Happy Holidays everyone! I got the best present ever - Michael being HOME. His parents came up and we had a nice visit. We spent Christmas Day at my parents' house and for the first time, we did Secret Santa instead of gifts for everyone. We did one person for a real gift and one person for a joke gift. This was totally the way to go, by the way. It took the stress out of Christmas shopping and was just a ton of fun. We used elfster.com and had the computer generate and e-mail our matches so no one really had to coordinate. Good stuff.
So we are embarking on IVF #3. I kind of can't believe it. I go in for the mock embryo transfer tomorrow. We haven't gotten our results from the genetic testing yet, but that shouldn't be long now. I will start the ovulation predictor kits tomorrow and once I get a positive result, I'll alert my nurse and start the Lupron shortly after that.
It's funny - part of me is excited to start up again, but another part of me likes the ambiguity. If you've ever taken the Myers-Briggs, one of the questions is about whether you like things to be decided or up in the air. I've always had a hard time with that question and now I know why. I like things BOTH ways. I'm ready for this IVF to be over with so that we can know once and for all whether we will have children. On the other hand, I'm terrified for this IVF to be over because I like having hope for the future. The possibility that we will have children is still there if this IVF hasn't happened yet.
But, here we go. I'm embracing the part of me that likes to have things decided.
We just received word of a late Christmas present. Michael's brother, Christian and his wife, Korie just welcomed their second son into the world earlier today. Everyone is healthy and doing well. Happy Birthday, Baby Max!
(edited for formatting weirdness...)
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
All Clear
HSG #2 - no problem.
If that had been my first one and I heard other women complain about it, I'd think they were giant wusses. Seriously. It was like a day at the spa compared to the first one.
My right tube was clear and the left tube was "slow to spill", but it wound up being fine too. That was the only point that hurt a bit. (For a grand total of about 30 seconds.) So everything looks good. The only thing the doctor said he'd suggest was to do another mock embryo transfer before the next IVF, which we were planning on anyway.
So that's the story. We got a Christmas tree, but have yet to decorate it. I guess that will be what we're doing this weekend! Yay! Once we came home with the tree and the fresh wreath, I put the wreath on a moving blanket (so the needles didn't get everywhere) to decorate it. I swear - as soon as Uno entered the room, she ran to get her bone and immediately claimed the wreath as her own. (By sitting it, not the other way dogs tend to "claim" things. That would NOT have been cute.) It was too cute to yell at her about it, so I got Michael's cell phone and snapped a picture. It's blurry, but you can probably see the wreath underneath her. Later, she was curled up inside it, but she woke up and moved before I could get a shot of that.
She's lucky she's cute.
If that had been my first one and I heard other women complain about it, I'd think they were giant wusses. Seriously. It was like a day at the spa compared to the first one.
My right tube was clear and the left tube was "slow to spill", but it wound up being fine too. That was the only point that hurt a bit. (For a grand total of about 30 seconds.) So everything looks good. The only thing the doctor said he'd suggest was to do another mock embryo transfer before the next IVF, which we were planning on anyway.
So that's the story. We got a Christmas tree, but have yet to decorate it. I guess that will be what we're doing this weekend! Yay! Once we came home with the tree and the fresh wreath, I put the wreath on a moving blanket (so the needles didn't get everywhere) to decorate it. I swear - as soon as Uno entered the room, she ran to get her bone and immediately claimed the wreath as her own. (By sitting it, not the other way dogs tend to "claim" things. That would NOT have been cute.) It was too cute to yell at her about it, so I got Michael's cell phone and snapped a picture. It's blurry, but you can probably see the wreath underneath her. Later, she was curled up inside it, but she woke up and moved before I could get a shot of that.
She's lucky she's cute.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Newsflash
Denying you are sick doesn't make you get better any faster. I've had a sore throat since Thursday, but I thought - no biggee, just drink some tea with honey and you'll be fine. Well, here we are on Tuesday with me home from work and asleep most of the day. The doctor doesn't think it is strep - just a virus that has to run its course. Michael's orders were a hot bath, tea, chicken noodle soup, and back to bed. Here's hoping that combo helps this thing get out of my system. I'm also adding in a booster of clementines for Vitamin C, but honestly - it's mainly because I love them and they only come around once a year.
