Monday, January 26, 2015

Winter, groomed, treadmill, fertility, and update

I never know what to title my posts because normally, they are all over the place. So i'm just going to break it down in order. Lets start with the weather...haha

We have been having some foggy weather as of late and I personally LOVE the fog. I think it's cool. I also love it because it causes everything outside to turn into crystals. Every tree branch, wire on fences, everything in covered in white frost that looks sparkly and so pretty. 

This here is my favorite about winter. When it's still cold out but not frigid, the roads are clear, you don't have to scrape your car, and its simply beautiful outside!

Libbie got groomed last week. Thank goodness. She looks SO much better, and i'm sure she feels so much better too. 
Isn't she adorable now? Gah! I just love her. So cute!

We bought a treadmill! Oh man this was kind of a stressful thing for me. Long story short, last summer, I kinda got into running. I got to where I could run 5.5 miles and was constantly running at least 3 miles. There were a lot of times though that I would want to go running, and couldn't..or should I say wouldn't..simply because, A. The times I could was at night and I didn't want to go running in the dark outside late at night especially by myself. B. There was times I would want to go before I showered and got ready for the day but didn't want to go with crazy bedhead (my hair was short and couldn't pull it up to hide bedhead). and C. The weather is all over the place here. I don't want to run in rain, snow, or 100 degrees. So simply buying one totally made sense. I could workout whenever I wanted in the privacy of my own home with comfortable temperatures. After looking around on Craigslist for months, and seeing if anyone was selling theirs on Rexburg Garage and Yard sales with no luck, I finally decided to just buy my own. I ended up ordering it off Amazon. It's nothing super fancy but it does just what I need. We put it in the last little space we had left in our apt so its squishy, but I don't even care! I love having it and have used it every day since...so twice. haha
Thank you Caleb for setting it up for me. :)


BOOM! works like a champ and I love it!

We found out last week that Caleb is basically famous. haha not really, but he is on the internet. You know those articles that get posted on Facebook that say something like..You Know it's Cold in Rexburg when.... and then it goes on to have a list of funny things? Well there was one that was being shared on Facebook and Caleb is in one of the pictures.
The car one is his. He's standing right next to his old white car. haha we were dying when we saw this! We have NO clue how someone got this picture either. This car accident happened back when he was I think a junior in high school. So....8 years ago? And by the way, this crash was not Caleb's fault. See how much the dark car's front window is scraped? And the police were obviously already to the scene, so it even had time to defrost a little bit. So yes, the dude ran into Caleb, and now Caleb likes to think he is famous because he is in an article that keeps getting shared. haha


I went to my sisters house on Friday to just hang out with her and Kash. It was so much fun! I love them both!
Kash sat on my lap while I rubbed his face for probably 20 min. This kid is known to NOT like to sit still for even a min. I enjoyed every minute of him relaxed and calm. haha Those cheeks kill me. So fat and kissable.

And I managed to take a sweet little picture of Kash with his momma. So so precious! 

My grandpa, my mom's dad, is in his last few days of living. He's been fighting cancer for years and it will take his life. We are all waiting for a phone call any time. It's bittersweet. When you see and hear about someone you love be in their last days, it's like you would rather see them go. I want him to go, I want him to see his wife again. It's hard for us here, but at the same time, when they are in that state, I personally like to see them go. I know I will see him again. Bless my mom's heart. A funeral will be most likely within a weeks time. Thank goodness for the gospel and the peace it brings when someone passes on. 

And lastly. Our fertility appointment was today. 
(sorry the pic is sideways)

$175 office visit and 2 prescriptions later...

