Friday, December 28, 2012

Whirlwind

This holiday season has been a whirlwind of business and joy. My husband was able to spend a lot of time with me and my sister came out to visit. We went to New York, Virginia (twice), Gettysburg, and Washington DC. She loves big Christmas trees so if there was one around, we had to go see it!



I also did a ton of sewing and taught her how to sew a zippered bag. She was so excited to make something and it was fun to teach her.


Overall we had a great time. I can't wait to go see her in May for her college graduation. Things are settling down here and I'm a little happy about that.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Sister Time!

In just one short week my sister will be here! I'll get to spend eleven days with her showing her around.


She had one request this visit and that was to go to New York City! So, we booked a day trip and some bus tickets and we'll be going for a day. I've never been there so I'm super excited. Let me know if you have any suggestions on what we should do while we're there.

In addition, we're taking her to Virginia twice for Christmas parties, Washington DC, Annapolis, and Gettysburg (maybe). I know she'll be happy to get out and see some new places.

I'm hoping for good weather while we're out here and as long as our day trip to New York isn't too cold, we would love to have some snow while she's here. Growing up in Southern California you don't really get to experience snow unless you go up to the mountains.

So, we can officially start the countdown...

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

So What Wednesday

So What Wednesday

This week, I'm saying So What if...

  • I bought a home tens unit for my back. I'm tired of being in pain and only being able to be treated at the chiropractor.
  • I haven't been blogging a lot. There's been a ton going on and I'm ok with that. Sometimes you need to take a step back.
  • I can't wait for my sister to come into town. We barely talk when we're apart, but when we're together we have a blast!
  • I'm living vicariously through one of my best friends who is pregnant with a little GIRL! I'm so excited that her due date is the week before we visit.
  • I'll be so happy to have all of my orders due before Christmas done. It will be nice to sew for fun.
  • I called the Sewing Gallery about my application. I need to get out of the house and distract myself  and this would be such a fun way to do it and make a little bit of money. I will hopefully find out later today if they are able to hire someone.
  • Living with my in-laws I sometimes feel like I'm doing the walk-of-shame. I know it's ok since we're married, but it's still weird all the same.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

What's Next?

Abruptly moving in with my in-laws caused us to question whether or not now was the best time to expand our family. In a way, it would be helpful having his mom around during the beginning part of pregnancy. But, at the same time, we don't know how long we'll be here and there's not enough space to bring a baby here.

I've talked before about how we decided to stop treatment for the time being. At first, I was very upset even though I knew that we were making the best decision. I know that my mother-in-law would prefer for us to be trying to avoid a pregnancy at this time, but I also know how difficult it is for me to conceive. The fact is that if the Metformin alone works to regulate my cycles, it can take 3-4 months. So, we're comfortable with our decision.

The best thing about this is that I do not stress any more about getting pregnant. Of course, I wonder when my cycle will decide to appear, but I'm happy to not have to go through all of the monitoring. It's not fun to get blood work and ultrasounds multiple times only to find out that you may or may not get pregnant.

So, we're just trying to enjoy life for now. We know that God has a little miracle for us and that we will get pregnant when it's the right time.


Thursday, November 29, 2012

I'm Not Always Right

I just spoke with a friend about my frustrations. She was quick to remind me that things aren't always the way they seem. She told me that I need to focus more on the positives and not the negatives of the situation. Of course, that's easier said than done, but still very true.

I emailed my husband this and realized that the problem is more than likely me. I'm not used to having someone trying to help me.

I moved out at 18 after having a lot of issues with my parents on both sides. It was one of the hardest things I've encountered, but it made me learn to figure things out on my own. Since I was out on my own earlier than planned, I didn't have a mother-figure to teach me a lot of things that most girls my age knew. Both of my parents were still there for me, but it wasn't in the same way as I had before.

Sometimes I get so caught up in doing things my way, I get upset when other people try to help. Would it have killed me to add in the extra can of beans? No. I just couldn't get past the uncertainty of how that would change the recipe and servings and it made me mad.

Maybe the reason why we're staying here isn't just about saving money to get into a house. Maybe it's more about learning to do things a different way and accept help.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Happy Husband, Happy Wife

My motto has always been, "Communication is key!" I really believe that communication is so important in all relationships especially when you are married.

Lately, I've been trying to get my husband to communicate with me a little more. Usually, I plan out what errands to run and when and he has his own idea of how things are going to work out. Unfortunately, that doesn't often match up so we both end up frustrated. This happened yesterday so I reminded him that we need to make sure to talk about it before we do things to make sure that both of our needs get met when it comes to time management. And you know what? Last night, he did exactly that.

My husband is on a tight schedule when it comes to his bed time when he works the next day. It doesn't always work out, but when he gets one bad night, it usually leads to another and he ends up feeling awful by the end of the week. When he expressed that he was stressed about getting to bed with what he still needed to get done, I gave him a suggestion on how to do manage the time he had left better. Of course, this is not what he needed, but he didn't tell me that right away.

Imagine my surprise when he told me shortly after our conversation that he was frustrated that I didn't offer to make him a turkey sandwich for lunch. At fist I was taken back a little, but I know he's been making this sandwich with the leftover turkey from Thanksgiving and I have no idea how he makes it so good. I told him that I just didn't want to disappoint him and make something he didn't like. He took that explanation and seemed ok with it, but the more I thought about it, I wasn't.

My husband is not picky about food. As long has he can stand it, he'll eat it. Plus, he just did what I've been asking him to do and telling him how it will make things easier. So, I did what I should have done in the first place and I made his turkey sandwich. 

I'm not sure if he'll like it as much as if he had made it, but I'm sure he'll like it just fine. Most importantly, he appreciated that I took the time to listen to him and make his sandwich.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

When in Rome

That's been my motto for the past few weeks. It's no surprise that living with my in-laws has definitely changed my way of living. My mother-in-law has specific ways of doing things and with us being in her home, we are doing our best to do things her way for the time being. I am very thankful that she is doing her best to be open and accommodating to our needs and preference, but it's still different living with my husband's parents.

We have set days that are "our" laundry days and I cook two days out of the week for everyone. I've been trying to incorporate Mexican Mondays here as dad likes Mexican food, but mom isn't a huge fan. She's willing to try it out and has liked almost everything so far, so we're happy about that.

