Autumn is in the Air

The days have been hot this weekend, but the night air sure has a feeling of Autumn. Yesterday I decided it was time to get out our (my) Autumn decorations. Dustin likes to make fun of me for decorating for all of the Holidays, but I think he likes that I do it, he just won't admit it. I LOVE the smells of Autumn inside and outside the house!

Dustin has been super busy this weekend. He got a HUGE deck job in the Nationals subdivision. This deck is almost as big as our house square foot wise! I guess that is what you get when you build a $2 million dollar house. Anyway, this is the biggest job he has done so far. We are in the process of starting an LLC business. So in essence we will have our own business. He will still work full time at Sun Lumber (of course), but since these side jobs are getting bigger we need to have a legit way to pay taxes on the profits that are brought in. In the couple hours a day he has been home, he has been trying to get everything together to get it going. We have come up with the name Lumber Innovations (so far, it may change). With the housing industry the way it is right now, we have to do something to make up for the money we have lost over the last couple of years. Plus this will help us pay off those stupid credit cards!! Anyway, I am very proud of him! I will post pictures of the deck once it is finished. Actually the house itself is going to be in the Parade of Homes in a couple of weeks. You all should come check it out for yourselves! 

I am going today to have some more lab work done, I will let you know how it goes!

Onward with our Journey

So now that we have all of our test results back as normal & since we know that my regular OB & the Fertility doctor I am seeing now won't treat the MTHFR we have decided to start "trying" again. I know it seems kinda risky, but we are so ready to be moving on with this process & we can handle whatever comes our way.

The fortunate thing for us is everytime we have tried when I am ovulating we have gotten pregnant. So if history repeats itself we could be pregnant right now! I am hoping for a positive in 10 days or so, but nervous at the same time.

We are still meeting with Dr. G on Sept 4th to see what he has to say. If we are not pregnant this month then we will start progesterone/or maybe clomid next month and keep trying.

That's all I know for now...

Explorer, Insurance & Rental Cars

**Update** ~ So the nice people at Enterprise came to pick me up today at about 1:00pm. The 3 times I have worked with them they have been so nice & willing to accomodate me in any way they can. So we get there & wait to I get , a PT Cruiser, to myself I thought "are you kidding me". The guy that I was working with said "that is what we have that the insurance company will pay for, if you want something different you can upgrade & just pay the difference". At first I thought I should do that, then I thought why would I pay more. Fine I will just take the PT. So for the next few days I am sporting a red (which is my least favorite color in cars) PT Cruiser. Hope they get my Explorer done soon!!!


As you all know from my previous post my Explorer was rear-ended a week or so ago. It finally went to the shop yesterday for repair. The insurance company of the person who hit me contacted me the day it happened and that is it! I have had to call and call for everything else. They hadn't even sent the appraisal to the body shop that I told them I would be taking the Explorer to. The body shop had to call and get the paper work, then I had to bring the car back another day. Yesterday when I dropped off the car Enterprise picked me up to get a rental car situated, once again nothing from the insurance company. So I had to wait until today (and call the insurance again) to get the rental. What a mess!!!


Anyway below are some pics of my Explorer. Not too bad, but defiantly needs to be fixed. Honestly what I have missed most are the rear sensors. I should get it back early next week.

Results Are In

Today I went with Amber to her appt at Dr. G's office (yes we go to the same fertility Dr). She had to get her blood drawn to for a pregnancy test after doing treatment last month. It was POSITIVE!!! I am so excited for her! After that we went to IHOP for breakfast, then to Great Plains Mall for some "baby" shopping, and then on to Legends (where I finally found some new jeans). It was a really fun girls day! I can't wait to have more of them!

While we were out the nurse called me from Dr. G's office. The results of the Chromosomal Analysis are in - everything from each of us is NORMAL. Good right. Yes, but now everything has come back normal. We are back at square one. I am overjoyed that everything has come back normal, but at the same time I was hoping for something we could easily fixed. I am now back to believing that the MTHFR is what is causing these miscarriages to happen and Dr. G won't treat it. We meet with him again for another consultation on Sept 4th. I am going to again question the MTHFR  & if he is unwilling to even try to treat it then I will find someone who will. I think he is a good Dr., but if everything else is normal than to me it is obvious that this is the issue. 

I am a little frustrated right now as I feel like no one is willing to treat me. To me this is simple just let me do the shots. I know they have risks, but there is a risk of continued miscarriage as well. I am not sure what to do at this point, we have some thinking to do. 

