Girl Talk - You've been warned

Boys ... you might want to skip this post.  Assuming we have any male followers ;)
This past month has been a complete whirlwind for my broken and completely uncooperative lady parts.  Let's go back to the beginning. 
**Warning ... Over share in Progress**
As many of you know I have run my course with Lupron for the treatment of Endo and now we need to start thinking about other options.
The month began with an ultrasound and blood work to check my hormone levels and uterine lining.
The blood work was great but the ultrasound showed some fluid build up that is likely from retrograde menstruation.  Par for the course with Endo but this time it left an ugly bacterial infection and a fantastic amount of discomfort in its wake.  Treatment = BIG gun antibiotics. 
We are doing a uterine biopsy this month (OUCH) to check my endometrial lining and since my body does not cooperate and do the things a normal woman's body would this involved a mock cycle of hormone injections.  More needles :(
First night of the injections in my tummy (self administered) and it takes me like 3 tries to break the skin and then in my haste to finish I move my finger in a way that pulls the needle out before I manage to inject anything.  Guess its going to be a two sticks kind of night.
I start the antibiotic and the hormone pills and injections and my body has NO idea what is going on lol.  My stomach hates the antibiotic, my emotions hate the hormones and well I could go on and on.
I go back to the doctor to check my lining, hormones and infection and great news ... everything is right on track only now, thanks to the antibiotics I have a yeast infection.  Yup every woman's nightmare. 
Now we are under the gun to get this cleared up before the biopsy.  This time we try gel and oral meds to get this thing cleared up.  Ladies ... never let another doctor prescribe cream!  Gel is a God send trust me.
About 5 days before the transfer we had to start intramuscular progesterone shots to mimic a woman's natural hormone cycle.  My dear husband is amazing when it comes to administering these.  We ice for 5 minutes, inject, rub the spot and switch to heat.  It seemed no matter how amazing he was at administering them my left side hated being the recipient.  We hit a nerve.  WE HIT A NERVE!  I don't think I can accurately put into words how that felt at the time or for days afterward.  Then on the last night we celebrated ... did a happy dance.  Thank GOD we are done.
The next morning (biopsy morning) I wake up to shower and do the usual mirror glance and ... what ... is ... THAT?!?!!  I go running into our room and wake up the hubby.  I have a HUGE welt on my right side where we did the injection and its hard as a rock.  He calms me down saying we are headed to the doctor and she will check it out while we are there.  That's two broken sides now in case you weren't keeping track. 
We get to the office and they take me back into a room and thankfully I asked if maybe my hubby could come for moral support.  Of course they say.  I get all positioned in that modest completely uncompromising position and take a deep breath.
This is going to be a little uncomfortable she says as she gets everything "positioned" for the biopsy.  I am squeezing hubby's hand and he says "That's the best you've got?"  We all chuckle.
Then she says she's going to numb the cervix.  Insert needle and my entire body jumps off the table.  A "hey this is going to hurt a little ... or a WHOLE LOT" would have been appreciated.  I squeeze hubby's hands harder and contemplate biting his fingers when squeezing no longer accurately expressed the level of pain I was experiencing lol.  Then she was done.  But wait ... we repeat this process two more times.  I swear I'm going to pass out. 
She's done numbing and retrieves 3 biopsy samples with only minor cramping.  Phew all done.
I remain hopped up on Advil all day to avoid any further discomfort and was told the welt will go away.
The next morning the welt was just as big only bright red, warm to the touch and itchy itchy ITCHY.
Then two days later ... as if my lady parts haven't been through enough this month ... dear aunt Flow decides to pay a visit.  (Again gentlemen if you are still reading I warned you back at the top).
Normally I am doubled over, rendered completely incapacitated with cramping that not even an Ibuprofen/muscle relaxer/oxycodone/heating pad cocktail can control.  Now I could be taking a huge risk here but so far ... no pain.  NO PAIN!!!  While it's only been two days those are typically the worst so is it possible I'm in the clear??
What is different about this cycle you ask?  The Whole30 is different.  I have eliminated all of the foods that cause inflammation and as a result I am somehow pain free.  It's almost surreal.
And if you've read the list of restrictions on my Whole30 post you are probably thinking wouldn't it be easier to just take all those drugs than not eat all of those delicious foods.
Take a look for yourself ... I think tonight's meal looks pretty delicious.