I think I mentioned in one of my past posts that I decided to switch doctors. So today was the day that we met with the new doctor and let me just say, WAYYYY better experience than the last fruitcake. I walked out with so much more hope. His bedside manner was SO much better. I was way more impressed by him. I think where this doctor went through infertility with his wife for over 18 years, he was able to see and understand us and where we were coming from. Caleb liked him wayyy better too. Long story short, for Caleb, his semen analysis results weren't quite as bad as the last doctor made them out to be. Some things are normal and some are on the low end of normal. So still something we have to work with but not as horrible as we were told last time. The problem they think is happening is that the sperm aren't penetrating the egg. So for him, he will continue to take his medication called FertilAid to help with quality of sperm. For me, well, I had a prescription called Clomid that I was supposed to start taking on Christmas day. I had so much anxiety with it that I couldn't get myself to take it. I have heard horror stories with it and deep down didn't feel like I was supposed to take it. So it's been sitting in my cupboard since November. And today after telling this doctor my story and what not, we decided to change routes. This doctor was certain I had diabetes and possibly PCOS. All my symptoms lead back to both of these. :( All four of my grandparents had diabetes which means my parents will 100% get it which means me and all my siblings will get it if we all don't already have it. So, he prescribed me a medication called Metformin. It's for people with diabetes but is also used for people with infertility. Infertility is caused by so so many things and diabetes is one of them. So with Caleb's not great sperm, me now being a diabetic, and also possibly having PCOS is all possible factors of why we haven't gotten pregnant. Anyways, back to prescriptions. Metformin has some gnarly side effects which I am NOT looking forward to. There is a girl I work with going through Infertility and is taking it and has thrown up multiple times a day since starting it. It really messes with your gut for a good while till your at your optimal dose. So yeah, that should be fun. He also prescribed me another medication called Femara. And that is supposed to make my hyperovulate. I already ovulate on my own so I may ovulate 2, 3, 4, even 5 eggs in one cycle. Hence the reason the percentage of multiples goes up. That drug also has some not fun side effects. Mainly crazy mood swings, hot flashes, and can also upset your tummy. That will be taken on top of the Metformin. It's gonna be a doozy few months I tell ya. The doctor wanted me to try and lose some weight. I have tried and tried and tried for years and fail every time. The diabetes and PCOS would answer why I can't. So i'm hoping this medication makes it easier for me to do so as it balanced out sugars and all that diabetic stuff. So good thing we just bought a treadmill! I HAVE to use it now. haha. And then lastly, next cycle, we will start the Femara and then do an IUI. We can do 3 rounds of IUI. But if we still aren't pregnant after the 3rd IUI, we will head to Utah to do IVF with ICSI. I have seriously never prayed so hard for something to work out. I am praying we don't have to go to Utah. That is so much money. Even today we spent $175 just for the doctors and another $45 dollars on medications. Total each month with the IUI's will cost us probably close to $600 a month including visits, medications, and procedures. That's a whole lot cheaper than $20,000.00 ! So, prayers are welcome :) We are trying to stay positive, hopeful, and cautiously optimistic. A family will happen one way or another. Clearly it's not how I planned of getting one and God is teaching us something. We are strong. We are happy. We are hopeful. 





Monday, January 12, 2015

Little update


Last Wednesday, me, Caleb, and some people from his work (we're all friends) went night snowboarding up at Kelly Canyon. Because I have NO idea where my snow stuff is at, it took that whole morning and day to actually find me some snow stuff to go, but we finally found some. THANK goodness. We both hadn't been in two years! and even then, that was once that whole year. So being able to go was fun. It was nice to have a fun date with Caleb that is totally up his alley. We both are a bit rusty but it turned out to be a lot of fun. It was seriously perfect weather, good snow, and was a super slow night which makes it SO nice. I broke my binding on our last run...so perfect timing I guess, but I won't be able to go again till I get some new ones. All in all, it was a perfect day!..besides the sore muscles afterwards ;)
Two years ago...

And last week. On our way up anyways...

Saturday I got to give my nephew his first haircut. Hes not even 4 months old and it needed to be done. He looks handsome as ever now!
Wasn't having it.


But oh how that little mohawk looks so cute!

As for other news, me and Caleb headed to Idaho Falls today to sign release papers to switch doctors. I know we are switching in the middle of treatments but I was just not happy at all with my current doctor and my gut was tellin me to go somewhere else. The doctor we will now see I think will be better for us seeing that he himself and his wife went through infertility and is also a high risk doctor which Id be under if a pregnancy occurs. So, as annoying as it is to wait yet another two cycles to be seen and get the ball rolling with him, we're hoping its worth it. I guess we'll see!

Me and Caleb are doing good otherwise! Life is pretty much the same. 

Libbie is also good. Every week she goes to Caleb's parents house while we are at work and absolutely LOVES it there. Way more than here to be honest. If she goes more than a day not going to grandpa's, she about drives me and Caleb bonkers. So by Monday nights, she drives us nuts because she will do ANYTHING to get our attention to play. One can only play for so long! Don't think that we neglect her and don't play, it's just that she would literally play 24/7 if she could. 
She will just hop up on my shoulder if she's desperate for attention.

And if I don't give it to her, she will soon lay down and be all depressed and stay there till I physically move her. Spoiled pup. Good thing she's cute!



Thursday, January 1, 2015

So long 2014

To be honest, I'm kinda glad 2014 is over. It wasn't a bad year, but not great either. Most things I had planned on happening this year, didn't. So we are definitely looking forward to 2015. Let's break down this past year in an overload of pictures.

January 
I babysat 3 days a week, worked 3 days a week, and did my dental assisting school. I was busy!
Caleb started another semester of school.



 February

We sold our Honda Accord and bought our Ford Escape which we still love. I would have to say as far as big moment's go, this was the best one this year. 

We had a wild moose hang out in our backyard that would come and go for about 2 weeks or so.

Date night



 March
(excuse the nastyness, pudgy, swolleness)

March was a tough month. After 10 months of doctors, I had surgery which ended up not helping me. I hate to be a downer but it did nothing for me. Still in pain, still not pregnant. This was when our infertility really started to get to us.  


