Family Pics 2012

I intended to share these pics as soon as Christmas was over, once everyone had their Christmas cards, and then I forgot. Better late than never!

These are my favorite family pictures yet! Our photographers are ah-mazing! Go check out their blog, especially if you live in the Amarillo, Texas area. I promise you won't regret it!

I must say, and I know I may be partial, but I have the cutest little family. Those two boys of mine are just so stinkin' handsome! I couldn't love them more!

I think there might have been some serious photoshopping going on in this one....I am absolutely in no way this thin in real life. Thank you, Tiffany! :)

This may be my all time favorite picture of Liam. Ever. He is such a little man!

Thanks, Tiff and Chris, for making your magic happen as usual. Y'all totally rock! Or, as Liam would say...y'all are the bomb-dot-com!

Searching for Answers

Sometimes Liam asks the most random questions. The other day we were sitting in the drive-thru at Sonic. I was in desperate need of an afternoon caffeine fix when Liam starts a conversation that goes like this....

Liam: Mommy, why are you keeping all of my baby toys?
Me: Well, daddy and I might have another baby someday.
Liam: I thought mommies had babies, not daddies.
Me: Well, when a mommy has a baby, the baby belongs to the mommy and the daddy.
Liam: Oh. Mommy, do you want another baby?
Me: Yeah, buddy, I do.
Liam: Well, I came from your tummy, so let's go to the store and see if we can get another baby to put in your belly.

Sweet boy...if only it were that easy.

The truth is, D and I have been going to the store to get another baby in my belly for almost two years....22 months to be exact. In those months, I feel like I...or we...have been to hell and back.

When we began trying, I thought it might take a few months. After all, it took us nine months to get pregnant with Liam. So, we started trying and I started taking ovulation predictor tests. Six months in, I came to realize that I was not ovulating regularly. I actually had one cycle that lasted 75 days. At that point, I decided to go to my OB.

After an annual check-up, my OB gave me a shot of progesterone to make me start. And, a prescription for Clomid. Five days later, I started. Five days after that, I started the Clomid. This is when hell began.

The Clomid made me crazy. I cried everyday. I picked fights with my husband. I felt disgusted with myself and my life. These feeling and actions were not me.

But, the Clomid worked. I ovulated when I was supposed to. I just knew I would get pregnant while taking the Clomid. So, I continued taking it for three cycles. Three looooooong cycles with no success.

After the three cycles of Clomid, we decided to take a little break from fertility help and to try for a while on our own.

One month I had all the symptoms. I knew I was pregnant. I felt the exact same as I did when I was first pregnant with Liam. And, then I started cramping. And bleeding. My heart hurt soooo bad.

We had been trying for 12 full months at this point. So, I decided to go back to my OB. He suggested that D have his boys checked and that I have an HSG test. During this test, the doctor injected dye into my fallopian tubes and took x-rays to see if there was any blockage. It hurt. For days. Real bad. And ended with a trip to the ER from the terrible pain and bleeding that resulted from the test. We discovered that I had a reaction to the dye. But, I didn't have any blockage!

D had his boys checked. Perfect.

So, we decided since there was absolutely nothing wrong with either of us that we should just keep on trying. We tried for another six more months before we decided to see a specialist.

We love our fertility doctor. He knows exactly what he is doing. He started the first month by prescribing me Femara. I took the Femara, ovulated right on time. And then, I started.

Per instructions, I went in for an ultrasound to check for cysts. No cysts. So, it was time for round two of Femara. This time, the doctor suggested a post-coital test during ovulation. Ever heard of one of these?!?! We pretty much had to "go to the store to try to put a baby in my belly" at 5:30 in the morning. Then, we had to be at the doctor's office four hours later. Awesome.

Again, this test came back normal. After getting these results, the doctor basically told us that there is nothing wrong with us. There is absolutely no scientific reason that we are not conceiving and that he will give us one more month of Femara, but there isn't anything else he can do for us...that is unless we want to spend some serious cash.

