Monday, February 25, 2013

Our Journey Part 4

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3



FINALLY the day arrived!!!

I was so nervous. We had been fasting and praying, and my stomach was in KNOTS.

Jace less so. He didnt think we were pregnant. He told me so a few nights earlier. I was really mad at him. "Have faith man! Seriously."

We didnt know if Jace could get the time off to come with me...so once again I took my mom. Its nice to have the support, when you dont know quite what to expect. Turns out Jace made it on his lunch hour and also had a little extra time off that he "won", so we didnt have to worry about him needing to leave before the end of the appointment.

The Doctor was running a little late because of a surgery he had that morning so it TOOK forever, which did NOTHING to help my nerves.

We went in to see him and go over results before they drew blood.

He explained to me, for the first time ever in my life, that I had a hormone imbalance. That is why my body doesnt ever ovulate properly. (good to know). He said that its simple to "reverse"....when i try to concieve I'll just take an extra hormone shot (cringe!) to add more of the right hormone to my body. He also told me that I had what he calls "the opposite of diabetes". Now, people with PCOS have a hard time getting insurance coverage because people with PCOS are predisposed to get diabetes. Its caused some problems, i tell you what.

But apparently I have the opposite problem. I have really high Insulin levels, and low blood sugar. So to counter that, he has me on a diabetic medication that is supposed to help my body process all of the extra insulin. and BONUS! its supposed to help me lose weight! Apparently THAT has been the cause of all the weight gain!!! He said that with high insulin, you gain alot of weight FAST, and it doesnt matter how much you diet, how many calories you count, how much/hard/often you work out...you will NOT lose weight. Do you know how NICE it is to know WHY your body is doing things the way that it is?!

We also learned that Jaces counts were right where they needed to be except in one area.

Then we went for the blood test....only to learn that we probably wouldnt get the results that day. WHAT THE HECK!?!?!

After the appointment we all went out to lunch before Jace had to go back to work. Then I took my mom home....and THATS when i received the call.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Its a tricky business


Its a tricky business.
Being a girl/self-proclaimed hairstylist/blogger doing a tutorial.
I mean, just look:



bahahahaha.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Hormones

Alright people.

Being real here.

Hormones are the freaking WORST! 

Normal women have 1 week where their hormones are a bit out of control.
I've seemed to have that issue everyday, every week, every year for the last few years. Seriously. 
I burst into tears...I get angry fast...I know in my head that I'm being a bit much and yet, i just cant seem to get it under control.

Rewind back to about 2 weeks ago at the fertility doctor where he told me that i have a hormone imbalance. HALLELUJAH. 
An answer to why i feel like i'm off my rocker all the time. 

However, I'm now on hormone shots to help get them back in check...and i gotta tell you, that this is even worse than my messed up hormones to begin with. I cry at everything!
Guys...no joke...I was watching an episode of Cake Boss and started crying. CAKE. BOSS.
Who freaking cries at CAKE BOSS?!?

Well, i now own a movie that validates whats going on with me to my husband. He didn't get it before. And now after watching "What to Expect when You're Expecting" and seeing Elizabeth Banks' role...he gets it...at least a little bit.




 I've included the trailer, because i think its funny.


I've also included my favorite "song"...the hormone song. Its delightful.


Enjoy your day!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Our Journey Part 3

Part 1
Part 2

We went back in for another ultrasound to discover that I had one Follicle that had matured enough to have us trigger ovulation.

That trigger was messing with my brain.

Its a shot that i have to give to myself in my stomach. It literally took me 15 minutes to get up the nerve to do it. And guess what?

I didnt feel a THING. The needle was so small. (and i'm sure that the little extra blubber I carry around helped too)

Next on our agenda was 3 days of timed intercourse...which by the 3rd night, we were both sick of. Seriously. Having to have sex multiple days in a row, at a very specific time, because we HAD to, not just because we wanted too...it was rough.

Then...came the waiting.