I'm still working on finding my groove and getting my schedule down. I mostly stay in the bedroom during the day which can be daunting because she doesn't like the tv running during the day and there's less for me to do here since we have a bedroom to take care of, not an entire house/apartment.

I'm trying to find things to fill my time with, but it's kind of hard with wanting to save as much as possible. I'm waiting to see how things go until the end of the year and if I'm still itching to do something, I may apply for a part-time position to get out of the house for a little bit. Of course, I have no idea what I would apply for since my degree is in social science/education and I'm not certified to teach in public schools. Also, all of my recent experience has been with teaching, sewing, and nannying so there's that.

That's what I've been up to and things have been going really well here. It's still an adjustment, but we're all willing to work on making it as comfortable as possible for the time being.


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

So What Wednesday

So What Wednesday


This week I'm saying SO WHAT if...
  • I changed my email address only to have to use the old one again because of the unexpected move.
  • I get frustrated that everyone is getting pregnant and we're not. I'm ok with waiting a little longer, but I would like to feel like I have a chance each month, but with my PCOS I don't.
  • I'm having a hard time adjusting to everything.
  • I don't think I'm going to get all of my sewing done on time. I'm sure I will, but it definitely doesn't seem that way now and is completely overwhelming.
  • I'm happy that I was able to be honest with my friend when she texted me. Even if she doesn't want to hear the truth it was important to let her know.
  • I'm still sending her a Christmas card because I care.

Monday, November 12, 2012

The Point of No Return

I've tweeted about this a couple of times before, but I have a friend who chronically cancels on me. Like 50% of the time. And she's often late without a phone call or text. With everything that happened over the past two weeks, things have been crazy and we needed help to move out so fast.

My friend's husband was supposed to come help us move and cancelled the night before because his wife's sister's dog died and they needed to go say goodbye. Yes, that was seriously the reason.

Obviously I was hurt and upset and decided to take a step back from our friendship. 

She texted last week that her dad was in the hospital so I said I would pray for him. I wanted to take a step back, not be cruel or mean. I decided that the space would be good so I didn't check-in with her the rest of the week figuring that she would update me when she was ready.

This past weekend I got a text from her saying that she was upset with me and we ended up having a text-fight. Basically, she told me what a crappy person I am for not checking in on her because of her dad and she told me that no matter what her family comes first and that I was overreacting about the safety of my apartment. And that was that. No matter what I said, it was that family comes first.

I'm disappointed in how it ended. I put in so much time into building this relationship and her husband has been my husband's best friend since elementary school. It's honestly really stupid how it went down, but if that's how she wanted to handle it, then it is what it is.

We have had so much going on with the move and so many things. I don't have time for anything extra that is going to bring me down. This is hard enough as it is.

I am still sending her a Christmas card, but my husband thinks that we've hit the point of no return.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Rebuttal

I love getting back to comments, but if they are Anonymously posted, there's no way for me to be able to send them an email and talk to them.

Of course, someone decided to comment...

Anonymous said...
Wouldn't you save up even faster if you DID get a job? 

Glad you asked. 

I'm sure many people think that we would save faster if I worked and truthfully, I DO work. I sew and have been working on custom orders and doing craft shows as my job for the time being. Of course, that isn't the same type of income, but I am putting all of that money now into savings after I pay my taxes.

We didn't expect for me to stay at home and we even had a job lined up for me that would start at the end of Summer, but we quickly learned that with me staying at home we SAVED more money than when I was working!

Why? 

Because when I worked I needed more things so I spent more money. Work clothes, shoes, make-up, and gas were all things that were needed more frequently. I also ended up getting sick from the stress of the job and got bronchitis multiple times in a year. Between the medical bills to get me healthy and the added expenses of everything else, we spent more money than I was bringing home. I was buying more food out from being on the go and the expenses kept adding up.

With me staying home we not only save more money, but my husband is happier and that makes me happier. In fact, when I ask him if he wants me to get a job he tells me "NO!" He knows this is what is best for my health and for our family. Of course, if I needed to work to help out I would, but that's not the case.

Unsolicited Advice

The past week or so has been a whirlwind of emotions. We were scared and worried about who was coming into our home. We were happy and excited to be able to get out quickly. We were stressed between packing and moving in a week. And now the emotions are being sorted out and we're figuring it all out.

People have their opinions and I need to not let it get to me. People are telling my mother-in-law that I need to work and get a job so we don't have to live here. It's hurtful and rude. But the truth is, I don't need to get a job. We can afford to rent another apartment or a mortgage. We're living here to save up faster and to be able to take time to find a house.

The realtor said that we should start looking in February. Until then and until we find somewhere we like we're just going to save money so that we have a good down payment and money in the bank as a cushion in case it's needed. We're making a smart decision not to waste our money in renting while we have this incredible opportunity.

Is it hard putting 95% of your things into storage and fitting as much as you can into one small bedroom? Heck yes it is! We have less privacy and for a young, married couple...that's hard. But, it's what we signed up for because we're looking at the bigger picture and not focusing on the now.


Sunday, November 4, 2012

The Big Move & A New Plan

Yesterday was the big move. We got most of our stuff out of the apartment and into the storage locker or my in-laws basement. We ended up having a lot of help and it went by fairly quickly. We are so blessed to have such great people willing to help us with such short notice.

In a nutshell, we packed and moved in a week's time. There's still a few small things to do at the apartment like cleaning for the final inspection, boxing up under the kitchen and bathroom sinks, and doing a final go-through of the small amount of things that we left behind. Other than that, we're out and have officially moved in with the in-laws.

Of course, with this move came a new plan.

My in-laws are insistent that they want to see us in a house. They do not want us to rent anymore and know we are trying to start a family. So, after discussing things with them we have decided to stay here and save up to buy a house! We are blessed with parents who want what's best for us and have given us minimal expenses while we are here. They would rather see our savings account grow rather than have them get any rent. Of course, we have our own personal bills (my student loan, whatever we spend on our Discover each month, cell phone bill, and some groceries), but other than our own expenses, it is all supposed to go to savings!

We've spoken with a realtor and have been pre-approved for a loan. She told us that we should start looking around February (our two year anniversary!) when people will start to put new houses on the market so we'll have a better selection for our price range.

