Pushed back at least another week!

I just hate Mondays!! Let me back up a few weeks & explain some things...I started my last period on March 10 & called the fertility clinic, just like I was instructed to, as soon as I started my March period. During IVF cycles, the Drs & nurses are on call 7 days a week due to the precise timing of egg retrieval (ER) & embryo transfer (ET). Therefore, there aren't IVF cycles every month... that is why we had to wait until April to start with cycle #2. They have certain dates set out to start BCP so that your ER & ET fall within their 'on-call' dates. When I called on March 10, I was told I was too early to start BCP & they could either have me wait a week or two to start BCP or not take BCP this month & start with my next cycle. My nurse talked with my Dr. & decided on the first option & for me to start taking my BCP on March 21st. I took my BCP through April 3rd & went in last Friday, April 4th for my baseline ultrasound & bloodwork. As you might have read in my last post, my ultrasound showed a big follicle on one of my ovaries, but didn't get my estrogen resulted due to a broken machine.

I got a call today from my fertility clinic telling me that I had actually ovulated this month & that my estrogen level was too high to start my shots right now. That could be why I had a big follicle on my ovary, right?!?! I have to continue my BCP through Sunday the 13th & report back to Tulsa on the 14th. I am just so frustrated...why can't my body do what it is supposed to do???

I really hope I didn't confuse all of you because that was pretty difficult to explain!!

Baseline Appt & Prayer Request

I had my first appointment today for cycle #2 of IVF. I have been on BCP for two weeks now & today's appointment was to make sure my body wasn't producing estrogen & to make sure I didn't have any follicles on my ovaries. I did have one rather large follicle on one of my ovaries, but the nurse said that if it wasn't producing estrogen, I would be okay to continue on. However, one of the machines in the lab that tests the estrogen was broken today so they couldn't get my results. I was told to continue the BCP through Sunday & to call in on Monday & find out what to do next. I kind of felt like today was a wasted trip to Tulsa! Oh well, we will just be set back a couple of day...I guess it could be worse!!!

Secondly, I wanted to ask everyone out there to pray for this little guy Ethan!! He is in desperate need of our prayers tonight!! This little guy has been fighting luekemia his whole life!! I have been checking up on him daily for the last year & it just breaks my heart.

TAG...Your It!!

10 years ago: In 1998, I was a senior in high school at Southside High School. I was so ready for graduation & college. Michael & I had been dating for 3 1/2 years & had both gotten scholarships to Southern Arkansas University! I played volleyball & basketball throughout high school & had one a state championship ring in both sports that year!! Michael & I went to prom with Amber Collyge & Chris Minton, & Ben Lewis & Kathy Curry!! What fun memories...I didn't realize back then how wonderful & easy life was!!!

Things on my to-do-list: Tomorrow morning before work, I must 'pick up' the house for my maid to come...does anyone else do that?? I have to pick up the drycleaning sometime tomorrow. Then I am having lunch with my friend Cindy, & then I once I get back to work I have a IT meeting. Once I get home, I am making Poppyseed Chicken for dinner & get ready to leave for Tulsa bright & early on Friday morning!!!

What I would do if I suddenly became a billionaire: Pay off some loans & my house & car payments, pay off any of my families debt, travel...I want to go to Europe, Alaska, & Australia, give more money to my church & lots of charities, set aside money for my future children's college funds, & never work again!!

My bad habits: biting my fingernails, hitting my snooze button 5 times every morning, eating too much & not excersing enough.

Five jobs I have had:
*Accounting Analyst at a Natural Gas Company
*Waitress at my roommates seafood restaurant, MELS, in El Dorado, AR
*Resident Assistant in my dorm at college
*Athletic Trainers Assistant in college
*Summer help at Webb Energy Resources

Things people might not know about me:
*I cannot stand to see lightening strike...I don't mind hearing thunder, but don't like lightening!!
*I love to garden & work in the yard
*I absolutely refuse to clean toilets (I hate cleaning period!)
*No one can surprise me...I always figure things out! I should have been a detective!!
*I have recently fell in love with Paula Deen... recipes are so simple & so delicious!!

