tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18311160889614274992024-03-13T05:44:35.277-06:00Greetings from Nowhere, NMNotes about nothing in particular...except this infertility thing that I can't get off my mindMichelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.comBlogger274125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-76131522315727521812015-06-08T20:42:00.001-06:002015-06-08T20:42:16.378-06:004th and final beta<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I had my blood drawn again, and in addition to a thrombophelia panel, I had my 4th and final beta drawn. It was at 1759 at 23 days past ovulation with a doubling time from last Thursday's draw of 41 hours.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I don't know that there ever truly was concern about the doubling, just that the original number of 10 at 13 days past ovulation was very low. As for right now, things are looking good. I have my first OB appointment next Friday at 6 weeks 6 days. The appointment seems so far away. I have to say that this two weeks was the hardest last time and it applies this time around too. Two week or eternity, same thing, right?</span><br />
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I once again am experiencing leg and foot cramps like I did last time, some of the most painful Charlie horses I could imagine. I also have developed an allergic reaction to the PIO I am on, so they are changing the suspension for the refill to get me through the next month. Hopefully the fist sized welts and lumps under the skin will dissipate. Also, I am beginning to show. I can't believe it and think that it is mostly the steroids that I am on. I have read that they not only cause weight gain, but specifically belly fat to develop, but it definitely looks like a bump! Can't sy my phone to upload pictures, so you will have to trust me and I'll post them when I can.Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-22454765940887743242015-06-04T21:01:00.002-06:002015-06-04T21:01:56.912-06:00Beta #3<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I had my beta drawn today and it was 347. So on Tuesday it was 128 and today it was 347, that is a 33 hour doubling time. Yet they still want me to have it drawn again on Monday. Are they purposefully trying to freak me out?!?!</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The clinic did congratulate me and sent me my new calendar. My first ultrasound is to be on Friday the 19. Better find an OB!</span>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-52522551024220484762015-06-02T17:53:00.000-06:002015-06-02T17:53:16.284-06:00Betas<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I finally got the results of my betas and things are looking good. My beta on Friday at 7dp5dt was 10, my beta today at 12dp5dt was 128. This makes it official, I am pregnant! They said that they would like to test it on Thursday to check it once more. This freaks me out that they are concerned about a 26 hour doubling time, which seems good to me! </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Please continue to keep your fingers crossed, meanwhile I will spend he next 48 hours googling beta levels.</span>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-5902680377401011722015-05-30T17:41:00.001-06:002015-05-30T17:41:31.239-06:00Positive!<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I know that some of you have anxiously been awaiting this news along with me, I didn't want to keep you in suspense any longer. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I took a pee test at home last night, I held my urine for 6 hours before taking it and it was positive! I'm officially 4 weeks pregnant today. It's one of those that is supposed to tell you how many weeks you are out from ovulation. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O-WkO-IO2ZI/VWpJG7lUTBI/AAAAAAAABNs/_3NP_HVbrJI/s1600/IMG_5629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O-WkO-IO2ZI/VWpJG7lUTBI/AAAAAAAABNs/_3NP_HVbrJI/s320/IMG_5629.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Nate was not home this weekend (we were hoping to know yesterday before he left) and I tried to call him after I took it and he didn't answer. I tried again and again, but his phone must have been on silent. Ethan was already asleep and I was so anxious to share the news with someone, anyone! Finally he picked up and I just exploded with the good news. I faceti.med my parents today and shared with them, but otherwise we are in a holding pattern until we hear further info. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">We are so excited and grateful to be on this journey again!</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I can't stop using exclamation points!</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I go for my second blood draw on Tuesday and hopefully the clinic will then call me with both numbers and a new calendar and some follow up info.</span>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span id="goog_352457606"></span><span id="goog_352457607"></span><br /></span>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-24162259975566144092015-05-29T17:38:00.001-06:002015-05-29T17:38:17.440-06:00No news yet<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I had my blood draw this morning and the clinic "has the results". They have not given me the number or a yay or nay. I'm trying not to read too much into the email as it is just a single sentence but the fact that it is a "results" with an "s" leads me to believe the number is double digits, rather than say "0".</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I've decided not to ask them to break their protocol by giving me my number, so I tried to get it myself from the lab, I have not been successful, they will eventually email it to me, but the lab said that it could take up to 30 days...so helpful.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">So I stopped at the drug store on the way home and bought a freaking $20 set of two tests. I plan to take one tonight after holding my pee for several hours and then again in the morning with first morning urine. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I'll be back tomorrow to fill you all in on the results.</span>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-17329610254661198752015-05-28T07:35:00.000-06:002015-05-28T07:35:43.165-06:00I get it....<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">...but come on!</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I contacted the clinic by email yesterday and got a response. I had asked why I was told the results of my first beta with Ethan but wouldn't be this time.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">This is the response I got:</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">"</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">The reason we do not tell you if you are pregnant or not after the first beta test is because it is not what the number is, it is what it does over those two days between the first and second beta test. Your first beta test could come back positive but if the second beta test does not quadruple between those two tests, then you are not pregnant. At your request, we can give you the result of your first beta test, we just cannot speculate whether or not you are pregnant until we get that second beta test."</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I know that there is a possibility of a chemical pregnancy, I just think that I need to know at the earliest possible time what direction we are headed in. </span></span>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-62733850430664383182015-05-26T09:21:00.001-06:002015-05-26T09:21:15.359-06:00On testing...<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">With Ethan, I did not test prior to my first beta, but then proceeded to test regularly for the next several days, even after my second beta. However, I was just rereading the notes at the bottom of my calendar. The first beta is scheduled for this Friday, the second for next Tuesday, and the note says that they will not call with the results until after the second beta!</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The last time the doctor himself called me the afternoon after the first beta and then again after the second. I did get the results myself but at a beta of 25, but at 10 days after retrieval I wasn't sure if this was still the trigger shot. I was so happy to hear the news directly from the doc.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I need opinions! I should first say that I do not intend to test at home prior to my beta.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Do I...</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">1. Get the results from the lab myself </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">2. Buy a test and test at home that day</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">3. Request that the doc call that day</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">4. Wait until after the second beta</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">5. Contact the clinic and ask why they have changed protocols</span><br />