I ran a 5K on Saturday morning in the bitter cold with my friend Esther. Probably didn't help with the whole sore throat thing. Amazingly, I shaved another 3 minutes off of my time! I think we were just running faster to get it over with and get to a warm place with coffee. Well, that and the fact that I thought the finish line was closer than it was and kicked it into high gear prematurely. Lesson learned! This particular race was to encourage young girls to get into running, so it was mostly girls in grades 3-8. We didn't quite realize that in addition to a race, it would also include hurdles - in the form of pre-teens stopping in the middle of the course to tie a shoe, say hi to a friend, fix their hair, etc. (And we STILL did better than before!) I've even looked up a training schedule for a 10K, but haven't started it or found a race to set my sights on. But I'm thinking about it.
So Thursday is my repeat HSG. We have to drive up to Rockville and will be fighting rush hour traffic to get home, but it's a small price to pay for a better experience than my last one. (Although, having my fingernails plucked out might be a better experience than my last one...) I had my bloodwork done this morning for the genetic testing. The woman taking my blood said it was a very rare test and asked if I was trying to have a baby. She was Asian and had a very strong accent. Our conversation went something like this...
Her: "How long you been married?"
Me: "5 years."
Her: "Oooooh - you so young. You have, like 6 more years to have baby. Then - maybe not so much."
Me:
Her: "I have friend who try 3 years for baby. No baby. Doctor tell her too much stress. No work. No drive car. She do that for one year and guess what?"
Me:
Her: "Baby BOY!" (as though the gender was the miraculous part of that story)
I told her I didn't think that not working or driving for a year wasn't really an option for me, but thanked her. For some reason, it didn't annoy me. Maybe because she was so darn cute and cheerful. Maybe because I was sick. Who knows. I was thinking about it as I pulled out of the parking lot and nearly got taken out by a mini-van.
Maybe there's something to that no driving thing...
I ran a 5K on Saturday morning in the bitter cold with my friend Esther. Probably didn't help with the whole sore throat thing. Amazingly, I shaved another 3 minutes off of my time! I think we were just running faster to get it over with and get to a warm place with coffee. Well, that and the fact that I thought the finish line was closer than it was and kicked it into high gear prematurely. Lesson learned! This particular race was to encourage young girls to get into running, so it was mostly girls in grades 3-8. We didn't quite realize that in addition to a race, it would also include hurdles - in the form of pre-teens stopping in the middle of the course to tie a shoe, say hi to a friend, fix their hair, etc. (And we STILL did better than before!) I've even looked up a training schedule for a 10K, but haven't started it or found a race to set my sights on. But I'm thinking about it.
So Thursday is my repeat HSG. We have to drive up to Rockville and will be fighting rush hour traffic to get home, but it's a small price to pay for a better experience than my last one. (Although, having my fingernails plucked out might be a better experience than my last one...) I had my bloodwork done this morning for the genetic testing. The woman taking my blood said it was a very rare test and asked if I was trying to have a baby. She was Asian and had a very strong accent. Our conversation went something like this...
Her: "How long you been married?"
Me: "5 years."
Her: "Oooooh - you so young. You have, like 6 more years to have baby. Then - maybe not so much."
Me:
Her: "I have friend who try 3 years for baby. No baby. Doctor tell her too much stress. No work. No drive car. She do that for one year and guess what?"
Me:
Her: "Baby BOY!" (as though the gender was the miraculous part of that story)
I told her I didn't think that not working or driving for a year wasn't really an option for me, but thanked her. For some reason, it didn't annoy me. Maybe because she was so darn cute and cheerful. Maybe because I was sick. Who knows. I was thinking about it as I pulled out of the parking lot and nearly got taken out by a mini-van.
Maybe there's something to that no driving thing...
Friday, December 5, 2008
A Plan - Kind Of
Okay, so what is it called when you apologize or repent for something and then keep doing it?
Again - sorry for no update for so long. No excuse.
Michael has had a few interviews which went well, but he is still looking. I think being home all day every day is starting to get to him now, despite being the total homebody that he is.
