Not So Brief Life Update

Hello friends!

So a lot has gone on in the last six months.  I don't think I mentioned it but we moved to Missouri in August for a job my husband took.  Unfortunately, the job hasn't worked out, so we'll be moving back to North Carolina in...oh, about a month.  I'm excited but still sad to leave all of the friends I've made here.  There are some nice folks in the Midwest!

There are really only three major items taking up my thoughts right now.

1. Jobs
I was able to get two part-time jobs here.  One at REI and one as a froster at Nothing Bundt Cakes.  I have to say, the best thing about moving out here was that I was allowed to try some things I hadn't had the opportunity to try before.  One of the things I really enjoy is when I get a little sick of REI, I have NBC to break things up.  And vice versa.  Frosting has been really fun.  The people I work with are great and it's nice to just chill at work and frost up some cakes!

2.  Our Fertility Journey
Many people already know what's been going on so I'm not going to shy away from this subject.  I'm also of the opinion that these things should be talked about.  Well, let me clarify.  If you prefer to keep it to yourself, great.  But for me, it's helpful to talk to people about what we're going through.  And I hate having this feeling that I shouldn't talk about it because it's one of "those" subjects.  I don't know...maybe it's just all in my head.
Anyway, I realized last night that this month (assuming I'm doing my math right) marks three years of us trying to conceive.  We were seeing a specialist in NC (did one IUI that didn't work) and now we're seeing a specialist here.  We're set to do another IUI soon.  I'm currently taking fertility pills (letrozole) and an injectable (gonal-f).  That was pretty scary...injecting something into myself.  Never had to do that before!

It's been interesting to note the differences between the two specialists.  The one in NC is all about getting you pregnant as inexpensively as possible.  Seriously.  The doctor said that.  The doctor here, however, is very thorough.  Which is good and bad.  Good: they've covering all of the bases.  Bad: it's costing WAY more.

I guess I should back up here.  I haven't explained why we haven't been able to get pregnant.  That's partially because I don't really know.  The only thing that's popped up in all of the tests is that I have low ovarian reserve.  From the time I saw the doctor in NC to the time I saw the doctor here, my AMH level dropped from 0.98 to 0.74.  If you're interested, check out this site: http://www.fertilityassociates.co.nz/information-for-gps/amh-explained.aspx.  You can see from the graph that I'm in the red zone.  EEK!

*Side note: I just read this..."Very low AMH, usually considered AMH below 1.05 ng/ml, has been associated with extremely low pregnancy chances and many IVF centers flat out deny treatment to women with such low levels of AMH."* 

Oh such a rollercoaster.

I had an ultrasound on Monday and they saw 4 resting follicles in my right ovary and 6 in my left.  For an average woman, they like to see 12 in each.  So that gives you another comparison.

I go back on February 3rd for another ultrasound and more blood work.  Keep your fingers crossed for us that the IUI works this time.  I'm not sure I can emotionally handle any more procedures so this might be our last shot.

And funny thing.  It just goes to show that you never know what life has in store.  Expected to get married straight out of college...got married at 28.  Expected to have kids fairly easily...might not have any.  I think the faster I can come to terms with that, the easier things will be.

3.  Athena      
My rottweiler turns 11 on Friday.  WOO!  But she hurts and basically hobbles to her next spot and lays down.  It breaks my heart.  I love that girl.

So that's my life in a nutshell right now.  I didn't intend on leaving on a sad note.  And really, it's not.  We're going to have a party for her and we're all going to have lots of treats to celebrate her turning 77.  ;)

Take care all!

These are a few of my favorite things

 Why the hell is my dog laying in the fire pit??

 This is the rain chain my husband got me for Valentine's Day.  I love it!  I then bought a half whiskey barrel from Lowe's ($30?) and put a water lily in it.  So far it hasn't flowered and I'm not sure it will based on how much sunlight it receives.  The wreath was made out of grapevines by my dad for my wedding.  I love him.

