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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Thankful Thursday

Let's all stop, take a collective breath, and remember some of the blessings we've been given. The reasons we are thankful...

I am thankful for:
1. My country. A place where I may not agree with the government, but voicing my disagreement does not end in my being imprisoned or killed. A place where Google doesn't have to censor!
2. My family's health. I can honestly say that despite a cold, virus, or flu here and there...we are healthy.
3. The Rev's business. He is working hard growing it and nurturing the relationships he's created. I'm very proud of him.
4. My computer. I think I said this one recently. But it really does connect me outside of this house...
5. My mom. She is letting us live in her new house BEFORE she does. Very giving! (Hi Mom! You reading my blog?)
6. JMonster, of course. ;o)
7. Wildflowers!
8. Chocolate brownies...ooey, gooey ones warm out of the oven. Mmmmm...I can smell them now.
9. Pajamas. I love comfy pj's.
10. Prayer.

What are YOU thankful for? Please share!

How a bill REALLY becomes a law...

This is hilarious!
My brother, Patterico, had this on his site and I just had to share.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

My thoughts...

Obamacare passed. It went into effect at noon yesterday amidst cheering on one side and weeping and gnashing of teeth on the other.

What do I think?

I have to admit it feels a bit surreal. How could this happen? How can our representatives not truly represent their constituencies?

It's not that I'm against people having healthcare. I'm not.

It's not that I'm against healthcare reform. I'm not.

It's that our government is getting too big. Taking on roles it's not supposed to take. Ruling our lives in ways our founding fathers never meant for us to be ruled.

Congress needs to be cleaned out. We need term limits. We need people who value the wishes of the people they represent.

And we need to get back to the limited government our Constitution was written for.

And THEN let's talk about healthcare reform.

And I have plenty of ideas for a better plan than they came up with.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Infertility, adoption, and kiddos (part 8)

If you'd like a refresher or just need to catch up, go HERE, HERE, HERE , HERE ,HERE , HERE , and HERE.

Last time we chatted, I told you about the birth of our son JMonster. Boy was he cute!

JMonster yawning (just a few hours old)...
JMonster doing? He did this all the time!

We had such a wonderful time with him that we decided he needed siblings. The Rev and I have ALWAYS wanted a big family. We've just always wanted a house full!

So sometime around April of 2007, just after JMonster turned 1, we headed back to Texas to try for a second monster. At this point we had eight frozen embryos...frozen in pairs. We transferred two and crossed our fingers!

We got pregnant! But around week 4 I miscarried. No one knows why. My numbers had been very low, but they were very low with JMonster.

I didn't weep and moan like some people thought I would. I merely strengthened my resolve and decided we would try again in early summer.

In June we once again headed back to Texas. Back to our doc. Back to uncertainty.

We missed my cycle.

It was early by about 4 or 5 days...I'm fairly regular, so who woulda thunk?

I spend 4-6 weeks in Texas at the beginning of every summer, so we made the decision for JMonster and me to stick around M's house and try again. Boy, can you say PATIENCE?

I started early once again. This time 3 days.

I called the nurse and told her we were ready. She hemmed and hawed and told me she would have to call me back.

What!?!

To make a long complicated story short (or at least shorter)...the embryologist at the clinic who thaws the embroys was going out of town to speak at a National Institute of Health conference. He wouldn't be there to thaw our embryos.

WHAT!?!

We had waited in town almost FOUR WEEKS and they couldn't do it?
I was angry.
Frustrated, sad, and angry.
And ready.

I got on the phone and called around to find a clinic that COULD do it.

My younger sister HA got on the phone with her clinic.

Come to find out later my doctor at our clinic also got on the phone to find someone who could do it.

We finally found an infertility clinic in Los Colinas, just outside of Dallas, who was willing to transfer the embryos to their clinic, thaw them, and transfer them into me, during a natural cycle.

Whew.

We made all of the arrangements (it takes quite a bit of planning to ship frozen embryos!) and I headed to Dallas.

We had the pre-meeting with the doctor, me and my mother in law! He was a very nice man and was glad he could help out in such short notice.

He did an ultrasound and determined that all looked good for a transfer the next day.

My mother in law drove me to the clinic the next morning. She had to drive because I had taken the Valium you're required to have before a transfer. It was POURING, the traffic was horrible, and I was getting motion sick. NOT a good way to start what was supposed to be a wonderful day.

When we got to the clinic (LATE!) I realized that it was the exact day, 2 years later, that we had transferred 2 embryos that had resulted in JMonster! MUST be a good sign, right?

The doc did the transfer, with my mother in law watching on, and he said all went well. It was not an ultrasound guided transfer like I'd had in the past, but he said it wasn't necessary.

Okay.

I did the put my hips in the air thing.

I didn't pick up JMonster for 2 weeks.

July 4th came and I just knew I wasn't pregnant. I stood in the driveway of my in laws and cried to The Rev over the phone as I watched the fire works.

The clinic called a few days later and confirmed what I knew. Not pregnant.

And only 2 frozen embryos left...

GO HERE FOR PART 9

Missional Monday

In response to the passing of the ObombaObamacare health care plan (which has me wrapped in a blanket and huddled on my couch. Okay, that's the fever, but still...) Today's Missional Monday is a tribute to an organization that truly does free health care. And keeps the uninsured out of the emergency rooms so that ER docs can treat people who are really sick.



Health For All is a nonprofit, volunteer-based, community supported primary health care clinic that was founded in 1987. Through generous community support, we provide free doctor visits, pharmaceuticals, eye exams, foot exams, lab tests, X-rays, smoking cessation, diabetes management, coumadin education and counseling services care to low income adults in the Brazos Valley who do not have health insurance or qualify for government programs such as Medicaid, Medicare or County Indigent funds.

Health for All treats about 4000 patients each year utilizing a team of volunteer medical professionals. By providing an alternative to expensive emergency room visits by the uninsured, Health for All saves area hospitals and taxpayers millions of dollars each year.

The Doc has done work for them over the years...especially when he was an undergrad at TAMU. His opinion of them has always been high.

They feel similar to me about this health care bill! See what they say on their Facebook page:

Our clinic has been serving the basic medical needs of the uninsured for over 20 years with minimal government support. If the goal of Healthcare Reform is to serve the uninsured, why not support free clinics? A network of 3000 clinics could be funded at $2,000,000 each per year and would still only cost a total of $60... Billion over 10 years, which is 0.6%of the cost being mentioned for National Healthcare Reform...



Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Party Pics!


Jedi JMonster (Anakin)...
and yes, I made his costume!


Jedi Training Academy


Jedi's getting their first mission...


Searching for clues...R2D2 has been stolen!

A JAWA took him!

We found him! We saved R2D2!


Luke and Darth Vader face off!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JMONSTER (Anakin)!!

Waiting to eat the cake...this cake is Mustafar, the volcanic island.

Aunt HA, Swizz, Cousin Tiff, and Aunt M


End of the party...whew!


Sunday, March 14, 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JMONSTER!



Today is JMonster's 4th Birthday...




HAPPY BIRTHDAY JMONSTER!
We LOVE You!
May the Force be with you...