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-38933788540509146702015-05-23T20:16:00.001-06:002015-05-23T20:16:48.363-06:00It all went swimmingly!<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">...or as close to swimmingly as I was going to get.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">We made it to Las Vegas, after driving though the night, at about 9:00 am on Thursday. We were lucky enough to be able to check into out hotel early and get a quick shower and whatnot before connecting with my parents, who had driven in the night before from Los Angeles. We went to out favorite Irish restaurant on Fremont street for breakfast and walked down Fremont for a bit enjoying the very nice weather as well as the kooks who were still out from the night before.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Then we headed back to the hotel so that my parents could watch Ethan for the afternoon while we went to our appointment for the transfer. We showed up as told at 12:00 noon and the full bladder that they requested of me. However, at 12:30 they came to tell us that all appointments were being moved back as the doctor was behind. We also saw a couple their with their toddler, when we were specifically informed to schedule childcare. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">This did not go over well with the husband who, if nothing else, is a stickler for punctuality. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">We ended up leaving the clinic and heading to another restaurant that we love called the Blue Ox, where they have completely changed the menu, but we still enjoyed some burgers. We have been ti Las Vegas so many times in recent years, I kind of feel like I've lived there. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">When we returned to the clinic at 2:00, I was immediately given a Valium and taken back shortly after. They gave me my calendar for meds going forward and best of all two pictures of the blastocyst they were about to transfer (can't get the pictures to upload). The transfer went just as it did last time, my bladder was too full and the doc called me an overachiever in my preparatory water consumption, and for the third time in my life I was catheterized to let some, but not all, of it out. The embryologist checked who we were and we signed the necessary forms, he brought the embryo in the doc did the transfer. For not the first time in my life, I had my legs spread for what felt like everyone in the building (6 people including myself and Nate were in the small room). Then they had me lay there for 30 minutes, bladder still very full, to wait. I was finally able to go to the bathroom and go back to the hotel after that. I fell asleep in the car on the 15 minute ride back. You know, the mouth open, snoring out loud drooling kind of car sleep, so attractive.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I went to our hotel for bedrest and Nate went to my parents room to check in Ethan and hangout. We spent the rest of the night and the next day hanging about the hotel. My parents left in Friday afternoon. We went to bed with Ethan at 7:00 pm and left for home this morning at 5:00 am. We got back about 3:00 pm and have 2.5 more days off because of the holidays </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">My blood test is scheduled for this coming Friday which is 8dp5dt. Ethan's hcg was 25 at that time. Please continue to keep everything crossed and I will continue to try not to worry over every little twinge.</span>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-16789489804585368572015-05-20T11:40:00.002-06:002015-05-20T11:40:40.257-06:00So close...<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">...but still an 8 hour drive away.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">We plan to drive to Las Vegas for out FET tomorrow and leave in the middle of the night. Hopefully Ethan and I can sleep a bit in the car. Last time he was awake darn near the whole ride! </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I got my transfer time tomorrow of 12:30 pm pacific time. Any prayers, hopes, or wishes are appreciated. The message that was left also gave us info about consuming 1 liter of water just prior to the appointment, that they will give me a Valium prior to the procedure and to have sex the night before. Not only will that be hard to do given the fact that we will be driving in the middle of the night, but we will have a toddler with us! Maybe the afternoon before will suffice! But also, why?!?!? I don't understand how this can or will help.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I've been pretty calm about this whole thing. It's not that I think it has a greater chance of working than it did last time, but having been successful once does ease my mind a bit. Also, it's not that I already have a child and a second is not wanted, necessary or important because I have always and desperately wanted a large family. I think it is just easier because I've done it before and know what to expect which allows me to both feel collected about it and also appear collected. Hopefully I can continue to keep it together for the next 24 hours or so.</span>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-90295053440537837092015-05-16T15:14:00.000-06:002015-05-16T15:14:03.133-06:00Clothes, a bag, and a 10 mm uterine lining!<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I flew out to Las Vegas for the day today, in fact, I'm still here sitting on a bench looking for something to do. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I got here at 9:00 for my 10:00 appointment. I think I ovulated on the drive to the airport, I had some unusual cramping. I had my estrodiol drawn, which is apparently perfect, but I have no idea the level, they checked for cysts and found nothing, and Dr. Sher checked my uterine lining and found it to be a perfectly plump triple stripe 10 mm. All in all everything is looking great! The lab did manage to delay my estrodiol draw from Thursday but the clinic did get it on Friday...different lab, same company. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I left the clinic with nothing else on my agenda and headed to the outlet mall. Had a brief lunch with a friendly bartender at Outback. I have updated my 3 year old purse in favor of a larger one that will function part time as a diaper bag. I also updated some of my work shirts as the ones I wear ons a regular basis have started to disintegrate. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Ready to head home but can't move my flight up. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Will be back here on Thursday for transfer day and a day of recommended bedrest. My parents plan to drive out to see us, but mostly Ethan. Should be an adventure filled week.</span>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-10052195610873607642015-05-05T21:10:00.001-06:002015-05-05T21:10:09.529-06:00They still couldn't get it right.