Photos

I wanted to post again, so I figured that I would add some pictures from our Honeymoon in Tennessee. We were married November 1, 2008 and were in Tennessee from the 2nd through the 9th. We had so much fun and I felt like we fell in love all over again.

This was our first breakfast in Tennessee at IHOP. I know I look terrible! Apparently after the wedding, my makeup got "cleaned up" with the rest of the stuff, so I had none for the whole trip.

Sitting on the side of the mountain; standing in the middle of two huge mountains.. after a long ride.

We spaced out our days to not spend too much time at the room.. but at times we just had to catch up on rest.. and hygiene. :)

Standing outside Wonderworks; the coolest place to go that was actually built upside down.

Inside Wonderworks. Obviously Bryan was way more successful at the rock climbing than I was. He definitely can't get away from his racing and the tunnel was literally spinning in circles.

At the Aquarium. It was so big in there.. it definitely helped fill our day. This place was really neat.

On the Sky Lift. We also had a picture taken of us on here.. I just need to scan it. This was a little scary, but the views were worth the ride.

At the car museum.. you know Bryan had to go there.

Just out and about, we traded camera taking time with another couple when we stopped here. :)

This is at the Dixie Stampede, Dolly Parton's dinner and a show. Kind of expensive, but well worth it. I want to go back.

Birthday

So today I am officially 21 years old. It's kinda funny because the older I get, [not implying that I'm ancient or anything] the more I can see how different I've turned out vs. how I always thought that I would be. I've always imagined my 21st birthday partying it up and the things that most 21 year olds do.

However, today I've given much more thought to my actual birthday.. as in the day that I was born. It's crazy how much I've thought about babies lately.. must be from preparing to start a fertility treatment. Not to mention, I stayed up until 2:30am watching reruns of Jon & Kate Plus 8. [I love that show!] I almost feel like I should call my Mom up and tell her happy 21st anniversary from the day that she gave birth to me. I'm not even a Mother yet, but this birthday just seems different.

Of course, I don't remember the day that I was born.. but I just imagine what it was like. For the first time, I'm seeing my birthday [my time to party, eat cake and open gifts] as the anniversary of my birthday, what it really is. I guess when you've got babies on the brain, you view the world in a totally different way. I'm looking forward to celebrating a new birthday.

Also.. in case you didn't know: Calories do not count in a birthday cake. :)

Introduction to our story.. our lives.

So, just a little bit about myself and why I decided to start this blog:

Bryan and I have been together since January 30, 2005 and were recently married on November 1, 2008. Although we've not been married long, we're ready to expand our family.

See right now, we have our two daughters, Dumplin' [who goes by KitKat] and our youngest, Georgia :). KitKat is our calico (sp?) cat who just turned 3 and Georgia is our malamute husky wolf dog who is going on 2.

When I was 15, I found out that I had small cysts on my ovaries but was told that it was no big deal. By the time I met Bryan when I was 16, I had gone a whole year without a menstrual cycle and was again told not to worry, just take birth control pills as it would help regulate my system. Over the course of 3 years, I put on 40 pounds. When I was about 19, I decided to see a different doctor as I had some pain in my lower left abdomen. I found out that I actually have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and that I had more cysts on my left ovary [which is bigger than my right one] and that it was just tender. I was put on more birth control as a helper for that.

Just recently, my doctor gave me the "go ahead" to quit taking birth control. He said that he would refer me to a fertility specialist for children but that if I wanted to be a Mom, I better go ahead and start as it would take me longer and be harder for me than for most other people. Bryan and I decided to schedule the appointment with the fertility specialist after our honeymoon [in Tennessee, which was awesome.]

About a week after our honeymoon, I had some cramps, swolen breasts, nausea, etc. So, I took a pregnancy test and it was positive. It was the digital kind that says "Pregnant" or "Not Pregnant" and it definitely said "Pregnant." We were so excited that we got pregnant on our own and that it was meant to be. I called the fertility specialists and cancelled my appointment and things were exciting.. for a few days.

By the time, I got to the doctor for a blood test, it was all negative. I still think about it from time to time and think.. "By now, I'd be 4-5 months along." or "I wonder if it would've been a boy or a girl." But life kinda went back to normal.

I called and rescheduled my initial visit with the fertility specialist who gave me a lot of hope. She said that they deal with a lot of women w/ PCOS and my chances of a successful pregnancy were actually pretty high. See, most women with PCOS are extremely overweight and w/ the exception of a few things I need to watch, statistically, I'm considered "lean PCOS".. which works in my favor healthwise.

After testing, blood work, ultrasounds, etc.. the fertility specialist decided to put me on a birth control patch to help me ovulate and "clean out" for a few months before putting me on Clomid [a fertility pill.] I recently called her and asked if she would extend the birth control as Bryan and I are trying to get a few things together before getting pregnant.. she did.

Right now, we're in a situation. I should be starting the Clomid June-ish, but if I choose to extend the patch any more then she will refer me back to the gynecologist until we are ready for the Clomid. This means I will have to do all of my testing all over again which my insurance may not pay.

So, until June, I am trying to get as prepared as I can in determining if this is really the right time for us to have a family.. as much as we really want to. It sounds kinda crazy, but I've called and gotten a few prices on childcare services and things like that so I can try to see what we're looking at. My Mom has always told me.. "Miranda, if people waited until they could afford to have a baby.. people would never have babies."

See all of the women on my Mom's side of the family, including my Mom, had a hysterectomy at young ages.. when it comes to my family, the odds are against me. I kinda feel like my clock is ticking and if I don't take the chance now, while it is being given to me, then I will never be able to do this. Besides, I really feel like I'm ready.

So, today Bryan and I talked and we are definitely going to start trying in June. June-ish, I will quit using the patch and begin the fertility pills. Regardless of childcare costs, maternity leave from work, medical bills, etc.. we are just going to jump right in and make it work. If it's not meant to be.. well, then it won't be.

We're very excited [and anxious] about what the future holds for us but I know that God has a wonderful plan in store and we're ready to begin the [emotional, blessing, stressful, amazing, rollercoaster ride] adventure that lies before us. We're finally ready to make my dream of becoming a Mommy, Bryan's dream of becoming a Daddy, and our dreams of becoming a family.. true.