Small Update

We are going to be delayed a little bit. Our nurse, Michelle, called yesterday and told us that the doctor who we want to come in and do the biopsy on the embryos will not be available until the 2nd week of July. She gave me the option of going with another doctor to do the biopsy or waiting to have this certain man do it. We decided to wait. If having the best means we delay 2 weeks, so be it. I will be patient. Yes you heard me, I will be patient! So far this whole year has flown by, what is 2 weeks???

We are busy, busy this week preparing for my husband’s 10 year reunion this weekend! It should be a good time. Our good friends are not going because they are going to be in Dallas...just trying to make you feel a little guilt. Keep your fingers crossed that the weather is as nice as predicted because the picnic is obviously outside and after last weekend, I need to make sure I am doused with Off and guaranteed no tornadoes. After last weekend’s experience, I am not sure I am ready for another outdoor adventure! ~Amy

Livin' the Country Life

As most of you know I am not a country girl, but for some reason I always look forward to going to my husbands family reunion over Memorial Day weekend. It is so peaceful and laid back that I tend to overlook the one thing that scares me every year. My husband's cousin Gary's attempt to make me a fisherman. This year was the end of him trying. I think that he now knows that I am not cut out for it, poor guy. I need to set the scene for those of you not from Oklahoma (or some that are). Freedom is a town of less than 300 people that is about 25 minutes away from a city. When I say city, I mean a town of approximately 5,000. Gary is quite the character. He is good as gold and ornery as they come. That is why I like him! Anyway, I remember the first time I was in Freedom, and the first time we met, I don't think he quite knew what to do with me. I remember asking him what would happen if someone has a heart attack and he said, "Pray they can hold on until we can get them to the ER" - again 25 minutes way.... I am sure he got a kick out of the pure panic in my face. Ok- so, I went last year and had a small panic attack. He jokes that he could feel my breath on his neck the entire time because I would not leave his side. I remember when it was all over, thanking God that I was still alive. Why did I go again this year? I am like that kid that puts their hand on the hot stove and the mother tells them not to do it again or it will really hurt, and they have to try one more time just to make sure.... stupid... So, we head out on our fishing excursion. This year, I did not bring clothes because I knew I wouldn't go so I had to borrow everything except for jeans:

As you can see, my husband's hat was about 10 sizes too big, but I was not about to go without one. Ticks. So we head out. The whole time going up and down huge hills on a gravel road at 60 miles per hour, knuckles clinched. We went to the first farm pond, and shockingly, it was not that bad. They pulled the truck right up to the bank so all I had to do was get out - check for snakes- and cast away! Unfortunately, there was so much moss, we could not fish there. I should have known that it was too good to be true. As we load back up and go to the next pond about 15 minutes away I saw 2 rattlesnakes on the road. Sure, they were dead, but they were still rattlesnakes. (I think I forgot to mention about 20 miles south of where we were, they hold a rattlesnake hunt, which is one of the largest in the US... I checked...)

So we get to where we are going and I notice there is no gate that we have to open to drive through. We are just on the side of the road with a barbwire fence. Hmm... I am thinking... Maybe he wants to check on something, but oh no... I was wrong. That is where we were fishing. I looked at them like they had lost their minds. The grass was knee high, and I had to crawl over a barb wire fence??? I sat on the edge of the seat in the truck as they waited for me to get out. My husband was being nice trying to coach me out and Gary was threatening that he was going to just get me out himself if I didn't move soon. After I began to cry, I took my feet and somehow got out. Then, I decided to crawl over the fence (since my inseam is 36, I have the legs to do it), well I forgot that it was going down hill, so I tore the inner thigh of my jeans and cut my thigh. It felt like the blood was gushing, and I knew that I was going to have to get a tetanus shot. (Oh- FYI...after we got home, I realized that it did not even break the skin). During all of this my husband's *#%*&*$% hat kept falling down so I was panicked that I was going to not be able to see that snake underneath where I was about to step. Once they were both over the fence I cannot even tell you what happened... it was a blur... but somehow I made it down to the bank. I took a picture from where I stood, back to where the truck was, because I knew my family would never believe me...

