Long Overdue Update!!!

Wow....over a year since I last updated....Lets see if I can update all in one post....lol

February 2013: John and I purchased a new car! We traded in the GMC Envoy for a 2013 Kia Rio. I was worried about the size difference, but now a year later I can say it really isn't a problem. Plus, we are saving money on the payment and gas!!

The new car!!!\

I turned 34, which was a huge deal.

March 2013: Jocelynn tried Karate! She seemed to really like the first 2 classes, but then decided that it wasn't fer her. It was an expensive adventure, but if she had wanted to do it then I would have supported her.

The end of March saw the ending of a era....at least for me. I left my job at the shelter. After 9 years I had enough and decided it was time. To this day I miss the people I worked with (not management) and all the animals, but it was the correct decision of my sanity and to save John and I's marriage!

April 2013: I was able to get a new job as a receptionist with a local eye doctor. I really enjoyed it at first, but then I was asked to do things I was morally comfortable doing so I left that job at the end of August.

My Handsome Nephew, Gage Robert, turned 2!

Can't believe he is 2!

May 2013: May brought the nice weather and that chance to get outside!

I along with my sister-in-law and a friend were able to see one of my favorite bands in concert ~ NEEDTOBREATHE at the House of Blues in Boston! I can say it was amazing and I can't wait to go see them again!

NEEDTOBREATHE!

Jocelynn had her first dance recital! What a proud mommy moment! She was fantastic and seemed to really enjoy dancing on stage!

All dressed up for recital!

Jocleynn is the 6th from the left

Memorial day weekend we were able to make our first trip to the beach! What a refreshing day out in the sun near the water. I swear we are all happier when we are in the sun on the beach (even when the water is to cold to do more then dip your feet in for a few minutes!).

My favorite shot from our first beach trip!

June 2013: Happy Anniversary!!!! John and I celebrated 11 years of marriage. Man it went by fast!

We also were able to visit friends while they were camping and had a blast!

Jocelynn and her friend Zach!

He really loved her!

Jocelynn "graduated" from the 1st grade! My baby is growing up way too fast!

July 2013: Sun and Heat!!!! It was lovely!

In July we were able to get out, enjoy the pool and go camping!

My favorite picture of the rug rats in the pool!

We also found out that Jocelynn has a dairy intolerance. She is not completely lactose intolerant, but can only have a limited amount of dairy at a time. We have stared giving her almond milk and she really enjoys it. In fact she will drink the almond milk much easier then I could get her to drink the regular milk, so that is a bonus. I have changed out eating habits to modify for less dairy, or make a substitute for her. Most of the time she can not tell of the substitute, but every once in a while it is awful! It is a learning curve and I will keep moving forward with it! I hate seeing my baby in pain with the awful stomach cramps!

August 2013: Happy Birthday John!!! John turned 36. The love of my life is getting old...lol. I tease him I am going to trade him in for two 18 year olds, but he knows better!

I left the job at the eye doctor for moral reasons!

September 2013: Jocelynn started the 2nd grade......*sigh*

As a result of the issues from the eye doctor job, I was having severe anxiety attacks. I decided to go to the Dr. I was tired of the lack of motivation and wanting to sleep more then be awake. What was my diagnosis? Severe Depression....WHAT!?!?!?  I started a medication routine that consisted at first on 10mg of Citalopram and 3000 iu of Vitamin D3. I did have to up the Citalopram to 20mg once a day, and that seems to be a good dose for me. I go back in June of 2014 for a med check.

At the end of the month we took our (what is becoming annual) family trip to Myrtle Beach, SC. It was a wonderful week at the beach with family and friends! The drive was awful, but with the new car we were able to drive down, around town for the week and home for less than $250. I could get 1 plane ticket for that! So financially it made a lot of sense!

Our home away from home for 8 days!

One of our favorite attractions!!!

My beautiful Niece, Keira Chanel, turned 1!!!!

Happy 1st Birthday!

