IVF for number 2!

So here we are again. I have started my first IVF cycle to give Luca a little brother or sister. I had a goal set up in my mind to try on our own until I was 37.
They had me do Lupron and no birth control this time. My RE feels it suppressed me.  Today I went for day 2 bloodwork and ultrasound. I will be starting the meds tonight.
I will be blogging again as I go through this IVF process. To help others who are going through it.

I have to say the second time around is a little tougher. Not with the medications.  I wasn't overwhelmed this time.  Had no problem giving myself the shots. Sadly, it seems like an old habit.
Its a little tougher because of the little one.  My clinics hours are 6am to 7:45 am for bloodwork and ultrasounds. With IVF you have to be monitored alot.  I live about 45 minutes from the clinic so I have been staying at my parents when I need to go to the clinic the next day, so they can watch him.

All in all, its been going well.  Last time Lupron gave me massive headaches. This time it wasn't as bad. 

I will post keep you all posted.

For those going through the infertility journey, stay strong. 

Great podcast and book!

I wanted to share with you a great podcast and website I found on dealing with infertility and adoption. I love listening to the podcast in my rides to and from work. This website also has great resources on how to find a therapist in your area that deals with infertility and also how to find a reproductive endocrinologist (RE).

http://www.creatingafamily.org/

http://www.creatingafamily.org/radioshow.html

In one of the podcast she was interviewing a woman who wrote and book called Fully Fertile. She is also co founder of Pulling Down the Moon. Another great website as well.
I received the book last night and I am enjoying it. It really explains how yoga can be helpful and eating right as well. I have been working on my fertility yoga that I have mentioned in the past. Although I have been eating right since pregnancy and after I have been more conscious on what goes in my body and my sons body as well.

http://www.pullingdownthemoon.com/

Another aspect I am doing again is meditation. I have talked about this as well in the past. I did continue through pregnancy but have not practiced in a while. I am coming back to that now.
I found great meditations also on podcasts.

http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Self-Development/Prayer-and-Meditation/Meditation-Station-Podcast/18820

I enjoy the morning kicker in the morning and the ZZZZ one before I go to sleep.

I hope these help you. I know they are helping me. Infertility is hard journey to endure. I hope these make it a little easier.

Here we go again

Hello Everyone!
I am sorry I have been such a bad blogger. Luca keeps me very busy.He has turned into a little comedian and there is a never a dull moment in our house. He is so smart, says about 30 words. We just had his 15 month appointment and he is in the 50th percentile for weight and 97th for height!
I am still breastfeeding, just morning and night. I love it. I love the feeling of being so close to him.
We are trying for number two and we have been for a while. I did see my RE in November and we were all set to do IVF again. I had to stop breastfeeding because of the medications. I called up 1 week before I was supposed to start Lupron and said I needed to cancel it. I couldn't bring myself to stop breastfeeding. I wasn't ready and he wasn't either. He gets very excited when he nurses.
I gave myself a goal. If I don't get pregnant by April I will see my RE again. Luca will be a year and half.
Although I have to admit, it tough and a huge disappointment every month I don't get pregnant. I am trying to stay positive but its so hard. I do question myself if that was the right decision I made. But I think I am doing what is right for my son right now.
I used to see people with a child and think, what do you have to be sad about you already have a child. Your lucky!
I have learned, infertility at anytime, whether you have a child already or not, its still hard to deal with.

Thanksgiving tips and a great recipe!

I teach a muscle class on Saturday mornings and I also write a monthly newsletter. I sent this out as a special bonus to the members to help them this Thanksgiving and weekend. I thought I would share this with you.

Suzanne’s Healthy Thanksgiving Tips

Thanksgiving means family fun with all near and dears ones and it also means eating all sorts of lavish food and sweets. A Thanksgiving meal can consist of 2000 - 4000 calories! So here are some tips on how to avoid overeating on Thanksgiving. These tips will not stop you from having Thanksgiving fun or resisting yourself from those delicious and mouthwatering dishes but will simply help you to avoid Thanksgiving weight gain by taking simple precautions.