<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I just assumed that the woman I spoke with yesterday at the lab was competent...I was wrong. </span><div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The clinic still did not have my estrodiol results today by noon. I called the lab again and they guy who answered could find no record of the order at all! Instead of pushing it through, she cancelled the order altogether. Luckily he found the original order, relabeled it with there screwed up wording, pushed it through and walked it to the lab himself. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I got an email from three different people at the clinic at about 3:30 and was able to start my estrogen injections tonight.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I have not researched FET meds like I did for IVF, in just assuming they know what they are doing, even if I do not. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I'm currently taking Synthroid for my thyroid, an oral steroid because of my screwed up immune system, I'm taking lupron to suppress my brains controlling my own hormones, I'm taking folic acid to avoid neural tube defects, I'm taking lovenox to prevent miscarriage and help with implantation due to testing positive for antiphospheloid antibodies, and estrogen to prep my uterus for implantation. That's two injections and three pills daily. Although it looks like the estrogen is only every few days.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I gave myself the intramuscular injection of estrogen as Nate is still out of town. This is the second time j gave myself an intramuscular so I had to watch a video to make sure I got it right. Hurt like a bitch! Can't wait for progesterone injections!</span></div>
Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-47279524389196662172015-05-04T22:05:00.000-06:002015-05-04T22:05:03.409-06:00Gah!<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">It wouldn't be normal for me to have a cycle that went smoothly, so of course this isn't out of the ordinary for me. I have spent the day trying to get the lab to send my TSH and estrodiol results to the clinic. The blood was drawn on Friday and the order stated STAT, but the clinic still does not have the results. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I called the lab today and asked about the results but they said that they only do estrodiol testing STAT for IVF patients. I damn near lost my mind in the phone with the woman when I told her that I was in fact an IVF patient. This was on top of the fact that I called the clinic before I went in, asked when I was there, and then called in the afternoon and was told all three times that the clinic would have the results before the end of the day. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Apparently this lab has told the local doctors to order the labwork using special wording so that it gets done the same day, otherwise the STAT order is ignored. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The woman in the phone called the Sher institute and got confirmation that I was an IVF patient and the results will be in tomorrow morning. However I can not take my estrogen shots until we have the results. I don't even know what I will do if they tell me that this cycle is a wash after all of this.</span>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-59587344085315286532015-05-03T21:11:00.001-06:002015-05-03T21:11:19.968-06:00Taste test<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">My sister has been visiting from El Paso for the last week or so. It has been fun and interesting to have her around for so long because she has her son, my nephew with her. We've mostly just hung out because I have to work and she has been cruising the town during the days.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">This weekend though, she got violently ill with a stomach bug. Hopefully it's just a 24 hour thing, but it has meant that I'm taking care of both Ethan and her baby. I even ran to the store to get medicine and supplies with just me and the two of them. Nate has been out of town for work for the last 3 weeks so it was just us! And it went fine! </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I know the transition from one to two can be tough, but I feel that I have a better idea now and I can do this.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">And yes, Nate finally has a job. He graduated May 2013, and just found work as a federal employee with the USDA January, 2015. He does not have to work but feels he contributed more to the family working than as a stay at home dad, and we love out babysitter/nanny, Ethan has learned so much from her and her boys.</span>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-89839901816870433822015-05-01T23:12:00.001-06:002015-05-01T23:12:00.941-06:00And it all starts over again...<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Today was cycle day one of our FET cycle to transfer our remaining embryo. I had my TSH checked as well as my estrodiol which was quickly followed up by a transvaginal ultrasound. I have no idea the results of any of the testing and although the results were supposed to be sent STAT to the clinic, because I sent a message to check, they emailed me to say they had not received anything. I suppose that I will have to spend part of my Saturday running around or calling around.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I expect these things to be rather straightforward after how many times I've had them done, so when something is different it really throws me for a loop. The ultrasound tech started off by sitting me down to tell me what we're going to be doing and asking if I'd had it done before. When I said that if had a transvaginal ultrasound done "plenty" of times, I got to play 20 question as to why I was there. Although I was in a mood, I felt I was polite and answered her questions but she was really questioning my history like there was something she could do about it or maybe something I hadn't thought of. Maybe I was unjustifiably paranoid though. Then she asked me to put the wand in myself, she didn't even look under the sheet. I really wanted to tell her that my modesty regarding these types of procedures is totally absent after everything I've been through, but refrained.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Anyway, I hope the remainder of this treatment cycle goes better than this first day.</span>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-75482863203886549902015-04-28T12:34:00.001-06:002015-04-28T12:34:34.572-06:00Last birth control pill<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I took my last birth control pill yesterday. Now I'm waiting for my cycle to start. Hopefully this cycle day 1 is the day I will have to constantly reference for the next 10 months. The last time around I didn't realize how momentous this day would be. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Hold on, I'm going to go calculate something...</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Assuming this cycle works, my due date would be the first week of February, 2016. Darn, I was shooting for Valentine's Day! Ethan's due date was halloween and so easy to use and for other people to remember. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Does doing those calculations jinx the cycle? Does everyone make those calculations before each cycle? Does this make me neurotic? Maybe I'm just nervous...</span>Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-83370449287582375482015-04-22T22:47:00.001-06:002015-04-22T22:47:30.674-06:00We are really doing this again<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">May seemed so far off when I said that would be a good time to do the FET. Then when I went out to Las Vegas a week and a half ago and we officially booked a May slot, it still seemed like we had some time. Now, May is nearly upon us!</span><div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I saw my pcp on Tuesday morning for bloodwork and medical clearance, got my meds in the mail that same day (it is a huge amount compared to what I expected, the box is equal In size to the one received for IVF), and sent in our consent forms tonight.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">If all goes as planned I start meds this Friday! I'm so excited yet only cautiously optimistic.</span></div>
Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-67744034008182102912015-04-16T19:17:00.001-06:002015-04-16T19:17:51.708-06:00I'm back again<div>
I can't believe I'm here...again...the time is gone so quickly. I thought that it might magically happen on its own, but my husband and I had agreed that if I wasn't pregnant miraculously by 18 months we would dive back in. We have spent 6 cycles officially trying and Ethan is now almost 19 months old. We are starting fertility treatments again.</div>
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There is a local reproductive endocrinologist and I considered for about a half a second whether not we should use them. However, it is ultimately about cost and comfort so we decided to return to the Sher Institute.This past weekend I went to Las Vegas and had an ultrasound. They repeated the fluid ultrasound that had previously been the most painful procedure I had ever had. I have primary infertility, but everyone treats me as though I have secondary infertility as though I have never been through this before. It's a very weird place to be, and I have no idea how to handle myself in certain situations. With the RE and the pharmacy I've just let them treat me like a newbie.</div>
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I spoke with the nurse/case manager and am slotted for a May FET cycle to use our remaining embryo.<br />
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Michele</div>
Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-33966648898307693282014-10-02T21:15:00.000-06:002014-10-02T21:15:00.124-06:00E is One!On September 20th E turned One! Honestly, I've looked forward to this for years! Celebrating a baby, my baby turning one, having birthday's, growing up, growing as a family. It all is very exciting.<br />
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Nate couldn't understand why I wanted to have a party, why people needed to come over, why all the decorations, why all the work, why all the fuss. But that is just him, he is a homebody and doesn't like to have people over. He did finally get into it as people were arriving though.<br />
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I planned a themed little red wagon party, sent out invitations and made my own decorations. A friend made the cake though. It turned out pretty great if I do say so myself. There were about 15 people. Nate's parents came. And I got some great pictures.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CKOF_1dj3bQ/VC4KITXPa_I/AAAAAAAAA3c/DbXIIuehOMI/s1600/invite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CKOF_1dj3bQ/VC4KITXPa_I/AAAAAAAAA3c/DbXIIuehOMI/s1600/invite.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made these invites in Word, I'm sure there was an easier way, but it worked out ok</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xiM1w1KDS6s/VC4LshxCE4I/AAAAAAAAA3o/obq9WMKXj4o/s1600/house%2Bfront%2Bwagon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xiM1w1KDS6s/VC4LshxCE4I/AAAAAAAAA3o/obq9WMKXj4o/s1600/house%2Bfront%2Bwagon.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I borrowed the wagon and made the 1 out of cardboard and then painted it</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gz_OuvCNj0A/VC4P7sK2HmI/AAAAAAAAA4w/GdIFPrHKwEU/s1600/IMG_2028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gz_OuvCNj0A/VC4P7sK2HmI/AAAAAAAAA4w/GdIFPrHKwEU/s1600/IMG_2028.jpg" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">I made an about me page and posted it about the food table</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NpKLDjpn9CQ/VC4MOqGgEJI/AAAAAAAAA3w/Jhx73ExoqI4/s1600/IMG_0425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NpKLDjpn9CQ/VC4MOqGgEJI/AAAAAAAAA3w/Jhx73ExoqI4/s1600/IMG_0425.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were various radio flyer toys around for the kids to play with, they did get moved outside</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WNjVCbV5iI0/VC4MpGInimI/AAAAAAAAA34/wlct0-k8788/s1600/IMG_0428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WNjVCbV5iI0/VC4MpGInimI/AAAAAAAAA34/wlct0-k8788/s1600/IMG_0428.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I ran paper bags through the printer and printed wagons on them for treat bags</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Yju4mahr_Q/VC4NFZobF3I/AAAAAAAAA4A/sa6N11-xKOU/s1600/IMG_0429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Yju4mahr_Q/VC4NFZobF3I/AAAAAAAAA4A/sa6N11-xKOU/s1600/IMG_0429.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I laid out make your own treats in my red white and teal pyrex dishes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rKEAWPpxiHg/VC4NaYYdR8I/AAAAAAAAA4I/aUfOZzdeWaA/s1600/IMG_0433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rKEAWPpxiHg/VC4NaYYdR8I/AAAAAAAAA4I/aUfOZzdeWaA/s1600/IMG_0433.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was homemade puppy chow and store bought carmel corn in pyrex on the tables</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JYAcqlqS_wE/VC4NzsyBxuI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/qggC7c98DJM/s1600/IMG_4192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JYAcqlqS_wE/VC4NzsyBxuI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/qggC7c98DJM/s1600/IMG_4192.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The drinks were in ice in yet another borrowed wagon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--c-OfofRVwc/VC4OQ_eZ7FI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/CyDYaZD1eHU/s1600/IMG_4225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--c-OfofRVwc/VC4OQ_eZ7FI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/CyDYaZD1eHU/s1600/IMG_4225.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I printed, made and hung a Happy Birthday Ethan banner<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g94OIHP_QKE/VC4POL0Oh_I/AAAAAAAAA4g/3fqIveNFJgE/s1600/IMG_4196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g94OIHP_QKE/VC4POL0Oh_I/AAAAAAAAA4g/3fqIveNFJgE/s1600/IMG_4196.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I printed, made and hung a "Pin the wheel on the Wagon" game</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0YRzsXjVQuM/VC4PiXg8ppI/AAAAAAAAA4o/7jG9-JZAXhc/s1600/IMG_4194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0YRzsXjVQuM/VC4PiXg8ppI/AAAAAAAAA4o/7jG9-JZAXhc/s1600/IMG_4194.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nate did all the grilling</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qxMCRKRqi9M/VC4Q4IgdxyI/AAAAAAAAA44/4jk7xFKT_TM/s1600/IMG_0461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qxMCRKRqi9M/VC4Q4IgdxyI/AAAAAAAAA44/4jk7xFKT_TM/s1600/IMG_0461.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a wagon cake made by a friend, that E had to play with and destroy, also, there was a wagon for presents, you can see it in the background</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RlDtFG69wHI/VC4RpFdgFbI/AAAAAAAAA5A/k21WBkjgENE/s1600/IMG_4210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RlDtFG69wHI/VC4RpFdgFbI/AAAAAAAAA5A/k21WBkjgENE/s1600/IMG_4210.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a smash cake made by the same friend</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vqf65APeQsQ/VC4SfbnCN4I/AAAAAAAAA5Y/W4AdywRftso/s1600/IMG_0477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vqf65APeQsQ/VC4SfbnCN4I/AAAAAAAAA5Y/W4AdywRftso/s1600/IMG_0477.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Ethan got a wagon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YJE4YaijrN4/VC4TP_wGiqI/AAAAAAAAA5o/uJz3Uhd3Th4/s1600/IMG_2058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YJE4YaijrN4/VC4TP_wGiqI/AAAAAAAAA5o/uJz3Uhd3Th4/s1600/IMG_2058.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And he got some cups and a another wagon (times two actually) with some blocks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vlvaSwMHujg/VC4TnQE5erI/AAAAAAAAA5w/kik_n4YkIkQ/s1600/IMG_2107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vlvaSwMHujg/VC4TnQE5erI/AAAAAAAAA5w/kik_n4YkIkQ/s1600/IMG_2107.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And he got a push wagon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JGtaAQnhjNc/VC4T5larryI/AAAAAAAAA54/aEwjH_HbAQs/s1600/IMG_2152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JGtaAQnhjNc/VC4T5larryI/AAAAAAAAA54/aEwjH_HbAQs/s1600/IMG_2152.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And we all had a great time!</td></tr>
