Sweetly Versatile

Thanks to the lovely PCOSChick for giving me Versatile Blogger blog-bling! She and I got connected on twitter earlier this year, and she's just a fabulous blogger.

So here's rules for the award:
~Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.
~Share 7 things about yourself.
~Pass the award along to 7 other bloggers who you recently discovered and think are fabulous.




1.  I always have a tissue with me. I am allergic to air--seriously. My nose does not like when I go from hot to cool air, so this time of year I keep Kleenex in business.

2.  If there are two switches that control one light (my hallway for instance--one is at the garage entrance, the other is by the living room), the switch always needs to be in the proper position. You know--sometimes the switch will be in the "on position" but really be off, because it was turned on at the other switch. Am I making sense? I cant stand for them to be in the "wrong position" so I fix it :)

3.  My favorite color Christmas light (this year) is blue.

4.  I am about to completely redo my closet and organize my clothes by color. I feel like this will help me put more stylish outfits together? Wishful thinking. Anyone want to volunteer to help?

5.  I keep wondering when I'm going to have the guts to attend an adoption seminar.

6.  Im the definition of my zodiac sign through and through.

7.  I crave a McDonald's Big Mac every time I'm sick.


I am passing this award on to the following 7 lovely bloggers, because I would like to learn more about them.

Andrea at Are You Listening? 
Foxy at Someday
Jill at Happy Hopefuls
Amber at Bumber's Bumblings
Flucky Mom 
Searching For Serenity
AmyLynn at new year new ute

And thank you so much Miss Frenchie for giving me this very sweet blog-bling.

So now I am trusted with the task of giving the award to five bloggers who I love to read, who's blogs have that 'something extra', that little spark, that keeps me coming back.

Tara at A Run For My Money
Sarah at Bio Girl
Mrs. Higrens at Does this suit your copperosity?
Andrea at Entrusted
Suzy at not a fertile myrtle 

Starting 2010 with Thanks!

I definitely have a LOT to be thankful for--the year 2009 was very, very good to me. Not that I depend on karma, but seriously karma--you owed me, so thanks for remembering that the past few years before '09 weren't so hot.

And I know that karma owes a lot of you--so my 2010 wish is that those of you who gladly bid 2009 goodbye, will be celebrating the gifts that this new decade will bring.

The best way I can think to start my blogging of 2010 is to THANK YOU (yes, you) for making my blogging experience so incredibly rewarding and being my extended family.

• Thank you, sis, for holding my hand through so many scary moments and for blogging for me when I couldn't, and so much more that I can't fit into one sentence
  
• Thank you, Susan from Idaho, for taking the time to leave comments of incredible support and always check on me (even without blogging, yourself!)
• Thank you, LJ, for great vent sessions about anything and everything--whenever, wherever, and for giving my blog a fancy face lift
  
• Thank you, Amy , for holding that special place in my heart for being the first blogger I met "outside of the computer" and becoming one of my closest IRL friends
• Thank you, Rotten, for teaching me what the definition of BFF is--cause you're it!
• Thank you, Suzy, for always being my prayer warrior
• Thank you, Sully, for sharing the IVF meds that gave us our precious boys--we are forever connected by that, and of course, Pearl Jam
• Thank you, Sunny, for being an amazing, strong woman--period.
• And all my Braces Bunch girls--thank you, thank you, thank you.

I could go on like a lame Oscar acceptance speech, so I'll stop before they start the music to encourage me to leave the stage.




So, I would like to invite you to join me in saying THANK YOU, but in the blogging way--by saying: "Blog you VERY much!" I extended a similar invitation to you as readers back in December of 2007 to write a quick blog post of thanks to that blogger who inspired you to start blogging. You can read the original post here .

This time around, any thank you will do. Thank one person, thank 10, thank 20...just say thank you to those people who encourage you to blog, keep you sane, and love you even when you have a hard time loving yourself.

Be sure to come back and share your post of THANKS!







And a double thanks, if you take
moment to say HI if you haven't done so before!

the title is hard

Really--sometimes its harder for me to come up with a post title than an actual post!

Anyway...back to regularly scheduled programing soon, but I wanted to thank Kim for this:


So now I need to tell you 7 things about me:

1. I will not go to bed with a dirty kitchen. Ever.
   
   
2. My pillow(s) have to be just so before I can fall asleep. Mook has literally almost pushed me out of bed because I took so long to get comfortable.
   
   
3. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.
   
