500th Post: Learn Your ABC's

500 posts deserved something away from the crazy of my life right now.  I have been sitting on this waiting for a time to do it, so here we go!
ABC's of Me

(A) Age: 34

(B) Blog Title Inspiration: I kept saying that I needed to be "sperminated" so I had to find some catchy way to incorporate that!  That was when it was "Spermination Station."  Last summer I was, I think, listening to Meatloaf.  He has a long called "Out Of The Frying Pan."  It came to mind.  It reminds me of parenting. But in my case, it began, sort of, in a petri dish.  So, there you go.

(C) Chore You Hate: Folding socks.  They pile up for months and we have to dig through the pile for pairs, LOL.

(D) Dream Job:  There are a couple - National Geographic Photographer, or Travel Journalist.

(E) Essential Start Your Day Item: Large, strong cup of black tea when I am allowed. 

(F) Favorite Color: The rainbow!  I hate picking just one. 

(G) Gold or Silver? Silver

(H) Height: 5'4"

(I) Instruments You Play: Well, I started on French Horn, but it died, then trumpet.  But honestly I don't do practice.  Bores me silly.  So...nothing really.  I like to bang on my djembe!

(J) Job Title: Super Mom.

(K) Kids: Our little miracle, Phelan (aka Peanut); Furbabies: Buddha (dog); Cleo, Frida, and Oreo (cats); Crush (tortoise).

(L) Live: Pennsylvania in the Slate Belt. 

(M) Mom's Name: Cindy

(N) Nicknames: Gevvy, Gev, GV, Vieve, Troll, Rainbow, Iron Chef, Attila the Hippie, Ben, Ben Dover, Naked Bubble Girl -- and there have been many many others.

(O) Overnight Hospital Stays? Exploratory Lap in college; 3 times during pregnancy.  Once for delivery.  So that makes 5 times, 4 due to baby boy.

(P) Pet Peeve:  Ignorance by choice - i.e. beliefs or ignorance bred by not learning things on your own.  The material is there.  Don't take a stance just because that's what Mom and Dad said. 

(Q) Quote from a Movie: Oh, man...I have soooo many favorites.  One of my all-time favorites has to be, "Oh Captain, my Captain."  Absolutely one of the most moving moments in movie history as far as I am concerned.

(R) Right or Left Handed? Right

(S) Siblings: 3 sisters - Sister is 33, Lil Sis is 26, and Littlest is 20

(T) Time You Wake Up? My bladder tends to wake me around 6 am; if not then, my 13 month old alarm clock tends to go off around 6:30 am.
(U) Underwear: I didn't used to wear them regularly at all - living in Africa and at a camp and needing to pee in nature a lot led me to wear regularly.  Drip dry without undies blows.  I have all kinds...depends on my mood.

(V) Vegetable You Dislike: Brussel Sprouts, Lima Beans, Eggplant, Beets, and Radishes...alright, I am wicked picky about my veggies.

(W) What Makes You Run Late: Right now, Peanut.  Or Hubby.  I never used to be late.  LOL

(X) X-Rays You've Had Done: Feet, knees, back, neck, left wrist, right thumb

(Y) Yummy Food You Make: Shrimp and asparagus risotto, corn and crab chowder, spicy peanut and sweet potato soup. 

(Z) Zoo, Favorite Animal: giraffes!

ABC's of TTC

A. Age when you started TTC: 30

B. Baby Dancing or Sex: Sex.

C. Children wanted:  2

D. Dogs/Cats/Fill in Children:  See above!

E. Essential Oils/Vitamins/Snake Oils: I didn't take anything really for TTC.  Did a lot of pineapple and pomegranate and wheat grass during our IVF cycle.

F. Fertility Meds I’ve taken: Lupron, PIO, Gonal-F, HcG, Ovidrel

G. Gain:  Didn't gain while TTC...in fact, the stress made me lose weight.

H. HSG (Hystosalpingogram):  yes...and Fate willing, never again!  It was horrendous.  Both my tubes are blocked.


I. Infertile Pet Peeves:  Assvice

J. Job title: Technical Care Specialist

K. Kids' names you’re afraid will be taken by the time you can use them:  So not worried about that.

L. Length of time TTC:  We spent 15 months trying before seeing an RE. 2 years 3 months before our BFP. 


M. Miscarriages: No, thank goodness!

N. Number of times you’ve switched OB/GYNS, REs, FSs:  NONE  

O. Ovarian quality:  Fantastic, thank goodness!

P. POAS or wait for AF:  I POAS at first.  Then I just stopped.  My rule was 5 days late.  Unfortunately, sometimes that is a normal cycle for me.  Now...never, LOL.

Q. Quote from an obnoxious fertile:  Upon hearing I was undergoing IVF: "What, you don't like sex?"  

R. RE, OB/Gyn or other? RE

S. Sperm: What sperm?  No sperm here.

T. Time you tried naturally:  5/08-9/09

U. Uterus quality:  According to all tests, good.  However, it doesn't apparently like keeping baby in full-term.

V. Vagina: Well, now, I've had quite a few compliments...oh, medically?  Good.

W. What baby stuff do you already have?  We became the hand-me-down king and queen. There is stuff EVERYWHERE. 

X. X-tra X-tra Hear all about it! How many people know the ins and outs of our crazy TTC journey?  I think the mailman might be in the dark...but that's probably about it.

Y. Yearly Exam (do you still go in even though someone sees your lady parts most months?): Yup, and must go next month.  Sigh.

Z. Zits: Got tons of them during BCP and early pregnancy.  Otherwise they are rare.

He Dropped A Bomb On Me

2 days ago we received a check from the US Government for $10k.  For Hubby.  Seems it is the back SS pay from when he first applied a few years ago.  Ummm, yeah.

The same day, Hubby found this listing for a mobile home close to the old 'hood.  Here is an outside photo.  We are going to go look at it today or tomorrow.

Yes, that is a big gorgeous tree, a yard, already fenced, and a storage shed.  What????  Yeah.

But, this is not the bombshell.  

Last night Hubby left me a voicemail (I missed the call) that he is now on board with an out of state move.  

...

That was the sound of the crickets that I heard in my head after he said that.

2 months ago I would have jumped on that.  Now...I am hesitant.  For a few reasons...like my mental health issues and starting therapy.  But we are really running out of options here.  Yes, my family is here.  But the jobs aren't.  Not the kind I like.  But therapy...and family...

I honestly don't know what the best choice for us as a family is right now.  I feel like I can't make decisions right now.  Other than what's for dinner.  You should see me trying to get dressed.  That is horrendous.  That's how hard decisions are right now.  

And yet...we all of a sudden have a couple choices.  What's best?  I have no idea.  None.  Nada.