My Favorite Girl

She made the holidays so much fun this year!!!

Holiday Fun

Hope everyone had a great holiday! Happy New Year too- 2009 will be a great year!

20 Weeks In, 20 Weeks Out!!!!

I am halfway pregnant today- well all the way pregnant but halfway done with being pregnant. The stork will be bringing Baby G in 140 days.

What the hell is a diaper genie, where does it go, how does it work, why do I need one....

Just a question....or two or four thousand. Will I ever know how to use any of the stuff at the baby store? Will I ever even want to read a manual or assemble something? Lately I've been thinking of alternatives using very basic household items rather than all of these products they sell at the stores. You'd be amazed what I came up with involving my ceiling fan. I've been doing all of this thinking in between crying, having scary dreams, crying some more, then laughing like crazy, going to the bathroom, drinking apple juice, oh and then some more crying.

Boy, Oh Boy!

I knew it! From embryo to duck to lentil to cashew to Baby Boy G!
According to the doctor, "It's a boy and he's not ashamed to show it." Matt and I are too proud for words...Not that I could tell it was a boy- I thought the kidneys were the eyes!!!

Being a Shih Tzu is Just So Hard

Coming Along

Things are moving right along, developmentally that is. I am just over 18 weeks pregnant and go for the big ultrasound on Wednesday. Hopefully what's growing inside of me will cooperate and we will be able to find out if it is a boy or a girl. I haven't really started doing anything else to get ready (what am I supposed to be doing anyway?) but I've at least started making a mental list of things to do. That's a start.

Other good things going on...Thanksgiving...Doing all the Christmas stuff...Celebrating birthdays...And just being.

By the way, this is the same belly I have been trying to hold in for 31 years, now I just can't do it anymore. It's weird /sad it took so long/ and completely great to finally feel proud of it!


Am I having a girl or a boy?

Christmas in November

I had an early Christmas yesterday! Thanks Sarah!

100 Days

I am 100 days pregnant! I think maybe it is time to stop counting days.. I've been counting the days and dividing by 7 to figure out my weeks but the math is getting more difficult than the first grade math I am accostumed to. So much has changed and I am so grateful for this new place that I am in.

PS- Also, the itch is getting better (once again, grateful)

Haiku

Benadryl at night
Claritin in the morning
I am still itchy

The Best Halloween Ever

Despite an after hours visit to the clinic Doctor who said "I've never seen anything like this before" and "I'm not qualified" I had the best Halloween ever. We had tons of trick or treaters and went through a huge amount of candy (I am a little disappointed that there wasn't much left over). But what really made it the best was spending time with my niece, sister-in-law, and husband. I've never been a huge Tigger fan, but I am now. My favorite moment....After being handed a chocolate bar, my niece said "trick or treat" and then "Mommy I don't like chocolate." Hope everyone had a great night!

Another Gift from Kindergarten

Turns out the kindergarten teacher had to leave work today because she had pink eye! Looks like we've narrowed done the source.

Sick Day

Things That Are Not Fun As An Adult
And Probably Weren't As a Kid Either
1. Pink Eye
2. Arm Rash
3. Sore Throat
4. Swollen Glands
5. Ear Ache

Of all of these ailments, Pink Eye is certainly the worst. And it is highly contagious so I'm sure I'll be enjoying it in the other eye soon. You know it's bad when you see your doctor twice in one week and he says "See you soon" when you leave his office.

A lot of people have asked me how I feel lately and if I've had any of those wretched early pregnancy symptoms. I haven't been symptom free totally but what I've had going on has been very mild. Unless the above list are just my symptoms of pregnancy.

85 Days Later

It is hard to believe that I have been pregnant for 85 days, 12 full weeks, and almost out of the first trimester. Things are going pretty well and I am finally feeling some relief and belief about what is happening. I don't look any different but I walk around all day knowing that there are two hearts beating in me and not one. That is just unbelievable and I feel so lucky.

P.S. The stork will bring the baby, right?

Apples and Cows Everywhere

Autumn is finally here- not officially yet but soon. And nothing is more "fallish" than apple picking- one of my favorite annual activities. Now I have no idea what to do with my peck of apples but I had to have them. I may try my hand at pie- the last time I tried this I created something too scary to look at or eat. Wish me luck. My favorite niece enjoyed the apples as well- she smuggled two out in her pockets and kept one in her hood for a bit too. That's not including the other two she started to eat while we were in the orchard. Good times were had by all.

