Home Sweet Home

I've just returned from a week-long 'theories of leadership' class in Virginia. It was a beautiful area and I learned a lot but I missed PC and the dog and the comforts of home. Blogging has become a form of stress relief for me, but I have not found the time here lately & hope to do better. In the IF world, there is little to say. AF has not been around since April 14th... no, I was hopeful too, but a blood test before I left for VA confirmed a level 2 hCG:[ So, who knows what's going on? I've had two acupuncture treatments in the mean time. Tomorrow, I'm going to call the OB/Gyn for a prescription to induce a cycle and go from there. In other news, my mini-garden grew while I was gone & I cut fresh peppers to go on a pizza today! And my "home vacation" starts tomorrow. Well, almost. I'm keeping my nieces tomorrow and so it will be a busy-but-fun day. While I was gone, PC took up an unusual hobby that he couldn't wait for me to "try out" last night. Before that sparks any interest, let me clarify... it involved a flashlight and a pellet gun. Our neighbors, who are also close relatives, have a pond beside our house full of bellowing bullfrogs that keep PC up at night. I sleep through anything so they don't bother me. But PC is on a mission to go down by the pond at dark, shine a light on unsuspecting amphibians & aim!!! And there's one- the ONE- that is making the loudest noise of all... and he's clever, always out of sight but making sure you know he's still around. And this is why women should not travel & leave their husbands behind for more than a day or two:]

I Love Summer!

Even though it's not officially here, we've had temps in the 90's recently & it is a good "taste" of the coming weeks! I love summer time. The smells, flip flops, plants, sweet tea on the porch, garage sales... ahhhhh, things that make me happy! PC & I just came in a few minutes ago. We've been spending a lot of time with C outside on the back deck late at night. (C does not share my joy of summer- he is one miserable puppy!) We don't have plans for a summer vacation, but I'm going to make a list and make my own "home vacation!" BTW, we've both decided not to go through IVF in July. Just doesn't feel like the right time- we both feel good about the decision & I'm just hoping & praying my reproductive system will agree & hold out at least another year!

Summer Home Vacation To-Do's
1. Have one yardsale/clean out
2. Take care of mini- garden
3. Teach C a new trick
4. Go to a drive-in movie w/ PC
5. Go for several country Jeep drives
6. Keep organizing stuff
7. Make a cookbook from recipes from PC's granny (passed away last year)
8. Sleep late
9. Finish 2 grad. classes
10. Earn x-tra $$$

The Perfect Planner

Every year, I live by my planner. I would be so lost without it. I'm always searching for the perfect planner and on a organizational mission and a couple of weeks ago I came across the At A Glance Lifelinks planner. I know this verges on OCD, but for all of you out there with type A personalities... check out this planner! It just came through the mail today and I am so excited (yeah, that's sad!). If I have to go through IVF this summer, at least I'm going to know where I'm supposed to be and when I'm supposed to be there:] Hopefully.

Sun & Sand & Good Friends

Today I returned from a weekend beach get-away with four good girlfriends. Not much time to blog this month because of work demands, planning a b-day party for my mom and just being busy in general. I hope to do better! I needed this weekend. Being with close friends and putting everyday routines "on hold" is good medicine! Even though I had a few seconds of self-pity/sadness when the discussion turned to all about their kids, it was short-lived. They all know my struggles & I just turned it into humor if they asked or it was part of the conversation. Within our group, we all have struggles... some more than others with marriage, finances, health and the friend I've known the longest, "Ed" faces challenges that none of us can understand as she helps her son overcome Autism and reach goals that others take for granted. Our relationships recognize the struggles but we mostly live in the moment of talking about things that totally give us a mental break. The sun and sand and time with friends was therapy. BTW, I did miss PC:]

Next Steps

Dr. S went over my last test results today. I do not have PCOS, but I seem to always have a thick endometrial lining no matter what day of my cycle it is. Dr. S wants to find out if there's anything to that (she mentioned cancer- no stress there!) and, if not, it looks like IVF is around the corner for us! Another ultrasound today confirmed that the cyst ruptured and a follicle size 2.9 is on the right side and the technician said I had 2 eggs. Dr. S was concerned that was a low count. I also had blood drawn (of course) to check hormone levels. OK- so I thought I had read and researched just about everything in the whole baby making process and I'm still confused. Why is there a follicle there at this point in the cycle (day 28)? Is that the same as a corpus luteum (sp?)? How does she "see" eggs? So, I commented "does everything from the u/s confirm that I'm definitely not pregnant?" To which she answered "no." Complicated is an understatement. So, that's where I'm at/where I'm headed in the next few weeks & now I'm ready to post about things that are not so complicated!