Catch up and infertility news

I apologize for the lack of blogging.  I just get into a rythm and forget to write!  Then when I go to write, I get overwhelmed thinking there is just too much to catch up on and then I just don't do it.  So, here I am trying to make ammends with our blog :)

Things that have been going on:

• Jon is still traveling (surprised?)
• I was able to make a small trip out to NH in June.  My sister, Shannon had major back surgery and I had a free flight.  So I went and visited and helped out as much as I could.
• Shannon was able to visit during her recovery (even got an airport card from her doctor)
• Beth's family (Jon's sister) moved out to Houston- woohoo!!  We love having them close!  She also took some cute pictures of us (note the picture in the post).  Check out her website here. 
• I have been called to work with the 8-9yr old girls at church.  They are so fun!  I just wish I was more creative with Activity Days!!  Oh well, it'll come :)

So, the other reason why I have decided to blog better is because with the infertility problems  that we are facing (mentioned in a previous post), I felt that it would be a good idea to document it.  There are a lot of women out there who are facing infertility and I am hoping that through documenting our next cycle will help others. 

During this last General Conference, Elder Anderson talked about infertility.  His talk was just what I needed.  Wanting to have a family is a righteous desire and a commandment that we have been given from God.  However, there are those who will not be able to have children this life but they will be blessed with that opportunity in the next life which is comforting to know.  However, that doesn't mean that we should just give up hope.  So, we are doing all that we can to have a family.  Patience is something that I need to work on in all facets of my life, but even more so with wanting a family.

After meeting with our doctor yesterday we have deiced to start an IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) cycle with injectables.  I have a "learning appointment" tomorrow afternoon to help me learn how to give myself shots.  Scary!!  Thankfully, Jon is home this week only working remotely and he will be able to help me.  I couldn't do this without him!  Then, on Wednesday I go in for blood work and possibly an ultrasound.  I am excited, but nervous.  I will keep you posted!

**Quick edit: for just a little bit of information. This will be our 3rd cycle with this doctor.  We have been doing Letrozole and Clomid with a hcg trigger shot... so because I wasn't responding the way he wanted me to (and the end result was negative both times)- this is why we are doing the IUI with shots**

another business trip

Jon is leaving again tomorrow for another business trip. This one us expected to last 5-8months. Blah! Thankfully he is able to come home on weekends.

Tonight while Jon was packing we found Sookie in his work backpack. She doesn't want him to leave either. Love you, Jon. Be safe!!!

3 1/2 months later...

I am awful at this blog, sorry!

The very first week of Feb. Jon was shipped off to Oklahoma for work.  He was able to come home for weekends, but other than that- he was there until pretty much the end of April.  It was a little lonely over here, but Sookie and I survived :)

At the end of February Jon was able to take a small break and join me, my sister, Shannon and her husband, Ron in Disney World!  Shannon and I got to run the Princess Half Marathon together.  That was one of the best experiences I have ever had. This picture sums up the race very nicely :)

While we were there we also had the opportunity to head over to Universal Studios... you know... where HARRY POTTER land is!!!  Heck yes!  We drank butterbeer (this was SO yummy!), strolled through Zonko's, saw Ollivander find wands for some kids (you betcha... $30/wand!), saw Hagrid's hut, walked through the Defense the Dark Arts classroom.... it was amazing.  All the details were spot on!  My only thing I thought they could've done better would have been to make the train into an eating area.   You know, walk in and you get a compartment and they have the "cart" passing by with food on it that you can buy.  With either like sandwiches or whatever.  That just seems genius to me... but what do I know :)  We had an amazing time.  Might I say... magical? :)

Then in March we felt impressed to start seeing an infertility specialist.  I feel just fine putting this on the blog- so don't feel like you can't talk to me about it :).  The more I talk about it, the better I feel.  I underwent some major blood testing and also a hysteroscopy.  They followed all my hormone levels through a "cycle" that they had to jump start to begin with.  Then, this last week we went to the  doc to look over all of the results and I didn't ovulate.  I know a lot of people have piped up and asked "is it because you run?"  I wish I had that answer.  I am going to lean with the negative.  I just don't have my cycle.  It's very rare that I will have it without the help of medication.  This has happened when I've been running and when I haven't been running, when I was overweight and at a healthy weight. Nothing points to PCOS or anything like that.  Which in a way is a little disappointing, because I'd like to have a concrete reason as to why I have been going through this not having a cycle thing for the last 8-9 years.  It's frustrating, but I at least know we are on the right path.  Jon had to get tested as well- and that really helped nix him out of the picture.  Why are men so much easier to test than woman??  Seriously!  :)

Anyways, I am currently getting vaccinated for chicken pox... I never got it when I was little and that showed up during some blood tests.  It's amazing what they can find out about you with your blood!  Then after all of that is said and done- he is going to put me on a jump start pill so I can get my cycle and then he is going to start me on a medication like Clomid.   It has a different name.  I would tell you, but I can't read his handwriting... sorry.  :-)  He says he will have us be on that for at least 3-4 cycles and if we aren't pregnant by then- then we will talk about IVF if that is something we want to consider doing.    So, for those of you who may have been wondering... this is what's going on :-)

Morning Commute

With my work schedule, I typically do not have time to help post very frequently. Having said that, I thought I would take a moment share with you something from my morning commute

Going from right to left we have:

• Washington
• Lincoln
• Houston
• Joseph Smith???