Open face taco omelet using homemade taco seasoning.  Amazing.
Moral of this long, tmi riddled blog post?  Whole30 = Life Changing  Being a Woman = shitty.
Oh and that lump is finally going away :)
Please say a prayer tonight for all of the infertile women out there having to put their bodies through these same shenanigans.  They are heartbroken, exhausted and tired of knowing "hope" as something you pee on.

Taco Seasoning
1/2 cup chili powder
1/4 cup onion powder
1/8 cup ground cumin
1 tbls. garlic powder
1 tbls. paprika
1 tbls. sea salt
Mix in a mason jar.
This is enough for 2 or maybe even more nights of tacos ... season to taste.

This happened

How's that Whole30 going you ask?

I ate this entire jar today ... :-O

Mark your Calendars!!

It's official ...
The rummage dates have been set!  Mark your calendars for May 18-19 and June 1-2!
If you are looking for some new and fun ways to kick off your summer, our sale could work to your advantage because the rummage sales are being held in ...

Oh ... You've never been to Lake Geneva?  Well let me give you a whole plethora of reasons why you and your family should make the trip.

Lake Geneva has a fantastic historic downtown area full of shops and restaurants.

What if shopping isn't your thing you ask?  Well then venture a little further to the lake and you can take a boat tour.

Fun fact: Hubby and I were married in Lake Geneva at the Riviera

If you still aren't sold ... you can also visit Facebook and check out 365 Things To Do In Lake Geneva for some more suggestions.
Location details and sale times to come soon.  In the meantime we are still collecting your clutter.  Please Email us if you would like to contribute and we will come take it off your hands.

Simple Surprises

Simple surprises from kind hearted family, friends and strangers are what keep us going through this difficult struggle.
This past week I came home to the most spectacular surprise in my mailbox from my adoption buddy in Texas.  She sure does know me well and it kept a smile on my face for days!

That same week I was invited to get together for dinner with a friend that I don't get to see nearly enough.  We had a great time catching up and look what she gave me for baby C!!!  :)

And just when I thought this week couldn't bring any more blessings we received a monetary donation through this blog to help us reach our goal.  This one brought me to tears but I assure you they were happy tears.  It means so much to see how much our dream means to those around us.
I cannot thank all of you enough.  If we make our goal by June I pledge to post a picture of our bundle of joy every day for the whole first year.  It will be our turn to share with all of you :)

Lastly, in honor of National Infertility Awareness Week I challenge you to put a smile on the face of an infertile in your life.  I can guarantee it will mean more than you know.

**Don't forget we are still collecting clutter  Calling All Clutter Again

NIAW

Happy National Infertility Awareness Week! 

Show your infertile friends some love this week and educate yourself :)

Puppy Love

Lazy Friday for my Bella  :)

Team Whole30

We have a team of Whole30'ers ready to lose weight, feel great and see the amazing things whole foods can do for your body! Care to join us??  Monday April 22nd (Earth Day) ... Be there :)

It has been 6 months since my last Whole30 challenge and while I would like to say I stuck to a strict Paleo diet after its completion that would be a lie.   I am back to being swollen, over my ideal weight and addicted to foods that make my moods happy not my body. 
If you are not familiar with the program you can find the rules and recommended grocery list in this post (Whole30).  It's a great starting point.  If the rules scare you maybe some concrete results (Whole30 is a wrap) will help sway your opinion and get you to join us. 
While I didn't do a very good job of posting my favorite meals or tips and tricks along the way I am ready to divulge them all now so take good notes!
First things first ... the first week is the hardest.  It's a complete mind game and you will need your support team the most this week.  Other than cravings and feeling completely restricted you can expect some headaches from sugar withdrawal.  I found that incorporating LOTS of fruits this first week to act as a natural substitute really helped.  And while the rules say not to step on the scale for the entire 30 days ... if you are seriously ready to throw in the towel after week one a trip to the scale will be just what you need to keep you motivated.  I lost 7 pounds the first week! (Yep ... cheated)
My second tip is to always have more food than what you think you will need on hand.  When you let yourself get hungry is when you are most likely to cheat.  If you feel like you are snacking all day to stay full while on this program it's okay.  Eating a lot of whole foods will not cause you to gain weight.  Keep lots of snacks handy and things you can grab on the go.
The third thing I would want you to know ahead of time is that it can be time consuming to eat right.  Most if not all meals here require you to plan ahead and eat at home.  It helps if you are in the right mind set going into things. 
Fourth ... this will be so much easier if you are a fan of coconut.
I think that's enough boring tips for now.  Let's get to the good part ... the foods!

