Pre-Clomid Jitters

So I know it's 2 am, but I can't sleep, so I figure I'll blog. I take my first Clomid pill today. I picked up the meds after my haircut yesterday, expecting to pay an arm and a leg for it, since most insurance doesn't cover it. I had to pick up some medication for recurrent UTI's (the joy of my life), but due to the fact that I am constantly buying Macrobid and Cipro, I already knew how much that was going to cost. When the pharmacist said 29 whatever, I thought that I had missed the "1" before the 29, so I had him repeat the price...twice! The Clomid cost me a grand total of 14.99! Needless to say, I was very happy, and the pharmacist laughed at my goofy squeal of excitement over the price.

With starting the Clomid today, I almost feel like we are deciding to get pregnant for the first time all over again. I guess I didn't think about it as much when I knew I wasn't ovulating. I figured it it happened, it happened. Now, I feel more pro-active in the decision again. Don't get me wrong, I am VERY excited and more than ready to move forward, I just found myself freaking out a little bit this week! Ben and I know that this is the right path for us to take at this time, but it can get a little intimidating when you really start to think about the responsibility, price tag, and eternal consequences/rewards of starting a family. Once you have a kid, you can't just take it back for a refund if you aren't ready. I had Ben give me a blessing, and I felt so much better. I can't even begin to explain how thankful I am that Ben is a worthy priesthood holder!

Oh, and just so no one freaks out, I won't tell whether I am pregnant or not until the end of the first trimester. My chance of miscarriage is so ridiculously high, I want to make sure we are in the clear before I go blabbing to the world that I am pregnant, and start the rumor mill going! The Clomid will most likely give me pregnancy-like symptoms which I will talk about, but please don't assume anything, because I really won't tell, and I'd rather not lie. As time goes on, I will post things like the baby names we have already decided on, or new ones that may replace them, pictures of baby stuff (and mommy stuff) that we are looking at, and what goes on during the doctors appointments. I figure it will be a good way to get frustrations off my chest, and hopefully get ideas and encouragement from other friends and moms.

Well, I am now officially blabbing, so I will stop typing now! Hahaha! Good night all, and let the adventure begin!

Jamie

Attemping to start a new chapter in our lives, but the pages are sticking together!!

Okay, so I figure it's time to update on some stuff that's going on. First, a little bit of back story. A year ago, I was having some really bad abdominal and pelvic cramping. For all you ladies out there...imaging the cramping that goes on during your period, only worse, and ALL THE TIME! I was so miserable! I would go to work, throw up all morning, feel crappy the rest of the day, come home, sleep, wake up, and do it all again. Not one of my doctors could figure it out. This included an internal medicine provider, a gynecologist, and several urgent care providers. This went on for over a year, with the last, oh, about 4-5 months extra ridiculous, and I was going in weekly to see one doctor or another. Every time I went in, they asked if I was absolutely sure I wasn't pregnant. I swore up and down that I wasn't, but of course, they tested me every time...and I was right.

In January of 2009, I was finally sent in for a pelvic ultrasound. I am, of course, a total dork, and wanted the monitor to be placed so I could see it. Well, the first part of the ultrasound was okay, but the second part got interesting. As soon as I saw the top of my uterus, I recognized the very obvious septum glaring back at me from the monitor (A septum is wall that basically splits my uterus into two parts. It's not complete, but it goes down far enough to cause problems). My jaw just dropped. I could tell the tech felt bad, but couldn't say anything, because techs can't read ultrasounds...legally. When my OB/GYN found out that I had a septum, he was totally unwilling to believe that it would cause my pain. A call that was later thrown down the toilet during a second opinion with a specialist 4 months later (Since I didn't start having the pelvic cramps until I started birth control, the added hormones caused the uterus to spasm). My doctor basically told me that the pain was all in my head, and if I just didn't think about it, it would go away....PSH! Yeah, right!

So nothing was being done at that point in time to find out what was "really" going on, with the exception of medication. When I say medication, I mean a LOT of medication! I took a handful of pills in the morning so I could make it through until lunch, another handful at lunch, and one before I went to bed. I was eating one meal a day because I couldn't keep anything down, and I was getting really depressed. Finally, at an appointment with my Rheumatologist (of all doctors), he figured out I was having an allergic reaction to two different medications; my birth control, and one of my RA meds...the only RA med, besides steroids, that is safe to use during pregnancy...great. I had already been off birth control for a month, and the pelvic cramps had gone away, but the abdominal cramps were still there. Once off the Plaquenil, my abdominal cramps slowly started going away as the medication got out of my body. Because I had been on both medications previously...no one suspected that I would have a delayed allergy to the drugs. However, I had a major RA attack in July after the RA med was completely out of my system....I know, my health is pathetic.

