tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10654308502258396882024-02-18T21:13:39.638-05:00Extravagant DreamsJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.comBlogger184125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-82287126058969701372018-03-07T18:59:00.000-05:002018-03-09T12:46:30.457-05:00How it's Been GoingRandom thoughts from the past couple of weeks:<br />
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Day 1: I wish I could say this day has been exciting - we're finally starting IVF! Unfortunately, it's mostly been stressful. <a href="https://extravagantdreams.blogspot.com/2018/02/ivf-chapter-one-beginning.html" target="_blank">You can read about that in this post.</a> BUT, I am happy that in the end, everything seems to be working out and we are hopefully on our way to meeting our baby!<br />
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Day 2: The first round of shots last night was no fun. I still feel pretty weird about putting all these fake hormones into my body. I've refrained from reading the inserts on the medications (something I usually do) because we have already spent thousands of dollars on this process and I'm not about to back out now. Reading about all the junk in these shots and the side effects I could have is only going to cause even more anxiety at this point. </div>
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Still, I feel pretty gross about this part of IVF. I wish there was another way.</div>
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Day 3: Last night wasn't any easier. The second shot really burns as it goes in and both times I've felt like passing out halfway through the injection. Tonight we're going to try icing the injection area with a frozen spoon and doing the shot while I'm laying down on the bed. Maybe that will help.</div>
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I'm feeling a little self-conscious about how much these are hurting me. I get my blood drawn ALL the time and handle that fine. I've had shots before and have hardly flinched. Is it just all in my head?</div>
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Doad said he thought I was thinking about it too much and working myself up. He told me I should stop focusing on the shot while it's happening and try and think of something else that makes me happy. I know he's trying to be helpful, but I'm feeling super sensitive about it. I feel like he thinks I'm not doing a good job or that he could do it better. I wish I were tougher. I'm not trying to act like a baby, but I feel like that's what it looks like.</div>
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Day 4: This morning was appointment #2. Blood work and ultrasound every day. Mom came with me this time because Doad had a work meeting he couldn't miss. We had a nice brunch date afterward which we don't get to do often. Aha! So there are perks to IVF ;)</div>
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Getting my shots on the bed instead of standing up isn't any less painful, but I did feel less like passing out so I think its working better for us. </div>
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I'm feeling quite large and sore in the midsection. The nurse said that was normal - I have 50 follicles growing compared to the usual one each month. I've also had headaches and fatigue each day. I'm not too concerned as these are all "normal" side effects and apart from them slowing me down a little don't really mind them too much - it means things are working like they should. :)</div>
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This afternoon I'm getting my hair done and tonight I have dinner with some girlfriends. Hopefully, I'll be having my last glass of wine for a long time. ;) </div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-33256213398592080072018-03-03T11:35:00.000-05:002018-03-03T11:35:03.393-05:00My first injectionsYou know you're going to get the inside scoop with me. I'm vulnerable and transparent to the point of oversharing at times. Today might be one of those days... ;)<br />
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Doad and I have been documenting our IVF journey for our someday baby so we can show him or her how wanted they were and how hard we fought to bring them into our family. This video may or may not make it into the "documentary"... we don't want to scar the child after all. But I thought it might be interesting for those who are following along to see the inside story of what IVF entails.<br />
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Here is day 1 & 2 of injections... I got a little better after this lol<br />
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So I think the moral of the story is that IVF is <u style="font-weight: bold;">not</u><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>fun, but it is totally worth it.<br />
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-25256045836172105042018-03-01T19:11:00.001-05:002018-03-01T19:12:21.011-05:00IVF Meds UnboxingWhat it feels like when a giant box of medications show up in your natural/crunchy house... <span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">😂</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">😂</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">😂</span><br />
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-73290356294027818842018-02-27T16:59:00.000-05:002018-02-27T11:05:16.329-05:00IVF Chapter One: The BeginningAnd so it begins.<br />
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Last night was my first night of injections for IVF. It has been a long road to get here and I know this is just the beginning.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/556402258/ivf-got-this-ive-got-this-triblend-racer?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=ivf%20got%20this&ref=sr_gallery-1-40" target="_blank">pc: SassyCatBoutiqueUS</a></td></tr>
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Nothing about this process has been simple or easy. I can't tell you how many times we have thought we weren't going to be able to do IVF only to find out we could only to find out we couldn't and on and on and on.<br />
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First, it was the insurance. They don't approve IVF for couples who haven't done IUI yet. So we needed special approval - which thankfully we got after several weeks of waiting due to our health history and circumstances.<br />
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Then it was the medications - will we be able to get them in time now that we've been approved? I called or emailed the office every day the week before my cycle started and still didn't have them by that Friday.<br />
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Then my cycle came four days early! On Saturday! When the regular offices are closed!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/dWzWo22F0mA?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip: ink; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out, opacity 0.2s ease-in-out; white-space: nowrap;">Pim Chu</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: , , "san francisco" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "ubuntu" , "roboto" , "noto" , "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/search/photos/stress?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip: ink; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out, opacity 0.2s ease-in-out; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></td></tr>
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To say I was freaking out... well, that would be accurate. After all this time, (and all the work I did to try to keep the nurses on top of things) I was really struggling with frustration that they were not ready for me yet and that not even my body was cooperating with me.<br />
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I called a really nice nurse on the weekend line and she reassured me that I could come in on Monday and have my normal nurse work things out for me.<br />