We had a visit with our fertility doctor this week. He went over where we have been and our plan for the future. When he mentioned that we had been trying to conceive for about 4 years as part of where we've been, Michael said he had no idea it had been that long. Of course, since I still keep track of my cycles for some unknown reason, and we're on Cycle 55, it wasn't exactly a surprise. Since they can't find a single thing wrong with either of us, it leads them to believe there is likely a genetic issue with our embryos. However, since our embryos don't seem to make it past Day 3 after egg retrieval, they can't do any testing on them.
We are doing some additional testing on both of us, but realistically, the doctor does not expect to find anything. But - we all feel like since this is our last shot at conceiving, we might as well rule out everything possible. I will have a repeat HSG (hysterosalpingogram) where they shoot dye into your uterus and tubes. The doctor doesn't think I have a blockage, but wants to make sure my tubes aren't dilated - which could cause implantation issues because of fluid seepage. If one or both of my tubes are dilated, they can remove them or block them before the IVF. Neither of which sounds particularly fun. The other test we are doing is karyotyping for both Michael and me, which is just a blood test that shows any chromosomal abnormalities present in either of us. The chances of finding anything are less than 5%. If they DO find anything, the next step would likely be egg or sperm donation, depending on which one of us has the chromosome issue.
We have done one timed intercourse cycle, 4 IUI's and of course, the 2 IVF's. I responded better to the first IVF cycle, so the plan is to go back to that protocol, skipping the birth control beforehand and upping the dosage of meds. Hopefully, that will result in higher quantity and quality eggs.
First, though, we'll do these tests and if everything is a-okay, we'll start the Lupron with my next cycle and then do IVF in late December / early January. I'm trying to keep it all flexible and fluid in my head because as most of you know, once I have a plan I have a tough time deviating from it.
Go with the flow, Allison, go with the flow.
Again - sorry for no update for so long. No excuse.
Michael has had a few interviews which went well, but he is still looking. I think being home all day every day is starting to get to him now, despite being the total homebody that he is.
We had a visit with our fertility doctor this week. He went over where we have been and our plan for the future. When he mentioned that we had been trying to conceive for about 4 years as part of where we've been, Michael said he had no idea it had been that long. Of course, since I still keep track of my cycles for some unknown reason, and we're on Cycle 55, it wasn't exactly a surprise. Since they can't find a single thing wrong with either of us, it leads them to believe there is likely a genetic issue with our embryos. However, since our embryos don't seem to make it past Day 3 after egg retrieval, they can't do any testing on them.
We are doing some additional testing on both of us, but realistically, the doctor does not expect to find anything. But - we all feel like since this is our last shot at conceiving, we might as well rule out everything possible. I will have a repeat HSG (hysterosalpingogram) where they shoot dye into your uterus and tubes. The doctor doesn't think I have a blockage, but wants to make sure my tubes aren't dilated - which could cause implantation issues because of fluid seepage. If one or both of my tubes are dilated, they can remove them or block them before the IVF. Neither of which sounds particularly fun. The other test we are doing is karyotyping for both Michael and me, which is just a blood test that shows any chromosomal abnormalities present in either of us. The chances of finding anything are less than 5%. If they DO find anything, the next step would likely be egg or sperm donation, depending on which one of us has the chromosome issue.
We have done one timed intercourse cycle, 4 IUI's and of course, the 2 IVF's. I responded better to the first IVF cycle, so the plan is to go back to that protocol, skipping the birth control beforehand and upping the dosage of meds. Hopefully, that will result in higher quantity and quality eggs.
First, though, we'll do these tests and if everything is a-okay, we'll start the Lupron with my next cycle and then do IVF in late December / early January. I'm trying to keep it all flexible and fluid in my head because as most of you know, once I have a plan I have a tough time deviating from it.
Go with the flow, Allison, go with the flow.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Bad Blogger!
I've been a bad blogger. Once it gets to be so long since I've posted anything, I feel a little paralyzed because - where do I start?
But I have a good excuse for being a blog slacker - MICHAEL IS FINALLY HOME!!!
I guess I should start where I left off. After my last post, I flew to Alabama for the end of the campaign and the election. Michael and his parents picked me up at the airport and we immediately headed to - I am not making this up - the National Peanut Festival. It was actually very fun - similar to a State Fair, only with more focus on, well... peanuts. For those of you who don't know me - I don't really eat much meat. Not only did I eat a corndog that night, I STOOD IN A HUGE LINE for that corndog. And you know what? It was damn good.
