Today I'm feeling thankful for...
..feeling A LOT better than I did earlier this week. I still have a cough and I'm feeling run down, but not nearly as bad as it was. woot! Decaf hot tea is my BFF this week.
..having a good friend from out of town visiting this weekend. He's Dan's best friend and since he's moved to Arizona we don't get to see him as much as we'd like.
..cooler weather. yippeeeeee! It's still pretty warm, but not the dry death heat we had earlier this week. We even have some sprinkles, thunder & lightening this morning. Exciting stuff!
..the new ability to use my debit card at my work vending machine. This is dangerous.. but today it saved me. I had no breakfast, and no change, so I just swiped my card & got myself a granola bar. Success! :)
Hope everyone's having a great week.. I think we're all thankful that tomorrow is FRIDAY!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
One week down, one more to go
I'm at the half way mark of my two week wait, before I test to see if IUI#4 was a success. Surprisingly this last week really flew by, and now I'm hoping the upcoming week does the same.
No symptoms to speak of, but it's too early for that. Even with the chemical pregnancy the only thing I noticed was random bouts of nausea, but that probably started just a few days before I tested. I'm proud of myself though. I haven't been consumed with this IUI, constantly wondering if it worked or not. I'm just going with the flow, and not overly anxious to find out.
The one annoying thing is I have a whole lot of nothing to keep me busy for the next week. Just the usual work, dinner, take the dogs for a walk, watch some t.v.. haha.. my life is so boring, eh?
This past weekend was pretty uneventful as well.. especially since I'm sick :( AGAIN! Yes, I know.. what the hell is wrong with me that I'm always getting sick?? This time I'm convinced I got what Dan had last week, accept I got it 10x's worse than he did.
I have the sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, acheyness.Major yuck. I'm home from work today, trying to rest up. We're in the middle of a heat wave and with my old ass windows and no air conditioning, my house is like an oven. So, when all I want is hot tea and soup, I should be eating popsicles. I'm so confused...
No symptoms to speak of, but it's too early for that. Even with the chemical pregnancy the only thing I noticed was random bouts of nausea, but that probably started just a few days before I tested. I'm proud of myself though. I haven't been consumed with this IUI, constantly wondering if it worked or not. I'm just going with the flow, and not overly anxious to find out.
The one annoying thing is I have a whole lot of nothing to keep me busy for the next week. Just the usual work, dinner, take the dogs for a walk, watch some t.v.. haha.. my life is so boring, eh?
This past weekend was pretty uneventful as well.. especially since I'm sick :( AGAIN! Yes, I know.. what the hell is wrong with me that I'm always getting sick?? This time I'm convinced I got what Dan had last week, accept I got it 10x's worse than he did.
I have the sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, acheyness.Major yuck. I'm home from work today, trying to rest up. We're in the middle of a heat wave and with my old ass windows and no air conditioning, my house is like an oven. So, when all I want is hot tea and soup, I should be eating popsicles. I'm so confused...
Friday, September 24, 2010
Foodie Friday: Wakey Wakey, Eggs & Bakey!
I have a good friend that used to love annoying her boyfriend by waking him up in the morning by yelling "Wakey Wakey, Eggs & Bakey!!!!!!" .. get it? Eggs and bacon? It's annoying.. which is why I sometimes like to wake Dan up with this same cheesey, annoying rhyme. hehe.
Anywho, I'm talkin' breakfast today. Wonderful, yummy-ful, craveable breakfast. Arguably the best meal of the day. Why do you think people sometimes eat breakfast for dinner? Ok, maybe it's because they only have eggs, pancake mix and syrup in their kitchen, but whatevs..it's fun!
I should add that nothing on this post is a part of the less carbs, less sugar diet. Bad Lolo... bad.
I finally get to cross another thing off my list... having breakfast at Cafe 222. It was good..not craaaazy good, but good nonetheless. I ordered one of their "famous" waffles, and just had to try a side of their tamales. I know, I'm a big fat fattie. Dan had some homemade corned beef hash & eggs. Mmmmm...delish.
If you just happen to be in the downtown San Diego area, I would recommend giving it a shot. Bobby Flay picked their Peanut Butter Banana Bread French Toast as his best breakfast pick for the show "Best Thing I Ever Ate". I didn't order that because..well.. I'm just not into french toast.
Now.. if we're talkin' about one of my top 3 breakfast joints in San Diego, I have to tell you about Kono's Cafe, in Pacific Beach. We always have a couple hours to kill between dropping off Dan's goods, and going in for the actual IUI. Since it was a week day we took advantage by eating at Kono's.
The key is going before 9:00 A.M, and on a weekday.. otherwise you'll be in a line out the door and good luck finding a good seat on their outside patio, overlooking the beach.
Here's the view from the patio..
It was still early.. so gloomy, but that's the pier on the left. There are tons of guys surfing but my picture sucks and you can't see them.
The most important part.. the food.
How yummy does this look? Seriously. It's so good. (just ignore the big bite I took out of my toast before I took this picture. oops) This, my friends, is what they call the "little breakfast". LITTLE. Eggs, 3 thick sliced pieces of bacon, toast, and a mound of cheesey potatoes. Their "big breakfast" is all that plus pancakes. Whoah. The little breakfast is only about $5.75.. so cheap! Aaaaand, they have fresh squeezed o.j. Mmmmm.
We went there after the last IUI that technically worked, so we figured we'd go there again and see if it's the lucky breakfast. :)
P.S. Last night's "secret" band at the party did turn out to be Dave Matthews, minus the band. He performed with famous guitarist, Tim Reynolds, who by the way was pretty amazing. Dave Matthews was cleeearly drunk (& possibly stoned) but he was hilarious and put on a good concert. I've seen Dave Matthews perform with the whole band, so it was cool seeing him play an acoustic performance.
