Acupuncture

With our upcoming IVF in August I have been doing alot of research on how I can de-stress, help improve the success, and try to enjoy this whole process.

After many nights researching info on the internet I found myself going back to one treatment...acupuncture. I started to look into the treatment and find success rates, info, and pleasant outcomes. Im not a fan of needles and I was at first turned away from acupuncture due to the fact that for the next 1 1/2 months needles will be my life.

I called around to several different places close to home but became quite discouraged due to the cost of the treatments. We were looking at spending $400-$600 for 4-6 treatments! We are already paying so much for the IVF and just couldn't afford to spend that kind of money. So I gave up on the thought of acupuncture until...I came across a place in Livonia. They understand that normal income people are struggeling in this economy, they understand that not everyone can afford a weekly trip to have acupuncture done and spend $100 each time. They have created a sliding scale for payment. You choose how much to pay. Their sliding scale is anywhere from $20-$40 a visit. They want it to be affordable for everyone so they can continue the needed treatment and not break the bank.

Well I made an appointment for today and Im going to have my first visit with Linda. Im so excited and really hope that this will increase our success of the IVF. Medical studies have shown that women doing an IVF cycle and accupuncture have an increase in eggs that are of good quality and size, and stronger thicker lining of the uterine wall (which helps implant the eggs), and it releases stress which will reduce the number of contractions my body will put off so there is a lower risk of miscarraige.

I plan on going once a week up until the week of our IVF. The day before our egg retrieval I will go for a treatment and the day they do the IUI with our embryos I will go back. Depending on how I feel I may need to do the day after instead.

I will keep you all posted on my acupuncture adventure. Fingers crossed that this will be a positive and successful adventure!

Field Day 2009

For the past 3 years we have hosted Field Day at our house. Field Day is where Pat's radio buddies come over and have a contest. This contest is world wide and you have to make as many contacts around the world as possible in a 24 hour period. I usually hide out in the house, come out to check on them, make coffee early in the morning, make sure they have dinner and breakfast.

Above is Pat setting up an antenna in the tall pine trees in the back field behind our house.



He did it! He threw the line to the top of the trees and was able to run a line to "camp"


They set up solar panels, a shade tent and a few chairs this year in the back.



Here it is in all its glory CAMP FIELD DAY 09 AT THE CLOUSE HOUSE



Pat mowed a path and a patch in the field for their camp. It was so hot out. Poor Pat and Ben got a little too much sun. Hopefully the pizza I ordered for dinner and the huge pancake breakfast I made them helped!




The guys out in the field hooking up the antenna



One of Pat's antenna's they used for Field Day. This use to be on the side of the house, but Pat moved it to the back of the barn so I wouldn't have to see it anymore :)



Pat's radio that he used.



Another table of radios

Ham Fest 2009

Every May since Pat was little he would go to Dayton, Ohio with his Dad to Ham Fest.

Ham Fest from what I've been told is a giant swap meet filled with radio's, gadgets, antennas, and junk. Pat looks forward to his trip every year and his dad drives all the way from Arizona to go with him.

They have such a great time and make so many lasting memories each year.





This is the Red Ryder group. I guess they always set up crazy things around their tent and have off the wall stuff you can only find in a down south garage sale. I've been told they have bra's you can sign!
Wow, getting a little crazy guys!










I've always wondered why I can never find a decent picture of Pat being serious...guess he takes after his dad!













Pat playing with his radio in the hotel

Pat & Family

Last month Pat went out to visit his family in Utah. He had such a great time seeing his sisters, his niece Alta, Rich, and his Mom.

The trip was short but he was able to spend some good quality time with them.

Im so happy Pat was able to go out there. Living so far away takes a toll but when you re-unite you forget about the miles in between our homes.




Here is sweet little Alta. She just celebrated her 1st birthday. She is our first niece and we love her so much.






















Here is Pat with his sisters. Of course out of the 20 pictures with same pose it was hard to find one that was just right. So I decided on this one...Pat the big brother making his sisters laugh.

















Had to add one more of Alta Rose :)

Holy Macaroni!

No this isn't a bag of groceries left on the kitchen table! This is what the pharmacist handed me after I paid a bill of $377.00! Holy Macaroni!

I've never seen so many meds for one person at pickup in my whole entire life!









Here they are! All of the meds (minus 3) that I will have to endure over the next month for our IVF. So far we are scheduled to have it the week of August 17th.

The boxes are filled with viles of hormones, the pill bottles are pain meds and antibiotics, and the ziplock bags are my syringes and needles.







Look at the size of that needle!! Its as long as my little finger. Pat took one look at it and told me he was going to vomit. I have to admit that when I saw the bag full of these I felt a little sick to my stomach.









Pick your poison. Oh wait I have to pick all 4! Depending on what week it is I will have anywhere from 1 to all 4 of these every day.

WARNING: Stay away from Laura on the 4 injection days!

If you thought PMS was bad with women you are around or work with wait till you experience one that is injecting hormones into her body! It's PMS x 12~



Here's a sample of one of the drugs and the little vials we get to use.












I just thought I would share with all of you my lovely meds that have taken over the fridge and cupboard space :)

Time to de-stress and get organized!

Over the next two months Pat and I will be in another world, another frame of mind, another planet! Dont worry, we have to de-stress and get organized. During the months of July & August we will be on a very strict schedule!

We are schedule to have our IVF the week of August 17th! Throughout July and August we have a daily schedule we have to live by. This schedule is filled with timed medications and injections.

Throughout these 2 months we will need all the support and understanding we can get!

I have included above the begining of our journey with a picture of our July Calendar. At first glance it looks busy. Wait till you see August below!
















So here it is...August! Everyday has something going on!














To do an IVF procedure there is a very strict schedule to follow. Here it is!

















Above is a list of almost all of my meds. Yes, I said almost! There are 4 more not on this list!

















And of course you cant do the IVF meds without the syringes and needles.
40 - 1/2" cc insulin syringes
32 - 16 ga 1 1/2" needles w/3cc syringes
16 - 22ga 1 1/2" needles
15 - 3cc syringes with leur-lock, no needles.

Saturday Im going to pick up all the meds! They called last night to let me know they didn't have one of the meds in stock and were looking for an alternative. They also shared with me that they didn't have enough syringes & needles on hand to fill my order so they had to order more to fill the order and restock their shelves. UGH!

So I thought my day was done and I could go home after work and relax...Nope not in the Clouse House. Emma and Turbo decided that they had a taste for some Nad's Mellow Melon hair removal cream while we were gone.

I came home to find little over half of the bottle gone! I quickly called the Pet Poison Hotline and $35 later I was told that if our dogs were going to eat hair removal creme they picked a good brand. This creme was the least corrosive and wouldn't damage their belly's. They might have a burning mouth and throat for a bit but we were safe for now.

As soon as I got off the phone with the helpful lady I took them both outside and sprayed them off with the hose. Now we just have to sit, wait, and watch as their hair falls out.