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When I came into the office Monday morning, as soon as my nurse took me and Doad back to our room she starts off by telling us that since insurance hasn't approved our meds yet we aren't likely to get them in time to start so we should probably wait until next month. I told her that when I called on Friday the pharmacy said all they needed was for the doctor's office to call in and they would be able to approve it and send it out the same day. She seemed very skeptical but said she'd go get the nurse who does authorizations so that she could explain it to me.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/yjePAp-tpmQ?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip: ink; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out, opacity 0.2s ease-in-out; white-space: nowrap;">Ken Treloar</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: , , "san francisco" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "ubuntu" , "roboto" , "noto" , "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/search/photos/%3F?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip: ink; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out, opacity 0.2s ease-in-out; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></td></tr>
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As soon as she left I burst into tears. How could this happen? I called so many times to double check that there was nothing else I needed to do to be ready. Why did they wait so long to take care of this?<br />
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Nurse T came back into the room with the other nurse and saw me crying. They told me not to cry (that never works FYI) and had some really lame excuses about how this happened. The main issue is that Nurse D who works with the insurance never told them when my start date got changed from March to February even though that was two weeks ago. Nurse T and Nurse Z thought they still had a month before I needed my meds.<br />
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That's a pretty big mistake since they both found the info in my record and obviously hadn't looked thoroughly through my notes even though I had called or emailed the office every day that past week. If they had just admitted that they messed up and tried to make it right I don't think I would be so upset about this appointment.<br />
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But that's not what happened. Nurse T started trying to blame me for the mistake by saying if I had called to fill my prescription sooner then I would have been able to tell the office that authorization was needed sooner. That may be true, but when I called Nurse T specifically on Monday and left her a vm asking what I needed to do next, she never called me back. And when I emailed her again on Wednesday she told me to call them on Friday to sort out the shipping.<br />
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Also, who blames the patient while she's sitting in your office bawling and you and the office have clearly dropped the ball with her?<br />
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Somehow through all my tears, I was able to point out that I had left her a voicemail on Monday and an email on Wednesday and Friday and she hadn't said anything about calling the pharmacy until Friday. She admitted that that was fair and said she'd go talk to the doctor and see what she could do and nurse Z said she'd send the authorization ASAP with "Urgent" at the top. She offered me a tissue (after I'd been sitting there crying in front of both of them for at least ten minutes) and then left the room.<br />
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In the end, I got some loaner meds that I just have to replace with my stash when they get here. So we are officially started and just waiting on my meds.<br />
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By noon yesterday, nurse Z had called to let me know the authorization went through and I could call to fill my rX.<br />
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I called the pharmacy THREE times to make sure it would ship last night and be here by today.<br />
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Wouldn't you know it, I get a call at 8:30 this morning saying that somehow my meds didn't make it out last night.<br />
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I guess shipping had an issue with the order and sent it back to the pharmacy for clarification. It didn't make it back to shipping before the other orders went out for the night.<br />
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Not a big deal since I have enough meds to last me until tomorrow when the meds should hopefully arrive now. It's just frustrating after everything I went through yesterday. And after calling them THREE times to make sure nothing like this happened.<br />
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I guess it just goes to show you that even this process - though not natural AT ALL is still just as in God's hands to work out the details as natural conception. I know that on an intellectual level, but sometimes I still feel a little like we're "cheating" by working outside of God's natural design for growing a family.<br />
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This week has shown me realistically just how much we need God in this process too. Again, something I know on an intellectual level, but have begun to grasp on a heart level now.<br />
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So I guess I really have to be grateful for how the past couple of days has gone. It has brought me closer to God and taught me again how to rely on him and trust him in this new circumstance. Now, let's all pray that I can hold onto this lesson through the ups and downs of the next few weeks. ;)<br />
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-15854632997448935552017-11-21T23:39:00.000-05:002017-11-21T23:39:43.883-05:00A Year Ago TodayWow, haven't been here in a long time!<br />
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Here's a recap of what I've been up to this past year and our plans for 2018!<br />
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Thank you again, to those who have patiently waited for this update. I have missed blogging and vlogging and am excited to be back!<br />
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-7897621057440109132016-11-21T18:20:00.001-05:002016-11-21T18:20:11.584-05:00NegativeJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-6602312498535960612016-11-18T05:00:00.000-05:002016-11-18T05:00:14.731-05:00Peace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Philippians 4:6-7 has been bringing me comfort through this agonizingly long two weeks. Today, I'm breaking it down and applying it to myself personally.<br />
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<b>do not be anxious about anything,</b><br />
Anything:<br />
- Whether or not the treatment worked<br />
- Whether or not I'm pregnant<br />
- Whether or not I'll miscarry again if I am pregnant<br />
- How freaking long it's taking to get to Monday, the 21st.<br />
- What I'm going to say to all the people who have been praying for us if this didn't work<br />
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<b> but in everything</b><br />
Everything:<br />
- Every day<br />
- Every time you think of it<br />
- Every time you're tempted to worry or be anxious<br />
- Happy or sad<br />
- Hopeful or sure it didn't work<br />
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<b> by prayer and supplications</b><br />
Not by whining or complaining about it<br />
Not by eating your feelings<br />
Not by sleeping away my life until the 21st is here<br />
Not by talking to everyone else BUT God about it<br />
By PRAYING and running to Jesus<br />
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<b> with thanksgiving</b><br />