 I made this raised planter bed from this tutorial.  I have sunflowers, strawberries, basil, catnip, apple mint, cilantro, okra, cucumber, tomatoes, serrano peppers, and some sort of squash planted.  I say some sort of squash because they came up from my compost and I have no idea whether they'll be zucchini, summer squash, or pumpkin.  You may notice my tomato buckets on the fence...last summer I had them hanging but they became too heavy and broke so this summer I have them sitting on two iron plant hangers.  I need to do some serious pest control.  Just need to figure out the best eco-friendly way to do that.

This is my blue hydrangea that I absolutely love.  A late frost this spring caused some burning, hence the left side full of blooms and the right not so much.

 

My rain barrel!  It's not the prettiest thing in the world, but it does the trick.  And best of all...it was FREE!  I won it in a raffle at Greening up the Mountains.  

The chicken coop!  I painted 'eggs' on the side.  I'm so cute I can hardly stand myself.  :o/  I realized after the fact that I should've installed the planter box lower so I can open the window without hitting whatever's planted.  Oh well.  Speaking of that window box, I made it myself from leftover boards from the backyard fence.  I like free.  The coop & run...NOT free. 

 The chickens then...

 The chickens now...

Spike is on the box and Little Foot is the brown one.  We think they might be roosters.  :(  We're pretty sure Ducky & Petrie are hens.

Hope you enjoyed my favorites from around the house...thanks for stopping by!

Good news & bad news...

Had a bone scan on Monday.

Nurse to Nicole: Now make sure you continue to drink lots of fluids & empty your bladder often.  The radiation is excreted through your urine & we don't want the radiation sitting in your bladder next to your ovaries.
My thoughts: Greeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaat.

Remember my hip MRI?  They had to take x-rays while they were sticking the needle into my hip joint to inject the dye.
Nurse to Nicole: Now, because of the nature of where this is, we're not going to be able to protect your ovaries. (by placing a lead thing on my belly)
Nurse proceeds to take 5 million xrays while they place the needle in my hip.
My thoughts:  Greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaat.

At any rate, I got the results today and I don't have a stress fracture, but it's on its way there.  I'm to only do swimming or cycling type exercises for two weeks.  After two weeks I can test it out slowly and if I feel any pain, stop.  The doc said 1 month at first but then saw my reaction and switched to two weeks.  I have another follow-up with him in a month.  At least now you won't have to listen to me complain about my ankle all the time.  :)

The Tuck

We live 1 row of houses up from The Tuck.

Career Path

It's sad when you want to stay away from Facebook because all of your veterinarian friends are posting about animals.  It makes me sad for what could have been.  And then I think, 'could have been'??  It makes me wonder if I should still try.  Yes?  No?  It's a big decision.  I'd have to be 200% sure it's what I really want and worth all of the cons.

Great day!

1.  Tupelo Honey Cafe - eggs benedict with goat cheese grits  :)
2.  Biltmore Mansion with my honey
3.  Farmer's Market
4.  Tennis with my honey
5.  Monk while playing Kings in the Corner & Battleship

I'm exhausted but I made an important discovery:  weekend days feel longer when you do a bunch of stuff.  Will be doing a bunch of stuff on weekends from now on in the hopes they'll feel like three day weekends instead of two.

Reality bites

It is definitely easy to take the security of living in our small town for granted.  We have homicides, but not often.  Twice, maybe three times a year?

Today we received an email alert that the police were searching for a 23 year old white male who was suspected of shooting and killing two people right before 2:00pm today.  Turned out it was his girlfriend (wife?) 20, and her friend (boyfriend) 25, that he killed.  The restraining order she had taken out on him was dated today.  The culminating reason: they got into an argument in the Wal-Mart parking lot where he bent her wrist so far back that it popped--in front of their child no less.

He is currently in custody having been arrested in South Carolina at 7:30 tonight.

The guy that was shot and killed listed he was 'In a Relationship' with the girl at 9:30 last night.

