Show and Tell: Needles

**In you do not like the sight of needles, you may want to skip this show and tell**

It's time again for Mel's Show and Tell.

In honor of me triggering tonight, and being TOTALLY done with shots for my IVF cycle, I am showing a comparison of the various types of needles used for my shots this cycle.

On the very top is the needle used for my HCG shot.  It was an intramuscular (IM) shot, meaning it is injected into the muscles.  It's the biggest and longest of them all at 1.5 inches (3.81 cm)!

The second needle was used for my Meno.pur shots.  It's a subcutaneous (Sub-Q), shot, meaning it is injected under the skin.  It was 0.5 inches (1.27 cm).

Then comes the needle used for my Lu.pron shot.  It's an insulin needle, also a sub-Q shot.  Also 0.5 inches.

Finally, the needle used on the Follis.tim pen.  That too is a sub-Q shot, and again about 0.5 inches.

Unfortunately, well actually fortunately for me, I am not doing the progesterone in oil (PIO) shots, so I don't have that to show.

So what are YOU showing or telling?  Go check out what the rest of the class is showing at Mel's and join the fun by doing some showing and telling of your own.

Show & Tell: Steak House or Gay Bar?

I got nothing real exciting for Show and Tell at Mel's this week.  So instead, I am sharing a fun game.

Check out this website to see if you can guess by the name of the establishment if it's an actual steakhouse or a gay bar.

The website gives you a name, and you choose whether you think it's a name of a steak house or a gay bar.  It'll then tell you the answer and where it's located, plus how many other people got it right or wrong.

It's a great way to waste time!

Then go check out what the rest of the class is showing at Mel's.

Show and Tell: A Butterfly's Lesson

It's time for Mel's Show and Tell.  This week, I am doing something a little different.  Instead of showing, I am doing a bit of telling.

I received an email from my mom last week, and in it was a beautiful story called "A Butterfly's Lesson".  It made me smile and gave me a little more determination to face whatever the outcome of my IVF journey may be.  I hope this picks you up a little too.

A Butterfly's Lesson

One day, a small opening appeared in a cocoon; a man sat and watched for the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole.  Then, it seems to stop making any progress.  It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could not go any further.

So the man decided to help the butterfly; he took a pair of scissors and opened the cocoon.  The butterfly then emerged easily.  But it had a withered body, it was tiny and shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would open, enlarge and expand, to be able to support the butterfly's body and become firm.  Neither happened!  In fact the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a withered body and shriveled wings.  It never was able to fly.

What the man, in his kindness and his goodwill did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening, were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings, so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes, struggles are exactly what we need in our life.

If God allowed us to go through our life without obstacles, it would cripple us.  We would not be as strong as we could have been.  Never been able to fly.

I asked for Strength.....
  and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for Wisdom.....
  and God gave me problems to solve.

I asked for Prosperity......
  and God gave me a brain and brawn to work.

I asked for Courage.....
  and God gave me obstacles to overcome.

I asked for Love.....
  and God gave me troubled people to help.

I asked for Favors......
  and God gave me opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted.....
  But I received everything I needed.

Live life without fear, confront all obstacles and know that you can overcome them.

Now, go see what else the rest of the class is showing at Mel's.

Show and Tell: Box O' Meds

It's Wednesday, which is also Hump Day, which also means it's time for Me'ls Show and Tell!

This week, I am showing my Box O' Meds that I received in the mail on Friday.  These are the injectibles that I will need for my IVF cycle, including:

• Lu.pron kit
• Follis.tim pen kit
• Follis.tim
• Meno.pur
• Generic HCG
• Various types of syringes and needles
• Alcohol swabs
• Sharps container

This doesn't seem like very much, because thankfully I am not doing PIO (progesterone in oil) shots.  If I did, there would be a lot more meds, syringes and needles.  Already with this, I feel like such a druggie.

As always, go check out what the rest of the class is showing at Mel's.

Show and Tell: Chinese New Year Dinner

It's time again for Mel's Show and Tell.  Sunday was Valentine's Day, but it was also Chinese New Year.  This year we celebrate year of the Tiger.

My Babe and I, plus two other couples and their kids celebrated by going to a Chinese restaurant and ordering a set family dinner for 6.  Here are some pictures of the dishes we had.

Peking Roast Duck

Stir Fried Chinese Broccoli (front) and Salt & Pepper Squid (back)

Pork Chops in Peking Sauce

Steamed Whole Walleye with Ginger and Scallions

Crab with Ginger and Scallions

We were too busy eating, and forgot to take pictures of the pork and watercress soup, and also the tapioca dessert.  What a feast we had!  I hope this has whet your appetite for Chinese food.  Not go check out what the rest of the class is showing.

Show and Tell: Things Found At A Market In China!

First, a reminder that today is the last day you can participate in my first ever Giveaway.  So if you have not yet joined in the fun, please do so now.  The giveaway ends tonight at 11:59 pm CST!

