So Spring has sprung and I have some hyacinth out front. I also planted a couple of other flowers last fall that are coming up but I can't remember what they are, so once they bloom, you will all have to help me identify what they are! I'm absolutely loving this weather lately and can't wait to have the windows open for some GREAT sleeping weather before it gets too hot! April has been very busy for Ben and I. We traveled to Muscatine twice to visit Connie and Mike, Ben's mom and step dad, to LeMars over the Easter weekend to visit my parents and to the Quad Cities to visit Lyle and Gail, Ben's dad and step mom who were in town from Nashville. This coming weekend, Nick and Beth are visiting and I am excited! Beth is an amazing and talented artist and will be painting us a backsplash. I know what you are thinking, paint? Yep, but it looks like actual tile at less than half the cost. And I am glad to be able to put a donation to help our friends get one step closer to their IVF goal. :) I plan to post the excellent pictures next week, if I don't forget! Coming up in May, Ben and I are running/walking a 5K to raise money for ChildServe. ChildServe is where I work and helps kids who have special needs by providing case management, SCL, respite, therapy and also have care units for kids to live when they are unable to live at home. I'm excited to help out the agency and if you are free on May 8th, sign up! http://tiny.cc/rvomu
Hope you all are well!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Congratulations Dad!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Getting Healthy
I wanted to give a quick update on my getting healthy goal. In the past year and half, I have lost 27 pounds(6 just since January!), worked out for more hours than I care to keep track of, and changed my eating habits significantly. In addition to all of these physical changes, I've started thinking differently as well. You know, it's not fair that I have to bust my ass in the gym or that I have to keep track of every single calorie that goes on my plate and into my mouth. However, that is my life if I want to be at a healthy weight, feel better, participate in activities that I enjoy and be generally happy with where I'm at in my life. Additionally, working out has turned into a routine and really helped me manage the stress of taking 3 classes, working full time and working two part-time jobs. I start to think about what the hell I'm going to do with my life once school is over and I only have one job. Is that really going to be possible for me? How will I be able to handle free time? I guess I'll just have to wait and see. I'm starting to think more positively about our future. I still worry about what might happen or if we are able to conceive, but all we can do is think positively and hope for the best. Anyway, tomorrow is another Monday so it's time for me to sleep and rejuvenate my brain and body! Hope this finds you all well!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Where did January go?
Today is the last day of January and I'm not sure where the first day went! This month has brought a lot: one last Christmas celebration, newly assessed tax payments (boo), our highest electricity bill yet (double boo), the realization that I had at least 5 jobs last year (there may be more W2s coming), interestingly, we are willing to pay more for a specific food so the cat poop stinks less, the start of LiveHealthy Iowa and hopefulness of weight loss, running routine, lots and lots of laundry and delicious new recipes! The hope is that these new recipes coincide with the LiveHealthy Iowa goal...we shall see. School has also started again for both of us. I'm in my 2nd year of graduate school and Ben, we thought, was in his final semester. Turns out, he miscalculated one class and will be 3 credits short. He is likely to graduate this semester but have 1 class left to finish! I insanely signed up for 3 classes and am hoping that I don't drown between that and free time and work...
This year, I'm at three jobs, so hopefully we stick with that and I will remain employed throughout 2010. With the weather as crazy as it has been this past month, it will be interesting to see how next month goes. We can only hope for cheaper bills, but have accepted the fact that we do not have as much control over this as we would like. As far as kitty poop goes, we made a joint decision that we are willing to pay more for cat food to save our noses from the awful stench that eeks out of Coda in particular. I guess we know where our priorities lie.
LiveHealthy Iowa is off to a good start. I'm on a team with my coworkers at ChildServe and I am serving as team leader. I've lost 3 pounds and am motivated to help out my team. We are competing in both weight loss and minutes of activity category and we want to WIN! Somedays I just don't want to do any exercise, but knowing that my team is counting on me and I'm their "leader" is helping guilt me into doing something! On a side note, I'm up to running a 10 minute mile! This is huge considering I'd been at 12 minute miles for about a year! Currently, I'm planning to compete with some friends in Dam to Dam later this Spring! It's 12 miles from Saylorville to downtown Des Moines and if I finished the half marathon, I can finish this! I think.
New recipes have been pretty successful this month. We've made a meatball casserole, which was even better as a leftover, I've successfully made my own Chicken Tortilla Soup in the crockpot and I have a couple more on the back burner. One of which is Chocolate Mint Cookies. Ben is chomping at the bit for me to get these made, however, there just isn't enough time in the day some days.