   
4. The smell of Skittles candy makes me want to loose my lunch.
   
   
5. Most days I feel overwhelmed by technology.
   
   
6. My dreams involve a grocery store at least once a week. And it has nothing to do with buying groceries.
   
   
7. I only recently became a fan of Halloween. Mook has made it fun for me the past few years--and this year, not only did it give me an excuse to paint my nails black, but I get to look at this all weekend:

Happy Halloween!

Me, Crazy?

Apparently Delenn thinks so! Thanks, my friend :0)

8 Things I Am Looking Forward To:

1. My trip to NYC next week with Bee Cee !
2. My trip to the Outer Banks with LJ and V
3. The NC Blogger Cookout @ casa de JJ & Mook
4. A mini-trip with Mook in July, since last July was a bit rough...
5. Seeing the O-man tomorrow morning and every morning-he is such a morning person!
6. Working on my ooey-gooey projects
7. Crossing things of my daunting to do list
8. Reading on the beach

8 Things I Did Yesterday:

1. Went to a motivational seminar
2. Watched DVR'ed episodes of The Real Housewives of NJ, So You Think You Can Dance? and The Bachelorette
3. Battled Mook in Guitar Hero (I won...)
4. Decided once and for all, I don't like beef hot dogs
5. Downloaded all my pictures from the wedding this past weekend
6. Finished unpacking from this past weekend
7. Learned I'm still afraid of the dark
8. Cried when I read "Goodnight Moon" to the O-man

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:

1. Play piano and sing at the same time
2. Worry less
3. Enjoy running
4. Scrapbook more
5. Go on a cross country car trip
6. Convince Mook that not all infomercials provide quality products
7. Go on a singing tour
8. Calculate percentages in my head

8 Shows I Watch:

1. The Office
2. Family Guy
3. Weeds
4. Dexter
5. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
6. So You Think You Can Dance?
7. Any of the Real Housewives shows
8. Private Practice


8 Favorite Fruits:

1. Strawberries
2. Grapes
3. Bananas
4. Kiwi
5. Star Fruit
6. Apples
7. Blackberries
8. Oranges

8 Places I'd Like to Travel:

1. Australia
2. San Fransisco, CA
3. Canada
4. Scotland
5. Italy
6. Ireland
7. Maine
8. Montana

8 Places I've Lived

1. Elon, NC
2. Richmond, VA
3. Lynchburg, VA
4. Lewisville, NC
5. Farmville, VA
6. Kernersville, NC
7. Burlington, NC
8. I've only got 7 places


8 People I've tagged: (if you feel like it, of course)

1. IF Optimist
2. Incinta
3. Melissa, So it goes
4. Our Life
5. Baby Moxie
6. The Happy Hours
7. The Life of Liv
8. Sarah @ Taking it one gigantic, earth-shattering crisis at a time

Info Does A Body Good

And info is what I shall provide.

I will need some info as well, so keep your peepers peeled:

• I have yet to master the milkshake in the shower--planning on giving it a whirl later this week or weekend.

• Mook and I spent 3 hours in BRU/Target this past Saturday: definitely had some teary moments, but I'm glad we got started on planning for Ron. At one point, I sat down in one of the gliders and said a prayer of thanks, and also said a prayer for all of you on your different journey's. As much as infertility has hurt us, it has kept our minds and hearts focused on the gift we have been given--made this process of registering much sweeter.

• We have our crib. It was the last one in stock at the store, so we definitely lucked out--and it's also set up and sitting beautifully in the nursery. Talk about special...Mook was so joyful putting it together-no grumbles or cursing at all! I documented the whole process...

• We registered for some other big things: travel system and mattress. But the rest we left for another time--I still have some thinking/researching to do.

• Here's where I need info from you: any suggestions/ideas of where to look for bedding for a boy? I'm not looking for a fancy theme--really looking for basic colors, with some design in there. Just no trains, planes or automobiles--we'll save that for when he's older. Thanks in advance!

• This past Thursday, I laid down for the night and Ron was not ready for bed. So I told Mook to try again to feel him (we've done this a few times now, and Mook leaves frustrated not being able to feel) Well, Ron did not disappoint. I will never forget the look on Mook's face when he felt the movement--it almost scared him! He kept jerking his hand back at the shock of it. I love that he can feel him now, too.

Other tidbits of note: I am sorry to my bloggy friends--bloglines ate my new-updates over the weekend, so I am behind on reading. And as I read to catch up, it warmed my heart to see that Janna loves me :0) I love ya back! I love so many of you...but today I want to send this to two bloggers: Astral, because it's her birthday, and to No Swimmers-please go give her loads of hugs today.

