LD just called to say that the blood work came back perfect! Just as we knew it would. Now we just wait 3.5 weeks for my next period and then we’re on our way!

I called Dr. C’s nurse today like he told me to. Come to find out, I should NOT have started BCP with this cycle, as it’s too soon. Dr. C was mistaken, so I am to stop taking the BCP (since I only took one it shouldn’t cause problems), then we’ll start with my next cycle instead. Guess we weren’t as far along as I’d thought.

Wow. Once we get started it’s like every time we turn around another step is being taken!

Friday was the day N and I flew home from our Florida trip. It was also the day AF decided to make her appearance. This was a surprise to me, as I had not expected her until Monday. But I’m not complaining. Unfortunately, this meant trying to get ahold of Dr. C’s office on a Friday while traveling (which meant having my phone off for much of the day). The two times I got through to a person (the phone was busy for some odd reason several times that I tried) I got the answering service! I don’t know where to office people were. Anyway, I left messages to call LD, since she’d be more likely to be able to answer the phone. Well, Dr. C called her, but NOT because of my phone call! He was calling her to tell her the results from her blood work (there was something that showed up that we’re 99% sure is a lab error, but he wants it to be checked again Monday, just in case). LD told Dr. C that I’d been trying to get ahold of him and so he called me as I was buckling my seat belt on the plane! I spoke with him briefly– he told me to start taking BCP on Sunday and call his nurse on Monday– and was about to turn off my phone when LD called. She was freaking out a little about the blood work but I told her not to worry as we were all certain it was just a fluke. I then spent the next 7 hours on various airplanes and in airports. It was an exhausting day, to say the least.

When I got home I had over 250 emails to fish through. One of which was from LD telling me the contracts are done! Woo hoo! She will bring them with her in August and we’ll get them signed. Only 12 days to go!

However, I also bought a few paintings while I was in Florida and since LD’s DH works in framing and can get us a discount, I may be going up to see them some time this week. Any excuse, right?

So tomorrow LD will get her repeat blood work done (I feel awful that she has to go through that AGAIN!) and I will call Dr. C’s nurse to find out when LD will start on BCP and what all I need to do (if anything). Some days I feel like transfer is forever away, then other days I feel like we’re speeding through this process! Each step is a little bit closer!

I didn’t have a chance to update after LD’s appointment because I’ve been BUSY, BUSY, BUSY! But now that I have a moment, that’s exactly what I’ll do.

On Monday morning we headed out to meet up with two new TOSS members for lunch. We had a lovely time getting to know them and comparing stories. It was a lot of fun, but soon it was time to head to the RE’s office.

Our appointment was for one o’clock, which of course meant we didn’t actually get called back until 1:45. Once there the nurse asked LD some questions, then took us to a room where LD stripped down, dressed in a paper gown and sat to wait on the table (there was a curtain for her to change behind, don’t worry!). I sat in a chair near her head and we talked while we waited for Dr. C to come in. I think we waited at least 15 minutes. He came in and did his exam, reminding LD to relax over and over again. I’d like to see HIM relax when someone’s shoving a huge tube up his hoo-ha! He even told her corny jokes in an effort to get her to relax. It didn’t work… I held her hand for much of the exam, then Dr. C declared her uterus was “beautiful” and that we’re all set to get started whenever we want! It wasn’t until after we left that I realized he didn’t even mention doing a mock cycle. Part of me wonders if I should call and ask about that, or not say anything for fear of reminding them.

LD asked when we should be starting meds and such for an early Oct. transfer and he said to call him in late August. But as he was dictating his notes (he was standing next to us) he changed his mind and told me to call when I get AF. The nurse confirmed that this was so we could start to sync our cycles with birth control pills. Well, seeing as I should be getting my next AF in a week and a half, it looks like it won’t be long before our next step!

LD then had to get her blood drawn for the FDA screening stuff. And I thought I was bad about needles! She scared me to death. The nurse had to stick her three different times, and finally had her lying down on a table so if she passed out she wouldn’t have anywhere to fall! I felt SO bad that she was going through so much just for me. But she tells me this is the way she always reacts, but she wanted to do it anyway. She is such a blessing. I <3 her!!

After the appointment, LD and I went to visit another TOSS member, who has three infants! We got to hold the babies and give M a chance to take a shower. It was so hard to say goodbye, but we had a long drive ahead of us and needed to get to LD’s house in time for dinner.

The drive to LD’s house went fairly quickly, considering, and I finally got to meet LD’s kids! They were a little shy at first, but we’d already asked them if they wanted to stay at the hotel with me over night and they were very excited to do so. We went to dinner, then checked into the hotel. LD, her hubby, and step-son (he didn’t want to stay) left and the four of us (K, S, T, and me) played games, jumped on the bed (actually, they did, I didn’t), and had a general good time. Around midnight I could see that K was getting REALLY tired, so I declared that it was time to turn off the lights. T wasn’t too happy about that, but I told him he could play K’s gameboy while we went to sleep. He CLAIMS he stayed up all night, but before I fell asleep (which couldn’t have been THAT long), I noticed that the gameboy was turned off.

