Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Thoughtful Tuesday: Design Stars

Each Tuesday, I'm going to share something I am either: 
a) thankful for, b) something I witnessed that was an act of kindness, or c) something I did to "pay it forward"

I'd love it if you'd join me. One day a week. One thing. It can take 15 seconds or 4 hours. Don't you feel better when you are able to notice the pretty things in life? Leave a comment here, or share it in your own space, and enjoy being thoughtful...in more ways than one!


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This Tuesday: Plaid Rules.

Totally my bad in being late to my own party! I apologize that Thoughtful Tuesday is being posted at the very end of the day. However, I have a good excuse! No, really--I do! 

Mook has been gone almost every week this entire year. And he's home for the next three weeks straight--so me and Oman are soaking up every moment we can.

But even this delayed post by no means its any less thoughtful. Quite the opposite.

I want to tell you all about the loverly ladies behind the powerhouse that is Plaid House Designs--and not only how thoughtful they are but how much thought they put into their work! 

I don't consider myself a diva (you there...sort my M&M's for me!) but I had some pretty specific requests when I commissioned the designers to re-vamp my blog. And don't you agree it's a pretty swanky looking blog design? 

So if you are in the market for a blog-face-lift, know someone who is, need a new blog header--you will be thankful you contacted the ladies at Plaid House!



What are you sharing on this Thoughtful Tuesday? (Links open until Friday!)


Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Howdy ICLW Peeps

No, that's not some secret Internet speak I have created. It stands for: IComLeavWe--a community effort of connecting with other bloggers, leaving comments/feedback and as Mel says, "comments are the new hug–a way of saying hello, giving comfort, leaving congratulations." This is my first time participating!

So welcome to my little corner of the Internet. This has been my home since February of 2007 when I started blogging after getting our Male Factor Infertility diagnosis. Our "Road Map" chronicles our journey...but in brief, I've run the gamut of fertility treatments: timed intercourse with pre-seed, IUI, IVF, FET, IVF again, a subchorionic hematoma for the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, complete placenta previa, and now we are blessed to be parenting our little miracle--our sweet, and busy 19-month-old known as O-man here on the blog.

Due to some health issues and our own personal decisions, we will not be doing any more fertility treatments to add to our family. We would love to pursue adoption....so that is our hope. We aren't any where close to being ready to do so (financially or emotionally) but we are hopeful it will happen someday...

Thanks for visiting--I'm looking forward to meeting new blog buds!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Thoughtful Tuesday: Rainbow

Each Tuesday, I'm going to share something I am either: 
a) thankful for, b) something I witnessed that was an act of kindness, or c) something I did to "pay it forward"

I'd love it if you'd join me. One day a week. One thing. It can take 15 seconds or 4 hours. Don't you feel better when you are able to notice the pretty things in life? Leave a comment here, or share it in your own space, and enjoy being thoughtful...in more ways than one!


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This Tuesday: Rainbow

I've mentioned this a few times before...but its so weird that it needs to be mentioned every now and then so you, my dear friends, are reminded how I am a few crayons short of a full box. 

I cannot eat a pack of M&Ms until I have separated them into rainbow color groups. It all started innocently when my Mom was teaching me how to count and recognize colors, but little did she know...she was creating a monster. (Love you, Mom!)

So when my BFF offered to send me a magazine that I could not for the life of me find here on the East Coast, she thought it would be cute to send me something else.

Pre-sorted M&Ms! She saved me A LOT of work!




I also wanted to share an act of kindness I witnessed this week....

My bloggy friend, Courtney, went out of her way to get a beautiful arrangement of flowers sent to our bloggy friend Suzy to let her know we were all thinking of her during her grandmother's funeral. Long story short, the florist failed. So all of Courtney's hard work didn't work out exactly like she had planned, but she handled the whole thing with grace--and in the end, we all know it was the thought that counts! 



What are you sharing on this Thoughtful Tuesday?


Thursday, September 16, 2010

Bra Tossing

There I was.

Standing in the middle of my room. Holding the monitor in one hand, a tissue in the other.

It was midnight on Monday...I had just laid Oman back down--he had woken up screaming--a continuation of the past few weeks of restless sleep due to monster-teeth and a virus.

I glanced over at my empty bed...Mook had left that morning for another work trip.

I felt completely alone in that moment. That moment turned into me standing still in that exact same spot for 20 minutes.

My thoughts went allllll over the place. I'll give you a sample:

I am worried Oman will stop breathing. 
What if the house temperature is too cold.
Where did I put my socks?
Why did Mook leave his water bottle on the dresser?
Is Oman going to be sick all the time now that he's in preschool?
When does Modern Family come back on? Is my DVR set to tape it?
How the hell did someone come up with Yo Gabba Gabba?
I wish the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse song didnt get stuck in my head.
It is now stuck in my head.
My marriage is taking a beating from Mook's job.
What if we had to go through treatment this year with all his travel....we
would never have been able to cycle.
Did I remember to put the flag up on the mail box?
I need to paint my toenails.
What if I need to go back to work and we have to pull Oman out of preschool?
I need to get things organized for the garage sale
Why is it called a garage sale?
I miss waking up next to my husband
But I dont miss his snoring
I don't take enough pictures
Is Oman still breathing?

