if you could get the R. House pictures to me by next Tuesday. Please tell me what exactly you do in NCI. Don’t get into useless details, but don’t be too general. Expand to a limit. Also tell me why your job is important to the development department and NCI. Your email will be a part of the script. Tell me the name of the projects I have completed, and the project I am doing, along with a brief description.
- Somethings just can't be taught... but the tone of the email is wrong - can you imagine sending this to YOUR supervisor?
- The whole useless details thing just flat ticks me off... you're asking for my help but at the same time you think my job has useless details?
- What in the heck does "Expand to a limit" mean exactly?
- "Your email will be part of the script" - for what?! Lastly, does he not know the projects he has worked on? He needs to come up with his own description for what he's done.
The bottom line with this one though is that email communication is just not something that I can teach him... because honestly - this is EXACTLY how he talks too. The social skills are lacking to a point that I don't know how to even begin to help him.
All I know is that I am sooooo ready for this internship graduation ceremony to begin on August 6th. (Don't get me started on how silly a graduation event is for a JOB!) Calgon... take me away... or directly to August 7th!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Fairhaven Health
About a month ago, Barbara from Fairhaven Health contacted me about reviewing some products from their site. It's taken us a while to get it all figured out, but I've got some products on the way!! It was ironically, right after I'd placed an order for some vitamins for John... not too long after his tests came back odd and we were on the disabled list for our treatments.
I'd ordered him some FertilAid for Men upon the recommendation of Summer. The ingredients in FertilAid for Men have been scientifically demonstrated to enhance male fertility and improve overall reproductive wellness as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Ideal for men with a low sperm count or for those looking to optimize their sexual health. I can't say without a doubt that this helped John's tests this time around - but they certainly were part of our treatment plan. Along with the recommendations from our doctor - he used this product.
Where we read that it would most likely take 3 months for there to be big changes in his tests - it happened within a month!! So I'll credit FertilAid for Men with some of that drastic change!
One of the products that Barbara is sending me is FertileCM - which she says will help counteract some of the negative effects (physically) that the fertility drugs might have on my system. FertileCM for Women is a balanced dietary supplement to promote the healthy production of fertile cervical mucus – the bodily fluid central to fertility and conception. The ingredients in FertileCM have also been shown to support female arousal and sexual sensitivity and strengthen the uterine lining, both of which can increase chances for successful conception.
She is also sending me a copy of this Bend, Breathe and Conceive Yoga... which I'm really looking forward to! Bend, Breathe & Conceive is a new yoga program specifically created to help couples conceive. Anna Davis, PhD, RYT, scientist and yoga instructor, guides you through a series of physical poses, yogic breathing techniques, visualizations and meditation practices designed to integrate mind, body and spirit to cultivate balance. This connection acts as an antidote to stress and promotes fertility and optimal reproductive health. This video will help you:
• Learn how daily anxieties and “fertility frustration" can trigger the release of stress hormones that disrupt the healthy functioning of the reproductive systems.
• Relieve stress with proven relaxation techniques designed to restore mental and physical balance and actually increase conception rates.
• Build strength, increase flexibility and learn to shift your physiology away from stress towards relaxation to help you conceive.
In a recent clinical study, just ten weeks of yoga was shown to improve overall fertility fitness and increase conception rates among women in the experimental yoga group.
I'd highly recommend you guys going to check out their site - they've got
I'd ordered him some FertilAid for Men upon the recommendation of Summer. The ingredients in FertilAid for Men have been scientifically demonstrated to enhance male fertility and improve overall reproductive wellness as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Ideal for men with a low sperm count or for those looking to optimize their sexual health. I can't say without a doubt that this helped John's tests this time around - but they certainly were part of our treatment plan. Along with the recommendations from our doctor - he used this product.Where we read that it would most likely take 3 months for there to be big changes in his tests - it happened within a month!! So I'll credit FertilAid for Men with some of that drastic change!
One of the products that Barbara is sending me is FertileCM - which she says will help counteract some of the negative effects (physically) that the fertility drugs might have on my system. FertileCM for Women is a balanced dietary supplement to promote the healthy production of fertile cervical mucus – the bodily fluid central to fertility and conception. The ingredients in FertileCM have also been shown to support female arousal and sexual sensitivity and strengthen the uterine lining, both of which can increase chances for successful conception.
She is also sending me a copy of this Bend, Breathe and Conceive Yoga... which I'm really looking forward to! Bend, Breathe & Conceive is a new yoga program specifically created to help couples conceive. Anna Davis, PhD, RYT, scientist and yoga instructor, guides you through a series of physical poses, yogic breathing techniques, visualizations and meditation practices designed to integrate mind, body and spirit to cultivate balance. This connection acts as an antidote to stress and promotes fertility and optimal reproductive health. This video will help you:• Learn how daily anxieties and “fertility frustration" can trigger the release of stress hormones that disrupt the healthy functioning of the reproductive systems.
• Relieve stress with proven relaxation techniques designed to restore mental and physical balance and actually increase conception rates.
• Build strength, increase flexibility and learn to shift your physiology away from stress towards relaxation to help you conceive.
In a recent clinical study, just ten weeks of yoga was shown to improve overall fertility fitness and increase conception rates among women in the experimental yoga group.