It's just so sad to me.  So sad that emotions can run so high to where someone is either not thinking of the consequences of their actions or doesn't care about the consequences.  I know first hand how real it is to have emotions all over the place and I am thankful everyday that I'm no longer in that type of situation.  It's so sad that the four month old no longer has a mother.  So sad that not everyone has had the opportunities and blessings I've had growing up.  So incredible that a relationship change on Facebook could have sparked the whole thing--what would have happened had that not occurred?  But it did.

Did anyone see warning signs?  Did anyone try to help?  Was there anything more that could have been done.

I'm thoroughly bummed so I'll go talk about my adventures in cooking on my other page.

No Facebook for a while

Because C & I skipped out on the parties to sit at home and be miserable with colds.  It's gone to my ears so hopefully I can come through without having to go to the doctor because of an ear infection.  I imagine they're interrelated (colds & ear infections) but I really have no idea.

In case you're wondering, I'm staying off Facebook because of the inevitable Super Bowl comments.  It's like rubbing salt into a wound.

It wasn't all bad though.  We got through a bunch of Battlestar Galactica episodes.  I've officially become a fan.  Starbuck just "died"--I put it in quotes because I don't believe it--we have yet to see who the Final Five are, and I'm about to go crazy with the suspense. 

P.S.  I wish my dogs were cylons so they could live forever.

High Cholesterol Be Gone!

"Dear Nicole,

----- has reviewed your lab results and they are considered to be within normal limits.  If you have any questions or concerns in regards to these results, please contact our office for an appointment to discuss them.

Sincerely,
-----"

I wish headaches didn't exist.

I've always wanted to make every recipe in a cookbook, so watching Julie & Julia 'inspired' me.  I just looked through my cookbooks & realized I don't really have a cookbook that's conducive to that.  I have a Paula Deen cookbook (signed by her btw), but my first thought (& why ultimately decided against using that one) was that my husband and I would surely gain 50 lbs by the time I was half way through it. 

After careful thought & consideration, I decided on "Blondes Have More Fun...Cooking" that I purchased for pennies at our local bookstore.  I flipped open to the first recipe under "Main Dishes" and find: Jack's Fat Hen & Yellow Rice.  "Boil cut up hen in salted water with chopped onion, celery, garlic, and bay leaf.  Cook until chicken is tender."  At this point I conclude this won't be happening because: HOW THE HECK DO YOU KNOW WHEN THE CHICKEN IS TENDER?!  Maybe it's just me, but I need time frames people!  I need rules!  Regulations!  Temperatures!  I think I'm going to reconsider this every recipe thing.

Just in case you were wondering, my New Year's resolution is to floss every night.  I missed last night, so I guess I'll have to floss twice tonight.  ;oD

On sad news, I go back to work tomorrow.  Actually, it's not that sad now that I think about it.  It means I can work out again & get some much needed socialization.  I have been in such a funk lately!

On really sad (& weird) news I was reading an article this morning on the front page of the Asheville Citizen Times about a guy who shot himself in Georgia after being confronted by police after he shot and killed his (ex?)wife & hurt her sister outside of a motel in Cherokee.  I quickly realized this guy was the same guy I worked with at a different hotel in Cherokee.  He didn't seem like a terrible guy but I definitely wasn't surprised with this news.  Makes me cringe with the thought that I went out to his truck once to see his cat.  I know, that's weird, but it made perfect sense at the time.

Alright, this headache has gotten to be more than I can bear.  Talk atcha later--and good luck with those resolutions!!

Hello 2011!

I've been MIA for a while...not sure whether I just haven't had much to say or I'm burnt out on technological life.  Both perhaps?

My sister had to yell at me to play my turn on Words with Friends.  Not sure what my deal with that was...I think it was because I was consumed with playing the best words possible & winning.  Needless to say, it took tons of time & therefore became not very much fun.  Now I'm just playing whatever word comes to mind (most of the time) and I'm enjoying it again.  Yay!

My husband bought me a to-do list app for my phone the other day.  It's call Epic Win & I think it was designed with me in mind.  They describe it as a role-playing game where you level up, collect loot, etc. as you complete the tasks on your to-do list.  Totally cheesy & totally me.

