2014.... Here We Go!

I can't believe that we are already almost to the second week of 2014.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas celebration with family and friends, and hope your ushering in of the New Year was fun and safe. 

Our Christmas this year was pretty uneventful.  The weather here in MN cooperated, so we had cold but good weather for Christmas eve and day.  We were able to attend Christmas eve service at our church and they had really awesome Christmas music and message.  On Christmas Day, we drove an hour up north to Babe's family and celebrated with all the extended families.  We celebrated New Year's by having a small get together with a few friends at our house and had food, fellowship and played some games.  It was nice and intimate.

As you may know, we have a transfer coming up on January 21st for our adopted frozen embryo(s).  This is a great way to look forward to the new year, with the hope that we will be pregnant and have a baby this year.  So far, I had been on BCPs for about 3 week (done now), am currently on Lu.pron (started on 12/22) and started taking Es.trace on January 1st.  I have my next ultrasound and E2 appointment on January 16th, and if all goes well there, I will start my PIO (progesterone in oil) shots on the 17th. 

It seems like everything was a waiting game, and now the transfer is almost here.  Transfer is in 12 days and we hop on a plane in 10 days!

This Christmas, Babe surprised me with a sweet gift.  He's usually not so great about getting gifts, plus we also agreed that we were not going to get each other a Christmas gift as our little Texas vacation was our gift to each other this year.  Anyway, Babe had heard that I would have liked to get something "snowflakey" to commemorate our embryo adoption transfers..... earrings, a necklace, etc. Well he surprised me with this little silver necklace with a sparkly crystal snowflake!  Sorry the photo isn't the best, but it really is pretty.  

My pretty silver necklace with a pretty crystal snowflake

Speaking of snowflakes, I forgot to post about this after my November transfer.  On our long drive (14 hours!) back to MN from Knoxville, we stopped at a rest stop in Berea, KY which also happens to be the Kentucky Artisan Center.  It is a neat place that showcases art and handmade items by local artists.  I wanted to pick up a Christmas ornament that would be a keepsake from our transfer.  I saw some cool wooden snowflake Christmas ornaments.  I had a hard time deciding between these 2 snowflakes, so Babe said let's get both.  We did transfer 2 embryos, so one ornament for each embryo.  Even though our November transfer resulted in a chemical pregnancy, I'm glad we picked these 2 up.  It is a wonderful way to remember the 2 embryos that I was pregnant with, even if for just a couple of weeks.

Wooden snowflake Christmas ornament from KY

Wooden snowflake Christmas ornament from KY

I am usually not one to make new year resolutions, but I have decided to read at least 25 books this year.  It shouldn't be too difficult, right?  Less than one book every 2 weeks.

What are you looking forward to in 2014?

Cheers To the New Year

Well we rang in the new year with wine coolers.  After our nice dinner and show at church, we decided to skip the band and came home. I got into my PJs and we watched Iron Man which I got DH for Christmas.  Since AF had not showed up, I decided to POAS.

Gosh, I can't remember the last time I POAS.  It's been a really long time.  This is the first time using a digital test too, pretty cool.  The last time I struggled with the decision to POAS because I was hoping that there was a possibility that it would be a BFP.  I was 5 days late then.  Of course as expected, not long after I POAS, AF came.  This time, I was not so optimistic about it.  I even had a few sips of wine during Christmas.  So I was not surprised when the stick showed "Not Pregnant".  


This time I took a picture of it.  That's one way to usher in a new year!

So, I opened up a bottle of wine cooler and ushered in the New Year.  It has been more than 17 hours since I POAS but still no sign of AF.  I'm sure she will be here soon.  I think I'll have another drink tonight.

Final 2009 Trip to Target: PG Test + OPK + Wine Coolers!

I just got home from Target, after my last trip to the Y for the year (I have to confess I have not gone enough!).  Among other things, I picked up the following:

• PG Test
• OPK
• Sangria wine coolers

Interesting combination, huh?  I figured I'd use at least one of these tonight.

AF was/is still supposed to show up today.  I woke up in the wee hours this morning with a major cramp in my abdomen.  It felt like your regular AF cramps, but it was constant and much more intense, painful actually.  I felt like my uterus was about to fall out, but yet it was hanging tightly for dear life.  It was so intense I felt almost sick to my stomach and had to sit on the toilet for a few minutes.  For a while I thought I was going to have to go potty, but nothing (sorry TMI?).  The intense cramping finally went away (thankfully), and I went back to bed.  I don't think I've ever felt anything like this before.   I put on a pad just in case I had a major AF blowout.  I'd hate to throw away a good pair of panties!  Since then, no sign of AF.

I'm getting ready to head out to church for a nice fancy dinner and show, and then to ring in the new year with a Christian band at church.  If AF does not show up by the time I'm home, I think I'll POAS.  If it's a BFN, I'll have myself a wine cooler or two.  No need to waste a good reason to have a drink since it is New Year's eve and all.

On another note, I reconfirmed my appointment with the RE for January 13th today.  Exactly 2 weeks to our appointment!  So looking forward to that!

Here's wishing everyone a Happy New Year, and may 2010 bring you peace, joy, happiness and the desires of your hearts!!

A Happy End to the Year?

Today is CD2.  I marked my cycle days on my calendar for December.  This is a ritual I do every time AF comes.  New hopes for a new month, I suppose.  Seems like our lives have to be planned around our  TTC calendar.  At least we won't have to BD at my in-laws during Christmas this year.  We had to do that one year and it was not fun.  We had to be really quiet so we don't wake anyone up.  All the in-laws, nieces and nephews were crammed into one house.  There were 17 of us in the house!  No choice, we had to do it because it was during my O window.

If all goes well (or in this case, not so well) AF should come right around the 31st of December.  I guess I can look it at 2 ways:

1. If AF does not come, then we could possibly have a happy ending to 2009 with a BFP!
2. But if AF does come, then full steam forward to IVF in 2010.  Not the ending I would choose, but I am glad that DH and I are on the same page and are actually taking steps to making our dreams of a baby a reality.  Let's hope 2010 is our year.

Christmas is exactly 3 weeks away and I am so not prepared.  DH put up the Christmas tree and lights, but I have yet to put up any of the ornaments.  Not much decoration this year either.  At least we have the outside Christmas lights on.  I have only bought 2 Christmas gifts so far.  Oh man, I better off my butt and start getting some stuff done!

Oh! An update.  Found out tonight that DH will not be traveling to CA for work next week after all.  Guess none of his other co-workers can make it either.  So yippee!  DH will be here for my O window.