After we went off the birth control in March, and talked to the specialist in Wenatchee in April, we decided to go ahead and start trying to get pregnant, since we didn't know if the septum was bad enough to cause miscarriages. The only trouble was, I wasn't ovulating. I had a period after getting off BC in March, but that was the last one. Now, I've never had regular periods, but I would get them every 3-6 months, depending on how actively I was working out. Come August I was starting to get concerned that I hadn't had a period, so I went in and talked to my OB/GYN in Moses. He asked if I was sure I even knew how to get pregnant...and I worked for the guy! I am as serious as a heart attack! I convinced him to test my LH and FSH levels (pregnancy hormones), and to put me on a med called Provera. Provera is a 7 or 10 day course that causes you to have a kind of "false period", because there is bleeding, but no ovulation. Nothing happened...I didn't bleed. When I called back, he said that everything was normal, but if I didn't bleed and wanted a period, I should go back on birth control. He thought that I was ovulating, and was lying about the periods...or lack of. Needless to say, I am no longer seeing this physician!!!

So now, 5 months later, we are to the present. I went back to the specialist in Wenatchee for my yearly, and told him that I still wasn't pregnant. After doing some testing, he determined that I wasn't ovulating...big shocker, right? So he put me on another dose of Provera, and this time I did bleed. So I had another appointment with him yesterday to make sure that my ovaries aren't enlarged from the hormones so he could start me on Clomid. Everything checked out, so I start the Clomid on Friday, day 5 of my cycle. I take the Clomid for 5 days, and all the while taking my basal temp to check for ovulation...then we hope for the best.

The sad thing is...all this drama is happening BEFORE I am pregnant. I haven't even gotten into all the problems I could face once I DO get pregnant from the septum itself. Granted, the lack of ovulation is quite possibly due to the septum and other uterine/fallopian tube/ovarian deformities I might have, but the scary part is yet to come. Ben and I are already preparing ourselves for a C-section and pre-term delivery, but praying for a healthy baby and safe pregnancy.

Well, this is probably not what you were expecting to read when you hopped on here, but this is our life at the moment. I will try to keep updated on here as we go through the new experiences involved with actively trying to get pregnant...don't worry, I will stay G rated, with a bit of PG for blood and very, very slight sexual innuendos. For example, I may say that "my basal temperature is up, so it's baby making time"...you know what I mean, but that's all I will say! Hahaha. Wish us luck!!

Ben and Jamie

Christmas/New Year

Okay, so this is our holiday story. I know...a bit late, but it's all good, right?

This year was a Stott Christmas, so everyone was in Warden. This was my first Christmas with Ben's family, so there were a lot of new experiences. Since Ben's mom is Norwegian, they open presents and celebrate on Christmas Eve. We had Polska Kielbasa, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole for dinner, and dessert was Krumkaka (pronounced crumb ca-ca, I giggled the first time I heard it). We got some really fun games, Sorry, Life, Phase 10 plus our new favorite, the Game of Things. If you haven't played it yet...you need to! I got a very pretty shirt, and Ben got a very nice sweater, which were totally us! We played Nerts and Things for the rest of the night. Christine, Colton, and Ben's mom weren't feeling too good, but it was still an enjoyable evening.

The next day, we went to my parents house to open presents at 7 in the morning...mind you we didn't get home from Ben's family until 2:30ish. My mom bought me a nice photo printer since I am starting to dabble in photography, and everyone pitched in to get me either a Bosch or Kitchen Aid mixer. I have yet to decide which one, but I already know the first thing I am going to make with it! I got the book Women of the Old Testament that I had been eyeing. I also got a snuggie! Ben hates it, but I am excited!

Needless to say, all the gifts we got will get good use!

We bought our Christmas presents during Black Friday, where we picked up the new Super Mario Brothers game for the Wii, two more Wii controllers and Wii motion plus(es?) (How do you make that plural?!?!), and a induction controller charger.

After spending the morning with my family, we went back to Ben's family to spend more time with people since everyone was there for such a short time. We ended up spending the night there playing Super Mario Brothers until nearly 3 am. Unfortunately, I woke up at 4:00 am to the oh so enjoyable UTI. Gotta love it. Luckily I had meds at home, so I didn't have to make an ER trip, and we were back before people were awake.