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Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-91291447286665492302014-09-14T16:28:00.001-06:002014-09-14T16:28:15.395-06:00Almost 1...almostEthan turns 1 next Saturday. I can't believe it. "They" are all right, "they" say that time flies when they are young. The sleepless nights, the early mornings, the few hours I have with him before and after work, the entire weekends I spend with him, none of it is enough. I can't get enough of him! This year has gone so fast. I love my not-so-little-anymore baby/almost toddler so much can't fully express it. <br />
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As I began to plan the party for his first birthday I realized how much I want to share it with all of you. All of you went through my journey with me to bring him here and I feel that you should be involved in the celebration of his first year of life. I can't believe I haven't been on here more to post about what is going on in my life. With our move to Albuquerque, I have realized how much I rely on the online friendships I developed through this blog. I have had so very little time to make new friendships in real life. Once Ethan goes to bed, I hop online to see what all of you are up to. I so eagerly await any new post that any of you write! However, over the last few weeks I've had so very little to read. Many have moved on and I know that summer is a busy time, but I can hardly reprimand others for doing exactly what I am guilty of. I've slowly drifted away from this space, but it doesn't mean I need it (and all of you) any less. <br />
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I hate to say it, but I'm addicted to comments. It makes me feel heard. But just as I'm a horrible long distance friend, I'm a horrible commenter. I read, I enjoy, I celebrate your families and your accomplishments, I laugh with you, I cry with you, but heaven forbid I acknowledge that I am doing so. I can make all the excuses I want, but overall I really am going to make the effort to be better. I'm going to start with a return to this space. <br />
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So...see you all soon (I promise it won't be months between posts).<br />
<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/41/93C4DA4150C4BF9E27A959ED44D9F2AB.png" style="border: 0px none;" /> Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-10568905667160920622014-08-11T22:15:00.000-06:002014-08-11T22:15:37.844-06:009 month update: BreastfeedingI have to say, I wasn't sure that we'd make it this far.<br />
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Ethan was 9 months old on June 20th. He continues to breastfeed like a champ. <br />
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We did start solids at 7 months 2 weeks. As expected, he was much more interested at this time than he was at 6 months. He was sitting up unassisted (even if it was only for a minute or two, not 20+ at a time), he was watching me eat things, and he was putting things into his mouth with accuracy.<br />
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Although him eating makes me nervous, he does a pretty good job mashing things up when he puts it into his mouth by himself. We did a bit of a combo of finger foods and semi-solid purees and food pouches. The most difficult thing for him is when we spoon feed him things that have chunks. He tries to swallow anything from a spoon without chewing and then gags/coughs. His favorite thing has to be yogurt. He loves it and gobbles it down. We made an effort to try new things only sporadically, but he has had no reaction to anything, so we've become less cautious and he continues to do well. He doesn't quite eat what we do, but has joined our meals most of the time.<br />
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Ethan continues to breastfeed multiple times a day, usually around 7 AM, 5 PM and 7 PM, and usually once in the middle of the night, rarely twice in the middle of the night. He has yet to sleep through the night at this point. I don't mind it though, I love hanging out with him and once in the middle of the night is just fine by me. He also still gets 2-3 bottles of expressed milk in a bottle while I'm at work and he's hanging out with Nate at home. I pump at lunch at work and usually at 5 PM.<br />
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Ethan got his first two teeth the day that we moved into our
rental (May 2nd) at about 7.5 months. Both bottom front teeth cut the
same day... ;( ... it was rough for all of us. Then 6 weeks later, he got his top two teeth the same day (June 16). I got a pick the night before...owie!<br />
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Also, I have been bitten. He never clamped down without teeth, but he tried his luck a few times with those sharp little daggers. I wasn't ready for it the first time and may have reacted poorly. I yelped, it scared him. I broke the seal and put him in his crib crying a bit. It took me a minute to make sure I wasn't bleeding. When I was sure I was ok, I picked him back up and we continued. He was a bit tenuous at first, but didn't bite again that night. He's probably tried 2 more times, but I was more prepared and noticed he tried when he is done eating and bored and ready to go to bed.I hope we can continue without any biting!<br />
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/41/93C4DA4150C4BF9E27A959ED44D9F2AB.png" style="border: 0px none;" /> Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-23154147063651491502014-07-26T22:20:00.002-06:002014-07-26T22:20:18.089-06:006 month update: BreastfeedingI started this post a while ago, but it was right when we were moving and I never did publish it.<br />
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Ethan is now 10 months old and still breastfeeding like a champ. I plan to post a 9 month update....shortly.<br />
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Here is the <a href="http://nowherenm.blogspot.com/2014/01/3-month-update-breastfeeding.html" target="_blank">3 month update on Breastfeeding</a>.<br />
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Now for the 6th month update. <br />
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Not much has changed in the way that Ethan is breastfed from 3 months to 6 months. He still eats regularly on a 3 hour schedule. I have been trying to wake him at 10:00 PM to give him a "dream feed" where he is not totally awake but takes a full feed. Sometimes he wakes enough to do it and some times he does not. If I am especially tired, I will give him a pumped bottle of milk so that I can get a few extra hours a sleep in a row. I still pump twice at work at 10:00 and 2:00 and Nate gives him bottles around those times, sometimes I also pump at noon because Nate gives him a bottle then too. However, I am not pumping after he feeds only instead of feeds when I am at work. Ethan breastfeeds at 6:30 AM, 5:00 PM, 7:00 PM and is up usually 2 times at night. Lately it has been 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM. Usually I wake him to feed him at 10:00 PM to, so that is still 8 times a day or so. I feed on demand at night and on the weekends so it does vary. This however means that I am still in a sleepless zombie state at 6 months postpartum. I guess you do adjust to it and it's not so bad as in the early days.<br />