I'd highly recommend you guys going to check out their site - they've got
Fertility Products as well as Prenatal/Nursing Products - so they'll suit your needs no matter what they are.
The best part?! Is that they've given me a coupon code for 10% off everything in their store - it will be valid all Summer! The code is Sunshine09. Go check it out - and I know that these products will help you just as they have helped us.
Drama
(Dad - you might want to have someone else read this post and give you the highlights... it'll be WAY more medical stuff than you want to read.)
One would think that scheduling an outpatient procedure would be a fairly simple thing, right? Oh... not so my friends.
Our story begins with me going over to meet with the nurse at our doctor's office to get the instructions for the test and do some blood work... which took all of 10 minutes - even with the minor problem there.
When doing the HSG test - you have to take antibiotics just to prevent infection as they are doing something that is unnatural - and could cause your body to have a reaction if bacteria gets somewhere that it doesn't belong. So, typically they'd give their patient a prescription and off they'd go... yeah - well - we all know that I can't take pills because after the weight loss surgery -I don't absorb them... THEY should know this by now... but we have to be our best patient advocates for ourselves.
So she called down to the pharmacy in their building and worked out what to give me...
We did the blood work - which they're doing a fatigue panel and a blood pregnancy test.
15 minutes and out the door... completely forgetting that I needed to go downstairs to get the antibiotic... so off I go in the truck. While driving - I figure that I can handle scheduling the other test... no sweat right? Multi-tasking is a girls best friend!
This is where things get dicey.
I call the outpatient imaging center and all hell breaks loose. For starters - they freak out and don't know how to handle themselves that I've been on the pill continuously since April. I had to get rowdy and talk to a supervisor to bypass the first dummy on the phone.
Then, she asks if I'm allergic to iodine - which I happen to be... I'm allergic to IV iodine - not topical... but the radiologist wants me treated for that. So she starts talking about calling in a prescription for that medication - at which time I remember that I was supposed to pick up the antibiotic downstairs before I left Dr. Mac's office... BIG U TURN... back to get the medicine... still dealing with this stupid lady.
We get the iodine situation squared away - and she starts talking to me about the blood pregnancy test. They require one to be done within 24 hours of the test - which is just crazy. I had just had the test drawn and was NOT about to have them do it again on Thursday... so again we go round and round about that.
It is at that time she asks me if I've had intercourse within the last 10 days... I swear if I had been there - I would have choked her - or at least killed her with the look on my face. Apparently they don't want to do it if you have been active within that time frame...
I think she finally figured out that my patience was gone - and I said "Look, I had the pregnancy test drawn today... I'm on the pill... and if I'm going to abstain for the remainder of the week... what difference does it all make?!"
GEEZ!
So all of that - and I'm scheduled for 1:00 on Friday. I start taking the antibiotic on Thursday... then at midnight Thursday night - I start with steroids... I take those at midnight, and again at 6:00 Thursday morning... and 1 hour before the test - I take my last steroid, Benadryl, and Tylenol. From there I continue taking the antibiotic for three days after the test...
WHEW... I'll be ready for a big ice cream sundae by Friday afternoon!
One would think that scheduling an outpatient procedure would be a fairly simple thing, right? Oh... not so my friends.
Our story begins with me going over to meet with the nurse at our doctor's office to get the instructions for the test and do some blood work... which took all of 10 minutes - even with the minor problem there.
When doing the HSG test - you have to take antibiotics just to prevent infection as they are doing something that is unnatural - and could cause your body to have a reaction if bacteria gets somewhere that it doesn't belong. So, typically they'd give their patient a prescription and off they'd go... yeah - well - we all know that I can't take pills because after the weight loss surgery -I don't absorb them... THEY should know this by now... but we have to be our best patient advocates for ourselves.
So she called down to the pharmacy in their building and worked out what to give me...
We did the blood work - which they're doing a fatigue panel and a blood pregnancy test.
15 minutes and out the door... completely forgetting that I needed to go downstairs to get the antibiotic... so off I go in the truck. While driving - I figure that I can handle scheduling the other test... no sweat right? Multi-tasking is a girls best friend!
This is where things get dicey.
I call the outpatient imaging center and all hell breaks loose. For starters - they freak out and don't know how to handle themselves that I've been on the pill continuously since April. I had to get rowdy and talk to a supervisor to bypass the first dummy on the phone.
Then, she asks if I'm allergic to iodine - which I happen to be... I'm allergic to IV iodine - not topical... but the radiologist wants me treated for that. So she starts talking about calling in a prescription for that medication - at which time I remember that I was supposed to pick up the antibiotic downstairs before I left Dr. Mac's office... BIG U TURN... back to get the medicine... still dealing with this stupid lady.
We get the iodine situation squared away - and she starts talking to me about the blood pregnancy test. They require one to be done within 24 hours of the test - which is just crazy. I had just had the test drawn and was NOT about to have them do it again on Thursday... so again we go round and round about that.
It is at that time she asks me if I've had intercourse within the last 10 days... I swear if I had been there - I would have choked her - or at least killed her with the look on my face. Apparently they don't want to do it if you have been active within that time frame...