After a VERY fun time in Warden, we went up to Leavenworth to spend time with my family, and meet Brad's girlfriend, Erin, and her family. They were in Auburn visiting Erin's sister. We did The Reeder Race, which my mom and dad had put together on a previous trip to Leavenworth. During the race, we ended up at the gazebo, where Brad proposed to Erin...needless to say, she said yes. It was very fun to get to know Erin and her family! They had to leave on Friday so that Erin's dad could work at the Temple Saturday morning. It was sad to see them go, but obviously we understood.

We really didn't do too much to ring in the new year. We watched a movie as a family, made a toast with apple cider, and went to bed. We had fireworks, but we were a bit too close to the condos to really feel comfortable enough to shoot them off.

I can't believe that it's 2010 and a new decade! I'm definitely looking forward to the new year and all the possibilities that lie ahead. I have my resolutions in hand, and I am excited to cross them off the list as they are completed. Happy New Year everyone, and I hope that you meet all of your expectations for the next year and beyond!

Another Picture

It's taken me a while to get this one done with the holidays here, but you also have no idea how much photo editing was done to this image! There was a 7up machine, an unruly little girl who needed to be put in her place..hehe...legs to reconstruct, and a big white post in the way. YIKES!! It looked pretty good when I printed it off, I just know where all my whoopsies are. So here is my Best Friends's family pic...please tell me what you think!

PICTURES!!!!!

So....I am feeling antsy. Therefore, I am posting 3 of Taylor and Emily's pics up. Tell me if you like them, or if I should crawl under a rock...Thanks!


Hannah seeing the Christmas Spirit...One of my favorits!


Hannah between Tay and Em's legs


Another one of my favorites! Em, Hannah, and Taylor.

Fall Quarter and Thanksgiving

Okay, so my best friend Emily got on my case about updating my profile, and made me promise I would...so here I am! In all reality, I feel like my life is pretty boring and monotonous, and not worth reading. But oh well, I will write anyway!

So I have been going to school this quarter while Ben is working full time at Takata. This is my first winter off any Rheumatoid Arthritis medication, and man, has it EVER been difficult!! I started seeing a chiropractor, and have felt much better, but it is still really rough some days. This quarter I was retaking an old math class....definitely my LEAST favorite subject because I am horrible at it. I think I did decently, but we will just have to wait and see when grades come out. I was taking Keyboarding...not a good class to take when your finger joints are swollen and stiff and they grade you based on speed and accuracy! My favorite class of the quarter has to have been Developmental Psychology! It was so interesting and I really enjoyed class!

With the onset of my RA, and the knowledge that it will only get worse, I have had to start thinking of another career choice besides Nursing. I felt really lucky that I always knew what I wanted to do with my life. I never went through career day seriously, because it really didn't apply to me. I was told that I would prepare others to carry the work of parenthood, and raising children forward. I always assumed that my career choice of labor and delivery/NICU nursing covered that. Now I am not so sure, and I need to look into all career paths involving children and parenting. I feel like I am going back to high school! I also need to get my bum to a 4 year university...but that is another post.

This Thanksgiving was a Reeder year, but Ben and I took Grandma and went down a little early to spend time with my mom's family that we hadn't seen in a while. We also spent time with my best friend and her husband, Emily and Taylor, and took their family pictures. Once I get those all edited I will post them. It was so much fun to spend time with them, as Emily and her family are like family to me....in all aspects of the word. Em and Tay had tickets to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in Salt Lake, so we babysat Hannah for the day. Needless to say, it made me SUPER baby hungry. Not saying that I'm not already with everyone and their dog preggers...or so it seems, but it seriously intensified the desire. We met them in Salt Lake and had dinner with them and Taylor's brother and sister-in-law. We had a nice Thanksgiving with my dad's family, and then we drove back up to Logan to actually take Em's pictures and then we went to Tummy Yummy and watched The Blind Side. It has been a while since we had a fun evening like that! Unfortunately, we had to come back, and like always, I bawled my eyes out as we left Cache Valley. Logan will ALWAYS be my home.

We bought our first Christmas tree, and my first ever real tree! It smells so good! It's pretty sparse as far as ornaments go, but hey, it's our first one, and we love it! I don't know if we will bet Christmas cards out, but you never know, maybe I will actually get one done. Well, I can't think of anything else at the moment, but hopefully you will see come pics before too long!

Loving, missing, and grateful!!!

