TTC Update

So Ben is still currently working out of town. I think it is getting harder as the weeks go on not easier. Tricia was especially cranky yesterday morning and it was just not a good day at all.

On the TTC front though I saw my doc last Thurs and she was able to start me on Clomid. I haven't had much of a bad reaction to it, slight headaches but that's about it. I took that for 5 days. I go in for an ultrasound on Saturday. If everything looks ok they give me a shot of hcg and we do the IUI on Sunday. This is best case scenario since my husband would be leaving for MI Sunday night but if I'm not ready to get the shot on Sat then he will just have to stay home a day or two this week to do this. I'm kind of stressed about it because no one I know that I have told has given me much support right now with this (besides my online group of girls love them!). I told my mom, and a few friends. Haven't had the chance to tell my sister but I was going to. When I told my mom and all she said is I hope it works. Thanks me too, or else I wouldn't be doing it. So we will see.

Ramblings

So things have changed a bit since I last updated. My husband has decided to buy rights into the business he has been working for and that requires him to be in Michigan for the next 3 months. I will only get to see him on the weekends. He will leave on Sunday night and then come home on Friday night. It stinks but I have to keep reassuring myself it's short term. But that's hard to do with a little 18 month old running around being crazy and running to into exhaustion. But we will make it through. It's just a bit rough and going to be hard to get used to not having that helping hand during the week.

It also kind of makes it a bit hard to TTC but we are going to continue trying as long as timing works out. We tried this weekend so fingers crossed that it works this month. If not, we will be revisiting the RE when he is back in town after the 3 months is up. I had a slight breakdown about this tonight because I'm so frustrated with this not working. After my periods returned from normal I was hoping things would be rather easy but I guess I shouldn't have been so naive.

In other great news though Tricia is getting a cousin! Yes, I found out this morning my sister is pregnant. May have had something to do with my breakdown this evening about our fertility status. But I'm so so excited for her. Slightly jealous though because they live with my parents and pretty much have a live in babysitter and helper whenever they want. And I didn't have that kind of help when Tricia was little so it seems pretty unfair. But it is what it is.

I'm hoping that we get to move soon. With Ben's increase in income from this business we should be able to pay off our debt before the year is up (at least a good majority of it). Which should help us be able to afford a new house within a year or two which is the goal. Sooner rather than later though depending on how things go with our house and if we find something that we want in that time. I've seen a few houses I love but don't have any land. And all the ones with land don't have that great of houses. So we need to find the perfect combo.

Work is still kind of crappy because of the whole raise situation and all that.

I did  get a new laptop this weekend. It's pretty nice. My laptop was 7 years old and I was in desperate need of a new one.

Hoping to keep my sanity this week without the husband around...lord help me.

Tricia 18 mo update

So Tricia had her 18 month appt on Monday. The doc said she looks great!

Weight - 24 lbs 14 oz (but I think this was overestimated because she was fully dressed. I'm thinking she is really  around 23  to 23 1/2 lbs) - 70 percentile
Height - 32 in - 51 percentile

Here is some updates
-Eating pretty much everything we are
-Loves peanut butter sandwiches, broccoli, fries, pasta, bananas, clementines
-Uses some words - mostly Daddy, Mom, dog, kitty. But this week she has started saying some other words - shoe, sit down, Jim (ben's uncle), ok
-Favorite toy is her blocks
-Loves to watch Chuggington
-Still does bottles for nap and at night and still using her binky but usually only for naps and night time also
-Loves giving kisses but not to us, mostly other people and babies haha!
-She has been having some issues going to sleep at night, usually throws a big tantrum to get down which sucks because we NEVER used to have an issue getting her to sleep at night

All in all she is doing great and we love her so much!

Bens bday and other updates

Well my appt last week went well. Though the midwife didn't say much when I told her about what has been happening which was slightly disappointing. Plus I waited there FOREVER. I had an early appt too so I don't know how they were so behind already.

Ben's birthday was on Friday. I ended up being off of work because of my 4-10's schedule. I should have taken Tuesday but decided to take Friday instead since it was his bday. He didn't end up getting home until after 5 though. My mom came over though and watched the baby so we could go out. We ended up going to dinner with some people we haven't seen in over a year and a half. It was nice to see them. Then last night we went to dinner with the other couple that we haven't seen. It seemed like the one girl didn't really want to talk to me though...which was strange. We used to be so close. Oh well I guess it takes time.

I just made cinnamon rolls for breakfast and they were soooo good. Now I'm gonna take a shower and go out and run errands. My friend is having a thirty one open house at 2 so I will go to that and then we are supposed to go to my MILs for dinner. I don't know if I want to go though. I really just want to stay home and relax!

Tomorrow is the baby's 18 month check up! Can't wait to see how big she has gotten! Then we are going to go to look at a house. Not that we are anywhere near ready to move. We have some things to do to our house in order to get it ready to sell and then put it on the market. We need to start thinking abotu it soon though.