Anywho, I'm talkin' breakfast today. Wonderful, yummy-ful, craveable breakfast. Arguably the best meal of the day. Why do you think people sometimes eat breakfast for dinner? Ok, maybe it's because they only have eggs, pancake mix and syrup in their kitchen, but whatevs..it's fun!
I should add that nothing on this post is a part of the less carbs, less sugar diet. Bad Lolo... bad.
I finally get to cross another thing off my list... having breakfast at Cafe 222. It was good..not craaaazy good, but good nonetheless. I ordered one of their "famous" waffles, and just had to try a side of their tamales. I know, I'm a big fat fattie. Dan had some homemade corned beef hash & eggs. Mmmmm...delish.
If you just happen to be in the downtown San Diego area, I would recommend giving it a shot. Bobby Flay picked their Peanut Butter Banana Bread French Toast as his best breakfast pick for the show "Best Thing I Ever Ate". I didn't order that because..well.. I'm just not into french toast.
Now.. if we're talkin' about one of my top 3 breakfast joints in San Diego, I have to tell you about Kono's Cafe, in Pacific Beach. We always have a couple hours to kill between dropping off Dan's goods, and going in for the actual IUI. Since it was a week day we took advantage by eating at Kono's.
The key is going before 9:00 A.M, and on a weekday.. otherwise you'll be in a line out the door and good luck finding a good seat on their outside patio, overlooking the beach.
Here's the view from the patio..
It was still early.. so gloomy, but that's the pier on the left. There are tons of guys surfing but my picture sucks and you can't see them.
The most important part.. the food.
How yummy does this look? Seriously. It's so good. (just ignore the big bite I took out of my toast before I took this picture. oops) This, my friends, is what they call the "little breakfast". LITTLE. Eggs, 3 thick sliced pieces of bacon, toast, and a mound of cheesey potatoes. Their "big breakfast" is all that plus pancakes. Whoah. The little breakfast is only about $5.75.. so cheap! Aaaaand, they have fresh squeezed o.j. Mmmmm.
We went there after the last IUI that technically worked, so we figured we'd go there again and see if it's the lucky breakfast. :)
P.S. Last night's "secret" band at the party did turn out to be Dave Matthews, minus the band. He performed with famous guitarist, Tim Reynolds, who by the way was pretty amazing. Dave Matthews was cleeearly drunk (& possibly stoned) but he was hilarious and put on a good concert. I've seen Dave Matthews perform with the whole band, so it was cool seeing him play an acoustic performance.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Thankful Thursday
Today I'm feeling thankful for..
Having 50 followers of my blog! I know there aren't actually 50 people out there reading what I have to write every single day, but I feel loved anyways. I hope those of you who read my blog enjoy it, at least a little bit? :) It's been a fantastic outlet for me since we've been struggling with getting pregnant. It's like my own personal journal, that I just happen to share with 50 people! hehe. So, thank you readers! I'm feeling very thankful today for you.
Also, on a side note.. I'm an avid blog reader. First thing I do when I get in to work is grab my coffee or tea and read the blogs I follow (shhhh..don't tell my boss). There's a good chance if you're following my blog, I'm already following yours, but if you're not sure leave me your blog link! I'd love to follow you, too. :)
I'm also thankful for the party I get to attend tonight! Dan works for a big company, and today is their 25th anniversary celebration. So, they're throwing a huge party with free food and I'm sure all sorts of fun stuff. There's a concert, but they're keeping who's performing a big secret. Rumor is it's Dave Matthews Band. I've seen them before, but I'm a fan and you can't beat a free concert, right?! I keep joking with Dan that it's actually going to be someone like Earth, Wind & Fire. hehe. I guess we'll find out tonight!
Having 50 followers of my blog! I know there aren't actually 50 people out there reading what I have to write every single day, but I feel loved anyways. I hope those of you who read my blog enjoy it, at least a little bit? :) It's been a fantastic outlet for me since we've been struggling with getting pregnant. It's like my own personal journal, that I just happen to share with 50 people! hehe. So, thank you readers! I'm feeling very thankful today for you.
Also, on a side note.. I'm an avid blog reader. First thing I do when I get in to work is grab my coffee or tea and read the blogs I follow (shhhh..don't tell my boss). There's a good chance if you're following my blog, I'm already following yours, but if you're not sure leave me your blog link! I'd love to follow you, too. :)
I'm also thankful for the party I get to attend tonight! Dan works for a big company, and today is their 25th anniversary celebration. So, they're throwing a huge party with free food and I'm sure all sorts of fun stuff. There's a concert, but they're keeping who's performing a big secret. Rumor is it's Dave Matthews Band. I've seen them before, but I'm a fan and you can't beat a free concert, right?! I keep joking with Dan that it's actually going to be someone like Earth, Wind & Fire. hehe. I guess we'll find out tonight!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
A TMI conundrum
So... I have this leakage problem, courtesy of the progesterone suppositories I have to take twice a day for the next two weeks.
I'm used to it by now, but I've come to the conclusion that these itty bitty thong panty liners just aren't cutting it.
On top of that I HATE wearing underwear at night. You see, I only own thong style underwear, and while that's fine & dandy during the day.. I don't especially like cotton wedged between my butt cheeks as I sleep. I like to be freeeee.
So, what do I do about it? I'm not going to lie to you. I'm 100%, totally considering purchasing some of these to wear at night:
Don't judge.. you know they look comfy.
I'm also on the hunt for a longer thong style panty liner. Important stuff, yo.
I'm used to it by now, but I've come to the conclusion that these itty bitty thong panty liners just aren't cutting it.
On top of that I HATE wearing underwear at night. You see, I only own thong style underwear, and while that's fine & dandy during the day.. I don't especially like cotton wedged between my butt cheeks as I sleep. I like to be freeeee.
