Yes Lord, Mommy!

Yes Lord!  Yes Lord, Mommy I hear from the back seat, day in and day out.  That's my 3 year old's current favorite song. She requests it EVERY TIME we get into the car (and sometimes when we're at home despite the fact that we keep the CD in the car).  Actually the song is called "Trading My Sorrows".  The refrain goes "Yes Lord.  Yes Lord.  Yes Yes Lord.... and my little one loves to sing along with it!   Many days I get into the car dreading her request because I have heard the song so many times.  As much as I don't want to listen to it some days though, I just can't turn her down.  It's actually one of my favorite worship songs too and most days I can't help but sing along.  This morning, just like every other for the past couple weeks, she asked for her "Yes Lord" song.  And this morning, just like many others, I really didn't feel like it, but knew she wouldn't give up.  So I put it on.  This morning though, I had a mini revelation.  It's kinda like God is using my little girl to remind me day in and day out (sometimes several times a day) to say "yes, Lord".  Yes, Lord, I will listen to You.  Yes, Lord, I will follow You.  Yes, Lord, I want to do Your will.  As you know, we're in the midst of a fertility struggle.  It can be very hard at times to say "yes, Lord" during difficult times like this.  I want to wallow in my sorrow and not be bothered with anyone's will but my own at times.  But then this song comes on and it reminds me to say "I'm trading my sorrows"  so that I can say "yes, Lord"!  I just love seeing how our loving heavenly Father works through even the smallest people to bring others closer to Him!


Trading My Sorrows   by Darrell Evans
lyrics provided by elyrics.net

I'm trading my sorrow
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord

[Chorus:]
And we say yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Amen


I'm pressed but not crushed persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure
And his joy's gonna be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning
 

Made by hand

So about those pictures I promised of handmade Christmas gifts......
I didn't remember to take pics of everything, but I did get most of them.  For my mother and mother-in-law I made some earrings.  We also bought them some gifts that they had been wanting, but I thought a little something handmade would be a nice addition.

For a handful of our friends I made gift bags.  I sewed tote bags and filled them each with a cookie/brownie/bread mix in a jar, a ceramic tile trivet, and a tin of homemade fudge.

The tote bags are about the size of those reusable grocery bags, but much more durable!

Each tote bag contained a different mix in a jar.  Some of the mixes I used made were Rocky Road Brownies, Basic Blondies, Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins, and Lemony Raisin Bread.  The one pictured is for Rocky Road Brownies....yum!

I found these cute tins at Joann Fabrics on sale for about $1.50 each!

I filled each one with 2 layers of fudge.  The fudge pictured here is Heath Bar fudge.









I also made basic chocolate fudge, chocolate walnut fudge, chocolate peanut butter fudge, and chocolate fudge with Andes mint chips pressed into the top.

The trivets came out great!  Super easy too! 

 Just take an 8x8 inch ceramic tile, cut a piece of cork tile of the same size and glue them together using liquid nail

I also made a couple gifts for my husband.  Shortly before Christmas, we finished painting and decorating our basement bar, but never gave it a name.  So I decided to do that for him!

 

I bought a plain wooden sign and painted it for him.  We decided that the bar was going to be a fun Irish pub, so after much deliberation I decided to call the pub "Son of a Leprechaun Irish Pub".  

In addition to the entrance sign, I also made a set of 9 cork-backed foam coasters for the bar top. 

They're made pretty much the same way as my tile trivets, but with a layer of foam sheet instead of ceramic tile.  I drew the logo directly onto the foam sheet with permanent marker and then sprayed them with an acrylic sealant.

 . 

I'm super happy with how everything came out and can't wait to make more gifts for our friends and family throughout the year!

My new [ad]venture!

Announcement: I am opening a store on Etsy! 

[Insert shameless self-promotion here]

After creating several handmade Christmas gifts, I have decided that I may be able to make some extra money by doing something that I really like.  I've come to really enjoy making jewelry, especially multi-strand necklaces and earrings, so that will be a large part of my store.  However, I also have some great ideas for other crafts.  So far I have made cute strawberry shaped coasters and an adorable orange slice shaped cell phone case.  I will be posting my first items for sale this weekend.  Check them out at Giggle Love Crafts!

