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.