• Voting: I did it. I am grateful for the opportunity to vote, and I pray for the future of this country, no matter what the outcome is. Not to mention, I'm so ready for this election to be over. I dream about the candidates because of all the political ads I see before falling asleep.
  

And last (but certianly not least) as the holiday's approach, it reminds me of the incredible generosity the blogging community extended to us this time last year when I was selling my Christmas CD through Shop Mom and Pop to help fund our FET. As a reminder, this CD is a professional recording of eight holiday songs (original arangements) by yours truly--guest appearance on one of the tracks by Mook! I am opening my "shop" again, and all proceeds from the purchase of the CD will go to the U.T.E.R.U.S. project.

How to order: The cost of the CD is $16. I will be able to accept paypal payments (credit cards may be used through paypal) and checks. Shipping is $2 to US and $4 for international. Please be sure to list an e-mail address or include one in the comment section/e-mail to me if you do not have an e-mail link associated with your blog. This is how I will get the paypal information to you! (You can simply e-mail me if you don't wish to leave a comment here--I welcome both!)

So there is loads of info you today. Re-read at your lesiure. :0)

100 Things About JJ

1. I love ketchup. I love ketchup on my ketchup. Did I mention I like ketchup?
2. I always have at least one tear-off-desk-calendar. I could deal with having lots of them-but I'd run out of desk space.
3. At the tender age of 12, when I babysat almost every weekend, I swore I would never be a mom. Did I jinx myself?
4. I get annoyed by the wet hair strands that come out after a shower or a haircut--they are next-to-impossible to get off my hands.
5. You know that shock you get after getting out of the car in the winter? Yea, that happens to me all year long.
   
6. I can't have an odd number of e-mails in my inbox.
7. My eyes used to be blue, then they were brown for about 2 weeks, and now they are green, and have been for 15 years.
8. I was never in a sorority
   
9. I want to go to Australia, but I can't stomach the plane ride (or price!)
10. I had a terrible cold on our wedding day, but adrenaline and Sudafed worked wonders.
11. I can't stand green peas
12. I love chicken salad--but I have to give it a taste test first!
13. I'm a terrible speller
14. I never learned how to calculate percentages correctly until I met Mook-he is the best math teacher I've ever had
    
15. I was born the day Mt. Saint Helen's erupted
16. I spent a month in Hawaii learning about culture-I am so glad this was the way I was exposed to Hawaii for the first time
17. I failed my physics exam in 11th grade
18. I created (and later graduated with) a minor concentration for the university I graduated from
19. I started a workforce program for the university I graduated from
20. I built 15 houses in 2 days with Habitat for Humanity
21. I've had a major crush on Chris O'Donnell since I was 13
22. I met my husband on the first day of college--he was my RA. We didn't date until 3 years later
    
23. Wire hangers are not allowed in my house--I hate them. All plastic, all the time.
    
24. I always wanted braces
25. I started our wedding scrap book the day we got back from our honeymoon: it's still not finished.
    
26. I procrastinate
27. I bought my first pair of Umbros in 6th grade with babysitting money-I still have the price tag. This was a big deal.
    
28. I don't like eating: tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe. My taste buds don't register any taste, so it's all mush to me.
29. I've been on 2 cruises, and don't care to go on anymore
30. I have terrible motion sickness (see above)
31. I have 12 cousins on one side of the family
32. I have 2 on the other side
33. As I type this, google ads are scaring me on how accurate they are in picking up key words: "Visit Mt. St. Helens"; "Algebra Made Easy"; "Lose Belly Fat"--yea thanks, I know.
34. My favorite number is 18. I should have put this for number 18.
35. I have a sister
36. I have a brother
37. I am the oldest
38. I'm a pretty good judge of character
    
39. I was an actress in London and Scotland : only in high school, so you won't find me on imdb; trust me-I've looked--haha
    
40. I have a girl crush on Ashley Judd and Shakira
    
41. I need some type of noise at all times: music, fan blowing, clock ticking...
42. I am a southerner born-and-bred, but I do not care for: grits, baked beans or corn bread (I just recently found a love for BBQ)
    
