The Most Wonderful TIme of the Year!

Christmas Time!!! 

To get us in the Christmas Spirit we had some friends over to build and decorate Gingerbread Houses. 

 This was taken right ofter Coley and Alisa's house collapsed :(

 Here is what Winship and I came up with -the way it was supposed to go just wasn't quiet working... 

 Coley & Alisa decorating there landscaping (the house wouldn't stay up, so they got creative and made a side yard for our house, PERFECT)

 The finished products!!! 

Christmas Eve Dinner at the Rosses

 

 Winship & his Dad

Us 

 

 Mrs. Ross and I

Winship and his younger brother Brandon. 

Unfortunately my camera wasn't charged when we did the whole group picture. 

{Hopefully Stephanie will send me the pic she took}

Christmas Day! 

 James and Carter opening presents:Toys Toys TOYS

 Carter's New Truck!

 Henry watching all the excitement

 Christmas Sunset

It was a beautiful day so we decided to take  Henry on a walk around the farm. 

When we got back this was the view from the house, Beautiful! 

 It was a great Christmas! 

All we need now to top it all off is our Christmas Miracle! 

We find out if we got it on January 4th, less than a week to go and I am feeling good! :)  

Today is the BIG Day!

Well, the BIG day is finally here!!! 

We go in for our Embryo Transfer today at 12:30. 

I am expecting a call from my doctor any minute to tell me how many Embryo's we have left still growing and dividing. The last update I got on our little guys was on Tuesday and  we still had all 11 still going strong and even had one that had started back up again so we were at a total of 12!!! 

She told me of those 12, that 9 of them were exactly at the point they should be, so really strong ones! 

Needless to say I am super excited to hear from my doctor as to how they are today. Between Days 3 and 5 is usually when you get a higher number of the embryo's dropping off, which is why they had me do a day 5 transfer, so they know exactly which the BEST ones really are. It's kind of like survival of the fittest... 

Anyways, we are hoping for at least 2 that are great today so we can put them both back in!!! 

Please keep us and our little embryo's in your prayers today as well as in the next few days when implantation would/should occur!!!  

Come on Christmas Miracle!!!

Embryo Update

My Egg Retrieval went well on Saturday morning and I am feeling better everyday.

They were able to retrieve 20 Eggs, of those 20 eggs, 15 of them were mature enough to try and fertilize, and of those 15, 13 of them took the fertilization and were growing and dividing as of yesterday.

I got another update call today from my nurse letting me know that as of today we still have 11 Embryo's growing and dividing. 

They are going to call me again tomorrow with an update and tell me how our little embryo's are doing and when we can expect to have our Embryo Transfer on Thursday. 

We are really happy and excited with how everything is going thus far. 

Hopefully all will continue to go well the next few days :) 

Come on Christmas Miracle!!! 

Trigger Day!

I just got word from my nurse that today is Finally My Trigger Day! 

I feel like it has been such a long time coming, I have felt soooo full and bloated since Monday and can't believe I have had to carry these babies around for so long. 

At least the end is in site now... We do the Trigger Shot tonight (remember the big one in my rear end) then 36 hours from then - Saturday- it will be time for the Egg Retrieval (where they put me under and take out all the Eggs)!

Wish Me Luck!

Full of Hope... & Follicles

Today I am full of HOPE and Follicles, seriously!

I am on day 8 of the hormone shots and so far everything is looking really good.

My Estrogen level is over 800 and my follicles are growing and developing well, very well, so well that I am super bloated and uncomfortable already and I still have a few more days to go....

My nurse just called and told me that I will most likely do the Trigger Shot on Wednesday (which means Egg Retrieval on Friday) or Thursday (which means Egg Retrieval on Saturday)  

We started the dreaded morning shot this morning and WOW I had forgotten  what a terrible way that is to start your day. I had to wake Winship up to come and give me a shot in the stomach before I rushed off to the Dr. Office where I got my blood drawn and then had an internal ultrasound, then off to work I go! 

Okay, now that I got all of that complaining out of the way... 

 I truly am so grateful and excited that everything is going so well this time.   I didn't really mention much about my last attempt on here because I never had any good news to share.  We tried to start a fresh cycle back in late September early October but had to cancel it after only 6 days of shots because my body wasn't responding to the medication for some reason. They said it was like my ovaries were asleep. Having our cycle cancelled was a total shock and so disappointing. Especially after how well my body responded the medications the first time.  We were advised to take a few months off to let my body rest and get back to normal without having all sorts of hormones injected into it for a while. At first, that seemed like the WORST thing ever, it was so hard to think about not "trying" for a while but it turned out to be the best thing for me!

I was able to feel normal for a while and get back to a good place and be at peace with where we are. 

   Now here we are 8 days into a new cycle and doing great!

I was really worried about the first few appointment this go round, I was just terrified that the same thing was going to happen again, but we have been blessed and things are going great! 

Thus, I truly am so full of HOPE that things are going to work out for us!

