What makes me happy... the simple things!

When you are someone who is having to do infertility treatments it is the smallest things in life that make you happy.

THE THINGS THAT BRIGHTEN MY DAY!

[1] coke or cherry coke (and an occasionally dr. pepper)

Did you know that coke's slogan is "a little bit of happiness"? I second that whole heartedly!

...okay I know that I probably shouldn't be drinking caffeine, but last time I didn't and I didn't get pregnant, so I figured this time I am just gonna have a few and relax. I don't drink coffee or alcohol so pop is my one vice. 

[2] When people post comments on my blog. I really haven't had that many comments so I am not even sure who is following this, but it is always fun to see what ppl think of all of this whether positive or negative. Positive is always better of course! John and I were watching homemade videos from podcasts and a website www.creatingafamily.org and there was one titled "my aunt jane knows more than my RE". It was funny. Click on the link if you want to watch it. As a graphic designer, I do have to say that the graphics are cheesy... sorry to the person who created it. 

[3] Shopping (for anything, anywhere and with my mom) The most peaceful time to shop is late at night about 10 pm to midnight. My weakness right now is to buy lots of Christmas gifts for the nieces and nephews. John is reigning me in though. Since I can't buy gifts for my children, it is the next best thing!

[4] Finally getting my waterproof ipod shuffle case and headphones in the mail after several attempts of ordering and returning on Amazon.com. I had to send 4 back until I got it right. That part could have been on the list of things that do not brighten my day. But getting to use it in the pool today was priceless! 

[5] Swimming laps with my sister Kate (not Sister Kate) she is not a nun. All of the young kids both foster kids and nieces and nephews have always called her Sister Kate. This is really good b/c it helps with my nice bloated belly from my injectables. 

[6] Finding out we have 3 of our 4 snow babies that successfully thawed and will be transferred on Friday, December 2nd. My RE doc wants to transfer 2, but I am going to ask him to transfer 3. Triplets don't scare me! In fact, this past August both John and mom had dreams that we had triplets. Then again, my Aunt Patt says twins, a boy and a girl! So only God knows and that is still best. 

[7] Going to lunch with my best girl buddies from college! We only get to do this about once a month, but it is definitely something to look forward to. 

[8] Funny Stories that just make you belly laugh! This literally just happened to me... John and I were at Ihop ordering take out and John said: "Do you smell gas?" Of course meaning fart gas! I said, "no." Then a lady came in for take out and said to the cashier "Do you smell gas?" meaning natural gas and the cashier said, "no." She turned to me and said, "Do you smell gas?" and I said, "No, but he smelled the other kind of gas" and pointed to John. Her completely clueless said, "Oh you smell gasoline or natural gas?" and I was like yeah natural gas - body gas. And she said, "Yeah, me too!" Then I tried to explain it further telling her it was indeed natural, the fart kind! 

Her: still puzzled. John: telling me to let it go! Me: completely, belly laugh happy. 

[9] Telling ppl our internet password. I had a client meeting at my house today and in order for them to use the internet they must put in our password. I can't say on here what it is, but what I can say is that it has a combination of words such as pee and poop! Probably something I should have changed beforehand in order to come across more professional. Thankfully, I think this particular client has a sense of humor. 

[10] The funny antics that my dogs do! and of course their sweetness! Their latest... eating leftover blueberry waffles. My once white dogs are now purple. Why do they call blueberries blue when they look purple?

[11] My hubby who makes me laugh! His laugh is the best medicine!

[12] Getting to use the "up the crotch" progesterone, instead of the butt shot kind! I will have to use this twice a day for the next 16 days. Still not too fun, but after 14 days of the butt shot last time I will take it! :)

Stay tuned for episode 2 of "Are we pregnant?" 

Airing on Dec. 16th!

Happy Thanksgiving to my Family!

This week we celebrated Thanksgiving! It was an interesting week. My family and I spent most of the week with my sister who was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. She started having trouble breathing after she developed a cold from maybe the flu shot and then it developed into her lungs. She has asthma so that is never good. She is also pregnant with her third child, so the doctors were very worried about the baby. Our plans were to have Thanksgiving dinner and shop till we dropped on Black Friday. My sister usually has to work so my mom and I go without her. This year she was off, so she was super excited to go with us and then was bummed because she spent the entire week in the hospital. I was so sad for her because she had been looking forward to this for a while now. Even though the week didn't turn out like we planned, I am still soooo thankful for my family. On Thanksgiving day my dad, mom and 2 brothers came to visit my sister in the morning and then John and I got up and ordered Chinese food to bring to the hospital for our big family Thanksgiving feast! Of course, my sister's husband and 2 daughters also joined us. We called about 4 Chinese restaurants until we found one that was opened. It wasn't the best food to be eating on Thanksgiving or the best Chinese food for that matter, but what mattered the most was that all of us were happy and willing to spend Thanksgiving at the hospital together and so my sister could still be apart of the occasion. I wouldn't have it any other way. It is amazing how blessed I am to have the love and support of an amazing family. Of course, we aren't always perfect, but we love each other and would do anything for each other. My mom and I did attack Black Friday and included my sister by calling her when we found amazing deals that we thought she would be interested in. She couldn't sleep anyway as it is always difficult to in a hospital. We shopped from midnight to 6am. It was fun and exhausting.