In regards to us trying to start a family--we've decided to see if the Metformin alone will help my body do what it's supposed to do, but to stop any fertility treatments for a few months if I go in Tuesday and we find out that this cycle didn't work. We will re-evaluate in a few months. It will all depend on what we find with the houses we're looking at and what are the chances of not finding something or being able to close in a decent time frame.

Other than that, we're still busy this week adjusting to figuring out where to put everything and running things back to storage, but that's the update for now!

Saturday, October 27, 2012

The Craziest Week Ever

The past week has been super crazy. First, we got our tub re-caulked at the apartment (last) Thursday late afternoon. We stayed at my in-laws that night and Friday night to give it more than enough time to dry since our bathroom has moisture issues. When we came back on Saturday, our window was open, fan was on, and there was a note on the door saying that the knob on the stove was on so they came in to turn it off. Apparently, the whole building smelled like gas.

Of course, this was a huge red flag. I didn't cook anything Thursday and my husband stopped by the apartment Friday morning on the way to work to see if the windows were locked and stove was turned off. It was off so he left. No big deal. So, when we got the note on the door, I couldn't believe it! I called up to the office and they wouldn't tell me who responded to the call and said I would have to talk to the manager on Monday.

The apartment manager wasn't able to talk to me until Tuesday and I was a bit upset. I told him about the notice and he thought that maybe it was a leak in the gas line. When it was explained to him that it said specifically that a stove was turned on he wasn't sure what happened and said he would look into it.

Tuesday night Phil decided to work late so I went to pick him up from work so he wouldn't have to take the train home. I left around 5:45pm and when we returned around 8pm the apartment building smelled horribly of gas. Immediately, I went and checked our stove and one of the knobs was turned on all the way! Again, I didn't cook that day and had ordered a pizza for dinner. Plus, with our stove, you have to push in the knob for it to turn so it can't be knocked that far.

We ended up opening the windows and using a fan to try to get the smell out. We called emergency maintenance and left a message on the machine. When they didn't get back to us, we were really upset. Around 9:30pm a neighbor came by and asked if it had happened again. When we explained how we weren't there the first time and that it happened again when I went to pick up my husband from work, she was floored. Someone who has access to a key was coming in our apartment while we were both gone and turning on the gas to the stove. She told us to call the fire department and have them check it out. So, that's what we did. They came in and told us it was safe to go back in and we asked them to turn off the gas line to the stove so it couldn't happen again.

The next morning I made sure to be down at the apartment office to talk to the manager as soon as he got in. I told him what had happened (again) and he said they could change the locks. Of course, I explained that the person who got in had access to our key before so who's to say it couldn't happen again. He asked what would make me feel safe and how he could fix it and I told him that I wanted to be let out of the lease early.
Thankfully, he understood and said that we could be let out at any time without penalty.

After talking to my husband, in-laws, family, and friends, we decided that we are going to have everything out by November 10th. Yep, we're moving in 2 weeks and it just so happens to be on my in-law's birthday!

So, that's my crazy story for the week. Do you have any of your own?

Thursday, October 25, 2012

My Husband is the Head of the Household

Submission. 

There, I said it. I promised to submit to my husband in our vows because it was important to me, but how often do I submit and let him take the lead on things?

This is what has been on my mind lately.

I'm a strong-willed, opinionated woman. I like to lead and be in control, but this is not the role I'm supposed to take on in our marriage. Likewise, my husband is very calm, yet stubborn and is ok taking a step back. In a nutshell, I have a type A personality and he is type B. Sometimes this makes it difficult for me to stop and let him lead since I like to be the one who initiates things.

I've been feeling a prompting from God that I need to let my husband lead. So, that's exactly what I decided to do...except, that I didn't tell him. Instead, I sat back at Ikea when we couldn't fit the dresser in the car, laid out the options that we could utilize to get it home, and let my husband make the decision. Yes, that took about an hour extra, but I wasn't pushing him to make a decision that he didn't think was best. I encouraged him and told him that I would be happy with whatever he wanted to do.

This past weekend we went apartment hunting. After yet another incident that happened at our current apartment, we made the decision that we are moving and we needed to find a place. So, with my typical list in hand of places to check out, we took all of Saturday after church driving from apartment complex to apartment complex looking at different layouts, floor plans, pricing, and amenities. It was fun for me, but can be a little taxing for my husband.

We found out that we have different opinions on layouts and although we may both like the same ones, inevitably, we will each favor a different floor plan than the other. Again, the prompting began. I could feel God telling me to back down and let my husband make the decision. I silently prayed that God would help us find an apartment that we both liked and that I would be able to submit to my husband even if we chose the one that I liked, but wasn't my favorite.

We drove in to the last place and I had made up my mind that we were going to end up at the complex he liked more in the split-level apartment and not worry about how we would get our furniture up the stairs. I wasn't expecting much from this new place, but was shocked to find out that they were 100% occupied, all utilities are included in the rent, and that they were in our budget.

We sat down, looked at floor plans and talked a long time about the complex. We walked around to see the grounds and amenities and when the leasing agent was getting something from another room, I leaned in and asked my husband what he wanted to do. He said he wanted to put in an application and be put on the waiting list...right then and there. I was shocked. My husband likes to come home, talk about it and think about it for a week or two before we make any decisions. He is not impulsive at all and I could tell that he felt that this was the best place for us.

I decided to go with his lead and we started filling out the applications. Then, the leasing agent asked us which floor plan we liked. Immediately, we each picked a different one *head desk*. Here we go again. My husband couldn't understand why I liked the other one better. I calmly explained to him why and said I would just like him to consider it. Ultimately, it comes down to what is available anyways so we may or may not have a choice.

What I found most interesting was that the leasing agent heard that we each picked different layouts and he immediately put us down for the one that my husband chose. That definitely confirmed to me that I needed to submit at that moment and trust my husband's judgement. 

We've been praying for an apartment to open up in December for the move and I'm planning to be put in the one that my husband picked and you know what? Looking again at the pictures and floor plans, I would have to agree with him.

Funny how that happens, right?!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Good News...It Worked!

