Merry Christmas!!!

to all who celebrate and Happy Holidays to all others!!

It's been a great day so far!! Well, other than being in CA and missing all the fam in MI!!
We started off with blueberry muffins and hot chocolate in front of the tree and then we opened gifts from each other. A is such a great gift giver! He got me Wii Active, some perfume I needed refilled, a gc to a spa, some pjs, a cute shirt and the most beautiful card!
We got online next and chatted via webcam with my side of the family (my mom, dad, brothers, SIL and my uncle) and opened gifts with them. My mom and dad got us a new convection/toaster over. So excited!! Ours was a hand-me-down and literally falling apart. It's going to be so nice to have this to cook with!
A's parents got us some new kitchen towels and hot pads, some pjs and a comfy outfit for me, some video games and books for A, and a super pretty new ornament for the tree.

We are so spoiled! We have such great families. I really wish that we could spend that day WITH them, but at least we know they are close in our hearts as we are in theirs.

Last night was great, we went to Mass and then drove around to see the lights and came home and snacked and "practiced" with the webcam to make sure it worked. Today, for the rest of the day we are going to make dinner (ham is in the oven!) and eat around 3ish, and then go see Sherlock Holmes in the theater. First time I have ever done this on Christmas Day. It makes me feel a little guilty because I don't really like the idea of people working on a holiday, but.....if we don't go they would still be there, so I don't really have a lot of control over that anyway. A couple of our friends are meeting us after seeing their families too. Hopefully it will be fun!

So that's that. Hope everyone has a wonderful day!!

Oooooo, post #100!!

"A dream is a wish your heart makes.........."

For some reason those lyrics just came to mind.

We are well on our way for our FET now. Started BCP's on 12/15 and yesterday the infusion nurse came and gave me my IV intralipds. On 12/28, we do my Lu.pron Depot injection and on 1/3 I stop BCP's. My first u/s is scheduled for 1/12 and if it goes well we will get clearance to begin estrogen injects.
Our little frosties will hopefully be "home" around 1/25!

In other good news........I received my first unemployment check on Mon. It takes a huge weight off our shoulders and makes me feel validated in my thoughts of my previous employers.

We are somewhat sad lately though. This is our third Christmas in CA w/out family. It's really hard this year, not that the last two haven't been, but for some reason this year is different. Maybe it's because this year has been so difficult for us, with the two cancelled IVFs behind us, my hospital stay, my job issues, etc, etc.
We are going to hook up A's camera to his computer and video chat with the family on Christmas Day. Hopefully that will help a bit. My mom is really looking forward to it.

In other exciting news, ha, or not! I am applying for different insurance. We have private policies, A's work wasn't the best coverage or price, my work didn't offer, so we have been using An.them for the last two years. Well, my rates continue to raise and it's becoming ridiculous. We were told by our insurance agent that it's because they are trying to do away with that plan, so they raise the premiums to ridiculous levels and hope that people give up on it. So, we will see. I think the sound of the new plan, I just have to wait and see if I am approved. *crossing my fingers*

I am off, need to decide what to eat for dinner, always fun.

Cookies, cookies, COOKIES!!!

I baked!

I am also not the best picture taker, I realize and I just don't have time right now to fiddle with the layout. First pic is of my peanut butter cookies, 2nd and 3rd are Gingersnaps. Both taste really good.

Recipes if you are interested!!

Peanut Butter Cookies:

Ingredients
3/4 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 cup Shortening
1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
3 Tablespoons milk
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1 egg
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda

Directions
Preheat oven to 375ºF.
Place sheets of foil on countertop for cooling cookies.
Combine peanut butter, shortening, light brown sugar, milk and vanilla in large bowl.
Beat at medium speed until well blended.
Add egg. Beat just until blended.
Combine flour, salt and baking soda.
Add to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix just until blended.
Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet.
Flatten slightly in crisscross pattern with fork.
Bake at 375ºF for 7 to 8 minutes or until set and just beginning to brown.
Makes 3 dozen cookies

Gingersnap Cookies:

Ingredients

1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
21/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Heat oven to 375°F.

In large bowl, beat brown sugar, shortening, molasses and egg with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon.

Stir in remaining ingredients.
Shape dough by rounded tablespoonfuls into 1 1/2-inch balls.

Dip tops into granulated sugar.

