Last "official" work day of the year

Welp today is my last day at the client for the year.  I will probably do some support from home but tonight will be my last flight.  That is kind of crazy!!  It's really hard to believe that it's 12/16.  I swear it was only 10/31 last week.  It's also crazy that it's snowing back home.  I really enjoyed the 70+ weather we have had here in Plano, TX the past 2 days!!!!  :)  I really don't want to leave it.  Owell.  Hopefully it's really nice in January when I come back.

Looking back this year, I have been all over and have traveled a ton.  I looked in my Tripit account and here are my stat's.  There will be some more miles after tonights flight but not too many.  So I have traveled 39 weeks (roughly), with me being home 13 weeks (roughly - being away in Europe for 3 weeks, counts as 1 trip)...  so the numbers are a little off but no big deal.   I'll be home the next 2 weeks and then January is already booked and ready to go.  So I have an assignment til February for right now.

it's December!!!!!!!!!!

Wow I can't believe it's DECEMBER already!!!!!!!!  Where has the fall gone?  It's kind of crazy how time flies!!  I have been traveling and working my butt off and the time just goes by.  I was in Winnipeg 2 weeks ago, off for the week of thanksgiving and then this week I'm in Plano, Texas.  I'll be in Texas off/on until February.  I really don't mind Texas (warm weather!!!!) and LOTS of friends to see/catch up with.  I do HATE DFW and it's delays but I'll deal.   Work is good and busy!!  We got a new bonus plan, which makes me extremely happy!!!  Can you believe that I will have traveled over 90,000 miles in the air this year?  That's crazy!!

This week has been crappy....  I got sick and I HATE being sick.  I don't get sick that often and when I do, it's bad.  It started on Sunday and by Tuesday, I wanted to die.  I was glad that I had a co-worker here to help out and I left a little early on Tuesday to get some extra sleep and relax.  I think I might be on the mend but only time will tell.  I don't like to go to the doctor unless it's something major.  I would rather my body fight it off with a little help of DayQuil/NightQuil.

I also somehow snapped my under wire in my bra... I have NEVER done it before but I heard a snap on Tuesday but didn't think anything of it until later that night, something started to poke me.  I put two and two together and realized that I snapped the under wire.  I actually had to pull the under wire out on Wednesday because it was driving me nuts..... so now my boobs have been lopsided for 2 days... I'm too cheap to go buy a new bra :)

I didn't know was going to get sick and so I had planned a cookie exchange this Saturday (I have since canceled it).... but since I was planning this, I got Carl to put the Christmas decorations up early (something we NEVER do, even though Carl would love too)....  The outside is decorated and so is the inside.  I think this is the first time everything has been up before Dec 15. (usually my day of choice).  It's really pretty and I'm looking forward to seeing everything when I get home tonight.  I also can get the presents wrapped early and put under the tree, which makes me life a little easier.  YAY!!!

All this Christmas talk kind of makes me sad.... I had hoped to be pregnant (or even have had a child) by now.  I know it won't be happening for us this year or even anytime soon.  This makes me extremely sad but it's life and we are dealing with it.  I have decided not to go for the second opinion.  I don't think I can go through the heartache of multiple IVF's and/or miscarriages.  Yes, women do get pregnant but very rarely is it successful with such high FSH.  :(

If anyone has seen my facebook, you have noticed my photography....  I have been filling my time with that.  I have learned SOOO much!!  It's amazing and so much fun!!  I have found so many things to work on and do.  I am learning more and more about different lighting/settings/etc...  I have also been playing in Lightroom to figure out new settings, etc.  Lightroom has made my workflow so much easier.  I liked iphoto but I was so limited and PSE was nice but the workflow was horrible....

Welp time to catch my flight home....  have a good weekend!

wow it's already mid-nov...

Wow the end of the year is flying...   the past couple of weeks have been kind of busy.  I FINALLY rolled off my Lilly project (at least for a little while) and had 2 weeks at home to do nothing.  I had 2 appts with the IF clinic but other than that I didn't do too much.  Went to OC with my momma for the day and got most of my christmas shopping done.  I also got the house cleaned out of crap (made almost $500 with ebay old tech items) and tried to keep myself some what busy.  I am back in work up in Winnipeg Canada.  It's COLD and snowy up here but pretty neat.  I'm only here this week and then I'm home for Thanksgiving week....  I then am off to Dallas for 3 weeks until Christmas.  I'll be working at Texas Instruments, so it should be pretty cool.  Finally I have the last 2 weeks off at home for Christmas/NYE.  YAY!!!  Gonna be a crazy couple of weeks, I'm sure :)

Life sucks!!