Well, I can't sleep, so I guess I will give a much needed update. Right as things were getting to a point where we needed to decide whether or not we could afford to continue living in the apartments where we are, I was asked by the manager of the complex if I wanted to be her assistant manager. It was a serious answer to our prayers as I would work off our rent! It has it's moments where I want to rip my hair out, but all in all it's a great job. Every other week when the manager is gone, and I am in charge, I also take care of her mother who lives in the complex. She is the sweetest lady, and so easy to please and take care of!!! I love her to bits!

Unfortunately, this was still not enough to afford to continue living out here, since Ben was only working 3 hours a day. But, once again, prayers were answered when Ben got a call to go back to Takata to work. There has been so many hours of over time, which has been great, but I miss my husband!!! We have been so blessed to be able to work where we do!

This fall, since Ben isn't going to Big Bend, I decided that I am going back to school! YIKES!!! I'm not sure I am completely ready, but here goes nothing! I only have 5 more nursing pre/co req's and then one more class will give me my AA in Medical Assisting, so I figure what the heck?!

On a sad note, one of my heroes passed away last week. My great uncle William N. "Bill" Stoddard's funeral was Tuesday in Emmett, ID. Basically everyone in my family that was able to go, went. It was nice to see everyone, but sad that it had to be for a funeral. Thinking about my great uncle Bill makes me cry and smile at the same time. He was my Grandpa Stoddard's little brother. He was a selfless man, who would do anything for anyone. When he was born, he got stuck in the birth canal and wasn't able to get oxygen for quite a while and because of this, he was mentally handicapped. He never once let his disabilities get the best of him, and he worked harder than most of the men I know. He leaves a wife, four daughters, a son in law, and four grandchildren. People, even some of his own family, looked down on him because of his earthly limitations. They weren't able to see the amazingly sweet, spiritual, perfect being that he was. He and my grandfather are the only ones who remained faithful in the church. Bill read the Book of Mormon over 500 times, though he took the exact number to the spirit world with him. I know that he, my grandfather, and their mother, had an amazing reunion, and congratulated each other on remaining faithful through their earthly trials. I'm sure there was a sweet reunion with their father and other siblings as well!

The funeral was beautiful. I was able to assist my grandmother as she walked up to give the family prayer during the family viewing. I was so grateful to be able to squeeze her hand and steady her as she began to falter when the tears came. Two of my uncles gave AMAZING talks. I wish I could have recorded what they said! I was doing really well in the beginning, focusing on my little cousin Heather, but once my cousin Casey began to sing "The Test" it was over! I just sat and bawled like a baby, but I wasn't alone. We all felt my grandfather's spirit at the service, along with my cousin Adam who passed away soon after birth. A new wave of tears, along with a quick gasp) hit as my Uncle Gary began the life sketch by making note that the last funeral he spoke at was EXACTLY 18 years and 6 months earlier....my grandfather, his father's funeral. The emotions hit me like a tidal wave. I learned a lot about my uncle Bill in those seemingly short minutes, making me love him even more! After another tear-magnet "Oh My Father" by Casey, my Uncle Mike gave a beautiful talk about life, and trials, and perseverance bringing, you guessed it...more tears. Together, we sang "God Be with You Till We Meet Again". The words drilled deep into my soul, and I KNOW that they are true, that I WILL see my uncle and other deceased family members again! After the service, we moved to the cemetery where my Uncle Steve gave the dedicatory prayer. We all laid a flower on Bill's casket, and then made our way back to the church for a meal and some overdue reunions and introductions. It was an amazing trip, but I miss my uncle. I didn't see him often, but the world seems a little darker knowing that he isn't here to make some body's day brighter.

It was so wonderful to see his body, free of pain, and free of the limitations that have been with him for so long! I can only imagine the cartwheels that he is doing in heaven, and the conversations he is having with his family. I have no doubt that he is being an amazing missionary to his siblings and friends! It makes me remember (and dearly miss) my grandfather, and makes me so very grateful that I have an eternal family that will be together forever! I can't wait until the day when I will be reunited with my loved ones who have gone before me. I am now exhausted from the emotions, and the many fresh tears that have flooded my face. Just do me a favor and think about your family and friends. Think about the things they bring into your life, and how they make the world brighter....you never know when someone might be taken from you. Try to put the petty things aside and attempt to really make them know how much to love and appreciate them!

I love all of you, and I'm grateful for each and every one of you! Thank you for the love and friendship you have all shown me! You have made me into the person I am today! Okay, I'll get off my soap box now! Until next time my friends!