Now, back to business!  It's Wednesday, which means it's time for Mel's Show and Tell!

In the Spring of 2008, my Babe and I took part in a Ha.bitat For Huma.nity trip to the Yunnan province of China.  For those of you who like to travel, and would like to volunteer on an international trip, Habi.tat for Human.ity's Glob.al Vil.lage program is excellent for volunteering your time and experiencing a local culture.  They take you to places most tourists never see.

On one of the Sundays we were there, our local guide took our team to a local open air market.  It's one of those markets where the locals do their grocery shopping, not one put up for tourists.  Needless to say, it was quite an experience.  There were a lot of very interesting items there.  Here is just a selection of items that I thought you may find interesting.

Bundles of tobacco (the Chinese love to smoke)

  

Another type of tobacco

 

Tobacco and tobacco bongs.

White asparagus

Red hot chili peppers (the real thing!)

Pick your own white duck.

Black ducks all lined up

Tofu (soy bean curd)

Pig snouts! (my favorite on the gross factor!)

Pig's blood, I think (another favorite on the gross list!)

Frogs, and I mean HUGE frogs.

Doesn't that just make you appreciate your nice, clean grocery stores?  

Ha ha..... Now that I've grossed you out, go check out what the rest of the class is showing.

Show and Tell: Angel

For this week's Show and Tell, I'm showing the Pink Angel that I won from Kristin's giveaway at Once A Mother.  Kristin is one of the strongest women I know.  She lost her beautiful baby girl, Peyton to infant leukemia 28 days after she was born.  Once A Mother is a tribute to Peyton, and a mother's journey in life without her precious angel.  Please stop by her blog and say hi.

View from the front

View from the back

This beautiful angel that I won is made out of pink lace and must have been handmade because it is so delicate.  There is tulip in the middle of the angel's body.

I am adding this to my collection of Christmas ornaments.  I have a few different angel ornaments, but this one is special.  I will always think of Peyton, and remember the ALI (adoption, loss, infertility) community every year when we put up our Christmas tree.  As my Babe and I become parents in the future, whether it is through having our own biological children or adoption, we will never forget our infertility journey because infertility will always be a part of us.

Thanks Kristin for this beautiful pink angel.  I'm hoping that this may be a sign of a baby girl (pink!) in the future for us!

Now, please go check out what the rest of the class is showing at Mel's.

p/s  I will be hosting a giveaway of my own in the next few days, so please check back often!

Show and Tell: Momsense + Bonus

I always look forward to Wednesdays because it means it's time for Mel's weekly Show and Tell.

I am a big fan of You.Tube.  It's amazing the things you can find there.  This week I am sharing a video most famously called "Momsense", or some people know it as "William Tell Momisms", by comedian Anita Renfroe.  This has been floating around for a while, so I expect that some of you have already seen this.  If you have not, you are totally missing out!  If you have, eh..... so watch it again!

So here it is.  It doesn't matter if you are already a mom, or hoping to be one, you will definitely enjoy this!


And as a bonus, I've included a second video called "Dadsense", a response to "Momsense" I guess.  This is what a dad would say in a 24 hour period.  Enjoy!


Now, please go check out what the rest of the class is showing.  Then join us, and do some showing and telling of your own.

Show and Tell: Bellydance Scarf

It's time for again for Mel's weekly Show and Tell.  Last night I went to a Zum.ba class at the YMCA.  As part of the class, we do among other things, some bellydancing which is a lot of fun.  If you have not tried Zum.ba or bellydancing, you should definitely try it out.

My Zum.ba instructor has a policy that if you attend her class 3 times in a row, you get a free bellydance scarf.  Here is a picture of the scarf I received from her.  It's burgundy in color and has some silver coins and beads. When you shake your hips, the beads and coins move and clink, makes you feel kinda exotic and sexy.

Unfortunately, I am still working on shaking my hips and shimmying like a bellydancer, not quite as sexy or exotic as I'd like.  I definitely need a lot more practice!

Now go check out what the rest of the class is showing.  Then come join us and do some showing and telling of your own!

Show and Tell: "Wait" by Russell Kelfer

It's again time for Mel's weekly Show and Tell.  This week I am sharing a poem that someone once shared with me a while ago.  I don't remember who, or what the situation was, but I remember thinking that it was so appropriate for me when I was feeling down and hopeless in my years of trying to have a baby unsuccessfully.

This poem had been circulated on the internet for a long time as author unknown.  However, I found out that the poem is now published as a book.  It is beautifully illustrated by a lady that found this poem after her third successive miscarriage in 9 months.  She requested the widow of the late author, Russell Kelfer for permission to publish the poem.  You can now find this book available for sale from Amazon.

"Wait" is so appropriate for someone like me, who has been TTC for the last 6 years.  It has reminded me over and over again that God has a plan for me, and I just need to learn to trust and wait on Him.  It makes me cry, and yet it gives me peace when I read this.

What are YOU waiting for?

