The Sisterhood of the Blue Stilettos

[nickster]

Ok I'm not going to say too much because I know some people may not have watched yet but OMG....Big Brother....Wow! It was like reality tv on speed. I am loving this season and will be so sad when it's over.

Well girls I have officially started my next IVF cycle. I went for all my pre-bloodwork tests today. Sometimes I get excited about it and sometimes I stop and think OMG I can't believe we're doing this again. I am REALLY hoping some of the luck from you girls will rub off on me. I am so hoping this is our time.

Jenn~ I hope you and dh had a good birthday dinner tonight. And good luck with the beef stroganoff! That sucks that you can't be with your parents like you usually are but you definitely don't want to be part of a hurricaine! I heard a couple days ago they were maybe going to do mandatory evacuations in New Orleans, is that still true?
DH has been faithfully watching the weather channel because we are supposed to go to Jamaica in 3 weeks. I know that's a long time away weather wise but we are just hoping that nothing new pops up by then.

Robbo~ Sorry to hear your baby is sick. I hope she gets better soon.
I hope everyone else is well.
Tina~ How are you and Noah?
Sassy~ I'm keeping updated on you. I hope those babies are continuing to do well.

[jenn]

Nickster~ A new cycle!! I am excited for you, I hope all of our baby dust rubs off on you! I'm sending thoughts and prayers your way. Keep us updated.

BBrother was great! I just watched it. I think Jerry will go next.

[Angie65]

Nickster - the same best wishes from me - I really hope it is your turn now - this definitely is the lucky thread now. You sound really positive and upbeat and I am sure that will make all the difference - keep us posted.

Me and DH are taking to Ams to Sydney for the the weekend in two weeks - OMG - a bit nervous but a friend is having a party and we need a little break. We are sharing a nanny with friends - I hope little missy behaves in the evening - if not the nanny will want double money for all the extra work!

I am looking forward to showing Ams the sites of Sydney - I want to take picture at the Harbour bridge and OPera house!

Hope you are all well.

[nickster]

Angie~ Wow you're trip sounds like it will be great! And I wouldn't worry too much about the nanny, I'm sure she's seen much worse than your little darling!
We are supposed to go to Jamaica 3 weeks from today for our 10th anniversary. I say supposed to, that is supposing there will be no more hurricaines! I really hope we can go but if not thank God we got the insurance!

Jenn & Angie~ Thanks so much for your well wishes. I feel a lot better about it this time, and one big reason for that is i like the new dr a whole lot better. I really am trying to stay positive so just remind me of that if I start to complain!!

How is everyone else? Hope everyone had a nice long holiday weekend.
And how about Big Brother! A little change of plans ...hmmm? I still don't want to say too much (just in case) but once again it was great!

Talk to everyone soon.

[nickster]

Where is everyone???

Jenn~ How did the birthday beef strogonoff turn out? I'm sure it was good. I bet you're real glad you didn't head to New Orleans! Did your parents escape without much damage? I hope so. I know they didn't get hit as hard as expected but those poor people still got enough.

Angie~ Gearing up for your trip to Sydney? Have you been having talks with Amelie to behave for the nanny?

Meg~ How are you and Lucy?
Weight loss plan update....there is none!! I don't know what's going on! I have been working out every day (well I do miss a day here and there) and dieting like crazy and haven't lost one stinkin pound. Actually, some days I GAIN a pound or two. I don't get it. I guess this weight will just have to be for our Jamaica trip. We may not be on the beach anyway with the hurricaines!!

Sassy~ I've been keepin a watchful eye on you and the babies. I hope all three (especially Isaac) are continuing to hang in there and get stronger.

Tina~ We are in need of an update stat! I know you're busy but we haven't heard from you since Noah's arrival! I hope all is well.

Vicky~ How are you and Benjamin?

So I am getting all my pre-IVF "stuff" done. Yesterday I had a baseline ultrasound and he found scar tissue in my uterus, which he's pretty sure is from my miscarriage. So, I will be having a hysteroscopy to remove it in the next week or two. He wants it done now so uterus can be nice and healed for ivf in December. I also found out yesterday this ivf is 100% self pay. I knew my insurance didn't cover "infertility" but this doc does things differently. All blood work (including in the actual cycle), ultrasounds before stimming meds, and whatever else I need before the cycle are not included in the ivf. I am still waiting to hear just how much extra that will be. I also had immune testing done yestersay and if that comes back +, that will make it thousands more as well. I know it's been almost a year but I'm not quite sure I'm ready for all this again! My poor dh....how he still loves and deals with me, I'm not sure!! I seriously don't know how people like Sassy and Vicky hung on as long as they did! You girls are saints! I guess I just have to keep my mind on the prize at the end.
I hope everyone has a good weekend.

