Stork Award Nomination

So, I entered the blog world a little less than a year ago when I was having trouble conceiving and really needed to get my thoughts out. I never really thought my blog would really amount to much. I figured one or two people would be curious enough to read about my life, but that's about it. This blog has seriously helped me in so many ways through the journey of IF. Thanks to ttuprincess Table for Two, I have been nominated for the blogging "Stork Award". 
 

How it works:
1. Add the avatar for the award in your blog post (done)
2. Link to the blog that nominated you (done)
3. Answer the ten questions given to you
4. Nominate bloggers
5. Ask your nominee's their ten questions
6. Let your nominee's know they've been awarded
7. Put the award icon on your side bar if so inclined (not sure how to do this)

 

Questions given to me: 

1.  One item your days would not be the same without.  (clothing, kitchen items, office supply, etc).

      I would feel totally naked without my rings (wedding, engagement and ring my father gave me). I never take them off so that I would never lose them. I really should get them cleaned but I don't want the feeling of not having them on my fingers while they are at the cleaners.

2.  The best book you have ever read? 

      I started a book club probably a year and a half ago and we have read some really good books. It is really hard to choose between my favorite book "ever" but the book "The Light Between" by M.L. Stedman was really really good. It's really hard for an IFer to read though, I'm surprised I was able to get through it!

3.  A song that always takes you back to a certain place or time?  One that evokes strong memories?

     Let's see.....The song Collide by Howie Day. When DH and I were "unofficially dating" he made me a mixed CD and gave it to me on his birthday. Yes, he gave me something on his birthday. When I listened to the songs, I realized that all the songs were love songs. This song was on it. This was really when I realized that he liked me and maybe we had a future here (like 10 years later and here we are!)

4.  If you could have any job what would it be and why? 

    I am in school now to be a psychiatric nurse practitioner. My dream job would be to do more counseling with people. After going through IF, I think it would be absolutely amazing if I could partner up with an RE clinic and they could refer patients to me, since I have been through it and could empathize more than someone who has never been through it. That would be bad ass.

5.  One thing you wish you were good at but are not. 

     Singing. Hands down I wish I was good at singing. Now, I do it all the time. The car, shower, randomly at work. I sing all the time but I am horrible at it.

6.  Your favorite vacation?

    I have been to some pretty amazing places, but I think my favorite vacation I have been on was my honeymoon. We rented this small little house in a small town in Maine. I was born there and wanted to show my hubby where I came from so he could fall in love with it too and we could move there = ). We had no set plans, we planned each day at a time. went to little shops. if we saw a road that looked interesting to go down, we went down it. We stopped at fruits stands, went to the coast and antique shops. It was just amazing and a wonderful start to a marriage.

7.  Describe yourself in 5 words. 

     - Patient

     - Observant

     - Naïve ( thanks to the psych field I am becoming less of this)

     - Loyal

     - Flexible (not body flexible anymore, just with plans. If something changes with a plan I can usually go with the flow)

8.  Did you have a moment where you knew your DH was "the one"? 

     I guess looking back at #3. Now hubby and I have known each other since we were in middle school. We grew up in church together. We both liked each other, but our timing was never right. When our timing was finally right, it was just amazing. We went to look at stars on his birthday, he made me that mixed CD. He doesn't express his emotions verbally too often, so by listening to the songs he hand picked, I could tell that he like me "He liked me, he really liked me!!".

 

9.   Aside from dealing with IF what has been the biggest challenge or struggle you have had to deal with or overcome?

    IF has by far been one of the hardest struggles I have ever had to deal with. I think probably that hardest though happened right before I started seeing my RE. I had this friend named Mary. We were BFFs in high school. She even lived with me and my family for a while in high school because she was having problems at home. My family helped her get into college and helped her with her medical issues (type 1 diabetes). She eventually moved off and I sort of lost touch with her. I regret that more than anything because January 2012 she was diagnosed with Ovary cancer. We reconnected then....but why couldn't we have reconnected sooner?? November 30, 2012, Mary passed away at the age of 26 from Ovarian cancer. That was by far the worst thing I have ever been through. I still have all of my grandparents, I have been very fortunate to not have experienced a lot of death thus far in my life. But to loose someone so young and so close to me....It has just been very hard. I don't know if I have ever truly dealt with it. Whenever I do runs I try to wear teal in honor of her. Ovarian Cancer awareness has sort of become my "cause". If we have a girl we will honor her with the middle name (Maria). I miss her every day.

10.  If you could have dinner with any famous person or celebrity who would it be?  Past or present, dead or alive. 

    Dave Matthews because he is a bad ass. No other reason. I would swoon, hope he would sing to me. I don't smoke weed but maybe I would with him...who knows = ).

