Tuesday: Long Overdue Baby Update

Usually Dan posts on Tuesday nights, but tonight he is at a class at Clackamas Community College for work. I am supposed to be in class but again I have stayed home. I am trying to placate Hobbes.

Let me fill you in on a little bit of what we've been dealing with lately...

Remember when Dan wrote this adorably honest and sweet post about us trying to start a family? Well, we've never really followed up with that because we didn't have that exciting we-did-it!-there's-a-little-human-on-the-way! post.

So what happened? I gave it a-go with the medication for four months, only to give up. I was experiencing lots of nausea as a side effect and toward the end, I had a hard time faithfully taking that gag-inducing horse pill three times a day. My doctor offered an extended-release tablet that I only had to take twice a day, but with no change, I finally threw my hands up in the air and asked for the GODDAMN BIRTH CONTROL PILL, ALREADY!

We realized it just wasn't the best time for aggressive-baby-making, given my daily struggle with health problems combined with school, work, etc. At this time, we also received the exciting news that we would soon become an Aunt and Uncle, and we've also been able to get our baby fix with Pax, the cutest little peanut on the planet.

Just when I thought everything had settled down and I would be popping the pill until further notice, I continued to have bleeding as I always have. Last Tuesday, I went in to talk to my doctor and check on my uterus and all those special lady parts in light of my diagnosis with PCOS, only to find that the lining of my uterus was much like "an overgrown lawn" that needed some weeding, pruning, and mowing, if you will. Concerned at the sight of my uterine jungle that had grown 5 times the normal size, my doctor performed an emergency procedure to procure tissue from the untamed garden, leaving me doped up on painkillers and bewildered as I told Dan that the doctor feared I might have endometrial hyperplasia or cancer.

We waited--HOW do you even articulate this sort of waiting?--for four days for his CHEERFUL phone call that let us know the cells of the tissue were benign. In the meantime, I had to put schooling on hold as I rested and medicated, as well as leaving EVERYTHING up in the air until I knew whether or not I would need surgery to remove the overgrown lining.

At this point, the plan is for me to weather this "period from hell" (direct quote from Dr. Girolomi) with some Vicodin, heating pads, and copious amounts of super tampons and chocolate milkshakes. I will continue to take THE PILL in order to get enough progesterone, and in six weeks I will get tested again, just to make sure everything is back to normal, and that sufficient pruning has occurred.

I really have to laugh as I write this because if I don't find the humor in it all, I just can't keep going. I am not one to talk openly or aggressively about my health problems, but I have to say that it is a daily reality that really beats me down. At this point, I am at least learning how to talk about having Fibromylagia, using FMS Nest to help me articulate the convoluted existence I have with that illness, but what do I do with the rest? Do I have to start a blog for every diagnosis I get? It's all just so overwhelming.

I hope y'all don't mind if I occasionally use this format to vent or analyze my medical existence. Thank God I found a partner that is sensitive and caring, not to mention the best goddamn cheerleader on the planet. If he didn't make me giggle everyday of my life, I don't know what I'd do.

So, hopefully, I'll get to write another post someday that says BABY!

And the best part is...

Starting a family with...

A Tuesday not alone

Normally Leah is at school on Tuesday night, and I am left alone. Today Leah stayed at home. Long day, lots of stuff, really tired, nonetheless, I am happy to have the evening with her. So let me post on dinner.

Consisted of a salad, and a baked potato (we love our potato's), and the surprise of the night........


Who doesn't like a corn dog! These little beauties have 70% less fat than their beef brothers, and believe it or not, they are very very good! The cornbread coating is a bit sweet, but other than that, you would never know they were veggie. The price tag was a bit high ($4.00), but then again, eating something that isn't made of various meat scraps is worth an extra buck or two.

TV show discovered last night..."Rules of Engagement"....The main character, who is the character that played "Putty" in "Sienfeld", reminds Leah of me. This seems to happen a lot with TV shows. Some other similar characters to me:

Ray - Everyone loves Raymond
Jim - According to Jim
Marshall - How I Met Your Mother
Doug - King of Queens

The Secret To My Educational Success:

Hobez & Rocco help me with my homework...

More Musings of a Lonely Househusband.

Leah has late classes tonight, so I am home alone to fend for myself. So what have I done with my evening alone?

