Why I love (and hate) my insurance company

We knew going in to the IVF process that our insurance company doesn't cover anything remotely related to infertility treatments.  This is why I hate them- Louisiana is not a mandate-to-cover state, meaning that there is no impetus for insurance companies to cover IVF, etc.  However, they have apparently decided to cover some of my meds!  It's a drop in the bucket compared to the total overall cost, but I'll gladly pay a $25 co-pay for $3300 worth of Bravelle.  Thank you very much, Blue Cross of Texas!  You just made my day.

A lesson in note-taking

Apparently, many crocheters start with Granny Squares.  I don't know how I managed to be oblivious to their existence, but I just discovered them a few months ago.  They are so much fun to make!

However, when you are making lots of little squares that will eventually be joined to make a larger, more substantial something, it helps for them to be the same size.  I made my first granny squares about a month ago, and decided to add to the meager pile a few nights ago.  Unfortunately, I took no notes of what hook size I used to create the first ones.  I am now the proud owner of a random pile of pretty crocheted blobs that will not play nicely together.

They will probably be relegated to the box of un-finished projects in my closet until they decide to become something useful.  Now I know... for the love of God, write it down!


*Pattern from Lucy at Attic24!

One hurdle down...

The anxiety-causing first trip to Houston is done.  I couldn't be happier, or more excited.  It seems like all of the negative nervousness and worry has been replaced with happy, fluttery, giddiness.  It's becoming real.  Thank you all for your prayers and words of encouragement.  We could not do this without the support of friends and family!

Because I was so completely overwhelmed with the barrage on information that was thrown at us, I'll hit the high points, bullet-style:

*  I have a "beautiful" uterus.  Really, I promise.  Our doctor said so in those exact words.

*  My IVF calendar is so detailed and perfect that it makes me want to cry.

*  A mini-pharmacy has invaded our bathroom and I don't even have my injectable meds yet!

*  Because of our miscarriage history, we will be doing chromosome screening on our embryos.

*  This screening means a frozen transfer at a later date, which I'm kind-of relieved about...

*  We are actually doing this!!

A small selection of my daily meds, and the aforementioned calender!

**On a totally unrelated note, I managed to get two more stripes on the ripple blanket during the drive to/from Houston.  It's growing!

Anxious

I've got a bad case of the Butterflies-In-My-Stomach Syndrome.  It's 2am, and I've got a class for work at 8.  So why am I awake, with this building sense of nervousness?  I may have an idea.

After a riveting job-required course in Bedside Medication Verification (WHAT?!?!), we're leaving for Houston for a few final tests and we will meet with our doctor to go over our IVF protocol.  I cannot imagine anything more amazing than creating a new life and completing our family, but I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't scared to death of the whole process.  Excited of course, but completely terrified at the same time.  

I stole this quote from another blog I follow:

"You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think" 

-Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh

  

That Christopher Robin was one smart boy!  Hopefully our as-yet-unconceived children will be just as awesome.  I'm going to work on being brave and knowing that everything will work out just fine.    

Purging

I admit it.  I have a hard time getting rid of things.  I'm not a hoarder, but it's just so hard to throw away things that, at one time or another, meant something to me.  Pictures are especially difficult.  My finger hovers over the delete key, and I just cannot convince myself that I won't need this random, washed-out picture of a huge garden spider next to a Motorola Razr cell phone at some point in the future. 

Maybe there will be a contest for big spider pictures, and this one could win it!  You don't think so?  Fine.  But it's still hard for me. 

Last night, I stumbled upon this post by Laura over at  Laura's Mommy Journal.  It was written for me, I think.  I realized that I've been holding on to junk for WAY too long.  Starting with my oldest digital images, I began trashing photos according to Laura's method.  Fuzzy?  Gone.  Too similar?  Gone.  Makes me look terribly fat?  Gone.  After an hour or so, it really did become easier to hit that delete key.  After 2 hours, I had worked through the entire year of 2004.  I know I've got a long way to go, but my iPhoto library is feeling lighter and more manageable already.  And after all, isn't that the point of purging?

On a Whim, Blueberry Style

We went to the farmer's market this morning to get pulled pork burritos.  I know...  it's an odd reason.   Despite all of the fresh fruits, veggies, homemade spice mixes and canned goods, our sole purpose in going this morning was breakfast.  It was a wonderful breakfast but apparently, it wasn't the holy grail of our mission.  As we were walking around, I found these beautiful blueberries.

Fresh blueberries are just different than the ones you find in the grocery store.  They smell and taste like blueberries, while store bought berries smell like the plastic clam-shell boxes they're packaged in and taste about the same.  $3.00 later, I had a pint of blueberries in my bag and a million ideas floating around in my head.

I knew the recipe had to be simple- baking is completely out of my comfort zone.   Boxed brownies are a challenge for me.  Sad, I know, but nothing I bake ever seems to turn out right.  Finally, I found this recipe for Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake.  It seemed simple enough, and I had a cup of sour cream kicking around in the fridge that was on it's way to expiring.  Armed with my farmer's market purchase of aforementioned amazing blueberries, I was ready.

The ingredients are assembled and ready!

Approximately 2 hours later, I was rewarded with one of the most delicious things to ever leave my oven.  Seriously.  It's fabulous.  This recipe is definitely a keeper, and I may have to reconsider baking as a hobby.  Probably not, but I will be making this round of yummy-ness again.  :)

Excuse the impromptu lemon glaze...

A slice of heaven!

Our wonderful birthday weekend!

I love the fact that Paul and I share a birth month.  Our birthdays are one week apart, so we (almost) always do something together to celebrate.  This year, we decided to go to Dallas.  It was one of the best weekends of my life.  Really.

We missed the Kings of Leon concert Friday night, which worked in our favor since the lead singer stumbled offstage and never returned- he was too drunk to continue.  I would get fired if I showed up at my job intoxicated, but apparently it's acceptable if you make millions of dollars.  Who knew?  :)

On Saturday, we toured the massive behemoth that is the new Dallas Cowboys stadium.  That place is unreal!  We aren't huge Cowboys fans, but you have to admire all the work that went into planning this arena.  It's pretty amazing.  Saturday night, we watched Guys and Dolls at Fair Park Music Hall.  Paul swears it was better than Wicked!  I really, really loved the show, but Wicked is pretty tough to beat in my book.  

Sunday morning, we held to a long-standing hotel tradition.  We ordered room service to be delivered at a ridiculously early time.  Then, sufficiently stuffed, we pulled the curtains shut and went back to sleep to make the most of our late check out.  After  emerging from our post-breakfast coma, we went to Buca di Beppo for some great Italian food and cheered on FC Dallas Soccer Club in a 1-0 win.  After the game, we headed back home and back to reality.  

I couldn't imagine a better way to spend our birthdays.