Well, now that March has come and gone, I've officially lost my Starbucks insurance :(. I'm actually a little sad because that was my last tie to the company and now it's really, really over. It's weird to think about being completely done and that chapter of my life is closed. Looking back, it all went to fast, but time is usually like that I guess.
I really can't describe the immense gratitude I have for Starbucks and everything it's given our family. I know they get flack in the media every once in a while for one reason or another, but I will always stand behind them as a company who really cares about their employees. My experience at Starbucks was always a positive one and I would encourage anyone who's thinking about applying to do so. I've even suggested it to people who don't need infertility benefits, but just health benefits in general!
So thank you Starbucks, for giving us what really matters in life. For making a reality something we thought may only be a dream. Some little girls grow up wanting to be teachers, or doctors or lawyers and I only ever wanted to be a mom. Now I'm getting that chance.
Showing posts with label Real Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Real Life. Show all posts
Is This Real Life?
I'm continually amazed at the miracle of life. I feel so blessed to have been able to watch this miracle from the very, very beginning! Not many people can say they have a picture of their kid when they are literally five days old. It is insane to not only realize that a clump of cells becomes a child, but that this specific clump of cells becomes my child. How great is God?!
Last Day :(
I've known for a long time that my insurance would terminate at the end of March, due to me not meeting the hours requirement during the fall. I decided to have my last day be March 1st so that the insurance would carry through to the end of the month.
My store had a change in management and a lot of the employees left at the same time so the last few months have been crazy. There have been a ton of new hires and even though I'd only been there a year, I was one of the veterans...weird! Due to so many new people wanting hours and me not really needing (or really wanting...) a ton, the new manager was only scheduling me for 4-8ish hours a week during the end of January and February. So when my last day came, it wasn't really a big deal shock to not be working anymore.
I didn't actually get scheduled on the 1st so I had to take someone else's shift. I was able to get an opening shift from 4:30-9:30 so I could open with my favorite shift manager, Sydney, one last time. She has been a huge supporter of me during this journey and also is just really good at her job so I obviously liked working with her ;)
It was a regular Friday morning, with all the regulars coming in for their morning coffee and pastries. The biggest decision I had to make was what would be my last free food markout! I ended up opting for a blueberry oatmeal.
The last day at any job usually comes with mixed emotions and this one was no different. I'm grateful to be done with the 4:30am shifts and really grateful to be done with 8 hour shifts on my feet all weekend. I'm grateful I won't come home smelling like stale coffee anymore (and Nate is so grateful of this as well)!
But, I'm sad to be leaving this place that's given me so much. And I'm sad to be leaving the people that have become my family. Each one of them is so special to me and has lifted me and cared about me through a difficult year. Every one of them, from the 16 year old high schoolers to the grandma of the group, has a unique situation and story, as do we all!
My store had a change in management and a lot of the employees left at the same time so the last few months have been crazy. There have been a ton of new hires and even though I'd only been there a year, I was one of the veterans...weird! Due to so many new people wanting hours and me not really needing (or really wanting...) a ton, the new manager was only scheduling me for 4-8ish hours a week during the end of January and February. So when my last day came, it wasn't really a big deal shock to not be working anymore.
I didn't actually get scheduled on the 1st so I had to take someone else's shift. I was able to get an opening shift from 4:30-9:30 so I could open with my favorite shift manager, Sydney, one last time. She has been a huge supporter of me during this journey and also is just really good at her job so I obviously liked working with her ;)
It was a regular Friday morning, with all the regulars coming in for their morning coffee and pastries. The biggest decision I had to make was what would be my last free food markout! I ended up opting for a blueberry oatmeal.
The last day at any job usually comes with mixed emotions and this one was no different. I'm grateful to be done with the 4:30am shifts and really grateful to be done with 8 hour shifts on my feet all weekend. I'm grateful I won't come home smelling like stale coffee anymore (and Nate is so grateful of this as well)!
But, I'm sad to be leaving this place that's given me so much. And I'm sad to be leaving the people that have become my family. Each one of them is so special to me and has lifted me and cared about me through a difficult year. Every one of them, from the 16 year old high schoolers to the grandma of the group, has a unique situation and story, as do we all!