April
We celebrated Easter


 May

We went to Mesa Falls with my family. Caleb couldn't go since he was at work.

I went to Lagoon with some girls from work. 
Me and Caleb took a trip to Boise for Caleb's upcoming promotion. 



June
We got family pictures done. 
Caleb finished another two semesters of school.
This was a big month for us. Caleb got a huge promotion at work. Big Juds got new owners and Caleb basically took over the restaurant. He was working crazy hours while they remodeled. As in from 10 in the morning till 4 in the morning. That sucked, but it was for the better.

In the middle of a busy month, we managed to get a super fun date in. It ended up in buying matching pajama shirts. 

I rode up to Driggs with my family and watched the Huntsman fireworks. AMAZING

Libbie got groomed.


July
I was in the parade for work.

I turned 22 and we had a family reunion at Heise on the same day.

I gave my nephew his first haircut.

Me and Caleb took a Sunday drive to Fall Creek Falls.

I got my wisdom teeth pulled. :/
This was also the month that Rexburg had a flash flood.
I finished my dental assisting school!


August

First time canoeing/kayaking


We had the Niederer reunion at Rigby Lake.

I had a couple of raises at work by this time.


September
We celebrated 4 years of marriage!! Woo!!


We traveled to Boise for Caleb's work. While we were there, we were treated to dinner, and a Boise state football game. First time for us. We also got to go to the aquarium, visit my grandpa and step grandma, and hang out with some friends. 


My nephew Kash was born!


October
Gaming/chatting--the usual.

I spent a lot of time at my sisters with her new baby. This time I took my other nephew with me.


Halloween happened and we did absolutely nothing. haha


Our home started to flood from the mass amounts of rain we had.

Took family pictures. 



November

Caleb attempted to eat the Big Jud at work with some work friends.

Caleb turned 25!

Had our first snowfall of the year.


Started our fertility journey with doctors, doctors, and more doctors. Definitely one of the most emotional months we've ever had.  

I FINALLY got my diploma for dental assisting. It was official now. (even though they spelled my name wrong on my diploma)

We had Thanksgiving at my parents.

Went shooting


December
We got pictures done for Christmas cards.

Had lots of snuggles from our fur-baby Libbie
Celebrated Christmas Eve with my love at both families homes.
Had our 6th Christmas together!



Had New Years Eve at my brother's house with all my family.

I don't remember everything I wanted to accomplish this year, but the main one I was really hoping for was to get pregnant. That obviously didn't happen. It seems like all we did was do a decent amount of medical stuff and see a lot of doctors. Surgery, wisdom teeth, and infertility. It's a bit overwhelming. We have had more doctors bills than we've ever had. It's definitely been one of the most emotional years we have ever had. At the same time, as I write this post and break it down month by month, I forgot that a lot of really good things happened too. It makes me grateful for my overload/annoyance (to some people) of pictures I take. I love looking back on life and what we've done. 

I'm not one to really set goals anymore because either I set unrealistic goals and never accomplish them, or I have just really bad luck and don't accomplish them. ha ha. I personally feel that you don't need a new year to start better, although it is kind of a refreshing feeling to start fresh and new and I think that's why people make goals. So, I do want to attempt. I know some may not happen but I at least want to work towards it, weather it's achieved this year or not. So my goals, both big and small are these:

1. I am praying to get pregnant. I know the road to get there is going to be tough, if it's even possible, but I am REALLY trying to stay as positive as I can. If it doesn't happen this year, then that is just really going to suck. Keep your fingers crossed that treatments work.

2. I really want to focus on the good in my life. I think this last year has really tested my patience and made me kind of a negative nancy. I want both me and Caleb to just enjoy life. Not that we don't. But I want for us to not compare ourselves to others so much, and simply find the good in life. I know that there is ALWAYS something good and something to be grateful for. I need to focus on that rather than what I don't have. 

3. I want to become even stronger in the gospel

4. I want to become a better wife by cooking more meals. I am a horrible cook and where we live, our oven I swear was made in the 1800s. Ok not really, but it's the old dial ovens. 2 burners won't even turn on and your lucky if 1 of the 2 that do work doesn't light up in flames. Thank goodness we don't have smoke alarms. Those bad boys would be going off probably ever other day. So to my defense, our oven sucks. But I have got to get better at making food. We got a pan set for Christmas from my parent's and I plan on putting them to good use. With or without flames.

5. We are SO close to buying a house. I am praying that Caleb's work continues as planned so that we can make that happen. It's so close I can taste it. I truly think this year it will happen. Logically thinking. All the other years, I was just excited and antsy and knew deep down it wouldn't. But this year, I think realistically, it will happen. 

And that's really my main goals. I know if all those happen that this year will be one to remember. I know they are big milestones in life and we are READY for something great to happen. I am grateful for a new year. I am grateful to spend another year with Caleb. I am excited and looking forward what this year brings us. Happy New Years!