[kbpeanut]

Evening Update
Not much to report...Max had a good visit at the vet. Me and my vet just laughed our butts off when we took off his bandage. It was the first time I had seen his foot since the surgery. He looks like a little rocker - so funny. I have to take a picture tonight and post it. Even the vet said it was a first for him - removing the 2 middle toes. \m/ He's doing great though. I have a few days of antibiotics left to finish up, then he's done. I need to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't start licking at it again. If he does, I need to go sock him. No, not hit him, but put baby sock on his foot. Molly is great, but all of a sudden she decided she only wants to eat her wet food and not her kibble. She kind of sucks all the wet food off the dry food, then spits out the dry food on the floor. She's making a horrible mess. I just started supplementing her diet with cottage cheese to help her gain a little weight...she is so skinny. Ahhh, the tales of geriatrics.

Earlier today, I looked up DH flight info to see when he was getting in (which for some reason we both thought was super late at night). But somehow, we messed it up, and he's actually going to be landing around 6 tonight! It's hard to keep all his trips straight. He probably has another one upcoming that he'll be home late. Oh well. But that being said, I didn't have dinner planned for us! I was just going to scrounge on leftovers. So I went to my handy dandy pinterest, and found a great recipe for Goat Cheese Mac & Cheese. Nice comfort food! It called for roasted chicken, but I'm cooking my chicken in the slow cooker in chicken broth. Makes it super easy to shred for the recipe, and cooking it slowly in the broth makes it super juicy and full of flavor.

So, I have to go deal with that now, and then get my bath ready. OH! So get this. The other night I was telling DH how I wanted a bath pillow but couldn't decide on one. (But we both knew the real reason was that I hate spending $$$ when I'm not making any right now). So he got on his little tablet and did something, which I figured was looking at motorcycle stuff, per usual. But then in my email the other day, I saw a note from Amazon saying that a bunch of bath stuff (luxury pillow, bath salts, and other goodies) had shipped!!! That little sneak! He used my Amazon account to buy me some bath time goodies - and today, a big box arrived from Amazon! What a dear, I just love him!

So that is that. I finished my reading, homework, and test for one class, but still have to do the paper. This week we're learning about avian nutrition and disease. That, along with something that *ahem* someone (one of you) just posted on FB about poopy chicken, really makes me wish I didn't have chicken cooking for dinner

Tomorrow is my repeat ultrasound, so I won't be on first thing in the morning like usual. But I guess for y'all, it's more like mid/late morning, since I'm a few hours behind most of you I think. We're hoping for great news, but expecting the same news as last week. I don't want to get our hopes up, so we are just sort of going with it. If the follie is still there, we go back in another week. If it's gone and we're good to go, I order med, and we start stim on Saturday.

Th-th-th-th-that's all folks!

[JennyLee]

I will be thinking of your ovary

[blueeyes25s]

I at your dog dropping the dry food on the floor. My old kitty use to take her wet food out of her dish and put it on the floor and then eat it, and then there would be a little mess left behind. One of my kitty's I have now likes to play with the water in her water dish which ends up all over the floor.

@ chicken.

[JennyLee]

Any news?

[kbpeanut]

CD 11, Cycle 42, IVF
Hi Ladies! Whew, a whirlwind of a day, sorry for the much later than usual update! So, the day started with my ultrasound...I had a bad tummy ache this morning (probably from a combo of the heavy cream sauce from lat night dinner and the estrogen). As soon as she got the probe positioned, DH goes "whoa!"...I think he saw it before either of us. Yep, that stupid cyst is still there. At first, the RE thought it looked bigger, but she measured, and it's gone down significantly - last week it was 31, this week it's 22. She's annoyed at it, but very pleased with the rate at which it's shrinking. She did give me the option again of going off the estrace completely and waiting a couple weeks then starting over, or just keeping on the estrace, coming back in another week, just like we did this week. We opted for the return visit next Friday. I still don't have hopes that it will be gone, but she said if it gets down to the 12ish range, she'd be ok starting me. So, that's where it stands.

