1.25.2012

Crash and Burn

I am glad to know I am not the only one who apologizes at the start of every blog post and writes very randomly.  And you know what?  I love those posts just as much as the others.  So here's to not apologizing for it! ;)

So, you might be interested to know I am back in the 21st century.  I have downloaded the google reader ap and I am now getting caught up on everyone's blogs-woohoo!  I am reading more, but I don't think I can comment without linking in, so that might be reduced.  Probably good for me to learn to keep my mouth shut.  Honestly, I know my opinion doesn't matter in my heart, but sometimes I act like it is extremely valuable.  So this will be a good lesson.  Much better than hitting refresh on FB 20 times a day.  Okay, I still do that but maybe not so much as before.  And did I mention before I have a rosary ap now.  Best thing ever for a novice like me!!!

And, confession time.  I am horrible with names and this has carried over into the blog world.  For example, I know some of your real names and forget the blog association.  Or I started following you for a neat reason/connection, but that is long forgotten.  Or if you change you blog design, I am screwed.  So you can imagine google reader doesn't help in that area.  Or maybe it does.  I will be forced to focus on what matter.  I am just saying, my apologies, I am just so very rotten keeping people straight.  I think that part of your brain dies when you go through long periods of sleep deprivation.  I love you anyway!

So the Crash part of the title alludes to my technology woes this monthly.  My computers and cell phone are all conspiring against me lately.  My brand new work laptop decided to not boot up and my desktop got some virus and was worthless.  I had to take it into the shop.  And today, I realized I am still having issues.  They want me to come back.  Taking my kids into that store is my least favorite thing ever (lots of expensive things down low, etc) and my dh is working crazy hours this month (but he is almost done-yay!) I really really wish I had a mac, but my work decided I needed a dell instead.  Trying to be grateful I have a new computer at all, given my old one took 15 min just to boot up!  Anyway, my probably 3 month old cell phone's LED screen went out too so I went in to get it fixed.  They ended up ordering me a new phone, which I have had a week.  Now I have just discovered the speaker phone button works, but it also mutes the person.  Not so helpful.  So I will be going back to the Sprint store.  My second least favorite place to go with my kids.

On top of the computer woes, my kids and I have had a rough cold the past two weeks.  I remembered the garlic idea, sort of.  See, I cut up a bunch for dh and I and then he didn't realize and took it all.  I was too lazy to cut up more that night.  I have no idea why giving it to the kids escaped me, because I've done it before, but I didn't think of it.  We all got sick.  All except dh.  I am glad he wasn't sick though, for all the hours he has to put in (he works 7 days a week right now and a sick day is not an option).  Its the worst when a baby has a cold and can't blow their nose.  AJ just sounded like he was swimming in it!  Literally.  It resulted in his first ear infection (Charlie had tubes by this point). It seriously took its toll on everyone and sleeping was rough for all involved (AJ would be up about 1 1/2 hrs every night at some point, Charlie woke up once a night, and one day AJ was up every 20 min until 4am-poor dh!!!!). I remembered to offer it up for all my blog sisters that were waking all night with their little ones.  But I am not saying I was as joyful about it as I should have been.  I drank a lot of coffee!  And, confession number two, I watched way too much Kardash.ian sisters while recovering.  What is wrong with me?!  Its like staring at a wreck.  That's exactly what it is like.

In cycle news, I am still on cycle 2 since conceiving AJ.  And what a cycle it is!  My goodness, I have never had fertile days like this.  I have had about 5 days of peak type, but each one is separated by about 2 days of dry.  Very odd.  Hormones might be all over the place as well because something happened at work (my work is the twilight zone, people there are seriously not normal) and I thought I was going to shoot fire out of my mouth and my head was going to start spinning around.  I was livid.  I don't think I've ever been so angry.  I was in control on the outside (it was via email, I was at home with the kids), but I had to squat down and take deep breaths.  Not good.  In hindsight, it was annoying, but not to a fire shooting degree (this is the Burn part of the title, in case you wondered.  I have to attempt to be clever since "This and That" has been used in some variation about 50 times).

I appreciate all the prayers for my friend Nan with breast cancer. She is doing alright.  They put a port in Monday and today she had her second chemo treatment.  Her advisor did tell her she needed to change more on her dissertation so her defense date was cancelled and not rescheduled.  I know that must be very stressful, so definitely prayers still appreciated!