We were waiting for my blood tests to come back, for Jace's test, and for 2 weeks....until our next Doctors appointment where I'd go in for a pregnancy blood test as well as to go over all of the results.

More anxious waiting.


Friday, February 15, 2013

Our Journey Part 2

Part 1

The HSG test is basically an Xray. But while the xray is going on the Dr. is shooting dye up in through the uterus and through the Fallopian tubes to see if there is any blockages.

I had heard about this from a few people. They gave me horror stories.

I read all of the information about what COULD happen...which made it seem very very scary to me.

I made my mom go with me, because I didnt know what to expect.

The procedure was very simple...very fast.

In fact we were done in 10 minutes and that includes me getting dressed again.

My Fallopian tubes were clear...my uterus was not. It appeared that I had a Polyp.

The Doctor at that point seemed unconcerned.

I left there with an follow up appointment in 2 days to have an ultrasound to see if we needed to trigger ovulation and "timed intercourse" (we laugh every time we say it).

Needless to say we were anxious and nervous.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Valentines Day

In honor of mine and Jace's 4th Valentines together, I've "love" edited 4-- never before seen wedding pictures-- (seriously...i didn't even know we had these) coupled along with 4 things i love about my man.


1. He makes me laugh. And sometimes its when i really need it, or other times its when i want to be mad and annoyed and hes trying to get under my skin by making me laugh. Either way, I end up smiling, swatting at his leg, and moving on. 


2. He genuinely cares about me and other people. He has a big heart, although he doesn't open it to everyone, or let others see quite how big it is.



3. Jace can't eat a meal without spilling on himself. (in this case, neither of us cut the cake well or fed it to each other gracefully)


4. He can't do a fishy face to save his life. Seriously. I cant decide if its ridiculous or ridiculously cute. :)

Happy Valentines Day everyone!!
(Happy Birthday to Uncle Gary, and the state of Arizona!)




Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Our Journey Part 1

Our journey to conceive has been a long one.

Well, long to us.

We have been having unprotected sex, and no medications (IE: birth control) for almost 3 years now.

We have talked it through with my OBGYN (who is quite awesome by the way), and he gave me some medication to try and help...which it didn't.

We know that lots of people go many more years of infertility than our 3, and some who cant get pregnant at all, but knowing that doesn't make our journey any less difficult.

All i want to be is a mom. Jace wants to be a dad.

Well, we have finally took our first major step into over-coming our infertility. In January we met with a fertility specialist who my cousin has gone to twice now. And each time, she has gotten pregnant and now has a beautiful little girl and another due this next month.

We didn't know what to expect. Its taken us this long to get into a specialist because our insurance wasn't such that we could afford to go. That all changed with the new year.

Our first appointment was a 2 hour appointment. and it was a whirlwind of information. We both were very impressed with the Dr. and his confidence and knowledge.

It was full of ultrasounds, blood tests, going over options, making appointments (3 in that first week), and then going over to fill my prescriptions (one to start taking that very night!)

We (me mostly) were shocked at how FAST is was all going. Everything was working out the way that it should have because i HAPPENED to be on my period (the 3rd one that month, mind you) and it HAPPENED to be on the day of the cycle needed to have the HSG testing done that week, and it HAPPENED to be perfect to start on a medication so we can see how my body reacts to it.

We don't believe in coincidence. We believe in a Heavenly Father who loves us and knows how hard this has been for us. We had been fasting and praying for this to go fairly smoothly for awhile now.

That was our first experience with a fertility clinic. And, I gotta say, I was impressed.

Next up in our story the HSG test.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Medicine

So. Medicine.

Supposed to make you feel better right?

ugh. so wrong.

I'm on so many different meds for fertility and each one is totally making me sick.

oh.

and i'm having surgery Monday. just found out.

which means anesthesia medicine--plus all of my other meds.

good times. good times.