Disclaimer - if you want to read happy-cheery type of things, so somewhere else!

Welp after another HIGH bloodtest and a ultrasound that doesn't show a right ovary (can't find it) nor does it have any eggs....  the clinic has finally said that they can't do anything else for me unless I want to do DE IVF.

Life sucks, it really does.  There is nothing that will make me feel better at the moment(except if someone could make me fertile).  I don't know how to explain it.  I wish I was working this week and not home by myself.  I need my mind busy with mindless things and not thoughts that I can't have children like a normal person.   I feel a choice has been taken from me and I didn't get to choose.   No one understands and nor do I expect them too.

Adoption....  Let me vent about that one too.... just because I can't have kids does not mean that I have to adopt children.  ANYONE can adopt even if you can pop out 18 kids.  Back off me and don't suggest it either.  I know my options, the clinic has already defined them for me.

I HATE Facebook!  It's the devil because all I see is people with their smiling children, happy pregnancy, etc....  Great for them, sucks for me!

Yes I'm having a pity party and I really don't care at the moment!

FINALLY finished my pictures.. way too many

Well we took a ton of pictures (yes, Carl took the camera some times)...  Here is the full link - http://lenebene.smugmug.com/Travel/London-Paris

new car or I guess it's a truck

Welp with the crazy news from Friday we figured we should probably start thinking ahead a little.  If we decide to do donor eggs, it's going to cost a lot of money and we should start getting prepared for the worse.  So we took the truck to Carmax on Saturday to get a quote for it.  We were walking around the lot waiting for the quote to come back when Carl asked if I had seen the BMW sitting in the corner, I hadn't so we walked over.  We both love BMW's.  After owning the Z4 and how we were treated, we had missed it.  The BMW was a SUV and it was cute.  Well we walked back inside and were waiting for the sales man when I asked Carl if he minded if we took the BMW for a test drive.  He didn't, so we went to find our salesman and asked to take it for a test drive.  Well I feel in love right away.  It had leather, AWD, heated seats, sunroof, M series (fast), etc...  the drive was really nice and super quiet.  Once we got back to the lot, we got the quote from Carmax for the truck.  They were going to give us more than we owed.  So I talked with Carl and we agreed to go get the Subaru and also use the truck as a trade in.  We got home, cleaned/washed the car, ate lunch and I researched a little about the BMW to make sure there wasn't something horrible with that year (yes I'm a dork, thank you to Edmunds and Consumer Reports).  Nothing horrible that I could see.

On our way back down to Carmax the check engine light came on in the Subaru.  It has been going on and off for months now.  If we use ethtinal gas, the O2 sensor in the car doesn't like it plus the catalytic converter is going up.  It had 165,000 miles on it with heavy driving from Carl for the past 1.5 yrs.  It's held up pretty well.  So we drove to Pepboy's, popped the battery and dumped a bunch of fuel boaster/cleaner in the gas tank and it reset the check engine light.  We drove to Carmax, prayed that the engine light wouldn't come on...  We then started paperwork for the BMW.  We found that it didn't get titled until 7/07, so it was still under full manufacturer warranty until 07/11 or 50,000 miles.  GREAT news!  BMW will usually offers extended warranties also...  Carmax gave us $2k, which isn't great but it's better than nothing, so we took it, plus added the extra from the truck.  We signed all the paperwork and got the heck out of there.  So I'm a proud owner of a 2007 BMW X3si.  Here are some pictures that Carmax took - http://lenebene.smugmug.com/2010/Family/2007-BMW-X3/14252779_dA8q6#1053553220_oa766

So now here is my rant.... PA MVA SUCKS!!  There is really no single location.  You have to go to Ma and Pa places to get tags, inspection and registration done and it's  a HUGE PAIN!  I miss Maryland, where I could go to a center to get tags and register my vehicle.

Welp I started down the weight-loss/eating better road.  I have read a lot of research that shows autoimmune disease works against fertility.  I am also sick of being over weight/clothes being tight.  So I have decided to workout and eat what I'm suppose to eat (no dairy, no eggs, no wheat/gluten/rye/spent/etc).  My cousins use DailyBurn and I had signed up months ago and never used it (go figure).  So I signed back in (after I figured out my password) and set everything up.  They have a iphone app, which makes things 10 times easier.  I added my goals and workouts to my program and can get everything on my iphone.  It's super easy.  I found a workout plan that is 3 times a week for 30 days.  They give you exercises to do for those days and then a diet/calorie count.  I love that I can record everything on my iphone while I'm working out.  Super easy!