- Have a small meal before going to the Thanksgiving lunch/dinner-If you stave yourself the whole day before going for a Thanksgiving dinner then you are going to have more food that means more calories intake. Don’t forget to have a healthy breakfast!
-Drink smart-Before having your main meal drink two to three glasses of water, which will occupy some space in your stomach and will help you to eat less. If you drink alcohol, save those calories for a glass of wine with the meal. Skip the high-calorie, high-fat eggnog this year.
- Eat Slowly- Eat slowly and savor every bite. Give the food a chance to let you feel the satisfying feeling of fullness.
-Mentally add the calories you are having- You are not about to break out a food journal at the table, so try to mentally add up the calories in your head.
-Nothing like the fresh salad-Load up on salad. Salad is an amazing source of minerals, fibers and other nutrition. At the same time, it controls your appetite to consume heavy Thanksgiving meals. Remember, have a little dressing on the side or oil and vinegar.
-Limit yourself to one plate serving- Know your serving sizes and do not go for seconds! Pick baked sweet potatoes, steamed vegetables, and skinless white meat of turkey. Have a small taste like one or two bites of high fat foods like stuffing.
-Go for the roasted turkey-Turkey is a good source for a lot of minerals including zinc and potassium. Enjoy the turkey breast, which has limited calories and is tasty. Deep Fried turkey is full of calories so go for healthy roasted or baked turkeys.
- Keep yourself busy-After you had your meal, step away from the table, you are more prone to graze and eat mindlessly while sitting there. Help clean up, wash dishes, or play with the kids.
-Enjoy a small serving of dessert- Choose pumpkin over pecan pie and save a few hundred calories. Eat just the filling to take in fewer additional calories and limit trans fats. Make rules with yourself. Only have 1 sliver of dessert.
-Do not forget to exercise! Enjoy exercise in the morning. Go for a walk, run, put in an exercise DVD, look to see if your town has a Turkey Trot.
-Black Friday workout! If you are planning on shopping on Friday, put on your sneakers! Park far away from the mall and walk to it. When you are loaded with bags you will burn more calories walking back as well. Think of good form as well. Belly tight, chest lifted, squeeze your butt and shoulders back!

- Saturday Workout! Come to Elle-Fit Studio on Saturday November 26th and let us help you burn and work off those calories!
8:30 am: Workin Off That Turkey -Muscle Pump w/Suzanne
9:30 am: Dancin off the Desserts- Zumba w/Jill


Healthy Recipe!
I found this recipe in my November issue of Health magazine. I made it and it was delicious! I didn’t use the pumpkin seeds, simply because I did not have them and I had no clue what cardamom was, so I used pumpkin spice instead. At less than 200 calories a slice, serve this loaf as a figure-friendly alternative to pumpkin pie.

Pumpkin-Chai Quickbread
Prep: 10 minutes; Cook: 60 minutes; Total time: 1 hour, 10 minutes.

Ingredients
· Baking spray with flour
· 1 cup all-purpose flour
· 1/2 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
· 2/3 cup sugar
· 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
· 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
· 1/4 teaspoon salt
· 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
· 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
· 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
· 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
· 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
· 2 eggs
· 1 egg white
· 1/2 cup 2% reduced fat milk
· 1/3 cup canola oil
· 1 cup canned pumpkin purée
· 1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Coat a 9- x 5-inch loaf pan with baking spray.
2. Combine all dry ingredients (through allspice) in a large bowl.
3. Whisk eggs, egg white, milk, oil, and pumpkin in a medium bowl until thoroughly blended. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until just blended. Spread batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle pumpkin seeds on top.
4. Bake the bread until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (60 to 65 minutes). Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and let cool for 30 minutes or more.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 184
Fat: 7.8g( Sat. 0.9g, Mono 4.4g, Poly 2.1g)
Protein: 4g
Carbohydrates: 25g
Fiber: 2g
Cholesterol: 32mg
Iron: 1mg
Sodium: 128mg
Calcium: 44mg

Luca's Birthday Party!