This all leads to the last week. I have been in a ton of pain. So much so that I left work early last Wednesday. After a full week of my lower, right abdomen hurting, I went to my Primary Care Doctor. He pushed around on my stomach to make sure the pain wasn't coming from my appendix. Then, he pushed around where my right ovary should be. Oh my! The pressure sent pain through my entire abdomen. So, he scheduled an ultrasound.

During the ultrasound, the lab tech (who remembered me from the one-thousand ultrasounds I had with Liam and is partially responsible for saving Liam's life...so thankful for this man!) discovered that my right ovary has moved. It is now hanging out behind my uterus. And, this is causing the pain. Again, awesome. I left the lab with the promises of hearing from my OB soon.

Now we wait....something we're getting pretty darn good at.

I've tried really hard to not be sad about all of this. I know that God has a plan that is so much better than the one I have for myself. I know that I am already so blessed. I have everything a girl could want...an amazing husband, a little boy made just for us, family and friends that rock, a job that I love, I could go on and on.

Why is it that this thing....this infertility....has such a big influence over my thoughts and emotions???

I keep thinking back to the fertility specialist saying, "There is no scientific reason that you are not able to conceive. This is good news to some, but terrible news for others because they want answers." That's me. I want answers.

Anyways, I have no idea why I decided to write this tonight, but I'm glad I did. It feels great to get it off my chest.

And, if you've made it this far, could you please add us to your prayer list? Prayers can move mountains, and in my case....maybe prayers can move ovaries?!?!?
.

A Birthday Celebration

For months, Liam's birthday party requests were for his party to be at our house and for everyone to sing Happy Birthday to him one at a time. Luckily, both requests were forgotten as soon as I suggested one of Liam's favorite places, Andy Alligator's, for his party location. As soon as he agreed, I booked it for the day before his actual birthday.

I feel like the past few Christmas seasons have been way too stressful with planning a birthday party and all things Christmas. So, I decided not to go all out this year for Liam's party. And, you know what?!?! He didn't notice one bit, and I was able to really enjoy myself! 

The cupcakes were delicious this year! I used this recipe for the cupcakes and this recipe for the icing. Easy, easy, easy, and so YUM!

I ordered the invitations and cupcake toppers from CKFireboots on Etsy. The shop owner was super easy to work with and extremely quick!

Sweet boy was scared to get too close to the candles to blow them out. So, he blew from afar. (I guess he really gets the whole "don't play with fire" thing!)

He got so many great gifts from our friends and family. 

While opening his gifts, Andy Alligator came into our party room. This was a big deal for Liam. He loves Andy!!!

My mom and I spent an evening the week before his party making Ninja Turtle masks for all of the kids. They all looked so cute in their masks!

It's crazy hard to find Ninja Turtle decorations. I found some vintage paper plates on-line. $38 for 8 plates. Seriously?!?! So, David and I decided we would wear Ninja shirts to "add to the decor".

This is Myles and Kaitlyn. I worked with their mommies for years. 

This is Owen, one of Liam's most favorite friends. He loves playing with Owen. His mommy and I have been friends since middle school and it is so fun to watch these two boys play together!

These are Liam's cousins, Haley and Logan. Liam looks up to them so much!

The party included 3 hours of unlimited rides on the Frog Hopper. Liam rode it with his friends at least 20 times! He would have ridden it more if we would have let him.

Liam wrapped up his party with a root beer and rest. He played so hard that he was a sweaty mess! I guess that means his party was a success and he had a blast!

Christmas Fun

Every Saturday we go on a donut date to a little donut shop near our house. We've gotten to know the man who is always working pretty well. A couple of weekends ago he told us about a Christmas display he and his family put together, so we decided to go check it out. While we were there, we ALL got to sit on Santa's lap....even Nana and Papa! :)

Until this year, Liam has either been terrified of Santa or just neutral. This year, he loves him. He has sat on his lap and told him about everything he wants at least 3 times. He even spent about 5 minutes telling Santa all about his peanut allergy one day. :)

I couldn't believe that Papa sat on Santa's lap. I guess he'll do anything for his "Little Buddy!"

Behind as Usual...

My initial intention of this post was to write and post pictures from our fun weekend filled with Christmas activities. So, I logged on, uploaded the pictures from my camera to discover that I never uploaded our Halloween pictures. And, it's December. So...without further ado, here are some Halloween pictures  of our very own Heatwave. 

