So behind...

Oh my, what a start to 2012!  I can’t believe the first month is already over and I still haven’t posted my Christmas post from 2011, I’m a bad blogger! 

Well 2011 was a great year for the Egri’s!  We bought our wonderful home, we did some home improvement projects within the home and we made some great strides on the fertility front!

We had Christmas at our house this year and it couldn’t have been better!  We were surrounded by both my family and my husband’s family which made for a full house filled with laughter and of course some interesting dance moves on the Wii (has become a tradition)!

We had quite the spread at the Egri house this year!  Lots of apps, tons of yummy food and of course dessert!

Our tree was the perfect backdrop for a table for 12!

Oh I had so much fun making these!



Apple Pie -- Dutch style!



Pumpkin Pie -- Gotta have options people!



My wonderful husband bought me an iPad2 for X-mas, which I quickly fell madly in love with! 

Thanks 2011 for some great memories!  Can't wait to see what 2012 has in store for us!

Type A Christmas shopping at it's best!

So many people in my life have “labeled” me with a “Type A personality”.  I take this as a compliment because I think of myself as efficient, detailed oriented, and a go-getter!  Some might use other adjectives but at the end of the day it’s just  semantics!

One way in which my “Type A” personality comes out is in my highly organized Christmas shopping system.  I have used this system for the last few years and I swear by it.  Here is a breakdown of my easy, yet extremely successful and organized shopping system.

Steps to success:

1.       Set a budget.  Whether it is per person or an overall amount you want to spend.  If you do it by person, allow a little flexibility as you might spend more on one person and spend less on another yet the average per person is still spot on!

2.       Get a gift card.  I typically go to my local Safeway and get a VISA gift card with my above budgeted amount.  There usually is a surge charge of $5 but that’s a small price to pay for staying on budget.

3.       Make a list, like actually write it out on paper.  The list should include the following:

a.       Name of each person you are shopping for

b.      Several gift idea options per person

c.       List possible stores that have these items and try to get as much at each store for people on your list.

d.      Any other notes that might help you in your shopping endeavors

4.       GO SHOPPING!!!  Use your VISA gift card with your pre-selected amount, keep all your receipts so you can keep track of the balance. 

With this shopping system that I have used over the years, I’m able to get my shopping done in hours, with little stress and more importantly, on budget!  Just a little extra pre-planning goes a long way!  Now it’s time to get wrapping. 

3rd Time was not a Charm!

For all of you out there that are on pins and needles about the outcome of our third IUI, I am sad to report that is was not successful.  We will be taking a break from fertility treatments for some unknown period of time.  It will be nice to give my body a rest from all the medications and also to rest mentally/emotionally.  We are meeting with our RE later this month to discuss our next steps and after that we should have a better idea of our plan going forward.  We are hoping to do IVF in 2012 if it is financially possible.  That’s it for now!

Thanksgiving!

It's that time of year, fresh baked pie, roaring fires, and snuggling on the couch! I must admit that this is my favorite time of the year. I really love decorating the house and baking all my husband’s favorite treats! Oh and paid time off of work is great too! But most of all, I love getting together with family and friends to enjoy this time.

This Thanksgiving was extra special because we recently had a new addition to the Conlan Clan! Nora Rose was born on 11.11.11 and happens to be the 11th great-grandchild for my Grandma. With that said, there might be a little added pressure to get my Grandma that 12th (to make 1 dozen) great-grandchild. I welcome this challenge with open arms!



John and Nora

Me and Nora

Holding Nora definitely gave John and I the boost of "We can do this" attitude!  BTW, don't we look like naturals?!?!?!  Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Infertility SUCKS!