There are so many things to be thankful about since starting the treatments. I had a lot of difficulty even getting this train on the tracks and was really starting to doubt the competency of the staff (turns out it's just my nurse, yay). But everyone else at the office has been so nice. They remember me (and have even started calling me Jess instead of Jessica). They take the time to answer all my questions. Surprisingly, my nurse who takes my blood every day is my favorite which is super weird because I hate blood draws (I mean, who likes them). She makes small talk with me and remembers me and is just so nice. I'm super thankful for the majority of the staff at SGFC.<br />
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I'm also so thankful for all the support and prayers we've gotten from family and friends who we've told about the treatments. I get texts or emails almost every day from people who just want to let us know they're praying for us. Our support system is amazing.<br />
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<b> let your requests be made known to God.</b><br />
He wants to hear from me. He is okay with me going to him every day and requesting over and over again that this would work. God Himself grants me an audience with Him. <br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding </b><br />
Supernatural peace. Lasting peace. Better than this world's peace. Deeper than I can understand or comprehend.<br />
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<b>will guard your hearts</b><br />
My broken, fragile heart. It's safe in His hands and He can protect me. Even though my hopes are up - how could they not be - He can help me guard from being totally crushed should the worst happen. I can trust him. I can trust him. Lord, help me trust you.<br />
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<b> and your minds</b><br />
My stubborn, cynical mind that's been through so much disappointment and loss that it sometimes just thinks there's no other way. That I'm destined to always be disappointed. Or that loss is around the corner even if something does go the way we hope. God is guarding that for me too. He is giving my mind peace and the ability to slowly believe that it will all be okay too. I will make it through this, no matter what happens. I don't have to fear.<br />
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<b>in Christ Jesus. </b><br />
My precious Savior. It all comes back to Him. How could I doubt His love for me when I remember the pain he suffered for my expense. <br />
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Though it will be painful if the answer for us is "no", I take comfort in knowing that He is in control. My life is in his hands and He is worth this journey if it means we bring more glory to Him. <br />
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Now if I could just hold onto that Truth and that feeling for more than a few moments at a time...<br />
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Oh Lord, help me.<br />
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-26291729630655822802016-11-16T12:00:00.000-05:002016-11-16T14:19:29.754-05:00Is it test day yet?Last night I couldn't sleep and in the middle of that groggy too-sleepy-to-get-up, too-awake-to-fall-asleep place I found myself subconsciously praying (begging, basically) for God to let this treatment work. For there to be a fertilized egg making its way to my uterus right now to burrow in and stay for the next nine months. I've never wanted something so badly that I've sleep-prayed for it before. Everything in me is desperate for this to work and our journey through infertility to be over.<br />
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This morning I woke up with a fear that maybe we didn't do enough. Should we have had sex just one more time to make sure? What if I ovulated later and we missed it? My body has been slow to respond to the initial doses of medication - what if it responded slowly to the Ovidrel and I didn't ovulate until Saturday night or Sunday?<br />
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Mostly I know these fears are irrational. I think my mind is just going crazy because... well, what else is it gonna do during this torturous TWW? <br />
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I want to trust God. I want to have peace and not stress out about this, but it's really hard. The suspense is killing me. I just keep praying over and over again that this will be what works. That God will hear us and answer us. That He will finally fulfill this desire that he's given both of us to be parents.<br />
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This verse brings me momentary comfort. I'm trying to meditate on it throughout the day, but the thoughts of worry and impatience insist on pushing through with brute force. It's a constant battle. I want to be hopeful and confident and full of faith. But the weak, scared part of me wants to prepare myself for the worst, to be doubtful, skeptical, and sure that it didn't work. As if that will somehow make the potential bad news easier to bear. <br />
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You would think that by now I should be an expert in waiting. Ha!<br />
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When we were first married and Doad traveled a lot, we'd talk on the phone every night. We'd end our calls by saying "Let's go to sleep and make time fly" because as long as the day may have been, time always seemed to pass by quicker while we were sleeping. We would wake up one day closer to seeing each other again. <br />
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Well, let me just tell you. It has been really tempting to try and just sleep these two weeks away. <br />
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I know a positive test doesn't mean that we're in the clear. But it sure would be a good start. <br />
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Dear Monday, can you get here soon, please? And can you bring me some incredible news?<br />
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-82343448302948004662016-11-14T05:00:00.000-05:002016-11-14T05:00:20.335-05:00Trigger Shot/Health Update #7Picking up from the last post:<br />
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<b>Thursday, October 27th:</b> Restarted the Letrazole at double the original dose (2.5 increaded to 5). Take for five days (until Monday).<br />
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<b>Tuesday, November 1st:</b> One egg on right ovary (14mm). One egg on left ovary (13mm). Not quite ready for ovulation (needs to be between 18-20).<br />
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<b>Thursday, November 3rd:</b> Right egg = 17mm. Left egg = 19!! Ready for ovulation! Time for trigger shot and lots of lovin' over the weekend. <br />
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I felt super weird about giving myself the shot, so hubby did it for me. I'm glad he did because he did it so gently and slowly so that it wouldn't burn. I think it also made him feel more involved in the process which is nice for both of us. <br />
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I also wanted YOU to feel involved in this process too - our family and friends have been an amazing support to us as we walk through this journey of infertility. We are starting a new chapter called "Fertility Treatment" and you all have fallen right in stride with us as we turn this corner. There's only so much you can do, but I thought you'd like an insiders view on the "real story" of fertility treatment. So... here's a silly (unedited) video of Doad giving me our first trigger shot.<br />
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And now we wait. Two agonizingly long weeks until we can get a pregnancy test done to see if it worked and if our baby is finally on his or her way to us. Pray with us?<br />
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-13869841043921682112016-11-10T19:37:00.002-05:002016-11-10T19:37:34.710-05:00Fertility Journey Update/Health Update #6Oh man, it's been a while since I've done one of these. I tried to keep it short-ish (it was originally 18 minutes long, yikes!) There's a lot to cover though, so I apologize for the length. <br />
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Hopefully it all makes sense, but as always - if it doesn't, please ask!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9WdK_gTBSZ8" width="640"></iframe><br />