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At 5.5 months, Ethan decided that we didn't need to use the nipple shield any more. He pulled it off in the middle of one of his "dream feeds" and latched without it. We never turned back and he never needed it again. I hated that freaking thing and am glad to be rid of it. I tried to wean him off of it and he could not latch without it. I tried several different kinds of nipple shield (Nu.k, Tom.mie Ti.ppie, and Mede.la, who knew that each company made their own and that they were so drastically different). The Nu.k and Med.ela were the best. Regardless of nipple shield E could just not do without it. I really feel that I had flat nipples. There was a short period of time around 4 months where I believe that Ethan's suck became strong enough to break the adhesions that were keeping my nipples flat. Breastfeeding was uncomfortable after a long time of it being fine, even with the nipple shield, for about 2 weeks. I gave up on actively trying to wean him off of it. I would try at the beginning, middle and ends of feeds to see if he would do without it and we never got a latch that lasted more than 30 seconds or so. I'm glad he is able to do without it, because it was such a pain. You have to clean it and have it with you at all times. Heaven forbid you leave the house without it, you have your boobs but can't feed your child!!! I hope I never see one again!<br />
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Anyway...<br />
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I am now able to feed Ethan in bed sometimes, I have to get burp cloths ready and tucked in to catch leaking, but it means that I don't have to be fully awake to feed him.<br />
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The spit-up, however, is outrageous. He can soak a swaddling blanket in no time flat. He spits up all day long (never at night though). Sitting, laying down, being held, in his swing...anywhere and everywhere. It is not projectile...it's just a lot, a whole lot! It really is impressive to see how much comes up. I asked his doctor about it, he seems unconcerned. He is not uncomfortable and is gaining weight appropriately, so the doctor called him a 'happy spitter" and said that it was more of a laundry issue than a real problem. I would agree, and since I don't want to put him on another medication (he is still on his hear medicine) we agreed to do nothing for now. I was frustrated by it and brought it up at a La Lec.he Le.age meeting. Although the empathized they all seemed to think he would grow out of it, I agree that he likely will. The leader even said that her daughter used to spit up but "look at her now, she's 4 and doing just fine" it was very funny at the time and did ease my fears about it.<br />
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I've done a lot of research about starting solids and I know that most will say that it's ok to start at 6 months and that babies will show signs of readiness, I simply don't think that E is ready just yet. He has no teeth, he still has a tongue thrust reflex, he is not sitting unassisted and his coordination in getting things to his mouth is not great. I think we will hold out and reassess in 6 weeks (the number of weeks he was premature) and see if maybe he is ready then.<br />
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/41/93C4DA4150C4BF9E27A959ED44D9F2AB.png" style="border: 0px none;" /> Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-13376659725030977512014-05-30T21:41:00.000-06:002014-05-30T21:41:00.763-06:00Where have you been?<br />
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I guess the better question is where have I been? I keep meaning to get on here to post an update, but can't find two spare minutes to put together to do so. I know that some of you already know this because you follow me on facebook, but I thought that I'd write out some of the details. Because this blog isn't entirely anonymous, I've revised what I'd originally written so as to be...more positive...should inquiring persons decide to search for just such a post at some point in the future.<br />
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When Ethan was 3 months old, I went back to work. I had 14 weeks of maternity leave due to the combination of 8 weeks of planned leave and delivering 6 weeks preterm. I went back to work thinking everything was hunky-dory, when it really wasn't...it really, really wasn't.<br />
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A co-worker took over my schedule while I was gone. She was previously my student and had just been hired on after her graduation. She was licensed for a mere month before I delivered and she had to take over everything. Given that she was so new to it, she took over seamlessly and did a great job. Her sales were high, patient's were happy, boss lady was happy, all was good. When I returned though, sales opportunities were not distributed evenly. Patient's were actively moved off of my schedule and onto hers and no one seemed to know how it was happening, fingers were pointed in every direction and I was getting screwed. After 3 months of essentially no income for our family, I didn't make enough sales in January to earn commission for the first time in nearly 6 years of working there. I thought it was a fluke, many patients had awaited my return before coming in for a variety of issues and my schedule got bogged down with the nonsense. I really do rely on sales for income. So when February ended with yet another month without commission, I knew something was amiss. I was being phased out.<br />
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Nate had been on my case to find another job since the whole debacle of Ethan's birth in Las Vegas, but I had assured him that things would be fine once I returned to work. They weren't.<br />
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I actively sought out another job for the entire month of March. I received many offers, but nothing that would work for us. Everything I was getting required some major change, such as moving across the country. Finally, on March 26, a job in Albuquerque fell in my lap, a previous co-worker had left 5 years ago for the job, worked there ever since, and recently resigned to go elsewhere to work part time. I received the final offer on March 30th (a Monday) and the planned start date was March 16th. I went to work that Monday and planned to resign from my current job that Wednesday to give myself 2 weeks to close up shop and finalize patients. I was surprised to be called into the boss's office at the end of the day. After rather minimal conversation, I resigned on the spot and was asked to leave that day rather than at the end of 2 weeks. The message was thanks but no thanks for your 6 years of blood, sweat and tears.<br />
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Well ok then.<br />
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I contacted the new boss and accepted the position let him know that we were getting ready to relocate and that I was not required to do the final 2 weeks of work that I had planned. He asked me to come early....<br />
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Nate and I ran around like headless chickens trying to get things planned out. We got a house in ABQ to rent but couldn't move in for a month. We decided to rent because we were not at all familiar with the area and had no idea where to live. We were very limited on rental options due to having 6 dogs, but did find a place rather quickly, all things considered. So the new boss man rented us a house in Santa Fe and I commuted the 1 hour drive every day for a month. Then we moved into the rental house in ABQ at the beginning of May.<br />
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We are finally settled and unpacked. So I figured it was time to unpack this blog too and get all of you updated!<br />
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Considering changing the blog name to "Greetings from Somewhere, NM", because we no longer live in the middle of Nowhere, but I've had the old name for so long...Opinions?<br />