I think she finally figured out that my patience was gone - and I said "Look, I had the pregnancy test drawn today... I'm on the pill... and if I'm going to abstain for the remainder of the week... what difference does it all make?!"
GEEZ!
So all of that - and I'm scheduled for 1:00 on Friday. I start taking the antibiotic on Thursday... then at midnight Thursday night - I start with steroids... I take those at midnight, and again at 6:00 Thursday morning... and 1 hour before the test - I take my last steroid, Benadryl, and Tylenol. From there I continue taking the antibiotic for three days after the test...
WHEW... I'll be ready for a big ice cream sundae by Friday afternoon!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Savings
Anyone that lives near a Carino's Italian Restaurant... check them out on Mondays - apparently you can get the family sized portions of entrees for the same price as the individual entrees. We stopped by there tonight to pick up dinner - and ended up with 7 meals for me and 6 for John... hysterical!
I'm always a fan of having leftovers to freeze so that I don't have to cook!
I'm always a fan of having leftovers to freeze so that I don't have to cook!
Choices
It certainly seems like my life has been all over the map lately - between all the things being thrown at me and trying to keep my head above water... I'm worn out. I might be starting to feel a little better - it's early but I'm possibly turning the corner toward feeling like a human again. With absolutely ZERO sleep last night, however, lets not get crazy and throw a party or anything... I'm still in dire need of some sleep!
In the midst of it all... I got a completely random phone call about a job. Apparently, they found my information on CareerBuilder from a year ago when I was looking for my current position... and wanted me to come in to interview with them.
There was a catch...
A HUGE catch...
The organization was Planned Parenthood. Ya'll - I just couldn't do it.
I'm not making this an open debate on abortion... because that's not what I'm here for... but I will say that in my current position in life - I just couldn't be a woman doing every fertility treatment I can get my hands on while working to support others that are choosing to end their own pregnancies.
I'm not judging those women - and certainly Planned Parenthood does some things that are good... I took several friends there in high school to get them on the birth control pill so that they could at least be responsible in their choices/actions.
I just don't think I'm in a place morally or emotionally that I could put everything aside and work for them. Not only that, but I just am not in a place where I can put aside my beliefs for a paycheck... I mean to a certain extent - yes, but not something so fundamental.
In the midst of it all... I got a completely random phone call about a job. Apparently, they found my information on CareerBuilder from a year ago when I was looking for my current position... and wanted me to come in to interview with them.
There was a catch...
A HUGE catch...
The organization was Planned Parenthood. Ya'll - I just couldn't do it.
I'm not making this an open debate on abortion... because that's not what I'm here for... but I will say that in my current position in life - I just couldn't be a woman doing every fertility treatment I can get my hands on while working to support others that are choosing to end their own pregnancies.
I'm not judging those women - and certainly Planned Parenthood does some things that are good... I took several friends there in high school to get them on the birth control pill so that they could at least be responsible in their choices/actions.
I just don't think I'm in a place morally or emotionally that I could put everything aside and work for them. Not only that, but I just am not in a place where I can put aside my beliefs for a paycheck... I mean to a certain extent - yes, but not something so fundamental.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Crafts and Thank You
As promised - I took some pictures of the crafts that we made on Friday night - and I think they are super cute!
We made these cards - which were super fun. We took a big piece of card stock and stamped all over them - then Danielle cut them down for us... and we made these cards. I made a set of 6, and she gave me envelopes to go with them as well... the only problem left is finding occasions and people that I'd be willing to actually give these cards for... I like them so much I may never part with them!
We also made these pens - or well Danielle made mine while I finished up my cards because it was getting late... and we both were getting delirious. The one on the left has the paper inside the pen body... the one on the right has it on the outside with some beads to make it that much more unique. I LOVE pens... so this was right up my alley.
I've gotten lots of comments from this post about our current fertility updates... it is encouraging that you all agree this is current plan is solid and that the testing is a good idea. I too was surprised that the doctor didn't suggest it to us - but over the weekend I found our original paperwork from our first visit with him. Apparently the HSG (I think that's what you guys called it) is pretty far down on the list of tests that he'd order... so it looks like we could have gone through several cycles with the IUI before he'd suggest it himself.
I will update when that gets scheduled - and ask for some prayers - as I've heard that it has been everything from uncomfortable to down right painful... depending on the people mentioning their experience. I've got some pain medicine left from my gallbladder surgery - I'm seriously considering taking it with me... The one thing that I don't know - and I'll ask you guys to give me advice on - is this something that I can do on my own - or am I going to be better off having John there to drive me home after the test? I'd guess that if I took the pain meds - he'd insist on coming with me... but I just want to ask your opinions.
Finally, I want to make sure that you're all on the same page with us - because I got several encouraging comments about people getting pregnant right away after having the test. While it might be extremely helpful for us - because it seems like even if there is no visible blockage - it can clean you out just the same... so I see it as a beneficial test regardless of if they find blockage or not. My point though is that we're still going to have to do fertility treatments because I do not ovulate on my own... there is NO evidence that I've done it ever in my lifetime... so I will for sure need the drugs to stimulate egg production and then another drug to stimulate their release. We also are at a point where the doctor thinks that our only option is to inseminate or do IVF at this point because of the quality of John's sperm. (I can't believe I finally used that word... couldn't think of anything better.) So the HSG won't solve all our problems... but it will help us feel better, and will if nothing else make sure that things are all clear.
