We Love Jenny Eagan Photography!

As most of you know for the past 7 years we have taken our own Christmas picture with the dogs. We would set up a camera on a tripod and Scott would use a remote (you can see it every year in his hand) and we would take countless pictures while screaming at the dogs to be still, look at the camera, Grayson where's the bird and on and on until we came up with a decent enough picture to send out. Some years they are great some years funny and others just a hot mess. This year, since we have 3 dogs, we decided we needed some help. Scott has gotten to be friends with Hank Eagan through Jeremy Hackney and his wife Jenny has gotten into photography. We asked her if she was up for the challenge and her response was, yes...I am excited and nervous. Whey she was nervous I don't know because she did a fabulous job, she really captured some great pictures of Pepper and Gray (poor Clover isn't too photgenic). Here are just a few...if anyone needs some picutres or is interested you can visit her site http://www.jennifereaganphotography.blogspot.com/ or let us know!

The Family

Grayson

Clover

Pepper

AFS and FAS

You think these abbreviations are a coincidence? The fertility clinic we have been using is Alabama Fertility Specialists (AFS) and the adoption agency we met with this week is Family Adoption Services (FAS)...interesting no?

We met with Rebecca (social worker), Rick (attorney) and Susan (Rick's wife and spear head of agency) on Tuesday and they are the most wonderful, caring and compasionate people we have ever met. Scott and I loved them and were giving them big hugs when we left. They had a 2 day old little boy there they were waiting to let their new parents know they had been matched with. He was adorable and they had nicknamed him Rudolph. There were lots of things we liked about them other than just the way the treated and sympathized with us. Rick and Susan went through fertility treatments 30 years ago and have two grown adopted children of their own. They are a small agency that places about 10 newborns a year but the way they place the children is what Scott and I thought was the best aspect of the agency. They actually don't let you know you are matched until the legal time frame (5 days in AL) has lapsed...so when they call you to tell you that you have a baby, you really have a baby! Little Rudy's parents are finding out Friday that he is there and I couldn't help but think that family is out there going about their day and they have no idea that Friday morning they are going to get a call that will change their lives.

Scott and I decided that although we still have a fertility treatment or 2 left that we were going to go ahead and fill out the application and file our fingerprint and child neglect clearance forms. It can take up to 12 weeks for these forms to come back so we have some time. While I would love for this FET in January to work I am really getting excited about the journey ahead of us. We have alot to think about and need prayers that we make the right decision. Caucasian adoptions have become such a monopoly and there are so few childern out there that it can take 2-4 years on a waiting list. If we would consider a biracial or african american child our wait could lower to 9-12 months. This is still something that is weighing heavily on our hearts and we need all the prayers we can get to make the right decision. Scott and I feel that if we sign the paperwork and have no preference and leave it up to God he will give us the child we are supposed to have. I start shots on Christmas day for our January FET and take them for the next month with transfer on the 26th of January...still hopeful!

The Back Up Plan

Who knew there was a whole world of information out there about adoption. I feel like I have just fallen into some sort of crazy drug ring where you bend the rules and try and outsmart the others. After weeding through a ton of websites I think we might have found an agency here in Birmingham. I called and left a message yesterday afternoon and the social worker Rebecca called me back this morning. She was really nice and understanding and made room in her schedule so she and the attorney, Rick, could meet with Scott and I next week to just talk about adoption and what all goes into it. I told her about our infertility journey and she said adoption had alot of the same emotional feelings minus the drugs. Scott and I really just want to sit down and talk to someone that knows AL adoption laws and how to go about this the right way...I feel like there are so many people out there trying to skirt the system and I think that is why you hear so many frightening adoption stories.

So while we still have a plan we are starting to persue the back up plan a little more. I got my schedule for the FET and I start uterine stimulation drugs on the 25th, Christmas Day...what a Christmas present that would be and will know if the FET has worked on Feb 7. Here is to keeping calm and stress free over the next 8 weeks.