Nervous

Tomorrow I go back to the OBGYN for my regular check up. A lot has happened since then and I will have to rehash most of it since I doubt they have the paperwork. And they always want to hear it from you anyways. Not looking forward to it at all. We are still trying to figure out what we are going to do if we don't get pregnant in the next few months on our own. I want to pursue IUI but I don't know if I can handle the emotional aspect that comes with it. Plus the cost. I know the cost isn't horrible but still. We will see what happens I guess. Still a few months to decide and hope and pray that we don't have to.

I'm glad my work is closed tomorrow but I would be off anyways. Ben's birthday is on Friday so I'm going to take it off instead of getting Tuesday off for my make up day off work. I have no idea what he wants for his birthday dinner so I'm sure it will be last minute. I think instead of getting him a gift, I am going to book us a trip to Amish Country  in May to get away for the weekend. I'm sure he will enjoy that.

The baby is cute as ever! I'm planning on doing a full update after her 18 month well baby visit next week. She still isn't saying many words (which worries me) but we have taken the step of taking her binky away during the day. She still has it for her naps or if we are in public and she is super whiny. She is doing ok as long as she doesn't see it. Full update to come next week!

Christmas and New Years Review

So for Christmas Eve, we headed up to Ben's Aunt's house and give her and Ben's uncle their gift (a new computer!). They loved it :) Then spent a bit of time helpin them get their old one out and the new one set up. Then we rushed home and got ready for church quickly and got there just as service was starting. Baby got restless after about 40 mins so Ben went out in the hall with her for a bit - there was only about 10 more mins. So we finished and then headed home for a nap! That evening we headed to Ben's grandpa's house for about an hour and then went to the other grandpas for the rest of the night. Lots of gifts and fun!

Christmas Day we woke up and opened presents with the baby and us. Then my parents, sister and brother in law came over and we had breakfast then opened gifts. That baby got even more spoiled of course! We laid around for a while after that and then headed to PA around 3 to see my mom's family. We only stayed about 2 hours because the baby was kind of cranky. It was a good time though seeing the family and good food!

For New Years we headed to Ben's grandpa's for the night. We just sat around and ate and watched TV most of the night. Tried to get the baby to sleep but she wasn't having it! So she stayed up and rang in the new year with mom and dad :) She didn't go to sleep until we got home. Good way to ring in the new year...except the next day we did end up in the ER because she was sick and throwing up.. Turns out it was a virus and she is finally doing better and back to eating. We did have fun on new years day and go play bingo with my mom and sister while my brother in law watch Tricia! Ben even won $100 on an instant ticket!

Patricia's Christmas Gifts

Just wanted to get this list down somewhere....

Ball Pit w/ extra balls (mom or amy)
Cozy Coupe car (mom)
3 chairs - giraffee, puppy dog, princess chair (puppy dog/princess were from us, giraffee from gpa blankenship)
Mega blocks tub (mom or amy)
Play Tent (uncle don)
Socks (10 pairs)
At least 25 outfits/sleepwear
Dora mermaid for the tub
Learning kitchen (Uncle Don/Bev)
Walk and Learn Toy (Uncle Don/Bev)
Couple books (us/my mom)
Interactive book w/ dog (carmie jo)
Sand and Water table (us)
Cupcake kitchen (us)
Telephone (Aunt Shirley)
2 sippys (us)
Roller toy (Uncle Joe/Aunt Karen)
Minnie pursue/glasses (Diane/Shannon/kids)
Hokie Pokie Elmo (Sue)
Gift card to TRU (Don/Bev for plates/cups)
Pink Coat/Hat (mom/amy)


Can we say spoiled?!?!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone! I hope to be back this week since I'm off to do a few updates. Hope everyone has a safe and joyous holiday!

Not happening

Don't want to get into details but even though I'm at peak ovulation according to my monitor yesterday and  today we won't be trying...so frustrated...

Updates

Just a few updates...
- Ben went for follow up on his heart. They did fix the part he was having an issue with but now from the few minutes they saw in the office - his upper chamber, which is where you heartbeat should start, isn't beating. Thy had him wear a monitor for 24 hours but the doctor hasnt called him back yet with the results. We don't even know what the fix for this will be. Kind of nervous at this point.
- Working on ttc still. Should be ovulating over the next few days so we will know after Christmas if those is our month. I know its only been 2 months but i really do wonder if we will have to go through infertility treatments. If we aren't pregnant by march i will probably start goin to the doc and talk about our options and see what's happening.
-Work has been ok just kind of crazy.

Bust

Well I think this cycle was a bust. Started spotting yesterday. This stinks. Oh well, I guess it's just the first cycle. I was just hoping with the investment in the fertility monitor and the BBT that it might happen. Part of me doesn't think it will happen naturally anyways because of my issues. We will see...on to next month though!

I'm so excited for Thanksgiving next week. I am only working Tues/Weds since I'm always off on Monday's. And then we are closed Thurs/Fri. I am going Black Friday shopping with my mom also so I'm super excited for that! I do have to go to Best Buy at midnight but then nothing else opens until 5 so I'm not sure if I will head back home and sleep a few hours or if I will just wait around for the others stores to open. Still trying to decide. We are doing Thanksgiving at Ben's mom's new house. This year the day Ben's dad passed falls on Thanksgiving so it's going to be a rough one :( The year he passed away it was actually on Thanksgiving too so we always have a rough time around now. I think the last two years it has made me even more upset because he isn't here to see our precious little girl who he would have just ADORED. I just know it. But I know he's watching over us and he sees her and how wonderful she is.

