Wednesday, August 31, 2011
A Little Test
I added a new feature on my blog--you can sign up for email updates when I post something. The problem is that I am not sure really how this thing works. So, here's my test! And to you that have signed up to get the emails...thanks! XO
Monday, August 29, 2011
Movin' on Up!
I'm tired. But, I just have to share this! At work today I got an email from our social worker. We're sixth in line to get in the adoption profile book!
Just last week I was able to have lunch with a dear, dear friend. I was telling her that I was disappointed to find out we were 15th in line to get in the book. But, we've waited this long, what's a little longer. I figured it would take us 6 or more months to get in the book. I could call our social worker to see where we were at, but I didn't think it was really necessary to know. We'd get a call when we were #5, #4, #3, #2, and #1. It was great to hear my friend's voice on the phone with me today when we celebrated our good news. I'm thankful for the many thoughtful and supportive people that have been on this journey with us.
It turns out, it's fun to know where you are on the list when you are only 6 families away from getting into the book. Six beautiful adoptions. Six families having their dreams come true. Then, we'll get in the book! And, I realize that it's just another step--we won't instantly get a match. But, we will have a chance at a match.
What does it mean when we go in "the book"? Our profile (along with 59 other families) will be in 7 books in Lutheran Social Services offices around the state for expecting mothers and fathers to view. If they like what they see, they could have a meeting with us. A CHANCE.
So, I better get cruising on our profile. But, for now, I plan to go to bed.
Just last week I was able to have lunch with a dear, dear friend. I was telling her that I was disappointed to find out we were 15th in line to get in the book. But, we've waited this long, what's a little longer. I figured it would take us 6 or more months to get in the book. I could call our social worker to see where we were at, but I didn't think it was really necessary to know. We'd get a call when we were #5, #4, #3, #2, and #1. It was great to hear my friend's voice on the phone with me today when we celebrated our good news. I'm thankful for the many thoughtful and supportive people that have been on this journey with us.
It turns out, it's fun to know where you are on the list when you are only 6 families away from getting into the book. Six beautiful adoptions. Six families having their dreams come true. Then, we'll get in the book! And, I realize that it's just another step--we won't instantly get a match. But, we will have a chance at a match.
What does it mean when we go in "the book"? Our profile (along with 59 other families) will be in 7 books in Lutheran Social Services offices around the state for expecting mothers and fathers to view. If they like what they see, they could have a meeting with us. A CHANCE.
So, I better get cruising on our profile. But, for now, I plan to go to bed.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Dealing with PCOS
Some of you may know that I was diagnosed with PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) after my first round of IVF. I thought my RE (Reproductive Endocinologist) was off his rocker. I learned from the women in my RESOLVE support group that women with PCOS commonly have major weight gain when going off the pill, struggle with obesity, have acne, male patterned baldness and facial hair. Not really me.
But, I also had a friend dealing with PCOS that talked to me about insulin resistance a while ago. She, too, didn't have external symptoms. (And she has the cutest little baby now!)
My RE showed me some ratios based on my blood work that helped support his diagnosis. And, when I produced eggs on the low doses of meds he prescribed, I PRODUCED eggs, a crazy amount of eggs, seriously like 25. Yes, I know, that's crazy! Most of them died within days. Lots of poor quality eggs (hard to believe if you have ever met Griffin!).
After the diagnosis I had an ultrasound of my ovaries near the town I live in (my RE is 2 hours away). I mentioned to the ultrasound tech that I was diagnosed with PCOS. She told me I didn't look like I had PCOS. Then she looked at my ovaries, sure enough, I looked like I had PCOS.
For my second round of IVF I was put on metformin--it's prescribed for pre-diabetic and diabetic people and has been known to help achieve pregnancy. And, we got pregnant! Then I miscarried our sweet baby boy at 14 weeks.
I noticed I felt better on the medication. Less dizzy. Less hungry. I got pregnant again...naturally....except for the metformin that helped control my blood sugar. But, I miscarried AGAIN (#4).
Since we aren't trying to get pregnant anymore, I thought I'd go off the pills. I reduced my dosage and started taking my glucose levels. They were high, like pre-diabetic high. Ugh. I exercise. I eat pretty healthy. I'm a decent weight.
So, off to the doctor I went. I'll be staying on the meds for the long haul--unless I can somehow manage to control my blood sugar better naturally. He advised me to count my calories and focus on a diabetic diet. And, he told me to buy a heart rate monitor and work on improving the quality of my workouts. I'm hoping to lose the 10 pounds that seemed to come along with the IVF medications and never went away.
I got my lab work back today, I'm good as long as I'm on the medication. So, that's where I'll be. The 35 year-old-gal doing what I can to avoid full blown diabetes.
What does blood sugar have to do with getting and staying pregnant? I think a lot.
But, I also had a friend dealing with PCOS that talked to me about insulin resistance a while ago. She, too, didn't have external symptoms. (And she has the cutest little baby now!)
My RE showed me some ratios based on my blood work that helped support his diagnosis. And, when I produced eggs on the low doses of meds he prescribed, I PRODUCED eggs, a crazy amount of eggs, seriously like 25. Yes, I know, that's crazy! Most of them died within days. Lots of poor quality eggs (hard to believe if you have ever met Griffin!).