I have learned that as much as I wish that I can be in control of this, I can't.

I have learned that I am much stronger than I ever realized.

I have learned that God really does have a plan for each and every one of us. 

I have also learned that, that plan of his is based on His TIME not mine... 

However, I DO also KNOW that He does listen to and answer prayers, sooooo

I am asking that anyone who actually reads this blog to PLEASE keep us in your Prayers! 

I know I will be a mom someday and to the exact baby that I am supposed to have; I am just hopeful that it will be sooner rather than later!!! 

COME ON CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!!!!  

   

{tHaNkFuL} part 4 & Thanksgiving

I know I am super late and slow and so few and far between with my posts lately, all I can say for myself is that life is BUSY! 

I know it is no longer November (where does the time go?) however, I would be remiss if I didn't finish my {tHaNkFuL} posts because I am TRULY thankful for this last but certainly not least one...

 My Husband: 

~Here he is holding adorable Mailen~

His Happy Birthday was last week and boy, oh-boy am I glad he was born 
(33 whopping years ago)!

He is such a great guy: nice, kind, loyal, friendly, funny (in his own way :)) smart, easy going, loving, athletic, intense, understanding and I could go on and on but what I love most about him is that he is perfect for ME!

This past year we have been through a LOT together and I feel as though we have come out of it all stronger as individuals, but even more importantly as a couple. 

We are nowhere near done, but what I do know is that as long as we stick together we can get through all that is yet to come!  

On a totally different note:

I wanted to share a few pictures from our Thanksgiving trip to Utah. 
I feel like whenever I go home I am always so caught up in enjoying my time and seeing everyone that I NEVER take any pictures, and of course the same pretty much rings true with this trip.  However, I did manage to pull my camera out a few times. 
Here's what I got...

 Thanksgiving Day!

 Mailen

Getting ready to go to the Utah Football Game...

Beckam just being cute at all times!
Ready for Bed (left) and Ready to Wrestle with Dad (right)

{tHaNkFuL} part 3

Okay so I am a total slacker...  and soooo this is no longer Thankful Thursday, just Thankful...

This (last) week I am/was {tHaNkFuL} for:

1. Michael, My Brother:

My wonderful brother turned another year older last week and in honor of him and his Happy Birthday I thought I would let you all know just how seriously wonderful he really is!  

He has not only been the very best brother in the world to me but also a best friend, role model and a father figure of sorts as well.

I love him so much and have always looked up to him, I honestly don't know where I would be without my big bro!

Love you Michael!!!

2. Our Trip to Utah:

Oooooh, I am soooo very {tHaNkFuL} for our upcoming trip to Utah for Thanksgiving, I can hardly wait.

Getting to see Michael, Nicole, Beckam, Mailen, Steph, Adam, Ashlee and everyone...

Although, I won't get to see some of my besties I am still so excited to just be in Utah! I sure do miss that place, there is just something about the place where you grew up that is so nice and comforting! 

3. Insurance:

We recently changed insurance companies and just found out that they cover 100% of fertility treatment with NO lifetime max. 

HELLO, this is AMAZING and so unheard of.

Certainly something to be {tHaNkFuL} for!

FYI: On the fertility front: we are now over a week into the birth control pills and have another week + a few days to go. I go in for my first bloodwork & ultrasound on 11/30 then am set to start the hormone shots on 12/3... 

  Please keep us in your thoughts and prayer :)

{tHaNkFuL tHuRsDaY} part 2

This week (a little late I know) I am {Thankful} for: 

1. My Neighbors & Neighborhood:

Our neighborhood is in an area where there are lots of parks, dog parks, trails through the woods, resturants, grocery stores: pretty much anything you need and all within walking distance. Which too be honest, at first I didn't like. It was/is so different from what I was used to and so it just didn't feel like a "neighborhood" to me, it felt more like a city BUT now I really like it!   

Ever since we got Henry back in March I have been forced to be outside hanging out and walking around all the time.  Which in turn, has given me the opportunity to get to know most of our neighbors.  (Especially all the other dog owners and all the people with kids who are outside all the time too.)  It makes DC and our house feel so much more like home to me now that I actually "know" who my neighbors are not just what their names are!

2. My Doctors & Nurses

I am sooooo grateful for the science and techonology that is available to us that gives us the chance at having our own children. I am so grateful for my Doctors and Nurses at Shady Grove Fertility for all that they do for Winship and I. {We are in the very first stage (birth control pills) of trying another Fresh IVF cycle, I will have a calendar of what will happen when tomorrow} I am grateful thatwe have such a great fertility center so close to us, I know that we are in GREAT hands!


3. Lazy Weekends

This past weekend was a very low key and lazy weekend. We had no real plans and nothing that we HAD to do, I LOVED it! I have seriously been sick for the last month and am so sick and tired of being SICK & TIRED!!! So having a lazy weekend was just what I needed.

R & A Wedding Celebration!

