Back from another week on the road, that is. When I disappear like that it is usually because I've been away for work. I don't have much time to post today as I'm trying desperately to get stuff done this long weekend.
I got screwed out of the last one by the builder when it forgot to organize contractors to do the necessary work to address outstanding items in my 1 year old home. Now that almost all of that is finished I can move stuff back into my bedroom. I was pretty zonked yesterday - arrival home at 2 am, a sick cat who cost me $500 in care yesterday and grocery shopping. Kitty is fine, she's just old and has a major constipation problem that flares up from time to time. And yesterday she needed fluids and an enema ... lucky her. We're getting blood work done again to see if anything with her thyroid, kidneys or pancreas has changed this past year. But I'm thankful it wasn't worse. The vet originally told me she would likely need fluids and an enema each day over the long weekend at an emerg clinic. Kitty would not be happy and my bank account would be livid. Luckily for her the single enema worked and she was able to come home with me albeit in a very drugged state (sedative required). I woke up to a much changed and happier kitty today.
I slept in this morning since I couldn't do it yesterday and haven't gotten as much done, volume wise, as I'd like but I've made good progress. I got the master closet completely cleaned, as well as my master bath and a quick cleaning of my very empty bedroom. I can now start moving my stuff back into the master area and start working on the baby's room. I have another book shelf to put together and then move the 2 of them into my room so I have a place for books. I need more book shelves but I'm waiting until I put in another order with I.kea before I get them. I do have to take one more stab at removing the kitty urine smell from my bedroom carpet. Yes, she has accidents and sometimes she gets lazy ... I've purchased another litter hut for her but she has been banned from my room for months now. My mom suggested trying vinegar first as (1) it is natural and (2) it should work. So I'm going to try that on the carpet. And she didn't even pee much there ... it is potent stuff.
I also got a bit of yard work done today. I started it a couple hours early and I'm glad I did. Thanks to this year's water ban my lawn is horrible ... dead horrible. The parts that got shade are okay now as they are coming back thick and green, greener than the neighbours' who obviously didn't fertilize. But there are huge patches of dead lawn. And I know they are not coming back. I picked up some lawn seed yesterday and after cutting the lawn attacked the front one with seed. The forecast is for rain tonight and cooler temps most of the week thanks to a cold front that (yikes!) brought snow to parts of Ontario yesterday. Nothing like that for us but with me being home a week and a half before my next trip + cooler temps I thought this would be a good time to try reseeding. I spread the stuff out on the front lawn and watered it to help it stick. I'll be out there every night for a week to water it if we don't get much rain. I still have to reseed the backyard but at least I cut the grass. Oh, and I discovered a creature burrowed itself into my little flower bed in the back. No idea what it is since I haven't seen a single gop.her out here. That would normally be my first guess. The stupid thing pulled out one of my sedum pieces. Luckily I've got 3 plants going strong so it isn't much of a loss. But I'm still not happy.
Tomorrow I've got to tackle some cooking so I have lunch for the week and stuff to add to my collection in the freezer. And get ready for the work week. And address more stuff around the house.
I'll provide a better update asap but just a warning that it will probably be quite heavy on the baby and child content as per usual after I've been home for a week of work. I just wanted to provide fair warning for my readers. Until then, I hope you're having a good long weekend ... for those who get one!
Showing posts with label random. Show all posts
Showing posts with label random. Show all posts
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
A Very Sad Day
No, this isn't about me. I'm fine and I'm heading to my level 2 u/s tomorrow afternoon so no updates on that yet.
Nope, this is about the absolute, sheer waste and loss that cancer creates. I've been in tears off and on all day today over the loss of J.ack La.yton, the leader of Canada's opposition. After years of struggling, working hard every day in the trenches, fighting for everyday people, finally to become leader of the opposition (a huge feat for the N.DP as it was the first time they reached that goal) in May 2011, he was snatched from us by cancer ... at 61. He spent just 3 short months as the leader of the opposition unable to truly enjoy the fruits of his labour.
He was a man of principle who never backed down from a fight even when it looked like it was a losing battle. He was always optimistic but also a serious pragmatist. While he certainly wanted to win over voters he never shied away from a principled position even if it made him deeply unpopular. He was a great debater but never maligned anyone in his rise to the top. He talked to everyone and ignored no one. He inspired people of all ages but most importantly young people who had turned away from voting and the traditional political process. He truly believed that Canada is great and that we could make it even better, so much so that 2 days before he died he wrote a letter to Canadians which is truly inspiring ... he thought of others right until the end.
Our country is in mourning, a truly deep and heartfelt feeling of loss has gripped this country. RIP Jack, you made this country a better place for everyone. You will be greatly missed. Those of us who remain will continue the fight with renewed vigour.
And my last words on this post, which I think are entirely appropriate ...
Nope, this is about the absolute, sheer waste and loss that cancer creates. I've been in tears off and on all day today over the loss of J.ack La.yton, the leader of Canada's opposition. After years of struggling, working hard every day in the trenches, fighting for everyday people, finally to become leader of the opposition (a huge feat for the N.DP as it was the first time they reached that goal) in May 2011, he was snatched from us by cancer ... at 61. He spent just 3 short months as the leader of the opposition unable to truly enjoy the fruits of his labour.
He was a man of principle who never backed down from a fight even when it looked like it was a losing battle. He was always optimistic but also a serious pragmatist. While he certainly wanted to win over voters he never shied away from a principled position even if it made him deeply unpopular. He was a great debater but never maligned anyone in his rise to the top. He talked to everyone and ignored no one. He inspired people of all ages but most importantly young people who had turned away from voting and the traditional political process. He truly believed that Canada is great and that we could make it even better, so much so that 2 days before he died he wrote a letter to Canadians which is truly inspiring ... he thought of others right until the end.
Our country is in mourning, a truly deep and heartfelt feeling of loss has gripped this country. RIP Jack, you made this country a better place for everyone. You will be greatly missed. Those of us who remain will continue the fight with renewed vigour.