We made these cards - which were super fun. We took a big piece of card stock and stamped all over them - then Danielle cut them down for us... and we made these cards. I made a set of 6, and she gave me envelopes to go with them as well... the only problem left is finding occasions and people that I'd be willing to actually give these cards for... I like them so much I may never part with them! 
We also made these pens - or well Danielle made mine while I finished up my cards because it was getting late... and we both were getting delirious. The one on the left has the paper inside the pen body... the one on the right has it on the outside with some beads to make it that much more unique. I LOVE pens... so this was right up my alley.I've gotten lots of comments from this post about our current fertility updates... it is encouraging that you all agree this is current plan is solid and that the testing is a good idea. I too was surprised that the doctor didn't suggest it to us - but over the weekend I found our original paperwork from our first visit with him. Apparently the HSG (I think that's what you guys called it) is pretty far down on the list of tests that he'd order... so it looks like we could have gone through several cycles with the IUI before he'd suggest it himself.
I will update when that gets scheduled - and ask for some prayers - as I've heard that it has been everything from uncomfortable to down right painful... depending on the people mentioning their experience. I've got some pain medicine left from my gallbladder surgery - I'm seriously considering taking it with me... The one thing that I don't know - and I'll ask you guys to give me advice on - is this something that I can do on my own - or am I going to be better off having John there to drive me home after the test? I'd guess that if I took the pain meds - he'd insist on coming with me... but I just want to ask your opinions.
Finally, I want to make sure that you're all on the same page with us - because I got several encouraging comments about people getting pregnant right away after having the test. While it might be extremely helpful for us - because it seems like even if there is no visible blockage - it can clean you out just the same... so I see it as a beneficial test regardless of if they find blockage or not. My point though is that we're still going to have to do fertility treatments because I do not ovulate on my own... there is NO evidence that I've done it ever in my lifetime... so I will for sure need the drugs to stimulate egg production and then another drug to stimulate their release. We also are at a point where the doctor thinks that our only option is to inseminate or do IVF at this point because of the quality of John's sperm. (I can't believe I finally used that word... couldn't think of anything better.) So the HSG won't solve all our problems... but it will help us feel better, and will if nothing else make sure that things are all clear.
Romantic Dinner 2
In keeping with our Love Dare - yesterday was my night to cook a romantic dinner for John. I'm not quite as good at menu planning as he is, but I did alright. We enjoyed it once again, and are talking about making it a regular thing. We've rarely (maybe twice in 7 years) used our china, and silverware (our two romantic dinners)... so we're going to plan on doing it more often. The menus might not be as elaborate, but at least while we're not serving dinner to kids in our house - we'll make a point to use our finest and enjoy each other's company.
I put the recipes up on the Kim's Cuisine blog - so I'll give you links in the event that my fantastic photos (HA!) entice you to make these dishes yourself.
Spinach Berry Salad
Beef Stroganoff
Broccolini with Carmelized Shallots
Chocolate Walnut Tart
The happy diner ready for his dinner... he wore his Donald Trump tie... so cute!
I put the recipes up on the Kim's Cuisine blog - so I'll give you links in the event that my fantastic photos (HA!) entice you to make these dishes yourself.
Spinach Berry Salad
Beef Stroganoff
Broccolini with Carmelized ShallotsChocolate Walnut Tart
The happy diner ready for his dinner... he wore his Donald Trump tie... so cute!Dinner was fabulous and we had a lovely time chatting. While I was cooking we had a great rain storm - and sadly - I almost didn't know what it was when I heard it. I heard thunder and was like - what is that?! We got about 1.5 inches in about a half hour - we are still in a SEVERE drought, but at least we got a little something to bring us out of the 105 degree temperatures that we've had consistently for a while.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Time for Change
I had a simply fantastic time last night going out with two girl friends from church - we didn't do anything out of the ordinary... but we enjoyed a lovely dinner and some crafting time. We made some incredible cards - that I'll take a picture of tomorrow so that you can see them.
This morning - I set off to the salon to get my curls updated - because my hair was getting a little more straight everyday. While I was there - I got to talking with the lady at the salon about perms and pregnancy... and somehow we got to talking about coloring my hair.
When I met John - I was a redhead.
You probably can't tell it very well from that picture - but it's about the best one I could find on the computer right now to show you how it was back when I first met John. He always loved my hair red... so today - I thought - new plan, new hope... new hair! Why not right? Being a redhead gave me the luck to meet my future husband... maybe it can bring us luck enough to have a baby!
So in my attempt to tell them what color I like for my hair to be - I had them google a picture of Kate Walsh from Private Practice... this is the very picture that they used to figure out the colors to mix for my new "do"...
(If only I had her body to go along with the hair... ugh!) Anyway - here is the results - I'm going to try to get a better picture tomorrow of me in some natural light - so that you can truly see the color, but John absolutely loved it! It doesn't get much better than that... and I really like it too. I feel so much more sassy with my hair fixed up again.
Excuse the lack of makeup - but I'm still battling the exhaustion and stuff... and had just gotten done making dinner for John - recipes and pictures to be put up tomorrow... so I didn't have any makeup on and was a little out of it.