My Whole30 Favorites
Breakfast:
Apple Muffins
Banana Nut Muffins
Eggs
Smoothie - Spinach, Kale, Frozen Fruit and Naked Green Machine

Lunch:
Shredded chicken stuffed avocado
Salami cucumber roll ups

Snacks:
Almond Butter Apples
Granola
Coconut Treat
Hard Boiled Eggs
Larabars (Read ingredients carefully not all flavors qualify)
Applesauce
Nuts and seeds

Meals:
Spicy Shred
Chicken Patties (recipe to come)
Spaghetti meat sauce and Spaghetti Squash or Green beans (Recommend Victoria Arrabbiata sauce)
Spicy Coconut Shrimp
Smoked sausage with sautéed peppers and onions
Breakfast style tacos  (Same idea only I use taco fixins minus cheese)
Pesto Shrimp and Spaghetti Squash

Sides:
Cauliflower Rice
Roasted Veggies
Sweet Potato Fries

Staples to keep in the house:
Coconut Milk (canned)
Unsweetened coconut flakes
Coconut Oil (noticing a pattern?)
Fruits of the Forrest Jam (Whole Foods Brand)
Nuts/Seeds
Flax seed meal
Almond Flour

This is obviously not a complete list but as you can see the links send you to sites with MANY more recipes to try.  I suggest picking a few that seem like variations of what you would normally eat and meal plan those when you shop for your first week.  Drastic meal changes can also lead to failure and we just can't have that :)
I am available for any questions you can email me privately or post them here so everyone can benefit from the answers/discussions.
Won't you join us so in 34 days we can all celebrate healthy success??

The Match Game

For those of you who missed the announcement in my Calling All Clutter Again post we have been matched!  Yippee!  That means we have been chosen as a good match and paired for an adoption.  I know we are being rather vague about the details and please understand we are not intentionally leaving you in the dark.  All of you have been our biggest supporters and we would be lost without you. 
It's just that there is so much uncertainty paired with legalities and privacy concerns with adoption and we do not want to jinx anything just yet. As soon as we have dotted our Is and crossed our Ts we will give as many details as possible I promise!
In the meantime we have a fund raising deadline of June ... yep this June!  So please keep us in mind as you are Spring Cleaning.  We will come pick up anything you are willing to donate.  If you have no clutter ( J.E.A.L.O.U.S. ) be sure to stay tuned for the finalized rummage dates so you can check out some of the great items we will have for sale.

The Dumpster Diaries

To my delight this beauty was waiting in my driveway when I arrived home from work last week Friday. 

After 10 days we took that empty dumpster and turned it into this ...

Honestly I swear we gained square footage.  And as promised here are a few highlights from the purge.

The Oldest Item:

The Weirdest Item:

We found this obituary (no one the family can remember knowing) and it turns out I drive right by this house every day on my way to work.  Weird.

Most Embarrassing: 

In our defense they were all running shoes :)

Grossest Item:

Out of respect for my viewers and the deceased I decided not to post a picture for this one.  While cleaning out the garage we found a tiny nest in a drawer of an old workbench that had deceased baby chippers in it.  Sad and pretty gross.

 

This experience was a really great glimpse into the past generations and the 'everything can be fixed so save it' mentality.  We had bent sections of gutters, broken rakes and shovel handles, a suitcase full of random tools, and a wall full of mismatched screws, washers, wall anchors, fuses ... you name it.  Now that both Ray and Lydia have passed I think we felt better about getting rid of some of these scrapable items.



Bonus:

We have a nice rummage collection started in the newly emptied garage.  You guys are the greatest.  Keep the clutter coming!!  We cannot tell you how much we appreciate your help!

Please tell me God sent them Angels

This is most definitely not a sunshine and rainbows post but I am so enraged I need to get it off my chest.  I am generally not one to judge other parents because I myself am not one and I know no two children are the same thus making no two parenting experiences the same ...  HOWEVER ... I can say with complete confidence that this woman, no matter her circumstances, had NO business being a parent.  Honestly I wouldn't trust her to watch my dogs for 15 minutes. 

Three children dead in West Allis house fire

It is times like these that I struggle to understand why our loving household remains an empty nest and this fertile mertyle has children she is incapable of caring for.

I pray with all my heart that God sent these beautiful children his angels in their time of need.  That they felt no fear or pain and before they could comprehend what was happening they were looking our Lord and Savior in the eyes. 
Lastly ... to their mother ... shame on you!

Calling all Clutter again!

Despite the nasty hand mother nature is currently dealing Southeast Wisconsin, Spring has sprung!  Who doesn't love the sense of satisfaction spring cleaning and decluttering can bring, right?