[meg12]

Nickster--I'm sorry you have to pay for all of the IVF. Talk about adding stress to an already stressed out situation, huh? It's also too bad about the scar tissue but I'm glad that he found it now so you can have your uterus all nice and pretty for transfer. It's like spring cleaning....okay, that might be a stretch! Hang in there with the weight loss....I'm sure you're building muscle and remember that weighs more than fat. So even though the scale is your enemy, I bet you are looking better! Do you feel better? That's really all that counts. I just watched last night's Big Brother episode. I can't decide who I want to win. I'm thinking I like Dan, but he's really screwed himself with the Jurors, so I don't see how he can win. What do you think?

Tina and Vicky and Angie and Sassy--How's early motherhood treating you? Getting any sleep?

We're doing great here. Right now we're focusing on getting Lucy to "self sooth" herself to sleep. Somehow that all got lost in the shuffle and she's totally dependent on me (and my boob!) to fall asleep. Dh and I are reading a great book about it, though so as soon as we both finish it I'm thinking we'll start the weaning process and get that baby to independently sleep. I'm ready to have my body back! (Although I love nursing, really I do!)

Believe it or not, Lucy turns 1 next Sunday! We're planning two parties...one on Saturday during the football game for friends and one on Sunday for family. I'm looking forward to it, but not to all the work I have to do this week! Cleaning, cooking, cleaning. My house is a mess!

I try not to stress out about it, though. I got one of those cheesy emails the other day that had a great line about how a good mother has a dirty house but a happy child. That's my motto, for sure!!!!!

Well, off to bed. Hi to you all.....have a great weekend!

[tinaO]

Hello sistas! Noah and I are doing great. It has been a blessing to have my husband home with me since he just finished school. We get up together for every feeding/diaper changing so it is nice to not do any of it alone. My husband has been wonderful. I could not ask for anything better. Our pool just got finished, so I have been laying out for like an hour every day - fat looks much better tan I have decided!!!! I am really enjoying being a mother! Noah remains a very easy baby. However, he HATES a wet diaper!!! The kid can sit in his sh-t all day long, but not a wet one!!! It is so funny....well, except at 4 a.m. He will actually wake up and want his diaper changed before he will go back to bed. I just love the little guy so much. My college roommate and her husband and 4 month old are in town this weekend and coming over today to hang out by the pool and watch football - go Cowboys!!

Nickster - how exciting that you are starting another cycle - but damn - it does suck to have to pay it out of pocket! My insurance did not cover it either, but they at least paid for blood tests and ultrasounds. Geez - it adds up quick though. Keep us posted on how things are going. You will surely have all of us behind you 100%!!!!

The weight loss thing is a killer. I have lost 23 pounds so far, but still have another 13 pounds to go. I gained a total of 36 pounds in pregnancy - yikes! I am already out walking a couple of miles at a time, though. Hopefully the next 5 or so pounds will come off quickly.

Meg - wish Lucy a happy birthday from me!!! How cool to be turning one!!!

Hello to everyone else!! What is the Sassy trip update????

Gotta run - have to go stare at Noah! Ha - I could do that all day sometimes. I am just so in love with him. Watching my husband with him has also been amazing. He is the most wonderful dad. It is incredible how it makes you feel watching them.

Oh - and still loving Big Brother!! I really want Dan to win!

I am adding another pic of Noah on to the site now, too....

Tina

[Angie65]

Tina - you sound like youare doing so well. Amelie is much more settled now - sleeping well in the day and night ( apart from the odd 5.30am wake up call!) - I am feeling much more confident about the Sydney trip now ( next week)

I checked out Noah's photos (gorgeous and he's got some lovely bedding I must say - very comfortable looking!) and then I had to post another picture of Ams - we are all such proud mums aren't we? I never thought I could go so ga ga! It's a lovely feeling.

[nickster]

Tina~ So good to hear from you and so glad to hear Noah is such a good baby! Wow, how lucky you are. I checked out his pic on photobucket and I can certainly see how you can sit around and stare at him all day long....he's absolutely adorable! He really is a beautiful baby.
And wow...you've already lost 23 pounds, that's great! I'm sure the ohter 13 will be gone in no time if you were able to get rid of 23 that quick.
Oh and I think I mentioned this before but my hubby is a HUGE Cowboys fan. So needless to say he was a happy camper on Sunday!