So, I came home, made a bowl of oatmeal, changed into sweats, and settled in for a long day of school. It was supposed to rain, so I was ok with that. Then my friend Joan called. She's a keeper at the Park, and I spend a lot of time with her during the week. She's been on vacation with her mom visiting from out of town (her mom is 82 years old), and she and her mom were headed to the Park and she wanted me to come meet them so I could meet her mom. I tossed back on some jeans, and my park clothes, and headed over there. Met up with them, then walked around for a bit, then we went to see the gorillas - who were all inside because of the rain. So she brought me and her mom BEHIND THE SCENES in the gorilla exhibit while the keeper fed them LUNCH. It was completely mental. I was less than 2 feet away from the gorillas, watching them eat grapes and drink juice out of a cup! The keeper demonstrated some of their husbandry procedures (like asking them to present a foot, ear, shoulder, etc). It was out of this world cool. I loved seeing Monroe - he's 10 months old and such a ham. But the best was seeing Winston, the grayback, up close. He's ginormous. Normally, guests can only see the gorillas from the outside of the exhibit (obviously), and they are quite far away, and across a large moat. But to see them in their bedrooms, and watch them delicately ask for and eat individual grapes?!? Holy nuts. It was raining pretty good at this point, but we traversed on. We went to see the lions, who were huddled under their shelter on their heated rocks. Very cool. The lion keeper Joan knows wasn't working today, so we couldn't go back there (but HOLY COW, I almost got to go back with the lions!!!!) Then we went back up towards the front of the park, it was starting to pour, and getting really chilly. We were all soaked. (Her mom is such a trooper!) We made one last stop off at the care center, one area Joan works closely with, though not in. The care center is where they take care of ill, injured animals, but also raise babies. Yep, babies. (For those that recall, that's what I'm going to school for -- to learn how to raise neonates). So, it's all under construction, so most animals were displaced, but there were several that were not. Since it was raining, they were in their barn stalls. Right now, they mostly have gazelles, but there was one VERY young baby addax that needed to be fed, so we go to see that! Behind the scenes in the nursery!! My dream, right in front of me. I was just in awe.

We had to leave after that...it was now thundering, pouring, and the temp dropped by at least 15 degrees, and we were soaked...(and remember, Joan's mom is in her 80s, and used to Florida weather!). We're going back together next week, and hopefully do some more fun things. It's so nice to have these special privileges. I still can't get over being that close to the gorillas!

So, I just got home, I had to get out of my wet clothes quick, and now I'm here, trying to do a little school work. Tomorrow morning, I have my orientation for a volunteer program I'm starting at the Zoo/Park soon, then not sure what the afternoon holds. It will depend on the weather, I suppose. I hope this rain goes away, because it stinks!

Anyhow, sorry for the long update, but I was so excited for all my special experiences today! Now I wait for DH to get home. I will take a bath with my new bath pillow he bought me and we'll have pizza and movie night. Can't wait, it's so gross out! But in the meantime, I'll leave you with this. I couldn't take pics of the gorillas (they are VERY sensitive), but I snapped this of the keeper feeding the baby addax. He is only about a foot tall!

Happy Weekend everyone!!

[blueeyes25s]

I'm sorry for the cyst still being there but it sounds like it shrunk a lot and with any luck it be less than 12 by next week!

I love reading about all your animal stories and seeing pics

Sometimes....my favorite nights are sittin in with DH ordering take out and watching movies. We are supposed to get some crazy thunderstorms this weekend so the rain is on it's way here so it will be a perfect excuse for a movie night

[kbpeanut]

CD 12, Cycle 42, IVF Cycle
Hi Ladies!
I have been running all morning! Got up early to go downtown to the Zoo for my volunteer orientation. It's the 4th step out of 8 steps to become a volunteer at the Zoo or Park. It's a pretty rigorous program, and not just anyone can walk in and volunteer, so it's a lot of work to get to that point. That was from 8 until 1230, then I had to run up north (north past my house by about a half hour, so about an hour+ away from the zoo) to meet DH quick. We both just came back home, and he's out again. I'm working on school work, but about to run out and pick up my estrogen refill

I am not going into it here, because one, it's not necessary, and two, I'm not like that, but if I'm *quiet* (quiet for me) the next few days, please just bear with me. DH and I got into a huge spat today, and that makes me upset. We have fought exactly 3 times in our entire relationship. Three. THREE. This is four. It's not really a fight, just a really big disagreement that truly hurt my feelings badly. For anyone who has been around me for a while, you KNOW that this is not the guy he is, and he DID NOT do anything intentionally to hurt me, but it stings nonetheless. There is a lot more behind it, but at the present moment, I'm really ticked. Not really sure what to do at this point. Since we never fight, we don't "fight" well. One of those things where I would just rather be out of the house, but right now, don't really have too many places to go. I am contemplating heading to the Park, but it's cold and yucky/rainy out, and I've already been at the Zoo all morning, and honestly, I DO have school work to do. But I may go look around the mall for a bit. One, they have a pet store where I can on all the animals (it's actually a very good pet store), and two, I actually DO need to purchase a new pair of pants for "work" (volunteering) for my uniform. I need a specific color of khakis, and I do not own a single pair. I had one, but had to donate them b/c they were so far from fitting it wasn't even funny. So might go tackle that this afternoon, just to be away. Blech, I hate feeling this way.