Once we began fishing, I was in a nightmare. Every 2 seconds, I knew I heard a rattle, or saw a water moccasin, or a tick, or a bee, the list goes on and on... I was M-I-S-E-R-A-B-L-E. I stood there by myself and looked across the pond at my husband who was waving thinking, I hate your guts for making me get out of that truck. Look... He is just smiling from ear to ear. After about 15 minutes I was about to lose it and signaled for him to come over and stand with me. He did. I
think that was about the time he thought Satan took over my body. I was yelling, crying, hyperventilating, I think my head spun around and did a 180, I am not sure. He decided to tell Gary that it was time that we left. Shortly after, we got back to the cabin, stripped down and checked for ticks. As he was about to get into the shower, he said, "Presh, I am really ready for you to get off of the birth control pills...they are really messing with you."

After we showered and changed clothes, I was calm. Everyone asked me how it went, and I think once I said, "I had to climb over barb wire" they knew this would be the last year of my pond fishing. Even poor Gary has decided to give up. My husband's uncle Corby told me that he will have to take me out on his boat, and I agreed to that. It is not the fishing I mind, it is not being able to stand or sit somewhere where I feel safe. I am miserable and I make everyone else around me just as miserable too. This experience though, has made everyone realize that my place is in the cabin! As you can see from this picture, I had thoroughly calmed down once I was on safe grounds.

It really is so beautiful there. I will be ready for next year, just without the fishing. I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! ~Amy

Quick Update...

We went to the doctors office today and had our blood drawn. It is official, we are starting our 2nd journey on this crazy ride!! I cannot believe it is already here. It seems like just yesterday we were starting shots. So I heard about the 66 year old lady who is pregnant through IVF. How does that happen? At 66, what makes you think that it is a good time to start a family? I don't know, call me a pessimist, but when her baby (or babies) is born she will be 80. Again, how does that happen?

There is one new thing that we decided to do.... change doctors. We are going to use our doctor's partner. Dr. Hansen is an amazing doctor and we are excited about our new adventure with him. We figured since we are doing so many things differently, we might as well use a different doctor. We will see!

Wednesday will be our 3rd anniversary. I cannot believe that we have been married 3 years! This seems like yesterday:

We get each other traditional wedding gifts because it is fun! Year one was paper; he got me a certificate to the spa and I got him tickets to a Red Sox game in Texas. Year two was cotton; he and I both just bought a ton of T-shirts in NYC. This year, it is leather. I cannot disclose what I got him yet, because I know he will read this blog. As much as we are in desperate want of a child, we are really glad that we have had these years together. We have had so much fun and grown so close. These 3 years have been precious and we do not regret one minute of them!

Everyone have a great...and safe... Memorial Day weekend! We will be in Freedom, Oklahoma at the Bradt family reunion! I look forward to this weekend every year! ~Amy

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY MAGAN!!!

There is nothing more important to post today, than our friend Magan's 30th birthday. HAPPY HAPPY birthday! I am just thrilled that she is now in the 30 club with me! Woo-hoo!!! We went to her sister-in-law Julie's house for a party today that was lovely. She is so blessed to have such a large and loving family. We were joking, because if my husband threw a surprise for me like Jarrod did for her, it would consist of 5 people, excluding us! I guess that is what happens when you are an only child and your brother-in-law is about to take on the journey of being a doctor! Props to you Jarrod, it was a nice time.

I wanted to make sure I showed everyone the wonderful pots I got at TLC this weekend, since nobody was believing the prices. Here are 6 that we got this weekend, thanks to my mom, we did not buy them all. Check them out:

I was really impressed with my bargains! My $12 pot is not on here, but it is EASILY 2-3 times larger than the terracotta pot shown!

Does anyone watch Grey's Anatomy? I was shocked about George at the end of the finale. I knew that he was thinking about being written off due to his contract, but I thought it would be to send him off to the army. Shocked, I tell you... I am still talking about it! We were laughing the other night, now that all of our favorites have had their finales, I am not sure what we are going to do with all of our free time! Isn't that pathetic?