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In case you want the abbreviated version without watching the whole video, here's a brief timeline:<br />
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<b>September 2015:</b> Finished all of our testing and had no huge issues. Decided to just keep trying naturally for a while.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>February 2016:</b> Started thinking about IVF or adoption. Got pregnant. Miscarried. No idea what to do next.<br />
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<b>May/June 2016: </b>Went back to fertility doctor for testing since it had been almost a year. No big changes with Doad. Jess = crazy thyroid antibody levels, PCOS diagnosis. Learned of Ovulation Induction protocol option.<br />
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<b>Summer 2016: </b>Removed several foods from diet that were triggering thyroid antibody elevation. Started Ovasitol supplement for PCOS. Decided to try naturally until October and then do Ovulation Induction (OI) if we weren't pregnant by then.<br />
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<b>October 2016:</b> Not pregnant. Started OI. Not responding to current dosage of Letrazole (to promote egg growth). Will most likely start again at a higher dose.<br />
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More updates to come!<br />
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-38152123374391286402016-11-05T17:28:00.002-04:002016-11-05T17:28:25.927-04:00November 2016 Goals UpdateIt's definitely time for a goals update. I've missed this little outlet and have lots to update you on. To start with, let's talk about 2016 goals:<br />
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More to come soon! What have you all been up to lately? Leave me a comment and tell me what's new!<br />
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-9209492739341322562016-10-24T22:10:00.000-04:002016-10-24T22:10:05.395-04:00On Your Due DateTiny Babe #3,<br />
<br />
Today is your due date. Your dad and I so hoped that we'd get to meet you and just like our two sweet ones before you we were devastated when we learned that was not to be the case. <br />
<br />
I'm sorry this happened again.<br />
<br />
I'm sorry I wasn't able to carry you longer. <br />
<br />
I'm sorry we never got to meet this side of heaven.<br />
<br />
Our hearts ache for you every day. We dream of holding you in our arms and kissing your sweet face. We dream of watching you grow and celebrating your wins. We dream of being there to comfort you and cry with you in the hard times. <br />
<br />
Mostly, we dream of telling you how loved and wanted you were. And still are. We love and miss you every day. <br />
<br />
While nothing can make your loss less painful, we take comfort in knowing that you're with Jesus and our Good Father can redeem even the saddest of situations. <br />
<br />
We love you, baby.<br />
So much.<br />
<br />
Mom<br />
<br />
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-18634862129545273672016-06-21T12:44:00.003-04:002016-06-21T12:44:47.234-04:00In case you need to ugly cry today...This short movie brought me to tears today and I thought I'd share it with you. I know not every story ends this way and I don't mean to instill false hope. But I do know that God writes good stories. <br />
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No matter how crappy the chapter you're in seems right now, we can trust our Good Father to redeem it. He heals, He provides, He comforts, He loves, and He is good. Be encouraged, friends. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/125737644?color=999999&title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-41211835988693522872016-05-27T15:30:00.001-04:002016-05-27T15:30:54.340-04:00Number 3It happened again. You were here and gone in the blink of an eye. Two pink lines one day, and an empty womb just a week later. <br />
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I barely had time to be excited. <br />
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Your dad was excited though. He loved you immediately and began making plans for your arrival - you were due 2 days after his birthday. I think he loved that.<br />
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Every night that week he would pray over my belly and thank God for you. We prayed that you would be strong and healthy. That you were growing and in just the right spot. Even after I began bleeding, we prayed for a miracle, we hoped against hope. <br />
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We fought so hard for you, baby. I want you to know that.<br />
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Though I fell instantly in love with you the moment I saw even the shadow of a second line, I felt a lot of fear this time. I prayed for God's help to be strong no matter what the outcome of this pregnancy was. But still I felt fear. Fear of the heartbreak, fear of yet another loss.<br />
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But fear or no fear, it hurts just as much. It sucks just as much. I miss you just as much.<br />
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Sometimes I feel really guilty. Is my body just rebelling against being pregnant? How can it be so hard to <b><u>get</u></b> pregnant AND so hard to <b><u>stay</u></b> pregnant? It's frustrating to try so hard and to get so close, but still not succeed. <br />
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The journey through grief is just as confusing and unpredictable the third time through as it was the first. I will never get used to this. <br />
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But I won't give up either. <br />
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I know God has a plan in all of this. Some days that's comforting, some days it makes me really angry that this could be a part of God's plan.<br />
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We miss you, baby. We love you and can't wait to be with you again someday. <br />
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<i>Romans 15:13 </i><br />
<i>May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. </i><br />
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-77609416585430561342016-04-27T15:42:00.000-04:002016-04-27T15:42:01.551-04:002016 Goals Recap - AprilHey dreamers! Here is the latest update on my goals for 2016. Hope you enjoy watching!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lPDk93eKGU8" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Click <a href="http://extravagantdreams.blogspot.com/2016/04/explanation-of-our-7-experiment-this.html" target="_blank">here</a> to read more about 7 experiment. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">And click <a href="http://eepurl.com/bXST9z" target="_blank">here</a> for the link to my newsletter. I am excited to be sharing with you some of what I have been learning in school this year! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-80530646979082923192016-04-17T21:51:00.000-04:002016-04-17T21:51:07.752-04:00Why Don't We "Just" Adopt??If I had a dollar for every time someone told us the story about a "friend" they knew who was struggling to get pregnant, decided to adopt, and then got pregnant right after that.... well.... then maybe we'd actually be able to afford an adoption.<br />
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This is one of the most common "suggestions" or "comforting encouragements" I have heard while going through our fertility journey lately. I know it's meant well, but it sure does make me want to punch someone in the face. <br />
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It is so much more complicated that "just" adopting. It's not like we can go pick out a baby to adopt tomorrow and that's that. <br />
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Also, I would never adopt just so that I could somehow magically get pregnant - as if that were the formula for ending infertility.<br />