Work is kind of crazy right now, lots to get done with our year end stuff. I'm still hoping for my raise/promotion to go through come Feb. I REALLY hope it does. There is a staff accountant position open right now that I had been considering applying for but it would mean losing my 4-10 hr days which I don't think I'm ready to do just yet. And I wouldn't get overtime. It would be considered a promotion and I might get a slight pay increase form where I am at now but I think what I might be getting in Feb for my current position would be more. So I think I am going to stick out my current role for now. Plus I get to travel a bit during the year which is nice and I just would miss everyone I work with.

His ticker keeps on tickin'

So Ben had his heart surgery on Thursday. We got to our children's hospital at around 7:30 am and registered. Then we headed to the pre-surgery waiting area. Ben changed and we were only there around 15 mins and they took him back to start getting his stats. We saw the doc and the anesthesiologist then before I knew it they were sending me to the waiting room. Very different process from an adult hospital. I didn't know until Thurs morning that the surgery could be up to 8 hours. I was really surprised by that because no one had mentioned that sooner and his last one was about 3 hours and they said they said ti would only take 3-4 hours. To hear this one was going to be 8 hours was a shock. But good thing they prepared us because it ended up lasting 6 hours. There was about 2 hours that were kind of nerve wracking because they weren't sure that they were going to be able to get to the area that was causing the issue in his heart. Luckily they did finally get to it. We found out that he does have a hole in his heart which was one of the ways that they tried to get to the area but were unsuccessful. The hole is not a big deal and 10% of adults have them. We did find out though they had to change his EKG in order to get this SVT to stop. Not sure what that means - I'm assuming that means his heart beat pattern? Anyways they let us back in to recovery and he was really out of it from the anesthesia. He was really anxious and irritated though when I saw him even though he was really in and out. Then by the time we got upstairs he was pretty much out of it but he was still getting nauseous from the meds. So we did end up getting him so food around 7 pm and he did eat some of it. But then he started feeling nauseous again and also some tightness in his chest. His oxygen levels also were getting low (only around 86%) so they put him back on oxygen for the night. After that I did come home to the baby for the night. Then i went back the next morning and they took him for his final testing. We got to leave around 1 pm. Got home and got settled in and he has just been resting since! The tightness in his chest is back and I did call the doc and he thinks it's related to being in the anesthesia so long. So we are just keeping an eye on him!

As far as a update on our trying for #2 - we will see what happens. I did end up getting a peak reading 2 days in a row on the monitor and then high the next day. So shortly after Thanksgiving we should know something.... : ). I'm not counting on it this time around because it's only my second real cycle in 2 years and things may still be out of whack. More to come though!

Unexpected

So I have been doing my monitor every morning (well except for yesterday morning) but when I did mine this morning it came up as peak fertility? That was unexpected! Not sure what's going on with my cycles because my last two have been pretty long (42 days) and so I was planning on getting a positive until mid next week. So it's like 10 days early...so I will test again in the morning and make sure. I did see a slight increase in my temp but not crazy. And didn't really see much of a drop but I'm new to the whole temping thing so I don't know what's within range for me and whats not. We will see what happens! Time to jump my husband though I guess...;-)

Charting, Temping and Testing Oh My!

So now that I have gotten somewhat of an idea of my cycles I have decided to jump in full force and start temping and charting for our journey to TTC #2. I also purchased a digital fertility monitor to use off of a friend. Got a good deal compared to everything else I can find online. I didn't get it until after I started my cycle so it's a few days off but that's ok because I am running on 6 week cycles anyways. So today is actually CD14 but the monitor says cycle day 6 so this morning was my first day of POAS (according to the directions it will have me start testing at day 6). After using another one because I thought the first didn't work (turns out it was user error! :/) I got a low fertility reading. Figured as much.With a 6 week cycle I'm not due to ovulate for another 2 weeks so that's a lot of tests I will have to use this round but I should be able to time things better next cycle and hopefully not use as many tests. I am hoping that maybe it becomes smarter and doesn't have me test until later since my cycles are longer??? If not, I will just wait longer to restart the monitor - maybe not until CD 21. I am a bit overwhelmed by all of it but after 9 months of not being able to do anything about TTC I am all in to get it going as quick as possible. I hope we don't have a long road ahead. I think given our history the doc would be willing to jump strait to IUI but I want to avoid any expense associated with that if possible. So we will try a bit on our own and I probably won't consider that until Tricia turns 2. So here's to being very hopeful that things work out!

Still pretty nervous about Ben's surgery next week even though we have kind of been through it once already. He will have to stay overnight so that is a bit of a change. I may see if my sister and mom can take the baby next Friday night and keep her so we can get some rest. I'm sure Ben won't get much sleep while he is in the hospital so I know he will need it when he gets home.