Q: What's your daily schedule / routine like?
It really varies from day to day. I help with our school's extended day program, which keeps me there until 5-5:30 on Tuesday's. Besides that, it looks like this:
6:30 Wake up, shower (if I was too lazy to do it the night before :))
7:20 Leave the house
7:40-7:45 Arrive at school
8:00 Pick up kiddos
8:50 Our PE time; my planning time
9:30 Get kiddos from PE; start reading block
11:20 Lunch; usually microwave something if I can find the time; if not, just ruffage I got from my home fridge that morning. :)
11:50 Bathroom, take a break, get a few minutes outside if possible; the kids AND I need this time!
12:15 Teach until about 2 (math and social studies/science); pack up, snack, leave after that
2:30 Kids are gone, my planning/knocking stuff off of the to do list time until 3:15
3:15-3:30 Head home, clean, cook (if needed)
5:30 Noah's home; dinner, catch up on DVR shows
6:30 Usually blog design work time; depends on the night though. I usually do this average of about an hour a night (usually answering emails) I blog during this time too.
7:30 TV/spending time with Noah, blog reading time
9:30-10 Bed
Q: How often do you vacuum?? As a fellow beagle owner, your house always looks hair free-- it appears you are having fantastic luck with their "constant hair shedding and sticking to everything" coat. I'd love some advice!!
I thought this question was so funny! Yes, if you have a beagle, you know that they are THE best dogs on earth (well mannered, calm, sweet as can be, good with kids, aren't aggressive)...but they shed more than ANY other dog! I'm talking a coat of hair on everything in your house...literally. Oh, if you don't have a layer of dog hair on everything you own, be thankful. Anyway, I digress...
We have a Dyson...which we bought very shortly after Hardy arrived, by coincidence. :) We actually got an awesome deal on it...our old vacuum had just broken, and Noah's one of those that cruises Craig's List for deals every day. Well, this day he just happened to see a Dyson for $100. Luckily, we were the first to call about it, and we got it! I'm telling you, if you pay full price, it's WORTH it. I've never had a vacuum that gets stuff up like this one! I need to take a picture of the sheer amount of dog hair I vacuum weekly (and consistently, every week)...it's probably the size of a grapefruit maybe? Easily...maybe even like a soccer ball. It's an OBSCENE amount of hair. Now, I know that's not all dog hair...but it's got to be most of it. (I know this is gross...but the question was asked! Ha!)
Anyway, just vacuum all the time, and brush your dog's coat...it's helped us a ton! You would never guess the out-of-control shedding if you didn't know.
Q: What program do you use for blog design?
When I first started designing, I had a PC. So, I started with Corel Paint Shop Pro, which I LOVED. But, I moved to a Mac around April of last year (which is the best technological switch I ever made!) and they didn't have the Corel program for Mac. I was upset about it at first, but decided to just switch to Photoshop Elements 8. It was kind of hard to get used to at first, but I am REALLY loving the changes! I think it makes cleaner edits, and is so much quicker (probably thanks to a quicker running computer!). With any software you buy, there's going to be a transition period...just stick to it, learn a piece of software really well, and you'll figure it out! The best thing you can do with a new program is just trial and error...play with it until you learn it. (And PS - you can download both of those programs for a free trial at download.com!)
Q: How did you learn how to do blog design?
I have a minor in Computer Technology from college, in which I took 1 or 2 classes about html design. That gave me a good foundation for what I do today.
I started my own blog in April 2009. I was looking for one of those free blog designs (because I've always been cheap!), and just couldn't find one that I really liked...I'm really particular about those kinds of things. So I got to looking at professional designs. I didn't want to pay the price for those, but wanted the look...so I started experimenting. I made a header first, then started playing with how to make the blog look like those professional designs...I finally perfected my code (after about 3 months of work!). I've got screen shots of all of my old blogs somewhere...I'll have to put them up one day!