And my last words on this post, which I think are entirely appropriate ...
"Courage, my friends, 'tis not too late to build a better world." ~ Tommy Douglas
Sunday, August 7, 2011
18w1d ... busy, busy, busy
Sorry I've been away readers. I've just been really busy. Here is a non-exhaustive list of what I've been up to:
I've been stocking up on things that have gone on sale just so that I don't have to get them for a while. I had a decent toilet paper collection started but it has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few weeks. Stocking up on tissues too ... allergies and baby spit up. And laundry detergent. I was always mad that I never seemed to be able to hit the sales on the day they started and by the time I got there the next day or day after that there was nothing left. Seriously, who doesn't work in an area of new houses such that they can line up at the stores and buy all the laundry detergent on the first day of a sale? I used to be a cashier ... the strange things people do. Decent sales at a pharmacy and grocery store lately so I've stocked up nicely.
Oh yes, and I told the team at work. Some people are surprised especially because I haven't been sick. Um, not everyone gets sick you know. And our admin assistant, as sweet as she is, can really stop asking me every single day how I'm feeling. Really, I was 16 1/2 weeks pregnant before you found out and no one cared how I was doing enough to ask every day so it isn't required to check to see how I'm doing every day now that you know. Only one person touched my belly and I actually like her so I didn't get highly annoyed. Just a little. ;-)
Okay, now that I've gotten that out of the way I can say that my belly is trying hard to pop out. Some days it is very flat and others it is definitely more noticeable. Here it is at 16 weeks before heading out on errands:
I can't believe I didn't post a shot between 12w and 16w but such is life. ;-) And here is the shot from yesterday at 18w0d. I'm now in maternity clothes because they're just more comfortable but they definitely allow the belly to protrude further.
I'm off on another business trip today, albeit a shorter one at just 3 nights away. My parents are going to join me for a couple nights so they can do some shopping at Lee Val.ley To.ols which they don't have in their city.
- Getting over that head cold that lasted 3 weeks. Not a head cold from hell, no, but problematic, yes.
- A week long business trip over a weekend. Allowed me time to see my niece and nephew and get started on baby shopping.
- Aborted attempt to fly back from said business trip because it was too hot and the airport was using the short runway because of construction on the other. They couldn't take ANY checked baggage on the flight to Toronto and since I sort of need to fly with my work bag even if checked I volunteered to get off the flight and take a credit which I have a year to use. I think they removed between 10 and 15 people from the flight. Stayed overnight at my parents', unexpectedly, but got to see 2 waves of awesome lightning that night.
- 2 weekends working in the yard which has yet to become a garden of any sort. ;-)
- 1st weekend I decided to work in the back on a Sunday morning. Holy hot sun when the temp is only 23 Celcius at most! I was done at noon and hadn't even gotten everything finished. Thank you stupid sandy soil packed so hard it was like digging through a brick. Planting completed the next night when it was much cooler. Lessons learned: no gardening in the back yard at any time other than the evening AND getting the yard in planting shape is going to take way more work that I anticipated. More planning must be done this fall.
- 2nd weekend turned into 2 mornings of working in the front yard which is heavily shaded in the morning. In fact, my entrance is shaded 24/7. First morning I dug out the weed patch next to the front porch area (we don't get eavestroughs installed by the builder and until a month ago that area of my lawn was rotting from all the water and the only thing that seemed to grow was a crazy variety of weeds ... which I don't want). Worked up and added soil so I can plant things easily next year. Then tackled the weed patch under my city tree. Watered city tree and covered the ginormous hole (way bigger than anyone else's on the street) the sod guys left with cedar mulch. Awesome tan started developing. Second morning I finished up the patch in front of the house and covered with cedar mulch to discourage weed growth. Raked the sad looking front lawn of dead grass (unusually dry summer + water ban = dead lawn) and cut the parts that are actually okay. Then that evening watered it to see if I can salvage any of it. Bought extra soil and organic material for yard stuff next year. I won't have time to just pop down to the store.
- August long weekend - took the Saturday to do something fun. I went to the National Art Gallery to see the Cara.vaggio exhibit. My other bright idea flopped since the Ec.co store in the mall downtown had closed, unbeknownst to me. No new shoes and must do that in the U.S. in a couple weeks. Bought the best organic oatmeal I've yet found at the health food store a 1/2 block from where I used to live and popped into a French bakery for a couple of pastries which I still haven't finished.
- Cooking and baking up a storm in the kitchen so I don't have to do lots of this while 9 months pregnant and after baby arrives. On the long weekend I got a pot of split pea soup made. Not as tasty without the bone but at least I had some leftover ham in the freezer. Had to discard the other container of frozen ham since it had gone bad. So, no double batch of soup. This weekend I made 3 batches of blueberry muffins. Would do more but I might run out of blueberries. Besides, I have to catch a plane today.
- Headaches caused by my home builder. I took a Wednesday off before the long weekend so they could come in and fix the outstanding items from my 1-year inspection. The guy who booked the appointment forgot to schedule stuff! I was livid and sent a terse email telling him how I would now be 1 month behind on setting stuff up for my impending baby. Not impressed. But drywalling guy came to 'fix' nail pops. I will have to redo them in the future since they weren't screwed in further, just covered. They came Friday to do other things and discovered they can't rip up the floor to fix the creaks because the carpentry guys finished at 1 pm. Rebooked that and insulation installation for the 24th ... An inordinate amount of time was spent moving things over the past 3-4 weeks from my bedroom to the front 2 bedrooms to allow them to access my attic and the creaking/cracking floor. I feel like I am living out of a suitcase in my own house. And baby organization is on hold.
- Aborted attempt to get to book club on August 2nd thanks to a nasty headache that developed during the day and just got worse.