October 2013: John and I ordered a new sleep number bed!!! Our old mattress was 13 years old so it was time for a new one. We priced mattresses for 2-3 months and realized that the sleep number was in the same price range as regular mattresses with a better warranty! So we bought it! It was one of the best decisions we ever made! Both John and I have slept like babies!!!

With my visit to the Doctor in September, she suggested I have a sleep study done. So after fighting the insurance company, the approved an at home sleep study. Not as bad as it sounds and I was able to have a fairly normal nights sleep! What the study showed was abnormal sleep pattern, so an appointment with a neurologist was scheduled for January.

John also had to go to see an Orthopedic because he had some severe shoulder pain. After an MRI, it was determined that he has arthritis and bone spurs in the joint and a small tear on his rotator cuff. He decided to try some anti inflammatory medication to help with the pain. The Dr. told him that most of the pain was most likely from the arthritis and bone spurs not the tear.

Keira took her first steps during a family dinner get together so we were able to all witness and video tape it!

November 2013: Brooke Elizabeth turns 8!!!

The beautiful birthday girl!!

We decided to have family picture done as a large group this year, there are 12 of us! As well as individual groups! The turned out great!

Our 2013 family picture

Our beautiful baby girl!

The four kids!!!

The entire family!!!

Decemeber 2013: Jocelynn Noelle turned 8!!!! Man the time has flown by! Where is my baby?!?!

"8 years ago my life changed in ways I never imagined but for the better! At 1:58 am we 
welcomed our beautiful daughter, Jocelynn Noelle, into the world. 
You are my world and I am so very happy and proud to be known as your mom!
 I love you very much!!! Happy 8th Birthday my miracle child, you truely are a blessing from God!"

As a SAHM, I decided to start some crafts. My first was a homemade, double sided tree skirt. I was able to finish the first side this year and will finish the second side next year. I think it came out fairly nice!

Not too bad!

John decided that the anti inflammatory drugs were not working, so he decided to try a cortizone shot to get through the holidays! It worked grate but only lasted about 6-8 weeks.

So.....there is my 2013 update. Thanks for reading all the way to the end, I will post more later!

April Update

Where do I begin with April.

In April, Jocelynn had school vacation and Good Friday off from school. For Good Friday, I stayed home with her and we brought Mulan to the vet. Mulan is perfect (a quote for the vet, but I already knew that). I had the privileged to watch Brooke and Gage for the night, it is amazing that you forget what having a 1 year old is like. They were both great, it was a different routine for me and every time either one of the moved, I was awake....lol

Happy 3rd Birthday to my sweet nephew Tyler! It is hard to believe he is 3 already!

Jocelynn, Brooke and Gage at Easter

Happy Easter!!!!!! Jocelynn, Brooke and Gage were so cute on the Easter egg hunt, although Gage was bored with it after his 3rd egg....LOL As you can see by the picture, Gage was ready for a nap and not into having his picture taken!

Happy 1st Birthday Gage!

Happy 1st Birthday to my handsome nephew Gage! One year flew, but I am so blessed that my wonderful sister-in-law has kept me up to date on all thing pertaining to Brooke and Gage!

Jocelynn continues to do wonderful in Girl Scouts, but is undecided about next year. Some days she wants to continue, and then other days she says she doesn't. I guess I will continue to ask her and at some point she will have to make a decision.

Work has been frustrating and emotionally draining. That is all I can say about it, but I pray every day that things will change for the better again.

Happy Anniversary to Julio and Jody! 10 years is a wonderful milestone and there will be many more happy years ahead!

The new do!

April also saw a change for me, a new hair style. It is a modified pixie cut (that what my hair stylist calls it) I'm unsure about it. It is definitely different and it will take some time getting used to and figuring out how to style it. Only time will tell.

On the TTC front, John and I are trying some herbal supplements. I can't wait for May 1st when we have health insurance back and I can go back to the Dr. 

March Update

March was a strange and mainly quiet month. Beginning with a snowstorm on the 1st that had me working from home and Jocelynn had no school. In my mind, once March hits, there should never be snow. February is the cut off.

