Thankful Thursday

I have been waiting since Sunday when I got the idea to do "Thankful Thursdays" to write this. As I sit outside in this perfect breezy weather, it is easy to be thankful. But that isn't always the case. Especially lately for me. I am working on that, stupid DC! :) Ok, that's enough. So today this is what I'm thankful for.

Low stress-I don't work so I literally have the most flexible schedule in the world. And freedom. Other than the normal chores of everyday life, I am free to do whatever it is I feel like doing that die. Gotta admit. It's nice.

My new little kitchen gadgets-In the past few weeks I have added several additions to my kitchen. I just love all these less than five dollar objects that makes cooking more fun and easier. Right now I am loving my new salt pinch jar. It's super cute, and it's my favorite color, green. 

My laptop-I got it for Christmas, and I use the fire out of it. It's such a good tool. Right now I am using it to put together a recipe book of all of my favorites that I have used over the year. Also, love it for printing coupons. And blogging, of course.

My new green concealer-I have always been the girl with the red cheeks. Always. Until a few weeks ago when my friend, Ashley, shared this amazing magic concealer to me. It covers up red and actually stays on my face longer than five minutes!!! 

My little dogs-Well, one is little. We call them "the big one" and "the little one". Love those guys. I get to see them way more than ever, and I love the fact that they aren't home all day everyday by themselves. I'm the girl who won't stay out to late because I have to go home and make sure the dogs are ok. :) Oh, yes, they have been driving me crazy lately. By "they" I mean "the big one". He pretty much barks all the time. But today he has been the best. Love my Riley. And my Sam.

 Coupons-I don't know if I would say I'm thankful for them. But I'm super excited about them. So I guess that makes me thankful for them. Just this week I have gotten over $150 in free stuff. That's not including the savings on top of that for other items. I am thankful now that I have time to do it more and save my family some money.

My new Bible app(s)-On my phone now I have a verse of the day, daily Bible reading and several devotions to chose from. Also, I can listen to the Bible. It's very cool. Very glad I updated my Bible app that I already had. 

What are you thankful for? See you next Thursday. 

Riley's Shirt

Riley has a shirt. It's blue. He hates it. 

I discovered when he was about 3 months old that he can't stand wearing clothes. The first time I put a shirt on him he literally couldn't even sit up. He just kept falling over. And now, six years later, the only thing that is different is that he can sit up. But that's about it. He freezes up as soon as he sees it. NO!!!! Not the shirt, mommy!!! 

Since we moved here every Wednesday morning is shirt time for Riley. For you see, the garbage comes on Wednesday mornings. The magic shirt he wears keeps him from barking and waking us up because he is half paralyzed. Initially I felt bad about doing this to him. But week after week when I wake up to discover that the garbage is gone and my sleep was not interrupted I don't feel so bad anymore. 

Mother's Day: Fertility Update

As this Mother's Day approaches I thought I would update you on our fertility progress. It's been two years this August since we started trying to have a baby. By that November my doctor started running tests to figure out why I wasn't ovulating. I was diagnosed with PCOS and low progesterone. 

So January 2011 started a slew of tests and treatments and medication. Three months on Clomid and then in June it was off to the fertility specialist. In the past whenever someone went to the fertility doctor, IVF popped in my head. To these doctors that is actually a last resort. There are actually so many other things to try first. In August I started my first round of oral medicine and injections. Basically all of this medication made my body do the things it was natuarally supposed to do. Produce mature eggs, release those eggs, and ultimately ovulate. 

My hormones were already in a bad mood from the Clomid. Well, my body was in no way ready for these larger doses of medicine. Lets just say I was not easy to deal with at times. And Bryan, wonderful Bryan, got nicer the meaner I got. I was bloated, gaining weight, experience hot flashes and night sweats, along with the mood swings. It was not the best year of my life. 

After three rounds my doctor decided I need surgery to "stimulate" my ovaries, basically to do what they should be doing on their own. It was a hard decision to make since we were leaving for DC in less than two months but we decided it was what was best. So three weeks before leaving Indy my doctor performed outpatient surgery. What was supposed to be a simple procedure turned into removing endemetriosis and a polyp on my uterus. I was so thankful then that I had the surgery because of the other unknown problems I had. To me, it was just one step closer to having that baby. 

I am happy to report that since the surgery three months ago I am cycling regularly (something that hasn't happened naturally in a year and a half) and I have begun ovulating. And I don't have to be on "crazy pills" which is a huge blessing itself! We know that one day God will bless us with a child. We do know and have realized time after time that his way is best. Is it hard every single time I see a mother with her newborn or find out someone else (even the fake characters on TV) is pregnant? Of course. But God has given me his grace through this. And one day I will be able to use my story to help that woman whose arms are empty and tell her that I know firsthand that God will fill them someday.

So to all of my many friends who are mothers, Happy Mother's Day. You know I love you, and I thank so many of you for your prayers and encouragement for me. Someone gave me a picture once that said, "Friends are God's way of taking care of  you". I love that. 

And to all of my friends also longing for that baby, I pray for you as well. We will all be mothers together soon. :) God knows. 

