Days come and go

It's hard to believe almost a month has passed since my last post. Didn't I also mention that I'd get better at this bloggin' thing and post more often? Well, I guess I still need to work on that. Things have been quite chaotic in the Wilson household...we just took all of our tax info to our tax accountant Friday and we are praying it's a good outcome. We should know by the end of the week if we're going to be celebrating or having a down-in-the-dumps weekend. I'm hoping and praying it's good--we have a lot riding on this. This is a quick post, but I'll be back soon.

Designing this blog

I follow several blogs, and have recently really gotten into the whole blogging thing. I see so many cool and creatively designed blogs and am trying to figure out how they do it! The designs are cute and they have a lot of widgets (I think that's what they are called) linking to other blogs and other miscellaneous items. Then I go and look at mine...I have a lot of work to do! It'll get spiffy'd up soon, I promise. Once this weekend is over, I'll have more time to tackle my "to-do" list which seems to be accumulating A LOT of items! Ok. that's all I have time for now, but I also promise to keep up blogging and to blog more often!

Another month's come and gone

Holy shmokes! I can't believe my last post was a month ago! Where does time fly?!?!? Between working, studying, classes, and trying to live life, January sure zipped on by. I've been really getting into the whole blogging thing--obviously not my own, but finding others and reading them. It's quite intriguing what others have to say and you find comfort in knowing they're going through or have gone through what you are currently going through. Not many know, not many will ever know, and not many ever go through it. Nuff said.

This weekend is the Superbowl...hmm...who am I rooting for? I guess Green Bay, just so they can have the chance to prove themselves with Favre not there and carrying them for so long. Pittsburg is..well...putting it nicely, I don't like them. I am most looking forward to the commercials. Usually we are at a Superbowl party and miss the commercials due to chatting, the volume muted and so forth, so this year we decided to stay home. In the comfort of our own home we can watch the game in our PJ's, drink, eat whatever and whenever we want and not have to worry about getting home.

Infertility Pet Peeves

I once saw this from someone else's blog and thought this was great...so here it goes!

1. You have some catching up to do. A woman struck up a conversation with me at a party with the all-time favorite question "Do you have children?" When I said no, I got the follow-up question "How long have you been married?" When I said 10 years, she looked dumbfounded. Then she said, "Well, you have some catching up to do." Yep, you're right. Would you like to pay for my next IVF cycle?

2. Others' family planning. I have a friend who told me "I'm going to get pregnant in the next month or two so I can have the baby before our trip to Disney World next year." Oh. How nice you can plan it like that. And, it actually WORKED.

3. Look on the bright side. Don't you just hate people who say this? Not just for infertility, for anything. I know I have a lot to be thankful for, and I am. Instead of being Little Miss Sunshine, why don't you just stick it where the sun don't shine?

4. Everything happens for a reason. Also known as "whatever is meant to be will be." If there is one thing I have learned, it is that most everything does not happen for a reason. I believe that bad stuff happens to good people for no good reason at all. I believe that there is no good reason for our infertility troubles. It is our responsibility to deal with these challenges and we're learning a lot in the process, but I don't believe it is for any particular reason. And I refuse to surrender to "whatever is meant to be" when I can fight as hard as I can to make my dream become my reality.

5. Backhanded compliments. "You're house is so clean! It must be easy since you don't have kids." Or "You're so skinny…but you haven't had kids yet." Thanks ... wait a minute ... are you implying that if I had kids I would be a fat slob?

6. You should adopt. This might seem like the most obvious solution in the world; however, adoption is a very complex, individual decision. Most people don't just wake up and say "Adoption! Why didn't I think of that? Let's go adopt today." I guarantee that every person who has experienced infertility has thought about adoption, but it's not the right answer for everyone. Nor is it easy. I have had several friends who have had wonderful experiences with adoption. I have also had friends who have bonded with a baby when the birth mother changes her mind and takes the baby back. I've had friends spend nearly $100,000 in adoption costs. Trust me, it's complicated. There is no cookie-cutter solution for infertility.

7. Quit your job and you'll get pregnant. Maybe this would work, but I don't have the luxury to find out. I've got to pay for those fertility treatments so I don't really have a choice, do I? And then there's the time someone told me to get pregnant so I could quit my stressful job.