There's this thing called secondary infertility

Who knew?  I feel so naive thinking over a year ago that it would be easy to have a second child.   Update: still NOT pregnant.  I'm still charting using the Creighton Model and still love how much more it lets me know/understand my cycles.  I used Creighton for a little over 4 months before getting the ok from my teacher to see the doctor for testing.  I switched to a Catholic gyno who knows the Creighton Model.  She looked over my charts and ordered a whole slew of tests. 

Test Cycle 
Nov. 29th : Standard cycle day 3 blood test (tests levels for all the essential hormones in your cycle)
Dec. 3rd : Hysterosalpingogram, aka HSG (a series of x-rays the document how a dye runs through your uterus and out the fallopian tubes, used to check for blockage of the tubes)
Dec.7th (4 days before ovulation) : Estrogen and Progesterone blood test
Dec. 9th (2 days before ovulation) : Estrogen and Progesterone blood test
Dec. 11th (ovulation) : Estrogen and Progesterone blood test
Dec. 13th (2 days after ovulation) : Estrogen and Progesterone blood test
Dec. 14th (3 days after ovulation) : Progesterone blood test
Dec. 16th (5 days after ovulation) : Progesterone blood test
Dec. 18th (7 days after ovulation) : Progesterone blood test
Dec. 20th (9 days after ovulation) : Progesterone blood test
Dec. 22nd (11 days after ovulation) : Progesterone blood test
Sometime during this cycle: Sperm analysis for the hubby 

Dec. 28th : Test results
*  All of my pre ovulation hormones are fine (yay!)
*  The HSG showed my left fallopian tube is blocked. :(  Not quite sure how since the main causes of that are usually endometriosis (my dr. said she didn't see any evidence of endo. during my annual exam) or pelvic inflammatory disease (caused by chronic vaginal infections - which I haven't had, or by an STD - also never had).   
*  Post ovulation hormones not as good as the pre.  Diagnosis: Low progesterone.  :(
*  Hubby's SA came back with a slightly low count

Fixing us
Blocked fallopian tube: May be able to fix through sugery, though I'm a little leary of surgery, so since I still have one working tube, we're holding off on this.  Hopefully things will work out without surgery.  I have done a little research on my own and found this great fertility self massage that claims it can open a blocked tube, so I've been doing that occasionally in the evenings.
Low progesterone: I'm taking a 200mg once daily vaginal progesterone suppository.  I started this last cycle from 3 days after ovulation until the end of my cycle and had a blood test to see if it was working on 7 days after ovulation.  It worked!  So I'll keep on this same regimin for now and *when* I finally get pregnant will probably have to stay on it for some of the pregnancy.
Low sperm count: Hubby was referred to a urologist.  The urologist confirmed a double variocele (1 on each side, from what I understand it's basically varicose veins in the scrotum, but does not cause any health problems or pain, just occasionally low sperm count.  The urologist also said that hubby's sperm count was actually not too low, just slightly below average.  He did order a second SA just to make sure.  We both go back to see this doctor this week.  Aside from the low sperm count, hubby's been having some pain "down there" and the urologist diagnosed it as enlarged bladder and enlarged prostate.  Hubby is on antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds, but the pain seems to be getting worse in his prostate.  Hoping this week's appointment can bring some more answers.
Other help: 
* My gyno also prescribed me 500mg og Vitamin B6 each day to help make my "special area" more "sperm friendly".
* A friend is letting me borrow her relic of St. Gerard and I'm in the middle of a novena to him asking for his intercession to God for help in getting pregnant.  FYI, the relic is a very tiny piece of material that St. Gerard touched at some point and is now enclosed in a little metal and glass case.  It has been in her family for a long time and everyone, except for my friend, it has been passed down to has become pregnant!  My friend however has adopted 4 lovely children over the years and has been blessed with a beautiful family!  The novena I'm saying is a 9 day prayer said to the saint asking for him to take my requests to God.  Since he's already in heaven and thus much closer to God than I am, he can more directly take my requests to God. Many women have attributed their pregnancies to the interccession of St. Gerard and I hope to be one of them soon!  St. Gerard, pray for us!

