Some changes

A friend linked me to a site that has nice backgrounds. So the change today is my blog is pretty instead of basic anymore. I like it.

Zoey is doing a lot better. She did wake me up at 2:30 to go out, but after that has been fine. It will take a few days for her to get back to normal again. I'm going to attempt going to do my much needed errands today and hope for the best. I haven't left her alone since this hit, and I'm hoping that when I leave she doesn't have any accidents. They are calling for heavy rain today, so that will be pretty horrible to have happen when the house needs to stay all closed up.

No changes cycle wise. I'm still waiting. It's day 39 now. The study nurse is on vacation and won't be back in the office till Monday. She said she will talk to the Dr at that time with my chart available, and let me know what happens next. I know its been common for him in the past to say if we attempt a cycle and it doesn't come, to just do blood work and then start meds. I do not want to do that this time, and would even suck it up and do a whole 10 day round of provera again if needed. I do not think skipping having a period is going to do any good. The last time that happened, I had a really bad cycle. Plus, the lining was on the thicker side when I had the mid cycle appt, and that means it needs to come out before trying this final round. I want everything to go right this round! It's my last try till at least spring, if not longer. I don't want to sound totally greedy but I really NEED for this to be the time it works! I think the whole study would have been a real success, if the first 3 cycles would have went better. I had a lot against me for this thing and it's not fair.
It seems as if everyone is getting pregnant or having babies lately! It seems like a lot of the IF community has really started to take off! That is awesome! :) We also have several friends who either just had babies, or are pregnant now. And my amish neighbor just let us know this past weekend that they are finally pregnant and she's due in December. I had talked with her last winter about the difficulty of it not being easy for everyone. And for them, that's their sole purpose so I'm sure it bring IF to a different level that I'm not familiar with. I'm just happy to see it happening for those who really want it. And now a few of my closest friends are having babies, I can at least take care of a little baby fever by visiting them.

The weekend is going to be busy. I have a big list of things I want to get done, and we are about to start the final phase of construction on our big remodel project. That will be a post for another day. The plan is for it to be all completed by the end of this year. I have a few projects I want done before Sept because I'm starting to plan a birthday party, and want those crossed off the list before it happens. Tomorrow night we are going to have a family date night, and go to the drive in to see the new Ice Age and Night in the Museum. It should be fun provided the humidity goes away with this rain.
Sorry this ended up so long. I have had lots on my mind and now am feeling better. Time to get ready to leave for the day.

Already Thursday?!

Wow this week is going fast. I'm suppose to get back in touch about what to do with this cycle. Still no spotting or anything on the way. I did break down and test 2 days ago and it was negative still. I've been kinda crampy and thinking something was starting for a few days now, but nothing is going on. It's extremely frustrating!
I just emailed her quick while thinking of it, so I guess there will be a chance of a trip for bloodwork and more meds in my future. We will see.

Zoey is doing better so far today. We ended up with a vet trip again yesterday afternoon because she wasn't able to keep her bland diet in, or water if she gulped it. They had me take both away till the appt. Apparently this is just the sensitive stomach thing in overdrive again. Stool samples show nothing bad, and she got a shot to help with the constant pooping, plus a 10 day antibiotic to get her over this. We're to continue a bland diet for 3 days, then start to slowly mix back her real food in with it, and continue the diarrhea meds through today at least. After all her meds last night, and being able to eat a little again, she just crashed for the evening. She was in a major deep sleep. She was so tired she almost couldn't make it up the steps. I'm so not ready for those days! She would take a few, stop, look back at me, try another and stop. I almost had to get D to come carry her up and she finally made it up. I don't know what we will do when she can't do steps anymore. She didn't want to get up this morning but I was worried that she wouldn't wake me if I fell back to sleep. When she has the accidents in the house, it's always been when she wasn't able to wake us up. And she ventures into the hallway right beside K's door and that's where it happens. That's all I need is for him to walk out and into that. So, we got up at 6 today. So far, things are good. No more poop, has kept food in her for over an hour now. Looking much better! My only concern right now is if they say I need to come in for more blood work and another appt. That would have be gone a good 4-5 hrs and not sure what I might come home to after that.