(It's always interesting to look back and see how in the world your mind got from one thought to the next!)

I obviously had gotten so overwhelmed with thoughts, that I just sort of went into a trance. I  put the monitor down, wiped away my tears, turned on the light and went over to my dresser.

One of my coping mechanisms when things are spiraling out of control, is to do something completely random and not associated with any of the tornado-of-thoughts that I am dealing with.

So I decided to weed through my underwear drawer. 

(not my skivvies!)

I found nursing bras, undies that were way to small, bras that were meant for support, bras that were meant for the days that they match your undies (if you know what I mean--wink-wink), Granny-Panties, a random tank top that I thought I'd lost, my favorite-wear-any-day-of-the-week bra, a bra that was my faaaaavoooorite-but the one of the clasps broke 4 months ago--yet I still have it in my drawer, the bra that pushes me up in all the right places, the undies that I wear when I need to do laundry, my new sports bra, and the list goes on...

I started tossing everything onto the floor. First I tossed lightly. Then I started tossing them...some landed on the bed...a few got stuck on the fan blades...one on my poor dog's head. It felt good to just throw things. And by the last toss, I was laughing. Seeing bras and undies strewn about the room...well, let's just say I'm glad no one else walked in at that moment. 

Then it was time to clean up.

And as I began to organize my personal effects, my thoughts magically started to sort themselves too. Well, to be fair, I didn't come to conclusions about anything specific, or worry any less about Oman's breathing--but I now had a clean and organized drawer, and my mind was settled enough that I could lay back down and get some sleep. 

So the next time you're overwhelmed? Toss some skivvies across the room! But really--what do you do that's "out-there" when you need to clear your mind?

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Wordless Wedneday: IV Drip

'Nuff Said.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Thoughtful Tuesday: a simple reminder

Each Tuesday, I'm going to share something I am either: 
a) thankful for, b) something I witnessed that was an act of kindness, or c) something I did to "pay it forward"

I'd love it if you'd join me. One day a week. One thing. It can take 15 seconds or 4 hours. Don't you feel better when you are able to notice the pretty things in life? Leave a comment here, or share it in your own space, and enjoy being thoughtful...in more ways than one!


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This Tuesday: Simple Reminders

I thought I had completely come out of a end-of-summer-time funk...but it turns out it still has been lingering a bit. More on that later....

But even in a funk/fog/bad mood, I really appreciate the small things in life. 

Last week after I had my nerve severing procedure, I got home to these beautiful flowers:

Sunshine from Rotten







And yesterday when I got home from picking up O-man from preschool, the house was quiet....Mook was gone again. We had said our goodbyes earlier during a rushed morning, and I missed him. It made my entire day when I got to the kitchen and saw this yellow-post-it-note:

Love on a post-it



Having even the slightest reminder that someone loves you can make all the difference in the world. 












What are you sharing on this Thoughtful Tuesday?

 

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Thoughtful Tuesday: Rock-a-bye-baby...

Each Tuesday, I'm going to share something I am either: 
a) thankful for, b) something I witnessed that was an act of kindness, or c) something I did to "pay it forward"

I'd love it if you'd join me. One day a week. One thing. It can take 15 seconds or 4 hours. Don't you feel better when you are able to notice the pretty things in life? Leave a comment here, or share it in your own space, and enjoy being thoughtful...in more ways than one!


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This Tuesday: Sleep

I've been a lucky Momma--my boy loves to sleep. He started sleeping through the night at 5 weeks old, and has done really well on a schedule. Yes, we have had our challenges with nap regression, and waking at odd hours and wanting to play, but overall--he loves being in dreamland.

So for the past three nights, I've wondered what in the world happened to my sleeping babe. He's had a fever and oy the teeth--it's been like the newborn stage all over again. I am also someone who enjoys sleep--Ive never been good at pulling all-nighters, and I just honestly need a good 6 hours of sleep to feel "normal".

Ive felt myself getting frustrated--and have had to remember he cannot communicate with me yet what is hurting or bothering him. Self-admittedly, Mook is the one in the house that gets frustrated fast--and I am so thankful he has been calming me down. I'm also doing my best (in the wee hours of the morning, mind you) to soak in the cuddles on the couch while watching Yo Gabba Gabba. 

I also remember there were days where I cried to the universe that I would give anything (even sleepless nights) to be able to take care of my baby. Thank you, universe for listening to me, and for reminding me that you gave me exactly what I asked for. 

For that, I am so thankful. 





What are you sharing on this Thoughtful Tuesday?