This past weekend we went to the wedding of Ryan and Alanna Temme. Ryan is a friend of Winship's from high school and I have had the opportunity to get to know him and Alanna in teh past few years.  The ceremony was at the St. Albans chapel, Winship's high school chapel.  It was such a great place to have a wedding ceremony; fun for me to see, all the the guys loved being back on their old stoming grounds and not to mention what a special and meaningful place to get married! 

Here is the happy couple Ryan and Alanna during their first dance!

Winship and I enjoing the wonderful night!

I love going to weddings! Celebrating the newlyweds, chatting with friends, yummy food and of course lots of dancing, what's not to love!?!?

Jon D., Alanna & Ryan, Rev. Billow and Winship

{It was kind of like a highschool reunion for Winship}

                      
Lucie R., Steele M. and Megan R.
(Wifes of Winship's highschool friends)

                      The Halcyon House in Georgetown, beautiful!

{tHaNkFuL tHuRsDaYs}

As we move into November, the month of Thanksgiving, we have been talking to the kids a lot about being thankful and all that we have to be grateful for here at school.

In doing so, I realized that I have so much more to learn about being thankful than the kids do.  Thinking back on this past year and all that Winship and I have done, I realized that I spent way too much time wishing and hoping for something that I don't have and not nearly enough time being grateful for what I do have...  

With that in mind I have decide to dedicate Thursdays' on my blog to being tHaNkFuL! 

 Every Thursday I am going to make a list of things that I am {thankful} for and try not to repeat anything from a previous week.

This weeks list:

1. HENRY, my adorable puppy dog.

 He makes me laugh and smile every single day. He is always soooo happy to see me and has so much love to give. Plus he forces me to get outside and walk everyday-even when I am tired and not in the mood- and of course I always feel much better after getting some fresh air and exercise!

2. FALL

I love the Fall Season, the beautiful changing colors, the sunny & crisp days, pulling out sweaters for the first time, pumpkins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin spice latte's (okay everything about pumpkins...) the sound of walking through the crunchy fallen leaves, football games, my Happy Birthday and I could go on and on. I love everything about the Fall, well except that it means cold weather is just around the corner...

3. MY JOB
 Working at an elementary school is such a fun and rewarding place to work. It is nearly impossible to be in a bad mood here, the kids always find a way to cheer me up. Whether with a random compliment: "Mrs. Ross I like your shirt" to an unexpeted hug or a random shout from across the playground, "I love you Mrs. Ross" how could I not be happy and in a good mood? We get to go on fun field trips and celebrate every Holiday to the extreme. Plus, no two days are ever the same, I never know what may happen. 

4. STEPHANIE 

My best friend, she is so great and even though we have lived across the country from each other for the last 4 years (wow, I can't believe it has been that long) we haven't missed a beat. She is always there for me to listen and give advice (or not give advice when I don't want it, ha ha) She always seems to truly care about whatever it is that is important to me at that moment. I cherish our long phone calls and couldn't ask for a better friend!    

5. BECKAM & MAILEN

My Nephew and Niece

I don't feel like I really need to explain that one...the pictures speak for themselves ADORABLE!

http://youtu.be/tuQDPHneFm4

Fall Days: October ReeeeCap

We have  had a great Fall thus far, here's a little recap of what we've been up to... 

I: Went to Homestead Farms to do some apple picking  with my Kindergarteners 

We: Had some friends over for a little dinner party.

We: Went to this beautiful house in Middelburg, VA for the 1st Birthday Party of two adorable twin boys! 

 

Here are the fabulous parents and one of the  guests of honor,Walker.  His cute twin brother Taylor is missing in action.

We: Went on a nice little hike to see the gorgeous Fall colors

Henry was in HEAVEN

I: Went to a pumpkin patch with my Kindergarteners

We: Gave out lot's and lot's of candy on Halloween

OBX Anniversary

Happy 1st Anniversry to Winship & I. What a year it has been...

We decided we needed a little getaway,  to celebrate our big day and just get away from it all; even if was just for a weekend!

 Friday after work we drove out to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.   We stayed at the Sanderling Resort in Duck, NC and although the weather wasn't ideal beach weather we still had a wonderful time.

Saturday: 

We got a couples massage, went to brunch then went to the beach (all bundled up) and read and relaxed. 

I practiced taking pictures with my cool new camera that Winship gave me as an Anniversary present (yay!) 

 We went to dinner at the Left Bank restaurant where we enjoyed an incredible view and some delicious food. It was wonderful!

The gorgeous sunset from the window at our table - picture perfect!

Sunday:
We slept in, ordered room service and then went to the beach for a few hours. The weather was much better and we managed to get a little sun :)

This was Winship's way of staying warm at the beach on Saturday while the wind was blowing.  

The Sanderling Resort

Of course, we stopped for some North Carolina BBQ on our way out of town.

All in all is was a great weekend. I think we should make it a tradition ;)