I hope you're having a great weekend... I'm off to warm up some chocolate walnut tarts that I made for dessert.
This morning - I set off to the salon to get my curls updated - because my hair was getting a little more straight everyday. While I was there - I got to talking with the lady at the salon about perms and pregnancy... and somehow we got to talking about coloring my hair.
When I met John - I was a redhead.
You probably can't tell it very well from that picture - but it's about the best one I could find on the computer right now to show you how it was back when I first met John. He always loved my hair red... so today - I thought - new plan, new hope... new hair! Why not right? Being a redhead gave me the luck to meet my future husband... maybe it can bring us luck enough to have a baby!
So in my attempt to tell them what color I like for my hair to be - I had them google a picture of Kate Walsh from Private Practice... this is the very picture that they used to figure out the colors to mix for my new "do"...
(If only I had her body to go along with the hair... ugh!) Anyway - here is the results - I'm going to try to get a better picture tomorrow of me in some natural light - so that you can truly see the color, but John absolutely loved it! It doesn't get much better than that... and I really like it too. I feel so much more sassy with my hair fixed up again.
Excuse the lack of makeup - but I'm still battling the exhaustion and stuff... and had just gotten done making dinner for John - recipes and pictures to be put up tomorrow... so I didn't have any makeup on and was a little out of it.I hope you're having a great weekend... I'm off to warm up some chocolate walnut tarts that I made for dessert.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Peace At Last
Let me start off by telling you guys about something completely amazing that I just found out about... we haven't talked to much about our situation with John's parents until recently... and his parents spent the first three days of this week fasting and praying for us! Isn't that just one of the sweetest things you've ever heard?
Ok... from here - it might become too much medical information for some readers (DAD - Lynne is up to speed and ready to filter it to you)... the rest of you buckle up and keep reading.
As expected, we got the results of John's updated testing today - and his levels are SO much better... they are still just shy of where they want them to be, but with our new chosen course of action - they should be just right by the time that the plan is back on track.
Thanks to the Love Dare - John and I have really upped our communication lately - and were talking on the way home yesterday about our situation and the fact that today when the doctor's office called - they could potentially be ready to order the injections for me to start taking them to start our IUI cycle. That got us thinking a little bit... we've got so many questions and haven't actually seen or spoken with our doctor since our first visit in January... so we decided that before we do anything further we'd like to talk to him again.
We want to make sure that we are doing the best procedure that will give us a real viable opportunity to get pregnant... quickly.
Additionally, we realized that while we know that I've never ovulated... they have a good plan in place to make that happen for me, but from there - no one has any idea if my fallopian tubes are open - meaning that if we produce an egg... will it be able to meet us halfway on this deal?
We've never looked at that - which seems sort of odd... but when I suggested it to the nurse today - she thought it was a smart idea. Because, honestly - do we want to just spend the money on a shot in the dark - when in reality if something is wrong... we could have saved the money and applied it to the next bigger option (IVF). We just want to be good stewards of our money and be smart about how we go through this process.
If there isn't much hope that an IUI cycle will work - we don't want to go through that for several consecutive months... we'd rather just skip that step and move on... but either way - we want to understand what the doctor is thinking and how these decisions are being made... since we've only seen him once, and CLEARLY things get lost in translation between the nurses and me.
So as things stand right now:
Ok... from here - it might become too much medical information for some readers (DAD - Lynne is up to speed and ready to filter it to you)... the rest of you buckle up and keep reading.
As expected, we got the results of John's updated testing today - and his levels are SO much better... they are still just shy of where they want them to be, but with our new chosen course of action - they should be just right by the time that the plan is back on track.
Thanks to the Love Dare - John and I have really upped our communication lately - and were talking on the way home yesterday about our situation and the fact that today when the doctor's office called - they could potentially be ready to order the injections for me to start taking them to start our IUI cycle. That got us thinking a little bit... we've got so many questions and haven't actually seen or spoken with our doctor since our first visit in January... so we decided that before we do anything further we'd like to talk to him again.
We want to make sure that we are doing the best procedure that will give us a real viable opportunity to get pregnant... quickly.
Additionally, we realized that while we know that I've never ovulated... they have a good plan in place to make that happen for me, but from there - no one has any idea if my fallopian tubes are open - meaning that if we produce an egg... will it be able to meet us halfway on this deal?
We've never looked at that - which seems sort of odd... but when I suggested it to the nurse today - she thought it was a smart idea. Because, honestly - do we want to just spend the money on a shot in the dark - when in reality if something is wrong... we could have saved the money and applied it to the next bigger option (IVF). We just want to be good stewards of our money and be smart about how we go through this process.
If there isn't much hope that an IUI cycle will work - we don't want to go through that for several consecutive months... we'd rather just skip that step and move on... but either way - we want to understand what the doctor is thinking and how these decisions are being made... since we've only seen him once, and CLEARLY things get lost in translation between the nurses and me.
So as things stand right now:
- I am meeting with the nurse on Tuesday at lunch time to schedule the diagnostic tests that will tell them everything they need to know about my anatomy. Right now - I only know of the test to send dye through my fallopian tubes to check for blockage... but there could be others.