A year after my husband and I were married, we decided to start trying to have a family. So for lack of a better term, "we pulled the goalie". A little more than a year went by and nothing happened, so at my annual woman exam I talked to my doctor about it. She showed some concern due to our young age so she ordered some preliminary tests. Everything came back normal. So we were then referred to a Reproductive Endocrinologist. We started testing with our RE and by May of 2009 we were diagnosed with "unexplained infertility". I think this was more frustrating than if they found something wrong because then we could actually have something to "fix"! The unknown was hard. We moved forward with any trick/tip that our doctors threw our way. Obviously nothing worked!

In 2011 we finally started moving forward with actual treatments/procedures to get pregnant. Our first course of action is something called IUI. We did the IUIs with a fertility drug called Clomid. Our first cycle started in July of 2011 and it was a BUST! I never ovulated so the cycle was canceled. I was devastated. We took a break in August because we went on a cruise to Alaska. That trip was much needed after the previous month.

We started back up with what I call IUI #1 in September. I had two great follicles with a higher dose of Clomid this cycle. I had such high hopes for this cycle and thought, "It's going to work the first time around". However, it ended in a negative blood test.

October brought IUI #2 and in this cycle I had one mature follicle with the Clomid and that also ended in negative test.

This brings us to the month of November and IUI #3! I was particularly excited for this cycle because my RE suggested a more aggressive protocol with combination of Clomid and an injectable drug called Gonal-F. On a normal cycle a woman produces 1 egg per month and these drugs produce more eggs which increase your chances of conceiving. So I started with Clomid and the daily injections of Gonal-F. Talk about weird experience to stick yourself with a needle. It really felt like an outer body experience but I knew it would be worth it in the end. ***WARNING*** Picture below is graphic.

                                 Gonal-F injections!

With the super drugs, I was able to produce 3 mature follicles! I was super excited about this and the doctors were optimistic. So we moved onto the actual insemination which takes place after yet another drug referred to as "trigger shot" which makes your mature follicles release the egg.

                 On my way into the clinic for my insemination! Wish us luck!

I am currently on what they call "The Two Week Wait", which is absolute torture! It's hard not to overanalyze every twinge and pain but hopefully with the holidays around the corner, I will have something to distract me.

This journey has been the hardest things I have ever gone through in my life! It's emotionally, physically and financially draining! I just want a child of my own and to have the family I have always dreamt of. I never thought it would be this hard. So keep us in your prayers and pray that this works for us! At this point in our lives, more aggressive treatments like IVF aren't an option. The success rates are way better with IVF than IUI but at $15,000 a month to "try" is a bit out of our reach.

Happy Thanksgivings to everyone and be thankful for everything you have!

Home Sweet Home

With the housing market in downturn since '05, John and I saw this as a great opportunity to buy a home.  We pinched pennies, we lived with friends, and we ate Ramen in order to save money to buy our home.  We sacrificed a lot as a young married couple but we are stronger now for it.  In April of this year, we were able to buy a home in a great neighborhood in Rocklin, CA.  The house was built in 1985 and let's just say, it is "vintage" in it's decor.  Since we've moved, we've done a ton of projects and I wanted to share my favorite one with you.  Most of the project is still in progress but I can give you a sneak peek of our laundry room (I know, exciting!)

                 Before - forgot photo before demo of counter top - opps!

                  After!

As you can see, big difference!  We are still in progress of re-doing the kitchen cabinets but I will definitely share those pics when ready.  Laundry room still needs to be painted so stay tuned for that...someday!  FYI, the counter top was yellow tile with dark brown grout so it had to go!

6.4.06

Let the journey and this blog take off!  The date 6.4.06 is a very important and special day in my life.  To this point, it been the best day of my life!  Why?  It marks the date that I married the most wonderful man in the world, John.  We had a fantastic honeymoon in Ireland and experienced some amazing things!  We have been happily married since and live with our wonderful boxers, Maggie and Gunner.  This blog will be a hodgepodge of thoughts, ideas, journeys, and experiences that will give you a little more insight about me and my life!  It will be real, raw, and at times graphic but I will always tell it like it is!  I hope you enjoy!

Cheers!