Cousin Twins
We left my parent's house on Christmas Eve to go spend a couple of days with Nate's family at his parent's cabin. The first night there, we were all standing around the kitchen talking and his brother announced that they were pregnant with baby #6! We still hadn't told his brother that we were pregnant so Nate ran upstairs to grab our ultrasound picture and announced that we were too!
We discovered we are due within days of each other so it will be fun to have cousins the same age.
We discovered we are due within days of each other so it will be fun to have cousins the same age.
Making Grandparents
We decided to wait until Christmas to tell our families about the pregnancy. Nate's parents we ended up seeing on the 15th for the weekend so we were able to tell them then, and then we told mine on Christmas Eve.
These are the onesies I got as gifts to tell each of our parents.
This will be grandchild #18 on Nate's side but #1 on my side!
We told Nate's parents while we were out at dinner with just them. We wrapped it up as an early Christmas gift and they were definitely surprised!
For Christmas, we went to my house late Friday night but didn't tell my parents until Monday morning when we exchanged gifts as a family. I wanted it to be a complete surprise, and it was! They were a little upset I waited until we were leaving (we went to see Nate's family Monday afternoon) but I think we were forgiven ;).
I feel so much better now that our families know and it doesn't have to be a secret! I know we waited longer than most people to tell their parents but I wanted to do it in person and Christmas was the first chance we had. Now we can slowly start telling friends.
These are the onesies I got as gifts to tell each of our parents.
This will be grandchild #18 on Nate's side but #1 on my side!
We told Nate's parents while we were out at dinner with just them. We wrapped it up as an early Christmas gift and they were definitely surprised!
For Christmas, we went to my house late Friday night but didn't tell my parents until Monday morning when we exchanged gifts as a family. I wanted it to be a complete surprise, and it was! They were a little upset I waited until we were leaving (we went to see Nate's family Monday afternoon) but I think we were forgiven ;).
I feel so much better now that our families know and it doesn't have to be a secret! I know we waited longer than most people to tell their parents but I wanted to do it in person and Christmas was the first chance we had. Now we can slowly start telling friends.
9 Weeks
I am anxiously awaiting our next ultrasound which will be on Wednesday. They said if this appointment goes well, they will probably release me to my OBGYN at that time. That's crazy! It's actually gone kind of fast...kind of.
I feel extremely lucky to report that so far I have not had any morning sickness or really any negative pregnancy symptoms! (knock on lots of wood...) I had one Saturday where I took 3 (THREE!) naps. It's possible apparently. And I've had a few days or hours where I've felt a little queasy, but really nothing to complain about. I keep waiting for it to hit but also praying it doesn't come and that maybe I'm a lucky one on this front! I could use a break after all this other stuff. I mean, I guess having to give yourself a shot everyday isn't exactly on the "easy" list, but it's gotten to the point where I don't dread it and besides some lumps and bumps in my rear, I'm generally pain free.
I haven't gained any weight but my pants are definitely tighter at the belly. I pee a lot and I am hungry all the time.
I feel extremely lucky to report that so far I have not had any morning sickness or really any negative pregnancy symptoms! (knock on lots of wood...) I had one Saturday where I took 3 (THREE!) naps. It's possible apparently. And I've had a few days or hours where I've felt a little queasy, but really nothing to complain about. I keep waiting for it to hit but also praying it doesn't come and that maybe I'm a lucky one on this front! I could use a break after all this other stuff. I mean, I guess having to give yourself a shot everyday isn't exactly on the "easy" list, but it's gotten to the point where I don't dread it and besides some lumps and bumps in my rear, I'm generally pain free.
I haven't gained any weight but my pants are definitely tighter at the belly. I pee a lot and I am hungry all the time.
Halloween Bash
And I don't have anywhere else to really post these pictures so this blog will have to do.
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| We were tourists ;) |
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| Cat Brains |
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| Mummy brownies |
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| Spider cookies and jello brains |
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| Chocolate covered pretzels |
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| Teresa and Sierra decorated these like PROs. Probably because they both are actually cake decorators and really are pro. |
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| Drink Station |
My favorite room was the bathroom which I decorated like Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets...complete with Aragog and all his baby spiders...muahahahaha
We also recreated our floating candles room from last year.
The kids enjoyed feeling all of the spooky body parts.
Okay, I do not have a good picture of the maze I made but you can kind of see it here. Well, you can see the top of everything haha
Here are some pictures from inside the maze.
Transfer Day!
