Thanksgiving

I have so much to be thankful for this year. Even though its 3 days after Thanksgiving Day I still feel like I should post about it ;-)

I am so incredibly thankful for the sleeping baby in my arms right now. I can't even describe the way it feels to be blessed with such a miracle.



I am thankful for my wonderful husband. He is my rock. 4 of our 7 years were plauged with infertility and while there were times I wasn't sure we would survive as a couple I am so thankful we did. He is an amazing father and so supportive to me.



I am so thankful for our home...despite it's desperate need of updates in so many places we are so lucky to have a place for Rylan to grow in.

I am thankful that we have food to eat and that we are able to provide Rylan with everything he needs and most of what he will want.

I am thankful for my dogs. I know that this may sound weird but they got me through a really rough time in my life. They are my loyal friends, my loyal protectors and have offered me so much love. On my darkest days they were there with a cuddle or a wet sloppy kiss. I owe them so much. Having Rylan around has been a hard transition for them and I am working on keeping balance because for so long they were my babies.



I am thankful for our family who have been so happy to have Rylan in their lives. They weren't always the most supportive of my infertility but I think they just didn't get it and so I am working on letting those feelings go.

There are so many more things to be thankful for. Last Thanksgiving Brad and I underwent IUI at 7am and just two weeks later found out that we were pregnant. I am forever thankful for that day and forever in debt to the Lord for this precious gift.

I know that this is a hard time of the year for many of my friends that are still waiting for thier miracles. I wish I had some sort of insight or words that would make them feel better. I don't. But I want them to know that they are never far from my mind and that I continue to pray for them. I have to believe that it will happen for them. I just hope it's soon.

the letter

I know it's been forever but I started back at work and well I really literally have no time to myself. I am making a point to post about this because it frustrates me and while I am so incredibly blessed to have a tiny miracle sitting next to me...it brings back all of those feelings of infertility that cursed me for so many years.

Last night I got home from work...kissed my munchkin and opened up the mail. In the mail was a letter from our insurance company addressed to me. My husband is the primary person who carries the insurance so it was a little odd since most of the stuff comes in his name. Anyway...I open the letter and start to read and it says that they periodically do a medication review and noticed that I had been prescribed one or more of the following drugs...then it listed every fertility drug under the sun (even progesterone!). It went on to say that effective January 1, 2011 all of these medications will need prior approval and that anyone under the age of 50 using these drugs for Assisted Reproduction of any kind will be denied coverage. WTF!? Really...anyone under 50? Because if you are 50 and need to get pregnant...that's cool. I mean..don't get me wrong anyone who is 50 and still struggling should be afforded any chance available but what makes me mad is they did that on purpose because not many 50 year olds are still trying to get pregnant.

So again, I am incredibly blessed to have had my medications covered and that I was able to conceive and safely deliver my little man. I am in no way ready to try for another one but it does make me sad that when we want to it may be more of a struggle financially next time around. It also makes me sad that there are many women out there who are still trying who just received the same letter and only have 2 months notice that their meds will no longer be covered. Jerks.

I will leave you with a picture of my little man since it would be a crime not to share his cuteness. Thanks for listening and I will try to get on here more often ;-)

Mommyhood

I know its been quite a while since I posted last. Being a mommy is the most amazing thing. It is also incredibly time consuming and exhausting. I knew that I would be busier and I knew I would be tired but I didn't know that I would get up at 6am for the day and that the next time I would check the clock it would be 3pm...in what seems like the blink of an eye. But again, every moment is amazing and incredible and the most meaningful thing I have ever experienced.

We have had a couple of bumps along the way but we are adjusting to being parents and Rylan is adjusting to being in charge of the house ;-) I think he is doing better at this new gig than we are. HA!

I do plan on a post of my birth story and some other important details but it's late and I want to sneak a nap in before he wakes up. I will leave you with pics of mommy and little man...........

Update & Pictures!

I don't have a lot of time to write a long post but in short everyone is doing really well. Rylan ended up developing jau.ndice and has to be under photo-therapy lights but fortunately he can stay home with us. We have an appt tomorrow to re-check the levels and we are hoping he will be able to discontinue the lights. He has his nights and days totally confused which made for an interesting first few nights but we are slowly adjusting. ;-) Even with no sleep life couldn't be more amazing and I am so incredibly thankful for every moment with him.

and now.....PICTURES (cause we all know that's what you wanted anyway)

HE IS HERE!!!

Rylan John was born on 8/19/10 at 10:22pm. He weighed 6lbs 11oz and was 19.5 inches long! The birth process had some rocky spots but he was totally worth every minute! I will update more later.

Waiting....

Sorry it has been an eternity since I last wrote. I had to work full time while other co-workers vacationed and I was just too tired to come home and even think. Nothing exciting happened besides work, laundry, cleaning and grocery shopping anyway so you didn't miss anything ;-)

I am 39 weeks pregnant and WAITING OH SO PATIENTLY (or not) for my little man to arrive. I didn't mind waiting the last 9 months but now...I really want him to come and not because I hate being pregnant or because I am miserable or uncomfortable. I am just so darn anxious to meet him and and I am so tired of always being worried about him. I want to be able to SEE that he is ok and not just pray that he is.

My mom flew in last night....she is staying for a couple of weeks so we need him to come on out now ;-)

My Dr. appt this morning I was 1cm dilated and 50% effaced. Head is at -1. So my mom and I have a lot of walking to do ;-)

Just Like His Daddy

A couple of weeks ago we went to get the 3D/4D ultrasound done. There was much debate in our house about this because I REALLY REALLY wanted one and Brad didn't at all. He thought it would ruin the surprise of what the baby would look like. So we argued for 3 weeks and I finally won ;-)

I had scheduled the appointment for a time when the baby is "usually" active and off we went that morning. Baby decided to start being active about an hour prior and I tried walking him to sleep. Seemed to work. 20 minutes before the appointment I ate a doughnut (YUM!) and drank a soda to get him a little boost of energy for the appointment. He was moving and grooving until I laid down on the table. :-( The Ultrasound proved three things:

1. He is stubborn-just like his daddy

I like to call that one "no pictures please." It took almost 10 minutes of poking and prodding from the tech to get him to move his hand and this is the result:

"fine... but I am still going to sleep"

2. He looks JUST like his daddy:


3. He is Daddy's little boy already (sigh):


That smile came after daddy talked to him. I talked, played music, jiggled him, poked him and I got nothing! Daddy comes along and says just a few words and he gets a smile. After all I have been through for this little nugget! But, I would do it all again even if he is a daddy's boy. I am not going to lie...still gonna try and get him to change to team mommy once he is out ;-)Bwahahahaha