Great Deal on Blog Makeovers

Thanks for all your well wishes for my hubby.  He is doing really well.  He will go back to the dr next week if it doesn't continue to heal. 

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We will be busy this weekend with family functions and spending the entire weekend with Abbey.  She is excited to be sleeping over for THREE nights instead of two.

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I have been thinking about getting a blog makeover for the last several months, I just haven't had time to shop around or attempt to do it on my own.  While I was catching up on blogs today, I came across Mary from Bright Sunshine Designs.  She is having a MAJOR sale, (50% off already reduced prices), for all blog makeovers.  I've already contacted her to let her know I am interested.  I wish I had time to put my order in this weekend because she said she's not too busy this weekend so she could turn it around fast.  Unfortunately, this is a busy weekend for us.  But, if you've ever thought of having a makeover, you really should hop on over and visit her.

**I am not getting paid at all for this endorsement!  I just love passing along a good deal.**

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe memorial day weekend!

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***Whoever keeps commenting on my blog in Chinese, please know that I do NOT speak, read or write in Chinese (I wish I did, but I don't, so I have no idea what your comments say).****

Shrimp Ceviche

This yummy recipe reminds me of what we ate when we were on the beach in Cozumel.

If you love shrimp and spicy, you won't be disappointed.

Ingredients

• 1 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp
• 1 cup fresh lime juice (I used about 6-7 limes)
• 10 plum tomatoes, diced (I used 3-4 vine tomatoes)
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced, or to taste (if you love spicey, use at least 2 jalepenos)
• 2 avocados, diced (optional)
• chopped fresh cilantro to taste
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Cook shrimp and chop up (careful not to overcook) and put in large mixing bowl. 
2. Squeeze fresh lime juice and add to shrimp. 
3. Add the plum tomatoes, onion and jalapeno (and avocados, if using) to mixture
4. Add cilantro and salt and pepper to taste. Toss gently to mix.

This is served BEST with Tostititos Lime chips!

Ain't No Baby Bump!

Steve has a staph infectiona, again.  The same kind that he had before (MRSA).

It started out like a bug bite on his leg.  Then it got really swollen and I jokingly said, 'maybe it's MRSA.' 

I was right!

He's been on antibiotics and is going to see the surgeon today so they can cut it open and drain it.  Ugh, gross!

So while he's at the surgeon's today, I will go to Q.uest and get blood work done. When you're on Met.formin for so long (years) the RE wants you to get blood work done at least once a year to make sure everything is okay.  Whatev.....

I started the BCP over the weekend and antibiotics (protocol before every cycle). Will call the RE's office in a few weeks (aka day 3 of AF) for the protocol. 

If you know me in real life (IRL), please don't ask me about my IVF cycle.  I'm okay with you reading about it on my blog, but I just feel uncomfortable talking about it in public.  Don't ask and I may tell you (if I feel like it). 

And whatever you do, please stop staring at my belly to see if I'm pregnant!  (I can tell when you're trying to be sneaky about it because I can see where your eyes are staring!)

There's a bump, but it ain't NO baby bump! 

Maybe I should just get one of those shirts that say, 'I'm not pregnant, I'm just fat'.

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*Blogger isn't letting me comment on some people's blog and it's so frustrating.  I've had this problem before and I don't know what causes it or how to fix it.

So, Kim, Sass, Tracey and Circus Princess...I've been reading ya'lls blog, but can't comment.  Thinking of all ya'll!*

Nu Joisey and NYC

Weekend trip to NYC was great. 

We had to stay in Nu Joisey (New Jersey) because our class was being held there.  We stayed at the Marriott, close to Newark, and Jersey Gar.dens Out let mall.  We got in Thursday evening and decided to just head over to the mall to grab some dinner.  We saw soooo many pregnant women in that mall.  Something must be in the water in Joisey!  I should have bottled it up and brought some home.

On Friday we headed to Time Square to do the tourist thing.  We had to take the train, then the subway, but we finally made it.  And we walked....and walked....and walked.

Typical tourists, Steve had to consult the map to figure out where we were going. 

We made it to Rockefeller Plaza.

We didn't catch a show because I'm planning to come back at the end of summer with a fried to see Wic.ked.  So, we really didn't do anything too exciting in the city.  Just walked around and took in all the sights (and smell) of the city.

Before we headed back to Joisey, we had to make one stop....

Car.lo's Bakery (aka Cake Bos.s,  from TLC)

We didn't get to see Buddy because he was upstairs taping the show!  But we did leave with some goodies (canoli and italian cookies!)

Then we headed to our photography class.  The class was very helpful and I'm so glad Steve was there with me so he could remember everything that was being taught.  Now we just need to apply those teachings to take better pictures with our awesome camera.  We didn't get any pictures together because Steve didn't want to hand our camera over to a stranger to snap our picture.

It was a very loooong day.  We ended up coming home on Saturday instead of Sunday.  I don't think Steve would have lasted another full day of the city.  We headed home and went to see Abbey on Saturday.  It was a great weekend and I'm so grateful for such a loving and thoughtful husband who only wants to make me happy. 