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Lastly, if Doad and I are not feeling God's call to pursue adoption, it would be just as unfruitful (pardon the pun) to go down that road. We have to do what we feel led to do, and while adoption is a dream of ours in the future, neither of us feel that God is leading us to that option at the moment. <br />
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This post is a little bit sassy, because I've run out of patience for answering this question. But for the sake of transparency, I want to share it anyway. Doad and I have been very open about our journey for several reasons: 1) Your prayers and support have meant the world to us as we walk through this season of waiting and losses, that wouldn't have been as available to us if we had not shared 2) We hope to bring purpose to our struggle by being a source of comfort, encouragement, and solidarity to others in similar situations and 3) God deserves glory, no matter what the circumstances. As we struggle and wrestle through this we want to share the goodness of God in our dark moments, His faithfulness in our weak moments, and His unending love, even when we can't see the full picture.<br />
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So I share this with you so that you can better understand why we've not chosen to pursue adoption yet. So that you can better know how to pray for us as we make tough choices like this. So that you can be better equipped to provide comfort to other couples who are maybe making the same tough decision. And so you can stop telling that story already. Coming from this fertility-challenged mama, it's just not helpful... for me anyway.<br />
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So there you have it, a short (yes, short) answer to why we don't "just" adopt already.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Disclaimer: I do not know the mind of God, so don't be mad if I publish this post and two days later He tells us to pursue adoption. I will gladly eat my words if that means we get to finally add a baby to our family. ;)</i></span><br />
<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-13194888806301525292016-04-07T18:00:00.003-04:002016-04-07T18:00:59.547-04:00Explanation of our "7" Experiment this Year<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jI6uRZLWz0c" width="640"></iframe>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-87483127835925074192016-02-20T17:21:00.000-05:002016-02-20T17:21:32.377-05:002016 GoalsWe're halfway through February, so I figured it was about time to share the goals I've set for myself for 2016! I'm attempting to do this vlog style this year. Let me know what you think! :)<br />
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-80874723293575768982016-01-18T19:47:00.000-05:002016-01-18T19:47:00.630-05:00To Baby #2Sweet, little baby,<br />
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This is not how it was supposed to be. Yesterday was your due date. If we had it my way, you'd be in my belly about to be born or in my arms being kissed ten thousand times a day. <br />
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But it isn't that way.<br />
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You had a few short weeks in my belly, but you weren't able to grow where you implanted and so you joined your sibling in heaven. There you two wait for us to come to you since you didn't get to come to us.<br />
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We <i>can't wait</i> to come to you.<br />
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We can't wait to meet you.<br />
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I don't even know what you look like, but I think about you every day. I think about how I'd sing to you and cradle you in my arms. How I want to smother you with kisses and smell your soft little head. How your dad and I would watch you grow and smile with so much pride over the amazing person you would surely become. <br />
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We found out we were pregnant with you while on vacation in Cancun. There was a beautiful peacock that greeted us several times that week and we decided your nursery would be themed after him with beautiful feathers in shades of green and blue. Every time I see a peacock it reminds me of you and how happy we were to have you in our lives, however brief. <br />
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Oh, how I wish we could have met you.<br />
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But someday we will. And that gives me hope to keep going. I know Jesus is taking good care of you. And you are with your sibling. <br />
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So while we mourn for our loss, we also look forward expectantly to that joy-filled day when we will finally be able to see each other face-to-face. And I will hold you and kiss you and tell you in person how very, very much I love you. We miss you and we love you so much, sweetheart. See you soon.<br />
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MomJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-49376758235728799192016-01-15T12:54:00.000-05:002016-01-16T08:30:41.609-05:002015 Resolutions: Year End Recap<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 25px;">
Well, hello there, 2016. You got here awful quick. I haven't even had a chance to post my October recap, thankyouverymuch. </div>
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The end of the year really took off for me. I started several new "endeavors" including, but not limited too: a year-long <a href="http://extravagantdreams.blogspot.com/2015/07/jessica-smith-dream-chaser.html" target="_blank">health coaching program</a> (<a href="http://geti.in/1OTDSBQ" target="_blank">IIN</a>, if you're interested), becoming a dōTERRA oil educator, and starting a part-time job as an office professional. </div>
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These have all been wonderful and I'm loving what I do now, which is such a gift. The downside is that my blogging schedule has totally taken a backseat and I'm struggling to reincorporate it to my routine. But I'm all about the baby steps, so we're just gonna focus on this post today and then worry about the others. :)</div>
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Without further ado, here is my 2015 Resolutions recap:</div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><strike>1. Whole30</strike></span></div>
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We are actually currently on Whole30 number three. More on that to come. ;)<br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Get (and stay) pregnant</span></span></div>
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Sadly, this task was not accomplished in 2015. We gave it our best shot though, lol. Better luck next time.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><strike>3. Quit my job</strike></span><br />
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<strike><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Finish two books with Doad</span></span></strike><br />
We did it!!! :) Woohoo, we finally finished our second book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1433672960/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1433672960&linkCode=as2&tag=extravdreams-20&linkId=JK2PIVX6J5KJWLZ7" target="_blank">7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess </a> (aff.) by Jen Hatmaker. So good. A lot of our 2016 goals come from this book. Again, more on that to come. :)</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">5. Read 24 books</span></span></div>