In that time, April (who I went to high school with) asked me to redo her blog. I'll never forget having NO clue how much to charge her, because I had never done something like this before. She was my first customer! A little bit later, her sister Allison asked me to redo her's too...and the rest is history! There for awhile I just had a page on this blog of my prices and kits. I changed to its own blog about 6 months after I started doing design, then added a whole website look a few months later.
If you're trying to learn how to change things on your blog, my best advice is to just play with the code until what you want to happen, happens! That's how I learned what I'm doing.
Q: What is your favorite thing about teaching?
Oh, has to be my babies. I LOVE being a first grade teacher. It's the perfect age - they are old enough to know how to tie their shoe, not cry when mom leaves, know when they need to use the bathroom (ha!), but they aren't old enough to have the attitudes, to know TOO much for their own good...and I love the curriculum I get to teach them. I couldn't have hand-picked a more perfect grade!
I also LOVE my school. I work at a magnet school. It started the year I started teaching. I couldn't have been more lucky/blessed...I got the first interview I went on (technically the second...if you went to Alabama, I had my RED day interview, then this one, and got the job). Seriously, especially in this economy, I am fully aware that I was a gift from GOD that not only did I get the first interview, but I got the perfect school. I work at a school that is completely trusting of its teachers, has an incredible technology support, and has the most awesome students ever. Seriously, I have my dream job. I love it!
Q: What is your couponing style?
I thought this was an interesting question...I had to think about it a little bit! I'd say my couponing style is one that sustains me and my family. I know there are a lot out there that buy like 40 jars of Ragu for a family of 4 to eat in 3 months (not naming any shows, or anything)...I think that it just plain ridiculous. If I can't use that item before it goes in sale again, I don't buy it...simple as that. I know there are a lot that donate to soup kitchens, and I really respect that...to be honest, it's been something I've been meaning to look into, and just haven't. But with my couponing, I buy what we can use, and no more (or at least I try not to). There are times I throw things out, but who doesn't?
Q: I have been couponing for about 4 months but get so scattered in the store with sales and coupons and deals but how do you come up with meal ideas? rather than just deals??
I answered this a few weeks ago, but I'll be glad to do it again...it's a good question! :) I just basically keep a running list (in my head really) of foods we have. I divide it into carbs/starches, veggies, and meats. Just pair one of each in all three of those categories together, and you've got a meal! For example, last week, I had a couple boxes of whole grain rice, a couple boxes of frozen shrimp scampi, and a couple boxes frozen carrots...mix all of that, and you've got a meal. I also keep a good stock of pasta/sauce, and you can mix most meats into that. Just try to cover all food groups, and you usually have a pretty decent meal!
The trick is to keep a stockpile of items to choose from. Then, you can just really "shop" from your pantry. Get lots of non-perishable (but healthy!) items, and you can't go wrong!
GREAT Diapers Deal on Amazon!
I know a lot of people that read here are all about saving money, so I had to post this!
Right now you can get the BIG box of Pampers (150-216 ct., depending on the size) for as low as about $10 on Amazon! I went on and bought 2 of these...it's never too early to start getting prepared! And since I used Swagbucks gift cards to make an Amazon purchase, this was almost like getting these for FREE!
Here's how you do it:
1. You need 2 coupons: 1 was a "$10 off Amazon baby" coupon that was in Fit Pregnancy recently, and a "20% off Amazon baby" from Parents Magazine this past December. If you don't get those magazines, you can buy the coupons from ebay (just search for $10 off Amazon and 20% off Amazon, and you'll see it). I think I paid around $7 for each set of these coupons, so it might raise your price a little, but still an incredible deal! And yes, you can stack the coupons on Amazon. They should look something like this:
2. When you get the code off of the coupons (my sellers just emailed it to me), google "Amazon mom." It'll take you to a page where you can sign up for Amazon mom, and save 15% off of this order.
3. Find your diapers on Amazon. When you get to the page for your diapers, don't click "Add to Cart"...click the subscribe and save over on the right. That saves you another 30%. I set it for every 6 months...that way I can just cancel it later, and I have plenty of time.