43. Speaking of BBQ, I'm married to a certified BBQ judge
44. I want to sky dive
    
45. Growing up, I wanted to be a severe weather meteorologist. Number 17 on this list was partly to blame for nixing that idea.
46. I love the movie "Twister"
47. People have said I look like Helen Hunt, Jewel, and Diane Sawyer
48. I love Jewel's music
49. When sitting, I curl my toes underneath my feet. Mook hates this--he tells me it freaks him out--so then I pinch him...using my toes.
50. I pronounce caramel: car-mel not care-a-mel
    51. I love, love, love Big League Chew (the gum)--especially the original flavor
    52. I love getting personalized holiday cards, BUT (and this is a big but) I enjoy seeing the people I know--NOT just the kid(s) or pets. I want to see my friends, too! It's a really big pet peeve!
    53. I rarely paint my finger nails
    54. Krispy Kreme doughnuts make me extremely happy
    55. I don't like pizza. I got really bad food poisoning from sausage pizza in high school--saved me tons of $$ in college!
    56. This list is starting out very food oriented. I like food.
    57. I type really fast
    58. I never took a formal typing class--do they even offer those anymore?
    59. My feet are always cold. Really, it can be 95 degrees, and they still feel cool to the touch. Not that you want to touch my feet...
    60. I use the word "lovely" too much
    61. I wear silver and white gold-not a fan of yellow gold
    62. I like chili with no beans
    63. If I eat a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, it HAS to be cold
    64. My favorite candy bar is a Milky Way
    65. Ok, seriously this won't be all about food
    66. Our lab knows exactly when it's time to eat--it's a bit creepy actually
    67. I can crochet, but not knit. I've tried to learn 3 times, and each time it's been a disaster...I need a good teacher!
    68. I already have my 2nd tattoo picked out, just not the location of where it will go
    69. This number always makes me blush and giggle
    70. When I hold a pen/pencil, it rests on my ring finger, not my middle. Im told this is rare. Anyone else hold it this way?
    71. When I write, I can make the paper curl--I press really hard
    72. I went through college in the AIM era--I would spend hours just checking people's "Away Status"
    73. I love living where I get to experience all 4 seasons
    74. I hate vomiting. Not that anyone enjoys it, just stating a fact.
    75. I remember getting finger-printed for a child's safety kit when I was 5--I thought I'd be moving into "that place with bars"
    76. I'm pretty much addicted to People.com. I gave it up for Lent one year--incredibly difficult to hold out.
    77. I hate ALL Clearblue Easy commercials
    78. College basketball is my favorite sport
    79. I get freaked out when Mook rubs his eyes--they sound like a squeaky wheel
    80. Growing up, I had a huge crush on my next door neighbor, who is about 6 years older than me. When my boyfriend broke up with me right before the high school Christmas dance, my neighbor offered to take me--we had the BEST time.
    81. I think CSI Miami is one of the worst written shows on TV, but I watch it every time I see its on. Why does Horatio always stand with his side facing whoever he's talking to?
    82. I'm debating on whether to grow out my hair or cut it short again
    83. Twizzlers used to be my movie theater preferred candy. Then I heard they had horse hooves in them. I don't eat twizzlers anymore.
    84. I really enjoy looking into my family genealogy
    85. Our lab snores louder than an 80 year old man
    86. I make my hot chocolate with warm milk and chocolate sauce (and of course topped with mini marshmallows). Mook thinks this is strange. Does everyone else just use the mix packets?
    87. I only had 2 wisdom teeth: both got removed in college
    88. My doctor's name was Dr. Pinch
    89. I woke up out of the anesthesia singing nursery rhymes and got mad at the nurse for throwing my teeth away
    90. I find it very amusing that Mook can sit down and watch infomercials for hooouuuurrrsssss...
    91. I really wish I could have seen Ella Fitzgerald in concert
    92. On Christmas day, if it is sunny out, the window blinds MUST remain closed. To me, it just needs to be cloudy/rainy/snowing on Christmas, and this way we can all pretend if its not! My whole family does this each year=)
    93. I'm a side sleeper
    94. In 1st grade, I made people call me by my middle name for a week
    95. The first time I visited NYC I couldnt take the subway--they were on strike
    96. I read anything James Patterson writes
    97. I don't like wrapping gifts: Mook takes care of that in our household-and he's damn good
    98. I really wish I was better at solving crossword puzzles. The only ones I can complete are in People magazine
    99. I prefer blue ink pens over black ink pens
    100. When I eat M&M's I have to empty the bag and sort them all into color groups before I eat them. I miss the TAN ones.
    

10 and a 0

This post marks 100 entries I have published into cyberspace! I could not imagine doing it on a sad/bad/mad note, so I'm just gonna get right to the best news of the day.

