A few Layouts

It's been awhile since I shared some layouts, so I thought I would share a few. These are two that I taught last weekend at a retreat. I am pretty happy with the way they turned out. The weekend was about proving that I am still alive and well in the scrapping world. More on that at a later date!

So, here they are:

We have a plan... we think!

After waiting over an hour, we finally met with the RE on Friday.  We talked about the options and he really feels that the most aggressive route would be the laparoscopy  and hysteroscopy.  We could also repeat the e-tegrity test using a mock FET protocol to see if it was the clomid that affected the results, but in the end we may need to consider the surgery.  He feels that there is a 70% chance that I do in fact have endo.  Gee... why hasn't anyone else looked into this?  UGH!  He also feels that we should do our final IVF as soon as possible after the surgery.  The studies have shown that IVF is most successful with endo patients right away... considering the concept that the endo is "gone" right after the surgery.  He said that I would be on bcp's for the three weeks after the surgery and then we would start the IVF.
 
DH and I had a long talk on the way to the RE's office.  Both of us are considering if enough is enough.  Chris is also ready to look into adoption, and I think that will be the next avenue we pursue.  In talking last night, we both feel that we "started" things with the e-tegrity test and would like to see it through.  So, I think we are going to go ahead with the surgery, pray that there is in fact endo, and do the final IVF.  I think we can both feel that we have done all that we are comfortable with once we have done that.  The RE did bring up surrogacy, and it is something that we will consider down the road.   He feels we are good candidates for that due to the fact that I always seem to have beautiful embryos.  It's something we will consider at some point.
 
I am hoping to schedule surgery for the Monday before Thanksgiving.  That way I only have to miss one instructional day with the kiddos and one day of conferences.  The RE seems to think that I could be back to work in a matter of days... but I think I will play it safe with a week.  So we'll see.  I am terrified of surgery... but it can't be much worse that everything else I have endured, right?

Quick update

Quick update…

Biopsy came back negative… which is not good in this case.  However, we finally have some kind of an answer to our struggle.  We are meeting with the RE on Friday to discuss our options.  Won’t go into much detail, but I am so frustrated that this test was not done 5 years ago.  All the time and money wasted.  I could just scream!

Another Busy Week

It’s been a busy week!  I have not been a good blogger this week!

Biopsy is over.  Not something I ever want to repeat, but I hope that it will give us some answers.  Had a great time driving to what felt like the other side of the state!  We did stop and get some Jamba Juice on the way home.  I sure wish we had those up here!

We also went to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner that night.  It was the kick-off celebration for the YMCA Annual Campaign.  The campaign provides scholarships for families who would be unable to afford activities at the Y.  I encourage you to support your local YMCA!  Chris donates a portion from every check to this campaign because we really believe in the YMCA mission!

On the scrapping front, I was excited to find out that one of my layouts was chosen as layout of the day at the Scrapbook Playground!  You can see it here:  http://scrapbookplayground.com/pp331/showphoto.php?photo=7578&password=&sort=7&thecat=500
I have rediscovered this site and am loving everything!  It is a very friendly community.  They are also hosing another great contest.  Be sure to check it out!

I have several scrapping projects to finish up this weekend.  I am so thankful to have Monday off!  Chris is heading to a golf outing this morning.  It is rather chilly… and he doesn’t golf!  It’s a social activity for all of the swim team dads, so he has to go, right?  I think it just an excuse to hang out with some men.  But that’s fine by me.

I will be heading over to my aunt’s this afternoon.  They are having an open house for my cousin and her fiancé.  They just got engaged a few weeks ago.  Andy is active military and will be heading to Iraq soon, so my aunt and uncle had to throw together something quickly.  Kristen and Andy stopped by yesterday to see Chris and I.  It was fun hanging out with some “youngsters”

Better get something done!

Biopsy Today

So the biopsy is set for today.  It’s really strange.  We’ve been waiting to “finish” this last test since June and here it is.  I am nervous.  The last few procedures have ended up pretty painful.  Praying that this one won’t be.  We have to head to Naperville… Lord knows how long that will take us to get there.  I am so thankful that Chris will be going with me.  I couldn’t imagine doing it without him.  He reminds me that we are in this TOGETHER.  

I had to take a pregnancy test this morning before we go.  Seems strange to me… but they have to make sure that I am not pregnant.  After 5+ years of all of this you would think I would get over taking these darn tests.  There is a crazy little part of my brain that hopes I will see two lines.  Now the remainder, more “sane”, part of my brain knows how ridiculous that really is.  Just one line.

I have been tired the past few days.  Of course the hangover yesterday didn’t help much!  Yes, I know that I shouldn’t be drinking.  Don’t go there.  It was one of my closest friend’s birthday and it felt good to just let loose.  Some of my closest friends were there too… Chris and I had a great time.  I am so very lucky to work with such amazing women.  One of the reasons I stay at my school is because of the people.  

Romeo is going through another rotten phase lately.  He has been destructive again… he ate Chris’ hat from Hershey’s.  Chris was not a happy camper.  Whenever I am home alone with Romeo, he just doesn’t listen.  He listens so much more to Chris.  That’s the odd part… I spend so much more time with him.  I feed him.  I let him out.  I buy his treats.  Darn dog!  He really needs to get into an obedience class.  Just have to find the time.  I am a little afraid to take him by myself, but there is just no way Chris can fit it into his schedule.  