8. I know how you feel. If you are going to say this, you had darn well better know how I feel. When someone truly does, it is incredibly validating and comforting. When someone doesn't, it's just insulting. If you have not been through a gamut of painful medical tests that violate your privacy, or experienced weight gain, hair loss, acne, or mood swings because of fertility drugs, if you have not had to give yourself daily shots in the stomach, if you have not drained your bank account to pay for treatments that don't work, if you have not put your life on hold for years waiting for something to happen, then you cannot possibly know how I feel.

9. God has a plan for you. This statement is back-loaded and complex. I was raised in a very religious home, so it makes me feel disloyal to argue with this. But what about my plans for me? Aren't they important?

10. Just relax, and it will happen. Also known as "be positive!" I cannot express enough loathing for these comments. For the record, we did try this—the whole first year we tried to conceive. At that time, I wasn't worried because I was certain we would get pregnant, and we were three years younger then, so our chances would have been better. However, you can help me feel a little more positive if you come closer so I can kick you in the shins.

Almost Halloween

So the end of October is almost here. Wow, how time has been flying by! So much has happened since the last post and I don't even know where to begin. We are still waiting for word from the bank regarding the sale...they rejected the first buyers' offer because it was $5,000 less than the appraised value. Seriously?!?!? #($*&(#$% $5,000.00? Whatever! So they walked away and cancelled their offer. Thanks to the hard work of our realtor, we had a second offer the next day and that was for $10,000 over the appraisal value, so we have hopes. Apparently their system had some red flags on our account and immediately decline it..they are trying to work out the kinks to get our file back on track. Either way, we are hoping to have word before the end of this month.

I'm having surgery next Thursday, November 5th and for privacy I'm not stating what for. It will be a 1-2 hour surgery in outpatient, so I'll go home the same day. I'm a little nervous, only because I've never had surgery before, let alone broken a single bone (knock on wood) Of course my parents and in-laws asking "How you doing", "Nervous yet" isn't helping. I'll post afterwards how the surgery went and I am sure it'll go just fine. :)

Layouts and Babies

I was looking at my blog and others' as well, and realized theirs are sooo good! They have all kinds of backgrounds and fonts and options. I guess I need to take the time to make it better and updated. :) Most likely I won't.

I finally brought in a trio picture frame for my office at work--I know, I know it's been seven months and no pictures! So I printed these off and put in my frames: The top left one is our niece, Ava who is 3 1/2 and a spitting image of her mom and dad! She is so outgoing and full of fire! Watch out boys, she's a handful! The right is Ava's sister, Campbell who is 10 months. She is just like her dad---carefree and just goes with the flow. No one can make Campbell light up and laugh like Ava. They are hilarious together!

Of course, whenever we spend time with them it makes us long for our own kids and everyone asks, "So when are you having kids?" There is nothing I hate more than that question. It's none of their business! We'll have kids when we have kids. Especially for couples who have been trying for months or even years, and are seeking fertility treatment, and are constantly reminded that they don't have kids. Not every couple will have kids. So, if you see a married couple, or you have friends that are married. Don't ask when they are having kids as they will most likely be annoyed by it.

That long?

Wow, hard to believe it's been so long since my last post! It seems like just last week. Things have been chaotic between good news and bad news and no news at all. Atleast we got one thing checked off our list--the tenants have been formally evicted. They were locked out by the Sherriffs last week. Thank god! Now, on to that condo! Our realtor is going over this week and will assess the damages and condition it's in. I hope it's not too bad as we're at the point where we aren't spending a dime on the place.

More cheerful news: Amy and Eric were in town this past Labor Day weekend. Amy and I spent the entire day together Saturday talking and catching up. It was great to have that girl time. Looking back, I wonder what we talked about for sooo long! It was awesome. We then all met up with some of their friends whom we met at their wedding last year, at German bar in Seattle. They served beer in boots. When the beer starts to get low, you have to turn it while drinking, otherwise the bubbles from the toe will come up and woosh! So does the beer. Since I'm not a beer drinker, I was trying the beer. Of course, on our second boot, and second time around, it wooshes up on Amy. Me being a dimwit isn't paying attention and I go to get a drink. Woosh! It wasn't that bad..just a little dribble down my chin :)