I went in yester for another mid-cycle monitoring appointment. Last Thursday, there were no follicles that were of "good" size so they had me come in again today to see if they would grow. I went in hoping that one was 16mm so that we could continue the cycle and not have to up the dosage. We were praying all weekend for good news and I'm happy to report that's just what we got!

I went in for my appointment and they found one 22mm follicle! That is super fantastic and I was so happy that it grew so quickly. In addition to the ultrasound they did more blood work to check my LH levels. In order to ovulate, your LH hormone has to surge and the egg will release. Imagine my surprise when they told me that if they weren't high enough, I would have to trigger...tonight. I was definitely not prepared for that and thought it would be a couple of days before that was needed.

I got the call that I needed to do the trigger shot and drove to pick it up from the pharmacy.
This is how I felt about it when I picked it up.

Truth be told, I hate needles. In fact, I cry and flip out if the doctor tries to give me a shot. I've gotten used to getting my blood drawn, but not shots. I was a bit nervous picking it up, but knew it needed to be done. The trigger shot is important because it causes your body to release the egg within 24-36 hours after the injection.

I managed to keep busy when I got home until after 6pm when I could do the trigger. I was super calm and when I gave myself the injection last night and it didn't even hurt! I couldn't believe it. I called my mom and was so excited that I did it!

The next step in monitoring is to go in November for a beta draw to see if we're pregnant. If it's positive, then there will be more beta draws to make sure the levels continue to go up and an ultrasound to check the heartbeat when it's appropriate. If it's negative, we start it all over again with monitoring.

Either way, I'm so happy that it worked and we're going to ovulate!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Monitoring

Tomorrow I go in for my first mid-cycle monitoring appointment. I finished my first round of clomid with the RE on Monday so we're going to be checking to see if my follicles are growing and where they're at. Depending on the size and number of follicles, I'll be going back in for additional monitoring 2-4 days later followed by...you guessed it, more monitoring.

At this point I'm praying that the clomid will work and we will have a chance this cycle.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Fit Fridays {Week 19}

          source

Finally! I am seriously so excited about this! I've worked hard and it looks like I'm going to make my goal of 30 pounds lost by Christmas.

This makes me officially weigh in under 200 pounds! 

Clearly, I am not able to work out this week (or probably next week) because of my sprained ankle playing softball, but this shows how important your diet and water intake are for weight loss. In addition, I am now taking Metformin for my PCOS which can help aid with weight loss by helping your body produce the right amount of insulin needed. It is not a diet pill. Weight loss just happens to be a side effect to getting your body working right. Not sure if it has started helping yet since I've only taken it for two weeks, but I'll take it!

Weekly Stats...
 
Starting Weight: 224
Last Week: 200.6
Current Weight: 198.4!
 
- 2.2 pounds this week
-25.6 pounds total
 
 

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

So What Wednesday

So What Wednesday
 
 This week, I'm saying So What if...
  • I finally told my mother-in-law about the fertility stuff. I told her about the PCOS and how I didn't just need to "lose weight" and there are real risks with not doing anything about it. She took it well and I'm hoping that we will have her as back up if needed for doctor-related stuff.
  • I switched chiropractors and didn't say anything to the old one. I told the one chiropractor who adjusts me so she would know, but the owner is intimidating and we have a personality clash so I wanted to avoid the extra drama. And yes, he came outside of the office to ask me when my next appointment was and why I wasn't coming back. It was super uncomfortable and he was ticked.
  • I seem to only want to do things like clean my apartment when I can't. At least there's some motivation, right?
  • My husband and I are on the fence about moving. I want to, he doesn't and we're waiting for the email back from the property manager to see if that will persuade us to stay or leave.
  • I've been super emotional on and off for days. No real reason, but when I get tired it gets worse.
  • I have a tendency to over book myself with orders. It always works out, but I stress while getting it done.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Oh the Joys of Apartment Living

This is my second apartment and in many ways, is better than the first one I lived in. I've been living in this apartment for just shy of two years. The reason why we chose this apartment is that it is 20 minutes closer to my husband's train for work, the price was fantastic, and it has more space than the last one. As much as we long to be in a house, it looks like we will need to continue renting for at least another year or two until we have enough money saved in case something goes wrong in the house we purchase so we don't go broke.

Over the past {almost} two years, there's been a lot of ups and downs in this apartment. I had a lot of issues the first year I lived here and when the new property manager came, he was more than willing to help correct past mistakes, including reducing the amount of rent increase for this year. Now that we just got the new renewal and rent increase notification, it makes me wonder if it's still worth living here or should we pursue some place different.

Basically, we have a month to decide or we will have to start a new lease with a higher payment at the beginning of the year.

There have been some things recently that make me wonder if we should stay.
  1. Permit parking. My car was towed this past weekend because we forgot to put the permit from my in-laws car we borrowed for a show to my car. It was $240 + $15 {one day storage fee} for the tow. What upsets me the most is that I had no idea my car had been towed despite the fact that they have the info faxed to them to tell them which car has been towed. I thought my car was stolen and when I called the office to find out if it could have been towed, they told me they had all the information there, but that I should call the towing company to find out. Aka, they didn't feel like checking. Why did I think my car was stolen and not towed? Last year {before the new security company was patrolling} my car was ransacked in the parking lot.
  2. Laundry. It's $1.65 for a wash and $1.35 to dry. The washers are small and there's only three machines each for every 3-4 buildings. There are 12 apartments in each building which means sometimes my husband has to drive to other buildings to do laundry. Also, we have to put cash on a card and there are only two laundry rooms in the entire complex that have these special machines and sometimes they're locked.
  3. Our kitchen is tiny. We have very little counter space and literally trip over each other if we're both in there together.
  4. Utilities. We pay our own electric, but water, gas, sewage, and trash are combined with other tenants. I would like to pay my own gas and water bill since we are more frugal than others and some people have five people living in their two bedroom apartment which means more water and sewage usage that I don't want to pay for.
Of course, our apartment has some perks too which makes it difficult to decide.
  1. Price. The price for our two bedroom apartment is currently $200-$300 cheaper than other apartments per month. Yes, this is fantastic, but some other apartments have bigger spaces, laundry in the unit, and a nicer area.
  2. Maintenance. The maintenance team here is fantastic. They are super knowledgeable and are so kind. Sometimes they get backed up, but they do a great job every time.
  3. New property manager. He is super fantastic in trying to get things to be better. He always takes my concerns seriously and actually makes a point to fix the problem quickly and reasonably.
At this point, I'm just trying to figure out what is the best situation for us. We have to make a decision by November 1st or we forfeit the increase and will be paying a couple of hundred more per month for the same place {which is not happening}. I'm hoping that my email to the apartment manager about some recent concerns and to see if he will decrease the amount of the estimated increase will work. I should have a response by tomorrow morning at the latest and we will see if we need to apartment shop or not. Any advice?