Just in time for us to have a baby... or babies! That will surely keep us occupied!! My aunt leaves tomorrow morning and we hate to see her go! It is so much fun to have her here! I know it is also is a relief for my mother when taking care of my grandmother, who is FULLY recovered!

I hope everyone has a great Monday! Thank goodness next Monday will be a holiday!

~Amy

No News, but There is a Great Sale!

Just sending out an update, apparently I cannot read. The doctors from Chicago sent me vials to get some blood samples and it clearly states on the paperwork Monday-Thursday shipments only. Seeing that today is Friday, on our way to the doctors office at 7:30 this morning, I called and changed our appointment until Monday morning. So, no update.

That being said, I went with my mother and aunt today to my husband's favorite place,TLC Nursery, and they are having a crazy mad sale on all of their pots! My mother bought us an enormous terracotta pot for $12! Weeks ago, we saw this pot there for $139.99. I am telling you, if you need pots - Go! Go! Go! We love that place, anyway. We buy all of our plants, flowers, soil, etc... from there but now we are buying pots too! (I am not ready to do flowerbeds... I am a beginner).

Have a great weekend!
~Amy

Men + Well Lined Eyeliner = Not a Good Look

I want to thank everyone for the prayers and warm wishes about my grandmother. Once again, she has made a full recovery! Comparing her mind, body, and spirit this week to last week is like comparing apples and oranges. She is back to her normal self.

Today is a good day in so many ways. (1) My hubby is back from Fort Worth! Yea! He was down in Texas for depositions and I missed him terribly. (2) My aunt safely made it in from Chicago. I picked her up from the airport and then we went for a late lunch. She loves El Chico. In her area, they do not have a huge selection of good Mexican food, so she gets excited to eat it when she gets to Oklahoma City. Her favorite is El Chico! We had a great lunch and caught up, it was really nice. (3) None of my plants were destroyed in the wind storm we had up here last night! I stayed with my mom, because I am a huge chicken, so I had not seen the house since Monday.

Friday we go into the doctor for blood work to start the process! I am really excited. Since they are putting 3 in this time, God willing, We laugh about triplets. What if we have 3 girls? The irony in that is endless. My mother-in-law would DEFINITELY have to retire to be our full time daycare! Here is how ignorant I am. I had no idea you could ship blood via FedEx. Did you? That is a little creepy, huh? My nurse also thought that the doctor might want to do an ultrasound Friday just to check the status of my ovulation. I will keep everyone posted on what we find out.

Before I sign off, I need to vent about the American obsession with Adam from Idol. Do I think he is talented? Yes. Do I think that he has a great career on Broadway? Absolutely. Do I think that he is "tough" enough to be a rocker? No. Do I think that he is the best artist that has ever been on A.I.? ABSOLUTELY not. Here is what I have to say... If a man can wear eyeliner better than me, something is wrong! ;)
~Amy

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Happy Mothers Day to all the women in our life that are mothers! Hopefully next year, I will join you! We had a lovely day! We cooked for our mothers and we got to use the roses from our garden to help make our table! Here is a picture...

We had a really nice time....except for one thing. Debby and I decided to go and get a pedicure, which was nice, but when we left - as I was driving her car- someone backed into us in the parking lot! Happy Mothers Day! Ugh! I feel really bad. Accidents are such a pain! Nonetheless, the overall day was a success!

This week has been wonderfully slow! We only had something to do one night! It is so nice to relax sometimes. We did go out one night with our friends, Scott, Neilly and baby Henry. Neilly found out that she is having a girl, and Lucy Kate should be introducing herself to the world in October! We are so excited! We went to PF Changs, and I feel like I always leave there disappointed. It, to me, is overrated. It is Pei Wei on a nicer plate and for twice the cost. Anyway, you know that I have been cooking lately and trying all kinds of new recipes. Well Friday night was a DISASTER! It was some green bean and meat pie and it was gross!! If you come across a recipe like that trust me, don't make it! Zac thought it was OK, but I could not even eat it. It was that bad! So last night, my brother-in-law and one of my husband's friends came over and we grilled steaks and I made Penne al a Vodka. That took forever. I give all of the Italian women out there who make their own sauces a ton of credit! It is an all day project!

