Friday, August 22, 2014

Unexplained Infertility

Unexplained infertility is the official diagnosis I received when I met with a reproductive endocrinologist last week. It was not exactly what I expected to hear, nor were the treatments that the recommended. But this is our story, like it or not.



After a year of trying to start a family (with no success, obviously), and a chemical pregnancy two months ago, I decided to seek help. My OB recommended Dr. Mo, and I was lucky to get a last minute cancellation at his practice. Hank happened to be out of town for work, so I went by myself. We had a very candid conversation, and he reviewed all of our previous testing at length. The good news? We are still both totally and completely healthy, with no obvious issues that would be preventing me from getting pregnant. After an ultrasound, he even confirmed that my reproductive system is functioning a few years younger than my actual age. So why isn't it working?!

Everyone's favorite response seems to be "just relax, and it will happen then." Easier said than done, especially when age 39 is knocking on the door. The truth is (at my age), that it doesn't always happen that easy. Obviously there is a certain time of the month that it's most likely to happen, so it takes some careful observation to make sure you know when that sweet spot is. I don't think taking a few steps to monitor your cycle is going overboard. I don't even really think I've stressed out about it that much, other than being disappointed each month when it doesn't happen.

Prior to meeting with Dr. Mo, I started seeing an acupuncturist to help with managing stress. After a rough few months at work, I figured it couldn't hurt. I've also read a ton of information on acupuncture helping with your reproductive system. Since we have an acupuncturist on staff at our office wellness center, and it only costs me $10 a visit- I knew I had to give it a try. I look forward to those appointments, and I have to believe that it's doing some kind-of good for my body and mind. 

I have never been much of a medicine person, and Hank and I have had strong feelings about the length we would go to to conceive a child. Those things combined made my appointment with the doctor a little overwhelming. Because of my diagnosis and good health, I'm not a candidate for any middle ground treatment like taking Clomid. I really didn't go into the appointment expecting to hear the recommendations that he gave. But I listened, took notes, and talked it all through with Hank over the weekend. We went back to the Dr. on Tuesday and formulated a plan. 

Mid October we will start a cycle of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI for short). We'll do two rounds of this if necessary. If neither of those work, we'll take a little break, and then discuss doing IVF early next year. I feel really good about this plan, and so does the doctor. Even better is the fact that my insurance will cover all 3 of these procedures, should we end up having to carry out the plan in full. If none of those work, then we will be done. 

Over the weekend I felt sad, disappointed and frustrated. Sad that we wouldn't be able to take a more natural approach, and disappointed that the day I find out I'm pregnant will be way more clinical than I ever imagined. I'm also frustrated that there isn't a tangible reason why it's not happening for us. Luckily I don't feel angry or jealous of all of the people I know who are pregnant, and I hope to never feel that way. Yes, I want it to happen for us. But there is no reason to be jealous.

Not knowing a ton of people who have gone through infertility issues has made it a somewhat difficult thing to talk about, and I hope to change that. There is no shame in what we're going through, and the more stories I hear, the better I feel. I'm not sure how much I'll actually write about our procedures, but this little blog is our family journal, and it has always felt like a safe place for sharing. If writing about it helps connect me to others, then all the better.

So now we get to chill out for the next 1 1/2 months, and continue to enjoy our happy little life. Our kitchen remodel is going full steam (well, after this weekend it will be), and we've got lots to do around the house. We have so much to be thankful for, and it's important to me that we just stay positive. 

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Blair's First Birthday Fiesta

A couple of weekends ago we celebrated my nephew Blair's first birthday. It's incredible to me that an entire year has gone by since the day he was born. I'll never forget how excited our family was to have a little baby boy. He most certainly has not disappointed, and is just so much fun to be around. He is a mover and a shaker, and BOY does he like to get around. He's walking on his own, and he LOVES to eat. Watching him gobble up his cake was so much fun!

The Holland House: Birthday Boy
Blair the Birthday Boy


My sister outdid herself with a super cute birthday party. From succulents potted in salsa cans, to fresh churros- no detail was missed. We went down to San Marcos early to help set up, and there was quite a bit to do. I made Hank promise that if we ever have a baby, that I will be just fine with a pizza and beer first birthday party. I don't ever want to work that hard again.

The Holland House: Sombrero Showdown
Sombrero Showdown- Who wore it best?  





Here are a few of my favorite details from the party:

*Flowers handpicked from the garden, casually displayed in Topo Chico bottles and metal containers.
*Agua Fresca, lemonade, Topo Chico and bottles of Coke for drinks.
*Taco bar with plenty of salsas and fixings.
*Homemade praline party favors.
*PiƱata and pin the tail on the donkey for games.


The Holland House: Fiesta Party Details



Of course, no family birthday party is complete without a Sweet Elise cake. I made a Papel Picado smash cake to match the party invitations, and Churro Cupcakes for everyone else. Blair had a blast going to town on his cookie and cake.