4. When you get to your cart, there should be a spot on the right for "Add Promotional Codes" (or something like that)...this is where you put in your two coupons. I don't know if it made a difference, but I put in the 20% off first. Once you put both of those in, you should have your pack of diapers somewhere around $10!
I think you can only do one of these deals per account, so I did one on mine and one on Noah's account. Worked great! Hope this helps some of y'all!
Right now you can get the BIG box of Pampers (150-216 ct., depending on the size) for as low as about $10 on Amazon! I went on and bought 2 of these...it's never too early to start getting prepared! And since I used Swagbucks gift cards to make an Amazon purchase, this was almost like getting these for FREE!
Here's how you do it:
1. You need 2 coupons: 1 was a "$10 off Amazon baby" coupon that was in Fit Pregnancy recently, and a "20% off Amazon baby" from Parents Magazine this past December. If you don't get those magazines, you can buy the coupons from ebay (just search for $10 off Amazon and 20% off Amazon, and you'll see it). I think I paid around $7 for each set of these coupons, so it might raise your price a little, but still an incredible deal! And yes, you can stack the coupons on Amazon. They should look something like this:
2. When you get the code off of the coupons (my sellers just emailed it to me), google "Amazon mom." It'll take you to a page where you can sign up for Amazon mom, and save 15% off of this order.
3. Find your diapers on Amazon. When you get to the page for your diapers, don't click "Add to Cart"...click the subscribe and save over on the right. That saves you another 30%. I set it for every 6 months...that way I can just cancel it later, and I have plenty of time.
4. When you get to your cart, there should be a spot on the right for "Add Promotional Codes" (or something like that)...this is where you put in your two coupons. I don't know if it made a difference, but I put in the 20% off first. Once you put both of those in, you should have your pack of diapers somewhere around $10!
I think you can only do one of these deals per account, so I did one on mine and one on Noah's account. Worked great! Hope this helps some of y'all!
Q&A Post
Ok, since I've been inspired by a few other Q&A posts done lately, and I did a grocery Q&A last week, I'm going to do a general Q&A post this week!
What questions do you have for me? I'll answer all questions within reason. :) Submit them by Friday night, and I'll do a post with the answers sometime this weekend!
What questions do you have for me? I'll answer all questions within reason. :) Submit them by Friday night, and I'll do a post with the answers sometime this weekend!
...aannd Another Round of Tests
I went in yesterday morning for my latest round of blood draws. I could do without those every Tuesday morning. :) I have really little veins apparently, and they're always hard to find. We have one on my left arm...it's funny, the sweet nurse at my RE office remembers that every time! She never even tries for another one, there's no point.
But, my levels looked great again yesterday! My progesterone is at 37.5. The range you need with a medicated cycle is 15-90, so that's really good...I'm happy with it! With my first pregnancy, it was at 24 right after I found out (at around 4 weeks), so as long as it hangs out where it is right now, I'd be ok with that. I'm still going to request they test it (and frequently) if I am pregnant...big thanks to those of y'all on here that game me that head's up.
As far as symptoms go right now, y'all, I don't even know anymore. You name it, it's sore (if you know what I mean). Combine that with fatigue, having to use the bathroom like constantly (seriously, I timed it Sunday night...every 18 minutes or so for hours), heartburn...and you're probably thinking what I'm thinking. :) It's way too early to have pregnancy symptoms, I know that, and I know it's all in my head, but I can't help but wonder when I'm having just about every symptom in the book. I think it probably has a lot to do with my progesterone being higher than normal.
So now, we wait...some more. I should be able to test mid to late next week!
But, my levels looked great again yesterday! My progesterone is at 37.5. The range you need with a medicated cycle is 15-90, so that's really good...I'm happy with it! With my first pregnancy, it was at 24 right after I found out (at around 4 weeks), so as long as it hangs out where it is right now, I'd be ok with that. I'm still going to request they test it (and frequently) if I am pregnant...big thanks to those of y'all on here that game me that head's up.