So, what do I do about it? I'm not going to lie to you. I'm 100%, totally considering purchasing some of these to wear at night:
Don't judge.. you know they look comfy.
I'm also on the hunt for a longer thong style panty liner. Important stuff, yo.
Monday, September 20, 2010
IUI#4 done!
Our 4th & final IUI was this morning, and it went great!
25 million sperm, post wash. My RE called Dan "Mr.Reliable". ::eyeroll:: The procedure was pretty quick & painless.. followed by the usual 20 minutes laying on the table & then we were on our way.
I took the whole day off from work so I've been napping, relaxing, watching tv.. basically being plain ol' lazy.
I'll be testing Monday, October 4th. That seems sooooo far away. UGH. I consider myself a very patient person, but something about the dreaded two week wait gets me every time.
So now I need something to keep me busy for the next couple weeks.. hm.. any ideas? good books you've read lately?
25 million sperm, post wash. My RE called Dan "Mr.Reliable". ::eyeroll:: The procedure was pretty quick & painless.. followed by the usual 20 minutes laying on the table & then we were on our way.
I took the whole day off from work so I've been napping, relaxing, watching tv.. basically being plain ol' lazy.
I'll be testing Monday, October 4th. That seems sooooo far away. UGH. I consider myself a very patient person, but something about the dreaded two week wait gets me every time.
So now I need something to keep me busy for the next couple weeks.. hm.. any ideas? good books you've read lately?
Friday, September 17, 2010
Foodie Friday: Help me choose!
Happy Friday! Before I get to my usual food related Friday stuff, I have news! I had another u/s this morning.. we trigger Saturday night with an IUI Monday morning!!! That's cycle day 13!! Holy crap, my body is so ready to get this show on the road. :) I still have 1 follie in the lead but he thinks 2 more will definitely catch up.. maybe 3. Exciting!!!!
Ok, on to the subject of FOOD.
A couple times each year San Diego has what we call "Restaurant Week". Restaurants that participate will have a prix fixe meal that consists of an app, main course, and dessert. Depending on the restaurant they'll charge either $20, $30 or $40 per person. It's always a great chance to get a good meal at a nice restaurant.
We're hoping to participate this go around, but we'll see. At Dan's company he gets rewarded periodically from his peers, and gets to choose his reward from a catalog. Well, he always picks the $100 Amex Restaurant card. So, when he gets one we take advantage and have a nice meal out with it. He has one on the way, we just don't know if it will make it to us in time.
I'm having a hard time deciding where to go, so I'm going to post the menus for the places I've narrowed it down to, and you let me know what sounds good to you!
We like to try a new place every time, but even though we've been before, Peohe's is so tempting. It's delicious, overlooks the water, and $30/per person is a great steal.
Oh my god.. is your mouth watering yet?? Ok, so what would YOU pick??
Ok, on to the subject of FOOD.
A couple times each year San Diego has what we call "Restaurant Week". Restaurants that participate will have a prix fixe meal that consists of an app, main course, and dessert. Depending on the restaurant they'll charge either $20, $30 or $40 per person. It's always a great chance to get a good meal at a nice restaurant.
We're hoping to participate this go around, but we'll see. At Dan's company he gets rewarded periodically from his peers, and gets to choose his reward from a catalog. Well, he always picks the $100 Amex Restaurant card. So, when he gets one we take advantage and have a nice meal out with it. He has one on the way, we just don't know if it will make it to us in time.
I'm having a hard time deciding where to go, so I'm going to post the menus for the places I've narrowed it down to, and you let me know what sounds good to you!
We like to try a new place every time, but even though we've been before, Peohe's is so tempting. It's delicious, overlooks the water, and $30/per person is a great steal.
Choice of First/Appetizers Course
Lobster Bisque
A classic lobster dish served piping hot and finished with whole butter and sherry.
Peohe's Salad
Field greens, mandarin oranges and candied walnuts tossed in orange-ginger vinaigrette.
Herb Steamed Artichoke
Poached in seasoned broth and served with clarified butter and lemon-basil aioli.
Choice of Second/Main Course
Prime Rib of Beef
Slow-roasted with herbs and spices and served with garlic mashed potatoes.
Coconut Crunchy Shrimp
Large shrimp breaded with tempura batter, coconut and panko breadcrumbs. Served with white rice and sweet, yet tangy plum sauce.
Crab Stuffed Tilapia
Coated wtih breadcrumbs, stuffed with crabmeat. Baked and finished with caper butter sauce and wild rice.
Choice of Third/Dessert Course
Macadamia Nut Creme Brulee
Home made custard topped with caramelized sugar, macadamia nuts and fresh berries.
No Ka Oi (Hawaiian translation: “The Best”)
Macadamia nut ice cream pie in a chocolate cookie crust with bittersweet chocolate sauce.
And the 2nd option I'm considering is called Suite & Tender. This one earns a few points for being a place we've never tried before. It's also a $30/per person option.
Choice of First/Appetizers Course
Grilled Lamb Riblets
Yogurt & Cucumber Sauce
Bacon Braised Pork Belly
Apple & Fennel Slaw, Cider Vinaigrette
Chopped Salad
Bibb Lettuce, Teardrop Tomatoes, Maple Bacon Lardons, Blue Cheese Dressing
Choice of Second/Main Course
Mustard Brined Jidori Chicken Breast
White Cheddar & Truffle Macaroni & Cheese
Crispy Sea Bass
Israeli Cous Cous, Tomato & Garlic Confit, Pea Tendrils
Grilled Flat Iron Steak
Crushed Red Skin Potatoes, Shiitake Mushrooms, Chef's Steak Sauce
Choice of Third/Dessert Course
Chocolate Ganache Tart
Lemon Curd Ice Cream
Brownie Crusted Cheesecake
Bing Cherry Coulis
Strawberry Sorbet
Balsamic Glazed Berries Medley
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Thankful Thursday
Hello readers! Last nights phone call with the in-laws went better than expected. All four of us.. me, Dan, my MIL and FIL, got on speaker phone to talk about what's up next for us.
