Testing a 5k Curtain

Wait... What?? Lol make that testing, a 5k, and new curtains. :)

Last Thursday (the 27th) I had an app with my OB and it went really well. I love my doctor and his staff! Seriously, it's like they know what I'm going to ask before I even get there. I have a new IF nurse this time around and she's really nice. She really knows what she's talking about. And actually, I remember she preformed Lexi's NT scan and was very informative. 

So, I took my charts in and my doctor and nurse agree that I either O late or have a weak O. The plan is to do cycle monitoring with some testing. I did cd3 b/w on Friday, I have a cd14 ultrasound on the 8th to check my follicles, and tentatively cd21 b/w to confirm O. But, since I don't O until cd20 usually, I'm expecting to need at least one more u/s before we do b/w. Then next cycle they want to do an SIS to check for scaring, polyps, and fibroids. Scheduling didn't work out to do it this cycle. They also want KJ to redo his SA. Last time his numbers were good, but he had high counts of white blood cells. He was supposed to have an app with a urologist, but then I got pg with Lexi, and he didn't want to go if he didn't have to. I'm waiting on a call back from the lab to schedule that. 

So that's the plan so far! I feel really good about it. I feel like we're another step closer to heathy baby #2. Back on the testing train we go! 

In other news, I ran my first 5k of the year on Saturday. It was a really small race, but I finished 8th overall, 3rd female. My time was 24:10 and for being the first one I've ran since Thanksgiving, I'm happy with my time. It's a good starting place for the year. The weather is finally getting nicer, so I think I'll be able to get back to running at the park with Lexi soon. Time to start getting my mileage back and shaving that time down! The next race I'm going to do is this Saturday.

The past couple weeks I've been working on new curtains for our front room. I had shears up, which I like, but KJ kept complaining that you could see in the windows at night. So I starting looking for something to replace the old valences I still had up, left by the previous owners. I never really liked them, but I couldn't find anything that I really liked enough to replace them with. 

Before

I found some nice curtains on Overstock and thought about ordering them, but damn, curtains are expensive! I needed enough for six windows, and of corse you have to buy each panel separately at $30 each... That really adds up!! I just couldn't justify spending $200+ on something that's going to hang over the windows. So, in my google searches shower curtains kept coming up along with regular curtains and some of them were really pretty...

And then it hit me, BAM!! Shower curtains as window curtains!! Why hadn't I thought of that before? It seems so obvious now! We have a nice fabric shower curtain in our bathroom, why couldn't I hang one (or four) in the windows. They come in so many fun patterns and nice colors. They're the perfect size, 72x72, and they're soooo much cheaper than regular curtains. 

I found a nice curtain I really liked at Walmart and picked up two of them for the front four windows. I cut them down the middle and finished off the edges to make four panels. 

Then I folded over the top tab to make the rod pocket. They're about 6" short on either side, but I'm ok with it.

 Voila! 

And yes... Yes that is snow you see outside...

I found another coordinating curtain at Target and got two of those for the side two windows. I folded the top tab over for the rod pocket, and the one side needed hemmed a bit. So, for under $75 I covered six windows and I'm really happy with how they all turned out! 

Lots of Love,
KJsbabe

Other Things in Life

I know all I really wright about is Lexi, but she's basically the center of my world right now! But let's talk about what else is going on...

I've had two sinus infections in the last two months. Sucks ass! I blame all of the snotty nose kids who run around the playground and my not being vigilant enough with the hand sanitizer. I'm currently on day 11 of my second round of sickness and it doesn't want to leave. I always seem to get sick right around this week every year. It's always right before, during, or right after ALF. ALF was actually a week early this year and good thing too or else I would have been miserable! 

Sept 27-29 was ALF (Clarion U's homecoming festival) and KJ, Lexi, and I had a good time this year. It was kind of cut short because we didn't have anyone to watch Tucker and Colby. MIL was letting them out for us, but that really doesn't cut it with them. Aussies need attention and exercise, and we didn't want to end up with a hole chewed through our wall. But other than that, we had a good time at the craft fair. There's always so many cute things to see. I got some cute winter hats for Lexi, and also a new purple tutu. The parade was fun. It was Lexi's first and she slept though it! Haha ALF was definitely different with a LO. Instead of drinking the night away like we did in college, KJ went for some drinks with our friends while I put Lexi to bed in our hotel room. It was actually a really nice night. She went down without much trouble, I had a bottle of my favorite wine, watched "Say Yes to the Dress", and was asleep by 9:30.