Store bought or handmade?

What type of gifts do you give for the holidays?  Do you buy all of your gifts?  Make most of them?  An equal combination of store bought and handmade?  I've always bought all of my gifts for family and friends.  It can be so hard finding something personal that way though.  This year I decided to make a lot of gifts.  Part of it is to save money.  But partially also because I never know what to get for my friends.  You know the ones that you definitely want to get gifts for but don't get to see every weekend and so you can't quite pick the perfect gift in the store?  I love sewing and baking and have just ventured into some jewelry making.  I love crafts in general and realized that I could use my craftiness to make things for my loved ones.

In need of ideas for some easy homemade gifts?
*cookie mix in a jar
*baked goods (brownies, cookies, fudge, rice krispy treats, etc)  stored in a Christmas tin
*jewelry
*personalized stationary (calligraphy or stamps)
*knitted scarves or hats
*fleece blankets
*dinner gift basket, complete with recipe and non perishable goods used in the recipe (think pasta dishes)
*coupons (free babysitting, cook dinner, girls/guys night out, coffee date w/ friend)
*mini scrapbook or just a couple scrapbook pages

After the holidays I'll share pics of what I decided to make for my friends and family!

Mini Office Assistant

She makes copies, sends faxes, and orders pizza!  Alli loves being our little office gopher.  She regularly helps us make copies and send faxes (she loves pressing the buttons!).  Today she even decided that we were going to order lunch!  She brought over a take out menu and said, Mommy I want lunch.  We asked her what she wanted.  She looked at the paper a minute and declared, "Pizza!"  Guess we should order food less often for lunch, lol.

He's actually ready this time!

Last Sunday at church I realized that my hubby is actually ready to have a baby.  Alli was a surprise and he definitely wasn't ready for her.  This time we've been trying for almost a year and he said he was ready, but I wasn't sure.  Every month when the test was negative he would shrug it off and say it's just not time.  It seemed like he didn't really care either way.  But this past Sunday at church there was a little baby a few rows in front of us.  Hubby turned to me, pointed out the baby boy and said, "look how cute that baby is! I can't help but stare at him!"  It melted and broke my heart at the same time.  It was exciting realizing he really does want another baby right now, but at the same time I was hurting because I haven't been able to give him one and I'm pretty sure it's something wrong with me.  Poop!  Hoping to be able to do something about this soon!

Renewed Hope

Can I just say that I LOVE the Creighton Model of natural family planning!  A close friend of mine knew we had been having difficulties conceiving and suggested I learn the Creighton Model.  Pretty much it's a type of charting that focuses mainly on external cervical mucus observations throughout the day as well as lengths of the different phases of your cycle (i.e. period, pre-ovulation, post-ovulation/luteal).  By taking detailed notes each day about these things the teacher I see every 2 weeks can make an educated guess at why I'm having fertility issues.  Just like other forms of NFP (natural family planning), Creighton can be used to achieve or avoid pregnancy.  Creighton is also used however to monitor a woman's health and fertility. 

So,  I started seeing my teacher mid July and have been charting for a little more than 2 cycles now.  I just feel so hopeful now.  I had kinda given up a little before because I knew a young (ages 26 & 27), fertile (hello, we had 1 kid already!) couple should be able to conceive in 4-6 months, if not less.  I also know that a regular Gyno won't start doing any fertility testing until after a whole year of trying at this age. Now if I was over 35 it'd be a different story.  So just doing something proactive gave me a little more hope.  After 2 cycles, my teacher and I noticed that my luteal phase of my cycles was varying a lot.  It should stay within pretty much the same from cycle to cycle (within about 1-2 days more or less).  Mine was 16 days one month and 11 the next!  This is my third full month charting and we're going to see how it goes, but she said if it jumps up to a higher number again (and I'm not pregnant) then it could mean something is iffy.  I did find out though that probably whatever is causing us to have trouble conceiving is easily treatable.  She said most of the time with couples who have had a child already, the problem is hormonal.  She thinks in my case it could be a lack of progesterone.  So we'll see....fingers crossed that I'm preggo this month!