Update

On Friday, we were told that I can't have kids.  I have been diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Failure(POF), basically pre-menopause.  DH swimmers are fine but it's my eggs and my numbers(FSH = 60).  It's something that I'm having a hard time dealing with.  I have always wanted kids and so we are trying to assess what we want to do.  I have stumped the doctor, as he has never met someone with my weirdness [:)](20 years of practicing).  He has ran a ton of tests and I gave 5 more vials of blood on Saturday for some more tests.  He wants to figure out why(not that he can fix it but the reason).   We can still go the Donor egg route if we really want kids...  it's expensive and something I have to think about...  Please pray that we found find out a reason.  

communication

There was a meeting last night with my group.  My boss sucks at communication and so we haven't heard any news regarding the company or our group in a couple of quarters.  He explained the sales that are coming up and also what is going on with the company.  He also explained our new bonus structure.  This makes me very happy.  Our old bonus plan was based on sales and now it's based on services revenue, aka the work that we sell, which is more fair.  So that's wonderful news.  It's amazing what a little communication can do for confidence in a company.  


Tomorrow will be interesting.... we have our WTF meeting with the IF doctor.  I don't have a lot of confidence but we'll have to wait and see.  Fingers and toes crossed.

I'm home.... well not really but I'm back in USA

Welp we are finally back in the USA.  It was a long 3 weeks for me but I got to do and see so many things!!  I'm just glad to be back in the USA.  It's was kind of scary being in Paris and London during the past week with all the terrorist things going on.

Trip review -
First week -  arrived early Sunday morning and met the crew in the airport.  One of the guys from Kimberly Clark drove us out to Maidstone (1hr east of London).  That was an adventure but we made it safe.  Thank goodness for GPS.  We checked into the Hilton and all crashed...  we all ventured down in the evening and had dinner..   We worked at Kimberly Clark during the day then went out and exploring at night.  We got lost the first night when we went to go find a restaurant Scott wanted.  Well it took us to a different town.  We found a really old building (over 300 years old) and a super cute town.  Pretty neat.

First Weekend - We all headed to the train station Saturday morning and split up....  I headed to meet up with some friends from college.  They took me all over London on Saturday and then I played lacrosse with Cynthia's team sunday afternoon before I headed back via train to Maidstone.

Second Week - same stuff... worked at KC during the day and explored at night...  We found lots of different pubs to try.  Hamburger is def not the same over there!!!

Paris (Friday-Tuesday) - Carl left Baltimore on Thursday night and arrived in London on Friday morning...  he headed straight to the hotel and explored while I worked.  I took the train into London once I got off work and met up with him.  It was POURING (typical London) but we settled into our hotel and found a cute pub to have dinner!!!

-Saturday we got up early and headed to the Eurostar train station to checkin for our train to Paris.  The train was painless and we were in Paris.  We took the metro to our hotel and checked in.  The hotel wasn't super nice but it wasn't a crapper!!!  We went in search of food and then headed to see the sights.  We started at St. Michaels and headed to the Arc de Triomphe.  We basically plotted out everything we wanted to do and see.  We walked along the road that leads to Arc de Triomphe and looked into all the shops.  Crazy expensive but super cool to see.

-Sunday we got up and jumped onto the Hop-on/Hop-off bus that took us all over Paris and gave us some history too.  We LOVED Notre Dame.  It was sooo pretty inside and it was huge!  We stopped at the Louvre and stood in line to get in.  It was the first Sunday of the month so it was free.  We got to see the Mona Lisa and a couple of other things then we headed to the next stops.   It was pretty amazing to stop and see the city.   There were so many things we saw and did, that I can't remember 1/2 of it.  I do have the pictures to show thou.  The city was super busy because of the free museums and also because the weather was awesome.  We were beat after a day of non-stop so we headed back to the hotel to see if we could catch the Raven's game.  We did and we relaxed and watched that.  Raven's won :)

-Monday we got up and headed straight to the Eiffel Tower.  We had become aware of all the terrorist threats so we were watching things more closely.  We climbed the steps to the 2nd platform and then took the elevator to the top.  I wasn't really impressed with it.  It was a nice view but def not worth the hype to me.  We came down and then headed to find some food.  We then took the metro to  see the Louis Vuitton store.  WOW was that place CRAZY and expensive.  It's a good thing that I don't like most of his stuff :)  We then walked back towards the Louvre.  I wanted to try some hot chocolate from Angelina's and I'm glad that we did.   It was amazing!!  After that we decided to head over to the Latin area.  On our way we noticed that they weren't letting anyone near the Louvre.  We are guessing a bomb threat so we kept walking basically until we hit out hotel again...  We relaxed and then headed back to Arc de Triomphe so that I could see it lit up at night and also the Eiffel Tower.  We were relaxing at the Arc du Triomphe, when all of a sudden a car made the circle and was dragging a duffel bag.  The police pulled the bag away from the car and then cleared the Arc de Triomphe....  ugh, so another bomb...  they actually blew it up, we stayed and watched (from across the street).  We had enough and headed back to our hotel.