We told them that we're undergoing our last IUI and that if it doesn't work we're doing IVF.. with the money due just a few days after finding out if the IUI worked, or not. I told them a little more about IVF.. the actual procedure, the success rate (& how that compares to an IUI) and how highly everyone speaks about the clinic we'll be going to.
Of course we talked costs, and without hesitation his parents said to not worry about it.. they'll take care of it for us. I already knew how awesome his parents were, but to hear his Dad tell us not to worry about the money.. that we already have enough to focus on.. it was just so comforting.
So, today I'm feeling particularly thankful to have such amazing, generous in-laws.
I'm going to use today's post to tell you a little more about my in-laws.. if you care to know. :)
First off, my FIL, Doug. He's been a policeman, the head of a swat team, and eventually retired as police captain of Richmond, California. Richmond is no joke.. it's listed as America's 12th most dangerous cities. So, needless to say he's got stories. He's seen everything. Horrible things that make his eyes well up with tears when he's telling us the story, and things that make us all cry with laughter.
Doug has always been a great mentor for me and my career. Managing people can be tough, but Doug always had the best advice for me. He's always encouraged me to demand the things I deserve in my career, while still maintaining composure and dignity.
My MIL, Carol, is your typical Mom.. and I mean that in the best way! She's an amazing cook, and she knows all the little housekeeping tips & tricks. I don't want to paint her out to be Suzy Homemaker though because she is way more than that. She's a great golfer, she's great with finances, and she's incredibly smart.
Carol is generous and sensitive.. and loves her family like crazy. I kept the card she gave me at my wedding shower because she said she couldn't wait to have me as her daughter, since she already considers me a friend. It totally made me cry. And it's true! I consider Carol my friend.. someone I can go shopping with and gab to, share recipes and of course our favorite thing to do.. drink wine. :)
I will forever be thankful for their love, support, and generosity.
We told them that we're undergoing our last IUI and that if it doesn't work we're doing IVF.. with the money due just a few days after finding out if the IUI worked, or not. I told them a little more about IVF.. the actual procedure, the success rate (& how that compares to an IUI) and how highly everyone speaks about the clinic we'll be going to.
Of course we talked costs, and without hesitation his parents said to not worry about it.. they'll take care of it for us. I already knew how awesome his parents were, but to hear his Dad tell us not to worry about the money.. that we already have enough to focus on.. it was just so comforting.
So, today I'm feeling particularly thankful to have such amazing, generous in-laws.
I'm going to use today's post to tell you a little more about my in-laws.. if you care to know. :)
First off, my FIL, Doug. He's been a policeman, the head of a swat team, and eventually retired as police captain of Richmond, California. Richmond is no joke.. it's listed as America's 12th most dangerous cities. So, needless to say he's got stories. He's seen everything. Horrible things that make his eyes well up with tears when he's telling us the story, and things that make us all cry with laughter.
Doug has always been a great mentor for me and my career. Managing people can be tough, but Doug always had the best advice for me. He's always encouraged me to demand the things I deserve in my career, while still maintaining composure and dignity.
My MIL, Carol, is your typical Mom.. and I mean that in the best way! She's an amazing cook, and she knows all the little housekeeping tips & tricks. I don't want to paint her out to be Suzy Homemaker though because she is way more than that. She's a great golfer, she's great with finances, and she's incredibly smart.
Carol is generous and sensitive.. and loves her family like crazy. I kept the card she gave me at my wedding shower because she said she couldn't wait to have me as her daughter, since she already considers me a friend. It totally made me cry. And it's true! I consider Carol my friend.. someone I can go shopping with and gab to, share recipes and of course our favorite thing to do.. drink wine. :)
I will forever be thankful for their love, support, and generosity.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
A little update & finger crossing needed!
First off let me start off by saying how crappy this week has started off.
The Chargers lost on Monday, to the CHIEFS.. how embarrassing. And the past few days I've been feeling under the weather. What's new, right? I feel like I'm always getting sick. This time it's mainly sinus issues, but I started getting that achey feeling last night. I'm drinking my tea, and trying to take it easy.
This morning I had another u/s and I could tell right away that I had a huge follie that was clearly jumping ahead of the rest. I couldn't see my RE because he was running late, but he called me and said I have to start the ganirelix injections tomorrow morning. Boo. I HATE the ganirelix injection. It's always red & itchy afterwards, and since I have to do it in the morning, instead of putting some comfy yoga pants on afterwards, I have to yank up a skirt or work pants and be on my way. UGH.
I know.. I'm just being a big pouty face complainer. Of course I'm going to do whatever I've got to do to make this work. I'm entitled to some complaining along the way, right? :)
I have a feeling this week will turn around though. I'm getting my hair did today after work (woot!) and Dan & I are having a little staycation downtown on Friday night. I get to meet 3 great friends who I actually met online! I've already met the lovely Gina, but I get to see her again. Yay!
Oh, and the finger crossing.. tonight Dan's going to have the talk with his Mom about IVF costs, and we're really hoping they'll want to help us out. We certainly don't like the fact that we have to go to a family member and ask for help, but we also don't have $15k floating around. I just have to keep reminding myself what it's all for... our baby, our baby, our baby.
The Chargers lost on Monday, to the CHIEFS.. how embarrassing. And the past few days I've been feeling under the weather. What's new, right? I feel like I'm always getting sick. This time it's mainly sinus issues, but I started getting that achey feeling last night. I'm drinking my tea, and trying to take it easy.