The house is pristine right now.  Bed made, dishes done, office clean, chili cooking, rolls rising...is it because of my new app?  I'm placing my bet on the thesis I don't want to face.  Moving on.

We watched Julie & Julia on our Netflix Instant Queue today.  I have to admit, I'd love to do that (just the working through a cookbook bit--not the blogging about it bit) but it'd have to be from a cupcake cookbook or something like that.  :o)

Two people asked me over break if I'd consider becoming a veterinarian.  I used to think I wanted to go that direction but after working at a vet clinic and hearing over and over how difficult it is to get into vet school, I decided against it.  Recently I've struggled with "my path".  As I've grown older I've come to realize, I'm smart, I can do it.  I haven't had much confidence in my capabilities up until now.  I'm contemplating looking into the programs at NCSU after I graduate.  I glanced at their website a couple of days ago & was surprised at how many options they provide.  My thoughts on this are:  What's the harm in trying?  I don't want to go through life thinking, "What if...?"  I'd also love the prestige...I'm sorry, but I don't want to be doing the grunt work of an administrative assistant my whole life.  I've spend the majority of my life in school, why not take a break?  If I've truly found where I need to/should be, it'll be fine. 

What am I passionate about?  What makes me happy?  My dogs.  Animals.  Doing wonderful things for all creatures, great and small.     

Hello world!

Not quite sure what's going on with me right now.  I hardly ever go online when I'm at home now.  Is it because my desk is a mess and I can barely find my laptop let alone turn it on?  Is it because it gets dark so early now that I eat dinner & immediately feel like it's time to go to bed?

I have 301 unread blog posts in my feed.

I go onto Words with Friends once every few days.

I check my emails, ABCNews, & facebook religiously on my phone & that's about the extent of my Interwebs perusal.  After a month (at least) of telling me to look for flights, I'm finally taking my dad's suggestion & will book it tonight.  I better go do that before I get online exhaustion & shut down before it actually gets booked. 

Now as far as finding my credit card goes...not sure how long that will take...

Another year

C's anniversary/early bday present to me.  This could possibly replace all of my cookbooks.  BUUUUUT...I can't & won't part with them.  :)  He also got me (us) a filter thingy for our Keurig so we can use "real" coffee instead of those cups all the time (NOT eco-friendly!!).

String of thoughts

I got a guy kicked out of my place of work today.  Pretty stoked about it.  I knew he had been coming in without a membership or guest pass, but was finally able to catch him today.  I'm a stickler for rules.

Have lots planned tomorrow including shopping for fridge part 2.

My friend posted pics of her baby nursery she just finished.  Looks straight out of a magazine.  Pretty cool! 

I used to really want an awesome kitchen...now I think I'd be satisfied with a craft room.  Maybe it's time to do some Fall organizing.  I'm to the point where I'm even saving old clothes with the idea that I'll tear them up and crochet a rag rug.  Hm.  Wonder if that'll ever happen!!

Watched the season premieres of Biggest Loser yesterday & Grey's this evening.  I'm still amazed I get a kick out of BL because I know it's a crap show.  Grey's, however, I still love.  The season finale was cah-ray-zy!  I think I might actually go & rewatch it. 

On to the thesis...my deadline for "something" is today.

Life's Been Good

Heaven in a glass & on a plate

I made some really good food this weekend.  I keep saying I'm a really good cook, as long as I have a really good recipe to follow.

Made the chocolate mousse cake.  C says I have to post a picture so you guys can check it out.  Hopefully I'll remember to do that before it's all gone.  There were a couple of hiccups along the way...I don't have an heat proof bowls to do the whole double boiler thing.  I know, I was shocked too.  I improvised (I almost sent the husband out to buy one) and used my stand mixer bowl.  Which sucked because then I had to wash it out to do the mixing part.  So let's see, I washed it out 6 times for the entire recipe.  But man was it worth it.  The other thing that went wrong was that for some reason the first "cake" layer pulled away from the sides of the spring form pan so the second layer settled around the first.  Not a huge deal.  Especially when it tastes so good.