Friday, October 5, 2012

Fit Fridays {Week 18}

Let's start this week off by saying that we got our new scale in the mail! Now, I'm able to have an accurate reading of my weight and I couldn't be happier with that.

This week I managed to get in a good cardio workout and some yoga. It seems that the more I want to get to the gym, the more comes up to try to prevent me. And, you know what? That's life and that's ok. I am learning to manage my ever-changing life in regards to exercise. In the dieting world, I'm still doing a great job! So it's still a win because the numbers are still going down.

I'm still on track to lose 30 pounds by Christmas so I'm happy about that!

So, how did I do this week?
Starting Weight: 224
Last Week's Weight: 201.9
Current Weight: 200.6

- 1.3 pounds this week 
-  23.4 pounds overall!
 
 

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Honey, Where's the Paper?


Chores. Each household has them and for us, they're hard to manage. It probably doesn't help that I've never been super neat and although I can organize, my husband's lack of organization can cause some strife.

Our weekly conversation goes like this...

Me: (calling Phil at work) "Hey, Honey, where is that paper that you moved?"
Phil: "Uhhh, I don't know. Is it on the coffee table?"
Me: "No."
Phil: "On the pie safe?"
Me: "No."
Phil: "On the kitchen table?"
Me: "No! It's not in any of the usual places. I've looked on the coffee table, the pie safe, the kitchen table, on the couch, in the bedroom, on the night stand, on the dresser, and on the ottoman. Where else could it be?
Phil: "I'm sorry, Dear, but I don't know."
Me: "We need a better system. This is getting ridiculous."

Clearly, we have a problem with papers. We have a filing cabinet, two shredders, and a small mail thing on the pie safe for important things that I will need soon.

But, it isn't just papers. It's dishes, laundry, vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, everything. We are always behind. I stay at home, but honestly, it's overwhelming. I do what I can, but I really have to be careful with my back and not make sure that I do too much, which can be really frustrating. Plus, I'm the only one who organizes. My husband will sit there and look at the same papers forever while trying to decide what to do with them.

When I look around and know I can't do it all myself, I start to get upset. Then I think to myself...

Wait a minute.
  1. My husband is a wonderful provider and he works hard so that I can stay at home.
  2. My house is cluttered, but certainly not dirty.
  3. We have a two bedroom apartment that we are renting for a really decent price.
  4. Maybe instead of hounding my husband who works hard all day to get more done, I should try and get more done in smaller spurts throughout the day to help.
It's not always his fault, but mine too. How quickly I am to blame my husband for something not being done because I'm frustrated in the moment.
 
Yes, we need to come up with a new system, but I need to also remember that I can help more too. 


Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Fall Swap!


As soon as I heard about the "Fall into Fall" Swap, I knew I had to do it. Fall is my favorite season so how could I pass it up?

I was matched with Tina from Like Ordinary Life. It was great getting to know her a little more and to be able to read her lovely blog and find out that she lives in the same state! We exchanged a few emails/tweets and I was off shopping for her.

I was so excited to see what she got me and I literally ripped the box open the second my husband brought it in. See what she got me...


Ok, so there was also some Brach's candy corn, but I may have scarfed those down before I took the picture.

To say that I was pleasantly surprised was an understatement. She gave me a lovely, handwritten note, a note pad, cinnamon cider soy candle, candy corn, and TWO Essie nail polishes! I can't even believe that she sent me my favorite color {Turquoise & Caicos} and another amazing color that's perfect for fall. These are by far my two favorite colors, in fact, I'm wearing the dark purple one right now!

Thank you, Tina for the amazing package! If you want to see what I got Tina, check out her post here.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Living with PCOS and Follow-Up Visit

Being diagnosed with PCOS has given me a lot of answers. I used to wonder why I had twinges throughout my cycle, was exhausted no matter how much sleep I got, was hungry all of the time, had a hard time losing weight, why I gained most of the weight in my stomach, why I was irregular, and why I crave carbs and sugar like no one's business. Being diagnosed with PCOS gave me answers.



Since being diagnosed, I've been doing a lot of research. I want to know what PCOS is and what we can do to manage my symptoms. I also want to know what we can do to help me get pregnant.

I saw my fertility doctor for my follow-up appointment last Thursday to find out what we can do. We decided to put me on Metformin ER to help manage my slightly elevated HbA1c levels so that I do not become diabetic. It will also help to regulate my hormones if it is successful because they all work with the insulin levels in my body. In addition, we are going to start treatment with Clomid. In two weeks, I will be going in for my baseline ultrasound and blood work to make sure that everything is good to start. If I respond to the clomid, we have a chance to get pregnant. If not, then we will change my dosage and pray that it works. They will give us 3-4 months of trying once we can get me to ovulate on clomid. If it works, then we continue care with my OBGYN, if not, we switch medications, which will likely include injections.

At this time, I am making sure to do what I can with eating well and working out until my appointment next week. It's so important to continue eating well and working out to help the Metformin work at its best to reduce any insulin resistance and to help me continue to lose weight since weight loss can help ease and control symptoms as well.

I am still learning a lot about my diagnosis and I have two books waiting for me at the library to continue to learn. I am doing my best to consider this a blessing. God made me this way and I strongly believe that I can use this as a platform to help others in some way.

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as we work with the doctors to try to start our family!

Friday, September 28, 2012

Fit Fridays {Week 17}

This week has been a great week for me to really realize how much I have lost. This is the first week where I've really been able to appreciate and see how different my body looks! Last week I was a little frustrated with not being able to see the progress, but I can definitely see it now and that is a great feeling.

I'm still working on losing weight, but it's getting harder with the doctor appointments that I've been having. Not a good enough excuse, but I still stay in my calorie range and that's just as important.