So there it is, update for the month. Hope you all are well, whomever you are! Welcome February, I'm ready!
This year, I'm at three jobs, so hopefully we stick with that and I will remain employed throughout 2010. With the weather as crazy as it has been this past month, it will be interesting to see how next month goes. We can only hope for cheaper bills, but have accepted the fact that we do not have as much control over this as we would like. As far as kitty poop goes, we made a joint decision that we are willing to pay more for cat food to save our noses from the awful stench that eeks out of Coda in particular. I guess we know where our priorities lie.
LiveHealthy Iowa is off to a good start. I'm on a team with my coworkers at ChildServe and I am serving as team leader. I've lost 3 pounds and am motivated to help out my team. We are competing in both weight loss and minutes of activity category and we want to WIN! Somedays I just don't want to do any exercise, but knowing that my team is counting on me and I'm their "leader" is helping guilt me into doing something! On a side note, I'm up to running a 10 minute mile! This is huge considering I'd been at 12 minute miles for about a year! Currently, I'm planning to compete with some friends in Dam to Dam later this Spring! It's 12 miles from Saylorville to downtown Des Moines and if I finished the half marathon, I can finish this! I think.
New recipes have been pretty successful this month. We've made a meatball casserole, which was even better as a leftover, I've successfully made my own Chicken Tortilla Soup in the crockpot and I have a couple more on the back burner. One of which is Chocolate Mint Cookies. Ben is chomping at the bit for me to get these made, however, there just isn't enough time in the day some days.
So there it is, update for the month. Hope you all are well, whomever you are! Welcome February, I'm ready!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Christmas is Over
Ok, it's official. Christmas is over and we are already almost a month in 2010. We celebrated three separate family gatherings from Thanksgiving through the 2nd week of January. I have to say, it was a great Christmas, spending time with family and pretty great gifts. This year, I received a Kindle e-reader, Kitchen-Aide stand mixer and a Viking Sewing Machine. Honestly, I can't think of anything better! I've gotten plenty of use out of the Kindle and mixer and am now planning my first sewing project. I'm thinking of making myself a tree skirt for the next holiday season! I'm also hoping to be able to get good enough to alter my own clothing. This will especially be important as I'm back on track with my "Get Healthy" goal. I've been back in the gym for the past month and have signed up for Live Healthy Iowa. I've been tracking my calories and exercise and in one week have lost 1.5 pounds!!! For those of you who know me, losing weight and eating healthy aren't exactly my favorite things to do. However, I know that it is something that I need to do for me. My goal is to lose 19 pounds and I'm one step closer. Ben has been amazing and supportive and I love him more every day. Knowing that he is there and cheering me on is great motivation!
Any nutritious and delicious recipes, exercise tips or support are greatly appreciated! Also, any book recommendations or sewing projects are being entertained as well! Gotta be sure I use all of my new gadgets and gizmos from Christmas!
Any nutritious and delicious recipes, exercise tips or support are greatly appreciated! Also, any book recommendations or sewing projects are being entertained as well! Gotta be sure I use all of my new gadgets and gizmos from Christmas!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Chicago 09
Monday, November 23, 2009
A Loss
I've been pondering whether or not to blog on this subject. It's been a challenging time for us and letting any internet browser read it made me cringe. However, I'm to the point where I feel that talking about this is going to help me process and move on, so *sigh* here I go.
On November 6th, we found out that we were expecting! We were excited and nervous, as most first time parents are. We vowed not to tell anyone yet, as we wanted to wait and see a doctor to make things official. So I diligently called my doctor and was told a nurse would call me back to reschedule. Then, Saturday morning I woke up with intense pain in my abdomen lasting for nearly an hour. I called the Nurse line and they suggested I go into the ER, however after getting off the phone with them, I began to feel better and the pain went away. I started bleeding that day, but it subsided by Sunday afternoon. Monday morning, I contacted the doctor again, as I still had not heard from anyone. They diligently took down my responses to all of their questions and informed me that they would let the doctor know, then call me back. Twenty minutes later, I had an ultrasound appointment and order for labs all ready for me for that afternoon. Due to my pain and symptoms, they were concerned about an ectopic pregnancy. I tried not to panic but who wouldn't??