Strawberry Picking

We went strawberry picking over the weekend with my sister and two of her kids.

The weather was absolutely perfect!

Abbey, Daniel and Rachel getting ready for pickin'

What to do with all those strawberries??

Make strawberry jam!

We also froze some strawberries to use later for strawberry shortcake and other desserts!

NY State of Mind

It's only Monday, but I'm already looking forward to the weekend!

Remember my new hobby I mentioned in March?  For my birthday last month, Steve signed us up for a class so we can learn all the functions besides 'automatic!'  We are heading to NYC for this three hour crash course!

It's been ages since I've been to the big apple and Steve has never been (and really has no desire to go, but he's going because he loves me).  We are hoping to catch a show (Wicked) and do some other touristy things. 

Does anyone have any recommendations for any good restuarants and/or things to do in NYC?  We are planning to go to Car.lo's Bakery (aka the Cake Bos.s). 

It's Okay!

Work has been super busy and stressing me out. 

I haven't had any time to catch up on goo.gle reader and I think it's about to explode!  I miss reading about everyone's lives.  The fact that I haven't had time to catch up on my blog reading has stressed me out.  I don't know how some of you lovely ladies (and gentlemen - I have one male follower) have time to keep up with all the blogs AND your own postings!  What's your trick?  It can almost be a full-time job!

Then I started thinking...blogging is about capturing life's moments and sharing it with friends.  It should NOT add stress to my life! 

It's okay if I can't post every day (or every other day). 

It's okay if I can't read every post in my goo.gle reader account.  It'll still be there tomorrow (and the day after, and the day after that).

It's okay if I don't comment on every post I do read (although I try).  Sometimes I just have a minute to check in on someone's blog, but that doesn't mean I have to make a comment on every one.  (Again, blogging is about capturing memories, not comments).

It's okay to want to spend time with my husband or my Abbey instead of blogging.  We all need some quality time together.  Family should be the priority.  (Although God is actually at the top of the list, followd by family). 

Thank you all for sticking with me through Life (as it Happens).  I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to read about happenings in my life.  I am grateful for all the prayers that have been said on our behalf.  I count them as blessings every day!

I'M your baby!

Last weekend I told Abbey that we weren't going to be able to pick her up this weekend because Steve and I are going out of town to visit his parents (for Mother's Day weekend).

ME: Uncle Steve and I aren't going to be able to pick you up because we have to go visit Mr. and Mrs. Whitcomb in (Rochester) NY. And, aunt Hannah's going to be really sad because it'll be Mother's Day.

ABBEY:  Why?

ME: Because aunt Hannah's not a mommy.

ABBEY: But you ARE a mommy!

ME: No, I'm not.  I don't have a baby silly.

ABBEY: yeah, I'M your baby!

This is my (late) birthday cake that Abbey and Steve made for me over the weekend.

Isn't it purrrty??

It was delish!
Made with love from my baby.

RE Appt

I finally made the follow up appt with the RE since our last failed IVF cycle (in Jan).  He reviewed my previous cycles and thinks that we may have an egg quality issue since none of my embryos have ever made it far enough to freeze.  I don't know if I agree.  Just because it doesn't make it to freezing, does it really mean that I have bad eggs?? I mean the first IVF cycle did result in a BFP,  it just didn't last long.  I don't think it's the egg/embryo quality.  I think it's my body that is the problem! Why can't it work properly??!!

We discussed dates and protocol for our next and LAST cycle.  I told him that this would be it for us so he has to make it work! (yeah, I  know, he has no control over it).  I asked if he would consider transferring three embryos since this will be it for us.  He said he would have to wait to make that call (depends on how the embryos develop).  He doesn't want us to end up with multiples.  He even asked if we were open to embryo reduction??  Uh, absolutely NOT!  I told him I'm okay with multiples (more bang for my buck right?!).

We will most likely start the cycle in a few weeks.  Work has been super busy and there's a week in June that I'm trying to avoid any egg retrievals/transfers because it will be a stressful time.

We will wait and see what will happen with this last cycle.  In the mean time, we continue to pray our little hearts out!  God hears our prayers and He is in control of all this.  The only thing we have control over is our faith.

Apple Blossom Festival

This weekend was Apple Blossom weekend.  This was our first year going to the parade.  It was so incredibly hot!  But we lasted long enough to see the celebrities...

Grand Marshall Val Kil.mer

Aiden Tur.ner (All My Children and Dancing With The Stars)

Tish Camp.bell (My Wife and Kids)

Miss Apple Blossom Shan.non Bea.m

Queen Shanandoah Rachel Mc.Donald

Governor & Mrs. Bob Mc.Donald (parents of the queen)

Senator Mark War.ner

Congressman Frank Wo.lfe

Abbey trying to stay cool with her friend.

Abbey and Steve (trying really hard to stay cool)

Abbey staying cool by having Steve dump water on her.