Seriously considering becoming a new business owner

The way things have been at work here in the past month or so, really have me considering a new job opportunity (well, kind of new). I am browsing locations and buildings and dreaming of opening my own store.  I think I would enjoy it very much and maybe, eventually I could get my bestie involved.

So, if you would like to help out, let me know.  I want to open a little resale/consignment shop. What do y'all think of the idea? 

Last week of being 32

So this is my last week of looking at life through 32 year old eyes. I have to say, this has probably been one of, if not the toughest year for me. 
The stresses of life: infertility, adoption, aging parents, work, church... that pretty much sums it up right there. It's not that some people don't know how infertility can effect EVERY aspect of your daily life, it's that some just seem to over look the fact of all I have to deal with. I honestly do not feel the support from those people around me. I have my group of gals that I can talk to, but they are not always available when I am in meltdown mode.  So I had a meltdown last Sunday. 

I love it when people are like "just relax". That is not easy for me. I have an inherited temper. All the women on my dad's side do. Pretty much anything will set us off. Oh, yes, family reunions are fun... 
Then on the other hand, I am very timid in some situations. I can remember on a college chorus trip to Atlanta, trying to get the attention of a smoothie bar employee to order... I stood there, and stood there, like hello, can you not see I am standing here. Finally got ill and walked off. One of my fellow choir members, Zack, asked why I hadn't gotten a drink too. I made up the excuse that I didn't really want one, but he figured out that was not true. He was going to go back and get it for me, but I told him it wasn't worth the trouble and thanked him. 
I remembered that instance Friday night as I stood at a bar trying to order a drink... standing there, not being noticed by the bar tender... again. And I went back to the table and told my girl friend, I couldn't get our drinks ordered. But my feisty little friend waltzed up there and got the job done. So apparently, no matter how old I am, I will always need that one person to stand up for me... until I loose my temper. 

~In memory of Zack~

Thank you for standing up for me.

I have also been reading up on Insulin Resistance as well.  My doctor feels that this is my main issue in PCOS. Here is a little of what I have read.

What is insulin?
Insulin is a hormone made by an organ in the body called the pancreas. The food you eat is broken down into into simple sugar (glucose) during digestion. Glucose is absorbed into the blood after you eat. Insulin helps glucose enter the cells of the body to be used as energy. If there's not enough insulin in the body, or if the body can’t use the insulin, sugar levels in the blood become higher.

What is insulin resistance?

If your body is resistant to insulin, it means you need high levels of insulin to keep your blood sugar normal. Certain medical conditions such as being overweight or having PCOS can cause insulin resistance. Insulin resistance tends to run in families.

What can insulin resistance do to me?

High insulin levels can cause thickening and darkening of the skin (acanthosis nigricans) on the back of the neck, axilla (under the arms), and groin area. In young women with PCOS, high insulin levels can cause the ovaries to make more androgen hormones such as testosterone. This can cause increased body hair, acne, and irregular or few periods. Having insulin resistance can increase your risk of developing diabetes.

Read more: http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/metformin.html#ixzz2mvjkMpyh

November 2013... still no child has graced our presence

So it's November, the 16th to be exact. And still I sit here (at work, lol) thinking that this year really hasn't accomplished much in our journey. They only thing that has really grown is our "network" so to speak.  We have met and gotten to know so really sweet people this year! When I look back and see these amazing people that God placed in our path, I realize that He has our backs. It may not be what we want. And I may pitch a tantrum when I "don't get my way" in all this, but it's all in His control. Saying that... it isn't any easier. LOL

Thank you to everyone who has taken time to share their stories with us and just loved us through this year. 

In recent news, a former classmate of mine recommended that I look in to the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle change/diet. Of course I looked at their webpage (http://trimhealthymama.com) and the went directly to Pinterest to look for/at the recipes. Last night, I broke down and purchased the ebook. Hopefully I can learn and use their great information! 

OH! We did have a "well woman" visit with our RE. Everything there came back good. She was very impressed with my weigh loss over this summer, and told me to keep at it. (I had lost 23 pounds, but hate to say I've gained about 5 back since this cold weather has moved in! Not fun to walk outside in freezing temps. BUT I got my birthday/Christmas present to myself this week. An elliptical. Yay! Now, just to force myself into using it! ha ha)

So, I will start to make my goal list for 2014.
1-Use that elliptical!
2-Watch what I am eating!
3-Loose at least 20 more pounds!

