We May Have A New Tradition

What do two people do while waiting for an early morning U/S BW appointment? What better way to kill some time than to have breakfast together at Panera! It's starting to be a regular thing now. Our RE has three offices (Rockville, Annandale and Leesburg). Two of the three offices are right by a Panera Bread! How convenient!

We usually just get bagels and hot chocolate. They have yummy hot chocolate! (We don't drink coffee).

Steve enjoying his cinnamon crunch bagel.

Me getting ready to enjoy my apple raisin cinnamon crunch bagel.

Our U/S BW appointment this morning was pretty much the same. Lining looks good, 8 follies on left side, 10 on the right. They're still too small to measure right now. We continue with the same dosage of meds. Return on Saturday morning for another U/S BW. So much for sleeping in! At least I have Panera to look forward to.

Grow follies! Grow!

Skewed Concept of How Babies Are Made

We had Abbey over the weekend and she was telling me about her flu shot last week before school started. Needless to say, she was not too thrilled about getting her shot. So I told her about how I have to get shots every morning. She asked me why and I told her "so we can have a baby." I asked her if she wanted to watch Steve give me my shot in the morning and she said "yeah!"

The next morning, she watched as Steve shot me up. It was quick and she just looked at me, probably expecting me to cry like she does when she gets a shot. Then Steve asked her if she would like for him to give her a shot. To which she replied:

"No! I don't want a baby!"

She's too young to ask about how babies are made yet, but I think she now has a skewed concept of how they are made. But the reality is, this IS how they are made for some people.

Labor Day U/S BW

AF showed up on Saturday so today was my day 3 ultrasound and bloodwork. My regular RE office (45 mins away) in Leesburg was closed so I had to go to the Annandale office (over an hour away). Which meant I had to get up at 6:30 AM, to leave by 7:30 am, to get their by 9 am. I was so tired! What a way to spend my Labor Day morning.

At any rate, the u/s went well. I have eight follies on the left side and 9 on the right. Grow follies, Grow!

Tonight we start 150 units of Bravelle and 75 units of Menopur and reduce the Lupron to 5 units. Then we go in on Thursday for U/S and BW.

Grow Follies! Grow!

A Day Off

I took the day off to enjoy the long Labor Day weekend. It was a beautiful day. I slept in until 8:00 AM (yay for not getting up at 5 AM!). I met up with my old high school friend, Thi, who was in town visiting from Texas. We haven't seen each other in over 10 years! It was great to see her and meet her family.

Here we are in Landsdowne enjoying the beautiful weather.

And this is her cute baby girl....Olivia (7 months)!! Isn't she the cutest thing ever?

I could just eat her up! I love this picture with her little tongue sticking out. Love her!

After my exciting lunch, I went to the COACH outlet to check out their Labor Day sale. This cute little bag was just calling my name! And the best part was, the nice girl in line in front of me had an extra 20% off coupon that she gave to me. What a deal!

Following my retail therapy, I went and got a pedicure. I needed it bad too! The bottom of my feet are always dry and cracking. I love how it feels after a nice pedi. Okay, I hate the way my feet look so I debated whether or not to post this picture. For some reason, earlier this year, my right foot has been going through this 'phase' where it will swell up every once in a while. I can't even wear some of my shoes anymore because the right foot is too big! Anyways, here are my happy feet.

After all this fun, I went to pick up my niece Abbey for the weekend. She starts school next week so I wanted to do something fun with her before she heads back. We are going to take her to Hershey Park tomorrow! Fun filled weekend!

I love three day weekends! or in my case, four day weekends!

Show & Tell - My 2005 trip to Vietnam

I am joining Mel's Show and Tell today.

One of the BEST trips I've ever taken was back to Vietnam in 2005. That was my first time back in over 20 years. My family escaped the communist country in the late 70's and spent a few years in a refugee camp in Thailand. We came to America in the early 80's. I was about three years old. I don't have any memories of Vietnam at all, that's why returning there was so important to me. I won't bore you with my life story, so I will just share a few of my favorite pictures from my trip.

This is me at the market holding up some Toddy Palm Seed. Love the exotic fruits there.

This is my maternal grandmother. She is the reason I am here today, literally (there's a story behind that, but I'll have to save it for another time). Before I decided to go on this trip, my grandmother was ill on and off for a while. I knew that I had to see her before it was too late and that she would not leave this world until we were reunited. When I first arrived, I will never forget the sparkle in her eyes, as she looked into my eyes and started crying. Due to a stroke, my grandmother could not speak and was paralyzed on the left side of her body, but I knew that she knew who I was and although she did not say it in words, her eyes said loudly 'Welcome Home.' Three months after my trip, she passed away.

This is a picture of my uncle (my dad's brother) and my paternal grandfather. Again, this is my first time 'meeting' them as I have no recollection of them at all as a child. My grandfather is around 90 years old. He is a sharp man for his age. My dad passed away in 1996 and I was never close to him at all until that year. That was my first semester away at college. It was also the first time in my life that I truly felt my dad's love for me. I distinctly remember the phone conversation I had with him two weeks before he died.

The opportunity to meet my dad's side of the family was priceless. My uncle looks exactly like my dad (duh, they're brothers), but I didn't realize how much until I first laid eyes on him at the airport. It felt like I was looking at my dad.

So, there you have it. My first trip back to Vietnam (I say 'first' trip because it certainly won't be my last). It truly was a trip of a lifetime. It help remind me how grateful I am for Eternal Families.

My Favorite Season

I love, love, love the Fall Season! I know it doesn't officially start until September 22nd, but for me, it starts when school is back in session and the weather starts to cool. We've had really nice, Fall like, weather the past couple of days and I love it! It's been in the 70's and LIFE IS GOOD! When the weather is nice, I am much more happier (no I do not have Seasonal Affective Disorder).

Things I look forward to in the Fall:

1. Apple picking!!

2. Apple Pie (although you could have this year round, it just taste better in the Fall. I need a good pie recipe!)

3. Fall Foliage (This is probably one of the only times I actually look forward to driving in to work. Going up the mountain during the Fall peak is beautiful!)

4. Apple Cider

5. Pumpkin patch

6. Pumpkin Carving

7. Fall Festivals

8. Chili

9. My favorite shows are back on (no more reruns!)

10. Cool mornings/evenings

(Abbey and Steve apple picking last year)

Here's to a great Fall Season (albeit a little early)!

Vagina - It's not a clown car

Apparently it is! Michelle Duggar is expecting her 19th child!

Seriously?!

I originally saw this picture on Eileen's blog and it made me laugh out loud!

Then People Magazine reported today that they are expecting baby #19!!

I love how her doctor says "Some women are made to have babies..."

Aren't ALL women made to have babies?

I guess 'Life Happens' to some women and it's not as easy for us to pop them out.

There is an ounce of me that is happy every time someone I know is expecting. For instance, I found out that my neighbor is 7 months pregnant and I had no idea. And someone at church is also expecting. Really, I am happy for them. I do not know Michelle Dugger personally (only on TV), but I guess I can squeeze out an ounce of happiness for her (like when you squeeze out a fart!)

Because that's Christ like attitude and love.