Making a baby is hard!

So I just haven't been in the mood to write lately.  I guess it's hard to feel inspired to write about motherhood when I'm having such a hard time conceiving.  I know I haven't mentioned it before, but we've been trying for baby #2 for 8 months now. 

It was so easy with Alli.  Actually we weren't trying.  Technically we were trying not to, but we were also newlyweds using the sympto-thermal method of natural family planning.  If you're not familiar, basically I check different signs of fertility including my waking daily temperature in order to track my fertile and infertile times during my cycle.  When we conceived Alli we should have been abstaining for about 10 days in the middle of each cycle in order to not get pregnant.  But hey, like I said we were newlyweds and abstaining that long didn't always happen. 

This time around we've been actively trying, using those fertility signs to tell us when is the exact right time to try.  This time has not been quite as easy as I thought it would be.  Like so many other people we thought, the first baby was an "oopsy" so actually trying for this one should be easy, right?  NOT! 

What's gonna work? Teamwork!

Alli is completely obssesed with Wonder Pets, a NickJr cartoon, so when we decided it was time for her to get "big girl" furniture, I figured it was also time to redo the theme in her room from "baby princess" to Wonder Pets.  No Wonder Pets bedroom is complete without a flyboat, and Alli got hers for under $3.00.  The only part I had to buy was the red laundry basket.  The rest was created with various craft materials I had at home (mostly foam paper and a hot glue gun).  A link to directions on how to make this toy box will follow soon.

Yay for Moms!

Just wanted to wish all the moms and expectant mommies a very happy Mother's Day!!!  Make sure you take some time to yourself and relax today.  You deserve it!

Happy Earth Day! Cloth Diapers, Anyone?

So, I've been considering making the switch to cloth diapers (next time around, whenever that may be).  It definitely makes me nervous.  With Alli I only half-considered thinking about switching, and then decided it was easier (especially the first time around) to go the disposable route.

I think I may actually do it next time though.  In searching the web I've found that cloth diapering doesn't have to be difficult or messy. 

Messy was my main concern.  Poopy messes to be exact.  I just couldn't imagine dunking a poopy diaper in the toilet to rinse it off.  I HATE putting my hand in the toilet.  I'm a Clorox Toilet Wand type of person when it comes to cleaning.  When I was in high school one of my chores was cleaning the bathroom....with just an old wash cloth and Ajax powder.  ICK!  I guess after a while you get used to sticking your hand in the toilet, but if I can avoid it, I will.

This brings me to one of my discoveries.  (Sorry, I can't remember exactly who online suggested it).  The Potty Pail Diaper Sprayer Hose . This thing is such a great idea!  No more hands, or diapers for that matter, in the toilet!  I was so excited when I found it that I was ready to switch right then and there.  However, Alli is a little more than 2 and potty trained already.  But we are trying for number 2, so I guess I'm just thinking ahead...way ahead, since I'm not even pregnant yet.

I'm still trying to work out what my favorite cloth diaper is.   There are just so many options out there now!  Much better than when my mother diapered me with the standard thick rectangle cloth and pins.  Those huge pins are scary!  You know my father actually pinned my hip when he was changing my diaper...without noticing!!  Thank God I don't remember because I'm sure it was painful!

Thanks to Design Mom, I've found a lot of great info on cloth diapers.  So I really like this diaper by bumGenius.  It's an all-in-one cloth diaper, plus it's one size fits all! Seems like it would be the perfect solution for a cloth diaper newbie like myself.  Although, the Changing Diapers, Changing Minds program offered by Jillian's Drawers might be worth checking out too.

What are your thoughts on cloth diapers?  Do you have a favorite brand?

My Poor Baby: Childhood Diseases

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease.  Really?  I never would have expected to deal with my little one having that.  I've heard of it before, but didn't think it would be as bad as it is either.  Chicken pox, colds, poison ivy, the flu, pink eye, stomach bugs....sure, I expected those.  But Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease?  Nope, not even on my radar!

