Valentine's Day

Today was Valentine's Day. It was also another important day for us too-- baby check up at the doctor office! It was a great day! It was a beautiful, sunny day- the temp made it to about 60 degrees and it was a perfect day for running around town!
My day started off with my hubby waking me up with a sweet, sweet card and a dozen red roses. I then went on to see Dr. M. My sister met me there (Eric had to work and wasn't able to come). She was so excited! She got to hear the heartbeat of little Baby "S." Her face lit up! We recorded it on my phone so Daddy could hear it later on. Strong beat of 150's. My blood pressure and weight was right on track where it should be too. Everything checked out well, so we wait another 4 weeks for the next BIG appointment! This will be the big ultrasound to find out if our little blessing is a boy or girl! We are so excited and anxious! We plan on having a gender revealment party where our close friends and family can celebrate with us in the the excitement!
After the doctor, my sis and I headed out towards U of M to grab some lunch. I had been saying for a while I wanted to eat at this place called the Chinese Sub Shop. I use to eat there quite a bit when I was in school- but haven't been back since I graduated nearly 5 years ago! It was so yummy and brought back some great memories too! :) We then wasted a little time and did some running in and out of different shops- some baby shops ;) It was proabably a good thing that I don't know the sex yet, otherwise, I may have been broke today after browsing a shop called 'Cotton Tails.' We were killing time so I could head to Muddy's Bake Shop to pick up my pre-ordered cupcakes for dessert tonight. I came on home finally and Eric and I cooked some delicious steaks on the grill. I made homemade garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. I set our kitchen table all nice. My flowers were in the middle with 2 candlesticks on each side. I even pulled out the fine china! It was a fun evening inside, not having to fight crowds at some restraunt.
Moving on....With today being Valentine's Day and everyone talking about love; I couldn't help but think of the love, the unconditional love that our Lord has for us. In my quiet time today, I did some reading in 1 Corinthians, chapter 13- the love chapter. I thought it was appropiate. It got me thinking... not only am I so thankful today for the amazing man God gave me and the marriage we share, thankful for the sweet gift of a baby and the amazing sound of it's heartbeat today, but mostly thankful for the gift of love that God gave us when he sent his son, Jesus as a sacrifice. That's the best love gift ever! Such a sweet reminder- and one I need daily!

We're PREGNANT!

Well, I figured I'd go ahead and make it blog official since I made it facebook official just about an hour ago. :) YES--- we are pregnant! After many, many months, heartache, tears, prayers, doctor visits, medications and an IUI procedure later... we are going to be parents!!!! We are beyond thrilled and so incredibly blessed. We have been to the doctor multiple times to be sure everything checks out good and that Baby "S" is growing as s/he shou;d... we've checked out all good and follow up again in a couple of more weeks. I have been feeling ok... VERY tired, nauseated quite a bit (at all times during the day/night), had some crazy cravings for orange juice ALL the time and my sense of smell has definitely heightened, unfortunately...lol
More details to come later... thank you all for sharing in this journey with us- continue to read as I am going to do my best as keeping this up to date. :)

Christmas 2012

Yes, it's late- as always, but not quite as bad as last year (post was like in June or something) Ha! But better late than never...

This year was different, as every year always be. We decided we would have our families over to our house for a Christmas get together... everyone- even though we don't have large families. I had to work Christmas Day again this year, so we knew we would have to celebrate another day. On the 22nd, we went to my Aunt and Uncle's house to fellowship with them. We had finger type foods, as we always do- we did a name exchange too for the first time. Normally, we only bought for the "kids", but decided this year everyone would exchange a gift with the name you got. It was different than our "normal" and fun too. It's always nice to see them and hang out- we don't do it often throughout the year... I know we should truly cherish those moments and try harder to have those "get togethers."

On the 23rd Eric's family got to town and we had everyone over for dinner and presents at our house (first time in our first new home together). We again had more finger foods, a change from our normal. We normally do the full out 10 course menu :) I kind of missed it a little, but it was a nice change... and we had a lot more foods than the night before :) We ate and fellowshiped, then opened our gifts. We too drew names this year and put a limit on what we spent. It was really better that way... we always would buy and spend way too much on everyone, when we all really don't NEED anything. It was nice- we will probably do it again. Eric's parents and brother stayed the night. I got up early and fixed my mom's traditional breakfast casserole (my new tradition now that I am growing up) :) along with a new recepie, cinnamon roll cake, They were super yummy! We just hung out most of the morning and afternoon and went to grab some pizza for a late lunch/early dinner before Christmas Eve service. We went to our church's service, which was very nice. His parents came and then they left to head back home.

I worked Christmas Day, but got to leave at 1! I came home and napped for a couple of hours... it was so stinkin' cold and rainy/sleeting outside- it was a perfect day to curl up on the couch! We then packed up and headed to my parents for an un-typical Christmas dinner of pork tenderloin. My Granny and Uncle Mike came over too- dinner was great and it was a nice change, once again. We all just hung out, low-key and then watched our traditional Christmas movie- Christmas Vacation!