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/41/93C4DA4150C4BF9E27A959ED44D9F2AB.png" style="border: 0px none;" /> <br />
Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-79732843688977070382014-03-14T20:36:00.001-06:002014-03-14T20:36:46.336-06:003 month update: Cloth DiaperingI don't know what I'm waiting for, I wrote this post almost 3 months ago and never posted it. Sorry, it got a little long, but I hope that someone finds it someday and reads it and says..."Hey, I can do that!" I included a lot of detail so that someone could follow step by step and come to the same conclusions that we have: Cloth diapers are great!<br />
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I knew that we would cloth diaper long before we even got pregnant. They are cute, functional and a whole lot less expensive in the long run than are disposable diapers.<br />
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My husband calls me "crunchy" and "fanatical". This is not just in response to cloth diapers, but his typical response to anything that is not considered mainstream. However, I consider myself "frugal" and a "hobbyist". Spoiler alert: He has since come over to my side, and is fully on-board with the cloth diapering, even after some initial resistance.<br />
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Early on in my pregnancy, I was researching cloth diapers and holy crap was I confused! There are so many different options prefolds...fitteds...covers...all-in-ones...all-in-twos...one-size...sized...hybrids...liners...what do these words mean?????? It took me weeks to sort it out, and I'm not going to go through it all here. I learned the most from www.myclothdiaperstash.com and you can too! My way is by no means the only way to cloth diaper, but boy has it worked well for us.<br />
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Because Nate was not yet on board, I had to go cheap cheap cheap to start with. For us, this meant prefolds with covers. I had joined the local cloth diaper support group's facebook site and someone posted that Green Mountain Diapers was having a second's sale on their clotheez prefolds. Since these were the prefolds I had planned on using, I bought a bunch at 12 weeks pregnant (I was scared shitless to do so by the way! tempting fate and all). For those who don't know a second's sale is when a company sells defective merchandise or anything that is not first quality, at steep discounts, however, often the typical buyer can not even find the defects.<br />
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I bought 3 dozen newborn sized, 3 dozen infant sized and 2 dozen medium sized square flat prefolds (total cost of: $140). At 20 weeks I bought 2 best bottoms one size covers, 2 swaddlebees size one adjustable sized covers and 5 thirsties size one adjustable sized covers (total cost of $140). For $280 we could diaper in cloth through at least 9 months then we'd have to buy a few more covers (maybe $50 worth) to diaper until he weighed about 30 lbs (maybe until potty training?!?!?!). <br />
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I also bought some used diapers. I had wanted to try BumGenius Elementals after reading <a href="http://mycheapversionoftherapy.com/tag/cloth-diapers/">Josey's adventures in cloth diapering</a>. They changed the style though so I had to buy them used. I bought 7 used from a local girl for $70 and also bought 8 used on ebay for about $80. Although they all have lots of holes in them, but for $150 I had a bunch of diapers I knew my husband would use. Because he did like these, I also bought 6 new Bum Genius Freetime diapers from Target online for a total of $90. I have since sold half of my infant sized prefolds and 4 of my covers and a wet bag I hadn't used for $80 and then used that same money to buy 12 used BumGenius 4.0 pocket diapers. I sold half my infant prefolds because we didn't need nearly as much of that size, nor as many covers as I had bought.<br />
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Because cloth diapers do require some accessories, I have two pail liners I purchased for $30 total, a diaper pail (trash can with locking lid from home depot) for $10, a small wet bag for my diaper bag for $10. 3 dozen cloth wipes for $30. A spray bottle for wipe solution for maybe $1. Witch hazel, baby wash, tea tree oil, baby oil all for the wipe solution maybe $20. $6 for Baby anti-monkey butt diaper rash treatment and prevention powder. I may spend maybe another $50 between now and potty training on the stuff I use for our wipes solution and butt powder. <br />
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Although we don't really use the 20 infant prefolds I have, I have about 41 diapers total in rotation. I do not have to buy diapers and wipes ever again.<br />
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If I can do math correctly, in the end I will be roughly $675 into cloth diapering by the time E is potty trained. It costs a family an average of $2400 to use disposables from birth through potty training (not including wipes, diaper genie, diaper creams...etc, all of which I included in my $675.) We are therefore saving a minimum of $1725, more if we use our current diapering system on future children. Our savings would be even more if I had just gone with one system to begin with and stuck with that.<br />
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We were not able to start cloth diapering E from birth. We didn't have any that would fit him at 5 lbs. So we bought about 3 packs of 40 count preemie diapers, one case of newborn diapers from SAM's club, one 40 pack of newborn diapers from walmart and one 40 pack of size 1 diapers from walmart. We also bought 1 case of wipes from walmart. When E had diaper rash early on, I bought at least 6 different types of creams until we found baby anti-monkey butt powder. I spent at least $300 on all of this crap, which we did use! At least it didn't go to waste. I now use the diaper creams at night. I insisted that we only buy cloth diaper safe diaper creams (except boudreaux's butt paste) so that I could use them with cloth.<br />
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I started to fully cloth diaper E's little bottom around 9 weeks old. He was about 8 lbs then. We used a random assortment of the cloth diapers I have. The diapers were so big on him them came to well above his belly button and down to about his knees. He was changed after every feeding around the clock and used about 12 diapers a day and all of them were pooped. We still use cloth diapers day and night, but use newborn insert from the pocket diapers as a doubler for absorbency at night time. He is changed after every feeding and then gets a doubled diaper after bath time that isn't changed until morning. He currently uses about 5-7 diapers a day and about 4 are pooped. <br />
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We have a well established washing routine where we wash diapers every 2-3 days. I dump everything including the pail liner into the washer. 1st cycle is a rinse and spin with cold water with no detergent. 2nd cycle is the longest, hottest, heaviest cycle with a pre-wash with detergent (Charlie's soap liquid that a local natural foods store orders specifically for me), a wash with detergent (same soap) and an extra rinse. Once a week I also add a quarter cup of bleach. The third step is to dry. It takes about 1 hour 20 minutes to dry everything and I usually pull out any covers and pail liners half way through.<br />
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I decided to use cloth wipes because it was inconvenient to change a cloth diaper and have a dirty disposable wipe that I had to take and put into the trash. I have 3 dozen flannel wipes that I purchased from cotton babies. I researched wipe solutions and found there to be a ton of possible choices. I settled on my own concoction. Small squirt/sprayer bottle from walmart, it holds less than 1 cup. Fill 3/4 with water, add 1 squirt of baby wash (cleansing), 1 squirt of baby oil or any other oil (moisturizing), 10 drops of tea tree oil (anti-microbial), and top off with witch hazel (anti-inflammatory). I had heard that you can accordion fold the wipes in a used wipes box, then pour the solution over the wipes. But some people had trouble with mold. So we do a different routine.<br />