A Plan and a Back Up Plan

We met with Dr. Malizia yesterday afternoon and she was very apologetic that this IVF cycle didn't work. She said as a Dr. she could tell us that everything went just as it was supposed too and that she didn't see why it didn't work. As a person she said that those just weren't our embryos and the universe just didn't line up for us this time. She talked to us about doing FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer) in January. She said she could throw out all sorts of success rates and percentages but none of that really mattered, all that mattered was if those embryos made it through the thaw and attached. Scott and I have talked about what we were going to do over the past week and Scott really wasn't all that interested in going back through the process but while your on the horse you might as well keep riding.

We signed the consent to go ahead and do FET in Jan, we figured we are almost at the end of the road we might as well try this last ditch effort. I decided to start this blog before our IVF procedure not because it was the beginning of our infertility journey but because for the last two years Scott and I had been silent about everything we were going through and where many people, even our closest friends and family, thought this was the beginning of our journey it was actually the end. In the past two years I have temperature charted, taken Clomid and charted, taken Clomid with IUI, taken ovarian stimulation shots with IUI, found out our shot cycle last Decemeber had worked only to find out a week later it had failed. More shot cycles, a hiccup in April that sat us out for 3 months and during that time I had a lap done that discovered endometriosis, although not what they think the problem is. We did a practice IVF round with IUI in August and then planned for IVF in Nov which is where we brought our support system in. I am sure as some of you are reading this you had no idea and we wanted to tell people but for so long we felt that it was something we had to deal with together...on our own. Now that we have all of your support we realize that we should have been more open all along, your love and support has been what got us through this IVF procedure and we realize we needed this support.

Although we did decided yesterday to move forward with FET we are going to begin talking to adoption agencies. To date they still have me classified as "unexplained infertility" which means there is no reason why Scott and I can't pull this off on our own, maybe this just isn't our time. Again, thank you to everyone for the love and support you have sent our way, it really has made a difference. If anyone knows of successful adoption stories we would love to know about the agency they used. There is a huge world of information out there to sort through in regards to adoption and we want to make the best decision possible.

Home Again and a Big WDE!

I made it back from Dallas in one piece. It was a very hectic and emotional week but I think that it was a good thing that I went because it did keep my mind off things for the most part. I did have an emotional meltdown while I was out there. Things just started pilling up and at some point everyone has a breaking point and I guess I had reached mine. I had a great talk with my manager in the cab on the way to the airport and came clean about everything I had been going through this past year and it really brought me to peace with alot of things. It is extremely hard being a successful woman this day and time. There is a stigmatism out there that even hard working successful woman quit work when they have a child so I felt that I needed to keep my personal struggle with starting a family from those at work so they didn't see me as weak or think that I was on my way out. I feel alot better now that I have gotten this off my chest and he knows that even though I had some of my darkest days this past year I kept work in the forefront and never let if falter despite the greiving, loss and sadness I might have been going through. I made it back safely Friday night and exhausted is not even a good word for how I felt yesterday morning when I woke at 6 am to head to ATL for the SEC game...my eyes litterally hurt. The game was fabulous, even though I caught a few z's on scott's shoulder in the 2nd quarter, yeah I was that tired...I did catch the hail mary at the end of the 1st half and that got me up and going again. The game was great and the energy in the dome was off the charts, I am so glad we are finally getting our chance to go to a National Championship game and I hope that Cam gets what he deserves as a player next Saturday, he so deserves it.

As for us we are going to meet with Dr. Malizia on Tuesday to talk about what she learned from this failed IVF attempt. She left a very sweet and hearfelt message on my phone on Tuesday, I really think she thoguht this was it for us. Scott and I are still skeptical about doing a FET in January just because it is such an emotional rollercoaster and at some point you have to quit challenging Mother Nature. We will have a child and God will put us on the right path to one, we just have to keep looking.

