Categories
Trying To Conceive

Unwelcomed Guest: my morning’s highs & lows

I sat cautiously in my RE’s waiting room this morning listening for my name to be called then to be taken back to that familiar small room. Undressed from the waist down, I held my breath a bit as the ultrasound wand was inserted. By this point in our infertility journey, I too can read the baseline ultrasound & see full lining, my left ovary MIA, & my right ovary {the active one for cycle 21} still looking very active. There was a large blob in the center with three smaller cysts? on its left. The tech had me get dressed while she tried to find a doctor. The doctors were all busy, so she suggested I get blood work done to rules things out. Things meaning pregnacy &/or cysts. My emotions of possible elelation & sadness held in check because I didn’t know.

I sat with hands out for the blood work nurse. My heart raced as she poked & proded my veins. I regretted not drinking all my water bottle on the way over as I saw my blood very slowly dripping out. Next thing I saw were spots then stars. I heard voices, but they sounded very far away as I’m told I’m pale. Then loud voices were telling me to put my head between my knees after I announced I might throw up. A few minutes later {I can’t be sure how long}, I’m slowly walked & layed down in an empty exam room, given cool cloths & juice to keep the sweat & shakes at bay.

All I could say & think was I’m sorry & so embarrassed as the time ticked by. Finally, I felt ok enough to sit up then I leaned over to text my husband & coworkers that I’m going to be even later. I made it to work but still felt slightly shaky. Time, more water & lunch out with coworkers left me finally feeling almost like myself.

Except that I knew a phone call that would change my day awaited. That phone call just arrived. Sweet Megan advised me that while that the pregnancy test was negative, my estrogen & progesterone levels were very normal for the beginning of a new cycle.  This is what I expected. I’d even gone so far to think if the pregnancy test was negative then hopefully the other levels were fine {if not then cycle 22 would be another bust}.

With a sad, but once again hopeful, heart I will begin taking those powerful little pills tomorrow night. My unwelcomed guest, AF, & her cycle 22 has arrived.

Categories
Everything Else Travel

Saved My Feet

We roomies knew going into BlogHer that conferences meant learning, growing, & having lots of fun. They also meant lots of standing of your feet & a lot of walking. Oh so true.

We soon made it our quest to have cute, comfortable post-party flats. Enter After Flats. We talked as a group of four bloggers with different backgrounds & blog focuses & friends, how great it would be to not only have After Flats for ourselves but to also be able to share them with our bloggy friends.

Miranda & I met with the owner of After Flats Thursday midmorning. While After Flats is a relatively new company, I was impressed with his enthusiasm & willingness to work with us. We picked up business cards & 24 pairs; gold ones for the four roomies & 20 red pairs to give to preselected {so we’d have the right sizes} friends.

After walking three miles in heels Thursday, I was loving my After Flats. Heck all four of us roomies were. Over & over all weekend long, it was so fun to see out bloggy friends sporting their new After Flats. Fadra slipped them on during Social Soiree, Linz & Krystal wearing theirs after People’s Party, & here I am wearing them & carrying my shoenicorns in their clutch-turned-shoe-holder-bag Saturday night. After using them three nights straight, mine are still in great condition & ready to be used at my brother’s wedding if not before! If you’re interested, visit After Flats website, facebook & twitter.

After Flats

Disclosure: After Flats gave us pairs of shoes for our & our friends’ use. While I agreed to discuss my receiving of them, my thoughts & opinions are honest & truely my own.

Categories
Everything Else Travel

Arrival as BlogHer Newbie

Things just work out perfectly sometimes. Miranda‘s flight into San Diego was delayed while mine arrived early. Katie‘s was on time. We met up with hugs & squees as we dragged our luggage to the taxi line. $15 split three ways later, we’d arrived at the San Diego Marriott. We grabbed room keys, dropped off our luggage then headed out by the pool. BlogHer11 Wednesday NightWhile I have done little outside this summer in NC {besides sweat}, San Diego has the perfect hanging-out outside weather. Wednesday night they had the fire pits burning if that tells you anything. Miranda & I enjoyed a glass of wine. We met Jill, Jen & Kit, & took silly photos with Molly. I crashed with new found friends Kate, Jen & Alissa.

After Alissa & I’s first BlogHer night, Kate asked what we thought. Alissa said it reminded her of sorority recruitment & as I think back & compare the two, I couldn’t agree more. It’s trying your best to look cute but also kind of laid back & comfortable, days of being “on” all the time, & wanting others to like you & you them.

As that set of roommates left to work out, I met Diana & found our room. Miranda joined me there before we left to feast on the P&G sponsored breakfast of fresh fruit & muffins. Alena found us just in time to listen to Gretchen Rubin from The Happiness Project. My how-to-be happy notes: make your bed & keep clutter to a minimum & fake it til you make it.