I showed up 15 minutes early for my appointment and waited very impatiently, reading a magazine about "You and Baby," thinking this might not happen. I pushed those thoughts out of my mind and began to tell myself that everything is likely fine and they're just checking to make sure. Finally, they called my name, even pronouncing the last name right. "Please lay down on your back and pull your pants down around your hips." I did as requested, feeling quite nervous. My thought was, "Great, I got the one sonographer that could care less about the impact her job has on my life." Thankfully, things changed and she became more soft-spoken and asked me questions with more tact. Whew...maybe now I can relax a little. She waved her wand over my uterus, pressing hard and expressing that they didn't see anything at this time. I asked her if this was a concern, but she assured me that I wasn't far enough along so it is possible that we won't see anything yet. Four weeks and 1 day, that was my official report. Next we used the ever excited vaginal ultrasound. Uncomfortable, yes, but I guess it saved my life. During this screening, she was quiet and stared intently at the screen. After we finished and I got dressed, she explained that the Doctor would check over the screens to ensure they got what they needed and then I could go get my labs drawn. I waited anxiously and she finally came back. They had everything they needed and she apologized that she could not tell me the results. There was the first time I saw that look. She felt sorry for me and I didn't notice it or register it then, but it was there. This was not the last time I saw this face...
I went and had labs drawn, then headed upstairs to check in with my doctor. I took two steps in the door and saw the waiting room full of women, in addition to four in line. I turned around and walked out the door, thinking, "I doubt they actually have my results already and I'm not waiting 40 minutes or more to fine out, they can just call me." I went back to work and continued paperwork until I headed off for class for the evening.
As I drove to class, I received a phone call. It was my nurse from the OB-GYN, asking why I didn't stop by the office. I explained to her that it wasn't mentioned that it was imperative and I did not feel that they would have had the results already. She stumbled over her words then asked me if I could hold. "Sure," I said, like anyone would ever tell her no? Next, my doctor came on the phone. "Stacey, we think you need to go to the ER. Based on your scans, you may have an ectopic pregnancy." Everything else moved in slow motion. He asked me about pain. "No, not really. Sometimes little twinges like cramps." Where are they located? "Primarily on the right, but sometimes midline." Oh, we think it's in your left tube. Why don't you head to the ER, Dr. Gisi is on call and he will take care of you.
I hung up and immediately called Ben. No answer at his desk. I called his cell. No answer on his cell. I called his desk back and left a message. "Sorry to leave this on your voicemail, but..."
Next, I walked myself into the ER and checked myself in, then sat and let the tears drip down my face. As I sat, I tried to call Ben again and left a message on his cell phone. Twenty minutes later, Ben arrives and sits with me in the waiting room. Finally, my was called. "Put on this gown and the doctor will be in shortly." An hour later, two needle sticks and three vials of blood, the doctor enters. "You have an ectopic pregnancy in your left fallopian tube. We'll go in to operate laprascopically. Any questions?" Uh.........will I still be able to have kids, how long does the surgery take, what are the risks/complications? Questions were answered and five minutes later a gurney was waiting to take me to surgery. All of my jewelry into a plastic biohazard bag. My contact into UA cups, a kiss and more tears with my husband and they wheeled me into the OR. The only thing I remember is sobbing as they put the mask over my face and I was out.
Next thing I remember is waking up freezing, shaking so hard, my throat hurting and the desperate need to pee. Two warm blankets, a dose of morphine and a cup of ice chips later, they wheeled me to the bathroom, made sure I could pee and sent me home.
So.....that's the story. They were able to save my tube, though there is likely to be scarring, which can impact future chances of it reoccurring. We have our postop appointment on Wednesday, so I will update more when I know more. Our loss has been difficult and we think about the what-ifs and could have beens every day, but are trying to heal and look to the future. Thank you to all of our friends and family who have supported us through this extremely challenging time. I thank my husband for being so supportive, holding me when all I can do is cry and talking with me about our future options. He is my best friend and I am so thankful I found him. I love you, Ben.
On November 6th, we found out that we were expecting! We were excited and nervous, as most first time parents are. We vowed not to tell anyone yet, as we wanted to wait and see a doctor to make things official. So I diligently called my doctor and was told a nurse would call me back to reschedule. Then, Saturday morning I woke up with intense pain in my abdomen lasting for nearly an hour. I called the Nurse line and they suggested I go into the ER, however after getting off the phone with them, I began to feel better and the pain went away. I started bleeding that day, but it subsided by Sunday afternoon. Monday morning, I contacted the doctor again, as I still had not heard from anyone. They diligently took down my responses to all of their questions and informed me that they would let the doctor know, then call me back. Twenty minutes later, I had an ultrasound appointment and order for labs all ready for me for that afternoon. Due to my pain and symptoms, they were concerned about an ectopic pregnancy. I tried not to panic but who wouldn't??