-Tuesday - we relaxed in the morning and then headed to the train station.  I grabbed a Nutella Crepe.  YUM!!!!!! OMG that was good!!!  We took the Eurostar back to London, took the metro to our hotel in Hyde Park.  WOW was this hotel amazing!!  The room was awesome and quiet!!  The walls at our hotel in Paris were paper thin.  I was also in love with the bed!!!  We pealed ourselves out of the room and headed down to the original Hard Rock Cafe.  It was a quick walk from our hotel.  It was pretty neat to visit and see the vault.

-Wednesday - We got up and hit the executive lounge for breakfast.  Free and Super yummy, plus free wifi.  We then got passes again for a hop-on/hop-off tour of London.  We went around the city and explored.  We spent most of our day in the Tower of London.  WOW that place was my favorite.  There was soo much to learn and see.  I would love to go back and explore.  The Crown Jewels were amazing.  I have never seen a diamond that big.  We also decided to do that London Eye that day because the weather was amazing.  It was pretty cool and I'm glad that I did it but it's def over-rated.  You can see for miles and miles though!  We got back to the hotel and hit the lounge again for free after dinner drinks and free wifi.

-Thursday - same breakfast as Wednesday.  We went out to catch the bus again and to see the rest of London.  I really can't remember everything but London is full of history and could easily spend more time there.  There is so much to see and do.  We got back from our travels and prepared for a nice steak dinner at the JW Steakhouse.  The dinner was okay.  I was disappointed with my steak but it was nice to have quiet time with Carl.

-Friday - we took a bus tour to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, LaCock (harry potter was filmed here), and Bath.  Windsor castle was AMAZING!!!  Who knew people lived like that.  It was beautiful!!  Stonehenge was pretty cool.  It is def a pile of rocks but very cool that they really don't know why or how they got there.  We then went to lunch at a pub  that holds the oldest liquor license in England.  It was also the same town that Harry Potter was filmed at.  Super cool!!!  Last but not least we headed to Bath.  This was neat but I don't think I would ever go back :)

-Saturday - we packed up and headed home.

Sorry this was soo long.  I hope to get pictures up soon!!

travels....

Welp I've been here for almost 2 weeks now... it's hard to believe that time has flown at the same time I feel like I have been here forever.  The client is pretty awesome and the hotel isn't too bad.  We have found some really good places to eat but are finding that most places are chains even if they look pretty old/neat from the outside/inside.

This past weekend I went into London to see some old friends from college, Cynthia and Matt.  I got to their place Saturday afternoon and then they took me on their own little tour of London.  Wow, was it fun.  We visited Camden Town.  This place was awesome and I can't wait to take Carl back.  It's like China town in NYC but the people aren't Chinese and most of the shops are retro type of things.  There are an endless amount of shops.  The people are also dressed pretty crazy...  think goth-like.  Hot pink hair, black leather, lots of skin, piercing, tattoos, etc... There is also a "lock" there.  It's to help with the canal traffic.  It was really neat to watch.

We also headed to downtown London.  I LOVE Tower of London.  I can't wait to go back with Carl and learn about it.  It's so old and has so much history.  It's really amazing.  The architecture in downtown London is really original too.  I had no idea that most of the buildings were short and not tall like NYC.  The street's are CRAZY!  I'll take a picture when we go back next week.  We did stop at a couple of pubs for a beer and some street performers (always entertaining).  We circled most of the city before we decided to head back to where they lived in Hampstead.  Hampstead is really pretty.  They live off High Street (aka Main street).  They have a small pub across from their flat and live above a flower shop.  They also live in a dog friendly area, which works very well for their puppy.  We ate at a pretty good Indian restaurant and then went back to their place and crashed.  