March was a very busy time for me at work. One of our larger fundraising events happened on the 18th, which meant overtime and extra work for myself and fellow co-worker Alaina. It was a very frustrating and patience trying time, but we both survived and the event was great!

On the TTC front, After the disappointing and heartbreaking miscarriage at the end of February, we decided to take the month of March "off", reconnect as a couple and not let TTC takeover our lives! It was a much needed break!

February Update

Here is the beginning of the updates.........

What happen in February???? 

First off, let me start by providing before and after pictures of Jocelynn's haircut. She was able to donate around 11 inches to locks of love.

Before....her hair was so long!

After the hair cut!

I was offered full-time at work on January 30th. As much I loved my schedule of working 32 hours, the new 40 hour schedule came with benefits that begin on 5/1/2012! 

February also marks another Birthday for me......33! After 30, another year isn't that bad except for the fact that I am moving closer and closer to 40....

With it being my Birthday month (when you get to a certain age, you celebrate all month!) I was able to have some fun times with some of my closest friends. Alaine, Kayla and Ashley came over on the 4th for Girls night in and then I spent the 11th shopping until we dropped with Andrea! What more could a girl ask for???

February was still pretty calm and laid back, with the weather being still cold and yuck, there isn't much to do outside. Our schedule gets supper busy when the warmer weather hit.

On the TTC front, John and I did receive some very happy news only to be hit with some very sad news. We managed to find out we were pregnant (finally) only to get devastating news a  few days later. Miscarriage is never something I want to hear about, but to experience it twice in 3 months is truly heartbreaking. December 20th and February 20th (both months with important event happening and joyful family times) will forever be slightly painful and tinged with an amount of sadness. 

Hanging in there...

This week has been interesting.

I was offered more hours at work.....now I can work 28 hours a week (up from 22) and I am hoping that will increase more as the year progresses and CVHS moves in a wonderful direction!!

John and I joined the Gym on Monday. We are planning on going 3x a week and working out for an 1 hour each time.....like I said this is to start, we will increase that as our weight goes down. John is meeting with the personal trainer at the gym to go over his goals and set up a workout routine that will work for him!

I have my eye Dr. appointment on Friday....I can't wait. I hate not having my glasses, especially at night. I refuse to drive right now at night. The 2 times I have (thankfully Jocelynn was not in the car) I saw double the entire way home.....not doing that anymore! It isn't safe.

Mulan has her annual Vet check-up on Tuesday (4/12) I am curious to see what she weighs! This has been an issue in the past (she has always been underweight) I am hoping that this is no longer an issue!

For anyone who in interested, I have found a wonderful online family calender (www.cozi.com)They also have an app for the android and iPhones. I have just started using this to keep track of appointment and such and I LOVE IT! I have even been able to implement the calender at work and it is wonderful!

Going to get this party started...

Since I am in the 2ww.....I have decided to keep myself busy!

John, Mom and I are all starting a "diet". I hate calling it that, but a Life Style Change is too strange as well. John and I are going to join Planet Fitness and make time 3 days a week to work out, which for me will consist in the beginning of the treadmill and elliptical machine. Check out my weight loss blog, which I deleted and decided I needed it here (Weight-loss Blog)

Also, I am trying to get organized and get this house cleaned. I was introduced to a website (FLYlady.net, Thanks to my CO sisters) and am on Day 3 so far! I am determined to make this work. I can't make a plan up myself, but I can follow a plan laid out in front of me in baby steps! I have also started a blog on my progress and back slides during this little journey. (Getting Organized Blog).

Last week was a great week....other than the snowstorm we had on Friday. I was hoping it was a great big April Fool's prank my the weather men....but at last it wasn't. I had 4-6 inches in my yard. Most of it has melted....Luckily I had the day off because I worked late on previous nights.

Thursday was Chuck E. Cheese's night. Jocelynn peed to bed a total of 3 times in the month of March!!! I am so proud of her. John and I took Jocelynn and Brooke along with my friends Alaina and Kayla for dinner and games! They had a blast! Here they are trying out Guitar Hero...