The next morning we all woke up and went to the lobby to have breakfast, then went back to the room and played more games, jumped on beds, and had a pillow fight. At 11:00 LD arrived with her mother to take us all to lunch (we were meeting her best friend, J). By now K was begging for LD to give T his medicine, but to be perfectly honest he wasn’t that bad. Of course, I don’t have to deal with him every day, nor is he my little brother, so I can understand why K was annoyed. Lunch was great and I really enjoyed talking with J. I think the two of us did the majority of the talking! lol Soon it was time to take me back to my car so I could head back to Texas.

The kids kept begging me to stay another night, and LD was HELPING! I was very tempted to stay, but figured I should get back. I had plans the next day and knew it would be just as hard to leave then. So I headed on home, but called my MIL to see if she wanted to meet at the casino on my way home. She did, and we had a good time losing a lot of money. When I told N how much I lost his eyes bulged out. But I told him it could have been worse! I actually won back more than half of what I lost!

As I was getting close to home I got a call from my sister, who says that she has arranged it for me to take care of W the first week of August while she’s at a conference. So now LD and I are going to go down to Houston August 1st so she can meet my family and we can bring W back together. I’m SO excited!

LD is here! I picked her up this morning, we went to church, she met my aunt, uncle, MIL, BIL, and N’s best friend. N used his brand new smoker (I’ll have to tell that story some other time) to make smoked brisket… YUMMY! Everyone is getting along great. N and K (his best friend) are currently trying to get our wireless network to work with LD’s lap top… They’ve been at it for a couple of hours… N’s father and step-mom are on their way over right now so they can meet LD. It’s been a great (and busy!) day. I am so glad she’s here! Tomorrow should be a whirlwind as well. We’ll be meeting some TOSS girls for lunch at 11, we have the appt. with Dr. C at 1, then we’re thinking of stopping to visit a TOSS member at her house (she has newborn triplets!) before we head up to OK where I’ll (finally) meet her kids.

Have I mentioned how much I love LD? I am so glad we get along so great. She and N have been giving each other a hard time, but it’s all in fun. K has joined right in (as per his usual) and it’s like we’ve all been friends forever. I can’t wait for transfer day!!!

Today is the last day of summer school. There are no students, just teachers cleaning up. I’m pretty much done, so basically I’ll be going in to get some free breakfast, twiddle my thumbs, and then head over to N’s grandmother’s for lunch. At least I get paid for it!

Only three more days until I pick up LD from the airport! I’m so excited about introducing her to N’s mom and our friend K. I WANTED to invite my aunt, uncle, grandmother, and grandfather, but N’s being a dork. He says “Why does everyone have to meet her at once? That’s too many people.” Huh? It’s only 5 people, counting us! What’s the matter with having 9? He’s going to grill (if he ever gets the grill he wants!), so how is throwing a little more meat on the grill really going to change things? Oh, well. I guess I’ll humor him for now. But my family WILL get to meet her. Preferably before she’s pregnant with our baby.

It’s possible LD and I will be making a trip to Houston together to pick up W so he can stay with me for a week. LD will go with me just so I don’t have to make the trip with a 1 year old by myself (N didn’t feel like going). And also so that she can meet my mom and sister (and W, of course!). We’ll probably also meet up with P. I hope we do get to go. Not just because it means I get to take care of W for a week, but also because I really want my mom and sister to meet LD!

Well, time to head in to work. LAST DAY, WOO HOO!!!

Yesterday LD and I met up at Turner Falls Park. A somewhat half-way point for the two of us. Boy did we get our exercise!!! We walked up and down a mountain (that was HARD), swam, and then walked a trail around the springs in Sulpher.

We timed our arrivals just right, pulling in within minutes of each other. We were both hungry, so we got some food from the only food stand that was open. Once we finished eating I went and changed into my bathing suit and then we started walking around/exploring. Not to long after starting we had to make a trip to the infirmary. LD had stubbed her toe on a rock and took a chunk of skin off of it. We decided to give her foot some time before getting into the water and headed in the direction of the caves. We were walking along the road when suddenly we were at the foot of a mountain, looking up. We looked at each other and said “We should have drove.” So we turned around and got in the car to drive to the top of the mountain. We parked the car and then started heading DOWN another side of the mountain, where the caves were supposed to be. I found the walking up and down the mountain much harder than I thought it would be. I had to stop and rest a lot, and I think I might have worried LD a little. But she was patient with me and would just sit and wait until I was ready to continue. We didn’t end up seeing any caves because we just couldn’t go on anymore.