Sunday we woke up and headed to Cynthia's lacrosse game.  The team invited me to play, it was so much fun.  We went up to St Albans and played at a rec. field.  It was a pretty close game but we lost.  After the game we headed to Harpenden to a local pub for lunch.  Most of the girls from the team came.  The team was pretty cool as their was a mix of english and american's on the teams.  After lunch we headed back to Hampstead and then I caught a couple of trains back to Maidstone.  

I'm so glad that I met up with Cyn and Matt.  I had a blast and got to see some areas that I want to go back too.  I can't wait for next week.  Carl flies out tonight on a 9:30pm out of BWI.  He'll get in early tomorrow morning.  He'll take a train to our hotel, leave his bags and then be able to travel around London all day until I get there in the evening.  I can't wait to see him.  I hope he doesn't have a lot of trouble.  We leave Saturday afternoon on a train to Paris and we'll be there for 3 days until we head back to London.  I can't wait.  

Cheerio

Welp I made it to Maidstone, UK.  My flight from BWI to London was ok.  I couldn't sleep but it was smooth.  The London airport was HUGE and crazy but not too bad.  I met up with my co-workers and then we drove to Maidstone.  It's an hr drive from Heathrow.  We are out in the country and it's beautiful!!  Driving on the other side of the road is pretty crazy but I'm getting use to see it.  We are in a nice Volvo station wagon.   The Hilton is nice.  No A/C but we do have washrooms in our room, which is great.  

Kimberly Clark is pretty nice.  We have a really nice room for training and there are Huggie's Ad's everywhere.  It's kind of funny.  I think they most disturbing part is the stuffed dog at the front door.

We went on an adventure last night for dinner.  We were looking for a veggie place but found an old little town instead.  It was really cool.  There was a really old pub that was 300 years old and a beautiful old church.  The church bells rang during dinner.  The beer was pumped from down in the cellar and the beer was yummy.  The beer isn't def as cold as USA but it's still good.  It's cellar temperature.  The homes were so small and the doors were tiny.   I got a picture of Tony in the door entry.  Pretty funny.

So far so good...  I'm having fun and it's been a learning experience.  The time change wasn't too bad.  Sunday I crashed from 5pm-8pm and then ate dinner then slept all night.  Yesterday I survived all day and was able to go to sleep at 11pm and again slept all night.  So, I think I'm finally adjusted.

Friday we got some bad news on the IF front.  We have an appt when I get back with the doctor.  The details don't sound good.  Please keep us in your thoughts the next couple of weeks.

TSA Body Scanners - How I HATE thee

So anyone that hasn't traveled by air in the past 4 months may not know but the US Gov't has added a new scanning device (link if you want to read or see what they look like) to security.  (Thank you Stimulus money, each machine is $150k EACH).  The scanning device is suppose  to make you feel more secure, etc.   Let me count the ways of how I loath these machines.

1. you have to get more naked than before... make sure you take EVERYTHING out of your pockets, shoes off, belts off(I never had to do this because I made sure mine was plastic, doesn't matter anymore), watches off, etc....   Basically anything metal (basically your bra, if you wear under-wire)
2. You have to stand like an idiot in the machine...  see picture - hands above the head (armpits out), legs apart.... let's do jumping jacks...  Oh and if your hands aren't high enough or far enough apart they will ask you to raise them, push your elbows back and stick out your boobs.  They will continue to fight with you.... poor old people.
3. So after standing there like an idiot, you now walk outside the tube to a waiting line and have to wait up to 2-4 minutes depending if there is a person in front of you and how fast the person looking at the scans takes.  
4. If the scanner reveals some issues then you get the good ole fashion "pat-down"  So women, if wearing a under-wire bra, they are going to feel under your boobs and if you forgot to take off your watch, they'll catch this too.  The scanners also have problems with jeans that have a lot of buttons.
1. So this is what pisses me off... women wear under-wire bras.... why do you have to feel under my breast?  the scanner can clearly point out 2 fine lines of metal under my breast, what else do you need to know?  I know that a gun is not the size of a fine line (if you so, I might want to get one)...  the normal airport metal detectors have never had a problem with them.
5. Last but not least.... if the line for the fancy scanner is backed up then you can go through the regular old metal detectors....  so if you are smart, you'll find a line that is long or you'll take your time so that you don't have to go though the stupid thing.

Do I feel safer?  No not really because of #5.  They are more time consuming and more of a pain in the butt!  USA is the only place that is using them, so if you are flying in from another country you are shit of luck.  I feel this was a HUGE waste of money and thanks to Obama and his stupid stimulus money, they aren't going anywhere.   TSA is a OVER rated, OVER paid, and OVER authorized as a gov't agency.  