This morning I had another u/s and I could tell right away that I had a huge follie that was clearly jumping ahead of the rest. I couldn't see my RE because he was running late, but he called me and said I have to start the ganirelix injections tomorrow morning. Boo. I HATE the ganirelix injection. It's always red & itchy afterwards, and since I have to do it in the morning, instead of putting some comfy yoga pants on afterwards, I have to yank up a skirt or work pants and be on my way. UGH.
I know.. I'm just being a big pouty face complainer. Of course I'm going to do whatever I've got to do to make this work. I'm entitled to some complaining along the way, right? :)
I have a feeling this week will turn around though. I'm getting my hair did today after work (woot!) and Dan & I are having a little staycation downtown on Friday night. I get to meet 3 great friends who I actually met online! I've already met the lovely Gina, but I get to see her again. Yay!
Oh, and the finger crossing.. tonight Dan's going to have the talk with his Mom about IVF costs, and we're really hoping they'll want to help us out. We certainly don't like the fact that we have to go to a family member and ask for help, but we also don't have $15k floating around. I just have to keep reminding myself what it's all for... our baby, our baby, our baby.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Hail Mary IUI in full effect!
I had my baseline u/s last Friday. There was no cyst, so IUI#4 is officially A GO!!!
On top of my regular bloodwork they do after each u/s, I had blood drawn for cystic fibrosis & rubella. I have to do cystic fibrosis testing for IVF, so I figured I'd get that out of the way. And apparently after they did the immunization for Rubella earlier this year, they never tested to make sure it worked. haha. Since it's another requirement for IVF, I went ahead and got that out of the way now too.
I generally don't really mind getting blood drawn, but three vials drawn + no breakfast that morning = a dizzy Lolo.
I started my follistim injections Friday night, and I go in this Wednesday & Friday for u/s' to see how I'm progressing.
Knowing that technically the last IUI worked, and that if we move on to IVF I'm going to be in great hands, I'm feeling excited, hopeful, and relaxed. Yay!
Now, if the Chargers can pull out a win tonight I'll be an extreeeemely happy camper. Go Bolts!!!
On top of my regular bloodwork they do after each u/s, I had blood drawn for cystic fibrosis & rubella. I have to do cystic fibrosis testing for IVF, so I figured I'd get that out of the way. And apparently after they did the immunization for Rubella earlier this year, they never tested to make sure it worked. haha. Since it's another requirement for IVF, I went ahead and got that out of the way now too.
I generally don't really mind getting blood drawn, but three vials drawn + no breakfast that morning = a dizzy Lolo.
I started my follistim injections Friday night, and I go in this Wednesday & Friday for u/s' to see how I'm progressing.
Knowing that technically the last IUI worked, and that if we move on to IVF I'm going to be in great hands, I'm feeling excited, hopeful, and relaxed. Yay!
Now, if the Chargers can pull out a win tonight I'll be an extreeeemely happy camper. Go Bolts!!!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Foodie Friday: Sausage Spaghetti Spirals
This week I tried a new recipe out, from allrecipes.com.. Sausage Spaghetti Spirals. I had some spiral whole wheat pasta in the cupboard, and wanted to find an easy recipe with just a few ingredients. Success!
I sort of messed up and bought some ground Italian seasoned lean turkey meat.. instead of actual Italian sausage. I think I definitely would have gotten more flavor in the dish if I would have bought the Italian turkey links.. and just took the meat out of the casings. Oh well.. next time!
It was really yummy, and it makes a lot. So, if you try this recipe out, be prepared for left overs.. unless you're feeding family or friends.
Sausage Spaghetti Spirals
Ingredients:
1 lb bulk Italian sausage (see my suggestion above if you want to make this healthier)
1 medium green bell pepper
5 cups spiral pasta (this was a whole box of my whole wheat spiral noodles)
1 (28 oz) jar meatless spaghetti sauce (my jar was only 24 oz, and it was fine)
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (I used the less fattening low moisture mozzarella, but I probably put more like 2 1/2 cups on it. I'm a cheese-a-holic)
Directions:
Cook and drain pasta
While your pasta is cooking, chop the bell pepper
In a skillet, cook sausage and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain
Stir in pasta and spaghetti sauce; mix well
Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2in. baking dish
Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes
Uncover; sprinkle with cheese.
Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted
Super simple, easy (even for me) to make, and tasty. We ate this with a side caesar salad and it was a perfect Football watching meal.. in front of the t.v. Don't judge. :)
Hope you like it!
I sort of messed up and bought some ground Italian seasoned lean turkey meat.. instead of actual Italian sausage. I think I definitely would have gotten more flavor in the dish if I would have bought the Italian turkey links.. and just took the meat out of the casings. Oh well.. next time!
It was really yummy, and it makes a lot. So, if you try this recipe out, be prepared for left overs.. unless you're feeding family or friends.
Sausage Spaghetti Spirals
Ingredients:
1 lb bulk Italian sausage (see my suggestion above if you want to make this healthier)
1 medium green bell pepper
5 cups spiral pasta (this was a whole box of my whole wheat spiral noodles)
1 (28 oz) jar meatless spaghetti sauce (my jar was only 24 oz, and it was fine)
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (I used the less fattening low moisture mozzarella, but I probably put more like 2 1/2 cups on it. I'm a cheese-a-holic)
Directions:
Cook and drain pasta
While your pasta is cooking, chop the bell pepper
In a skillet, cook sausage and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain
Stir in pasta and spaghetti sauce; mix well
Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2in. baking dish
Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes
Uncover; sprinkle with cheese.
Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted
Super simple, easy (even for me) to make, and tasty. We ate this with a side caesar salad and it was a perfect Football watching meal.. in front of the t.v. Don't judge. :)
Hope you like it!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Thankful Thursday
Today I'm thankful for all things Fall.