Meg~ Give Lucy a big birthday hug and kiss for me on Sunday! Wow, I can't believe she is already 1! How is the nursing weaning going?
Thanks for the muscle ways more than fat advice. That's what I always try to tell myself so thank you for confirming it! I'm sticking with that story! I still haven't lost any more so I've just resigned myself to the fact that I will be this way on the beach in Jamaica. Oh well, I'm just going to have a good time and not worry about it.

Angie~ Almost time for your trip! Glad to hear Amelie is doing better. She is such a cutie pie too! It must be a siterhood thing that all the girls have cute babies. I just hope I can be so lucky!

Sassy~ I don't know if you still have time to look in here but I'm still staying updated on your blog. I hope little Isaac is doing better and continuing to fight. I am thinking and praying for all of them.

How is everyone else? Vicky, Fee, Jenn...where are ya?

I go in for my hysteroscopy on Tuesday and guess what....insurance doesn't cover it! I am starting to get sooo sick of insurance companies. I was talking to one of my friends at work last night and told her it wouldn't be covered (she's one of the two ONLY people that know we are doing IVF again) and she said "why don't you just quit your job and get on medicaid so you can get everything for free". It is so true, we see it day after day. The girls with insurance don't want to come to the hospital because they have $100 or more co-pay but the one's that WE'RE paying for don't care. I am just sooo sick of it! Oh well, enough of my soapbox. So anyway we have to pay for that but the good news is during the IVF, we aren't going to have to put out as much as I thought. She said there is only 2 or 3 estrodial levels and those are $130 each and all the rest of the ultrasounds are covered until after the hcg. So if we are pregnant I would have to pay for more ultrasounds but I can pretty much gaurantee we won't care about that!

I can't believe Big Brother is almost over! I think Dan is going to win. I can't believe people are still believing him! I think he deserves to win, I think he's done a great job playing the game.

[Angie65]

hi Nickster - hope the procedure went well and you are all set to start the next round - we will be willing you on!

The trip to Sydney went well - stressful but alot of the time I was worrying about nothing! Amelie was great on the plane both ways - I just fed her on the way up and down and. We took her out sight seeing all Sat and tired her out so that when we went out on Sat night she just crashed in her cot and the baby sitter didn't hear a peep from her. Good little girl!

Will post a picture of the little jet setter.

Hope everyone is doing well. Best go - have a million things to do as usual - need to buy some curtains for her room.

[meg12]

Just a quick post--Lucy is ready for bed!

Angie--Glad you had fun. Amelie sounds like she did great. And the pics are awesome. She is sooooo cute!

Nicster--I've been thinking about you. Hope all is going well. Let us know! Big Brother was pretty good, huh? I'm bummed that it's over! It's such a big commitment at 3 nights a week that when it's over I feel like a little piece of me is missing!

We had a great 1st birthday weekend! I posted a few pics so you could see her! Hope all is well with everyone....

[tinaO]

Hello all! Well, just sitting here chilling with Noah in his new "Hot Sling"! I just got it yesterday and LOVE IT! Noah fits in it well, it is easy to put on, and he goes right to sleep - the little guy thinks he is being held by me and all is good! Best sling I have found and it allows my hands to be free. It is wonderful.

I have a question. Noah just hit the 4 week mark yesterday and eats every 3 hours during the day. My husband was insisting on setting an alarm during the night early on to make sure he was eating every 3 hours (we had some major issues with the breastfeeding and Noah was not getting enough). Anyway, we unfortunately had to go to formula feeding as I literally had virtually no milk supply....probably has something to do with a hormonal imbalance and my inability to get pregnant on my own in the first place. So, now I am telling my husband to stop setting the darn alarm because Noah appears to be able to sleep at one stretch for up to 5 hours. Am I wrong? I mean, if he is getting enough to eat during the day and gaining weight, why not let us all sleep? Noah slept last night from a little after midnight until after 4 a.m. (darn alarm went off) and then went back down at 5 a.m. and slept until 9 a.m. Isn't this a good thing??? I think he is just a really good baby and eats plenty during the day (I checked as far as how much he needs during a 24-hour period and I make sure it all gets fit in there). So, let me know what the sistas think!!!

Meg - OMG!!!! LUCY IS SO CUTE!!!! I LOVED her pics - she is getting so big and SO ADORABLE!!!! Tell her a Happy belated Birthday from Noah and I!

Angie - Amelie is getting so big and so cute!!! Glad the trip went well. Her hair is so cute - Noah is indeed starting to grow the mullet I was concerned about - definitely more of a party in the back going on these days. Amelie is very, very cute - she is going to be a stunning little girl with that beautiful dark hair.