This week is going to be busy, but nothing new on the fertility front. I am just taking birth control so they can regulate my ovulation, and will start shots in the first part of June. I cannot believe it is only about 3 weeks away! My husband will be going to Dallas for a couple of days to take depositions, and I have a few evening meetings. Also, my aunt from Chicago is flying in on Wednesday and we are really excited to see her. Pretty much the whole month of May is chaotic, now that I think about it. We have something to do every weekend until the first weekend in June. I am looking forward to that weekend so we can have another movie day!

Everyone have a good week and I hope it dries up!
~Amy

Roses are in Bloom!

We had a nice weekend, regardless of all of the gloomy weather! Friday, we had a wonderful surprise when our friends from Enid called and told us they were in town. We met them for dinner and had a great time. Their sweet little baby, Elly, was with them and she is just about the most precious baby we have ever seen. I know everyone has heard me brag on her before, but you just cannot get enough of her! She is so happy! On the way to the restaurant, as Amy and I were sitting in the back of the truck with her, I just looked at her and said to my husband, "If we had this baby, I would love her even if I didn't give birth to her." It was my "Ah-ha" moment that Oprah always talks about. We just want children so badly, that we would be just as in love if it was not biologically ours. I thought I had always felt that way, but Friday night was just the icing on the cake. It just really hit me. It is hard to explain, it was just this sense of peace. It was God's way of telling me that everything will be alright, regardless. We are still in shock about one thing though... she apparently was not feeling well and spit up, or should I say threw up, her bottle. We have never seen so much formula come out of such a little mouth. We are still talking about it. That is how you know you long for children. Baby vomit makes you smile!

Saturday we had a movie day. We stayed in bed until noon. We like to get these days in, because we know as soon as we are parents, they will cease. One of the movies we watched was Slumdog Millionaire. It broke my heart. It made me want to jump on a plane to Mumbai and take home all the children I could get. It really made me realize how lucky I am. Sure, my parents got divorced as a child, and I did not have the "picture perfect" childhood but my goodness I am blessed. Those poor babies. I want them all! Saturday night was a night to remember! We went to a friends house for their son's First Communion. He got a Wii from his aunt as a gift and my husband hooked it up. We then spent most of the night playing with the 4 boys (ages 4-10) and it was a handful! They were so hilarious though! I love little boys! I love that they are ornery and messy and don't whine when they are mad, just tackle! It was high energy all night! We were laughing in the car on the way home. If this round of in-vitro works and all 3 eggs take, wouldn't that be something if we had 3 boys? Pure madness, but how fun!!!

Look at these roses! All this rain has REALLY helped our rose bushes come along!

The fragrance is absolutely amazing! I cut some today and put them in a vase in our home. We were so blessed to have the landscaping done before moving in!

Today we were going to go to church, but realized that the service that we wanted to go to was at 8:15, not 11. We are traditional, and we can't help it. We love hymns, not guitars. No offense to those who do, it is just not our thing. We went to visit my mom and grandmother, and are still concerned about her. She is just not the same. I think she is tired. Tired of her medicine, tired of the fight. Hopefully once this infection passes, she will be her spunky self again. Then, after a drop off to Dillards, to check out the sale, we met a friend at Panera to talk about his 10 year reunion that is coming up. It is hilarious to me. When they talk about songs that were popular in 1999, I remember them at the clubs in OKC. 4 years is not that big of a difference now, but 18 vs. 22 was! My college memories were his high school days! It should be fun.

I am expecting my doctor to start my round of birth control this week! Let the games begin! For those who do not know, or remember, they will put me on birth control for one month to manipulate my cycle and "trick" it into ovulation at the time they need it to be. This is just the beginning! Keep your prayers alive!

~Amy