It was drizzling on my drive in to work this morning and traffic was crazy (90% of Californians can not drive in drizzle without freaking out.. luckily I'm in the 10%) so I decided to stop at Starbucks.. and what do they have again???
Yippeeeeeeeeeee! You've gotta love Starbucks' seasonal drinks. They're the bestest.
And nothing else screams fall to me than ... the changing colors of the leaves? Nope. Pumpkin pie and other baked yumminess? Noooope.
Those things are nice, but I'm talking about FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!
Today marks the official start date of regular season Football, and I'm ex.ci.ted. There's nothing better than sitting around the house all day on Sunday's, watching the games. Usually we're bbqing or making soup. And usually there's some beer involved.. of course.
And I especially love my Chargers!
So, today I'm thankful for Fall.. cooler weather, pumpkin spice lattes, and the start of another season of football.
It was drizzling on my drive in to work this morning and traffic was crazy (90% of Californians can not drive in drizzle without freaking out.. luckily I'm in the 10%) so I decided to stop at Starbucks.. and what do they have again???
Yippeeeeeeeeeee! You've gotta love Starbucks' seasonal drinks. They're the bestest.
And nothing else screams fall to me than ... the changing colors of the leaves? Nope. Pumpkin pie and other baked yumminess? Noooope.
Those things are nice, but I'm talking about FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!
Today marks the official start date of regular season Football, and I'm ex.ci.ted. There's nothing better than sitting around the house all day on Sunday's, watching the games. Usually we're bbqing or making soup. And usually there's some beer involved.. of course.
And I especially love my Chargers!
So, today I'm thankful for Fall.. cooler weather, pumpkin spice lattes, and the start of another season of football.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Exciting Stuff!
Yesterday's post was totally sad an dreary.. I know. And if I'm being totally honest, I had to close my office door when I wrote it, because I couldn't do it without crying. UGH. I'm such a cry baby these days.
SO.. today's post is going to be about something a bit more happy & exciting... My IVF consult! It's probably odd to some that my IVF consult would be a happy & exciting thing, but to me it's the one thing right now that gives me some hope. Next month will mark two years of trying to get pregnant.. and about three years off birth control. I'm SO ready to move on to something more aggressive.
On to the consult. It was GREAT. Dan and I met with Dr.Garzo, who looked over my medical records, & asked us some basic questions.
Then he did an ultrasound.. which I was totally not expecting! He said my left ovary looked good, but my right was on the large side and "text book polycystic". Hm.. why nobody has mentioned that before has me baffled. I'm already on metformin though, so he asked me to double my dose. I asked him if there's anything I can change in my diet to also help and he said it doesn't hurt to cut back on sweets and whites.. white rice, white bread.. you know, all the good stuff. doh!
After the ultrasound we sat down and talked some more.. he told me with everything considered he would say I have up to an 80% chance of IVF working. WOOT! Of course thepessimist realist in me thinks "holy crap.. WHAT IF I fall in the 20% who are unsuccessful!". I don't know why I like torturing myself.. just do.
Next was the sit down with our IVF Coordinator. And the weirdest thing.. I sat next to her in a math class I took at a local community college! It was probably seven years ago, but I KNOW it's her. Such a small world. Anyways, she went through all the pre-IVF testing we'll have to do, and then went through a mock calendar of what the actual IVF cycle would look like.
Lastly, we met with the financial girl. She went through the pricing of everything.. and since we don't know whether we'll do ICSI, and how much meds will be needed, we're estimating the total cost at $12-15k.
So, that was the visit in a nutshell. I'm still hoping this next IUI will be the lucky one, but if not at least I feel comfortable knowing I'll be in great hands during our IVF cycle.
Oh, and when we came home from the IVF consult this was in our mail:
Dan picked it up, showed it to me and said "Look, babe! We don't need to do IVF.. Old Navy has babies on sale!!!" hehe.. silly hubby. We could watch some parade of babies (The Parade of Cute!) go by and pick out the one we want. If only it were that easy!
SO.. today's post is going to be about something a bit more happy & exciting... My IVF consult! It's probably odd to some that my IVF consult would be a happy & exciting thing, but to me it's the one thing right now that gives me some hope. Next month will mark two years of trying to get pregnant.. and about three years off birth control. I'm SO ready to move on to something more aggressive.
On to the consult. It was GREAT. Dan and I met with Dr.Garzo, who looked over my medical records, & asked us some basic questions.
Then he did an ultrasound.. which I was totally not expecting! He said my left ovary looked good, but my right was on the large side and "text book polycystic". Hm.. why nobody has mentioned that before has me baffled. I'm already on metformin though, so he asked me to double my dose. I asked him if there's anything I can change in my diet to also help and he said it doesn't hurt to cut back on sweets and whites.. white rice, white bread.. you know, all the good stuff. doh!
After the ultrasound we sat down and talked some more.. he told me with everything considered he would say I have up to an 80% chance of IVF working. WOOT! Of course the
Next was the sit down with our IVF Coordinator. And the weirdest thing.. I sat next to her in a math class I took at a local community college! It was probably seven years ago, but I KNOW it's her. Such a small world. Anyways, she went through all the pre-IVF testing we'll have to do, and then went through a mock calendar of what the actual IVF cycle would look like.
Lastly, we met with the financial girl. She went through the pricing of everything.. and since we don't know whether we'll do ICSI, and how much meds will be needed, we're estimating the total cost at $12-15k.
So, that was the visit in a nutshell. I'm still hoping this next IUI will be the lucky one, but if not at least I feel comfortable knowing I'll be in great hands during our IVF cycle.