We had a great Christmas! We are so blessed with such great family and friends- we can't wait til next Christmas... we will have the most precious gift we could ever recieve... watch for next post! :)

Here's a few pics of our Christmas holiday...

                    Me with my Granny and Uncle Mike

                                                                       Our families all together

                      My sweet family... so glad to have my dad home and doing well this holiday season!

                                       My sweet little Bell Bell 

                                    Bella loves her Mama and Aunt Kris

                                     Me and my Lovey

                                              Outside our front door

 Our little Christmas tree--- Can't wait til next year- we got a bigger one on sale day after Christmas! :)

Anxiously Awaiting

So, I know many of you have been following this blog and our infertility journey. I did this as a way of being open and sharing our journey with those who care most for us, without having to always talk about it. I did it to one day look back on and remember everything we went through to have a child of our own. I did it for myself as a way of expressing emotions and feelings when I felt nothing else could help me cope. I did it as a witnessing tool to those who may read this and pray they see God's light shining through me and my husband, even in such a difficult time of life. For now though... the blog is on hold.

As many of you know, 2 weeks ago tomorrow, we did the IUI procedure. I was instructed by my doctor to wait 2 weeks to take a home pregnancy test. It hasn't really been that long of a wait, considering I've been waiting 17 months now... until today really. It hit me-- this could be it. It may not be. Who knows--- only God. So, tomorrow I will take a test. Good news or bad news I have decided to wait to post any news until the beginning of the year. My "bad news" would be so dis-heartening and disappointing, but I have come to the realization that in due time, Eric and I will have a baby and begin to expand our family. God's plan is so much more perfect than ours. (I have seen this multiple times throughout my life) We must continue to just be obedient and faithful to Him and His Word.
So... for now- I'll make you wait. Stay tuned to our journey in 2013 and for "hopeful progress" as we continue to walk this path...
Thank you all for your love, support, care, concern, prayers and hugs! They mean so much!

Gobble, Gobble

This Thanksgiving was spent quickly with each of our families. I worked through Wednesday, so we made to my parents Thursday afternoon for an early lunch. We ha a mini photoshoot in Dad's beautiful fall backyard and then came in for some desserts before we headed to MO town for the night.
We traveled to Eric's parents early that evening to spend some time with them and his brother. We didn't really have a sit down dinner because they had eaten some before we got there. So later on in the night when we got hungry again, we nibbled on some pieces of deep fried turkey, courtesy of Ryan.
We got to sleep in (finally!) then got ready to head about an hour away to Poplar Bluff, Mo to see his grandmother in the nursing home. We saw her and did just a tiny bit of shopping, but nothing too serious! ;)
Then we packed up and headed home because Eric works Saturday. And I'm anxiously ready to get my tree up!!!

Here are a few of our pics from thanksgiving with my family and then a sweet one of Eric and his grandmother.

Answered Prayer

Just wanted to share a huge blessing that I received...

Back on Wednesday, the day we did IUI, I had an un-expectant answered prayer. I know this was totally from God and of God. I had been praying for quite some time for this "thing" (I'll call it)--- and late that evening, Bam! It was answered.
I don't know if this was God's reason to us not being able to get pregnant and now maybe that things are "falling into place" more (so to say), maybe the time is near. I don't know. I do know however, that my God is a Sovereign God, a Holy God, faithful to answer prayers (in due time, sometimes) and a giving, loving and protective God. And I will continue to be prayerful and know that HE is in control of it all!

It is done

Today has now come and gone. This is all happening so much quicker than I imagined. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled that it is. It's just been a rollercoaster. Constant doctor phone calls, medicines on this day, shots on this day at this time and appointments on this day... I just wish everything wasn't so scheduled. But...

We got to the doctor's office a little before 1pm today- Eric had to give his sperm and then we had to wait about an hour for them to clean it. (I know that sounds crazy, but this is how they can tell what percentage is motile and how many were produced. Luckily, my husband passed! :) And whenever he reads this, he is probably going to stroke for me posting about it! Ha- but that's part of the whole experience. We left, went and had lunch and came back an hour later. We then were called back to the room where the nurse explained everything she would do. I got up on the cold, uncomfortable table and I was so scared and emotional. The procedure itself was basically like a pap smear- she found my cervix, then inserted a small catheter with the sperm and injected. Eric stood at my head the whole time and was very supportive and encouraging during and thereafter as well. We had to wait ahout 20 minutes afterwards, where she tilted my pelvis up some. I got dressed and walked out.
Our doc called us on the way home just to tell us good luck. We didn't see him in the office and so he called to say that and that he wished us the best with this (which says A LOT for a doctor). He said he really thinks this is going to work for us because of how the sperm count came back and the how high the rates are for people like us. He said he was really hoping he wouldn't have to see us back again--- I am really hoping so too!
Now we wait... how perfect would a Christmas pregnancy be? Still not getting my hopes up by any means-- I've had people tell me how long this wait would be- but really, it's no different than any other month. I have been disappointed month after month for more than a year... this is no different, UNTIL I get that positive test, which I am SO praying for.
Thank you all for your support, encouragement and prayers through all of this. It means so much!