The week of Sept 23-27 we had new siding put on our house. Well, the bulk of it was done that week. The construction guys are still actually finishing up some little things here are there. Our house was in desperate need of being resided and we finally saved up enough money to get it done. This project was a big reason why I continued to work for as long as I did. We needed the extra money in order to save up enough. But, after a week and a half straight of men pounding on the house all day long, it's finally done and it looks great! We no longer have the crappiest looking house on the block! Yay! We are also getting a new front door put in, but it had to be special ordered, so it's not in yet. We have an older house and so none of the doors or windows (or anything else!) are "standard" size. That should be in next week, though.

Before...


And After!!


 Sept 22 was mine and KJ's 6 year wedding anniversary. MIL watched Lexi for us and we celebrated by spending a day in Pittsburgh. An Ikea trip was in order, of course. I got a nice new display case for my ALF glasses as my anniversary present, and we picked up some Christmas gifts for Lexi. We went to lunch at Steak and Shake and dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. Yummm!! We had a really nice time just the two of us. It's hardly ever just the two of us any more and it was really nice to reconnect. We needed that.

 Sept 21 I ran a 10k in Clarion and did really well. I crushed my old time and had a new personal best of 47:02. 6th female finisher. Really, really proud of myself!! Three years ago when I ran this particular race (the 5k) for the first time, I made it my goal to do the 10k one year. It feels really good to have met that goal and get a PB in the process!

Sept 15 was mine and KJ's 10 year dating anniversary. I can't believe it's been 10 years! We met my freshman year at Clarion, I was 18 and KJ was 21. We actually met my first day at school when I moved in. I still remember the first time I saw him, and no joke, I said to myself, " I wonder if I'll marry him?" I completely believe that when you find your sole mate, you just "know". We officially started dating three weeks later and have been together ever since. A week into dating I made my mind up that, yes, I would marry him. He didn't actually ask me until three years later, but I knew it all along! :)

Anyways, I ran the Sharon PD 5k that morning and did really well. 22:14 which is a new PB! I was also the 2nd female finisher. I got a nice plack... it'll got nicely right next to my dear rack... haha! Yeah, it's just a little "woodsy" for my taste. I hung it in our "rustic room". That afternoon, the three of us went to a weeding of our good friends. It was beautiful, but it was right in the middle of when Lexi usually naps. She was fussy the hole time. I didn't even get to see the ceremony because I had to take her outside. It was an outdoor reception, but it was very crowded. We tried to make the stroller work and it was just a great big mess. I really wish I could have enjoyed it more, but it was just not a good time for us. We left early and chilled out at home for the rest of the day.

I was having really good hair one night, so here's a good old bathroom selfie :)

Lots of Love,
KJsbabe

Cook Outs & Waiting

KJ and I hosted our annual summer cook out this Saturday. It went really well. The food was good. I made fruit kabobs that went over well. We bought a new, bigger grill for this year and it worked out a lot better for KJ to get all the meat cooked up quickly. The food I had other people bring was delish, also. We had a good turn out. Both of our families came and a few neighbors. There were lots of new people this year who hadn't come in previous years. A few of KJ's college buddies made it out and it was really nice to see everyone.

There was one couple we both knew in school who brought their 10 month old little girl. She was the cutest! And the best thing about having her there, was I enjoyed having her there. I didn't look at her, feel my heart break, and think, "I should have one of those, too". When I looked at her I thought, "She's so cute, I want one!" They seemed like such a happy little family. I can genuinely say without any reservations, I'm happy for them. That's something I haven't been able to say in over a year. It feels good to feel good!

Another nice thing about having the LO there was the boys could get used to being around a baby. Tucker and Colby are good with kids, but they haven't really been around babies/toddlers. Tucker was curious, but was real gentle sniffing her. She pulled his hair a few times and he was perfectly fine. Colby was a little unsure of her, so he didn't get too close. I think he's at that puppy stage of being scared of a lot of things.

But, yes, the cook out went well. Now it's time rest! We've been so busy, it'll be nice to do nothing for a while.

I'm 10 dpo today. I tested Saturday and this morning, both were stark white BFN's. I'm a little bummed, but it's not over till AF comes. My temp was still high this morning, so I don't think she'll show today. Maybe the Vitex I've been taking this month is working! It still could be potentially early, though. The other times I didn't get a BFP until 12 and 14 dpo. Of coarse, those months I didn't test early, so who knows if it would have shown up early or not!

Even if this wasn't our month, as long as AF doesn't come for another day or two, I'll be happy. Last year before my second BFP my LP was 9-10 days. After the D&C now I've had 10, 9, and 7. If I get an 11 or 12 day LP, I'll consider the Vitex very successful. I guess we'll just wait and see what happens. Nothing else to do!

"I will keep waiting, I'll be waiting for you..."

We had such good timing this month, I still have hope!

"God, I loved you so..."

Lots of Love,
KJsbabe