Oh, and when we came home from the IVF consult this was in our mail:
Dan picked it up, showed it to me and said "Look, babe! We don't need to do IVF.. Old Navy has babies on sale!!!" hehe.. silly hubby. We could watch some parade of babies (The Parade of Cute!) go by and pick out the one we want. If only it were that easy!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
The Story of Ingaborg & Ambrose
Awhile back, Dan and I found a birds nest that had been built in some rafters, hanging on the side of our house. Inside the nest was a dove, sitting on two eggs.
Eventually those eggs hatched, and neither babies made it.
Not long after, the dove returned & made another nest in the same spot. She sat on two eggs again, and this time they made it.
I'm not sure if they were female or male, but we named the baby doves Ingaborg and Ambrose. Ingaborg was Dan's late Grandmother's middle name, and Ambrose was my late Grandfather's middle name. And they both HATED those names with a passion. Dan & I always said if we had birds or fish some day, we'd name them Ingaborg and Ambrose. :)
Saturday morning Dan found one of the birds on the ground. It wasn't injured, so we're guessing it was learning how to fly. yay! I was worried the mama bird wouldn't be able to find him to feed him.. so I asked Dan to put him back in the nest.
As Dan went to put him back in the nest, he realized the other baby bird didn't make it. :( We weren't too surprised as it seemed to be the runt of the two.
Dan put the other baby bird on the hill where his mom & dad would eat. I figured he could eat something there, and maybe the mama bird would find him. Dan placed him on the hill and within 5 minutes the mom & dad birds came over and started loving on their baby. Dan and I watched, in total awe, for awhile. Most mama birds leave their babies to fend for themselves, but these doves were like a real family. It was absolutely amazing..
Eventually those eggs hatched, and neither babies made it.
Not long after, the dove returned & made another nest in the same spot. She sat on two eggs again, and this time they made it.
I'm not sure if they were female or male, but we named the baby doves Ingaborg and Ambrose. Ingaborg was Dan's late Grandmother's middle name, and Ambrose was my late Grandfather's middle name. And they both HATED those names with a passion. Dan & I always said if we had birds or fish some day, we'd name them Ingaborg and Ambrose. :)
Saturday morning Dan found one of the birds on the ground. It wasn't injured, so we're guessing it was learning how to fly. yay! I was worried the mama bird wouldn't be able to find him to feed him.. so I asked Dan to put him back in the nest.
As Dan went to put him back in the nest, he realized the other baby bird didn't make it. :( We weren't too surprised as it seemed to be the runt of the two.
Dan put the other baby bird on the hill where his mom & dad would eat. I figured he could eat something there, and maybe the mama bird would find him. Dan placed him on the hill and within 5 minutes the mom & dad birds came over and started loving on their baby. Dan and I watched, in total awe, for awhile. Most mama birds leave their babies to fend for themselves, but these doves were like a real family. It was absolutely amazing..
I know this picture is sort of blurry since I took it from a distance, through a window. I didn't want to disturb their reunion. :) The baby dove is right below one of the larger doves.
They sat like that for most of the day. Sitting with their baby, giving it warmth.
Once it got dark out the mom & dad doves had flown away, and the baby dove sat by himself on the hill. After doing some research online, Dan & I decided to put a towel in a shoe box, and keep the dove warm for the night.
But when we went outside, the baby was gone. We looked around for a couple minutes and figured it must have figured out how to fly, or found a warmer place for the night.
Sunday morning I went out to look for the baby. As I was looking, I realized the mama dove was perched on the edge of our roof, looking down at the spot she had reunited with her baby, the day before. And then I spotted the baby dove.. on the ground, behind one of our trash cans.
I called for Dan to see if the baby was o.k., and he told me it had passed away.
Queue me bawling my eyes out for 1/2 the day.
And then the saddest part.. the mom & dad dove sat in that same spot on the hill for a good part the day.. waiting for their baby dove to show up.
Queue more crying.
Even that evening I spotted the mama dove perched on our fence.. looking down at that same spot.
And queue some more crying.
It absolutely broke my heart.
And I think maybe IF has made me more sensitive to these sorts of things. All I could think was that this poor mama dove had tried before and lost both babies.. and now she had lost two more. Hopefully she'll try again, and hopefully the next one will make it.
Rest in Peace.. Ingaborg & Ambrose.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Foodie Friday: Italian Wedding Soup
Last night I tried out another recipe from my Trader Joe's cookbook.. Italian Wedding Soup. For those of you not lucky enough to have a Trader Joe's near by, don't fret! Every ingredient can be bought at any grocery store. Yippeee!
This soup was really easy to make, and so delicious. I know this for a fact because after Dan finished his bowl, he moved on to mine. haha. It was probably not the best idea to make a hot soup on a Summer night but eh.. we survived. It will definitely be a repeat recipe.. especially since Fall is right around the corner!
Before I give you the recipe, here's a little history on Italian Wedding Soup, that I got from the TJ's cookbook:
Despite Common belief, the name for this soup actually has nothing to do with a couple's big day. It refers to the winning combination of greens and meat. In Italian, two things that go well together are said to be "well married," and hence the name for this tasty dish. There are endless variations to wedding soup; just make sure meat and greens are involved.
Italian Wedding Soup
Ingredients:
20 frozen party size mini meatballs (you can really use any size frozen meatball you'd like)
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup diced carrots or halved baby carrots
4 cups (one 32-oz carton) Organic Free Range Chicken Broth-Low Sodium (again, 4 cups of any chicken broth will do)
3 cups fresh swiss chard or spinach (I used chard)
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup grated or shredded parmesan cheese (I used fresh grated parmigiano-reggiano..holler, Giada!)
