Wordless Wednesday- Hard Working Boy

Remembering Eliza...

I just wanted to make sure to take a moment today to remember Eliza. Time really does heal wounds as they say. I hurt a little less and can get through this day without sobbing. My heart of course still hurts but there was a point where I couldn't even work on this day because it hurt so much. I always do something special on this day to remember her, which I think over time, has helped me.

Cole fell asleep some nights ago hugging the little stuffed dog I gave Eliza for her birthday one year (her parents gave it back to me after she passed away) and seeing that put a big smile on my face.

In closing, I want to say what I know Eliza already knows, "I love you Eliza and miss you. Thanks for watching over us all from your spot in heaven."

4 Weeks

This picture was taken when I was 4 weeks pregnant (November 18th). I just finished working out so I am a little messy looking and nothing is form fitting. I smartened up in the other photos. Nothing really to show but bloat anyway but I thought I would take a photo since I do them in monthly increments. Did I mention that I got my positive pregnancy test on November 17th? I may have neglected to say that in my last post :) I planned to tell family sooner this time...after my 8 week appointment to confirm the pregnancy, etc (I waited to tell everyone except Tony of course, at 12 weeks with Cole) but those plans changed (more on that later.)

I found the following on another blog and thought it was a nice idea and decided to use it.

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 4 Weeks
Size of baby: Baby's now the size of a poppyseed!
What's Happening Now: Now safe in your womb, the ball of cells (blastocyst) is splitting into the embryo (your future child) and placenta. Outside this microscopic speck, the amniotic sac and fluid are forming into protective cushioning.
Total Weight Gain/Loss: None
Maternity Clothes: None
Gender: No idea
Movement: None
Sleep: I'm sleeping pretty good!
What I miss: Nothing yet!
Cravings: Olives and Pickles...same as I was with Cole :)
Symptoms: Some nausea and breast tenderness but most of the time I forget I am pregnant!
Best Moment this Month: Finding out I was pregnant!

Fertility Friday- Detailed Update

So it has been a while since I did an update about all this fertility stuff so here it is...

As you all know, I have endometriosis and PCOS. I am currently on Metformin for my PCOS and was on birth control for my endometriosis pain but it WAS NOT working this time around. It made me bleed continuously and the pain was horrible. At the recommendation of my OB/GYN I decided to try acupuncture. After my first visit I was sold. She got my bleeding to stop within a day! Then, the pain got less and less as she worked with me. I even had developed pretty bad sciatic pain which she also worked on with good success. I was down to mainly only one day of pain during my period that could finally be controlled for the most part with a normal dose of Aleve. So, next we worked on getting me pregnant.

There was a lot of work to do there too. I finally gave up the idea that I could just "let it happen this time" and came to terms with I was going to have to try hard to make it happen. I started charting again both symptoms and my temp. I was okay with this because this was a few months before I was to see my OB for my annual exam and I knew the topic of surgery would come up and I just didn't want to go there. I charted and figured out after a few cycles that my luteal phase wasn't long enough because I was spotting for like 4 days before my period would even start. I called my OB/GYN office who couldn't fit me in any sooner than 3 months later when my annual was. I was so frustrated and broke down at my acupuncture appointment. She did a stress treatment on me (lol) and assured me we could work on this so we did some treatments and took some herbs..that got better.

Then I figured out I wasn't ovulating. My temp was going up just slightly but nothing big around when I may ovulate. It was like my body was trying and just couldn't. This was sad but my acupuncturist assured me we could work on it. Some treatments and a different round of herbs as well as using an ovulation prediction kit at the recommendation of my regular doctor (who kindly offered advice when I couldn't get any from the OB/GYN office) and I got these results on the ovulation prediction tests...
I had an idea when I should ovulate based on my charting so I started around then and the first stick is showing a surge starting, the second looks like it may be positive and the third shows it is fading again (the results you should expect to see). I wasn't sure I ovulated though because the stupid line is supposed to match the test line and one side of the line was dark but the other was lighter than the test line...sigh. We "timed" things right but I still wasn't completely sure I had ovulated. So I waited.

I waited 13 days and watched my temps stay up. I knew they would dip soon if I was not pregnant. I wasn't really feeling pregnant because I often have all the symptoms of pregnancy right before my period. With Cole, I suspected I may be because I had major breast tenderness and I didn't before testing this time. With Cole I got a positive on day 13 (faint but there) so I couldn't wait and tested and I got this...
It is blurry and hard to read without squinting but it is a positive. (I didn't have my nice new camera to take the picture then.) I was excited and tried to get Cole to tell Daddy but he wouldn't so I did. According to my charting I was 3 weeks 6 days when I got my positive test....we couldn't be happier.

Poll Results: Ground Hog

This was a close poll with just one person tipping the results towards "Winter is here for a while." I for some reason am feeling optimistic (very unlike me) and think Spring is coming early. Maybe it is just that I am really hopeful.