After apple time we decided to continue the fun at Farm Day. Just couldn't get enough of the outdoors I guess. And there were real animals there- wandering about and doing their business all over. But move over real cows...the blow up cow was the biggest hit to Little Miss Butterfly.

It's a Jungle in There

It's Sunday night. It's been a great weekend. And now I have that queasy feeling- about what tomorrow's adventure in kindergarten will bring. It's been a trip so far- filled with little ticking time bombs like the tantrum kid, the kid who throws up upon entering, the aloof kid, the girl in charge, the sneezing kid and the excuse me kid. I'm not sure which one makes me more nervous. It's been quite a time already- tomorrow I begin the long road of letters. Three days per letter with lots of review days in between and 180 days of school. The funny thing is I never make it all the way through the alphabet- too much time spent negotiating tantrums, cleaning my hands, and calling for the janitor.

All I ever really needed to know- well maybe not

As some of you may know, kindergarten just isn't my thing. You may say there's not really a big difference between kindergarten and first grade (which I love) but there really really really is. The chairs are bigger and do-able in first grade- in kindergarten they are so freaking small. There is less crying in first grade- unless of course you make a kid cry because they were caught in a devious scheme (Did you kick that girl? No, I missed.) There is more time in grade one. Blocks, paint, and sparkles are not staples in grade one as they are in kindergarten. I have limited exposure to play-doh in grade one and kids can learn how to use glue eventually. Most kids can even tie shoes in grade one. I could go on and on.

With that said, I have tried to start the year off with a more positive kindergarten attitude, especially because we have an awesome kindergarten teacher, and it was working until today. Today I had tears, a backache, I danced, put off a tantrum, held a snotty hand, and the most fun was the runner- who I raced out to catch from the side door. Looks like it will be a promising year in kindergarten. Today was only the one hour orientation for half of the kids. Tomorrow the other half. And Friday, the day I wear my running shoes, a pony tail, and cover myself with Purell, the real fun begins.

Back to School

Going back to school is the same for a teacher as it is for a student. I already know that I won't sleep well tonight or on Monday night (and maybe not Saturday or Sunday night either). I still think about people I will see and and what I have to wear. I've ironed four pairs of pants and two shirts and still don't feel decided. I've got new back to school shoes that I probably won't wear tomorrow but they are ready to go. I've got my bag packed and my alarm set. It's an early morning with a stop planned for coffee. My mind is spinning with things to do, to remember, to find, to plan. This is my 10th year going back to school as a teacher. It's hard to believe. Sometimes it feels like I am still playing school like I did when I was young.

I'm excited for the new year and what it may bring.
My "New School Year Resolutions" are:
1. Pack a good lunch everyday (so as to not experience chicken filet or PB & Fluff}
2. Keep reading like it is the summer time
3. No homework on weekends
4. Laugh and have fun with the crazy kids

Boys Will Be Boys

There are lots of ways to pass time. You can walk around the same block a couple of times a day acting as a one person neighborhood watch, you can shop online and in local stores, you can browse websites and read up on gossip, you can watch all of the back episodes of Grey's Anatomy and House, you can read lots of books, you can buy back to school shoes, and you can buy a lawn tractor and mow til your heart's content. Now don't get me wrong- this girl loves to mow. Seriously. But I'm laying low and the sprinkler system is making the lawn/weeds grow high. So Matt has a new gadget to toy around with while I shop online.

Good old 1987 and Can't Buy Me Love. Lawn mowing is a side business I may look into for next summer.

Nothing Better

There's nothing better than the words, "Abby- you want to play with me?" and "Eat your corn, Matt!"

70%

Update...

They got 10 eggs and 7 fertilized.
By Day 2 we should be at 4 cells and by Day 3 we should be at 8 cells.
The higher the grade the better- grade 1 is highly fragmented, grade 2 is slightly fragmented, and grade 3 is no fragmentation.
On Day 2, 5 of those 7 were 4 cells grade 3.
On Day 2, 2 of those 7 were 4 cells grade 2.
On Day 3, 3 of those 7 were 8 cells grade 3.
On Day 3, 2 of those 7 were 8 cells grade 2.
On Day 3, 2 of those 7 were 6/7 cells grade 2 (late bloomers).