Directions:
Heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions, garlic and carrots. Cook for 5 minutes. (Stir to avoid anything sticking to the bottom of your pot)
Add chicken broth and meatballs. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. (Stir occasionally)
Add swiss chard (I chopped mine first.. about the same size you would for a salad) and boil for 5 minutes longer. (It might seem like a lot of chard as you're throwing it in the pot, but it quickly shrinks up).
Ladle into soup bowls. Garnish with parsley & parmesan cheese.
Mangia!
This soup was really easy to make, and so delicious. I know this for a fact because after Dan finished his bowl, he moved on to mine. haha. It was probably not the best idea to make a hot soup on a Summer night but eh.. we survived. It will definitely be a repeat recipe.. especially since Fall is right around the corner!
Before I give you the recipe, here's a little history on Italian Wedding Soup, that I got from the TJ's cookbook:
Despite Common belief, the name for this soup actually has nothing to do with a couple's big day. It refers to the winning combination of greens and meat. In Italian, two things that go well together are said to be "well married," and hence the name for this tasty dish. There are endless variations to wedding soup; just make sure meat and greens are involved.
Italian Wedding Soup
Ingredients:
20 frozen party size mini meatballs (you can really use any size frozen meatball you'd like)
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup diced carrots or halved baby carrots
4 cups (one 32-oz carton) Organic Free Range Chicken Broth-Low Sodium (again, 4 cups of any chicken broth will do)
3 cups fresh swiss chard or spinach (I used chard)
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup grated or shredded parmesan cheese (I used fresh grated parmigiano-reggiano..holler, Giada!)
Directions:
Heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions, garlic and carrots. Cook for 5 minutes. (Stir to avoid anything sticking to the bottom of your pot)
Add chicken broth and meatballs. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. (Stir occasionally)
Add swiss chard (I chopped mine first.. about the same size you would for a salad) and boil for 5 minutes longer. (It might seem like a lot of chard as you're throwing it in the pot, but it quickly shrinks up).
Ladle into soup bowls. Garnish with parsley & parmesan cheese.
Mangia!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Thankful Thursday
Today I'm thankful for carpet. I know, I know.. I need to get over the damn carpet. But I LOVE it. I saw it in person yesterday when I got home from work and it's the exact color & texture that I had hoped for.
When I was growing up one of my favorite things to do was to look through model homes with my Mom & Sister. I was a weird kid..what can I say? We were one of the first neighborhoods built in our area, so as new neighborhoods were being built, we would drive around town visiting all of them. My parents were never interested in buying a new house, we just liked to pretend. My Sister and I would even argue over who would get which bedroom. We're a little crazy..I know this. My Mom and I continued doing this even after I had moved out of the house. When I would visit, we would go to a new neighborhood and walk through the model homes.. telling the realtors "we're just looking". They probably hated us. Tee-hee.
I promise there's a point to this story.. the SMELL of these brand new homes. Ahhh, the smell. It smelled clean, it smelled like paint, and they all just had this same distinct, wonderful smell. Yet, here I am, in my first home, built in the early 1960's. It soooo did not have that smell. BUT dear readers.. I'm here to tell you that great smell you get from a model home, is actually from the new CARPET. I HAVE THE SMELL.. in my old house.
Just like the new car smell, my new carpet smell will fade away ::tear:: .. but for now I'm going to enjoy it. If you actually read this whole post about my love for the smell of a model home.. you get this:
When I was growing up one of my favorite things to do was to look through model homes with my Mom & Sister. I was a weird kid..what can I say? We were one of the first neighborhoods built in our area, so as new neighborhoods were being built, we would drive around town visiting all of them. My parents were never interested in buying a new house, we just liked to pretend. My Sister and I would even argue over who would get which bedroom. We're a little crazy..I know this. My Mom and I continued doing this even after I had moved out of the house. When I would visit, we would go to a new neighborhood and walk through the model homes.. telling the realtors "we're just looking". They probably hated us. Tee-hee.
I promise there's a point to this story.. the SMELL of these brand new homes. Ahhh, the smell. It smelled clean, it smelled like paint, and they all just had this same distinct, wonderful smell. Yet, here I am, in my first home, built in the early 1960's. It soooo did not have that smell. BUT dear readers.. I'm here to tell you that great smell you get from a model home, is actually from the new CARPET. I HAVE THE SMELL.. in my old house.
Just like the new car smell, my new carpet smell will fade away ::tear:: .. but for now I'm going to enjoy it. If you actually read this whole post about my love for the smell of a model home.. you get this:
Oooo... fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. Another great smell. :)
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
News Flash!!!
We have carpet!!! Halle-freakin'-lujah. I'm excited about this.. can't you tell? :)
I'm mostly just excited at the fact that we are thisclose to having our house renovations DONE. As of last night all three bedrooms had crown moulding installed and paint on the walls. YESSSSSSS.
The carpet was installed today & Dan just emailed me these 3 pics:
Those aren't the greatest pics since the point of them is just the carpet, so I'll be sure to get some better "after" pics taken. I still have to find window treatments, get everything moved back into the bedrooms, paint the guest bedroom furniture, and add new pulls for the guest bedroom dresser. Oh, and we're painting and installing new doors this weekend.
Sooooo, not done yet.. but so close. Yippeeeee!!
I'm mostly just excited at the fact that we are thisclose to having our house renovations DONE. As of last night all three bedrooms had crown moulding installed and paint on the walls. YESSSSSSS.
The carpet was installed today & Dan just emailed me these 3 pics:
guest bedroom:
Office/future nursery:
Master bedroom:
Those aren't the greatest pics since the point of them is just the carpet, so I'll be sure to get some better "after" pics taken. I still have to find window treatments, get everything moved back into the bedrooms, paint the guest bedroom furniture, and add new pulls for the guest bedroom dresser. Oh, and we're painting and installing new doors this weekend.
Sooooo, not done yet.. but so close. Yippeeeee!!
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