As far as symptoms go right now, y'all, I don't even know anymore. You name it, it's sore (if you know what I mean). Combine that with fatigue, having to use the bathroom like constantly (seriously, I timed it Sunday night...every 18 minutes or so for hours), heartburn...and you're probably thinking what I'm thinking. :) It's way too early to have pregnancy symptoms, I know that, and I know it's all in my head, but I can't help but wonder when I'm having just about every symptom in the book. I think it probably has a lot to do with my progesterone being higher than normal.
So now, we wait...some more. I should be able to test mid to late next week!
Grocery Shopping Q&A
Like I said earlier, I get questions all the time in comments on my posts, and I am TERRIBLE at remembering to answer them! I thought this would be a great way to combine them all into one, and it would be easier for everybody to see.
Q: Do you have to drive all over town buying things at different stores in order to stock up on what you need and to take advantage of all of the coupons?
A: No! The best way to do it is to pick 1 or two stores (1 grocery store, 1 drug store) that you concentrate on. That way, you can really get to know their policies, their sale cycles, etc. This also works well for drug stores, since you won't have to keep up with a MILLION different rewards cards/coupons! My two (right now) are Publix and Walgreens...the drug store changes every once in a while. I also suggest focusing on 1 or 2 coupon websites to use at these stores. Y'all probably know mine are southernsavers.com and iheartpublix.com. I'll occasionally check other sites, but these are my go-to's!
Q: How do you meal plan and how do you use what you've bought in order to make meals that make sense?
A: This is a tricky one...you have to get creative sometimes! The best way I've found to do it is this: separate your meats, carbs (like rice, potatoes, bread), and veggies into categories. I don't have a specific spreadsheet or organization method or anything like that, I just kind of keep a running record in my head of what I have. When it comes time to plan your menu for the week, pick one meat, one carb, and one veggie...voila! You have a dinner. You usually always have a pretty good stock of all of these if you coupon regularly, so it's not hard to find ones that go well with each other.
Q: Where do you get the coupons you use?
A: I have two main places I use for coupons - the Sunday paper, and the internet. Here's what you do - start saving the coupon inserts (there are usually two, sometimes more, sometimes less) from your Sunday paper every week. It takes a month or two to get a decent stock. Then, use a website like the ones I mentioned above to match the sales at the grocery stores every week to what coupons you have. These sites give links to the internet coupons you can get - it couldn't get easier! Probably 90% of the coupons I use come from the paper or the internet. I also look at the kiosks at the front of the stores for coupon books...sometimes they have some, sometimes they don't. You can look for "blinkies" (the coupon dispensers in the store) and tearpads in stores too...I'll do this if I see a product I use, but not very often.
Q: Where did you get the Publix coupons for the Cottonelle?
A: This was one of the coupons I got from the front kiosk in the store. There is a bright blue pamphlet that's titled "Start Your Year Out With Savings" that has the paper coupons and rebate info! It was a great deal!
Q: Why do your internet coupons double?
A: Different stores have different policies on what coupons double (if any). I know most Publix stores around here double any coupon (including internet) up to 50 cents. So, a 40 cent coupon is actually worth a lot more at Publix than a 55 cent coupon! But check with your particular store for their policy, especially concerning internet printables. I'm pretty sure Wal-Mart won't even take internet printables around here...it just really depends on the store. That's why it's a good idea to get really familiar with one or two stores!
If you have any more questions, send them my way! If I have enough, I'll make another post for the new questions. :)
Q: Do you have to drive all over town buying things at different stores in order to stock up on what you need and to take advantage of all of the coupons?
A: No! The best way to do it is to pick 1 or two stores (1 grocery store, 1 drug store) that you concentrate on. That way, you can really get to know their policies, their sale cycles, etc. This also works well for drug stores, since you won't have to keep up with a MILLION different rewards cards/coupons! My two (right now) are Publix and Walgreens...the drug store changes every once in a while. I also suggest focusing on 1 or 2 coupon websites to use at these stores. Y'all probably know mine are southernsavers.com and iheartpublix.com. I'll occasionally check other sites, but these are my go-to's!