 

 

Now I get to nominate others:  I am going to nominate some of those blogs have really helped me along in this journey.

 

 

Running and Dreaming for Two-- I hope you know how much you have meant to me through this journey. You are a warrior and a champion! Team FUIF

 

Put on a Happy Face -- Third member of team FUIF! You have been there for me too. I couldn't thank you enough!

 

Living the Infertile Life -- You constantly amaze and inspire me by your strength. You are one amazing woman and I hope you get your happy ending soon.

 

 

I will notify you ladies on FB or TB as well. This I supposed to be fun. Don't feel pressure to complete it, I know it takes time. It's just a nice way to get to know you!

MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU:

 1. What is the kindest thing anyone has done for you?
 2. How do you want to be remembered?
 3. Where was your favorite vacation?
 4. How did you and your DH meet?
 5. What is the funniest thing that happened at your wedding?
 6. Aside from dealing with IF what has been the biggest challenge or struggle you have had to deal with or overcome?
 7. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
 8. If you could eat one thing 3 times a day for 1 week, what would it be?
 9. What is your most embarrassing moment?
10. When you come home from work, what is the first thing that you do?

 

God Has to have a sense of Humor

 

I swear God has got to have a sense of humor, because life can be so funny sometimes.

After 6 failed IUIs we decided to take a treatment break to save up for IVF. When I say treatment break, I mean break from everything. No OPKs, temping, none of it. So, you can imagine my surprise when I saw this on November 13,2013 on CD29

 

 

That's right....I'M KTFU!!!!! I went in for my beta the next day 11/14/13 and it was 932!! My RE said that the beta was so strong he didn't want to waste my money on getting another one. My first ultrasound is scheduled for 6 weeks 7 days on December 3. My EDD is 7/23/14.

 

I can not tell you how both excited and terrified I am. I am scared to get excited but yet when I see those four positive tests and that amazing beta...I just can't help but be so thankful. I just can't believe this happened this way. No only not on treatments but I actually got KU having sex. I mean who would have thought!!

 

How I told my hubby: I had sent him a picture of the first pee stick because I thought my eyes were messing with me. He thought he saw a faint second line but was cautious. On his way home from work that night I took another cheapie and a FRER test. I waited in the nursery for him. When I heard him coming I called out to him and said "Do you think we can get this ready in 9 months?" he said "Of course....wait....REALLY!?!".

He is definitely cautious. I think he relaxed more when he saw my beta number. He's the best baby daddy ever!!

 

I want to try to wait and tell my and hubby's family for Christmas, that will be 10 weeks. I just hope I can keep this a secret!!!

 

Thank you readers for all of your support!!

 







Just Keep Swimming

 

In my case, "Just keep Running".

Watching the New York City Marathon yesterday online was so inspiring!! Thousands of people, with so many inspiring stories, getting out there and running their hearts out. Many of them had never run before, but set a goal and succeeded! Now, my goal isn't necessarily to run a marathon, but I think I may want to stretch farther than a 10k. I was joking around with hubby and mentioned the Disney World half-marathon...that would be fun! Now, they do a 10k also, but that would be a reeeeally expensive 10k. Plus, I want to put one of those stickers on my car "13.1".

I went out for my run this morning with new energy and determination. I started back with the 5k-10k program. I had taken a break from the program because my distance had dwindled since taking a break from running period for the majority of October. I started Week 2 day 1 of the 5k-10k program and really impressed myself! The object was to do a steady run for 20 minutes. I assumed the 20 minutes was supposed to be the distance of 2 miles. I never reach the distance expected when the time runs out because I run so slow. Today was a different story! I ran 2.06 miles in 20 minutes! I assume that means I averaged at about a 10min/mile pace although my app tells me something different...so that confuses me. Oh well!!

 

I also contacted my dad about a father/daughter trip we have talked about for a couple years now. We just so happened to start talking about it when hubby and I first started trying to start a family. I kept putting off planning because I was worried I would be pregnant during the trip time so I couldn't do much (HAHA!!!). But, since I am on a treatment break for God knows how long, I know for almost certainty that I will not be pregnant during the first 6 or 8 months of 2014. So, I think this is our ideal window of opportunity to plan this thing! We had discussed going to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. We would probably camp, do some cave hikes/tours, regular hikes, etc. It should be a really awesome experience. Plus, I have never been to Mammoth Cave National Park and I have a goal of going to all the national parks. Not just step my foot in there...but actually experience the park, do hikes, camp, etc. I have such wonderful memories of going to Big Bend National Park with my family.

 

On other news, I registered for my Spring Semester of NP school today!! This first semester has really flown by and I am really getting stressed out about it! So much to do!! So little time!!