- Purchased diaper bag at BR.U. Got a brown, hobo style one that I can wear cross body which is great since I don't have great shoulders and purses and bags just fall off.
- Purchased crib mattress yesterday. Took 20 minutes to find someone to help me ... discover I have to pay then go over to the extra Ik.ea warehouse I didn't know existed. Pretty seamless once I discovered the necessary process but annoyed there was no one in the children's area for 20 minutes. Mattress fits snugly and perfectly in the crib. Discovered some really cute fabric and curtains that I might be able to consider.
- Watching my summer obsessions on TV: Tr.ue Bl.ood and Roo.kie Bl.ue. Combine that with raging 2nd trimester pregnancy hormones and all I can say is that the Viking and Officer Swa.rek can visit me any time. ;-) I didn't realize I'd seen AS in things before TB but I'm a big enough girl I can admit I've had a thing for Ben Ba.ss since I first saw him on Fore.ver Kni.ght. Oh boy, that takes me back quite a ways ...
I've been stocking up on things that have gone on sale just so that I don't have to get them for a while. I had a decent toilet paper collection started but it has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few weeks. Stocking up on tissues too ... allergies and baby spit up. And laundry detergent. I was always mad that I never seemed to be able to hit the sales on the day they started and by the time I got there the next day or day after that there was nothing left. Seriously, who doesn't work in an area of new houses such that they can line up at the stores and buy all the laundry detergent on the first day of a sale? I used to be a cashier ... the strange things people do. Decent sales at a pharmacy and grocery store lately so I've stocked up nicely.
Oh yes, and I told the team at work. Some people are surprised especially because I haven't been sick. Um, not everyone gets sick you know. And our admin assistant, as sweet as she is, can really stop asking me every single day how I'm feeling. Really, I was 16 1/2 weeks pregnant before you found out and no one cared how I was doing enough to ask every day so it isn't required to check to see how I'm doing every day now that you know. Only one person touched my belly and I actually like her so I didn't get highly annoyed. Just a little. ;-)
Okay, now that I've gotten that out of the way I can say that my belly is trying hard to pop out. Some days it is very flat and others it is definitely more noticeable. Here it is at 16 weeks before heading out on errands:
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| Belly at 16w0d |
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| Belly at 18w0d |
Monday, July 4, 2011
Back home
After a week out of town on business, I'm back home ... or should I confuse the matter by saying I was 'back home' on business and now I'm back in my house? I don't know. I always cause confusion for people when I say things like that. I don't think I'm ever going to truly adopt this city and province as 'home'. 'Back home' will always be home. But I digress.
I had a long week of frustrating days. I had only 3 hearings but each was long and very heavily detail oriented. I was also relegated to the couch again. Long story short, my one aunt came out to help my mom and another aunt move my grandma to her nursing home. Big family problems ensued including my aunt who traveled to help ditching my crazy aunt in an effort to sort of hide out until she heads back home next week. So I got one night in the spare bedroom before being stuck on the couch in my parents' room. The couch is way more comfortable than the spare bed but being woken up early because my dad has to be up early to get to work is no fun.
Then add to that my missing eye mask. My niece has a 'collecting' problem. My mom and aunt caught her playing with it and they swore she tossed it on the floor. I looked everywhere including under the bed, under the couch and through all the bedding and couldn't find it. Then Friday afternoon my BIL says "I think this is yours" and pulls the eye mask out from the diaper bag. Somehow my niece snuck back into the bedroom, found the thing, took it and stuffed it into the diaper bag to take home. She loves to collect things but this has to stop. I got even crappier sleep ... which is normal for me in summer thanks to more hours of daylight.
Then add to that an extra early start to the morning on Tuesday to get the new kitty to the vet for her spaying appointment before my hearing. Not so much fun. But the good news is that the little lost kitty my parents saved was already spayed at some point so she didn't have to go through the surgery. She's an extremely happy and cuddly kitty who loves to lick everyone.
The big reveal went well. I was a bit nervous but finally found my in when my niece showed me her family tree. I commented on the fact she had no cousins and whether she'd like some. So I told her that she'd get one come January. She then proclaimed "mommy, auntie's getting a baby!" LOL! That confused my sister for a while. I could see her trying to figure out how I was 'getting' a baby and she put it together. Since she knew about the plan I think it helped. She offered me all the hand me downs I wanted and since she has both boy and girl stuff (mostly girl stuff being recycled for the nephew) it doesn't matter if I have a girl or boy. She also offered me her maternity clothes. They just moved back into their reno'd house so I told her I'd be back in 2 weeks over a weekend and would have time to come over then. I suspect I can fit into the bottoms especially since the waist doesn't matter in pregnancy. But I think the shirts will be a no go. She's a size smaller than me on top so I think that will be a bust. But I'll be glad for anything I can get that I don't have to buy.
I'm dealing with exhaustion these days and headaches that pop up now and then. I've been dealing with a headache most of today and am looking forward to hitting the sheets tonight.
I had a long week of frustrating days. I had only 3 hearings but each was long and very heavily detail oriented. I was also relegated to the couch again. Long story short, my one aunt came out to help my mom and another aunt move my grandma to her nursing home. Big family problems ensued including my aunt who traveled to help ditching my crazy aunt in an effort to sort of hide out until she heads back home next week. So I got one night in the spare bedroom before being stuck on the couch in my parents' room. The couch is way more comfortable than the spare bed but being woken up early because my dad has to be up early to get to work is no fun.
Then add to that my missing eye mask. My niece has a 'collecting' problem. My mom and aunt caught her playing with it and they swore she tossed it on the floor. I looked everywhere including under the bed, under the couch and through all the bedding and couldn't find it. Then Friday afternoon my BIL says "I think this is yours" and pulls the eye mask out from the diaper bag. Somehow my niece snuck back into the bedroom, found the thing, took it and stuffed it into the diaper bag to take home. She loves to collect things but this has to stop. I got even crappier sleep ... which is normal for me in summer thanks to more hours of daylight.
