20 Weeks and Counting!

 

We are now 20 weeks  + 5 days closer to our little BOY!

We found out about 2 weeks ago who we were having. 

We had names picked out for either boy or girl. Baby Boy will be Axe.

Not only do we love that name for it's simple and straightforward masculiness,

but it is also after a Navy Seal who died serving our country. We hope he will live up to his name. :-)

And of course Mister A is on cloud 9 with a little jr. on the way. 

I started feeling little Axe move in the middle of my 15th week. 

SO AWESOME! I compare it to, what i imagine, a gold fish swimming around would feel like. 

Ha!

This week he started getting the hiccups! So funny! I love waking up in the middle of the night to him moving. It's such a weird thought to think I'm already half way there.

Kinda depressing.... I waited 4 and a half years for this and it's going to fast!

My days are filled with dinking around the house or town and focusing on being stress free.

I've also started to nest pretty bad.

We are working on clearing out the nursery of Mister A's junk so we can get it ready. (I'm going kinda crazy.)

Since I've been slacking at posting recipes, here is a staple at our house for the moment. 

EASY PEACH MUFFINS!

---

• 2 medium peaches, peeled and cut into small dice (I use one regular can of sliced peaches)
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar, divided
• 2 Tbsp butter, cut into 1/4-teaspoon pieces
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups Original Bisquick baking mix
• 2/3 cup whole milk
• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
• -- Topping --
• 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
• Dash ground cinnamon

How to make it

---

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 400 degrees (F).
• Have regular 12 muffin cups at hand.
• In small bowl, combine peaches, cinnamon and 2 tablespoons sugar; set aside.
• Place 1/4 teaspoon butter in bottom of each muffin cup and bake until brown, about 2 minutes.
• In medium bowl, beat egg lightly. Stir in Bisquick baking mix, remaining sugar, milk and oil, mixing just until blended. Gently stir in peaches. Divide mixture evenly among cups.
• Make topping: In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon. Evenly sprinkle mixture over muffins.
• Bake 15 minutes until golden-brown. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pan.
• Makes 12 muffins.

 That's all for now kiddos! Enjoy your peach muffins! Yum....

Tag, We're it!

Those people ^^ up there....

ARE HAVING A BABY!!!!!! (just one!)

TADA! 

Meet our little Snail Mail!

We are completely ecstatic! 

We went in to the Gyno to get an ultrasound to see if I had ovulated on my first cycle on clomid again.

I told the Dr. how I had, had 6 consecutive days of positive ovulation prediction tests and that I was worried that maybe my hormones were just off and that I hadn't ovulated at all. 

****(PCOS can cause you to have inaccurate ovulation prediction tests.)

She informed me that my progesterone levels (which is what they check to see if you have ovulated.) were over 50. They usually like to see them right around 10. 

This means I probably ovulated most of those 6 days!

She recommend I pee on a test and then go from there.

 Dr. Matthews came in with a little pee stick present!! 

Of course, I burst into tears and kept asking "really?!" 

Zane jumped out of his seat to look at the test and with tears in his eyes he asked, "so how accurate are these tests?" lol  (he also made me take one at home, just in case.)

The funny part here is the night before my appointment, I had registered and paid to participate in the TOUGH MUDDER that was going on this coming January.

Signing up for that race, to me, was realizing and acknowledging that getting pregnant wasn't something I could control. Nor was it something that may even be in my near future. I was letting go of all the depression and negative feelings I had about my body and my inability to have children.

It was such a release for me.

I had completely 

let

go.

What a blessing this journey has been. Infertility isn't over for me. It will be something I deal with for the rest of my life. But, oh, the things I have learned and experienced! In no way, shape or form would I ever wish this disease on anyone else. However, I can honestly say that even though it has been such an emotional roller coaster, I wouldn't change it for the world. Thank you everyone for your support and for letting me share my thoughts and feelings with you. :-)

running in circles

Since it's been over a month since my last update, I figure it's about time.  

Brace yourself!

We received my results of the MRI. 