The top 2 have been transferred and now we wait. The rest will get to grow some more. We should have a few good enough to freeze and will find out in a few days.

I am feeling pretty lousy overall so I'm just trying to relax and lay low. My body is angry with me and in turmoil right now but it's going to have to get over it.

We got a picture too of the embryos that were transferred but I thought that might be weird to post.

Thanking you in advance for all of the good thoughts...

Keep all 10 fingers crossed!

People have 10 fingers
People have 10 toes
We had 10 eggs!

I'm excited and tired and nervous.
More news about what's cooking tomorrow after 3.

Happy Birthday Mom! I got you eggs this year.

The Time is Now

Tomorrow is the harvest.
Let's hope it is plentiful- the more we start with the better our chances. The next few days are going to be filled with lots of procedures, crazy science, phone call updates, and hopefully much luck.
Thanks for the egg candle Sarah!

Slow and Steady Wins the Race?

This is taking longer than I thought
This body is reacting slower than I thought
Finally some good news today...
I'm not there yet but I'm on the right track (finally.)

Multiple Meaning

The other day I said to my sister, "I hate that big shot." Because I am a little all over the place lately it is no surprise my sister misunderstood and said, "Who- your boss?"

uh oh...

I know he's done something bad. I just haven't been able to find it yet.

Raising the Roof

I have been instructed to turn it up and literally dial my dose higher and higher. How high we will go I do not know. In the meantime more meds are on the way. I need to check back in on Saturday morning. I tried explaining to the nurse that Saturday was really inconvenient because the west coast Naka was coming and the east coast Nakas were gathering. She didn't really get it. Oh well. Let's hope this higher dose kicks my ovaries into high gear and sends my hormones crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ps- Saturday should be really fun (not the ultrasound part- the Naka part!)

A Few Good Eggs

That's what we're hoping for! It has started. I go in on Monday to see what's cooking.

Old New Good Times

I rode the emotional roller coaster today. There's something about sitting in a church during a wedding- the music, the atmosphere, the aisle, the smiles, getting to relive the weddings of the past. I had tears in my eyes and a knot in my stomach because I was just feeling so much at once.

The feelings continued at the reception although the music was much different. After watching Matt dance in a chorus line and laughing hard enough to almost split my dress I was flooded with even more memories with each song. Then something happened. Somewhere in between "Shook Me All Night Long" and "Dancing Queen" the NKOTB song "The Right Stuff" was played with a raging response from the crowd. I just had to sit that one out and observe it. Did any of us have a little NKOTB at our weddings?

It was fun dancing and it made me think about the good old days of shaking it with my girlfriends. It was hard to dance without that safety net- the group of people who would tell you if you looked foolish or just look foolish with you. The group of people who would surround you in an instant if the wrong person danced too close. The group of people who would request your favorite songs and sing them with you like a rock star.

PS- The Jackson 5 song was also played but I sat that one out too because there's only one group I dance with to that song.

Basil anyone?

I have learned that I have a green thumb for herbs. There are two big pots on my deck that are seriously flourishing. Can basil turn into a bush? Or a tree? Anyway, there's really not a lot I can do with basil- I know pesto and a good old tomato basil salad. But other than that I'm looking for new ideas. I guess the point of writing this is to prepare all visitors to my home that as a parting gift you will receive a bunch of fresh herbs that you can grind into pesto.

I did it!

It has only taken 31 years, 2 degrees, 3 good friends, and 1 helpful husband to get me to blog. Why has it taken me this long you ask? Well for one, I am so NOT computer savvy. I am able to word process and check email and movie listings. And of course check my other favorite blogs. But that's about it until now! I even got a few pictures on here, with a little help (Thanks Matt) but I will tell you that the first one was HUGE and I didn't think anyone would be super excited about seeing my left eye the size of your computer screen.

Now that I'm here I'm worried I won't have enough to write about, or that I'll write about the wrong things, or I'll write too much. So much to worry about but I think I'll take it one post at a time.

So I have not completely lost it - yet - but I got close today so I went for a two hour walk. My feet hurt but my mind is more settled. Today is day 9 for hormones. In just a few days I start the super egg shots. Would it be tacky to add a "page element" and put a poll on here about how many eggs I'll make? Or what day the harvest will be? Let me know.