Then add to that an extra early start to the morning on Tuesday to get the new kitty to the vet for her spaying appointment before my hearing. Not so much fun. But the good news is that the little lost kitty my parents saved was already spayed at some point so she didn't have to go through the surgery. She's an extremely happy and cuddly kitty who loves to lick everyone.
The big reveal went well. I was a bit nervous but finally found my in when my niece showed me her family tree. I commented on the fact she had no cousins and whether she'd like some. So I told her that she'd get one come January. She then proclaimed "mommy, auntie's getting a baby!" LOL! That confused my sister for a while. I could see her trying to figure out how I was 'getting' a baby and she put it together. Since she knew about the plan I think it helped. She offered me all the hand me downs I wanted and since she has both boy and girl stuff (mostly girl stuff being recycled for the nephew) it doesn't matter if I have a girl or boy. She also offered me her maternity clothes. They just moved back into their reno'd house so I told her I'd be back in 2 weeks over a weekend and would have time to come over then. I suspect I can fit into the bottoms especially since the waist doesn't matter in pregnancy. But I think the shirts will be a no go. She's a size smaller than me on top so I think that will be a bust. But I'll be glad for anything I can get that I don't have to buy.
I'm dealing with exhaustion these days and headaches that pop up now and then. I've been dealing with a headache most of today and am looking forward to hitting the sheets tonight.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
12 weeks
I cannot believe I've hit the 12 week mark. It still doesn't feel real and I'm not sure when it will. Will it feel real when my belly starts growing? When I get to the anatomy scan? I don't know.
Everything is going well. No episodes of spotting but I do have some nasty round ligament pain from time to time, usually when I move too fast. The only excitement I've seen recently was yesterday's nasty storm which I got stuck outside in for a half hour. And this one was of epic proportions.
It started pouring before I left the office but let up a little so I could catch the bus. Almost got to my home bus stop when the hail started coming down. In the 10 years I've lived here I haven't seen hail once. Then I get to my bus stop and the driver can't even drop us off b/c it is flooded. The car parked on the street just in front had water flowing by it almost up to the door. He dropped us off further down the block and I did so well not getting my feet submerged in water until I got to the sidewalk. What is the point of a sidewalk again???
I get to the other end of the block and have to walk on the lawn to get around because the sidewalk is flooded. Then I get to the end of the block and I see the flood. Literally. The water is coming down my cross street, the one I have to walk up to get to my street, and I can't do it because the water is literally flowing like the rapids of a river. Insane!!! I made a quick decision to cut across the lawn of that yard and hang out under the roof of their garage hoping that the rain would end soon. Nope. I was stuck out there for a half hour. I had no way to take my shoes off and carry them since I had 4 bags and an umbrella otherwise I might have been very tempted. Unfortunately, of the 4 houses on that block the two in the middle have no lawn so I had to either walk on a sidewalk submerged in inches of flowing water or through 2 yards of mud.
One of the neighbours across the street came out to take pictures of the water way up his calves in the middle of the street. He asked if I wanted to come to their house to wait it out but it would mean me walking through the water. I said thanks but I'd be fine. The lightning was overhead much of the time I was out there so I felt safer under the roof.
Then a woman who had been over at this guy's house came over and offered to give me a ride the last 2 blocks to my house since she was about to leave for home anyway. I was so happy! But of course that was when the storm was letting up. But it was so nice of her to offer. Made my day after a half hour waiting out the storm!
One of the good things is that I now know to get off at my old regular bus stop when it is raining. It has been moved temporarily b/c of construction and it didn't look any better yesterday with water flowing up from the manhole. And I also know that in that kind of storm that the flood protection mechanisms in my neighbourhood work. And I definitely don't live in the lowest spot in the neighbourhood.
Tonight, I discovered that my purse is still wet inside and my computer bag got soaked. The computer was a bit wet but turned on just fine. But many of my work papers got totally soaked. I'm airing them out now. Usually I'm super packed the night before I leave but I can't do that this time. I'll have to get the suitcase done but wait to do the rest tomorrow. No sleeping in. :(
And now, today's belly shot. Same clothes which still fit. I'm happy with that. You can really see the veins in my pasty white arms now.
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| 12w0d |
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Just checking in
Nothing new to report. Everything seems to be going along just fine. I passed the 6 week mark and am really grateful to get this far this time. Every day that passes I'm so happy that I haven't had any bleeding ... so happy to just get through another day pregnant.
I'm still very anxious about my ultrasound on Thursday. I just want everything that is supposed to be there to actually be there. I know I have no control over this but I really hope I don't get unlucky two pregnancies in a row. I'd be devastated.
I'm slowly realizing that I can't do the things I normally do partly out of exhaustion and partly because this pregnant body can't, or shouldn't, be lifting heavy things. I am 99% sure I'll be getting an IK.EA crib and I also need a few more things from the store, namely some bookshelves so I can move the books out of baby's room. I can't lift the boxes any longer so I think I'm just going to have to order everything and have it shipped. Once it is in my house I can take everything apart box by box, piece by piece and move them individually.
I've sort of had to give up on my yard for the year. With the water ban in place until August 1st I can't really plant trees or shrubs this year anyway. But I'm cutting back on the number of flower pots I will plant. I have set out 2 smaller pots out front so my yard doesn't look like a complete disaster compared to my neighbours'. I picked up some impatients today but I'm not entirely thrilled with them. I'd wanted the New Gui.nea ones but I didn't see them anywhere. I'll keep looking but if I find the NG ones I might pick up a few and use the little impatients as filler. If not, I'll just use what I have and pick up a couple other things to throw in there.
I've noticed that I'm getting back pain and pelvic pain when I sit or lay in certain positions. I had some really seriously sharp cramping yesterday. It may have been as a result of how I was sitting or moving because it did improve when I moved. But it did take a while. I think I need to invest in a good body pillow already. Any recommendations for me?