I tag Mika Beth, Jessica, Hillary, Becca, & Jennifer!!

Our new backyard!!

Here is the finished product!! What do you guys think??

Spring Fever!!

Oh how I love Spring time...my favorite time of the year!! I just love seeing all the trees budding & all the bulbs coming up! We have recently been doing some work in our backyard. Last year, we flagstoned our screened-in porch & patio & for this past Christmas, Michael's parents gave us an outdoor fireplace/grill. They have just recently finished & we got to enjoy it this past week!! It is wonderful...there was just enough chill in the air when the sun went down!!

We are also having the patio area landscaped & it is going to look so good! Here is the work from today & I will post a pic later in the week of the finished product!!

I also spent some time today planting a little. Here is my favorite! This is a wall planter by my garage...

and some pots for the new fireplace!!

I just love walking through the yard to see whats coming up... here are some hostas...
& phlox in full bloom...
and some forsythia...

I just had to post this precious picture...Charlie wanted to be outside with us so bad!!! So cute...

And one last picture...for those of you that know my PERFECTIONIST husband, you have got to see this. I thought this was hilarious when I saw him in the yard on THIS...

Only Michael would go & rent one of these things to smooth out the ruts in the yard!!! He just can't stand for his yard to be messed up!! Oh how I am thankful that he is not just the opposite though!!

As for me & the IVF, I have finshed my first week of BCP & I go in next Friday for my first ultrasound & should find out when I can start my injections again!! I am so ready!!

Congrats Jen & Darren!!

I wanted to give a shout out to a some friends of mine! We were introduced by a mutual friend not too long ago because we were both dealing with infertility. Jen & her husband, Darren, were successful with thier first attempt at IVF & found out yesterday that they are having a little GIRL!!!! Congrats you two...I am so happy for you both!! Dreams do come true!

Easter 2008

I am a little behind...here are some pics from Easter weekend!!

Deleted post!!

I am so mad at myself. I just got in Blogger to edit my background & some how my last post has disappeared!!! How did it just go away??? I still don't really know how to change the settings around...obviously because my page hasn't changed much! I just need to get off of the computer!!

Here is a recap of the 'vanishing' post: We are getting ready to start our 2nd cycle of IVF. I am starting BCP on the 21st of March & will have to start traveling to Tulsa on the 4th of April. We are upping the dosage of my medicine & hopefully my body will react a little better this round.

Please pray for us this next month that God will give us the strength & endurance to keep striving towards our goal and the guidance in all the decisions we are about to make. Pray that God will protect us physically & spiritually in this trial in our life & that we can accept "his" perfect plan for our lives!!

Sometimes it is just so hard to understand life. I don't understand why there are teenagers & drug addicts all over the world who are getting pregnant all the time & why there are so many babies aborted each day. I just don't understand...all I want is to be a mother...that is the job I was created to do. I want to feel a baby in my tummy. I want to experience morning sickness & stretch marks. I want to hear the heartbeat at our first ultrasound. I want to see Michael's face when our baby is born. I want to see who our sweet baby looks like. I want to see that first smile, that first tooth, that first step, that first word. I want to experience motherhood....Please Lord, just make me a Mother!!

Friday night dinner...

Friday night, we had a wonderful dinner with friends!! We went to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Rogers. I totally recommend going there if you have never been!! Not much going on with Michael & I...just wanted to put up a quick post with a picture from our dinner!!

Camping...Great Weather...Wonderful Weekend!!

Michael & I ventured out for our first camping trip of the year. We went to a place just South of Eureka Springs called Withrow Springs State Park. The weather was gorgeous which made for a wonderful for camping!!! We towed Michael's old Land Cruiser behind the RV so that we could go to Eureka Springs on Saturday for some shopping. I forgot what a neat town that was...great atmosphere!!! Sunday morning we got up & went for a hike along War Eagle Creek. It was beautiful...I can only imagine what it would look like when the trees start putting out & everything is green. I can't wait for Spring!!!

Our nightly game of Skip-Bo!!!

Michael & I at camp
Our campfire
We are looking forward to our next camping trip!!!