Just a quick update. I had my appointment and my doctor doesn't feel there is anything to worry about. Also to treat Endo he said we would have to stop trying to conceive for about a year. So no need to go looking for it. He said that he wasn't concerned and doesn't know why a ruptured cyst would make an ER doctor say anything about Endo. So in the clear. :)
In December I had a trip to the ER. I was at work and had a very sharp pain in my lower left flank. The first thing I thought was Kidney Stones. I've had these before and they aren't fun. Well the pain got so bad and intense that I got really nauseated. I left work immediately to go home and to the ER. Cart and I got to the ER about 11pm and got home the following morning at 6am. We both already had the day off.
They did a Cat-scan of my Kidney area and there were no stones....but there was fluid in my abdomen. They gave me anti-nausea medicine and pain reliever. The doctor came in and gave me the results and discharge instructions and said I should follow up with my OB about Endometriosis. As someone struggling with infertility this was ignored and I just went about my business.
However, I didn't ignore it totally. I started the research to find more about this condition. I've talked to ladies with it and then in the process of speaking with my mom found out it's hereditary. Hmm...maybe I'll go get checked. So I have broke down and made an appointment with my OB for Feb 5th.
So what is Endometriosis? It is when cells of the Edometrium start forming in the abdominal cavity. These cells grow on the other organs, on the outside of the uterus, ovaries and others. But just like inside the Uterus it must shed. So it sheds however the blood has no where to go. It causes pain and other things.
The only way to truly diagnos this is to do laproscopic surgery to take biopsies.
So next week I'll be discussing all of this with my OB.
Cart and I headed down to Orlando for Saturday and Sunday. It was a nice mini-vacation and we really had a good time. To our surprise Universal and Island of Adventure had events to celebrate the Gator's National Championship win. We had a good time and it was nice to relax. This is my favorite picture from the weekend. We got to take a picture with Albert and Alberta the Gator mascot.
I felt the need to recap 2008 for our recollection later.
We started the year with much optimism and the start of IVF. What an interesting adventure. I started birth control in December for suppression. We started injections and went through the procedures. On February 7th we found out we were pregnant. Within the week we found out that the pregnancy wasn't viable. It took my body almost a full month to do what it was suppose to do. During this time my number went into the thousands and I developed a cyst (of which I developed more during the year). During this time we went on vacation to Virginia and celebrated our 2yr anniversary.
Once it was all over my body finally regulated itself for the first time in years. It took almost 6 months but finally. The summer months flew by but by August I was under so much stress it was seriously affecting my body. So I quit my day job and went full time at Chili's. I have since determined at that time it was the best thing I could have ever done. I am still happy with that decision and love the flexibility that it provides.
We started the adoption process at the end of the year but by Christmas it was at a stand still. I think after our loss we just plugged away with the rest of the year coping with our loss.
By the end of 2008 we were ready for what ever 2009 would bring.
Well before the Holidays we found that we would receive a refund from Holt. So I waited and waited and was just thinking maybe they forgot. But lo and behold I check the mail and there is the refund.
We are still trying to decide what to do. We've been discussing a lot and haven't come up with any conclusive decision yet.
On a side note, many of you remember my car accident just a month after we were married. Well considering our 3yr anniversary is in March this accident was a long time ago. Well that case is finally resolved and over with. It is a nice way to start 2009. I'll have a seperate post to recap 2008.
This weekend we will be headed to Orlando for 2 days just to chill out and use our annual passes. :) But our exciting vacation is planned for March and we are so excited and looking forward to a nice break and fun with Cart's parents.
When Carter and I first considered International Adoption we wanted to choose Vietnam but unfortunately their agreement with the US was terminated. So two US Senators have a letter ready to go to the Prime Minister of Vietnam requesting to continue to work on an agreement. Please read below we all can help:
Two US Senators are sending a letter to the Vietnamese Prime Minister to start discussions that would eventually lead to the reopening of adoptions from Vietnam.If you want to encourage your Senators and Congresspersons to add their names to the letter, you can find more info here http://www.jcics.org/Vietnam.htmTime is of the essence - I think tomorrow is the last day.This is something we can do that will help children and cost us no money! Just the time to log on to your representatives websites and ask them to add their names to the letter.
Thanks!
In previous blogs we have shared that we do receive reimbursement from Cart's job and my job. Which is a total blessing. But how do we save money to pay for the costs up front. Adoption is not cheap. It's expensive and for that reason alone some people may never have children. So how do we save money?
Our biggest money saver right now is my couponing. Yes that is right every Sunday I cut coupons from the Sunday paper. My mom and mother-in-law also give me their Sunday coupons. I also participate in a coupon train on a message board I am a part of. How does this save us money. Well once I cut the coupons or trade for the ones I want I organize them in a binder using baseball card holders. Each Sunday I also look at the CVS and Walgreens ads. Here I match coupons to sales. Some things I refuse to pay full price for :) We use to spend at least $100 each week on groceries and such. Lately it has only been somewhere around $50 a week.
We've also cut down on some of our electrical costs as well. Just by unplugging things we aren't using, keeping the temperature high enough so the a/c doesn't kick on as often. When it's cold we just put on more clothes...Cart really likes this, the house is nice and cool for him.
Those are just a few of the things we do.