I know I will think of more later.

Hold up & back where you came from

So I think that we are ready to go back towards using the fertility specialist. 

We had our one year review of our home study and we are just not ready to step in to the world of fostering yet. Apparently that's the only way you are "guaranteed" (and I use that loosely) a younger child through the state. 

The time is coming for me to have my yearly exam with the all lovely Pap, and I'm just going to make this year's appointment with our Specialist. She had told us before that many of their patients come for this as well. So, I'm going to do that and just have a follow up visit as to what is definately our next step in all this mess. 

Hopefully in a few months we will have good news to share!

Cookin'

Been a while since I've posted. And I can't really say anything new has happened in our journey.
But I did want to post this. Ewave.tv is a new online tv network. My gal from Alabama, Ashton Shepherd, has just launched her very own cooking show, called Cookin' Country.... and here it is. :)

http://www.ashtonshepherd.com/cookincountry.html

Some days I feel like an orphan

The title pretty much says it all. It is a very true statement for me. Some days I feel like an orphan. And kind of, technically, I halfway am. 

I often wonder what my life would have been like if I hadn't lost my mom and my granny when I was 5. Would I be closer to people I really barely know? Would I be less messed emotionally? Would I know more about my infertility? 

What's gotten to me here lately is everyone, I mean EVERYONE, here where we live seems to be kin or married-in! I keep asking people to adopt me, but I haven't had any takers yet. But who wants a 32-year old, right?!

February & March Update

Man, it's been a while since I posted! Whoops! Well, here goes!

On the medical front, I went to the new Breast Cancer doctor. She was really nice and was interested in my family history. My fertility doctor wanted me to get the BRCA gene test, but the BC doc didn't think it was the right time. And since I only had one family line that BC. She wants to keep an eye on me but wants me to have all the babies I want... Well, yeah, that's why we started going to the fertility specialist.

Then I had my HSG test just this Tuesday. This is a dye and x-ray test that checks your fallopian tubes to make sure they are not blocked. I was told that I had a beautiful anatomy & everything looked great, no blockages. Whew! That is good news!! The test didn't hurt, just a little pinching as she inserted the tube and an awkward feeling of fullness when the dye filled me. It's hard to explain really. 

On the adoption front, we received a call from our social worker Tuesday as well... Tuesday was just a day for us, I'm telling ya!  She wanted us to come in for a quick visit and discuss some things with us. Mainly, just wanted to check and see how we were and what new things were happening with us. But also for us to consider "mentoring" a child. Basically, we would be like a big brother/big sister or aunt & uncle type. Take the kid out to experience things he/she might not otherwise get to take part in. This would also help the child build connections with people outside the foster (or eventually adoptive) family that they can carry with them down the road in their lives. We still have to discuss it some more. But it would be a very good thing. 

Oh! And if you have noticed my weight loss ticker  over there >>>, you see that I have now lost 18 pounds since January 10th!! Last week I had 3 people at work ask me if I have lost weight or ask how much I have lost. I still can't SEE it, but I am back in jeans I haven't worn in at least 3 years, which is a good thing. 

So that's about it! Until next time, much love... 

Our newest 180

So, while there is nothing happening on the adoption front, and with us being as fed-up as we are, we decided to make a 180 turn and go in the opposite direction. We went to see a fertility specialist.

First impressions say a lot. The office, the staff, the med student, and the doctor--- all super sweet & awesome! I was super impressed. The office wasn't over flowing with patients, the doctor could take her time with us, which she did. We didn't find out much more than we already knew. The doctor has to send off for our medical records from our other doctors. But we did find out that I do not have PCOS. The dr. did an ultrasound and my follicles looked normal. So that is good news. But she did put me on a 1200 calorie a day diet, because I am overweight. I won't deny that; I do love food.
So I started the diet Friday. Got a killer headache that afternoon. Went to bed when I got home. Saturday, I had absolutely no energy to do anything. But I figured out that I have to eat a good breakfast and then less during the day. I did that Sunday and today, and I feel much better. So Big in the a.m. medium at lunch, and little for supper. :)
Good news is that, as of today, I've lost 7 pounds. I don't know where, but that's what the scale says.