Back to the Fertility Specialist!

Here we go again ;) I'm excited to go back to our specialist, but am also kind of apprehensive. Fertility treatments take a lot out of a person, physically, mentally-and financially (just being pragmatic). Fortunately, my insurance seems to be pretty generous in this area. This is a point for which I am eternally grateful. I'm also so very grateful for the technology that has allowed us to become parents, so I hope this does not sound like I am complaining. I would gladly go through it all again (and more) if it means having another child.

I have a lot to do before that appointment, which is September 22nd. I still want to lose some more weight, in hopes of dragging my pcos back into submission...or at least tame it a bit. I have been doing well lately as far as eating well goes-not so much with the exercise though. Its been incredibly hot here the last week-high in the mid 90's and extremely humid. Which means no jogging or walking for Alex and I. Anyway-I have to whip out some hard core self control while in Australia-as I'm sure that there will be all sorts of eating there...and who doesn't overeat when they are on vacation? But I'm going to try very hard to make good choices to at least maintain while I'm gone.

Other than that...just waiting for the appointment. I'm glad it's not until September. I'm glad to have this summer without worrying about babies (except my own) and pregnancy. I want to just enjoy Dan and Alex and yeah, have a few drinks too. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that things work out again. I've been blessed with Alex-sometimes I wonder if it can happen again? Right now, I'm just going to throw it up to God ;) Because, really, what else can I do? While this thought would have been troubling to me in the past, now it gives me a degree of comfort. Anyways-hoping and praying for the best :)

Leaving for Australia 7/11!!!!

Alex's first 4th of July-in all her patriotic finery!

First time in a pool-and she's loving it!

Yay! I cannot wait to go. I'm a little worried about traveling with an almost six month old, but it's also part of the "new parent" adventure. So basically, getting there (and back, of course) takes a long (long) time. We fly from where we live to Philly (2-3 hours), from Philly to LA (6 hours), LA to Brisbane (14 hours or so, no stopping) and Brisbane to Rockhampton (1 hour). My poor baby-that's a lot of traveling and flying for her maiden voyage. Alex hasn't even been out of the state yet, lol. So yeah, it's almost exactly 24 hours just in the air....this does not include lay-overs, however. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Alex isn't fussy and that the white noise from the engine lulls her to sleep. We're bringing her favorite toys (the quieter ones so as to not completely piss off our fellow co-passengers), some books, her blanky and her lovey. Basically, I'm just trying to prepare for everything and anything! I'm excited though-it's our first BIG trip as a family. I cannot wait to expose Alex to the other part of her heritage....we really want her to understand and know her Australian roots. In time, we may come to spend the whole summer (our summer) there so she can know her Australian family as well as her American family.

Anyway-we'll be gone for three weeks. We are spending most of that time with Dan's family in Yeppoon. Yeppoon is a beautiful coastal town on the east coast of Australia. It is north of Brisbane and south of Cairns. It's a very nice area-an up-in-coming resort town. Should be very nice and, hopefully, relaxing. We are also going to spend a few days in Brisbane, as this is where Dan and I went to school (uni). We plan to hang out with his friends from uni and have some informal "party" time.

I'm hoping to bring my laptop with me so I can blog as I go, but it all depends on how much stuff we have to lug around. Keep your fingers crossed that the trip over and back goes well :)

Christening Pictures

Alexandra and daddy waiting for the ceremony to begin. Check out her dress. It has been worn for 4 generations (including Alex) and is about 100 years old. The bonnet is an Irish Christening bonnet that babies wear on their Christening and then use as a handkerchief at their wedding.

Veronica (Alex's Godmother), Deacon Tony and my father

Us, the proud parents! Alexandra is wearing a Christening shawl that her great grandmother (Oma) made

Party time!

Yum! The spread: chicken riggies, chicken francais, french onion potatoes, chef salad, jello and sausage pepper and onion sandwiches

The crowd: glad it didn't rain!

Busy Busy Busy

Pphheewwwww...the month of June has FLOWN!!! I cannot believe it is the 20th already :) I haven't even had enough down time to blog. The only reason I'm still connected to facebook and not going through withdrawal is because I have it on my phone. Good thing, or I'd be out of the loop, lol.

Anyway, we've been super busy the last three or so weeks. Dan's sister, Veronica, was here for three weeks. She watched Alex while I briefly went back to work. When I wasn't working, Veronica, Dan and I were getting ready for Alex's Baptism and party. Pretty much this is how my day went for about two weeks: get up at 6am, go to work, get home, feed Alex, go run errands for the party, get home at 9, eat about 9:30, go to sleep at 10:30. Sounds relaxing, huh?