Anyhow, I'm out for the day. Just wanted to pop in and see what's up around here! Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

xx

[BabyBirdies]

I'm sorry about the fight. I hope you guys are able to work it out!

The only reason we've gotten "good" at fighting is because we do it regularly and have developed a kind of etiquette about it. It's even helped us to fight less because it helped us recognize patterns. If there's anything you need/want to talk about with it, let me know!

See you around!

[Coley]

Ugh! about the cyst AND the fight!

We all know Pat is a great guy and you're a wonderful wife... so whatever the issue, I know you guys will sort it through and be better for it in the end. I totally understand and respect your not wanting to get into it, but, as if it even needs to be said, if needed... you know I am only a PM away.

[Jen@FirsAve]

Sorry about your fight, it sounds like you very much love and respect eachother and I know from experience (me and Rob can have some pretty explosive fights, although not too often) that things will always sort out either with time and/or patience.

the cutie pie addax, you know the best way to spend your free time

Have a good few days

[Crystallee]

I hope your day is looking better today and if you ever need to talk or anything I am just a facebook message away

[JennyLee]

I am sorry that the stupid cyst is delaying your IVF and keeping you on the stupid estrogen Sounds like you had a fantastic adventure on Friday though - you are so lucky to get those behind the scenes experiences!

I hope you guys can get whatever it is worked out, and I, too, am here if you need me.

[kbpeanut]

CD 14, Cycle 42, IVF
Happy Monday Ladies!
Wow, did I piss away my weekend. I have so much school to do it's not even funny...and it's all due today. Friday, as I wrote before, I was supposed to be writing papers, but *had* to go to the Park. The other thing I didn't mention about that on Friday is that they are doing a bunch of construction at the Park, one of those areas being the Petting Kraal (i.e. where i spend most of my time with my goat friends!) Today, the goats are moving to the field (i.e. off exhibit) for TWO MONTHS while they do a revamp. I had to go say goodbye I am going to miss them so much. It might sound silly, like "who the heck misses goats?" but honestly, these guys have become like my second pets. For those of you that have a dog (do cats do this??? not the ones I know), and when you come home and the dog runs up and greets you? You know how great that feeling is? Well, many of these goats do that everytime I show up - especially Mandi (Mandolin), Trumpet, and Banjo, the triplet babies. Sometimes, they just lay down in my lap and cuddle. I just love those guys to death, and I am going to miss the heck out of them for 2 months.

ANYhow. So Friday I did that, then Sat I was at training all morning, then fight with DH, so I couldn't concentrate all afternoon. Same thing yesterday. I slept in which was nice, and we went and got bagels for breakfast (sat in awkward silence), then we came home, and DH had to work in the garage, and I tried to do some homework, but was still fuming, so I had to leave. Went to target for some much needed essentials (retail therapied myself some new tshirts and tanks for $6 too), came home, DH was gone doing the thing I was pissed about, and so I left again. I still needed to get 3 things for my garden - lettuce, green onion, and carrot. I have a nursery very close to my house, but they didn't have what I needed, so I researched and found a SUPER great and huge one that isn't far away at all. I headed down there, and wow was that a great place! I sort of wish I would have gotten all my plants there. But whatever, I got my carrots (baby), bunching onion set, and romaine lettuce (wanted leaf, but they only had romaine). Those shall be planted this afternoon or tomorrow.

Then I came home, DH was back, and I decided I couldn't be around him. I started working on a grocery list, and was headed out to the store, asking DH on the way out if he needed anything. Well, somehow that turned into a blow out on my part, and I just sort of *yelled* at him for an hour. I didn't really scream or yell, since i am less angry and more hurt, so I just gave him an hour long talking to, and he pretty much just listened. We got over it, I made some summer spaghetti for dinner (spaghetti, olive oil, few spices, bread crumbs, and parm), and we watched some TV and then bed. I'm not over it, and I'm still mad and hurt, but at least we are on speaking terms.