New iPhone & Discovering iTunes

On Saturday we ventured to the Plaza to the Apple store. Dustin has had the original iPhone & (of course) decided he had to check out the new 3G (he is a technology freak!!). Since all of the AT&T stores are sold out we had to go to the actual Apple store. I have to admit it was a really cool store! We got there & it was PACKED to the gills with people, I have never seen so many people in 1 store. So we look at the phone & he him-ha's around about it. We leave talking about it & how much more it would cost us monthly for me to take the original iPhone & for him to get the 3G (which was the underlying plan, that I was unaware of). We actually left the Plaza & got to 31st street before turning around to go back. 

To make a long story short we both now have new phones!! I must say I really didn't care one way or another if I had an iPhone or not. But now that I have one I LOVE IT!!! We came home & got it set up (after several hours & 2 phone calls to customer service). Then I discovered iTunes!! What an amazing thing! Who knew?? 

I have had an ipod for a while, but never really have used it much. Well, now that my cell phone that I always have with me has an ipod on it, I am obsessed!! I already have about 120 songs (no I didn't buy them all, most of them I downloaded from my CD's) & I want more! I also love the PDA part of the phone, having my calender at my finger tips & the notes section is great too! 

Even though I wasn't for it at first Thanks Honey for talking me into it!!!  

Friday

Friday morning I got off work & headed to Olathe for my Saline Sonography. Thanks to the girls at work for helping me out so I could leave on time!!! Anyway, I was moving right along down 35 South, got off on my exit for Olathe Med Center, got to the light to turn right & "BAM!". I looked in my rearview mirror to see an Pontiac Vibe behind me with a smashed front in, I thought "she just hit me  & if her car looks like that what is mine going to look like". I got out, as I am walking back to look at my car I am starring at hers in disbelief. I got to the back of my car and thought "that's it!". Don't get me wrong there is damage to my bumper, back door, and piece over the wheel well, but compared to her car this is very minor. She couldn't even open her drivers side door!!! Anyway, the lady was very nice and apologized several times. The whole time all I can think about is missing my appt at Dr. G's. The police came put my info on the report and then let me go. 

On to the Appt. I had called & told them why I was running late, so they went ahead with my appt even though it was 20 minutes later. The Sonogram showed that the lining of my uterus is perfectly fine. I am also producing plenty of follicles (this month I have 7 on the right & 4 on the left) & the ovaries also look perfectly fine. The Estradiol and FSH levels (hormones) that were drawn last Monday came back normal as well. In a nutshell everything looks NORMAL. We are still waiting on the Choromosome Analysis to come back (it takes a while). Our next appt is Sept 4th to discuss the results of the analysis & to "make a plan" for pregnancy. This means in Sept we can officially start "trying" again. I am getting anxious. I was hoping something simple would show up. If the analysis comes back normal as well I am going to push for treatment of the MTHFR, b/c to me that is the only thing that could be causing this. If Dr. G won't treat it then I guess I will have to find someone who will!

Dustin & I enjoyed a nice dinner in Parkville at Papa Frank's. We set on their little patio and people watched while we ate. Good conversation, good food & time together, what more could you ask for! 

Hope everyone has a Great weekend!! Enjoy the cooler weather!

Anniversary Flowers

As most of you know, Dustin & I celebrated our 3 year wedding Anniversary a few weeks ago on July 22, 2005. We didn't do anything extravagant, but we enjoyed a nice afternoon and evening together, just focusing on us. We went to The Legend's and did some shopping and  & then to Longhorn (one of our favorites) to eat. We exchanged gifts and multiple cards that were very thoughtful and reminded us of our Love for each other. Below are the Beautiful flowers that Dustin brought home for me. 2 dozen roses!

Rewind...to 4th of July

4th of July seems so long ago...

Anyway, I just wanted to share a couple cute pictures of Dustin's 3rd cousins. They are 3 and really cute!

Jacob & Avery doing sparklers

Jacob!

Dustin & Devin (his sister) passed out on the floor.

Blood Draws, Crashed Laptop, & It's HOT

Well, it's official, the laptop has crashed!! I don't know what is wrong with it. This is the second time it has crashed since I got it last winter. I hope to take it in next week. So my promise for pictures will have to wait...