The remainder of the week was a bit of a blur. Before election day, we did some last minute campaign stuff - fish fry, election night rally, etc. The morning of election day, we stood in an intersection in our campaign t-shirts holding signs and waving. I noticed that people are polite to your face and then stick their tongues out when they think you can't see them. I busted several people doing that to Michael.
Election night, Michael gave me the job of entering the votes into a spreadsheet (a perfect job for me - I am a total Excel dork) as the calls from the precincts came in. Which would have been fun, had we won. It was close the whole time. We kept waiting and waiting on this one precinct that was supposed to go heavily for Michael's candidate. We ended up losing by 0.6%. They do an automatic recount at 0.5% - of course. Once it was clear that he was not going to win, I thought I was going to throw up. I had to go to the bathroom and give myself a pep talk. We knew that losing was a possibility, but we never thought it would actually happen. That isn't what was supposed to happen. How could Michael and I have spent this much time apart for this NOT TO TURN OUT HOW IT WAS SUPPOSED TO? (I'm pretty sure that's incorrect grammar, but whatever.) So I should probably be used to things not turning out like they're supposed to by now. I guess I still haven't learned that lesson.
The remainder of the week, we had to go clean out our old car - which was totaled, buy a new car (thanks to a generous loan from Michael's parents), work on the resume, clean out the campaign office, and say goodbyes. Michael has spent the last week recovering from his year of 16 hour days on the couch. Yesterday he said that he was finally able to sleep the night before.
We are spending as much time as we can together - just being. I thought it would be an adjustment having him home after so long, but it just feels so good to be back to normal. The dog not only remembered him, but nearly devoured him with love she was so happy to see him. Of course, I instantly became invisible to her. She brought him every toy she had that first night and dropped them one by one at his feet. He said, "Ummm, did you ever play with the dog while I was gone?". Yeah, thanks for making me look bad, Uno.
So now he's on the job hunt with the rest of the ousted Republicans from the Hill. There's a lot of competition for very few jobs. He has sent out his resume and now we wait and hope and pray.
I have so much more I could say, but dinner is almost ready (another bonus of having Michael home - he cooks!).
But I have a good excuse for being a blog slacker - MICHAEL IS FINALLY HOME!!!
I guess I should start where I left off. After my last post, I flew to Alabama for the end of the campaign and the election. Michael and his parents picked me up at the airport and we immediately headed to - I am not making this up - the National Peanut Festival. It was actually very fun - similar to a State Fair, only with more focus on, well... peanuts. For those of you who don't know me - I don't really eat much meat. Not only did I eat a corndog that night, I STOOD IN A HUGE LINE for that corndog. And you know what? It was damn good.
The remainder of the week was a bit of a blur. Before election day, we did some last minute campaign stuff - fish fry, election night rally, etc. The morning of election day, we stood in an intersection in our campaign t-shirts holding signs and waving. I noticed that people are polite to your face and then stick their tongues out when they think you can't see them. I busted several people doing that to Michael.
Election night, Michael gave me the job of entering the votes into a spreadsheet (a perfect job for me - I am a total Excel dork) as the calls from the precincts came in. Which would have been fun, had we won. It was close the whole time. We kept waiting and waiting on this one precinct that was supposed to go heavily for Michael's candidate. We ended up losing by 0.6%. They do an automatic recount at 0.5% - of course. Once it was clear that he was not going to win, I thought I was going to throw up. I had to go to the bathroom and give myself a pep talk. We knew that losing was a possibility, but we never thought it would actually happen. That isn't what was supposed to happen. How could Michael and I have spent this much time apart for this NOT TO TURN OUT HOW IT WAS SUPPOSED TO? (I'm pretty sure that's incorrect grammar, but whatever.) So I should probably be used to things not turning out like they're supposed to by now. I guess I still haven't learned that lesson.
The remainder of the week, we had to go clean out our old car - which was totaled, buy a new car (thanks to a generous loan from Michael's parents), work on the resume, clean out the campaign office, and say goodbyes. Michael has spent the last week recovering from his year of 16 hour days on the couch. Yesterday he said that he was finally able to sleep the night before.