The guitar was too heavy for Brooke  :)

It was a great Family night and even John and I had a blast!

Work is changing! Some good, some not so good! All changes are to help the animals and that is our #1 priority! With the changes comes me sharing an office....luckily it is with one of my closest friends Alaina! Everyone keeps saying that nothing will get done now because we will be chatting and laughing, but her and I know better and will prove them all wrong. I figure, my boss must think we will still accomplish our task or she wouldn't put us together! She know we are close friends.....  :P

This coming week should prove interesting, diet and exercise routines along with getting organized and cleaning routines.....through in an evening meeting for my work and an eye Dr., dentist and hair appointment. Proves to be a very busy week!

Busy, Busy....

This week has been busy, meeting, meetings and a little fun....lol

Jocelynn has her 2nd Daisy meeting tonight....I think I am more excited then her. She takes everything in stride anyways....lol
She was able to sell Girl Scout Cookies for 2 weeks and sold 21 boxes! Not to bad, imagine what she could sell if we had more time.

Luckily we don't have anymore loose teeth at the moment, I am a little shocked and disappointed to see her new "big tooth" is coming in crooked and more in the back then where it should be. Nothing I can do about it, and it could straighten out as she looses and gets more teeth.....only time will tell!

She has been doing wonderfully with staying dry at night. So far in the month of March she has only wet the bed 2 nights......2NIGHTS!!! I am amazed. Of those 2 night, 1 she was very sick and 1 she drank too much too late......so at least we know what the issue was and can resolve it! Tomorrow is the celebration/reward for her doing a great job! We are taking her and Brooke to Chuck E. Cheese....I haven't told her yet, going to make it a surprise....lol

Work is crazy right now. We have recently had some staff changes so it is a little stressful right now, but things will get better and it all was a great change! I am also hoping to pick up more hours! Lots of meetings!

Jocelynn was able to ride a horse this past weekend....she was so excited. She has ridden what I consider ponies in the past and was a little intimidated by the big horse, but it didn't stop her....lol

I did break my glasses this week......I took them off to brush my hair and the lense fell out. Not a big deal, they have done that before. I picked up the frames and they moved funny....lol

So off the the eye Dr. I go. I can't get an appointment until 4/8. Luckily I can see still, just have a hard time with distance. I am due for new frames.....those are 8 years old and the only pair I have ever purchased, I believe I got my money's worth!


TTC......I believe I am in the 2ww. or will be in the next 2 days. So in about 2 weeks we will know if the clomid helped us in our quest!

Merry 2 days before Christmas!

Everything has been crazy and busy....tis the season. John, Jocelynn and I are still fighting some kinda bug since Thanksgiving. It started as the stomach flu, then became a head cold and is now chest congestion.....I am hoping and praying it will be on it's way out of the house next!

Jocelynn has been making great progress with waking up dry! Only 6 accidents all month! I will be pushing for no accidents for the entire month of January (and beyond)!

I have my appointment on the 13th of January @2pm with the OB/GYN at Bringham and Women's Hospital. This is an initial consultation and I am hoping to schedule my exercise/stress test for the same day. I should know either that day or soon after whether we have the green light to TTC again! I have faith that we will receive good news!

Cory and Kristina found out that they are having a BOY!!!! I get a nephew!!!! I am so excited and happy for them! The end of April, beginning of May can NOT come soon enough!!!

Jocelynn is on Christmas break until January 3rd. When she goes back to school she will be going 5 days a week instead of the 4 days. She seems excited and I hope the extra day will help in preparing her for kindergarten!

With Jocelynn's new schedule I will also be working a new schedule. I am looking for full-time work again, I have told my boss, and hopefully it will happen. If it doesn;t I will be working m-f 9am - 2pm. I will not know until sometime in January if the full-time has been approved.

Things are coming together for Christmas and I have 4 1/2 days off to spend with John, Jocelynn and the rest of my family! It will be a much needed break and hopefully I can finally get back on the mend and get rid of this sickness!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR to ALL my Friends and Family!!!