That's why I was so worried and caught completely off guard when Alli came down with it.  She started with a fever Monday of last week, but I figured just another cold probably.  Then a couple days later, she started complaining that her mouth hurt, and when I checked her gums were a little swollen.  So then I figured, swollen, achey gums, fever... must be teething again.   (She has all her baby teeth, but some on the top are not quite completely in yet.)  Well, then last Friday her gums started bleeding and her fever was rising a little higher than a teething fever.  It was time to let the doctor in on this. 

Friday, April 16th - Doctor's appointment revealed a viral infection.  Should be gone in a week,  keep her hydrated and as comfortable as possible, they said.  Easier said than done...you try getting a 2 year old to eat when her mouth bleeds the second anything touches it!

Sunday, April 18th - The blisters in her mouth got so bad she could hardly eat.  Time to visit Patient First.  Same conclusion as the pediatrician, only slightly more info.  Coxsackie virus...keep her hydrated, numb her gums with prescription meds, and give her Tylenol for pain/fever. 

What the heck is Coxsackie Virus???  Ohhh Google.....  coxsackie virus - the virus that has been a pain in my baby's mouth for over a week, the virus that causes Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease.  So in doing my research I've found that the symptoms last anywhere from 1-2 weeks.  They can be as simple as a rash on the hands and/or feet or as severe as my daughter's case, blisters in the mouth - on the gums, tongue, insides of cheeks, roof of the mouth, inside of lips, plus very irritating rashes on the hands, feet, and/or butt.  And there's just about nothing that you can do about it.  Try to get them to eat/drink as much as possible. (Dairy is best as it coats the sores in the mouth and may help it to heal faster.  Citrusy/acidy/salty foods are a definite no-no.)  Tylenol for pain and fever.  Orajel to numb the gums.  Good luck if your little one ever gets this.  It's tough for them to go through and tough for you to watch, almost helpless.

Monday, April 19th - No more fever! Unfortunately, that didn't releive much of her suffering. Still waiting for the blisters to subside.

We're hoping and praying that the blisters go away soon because I just can't see her living on frozen Gogurts and ice cream for much longer.  I know she's getting tired of it too.  Last night she tried some of her daddy's dinner and had to spit out the breaded chicken patty that caused her gums to start bleeding again.  Poor thing, I guess it's back to the Gogurt!

Loving God: Wisdom from a 2 Year Old

Everyday on our way to the office we pass our church.  And everyday when we pass our church, Alli asks me, "We go to church?"  I don't think I've ever seen someone so eager to attend mass.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, just surprised.  I hope she keeps that love of the Church as she grows. 

So anyway, Sunday rolls around and we pull into the church parking lot.  Alli is so excited as she realizes where we are.  She's almost jumping out of her carseat as she lets out a little scream, "We go to church?!?!"  We answer her calmly giggling, "Yes we're going to church to see Jesus." 
"We go to church!! We go to church!!  I wuv Jesus!!!"
It was so adorable we couldn't keep from laughing and assured her, "We love Jesus too and Jesus loves you!"

Looking back at the event from Sunday, it warms my heart.  I'm touched to know that my little one loves Jesus.  It makes me feel like I'm doing something right, you know?  Even more though, it reminds me of the innocent, unconditional love children have for the Lord.  I mean, if God love us just because, why can't we do the same?

"I not Babe. I Alli, okay?"

Yup, that's my little smart mouth!  Yesterday, on our way to work, she was trying to get my attention while sitting in her carseat.  I answered her, "Yes, Babe?"  And the response I get?  "I not Babe.  I Alli, okay?"  I still don't know what she wanted my attention for, but I know not to call her Babe again!

"I found Jesus!"

I was remembering today something that my 2 year old daughter, Alli, did a few weeks ago when she went to youth group with me.  (I help out with the middle school youth group at my church).  Anyway, the pre-teens were all in small groups discussing the topic of the night when Alli runs across the room, points at the crucifix and yells out, "I found Jesus!"  She did it several other times throughout the night, but it was just so cute.  I'm happy my little miss has already found Jesus, haha!