Monday.... time to make the bread.

What a nice weekend!!!  Beautiful day on Friday and Saturday, the rain yesterday wasn't bad either.  


Trying to get everything for my London trip.  I needed a new waterproof rain coat.  I went to Eddie Bauer on Thursday night when I landed and grabbed one off the clearance rack for $50.  I was super excited.   I was also on the hunt for some new waterproof shoes for London.  I went everywhere on Saturday and couldn't find anything I wanted.  So I came home that night and researched via Amazon and Zappos.  I found a pair of Keen and a pair of Merrell that I liked.... so then I researched some places around us that would have them.  We went on Sunday and I bought a pair of Merrells.  I have a pair of Merrells clogs that I LOVE so I figured I couldn't go wrong. I got theses -  Merrell Shoes.      So I think I'm all set.   


Saturday afternoon I spent sometime booking our hotels...  I have been looking at them for weeks but I couldn't figure out where we wanted to stay.  I had already booked my hotel for the client but I needed to find rooms for when Carl came over.  So I started looking at all my points and then all the places that I could stay with them.   I wasn't able to use my points for airfare because I wanted a non-stop for Carl to come to Heathrow and British Airways is the only one from BWI.  I didn't have enough American Airlines for that flight (I could use AA points towards British Airways since they use the same point group) but I did have enough points for hotels.  I'm super excited that we don't have a pay a dime for hotels, we are using solely my points.  We are staying at a Holiday Inn for the first night that Carl comes in since it's close to our train station.  We are then staying at Le Méridien Montparnasse in Paris and then JW Marriott Grosvenor Square in London.  I can't wait!!!!  


Welp this cycle is a bust.  I didn't respond to the medicine at all!!!  So I'm flying back out to my client tonight to finish the week out.  I'll get more information at 2pm for bloodwork but basically it's a bust!!  No biggie.  I can drink lots of champagne in Paris now :)  Plus with how this cycle is going, I think I can wait for another week or 2 for my period, which will be great timing for when I get home from Europe!  

immunity?

UGH so this topic has really been bugging me lately.... I guess mostly because I feel it hurts people more than not.  The flu shot was in the paper yesterday.  They are MAKING people get the shot now.  I think this is crap since it's not full proof and no one really knows the effects of the shot.  I'm lucky that I'm allergic to eggs, so I don't have to get it.  It just pisses me off that if/when I have children that they will be forced to get this shot.  What's going to happen to the children when they grow up?  They have to get SOOO many shots now that they never build true immunity to things.

Chicken pox is another topic.  So part of IF initial bloodwork they find out your immunities.  Well I don't have immunity to chicken pox even though I had them as a child.  They wanted me to get the shot or sign a waver.  If you know me, you know that I signed the waver.  If I had the actual virus and I'm still in-immune, why is a shot going to help me?  My risk isn't as high anymore anyway since kids don't actually get chicken pox anymore.  They get a shot.  They also might have to get another shot as an adult to prevent adult pox (can't remember the true name for them)....  I understand getting a shot as an adult but if they really had gotten the actual chicken pox as a child they would have most likely preventing getting them as adults (yes, I know you can still get them again)....   again we are very dependent on shots and more shots.  What about actually immunity?

Don't get me started on the whole autism/vaccine debate....  until they know what causes autism, I will delay vaccine schedule.  Giving a child 4 shots at one appt is just insane!!  Giving a baby a shot when it's first born is nuts too!!

another week...

What a wonderful weekend!!!  We had a lot of fun!!!  I came home early on Wednesday for testing on Thursday morning (good u/s), so I worked from home on Thursday.   Friday I got to run around and checkup on a couple of things.  I took a trip to my favorite store (Christmas Tree Shoppe).  Well they didn't have much but there is a Ross in the same shopping center.  I scored a Nine West black tank for $10 (clearance rack), 2 black sweaters, and a black long sleeve top for fall... good stuff.  I also picked up my huge bunch of books from the library.  They get all the new travel books so I figured I would check them out and see which ones I like.  I LOVE the Rick Steves books.  They are so good and full of information.  I basically have a plan for our trip now.  I need to book rail tickets, museum passes and hotels.  I just need to decide where we want to stay in the cities.  Fun times!! 

Saturday, Carl took me to the sunflowers.  They are sooo pretty!!!  I want to go back.  

On Saturday we also bought Carl a new car.  We weren't expecting to a buy a car that day but the price and interest rate were what we were looking for, so it became a deal.  The subaru has a lot of miles on it and I was afraid that it won't survive all the miles Carl drives.  I'm going to drive it back and forth to the airport.