Mook's results:
10 million count; 20 % motility; 28 % morphology

By "normal" standards, this is still low, we are still 'great' candidates for IVF/ICSI, etc. but considering the fact that his first ever SA yielded only 2 million swimmers, we have reason to celebrate!! Mook has done a fantabulous job over the past year taking his vitamins, exercising, and eating well--and to be able to call and give him good news for once made me so happy. I could hear the excitement in his voice--he said "It's definite motivation to keep on track with what I'm doing!"

I'm also happy to report his infectious disease panel came back negative-so we are waiting on one last big piece of the puzzle: the chromosome results. Should be back by middle of next week--please pray, keep your fingers crossed, dance in the rain!

I can write about this now, because it's funny now but yesterday was looking pretty doom-and-gloom. Kate the nurse still hadn't gotten Mook's results faxed over from the lab (which should have been to her by Tuesday) so I had to do some investigating as to why...if you remember Mook's account of the sample/test-day, it was not an enjoyable time. He did end up dealing with a spectacular nurse at the lab he was instructed to leave his bodily fluids with. So I asked for her when I called to follow up.

Come to find out: the fax number was written down wrong...so yippee-let's fix it and get it on over to Kate to take a look-see! Not the end of the problem. Kind-lab-nurse calls me back--I immediately know something is wrong:

"JJ, honey, I've got some bad news...it seems that the urology office that Mook was referred to us from, didn't bother to mark on the form what you needed the SA for--therefore, we don't have the proper analysis results. The gist of what I'm trying to tell you: he's going to need to submit another sample."

Fuuuuuuuuudddddddgeeeeeeeeeee......

Making that phone call to Mook was the last thing I wanted to do...but he was a trooper. He was, of course, upset--so we both counted the days it had been since he, ahem, produced a sample and we were in a good time frame--thank goodness. So with a RUSH order in one hand, and yet another romance-in-a-cup in the other, he trotted into yet another lab. And I got the results two hours later!

When Kate the nurse called to tell me the news, I was thrilled! She must have been surprised, because she reiterated that we would still need medical assistance. But today, I'm celebrating the small victories!

More reasons to celebrate: it's May 1st and that means it's my birthday month! I celebrate all month long--in one way or another; just a small pleasure each day. Another way I'd like to honor my 100th post is by passing on a sweet mention that Waiting Amy gave to me last week.

There are many blogs that "Make My Day" so, I'd like to highlight a few that are like the cream in my morning coffee :0)

Bee Cee @ Definition of Insanity
Alison @ (un) complicate me
Mel @ Where's My Belly?
MommaSoon @ The Making of a Family
Alison @ The Baby Crusade

Now it's your turn ladies, to spread the love. Thanks for Making My Day!

The weigh-in about Chunky vs. Smooth is split almost even! Thanks for all your feedback--be sure to weigh in if you haven't done so--I order my meds on Monday!

So cheers to 100 posts, and here's to 100 more--I think you know what my wish will be as I blow out the candles...

shotgun, bang!

Follow along it's gonna be a bullet ride!

• I am finally getting to my tags. I know some people hate being tagged, others love the "meme's" (what a funny name) and then there are those like moi: I don't really hate them, but when I am tagged, I have to do it. I can't explain it: I guess that is one I can list as a quirky thing about me?

So here we go, (for Chris, Rebecca, Anla, Delenn, and Luna) I think you all know the rules by now-post weird/strange/funky things about yourself so other people can feel more normal. That's about the gist of it. I'm sort of combining the one that C, D, A & L tagged me for:

1) See bullet above. When tagged, I must do it, or I feel like the message will self destruct in 30 seconds. Clearly, that did not happen since I've sat on the tags for a good month now.

2) Can anyone guess what the title of my post is from? It may be from a few things, but what I think of is the song "Shoop" by Salt-n-Peppa. I know every word to that song/rap. I get into my groove when that song comes on-I get doooooown. I dare anyone to challenge my Shoop skills.

3) Mel Gibson made me get a tattoo. Well, he didn't come over to my house and drag me to the parlor, but after seeing Passion of the Christ, I wanted a daily reminder of my faith. While I wasn't a mega-fan of the movie, it touched a chord with me-and I love my cross tat!

4) I am a chicken salad connoisseur. I love me some chicken salad--but only a certain way. I request a sample of it before I order it anywhere, because I become seriously upset if it does not please my pallet.

5) Wire hangers are not allowed within 100 yards of my house.

6) I was the last girlfriend my third grade boyfriend ever had. We still keep in touch--he's an amazing Broadway actor, and he still teases me about our love affair on stage being better than one we would have ever had in real life.