I went today to Quest lab to have more blood drawn. I am wondering if I am going to have any left. I wished I would have started counting the tubes when this journey began a year ago (June 2007). I bet it has been 30 tubes by now! Anyhow, I got there at 0830. There were 2 people in front of me (even though I had an appt). So I went back at 0900. They drew the Estradol and FSH levels and the 1st 2 tubes for the Glucose test. They then gave me a 10oz bottle to drink. I was expecting it to be horrible, that is what everyone has been telling me. It looked like pop & to my surprise tasted like it too! What a relief. I had to drink the whole bottle in 5 minutes, to top it off they made me sit in the waiting room. Done with that part, no wait, and wait, and wait. I had to have a blood draw at 1000 and then 1100. The waiting room was full, people came and went. Luckily, there were some magizines to read. So finally it was 1100. By this time I am tired, ready to go, and FREEZING cold!! For those of you that I work with you know that I am never cold!! My finger nails were purple I was so cold. So I went back and a different lady was to draw the last sample. Previously the had done them out of my left arm (in the same spot I might add, bruise #1). So this time is was to the right arm. She felt around, stick, fish (ouch), JAB (OUCH!) - she said sometimes you just have to jab it in the vein. I wanted to say, your lucky you didn't blow it, but I kept my mouth shut. But the time I got to the car I already had a bruise. If people didn't know better, they would think I am doing drugs or something. Anyway, I am done with the blood draws for now. Everything should be to Dr. G's office by Friday when I go for my Saline Sonography, except for the Karotyping. That takes a bit to come back. So time will tell.

So I have a thought. When we met with Dr. G a few weeks ago we talked about taking progesterone starting at Day 18 of each cycle and to continue it once I get pregnant or stop it and start it again the next month. Well, he said there is an option to take Clomid in place of the progesterone with the same effect, it will just increase my chance of multiples. I am thinking tonight that I may want to try it. Is that selfish?? I just don't know what is going to happen with this whole pregnancy thing and I think if we can have twins with the first go around, I would be okay with being done (maybe). As most of you know I have always wanted 4 kids and still do, but times are trying and I don't know if that can happen. Anyway, just wanted some thoughts on that. I think I will talk to Dr. G about it on Friday. 

So it is HOT!!! This weather is miserable!! Scout and I finally went on a walk tonight at almost dark. It was actually quite nice. 

Oh I almost for got. I took Scout to the vet today. Nothing major. He was due for a shot and he has had a spot on his leg since Thursday that I wanted to get checked. Turns out it is called a "hot spot", basically since he is a nervous/anxious dog he probably did it himself. I still think it is a bug bite or sting, but who am in. Anyway it is healing fine, the hair is growing back and unless there is any sign of infection we just have to let it heal. He is 64.8 pounds, which is actually less than our last visit. They said that is normal for summer time. Must be all the walking we have been doing. It has helped me lose a couple pounds too! I LOVE MY SCOUT!! 

Until next time...

Still Assessing...

Sorry I haven't been updating. I know I said last Tuesday I would. But we have this new Imac and I can't figure out the whole picture thing! My laptop is working now, so I will put new pics up soon.

On to what everyone is wondering about. 

Last Monday (7/28/08) Dustin and I went to have our blood drawn for our Chromosome Analysis (Kareotyping). Very simple blood draw, just 1 tube even (about the size of the waste tubes at work). That was it. Now we wait for the results, which I am told can take a while. 

This coming Monday I go into the lab for a 3 hour visit to do my Glucose/Insulin Resistance test to see if I run on the higher side (I am pretty optimistic that I don't, but you never know). I will also be having my Estradol and FSH levels drawn that day as it will be cycle day #3. These are both hormone levels to find out if I am ovulating correctly.

I have to admit I was a little nervous a few days ago. I am a 30 day cycle girl, on the dot every month. The only times I have ever been late I have been pregnant. Well it was day 32, then day 33 and still no monthly visitor. I too (along with Amber) have an obsession with the "pee sticks" and used 3 of them on Thursday. All came out negative! I am only happy about this now because I want to get all the test results back before we are pregnant again. So after a few nervous days I started this morning. 

No more nerves. Now lets get some results!!

This morning I went to the Farmer's Market in Parkville and then to visit the St. Jude house (that wasn't complete). I was home by 10:00am and we have spent the rest of the day doing "chores". It has been a very productive and nice day at home!

I will leave you with a poem that I "stole" from another blog that I feel is quite fitting.

Please be gentle with me for I am grieving.

The sea I swim in is a lonely one

and the shore seems miles away.

Waves of despair numb my soul

as I struggle through each day.

My heart is heavy with sorrow.

I want to shout and scream

and repeatedly ask "why?"

At times, my grief overwhelms me

and I weep bitterly,

so great is my loss.

Please don't turn away

or tell me to move on with my life.

I must embrace my pain

before I can begin to heal.

Companion me through tears

and site with me in loving silence.

Honor where I am in my journey,

not where you think I should be.

Listen patiently to my story,

I may need to tell it over and over again.

Its how I begin to grasp the enormity of my loss.

Nurture me through the weeks and months ahead.

Forgive me when I seem distant and inconsolable.

A small flame still burns within my heart,

and shared memories my trigger

both laughter and tears.

I need your support and understanding.

There is no right or wrong way to grieve.

I must find my own path.

Please Be Gentle  By Jill B. Englar