Off to Dallas

I want to start by thanking all of you for you support and thoughts over the past several weeks, they have meant so much to Scott and I. After the blood test today we were told that it was negative, our 1st IVF attempt has failed. Everything seemed to be going perfect and the other than a little slow start everything went better than planned, perfect cycle were the dr's exact words. There is no way to know why it failed but all we can do is move forward, as I told Scott tonight this is not going to get us down. We are going to meet with Dr. Malizia next Tuesday to talk about doing FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer) in January since we do have 6 embabies on ice. Scott and I also have discussed visiting with some adoption agencies over the month of December to prepare ourselves for that next chapter and what all it may entail. Scott and I know in our hearts we will be parents and maybe the path we are currently on isn't the one intended for us. Our child is out there and we are eagerly awaiting the day we are finally able to meet it! Thanks again to everyone for all your support, thoughts and prayers they really have meant alot and have given us the strenght to get through this battle. I am sure there will be many more battles to fight as we aren't giving up and we hope that you don't either!

I am off to Dallas tomorrow for our National Sales Meeting...at least I will have something diverting my attention for a few days.

War Damn Eagle

Talk about an intense game! I went to the game with my family who are all Alabama fans (not the real obnoxious kind) and because of the cold and rain I switched seats and decided to sit in the Ivory Club (with all the real obnoxious AL fans). I think I held my breath so long my chest started to hurt because that first half was intense. I am glad we were able to recover in the second and bring it home for a win, even if it was only by a point.

I go to the Dr. in the morning for my blood test and I am so nervous. I will go in the morning and they will call me tomorrow afternoon and let me know the results, so convenient that I lost my phone over the weekend! Please continue to pray that we have positive results tomorrow.

WAR DAMN EAGLE!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and I hope that everyone has a day filled with food, family and safe travels. My house has been invaded by my family so I have alot to keep my mind off the 5 more days I have until Monday...I feel like it will never get here. I hope everyone has a great day and keep those positive test thoughts going.

1st Picture

Here is the ultrasound image from yesterday...not too much to see other than the beautiful white dot above the E that are our 2 eggos.

Stick Babies Stick

Today was transfer day and what a day it was. First off I had to drink my weight in water before I got to the office because a full bladder pushes down on your uterus and makes for an easier procedure. When we got there I was already doing the pee pee dance and Dr Steinkampf took us back to his office to talk about our embryos and to decide how many to transfer. Our doctor, Dr Malizia was out of town but they said she had been texting wanting updates on us all weekend, love our doctor! Dr. Steinkampf started off by telling us a pure miracle had happened...we had 2 more embryos than we did on Friday! When Karen called on Friday she said we had 10 viable eggs and of those 8 had feritlized...well instead of giving up on the other 2 they left them and when they got there this morning they were now ferilized! We looked over all 10 of our embryos and Dr. S said we had 4 perfect 8 cell embryos, two 10 cell embryos, two 4 cell embryos and 2 undefined embryos (just a mass, not definition to the cells). The way the cell divides is 2/4/8/16/32 so the 10 cell is not abnormal but also not normal, he did say that he had seen plenty of viable pregnancies off day three 10 cell embryos but a perfect embryo was a third day 8 cell. We decided based on his suggestion to transfer 2 of the 8 cell embryos and to go ahead and freeze the other two 8 cell and the two 10 cells (I know that was alot of info). They are going to continue to watch the other two 4 cells and undefined embryos and will call us on Wednesday to let us know if they are worth freezing or to discard them. I am amazed I remembered all this info because about halfway into this I was about to die from a busting bladder! We went back to the IVF room and I begged for them to let me tee tee just a little and they said that was fine but to not drain my bladder, meaning I had to stop mid stream...not easy! I changed into my famous hat, booties and gown and we walked into the transfer room. Once on the table the used an ultrasound to guide the way into the uterus amd deposited our 2 fabulous embryos. They took a picture of them but it will be a bit before I can get it scanned in...supposed to be on bedrest all day. After that we were ready to go...after i went to the bathroom again (I was dying). Keep up the good work, you are all wonderful and I know that everyone's prayers, support and well wishes have gotten us this far and we will continue to get good news on Monday, November 29 when I go back from a blood test...just 8 days! Pray these puppies stick and for Bruner baby (babies) this summer!

Fabulous News!