My P&G hair appointment was at 1030. Before was my normal mousse & go Suz. I love the 20 minutes later curling iron’d Suz {which lasted all day & night long}. Alena’s hair was styled a little later & Miranda had her make-up done.

Alena, Miranda & I had planned to grab lunch outside of the hotel, but when we ran into a crowd of e-friends enjoying drinks on the pool side couches we could help but join in. My margarita & fish tacos were awesome!Time flies by surrounded by these amazing women. After a quick change, Krystal & I walked over to the Dragon’s Den for the Haute Green party. We were joined by BA, Jamie, Jill & Diana, Katie & Morgan as well. Swag included momma cloth, wipes & eight cloth diapers – I have built quite the pre-baby stash!!

Haute Green & Big Toy Sweet Suite PartiesI missed my Big Toy Book Sweet Suite time {thank goodness I quickly learned that party appointments are pretty flexible}, so I walked with BA around the Padres stadium to the Hard Rock Hotel. Welcome to toy overload! I played with a few toys, made a bracelet, enjoyed champagne, Pinkberry, & cupcakes before leaving with a mega swag bag full of games & toys. {bottom left photo from Mandy}

Some brave ladies & I walked over to the Babeland Toy Mixer. Different toys from my previous party. Loved hanging out with Eileen, Jen & Kit here too. Still laughing out loud at my TMI swag mistake.Social Soiree & Babeland Parties BlogHer11We all walked together over to the New Children’s museum for the Social Soiree party. All the roomies were together here for the first time. I had a quick class of wine & sent a few postcards home before grabbing the fabulous pink Scout swag bag & heading back to the hotel.

Everyone {yes, it seemed like everyone} went to party with the Clever Girls. Diana & I are Clever but never made it off the waiting list. Instead we had our own party at the Goin’ Coconuts 3M sponsored party at Roy’s. Diana & I stuffed ourselves with skewered chicken & shrimp, lobster-filled gnocchi, signature cocktails {& in her case mocktails}.Goin' Coconuts Party BlogHer11BlogHer sponsored People’s party was almost over when we finished chatting & walked over. Where I met Suzanne & then with Morgan & Linz, I was able to meet Jenny aka the Bloggess. After the party, I laughed over Miranda’s Clever Girls characture & couldn’t resist another photo with Ree. M & I then walked into the Queerosphere party next door just to talk to Katie, Nichole & Natalie. Add wine & infertility discussions meant sweet Nichole & I are crying & hugging. People's PartyCan you believe this is just one day of awesomeness & BlogHer officially hadn’t even started?!

Categories
Everything Else Travel

Overwhelmed

That’s how I’m feeling when I think of starting after-BlogHer posts. Overwhelmed. I’m slowly getting over the post-BlogHer exhaustion {its kinda like the day after Christmas exhaustion} aka BlogHer11 Hangover that has more to do with flight delays & 3am arrivals, chapped lips & man-voices than the wine, margaritas, & bud lights I downed.

I downloaded the 483 photos last night, & there are so many good ones capturing wonderful memories! I also unpacked my 50 pound swag suitcase with Jason last night. 

I’d planned to divide the conference into three post {parties/swag, location/sessions, & people}. But my photos are divided by day as are my memories of that day’s people & events. I’m hoping to be able to work on the Wed/Thursday post tonight. Stay tuned!

Categories
Photography

30 Weeks Into Project 365

Even though I’m still out of town, I didn’t want to miss out on my weekly project 365! So from Wednesday’s photos on, these are unedited, SOOC pics!

Day 211: Four hours of laying out in 100 degree sun, meant 1/2 a sub, Gatorade, & ice cream was the dinner menu.

Day 212: Sunday I began really putting my BlogHer packing plans into action. That included my bloggy business cards {designed by Jumping Jax Designs} as I tried to decide whether or not to use my scrapbooking corner rounder on 200+ cards. {I decided I liked them better as is. My fingers thank me.}

Day 213: My Bible study group didn’t want to get super involved in a study this summer. But after one of the ladies read Same Kind of Different as Me, she emailed us to see if we’d want to read & discuss it as a group. Monday night was our first gathering.

Day 214: I worked late Tuesday {making up time for leaving early Wed} then rushed off to get a manicure/pedicure. I’ve been loving my Essie Cute as a Button so much that I brought it to the salon for them to use. Very happy with the results. Essie Cute As a Button

Day 215: There’s something to be said about the excitement that comes with traveling by air alone. I do it so infrequently that it’s a rarity that brings about so much excitement for me! Trying to calm by internal BLOGHER woohoos by reading Mockingjay.

Day 216: Thursday day was spent with lunch & margaritas pool side at the hotel. Yay roomie Alena!

Day 217: After breakfast Miranda & I wandered around the Expo hall. Me at Sesame Street.

I took over 450 photos while in San Diego, so look for more photo posts to come this week!