- I will have the tests done sometime in the next two weeks.
- On August 3rd, we will meet with the doctor at lunchtime to get our questions answered... and get everything ordered/set up for our cycle.
I feel so much more at peace about everything... at least we know that our doctor has made a good significant difference in the quality of John's test results - and for right now they've got my hormones holding steady.
There hasn't been any change on my "mystery illness" but I'm trying to hang in there... I talked to the nurse at the fertility doctor's office, and she said that they could test me for some things when I come in - but she didn't seem to indicate that a pregnancy test would be on that list of tests - so I'm going to put the idea of that to rest.
I just have a general distrust of home pregnancy tests because my mother once told me that she never tested positive at home when she was pregnant with me... so I just wonder if my hormones will be more faint when it does happen? I don't know - I'm sure technology has come a long way since 1977, but it's still just something that I'm unsure about. I think I'll always be more comfortable with blood tests - because I feel like they are much more sophisticated.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Successful Event
Yesterday, Shell came out to one of our centers and put on an incredible day for our youth - the day included workshops on application/resume writing, interviewing skills, and etiquette. They fed them a lovely catered lunch from one of our local Mexican restaurants... of course the fajitas were yummy... but it was cute to watch them teach the kids about eating soup properly.
The highlight of the day though - was something called the Drum Cafe. It is a workshop that teaches team building and community through the use of drums and making music together to become one sound. I've never had so much fun in all my life... and I didn't even get to drum! I was behind the camera but it was amazing to see our youth having such a good time hearing a message that was extremely relevant to them.
I'm still looking for a video of what the experience is like, and I'll share that with you when I can... but until then - here are a few pictures of the experience.
This is the set up - each person gets their own drum...
The facilitator... his facial expressions cracked me up...
Here he is telling the kids about becoming one community... one voice in music.
Getting the crowd pumped up again...
Here they go with another drum pattern...
The highlight of the day though - was something called the Drum Cafe. It is a workshop that teaches team building and community through the use of drums and making music together to become one sound. I've never had so much fun in all my life... and I didn't even get to drum! I was behind the camera but it was amazing to see our youth having such a good time hearing a message that was extremely relevant to them.
I'm still looking for a video of what the experience is like, and I'll share that with you when I can... but until then - here are a few pictures of the experience.
This is the set up - each person gets their own drum...
The facilitator... his facial expressions cracked me up...
Here he is telling the kids about becoming one community... one voice in music.
Getting the crowd pumped up again...
Here they go with another drum pattern... It is amazing to hear the sound that comes when all of the group gets going at the same rhythm. It was a very powerful experience for all of us, and our CEO immediately went and talked to them about the possibility of coming back and doing a program for our staff. I hope that they work that out - because I'd love to get to play along!
I think it was a day that those young people will remember for a long time - I know I will! I got about 500 pictures taken yesterday - my leg muscles are aching from all the crawling around I did to get the perfect shots... but I think that my boss and coworkers were pleased with the photos - so maybe that earned me the opportunity to get out and do a little more of the fun stuff that goes along with our part of the agency... it was the first time I'd gotten to see our flagship location - and it is truly a beautiful building right offering some great services in the heart of one of the worst parts of Houston.
I had no idea that we had a police storefront sitting right there in one of our buildings! It was a learning experience all the way around... and of course the ladies from Shell were a riot - I LOVED them!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
No Answers
I got fed up with these crazy symptoms that I have been having lately - and decided that I was going to get in to see my doctor today. John went with me... and we told him all about my crazy fatigue, nausea, temperature issues, muscle aches, and the like... to which he really had no answers for me. Weird thing about the nausea is that it is totally different than most other types of nausea... meaning that the only thing that makes it even remotely go away is food.
I was shocked that he tested nothing... no blood work... nothing! That is so unlike him... and I've gotten a battery of tests run for FAR less symptoms.
He said that it could be dehydration, a virus, a bad batch of thyroid medicine, or none of the above... basically he said:
* Take naps when needed - gee - thanks!
* Drink a ton of water - because I'm not drinking or using the restroom enough
* Change to brand name only thyroid medicine - done
* Change my vitamin to the Bariatric Advantage High ADEK formula... which I also got their Acidophilus pills as well... since I've been having some digestive problems... couldn't hurt. I've been eating those Activia formula yogurts and cheeses... with no real results - so we'll see if this helps.
* Call him back if I don't feel better within 10 days... UGH! TEN DAYS?! I can't survive like this for 10 more days...
* Good news was that my blood sugar levels haven't changed since the last time he took them - which means that my shots are hanging in there pretty well - and if I could get myself off of all this sugar - they'd probably be even better.
The only other thing I think I'm going to try for right now is to find a over the counter iron supplement - because there is ZERO iron in these new vitamins... any suggestions are welcomed...
Oh, and I'm going to go ahead and suck it up and take a pregnancy test - just to clear up any possibility that it might be the cause of my symptoms... but when I told the doctor about it - he didn't seem to think that was the root of these problems... even though EVERY one of them is a symptom.... but I know he's probably right. ** Updated to add - took two tests this morning - one had an error... and no dice. I needed a miracle, but it isn't to be this time around... which only serves to convince me more than something is wrong... ugh!