We are spending as much time as we can together - just being. I thought it would be an adjustment having him home after so long, but it just feels so good to be back to normal. The dog not only remembered him, but nearly devoured him with love she was so happy to see him. Of course, I instantly became invisible to her. She brought him every toy she had that first night and dropped them one by one at his feet. He said, "Ummm, did you ever play with the dog while I was gone?". Yeah, thanks for making me look bad, Uno.
So now he's on the job hunt with the rest of the ousted Republicans from the Hill. There's a lot of competition for very few jobs. He has sent out his resume and now we wait and hope and pray.
I have so much more I could say, but dinner is almost ready (another bonus of having Michael home - he cooks!).
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Perfectly Normal
After a bit of the run-around, I finally got the pictures from my surgery and got them to my fertility doctor. Initially, the surgeon told my dad that I had significant scar tissue in there. But, according to my doctor, after looking at the photos today, everything looks perfectly normal. I had a small cyst on one of my ovaries, but that was about it. Nothing that would cause infertility. No signs of endometriosis. Which I guess is good news / bad news. While I'm glad I'm "perfectly normal", I would have liked some reason for my infertility. Something we could fix.
I feel like the fact that I have no explainable medical condition causing my infertility gives credence to those who tell me to just relax or that it will happen once I stop thinking about it. It's just frustrating. Because I know that no amount of relaxing or not thinking about it will get me pregnant. But I have no alternate explanation. And the "just relax" suggestion implies that it's my fault that I can't get pregnant. And I know it's not, but when there's no other explanation, it feels that way sometimes.
I guess I need to come to terms with the idea that not everything is fixable. There are some things that are just out of our hands. It's funny - I've gotten there in terms of the election that Michael is involved with, but I just can't seem to wrap my mind around it fertility-wise. Both things - the election and my fertility - greatly impact my life moving forward, but somehow something that doesn't have to do with my body is easier to say - what will be, will be.
Michael's arm isn't broken from the car accident, so that is good - just badly bruised. He's still waiting to hear about whether the car is totalled. I can't believe that I actually get to see him in a couple of days. I can't believe that this is all about to be over and we can get back to our lives together. Someone pinch me!
I feel like the fact that I have no explainable medical condition causing my infertility gives credence to those who tell me to just relax or that it will happen once I stop thinking about it. It's just frustrating. Because I know that no amount of relaxing or not thinking about it will get me pregnant. But I have no alternate explanation. And the "just relax" suggestion implies that it's my fault that I can't get pregnant. And I know it's not, but when there's no other explanation, it feels that way sometimes.
I guess I need to come to terms with the idea that not everything is fixable. There are some things that are just out of our hands. It's funny - I've gotten there in terms of the election that Michael is involved with, but I just can't seem to wrap my mind around it fertility-wise. Both things - the election and my fertility - greatly impact my life moving forward, but somehow something that doesn't have to do with my body is easier to say - what will be, will be.
Michael's arm isn't broken from the car accident, so that is good - just badly bruised. He's still waiting to hear about whether the car is totalled. I can't believe that I actually get to see him in a couple of days. I can't believe that this is all about to be over and we can get back to our lives together. Someone pinch me!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Life Happens
Michael was in a car accident.
He's okay - other than a hurt right arm. They don't think it's broken, but he needs to see an orthopedist. He thinks he totalled the car, but since it happened over the weekend, the insurance adjusters (or whatever) haven't looked at it yet.
He was driving the candidate to an event several hours from his parents' house. He was on a highway when a sheriff's deputy pulled out in front of him. Yep - he hit the law. (Sound familiar, A-T?) I'm hoping that teensy fact won't impact the state trooper's report of what happened, but you never know.
I was fine yesterday - worried about him & his arm, but fine. But today I started thinking about how bad this could have been. Michael could be lying in a hospital bed right now. Or worse. I know I can't let my mind go there, but the "what ifs" tend to creep in. Makes the other things I was going to write about seem incredibly superficial and silly. Nothing like a car accident to serve up a healthy dose of perspective.