7) My dream car is a 1942 Ford pick up truck.

8) I read magazines starting at the back. (Mook does too!)

Next tag is from Rebecca:

The rules are simple. Look up from the computer, look around the room where you’re sitting and pick up the closest book. Open the book, turn to page 123, count down to the fifth sentence on that page, and then post the next three sentences.

"Define that." ~Will Hunting, Good Will Hunting.

The closest book to me is my "Movie Book of Answers" but I love using it help me get funny answers to daily issues.

Onto more bullets....

• Emily sent me an email last week letting me know about a great opportunity! This is for Big Cat Rescue--they need donations of "Unused 3cc syringes with 18-22 gauge needles for the cats shots" It's a tax deduction too--we can all use some tax $! Their contact info is on the bottom of the web page. Thanks Emily for the great idea!
  
  
• I am so happy to be a part of the BlogHer network: yay!
  
  
• Keep checking the Infertility Diaries widget on the left hand side for new posts=) Thanks for coming over to give some feedback!
  
  
• The BlgrsUnite of NC are meeting on March 15th-I can't wait to see all the NC gals!
  
  
• Momo (one of many nick names for Mosley) is adjusting well! We are so glad he's a part of our family-thanks for his warm, warm welcome-Ill be sure to post some pictures soon!

• Did you hear?
  

• I'm done now. Thanks for making it through the bullet's! I tag Jen, Cathleen and Amy
  

I'm that person...

I'm that person who has a renewed sense of hope after so many lovely ladies getting BFP in the past few days.

I'm that person who sits here with a half smile on her face with a circling thought: I WANT to be that lucky.

I'm that person who has officially been trying "over one year to get pregnant"

I'm that person who wonders if simply sniffing a nasal spray is keeping my ovaries from popping out some eggs.

I'm that person who is worried about every single little detail: bubbles in the vial, sticking a vein, not enough eggs/too many eggs, my egg-his sperm not being friendly....oh the list goes on.

I'm that person who is hiding her face even as she types this: Will there be a BFP left for me?
(*funny how I think that the universe only allows a certain amount of BFP's..............but really, does it??)

Baseline ultrasound tomorrow. Last BCP was last night. Tick-tock....

*******************************************************

tagged by Sarah

10 things I can't stand

1 Worrying
2 Worrying that I worry
3 Colonies of ants in my kitchen pantry
4 Rude children
5 Jealousy
6 Long lines at the DMV
7 Stereotypes
8 Macy Gray's voice
9 IF
10 A runny nose (mine especially)

20 things I love

1 My mom's voice
2 Mooks hug's
3 My sister's laugh
4 My brother's goofy jokes
5 My dad's witty personality
6 cold st.one ice cream
7 mexican food
8 margaritas
9 wine
10 my pillows
11 my doggie
12 pasta and meatballs
13 evening walks with mook
14 having a REALLY clean car (i need to work on that)
15 vacuuming
16 singing
17 sitting at the beach with a book
18 james pat.terson books
19 building a snow man
20 camping

8 is Great!

M over at DTBAM tagged me for another fun-floater that is going around...this one is gonna be fun. There are some things that are very random and a tad insane about me. Hope you stick around after you read them....

So here are 8 random things about myself:

1 I cannot (and I really mean cannot) have an odd-number of e-mails in my inbox. I don't know if its a symmetrical issue (since I'm big on symmetry!) or a slight obsessive compulsive tick, but when I look in either my out.look box at work, or my g.mail I have to make sure the count of messages is an even number. So lucky for you if you come in and are an "odd" number, because I am going to be quick to respond to get you outta there!

2 I was born on the day Mt. St. Hel.en's erupted in Washington State (5.18.80) and right before my grandfather retired from flying with Un.ited, he made a trip out to WA, and collected a baby-ger.ber jar full of ashes from the eruption. I loved holding it my hands when I was younger--I thought it would give me great strength and even make me a little hul.k-like when I got mad-thank goodness my temper is not fiery hot (most of the time)

3 I hate wire hangers. When Mook and I got married and bought our house, I did a mean sweep of every closet, box and piece of clothing to get rid of them! They give my shirts "shoulder boobs" and it drives me crazy! Nothing but plastic hangers in my house...