Today was transfer day! I spent the morning working around the house and getting things cleaned up. Then I went to lunch at Steak 'n' Shake with a bunch of the young women from my church as an end of summer party.
We arrived at the clinic 30 minutes before transfer. I had to come with a full bladder, which is not fun. But I did pretty well not going overboard!
Thankfully they don't put you out for this procedure, but I did take my first valium! I actually don't know exactly what it did for me...but I guess that's a good thing!
Nate was able to come into the OR for the transfer so he got to wear this cute bunny/ Baymax suit.
It's a pretty special experience to see your embryos on this giant screen and then watch on ultrasound while it's inserted. It's the miracle of life right in front of your face! I mean, how many people can see their kids when they are literally five days old. They are just a cluster of cells with the potential of turning into a living, breathing human being. It's crazy and overwhelming when you really think about it. The procedure takes maybe 20 minutes. I can't say it was the most comfortable, but it wasn't painful.
After the procedure...do I have a glow to me yet??
Here is embryo #1! I really thought I'd have this feeling when I saw the picture and know if it was a boy or girl...but I got nothing. The blurrier looking cells in the center are what will develop into the baby and the less blurry ones will be the placenta. The doctor said that big cell on the lower right is some extra cell thing (I don't really know) that isn't anything bad but isn't a part of the baby.
After the transfer we went to our friends, the Bolin's house. I was super tired so I took a nice 2 hour nap on their couch while Teresa worked and Nate and Matthew ran to our house to grab me my medicine. We decided to go out to Olive Garden for dinner since we hadn't been there in probably a year and a half or more. I just always get the soup because it's unlimited refills and super delicious!
We arrived at the clinic 30 minutes before transfer. I had to come with a full bladder, which is not fun. But I did pretty well not going overboard!
Thankfully they don't put you out for this procedure, but I did take my first valium! I actually don't know exactly what it did for me...but I guess that's a good thing!
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| Potential last picture as a family of two?? |
After the procedure...do I have a glow to me yet??
Here is embryo #1! I really thought I'd have this feeling when I saw the picture and know if it was a boy or girl...but I got nothing. The blurrier looking cells in the center are what will develop into the baby and the less blurry ones will be the placenta. The doctor said that big cell on the lower right is some extra cell thing (I don't really know) that isn't anything bad but isn't a part of the baby.
First family picture??
After the transfer we went to our friends, the Bolin's house. I was super tired so I took a nice 2 hour nap on their couch while Teresa worked and Nate and Matthew ran to our house to grab me my medicine. We decided to go out to Olive Garden for dinner since we hadn't been there in probably a year and a half or more. I just always get the soup because it's unlimited refills and super delicious!
OMG He's So Cute
So far I haven't posted too many personal things on here (like life outside IVF!) so I just wanted to take a minute and say how cute my husband is!
This whole process has been hard for him because he sometimes feels like it's more "my thing" than "our thing" since it's basically me going to the doctor all the time, and giving shots, and having procedures. It's not really 50/50 like traditional baby making. Because of this, it's been harder for him to get excited about everything going on.
But today I got this text from him...
I mean is this not the best ever?! It made my heart so happy. Nate researches everything before buying it. No matter how big or small. Usually it's tech stuff. He looooves new tech. So when he tells me he's spent so much time looking at baby stuff, I really can't describe how happy it made me!
It wasn't just baby clothes, but baby swings, car seats, strollers, monitors, cribs, and more!
Also, no, we did not buy $400 worth of baby clothes for a baby we don't know if we're having yet ;)
This whole process has been hard for him because he sometimes feels like it's more "my thing" than "our thing" since it's basically me going to the doctor all the time, and giving shots, and having procedures. It's not really 50/50 like traditional baby making. Because of this, it's been harder for him to get excited about everything going on.
But today I got this text from him...
I mean is this not the best ever?! It made my heart so happy. Nate researches everything before buying it. No matter how big or small. Usually it's tech stuff. He looooves new tech. So when he tells me he's spent so much time looking at baby stuff, I really can't describe how happy it made me!
It wasn't just baby clothes, but baby swings, car seats, strollers, monitors, cribs, and more!
Also, no, we did not buy $400 worth of baby clothes for a baby we don't know if we're having yet ;)
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Signing Off...for now
It's been a crazy year and a half but it's time to say goodbye to this blog for now. I may post updates occasionally, but you know ...