I really don't mind Winter (good thing considering where I live) but for some reason this pattern we have had of getting "dumped on" sometimes twice a week with some pretty big storms is starting to get to me. The break we have had recently has been wonderful and we have even gotten some temps in the high 30s to possibly a touch of 40. It has been great. Also, I am really noticing the time change now with it staying light longer in the evening and I am loving that. Maybe that is giving me the Spring bug. I hope Phil is right. They said it has been a long time since he has said Spring will come early so just maybe he is right :)

Wordless Wednesday: Can You Feel the Love?

Happy Valentine's Day! (1 Day Early)

We "celebrated" Valentine's Day today actually. I usually like to do any "events" on the actual day but my little family was sitting around a breakfast of pancakes I made and it just felt like a good time to do it. So, we did.

Cole was just as happy to open my gift and Daddy's gifts as he was his own. I love that he gets so excited about other people's gifts. He was so cute running each present I bought Tony to him individually. We don't do big gifts for Valentine's Day but we do like to do a little something. I got Tony a few things and he got me a great and much needed gift as well as another much appreciated one. Cole liked my gift just as much as what we got him I think! We got Cole a few "chuggers." He loves trains right now and Chugginton is therefore a favorite show although lately he sleeps in and misses Chugginton. I overheard Daddy and him talking at bedtime though and there are plans for Cole to be up at 6 AM to catch Chugginton...we shall see :)

The day was spent with us doing our usual...me off to church and then grocery shopping with my Mom while Cole and Daddy go visit Nana and Papa. Cole got a special treat there as he got to see Papa's trumpet and he got a Chuggington DVD that has six episodes! Also exciting is that Cole spend most of the day in underwear (or naked) with no accidents! He even went pee 4 times on the big boy potty at Nana and Papa's!

The evening began with a dinner of which I had lobster thanks to my parents, while my "boys" had dino nuggets and "triangle fries" as we called them so Cole would eat them (homemade french fries from diced potato) and green beans (Tony had carrots of course because he basically eats nothing green...seriously.) Cole and I then shared some berries (blueberries and raspberries) for dessert. Then, I got to catch up on the computer a little bit while listening to Cole squeal with delight as he and Daddy played. Music to my ears.

The evening ended with family story time with Cole treating us to him reading "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" with just a little assistance from Daddy (I taped it of course.) It was a good "Valentine's Day"...one day early of course :)

Poll Results: Garden?

Well this was a cut and dry poll. You either do or do not grow your own garden...no in between! Everyone who doesn't wants to though!

I would love to grow my own garden because I now have a little man that just loves to help and loves vegetables so I think it would be great. However, I know they are A LOT of work and I am not very good about being consistent about anything so I don't know how it would all go. We do have wild raspberries and blackberries that grow around our home so that is always fun to pick and eat (Cole loves doing this and eating them of course!)

Fortunately, my mother grows a garden so we get a lot of vegetables from her.

If I had my own garden (hopefully some day) I would want cucumbers, peas, green beans and carrots. Those would be essentials for me. What would you/do you grown in your garden?

Mom Monday...

You Know You're A Mom When...

- Snuggle time with a little guy in your lap never gets old.

- You take naps when a 2 year old does.

- You fall asleep at night sometimes before the above mentioned 2 year old.

- You hold hands before crossing the street/parking lot.

- You play the same game over and over and over :)

What do you have to add?

Party with Friends

The other day Cole and I were home alone in the evening while Daddy was out plowing and shoveling for people after yet another snow storm. I was busy for a few minutes finishing up on the computer so Cole was entertaining himself and this is what transpired...

First you gather your friends and make sure they have a cup of water, bowl and all utensils...


Then you give everyone including yourself ONE goldfish each.


Then, once you are sure everyone is set...


You dine together!

When it was time for his bath Cole said, "I pick up first." and he ate Mickey and Doggie's goldfish but then put EVERYTHING away! This was so fun to watch and even more impressive when he picked up all by himself!

Love my big boy!

Wordless Wednesday- Cardboard Box Fun

Tax Time

Does anyone else dread tax time as much as I have begun too? We have someone do our taxes but still you have to come prepared and I am always the one that gathers everything and goes to the appointment. I made my husband go with me one year because he ALWAYS asked me questions after that I couldn't answer or questioned things. He also runs a small business on the side and there is always at least one question I can't answer and have to call him about.

My tax appointment is Wednesday and we don't even have all our stuff this year. I thought we usually get it by now but we haven't. UGH. I am keeping our appointment though because it is tough to get an appointment (people start booking in November!) and I have most of my stuff so I am hoping we can get most of it done and then I can call with the last few figures. UGH. This just makes the appointment even more stressful to me.

I know most people love tax time because they get a refund check and like to spend that. We are not big spenders so this isn't a thrill to us. Does anyone else hate tax time as much as I do?