According to my Wii Fit board/scale I have maintained my weight. I don't think it's super accurate, but that's ok. My new scale is on it's way and I should have it in the next week or so and I'm definitely excited about that.

I've also been doing some reading about my diagnosis of PCOS and it really explains a lot.


I can identify with almost everything on this chart {except for the low thyroid, high cholesterol and triglycerides, and facial hair}. It's definitely been an eye-opener and explains so much. I used to wonder all the time why I was so hungry, had a hard time losing weight, and was so tired.

PCOS has definitely helped me gain weight and makes it difficult to lose it, but I'm doing it! My doctor did put me on Metformin ER yesterday to help with my insulin/Hb a1c levels and he hopes it can continue to help me lose weight along with my diet/exercise program that I'm doing.

It's no magic fix, but there's a plan and it could help so much more.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Follow-Up


Today is our follow-up appointment with the RE.

We're finished with all of the tests that needed to be completed before we find out our treatment plan. This includes: ultrasound to see the antral follicle count, initial blood work to see if I had ovulated, infectious disease blood work for both of us, a PCOS panel for myself, a semen analysis, cycle day (CD) 3 blood work to establish my LH and FSH levels, and an HSG.

Yes, there was a lot of testing to get done in order to have this appointment today. But, it's finally done and we get to talk to the doctor to see what he wants us to do in order to get me to ovulate.

I the results of some of the tests, but not all. I know that...
  1. I am immune to chicken pox, rubella, and have no infectious diseases!
  2. My husband's SA came out normal {praise the Lord!}, but I don't know the specifics.
  3. My CD3 blood work was all in the normal range, but my FSH:LH ratio was off. It's supposed to be a 1:1 ratio and mine was a 2:1.
  4. My antral follicle count is high {which is normal with PCOS} with 15 on one side and 18 on the other, if I remember correctly.
  5. My hemoglobin {Ha1c} is a little elevated. Normal range is under 5.6 and mine is 5.8. Online reading suggests pre-diabetes, but that's ultimately up to my doctor.
  6. My HSG came out all clear!
I am definitely interested in finding out what the doctor is recommending. With my husband's tests coming back normal, we don't have to jump to any extreme {or expensive} measures right away. Hopefully, we'll leave the doctor's office with a plan of action and God will work it all out.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

So What Wednesday

So What Wednesday
 
This week, I'm saying So What if...
  •  We're keeping my in-laws in the dark with my fertility appointments. I've tried to open up and I'm told that I should "wait until you've been trying a year" no matter what. Yep, even after I mentioned that I have PCOS and the doctor doesn't think I ovulate at all. No ovulation = 0% chance of pregnancy.
  • I was actually excited for my HSG. I figured that there was no guarantee of pain or something bad and it gets me that much closer to getting to know what our options are!
  • I come across as super put-together and organized at church when my apartment is a hot mess. Hey, it's a work in progress.
  • I got dressed to go to the gym and I decided to sew and take a nap instead. My allergies make me super sleepy and my allergy meds are no longer working.
  • I want to like yoga a lot, but I don't. It's ok, but I find it super difficult for me. I do it because it's good for me, but when the yoga teacher says things like, "The universe and animals know when you're at peace because they sense it and will do something to disrupt your inner peace", I can't handle that.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Fit Fridays {Week 16}

This week has definitely been super interesting. I was unable to work out Sunday-Tuesday of this past week due to a doctor's appointment and not feeling well. That's ok, I stuck to my calorie plan, did yoga on Wednesday, and did a short walk on the treadmill yesterday. Saturday is softball, so that's always a fun work out too!

This week I had a great, non-scale victory. I tried on a pair of jeans (size 16W) last night that I haven't been able to wear since sometime last year and they fit! I was able to put them on, button, and zip them without having to suck in, lie on the bed, etc. I can also tell the difference mostly in the bottom of my stomach, the tops of my legs, and the bottom of my bum.

So, how did I do this week?

Starting Weight: 224
Last Week's Weight: 203.5 (ish)
 *Going with the most recent weight last week
Current Weight: 201.9

- 1.6 pounds this week 
-  22.1 pounds overall!


Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Encouraged.

I'm feeling encouraged today.

I woke up and knew it was going to be a great day. The air is cool and crisp and the sun is out which makes today even better.

I've been having the feeling over the past few days that this Fall will be a season of change. I feel many blessings coming on and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us.

I feel so grateful and excited for what is about to come.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Fall is Here

 Have I ever mentioned how much I love fall?

It's my absolute, hand's down, favorite season. I love the colors, smells, and of course, the weather. Crisp, cool weather that is nice enough for a scarf, hoodie, or boots.

I am so thankful that the weather here has changed, even though my allergies are acting up. It is a welcome, much needed change in our household and makes my mood so much better.

I did a little decorating with the few fall things that we have. The goal was to not have to purchase new decorations this year. So, with my tiny bit of fall decor, I set everything up in the focal point of the living room...right around the tv and window.

We did purchase two small, pie pumpkins to go along with it and that couldn't make me happier. 

I also love scents that remind me of fall. I love Scentsy and have quite a few bars and warmers, but the cost can definitely add up at $5 per bar! When I saw this I just about died of excitement...


 I may have been motivated to go to Wal-mart to check this out. My favorite scent for fall? Crisp Fall Leaves. It smells amazing and makes me feel so calm and happy. And for $2? Yes, please!

What are you doing for the new fall season?



Saturday, September 15, 2012

Isn't she Lucky?!

Lucky is a girl who lives in Uganda in an AIDS affected area. She also lives in an area with higher risk of exploitation and abuse. Her birthday is coming up on October 27th and she will be turning 8 years old!

Who could think of a better birthday gift to give her than the gift of sponsorship?

Here's some information directly from the Compassion website about Lucky...

"Lucky lives with her father and her mother. Her duties at home include carrying water, gathering firewood and teaching others. There are 6 children in the family. Her father is sometimes employed as a laborer and her mother is sometimes employed as a laborer.

For fun, Lucky enjoys rolling a hoop, ping pong and singing. She attends church activities regularly and is in primary school where her performance is average.

Your love and support will help Lucky to receive the assistance she needs to develop her potential. Please pray for her."