I'm still very anxious about my ultrasound on Thursday. I just want everything that is supposed to be there to actually be there. I know I have no control over this but I really hope I don't get unlucky two pregnancies in a row. I'd be devastated.
I'm slowly realizing that I can't do the things I normally do partly out of exhaustion and partly because this pregnant body can't, or shouldn't, be lifting heavy things. I am 99% sure I'll be getting an IK.EA crib and I also need a few more things from the store, namely some bookshelves so I can move the books out of baby's room. I can't lift the boxes any longer so I think I'm just going to have to order everything and have it shipped. Once it is in my house I can take everything apart box by box, piece by piece and move them individually.
I've sort of had to give up on my yard for the year. With the water ban in place until August 1st I can't really plant trees or shrubs this year anyway. But I'm cutting back on the number of flower pots I will plant. I have set out 2 smaller pots out front so my yard doesn't look like a complete disaster compared to my neighbours'. I picked up some impatients today but I'm not entirely thrilled with them. I'd wanted the New Gui.nea ones but I didn't see them anywhere. I'll keep looking but if I find the NG ones I might pick up a few and use the little impatients as filler. If not, I'll just use what I have and pick up a couple other things to throw in there.
I've noticed that I'm getting back pain and pelvic pain when I sit or lay in certain positions. I had some really seriously sharp cramping yesterday. It may have been as a result of how I was sitting or moving because it did improve when I moved. But it did take a while. I think I need to invest in a good body pillow already. Any recommendations for me?
Saturday, May 7, 2011
5 weeks
I made it to 5 weeks today, 2 days further than last time. So far so good. But I have to say the progesterone ooze gives me the willies. Every time I feel it I think I should go check to see if I'm bleeding. No bleeding, not even a little speck so I'm not complaining. ;-)
I got the call for my 1st ultrasound. The receptionist called it my 1st OB ultrasound. I like the sound of that. My appointment is Thursday afternoon with a follow up right after with the head of the clinic. I'm really hoping that this little bean is where it supposed to be and what we are supposed to see shows up. Until the ultrasound I just have to hope this is progressing normally and that there is a growing embryo in there rather than a blighted ovum.
The green feeling hasn't come back yet but my sense of smell is still heightened. Food doesn't taste the same. Even if it doesn't turn me off food isn't as tasty as it used to be. Except for salty food. I can always eat that without a problem. I'm definitely tired but I can't say it is any worse yet than the fatigue I usually suffer from. It just seems to hit earlier in the day. My eyes have started feeling tired at noon. And I feel tired at a normal time in the evening - I'm a night owl. And I got tired after my shopping excursion today.
The other thing that happened today, a bit disconcerting I have to say, is that I got some serious cramping after lifting some heavy things at HD. We have a water ban in our neighbourhood as the city works on replacing the water source to our suburb. The main failed about 50 years early. So I have ordered a rain barrel and need something to place it on. Queue the cinder blocks and large paving stone. Picking up 2 blocks and 1 stone, placing them in the cart and then my car trunk was enough to set off a lot of cramping. Way more than I've dealt with so far. I've forbidden myself from this kind of activity from here on out. Someone else is going to have to do the heavy lifting. This is one of those times I really miss having a guy around the house or at least having my parents live nearby.
Everything seems to be fine, though. I run the bathroom often enough to check, it seems. ;-) No bleeding and the cramping has subsided.
I got the call for my 1st ultrasound. The receptionist called it my 1st OB ultrasound. I like the sound of that. My appointment is Thursday afternoon with a follow up right after with the head of the clinic. I'm really hoping that this little bean is where it supposed to be and what we are supposed to see shows up. Until the ultrasound I just have to hope this is progressing normally and that there is a growing embryo in there rather than a blighted ovum.
The green feeling hasn't come back yet but my sense of smell is still heightened. Food doesn't taste the same. Even if it doesn't turn me off food isn't as tasty as it used to be. Except for salty food. I can always eat that without a problem. I'm definitely tired but I can't say it is any worse yet than the fatigue I usually suffer from. It just seems to hit earlier in the day. My eyes have started feeling tired at noon. And I feel tired at a normal time in the evening - I'm a night owl. And I got tired after my shopping excursion today.
The other thing that happened today, a bit disconcerting I have to say, is that I got some serious cramping after lifting some heavy things at HD. We have a water ban in our neighbourhood as the city works on replacing the water source to our suburb. The main failed about 50 years early. So I have ordered a rain barrel and need something to place it on. Queue the cinder blocks and large paving stone. Picking up 2 blocks and 1 stone, placing them in the cart and then my car trunk was enough to set off a lot of cramping. Way more than I've dealt with so far. I've forbidden myself from this kind of activity from here on out. Someone else is going to have to do the heavy lifting. This is one of those times I really miss having a guy around the house or at least having my parents live nearby.
Everything seems to be fine, though. I run the bathroom often enough to check, it seems. ;-) No bleeding and the cramping has subsided.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Hoppy Easter! 8dpIUI
Nothing to report here. I'm feeling absolutely nothing but bloating from the progesterone. I'm 100% certain that this isn't going to be the month. But I already knew that. I feel nothing like I did in February when I did get pregnant so I think it is safe to say this cycle is a bust.
I'm keeping busy this weekend with stuff around the house. Not much to do in a province where everything, and I mean everything, is closed on Friday and Easter Sunday. The weather decided to smarten up on Saturday and the sun makes me feel like I want to do things ... and that's a good thing. ;-) I got lasagna made, including homemade sauce, and some extra plain sauce without meat for other pasta which will go into the freezer. Same with the leftover lasagna. I'm catching up on extra things around the house too. But I don't think I'm going to get around to the outside this weekend.
My appointment with Dr. V. is tomorrow afternoon so I'll have more to report tomorrow and hopefully it will be good news including a good plan.