Before I tell you what they were, let's rewind back to the HSG results. My INFERTILITY SPECIALIST (who is suppose to be the top guy in the state mind you,) told me I have a heart shaped uterus. Then he was concerned it was a septated uterus and even talked about possible reconstructive surgery. 

So the verdict is..... Neither.

I have an arched uterus which is very common and fairly insignificant.

What does this mean?

I stressed over NOTHING for an entire month, and we still have very little to go on.

Not only that, he told me that I had reached my "lifetime limit" for taking clomid. Meaning, i would have to take Femara which is similar to clomid, but it's a cancer drug and there isn't much studies or research done on it for that purpose. 
No thanks. 
He also wanted me to begin IUI or even IVF.(Not to mention the nightmare we've had with the billing department. ugh)


So what now?


We switched back to an OB/GYN who looked over my entire history and confirmed my thoughts:

 *I can take clomid again since I've had a long break from it. As long as I am closely monitored it will be safe and hopefully get me ovulating.
*The first 8 months I was on clomid were pointless since the Dr. wasn't even checking to see if the dose was making me ovulate.
*you can't trust every Dr. to have your best interest in mind.

My new OB/GYN is very confident that we can be pregnant in the next 3 months. She has our entire month planned out for us day by day. The Mister even has a "no touchy zone" lol! *he didn't find it very funny...  

For the first time throughout this process, I feel comfortable with our plan and I don't feel stressed out. 

So that is where we are at! 

Happy hump day everyone! 

dear august

dear August,

welcome.

I am so happy you are finally here. 

July was.....well......kind of a disappointment. 

She was WAAAAY too hot. (doesn't help that we live in the armpit of hell..)

August, I hope you have better weather in store for me. You were so wonderful to me today with your gorgeous monsoon. Try and push your PMS aside and be cheerful. Unlike your sister June.

I decided to make a little list of all the fun things I want to do while you are here, so you know what to expect. Thanks August, I think we'll have fun together. 

love,

me

August 2011 Wish List

-Go camping. I am going stir crazy!!! must. get. up north. soon. hopefully very soon.

 - Enjoy more bountiful baskets. hardly ever disappointed.

-Early morning runs. As much as I hate waking up early,and hate running. I think it's time we, running and i, became better friends.

-Eat a fresh summer fruit. yum.

-Taking the Molly to the park. we miss it.

- Play house with some lovely children.

-Swim!

-Enjoy minimal doctor appointments.

- Watch the lbs. continue to fall off as I enjoy healthy foods. smile.

-Find some extra snuggle time with the Mister.

-Do one of our favorite things:

shoot
some
guns. 

 

what do YOU want to do in August?

Cheesy Chicken & Spinach Enchiladas

 

Here is a yummy yummy dinner we had a few nights ago. major hit! 

-sorry no picture... will post one next time I make it.

Ingredients:
10 oz Philadelphia Cooking Cream
1 box frozen spinach
1 medium sweet onion (if you are an onion free house, like us, you can use mushrooms instead!)
2 tsp Cumin
1 tbsp butter/margarine
1 can Rotel tomatoes & green chiles (drained)
2-3 cups chopped chicken (I used chicken tenders)
2 cups of Monterey Jack Cheese
1 pint whipping cream
8 – 8″ flour or wheat tortillas
Salt & Pepper to taste
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

DIRECTIONS

• cube chicken and onions (and/ or mushrooms)
• melt your butter in a skillet and toss in onions/ mushrooms and chicken. Cook for about 2 min.
• Add spices and drained can of rotel. Cook for another min while stirring.
• add in your drained thawed out frozen spinach and your 10 oz of cooking cream. Mix well.
• Spray your 9×13 cooking dish very well.
• Fill your tortilla with the mix (About 3 heaping spoonfuls.)
• Roll it up nice and tight and place in your pan with the seam facing down.
• Your tortillas will be very stuffed and full so  keep your pan close by to place them in fitted. You should be able to fit all 8 in 1 pan.
• Evenly sprinkle the Monterrey Jack cheese over the entire dish.
• Evenly pour your pint of whipping cream over the entire dish.
  Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes until golden brown.
  