Are you waiting for a baby?  Going through your 2 week wait?  Are you waiting for your adoption match?  Are you waiting for a test result?  Are you single and looking for your mate?  Is someone you love serving in the military overseas?

If you are waiting, this poem is for you.

WAIT by Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried; Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied. I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . . And the Master so gently said, "Wait." "Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply. "Lord, I need answers, I need to know why! Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard? By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word. "My future and all to which I relate Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait? I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign, Or even a 'no' to which I can resign. "You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe, We need but to ask, and we shall receive. And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry: I'm weary of asking! I need a reply." Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate, As my Master replied again, "Wait." So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut, And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?" He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . . and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign. I could shake the heavens and darken the sun. I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run. "I could give all you seek and pleased you would be. You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me. You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint. You'd not know the power that I give to the faint. "You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair; You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there. You'd not know the joy of resting in Me When darkness and silence are all you can see. "You'd never experience the fullness of love When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove. You would know that I give, and I save, for a start, But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart. "The glow of my comfort late into the night, The faith that I give when you walk without sight. The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask From an infinite God who makes what you have last. "You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee, What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee. Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true, But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you. "So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me. And though oft My answers seem terribly late, My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait." ©Russell Kelfer. All rights reserved.

From: http://www.dtm.org/ (look under "Poem", then "Wait")
Now, go check out what everyone is showing at Mel's Show and Tell, and please join us as well!

Show and Tell: "Playing for Change: Stand By Me" Video

It's time for Mel's weekly Show and Tell.  This is now my 4th time participating in the Show and Tell and I must say it is a lot of fun.  It is a place to share something, anything with others.  It's really fun looking at what other people are showing too.  Go check it out.  Then don't forget to come back and see what I am showing this week.

This week I'm sharing a video "Stand By Me" put together by the Playing for Change Project.  The creators of the project traveled the world to places like as New Orleans, Barcelona, South Africa, Spain, France and Italy, and had local musicians perform "Stand by Me", interpreted in their own style.

I really enjoy this video because the song is so great, and the styles of the singers and musicians are so different.  Yet it comes together perfectly.  It also reminds me that we in the ALI community can definitely use someone to stand by us!  I listen to this over and over again!

Check out the website http://playingforchange.com/



I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did.  Now go check out the rest of the class at Mel's weekly Show and Tell.

Show and Tell: Gift Card Holder

I missed last week's Show and Tell so I wanted to make sure I made it this week.
A couple of days before Christmas, I needed to pick up a restaurant gift card for a friend.  DH and I decided to pick one up from Old Chicago.  While we there we decided to have dinner there too.  Old Chicago is famous for its beer, pizza and pasta.
After dinner, we asked the waitress for a gift card.  When it came, I was so tickled pink by how it was presented.  
The gift card was tucked into a cute little miniature pizza box.  I'm not sure what it is about this little gift card pizza box, but I fell in love with it.  It just made my day.   Hope you like it too.
Now go check out what the rest of the class is showing at Mel's Show and Tell.

Show and Tell: Favorite Christmas Ornaments

Mel at Stirrup Queen's does a weekly Show and Tell.  This week, I will be showing you two of my favorite Christmas ornaments.

This is Little Drummer Boy.  He is very special because he is almost as old as DH.  Every year for the last thirty plus years, DH has been getting a handmade or specially chosen Christmas ornament from his grandma and aunt.  This one was given to DH when he was one.  It has DH's name and the year 1976 handwritten on the back.  There are other ornaments dating back to from when he was born but somehow this one holds a special place in my heart.  Maybe it's the blonde hair and blue outfit that reminds me of DH.  We could not figure out which one he got the year he was born since some of the ornaments were not dated.   These ornaments are so precious to me!

This second one is special to me because it was from our honeymoon in Tahiti.  I call it "From Bora Bora, with Love".  We stayed in some overwater bungalows in Bora Bora and this was the holder that held my sarong/wrap that was a welcome gift from the hotel.  DH got a free t-shirt.  The holder is made of straw or grass and has two shells on it.  Technically it is not a Christmas ornament, but it sits on our tree.  Every year, as we put up the Christmas tree, it reminds us of how special our marriage is, and the wonderful time we had on our honeymoon.

So what are your favorite Christmas ornaments?  Leave a comment then hop on over to Mel's to check out the rest of the class.

Show and Tell: Mahna Mahna Video

I just came across Mel's Show and Tell. It seems like something fun to do, to share with others something just for the fun of it, and to see what others have to share and tell.  I'm excited to be part of the class for the first time!

I could not think of something real exciting this week on short notice, so I thought I'd share the "Mahna Mahna" video from the Muppets Show.  There's no real story or anything, but just great fun.  It puts a smile on my face every time I watch it.  And you can watch it over and over again.  I do!

When you're feeling down, watch this, you'll feel better, guaranteed!  Or there's something wrong with ya!



Now go check out the rest of the class at Mel's Show and Tell!  There's a new one every week.