 
Who wants to be the "lucky" one to sponsor this wonderful child?

Friday, September 14, 2012

Fit Fridays {Week 15}

Unfortunately, I don't have an accurate weigh in today as my scale decided to break before I go on. I noticed it wobbling, got on anyways, and it gave me results in the 100's...which would be awesome, but not accurate.

Either way, I know that I lost this week! I'm either at 201.8 (per yesterday's reading) or 203.5 (per my husband's old scale this morning). Both scales were reading a bunch of different weights so I know that neither of them were super accurate this morning.

So, I will be going out to purchase a new scale today and will be working with that one from now on! I will, however, miss my old scale since I've had it since I lived in California and it was pretty accurate. Last week, I weight myself in the morning and it was only a two pound difference from the doctor's scale later that day (and I had eaten and drank a ton of water, was wearing jeans, and heavier clothing). The nurse was surprised that it was so accurate.

Of course, I have been staying under my calorie goals for the day and I'm happy to report that I went to the gym yesterday, did yoga Wednesday, and I have a gym-date set up with a friend for today at 10am. I also have a double-header softball game (hopefully it won't get rained out) tomorrow so I should be getting in a ton of exercise that way as well!

I'm also using a heart rate monitor now. My step-dad said that I might be pushing myself too hard so I should work at a lower heart rate for longer periods of time to build up more stamina so I don't feel like I can't breathe. I found the one I wanted on clearance at Target for $30 less than the original price, called my husband, and he reluctantly said I could buy it! I did my first workout with it yesterday and love it!

Whatever my weight comes in this week...

I am down 20 pounds!!!!!

Starting Weight: 224
Current Weight: < 204! 
*Current weight between 201-203ish...

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

So What Wednesday

So What Wednesday

This week, I'm saying So What if...
  • Due to my new schedule {adding in the dr and meeting with someone for AWANA}I have not yet gone to the gym this week. But, I am signed up for yoga today at 9:30am so I'll be there.
  • I'm not upset about finding out that I have PCOS. I mean, it's been suspected and they have things that can help. I'm trusting God and feel at peace.
     
  •  I didn't make dinner until after my husband got home last night. I really try to have it ready for him when he gets here, but that was not happening.
     
  •  I think that maybe I am "that girl" that annoys my nurse/doctor. I like to look things up ahead of time and research what they may have me do so that I'm not shocked when they tell me what tests they're going to run.
     
  • I forgot to charge my iPhone last night and it was dead this morning. It wasn't plugged in the dock right and I'm glad I woke up in time.
     
  • I spilled a little ink on the floor refilling our printer cartridges. It's expensive to buy new ones so I bought a refill kit to save money!


Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Random Tidbits

Wow, I feel like this past week has been a whirl wind of activity!

Saturday I had my first craft show of the season. It's a kid's consignment sale and I can only bring my baby, kid, and maternity inventory to that show. I am so happy that it went fairly well. I made back my booth fee and some extra on top of it! After the show, I went to my first softball game of the fall season and right before we were supposed to take the field, he heavens opened up, and we were soaked. The came has been rescheduled and the weather looks good for this weekend!

Yesterday, Phil and I got our blood work done and Phil completed his test. We won't know the results of the blood work for a little while, but I had them call me with his results and I am so happy to report that everything on his end is normal! Seriously, I couldn't be happier that the issue is only on my side! 

We have also started volunteering at church for AWANA. I love that ministry and used to volunteer when I was in high school. We are working with the 3rd-5th graders so that will be both fun and challenging. I am in charge of admin so it's right up my alley with planning and organizing. So far, I've gotten a good amount done and I'm looking forward to giving out awards and AWANA bucks.

I have also been working on organizing my sewing room again. It's gotten really bad, but is in the process of getting better. I'm hoping that one day soon we will be able to get some cabinets from Ikea to store the fabric in since I have too much for my small bookcase.

I also have a lot going on with my sewing so that's always good. I have a few orders for the fall/winter season and I still need to complete the quilt for my in-laws for Christmas. 

I've also decided to put all of the money I make from my business to help with the costs of the fertility testing. We have great insurance, but it still is really expensive and not something that we planned on so I'm hoping that my business will do well this holiday season so I can help with the costs. My husband is a wonderful provider and has not asked me to do this, but I really want to make it as stress-free as possible.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Letter to God {Compassion International}

Dear God,

     If you would have told me a few years back that I would put my selfish ambitions aside and love three girls that I have never met unconditionally, I don't know if I would have believed it. My, how you have changed my heart so much.
      Admittedly, I used to get angry watching all of those "Feed the Children" commercials on tv. I mean, how could I help? I barely had enough money to support myself, let alone sponsor a child. I wondered if that would ever change and sometimes doubted that it would. Then I moved and began to attend a church with my (now)husband.
     The senior pastor's wife was a Compassion Advocate and I got my first view of Compassion at a Christmas Tea that they hosted as their main fundraiser for the year. As I got to know more about her and the church, I began to open up to the wall of faces that were being sponsored by the church members. Each child had a different story and each child was loved by someone they never met.
     I now know that You placed me there to soften my heart. You gave me the desire to want to sponsor a child and get to know them, pray for them, and make a difference in their lives. You wanted me to love them.
     I distinctly remember when I first told my husband that I felt that You were calling me to sponsor a child. I felt so blessed to be getting married and knew that it was the right time. I prayed and prayed that You would reveal which child You had for me to sponsor. I would walk to the Compassion table, pray, and look through the packets waiting for You to tell me which one was mine. I remember the feeling you gave me as I showed my husband her picture and we agreed to sponsor our first little girl.
     I remember when you told me that it was time to sponsor another child. Again, I spoke to my husband about and we prayed for the resources to be able to do so. You were faithful and blessed us and we wanted to give back. We chose another girl, an older child this time, and sent in the packet. I didn't feel the same connection with that child, but knew You had a plan.
     That child ended up already being sponsored. We got a phone call that there was another child who had been waiting for sponsorship who was the same age and from the same country. We were encouraged to look at our online account and see if we wanted to sponsor her. When I saw this child, I immediately knew that she was the one I had been searching for.
     I am so thankful for the relationships that You have built with our sponsor children. The unconditional love we feel for them grows every day. I look forward to writing and receiving letters and praying for our girls together. I cherish them dearly and think of them as family.
     Of course, I wanted to sponsor more children, but since we are now living on one income, we can not afford another sponsorship. Once again, You were faithful and fulfilled the desire that you put in my heart by way of becoming a correspondent sponsor. Our third girl is just as beautiful as the others and I can't wait to be able to impact her life and tell her that we love her.
     Thank you for the opportunity to love these girls and for softening my heart. I am forever grateful for the new additions to our family and for the means that You have given us to provide for them.