Starting to look up!

A week, how long is a week. 7 days? It seems to be much shorter than that, and yet so much happens!

Jocelynn went to visit Santa on Wednesday! She walked right up to him and started talking. She was so cute!

John has an appointment with the Male Fertility Specialist on Wednesday 12/23/2009 at 2:30pm. I am excited for this, but nervous at the same time. I just pray that she can help us! (I will update after the appointment) Jocelynn also has her annual check-up, should be interesting to see how much she has grown in the past year!

I have finally finished my Christmas shopping and all the presents that had to be shipped are, and most are in the recipients hands! It is a great feeling!

Friday is Christmas!!!!! It seems so crazy that this year has gone by so fast. 2010 is in less than 2 weeks! We are praying it is a wonderful year for us!

I am also looking forward to next week because I only have to work 2 days, then I have 5 day off to enjoy myself and family time!!! A much needed break!

So far the holidays season has been more hectic for me this year than last. I think it is because I am working outside the house 30 hours a week. I miss being home with Jocelynn all day, but I also enjoy the adult conversation that comes with work. Hopefully soon, I will be able to cut my hours back to 2 days a week instead of 4!

Living Life....

Things have been busy. Jocelynn, John and I have been spending a lot of time together (when I am not working) and it has been great! Things are going as well as can be expected. I am working 35-40 hours a week and John's first unemployment check should be here this week. I hate collecting unemployment but we can NOT live on what I make. John looks everyday to see if there are any jobs available out there and of course there are none that he is qualified for...*sigh*

We are still not 'actively' TTC. I'm not even sure what CD I am on....which is a strange feeling for me....but at the same time it is nice. It has stopped being the center of my life and I can and I am focusing on much more important aspects.

I believe through all this, my relationship with God has become stronger.

Working

After my first week back at work I am exhausted! It was nice to be back at work. Thankful this comes at just the right time. I am able to work up to 40 hours a week until the end of June and then I will start on my regular schedule of Monday and Friday. Looks like we will be getting Jocelynn in to preschool soon, at least on the Mondays and Fridays I will be working. I am just hoping I can find one that isn't too expensive.

This week has been gorgeous weather wise and John and Jocelynn have had some fun together outside. This has been great for them and they have been spending some much needed one on one time (with Wyatt too...lol)

Grampa Young is officially all moved in. It will be a big period of adjustment but one we have no choice on making! I can't believe how unappreciated some of his children were after he spent most of him life taking care of them. SELFISH! I think it is good that he is back living here, I am home most of the week. I just hope the rest of the family doesn't forget about him!

I have started a full exercise and diet routine. I have surprised myself with the motivation I have had! If you wanna follow my struggle with weight loss and help keep me motivated, check out my other BLOG!!

Have A Great Memorial Day Weekend!!!!!!!

Praise God!

God really does work miracles in our lives! I was offered a part-time position at CVHS! It will be two days a week, Monday and Friday and it is just what I needed right now! I LOVE staying home with Jocelynn, but have missed the adult interaction and feeling like I am contributing to the income for the family. The ladies there are great and in the last year I have missed them and I am so happy they are willing to welcome me back with open arms!

The next few weeks I am going to try and pick up as many hours as I can (at least until John goes back to work)!

The other reason this is so exciting, it allows us to take our trip down south in 3 weeks. When John was laid off, that trip was put on hold for obvious reasons! Now it is back on! I can't wait to have a few days with great friends, see my niece and meet my new nephew!

All I have to say is praise the Lord! You are truly amazing and I am blessed!

Some Good News

My previous employer informed me yesterday that my replacement is on vacation until Wednesday, and if I wanted to come in to work I could! (She is new and hasn't earned any vacation time, so she is taking the days unpaid.)

I jumped at the chance! Anything to make a few extra dollars and visit with the ladies I adore at work!!!!!

I will be working all day Friday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday!

The Lord works his wonders in my life everyday!

Busy......

Things have been so busy with Work. Hoping to be done by the end of this month. I hope this new person will work out, but it isn't looking good.

