Worth Reading

http://www.self.com/health/2010/08/breaking-the-silence-on-infertility

This article was brought to my attention today and I really enjoyed reading it. I think infertility is often hush-hush and not something you read about very frequently. It's nice to see a well known magazine exposing some of the truths related to infertility. It's a bit of a long read, so only read if you're actually interested. It certainly made me realize and ponder a few things:

1. I am SO glad that I had amazing family and friends to help see us through IVF. It's just reassurance to me that beginning this blog was so important and worthwhile for Mat and I.

2. We are so incredibly lucky and blessed that we conceived MJ on our first try with IVF. We weren't sure if it was something we would be able or willing to pursue again if it wasn't successful. Reading about how many cycles some of these couples went through made me appreciate my blessings all over again!

3. I truly think we were in the right place at the right time in our lives. We were so pleased with our fertility clinic, we had some amazing friends in place to help out, and were surrounded by love and support. Helloooo, even my very own neighbor was going through the exact same thing as I!!! What are the odds? Moving here, which is a predominately Catholic town has opened my eyes to the opposition that many have with IVF. I just know that experiencing it here might have been a different scenario for us as far as support goes.

A Few Recent Faves

Here are a a few recent videos I have been meaning to share...




Back in June, MJ discovered the wonderful joys of climbing on furniture. It kind of reminds me of the same feeling as during that baby stage once they learn to roll over. You suddenly are no longer safe leaving them lying on the couch or bed or pretty much anywhere for fear that they could roll right off. Now the same type of feeling has happened. Now that he's been mobile and quite steady at it for several months, we have felt comfortable to step out of the room for a moment or two knowing he'll stay safe. However, now we're once again fearful to leave him unattended in case he decides to climb up on furniture and then step right off, which he is certainly not afraid of. He's taken a few spills already but doesn't seem to deterred by it. Our little monkey is gaining his confidence! Now we're working on enforcing that furniture is for sitting and not standing. This seems quite a foreign idea to him at times. :)



This toy has remained a favorite since Christmas time, when he received it from Grandma and Grandpa Keyes. He was walking within a couple weeks of receiving it and I really think it helped encourage that skill! He's now more like zooming with it, trying to run Bubba over, run into furniture, etc. It's pretty funny to watch him really get going with it.



Just this past Sunday, we attended "Music in the Park," a free event put on at the Arborterum. There is live music provided for a couple hours each Sunday evening and you just show up with your own chairs or blankets and enjoy. The weather was gorgeous, so we took a blanket, grabbed some subs, and had a wonderful evening. It was a favorite family memory! MJ was so happy. He actually sat on the blanket with us and ate contently and then explored around a bit. Notice his necklace? He loves that thing!!! Thanks, Meg for providing that one. ;)

Crrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaack!

MJ has a little book called Baby's First Farm. Inside it has the typical farm animals and other things like tractor, bucket, egg,etc. It also has printed each word that that animal or object says. I've always though it's a little odd that a bucket supposedly says "slosh, slosh" and an egg says "crack" but whatever! He's a baby and it's fun to try to teach him new sounds and wait for the moment he picks it up on his own. So, the other day I was reading the book to him and he was repeating back to me the sound the cow makes, the sound the dog makes, etc. but usually most of the items are met with complete silence. Until just the other day and when I got to the very last page on the book where the egg is, which I usually dramatize with a nice long "crrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaack," MJ surprised me with his version of the "crack." Of all the sounds for him to pick up on, I couldn't believe it was this one.

So what does any proud mama do but whip out her Flip Camera and try to get such cute moments on video. Needless to say MJ enjoys hamming it up for the camera and once he got started with his "crrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaack" sound there was no stopping him. How dare I ask him to point to his nose or ear, but gosh darn it he will make the "crrrrrrrrrrrrrraaack" sound all day long. The more he makes me laugh the more he does it! Love it!

Summer in St. Louie

Right as I wrapped up working for the month of June, we were lucky enough to be able to head to St. Louis for about 2 weeks. My friend, Stephanie, got married and I was honored to be her Matron of Honor. The first few days were busy, but so fun. I got some much needed girl time while catching up with friends and enjoying Steph's beautiful day.