I showed up 15 minutes early for my appointment and waited very impatiently, reading a magazine about "You and Baby," thinking this might not happen. I pushed those thoughts out of my mind and began to tell myself that everything is likely fine and they're just checking to make sure. Finally, they called my name, even pronouncing the last name right. "Please lay down on your back and pull your pants down around your hips." I did as requested, feeling quite nervous. My thought was, "Great, I got the one sonographer that could care less about the impact her job has on my life." Thankfully, things changed and she became more soft-spoken and asked me questions with more tact. Whew...maybe now I can relax a little. She waved her wand over my uterus, pressing hard and expressing that they didn't see anything at this time. I asked her if this was a concern, but she assured me that I wasn't far enough along so it is possible that we won't see anything yet. Four weeks and 1 day, that was my official report. Next we used the ever excited vaginal ultrasound. Uncomfortable, yes, but I guess it saved my life. During this screening, she was quiet and stared intently at the screen. After we finished and I got dressed, she explained that the Doctor would check over the screens to ensure they got what they needed and then I could go get my labs drawn. I waited anxiously and she finally came back. They had everything they needed and she apologized that she could not tell me the results. There was the first time I saw that look. She felt sorry for me and I didn't notice it or register it then, but it was there. This was not the last time I saw this face...
I went and had labs drawn, then headed upstairs to check in with my doctor. I took two steps in the door and saw the waiting room full of women, in addition to four in line. I turned around and walked out the door, thinking, "I doubt they actually have my results already and I'm not waiting 40 minutes or more to fine out, they can just call me." I went back to work and continued paperwork until I headed off for class for the evening.
As I drove to class, I received a phone call. It was my nurse from the OB-GYN, asking why I didn't stop by the office. I explained to her that it wasn't mentioned that it was imperative and I did not feel that they would have had the results already. She stumbled over her words then asked me if I could hold. "Sure," I said, like anyone would ever tell her no? Next, my doctor came on the phone. "Stacey, we think you need to go to the ER. Based on your scans, you may have an ectopic pregnancy." Everything else moved in slow motion. He asked me about pain. "No, not really. Sometimes little twinges like cramps." Where are they located? "Primarily on the right, but sometimes midline." Oh, we think it's in your left tube. Why don't you head to the ER, Dr. Gisi is on call and he will take care of you.
I hung up and immediately called Ben. No answer at his desk. I called his cell. No answer on his cell. I called his desk back and left a message. "Sorry to leave this on your voicemail, but..."
Next, I walked myself into the ER and checked myself in, then sat and let the tears drip down my face. As I sat, I tried to call Ben again and left a message on his cell phone. Twenty minutes later, Ben arrives and sits with me in the waiting room. Finally, my was called. "Put on this gown and the doctor will be in shortly." An hour later, two needle sticks and three vials of blood, the doctor enters. "You have an ectopic pregnancy in your left fallopian tube. We'll go in to operate laprascopically. Any questions?" Uh.........will I still be able to have kids, how long does the surgery take, what are the risks/complications? Questions were answered and five minutes later a gurney was waiting to take me to surgery. All of my jewelry into a plastic biohazard bag. My contact into UA cups, a kiss and more tears with my husband and they wheeled me into the OR. The only thing I remember is sobbing as they put the mask over my face and I was out.
Next thing I remember is waking up freezing, shaking so hard, my throat hurting and the desperate need to pee. Two warm blankets, a dose of morphine and a cup of ice chips later, they wheeled me to the bathroom, made sure I could pee and sent me home.
So.....that's the story. They were able to save my tube, though there is likely to be scarring, which can impact future chances of it reoccurring. We have our postop appointment on Wednesday, so I will update more when I know more. Our loss has been difficult and we think about the what-ifs and could have beens every day, but are trying to heal and look to the future. Thank you to all of our friends and family who have supported us through this extremely challenging time. I thank my husband for being so supportive, holding me when all I can do is cry and talking with me about our future options. He is my best friend and I am so thankful I found him. I love you, Ben.
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