 Halloween was so. much. fun. this year! Liam was completely into trick or treating. And, he loves anything and everything scary. (He definitely doesn't get that from me! The Harry Potter movies are too scary for me. Lame, I know!!!)

 Our neighborhood is the place to be on Halloween night. The streets are filled with fog from people's fog machines. The fog sets the mood for some fun trick or treating experiences!

After we trick or treated in our neighborhood for a couple of hours, we fought the masses to get out of our neighborhood to go over to my parents. We did some trick or treating in their neighborhood and called it quits for the night. Liam ended up with a ton of candy! 

Hello, Fall!!!

We are so happy to welcome fall this year! After a long, hot summer, we are loving the cooler temps. And, along with cooler temps come boots, sweaters, and jackets....all high on my list of favorite things! 

My lucky husband recently went on a trip to Madrid, Milan, Paris, and Frankfurt for work. Although I was crazy jealous that he was getting to go to all of these amazing places, I loved my time alone with Liam. He always becomes more of a mama's boy when daddy is away!

 Before David left for his almost two week trip, he took a couple of days off to spend with us during our Fall Break. We took full advantage of these days and had so much fun! We spent most of Thursday at Orr Family Farm. I just love this place. There's always so much to do!

Could these two be any more handsome?!?!

 The train ride was a little bit chilly, so we had no other choice but to cuddle up! Of course, I didn't mind the cuddles!!!

These goats were hilarious! If they thought you had food, they were all up in your business!

Liam loved climbing the hay!

 And loved coming down the slides even more! I was so surprised that he was willing to go down these huge slides by himself. He is just growing up way too fast. He will be four in less than two months. FOUR! Where in the world have the last few years gone?

We are having our family pictures taken this afternoon. Here's to hoping for awesome smiles and slimming angles! ;)

Last day of swim lessons

Yesterday was Liam's last day of swim lessons for the summer. David took off work, and Nana and Papa came to watch him show off everything he learned! And, Liam really hammed it up for us!

The big deal about the last day of lessons is that all of the kids get to go down the big slide with one of their instructors. Liam somehow managed three trips down the slide. 

 The little girl in the next four pics is Lillian, from Liam's class at Sparkle Kids. This is the same little girl Liam chased down and kissed after the Father's Day Fishing Trip. :) These pictures really show the difference in Lillian and Liam's personalities....Lillian is having a blast as usual, and Liam is serious, as usual!

 He looked miserable each time he came down the slide, but he always came out of the pool begging to go again. Liam had this girl, an instructor in training, wrapped around his little finger. She was always holding his hand or carrying him. One day after lessons, she said, "He is the sweetest 3-year-old I have ever met!" That made this mama's heart happy to hear!

 At the end of class, each child was given a sucker, a progress report, and a free swim pass. Looks like we'll be heading to the pool this week! 

Swim Lessons

Liam started swim lessons last week and has done so well! 

On the first day, all he would do was stand in the water, refusing to put his belly in the water, and play with his friends. Now, he puts his face in the water, kicks, blows bubbles, floats on his back, etc.

(What's up with this smile? This is what I get every time I try to take a picture of him!)

He has even "jumped" off of the diving board a few times! Talk about coming a long way!!!

Father's Day Fishing Fun

A couple of weeks before Father's Day, David received an invitation in the mail from Liam (or his daycare), inviting him to a picnic and fishing for some father/son time. Liam was pumped. David...not so much. He's not real into fishing, but definitely sucked it up for his baby!

I was lucky to get to tag along as a helper since we live across the street from the pond where they were fishing! It was so cute to see 10 dads and their kids fishing together. :)

The boys ended up catching 4 fish! (Too bad it is a catch and release pond!)

 Liam was not too sure about that fish on his fishing pole at first! He refused to touch it.

 He was a little more into it the second time they got a bite, but he still wouldn't touch the fish.

By the end of the night, I completely took over the fishing pole and had a blast! Who knew fishing could be so much fun!?!?! Here's my big catch of the night....

Liam is such a lucky boy to have David as his daddy! Happy Father's Day, Daddy!