The second thing I made was baked ziti.  I've never loved baked ziti more in my life.  I've made it before & it always comes out kind of dry & hard.  This version was...well, heaven on a plate.  C ate his in about 2 minutes.

The other thing I made was a 'frappuchino' of sorts.  Milk, sugar, coffee, ice = yum.

I definitely think I'm 10 pounds heavier after this weekend, but I really don't care.

As for what we did on our Labor Day weekend, we mostly watched movies & tv shows, but we did drive down & watch the Clemson game with my aunt and cous.  Nothing fancy, but it was definitely good to get out of town.

Back to the grind.  Excited for the weekend!

The times they are a-changin'

It's finally starting to get cooler around here.  It still gets warm during the day, but the mornings & nights are quite pleasant.  Which is welcome relief to this incredible heat we've had around here.

We still don't have the refrigerator we ordered back in July.  We purchased this thing FROM SEARS & we kept getting phone calls pushing the delivery date back.  The day of delivery arrives, we make all the preparations to receive the refrigerator (pull the broken one out, transfer food from the old (not broken one) one to the cooler) and we receive another phone call saying that the fridge would not be delivered & we'd receive a phone call in a couple of days with details.  The details??  THE FRIDGE HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED AND WE'D HAVE TO RESELECT.  What?!  You've got to be kidding me.  It wouldn't be as big of a deal as it is if we didn't live and hour away from the store & if you had told us this the first time you pushed the delivery date back.  The people at the Sears store, once they found out what was going on, have tried to be helpful, but substituting the new model refrigerator (that replaces the discontinued version) that's coming out in October as an equal trade, doesn't quite seem enough to me.  Throw in the warranty package at no cost & we have a deal.  It's definitely aggravating & I never once thought we'd have this much trouble with Sears. 

BUT, we did finally get our wedding album.  He threw in some pictures that we wouldn't have necessarily picked, but all in all, I'm really pleased. 

I suppose that's it for today...time to go mow.  Later Taters

For the Good of the Group

At the end of all of our staff meetings, we do a "For the Good of the Group" thing where everyone tells the group something positive that's going on in their life. 

At our last meeting two weeks ago mine was: I'm happy it rained.  Really.  That's all I could think of...pretty sad.

I'm already thinking about what I'll say tomorrow & I'm happy to report that not only do I have something better than rain to talk about, but I'll need to whittle it down. 

1. I'm a crocheter, not a knitter.  This weekend I decided I was going to become a knitter.  So I started on a dishcloth & can't seem to put it down.  I'm having so much fun--and I'm so impressed I was able to pick it up fairly easily.  I even contemplated getting up earlier in the morning so I'd have more time to knit before having to leave for work.  If only it were like that with my thesis...

2. Speaking of my thesis, I finished a very rough draft of my Results section.  I still have many edits to do, but the only section I have left is the Discussion.  Yes!

3.  My bro got engaged!  Woo!  So excited for a sister-in-law & niece!

4.  I started selling AVON.  It's been so much fun.  I had four sales for Campaign 16...which I thought was pretty good until I heard someone at the erepresentative meeting I went to last night talk about having 50 sales.  I don't care...I'm pretty proud of my four sales.  :o)

5. My friend finds out the sex of her baby on Friday...SUPER excited!  I live vicariously through others. 

Until next time...

Mystery of the Painful Hip

I had my follow-up appointment on Friday for my hip MRI.  Turns out I have a labral tear.

www.hiplabraltear.net/

Solution: surgery.  I have decided, however, not to get surgery and instead deal with the pain until it's no longer bearable.  Really, at this point, it's not impacting my day to day activities anyway.  Well, as long as you don't count adjusting how I sit on the couch or how I sleep a day to day activity.

Conclusion: I will never snowboard again.  :oD

Jello shots all around!

Image from amazon.com

Is it sad that a 28 year old is excited to receive the shot cups she just ordered in the mail?