Whew, long update about nothing. So, needless to say, I have to finish all my school today. Plus get to the grocery store since I never got around to doing that last night.

Cyclewise, nothing to report. The queasy from the estrace is getting better, and no other side effects to report. Just have to wait until Friday to see what's going on. Kind of annoying, but whatever. I have a lot to do this week, and it's supposed to be in the low-mid 80s and sunny all week.

Oh, I think a bunny has discovered the soybeans in my garden. Need to keep an eye on that.

That's my long and sordid tale. I've done a great job of procrastinating for 2 hours already this morning, so time to get to work.

Happy Monday all!

[BabyBirdies]

Sorry to hear that things are still a little rough. I totally understand about both procrastinating and getting distracted. Hope things are better soon and that you're able to talk things through. Even if you feel like nothing can be done in this case, it's sometimes really good to talk through what the two of you would want to happen in a similar case in the future.

Enjoy the good weather! We're having a heatwave here too - too bad I'm stuck inside!!

[JennyLee]

Hope your day has gotten better and that you got all your school work done!

[~*Jackie*~]

Just popping in to say hi and praying that this cyst goes away for you!!

[kbpeanut]

CD 15, Cycle 42, IVF
Mornin' Ladies! Well, I'm sure it's nearly afternoon for many of you, but for us west coasters, it's still morning! Not terribly much to report...DH and I sort of made up last night. I am still very hurt, but I did something that needed to be done to support the thing that pissed me off, and it made him tear up and apologize. We're on speaking terms, but I'm still a little chilly about the whole thing. It'll work itself out in time. We're good like that.

We had grilled brats (my fav) and veggies last night for dinner. So yummy. I went to the store yesterday to get all our food for the week, or most of it, and am really looking forward to this weeks dinners. Tonight is tacos and homemade guac. I found a homemade taco seasoning recipe (on pinterest of course!) that I want to try. Usually, I'm one of those packet of lawry's seasoning type of people, but I want to try the homemade one...it has much less sodium, and I have all the stuff in my pantry anyway. Also doing homemade guac..using cilantro from my garden!!
Then we will have parmesan crusted chicken and cream cheese corn one night, and something else I cant remember for the next. I love pinterest.

Speaking of garden, the bunnies have found my soybeans and romaine. They are leaving the herbs alone (basil, cilantro), as well as the strawberries, tomatoes, and cucumbers (probably b/c there is nothing on them yet). I don't think they've touched the green onion or carrots either. I tried sprinkling my garden with garlic powder last night, but that did nothing. Today I will try the lemon, and maybe some pepper. I've heard that a mix of cayenne pepper and some other stuff to make a spray will work, but that it is damaging to the bunny mucus membranes. I don't want to hurt the bunnies, just stop them from eating my salad! We will see. I am trying to avoid building something, but it may come to that.

Got all my school work done yesterday morning. Yay! It is supposed to be absolutely gorgeous all week - mid 80s - so I plan to spend most of it outside. Any reading for school I will bring to the park, or do in my backyard (bunny watch?). I also have to rig my gecko terrarium so my little fella can't hide behind the faux rock wall that's in there. I hadn't seen him for a couple days, so last night we disassembled all his substrate (read: MESS), and finally had to dislodge the rock wall. There he was, the little sh*t, happy as a clam. But I can't have him back there, he could get trapped too easily...he's so tiny though, he can get around pretty well.

I always wait until the end of my update to talk about my cycle. Why? Cause I have nothing to say! It's CD 15, which means nothing at this point, and we're just in a holding pattern. The estrogen sucks, but it's better than stopping and starting over again. We'll go back on Friday and see what happens.

Guess that's it. It's already warm outside, and I want to get out of the house!

Happy Tuesday All!

[blueeyes25s]

Sounds like you are DH are working through your argument. Of course if you need to chat, you know where to find me.

The bunnies have made there way into my garden so we now have to make a new fence.

I hope your cyst will be gone or at least small enough to proceed with IVF! In the meantime enjoy the weather!

[blueeyes25s]

Oh btw....my cats do come running to greet me when I come home! I love it when they do

[BabyBirdies]

Our birds (parakeets) tweet when we come home - it's very cute