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I definitely fell a little short in this area. I believe I rang in the new year with 14 books under my belt (16 if you count the 2 with Doad). I'm okay with it, though. I still read more than last year and I have several books to keep me motivated to hit that 24 number this year. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">6. Marriage Conference</span></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.4px;">Also didn't make this happen this year, but I have plans to change that. For real, this time. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /><span style="color: #38761d;"><strike>7. Cruise/vacation</strike></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px;"></span><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: 15px;"><strike>8. Purple hair</strike></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">9. Keep up with Spanish lessons</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #666666;">Boo, this just totally fell apart once I got rid of my commute. Now in my free time I listen to podcasts, because they're right there on my phone and they're so easy... Still waiting for a magic fairy to put my Spanish CD's onto my phone... </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px;"></span><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">10. Learn to drive stick shift</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px;">I'm keeping this yellow too because I did sort of learn. I just never practiced enough to get confident with on-the-road driving. I would say that one more practice at the parking lot and a couple drives through the neighborhood and I'll be good. That counts, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px;">So I got about half of my goals accomplished this year. Honestly, the only one I'm disappointed about is the whole pregnancy one (for obvious reasons, I think). For the rest, I think my priorities changed during the year and I just didn't reflect that here by updating my goals. I accomplished dozens of other goals that weren't on this list and I'm very proud of those achievements. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px;">I'm also super excited for my next post about my goals for 2016. I have lots of ideas (as always) and I can't wait to share them with you! </span></div>
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<b style="font-size: 15.4px;">I know it's a tad belated, but I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas a happy New Year. </b></div>
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<b style="font-size: 15.4px;">Cheers to 2016!!</b></div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-14849422039725013452015-12-31T20:06:00.003-05:002015-12-31T20:06:45.611-05:00One Year Ago Today...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've been composing this post in my head for over two weeks now. I've written down drafts and then left them unpublished - how do you put into words the intense range of emotions that accompanies an anniversary of loss? How do I stay real in this space without becoming too depressing and dark? How do I honor our little one and our loss and yet still provide hope, encouragement, and glory to God? </div>
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I was going to share a glimpse of the bitterness and anger that I've been going through. The sense of emptiness and confusion - the "why her and not me?" that comes with every pregnancy announcement (of which there has been an abundance this holiday season). I thought maybe I'd talk about the guilt of just wishing Christmas was over so you don't have to put on a fake smile anymore and things can just get back to "normal".<br />
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But if you're in this boat, you don't need a reminder.<br />
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<b>You know what it feels like.</b> <br />
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And you know how easy it is to give in to all these negative feelings. We don't need to give them any more airtime...<br />
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they've had enough already. <br />
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So today I forced myself to make a list of the positives. On this anniversary of loss, I'm choosing to dig deep and remember what I have to be thankful for. This year was <u style="font-weight: bold;">hard</u>, but God gave us many blessings too. I don't want to end this year on a low note. I don't want Satan to take that from me too. So here is a short list of gifts that I am thankful for this year:<br />
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- I'm thankful for all the ways Doad and I grew closer and stronger in our marriage. These losses could have torn us apart, but by God's grace, they made our marriage stronger. He is my best friend and I am so fortunate to have him to lean on through this journey.<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />- I am thankful for my church family who is always kind, loving, and supportive.<br />
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />- I'm thankful for our trip to Cancun and the time we got to spend in each other's company relaxing and exploring and taking a much-needed vacation.<br />
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- I'm also thankful for all the other places we got to travel to together this year: New Jersey, Orlando, Massachusetts. <br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />- I am thankful to no longer be in a stressful job and to instead be pursing a career that fills me with purpose and happiness. I love what I am doing right now and am excited about the future in health-coaching and with essential oils.<br />
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- I'm thankful for Lacey and what a good companion and comfort she is. She is such a good cuddler and so loyal. She knows how to make us feel better and she brings so much joy to our home.<br />
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- I am thankful for dear friends and family who care enough about us to go through the ugly stuff with us. They know when we need tough love and when we need a shoulder to cry on. They have borne the brunt of bad attitudes and still love us. They keep us accountable. They pray for us. They LOVE us. <br />
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- I am thankful for how we grew in Christ. There has been a lot of questioning and hard lessons from God, but I am grateful that our faith is not stagnant and stale. We are being stretched and tested. We are learning about the Holy Spirit and his activity in our daily lives. We are learning to let go and to simplify. We are learning to trust beyond what we though we were capable of and we are clinging to hope with all we've got.<br />
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So there's a list... and I <u>am</u> thankful. <br />
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And I do mean it... but... it feels fake. <br />
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I can't end this post here all pretty and resolved and let you think it's as simple as that. I want you to see the battle here. I want you to see that it took over an hour to write that list - that I'm <i>fighting</i> not to give in to the negativity. <br />
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This isn't easy.<br />
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The flesh in me wants to look at this list and say "That's not good enough."<br />
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<i>I wanted a baby this year too.</i><br />
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Instead I lost not one, but two babies.<br />
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And all these months later, I still have no answers. I wish I had more to share with you, but this is all I know:<br />
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Somehow<br />
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Someway<br />
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God is still good.<br />
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He is near to the brokenhearted.<br />
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He offers comfort, and peace, and hope.<br />
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His grace is sufficient for us, and his power is made perfect in our weakness. <br />
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He is the giver of life.<br />
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My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.<br />