4 Maybe the weirdest one-I look at numbers and think of them as "male or female." I remember the first time I ever admitted this to anyone was to my sister on a road trip from Rich.mond, VA back to Jame.s Madd.ison Univ. I saw a road sign, and decided to tell her my "secret" I really thought she was going to call the loony bin. Let me explain: I grew up watching Sesa.me Street and Gro.ver used to help me learn my #'s with puppets dressed up like a man or a woman...well he did such a good job that it was burned in my brain. So for example, when I write the number 34, I see male number 3 and female number 4. Crazy, right?

5 I hate spiders. A lot. The summer before I went off to college, I woke up one night to swat something off my face that felt "funny." Well that funny feeling was a half-dollar size spider, and to top it all off, when I reached over to turn my bedside lamp on, her babies were hatching all over the lamp...fabulous.

6 BUT, I love bees. Well, I have been stung by one, and I don't care for that--but I love what they represent--the strength and determination all through their lives. At one point in my younger years, my sister and I were both going through hard relationships/breakups, and we decided that we wanted to find a man who would treat us like queens--what woman doesn't! And our last initial is (was for me) the letter B. So I am the Qu.een Bee and my sister is Lil Be.e, and my mom is Mommy Bee! I love collecting unique things with bees on it--and Im still trying to convince my sister to get a bee tattoo with me=)

7 I have to clean the kitchen every night before I go to bed. I hate waking up to a sink full of dishes and food stains-I like a fresh, clean start!

8 I read Ti.ger Ey.es by Jud.y Blu.me 8 times. I loved that book when I was a teenager-and now, I can hardly remember the whole plot... Guess it's time to make it 9!

So now I am supposed to tag 8. So tag, these people are it:
Baby Blues
Sticky Bun
Hopeful to Hateful
Southern Infertility
$ Makes the Sperm Go Round
Blonde Ambitions
Ultimate Journey
Third Time Lucky

"The holiday that shall not be named" (and more)

Yes, I'm one of "those." A Har.ry Pott.er fan. I will be truly sad when I have turned the last page of the 7th book (but I just saw today that she might write an 8th book!! More of a compilation of stories that didnt make the other books) Anyway....the thought behind my little graphic above, relates to the story of how the evil Volde.mort must never be "named"...he's just too evil to mention, and well you get the picture...

I've read a lot of posts over the past few days that led up to "yesterday" and it breaks my heart that more of us couldn't celebrate the day as moms. I held together pretty well...my Har.ry Pott.er mentality stood strong against the evil Volde.mort--I only got teary once when I ran into someone I know through work at the farmer's mar.ket that wished me a "happy ______ day" She didn't know if I had kids or not, so she was staying on the safe side of wishing a good day for me. No harm--I just got in the car and hugged my dog--I'm her mom, right?

To help me keep me grounded, I decided to focus on the mom's that I am in close contact with every day-my coworkers. I am lucky to have a small office staff--all women! We do have men that work FOR us =) So I brought each one a rose on Friday-there will be no more new babies from these women--I think that helps-they have children, but no growing bellies. There is one exception-a woman I work very close with, who I love dearly. She and her husband were never able to have children-and Mook and I are her "stand-ins." We gave her a bouquet of roses and a cute card--she was very touched. She knows just as much about what we are going through as our parents, so we lean on her for support a lot!

Of course I celebrated my mom (and M-i-L) as well! We spent the day with my M-i-L and I was able to talk to my mom last night--I am extremely lucky to have 2 wonderful moms. They are the rock of both families!

And of course my sweet, thoughtful Mook got me 2 lovely cards, flowers and a purse I had been eyeing for a while--well, it was from him and our choc.olate lab--but she just kind of stared at me probably thinking there were milk bones somewhere in the purse....thank you Mook for being so sweet and celebrating me.

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In non-"Holiday that shall not be named" news-I got my CD.3 BW back last Wednesday as well as my med list. Our nurse said my BW looked "perfect." I told Mel when I visited the lushary, that it is so rare we hear that word anymore, that I took the time to enjoy it-and pray that it will keep being "perfect" as we move ahead.

So here are the digits:
F.S.H: 4.9
L.h: 3.3
Prola.ctin: 13.3

Mook's BW was good as well--he has already had his horm.one levels tested, but we both tested neg for everything else and confirmed our blood type.

As far as meds:
Brav.elle 75 IU; Meno.pur 75 IU; HC.G 10,000 IU; Syna.rel Nas.al Spr.ay; Med.rol; Doxy.cycline; Progeste.rone/Sesa.me Oil; Viv.elle Patch.