Then, we were able to spend a lot of time with all our family and friends. I always seem to think we'll have more time than we do. It seems like it is go,go,go non-stop just to squeeze in a visit with everyone, and before ya know it, the time has passed. We really made some wonderful memories though and MJ did great. We were able to be "home" each afternoon so he could nap as usual for the most part. I wasn't quite as good about taking a variety of pictures with everyone, but I definitely captured some fun moments. I've included the link if you'd like to check out our time in St. Louis.


http://keyeswindingroad.shutterfly.com/1659



This was probably my favorite picture. Mathew just adored playing in GiGi and PopPop's sprinkler/hose. He loves to just have the water pour over his head and just giggles and giggles. He is constantly trying to drink out of it as well. Ah, to be so flexible...

Fertility Test #1,682

Okay, maybe I am exaggerating a bit, but I had mistakingly assumed we'd made it past the point of fertility testing. But, after the last miscarriage and then genetic testing (which all came back normal thankfully), an HSG was just what the doctor ordered. It's certainly not the worst procedure in the world, but it's definitely one of the more dreaded in the world of infertility and lucky me was chosen to have it for a third time. To spare most of the details, and just get down to the nitty gritty, an HSG's purpose is to check the shape of the uterus and ensure that the fallopian tubes are open. When, I had this test originally done years ago, before MJ was even thought of, this is how a red flag was raised that something was not quite right with my lovely uterus. Anyhow, years later, a surgery to repair the lovely uterus, a successful healthy pregnancy, and we had no reason to think anything was wrong in that area once again. But, it's standard procedure and the doctor worried perhaps I had a lot of scar tissue left over from previous surgeries that could be keeping an embryo from successfully implanting. So, I had this procedure done once again this past Thursday and was pleasantly surprised with the results! I think I was fully expecting the doctor's fears to be correct and wind up needing surgery once again if I really wanted to attempt having another child. But, luckily this time the news was all good! Both tubes were open and the uterus couldn't have looked any better, in his words. I was quite proud of that little uterus of mine! :)

I guess the tough part in this is that it still leaves us with no answers as to what is causing the miscarriages, but as for now it's being chalked up to the very low progesterone levels. He encouraged us to try again, when we feel ready, and call the office the minute I were to find out I'm pregnant so that they can check my levels and provide progesterone support if needed. That doesn't seem too assuring to me, since that's basically what has happened the last two pregnancies. I've been doing a little reading on how I can give my body a little boost of progesterone naturally, and I am just trying to stay positive.

Overall, I'm feeling pretty optimistic. We couldn't have asked for any better results with this last test. I am now trying to relax, leave it in God's hands, and stay optimistic. I am hopeful that eventually a second child will be in God's plan for us, but if not, I am keeping plenty busy with a toddler for now! ;)

Water Boy

We were excited to buy MJ a little pool for the backyard since he seems to love the water so much. It's a far stretch from our pool at our FL house, but he probably likes this one even better. I bought him a couple little water toys and he kept trying to drink the water from his little toy pitcher. It was so funny! The hard part was making sure he didn't do the same thing later in the week when we went to a public pool with chlorinated water!




This past weekend we attempted our first trip to the public pools. We struck out at both Galena and Dubuque's pools. They don't open until 1pm! Seems really weird to me. He's napping by then, and then they close at 5pm so it makes it pretty tough to squeeze in any swimming time. During the weekdays though, they have a toddler/preschool swim time only from 12-1, so hopefully we'll be trying that out once we get back in town.



Since our "Little Surfer" was all dressed and ready for the pool, we couldn't disappoint after the two failed attempts (good thing he was too little to understand), so we ended up hotel crashing and swimming at one of the local hotel pools. :)

A Special Dedication on Dad's Day

I am beyond blessed to have these two boys in my life, not to mention my own father as well. I grew up with a Daddy that adored me and still showers me with love! I didn't realize just how lucky I was until I began teaching and saw firsthand how many children didn't have a two parent household, much less dad's that were truly active in their children's lives. Luckily I married a man that does just an amazing job showering our son with love. Mathew is definitely loving all his time with Daddy right now while I've been working pretty full days and Mat has been home with him. They have become quite the little buddies. Although he's unable to express it yet, I know MJ would wish Mat a Happy Father's Day if he had the slightest clue that yesterday was any different than any other day.



This was MJ at church on Father's Day before his Baby Dedication. Doesn't he look like such a big boy?



He was grinning his big ol CHEESE grin to the people sitting behind us, so the lady offered to take his picture. For us, he usually turns his head before we can snap a shot. He was quite the little ham during the Baby Dedication as well. He stood up on the stage, smiled, and waved to everyone, and was a quite little guy while the pastor prayed over him. What an amazing day to celebrate the miracle of Mathew. I know I am so lucky to have him in my life and I trust God to guide me as a mother to raise him to the best of my abilities. It was definitely a special day!