The Holland House: Fiesta Smash Cake


Family fun:

The Holland House: Birthday Family
Sister's Family



The Holland House: Siblings
Siblings (sorry Blake- there's no tool to fix closed eyes)

Monday, August 11, 2014

Baking Lately- Summer Edition

If you don't follow my Sweet Elise Facebook Page, then you're missing out on some of the fun baking projects I've worked on lately.  Holidays, birthday parties, and showers- OH MY! It's been a busy summer, and I'm looking forward to a much needed break in the month of September so that we can get our kitchen remodel finished. I promised Hank I would not take on any jobs for the whole month. We'll see how that goes.

First up- cakes. I'm always hesitant to take on character cakes, mainly because they often involve the use of fondant. That is my least favorite medium, as I much prefer buttercream. But I did manage to pull off a super cute panda and a lamb, so at least I know I can do them if asked. My  most favorite cake of all was the Papel Picado cake that I made for my nephew's first birthday. I'll post more details this week as my sister really outdid herself for the fiesta.

The Holland House: Baking Lately-  Cakes

The Holland House: Baking Lately-  Cakes


I don't mind making cakes, but I really love working on cookies. These really are my favorite things to make, and I feel like I haven't been able to do as many as I would like lately. I'm working on two orders over the next two weeks though, and before you know it, it will be time for holiday cookies. I can't wait!

The Holland House: Baking Lately-  Cookies


Finally, I have made a few fun cupcakes. The Churro cupcakes for Blair's fiesta were delicious! I'm also working on a batch of floral cupcakes for a bridal shower this weekend. I'm making wafer paper flowers for the first time, and I can't wait to share the project with you. I have high hopes for how it turns out.

The Holland House: Baking Lately- Cupcakes


Monday, August 4, 2014

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Last weekend my sister and I drove up to Dallas/Ft. Worth for our friend Jackie's shower and bachelorette party. Holly and I both worked/lived with Jackie, and are super excited to be in her wedding next month. It's rare that we get a chance to have some girly time, so we left husbands at home and hit the road for a fun girl's weekend.

Jackie's sister hosted a shower on Friday night, and we had such a great time getting to know some of the other wedding guests and friends. There were delicious appetizers and amazing pizzas (cooked right outside on a Big Green Egg). There was also an endless flow of wine (more on that later). We spent half the time telling funny stories, and the rest eating and opening gifts. Jackie and Rob got some great things for their new house. Of course, there was also cake. A gorgeous, sparkly gold cake!!

The Holland House: Wedding Shower


The next morning came way too early (remember the endless wine), and I was feeling less than stellar. But we had things to do and places to go, including the spa at our hotel in Ft. Worth. After having coffee and kolaches while catching up with Jackie's mom, it was time to hit the road.


We checked into the hotel and immediately hit the spa for facial and massage appointments. It's been way too long since I had a facial, and the esthetician could tell. She used Eminence products, and the whole hour was so luxurious. The products smell incredible, and my skin felt so soft and hydrated when it was done. We hung out in the spa lounge for a bit, and then changed to hit the pool for a few hours.

When we were finally able to check into the room, I finished the "Bachelorette Survival Kits" that Holly and I had worked on. They included a small bottle of champagne, Emergen-C, Tylenol, mints, water, Tums, chocolate, a bag of popcorn mix, and some special cookies that I made for Jackie. We even had a sticker made to match the invitations that were sent out. The bags were a big hit, and ended up coming in super handy after a night of partying.

The Holland House: Bachelorette Survival Kit



After showers, we threw on some clothes and headed to Blow Dry Bar to get our hair did. If you have one of these (or something similar) where you live, I highly recommend it for a special night out. It was the best $35 I've spent in a long time. My hair is notoriously straight, and almost never holds a curl. (Nor do I know how to curl it myself.) I loved the look I got, and couldn't believe that it lasted the entire night in Texas heat and humidity.

The Holland House: Blow Dry Bar



After getting all fancied up, we met the rest of the crew for a lingerie shower for Jackie, and then headed to dinner at Reata. We had a group of 14, and luckily were able to reserve their private room. We had a great meal (I couldn't pass up the Chicken Fried Steak). I figured if there was going to be drinking, I should at least have a decent sized meal before hand.

The Holland House: Wedding Party


After dinner we headed down the street to Pete's Piano Bar, and then to Cowtown and the Cadillac Bar to close the night. I can't remember the last time I closed a bar down at 2 am, but I was proud of myself for making it through the night. We got an Uber ride back to the hotel, and called it a night with our bags of popcorn. It was such a fun night, and most importantly- I think Jackie had a great time!

The Holland House: Bachelorette Party

The Holland House: Bachelorette Party
Best photo bomb- the two guys on the left in our group pictures. No. Clue.


 
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