On Saturday, we had a traditional Thanksgiving feast with John's family. It is amazing how both sides of my family are supportive and loving. Family is my favorite thing of all and I love the big family get togethers. 

As we are trying to have a baby and/or children through adoption or IVF and how frustrating both processes can be, I remember all the good things in my life and smile because I am truly blessed. I have experienced unconditional love from my Savior, Jesus Christ and my earthly family that God has given me. There are so many people in this world that have never had the support and love of family. As I think about my family and what they have given me, it makes me want to give that to other children that are missing this most important thing. I hope and pray that the Lord will grant John and I children to love and support for a lifetime. 

The more time passes me by with my infertility, the more content I become just to be a mom. I do not need to have a little baby. I would love to love any child whether they are 2, 12 or 17. I want them to experience what it means to be called family and to feel as though they belong and were meant to be with us from the beginning! I know adapting to a new family can be tough for everyone, but John and I are up for the challenge and want to show children what it means to stand by each other no matter what happens. I also know that our children will also be welcomed and loved by those that I now call my family. 

Meet my Family!

John (my husband, my best friend, my world... I love you!), Erin, My dogs...Wrigley (the elf), Biggio (the reindeer) and Bagwell (Santa, even though you can't tell) I love all of you too!

One without their outfits!

Gotta Love 'em!

Erin's Family (siblings)

Erin's mom with niece, Brooke

nieces, Brooke & Addy

Erin's brother, David with Brooke

Erin's sister, JoAnna with husband, Jeremy and kids Addy and Brooke

John's Family

Erin's Family (siblings)

John's brother, Matt with wife Christy and kids Hannah and Dean

John's Family (probably the most recent photo)

Erin with sisters Christy, Bonnie and Kate (& niece Emma)
John's sisters

John and Erin with nieces, Emma and Hannah and nephew, Dean

Me and my sister at my graduation from college!

Jeremy, JoAnna, Brooke, me and John at Disney World in Florida.

Erin's Family being silly. My mom loves clowns so for her birthday one year we dressed up as clowns

My mom, my hero, my best friend, my inspiration for what I want to be as a mother!
She is an amazing Grandma too!

Random Ramblings....

Last night, I was watching TLC's 19 Kids and Counting. At the end of the show they announced that they were having child #20. They have gotten a lot of criticism from the media for the number of children that they are bringing into the world. I think they are wonderful parents to their 19 children. They are devout Christians and can support their family without welfare so more power to them to have as many children as they want. And God has given them these gifts so I cannot argue with that.

Today, My husband called and told me of a situation of a woman who is considering getting an abortion today. My heart has been heavy all day. I just want to run to this woman and beg her to reconsider her decision to either parent her child or to find a loving family (like John and me) to adopt her baby. I have been praying all day for her as I cannot imagine what she must be feeling right now. Please pray with me for this mother to be.

I desire to have a large family. As much as I would be delighted to be pregnant, I would be extremely happy to parent a child that needs a family. I do not want to birth all of my children like Michelle Duggar, I would like to provide a permanent loving family for abandoned foster kids and orphans, making them simply "my children". We are seeking the Lord in this and of course as always are waiting on His perfect timing.

They only thing that makes me a little upset over the Duggar's announcement is have the Duggar family ever considered adopting a child? If they are so Christian, wouldn't it make sense to grow their family through adoption, foster care and having biological children. With 20 kids, what is a few more, especially when they are such a strong spiritual family. They say that they use their show to witness to the world about their love of  Christ. Imagine what they could do if they adopted a child or participated in the foster to adopt program in the U.S. They would be showing and teaching America about adoption and how important it is for good loving families to adopt. I strongly feel that every Christian family or for that matter every financially stable, loving family in America should adopt at least one child from the kids waiting to be adopted. These kids are typically older with a few issues, but they still need parents.

It is difficult for me to be too hard on those families that have not adopted for it is expensive and not everyone has the means to adopt or would make good adoptive parents. It is our passion to foster and adopt, but John and I have not adopted yet either and are currently doing IVF. We have fostered children in the past and hope to again. I also believe that God orchestrates adoption, but we have to have willing hearts in order for God to work in our lives.

Another thought on my mind is about forced abortions in China. Click on the link to read about it. It is an outrage. Here is another article about the one child policy and forced abortions. It is very sad. It makes me thankful for my rights here in U.S. Rights that include being able to have 20 children if I so choose and God allows in the case of the Duggar family or being able to be a foster or adoptive parent.

I am proud to be an American though I am not proud of America to give us the rights to abort our children.

My puppy-babies!

These are my babies until God gives me human-babies. And even then they will still be my babies.

They might not get as much attention as they do now, but they will still be loved!

They always pose for me so nicely... and in the correct size orientation!

They all look a little shaggy, but nonetheless super cute!

This is how I found them sleeping last night... aww makes me so happy with how much they love each other. So cute!