Q: How do you meal plan and how do you use what you've bought in order to make meals that make sense?
A: This is a tricky one...you have to get creative sometimes! The best way I've found to do it is this: separate your meats, carbs (like rice, potatoes, bread), and veggies into categories. I don't have a specific spreadsheet or organization method or anything like that, I just kind of keep a running record in my head of what I have. When it comes time to plan your menu for the week, pick one meat, one carb, and one veggie...voila! You have a dinner. You usually always have a pretty good stock of all of these if you coupon regularly, so it's not hard to find ones that go well with each other.
Q: Where do you get the coupons you use?
A: I have two main places I use for coupons - the Sunday paper, and the internet. Here's what you do - start saving the coupon inserts (there are usually two, sometimes more, sometimes less) from your Sunday paper every week. It takes a month or two to get a decent stock. Then, use a website like the ones I mentioned above to match the sales at the grocery stores every week to what coupons you have. These sites give links to the internet coupons you can get - it couldn't get easier! Probably 90% of the coupons I use come from the paper or the internet. I also look at the kiosks at the front of the stores for coupon books...sometimes they have some, sometimes they don't. You can look for "blinkies" (the coupon dispensers in the store) and tearpads in stores too...I'll do this if I see a product I use, but not very often.
Q: Where did you get the Publix coupons for the Cottonelle?
A: This was one of the coupons I got from the front kiosk in the store. There is a bright blue pamphlet that's titled "Start Your Year Out With Savings" that has the paper coupons and rebate info! It was a great deal!
Q: Why do your internet coupons double?
A: Different stores have different policies on what coupons double (if any). I know most Publix stores around here double any coupon (including internet) up to 50 cents. So, a 40 cent coupon is actually worth a lot more at Publix than a 55 cent coupon! But check with your particular store for their policy, especially concerning internet printables. I'm pretty sure Wal-Mart won't even take internet printables around here...it just really depends on the store. That's why it's a good idea to get really familiar with one or two stores!
If you have any more questions, send them my way! If I have enough, I'll make another post for the new questions. :)
Halftime
Clomid was a nightmare. I took my last pill Friday night...thank the LORD! I think I had every symptom I've heard of with it...hot flashes (I'm talking hot, to cold, back to hot within minutes), moodiness (Noah asked if I had made my sacrifice to the demon gods one day...it was that bad), fatigue, and cramping.
But I think it might have done its job...
I went for me surge appointment this morning. This is going to sound like I'm speaking in Chinese to most of you, but here are my stats:
Estradiol: 1133
Progesterone: 0.9 (I know that means I haven't ovulated yet.)
LH: 14.5
I also had my ultrasound...I had one HUGE follicle on the right (31mm!), and one huge but smaller follicle on the left (I think it was around 25-27...I can't remember for sure). She said the bigger one could be a cyst, and from what I'm reading online she might be right (even though I had no cyst on that side at my baseline appt). But if both of those were eggs? HOLY COW! Those sound great. They didn't have to give me my trigger shot because the follicles were already so big. I had a positive ovulation test tonight, so I'm thinking it's going to be super soon!
So I kind of feel like we're in halftime of this cycle. I've done my job for the first part, and the second half is the long, agonizing wait of it all. :)
I'm feeling super super positive about this cycle right now! I think it's just knowing we're doing everything we (humanly) can, and leaving the rest of it to God. That feels good.
That being said, y'all are welcome to be armchair quarterbacks here. I'm still new to this whole hormone level thing/follicle thing, so let me know what experiences you've had with these numbers!
But I think it might have done its job...
I went for me surge appointment this morning. This is going to sound like I'm speaking in Chinese to most of you, but here are my stats:
Estradiol: 1133
Progesterone: 0.9 (I know that means I haven't ovulated yet.)