I had a great time with Veronica though, and wish she lived closer-or at least in the same country. She was a huge help in getting ready for this party. While I was at work, she did some landscaping, cleaned, took care of Alex and cooked. I swear, the girl is superwoman. That chick gets things done! But we had some nice girl time too-which I think was needed on both parts.

Alex's Christening was awesome. She was such a good little girl during the ceremony and seemed to listen intently to the Deacon as he spoke. She looked at him in such a serious fashion-as if she knew how important the day was. Too cute. She didn't cry or anything when the Deacon put the oils on her or the water on her head. The party went great as well. I'm very thankful that there was no rain because it was touch and go all day-and I have no idea what I would have done with 50 people had it rained! We certainly would have been jam-packed in the house! It was definitely a special day-not just because of the service, but because Alex was able to meet the rest of her extended family. I love the fact that she has so much family around...it's a great support system to grow up with.

And by the way, not that I'm counting down or anything but......3 1/2 more days of work until I'm off until September 7th! Huzzah! :)

Alex's First Trip to Camp!

Auntie Veronica playing with Alex

The View

Alex enjoying some deck time

Alex and daddy up at camp-her first time up!

We brought Alex and Veronica up to camp for the first time (well-Alex's first time anyway) for Memorial Day weekend. It was really cool to go up as a family of three, as last time we had been there, I was about 23 weeks pregnant and was so excited to think into the future about bringing our child to camp. I had been going there since I was a baby, so it's a nice tradition to continue.

It was a packed weekend. My parents, sister, her boyfriend, Veronica, Dan and I and Alex were all staying in the cabin...along with three dogs. Fun...but crowded. All the cousins were up too-so it was kind of one big party. A nice way to kick off the unofficial start to the summer! I have to say though that packing with a baby is an experience. This was our first overnight trip (we were actually gone 3 nights) and I packed wayyyyyy too much. I think I brought half of Alex's wardrobe-but I wanted to be sure we had everything for ANY type of weather, lol. Live & learn :)

Back To Work!

Wellllllll.....my maternity leave officially ended on Tuesday, when I went back to work for the first time since December! The day before, it was my 30th birthday, so I'm glad I didn't have to go back that day. But I was definitely kind of bummed and dreading leaving Alex. I had a few good cries that day and was feeling pretty guilty about going back. I never really realized it would be so hard!!!

In the end, it was a bit like going to the dentist-the buildup is worse than the actual event. Yes, I woke up a little sad on Tuesday, but I was in such a rush to get ready that I didn't really have time to feel sorry for myself. Yes-I missed Alex like heck-but I called home every two hours or so, lol. It definitely made it MUCH easier to know that Veronica, Dan's sister, is watching her...and that I only have to work for three weeks until I have the WHOLE summer off!!! So yeah-it hasn't been too bad. And I have to say, it was kind of nice to see my colleagues again and to practice some problem solving skills non-related to babies. However, that's not to say I wouldn't love to stay home-because I would. Just trying to find that elusive silver lining. And we have our trip to Australia in July to look forward to as well. So hopefully time will go by fast. Until then, however, I will keep watching the clock and bolting out of the door at 3:25 every day! Next September...when I start back "for real" we may see a lot more waterworks ;)

May 26th!

The first test I took, one year ago today

One year ago today, I found out I was pregnant with Alex!!! We had finished an injectable cycle with IUI and timed intercourse. I was SURE that the cycle had failed because I felt no different. In fact, I had a major breakdown the day before I found out because I just *knew* that I would never get pregnant and adoption would take sooooo long and cost sooooo much money. I was beginning to feel hopeless. Yeah-it was a major breakdown-complete with hyperventilation and gulping sobs. Poor Dan...he probably had no idea what to do with me!

Anyway, I woke up on the 26th early because Dan was going on a business trip to NYC. I thought briefly of taking a test, but decided to not waste our time because, of course, it would be negative. So I felt I was better off getting some more shut-eye. I woke up about two hours later and decided to take a test. I was always a poas-aholic! So I took a First Response and I can truly say that I was not expecting anything. I think some of that hope and optimism had left me by that point in our fertility struggle. I cannot even tell you how shocked I was to see that faint pink line show up on the stick! I think I stared at it for five minutes, not doing anything, just staring. Then I began WAR DIALING Dan, who was still on the flight. I was about to burst by the time I was able to get a hold of him. But I was adamant that he would be the first to know. I couldn't even come up with a creative way of telling him-just blurted it out! He was happy, but cautious too, given our loss in December. I remember that day being surreal and wonderful and scary. I guess I could describe my whole pregnancy as surreal, wonderful and scary. But we have our baby girl, who is asleep upstairs for the moment-and I made sure to tell her today about how, one year ago, she was a little blob (but a cute blob) in mommy's stomach.