Oh and we got iphones this weekend.  I had been wanting them but scared that I wouldn't like them....  well I LOVE it.  It makes life so much easier.  They really have improved things from the 3G days.  

Happy 3 years to hubby

Well we got married 3 years ago today on the hottest day of the YEAR!  Man it was hot and the bees were horrible but I didn't even know about the bees until after the fact otherwise I would have asked for my money back... it was too late after I found out about it.   We have a crazy couple of years but it's been great!  I love him more and more!!

We lost a lot of our friends after we got married.  It was kind of crazy and a sad time.  Neither of us understand why (would love to know what I/we did but was never told) but it happened and we moved on together.   It's part of life.  They were a part of our wedding but aren't part of our life anymore.  We might see them occasionally but we don't hang out anymore or even talk.   I guess you have memories to hold onto and take them with you!  I def know my job doesn't help us out much with friends but it's not hard to make plans.  I still see friends and we just plan.  It's really not too hard!

Welp I got told 2 weeks ago that I was going on London to give some training.  I'm super excited.  I have been wanting to go to Europe FOREVER!!!  I'm SUPER excited for this.  We are working at a client that is located in Kent for 2 weeks and then Carl's going to fly over and we are going to explore Europe.  I think we are going to do London for 2-3 days and then Paris for 2-3 days and then we aren't sure where else.  I know I will travel on the weekends before Carl comes over.  I'm trying to plot out spots.  I have friends from college living in London right now and a friend that live in Germany and Paris, so I might meet up with each when we explore.

Went Monday for u/s-b/w.  I actually ovulated this month.  My body is kind of crazy.  So we are waiting one more week and then I can either POAS or get a blood test otherwise my period will come and we see if we can fit in a IUI before we leave for UK.  It's all about timing.  So we are waiting til Sunday to see what comes back!

Well I have started trying to become a "Pro" photographer.  I have been talking lots of baby pictures.  It's been a lot of fun learning.  I bought PS8 and Lightroom in the past couple of months.   I LOVE lightroom and I don't know how I functioned before.  I have also been learning about lighting, props, settings, etc.  It's def been a learning experience.  I don't charge for the shoots or pictures, as I'm a beginner and don't think it's fair to charge.

Vacation

Welp it's the last day of vacation...  I'm actually kind of happy to go home!  It's been a nice relaxing vacation but I'm done with being away from home and my mom's attitude.  She's been horrible for the past 3 days.  She woke up with a stiff neck on Monday and it only got worse.  Tuesday evening I took her to a "patient first" type of thing.  They diagnosed her with muscle strain.  They gave her a shot in the butt and then a pill for muscle relaxing and a pill for pain.  Well her mood just went down hill from there.  She blew up at my dad at dinner on Wednesday.  It was horrible.  Anyway I'm glad to be going home!!!!

West Virginia was a lot of fun!  The reunion was really nice!!  Great food and lots of family!  We stayed in a nicer hotel this year.  We left there and drove straight to Myrle Beach.  BAD idea and a LONG drive.  Carl scares the crap out of me driving and the car was cold and loud, which sucked for driving.  So when he was tired at 11pm, I was pissed and tired too but I couldn't take his driving anymore or the cold AC!!!  We finally got to our room about 3:30am.  LONG night!

The beach has been amazing!!  The water is SUPER warm and the pools are warmer.  It was great to read and relax on the beach!!  I didn't realized I needed to do it.  It was wonderful!!!

Time to drive home tomorrow!  Gonna be a long drive but I get to work from home on Monday so it won't be too bad!!!

Friday the 13th of August

Welp it's another Friday and it's August.  This year is flying by.  It's pretty crazy to me!!  Last night was LONG!  We had another delay from IND to BWI.  It's summer storms, which suck, but they delay planes.  So we were delayed over 2 hrs.  I  guess the one good thing I got done was finish my book.  What a book!!  The Black Dagger Brotherhood books are my favorite!!!  The best sex and story!!  I can't put them down.   I started the last one of the series last night on the plane.

Another comment about flying.  I fly every week, twice or more depending on what I'm doing.  People have always been rude but they seem to only be getting worse.   I'm not sure where it's really coming from. Airlines because of all their fees, airports/tsa with all their rules and stupid new scanning machines (now I have to take off my watch.  I HATE that POS!!!  I actually avoid those lines like the plaque)...  Respect is a big thing and people just don't do it.  When I heard the story regarding the flight attendant cussing out a passenger, grabbing a beer, and then hitting the shoot.  I was proud to say I would have done the same thing (maybe) but now I keep hearing more things on the news about him.  He sounds like a douche and now I don't like him anymore.  The news has blown this up (like they do with EVERYTHING).  I was a waitress back in college.  I couldn't just cuss someone out and then go grab a beer.  (of course I would when I got home but not while I was there)...  so I have mixed feelings.

