Day 7 and 8

Day 7: Golden

What better to represent "Golden" then our two golden retrievers :)

Pictures taken right after they got back from the groomers...they hung our at the groomers during the time of the transfer and a couple of hours afterwards so I could rest quietly. They both passed out when they got home!

Day 8: Music

Dave Matthews Band - love, love, love Dave :)

I ended up learning about DMB after a bad break up about 10 or so years ago when I went to go visit some friends for the weekend. After that I became obsessed. I only had a tape deck in my car at the time so I made a copy of my Ants Marching cd and literally that was the only tape I listened to when driving. Since then, listening to Dave at important moments has happened time and time again. During our first miscarriage when we were in the exam room and I was in a lot of pain while waiting to be seen J started playing Dave on his phone for me. It was a huge help. We almost had a DMB song as our first dance but decided it would have been too much of a "me" song not an "us"song. Throughout our IVF journey we've often used the lyrics "You and me together, we could do anything" from the song You & Me as a way to say "it's going to be okay".

Fantastic Friday!

I am PUPO :) The transfer went very well and I was so happy that Dr. A was the one to do the transfer. It really wasn't painful at all (sure there was lots of pressure) and it seemed like it didn't take too long for him to find the right spot. I was surprised at how emotional I was after it was all over. I think it really hit me when the tech who was assisting said "You did really well, all looked great. I wish you the very best. I know you guys have been through a lot." The tears started - just a few streaming down. Then Dr. A brought out the tiny petri dish that the embryo had been in and said he was giving it to J as a souveneir. All in all, it was a good experience...now, fingers and toes crossed for the next 10 days!

Meet Fred (we don't know the gender but J looked at the pic and said it looks like a Fred so it's stuck with me so far)

Day 4, 5, 6 of EmHart's Photo Challenge

Time for me to catch up on EmHart's Photo Challenge

Day 4: School

We continue to be in awe of the location of the schools in Ambergris Caye when we go. So, please forgive me by using a previously taken photo. I do think you'll enjoy the pictures though :)
The first time we went to San Pedro we woke up to the sound of the laughter of children. We thought that perhaps there was some sort of parade going one. We were pretty surprised to realize that our hotel was located right next to the Cahtolic school on the island. I couldn't find the good pictures I have of that school, so instead you get pictures of the public school that is located down the beach.

 

The Island Academy (view from the end of the pier)

 

Recess at The Island Academy

 

 

 

Day 5: Pure

 

I had a hard time deciding what to use for "Pure" so I admit I took an easy way out. Pure Vanilla Extract. I received this as a gift last Christmas - as you can probably tell from the picture it's been used alot! I definitely think it's made a difference in my baked goods. :)

 



Day 6: Book

This was an easier prompt for me. I knew I'd take a picture of one of my favorite books, Jane Eyre. Well, then I opened the cabinet that holds my books (I cannot wait to get a real bookcase!)...I thought, hmm, maybe I'll take several of my favorites and take a picture of them together. Then I saw Tiger Eyes...my Nana gave me this and it's always been very special to me. (I received some sort of 80s mix tape that same Christmas and would sit and listen to it while reading this book. To this day I can hear certain songs and remember what part of the book I was reading.) I have such wonderful memories of time spent with my Nana and seeing this book brought so many of them back.

Hormone-induced funk

I feel like it's been a long time since I've written...I think I've almost been trying to not think about things but today it's become too much so here I am putting out there for you to read.  Here we go...my life/funk in bullets.

• Our tenant in MA seems to have trouble paying the rent. He gets on my last nerve on a regular basis. He's on a payment plan of making weekly payments because paying monthly didn't seem to work for him.  Last weekend we were supposed to make a deposit. I decided to check my balance first, to my surprise the check from the week before bounced. It took until today to get any information from him. I don't know how much longer we can deal with him.
• We let the dogs sleep with us last night - I think I got the least amount of sleep out of the 4 of us. BUT on a positive note, we heard from the vet this morning and Garnett's blood work came back with good results...the antibiotics are working and his platelet levels are back to normal. (I can't remember if I posted that he had contracted a tick-borne disease. Poor thing.)
• I am lonely. I value the incredible women I have met through the magic of blogging but what I wouldn't give to have IRL friend call and ask how I am doing. I have 2 friends who know about the miscarriages, but not the IVF, and I could not tell you the last time I heard from them just saying "Hey, how are you doing?" I have 2 friends who know about the IVF...I communicate with one via email more often than not, but it's not on a regular basis anymore. The other friend I just got in touch with after months of trying. 
• I ended up telling two girls here at work about the IVF. I doubted myself after I did it but then I realized it felt good to talk someone about it that wasn't my mom, brother, or J.
• The hormones are doing a number on my moods - I am on estr.ace and pro.gesterone in preparation for the big day.
• Tomorrow is the big day - transfer day! I am excited, scared, nervous, anxious, happy...you name it. It's been a roller coaster of emotions!

As always, thank you for reading and listening to me (I feel like such a whiner!).

Day 2 and 3 of the Photo Challenge

Here are my Day 2 and 3 entries for EmHart's photo challenge :)

Day 2: Fire


I went with BBQ fire for Day 2 - we figured since it was Labor Day weekend we should have at least one night of cooking on the grill. As I was taking pictures J asked why I was taking pictures. When I explained why he offered to make it a "fire".

 

First picture of the fire

 

J's fire

 

 

 

 

Day 3: White

 

 

I was stuck between two choices for white...so you get both of them.

 

White flowers growing up the palm tree in our courtyard. I should have taken the picture in the morning instead of after they sat in the sun and the heat for the day, but I was up in the attic trying to help J fix our AC unit.

 

We put these vases in each of our guest's rooms during our wedding in Belize and on the day they arrived the hotel staff made sure each had a hibiscus in it. Unfortunately, we did not communicate with everyone that they should take their vase with them when they left, so we ended up taking home a bunch.

The dried rose is from flowers J bought me in January when he had to go out of town for a week for work. I managed to save one.



 

Beginning

Techinically my day begins with a big glass of ice water and some syn.throid, but the real beginning is after my coffee. :)

Day 1

It's Day 1 and for the first time in a loooong time I am using that term without talking about my cycle! I have to say that feels pretty good. Insteaad I am talking about EmHart's photochallenge!! I can't wait to begin. I woke up later than normal today (the puppy alarm let me sleep in an extra 2  hours!)  and didn't think about what to take a picture of - so I will be back later with my picture.

Here are the prompts for the month...