I won't be around all day today... I'll be at my all day photo shoot for work... so once we get home - I'll probably crash & burn very early... thank goodness for John's birthday present (the new NCAA Football 2010 video game) keeping him entertained tomorrow night...
He's been great tonight too though - as we all would expect - I've been planted on the couch and he won't let me get off. I had to sneak in to get the sheets out of the dryer and got in a little trouble for that. He takes such GOOD care of me!!
I was shocked that he tested nothing... no blood work... nothing! That is so unlike him... and I've gotten a battery of tests run for FAR less symptoms.
He said that it could be dehydration, a virus, a bad batch of thyroid medicine, or none of the above... basically he said:
* Take naps when needed - gee - thanks!
* Drink a ton of water - because I'm not drinking or using the restroom enough
* Change to brand name only thyroid medicine - done
* Change my vitamin to the Bariatric Advantage High ADEK formula... which I also got their Acidophilus pills as well... since I've been having some digestive problems... couldn't hurt. I've been eating those Activia formula yogurts and cheeses... with no real results - so we'll see if this helps.
* Call him back if I don't feel better within 10 days... UGH! TEN DAYS?! I can't survive like this for 10 more days...
* Good news was that my blood sugar levels haven't changed since the last time he took them - which means that my shots are hanging in there pretty well - and if I could get myself off of all this sugar - they'd probably be even better.
The only other thing I think I'm going to try for right now is to find a over the counter iron supplement - because there is ZERO iron in these new vitamins... any suggestions are welcomed...
Oh, and I'm going to go ahead and suck it up and take a pregnancy test - just to clear up any possibility that it might be the cause of my symptoms... but when I told the doctor about it - he didn't seem to think that was the root of these problems... even though EVERY one of them is a symptom.... but I know he's probably right. ** Updated to add - took two tests this morning - one had an error... and no dice. I needed a miracle, but it isn't to be this time around... which only serves to convince me more than something is wrong... ugh!
I won't be around all day today... I'll be at my all day photo shoot for work... so once we get home - I'll probably crash & burn very early... thank goodness for John's birthday present (the new NCAA Football 2010 video game) keeping him entertained tomorrow night...
He's been great tonight too though - as we all would expect - I've been planted on the couch and he won't let me get off. I had to sneak in to get the sheets out of the dryer and got in a little trouble for that. He takes such GOOD care of me!!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Romantic Dinner
As a part of our Love Dare - Day 18 is to make a special dinner for your spouse and go all out. Last night was John's dinner... and it was AH. MAZING.
Here I am ready to enjoy the dinner that John made. He used the china which has RARELY been used in our house since we got married...
John made: Kensington Club Marinated Pork Chops with Mango Salsa, Garlic Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Fresh Green Beans, and Garlic Cibatta Bread... recipes are going up on: Kim's Cuisine
For dessert we had Bananas Foster - minus the liquor...
Here I am ready to enjoy the dinner that John made. He used the china which has RARELY been used in our house since we got married...
John made: Kensington Club Marinated Pork Chops with Mango Salsa, Garlic Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Fresh Green Beans, and Garlic Cibatta Bread... recipes are going up on: Kim's Cuisine
For dessert we had Bananas Foster - minus the liquor...My dinner will be next Saturday... and I've got some mighty big shoes to fill... so I've got to get cracking on planning a menu. If anyone has any ideas of recipes to WOW my man with - shoot me an email!
Shopping
Interesting... but so FUN! John wanted to take me shopping for his birthday - so on Friday night we went to dinner and then to Dress Barn for a little shopping fun.
I guess he got tired of seeing me in the same pants day after day... so the goal was to get me some new pants, but then he always enjoys dressing me up - so I ended up with some shirts too.
This one cracks me up - it's more casual, but for John - who hates the color orange - it's a huge step outside of his box.
This is a sort of camo type pattern - but it goes really well with some of my new pants...
I really like this shirt - it's got a sort of ruffle or tiered thing happening at the bottom - and it has silver flowers really delicately making a pattern on the shirt
Another purple and green top that goes really well with several different pair of my work pants
These pants are green... and very comfy!
Brown pants that are exactly the same as the green ones...
I desperately needed some khaki pants to wear to work on Tuesday - so I am thrilled that I found some.
I have to wear this polo or another color one just like it on Tuesday to work... hence the need for the khaki pants - because I can't wear jeans.
I guess he got tired of seeing me in the same pants day after day... so the goal was to get me some new pants, but then he always enjoys dressing me up - so I ended up with some shirts too.
This one cracks me up - it's more casual, but for John - who hates the color orange - it's a huge step outside of his box.
This is a sort of camo type pattern - but it goes really well with some of my new pants...
I really like this shirt - it's got a sort of ruffle or tiered thing happening at the bottom - and it has silver flowers really delicately making a pattern on the shirt
Another purple and green top that goes really well with several different pair of my work pants
These pants are green... and very comfy!
Brown pants that are exactly the same as the green ones...
I desperately needed some khaki pants to wear to work on Tuesday - so I am thrilled that I found some.