I've been nominated by 2 fellow bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award. Thank you! I'll have to get around to answering the questions and finding new blogs out there in the blogosphere. That will be hard since I think I've found almost all of them out there thanks to my go.ogle skills. ;-)
I'm keeping busy this weekend with stuff around the house. Not much to do in a province where everything, and I mean everything, is closed on Friday and Easter Sunday. The weather decided to smarten up on Saturday and the sun makes me feel like I want to do things ... and that's a good thing. ;-) I got lasagna made, including homemade sauce, and some extra plain sauce without meat for other pasta which will go into the freezer. Same with the leftover lasagna. I'm catching up on extra things around the house too. But I don't think I'm going to get around to the outside this weekend.
My appointment with Dr. V. is tomorrow afternoon so I'll have more to report tomorrow and hopefully it will be good news including a good plan.
I've been nominated by 2 fellow bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award. Thank you! I'll have to get around to answering the questions and finding new blogs out there in the blogosphere. That will be hard since I think I've found almost all of them out there thanks to my go.ogle skills. ;-)
Saturday, March 19, 2011
2dpIUI and Finally a Temp Rise!
Yes, finally got my temp rise this morning. I was really worried something was wrong so I armed myself with 2, yes 2, thermometers. They are the same model but my 1st one reads lower than the 2nd so I dumped it in favour of thermometer #2. I cleaned up both and pulled out the old one for an oral temp today. That one came in at a whopping 97.8 this am, which is WAY higher than any cover line I've ever had. Good stuff! I temped vaginally with the 2nd one, as I have been doing this cycle, and got a 1/2 degree temp jump, up from 97.7 to 98.2. I've only had this big a temp jump once since I started charting and it was in my craaaazy December cycle which I choose to ignore.
With the temp rise this morning I was confident in starting my progesterone supplements. I got the lovely effervescent Endometrin horse pills with applicator again. I got the Rx phoned in to my pharmacy instead of getting them at the clinic because my insurance plan covers most of the cost right up front. I hate paying and submitting receipts. I think I bumped my cervix with the applicator this morning, though, because there was a bit of pink spotting on the applicator when I pulled it out. It must be irritated from the IUI, still.
I did errands this morning. The line of credit is now in place. I'll never use all of it, ever! But it is ready for a big sperm purchase should that be necessary. We initially requested the credit for home renovations. But today we checked off the box saying it was just to have extra credit handy when necessary. I had a momentary desire to write "to purchase donor sperm" in the space for 'other' but I thought the bankers in TO might think I was nuts.
I popped over to the old health food store which was 1/2 a block from my old condo when I lived downtown. For some reason my new neighbourhood doesn't have one and we've got 100,000 people living here and in 5-7 years it will be 200,000. Serious gap in the market. But I digress. I finally got to see the expanded store. It took over the other side of the building it is in and the space that used to be a bar. Picked up my favourite organic oatmeal there. I've tried other stuff since moving and it just doesn't work as well for my insulin control as this stuff, even the slow cooking organic stuff. I bought 4 bags of it. ;-) And I picked up some local honey. I've been reading how locally produced honey can help you if you're having allergy issues. Hopefully this will work because my allergies have been driving me nuts lately.
Then I stopped off at a great French bakery on the way back to the car. I was thinking of picking up one thing but walked out with a dozen really good, fresh hot cross buns instead. Really tasty. I think I might run down there on a work day and pick up some more for the freezer. I then popped in to the mall, which I haven't been to in about a year. I stopped in at the G.ap to use a 20% off survey coupon. Everything in the store was 30% off today. Great deal, if you could actually find something tolerable and that fit. I was expecting to find things like khakis and walking shorts like they've had in past seasons. Nope. Honestly, their stuff just keeps getting crappier and crappier every year. Even the kids side was horrible. I was trying to find something to use the coupon on and there was nothing! I have a new niece and a new nephew to buy something for and I couldn't even find a decent sleeper or body stocking for them. Ridiculous. I ended up picking up a couple okay casual shirts that were already on sale and got the extra 30% off. They'll be good for running errands during our super humid summers.
I notice that the G.ap now doesn't just have shirts with massive arm holes but they make them even bigger and put a piece of fabric in there to try and cover that up with really bad results. Why can't they just make something that fits? I know I've got super skinny arms and a huge chest but really, should you be able to see half my bra under my arms? What happened to the use of the dart in women's clothing? That point was brought home when I went to Ban.ana Rep.ublic. I have a bunch of work stuff from there. Their pants are very reliable for me and I've purchase one or two pairs a year that now carry me through the cooler months. But even those were horrible today. I know for a fact that I haven't gained 20 pounds in the past few months otherwise nothing I own would fit. Why is the size 14 at BR, which always fits, so tiny now? They were squishing my non-existent butt and I could barely get them closed! Not to mention any of the shirts or dresses. They are cut for a cardboard figure. Really! Like many women, I have a chest. Maybe mine is larger than others but what is with fashion focused on cardboard cutouts? I put this stuff on and I can barely get it over my chest and when I do it squishes it so hard it flattens it and that's saying a lot since I'm a 36H. Not to mention the weird arm hole thing, oddly placed straps, super tiny hip areas (and I have super tiny hips for my height and size), and crappy fabric. I picked up 3 knit things because, at least with that, it fits over my chest, I don't have to worry about gaping arm holes, or things not fitting my tiny hips. I got two thinner long sleeved v-neck sweaters and a cardigan in fresh spring colours all 30% off. I'm so upset. I love BR stuff and would LOVE to have more of it in my closet, specifically new tops for work. But every time I go back the stuff just gets worse and worse.