It just makes my morning commute so much better each day

sorry that we've been MIA

It has been a little while.  So, I'll just put up a few "points" of what we've been up to :-)

-Christmas was great.  We went with Jon's parents and his sister, Leanna to a nursing home to go caroling.  It was a wonderful way to spend our time and to also serve others.  We really enjoyed it.  It was good to have Leanna home from break from BYU.  We don't get to see her very often anymore so it was good to see her.  We spent a lot of time over that break with Jon's family.  This is the first year we've really had family to spend the holidays with.  I really enjoyed myself.  Also, Jon was able to take some time off from work, so that was nice that we were able to spend a lot time together.

-New Years was mostly uneventful.  However, we discovered that we get a pretty good fireworks show that we can see from our upstairs windows!  That's another thing.  I don't remember ever seeing a fireworks show on new years... ever!  So, it was really neat! New Years day Jon and  I went up to Kingwood to volunteer at a marathon that I was going to run.  However, with this knee injury, running a marathon was out of the question.  I enjoyed being able to be on the other side of everything.  I'm always the one racing.  It was nice to give back :)  Jon was a good sport to come and help me too.

-My dad and his friend, Eleanor were able to come to town to visit us on Jan. 7th-11th.  I was so grateful that they were able to come down here to see our new home. I hope that next time I can show them more things.  Eleanor had quite a few migraines so that kept us home for most of their stay.  I was at least able to take them to Studio Movie Grille.  That was a nice experience for them.  Eleanor also wanted to look around the grocery stores.  So, we spent a lot of time in the grocery stores too.

-During their visit... Jon was called to Atlanta for some training for work.  Yes, that's right... during the 6" snow storm that completely shut the city down.  He got into Atlanta on Sunday and ended up having to take a train to a completely different hotel.  Hotel wasn't prepared and didn't have any food.  So, the next day he and a few other stranded co-workers headed out to see what they could find for food.  Heh, the only place open was a bar.  They went in and ordered and realized their waiter had an excess amount of eyeliner on and then they noticed there was only a men's restroom... it was a gay bar.  We had a good laugh when he told me.  One of his co workers got a few passes made at him so he took his food to go :-) hehe.  Finally on Monday night he and his co workers were picked up and taken to the convention center they were supposed to be at.  He came home on Thursday night.

-Then on Saturday (15th) we flew out to see my family in NH.  They also has just finished with a massive storm.  18" of snow!!  Unlike Atlanta, they were a little more prepared and the area was only shut down for most of one day so we didn't have any delays or anything like that.  We were picked up by my dad and we headed up to my brother Shane's house for our yearly family holiday party.  It was so great to see everyone too!  The only one missing was my nephew, Seth, who unfortunately had to work.  We really enjoyed ourselves.  On the 16th we flew home in the afternoon (super short visit).  I was able to see my bff, Charlene :-)  She came over to my dad's house while I was going through boxes of things that my dad asked me to look at.  My sister, Shannon and her family came by for a while too.  It was a great 24 hours.

-Jon found out he will be traveling for 9 weeks starting at the very end of January to Tulsa for work.  He'll be home on weekends.  I struggle being alone at night, but I am getting better.  Today we actually got an alarm system put in.  Jon has wanted one for a while and we were offered a good deal and he jumped on it.  I am thankful that we got one.  I will at least feel a little better at night while he is gone. 

-My work schedule has now changed.  I am now working M-F in the mornings instead of MWF.  I figure that I can make a little extra money and this will also get me out of the house while Jon is gone.

Dear Sookie,

Please stop giving me a heart attack. 

Love,

Crystal

please don't mind the pic quality... we did the best we could!

4 Years of Fun

Just check out this fantastic looking couple!


Today we celebrated 4 years of blissful marriage! With my taking time off of work for the holidays, we took an opportunity to go through the temple together. As my normal work schedule makes this difficult, I really enjoyed the opportunity to go with Crystal.


Afterwards we found the nativity on the temple grounds and got another picture. Aren't the lights and clouds neat?



We wanted to go to a nice restaurant for our anniversary dinner so Crystal googled (Jeff: I mean binged!!) romantic restaurants Houston. Peli Peli was the first result that popped up.

It seemed to have good reviews so I decided to take Crystal to the most romantic restaurant in Houston, also conveniently down the street from the temple.

We ate under a simulated tree that changes different glowing colors.

We were excited about our food.

Here's why:

Also because we're fans of Cupcake Wars on Food Network we got excited when we found a fancy cupcake shoppe (it was fancy, so it's not a 'shop') right outside Peli Peli. We had to buy a couple specialty cupcakes. I had eggnog flavored, Crystal got pumpkin spice.

Yum! Also note the heavenly light that seems to be shining right on the cupcakes...and my wife :)

Crystal, the last 4 years have been the best of my life. So many exciting experiences, and I am so excited for the next 4 (and the eternity after that). I love you.