fun: Pampered Chef Party

*We won't close the show until the end of January.  IF you decide to order that is when your CC will be charged.

I know what all of you who are far away are thinking, BUT this is a catalog party and you can order online and have it shipped to you!  How great is that?!  Here is a link to my super cool consultant's page.  All you have to do is enter my name and SHOP!

I wanted to share some of my favorite, affordable, can't live without, Pampered Chef products.

  

Can Strainer $5.00

It is great for all kinds of foods.  I need a second one because it is ALWAYS in my dishwasher.  I use it most on olives, tuna, and beans.  If you get only ONE item I'd recommend this one.

Mix and Chop $10.50

This is great for mashed potatoes, ground meat, making guacamole... anything really!  I just got this at my last pampered chef party and I AM IN LOVE!  How did I live so long without it?

Mini Spatula $5.50

This little spatula is just the right size for getting brownies out of the pan and cookies off the cookie sheet.   It is the ultimate dessert spatula.

Microplane $27.00

I really love this microplane.  It has a guard on it and it folds up small for my TINY kitchen.  I love that it can stand on it's own so I can grate hard cheeses like Parm.  It's also great for ginger, garlic and zesting fruits. 

Small Spreader $5.50 and Large Spreader $9.50

This is something I use anytime I need something smooth.  I uses this for frosting cakes and cup cakes and  this makes 7 layer bean dip a breeze to make (shhhhh).

Small $14.50 Medium $15.50 Large $16.50 Scoops

I have all three.  I use them all the time for cookies, muffins, chicken salad sandwiches, and pancakes.

And if you made it to the end of this post I'll tell you a secret.  Order with a friend and split the shipping!!  

Craft: Christmas Ornaments

I have done so much Christmas crafting this season, but by far my favorite are these bird ornaments. I was inspired by two sites. First Charcoal and Crayons post about Scrappy Sparrows (download and use the template), and Second Sister's Little Cher Ami post.

I found sheet music for "I Know My Redeemer Lives"  at the thrift store and used it to create these birdies.  I loved finding my favorite phrases and showcasing them on my tree.

Just a little catch up.   Things for us are pretty mellow.  

IVF

Our December cycle was also canceled.  Although not the news we were hoping for, it is not devistating.  I've been focusing on having the healthiest body I can so, hopefully, we can have a healthy pregnancy.  This cycle, some of my numbers were high, and that brought adoption back into the picture.  We'll have to see what happens.  Surprisingly, I'm  not stressing over this.  It has been a long, hard road and I know that there are blessings in store, no matter which way we go.  

Other News

Ok there really isn't other news.  I've been keeping busy watching friends' children and Christmas crafting.  We had a quiet Thanksgiving with Holy, Grace, and Garrison (aka G and Little G's family).  We are so blessed with their friendship and love.  The twins turned 2 this month and sadly we missed them on their birthday.  

Christmas shopping is DONE and all our presents have been mailed.  YAY!  I'm just enjoying my time with friends this Christmas season.  J is busy: work is stressful, church and other meetings take up a couple of nights a week, and the scouts have monthly trips.   I feel like we have 3 good evenings a week and I'm happy with it.  

To our family and friends, I hope this Christmas season finds you well and happy!

fertility: IVF Canceled

This IVF cycle has been canceled.  We'll try again next cycle or maybe the cycle after that....

fertility: 4th cycle

Warning-This is a technical post.  If you are not interested in the Why of our infertility then feel free to skip this. It also was written the beginning of September.  We are currently in the middle of our 5th cycle since starting to see our fertility doctor.

This is my fourth cycle since we started seeing our fertility specialist.  I think we may have a good idea of what my body is doing.  The mucinex worked this cycle and we are excited that one hurtle is out of the way.

Unfortunately we still have many problems with my ovary and fallopian tube on the left side of my body.  My ovary is partially (or totally) covered with scar tissue and tissue from the organ it has attached to.  The doctor explained that this tissue is a problem because an egg can become stuck in it.  =(   My left fallopian tube is also blocked, not allowing an egg to travel to the uterus.  

We were hoping that I would ovulate one month on my left side and one month on my right side.

I had marked my calendar with little L's (for left side), and  R's (for right side) on alternating cycles to "know" which cycles I would be most fertile.   It was my way of controlling SOMETHING.  This month was supposed to be an R and I was excited at the thought that this could be THE cycle.   Looking back now this was overly optimistic and a little foolish.   I went in for an ultrasound on day 14 of my cycle and found out I had ovulated on the left side.  We've gone left, right, left, LEFT.  Tears.

We are still hopeful that we will be able to conceive naturally but we know this is unlikely.  As I look at the sacrifices we have made and those we are expecting to make in the near future I have found peace.  I know that the Lord will bless us with what we need.

family: Year Seven

Tomorrow we celebrate seven great years together.  I've been so lucky to spend these years with J.  We've accomplished so much and come so far.  Here's a peak at the fun we've had over the last seven years.

Year 0

LDS Temple, Portland, Oregon

Year 1

Aialik Bay, Alaska

Year 2 

We bought our house!