The only purchase I was happy about today, other than the delicious hot cross buns, was my new runners. When I lived downtown I walked everywhere. It was great because exercise was part of my day. Since moving out to the burbs I've definitely cut back and I need to get back into it. I got a new pair of Ree.boks with some weird new technology that is supposed to help shape your calves and butt. They may help my calves which are great but I doubt they'll help my non-existent northern German butt. They'll take a bit of getting used to since they feel very different from a regular runner with flat soles. And of course the pair that fits my narrow thin feet best is a new style that wasn't on sale. Oh well, they'll be good for my feet and I have no 'shoe' excuse to use not to go walking. Now, to wait just one more week for the snow to finish melting and the weather to improve just a little more and I can get out there.
With the temp rise this morning I was confident in starting my progesterone supplements. I got the lovely effervescent Endometrin horse pills with applicator again. I got the Rx phoned in to my pharmacy instead of getting them at the clinic because my insurance plan covers most of the cost right up front. I hate paying and submitting receipts. I think I bumped my cervix with the applicator this morning, though, because there was a bit of pink spotting on the applicator when I pulled it out. It must be irritated from the IUI, still.
I did errands this morning. The line of credit is now in place. I'll never use all of it, ever! But it is ready for a big sperm purchase should that be necessary. We initially requested the credit for home renovations. But today we checked off the box saying it was just to have extra credit handy when necessary. I had a momentary desire to write "to purchase donor sperm" in the space for 'other' but I thought the bankers in TO might think I was nuts.
I popped over to the old health food store which was 1/2 a block from my old condo when I lived downtown. For some reason my new neighbourhood doesn't have one and we've got 100,000 people living here and in 5-7 years it will be 200,000. Serious gap in the market. But I digress. I finally got to see the expanded store. It took over the other side of the building it is in and the space that used to be a bar. Picked up my favourite organic oatmeal there. I've tried other stuff since moving and it just doesn't work as well for my insulin control as this stuff, even the slow cooking organic stuff. I bought 4 bags of it. ;-) And I picked up some local honey. I've been reading how locally produced honey can help you if you're having allergy issues. Hopefully this will work because my allergies have been driving me nuts lately.
Then I stopped off at a great French bakery on the way back to the car. I was thinking of picking up one thing but walked out with a dozen really good, fresh hot cross buns instead. Really tasty. I think I might run down there on a work day and pick up some more for the freezer. I then popped in to the mall, which I haven't been to in about a year. I stopped in at the G.ap to use a 20% off survey coupon. Everything in the store was 30% off today. Great deal, if you could actually find something tolerable and that fit. I was expecting to find things like khakis and walking shorts like they've had in past seasons. Nope. Honestly, their stuff just keeps getting crappier and crappier every year. Even the kids side was horrible. I was trying to find something to use the coupon on and there was nothing! I have a new niece and a new nephew to buy something for and I couldn't even find a decent sleeper or body stocking for them. Ridiculous. I ended up picking up a couple okay casual shirts that were already on sale and got the extra 30% off. They'll be good for running errands during our super humid summers.
I notice that the G.ap now doesn't just have shirts with massive arm holes but they make them even bigger and put a piece of fabric in there to try and cover that up with really bad results. Why can't they just make something that fits? I know I've got super skinny arms and a huge chest but really, should you be able to see half my bra under my arms? What happened to the use of the dart in women's clothing? That point was brought home when I went to Ban.ana Rep.ublic. I have a bunch of work stuff from there. Their pants are very reliable for me and I've purchase one or two pairs a year that now carry me through the cooler months. But even those were horrible today. I know for a fact that I haven't gained 20 pounds in the past few months otherwise nothing I own would fit. Why is the size 14 at BR, which always fits, so tiny now? They were squishing my non-existent butt and I could barely get them closed! Not to mention any of the shirts or dresses. They are cut for a cardboard figure. Really! Like many women, I have a chest. Maybe mine is larger than others but what is with fashion focused on cardboard cutouts? I put this stuff on and I can barely get it over my chest and when I do it squishes it so hard it flattens it and that's saying a lot since I'm a 36H. Not to mention the weird arm hole thing, oddly placed straps, super tiny hip areas (and I have super tiny hips for my height and size), and crappy fabric. I picked up 3 knit things because, at least with that, it fits over my chest, I don't have to worry about gaping arm holes, or things not fitting my tiny hips. I got two thinner long sleeved v-neck sweaters and a cardigan in fresh spring colours all 30% off. I'm so upset. I love BR stuff and would LOVE to have more of it in my closet, specifically new tops for work. But every time I go back the stuff just gets worse and worse.
The only purchase I was happy about today, other than the delicious hot cross buns, was my new runners. When I lived downtown I walked everywhere. It was great because exercise was part of my day. Since moving out to the burbs I've definitely cut back and I need to get back into it. I got a new pair of Ree.boks with some weird new technology that is supposed to help shape your calves and butt. They may help my calves which are great but I doubt they'll help my non-existent northern German butt. They'll take a bit of getting used to since they feel very different from a regular runner with flat soles. And of course the pair that fits my narrow thin feet best is a new style that wasn't on sale. Oh well, they'll be good for my feet and I have no 'shoe' excuse to use not to go walking. Now, to wait just one more week for the snow to finish melting and the weather to improve just a little more and I can get out there.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
CD8 - IUI #2 A Go This Month
Good news from me. The Dr. has given me the go ahead for another IUI. I start LH monitoring bloodwork this Tuesday. Nothing much to report from me on that front. It is a waiting game. Finally heard back from my Dr.'s secretary. She wants to see my new cycle info so I'll be sending that letter I drafted and copies of my crazy Dec and Jan cycles.
In other news ... I've been busy. I finally bought a dining set today. I knew what I was looking for and just couldn't find it. I realized that I can't just wait forever. It is okay to just get something that will work for 10 years. I'll eventually be getting a beautiful antique dining table at some point (1 of 2 my parents have) so really, did I want to spend $3000 on a dining set? No. I have no room for anything like that right now anyway. I saw something in a flyer a couple weeks ago but missed the sale. So I kept my eye open and saw the same company had a huge sale this weekend. I took the plunge. I bought a 7-piece set, dark brown wood, shaker style so it works with older and more modern decor. It isn't expandable, but I don't have room for that now. I am really looking forward to being able to eat breakfast and read the paper on the weekends. ;-) Delivery Friday.