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He loves with an everlasting love and his faithfulness towards us continues.<br />
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O sister, sweet friend, dear one in the thick of this battle with me, be encouraged! Let your heart be open to the comfort of His Word. It may sting as it goes down, but hidden in these promises is the only place I can find rest right now. I pray the same for you. <br />
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This is the fight. <br />
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To go back to what we know, to cling to the promises of God. To choose to dwell on the hope and the peace that He offers and not the death and despair of the world. Fight with me. Hope with me as the new year comes. <br />
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-89285417939992780162015-10-09T08:00:00.000-04:002015-10-09T11:04:02.406-04:002015 Resolutions: September Recap<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Josefin Sans'; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 25px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope you guys realize that there are only 76 days until Christmas at this moment. Seventy-six!! That means we've been working on our goals for 281 days and we only have 84 days left in the year! Holy cow, we better get crackin'!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><strike>1. Whole30</strike></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: inherit;">2. Get (and stay) pregnant</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nothing yet</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><strike>3. Quit my job</strike></span><br />
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: inherit;">4. Finish two books with Doad</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Still reading...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="color: #f1c232;">5. Read 24 books</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I finished book #11 and #12. I'm close to finishing #13 too, but I am still ironing out the kinks in my new routine and have not made much time for reading lately. At this point, I doubt I will finish 24 books by the end of the year, but I will definitely read more than last year, so I am focusing on that progress and still trying to read as many as possible. :)</span></div>
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Book #11 was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118137132/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1118137132&linkCode=as2&tag=extravdreams-20&linkId=CIRYXLQJRYQXDRZH" target="_blank"><span style="color: #888888;">T</span>he Better Baby Book</a> (aff.) by Lana Asprey. This was not my most favorite baby book that I have read as there were several recommendations in it that I either disagreed with or felt were not explained well enough for me to be comfortable following them. I've linked to it anyway because there was a lot of good info in there as well, you just have to be smart while you read it and do your own research as well. </div>
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Book #12 was another fun book from my birthday haul, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0446585041/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0446585041&linkCode=as2&tag=extravdreams-20&linkId=F4M4D7X6QJNTVRJH" target="_blank">Seriously... I'm Kidding</a> (aff.) by Ellen Degeneres. This was very light reading. Lighter than I thought it would be. But it's pretty hard to dislike such a kind, funny lady and I found the same to be true with her book. A couple chapters had me laughing out loud... in public... so that was fun.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /><span style="color: #990000;">6. Marriage Conference</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /><span style="color: #38761d;"><strike>7. Cruise/vacation</strike></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px;"></span><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: 15px;"><strike>8. Purple hair</strike></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">9. Keep up with Spanish lessons</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px;">So... remember when I said I was gonna bring the CD's in from the car? And put them on my phone? And listen to them while I walked my dog? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">They're still in my car. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px;"></span><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">10. Learn to drive stick shift</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px;">Still shooting to practice this in October. I'm getting a little rusty so we are definitely due for it. Doad asked me to start his car the other day and I couldn't remember how. I was afraid to stall it out so I just put the key in the ignition and got into the passenger seat lol. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Not a strong month for me. It looks like the only thing I made progress in was my reading goal and even that wasn't very much. My baby steps were few and far between this month. But that's okay. You know why? Because I still made progress. </span></span></div>
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<b>Keep on chugging, Dreamers.</b></div>
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<b>All forward motion is progress.</b></div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-70274275477822168932015-09-25T08:00:00.000-04:002015-09-25T08:00:05.318-04:00How To Start Your Day with Greens | A Quick, Helpful TipI've only been in school for two weeks, but one thing has become clear: Almost everyone knows which foods they should be eating more of and which foods they should be avoiding. No one needs to hear that they should be eating more vegetables - we all know. But sometimes we all need help figuring out <b><u>how</u></b> to eat more vegetables.<br />
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So this morning I'm sharing one of my favorite ways to get more greens into my diet and my top tips for keeping things <u>delicious</u> and <u>simple</u>.</div>
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Smoothies are amazing because you can basically <b>hide</b> your greens in there and not even know you're eating/drinking them. Don't believe me? You're doing it wrong.</div>
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Here's what you need to know:</div>
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<b><u>1. Blend the greens <i>before</i> adding your fruit.</u></b></div>
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Put a handful or two of greens (start with a little bit of harmless ol' spinach if you're nervous) in your blender with 1/2 cup to 1 cup of liquid depending on how thick you like your smoothies. Blend this up <i>before</i> you add your other ingredients. This helps to ensure that your greens are really chopped up and there are no chunks hiding around.</div>
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This is especially important if you are using a cheap, older blender. No one likes chunky spinach in their fruit smoothie. Or maybe you do... in that case, ignore this tip.</div>
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<b><u>2. Freeze your fruit.</u></b></div>
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If you use frozen fruit, you don't need to use as much ice, or even any ice at all. This keeps things nice and tasty and doesn't dilute the flavor of your fruit down with all that water.</div>
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<b><u>3. Can't have dairy? Like your smoothies to be creamy? Use a frozen banana.</u></b></div>
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Bananas are magical and basically turn into ice cream when you freeze them. (Google it.) I love that milkshake consistency in my smoothies and bananas are what do that for you. Healthy milkshakes Yes, please!</div>
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Another awesome thing about smoothies is that they are so customizable, you can use whatever greens and fruits you have and choose the flavors you like to make a drink you love. But if you're like me and need a recipe to start you off, here are two super easy ones to try.</div>