1. Read the Editorial section and FoodDay section (steel cut oatmeal, a popular post as of late) of the newspaper.

2. Empty, and then fill, the dishwasher.

3. Listen to 6 Elvis Costello CD's on random.

4. Pay bills.

5. Comment here (Mine!) and here (Life at the Condo!)

6. Attempt to use things that may go bad in the fridge for dinner. This includes.....Spaghetti, garlic, fresh basil, olive oil,
monteray jack cheese, herbed goat cheese, and feta cheese. Could be great, could be vomit inducing, I'll keep you
posted.

7. Throw out leftovers.

8. Upload pictures like these.


9. Drink 2 Beers. 2 Beers a day keeps the doctor away (or I wish that was the saying).

10. Resist the urge to watch American Idol (too late). Why do I watch this show? It makes no sense! Please revoke any indie
cred points I have ever earned.

11. Await the phone call from Leah, and finish this post. Which just happened.

The first of many......

Monday and Tuesday nights alone. Leah has night classes Monday and Tuesday, so I will not get to see her until 10:00 on those nights (my bedtime normally). What am I going to do? No one to cook for, no one to anticipate coming home, no one to talk to, no one to play fetch with Rocco, no one to tell my day about! So what will I do with my nights alone? Well, take quizzes like these.....

79% Mike Gravel
76% John Edwards
74% Dennis Kucinich
69% Hillary Clinton
68% Barack Obama
67% Bill Richardson
66% Chris Dodd
62% Joe Biden
39% Rudy Giuliani
33% John McCain
31% Mike Huckabee
30% Tom Tancredo
27% Mitt Romney
22% Ron Paul
18% Fred Thompson

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz (Thanks Cathy!)

Watch Ohio State get killed again.

Post.

Read.

Fight the urge to nap.

Missing for the '07 movie list.

The Waitress. This was another one of Leah's picks, but I have to agree with her. It is a well written comedy (romantic?) about a young lady who wants to get out of her marriage and town, and finds out she is pregnant. She bakes pies, and is super cute (which is why I liked it).

Favorite Movies of 2007

Dan and I have recently seen a string of fabulous movies, which leads us to post a "best of..." list, as follows:

Juno - A smart and sassy teenager gets knocked up by her best friend. Hilarity and heart-warming moments ensue as she deals with telling her parents, finding adoptive parents, and figuring out who she is and what she wants in life. (Written by Diablo Cody, a past aquaintance of Dan and friend of Jackie Berens) *Out in theaters now!

Das Leben der Anderen / The Lives of Others - Released in the states last fall, we picked this up from the video store and were delightfully surprised with such a simple but engrossing German film about a man's position as a spy in former-East Germany. Ulrich Muhe is at first quite creepy then powerfully captivating (not unlike Kevin Spacey) as he lets himself become drawn into the lives of a couple he secretly observes.

Once - Oh, Once! How do we love thee? Let us count the ways... We were both completely romanced by this story of loneliness, friendship, and the power of music, set in Dublin over the span of several days. This is kind of a "modern-day musical" but don't let that scare you. The music of the main characters, Guy (Glen Hansard) and Girl (Markéta Irglová), is gorgeous and haunting. When you rent it, be sure to watch the extras to learn more about how John Carney created his masterpiece. Beautiful!

In a completely different vein, we are thrilled to recommend Superbad, a film surely destined to be a classic in the world of coming-of-age screwball comedies. Synopsis? Two best friends attempt to navigate buying booze for a senior year-end party where they hope to impress some girls. Will they get the booze? Will they make it to the party? Will they get the girls? Can their friendship survive?Jonah Hill and Michael Cera are the quintessential awkward and sarcastic goofballs that you will no doubt fall in love with. *Best if you take your thinking cap off and put your head in the gutter.

Hot Fuzz - (Dan's pick) Dry, quick-witted Brit humor is the key to this action/comedy/mystery, by Edgar Wright, who also made Shaun of the Dead. His unconventional style with sharp camera work, quickly paced edits, and booming sound help move things along, and we have to say our favorite part is actually the sidekick, Nick Frost, who steals the show with his banter and love for Keanu Reeves.

Black Snake Moan - (Leah's pick) If you have the stomach for a sharp but somber story about a devout Christian blues singer (Samuel L. Jackson) who develops a friendship with an emotionally and physically abused young woman (Christina Ricci), albeit while keeping her in captivity, this is worth a watch. It's a very touching and artistically rich southern gothic drama about dysfunctional relationships and surprising friendships, much like my favorite, A Love Song for Bobby Long. *Pass if you are sensitive to violence/abuse or nymphomania themes.