Any thoughts/ass-vice on these meds? I see these names floating around a lot of your blogs-so now I need to read up on side-effects and all that...
I don't have my protocol list yet, as I am doing the big task of pricing pharmacies and all that jazz. And a huge thank you to Jamie and Sarah for offering their left over meds--that will be a huge help, and Watson has provided me a great list of pharmacies to pester.

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Thanks for the sweet comments on the "i.am" poem--it was fun. But alas, I am sorry I am not able to share the 14-layer recipe-it is the family secret of my m-i-l's family: but once I find out how to ship a piece or 2, I will see what I can do!

T-minus-4 days til the b-day! I am glad I still enjoy b-day's: I don't dread turning another year older, as long as I can celebrate the heck out of it! And after the b-day I will be caffe.ine free along with Sticky Bun, Baby Blues and a few others...it is going to be hard-but as with all things-support will help us all make it through!

Here are 2 more questions Rebecca sent me:

3) Where in your house do you like to curl up and just *be*?
An old brown leather chair that was Mook's uncle's--it is "worn" in, but just right! It's the perfect spot to read and since it's next to a window-I'll open it and fall asleep listening to outside noises...

4) How did you meet your other half?
Mook and I met my first day of college...he was an R.A and had helped my parents move my things in, since I was still in a theater production in Scotland. My dad was "won-over" by Mook before we even thought of dating! Good way to start! So we quickly became friends, had mutual friends and stayed in touch all through college-but really started to hit it off senior year when we had all the same classes...the rest is history!

Tag-a-licious

I was tagged for a few fun-things, which has helped me keep my mind off of waiting for our bloo.d wor.k and med list to come back...which I'll update on later.

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I was so honored when I did my daily-click over to Sticky Bun to find that she had nominated me for a TBA. Many thanks! I still consider myself a rookie-so I appreciate the nomination and I do hope that our experience will be a learning tool for someone who finds our blog-I have learned SO much from all of you!

I have to use my rookie status and nominate all the blogs I read-I have benefited from each and every one. I am so thankful you all are willing to share your stories-everything from heartbreak to joy. I feel so connected to all of you! Thanks for sharing your life with me!

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Amy wrote a beautiful "I Am" poem and tagged me to use my right-brain and come up with my version...so here goes:

I Am...

I am a planner and a thinker-
I get annoyed by those people who don't use their blinker.
I make a mean 14-layer-chocolate-cake
Some call me as stubborn as an old rusted gate.
I love to make lists and cross off the complete...
Don't ask me to run a marathon-I get scared to compete.
You won't find me in any high-end store,
Instead look for me relaxing on the shore.

Perfection sometimes consumes me-I want to impress!
I aim for high levels of success...

I am not yet a mom and some days I'm not sure
I'm cut out to endure...
Most days even I don't feel mature.

But at the end of the day, my makeup removed
All I want to do is cuddle my Mook.
My desires are simple, I'm not asking too much
I just want to feel that tiny human touch...~~~~~~~~

Rebecca has given me a series of inter.view questions. I'll post the first 2, and answer the last 3 in another post. I would love to do this interview-process with The Braces Bunch, so girls in the group-be thinking of questions to send around with your notes! Not part of the Bunch, but want to be? Click on the "smile" visual on the right-side navigation bar.

1) If you could choose somewhere to go and live in the world for the entire month of May - your job/home/family/etc aren't an issue, although you may take whomever you like - where would you do?
Since it's my birthday month, I would want to go camping/hiking at the base of Mt. St. Hel.ens...a strange answer isn't it? I was born the day it erupted, and I have always wanted to visit and learn more about the landscape before and after it erupted. I would take Mook of course, and we would travel around that area and hike down inside the crater (as long as she's quiet!)

2) Do you read a lot? What do you like to read?
I love to read. I got hooked reading the Nan.cy Dr.ew series when I was little, and that kept me reading even when I was "required" to for school. I try to read all sorts of books--but I have to admit I'm a big Jam.es Patt.erson fan! I also have a decent size commute to work, so I enjoy a lot of audio books by all sorts of authors.

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And lastly (but not least!) here is my "good deed" that Bea encouraged us to do: my letter to the local Star.buck$:
Dear Michael,

I wanted to write directly to you to tell you how much I enjoy my morning coffee--not for the boost it gives me, but for the kindness I receive from the people behind the counter. Your staff is always ready to greet me, and remembers me by name. They take great care to ask how I am and tell me to have a great day. Please share this letter with your staff and thank them for making my caffeine experience a delightful one!

Regards,
A pleased customer

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So this ends the tag-o-licious post-I am going to go through and catch up with all of you! More to come about our recent developments and results...