LH: 14.5
I also had my ultrasound...I had one HUGE follicle on the right (31mm!), and one huge but smaller follicle on the left (I think it was around 25-27...I can't remember for sure). She said the bigger one could be a cyst, and from what I'm reading online she might be right (even though I had no cyst on that side at my baseline appt). But if both of those were eggs? HOLY COW! Those sound great. They didn't have to give me my trigger shot because the follicles were already so big. I had a positive ovulation test tonight, so I'm thinking it's going to be super soon!
So I kind of feel like we're in halftime of this cycle. I've done my job for the first part, and the second half is the long, agonizing wait of it all. :)
I'm feeling super super positive about this cycle right now! I think it's just knowing we're doing everything we (humanly) can, and leaving the rest of it to God. That feels good.
That being said, y'all are welcome to be armchair quarterbacks here. I'm still new to this whole hormone level thing/follicle thing, so let me know what experiences you've had with these numbers!
HSG and The Devil's Drug
Ok, let me start with Clomid, since I started it Monday night. At first, it wasn't that bad. I had no symptoms whatsoever until last night. All that was is that I got a little warm...but it being January and extremely cold for Alabama, that's saying something right now. I can deal with that part.
This morning, I woke up ON THE WARPATH. I did have an unfortunate event that kind of set me off this morning, but we all have those...I just haven't been able to shake it today. Girls, you can relate - you know that bad mood during PMS that isn't really caused by anything, but it's there anyway? Imagine that, times 10. That's been my day today. (So that being said - you might want to steer clear of me this week - ha!)
I am NOT happy with this pill right now. I can't stand being so grumpy and hormonal. But if this is what it takes to get our baby home, I'll deal with it as long as it takes! Does anybody know how long the symptoms last? Like, if I'm only taking it through Friday, will the symptoms go away Friday, or is this a long-term thing?
(image courtesy advancedfertility.com)
This isn't my HSG from yesterday, but this is very similar to what I saw. I was not expecting what this whole thing entailed.
I had to be through Outpatient at Brookwood Medical in Birmingham, even though it's only an x-ray. But I get why now. (This might be TMI...) They basically inject everything in that region with a radioactive dye that shows up on an x-ray to make sure everything is flowing right and everything is shaped normally. The doctor explained it to me the best way I've heard - basically, you can get pregnant fairly easily with an abnormal uterus, but the blood flow to an abnormal septum isn't normal if something is shaped oddly, and the baby can miscarry because of malnutrition due to lack of blood flow.
Luckily, this isn't the case for us. Everything is working just fine! :) Shaped normally, normal flow to everything. That's the nice part of it. Not so nice part is that it HURT! That dye they inject is extremely painful...especially when they are actually running the x-ray. It took everything I had not to come off the table. And I was VERY crampy all day after that yesterday. It wasn't fun, but at least we know that this isn't the deal.
Part of me says "yay...I'm normal!" but part of me is stillsaying screaming "what is wrong with me!" I'm trying to ward off the fears that it's a chromosomal problem, but we're not even crossing that bridge if we don't have to...i.e. if we don't have another miscarriage. Right now, I'm just hoping I can make it through this month without being committed to Bryce. :)
(SORRY if this is a grumpy post -but this is the not so pretty part of it. I'm trying to document all of this...the good, the bad, and the ugly! Y'all are troopers for staying here through the ugly part. :)
I had to be through Outpatient at Brookwood Medical in Birmingham, even though it's only an x-ray. But I get why now. (This might be TMI...) They basically inject everything in that region with a radioactive dye that shows up on an x-ray to make sure everything is flowing right and everything is shaped normally. The doctor explained it to me the best way I've heard - basically, you can get pregnant fairly easily with an abnormal uterus, but the blood flow to an abnormal septum isn't normal if something is shaped oddly, and the baby can miscarry because of malnutrition due to lack of blood flow.