Another note on airports...  I was sitting reading my book and a guy in another row ate his salad and then proceed to his gate, while leaving said salad and crap on the floor.  He could have picked it up and put it in the trash can.  That makes me soo mad!   I sitting talking to Carl on the phone away from the crowd.  Well a lady comes up and sits next to me with her laptop.   She then proceeds to play some song off youtube at full blast.  I restrained but I wanted to scream at her.  "WTF, I don't want to hear that shit, turn it down"  Stupid woman!

One last thing.... who ever thought it was a grand thing to bring children into first class?!?  I know I'm going to sound like a brat here but the reason I get my 1st class seat is because it's suppose to be quiet.  It's def not quiet with a screaming child or a child kicking my seat.  It's horrible and annoying.  Thank god Airtran has XM radio onboard otherwise I would be on the news too!!

Well after bugging the receptionist, for a week, at my GYN, I finally got approval from my doctor to continue IF treatments.  What a PITA!  I was over due on my yearly pap, I hadn't even realized it until I called and then checked my insurance claims.  The year had flown by.  So he agreed that I can continue and that I would see him in Sept.  So I'm good to start on 8.23 depending on the bw/us.  Fingers crossed.

finally going to start posting - IF post

Welp I've been a slacker for a long time but now I just need to place to vent or get feelings out!  I have found that there aren't many people that understand me nor my issues.  I have a rare job (at least for a female) and because of that job I have rare relationships with people (weekends only things, online friends via message boards, facebook, etc).  Sooo, relax and enjoy!!  If I piss you off, don't read!

In the past couple of years I have learned a lot.  You can plan your education, your job, your wedding ring, your wedding, your dream house, etc but you can't plan a baby.  It just doesn't happen.  Some people get lucky and some don't.  We are the ladder.  Some people know and some people don't but we have been trying to have a baby for a while now (over 1.5 yrs to be exact).  Anyway, everyone kept saying it was my job and not we just weren't getting the timing right.... blah, blah, blah.  (TMI alert) Well I don't have a normal re-occurring period (anywhere from 29 to 60 days).  So we decided to make an appt with our friends at Shady Grove.  We started back in May and finally finished all the testing at the beginning of July.  Carl passed the tests with flying colors but I seem to be the problem (go figure).  I don't ovulate (Anovulation).  This is a huge problem if you are trying to get pregnant.  So the doctor gave us a couple of options.  We decided to start with IUI's.  This is going to be fun, NOT!  Lots of drugs and lots of timing not to mention timing with my job.  Sooo stressful!!  I currently have a client that is working with me, so that is good!!

IUI's and all the hormones come with a higher chance of multiples.  Yes, the doctors try to eliminate it but it can happen.  Let's just hope that I'm not C&C +8 or something like that.  Yes I would welcome multiples so I don't have to go through all this again but I'll be happy with one child.  So keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't take FOREVER otherwise I might lose it!

Job is good....  I've been stuck, I mean working, in Indianapolis, IN since April.  I am at a Pharm company, which is always interesting.   We are suppose to roll out of here at the end of August but I REALLY don't see that happening anytime soon!! Our company lost a CEO and gained a new one.  We have also lost a VP of sales and soon a COO, so lots of turnover for a small 60+ employee company.  We are hoping for some sales by the end of the year but with the economy since in the gutter I don't see much relief anytime soon.  Carl's job is going well.  He's a crazy man but he loves it (most of the time)!

House and kitties are good.  We haven't been doing too much since my work schedule has been crazy but I did pick up some new curtains for our living room and a new kitchen table.  Our old table was from VCF.  We paid $99 for it and its been around about 5 years.  We loved it but it was falling into it's self.  So it was time to get something new.  I have been researching for a while and had finally found the manufacturer.  I had contacted the dealer and we had been going back/forth regarding pricing/tables/chairs/etc.  I hadn't talked to her for a while when I got an email stating that the table and chairs had been marked down and she was selling them. I really didn't want black chairs (too country for me) but once I saw the set (LOVE the table) I couldn't turn it down.  Plus did I mention it was on sale.  It's solid oak!!  YAY!!!