Nickster - how did everything go??? I am so glad some of your treatment will be covered. That is what happened to me - insurance covered blood tests and ultrasounds only. Have the office file EVERYTHING though. I work in the field and we often make mistakes, so have them file it all and more might be picked up then it should. We will certainly all be here supporting you on this round. It is so YOUR turn!!! I feel that good things are to come - I can feel it!!! Glad to hear your husband is a Cowboys fan. I am a huge one and actually wrote the account through my job recently so back in June I got to go help do some enrollment mtgs for them and got to meet the coach, Wade Phillips. I also got to go to Vaqley Ranch and see the locker room, training field, etc. It was pretty cool! Oh - and as far as my weight loss - I have hit a plateau! I am back to walking 3 miles a day and NOTHING is happening. Uggghhh. Oh well, I should be thankful I recovered so well from the delivery.

How is Sassy?? How are the trips?

Jenn - how are you? I know many of my friends in Houston are still without power from Ike. How are you doing? Hope all is ok.

Fee - where are you hiding??

Ok, better run. Little angel just hates a wet diaper. Oh well, he is such a GREAT baby that I can't complain and my husband continues to be the most amazing father. He is so great with Noah and we get up together every night with Noah and feed him and change him together. I am so lucky. Since my husband is so good with Noah, I can leave and run errands, go to lunch with friends, etc. We literally split Noah's care pretty much 50/50 right now since my husband just finished school and is looking for a job. But uggghhhh - I go back to work on Oct 13th!!! I cannot bear the thought right now....

Posted some pics of Noah now, too! Take care all!!!

And OH - Big Brother was great. Can't believe it is over. I am glad the best man won!!!!

[nickster]

Hi everyone!

Tina~ Noah is such a cutie. You are so lucky to have such a great hubby to help you so much. I know everyone probably says this but I think my dh would be the same way. I'm so glad to hear Noah's first month has gone so well.
About the feeding...obviously I can't speak from my own experience but I can tell you what we teach new mommies at work. Unless he's having problems gaining weight (now) and he has enough wet diapers during the day, and as long as the pediatrician hasn't told you different, get your rest. There is a lot more calories in formula so their bellies get more full. And, he is to the age now that he will wake up if and when he's hungry. That's my advice, if it was me I would be turning off the alarms! There has to be some perks to not being able to breast feed!

Meg~ Again...Lucy is sooo freakin cute! I just want to pinch those little cheeks!! I can't believe she is a year old already. It looked like she had a great time at her party.
I feel the same way about Big Brother being over, and actually it's funny I just said something similar about a part of me missing to dh the other night! He rolled his eyes, as usual! But next week Amazing Race & Survivor starts.

Angie~ I'm glad to hear the trip went well. See...you were all worried about Amelie's attitude for nothing! I saw her pics....oh my gosh....can you say "minni me"! She looks just like you. She's a doll.

I hope all is well for everyone else. Jenn, Vicky--anything new??

So I had my hysteroscopy on Tuesday, it went well, I guess. So Tom & I get there at 7 for the procedure to start at 8. We're in this 6X6 box of a room with a curtain. So 8:00 comes and the nurse comes in and says the dr called and said he won't be here until at least 10, he had an emergency at home. So she says do you want to wait or just re-schedule. So we chose to wait since we are leaving on vacation and he wants to get this done so things can heal. So he gets there, does it, and leaves. So we ask them how it went, what he removed, etc. and they say "oh you have to call his office and set up a phone consultation with him". Do you guys think this is wierd?? So I called when I got home and the consultation is in 2 weeks. I just thought that was wierd. Everything else we've ever had when I've had anesthesia, the dr came out and told Tom how it went.
You guys I need your opinions and I'm sorry this is such a long post. I told you guys this is a new re. The last doc we had a lot of clerical issues and the dr was very cocky (which I think kind of goes with the territory!) so that's why we thought to move on to this guy. I like this dr but literally EVERYHTHING we have done has been a nightmare. The ONLY thing I like is him. Did I mention the whole insurance thing? I called the insurance company the other day to find out why they didn't cover ultrasounds, blood work, and the hysteroscopy. They informed me they cover all these things, so I asked why they aren't being covered for me. She said that dr is not in our network. Now don't you think they knew that. The "financial girl" at the office has always said "I don't know why they aren't covering it, I guess it's because it's infertility." Had we known, we did have other ways around this to get these things paid for but as it stands we have paid a few thousand more than we apparently needed to.
So here's my dilemna...Tom and I keep saying "God if this isn't the right way to go, give us some kind of sign". So yesterday I stepped back and thought, am I really that dumb...every part of this process seems to be "the sign!". I am just wondering if we should go back to the other dr that we went to before. At least there I know the crap they pull, and at least there, I know with the protocol he uses, I CAN get pregnant. I just swore I would never want to see that man's face again. I don't know what to do. I need some sisterly advice! Between your advice and my weeklong ponder on the beach of Jamaica, hopefully I will have my answer when we get back. And BTW we haven't paid anything towards the actual IVF yet so we could move on.