I will be teaching at a weekend retreat October 22nd.  It is an amazing weekend that Karolyn and Laura put together.  You can find out all about them at http://www.layitoutloud.com I will be doing two layout classes using Basic Grey- one with Skate Shoppe and another with Fusion.  Still working on the final details of the layout design.  If you are in the area, I highly recommend stopping in Lake Geneva for the scrapfair and classes!

10 Quirky Facts about Me

10 Quirky Facts about Me…

Inspired by a challenge on the Two Peas Board.  Thought I would jump in on it!

1. I have issues with textured food.  Can’t do tapioca pudding or small curd cottage cheese.  Forget rice pudding or couscous.


2. My middle name is Anne… I always thought that was funny since I have such an unusual first name.  I went by “Pati” for about 6 weeks in middle school.  Just didn’t fit!


3. I LOVE pens and pencils.  I could get lost in Office Max or Staples.  Luckily I have some good friends who share my passion.  Last year my good friend Bridget gave me an entire bag of office supplies.  I LOVED it!


4. I can’t watch scary movies.  AT ALL.  I end up having nightmares and flashbacks to the movie.  My DH has gotten used to this and understands.  He even warns me when a show might get too scary for me.  


5. Sometimes I have to look at my hands to tell Right from Left… (Your left hand makes an L.)  Just something that never really stuck in my head.  High IQ- no common sense sometimes!


6. I could get lost in a paper bag.  My sense of direction is NIL.  My mom always tells me to think about which way the Lake is… not really sure how that is supposed to help.  If I can’t see it, it won’t work.  I also hate when people give me directions and tell me to go “East.”  Tell me right or left, people!  


7. I am a bonafide geek.  I love learning new things and reading.  I am an information junkie.  When something happens in my life, I deal with it by gathering as much information as I can.  Makes DH crazy!


8. I am guilty of letting the dogs sleep in the bed with us.  I know it is not the right thing to do.  Yet, I can’t help looking at their puppy eyes and giving in!


9. I can’t swim.  Now this is the funny part… DH is a swim coach!  I have spent most of the past 10 years at swimming pools.  Yet, I have never learned to swim myself.  I can critique stroke and am even a level 1 official.  I couldn’t swim the 25 free if my life depended on it.


10. I love shoes… it really is a problem.  HOWEVER, the first thing I do when I get home is take them off.  Can’t stand having shoes on.  I guess they are just for show?

Friday

Friday

I really love Fridays.  Of course I could have really done without the all day in-service meetings.  Whose bright idea was it to have training on a Friday?  Teachers really make the worst students.  I really have no attention span when it comes to sitting through meetings and presentations.  I also get frustrated when the presenter gives information we already have or that doesn’t pertain to anything that I do day to day.  I really hate being preached to by someone who has not been in the classroom in the last decade.  Oh well… Gotta love it!

My egg timer finally went off… so to speak.  I had a mature follicle yesterday, but they weren’t sure if I would ovulate on my own.  I had to drive into the office this afternoon to get an HCG injection.  We also finally scheduled my biopsy for Tuesday October 4th.  The only draw back is the fact that we will have to drive to Naperville.  Yuck!  Hopefully it won’t be as bad as I am expecting it to be.

I am hoping to get some scrap time this weekend.  I have to help Chris with a swim meet tomorrow.  There goes my beloved quiet Saturday morning. (  It will be nice to see some of our old swimmers. I am hoping to have the afternoon for ME since Chris is doing CPR training in the afternoon.  I would really like to get some more of my projects done.  One of my co-workers had knee replacement surgery on Thursday.  I want to put together a paper bag book with pictures of everyone on our team with a note.  She was adamant that she didn’t want flowers at all.  She is a great lady, so I really want to do something special.  I am hoping to get the book done so all I have to do is take photos and print them out next week.  She should be home from the hospital by the end of the week and I would love to have it there waiting for her.  

One of the presenters today really struck a nerve with me.  He kept telling us to think of our children, as a parent, etc… I think I might just be really sensitive right now but I really feel that people should be a little more sensitive with this.  Some of you might think I am being ridiculous.  However, you wouldn’t go on and on about other topics- But people will go on and on about their children.  Or ask if you have kids.  When they find out you have been married for almost 10 years, they ask WHY you don’t have kids yet.  Don’t you want kids?  Sometimes I just really want to scream… YES I WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN!  I DON’T KNOW WHY WE DON’T HAVE KIDS YET.  NEITHER DO THE DOCTORS.  But most of the time I am just polite about it and just explain that we have been busy with our careers and other people’s children.  So here is my soap box for the day… Don’t ask every new person you meet if they have kids.  You just don’t know what the situation might be.  And if you do ask and they say no… DON’T ASK WHY NOT?  Please.  Please. Please.  End of soap box.

I have been working out three times a week.  Have to head to the YMCA a little later to meet Chris for our Friday workout.  Of course I have started to GAIN weight… but everyone tells me that is normal.  So I better stop sitting here at the computer and go do something!  (