A departure

Today I worked 9am-7pm at the vet clinic. I got to observe (and help out) the doctor spay a small dog (laproscopically). It was probably the coolest thing I've ever gotten to do!! If anyone had told me a year ago that I'd be doing this sort of work, I would never have believed it (I said the same thing about going to Japan 10 years ago). My job at the vet clinic is so different from anything I've ever done. I mean, I teach French for a living! I sell hot dogs during the summer months! HELLO!?! It was absolutely amazing. It was also very difficult work--my friend Angie said tonight that maybe one day, I'll want to change careers. Frankly, I like my assistant title--I don't need to be a big wig in this type of business. I'm more than happy to take a back seat to the real pros.

My mom is doing so much better!! She goes twice a day to therapy (physical and occupational) to learn how to do old things in a new way. She got her release date--Tuesday October 30th. We'll be waiting for delivery of her new leather recliner this weekend (where she'll spend the majority of her time, even time sleeping at night). I think she's excited to go home, though the place she's at has definitely been nice! The people are nice and being a newer facility, things are clean and run smoothly. It's still going to be a few months before she can get back to work. Heck of a way to take a vacation!

Time for bed. Bonne nuit!

A new week

It's the start of a new week, and a new way of thinking about things. I've decided this today. :) I'm going to call a new fertility doctor that Paul researched and hopefully we can get in to see him soon. If treatments can't be done in the month of December, we'll hold off until March (when I'm finished teaching MWF). This is our last shot--I can't do this more than one more time, but if it doesn't work, who knows--I may consider one more after that (especially if I'm not in heavy work mode). IVF isn't difficult, but it's keeping up with all the monitoring appointments, drugs, shots, and everything else that makes it exhausting. I had more stress worrying about getting to my 8am class on time than anything else. Not having that might make it more tolerable.

My mom is doing so much better! Considering all of her injuries, she's doing pretty well for herself. She's in a new rehab facility (nursing home) in Aurora, which is quite nice. She keeps talking about going home soon, but her mind changes all the time about this. I go by to see her and run errands for her as much as I can, however she's starting to expect a little more from us that we're able to provide for her. Maybe she's gotten spoiled by having us around more than usual. We all want to help out but we still have to work and get on with our lives, and taking whatever little free time we have to spend on her can be taxing at times. We'll see how the next few weeks (or month) go.

I'm trying hard to keep up with grading and school-related work, all the while working at the vet clinic. My normal hours amount to about 10 hours a week (Tues and Thurs only), but this week, I worked Sunday at the open house, and on Thursday I'll work a long day from 9am-7pm. I'm kind of hoping this is a one-shot deal and that I can get back to a normal schedule next week. I feel so overwhelmed with everything right now. Thankfully, there are only 4 weeks left of the MWF class! I'll have a little breathing time after that.

Hope everyone is doing well!

The results are in.

NEGATIVE. Today was the official fertility center pregnancy test, and it was a big, fat negative. We did, however, end up with one frozen little bugger that we can use later, but one isn't enough. The doctor I spoke to tried to get me to make arrangements to come in soon, but I think we're going to try another doctor. I wasn't all that pleased with this one, though I'm not sure if they're all like this or not. I guess we'll find out. I'm fine with all this--I really am.

My mom is doing ok--her spirits are pretty good. She was told today that it'll be at least 3 months before she'll be allowed to go back to work, but she'll be able to go on disability after 30 days. That's good news, considering! She's still in the hospital but is due to be released in a day or two for a rehab center (pending insurance approval). She'll likely go to one in Wheaton, which is only about 15-20 minutes from where I live so I'll spend a lot of time there. She's not in too much pain and has even been up and to the bathroom a few times. She's wearing THE BOOT again (this is a long-standing family comedy/sore spot--too long of a story to explain here).

This has certainly been a busy week! I think it's time for a beer. Yes, it's Miller time. More soon...

Heck of a day

Today's been quite the busy day. This morning, my mom was in a bad car accident. She had just left for work and was slowing down for a turning car in front of her when she was slammed from behind by a bus, then the car went into a tree. She's ok, but ended up with a broken arm, ankle, and sternum. She's really sore and in a lot of pain right now. It'll take her a while to recover but thankfully, it wasn't any worse than it was. She was admitted to the hospital and will probably stay there for a few days, then go to a rehab facility. Yes, folks, my mom will be in a nursing home. We gave her a hard time about that today. Anything to make her smile!