::facepalm::

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Instead

Well...I'm not pregnant.
I guess I should preface this, by saying that we started seeing a fertility specialist.
So far, we love him. He's amazing, and knowledgeable, and confident.

I know that I'll be a mom someday and that I'll be a good one.
But in my head lately, I've been saying things like:
"I'm not this..."
"I'm not that..."
"I don't do this..."
"I should do this..."
"Why aren't I more like..."

and today i chose to take  a minute and stop and 
INSTEAD of being negative about myself,
INSTEAD of tearing myself down,
INSTEAD of feeling like I'm not up to par with others,
I've decided, INSTEAD, to list some positive 
qualities about myself.

Like:
I am a good listener.
I am a good friend.
I am professional.
I clean up nice.
I have a great smile.
I love my husband...alot!
I have a decent voice.
I am creative.
I am a really fast learner.
I am really good at baking.
I am a great hairstylist.
I know who I am.
I know that I'm a daughter of God.
and I'm strong.

Instead of focusing on what i'm not (pregnant or anything else), I want to focus on what I AM.  I'm making this a good day. Happy Thursday everyone!

Monday, February 4, 2013

Thoughts

Ever have those days where it doesn't matter what is going on around you, you have a CONSTANT, STEADY stream of thoughts going through your brain?

Today my brain is in overdrive. Even more so than normal (which is saying something).

I'm nervous, I'm scared, I'm excited, I'm worried, I'm expectant, I'm hopeful, I'm prayerful, I'm hopeful, I'm wishful, I'm giddy.



My heart feels like its going to bust out of my chest and my brain feels like its going to explode.

All of this going on internally, while I sit here at work, smiling at customers, answering questions and only half of me is paying attention to them, because I have alot going on inside of my head. 




Sunday, February 3, 2013

Super Bowl Sabbath

I hate that football is on Sundays.

And I majorly hate that the Super Bowl is on Sunday.

Growing up it wasn't as BIG as a problem as its become since we've gotten older.
The boys flock to the TV.
My father in-law was the worst culprit I've ever encountered (a few years ago), he didn't even finish dinner with the family--he didn't want to miss a minute of it!

To me, the Sabbath is a time for quiet reflection, worshiping our Lord, showing respect, and seeing family.

But I'm not the world, and alas, today is what I call Super Bowl Sabbath.

I'm not a big football fan, but I can get in to it if its a team I know, or an underdog. I love rooting for an underdog.

and I do enjoy that families get together and have fun and eat good food.

So happy Super Bowl Sabbath everyone! (may the odds be ever in your favor?) bahaha.



Friday, February 1, 2013

I am enough

Today is February 1st.

How did that happen? Wasn't it JUST Christmas?

Well, as we start the month of L.O.V.E., i was reminded by something pretty important.
Ashley at littlemissmomma.com wrote a post today about being enough. about LOVING yourself.

I often am consumed with my love for others that i forget to love myself too. I'm actually pretty hard on myself and not very nice to myself alot of the time. So I'm taking Ashley's advice and i'm writing my "enough" statement.

I am Enough.
I am full of love and light.
I am extremely loyal and love with my whole heart.
I enjoy watching others try and SUCCEED. 
I love making new friends even though it scares me to open myself up.
I am a woman who wants to be a mom,
and sometimes I'm sad that I'm not--but that's OKAY. 
I know that I am a daughter of a KING--my Heavenly Father is my best friend.
I cherish the relationships I have with my brothers and my husband.
I like to think that my eyes can see into someones heart and mind, my smile can sympathize and help uplift, and my heart can reach out and love others.
I'm silly, but strong. Sensitive, but not weak. 
I try, even when I say that I give up. and then i keep trying. I try to be better everyday.
I know I have faults, and I recognize this, but I won't be defined by them.
I AM enough. I'm me--exactly who I should be.




Take Ashley's challenge. Write an Enough statement about yourself. If not on your blog, then in your journal. Its good to reflect on the person you are and make sure that you are loving yourself.


Happy February everyone!