I have to wear this polo or another color one just like it on Tuesday to work... hence the need for the khaki pants - because I can't wear jeans.On Tuesday, I'll be spending the entire day out at one of our neighborhood centers taking photos of a youth event being put on by Shell. They've got an entire program including the Drum Cafe - which I am REALLY excited to see. From what I hear it is a deal where they have leaders on stage with drums... everyone in the audience gets a drum at their seat and it's an entire program about following along and non-verbal communication... LOVE IT!
They'll be doing a fajita lunch for the kids complete with an etiquette lesson for them... but the whole day is geared toward resume writing, interviewing skills, non-verbal communication... and other basic skills kids will need to get a job. I think it will be a great experience... and of course I'm SUPER excited to spend the day out of the office doing something that I enjoy. (lets just hope that my energy level can hang in there...)
Sunday, July 12, 2009
John's Birthday
Yesterday was John's birthday... and what a lovely day... busy, but lovely.
To start off the day, John found out that he's now crossed the 100 pounds lost mark... which is simply amazing for 4 months and a week... I couldn't be more proud of him... he's been waking up everyday and doing his workout while I start getting ready. I don't know that I could get up at 5AM and workout... but it seems to be working really well for him.
After the weigh in - he went to a Men's Breakfast at our church - which he always enjoys... and while he was there - I went to the grocery store to get everything we needed for the week - along with the "party" supplies. I was able to rush home and get it all set up before he got home from the breakfast.
From there we had lunch at one of our favorite Mexican food restaurants - which is John's favorite food... we had lunch with his family - and spent a good part of the afternoon hanging out with them.
Here are some pictures of our afternoon with the family:
Miss Taylor acting silly...
Taylor and Brooklyn...
The "party"
Brooklyn slept through lunch at the restaurant... so Aunt Kim hooked her up.
John's cake
The girls and Susan helping him blow out the candles.
The girls helping open the gifts.
A new shirt!! (he got two and some pants) Very snazy too - he wore it to church today and it looked nice.
I got him several gifts that were "on paper" for the time being... I got him his new college football video game that we'll pick up on Tuesday when it comes in to the store. The dogs (don't laugh) got him an e-certificate for a new guitar strap...because he wants a longer one than the one he has. Finally - I made him the 12 months of gifts birthday... 
Brother-in-law silliness... Ryan and John... enough said.
John with the girls... Brooklyn showing her teefies...
John with the girls and Susan...
One of two photos that Taylor staged... she told everyone where to sit... very cute!
Here is the second of the shots she staged.
To start off the day, John found out that he's now crossed the 100 pounds lost mark... which is simply amazing for 4 months and a week... I couldn't be more proud of him... he's been waking up everyday and doing his workout while I start getting ready. I don't know that I could get up at 5AM and workout... but it seems to be working really well for him.
After the weigh in - he went to a Men's Breakfast at our church - which he always enjoys... and while he was there - I went to the grocery store to get everything we needed for the week - along with the "party" supplies. I was able to rush home and get it all set up before he got home from the breakfast.
From there we had lunch at one of our favorite Mexican food restaurants - which is John's favorite food... we had lunch with his family - and spent a good part of the afternoon hanging out with them.
Here are some pictures of our afternoon with the family:
Miss Taylor acting silly...
Taylor and Brooklyn...
The "party"
Brooklyn slept through lunch at the restaurant... so Aunt Kim hooked her up.
John's cake
The girls and Susan helping him blow out the candles.
The girls helping open the gifts.
A new shirt!! (he got two and some pants) Very snazy too - he wore it to church today and it looked nice.
I got him several gifts that were "on paper" for the time being... I got him his new college football video game that we'll pick up on Tuesday when it comes in to the store. The dogs (don't laugh) got him an e-certificate for a new guitar strap...because he wants a longer one than the one he has. Finally - I made him the 12 months of gifts birthday... July - a weekend where I will do all of the lawn work for him while he relaxes
August - a staycation... a day off where we go do something fun together
September - breakfast in bed on the Sunday after the first football game...
October - a weekend of all the football he wants to watch - without me complaining... (anyone that wants to go do a girl thing... let me know!!)
November - a staycation to the zoo or the George Ranch Historical Park
December - maid service
January - a movie marathon in our PJ's one Saturday
February - a special trip to a specialty grocery store and a romantic dinner prepared by the two of us... for our anniversary and Valentines Day
March - a staycation to the Houston Livestock Show
April - a Friday night date - dinner and a movie - or whatever he chooses
May - a staycation of fishing with me... where I'll actually fish!!
June - a shopping trip for new clothes
Brother-in-law silliness... Ryan and John... enough said.
John with the girls... Brooklyn showing her teefies...
John with the girls and Susan...
One of two photos that Taylor staged... she told everyone where to sit... very cute!
Here is the second of the shots she staged.The family left around 4:15 or so - and we left at 4:30 to meet our Worship Pastor at our church. We went on an outing to visit a large church in our area to see how they run their worship service... it was a BIG production, but overall we had a good time seeing something different. From there we went to have pizza with Justin and Kacy - and it was fun to just get to hang out and chat with them too... they are a lovely couple. I look forward to spending more time with them in the future.
That's about it for our activities yesterday... I hung in there pretty good - but my energy level is seriously low. So I'm thinking that a doctor's visit might be on the horizon for this week.
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