While I was at the hospital with her, I got a call from the fertility place. They left a message saying they were expecting me today for a pregnancy test. **SAY WHAT?** I called them back and they told me that they normally do them 12 or 13 days after the embryo transfer. The woman was actually pissy with me for not showing up today, despite the fact I made an appointment for the date they told me to originally--October 26!! Like I'm supposed to know how these things work?! Anyway, I told them I can't make it in until Thursday. Tomorrow, I'm being observed during class (by the dept chair) so that's making me really nervous--to have a pregnancy test looming in my mind would drive me mad, so I decided to wait another day. Besides, I took another home test yesterday and it was negative, so if I'm doomed to hear bad news, I'd like to put it off as long as possible.

Other than that, things are running smoothly. I say that with a bit of sarcasm. :) Paul's brother left today to move out to California (he was living with us for the past 2 weeks). The house has been reclaimed! I can finally catch up on Tivo-taped shows! Hahahaha.

Hope everyone is happy and well!

The news so far....

Well, yesterday I tried one of those home pregnancy tests. The results were negative. I keep hearing that it was possibly too early, that the pregnancy hormones can't be read yet, but to me, it's not looking good. I'm still going to follow all the rules and do what I'm supposed (and avoid what I should), but frankly, I'm just not feeling it. I haven't gotten my period yet (it's due today, but with all that's been going on down there in the last month, I wouldn't be surprised if it was late). If I don't get my period by Monday, I'll take another test (I have 4 of them under the bathroom sink!).

We're headed to Waynee World (Michigan) this weekend for some R&R (for me) and pier removal (for the boys). Actually, I'm going to spend a great deal of time grading the 55 compositions and 40 exams I have to grade. Ick. Only 5 weeks of class at NCC and 8 weeks at WCC. I'm counting down the weeks...

Hope everyone out there has a great weekend! Lisa, have a GREAT time at your baby shower! Sorry to miss it!

Definitely NOT hormonally challenged

This past Sunday, I started wearing an estrogen patch. I put 2 of them on my stomach every other day. This is in addition to the progesterone that goes in the coochie. Let me tell you--this is a lethal combination!! I've been on fertility drugs for a good 6 weeks now and have not had the emotional roller coaster like I've had the last couple of days. Yesterday was particularly bad, having to deal with issues that normally might have slightly ticked me off but were full-blown ordeals by the end. Sadly, I'm unable to figure out how to post the best example of this (a voice mail received from a colleague). Write to me if you'd like me to send it to you. It's 72 seconds of pure, classic entertainment.

Work has been ok. I just found out that the room in which I teach at NCC will no longer have a computer or projector available in it. It did for the first few weeks, but now it's gone. This really sucks as some of my lessons involve having the ability to project things to the students from the internet or other software. At WCC, I only had 11 students show up for class last night (an additional one wrote to say she's sick), so I'm afraid my once-large class is dwindling! Thankfully, for both, I'm half way through the semester/term--only 5 weeks of NCC to go and 8 weeks of WCC left. I think this is the first time I've ever counted down the weeks until break. I'm just not into it much this year, likely due to everything else we're going through.

I have my appointment set for October 26th to get the official pregnancy test, though I have a few home tests that I'll likely try before then (like later this week!). We're headed to Michigan this weekend (Waynee World) for a little fall relaxation (at least for me--the boys are taking out the pier), something I've never tried at this time of year. It'll be strange not going for boat rides or swimming and sunning! I'm still looking forward to the distraction, and maybe getting some much-needed grading done.

Until the next time....

Lalalalalalala

WOW....2 days of doing nothing but laying around is exhausting!!! I've been reclined on the couch, bed, futon, chaise lounge, anywhere that will take me, though I've gotten up on occasion to sit at the computer, dinner table, and the potty. I called Kate yesterday and actually said that I was tired of sitting on my couch. I never in my life thought I'd say anything like that! I'm the ultimate lazy bum in my normal life. Now that I get the chance to do it officially, I'm not really all that happy with it. More than anything, I'd like to just leave the house, take a scooter ride, run some errands, but I'm trying my best to be good, follow all the rules, and really give the little nubbins a chance to stick.