  Cool and serve. I served it with a nice big side of fresh greens.
  
  Enjoy!

Still Waiting...

So yesterday was MRI day.

Ready,
set,
go.....

I went in.
Filled out pointless paperwork.
Divulged my horrifying ID picture (The lady taking it even told me it was horrible.)
Put on scrubs.
Got stuck with a needle, again.
Peed.
Interrogated about my infertility.
Layed down on the table.
Interrogated some more by the technician.
"I know I'm NOT pregnant for the 80th time!"
Was covered with sand bags and some type of apron thing.
Put on ear phones.
Traveled into the big donut machine.
Tried to listen to crappy songs through the ear phones but could only hear the jack hammering machine for 20 min.
Exited the donut.
Injected with contrast dye.
Interrogated again.
Ventured back into the donut with my worthless, crappy music and headphones.
Listened to the jack hammer for another 5ish min.
Wanted to straighten my arm sooooo badly.
Finally exited the machine, for the last time.
Straightened my arm.
Interrogated some more, for the last time.
Got dressed.
Found The Mister in the waiting room (I love when he comes along.)
Felt HORRIBLE for the majority of the day due to the dye in my system.
Went back to my Mom's (since we live FAR FAR AWAY from the doc's) and snuggled with The Mister.

I don't find out the results of my MRI for a few days. The interrogating technician informed me that my doctor will have the results on Thursday. Depending on the results, Dr. Patel will either call me and tell me, or have me come in and discuss my options. I am hoping for the former.

Today was one of my depressing days. As much as I try to have good days everyday, It doesn't always happen. However, my depressing days are usually followed my some sort of creativeness. Today, I went out in the yard and took a picture of this cradle that I have. May not be much to you, but it is very symbolic to me. I think I will have it framed and put it in my room. It gives me hope. :-)

Grilled Chicken Spinach Mozzerella

 Guess who just turned 1!!! Isn't she just a doll? We love our little dog- child Molly <3.

My MRI is scheduled! Tuesday I go in to have an MRI done of my uterus to determine how extreme the septum is. If it is completely split cavities, I will have to have surgery.... but on a lighter note, I have lost weight! I still have 20lbs to go to reach my optimal weight that my Dr. set. I have included a great low- carb recipe that I made last night. DIVINE!  

We've recently been participating in Bountiful Baskets in an effort to eat healthier. This has also forced me to think of my dinners a little differently. Today's dinner I utilized the spinach, garlic and tomatoes from my last pack. Hooray!

 *image from skinnytaste.com

Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Melted Mozzarella ( my changes in RED.)
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 6 • S Size: 1 cutlet, spinach, cheese • Old Points: 4 pts • Points+: 4 pts
Calories: 153.3 • Fat: 4.2 g • Protein: 24.5 g • Carb: 4.0 g • Fiber: 1.3 g • Sugar: .7 g

• 24 oz (3 large) chicken breasts sliced in half lengthwise to make 6 cutlets
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 10 oz frozen spinach, drained (FRESH SPINACH TASTES BETTER!)
• 3 oz shredded part skim mozzarella
• 1 roasted red pepper, sliced in strips ( ONE TOMATO SLICE ON TOP INSTEAD)
• olive oil spray

Preheat oven to 400°. Season chicken with salt and pepper (I used Cajun seasoning.) Lightly spray a grill with oil (I used my George Forman) or grill outside on a gas grill. Cook chicken on the grill until no longer pink, careful not to overcook or you'll have dry chicken.

Meanwhile, heat a sauté pan on medium heat. Add oil and garlic, sauté a few seconds, add spinach, salt and pepper. Cook a few minutes until heated through.

When chicken is done, lay on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment for easy clean-up. Divide spinach evenly between the 6 pieces and place on top. Top each with half oz mozzarella, then slices of roasted pepper and bake until melted, about 6-8 minutes.