Ouch!

So last Sunday morning I was wrestling with my golden retriever having a grand ol' time. Then, I went to stand up straight and heard a pop while white heat surged across my back from hip to hip. I spent all day Sunday and Monday (which luckily enough was a holiday) in bed. I made it through the work week and was mostly fine; until last night that is. By the time I got home I was walking like an eighty-year-old. I feel like my muscles are cramping in such a way that my spine is sitting in more of a question mark rather than straight left to right. I was in tears last night.

This isn't the first time I've thrown my back out, and all the other times the doctor has given me a shot of a muscle relaxer and sent me home with a pain medicine Rx. I really don't feel like paying for a visit and scans just to be told the same thing. It has been a full 7 days now... I told the hubby that I'd go to the doctor on Wednesday if I didn't feel any better (I only work a half day this Wednesday).

I've been worthless this week. I've done absolutely no housework or cooking. I've barely managed to fit in school work after my work day. I still have a lot to complete. Plus, my parents are coming over tomorrow and my house is disastrous! My mom is coming to cook me a special birthday dinner... I turn 29 this week. Yikes! That's way too close to 30 for me! Busy, busy!

TTC Update

So along with the new year came my annual physical. My doctor was actually very open and engaging (which was a pleasant change). The appointment started on a positive note since I was down 20 pounds since my last exam! She congratulated me and her demeanor immediately switched to the new and improved version of my GP. Anyway - she decided to run some follow up blood work. The test results came back showing increased insulin levels and the decision was made to start metformin to combat those PCOS symptoms. I was slightly stressed about this initially, but after doing some of my own research have found that many women have great success using this treatment in their fertility journey. My previous physicians have had me on clomid and other hormone therapies. I'm anxious to see how this goes. I haven't had any horrible side effects. I guess we will wait and see.

Things that make me happy... January edition

We got 10 inches of snow! (Photo credit to my super talented father-in-law Steve Somermeyer)

How did I not know about this show until Netflix suggested it?

Russian (fruit) Tea - this is the perfect warm winter drink

The iHeartRadio app has gotten me through many miles/hours on the treadmill, especially the Evolution dance station.

Special K pastry crisps are amazing! Only 100 calories and oh so yummy!

New Year, New Me

I know... Totally cliche right? But I want so badly for this to be true.

So what's new for me in 2013?
I'm going back to school - finally finishing my degree.
Really getting healthy - no fad diets here. We're talking lifestyle changes.
Removing negative influences - saying goodbye to people and things that bring me down.
Focusing on family - not only me and the hubby and our desire to have kids, but also our loved ones that get unknowingly neglected at times.

2012 was not the best year for me and my family. I'm glad to be able to start fresh in 2013... Plus 13 is my favorite number!

About time for VACATION!

You have no idea how excited my husband and I are about finally having vacation time together! My hubby switched jobs this past year and wasn't able to take any time off until now. Coming from a job where he had a month of paid time off each year to this new arrangement has definitely been challenging. I still had 4 weeks of vacation - which I have used for long weekends and one, now infamous, road trip, but we haven't been able to go anywhere together. Next month that all changes.

My parents have graciously volunteered to come watch our fur-babies. I am so grateful for this help. I am a very overprotective Momma and can't stand the thought of boarding my kids. Now they'll get to be spoiled by their grandparents while the two of us enjoy our alone time in Michigan.

We'll be driving up for a week spent shopping, eating, and exploring in Traverse City and Frankenmuth. I'm thrilled to get some Christmas shopping done and visit some of our favorite restaurants. I'll be sure to post pictures when we get back.

On a much sadder note - our beloved Grubby cat passed away last week. It was sudden and are still wrecked from the loss. He will be missed.

Curious about organic foods

Last weekend while grocery shopping at my local supermarket I ended up purchasing waaay more organic food than usual. Don't get me wrong, as far as produce goes we try to buy local/organic as much as possible, but we've never gone much beyond that. My thought process is this: why buy organic processed foods when the preservatives alone are enough to induce cancer. However, my grocery store was running some ridiculous sale (Buy 10 participating items / get $5 off at checkout) that left most of the shelves practically post-apocalyptic empty. We were running on bare-bones as it was, so we purchased new variations of our staple items. I brought home organic butter, organic boxed mac and cheese, organic breakfast pastries, organic canned soups... you get the picture.

I hate to say it, but I loved them all!!! Now... I have no idea if I could tell a difference given a blind taste test, but to me the organic versions were all tastier. I felt better eating them too - like the guilt of my sugary breakfast treat was somehow less because of the organic label. Ohmygoodness!What have I gotten myself into? I guess I will just have to try a little of each to see which ones really come out on top. It sounds like a pretty terrific challenge to me!

Plotting the Course

In my last post I was very honest with myself and everyone else about where we were in our trying to conceive (TTC) journey. I think that really helped mentally prepare my husband and I for what lies next. Fertility issues are such a private matter initially as you try to suss out where your problem conceiving lies. We were barely making sense of what was going on with us let alone trying to explain it to those around us. All of our siblings and cousins are married off with children - we are the only ones having difficulty. Besides politely shrugging off the "When are you guys going to start having babies?" question at all the family gatherings, we really weren't comfortable going into specifics. I guess I felt defective in some way - like the most important job in the universe for a woman was the one thing I couldn't accomplish. Who wants to run around with a sticker on her forehead that reads "I'm Infertile?" People finally stopped asking questions - to our faces at least. My Mom would keep me in the loop as to who was feeling her out for information on our condition.

Enough about the past. Moving forward we have decided to thoroughly research all our options. My husband was adopted; so, we are hoping his Father will share his experiences in that area. We have begun researching agencies and the adoption process in our state. We haven't yet given up hope of conceiving and are also looking into different therapies, costs associated, and the success rates attached. I've always been really nerdy, and this process allows me to get my geek on.

We've also been including our family and friends in the loop and have been rewarded with encouraging feedback and advice. I will try to share more regularly as we find our way. We're over the stigma and are ready to plot our course into happiness!

Current Step: Research adoption and alternative fertility therapies pertaining to our conditions
Next Step: Meet with new fertility specialist and attend "Is adoption for you?" workshop
Ongoing Action: Continue steps to make our bodies healthier and keep friends and family in the loop