So that is the latest and greatest in the Life of Wheelbarrow Rider :)  That reminds me, I realized after the fact how that title sounds, like I am always in tune with God's will and that is a load of bull.  I try, I fall out, I try to dust myself off and get back in.  On a good day.  My blog address is also very goofy.  But I didn't really put much thought into that part of things.  And now I know that is the one part you don't really want to change.  Oh well.  Life is a learning experience, for sure.  Thanks for putting up with me and my randomness :)

1.14.2012

Resolutions and Cycle Stuff

The New Year has brought some resolutions.  It seems I am always going back to the same ones...praying more and things related to organization.  This year, a whopping two weeks in, things are going pretty well.

I have officially said the rosary more times this year than in my entire life.  I am not sure that is saying too much, but I am really enjoying my rosary ap on my phone and Charlie loves saying it with me.  He is the reason we did two in one day (my mom was like, the entire rosary, and I got all deflated, no just like one set of mysteries...).  Its been good for both of us and I am glad he is getting exposed to these things.  I can't wait until he gets enrolled in Atrium (Catechesis of the Good Shephard).  I have trouble knowing how to answer his questions and give him the right impression of God's justice and yet mercy.  It's tough and I also don't want to worry him.  I am looking forward to having help! 

Speaking of, my number one prayer right now is for a very dear friend of mine, Nan.  I have known her since I was 17 and seen her lose her mom and her sister to breast cancer.  She went through the doc program with me and was the only other one to get married and have two babies in the program.  She is expected to defend her dissertation next Monday, but there has been a delay.  The Friday before Christmas her biopsy came back.  Breast cancer.  She has a 2 year old and a 3 year old.  I am praying she kicks some serious cancer butt!  They are doing chemo prior to surgery (this is a newer way of doign things for cancers that are aggressive, large tumors, etc).  We are lucky to be in a big city with a large teaching hospital and lots of clinical trials to particpate in.  Leila, I am adding your sister to my prayers!

Back to resolutions, I also sort of hate doing dishes at night and don't have a good attitude about it. I have a CD player in the kitchen and have started replaying my religious talks on CD. I started with Christopher West's Women: God's Masterpiece. I don't know how you could listen to that and not feel fabulous when you are done! Now I am listening to the Jeff Cavin's bible study on the Gospel of Matthew. We are doing it as part of our small FG, but the first six chapters were so spread out due to the holidays, the CDs (I borrowed from church) are such a good refresher.  I am finding myself cleaning more than necessary to listen to the end!

Cycle-wise things are fine.  I am not on any meds and definitely can tell there is lots less CM, even with the addition B6 this month.  B6 works for me, but in combo with other things, so we will see.  I am figuring if I get to peak plus seven this month the bloodwork will indicate this and I will go back on all my old meds again (mucinex, amox, clomid, hcg).  I am glad we are not allowed to ttc right now b/c with ovulation comes...me running to the bathroom.  Dang stomach!  I did some googling and found out Crohn's diseas is diet related but also hormone related.  I wonder if that might be the culprit (I don't think I have it that bad, but then again, it has been about 5 times in the last 6 weeks), but I would think they would have seen something abnormal on my colonoscopy a few years ago.  I have an appt with my primary care next week. 

That's it for now! :)  The boys are good.  This is a nice easy time in terms of sleep and schedules (but very hard in terms of taking AJ to church-that boy is not interested in sitting still for half a second!).  Hope everyone is having a good start to the New Year!

1.03.2012

Along With My Cycle, the Aches and Pains are BACK

Well, cycle 2 came right on the heals of cycle 1, a first for me.  I didn't make it to my peak plus 7 blood draw because peak plus 6 became CD 1.  Hopefully that was just part of it all getting straightened out and not a sign of any new problems.  And, as I recalled, cycle 2 post pregnancy was much much worse than cycle 1.  Not.fun.  

The worst part is all my weird aches and pains are back.  Like my hips.  That happened during pregnancy and I am pretty sure the doctor said that hormones can cause your ligaments to loosen so you are more flexible for delivery.  Um, body, get the message, there is no need for loosey goosey ligaments at this time!  The stomach pain I have that I think has hormonal and food ties is back full force.  I have had 2 stomach aches since my cycle returned.  One on the last day of my period (yesterday) and one on the day of ovulation.  I am curious if those days have something in common, hormonal wise, but it seems like they would be opposites?  What do I know?  I am curious for your input.  I always thought my stomach pains were endo, but Dr. H didn't find a ton of endo in the right spots.

I don't expect my first via email cycle review with Dr. H's nurses to reveal anything revolutionary.  I am just expecting to get told to do a blood draw next month and see where things are the. So far I feel fine on the synthroid, no real difference, but then I wasn't feeling bad to begin with.

I am definitely going to get back on my Syntol.  My yeast seems out of control, as evidenced by my diet and my right knee feeling swollen.  That is always a strange symptom I have had.

Looking forward to finding the right meds/diet to feel good again!