09 September 2007

Where does time go?

Seriously, where does it go? I cannot believe it has been almost a month since I've blogged. So much has been going on, it's crazy!


I've done a lot of new scrapbook pages. I'll post them below. Some new designers are available at Scrapbookgraphics.com and their stuff is awesome! We've had another family birthday party since the last post and I have pictures and layouts to post from that.


Well, since last month, I've completed my mock IVF cycle and had the endometrial biopsy. That was interesting. The cycle was much more aggressive than past cycles have been. The meds were WAY more intense. And the biopsy is going to tell if the meds are causing my lining to be at the right time for the cycle. That probably doesn't make much sense, but if my lining isn't timed properly, than it won't be receptive to embryos. If it's not receptive, I either won't achieve a pregnancy, or will become pregnant but could miscarry - as is what seems to have been happening.


If the lining is correct for the cycle, we really don't have much else to do. I also had a biopsy done at the same time for an expensive test called the EFT Endometrial Function Test. It's done at Yale University and will tell my Dr. if I have a specific integer (?) that causes miscarriages. If it comes out positive that I do have this, then we will be able to treat it with meds. Not the meds that I or Bob want, but it will work.


Everything else that has been tested or looked at is perfect. No problems or explanations as to why I'd suffer from recurrent miscarriages. We are firm believers that "everything happens for a reason", so we just have to see what will happen. If this is all meant to happen, than we deal with it as it happens. The most important thing is that we add to our family. How we do that will be determined soon enough. Until then, we keep on keepin' on!


So, Bob has been travelling quite a bit for work lately. He leaves on Sundays and returns on Tuesdays. He drives to Edina MN, which is about 6.5 hours from home. Pretty stressful, but he has to do it. I wish he didn't and I don't think he really wants to either but we don't have much choice.


Lately, when we hasn't had to travel we've been doing some really fun family things. We have more planned too and I'm looking forward to the day when he won't have to travel at all! Last weekend, we went to Cantigny. If you're not familiar with Cantigny, it's a gorgeous estate that has an old war museum and military vehicles throughout it's property. You can climb on the tanks, look up closely to them, and learn about what war they are from or how they were used. When we went, the Big Red Museum had an exhibit titled Requiem. It was wonderful and very emotional. The display was all photos from the Vietnam War. The photos were taken by journalists, photographers from Vietnam and America or England and France. The importance to these photos was that the photographers never returned from Vietnam. Their film and photos were returned for all of us to look at and learn from, but unfortunately, they were not remembered for their incredible contributions to history. The entire museum was very moving. If you live near this museum, you should try to visit - you'd really enjoy it.


This weekend, our Nephew's daughter turned 1 year old and they had a party for her. Friends and family were there to help them celebrate. Below are pictures from Cantigny and Scrapbook Layouts from the birthday party.


Enjoy and I'll be back to posting soon - well, I'll try really hard to make it before 1 month!




The Birthday Girl, Reanna










Pictures From Cantigny:


13 August 2007

New Layouts....New Pictures...Lots of Fun!


It's been so long since I posted last, I cannot believe how fast time goes by. My son was away for a week at summer camp. A totally cool camp, called CyberCamps! He learns how to create video games for PC and stuff like that! I'll add more to that later.

Now for the latest and greatest in photos of some ADORABLE little kiddies. My niece Angelina turned 3 this past week and this last weekend we had a nice party for her. Here are some layouts that show how adorable these little kiddies are in my family! I'm so lucky I hardly have to ask for a picture, they're all little posers and models to be.



I'll provide credits shortly with links to some fabulous scrapbooking sites.
I've also been asked to be on two more Creative Teams, I'll write up some information about those fabulous designers and showcase their terrific works in my next posting - which should be within the week!
Thanks for looking, leave me a comment or two and I'll be so happy :-)








03 August 2007

Remembering Dagmar, My Mom - I miss you...

A year ago today, a mother lost her battle with cancer. She fought hard for the last three months she had. She lived a life that was full. She enjoyed her grandchildren and loved her husband. She set examples for us to learn from when we were young. She was raised by a hardworking German family that showed their love in different ways. She was a good mother and a good woman.

I miss you Mom. Remembering you today as you've been with God for a year, walking with Kevin, your brothers, and in-laws; living among the angels. We'll see you again some day. I know you are watching over us and I hope we are doing you proud.

May you rest in peace. I love you.

18 July 2007

IVF Update...

Well, that last post kinda stunk....I guess I need to review some more things about creating your blog and how to align things correctly!

My apologies to Dana for not making this the most presentable descrption of her work. I'll have to add more and align them better very soon!

For now, I'm gonna update you lovely people on our IVF journey. Last month's transfer was yet another unsuccessful one. I'm a little bummed, considering it was the third one and 3rd times the charm, right? WRONG!!

Dr. Uhler suggested a surgical procedure to make sure that all I's are dotted and T's are crossed along with doing a mock cycle so that we can really make sure that next time is the winner. Let's hope it is! Keep all those fingers and toes crossed, August 2nd I have surgery and we'll see if all is good...

For those of you who might be interested in finding out more about some of the steps that women take while on the "Infertility" journey, take a look at this forum....It's got a lot of information for several different types of diagnoses and it might help you or someone you know understand how to deal with friends and family who go through these trials. I found this site when we realized that we weren't going to be conceiving without some medical intervention!

RESOLVE is also a great group to try and become a part of. They have local support groups throughout the US and educational programs are also available. It's cool, check it out too if you're interested. They're actually The National Infertility Association.

And last but not least, I'd like to give credit to a wonderful team of doctors and nurses who are fully supportive, extremely intelligent and famously knowledgable about infertility and how to cope with it. These are the people at FCI. Dr. Uhler, Dr. Beltsos, the nurses, laboratory and administrative staff are fabulous. If you need an RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist), this is the place to go. Considering IVF? this is the place!

Well, that's it for now....I hope you all enjoy the new slideshow I've added along with some new layouts. I'll be posting some more goodies in a little bit!

Talk to ya later~

Yeah! I'm on Dana Frantz' Creative Team!

Yes! I know it, how lucky am I?
Not only do I get to work closely this month with Traci Reed, but now I'm on Dana's Creative Team!!!
WOW WOW WOW!

You have got to check out her Designs. She's amazing with these jewels and frames. Just incredible colors on her Bejeweled Papers. Adorable Zoo animal goodies and so much more!!!


Dana has a studio/shop at ScrapbookGraphics.com where you can get all the latest kits, elements and goodies for your digiscrappin' needs! Check it out now!

OH!!! and following are some layouts I've created with Dana's schtuff!!! If you dig 'em, leave me a little love!