Love,
Kate
   


Friday, September 7, 2012

Fit Fridays {Week 14}

Wow, this week has definitely been busier than usual, but that's a good thing! I'm sticking with my minimum of three days a week for exercising and hoping to have some time to add in another day or two since I really liked going five days a week.

I like to do my best to stay motivated and determined to continue to lose weight. It's important for me not to give up on the plan and I make sure to stick in my calorie range daily.

Here are the results: 

Starting Weight: 224
Last Week's Weight: 205.6
Current Weight: 205
Down -0.6 pounds for the week!

Total weight loss: 19 pounds!

Very happy with the continued loss! I'm definitely on track to lose 30 pounds by the end of the year!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

My First RE Appointment

To say that I was excited was an understatement. I was excited to finally see someone who would be able to tell me what is working right in my body.

I decided to go with the recommendation from my regular doctor, so I changed my appointment to a different doctor at a new location. I was surprised to call and get an appointment for the next business day (I called Friday, got an appointment Tuesday afternoon).

We went in for our consultation. The doctor was nice, knowledgeable, and answered any questions that we had. He diagnosed me with PCOS and started a flow chart showing me what we're going to do to get me to ovulate. I'm happy that there are a lot of options and that he wants to try the least invasive options first.

They asked if I wanted to do an ultrasound and blood work so they could check on where my cycle was and see if there were any cysts. Of course, I told them that we wanted to get it done so they started it right away.

I have a list of things to complete before we start treatment. First, I have to take Provera  for 7 days to induce a cycle (I took the first pill last night). Both Phil and I have to get blood work done for infectious diseases (to make sure we're immune) and I will have a PCOS panel done to see where my levels are. Phil has his own test to make sure everything is good on his end and I will go in for CD 3 blood work to check my levels. How CD 3 blood work works is that I call them the first day I start my cycle after Provera, which can be anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks after the last dose. Then, I have to go in on cycle day (CD) 2, 3, or 4 to get my levels checked. It can only be done one of those three days so it's important to call them the first day.

After CD 3 blood work is done, we will be doing an HSG somewhere between cycle day 5-12. This is a test where I will go to the radiology department and they will insert dye into my uterus and fallopian tubes and take x-rays to see if my tubes are blocked.

Once all of those tests are done, I go back in for a follow-up and my doctor will discuss the specific plan for ovulation induction and monitoring, and we will go from there!

Overall, I am so happy with our decision to see a specialist. I feel that the proper monitoring and initial tests are so incredibly important.

So, if you could all say a little prayer for us, that would be awesome!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Blogging for Compassion

September is Blog for Compassion month. Periodically throughout the month, I will be writing a post about Compassion and the ways you can help.

You might have read some of my previous posts about sponsoring a child and if you're interested, you can go to the Compassion website and check it out.

Today I am going to ask you to just stop by the Compassion page and pray over these children. That's it, super easy! No need to sponsor or commit to anything, but to look at the children and pray for their overall well-being.

The neat thing about this is that you can search and look for kids to pray for from a specific country, a certain age, birth date, gender, orphan, special needs child, or longest waiting. All of these kids need prayers whether or not you decide to sponsor them.

So, if you could please stop by, pray for these children, and take a look around their site, it would be greatly appreciated.

And, just because my girls are so cute and I am blessed to have them, here are the pictures of the girls we sponsor...
 
 Larissa from Brazil                                     Anisetha from Tanzania

Tuyisingize from Rwanda

Monday, September 3, 2012

My First RE Appointment is Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is a big day. Tomorrow, I get to go see the Reproductive Endocrinologist for the first time. We will be having a consultation {no exam} to meet the doctor and discuss what types of tests he would like for us to do to get a diagnosis.

This RE came highly recommended from my regular doctor who has been seeing me. I feel very blessed that he is associated with a fantastic hospital and fertility clinic.

I've been doing my research on what to expect during the appointment and I am really excited for this opportunity. It may be a long journey, but we are on our way to find out what we need to do to be able to have a baby and that makes me happy.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Our New Compassion Child!

If you knew me, you'd know that patience is not one of my strengths. You would also know that if you tell me approximately two weeks, I get antsy and anxious if it's a couple of days before that and I haven't heard anything. Even worse, is if it's later than what you said.

Ever since I called to be a correspondent sponsor, I have been checking my Compassion account every.single.day to see if our new child has been added. Every day I would check and every day no new child to look at. So what did I do? I prayed. I prayed for the child that God has for us. I prayed for this new child to know what we already love him or her. I prayed that we would be able to write a letter to them soon.

I was frustrated that we hadn't heard anything so yesterday, I decided that I was going to not stress out and just take a break for the day from checking for our child. 

I logged on today and low and behold there was another name added to our sponsorships.

Meet Larissa.

Larissa is 15 years old and lives in Brazil. Both her parents are working and are still married. Her birthday is coming up in December and she'll turn 16. Isn't she beautiful?!

I can't wait to get the official packet in the mail. I'm already thinking about what to write our precious girl and my heart is already exploding with so much love.

Fit Fridays {Week 13)

I am so happy to report that this week's results were much better than last week's! I figured out that the slight increase was mostly due to water retention and saw a difference when I upped my water intake.

I worked out only a couple of days this week, but have kept up with the Ab Challenge (with a two day break for being sick).

Tuesday
 I did 40 minutes of cardio and some weights for my arms.

Wednesday
I did 25 minutes of cardio.

Today I'm meeting up with a friend to go to the gym at 10:30am so we'll be doing some cardio as well.

I've kept in my calorie range as well and here are the results...



Starting Weight: 224
Last Week: 209.4
Current Weight: 205.6
Down  -3.8 pounds this week!

Total Weight Lost: 18.4 pounds!

Dont Quote The Raven