thursday thirteen #6... the highs and lows of IUI (or IVF)!

Thirteen Things about the 'Highs & Lows' of IVF (or IUI) For those who do not know yet, we have started IVF. The treatment that has been 'prescribed' by the Specialist, is the IUI. This involves a lot of work, pain, hormones etc, and I am dedicating this weeks TT, to it. So please 'enjoy'! 1…. Hormones, they have been terrible! At times, 'L' has been fine and happy one minute, and within a second, she is either crying or is angry as. Apparently, as the Estrogen rises, this will stabilise! 2…. Whats effecting the hormones, easy, I am having to give 'L' a nightly injection which started out at 75 units, but has been increased. This is because her estrogen level is slowly rising (43, up to 144 and the last result was 340). We need to get up to at least 500! 3…. Injections. 'L' does not like these. They are a very fine Epipen but it is not nice. I have had a very brief induction in how to do these, but still I get the tears (almost) every night. A couple more days to go... 'L' has to go for a blood test every 3-4 days (yes, more needles) until the target is achieved! 4…. Once the estrogen level is achieved, 'L' has to go for almost daily internal ultrasounds. Now, being a male, I can not appreciate how this would feel. However, after my spinal surgery, where I was catheterised, I think I can only imagine it to being when it was removed where I just about hit the roof... Feeling for you 'L'! 5…. The internal ultrasounds are to measure follicle size. They want to get NO MORE than 2, 15-18mm follicle's. Any more, then the treatment will be suspended as there is a greater risk of triplets, quads or more... 6…. Once the 1 or 2 follicle's have reached the right size, then 'L' (yes another needle) will get a massive hormone injection in order for the ovaries to release the follicle's (egg(s)). At this time, I might move given the increased hormones!!! 7…. Apart from doing the daily injections (my only 'input' at this stage, it is now my turn to participate. I have to offer up a ... sample... or an 'injection of love' This has to be completed in the early am, where it is then spun, cleaned of all the rubbish (there words not mine), concentrated, added to a new material and made ready for insemination! 8…. Some 24-36 hours later, 'L' will have to be at the clinic to be inseminated. After this, she can the go off to work as if nothing has happened, and there is the very real possibility of an 'Implantation Bleed', let's hope not! 9…. Wait 7-14 days, return to the clinic for a pregnancy test (hopefully good news)! 10…. Next in the list is then to contact a Gynaecologist and we are off and racing! 11…. Then through the pregnancy, numerous ultrasounds, internal examinations etc... 12…. Get the baby room(s) ready and delivery! 13…. Pray for us or at the very least, for me to get through this unscathed!!! Isn't making babies meant to be fun??? Seriously, I am being supportive in every way I possibly can. I do not understand what 'L' is going through, nor would I claim that I do. She is my rock, my mate and someone whom I would do anything for. I love her dearly, and I hope that she gets what she has wanted for a very long time. We have been seeing our IVF Specialist for just on 2 years now, with no success so far. There are many stand-in uncle and aunts (not to mention ACTUAL uncle and aunts) who are also wanting and wishing us success in this. The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! thursday thirteen

thanx mr postie

for my etsy deliveries. What do you think of this as the centrepiece for a lap quilt?

Home Sweet Home in Olivey Lime
This is one of my etsy purchases created by the very talented Shannon Lamden of Aunty Cookie fame. I just had to have some of this fabric and it must have been fate that I ended up with a piece. When Aunty Cookie blogged that she was going to be listing it the next day on etsy, I committed the time to memory, however, as it was a work day I got distracted doing well, work. And by the time I remembered, it was all sold, except to my fortune, Aunty Cookie had miscalculated and had 50cm spare, and I happened to read about this before anyone else.

moi presents

it is my mum's birthday but somehow it feels like mine, I have been the happy recipient of a chenille bedspread, thanks dad, a collection of buttons, a buckle, and

buttons and buckle
a couple of needleholders, thanks mum.

The vintage cupie doll needleholder is particularly cute, my mum thought I might be able to make something similar, you know so that I could give up my day job.
needle holders

too many works in progress

quilt in progress

the discipline that I have tried to exercise, that is not to start a new project without finishing the one at hand, has gone out the window. I currently have three quilts in progress, one cross-stitch, and now this tapestry.

noah's ark

And although I might have been disciplined in not starting new projects without finishing the one at hand, I have never been disciplined in the purchasing of kits, or materials for projects. I have dozens of cross-stitch patterns waiting in the wings, half a dozen quilting kits lined up, in addition to an assortment of crafty projects, and thanks to today's visit to Prints Charming's new store in Annandale, I have a few more crafty bits.

Prints Charming

birds

rocket ship

Topped off by a visit from Special P this afternoon bearing gifts and I am truly gone in keeping my golden rule.

fabric gifted

thursday thirteen #5... holiday destinations!

