The James Adventures

Where shall I begin? My life is not all that exciting most of the time but everyone always has something going on, right? We have a lot going on at the moment. For me, the most important event is the fertility treatments. I don't always call my friends or my mom for that matter because I don't always (actually, never) want to talk about the troubles we're having trying to conceive. Especially when people say "you had P, why can't you have another one?" Like I haven't asked myself this question a million time already. Or when people say "there's always next month" Dah!! I know people are trying to be helpful and uplifting but there is absolutely nothing anyone can say to make it better. So maybe I can write about it here to keep everyone updated without having to talk about it all the time. Where I am right now...still not pregnant. Where have I been... First round with IUI (artificial insemination aka intrauterine insemination) in July did not work. We used 75IU of Gonal F in an injectable form. I couldn't do it myself so J had to give me shot in the belly everyday before work. Second round had to come to a screeching halt because I hyper stimulated. So the IUI was cancelled. I had to wait 6 long weeks to start again. My dose of Gonal F was cut in half for the October round and I was given the Gonal F pen which was nice because I can give myself this shot. It's still given in the belly but surprisingly enough, it doesn't hurt. I had the IUI done on Oct. 6. This round was also a bummer. Where I'm going...Monday I'll start injecting myself in the abdomen everyday with the Gonal F pen. We should be able to do the 3rd IUI around Nov. 12. If that's the case, I'll find out whether I'm pregnant or not on my 33rd birthday. Let's all wish for a Happy Birthday!!

Moving on...the last time we stayed home for Christmas P was a baby, J was a full time college student and I was working full time. We didn't have a lot of money so I bought dollar store stockings and a dollar store Christmas tree skirt. I used hand me down ornaments and made some really hideous decorations. So this year, 7 years after dollar days, I get to stay home for Christmas. Although I will miss Christmas in Ohio, I'm very happy to be home this year. So I've overloaded myself with quilting classes to make stockings, a Christmas tree skirt and a few wall hangings. The difference between these homemade items and the hideous ones? Now I have some skill and a killer sewing machine courtesy of my wonderful husband!! We going to have a small Christmas Eve party with the neighbors and Denise's brothers are coming on Christmas day for dinner. No traveling back and forth across town to visit with this family and that. No pulling P away from her her toys to go visit. No eating 2 Christmas dinners! I'm so excited :)

J is working hard these days. It's the first time in his career he's had to work 10-12 hour days. I have no idea what he does all day but that's the price of working in intelligence. It's all so secret. Next week he'll be going to the DC area for a few days. For what I'm really not sure. Something about touring the intelligence centers in the area. He's also getting ready to deploy again around July. It will probably be a 12 month tour but I'll take that over 15 months any day!

P is in 4th grade and doing well. She enjoys school and has many friends. She's also still riding horses just about every weekend. She'll start showing again in the spring. She takes a weekly sewing class at the quilt shop where they make little projects to learn different techniques. By the end of this year she'll be teaching me a few tricks. This child is so creative and talented. I can't believe she's already 9. Those of you with toddlers, make every minute count. Time really does fly.

Denise is finally divorced and doing well. She's looking for a job and dating. I'll let her start her own blog about that :)

So that's all I have for today. I'll update as often as I can. I hope I don't bore you with our oh so exciting lives :)