Monday, February 21, 2011

An Icy ICLW

Another snow day!!!! Well, I should say an "ice day." Good ol' Michigan weather gave us another day off of work today. I have posted some pics of our icy madness at the bottom of this post. We lost power through the night and got it back about 10:00 this morning - thank goodness because it was getting really cold in our house. February sure wants to go out with a bang here!

Now onto more important things....HAPPY ICLW! I made so many great connections last month through ICLW and am looking forward to connecting with more incredible women. You all never cease to amaze me!

For those of you who are new here, I will give you a quick break down of our story:
- Started dating in September 2002
- Married December 2006
- Started trying to conceive August 2008
- 1 year of trying naturally
- 3 months of just plain clomid
- 5 IUI's (all BFN's)
- tried naturally in between the IUI cycles
- 1 laparoscopy (removed stage 2 endometriosis from behind my right ovary)

Bottom line is, more than 2 and a half years of trying and we are still not pregnant. My lap was in January and the doctor told us to try naturally for a few months (hoping something magical happens here!) If we are not successful we are looking at starting IVF this spring.

We do not have a baby yet but we are still alive. We are still breathing. We are healthy and happy with so many other things in our lives. Some days it seems as though I am suffocating underneath the infertility blanket but most days I just try to not let it define me (easier said than done, right?)

For now we are just continuing to walk this journey hand in hand. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.
When I was in the car today I heard an old song that really hit a trigger with me. Do any of you remember Des'ree? I have posted some lyrics from her song "You Gotta Be."

Don't ask no questions, it goes on without you
Leaving you behind if you can't stand the pace
The world keeps on spinning
You can't stop it, if you try to
This time it's danger staring you in the face
Oh oh oh Remember
Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Lovers, they may cause you tears
Go ahead release your fears
My oh my hey, hey, hey
You gotta be
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day

Love will save the day....what a powerful statement. I truly believe this. My Grandpa has been in a nursing home due to a stroke since the beginning of December. Whenever I ask my Grandma how she is holding up with all of this all she ever says to me is: "Sara, I don't have a choice." She is such an amazing woman and I have taken those words to heart with my life. To my husband and I, we don't have a choice. We will just continue to roll with what life brings us, what God gives us. We are following the logical steps, in our opinion. We all may do this differently, but this blog is about the journey my husband and I are on. Feel free to follow and stay awhile and walk with us on this path to who knows what.

My mantra throughout all of this has been to repeat to myself: CALM AND STRONG. Des'ree's lyrics remind me of this. You gotta be tougher than you thought you could, you gotta be stronger than you ever imagined was possible.

Now for some pictures of our hard, crunchy ice and yet again winter wonderland....


It may be hard to see, but we have 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch of ice on our trees and power lines. These pics are all from my yard, but our poor neighborhood lost many trees, branches, and power lines. Spring is on the way, right? :)


It is windy too, and when I was standing outside I could
hear all of the ice cracking on the branches.

I got bored this morning without power so I got a little camera crazy! These are a few pictures of my pups today...thought I would share!

20 comments:

  1. oooh - great pics Sara!

    I LOVE that song...started singing it as I read the lyrics. I'd never thought about it in relation to my IF struggles.

    Hoping & praying you get your BFP without the big leagues...

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  2. Love the pics! And yes, I totally remember that song!!

    Your pups are adorable!:)

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  3. As long as you don't think about the possibility of losing power, the terrible, dangerous roads, the fact that you can't go anywhere because of said roads, or just the fact that you can't walk anywhere without falling on your arse, I love ice storms! The trees end up looking so pretty, and you captured that so well!!

    Plus, who doesn't love a snow day? :)

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  4. Happy ICLW!

    We have very similar weather here in SD - well less ice, more snow anyway - flippin' cold!

    Enjoy your snow day and I hope March brings you a BFP!

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  5. Happy ICLW!

    I think snow is on the way for us too here in WA, but probably not as much as you are getting.

    I've been following for a while and am about in the same place as you. Waiting till Spring or Summer to look into IVF.

    Sounds like you have your stuff together right now and I am happy for you.

    http://missconception-ads.blogspot.com/

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  6. Your pups are adorable!
    Thanks for writing your mantra again, I need to repeat it during this 2ww. Calm and strong!

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  7. Is your puppy a border collie? We have a brown and white 8 month old female named Cordi and we love her, even if she does wear us out way more than we wear her out. Any training tips?

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  8. Cute, cute puppies! No question that we infertiles are tougher than most women out there. Hang in there. What's that Nancy Reagan quote, "women are like tea bags, when we're in hot water, we just get stronger."

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  9. I remember the song, too! It takes on a different meaning now for sure. Love the pics of the pups and HATE the pics of the ice - lol! Glad you got another day of rest, though. Hey, I linked one of your posts in my post today, I hope you don't mind. You said something a while back that meant a lot to me. :)

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  10. I adore that song - and now it's stuck in my head, LOL. Thanks for that...really!

    Ice storms are one of my favorite things, but this year, I've been stuck inside, so I haven't been able to get any good shots. I was so happy to see yours! Thanks!

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  11. Hello! I found your blog through ICLW! Your dogs are so adorable...we have a pup and I constantly tell my husband that I don't know how I'd get through this without that dog...he is the BEST!
    I sure hope the removed endo was the issue and you guys are able to conceive on your own and not have to go the IVF route! I'm following you now and will be routing your on during your journey!!

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  12. I love your mantra! I hope your lap was your magic ticket and you don't need that IVF after all!

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  13. Happy ICLW - love the pictures - the last one in particular! here'e hoping your body is working to the seasons and everything will blossom in the spring hey! xxxxxx

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  14. I love that song! It's really been awhile since I've heard it. So true!

    Your dogs are adorable!

    I hope you get your bfp soon and if IVF does it then best wishes with your cycle!

    ICLW
    #38

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  15. Happy ICLW. I must be north of you in Michigan because we didn't get any ice; *just* 12 inches of snow! :) (And on top of that we got another 2 inches Wednesday followed by yet another 2 inches on Thursday night...gotta love Michigan winters!) You took some very beautiful pictures. I especially love the ones of the trees.
    Good luck TTC naturally these next couple of months. I hope you get your BFP soon! :)

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  16. Hoping things are warming up where your are. It's still wickedly cold here.

    I love your positive outlook!
    ICLW

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  17. What cute pups! It will be your turn someday, it will be your turn.

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  18. Stopping in for ICLW...your pups are adorable! Best wishes for the natural cycles you are trying now. Hoping that you get your BFP soon!

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  19. ICLW

    Love the icy pictures - what a beautiful winter scene.

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  20. over from ICLW--hope you get lucky (well, relatively speaking...) and get to avoid IVF. Awesome icy pics!

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