So we decided to swim instead. We both decided to leave the clothing we had on over our bathing suits on, since there wasn’t really anyplace to put them. I was wearing capri pants and LD was wearing some shorts and a coverup shirt. It was a bit strange wearing pants in the water, but once I was fully in (it was COLD at first!), it was not a problem. The water ended up feeling great and we stayed in the water for several hours. LD kept eyeing the slide and said it looked like fun. So we decided to give it a try. LD went first and somehow ended up landing on her face! I went down next and ended up with water clear up my nose! We decided we’re too old for slides now. We went back to a quieter spot where we could just sit in the water and talk. My hair got caught in my necklace, so I reached back to pull it out. And as I did electricity shot through my hand! I pulled it back and there was clearly a spot where I’d been stung! My entire hand felt like it was stinging and it was swelling up right before our eyes. At first I thought I’d be okay, but it just kept hurting and growing worse. So we got out of the water and went back to the infirmary. They checked to see if there was a stinger (there was not), then gave me some ice to keep on it. The ice helped some, but melted quickly. My whole hand seemed to be swollen and I couldn’t bend my finger (the one that got stung). It was painful for quite a while, but fortunately the swelling and pain HAVE gone away.

LD and I decided that the park was too dangerous for us, and we’d rather go into Sulpher for awhile. This required getting out of our wet clothes. Only problem was, the capri pants I’d worn into the water were the only pants I brought! Stupid me didn’t plan very well. We looked in the gift shop to see if there were any shorts I could buy, but there were not any. We used the dryer in the bathroom to try and dry my pants, but it was useless. Instead we worked on drying LD’s shorts (less material) and I ended up wearing those damp. Then we headed for Sulpher and stopped at a Walmart so I could buy myself some dry pants. We thought it would be hilarious to find some shorts that said “Oklahoma” on them, just to bug N (he keeps teasing LD that “Okies are gross.”), but they didn’t have any. So instead I got some new capri pants.

After we left Walmart (which took longer than it should have), we started driving toward Sulpher’s downtown area. But on the way LD pointed out the springs/creek where her family had gone last weekend and she wanted to show it to me. So we parked and started walking. We wound up walking and talking for at least an hour! We only turned around because we got to a part on the trail that was getting steep and neither of us had any desire to work that hard at walking! We got back to the car and drove back to Turner Falls (we left LD’s car there). We took a quick picture then headed our separate ways.

On the way home my back started hurting. I was pretty sure it was burned. My bra was hurting, so I took it off in the car. When I got home I looked in the mirror and sure enough, I was read as a lobster! I had N put some aloe on it and this morning it looks a bit better, but it’s still hurting some. I think I’ll be doing camisoles with shelf bras for a while.

I’m so glad we were able to get together. Even though we both got injured, we were laughing about it and enjoying ourselves the whole time. We talked about everything under the sun and just had a real pleasant day. I can’t wait until next weekend when she’ll be coming here! I’m looking forward to introducing her to family and friends. LD’s kids were asking her why they couldn’t come and meet me yesterday and she told them they would get to see me next week. She says they’re excited about that. I am too. I’ve heard so much about them and can’t wait to meet them myself.

I heard from Dr. C’s nurse today with the results of N’s testing. All of his FDA screening labs came back great. Even better, he is NOT a carrier of CF! Which means we don’t have to worry about that, thank goodness.

However, she also said that N’s sperm count was lower than Dr. C likes to see and he’s recommending doing ICSI to increase our fertilization chances. This came as quite a surprise, as neither of us had any reason to think there would be anything “wrong” with N. She said the sperm count wasn’t LOW, just not as high as Dr. C likes… She also said that the sperm looked good (good mobility, no abnormalities, etc.), just that there weren’t as many as Dr. C would like. So now I need to do some research on ICSI!

Inch by inch we’re getting closer!!! Only 11 days to LD’s appointment!

Tomorrow LD and I are meeting up in Sulpher, OK so we can spend the afternoon together. We haven’t physically seen each other since Spring Break in March! I can’t wait!

Once again I must say that unmedicated periods SUCK! Hopefully tomorrow will ease up a little. Working like this does not sound pleasant…

I counted out the days since my last period and yesterday was exactly 28 days… So I started anticipating AF to arrive at any moment (starting Friday). She didn’t come and didn’t come. I knew it shouldn’t worry me, but it did a little. I mean, being off of birth control is a little worrisome. Even if we have been using condoms every time we’ve had sex. Besides, when I was on the pill I always knew exactly when I’d start. It’s a bit aggravating to not know for sure.

Last night I said to N “In theory I should be starting my period any day now. So if you want some, it will have to be right now.” So we had our fun and then this morning I woke up and AF had arrived! My immediate reaction was relief and a little bit of excitement… That has worn off and now I’m ready for her to leave. And it’s only been 30 minutes since I woke up!