The creepiest thing about this is that Friday night, I had a dream that I was down there visiting. Michael had decided to drive back up here early, but I couldn't leave for some reason. Then it started getting late and I was lost and hadn't heard from him. I was terrified that he had been in a car accident on his way back. Car accident. Creepy, no?
I just wish I was with him. I hate being so far away. I've always hated being so far away, but when you have something like this slap the fragility of life right in your face, it makes it feel a little more urgent. I feel like we are wasting time. Not so much in the fertility sense of the word, although I certainly feel that too. But I mean more that we are wasting these days that we should be spending WITH each other. I realize that in the span of a lifetime, a year is just a drop in the bucket. But who knows what could happen?
Have I mentioned that I can't wait for all of this to be OVER? One more week. Hopefully we can keep Michael in one piece until then.
He's okay - other than a hurt right arm. They don't think it's broken, but he needs to see an orthopedist. He thinks he totalled the car, but since it happened over the weekend, the insurance adjusters (or whatever) haven't looked at it yet.
He was driving the candidate to an event several hours from his parents' house. He was on a highway when a sheriff's deputy pulled out in front of him. Yep - he hit the law. (Sound familiar, A-T?) I'm hoping that teensy fact won't impact the state trooper's report of what happened, but you never know.
I was fine yesterday - worried about him & his arm, but fine. But today I started thinking about how bad this could have been. Michael could be lying in a hospital bed right now. Or worse. I know I can't let my mind go there, but the "what ifs" tend to creep in. Makes the other things I was going to write about seem incredibly superficial and silly. Nothing like a car accident to serve up a healthy dose of perspective.
The creepiest thing about this is that Friday night, I had a dream that I was down there visiting. Michael had decided to drive back up here early, but I couldn't leave for some reason. Then it started getting late and I was lost and hadn't heard from him. I was terrified that he had been in a car accident on his way back. Car accident. Creepy, no?
I just wish I was with him. I hate being so far away. I've always hated being so far away, but when you have something like this slap the fragility of life right in your face, it makes it feel a little more urgent. I feel like we are wasting time. Not so much in the fertility sense of the word, although I certainly feel that too. But I mean more that we are wasting these days that we should be spending WITH each other. I realize that in the span of a lifetime, a year is just a drop in the bucket. But who knows what could happen?
Have I mentioned that I can't wait for all of this to be OVER? One more week. Hopefully we can keep Michael in one piece until then.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Frankenbelly
Today was my first day back at yoga. Yay! I took it easy and didn't do any deep backbends or anything. Wouldn't want Frankenbelly to pop those stitches! The incisions actually look good. Well, compared to what they used to look like. I was pretty self-conscious when my shirt rode up a bit and my scabby belly button was showing for all to see. Luckily, you are supposed to be introspective in yoga, so I highly doubt anyone noticed.
I'm getting ahead of myself, though. I had my follow-up with the surgeon on Friday and he said everything looked good and I had no more restrictions on activity. (I was worried they had turned my belly button from an inny to an outy, but phew - it was just the way they had put those sticky strips on to hold it together. (To which Michael said when I told him - "Really? Imagine that - YOU worried about something for no reason..." Smartass.)
To clarify on the no activity restrictions thing, I asked the doc if I could run. He got all excited because he just ran his first marathon last year and was planning on another, but hurt his achilles. I was slightly embarassed to tell him that I was a 5K girl. But we all start somewhere! So, I'm going to hit the treadmill tomorrow. It has been 2 weeks since my last run. Hopefully, I haven't turned to complete jello in that time.
I actually have a lot of things I feel like I could write about. Like the fact that I saw a number on the scale that I haven't seen since I was 18. Or friends that I thought were planning to remain childfree just announced they are expecting. Or that 2 weeks from yesterday, I will be with Michael again - meaning this hellish year apart is almost over. Maybe I'll get to those posts sometime this week...
I'm getting ahead of myself, though. I had my follow-up with the surgeon on Friday and he said everything looked good and I had no more restrictions on activity. (I was worried they had turned my belly button from an inny to an outy, but phew - it was just the way they had put those sticky strips on to hold it together. (To which Michael said when I told him - "Really? Imagine that - YOU worried about something for no reason..." Smartass.)