In other, other news ... my sister is having a boy. My niece is sorely disappointed. She doesn't want a brother. Am I the only one who as a little girl wanted a brother? Can't be possible. My sister thought it was a boy and a friend of mine did too. The fight over names continues. My sister and BIL cannot agree. This is one thing I am very glad I don't have to deal with. The great thing for me is that if I get pg and have a girl I can get a ton of second hand stuff.
My mom spilled the beans to my sister. Not exactly what I wanted but I didn't really get much of a chance to say anything to her at Christmas. I didn't think it was appropriate to drop a bombshell like "hey, I'm busy buying sperm for IUI" when she came over to pick up my niece from our parents' place. That would be weird ... and awkward. My mom didn't know if she should say anything but when my sister said that she was trying to figure out what to do with all the girl clothing she had and who to give it to my mom told her not to get rid of it. My sister was a little surprised but apparently not weird about it. Although, she did say something really stupid along the lines of "I don't know why people like that don't just adopt." *sigh* I've suddenly become 'those kind of people'. lol My mom is great because she said to me "what's the difference ... why don't we expect people like her (i.e. my sister, the super fertile) to adopt first before having biological children?" Exactly. Just because I'm single, and I have PCOS doesn't mean that I MUST get rid of my desire to have one biological child. Oh, how easy it is for the super fertile to take this all for granted.
I've been a bit MIA from the blog and other things because I've been busy working on a new project. As much as I didn't want it to happen to me I got sucked into the craziness of the 2ww. Even the most logical and practical of us succumb. I came up with the brilliant idea of creating a positive thinking project: Reasons Why I Love My Life. Over the next 365 days, I will be posting a minimum of one thing or reason why I really like my life or what makes my life great. On a really good day I might post more than one. ;-) I'm hoping this will help me to focus on the positive even on those days when nothing seems to be going right and, more importantly, if I continue to have to go through further IUIs. I got everything up and running on Bl.ogger and Tw.itter yesterday and have begun to post. And I have to say that I have been in a fantastic mood since I decided to do this. I am under no illusions; this is going to be a big challenge, especially on difficult days. But like I said, I need to focus on something positive.
I don't believe my blog comes up in searches ... yet. My Tw.itter account should be searchable now but I've noticed that Tw.itter does some really weird things sometimes, i.e. dropping information you know you've updated. So who knows if I'll be searchable today.
If you are interested in following along please let me know and I can send the info to you. For the moment I'm keeping this blog separate from my project. But who knows, at some point I may link the two.
In other news ... I've been busy. I finally bought a dining set today. I knew what I was looking for and just couldn't find it. I realized that I can't just wait forever. It is okay to just get something that will work for 10 years. I'll eventually be getting a beautiful antique dining table at some point (1 of 2 my parents have) so really, did I want to spend $3000 on a dining set? No. I have no room for anything like that right now anyway. I saw something in a flyer a couple weeks ago but missed the sale. So I kept my eye open and saw the same company had a huge sale this weekend. I took the plunge. I bought a 7-piece set, dark brown wood, shaker style so it works with older and more modern decor. It isn't expandable, but I don't have room for that now. I am really looking forward to being able to eat breakfast and read the paper on the weekends. ;-) Delivery Friday.
In other, other news ... my sister is having a boy. My niece is sorely disappointed. She doesn't want a brother. Am I the only one who as a little girl wanted a brother? Can't be possible. My sister thought it was a boy and a friend of mine did too. The fight over names continues. My sister and BIL cannot agree. This is one thing I am very glad I don't have to deal with. The great thing for me is that if I get pg and have a girl I can get a ton of second hand stuff.
My mom spilled the beans to my sister. Not exactly what I wanted but I didn't really get much of a chance to say anything to her at Christmas. I didn't think it was appropriate to drop a bombshell like "hey, I'm busy buying sperm for IUI" when she came over to pick up my niece from our parents' place. That would be weird ... and awkward. My mom didn't know if she should say anything but when my sister said that she was trying to figure out what to do with all the girl clothing she had and who to give it to my mom told her not to get rid of it. My sister was a little surprised but apparently not weird about it. Although, she did say something really stupid along the lines of "I don't know why people like that don't just adopt." *sigh* I've suddenly become 'those kind of people'. lol My mom is great because she said to me "what's the difference ... why don't we expect people like her (i.e. my sister, the super fertile) to adopt first before having biological children?" Exactly. Just because I'm single, and I have PCOS doesn't mean that I MUST get rid of my desire to have one biological child. Oh, how easy it is for the super fertile to take this all for granted.
I've been a bit MIA from the blog and other things because I've been busy working on a new project. As much as I didn't want it to happen to me I got sucked into the craziness of the 2ww. Even the most logical and practical of us succumb. I came up with the brilliant idea of creating a positive thinking project: Reasons Why I Love My Life. Over the next 365 days, I will be posting a minimum of one thing or reason why I really like my life or what makes my life great. On a really good day I might post more than one. ;-) I'm hoping this will help me to focus on the positive even on those days when nothing seems to be going right and, more importantly, if I continue to have to go through further IUIs. I got everything up and running on Bl.ogger and Tw.itter yesterday and have begun to post. And I have to say that I have been in a fantastic mood since I decided to do this. I am under no illusions; this is going to be a big challenge, especially on difficult days. But like I said, I need to focus on something positive.
I don't believe my blog comes up in searches ... yet. My Tw.itter account should be searchable now but I've noticed that Tw.itter does some really weird things sometimes, i.e. dropping information you know you've updated. So who knows if I'll be searchable today.
If you are interested in following along please let me know and I can send the info to you. For the moment I'm keeping this blog separate from my project. But who knows, at some point I may link the two.
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