We had a blue, green, car, 1st birthday themed party for Luca. It went really well. We cleared out our family room and rented tables and chairs. I used this website for the decorations.


http://www.1stwishes.com/
http://www.1stbirthdayparty.com/sweet-little-cupcake-boy1.html


I got buckets at IParty and bought stickers from Vistaprint with Luca's face and Happy 1st Birthday on theme. I put blue and green wrapped chocolate in them and put them on the tables.

Cupcakes!

Kids table. Lollipops, bubbles, and party hats!


Candy! Green and blue candy, 1st birthday boy mints and m&m's. Used glass jars I got from when my husband gave me flowers through the years and bought a few at Michael's Craft. Lollipops from Michael's. Wooden cars from Michael's. I glued a few to some of the decorations. Stickers from Vistaprint. I had a few invitations that were extras, I cut them and put them in the glass jars.

Pinata! Luca's outfit from The Wooden Soldier. I actually got it for Easter but it was too big. Weather was in the 70's! It worked out perfectly! We had a great time. Happy Birthday our sweet baby boy!!!

Luca is One!!

My sweet baby boy is 1! I can't believe how fast this year went. He amazes me everyday. He has brought us so much happiness. My husband and I everyday just say "he is awesome". We love him so much. I never thought I could be this happy. I am truly blessed to be Luca's mom.

Luca loves books and he is a boys boy. He loves cars and trucks. Anything with wheels is "A CAR!!". He loves to push his truck around the house and say "broom broom!".

Happy 1st Birthday LUCA!!!

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult-It still hurts.

As many of you might not know, I love to read. I actually do alot of books on cd's. While I drive to work I listen to many books. This one book I just finished, Sing You Home,was very good. But it left me bawling my eyes out sometimes. As the main character talks about miscarriages, going through infertility issues, IVF, etc. I found myself still raw with emotion about my own past of miscarriages and infertility. The pain does not go away because I have a son. Those years were the worst years of my life. My heart goes out to the many people who battle infertility and miscarriages. Its unfair and heartbreaking. My son is my miracle baby and I look at him every night sleeping and think how lucky and thankful I am to have him in our lives.
We are trying for another baby. As each month passes, I do still feel disappointment that I didn't get pregnant. Its sad to say this, I feel guilty even thinking it, I should just be happy with him, but it still hurts getting my period every month. I want to give Luca a brother or sister. I have to admit the pain is lesser than it was before I had my son but it still hurts. I am giving myself a few more months and I will be contacting my RE again. I just want to make sure all is ok and if I need to go through IVF again, I will, in a second. It was the best thing I ever did. I often think about my miscarriages and how I mend my heart I say. "They weren't Luca. God wanted me to have Luca.I was meant to be Luca's mom."

Here is the synopsis of Sing You Home:
Zoe Baxter has spent ten years trying to get pregnant, and after multiple miscarriages and infertility issues, it looks like her dream is about to come true – she is seven months pregnant. But a terrible turn of events leads to a nightmare – one that takes away the baby she has already fallen for; and breaks apart her marriage to Max.

In the aftermath, she throws herself into her career as a music therapist – using music clinically to soothe burn victims in a hospital; to help Alzheimer’s patients connect with the present; to provide solace for hospice patients. When Vanessa – a guidance counselor -- asks her to work with a suicidal teen, their relationship moves from business to friendship and then, to Zoe’s surprise, blossoms into love. When Zoe allows herself to start thinking of having a family, again, she remembers that there are still frozen embryos that were never used by herself and Max.

Meanwhile, Max has found peace at the bottom of a bottle – until he is redeemed by an evangelical church, whose charismatic pastor – Clive Lincoln – has vowed to fight the “homosexual agenda” that has threatened traditional family values in America. But this mission becomes personal for Max, when Zoe and her same-sex partner say they want permission to raise his unborn child.

SING YOU HOME explores what it means to be gay in today’s world, and how reproductive science has outstripped the legal system. Are embryos people or property? What challenges do same-sex couples face when it comes to marriage and adoption? What happens when religion and sexual orientation – two issues that are supposed to be justice-blind – enter the courtroom? And most importantly, what constitutes a “traditional family” in today’s day and age?