To clarify on the no activity restrictions thing, I asked the doc if I could run. He got all excited because he just ran his first marathon last year and was planning on another, but hurt his achilles. I was slightly embarassed to tell him that I was a 5K girl. But we all start somewhere! So, I'm going to hit the treadmill tomorrow. It has been 2 weeks since my last run. Hopefully, I haven't turned to complete jello in that time.
I actually have a lot of things I feel like I could write about. Like the fact that I saw a number on the scale that I haven't seen since I was 18. Or friends that I thought were planning to remain childfree just announced they are expecting. Or that 2 weeks from yesterday, I will be with Michael again - meaning this hellish year apart is almost over. Maybe I'll get to those posts sometime this week...
Friday, October 10, 2008
All Gone!
The surgery went really well. The surgeon told my dad that I had quite a few gallstones in there. So - sounds like a good thing that we removed that pesky gallbladder. The anesthetist was so busy asking me a thousand times if I was over 18 that she forgot to ask if there was any chance I was pregnant. Another nurse caught that oversight and wanted me to take a urine test. I told her that my husband was in Alabama and I'm infertile anyway. That settled that.
They did take some pictures of my ovaries and uterus to send to my fertility doctor. I didn't see the surgeon, but he told my dad that there was quite a bit of scar tissue and wanted to know if I'd had any other surgeries. The only thing I've ever had is egg retrieval. I wonder if that could have caused it?
The hospital was actually wonderful - everyone was incredibly kind and helpful. I've never been so grateful for graham crackers, apple juice, and a recliner that helps you get up in all of my life. I was home with pain pills in hand by about 6:30 or so. Time is a little fuzzy. My dad was with me at the hospital and then brought me home. Then my sister, Ashley came over with groceries and they made Southwestern Chicken Soup for dinner. It was kind of uncomfortable sitting on the couch verbally directing them around my kitchen, but definitely something I could get used to. ;-) We chatted and watched TV and Ash spent the night with me just to make sure I was okay. She also made me breakfast - which Uno stealthily snagged off of the counter.
I have gotten some amazing bouquets of flowers and the house smells wonderful. (Which is a good thing since I'm stuck in it.) My dad came over again at lunch and brought me a salad and some yummy grainy bread from Whole Foods. I'm basically on the couch reading and dozing. Although it seems like whenever I drift off, the phone rings, the doorbell rings, or Uno finds some imaginary thing to bark at. (She is currently trying to get her entire body under the coffee table to get away from the moth that somehow got in.) I think we should have named her Psycho instead of Uno. She got out during one of the flower deliveries - I couldn't hold her, sign the form and hold the flowers at the same time. Luckily, she just wanted the woman to pet her. Oh, and to get in her car and get the hell away from this place.
So, I'm doing well. Thanks for asking. I'm feeling a little bloated and tender, but other than that, I should be back in action shortly. I'm going to take my time recovering though. It's not too often that you have license to lie around for days on end - let alone be encouraged to do it!
They did take some pictures of my ovaries and uterus to send to my fertility doctor. I didn't see the surgeon, but he told my dad that there was quite a bit of scar tissue and wanted to know if I'd had any other surgeries. The only thing I've ever had is egg retrieval. I wonder if that could have caused it?
The hospital was actually wonderful - everyone was incredibly kind and helpful. I've never been so grateful for graham crackers, apple juice, and a recliner that helps you get up in all of my life. I was home with pain pills in hand by about 6:30 or so. Time is a little fuzzy. My dad was with me at the hospital and then brought me home. Then my sister, Ashley came over with groceries and they made Southwestern Chicken Soup for dinner. It was kind of uncomfortable sitting on the couch verbally directing them around my kitchen, but definitely something I could get used to. ;-) We chatted and watched TV and Ash spent the night with me just to make sure I was okay. She also made me breakfast - which Uno stealthily snagged off of the counter.
I have gotten some amazing bouquets of flowers and the house smells wonderful. (Which is a good thing since I'm stuck in it.) My dad came over again at lunch and brought me a salad and some yummy grainy bread from Whole Foods. I'm basically on the couch reading and dozing. Although it seems like whenever I drift off, the phone rings, the doorbell rings, or Uno finds some imaginary thing to bark at. (She is currently trying to get her entire body under the coffee table to get away from the moth that somehow got in.) I think we should have named her Psycho instead of Uno. She got out during one of the flower deliveries - I couldn't hold her, sign the form and hold the flowers at the same time. Luckily, she just wanted the woman to pet her. Oh, and to get in her car and get the hell away from this place.