On ungreased cookie sheet, place balls, sugared sides up, about 2 inches apart.
Bake 9 to 12 minutes or just until set.

Immediately remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.

It's beginning to look at lot like......

RAIN!!!

Ugh, I really really need this to go away. We are planning on going to Disneyland this upcoming weekend, but I am not tromping around in the rain. Sigh...I really hope it clears up, this is one thing that I have been looking forward to lately. I really really want to see the Christmas decor.

Not much new otherwise, watching weather.com like crazy, wrapping gifts like it's going out of style, and tomorrow is the baking day. Keeping busy at home, actually liking being off, but getting a little anxious about a job. Would like to at least get a call for an interview. Some interest woudl be nice.

My mid montly update..........

So I started posting earlier this week, but then we decided to go out to dinner. And then we stayed home, but I didn't feel like getting my computer out and trying again.
So what has been happening. This past cycle was a bust, big surprise there! Though I was sad about starting my period, we had fun last weekend. We went out w/some friends for dinner and drinks on Friday night in downtown. Played pool, listened to some music, generally had a pretty good time. Then on Saturday I got a little bit more shopping done for A. I still need to finish him, I think I am going to try this week. Later on Saturday we drove a bit up north and visited w/some friends. Their town has a holiday walk around a lake. There are carolers, hot cider, cotton candy and other stuff, along with all the houses along this closed down road being lit up for people's viewing pleasure. Afterwards we hung out there for a bit, had some drinks, sat around a fire, played darts (well I attempted, FAIL!). It was a little bit saddening as I felt as if everyone there had kids or was expecting, but it was fun other than that.
Sunday we pretty much stayed home, baked some cookies and relaxed, it was pretty nice. I baked some more cookies Monday night and sent one batch to my brother and one batch to my best friend.
We wrapped up presents for our families and got those boxed and ready to go. We shipped those out yesterday, along with going to see Four Christmases (good movie), going to look at the ocean and watch some otters and pelicans for a bit, and then heading out for a nice dinner. We went to a local Italian place, started at the bar for a glass of wine, then went and had dinner. It was expensive, but super good. Then we came home, lit the tree and some candles and listened to Christmas music, and then.............well I don't think I need to describe it. I prayed while we did, and cried a little. I am not sure how pathetic that is on a scale of 1-10, but I am guessing it's pretty high up there.

Anyway, as for today I think we are going to build our gingerbread house. Silly I guess, but it looked like fun. I am going to try and finish Christmas shopping for A this week. I can't believe that next weekend is the last one before Christmas. This season seems to be flying by! I guess in a way that's good, seeing as how I have been having more trouble this year than last being away, and it makes our cruise come faster. I cannot wait to see my parents! My dad got laid off this last week. Hopefully it is just temporary like he says. I cried when he told me and he laughed at me and told me that things were fine. But I worry about him and my mom. They shouldn't be going through this at this point in their lives. They are getting ready to retire. They have put in their time. I guess a lot of people probably feel that way too though.
Anyway, on to the online ads, see if anything else that I need to buy for A is on sale this week.

Til next time...............

Busy weekend

Happy Thanksgiving and all that jazz. It's a little late, but I am writing!

Although we were away from family for Thanksgiving again, we had a nice one. A and I made a turkey, stuffing, mashed potates and gravy, corn, sweet potatoes, etc, etc. It was really good. We ate around 4:30 then relaxed and watched The Incredibles. Pretty good movie, I hadn't seen it before.

On Friday I (unfortunately) had to go into work for a bit to do Payroll and such. Then A and I relaxed for a bit and then went shoppingat Kohl's and Michaels. We have most of our Christmas shopping done for our families, just have to pack it up and ship it. So happy about that!

On Saturday we started decorating the house inside and then went out to dinner and had a beer at a local bar. Today we finished the tree and decorated the outside. Went to Target and got a price adjustment on one of ours gifts and then ran to Walmart to exchange something that didn't work and got some pop and water, which we needed.

Here are some pics of our place w/Christmas decor. :-)

As for the infertility, as I mentioned in the last post, we will continue to try on our own (which we have, with me mentally coaching us on) and proceed further in Feb when we are done with the holidays and our cruise. I am sure the time will go faster than I expect or so I hope.

I just thought of something, I should have taken a pic of my turkey and my pie for this. Oh well, maybe next time.