Can I tell you how nerve racking it is sitting around waiting for someone to call you and let you know the state of your reproductive future! I was anxious all morning awaiting the phone call from Karen to let us know how many of the 13 eggs they retrieved yesterday where going to fertilize, if any... You try not the think about the fact that none of them would fertilize but at this stage in the game it was a very real possibility...but thanks to everyone's support and prayers we had 8...yes 8 fertilized eggs. Karen called around 11:30 and said of the 13 eggs that were retrieve 10 were viable (meaning 3 were not developed enough) and of those 10, 8 began to grow once introduced to Scott's half of the deal. We had 80% fertilize! I am not an IVF know it all but I have to think that is pretty darn good. We go in Sunday morning at 9 am for the transfer, how many they will transfer will be a "game time decision." What we don't transfer we can freeze and if this doesn't work we can thaw them out or later down the road if we want to try for a sibling we can use them. Thanks to everyone for their support, prayers and kind words. You have all been great and Scott and I love you all!

Retrieval Day

Today was the big day! Scott and I got the the Dr's office this morning around 8 and Scott went staight back to do his thing and I got dressed in my beautiful gown, booties and hat. Frances got me all set up with an IV and went over what would happen and then we just waited on Dr Malizia. Once she got there we walked into the IVF room and they got me all set up. Dr. Malizia used a transvaginal sonogram to locate the follicles and she then inserted a needle into the follicle and withdrew the egg. In total she was able to retrieve 13 eggs! The embreologist took the eggs once we were done and begane injecting Scotts buddies into each of the eggs. They walked me back into the recovery room and I stayed there sipping on Sprite for about 45 minutes and then Scott and I were headed back home. Karen will call in the morning and let us know how many eggs fertilized and when we will do the transfer. Everyone keep up the prayers that baby bruner is on its way!

Back on Track

Well after a couple of nerve racking days it seems my body is back on track and we are scheduled for a retrieval Thursday at 8 am. I was talking to Karen today and she said I just got a slower start than most and luckily my estrogen levels never spiked which allowed us more time to stimulate my ovaries. I think I am probably the last retrieval they will do, which is fine by me, maybe I will get alot of personal attention. I do one more round of stim shots tonight, an HSG shot tomorrow night at 10 to give the follicles one last boost of hormones and then go in Thursday. I will post the results from the retrieval when I get home Thursday afternoon. Wish us luck and keep all those thoughts and prayers coming, they are really working!!

Baby Steps

Scott and I went back to the Dr this morning to see if I had any growth since Friday. When we pulled into the parking lot there were alot of cars and Scott and I both looked at each other. Having been up here on a weekend before we know lots of cars means lots of wait time. I went back and had blood drawn and on my way to the lab I passed the retrieval room and there were already 2 girls in there...in my head I was thinking how in the heck are they ready for retrieval so fast. Karen called us back a little while later and the ultrasound was promising. My follicles had grown up to 14mm (where they should have been on Friday) but she said I needed another day if not 2 more days of medicine...problem, I was out of meds. She had some of the meds I needed there and a friend that had done an IVF cycle previously was nice enough to give me what I didn't have (prayer answered!) Karen called later this morning and said that my Estrogen levels had risen nicely and that I was starting to show some sign of progress and that she thought we would be okay after all that I was just getting a later start than most. She said it might be Wednesday or Thursday next week before we did the retrieval and that was just fine. I go back in the morning to make sure that these borrowed meds get me to where I need to be. Thanks for all the prayers...they are working, keep them up!

Prayers Needed

I had another Dr's appointment this morning to follow up on the growth of my follicles since my visit on Wednesday. Unfortunatly my follicles had grown a little more than a mm putting them around 11mm (they need to get to 18mm) and Karen said realistically they should be at 14-15mm today. She went ahead and told me that she would have to consult with Dr. Steinkampf but it was a possiblity he could cancel the IVF cycle. Of course this was a hard blow to take but considering the blows I have taken in the past year on this journey this was just another obstacle we will deal with. Karen called back later this afternoon and said that Dr. Steinkampf didn't want to cancel the treatment just yet but for me to take my injections tonight and tomorrow night and to come back Sunday morning and let's see if we have had anymore growth. SO...we need lots of prayers right now that if this is the path we are supposed to be on that my follicles will bust out over the next 2 days and we can continue on with the IVF next week. If this is not the path we are to be on and we have to cancel IVF then it just wasn't meant to be and sometimes you just can't push mother nature. Scott and I are finally at peace with all of this and we know whatever the outcome may be we will be parents!

