Infertility - Just a Little Longer

As I walked home from the Dr’s office and reviewed everything that was said about the In Vitro process, my stomach hurt. Up until that time, everything the nurses told me was good. Your hormones levels are good, you have lots of follicles (early stage eggs), the follicles are progressing well, you ovulated! Yay! All affirmations that things were going well.

And then during this last appointment, I heard:
You have too many follicles.
Your progesterone levels were low.
It was very matter of fact to me, not really meaning anything.

And then he started to explain. During the In Vitro Process, there are shots.

Ok… I can do that.

And we have to be careful with the excess number of follicles.

Ok… lets be careful. Not a big deal.

And then you and Thomas won’t be able to be together because you will both be having a different procedure done at the same time, miles apart.

Well that’s lame. But ok. We can do that.

And then once the procedure is done, you will have to take progesterone for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Ok… I can take a pill for 12 weeks.

No, they will either be injections or suppositories.

Wait. What?

Really? 12 weeks? Is there no other way?

Maybe we should adopt. And not embryo adopt like we had planned through this whole process, because I would still have to go through all this In Vitro process if we did that.

But adopt a living child. One that doesn’t include 12 weeks of injections or suppositories.

But no, that is not where we feel God is calling us at this moment.

So we go forward. We wait another 2 months for healing and we pray. We pray that God works a miracle and our bodies work how they are created to work. And that my progesterone levels heal themselves and increase to normal standards so I don't miscarry. For the 3rd time.

Pray.
Because we believe in a God of miracles.

More Ways to Simplify Life

We are still simplifying...

And as a result, we had a HUGE 4 family garage sale not one, but two weekends in a row. And then all the items we didn't sell, were then given to yet another friend who was and still is trying to earn money for their adoption. 

So as a result we have continued on with a few things we started. I was originally inspired by an article I read in a magazine last year. A few months later I was reading a different magazine and low and behold there was an article about the same lady! So I finally looked her up and I love what she is trying to do. Zero Waste Home. She is fascinating.

We have most of our stuff in jars now which means to cut down on waste, we buy a lot from the bulk food bins at our local Winco.

I know I mentioned my reusable baggies before when I talked about organizing and simplifying our lives. Thomas and I have also been using the reusable baggies that I sell for over a year. I love how much waste we save just by simply being intentional with this.

Large Baggies $6

Small Baggies $4

The next thing we switched was the use of paper towels. I know people have different thoughts about what they use paper towels for, but I found that I didn't use them as much because I did not want to spend as much money on them. Once we switched to paperLESS towels as my friend called them, I used them tons more!

Finally we switched to paperLESS napkins as well. The best part about both the paperLESS towels and napkins, is that all of the cloth was given to me by my grandma! So it is a wee bit sentimental when we use it as well.

The final thing I need to make for our switch to reusable is tissues. I have not yet figured out what fabric to make reusable tissues out of. Anyone have any suggestions? With all of these paper products switching to reusable products, we will not be getting ride of toilet paper. Not going to happen.

Finally we have been successful in getting rid of our kitchen trash! There are about 2 things a week we have to walk outside to the trash, but everything else we have been able to compost, recycle, or wash! Although I am not sure how this is helping us, considering we still have to pay for our trashcan. At least it makes us feel better?

Here is an adorable matching taggie and carseat canopy I made for a friend. Love that little giraffe!

Glamping Staycation - Green Mountain Hike

I know it has been months now, but over Memorial Day, Thomas and I were going to go camping with our friends Sarah and Craig. Between the bridge going out at Mt Vernon the day before we were to leave and the forecast of rain, we decided to stay home. 

So instead, we became the Kucera B&B and discovered a hike close to home! 45 minutes away from Tacoma we went to Green Mountain. If you go to the website, it gives you a detailed description of the hike, directions out there, elevation change, and a view from the top. The beauty was definitely in the hike though. It is 5 miles round trip, however a beautiful 5 miles! And really not that steep.

I can't pass up a bridge picture.

This did not do the fern and flowers justice.

A break in the trees.

Our lunch stop by the parking lot. Seriously? We hiked to a parking lot where we could have parked?

The view. Downtown Seattle of in the distance and Mt Rainer if it wasn't cloudy. Next time.

There is downtown Seattle.

The 4 of us and the random guy taking a picture.

Darn cool rings.

A trail in honor of Wathora.

Wathora's Story.

Delicious little berries Sarah and I eat every time we hike.

It was an amazing hike and an amazing weekend. Craig built me some shelves down my basement and I discovered an amazing kettle corn recipe over the stove. So good! And of course I have to share.