Thirteen Things about our holiday destinations Been too... 1…. Tokyo, Japan (2004 & 2005)! 2…. Copenhagen, Denmark (2004 & 2005)! 3…. London, Bath, Bristol, Liverpool, UK2004 (2004)! 4…. Aalborg, Denmark (2004)! 5…. Llandudno, Nth Wales (Loved it, 2005)! 6…. Manchester, UK! 7…. Auckland NZ(2006 (Ellerslie Flower Show))! Where we would like to go... 8…. Singapore! 9…. Hong Kong (to see Pako from Uni & visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club)! 10…. Dubai (for the shopping)! 11…. Shanghai, China (again, for the shopping (for 'L')! 12…. Anywhere in Vietnam! 13…. More time in Tokyo, Denmark and the UK! That's my lot, what about you? Please tell me where you have been, and where you most would like to go... Links to other Thursday Thirteens! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! thursday thirteen

I am going BACK to work for a rest, WHAT a weekend!!

On Friday, L and the M.I.L went to a Quilting show in Sydney Exhibition Center (whilst I worked) and then we stayed over for dinner, Indian Curries.

Saturday, I had pre-arranged to take the F.I.L to get his new printer, an ex-lease PC (his CD rom drive had died, and it cant be replaced so I found a very cheap ex-lease one for less than IF they had the parts...), and a new graphics card for our old desktop. This ended up being an all day event, that had me going back to the store with his new (old) as they had forgotten to load XP before they close at 4.30!!

Then on Saturday night, we went to a Sri Lankan festival event, my god, what a night! Heaps of food, and the music was great. We had a ball, but a very late night and still no graphics card installed!

L&B

Sri Lankan Festival

To much food

Dancing

Entertainment
Sunday morning had me off to complete an early morning task and to return with breakfast. I was home for all of 5 mins and finally installing the card. This was a very easy thing to do. By the time this was done however, we were off to L's favourite brothers place (he has just moved in) and then for some Yum Cha. We finally got home around 4.30pm and I could finally start playing with my new toy...

Friday, I got a new toy, a Canon EOS 400D, and a Navman as well (although, this will save mobile calls from L asking how do I get from here to where I'm going... I am LOST).
Here they are, taken with old camera:

New Toys

And the old toy, taken with the 'NEW' toy:

Old Toy

This was actually the first photo taken with the new toy...

Macc

So, with one of these, I off to work in the morning for a rest...

Coffee

thursday thirteen # 4... why I love where I work...

Thirteen Things about why I love where I work... 1…. When it looks this good, wouldn't you? BGT-Aerial-View 2…. In one Garden, we have a bog, and in another, we are almost in a desert! 3…. We have remnant Cumberland Plains, and also show Cold Climate plants! 4…. Showcase Plant Diversity, whilst researching Conservation! 5…. We entertain with Events, and educate through our Education Department! 6…. We maintain the long dead (Herbarium) yet breed (in the Nursery)! 7…. Australia's OLDEST Garden! 8…. We tell the stories of our Indigenous people! 9…. We have a great Shop! 10…. Not to mention a good Restaurant! 11…. Sydney Gardens:- It's Harbour views! RBG12…. Mount Annan: - Showcasing Australian Native Plants! MABG 13…. Mount Tomah: - Picturesque Mountain views across the valleys! MTBG

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

thursday thirteen

pa's birthday

pa's birthday 2007

at thirty seven I am extremely lucky to still have my maternal grandparents. It was my grandfather's ninety second birthday on the weekend and of course we celebrated on Sunday, with an afternoon tea at their home. And for a sweet tooth this was the perfect picture of him surrounded by sweet treats and my grandmothers china tea cups.

BGT stalker...

Last Thursday, in between a meeting at work and a site visit within our Heritage Glasshouses, we came across this little critter. She is an Echidna and is only young. Needless to say, that it took a little longer to get up to inspect the Glasshouses!!

BGT Stlaker

She was a visitor from the Zoo to our Education department, and was one of two that had recently been attacked by the Zoo's resident Ravens...

Isn't she cute?

thursday thirteen # 3 'my dad'

Thirteen Things about my dad

1. 'nevertheless' is one of my dad's words


2. my dad has been married to my mum for 38 years


3. he is the youngest of 5 children


4. he has a passion for traditional bookbinding which he has learnt to craft through TAFE


5. my addiction to shopping and collecting is to a good part in genes I have inherited from my father


6. I look like my dad and his side of the family


7. if you need a pep talk you can count on dad


8. dad is a master handyman, he fixed all the broken panes of glass in our house when we moved in two years ago yesterday


9. he is also the master provider; when we needed curtain rods he miraculously came up with enough for every room in the house and for the neighbours too if they had wanted them. The rugs in the loungeroom, dining room, bedroom were also supplied and come to think of it quite a bit of the furniture. I think this reinforces number 5


10. he likes to watch Home and Away, although when we were growing up he would call it Far and Away


11. he still closes the door to the car for my mum when they go for a drive. If you are female he will also see you safely into the car and close the door for you


12. he is the most careful driver I know


13. my mum is responsible for one of his passions, the family tree, she wanted some photos of our ancestors to put into an album for my 21st birthday. I never got the album because dad is still working on it.

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

thursday thirteen