Speaking of Jamaica, my weight loss story.....oh no....sorry....it's a weight gain story!!! I have gained weight, I will officially be fat for Jamaica and I don't care!
Talk to everyone soon.

[jenn]

Tina- I say let him sleep! At least the 5 hours. Anna was going 6 hours by 6 weeks. He will start to wake up when he is hungry soon. I think I read somewhere that they have to be back up to their birthweight and then you can let them sleep. He should be there by now. 5 hours isn't going to hurt him. If he starts losing weight then I would worry, but that won't happen!

We are ok. We got VERY lucky and live north enough that power came back in 2 days. HOwever our water treatment place still has no power so we can't put anything down the drain. No laundry, showers, dishes, washing hands, toilet flushing...it is a bummer. Last night we gave Anna a bath and then I got in the water to bathe and then dh and I bailed the water out to the back yard. we are not liking it. Tonight we are going to a friends house to play games and we are showering and doing laundry there.

Anna is crawling! EVERYWHERE!! She is 7 months and growing up fast!!

I have a blog that i have had since she was born and if ya'll want the address pm me and you are welcome to visit it whenever. It is the best way to keep the family updated on what we are doing. Our family lives in Louisiana, & a couple places up north so we don't see them often. We are going to Ohio this Christmas so she can meet her great grandparents and other family for the first time! Up till now they have only seen her on the blog!

Gotta run Anna is tearing the office up Hi to everyone, I will post again soon, we have just been busy with hurricane cleanup and such! gustav hit my parents and then Ike came to us!

[FionaA]

Hello Sistas

I am so sorry for my long silence. I have been so darned busy and on top that I have not been feeling 100%. Have had a bunch of tests done but all seems OK

First things first, Tina, congratulations on beautiful little Noah. Although I have not been been posting I check on you guys all the time (in between screaming clients). Sounds like things have been going so well and that your DH is magnificent! As far as the feeding at night thing, I second what Nickster says...I'm sure if Noah wants to eat he will tell you!
As far as going back to work goes I am sorry for you! I really dreaded that back to work date...Probably just as well you aren't breastfeeding now because that is HARD to juggle with work. I was expressing morning noon and night, it just about killed me!

Mego, thanks for your offer of a house in Nebraska, keep buying those lottery tickets because I am comin over and being a stay at home mother with you. I know what you mean about feeling isolated. I felt a bit that way when I was on leave. Still it's so good to be at home as well...Lucy is gorgeous. I really cannot believe she is one already. Do you feel sad that your baby is grown up now??? Any thoughts on #2?

Nickster, I just don't know what to say about your Dr dilema. It does appear that you have had an abundance of signs...is there any reason why the Dr is not covered by your insurance? that doesn't seem fair or that the norm over in the US?? what about his reputation is he well known in his field??? As far as weight loss goes, I am hearing you on the plateau, I've been on one for about 8 months, can't seem to shift the kilos. People still keep asking me if I am pregnant. Ran into a psycho that I was dealing with in court about five years ago. The ******* recognised me and proceeded to give me a run down on his latest legal troubles, and then asked me if I was pregnant. I could happily have killed him for more than one reason!

Angie, that pic of you and Amelie is very cute! She sounds like a great traveller. Will you be going overseas with her any time soon? DH and I are hoping to go to Japan in Feb (have an unused air ticket from when I had to cancel my holiday when I first got preg that i need to use in the next six months...) I am nervous about travelling with Rio but I always thought that I would like my child to see the world from an early age....what do you reckon?

Jenn sorry to hear about your water troubles, that must be incredibly hard. You just take for granted that you can chuck water down the drain....how long is that going to go on for??? I would love for you to PM me your blog link..

Vicky??? how is Benjamin???

Sassy wishing all the best for you and the trips..

Well I'd better be off, have to cook and freeze some meals for Rio while he is snoozing....

Fee

Robbo, what's happening, still struggling with your 4th graders???