After the diagnosis I had an ultrasound of my ovaries near the town I live in (my RE is 2 hours away). I mentioned to the ultrasound tech that I was diagnosed with PCOS. She told me I didn't look like I had PCOS. Then she looked at my ovaries, sure enough, I looked like I had PCOS.
For my second round of IVF I was put on metformin--it's prescribed for pre-diabetic and diabetic people and has been known to help achieve pregnancy. And, we got pregnant! Then I miscarried our sweet baby boy at 14 weeks.
I noticed I felt better on the medication. Less dizzy. Less hungry. I got pregnant again...naturally....except for the metformin that helped control my blood sugar. But, I miscarried AGAIN (#4).
Since we aren't trying to get pregnant anymore, I thought I'd go off the pills. I reduced my dosage and started taking my glucose levels. They were high, like pre-diabetic high. Ugh. I exercise. I eat pretty healthy. I'm a decent weight.
So, off to the doctor I went. I'll be staying on the meds for the long haul--unless I can somehow manage to control my blood sugar better naturally. He advised me to count my calories and focus on a diabetic diet. And, he told me to buy a heart rate monitor and work on improving the quality of my workouts. I'm hoping to lose the 10 pounds that seemed to come along with the IVF medications and never went away.
I got my lab work back today, I'm good as long as I'm on the medication. So, that's where I'll be. The 35 year-old-gal doing what I can to avoid full blown diabetes.
What does blood sugar have to do with getting and staying pregnant? I think a lot.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Prepping for a Visit!
We were so excited to have our good friends and their 11 month-old baby come for a visit this weekend (they live SIX hours away)! We always have a great time with them, and couldn't wait to see how much their little girl had grown. The night before we grabbed a few baby items from our basement and had the best time getting them ready for our cute little visitor. (Griffin thoroughly enjoyed the exersaucer!) It was so fun to have a baby in our home again!
All three of us were having so much fun cleaning the toys and high chair. I looked over at Jamie and commented that I didn't expect it to be so much fun. It wasn't a chore at all, and wasn't one bit depressing- despite the fact that I thought we would need some of these things for our own baby by now. Maybe it's because I am so happy that my friend gets to be a mom? Maybe I have been blessed with grace? Maybe I've finally accepted that things are different for us? Different, hard, but we also have so much good.
Griffin was so interested in the baby--he wanted to feed her and was hoping that she could come play with him outside some day. But, after a while, you could tell that sharing his toys--and attention--was getting a bit old.
We offered to keep her longer, but apparently her parents like her too much! :)
All three of us were having so much fun cleaning the toys and high chair. I looked over at Jamie and commented that I didn't expect it to be so much fun. It wasn't a chore at all, and wasn't one bit depressing- despite the fact that I thought we would need some of these things for our own baby by now. Maybe it's because I am so happy that my friend gets to be a mom? Maybe I have been blessed with grace? Maybe I've finally accepted that things are different for us? Different, hard, but we also have so much good.
Griffin was so interested in the baby--he wanted to feed her and was hoping that she could come play with him outside some day. But, after a while, you could tell that sharing his toys--and attention--was getting a bit old.
We offered to keep her longer, but apparently her parents like her too much! :)
P.S. I think my husband has nice legs.
Jealous of a Belly.
Sometimes I get hit harder with the disappointment that we can't easily have children. This happened the other day at the county fair. Of course, I am THANKFUL that we are blessed with Griffin, but that doesn't mean that I can completely stop my feelings of wishing we had more children...it's something I've dreamed about my whole life--having kidS.
We spent quite a bit of time in the Midway--Griffin's favorite place. There are tons of rides and corn dogs, pretty much all he needs for pure bliss! Of course there were lots of families there, families with 2, 3, 4 kids. And that really didn't bother me. It was one beautiful pregnant belly that bothered me. And, I'm not really sure why that one bugged me, but it did. She really looked like a nice person, someone I would be friends with. And, there were other bellies, but they didn't bother me. Maybe it was because she seemed a little like me, just an average gal. Maybe it was because she was at the perfect cute belly stage. Maybe it was because she wasn't flaunting it at all, it just looked so natural on her. I looked over at Jamie and said, "Sometimes I just don't like pregnant people." And Jamie said, "That's ok, God loves you anyway." He's a hoot!
Soon after spotting the lady with her beautiful belly, I noticed a warning sign on a ride. I couldn't help but take a photo.
We spent quite a bit of time in the Midway--Griffin's favorite place. There are tons of rides and corn dogs, pretty much all he needs for pure bliss! Of course there were lots of families there, families with 2, 3, 4 kids. And that really didn't bother me. It was one beautiful pregnant belly that bothered me. And, I'm not really sure why that one bugged me, but it did. She really looked like a nice person, someone I would be friends with. And, there were other bellies, but they didn't bother me. Maybe it was because she seemed a little like me, just an average gal. Maybe it was because she was at the perfect cute belly stage. Maybe it was because she wasn't flaunting it at all, it just looked so natural on her. I looked over at Jamie and said, "Sometimes I just don't like pregnant people." And Jamie said, "That's ok, God loves you anyway." He's a hoot!
Soon after spotting the lady with her beautiful belly, I noticed a warning sign on a ride. I couldn't help but take a photo.
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