Scooter the Clown

I had another Dr's appointment yesterday and we are right on schedule. I had 2 really nice follicles (An ovarian follicle is a cellular structure found in the ovary where immature eggs mature, leading to ovulation and either pregnancy or menstruation. Human women are born with nearly a million ovarian follicles, each with the potential to grow into an egg with the potential for fertilization. These essential parts of female reproduction are normal beneficial and functional, however abnormal growth can lead to health problems such as ovarian cysts.) on my right ovary and 2 really good ones on my left. She wants me to get several more on each side and they need to get a little bigger. Right now the are between 10-12mm and need to get to 18-22mm (this size usually means an egg has developed inside the follicle). I go back again Friday morning to see how many more they can find...I am still feeling like next Wednesday is going to be the day. I have had a headache since last Tuesday that just wont go away and asked Karen if it had anything to do with the meds and she said yes, it was an Estrogen headache and tylenol really wouldn't make it go away, they just had to get my estrogen levels up....fabulous!!

I had a small meltdown last night over nothing really so I think the hormones are starting to kick in, sorry babe. Here is a picture of Scooter the Clown to give everyone a good laugh today. Scott every year dresses up as a clown and hands out balloon animals or bracelets this year (which he forgot to do becuase he was engrossed in his midget motorcycle). For those of you not at our house on Halloween, Scott this year rode his midget motorcylce up and down the street dressed as a clown and ultimatly scared the begeezus out of childred and adults. Why doesn't anyone like clowns, has everyone seen the movie Killer Clowns from Outerspace?

Scooter the Clown

New Orleans

So I had some hesitation going to New Orleans for a bachelorette party knowing I was going to be Sober Sally all weekend but I have realized as entertaining as my friends are I didn't need alcohol to have fun...would have been awesome to have known this years ago, could have skipped some killer hangovers! Before we went I said I was going to kick Rachel's ass in taking pictures (she is the camera queen) and sadly I have to say I took about 10 pictures and if any of you are reading this I am going to need you to send me your pics as mine aren't even that good (other than the picture of sarah and staff in these ridiculous wigs and masks). I am glad I got to spend that time with all the girls, it is time I miss and as we get older it seems to get shorter and shorter. I love you girls and thank you all for the love and support you gave me this weekend, ya'll are the best! I go back to Dr tomorrow to see where I am in the plumping of my ovaries...check back tomorrow as the next week and a half are going to get intense.



Sarah













Sarah and Stafford















Natalie's Sunday Panties



Trail of Tears

I will be posting on my New Orleans trip later. I had a lot of fun and it was great being able to spend all that time with the girls. I added 2 more shots while I was there for a total of 3 (1 in the thigh and 2 in the stomach). Sarah was great a great help and if this IVF cycle works she has asked for partial credit ;) When I woke up this morning I could really tell the meds were starting to work. My left ovary was really sore and I am starting to feel the bloat. I hope that I will be able to pull off more than a waddle this weekend for the Georgia game, that's alot of walking if I can't! I go back to the Dr on Wednesday to get a count of how many follicles have been stimulated and how many are maturing into eggs. If I was a betting person I would say my retrieval will be on Wednesday, November 17th. Let's see how well I know my body!

So, on to my blog Title, Trail of Tears. As I was driving back from New Orleans yesterday I was amongst tons of Alabama fans making that sad ride back home. At one point I was following several Alabama buses, not sure who was on them, would love to think the players. I followed behind one of the buses for a minute and noticed little drops of water on my windshield. I looked around and thought it doesn't look like rain outside and as I passed the bus the drops stopped and I realized it was tears of defeat coming out of the bus hitting my windshield. Sorry Bama as I love you all but WAR DAMN EAGLE!