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When I change his diaper I put the clean diaper under his bottom, take off the dirty one, put a dry wipe between his bottom and the new diaper and spray his bottom (this keeps the solution from running up his crack and getting his clothing wet). I wipe his bottom with the same dry wipe. I only have to use one wipe per diaper change and I just throw everything into the diaper pail. Because breastmilk is water soluable, I do not rinse or scrape the diapers. Formula fed babies or babies who have started solids require a slightly different routine. I then powder his butt with the baby anti-monkey butt every time, and snap the diaper back on him.<br />
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Speaking of snaps, we went with snaps instead of aplix (velcro) because of my long hair, dog hair and general fuzz which wears down the stickiness of the aplix. I also read that applix can scratch the skin if your little one has a bit of a muffin top. We have had no trouble with snaps as of yet, they work well, have not broken and fit just fine. <br />
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I have E's schedule on the fridge along with the diaper washing routine and the recipe for the diaper solution. Nate has been exceptional at cloth diapering since I returned to work and has taken over nearly the whole routine while I've been gone. Although, I am always the one that folds and puts everything away once washed, however, this is also the case for our clothes so I'm not surprised.<br />
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We plan to continue to cloth diaper Ethan and any future children, I can not see how my mind could be changed at this time.<br />
<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/41/93C4DA4150C4BF9E27A959ED44D9F2AB.png" style="border: 0px none;" />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-23684445964577363282014-03-07T20:38:00.001-07:002014-03-07T20:38:42.418-07:00Oily House Friday: digestZen doTerra<a href="http://ourstorkgotlost.blogspot.com/2014/03/oily-house-friday-lavender-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Displaying oilyhousefriday1.jpeg" class="aLF-aPX-J1-J3" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=9656491f70&view=fimg&th=14478b567397a494&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=f_hs7hy3vk0&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ_yYUlsZiZm_Nhv5hebz2TCdY626okFnnzgXvd_o0cFkrub8nvycxWpIEEuBpEtl5DDzft5xNrCJgAo8JVPbkwlc8KpQ36sEVJRvUUVacQiHnQSUk6rD6XgSag&ats=1394248060352&rm=14478b567397a494&zw&sz=w1122-h464" /></a><br />
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Linking up with <a href="http://ourstorkgotlost.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bridget</a> for this post.<br />
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I've long been a fan of the more natural ways of doing things and essential oils have just fallen into my lap slowly over the last year or so.<br />
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It all started with massage...<br />
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I had gone to the chiropractor for an adjustment when I could find no other relief for very localized back pain (and infertility). After several visits, my back, neck, feet and pelvis were all feeling much better. However, my muscles were so tight and my stress so high, I kept knocking things out of whack. My chiropractor recommended her aunt (it's a small town!) as a masseuse. I went to her several times and always felt great afterwards and loved the oils she used to calm, relax and de-stress me. However, I stopped going to her last January just before we started IVF.<br />
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Then as a gift, Nate bought me a session at about 4 weeks post-partum. My back had been killing me (post-delivery pain, poor sleep, carrying around a baby, and post-(failed)epidural) and chiropractic care alone wasn't cutting it. I happened to also have caught a cold that I thought for sure would be the death of me. She used an oil called Thieves on me and then gave me the bottle. She advised that I put it on my chest morning and night and inhale deeply for a few minutes after. I did so and almost immediately felt better. I still didn't really think about oils and any future use of them.<br />
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Then when Ethan was experiencing horrible diaper rash, I decided to make my own wipes solution to try to figure out any way of eliminating the rash. I had purchased (very early in my pregnancy) an essential oil combination from the cloth diaper store in Albuquerque. 10 drops of oil to a cup of water (plus a few other ingredients). I never read the bottle until long after I started using it. It is a combination of multiple oils, but primarily tea tree oil and lavender oil. I also experimented with coconut oil on his bottom as well as other areas of chapped skin.<br />
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Then, recently, Bridget started posting about her experiences with essential oils. I had recently come to my wit's end with Ethan's spitting up/reflux. He goes through 5+ outfits and dozens of (totally soaked) bibs a day. He spits up ounces after every meal, after every burp, regardless of position, burping, amount he eats, time he eats...etc. It is reflux without the pain! He doesn't seem to care and it doesn't seem to bother him. He is gaining weight and growing at a steady pace, so the doctor doesn't want to do anything. It just doesn't seem normal to me and I'm not really willing to put him on meds anyway. So I sought out an essential oil that might help. I did so at the exact time Bridget started posting. It took me a while to pull the trigger, but I bought some digestZen from doTerra.<br />
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Before putting it on the baby, Nate and I used some for about 24 hours. After no ill effects, we started putting it on Ethan. I dilute it with regular coconut oil and apply it to his stomach and soles of his feet twice a day, morning and night. Although it was not the miraculous cure that I was hoping for, there does seem to be a drastic difference in the amount of spitting up he does as well as the frequency. we are down to about 3 outfits a day and 6 bibs. We continue to use it daily. I have to admit that it is not the best smelling thing to me (a little like black licorice), but heck, whatever works!<br />
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/41/93C4DA4150C4BF9E27A959ED44D9F2AB.png" style="border: 0px none;" />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831116088961427499.post-64138053392403239962014-02-18T20:41:00.000-07:002014-02-18T20:41:06.088-07:00A year ago today...Very few days each year have an impact on me. New Years day, my birthday in July, Halloween and Christmas are really the only days of much significance to me. Ethan's birthday in September is a new one for me later this year, but I now have Febuary 18th, today, as a day that is emblazoned in my mind and likely will be forever. It is the day I got my first ever BFP! I do remember January 24th as the first day of my cycle, Febuary 7th as the egg retrieval, Febuary 12th as the transfer. But one year ago on February 18, 2013 at 6 days past a 5 day transfer, we got the shock of our lives! What we had been waiting for and hoping for for the previous 3 years had finally happened.<br />
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Happy BFP anniversary to us!<br />
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/41/93C4DA4150C4BF9E27A959ED44D9F2AB.png" style="border: 0px none;" /> Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11900519911100476545noreply@blogger.com4