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<b><u>Strawberry Banana Smoothie</u></b><br />
~1-2 handfuls of greens (if you're nervous start small and slowly increase the amount you add)<br />
~1/2 C - 1 C liquid (adjust to desired consistency) - you can use milk, coconut milk, water... whatever floats your boat, just maybe not soda)<br />
~1 frozen banana<br />
~5-6 frozen strawberries<br />
splash of vanilla extract (optional)</blockquote>
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1. Blend greens and liquid.<br />
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend again!<br />
3. So quick and easy, right?</blockquote>
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<b><u>Almond Butter Cacao Smoothie</u></b><b><u><br /></u></b>~1-2 handfuls of greens (Don't be afraid to change it up! Try kale or collard greens or a blend!)<br />
~1/2 C - 1 C liquid<br />
~1 frozen banana<br />
~1 T cacao powder (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JVWJR70/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00JVWJR70&linkCode=as2&tag=extravdreams-20&linkId=T444KYPFDLGYS7SM" target="_blank">where I buy mine</a>)*<br />
~1 T almond butter<br />
~2 T coconut oil </blockquote>
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1. Blend greens and liquid.<br />
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend again!</blockquote>
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* Bonus tip: This is also a really great way to add in some other super foods like coconut oil and chia seeds. Just add a tablespoon or two to the blender and you're all set. :)</div>
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Sounds yummy, right? Go try one! Or try both! Once you've made a couple you can experiment with different greens and fruits. Add an avocado for an extra creamy smoothie. Try some ginger or citrus rind. Go crazy! :)</div>
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<b>I'd love to hear about the smoothies you've created.</b></div>
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<b>Share your favorite recipes with me in the comments below!</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*Affiliate link</span></div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-8389938484980833262015-09-19T11:04:00.000-04:002015-09-19T11:04:26.763-04:002015 Resolutions: August Recap<div>
It's that time again! How did we do with our goals in August? </div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><strike>1. Whole30</strike></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: inherit;">2. Get (and stay) pregnant</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nothing yet</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.amuniversal.com/22484260b2b1012f7ffd001dd8b71c47" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://assets.amuniversal.com/22484260b2b1012f7ffd001dd8b71c47" height="640" width="532" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Share the love, Mr. Stork!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><strike><br />3. Quit my job</strike></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As you know from my last recap, I didn't actually quit. But both boys are in school now so I'm no longer needed. I have been living up the Stay-At-Home Wifeness lately - I cleaned the bathrooms this week and today I even vaccuumed! I also started my health coaching studies with <a href="http://geti.in/1O0SmQo" target="_blank">IIN</a> this week. So yea, that's pretty awesome. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: inherit;">4. Finish two books with Doad</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Still reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1433672960/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1433672960&linkCode=as2&tag=extravdreams-20&linkId=TZZQPIV2Z7FJA62Y" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Seven</a> by Jen Hatmaker. The end of August was kind of crazy so we got out of the habit of reading at bedtime a little bit, but it's still on the radar and I'm confident we'll finish by the end of the year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="color: #f1c232;">5. Read 24 books</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I finished book #10 and am almost done with book #11 and #12. I don't know why I decided to read 2 books simultaneously, but I came in a little shy of my 3 books in August goal. That leaves me 4 months to finish 12 more books. Hopefully, I can do it with the extra free time I have, but it's gonna be close!</span></div>
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Book #10 was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006226835X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=006226835X&linkCode=as2&tag=extravdreams-20&linkId=KL5VRRWCOO2IT2PB" target="_blank">Yes, Please</a> by Amy Poehler. I got this as a birthday present and liked it a lot. It was a much lighter read than my usual and while she was super funny, I also found a lot of random nuggets sprinkled throughout her writing that made me want to go through again with a highlighter. Way to go, Amy!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="color: #990000;">6. Marriage Conference</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="color: #38761d;"><strike>7. Cruise/vacation</strike></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">See this post <a href="http://extravagantdreams.blogspot.com/2015/08/cancun-2015.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a> for pics and recap!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"></span><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"><strike>8. Purple hair</strike></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">Still purple :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">9. Keep up with Spanish lessons</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">This did <u>not</u> happen in August, but I am adding it to my daily routine for September. I am bringing the CD's in the house and instead of listening to it in the car, want to put it on my phone to listen to when I walk the dog. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"></span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">10. Learn to drive stick shift</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">Ha! Totally forgot about this goal. It didn't happen this month either. Our weekends are looking pretty busy for the next month, so maybe I'll shoot to work on this in October.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 25px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Okay, so I have 4 out of 10 goals completed and 4 months left to finish up the others. I'm confident about completing 2.5 of them haha. Honestly, I'll be pretty happy about that. I've been learning that it's not so much about the amount of things I check off my list. I'm happiest when I take the time to realize and appreciate that I am still making forward motion. I make these goals to help me become</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"> the person that I want to be and so that I can live</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"> the best version of my life. If some of those goals change or evolve in the process, that's perfectly fine. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 25px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"> As always, I hope this has been an encouragement and inspiration to you, fellow Dreamer. Keep it up with those baby steps. You can do it!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; line-height: 25px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*Links are affiliate links. This does not affect you in any way, but I have to let you know in case you don't want to give me credit for referring you to an awesome product. ;)</span></span></div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065430850225839688.post-79362211297078170012015-09-11T08:30:00.000-04:002015-09-23T22:05:53.914-04:00Health Update #5 (Fertility Test Results)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918917004018742065noreply@blogger.com0