7 Bruner's and Counting

So it seems that a few people are confused about the title of my blog, including Scott. I did it as a spoof on the ridiculous TLC reality show based on Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, 19 Kids and Counting, which if any of you watch you would know it actually started as 17 Kids and Counting. Scott and I are not intending on popping out Quints any time soon but when I named the blog I took all of our fur childern into account...putting us at 7 Bruner's. Here is the lineup.





Ashley & Scott



Grayson

Pepper



Clover



Lucky Sprinkles

O.J.

All Clear

I had my first Dr.'s appointment today and everything looked great. Karen said everything looked perfect and to start stimulation shots tomorrow night. I go back next Wednesday to see how I am progressing and they will determine from there what day on the week of the 15th they will retrieve. I can't believe it is in less than 2 weeks, although those last two weeks are going to be the hard ones...just waiting. I am headed to New Orleans this weekend for Natalie's bachelorette party, should be interesting not drinking!

Funny story...I went to Leeds yesterday to check out the new outlet malls. I was really interested in the Banana Republic and Nine West stores. Let me just tell you the people that work out there are like white on rice, they won't let you be to look for 2 minutes and they were all so peppy (I don't do peppy)! I was in Nine West and had been there for about 10 minutes trying to find anything in my size and about the 4th sales girl walked up and asked if I was finding everything okay. I told her I was and noticed her very 1980's garb, although she probably wasn't even 21 yet. She had her hair in a high side pony tail and suede grey peter pan boots on with really green eyeshadow. As she turned to walk away she made a comment on my shoes...I had on a black dress with a white cardigan and my houndstooth heels...she said, "I really like those houndstooth pumps." (she was probably an obnoxious Alabama fan too) I said, "Thanks, I got them at a Nine West outlet several years ago." To this she replies, "Well they look great, not everyone can pull off cream and white houndstooth with a black and white outfit."

Happy Halloween

I love Halloween, it is probably my favorite holiday outside of Christmas. Here is one out of a hundred reasons why I love it so much. My camera died before I could get a picture of his full outfit (the lion from Wizard of Oz). Thanks Ashley, Ben and Powell for making my night!


Powell Curry


















Nothing else going on with me. Still getting stuck in the thigh every morning, which I have to say Scott is getting better at, I can barely feel it anymore. I have my first ultra sound on Wednesday morning, everyone pray for no cysts and a good follie count so we can get this thing started!

Enjoy your Family While You Can

Since nothing real exciting is happening just yet I thought I would post an article Dad wrote in his last newsletter.

Enjoy your family while you can
CEO Gary Smith discusses joys and sorrows of the cycle of life

For many years, August 18th was no more special than any other day of the year. That all changed 30 years ago when my oldest daughter, Ashley, was born. For those of you that have children, you know both the joy and the fear the birth of your first child brings. A first child is a very special occasion. It changes your life and requires you to readjust your priorities and focus on someone and their needs that you have not considered before. A special and much different bond is formed with your child. You start thinking about your life in broader concepts than before. You think more about the events of the world and your life and the effect they could have on the newest addition to your life. You share dreams and expectations with your children and have a renewed sense of hope by looking at the world through their eyes as well as your own. Raising a first child is an alien experience. You are not accustomed to taking care of another, especially one as small and helpless as your child. That was the case with Ashley, who was pre-term and had to remain in the hospital a week after her mother was discharged. After 30 years, I still remember the fear and confusion about her condition and how she would fare in the hospital without us. Also, there were the concerns about education, social skills, jobs, and the rest of her life. What traits of her parents or grandparents would she assume? Would she be successful? Would she be happy? Despite my concerns, Ashley has turned out better than I ever expected or could have hoped. She is a beautiful young lady. She is very bright and personable. She makes friends wherever she goes. She is successful, a leading seller of automobile financing for her company. She is happily married and lives in her dream home in Birmingham. She and my son-in law, Scott, are attempting to start the cycle of life over with their first child. Because of Ashley, August 18th holds some very good memories for me.