Luckily, this isn't the case for us. Everything is working just fine! :) Shaped normally, normal flow to everything. That's the nice part of it. Not so nice part is that it HURT! That dye they inject is extremely painful...especially when they are actually running the x-ray. It took everything I had not to come off the table. And I was VERY crampy all day after that yesterday. It wasn't fun, but at least we know that this isn't the deal.
Part of me says "yay...I'm normal!" but part of me is still
(SORRY if this is a grumpy post -but this is the not so pretty part of it. I'm trying to document all of this...the good, the bad, and the ugly! Y'all are troopers for staying here through the ugly part. :)
Our (Sort-Of) Snow Days...And A Recipe!
We've been dealing with a bunch of wintry MESS here for the past few days! It started Sunday as snow/freezing rain, was still around yesterday, and refroze last night. I haven't worked since Friday - so those weather days are GONE. Y'all just say a prayer that it doesn't do this again, or we'll be in school until July!
We probably had 1-2" of snow in our flower beds! There was just a nasty, slushy dusting on everything else though. Not even enough to play in...boo! And what was there was just a solid block of ice.
I also tried a new soup yesterday! My grandmother made vegetable beef soup all the time when we were younger, but I had never made it. I looked up a few recipes online for ideas, and made my own recipe...I think it turned out pretty good!
Vegetable Beef Soup
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can cut green beans
1 28oz can diced tomatoes
1 small bag carrots, diced
1 46 oz bottle V8 (I used hot and spicy V8 for a little kick!)
1 tbsp. chicken bullion powder
1 tbsp. salt
2 tbsp. pepper
2 lbs. ground beef
1 small/medium onion
Dump the corn, green beans, tomatoes, and V8 in the crock pot (don't drain the cans!). Add salt, pepper, and chicken bullion...mix together. Cover the carrots in water in a medium bowl and put them in the microwave for about 5 minutes to soften them up. Add these (water and all).
Put onion in a skillet for a few minutes to soften up. Add ground beef and brown. Drain most of the fat off of the ground beef (not all - it adds some flavor to keep some of the fat!). Add to crock pot.
Cook on low for 8 hours. Enjoy!
PS - If y'all don't mind, say a prayer for us today - my HSG is this afternoon in Birmingham, and the roads are still a mess up there! I'll update about that (and starting Clomid!) later on.
PS - If y'all don't mind, say a prayer for us today - my HSG is this afternoon in Birmingham, and the roads are still a mess up there! I'll update about that (and starting Clomid!) later on.
My Funny Puppy
I had to share this one...
So Hardy has started this thing where he LOVES to get scratched on the back. It's his favorite. Last night, I was doing it, and he out of nowhere starts chomping his teeth when I do it! I thought it was so funny.
Sure enough, he's still doing it today. Watch!
I just can't get enough of this guy!
Nothing
We got the results back from the million tests we had done last week...
Nothing. As far as non-chromosomal issues go (which we opted to not have done), we're as healthy as horses. The only thing that came back at all abnormal was that my Vitamin D level was low (which can affect fertility). The nurse said most people had a low Vitamin D level, so it wasn't a huge deal, but they are putting me on a supplement for the next 6 weeks. But blood clotting, thyroid, all of Noah's counts are perfectly normal.
I don't know how I feel about that. I wanted something that we could pinpoint, something we could "fix." I've very quickly learned over the past 6 months that I'm a fixer...and it frustrates me to no end if I can't fix it. Obviously, God's got a lesson in this one for me. It's just a hard pill to swallow at this point. But, the good news is we're looking at a 70% chance of having a healthy pregnancy next time if we take absolutely no medical action, and we are taking medical action. You figure that has to improve our chances!
As of today, we're officially headed into our first Clomid cycle. I start the Clomid (more than likely) Sunday. I know it's really weird that I'm on Clomid, because I'm obviously ovulating on my own and very consistently, but the doctor says this can improve the overall quality of everything (so this can cancel out the egg quality factor, if that's the problem). Anybody that's ever been on Clomid knows what's about to happen...a lot of blood work, a lot of ultrasounds, a lot of monitoring. I'm willing to do it ALL if that's what it takes to get our baby home!