So, I'm doing well. Thanks for asking. I'm feeling a little bloated and tender, but other than that, I should be back in action shortly. I'm going to take my time recovering though. It's not too often that you have license to lie around for days on end - let alone be encouraged to do it!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
30 Days
It is a beautiful day and I REALLY should be doing something outside. I swept the front porch brushed about 8 lbs of fur off the dog out back, but that isn't exactly what I had in mind.
I'm running a 5K tomorrow with my friend, Esther. I'm a little nervous as she used to run track in high school and played rugby more recently. I know I can run the whole thing, but I'm worried she's going to be at a much faster pace than I am. I guess we'll see! I ran twice while I was in Alabama visiting Michael this past week. Since he had to go to work, I just got up at the same time as he did and went for a run. The trip was great. In addition to seeing Michael, his brother's family was in town as well so we got to have fun with them too. I know I'm a little biased, but my nephew, Carson has got to be the sweetest little boy ever. Seriously. I didn't know they even MADE little boys that sweet.
So, only 30 days until the election. That means 30 days until Michael is DONE and can come home to me. This has been the longest year of my life. I'll head back down to AL for the election - and hopefully for a victory party! We don't know how long he'll have to stay for wrap-up type stuff, but hopefully not long.
In other news, I found a new therapist. A friend of mine (who is a therapist) recommended her, so I decided to give her a try. I've met with her twice now and so far so good. She's already gotten me to think differently about a few things. Like - maybe we DON'T need a Plan B before going into IVF #3. I don't know - the jury is still out on that. But it's been good to have someone to question me a little. And point out my analyst tendencies. (It's no coincidence that analyst starts with ANAL.)
My gall bladder surgery is Thursday, 10/9 at 2:30 PM. My little sister, Ashley is kindly going to meet me at the hospital, bring me home and spend the night with me. Thank goodness! I'm actually going to work Thursday morning before the surgery - mainly because I don't want to be sitting around my house thinking about how hungry & thirsty I am. But I can't wair any makeup, lotion, hair product, contacts - so I'll be quite the natural vision of beauty. Ha! So for about a week of the next 30 days, I will be recovering from surgery. Here's hoping that helps this month FLY by.
I'm running a 5K tomorrow with my friend, Esther. I'm a little nervous as she used to run track in high school and played rugby more recently. I know I can run the whole thing, but I'm worried she's going to be at a much faster pace than I am. I guess we'll see! I ran twice while I was in Alabama visiting Michael this past week. Since he had to go to work, I just got up at the same time as he did and went for a run. The trip was great. In addition to seeing Michael, his brother's family was in town as well so we got to have fun with them too. I know I'm a little biased, but my nephew, Carson has got to be the sweetest little boy ever. Seriously. I didn't know they even MADE little boys that sweet.
So, only 30 days until the election. That means 30 days until Michael is DONE and can come home to me. This has been the longest year of my life. I'll head back down to AL for the election - and hopefully for a victory party! We don't know how long he'll have to stay for wrap-up type stuff, but hopefully not long.
In other news, I found a new therapist. A friend of mine (who is a therapist) recommended her, so I decided to give her a try. I've met with her twice now and so far so good. She's already gotten me to think differently about a few things. Like - maybe we DON'T need a Plan B before going into IVF #3. I don't know - the jury is still out on that. But it's been good to have someone to question me a little. And point out my analyst tendencies. (It's no coincidence that analyst starts with ANAL.)
My gall bladder surgery is Thursday, 10/9 at 2:30 PM. My little sister, Ashley is kindly going to meet me at the hospital, bring me home and spend the night with me. Thank goodness! I'm actually going to work Thursday morning before the surgery - mainly because I don't want to be sitting around my house thinking about how hungry & thirsty I am. But I can't wair any makeup, lotion, hair product, contacts - so I'll be quite the natural vision of beauty. Ha! So for about a week of the next 30 days, I will be recovering from surgery. Here's hoping that helps this month FLY by.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)