Year 3 

Haceta Head, Oregon

Year 4

Happy 30th sweety

Ensenada, Mexico

Year 5

Level Edwards Stadium, Provo

 Year 6

M&M Factory, Las Vegas

Year 7
Images of U 

fertility: Mucinex

We did our last diagnostic test - a post coital test.  It looks at J's sperm as it moves through the cervical mucus.  Mine was like a brick wall - No passage.   The prescription? Over the counter mucinex.  It'll help thin the cervical mucus.   


This finally explains why, when I was a fit young 20 trying to conceive, we had problems.   That was before my hormones crashed the party and made everything more difficult. 


Things have improved on metformin.  I have to eat regularly and make sure I take my pills with food.  Taking supplemental vitamins, especially B vitamins has increased my energy and helped with my overall sense of well-being.  When I have too much sugar in the afternoon (like a soda or sweets) I crash fast- low energy, nausea, light headed....  I have to be careful what I eat and when.   


Overall things have improved.  My sister has inspired me to loose weight, and J and I are talking about a "Babymoon"(one last vacation before it becomes more difficult to get away).  For the first time in our almost 7 years of marriage I'm hopeful that we have the tools to start our growing family.

fertility: Metformin

I've been taking Metformin for my insulin resistance.  When the nurse told me it might make me sick I brushed it off.  I rarely experience side effects, so imagine my surprise when I experienced almost EVERY side effect - nauseous, vomiting, (gas), light headed, dizzy, tired, headaches.  Today I double my dose and just want to cry.  How do people live their lives while feeling so sick???


NOTE: SEA BANDS are the answer.  110% better with sea band help today.   Choked down my pills today and put sea bands on right away.  I'm still light headed and dizzy-especially when I go too long without food-BUT I'm not throwing up and am able to work on projects today!!!!

fertility: Results

Ok for the record - HSG's aren't that bad!  At our last appointment the  nurse at the office asked if I wanted a lortab for the HSG.  I wasn't sure.  How much pain was I going to be in? I went home asking myself, "when was the last time I was in pain?"  "How high is my pain tolerance?"  I don't know.  I stressed over this for a week.  I talked about it to everyone who had a background in medicine and friends who have had an HSG.  I decided I could probably handle it.  In hindsight, I could TOTALLY handle it.   I feels a lot like menstrual cramps. Mostly it was uncomfortable. Sometimes it HURT but the pain didn't last long. After the appointment I could do everything I had planned for the day.  I know my experience isn't everyone's experience.  The thing I know is, trust your instinct.

The  HSG revealed that I'll need surgery to have my left side work properly.   We still have tests to do and cost analysis to weigh.

Blood work revealed some deficiencies.  Low Thyroid, and pre-diabetes (thanks Dad).  I'm on medications for those.

I've had people ask me ALOT- "If it's something easy to fix are you going to be sad/mad you didn't do this sooner." Until yesterday, these comments caused me to second guess myself.  Now I know the answer is no.  I knew that something was wrong, I knew it wasn't going to be an easy fix.  Again let's call it INSTINCT.  If we had had the word surgery come up 3 years ago I would have been completely overwhelmed.  And, if I can have a child with hormone correcting medications and only my right side working that's ok, too.  I know our road has been long and often painful and we still have a long way to go, but THIS is the time for us to do it.  It's not just knowing we can pay for it, it's a feeling that this is the right time.  Who knows why we've needed to wait so long?  I read someone's comment recently on a blog (sorry I don't know which one) talking about infertility.  It gave me peace.  She said:  "the older my son gets I realize it wasn't about me-It was ABOUT HIM.  His friends, his experiences, his life."  So I choose to believe that this trial isn't about me.  It's about my child.  The things he/she need to experience and accomplish have time tables.  How grateful I am for the time I was born, the good friends that carried me though my youth, and the experiences I've had BECAUSE of when I was born.

fertility: Going to the DR.

Receptionist: So when do you want to come in?

Me: What day in my cycle would the DR. like to see me?

Rec: Day 3.

Me: (nervous giggle)- He WANTS to see me on my period?

So, there I was, on day 3 and laying on the exam table. The news is good. No PCOS, and very little endometriosis.

Next week, I go in for an HSG and blood work.

fertility: I Think I Will thankyouverymuch

While helping a friend shop for blanket fabric for her unborn child I came across some I LOVED. She was sweet and encouraged me to pick it up for myself. I of course resisted unsure if I would ever have an infant. Next time I think I will, Second Sister Suaviloquy gave me permission.

foster: Update

Looking over our sidebar I was stuck on our placements. Could we really have fostered 13 children over the last 2 1/2 years? Really?! That is a TON. When we were training we were told the AVERAGE child's stay in foster care is 15-18 months. We are defiantly below the average.

Angel and Iron Man went home at the beginning of the month. The last 2 weeks of that placement could have gone better. But one thing I realized, it's not my job to be universally liked.

So here we are childless and taking a break. I think it will be a very long break. It's time to focus on J and me. No one else's drama aloud.