I'm also having an HSG done probably next week. I'm just not sure that's the issue, because I haven't had issues getting pregnant, but I'm willing to try anything at this point. But, it more than likely means missing MORE work. Y'all, I can't tell you how guilty this makes me. I've missed SO much work from all of this this year, and it's just not fair to my babies. Not to mention that my principal is a SAINT for not being mad about all of this. I just don't need any more reason to feel like I can't get ahead right now, you know?
I do have a good feeling about this month though. If it almost works without any medical help, it has to work with medical help, right?
Nothing. As far as non-chromosomal issues go (which we opted to not have done), we're as healthy as horses. The only thing that came back at all abnormal was that my Vitamin D level was low (which can affect fertility). The nurse said most people had a low Vitamin D level, so it wasn't a huge deal, but they are putting me on a supplement for the next 6 weeks. But blood clotting, thyroid, all of Noah's counts are perfectly normal.
I don't know how I feel about that. I wanted something that we could pinpoint, something we could "fix." I've very quickly learned over the past 6 months that I'm a fixer...and it frustrates me to no end if I can't fix it. Obviously, God's got a lesson in this one for me. It's just a hard pill to swallow at this point. But, the good news is we're looking at a 70% chance of having a healthy pregnancy next time if we take absolutely no medical action, and we are taking medical action. You figure that has to improve our chances!
As of today, we're officially headed into our first Clomid cycle. I start the Clomid (more than likely) Sunday. I know it's really weird that I'm on Clomid, because I'm obviously ovulating on my own and very consistently, but the doctor says this can improve the overall quality of everything (so this can cancel out the egg quality factor, if that's the problem). Anybody that's ever been on Clomid knows what's about to happen...a lot of blood work, a lot of ultrasounds, a lot of monitoring. I'm willing to do it ALL if that's what it takes to get our baby home!
I'm also having an HSG done probably next week. I'm just not sure that's the issue, because I haven't had issues getting pregnant, but I'm willing to try anything at this point. But, it more than likely means missing MORE work. Y'all, I can't tell you how guilty this makes me. I've missed SO much work from all of this this year, and it's just not fair to my babies. Not to mention that my principal is a SAINT for not being mad about all of this. I just don't need any more reason to feel like I can't get ahead right now, you know?
I do have a good feeling about this month though. If it almost works without any medical help, it has to work with medical help, right?
Orlando
We just got back from Orlando for New Year's and the bowl game...what a fun trip!
We drove in on Thursday night and stayed with Noah's parents and brother in Lake City, FL. They were on the way to the Mississippi State bowl game in Jacksonville (my brother in law is a senior at Mississippi State). We were both trying to break up a REALLY long trip, so it worked out pretty well!
On Friday, we got up and drove into Orlando. We ate at this CUTE little place in an Orlando suburb called Dexter's. It had really good, fun food too!
This was our appetizer...brie on french bread with apples, strawberries, and sliced almonds. Awesome!
We were absolute LOSERS for New Year's...we went to a cute Italian place that night, then came back to the room and watched stand-up comedians for the rest of the night. Party animals, I know. It was fun just laying around!
Saturday was our gameday, so we got going early. Noah's other brother and his wife came in for the game. They live in Daytona Beach, so it's not far for them at all, and it's the first time this year they've had a chance to see Alabama play!
Obviously the game was INCREDIBLE...we had no clue it would be that much of a blowout! Unfortunately, neither did the Michigan State fans around us either...they weren't too happy with us. It was still a good time. :) (And besides the State fans right around us, all of the other ones were VERY nice...we were impressed!)
After sushi Saturday night (can you tell this was a food-centered trip?), we laid low again Saturday. We had to get up early for the LONG drive Sunday.
It was a great weekend!
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