So, I sit and twiddle my thumbs each day. My plan is to stay in and reclined tomorrow, which is probably overkill but I guess I feel like the odds are against us. Paul will be running my errands for me and doing stuff around the house. Sunday, we have his brother's going away party. For those who don't know, Steve is moving to California on the 16th of October. He moved in with us about a week ago and will stay until the 16th. He's basically living in the basement and back bedroom for now.

If you're reading this, feel free to give me a call! I go back to work on Monday (after missing 3 days this week--2 teaching, 1 vet clinic). The pregnancy test is scheduled for the 26th so it'll be quite a long wait until then--with any luck, I'll keep busy and not be thinking about it too much!

Tomorrow's the big day!!

Yes, you read that right--tomorrow (Thursday) at 10am is the embryo transfer. We're kind of struggling right now with the debate about whether the 3 day or 5 day transfer is better. The doctors seem to think that tomorrow is better for us. There are reasons that defy my ability to explain, but Paul is on the hunt for a lot more research to make sure we're doing the right thing. It's a tough debate and lots of people (doctors and patients) have a lot of different opinions about it. To see one, just google "ivf 3 day vs. 5 day" (sans quotes) and you'll see what I mean. The first article listed is enlightening, if not a big discouraging. We're getting info from internet and IVF survivors, and things are kind of gelling together for me a bit.

After the transfer, I get to come home and be a slug for 48 hours. That means no teaching, no vet clinic, no doing anything but laying around (awww...). Speaking of the vet clinic, I had my official start date there on Tuesday (I'll be there on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for about 8-10 hours a week--short, but that's about all I can handle in addition to teaching!). They opened this past Monday and I was there a couple times last week to help set stuff up, but Tuesday I started my duties as Veterinary Assistant. Those of you who have known me a while know that when I was younger, my dream was to be a vet. Well, I'm not a vet, but I get to do really cool stuff and this is probably as close as I'll ever get to being a vet while having a MA in French. :) I mostly just get information from clients before the doctor sees them, help her hold the animals during shots, fill prescriptions, and do other small, minor tests. It's so awesome though!! There will be times when I'm sitting at the front desk greeting people as they walk in. Other times, I might be walking dogs around the area. It's a diverse job and I'm looking so forward to learning more and more. AND...the best parts...I have business cards, and I wear scrubs!!! IT'S THE COOLEST JOB!!

That's the latest. I'll update again after tomorrow, though I really won't know anything until they do a pregnancy test in a few weeks. Wish us luck!!!

Happy Easter!

**UPDATE: we have 6 fertilized eggs!! Still not sure of the transfer date, but I should know more tomorrow.**


WOW! The last 5 days or so have been such a roller coaster. Last Thursday, I was told I had only 3 eggs (not even enough for retrieval, so they were going to do artificial insemination). Then at my appointment Friday morning, they suddenly said I had enough eggs (4) so the retrieval was back on. At Saturday morning's appointment, they had a few more than that so they scheduled it for yesterday (Monday). They go in and pull out fifteen of those little buggers!! Yes, you read that right. We were completely in shock! I don't know how many of those are mature enough to be fertilized, but the nurse seemed to think around 10 of them would be good. That's an amazing number! We'll find out for sure in the next day or so when they call with the news, then give me the day I need to go back in to have them put in (it'll either be Thurs or Sat).

Eggs, eggs, everywhere eggs!

The downside to finding 15 eggs is the pain my poor ovaries are feeling right now. Hoochie mama! Last night, I could barely get myself off the couch. Today is better, though I'm still noticeably sore. I still plan to go to work this afternoon (vet clinic) but I might not bowl tomorrow night. I keep thinking that moving will help it feel better, but it really doesn't. Neither does Tylenol 3 (bummer!!).

I'm so happy that this whole experiment might actually work! The thought of only having a few eggs was discouraging, to say the least. I hated the thought of having to possibly go through this all again next month. I won't feel completely good about things until I find out how many eggs can be fertilized, but the nurse gave us a lot of hope yesterday.

More when I know it!!