Housewife Blues

On February 3 I quit my job, not for another job, not to look for another job. No, I quit because my husband took a job in DC that no longer required my monthly funds. There was a mixture of emotions. Mostly good. Mostly excited that I didn't have to work anymore. Oh, what would I do with my time? My first plan was to veg out and watch all the seasons of 7th Heaven. My next plan was to craft. Or sleep. Or volunteer. Or cook. You know, do all the things I have never had time for. All of my plans basically went down the drain the minute I arrived here. Let me just say that I am thankful and feel very blessed that I have a husband who works so hard so I don't have to. I am very lucky by a lot of people's standards. And I know that. Bryan has been extremely fortunate to be working for the people he is. They have been so good to us. So since I've been here I have been doing a lot of shopping, sleeping, watching TV, crafting, cooking. And not so much cleaning, organizing, blogging, or pretty much anything useful! What the heck is wrong with me? I have so much time and can't get anything done. You know what they say, "If you want something done, give it to the busy person." It's so true. There is a severe lack of motivation here in Alexandria, VA! Where did it go? Apparently I left it in Indianapolis. I need it back, and soon. I am the most unorganized, unscheduled that I have ever been. Basically, my world has been tuned upside down, and I can't figure out how to fix it. A couple weeks ago I got my desk all organized with all these projects in mind. Well, I have the cutest desk ever, but it sits in the basement longing for me to use it. Soon, cute desk, soon. In the meantime I must get off my couch and clean my house. It's time. I am looking for a new normal. Hopefully I will find it soon.

Things I Miss

This has been in my head for awhile now, and the list is growing so I thought it was time to share. This does not include the people I miss. Just the random things from Indianapolis.

Traffic lights-This one is definitely at the top of my list. You may think it crazy that its at the top. Don't judge until you drive around here just once. I'm telling you, there are no censors on these things. The other day I was at a light for six minutes! Six minutes!!!!! And no one was moving. Its insane the amount of time that has been lost because the DC metro area won't put censors on their lights. So until then I will be sitting in my car wasting what seems like a year of my life every time I drive.

Fruits and Veggies-They just do not have good produce here, and its stinking expensive. Not to mention there are no honey crisp apples to be found. Nothing is ever on sale and the selection is pathetic. Most of the fruit I buy ends up in the freezer for later use in a smoothie.

Streets with just cars on them-Not people, not bikes, not a million Metro buses. Just cars. It is a regular occurrence that I am paying attention enough not to run over the guy with his headphones in looking down at his phone as he crosses the street. Sure you have the right of way. But that won't matter if you're dead!!

My yard-I could say my whole house, really, but that yard. That big beautiful fenced in green yard. My outdoor space has been reduced to some rocks and basically a grassy area the size of my bathroom for the dogs to go to the bathroom in. And they are scared of it half the time. I waited six years for that yard and now its just sitting there vacant waiting for someone else to run around and play in. I hope they are as happy as we were there.

My mailbox-I have been reduced, yet again, to having a key to a block of mailboxes not attached to my townhouse. Ok, I'll admit it, I don't want to put proper clothes on just to go get the next round of bills.

Ossip-Yes, surprisingly, I miss my job. For the first time in my life I loved where I worked and what I did. Hopefully my next job will be a mommy, which I'm sure will be way better. But in the meantime I miss it.

Newspapers at the Dollar Store-As many of you know, I am a devout couponer. I used to get four papers a week and pay $4. Now I pay $8 a week. So I don't actually start getting stuff free for the month until after I get $32 worth.

Ladies ministry-Of course I miss my church and all that includes but I think about Ladies of Light a lot. It never ceased to amaze me just how all the ladies in the church would come together to make a meeting so special and personal. All the details and hard work. I definitely took for granted that our church had a ladies ministry.

Mexican food-We have been to three different Mexican restaurants and we have yet to find anything that is even close to being as yummy as Indianapolis! Lets just say we live in a very diverse part of the country so you would think the food would be better! :) I miss you, El Meson.

Doctors-So there is a medical plaza on like every corner in Indy. In the two months I have been here I think I passed a hospital once, but I don't even remember where it was. Hopefully we don't get sick here because I have no idea where to go.

Cato's and Maurices-Nope, there are none here. Where am I supposed to get my affordable clothes that no one else has?

This list could go on. This was supposed to be funnier than it is. Not complaining. Just missing my home.

My Old Friend

Since our move I have found my old friend who I visit once or twice a week! How I have missed thee...Target!!!! I just got back from another visit, and let me say I am never disappointed. I have always loved Target, but when we moved to the north side of Indy I literally had a chance to visit once in 10 months! Well, now I have two within ten minutes of my house. This has to be one of my top three things about Virginia. When I walk in the first thing I notice is all of the colors! I'm telling you, I think I am in love with every product in Target! Even the kitty litter! Their prices are reasonable. I am truly convinced that they have me in mind when they order their stock! The clothes, the home goods, the office supplies...I LOVE TARGET! And I am so glad, old friend, that we have found each other again.

Once a Month

So I looked back at my past posts and realized I have only posted about once a month. Why? I have no reason. I started this blog when I found out I wouldn't be working. Oh, how much time I would have to blog. It's true, I do have more time, but I forget about it! That and my life has no organization whatsoever since the big move. I don't think my house has been completely clean once. There are still piles of stuff in corners. Pictures unhung. Rooms undecorated. My life has had such structure for the past three and a half years. Work five days a week. Church on Sundays. Busy Saturdays trying to catch up. The only thing that is still the same is church on Sundays. Other than that I have no consistency. Sure, it sounds like a dream come true to some of you, but its rather frustrating. Its like I am trying to figure out who this new person is. Not complaining, just a little lost I guess. So hopefully in the near future there will be set blogging days in my schedule. I am looking forward to it.