Sick Dog

Tonight's added to this wonderful week. Last night I was out in the garden and the dog usually lays close to where I'm at. Last night she ventured over to behind our garage, and started eating something. I ran over and chased her away but she already swallowed some. It was cat poop. With all the farms around here, the cats don't get proper care. They aren't pets and no one really cares if they venture away and spread their disease around. They are all full of worms and issues. It's sad but I have a hard time finding pity right now when they keep coming into my yard and pooping all over the place and then this happens. Zoey waits till I'm distracted and even though she knows it's bad, she dives on it. I find it really disgusting that dogs will do things like that. Anyway, a little history with Zoey is that when she eats poop, she gets really sick. It's been pretty regular for the past 2 yrs of living here, and hits about every 2-3 months. It ends up needing her to go to the vet, they feel her belly and do a poop test, give anti diarrhea meds and antibiotics and say bland diet for 3 days before weaning her back on dog food. The past few times, they've allowed us to just bring in the sample, get the meds, and save on the office visit because they know she has a sensitive stomach. We've tried extra hard to keep her in the front yard, and if she goes to the back, she stays next to us (except last night when she felt like proving me wrong). She doesn't get any people food, gets meds faithfully to prevent heartworm and parasites, and is on a ridiculously expensive food that the little pet store owner here orders it for me because none of the big stores carry it other than online. It's gentle on her stomach and we've made it 10 months since the last episode. That's a very big deal. So anyway, tonight was the same. Called the vet and said what happened yesterday, and said that the poor dog has gone out with explosive diarrhea 6 time in the past hour, do they want to see her or do we just come down for meds. They reviewed it with both vets, and said they would wait there till 9:30, just bring the sample and come for meds. That works for us. She seems to be doing much better already. She's hungry but she can't start her rice/burger diet till morning. She gets one more pill and a chance to go out, and then it's bed time. She usually wakes me up when she's sick like this if she needs to go out at night so I hope that's the case tonight. The rare times that she doesn't make it, she goes right next to K's door and I'm hoping that doesn't happen!
In the meantime, I need to find ways to keep the other animals out of our yard without having to fence it all. We have almost 2 acres. The only part fenced is along the road out front because we sit so close to it. Nothing comes in there, and I clean up after Zoey every day so I'd notice if something else was going there. We don't have animal shelters around here. None for our county and I just get told that if i catch them and bring them in, it's $40 per drop off or something crazy like that. There has to be something to do though.
Poor dog is sad that she can't lay with me on the couch now but she is going to need a bath and "butt cut" before being allowed on furniture again. The downfall to a hairy dog I guess.

No change

I wanted to update quick. There's still nothing going on here. Boob pain but no spotting or period. Today is 8 days from the last provera. Yesterday I emailed the study nurse to find out what happens now. She said they allow up to 10 days for it to start. So I guess if nothing is going on by Thursday, Friday I'll be going down for more blood work. I'm really not sure what to think this time. For me, when the progesterone rises, I always have the boob pains. It's not a constant pain but it's enough that if something bumps into them or I roll over in bed, I notice it.
I pretty sure that it's not a late ovulation. I tested last Friday and it was negative. I truly don't think that it's missing because of pregnancy. I refuse to waste anymore tests right now.
I do find it incredibly strange that of all the years provera has worked well for me, with 7 days being my common dose, that this time it's failed me. I only have one more round to go with this and now we got another delay! I honestly wouldn't care that it's missing right now if it wasn't for just one more time to go. I just want this study to be completed at this point. So much has interfered and took the fun out of it. Apparently they are right and nothing will ever be predictable with me!

So other than that, not much going on here. Keeping busy and just waiting. If things stay the same through the weekend, we might do a day trip to the beach on Sunday. Or maybe go to a park and enjoy some water rides. We will see.

And while I'm updating...I added a new button on the side of my blog. Baby Stellan could really use all the thoughts and prayers he can get right now. Check out their blog for more details. I have been following his story for a long time now and it breaks my heart to read the latest updates. He is such a strong little guy.

My Orchids

I found a new obsession. Well, not really a new one exactly, but one to take over a lot more of my time. I've had a few orchids thanks to a friend getting me obsessed for about a year and half now. A few I've had bad luck with because Lowes and Home Depot like to over water them and drown them in the disgusting moss. Last weekend I found 3 at Lowes on clearance and I had to rescue them. They were $1 each and while they look bad, they will probably bounce back over time. And if they don't, I'm only out $3. I started making it my duty to check each time I go back. Since we live far from everything, I have 1 of 3 ways I can go to stores. Last week was the one north. Earlier in the week we were to one direction south of us, and then yesterday hit the other store about 10 mins from the other. Yesterday I found 2 for $2 each, plus the one pictured below that was normal price. I felt I needed something blooming right now so I had to buy it. It has 5 new buds on it and the roots were very good so I think this will be one of the better purchases from Lowes. While I was checking out, the girl was telling me a little about them. "It's a shame these are dying. They are so pretty but they only seem to flower for a few weeks and then stop! And the sticks are starting to look like they are dying too." First of all, they are suppose to drop flowers after a few weeks. Second of all, the "stick" is the spike, and after they are done flowering, it's normal to change colors while it's done blooming. Some even come off and regrow the next season. And 3rd, they pack them in an insane amount of moss and don't know how to water them correctly. The moss was packed in so tightly that I almost broke the pot to get them out. When they over water it that way, it rots the roots. I repot all mine into clay balls and they are doing great. I wasn't about to tell her all that though, because I figure I'll check back every other week to see which ones have "died" since blooming. The 2 I got yesterday do not have tags, so it will be a nice surprise when they start to bloom next spring.
They are so pretty! I think it's a good distraction, and will make the house feel a little more peaceful. I use to have a lot of house plants, but during a move at one point I gave them to my mom and she killed them within a few months. I think it's time to start to get a new collection. My husband told me to find something to distract myself. Wonder if he realized that orchids aren't exactly a really cheap expense at first.....hehe...