August 18th is special for another reason, this one not as pleasant. A year ago, my father passed away after a short fight with Alzheimer’s Disease. Of course, Daddy’s death was a shock. You don’t think about your parents’ death until it happens, and no one can adequately prepare you for the emotion. Daddy and I were not particularly close. He was not particularly close to anyone. I didn’t understand him and what he wanted from life, and I doubt if he understood me. Also, it didn’t appear that he put much time or effort into understanding me or what I wanted from life. That doesn’t mean I didn’t feel a significant loss when he died. After all, he was my Dad and the only one I had or will ever have. If we really needed help, he would usually offer help or support. Although distant and emotionally detached, he appeared to care in his own unique way. I think about him more now than I did when he was alive. Which of his traits have I inherited? Did he have goals for his life? Did he achieve them? I have counseled our mother that as far I as knew he did only what he wanted to do. But given his choices, was he happy with his life and what he left behind? Within the inevitable cycle of life, one life starts and another ends. Birth leads to death and parents lead to children. August 18th is an important date in the cycle for me, one that will never allow me to forget. It is the date that will always remind me of the joy of a life starting with so much hope and also a date that will always remind me of the sorrow of a life lost and with it, its hope.

I hope you all enjoy your parents and your children to the fullest while you have the opportunity.

Terra Cotta Pumpkins

So, already I am slacking. I am kind of in slow motion right now though so not really too much to tell. I have been giving myself (or should I say Uncle Steve and Scott) have been giving me daily shots of Leupron in my thigh. I am not sure what these are supposed to do, when you google Leupron its main listing is for Prostate Cancer...interesting. I am guessing it is just some sort of hormone. I also can't tell you how I am excited that Aunt Flo is coming to town this weekend, I never thougth I would say that, but I can't wait for her to get here...I am beginning to feel like a Jenny-O turkey.

Anyway, Uncle Steve and I were on the way back from the beach this weekend and we passed a little garden shop on the side of the road, Perdue's Pots and Plants. I glanced over and saw a table with Terra Cotta Pumkins (jack-o-lanterns) out front and wheeled it around and started obsessively rambling terra cotta pumpkins, terra cotta pumpkins. I told Uncle Steve that Lottie and Mom had them when I was little and I had been looking everywhere for them. Lottie gave me hers last year but the hat has been missing for a while. It totally made my day Sunday and as you can see I am sure I made the owner of Purdue's Pots and Plants happy too.

Lottie's Terra Cotta Pumpkin

My Terra Cotta Pumpkins



 

How Much?

So I went last Friday to pick up all of my IVF meds and was told when I got there that our insurance coverage had capped us on our "specialized" drugs and that we were going to have to pay out of pocket for the majority of the drugs I needed for the IVF treatment. Okay I say and the lady opens a manilla folder, flips several pages where she finally finds the grand total and points out to me...there are no words for that moment. I couldn't talk or move and she just asked, how would you like to pay? With gold bars I guess, let me grab a couple out of my purse. I thought for a minute and reluctantly handed over my credit card which I knew had a zero balance. She comes back over and whispers...it has been declined...again no words. So I call good ole Cap One and am told, Mrs. Bruner your card is expired do you remember receiving a new one from us. NO, i don't remember anything right now except those numbers she just showed me burning a hole in my corneas. So I up and tell the lady at the fancy pharmacy that I will have to come back and immidiatly get in my car and call Scott and have a complete break down. Bless his heart, he goes up there and spends 2 hours with the lady at the fancy pharmacy calling Medco trying to figure all this mess out. He calls me and say well looks like we owe them some money, how do you want to do this. So long story short, I finally went back yesterday and picked up all the meds ( I love you Mom & Dad )

In short, a typical couple needs this...

and maybe a little of this...

I apparantly need all of this... 

In the Beginning There Were Two

I wanted to start this blog to allow friends and family the oportunity to follow us in the journey of adding a human child to our growing family of fur children. It is going to be an intense and interesting journey over the next 6 weeks and I have never been much of a blogger or facebook groupie so hopefully I won't dissapoint you with my blogging skills. Scott and I have talked about whether we should keep this process between us or share the experience with others and we feel that the only way to get through this is to have support from those we love. Please feel free to leave prayers, words of wisdom or anything you like in the comments section of my blog...We need it all!

IVF week is November 15, 2010...let the count down begin!