We need your help again and this time it's urgent because we've been matched and have a fundraising deadline!  Yep you read that right.  We've been matched and we have until June to raise the remaining money needed to fully fund our family. 

While we are all kinds of excited about our future parenting plans being one step closer to reality, nothing is certain and we are trusting God with our guarded hearts.  Please be patient ... we will share details as we are able.
In the meantime if you have any clutter in re-saleable condition we will gladly take it off your hands.  We will even come to you!  We are soo appreciative for those of you who donated last round and it was a great success. 

Look what you made possible!!

Here's to hoping for more this May. 
The rummage date is not yet concrete however once we finalize a date or dates in May I will let everyone know the deadline for clutter.  If you have items you would like to donate please email me to make arrangements.

What a week

Technically I am starting this past Saturday, deemed dumpster day!!  The dumpster arrived Friday afternoon and was just begging for some attention come Saturday morning.  Mom arrived bright and early ready to help me clean the garage, shed and sun room.  Boy was I excited.
That lasted as long as it took us to take the toilet from our remodel and try to hoist it into the dumpster just the two of us.  Pinkie got caught between the toilet and the dumpster.  Ouch ...

Next we bring on the germs ... human and otherwise.  I came down with a terrible bacterial infection last week which sidelined me for days.  Sprocket began sneezing and wheezing from an upper respiratory infection which thankfully resolved itself.  Poor little guy could be heard breathing through his stuffy nose all the way across the room.  Bella looked like a walking dead dog with conjunctivitis in her left eye and silly Cassie tried to eat/play with a Woodlouse spider and got bit in the mouth instead.  What does one do with a house full of sick furbabies you ask?  We were all quarantined together in the nursery.

Hard to tell but that's Sprocket in the top right.  At least they are snugly when they aren't feeling well.  Not going to lie ... I loved every minute of the snuggling. 

Happy to say this week is beginning to turn around :)   Time to buy some Lysol!



Spring Cleaning?

If we clean spring will come right?

When most people hear Spring Cleaning they think of this ...

When I think about this year's spring cleaning, I'm thinking ...

I bet you are laughing at me right now but in all seriousness my dumpster arrives tomorrow morning and I'm so insanely excited I might not sleep tonight!  Better than Christmas ... honest.

We bought our house from relatives and inherited a lot of "stuff" that not even multiple rummage sales have gotten rid of.  Being that the dump is closed on the only day hubby and I have off together things just seem to accumulate.

So if you can't find me for the next ten glorious days I will be purging. 

This was absolutely necessary for my mental well being before baby C arrives.

If you are doubting our need for a 12 yard dumpster I accept that challenge. 

Post purge blog will include:

The empty dumpster upon arrival

The oldest item

The weirdest item

The most embarrassing possession

The grossest item

and the dumpster after I'm through with it :) 

Just to name a few (also open for requests/suggestions from curious minds)

Have I mentioned how excited I am??

On a more serious note if you also plan on doing some spring cleaning and have items worthy of a new home, we are hoping to plan another rummage for this spring/early summer.  If you are interested in donating your clutter shoot me an email.  I will have plenty of space for it after my purge is complete. 

BOOM goes the savings

A well orchestrated shopping trip pleases me to no end and Target is my favorite place to not leave my hard earned dollars.
This week I matched my manufacturer coupons, Target coupons, Sales and gift card promotions to spend $63.51 while saving $53.27 and walking out with $10 in gift cards.  WOOHOO. 
Some deals that topped my list ...

Ore Ida frozen potato products are buy 3 get one free and I just so happened to have two $1 off coupons as well.

A $1.50 off coupon for the baked delights and buy one get one frees for the Busy Bones!

Cat food was also buy one get one free with a Target printable coupon.  (3rd time I've used this)

My favorite lot :)  Target is giving $5 gift cards on purchases of 4 items listed in their ad this week.

Tresemme shampoo and conditioner qualify and I had 2 coupons for $3 off two bottles.  That's $6 off my 4 plus the $5 gift card.  Score!  Then I also had $1 off coupons for both Dove body washes, $.70 off the Degree deodorant and a buy one get one free coupon on Vaseline lotion.  That's another 4 items and another $5 gift card. 

There were obviously other items and coupons but all of those combined with my 5% off Rx rewards pass and another 5% off with my Redcard = Pure savings bliss.

Thank you Target for helping me save money while still using the products my family loves.

Now off to use those tots and 2/$6 ground beef to make tater tot casserole.  Mmm