John and I had a nice date night last night. We both 'dressed up' (any chance for me to wear one of the new dresses I purchased that I love) and he took me the Olive Garden. It has been years since we had been there and I realized how much I have missed their salad and bread sticks! It was a great dinner and it was very nice to get out with John. We finished up Jocelynn's Easter shopping and John received his early Father's Day Gift, a universal remote for the basement. Instead of 6 remotes, we now have one that runs everything!!!! It is very nice.

The next 9 days are exciting, Today we are going to see the Easter Bunny and have pictures, Jocelynn is super excited! I go in Monday (4-6) for my progesterone level test!!! I'm hoping the number is great! Wednesday (4/8) I become an Aunt again! Jody and Julio will welcome Tyler, and I can't wait to visit them in a few weeks to meet this precious bundle and to see Gabby and them again! Sunday is Easter and the family will be together and the girls are so cute finding the eggs and then Monday (4-13) is my BETA!!! (Blood pregnancy test).

All in all I have a lot to look forward too. Guess that is what makes life exciting!!!!

The good and the bad

Good news, CD 10 FSH level was a 4.6!!!!! That is very good and the RE is no longer concerned about my ovarian reserve!!!!!! That is a load off of my mind! I am kinda going crazy in this 2ww. It always is like this after a break, getting back on the horse and the possibilities are amazing and makes me feel hopeful again!

Things have been going good otherwise. Work is frustrating and the new person that I am training is frustrating, but I should be finished up there shortly. I have decided to continue my Fridays at the shelter as a volunteer. I enjoy the 'me' time and Jocelynn seems to be minding better since I am not home 24/7. We will see how long this trick works!

Things have been pretty boring and same thing day after day, which is good but leaves too much time for my brain to work overtime!


JD, you are in my thoughts today. Please let me know if you need to chat, I am always here for you! {{{hugs}}}

Fun!!!!!!!!!

My first full 8 hour day. Man am I tired...LOL It was good, a lot of work ahead of me, but I know I can do it. I will be working from home on the days I can't get into the office, and once the work is caught up and fixed, I will be going in to train the new person who will be doing the job. I really hope that the next person is more qualified and will do a better job!

I have to say today was one of the weirdest day I have actually had. It started off good, I got to the job and began working and began having weird stomach pains. Then I had a bout of nauseousness, luckily I had put a starlight mint in my mouth. Once the mint was gone, I had another attack that I couldn't stop. Now, mind you the last time I vomited at work was when I was pregnant with Jocelynn. Anyhoo, after I felt really good and I was starving! About 45 minutes later, my lunch arrived and I ate so fast.....It actually felt good in my belly. It tasted off, which was funny to me.

I was feeling really good for about 2 hours, and then the pain and nauseousness came back. Since about 2:00 I have been living on starlight mints to help with this. The funny thing is I don;t feel bad, just nauseous. I also have been starving, but NOTHING sounds good!

Here is my dilemma! Today I am 7DPO and today my temp too a small nosedive. This is all good! I really hope this is it, but on the same hand, I don't wanna get my hopes up for them to come crashing down!

It is all a waiting game. I won't call the Dr. until March 4th to find out. I don't want to call until I am truely late. My cycle is due to start on 2/23/09. Please pray for us. I really want this journey to come to an end!

I made it....

So I made it through yesterday without a break down. It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.

On another note, I went back to work today.....at least for a few weeks. I haven't worked at the Humane Society since May of 2008. Well, apparently my replacement didn't work out and they called to ask if I would come back, 2 days a week until they can find another replacement. Today was my first day back. I will be working Tuesdays (7-9:45am) and all day Fridays. It was nice to get out of the house, have some adult conversation and just feel like I accomplished something. I kept thinking I would like to do this (if the position allowed for it...LOL)

Even though I haven't done the work for 7 months, it was like riding a bike, I guess it is drilled in my head after doing the work for 4 years...LOL

So I go back Friday, that will be my interesting day since it will be a full 6-8 hours. Depends on what I get done and what needs to be done!