Vet

Guess I should give a little update on Mags, our "first born."  She had that ACL surgery the end of June and one leg healed up great.  The other (the one that was giving her the most trouble intially) just wasn't getting better.  There was a lot of fluid build-up under the incision and she wasn't walking well on it.  The vet said there was a joint fluid leak and the stitches weren't going to heal unless we could get it under control.  So we took her in every week for a shot that would make the swelling go down immediately and she'd be good for about 3-4 days until it'd swell again and she'd limp around.  We finally went to a steroid to try and get it to unswell for longer than just a few days.  The side effects were awful, increased appetite and thirst.  She drank sooo much water.  Which meant increased potty breaks too.

I finally pushed him to put a surgical drain in to keep it unswollen so it could heal.  He called after the surgery on Tuesday and said that she was fine, but when he got in there, he realized her knee was dislocated!  All the joint fluid had stretched out the joint capsule and her knee cap had slipped.  So my poor puppy had been walking around on a dislocated knee for who knows how long!  It had stretched out her ligaments so he had to go in a cut all the ligaments, tighten them and restitch them, then he scoped her knee, put a notch in the knee cap and reattach it and make it all nice and tight so it wouldn't slip again.  He didn't even charge us for the surgery since he felt so bad and the first one hadn't fixed the problem.

It's only been a few days but the recovery has been rough.  It was awful dropping her off, I could tell she was scared and I cried the whole way to work.  I told Dallin I should have made him do it because it was not good for a pregnant woman to do.  He did pick her up and she just looked so miserable.  Friday was by far the worst day.  She didn't want to eat or drink, Dallin had to pry her mouth open and  throw her pills down her throat.  The pain medicine made her really loopy and tremor head to toe.  It was awful to watch and she didn't want to even walk on her front paws.  Once that wore off she seemed to be a bit back to normal.  He leg is now swollen all the way down to the paw at about three times the size of her normal leg.  And the bruising is all over and purple.  We have to help her walk around as she won't put any weight on it yet.  I'm hoping she starts getting better fast and soon.  My poor, poor pup.

Post-edit: On our way back from Park City today my mom called and told me they'd be home with Maggie soon; that they had had her at the vet with a leg infection.  She hadn't been acting herself and her leg was super swollen and today is was even more swollen and hot to the touch - sign of infection.  The dear vet met my dear parents after-hours, on a holiday weekend, to check her out and saw white blood cells and bacteria in the sample he took.  He tried to drain the leg a bit and gave her a shot of antibiotics and sent them home with two different, heavy-duty antibiotics.  Her leg has been oozing a bit and she seemed pretty chipper this afternoon and ate the most food she has in days.  We put her back on a lower dose of pain meds and she konked out.  The leg is swelling again (all the way down to her toes that look like sausages now) but the meds should kick in and see significant improvement in the next 24 hours.  I felt so bad they missed church to take care of my ailing dog and awful that my dog can't seem to catch a break, but am also so grateful she was in great and caring hands and my nurse mom picked up on the signs of infection; something that we probably wouldn't have and days/hours can make all the difference with infections.  So we're at this bump in the road and hopefully on the road to recovery again.

VERY Blessed and Awed

Our exciting day on June 23 was just beginning.  I somehow had to get Dallin to his surprise birthday party.  Boy, was he confused.  He told me later he thought the party was about the baby and was wondering how everybody already knew.  I assured him no one knew, it was just for his birthday.  We celebrated; probably a little extra on the inside.

I called the Health Spot and they shared the wonderful news that I didn't need to take my icky shakes anymore!  They also had be go in for blood work on Monday.  HCG 1340 and Progesterone 24.  Good and very pregnant!

My doctor initially said March 2, but my app and now my
doctor confirmed March 1, 2013.

Then the anxiety set in.  I'd weaned myself off the Zoloft and the things my brain would come up with...every little twinge, pain, non-sickness, I knew it was bad. (I didn't know you cramped a bit in early pregnancy with things moving around).  Things were too good to be true I told myself.  I panicked every second of every day.  Those first two weeks were brutal and went on FOREVER.  Dallin and my mom were big sources of comfort and voices of reason.  I slowly started to calm down.

We took our first trip to the store and I bought everything that didn't make me want to vomit.  Pickles, ranch, chips, cherries, etc.  Unfortunately, after one bite of each, I never wanted to see it again (except for pickles and ranch and root beer Popsicles - which taste like wood sticks but I still can't get enough.  And not all together).  And don't even talk about peanut butter sandwiches in my presence.  Ick.  After a bad experience with carrots, not them either.

My nausea was alive and well and generally hit during work which made for a fun day.  After 13 nerve-wracking weeks (and 3 peeks at the peanut!) I'm finally starting to feel a bit more human.  Zofran has been my happy pill for the last 3 weeks and I get surges of energy I forgot existed.  My clothes are tighter and I generally don't button my pants anymore but weight gain is at a steady 1.5 pounds total.  I haven't tossed my cookies at all (knock on wood) but there were times I thought it was going to happen.  My runs are non-existent since the jiggling was too uncomfortable on achy parts and would make me feel more sick.  I'm hoping to start walking once I can go longer than an hour without eating and not wanting to puke.

We've already bought a little boy outfit and a little girl outfit (there is only one in there, don't worry) but we just couldn't wait.  We'll find out what it is (hopefully) on Oct. 4.  We've already disagreed on tons of names.  All I want to do is sleep.  And I cry - a lot.  Most famously at a Stanley Cup billboard congratulating a local guy on winning.  I don't even like hockey.  LOL

We finally told our family on Dallin's birthday.  We put Mags in her shirt but her legs weren't cooperating so everyone had to come to her.  We were able to video tape our families' reactions which were priceless and something we'll treasure forever.

Lastly, to all my dear friends still in the midst of their battle:  As joyous as my heart is, it breaks even deeper for you.  Please don't give up.  Know of the people (ME!) praying for you.  May you always feel of the love the Savior has for you and may that love make you whole.

Vanquished Infertility

Remember when I wrote this post? 

3 days later I got this:



I feel like a big ol' idiot.  Have you seen the clip of this new TV show? Watch the first 20 seconds of this trailer, particularly when the grandma is talking in the car.  Dallin thought it'd be cool if it happened to us.  TOTALLY DID.  I really did think I was getting a new vampire baby and it really has grown a face and is a real baby.

My rant post was because when I went in, my uterus was off the charts and my Progesterone was 9.2.  The lady there was excited at those levels because they were First Trimester levels but I KNEW it wasn't a good level.  Last July it was at 30!  She said my uterus could be implanting but I KNEW I wasn't pregnant.  After stewing for a few days, I asked her if it could be a fibroid and she said yes but that they'd get rid of it.  I was so MAD!  Was it not June?  The promised month?  And then I'm back to square one?  And I was late because of a new stupid tumor?  Life likes to play cruel jokes on me.

Almost 12 week ultrasound

Saturday morning, June 23 I decided to take a test to prove that my new vampire baby was throwing off my cycle and all those shakes had been in vain.  I kind of left the test knowing what it was going to say.  When I glanced back, my eyes searched frantically for the NOT that I KNEW was hiding.  Maybe it was faint.  As my brain started to process the letters, I started to shake as sobs ripped through my body.  I collapsed in a heap on the bathroom floor trying to catch my breath, racked with tears of gratitude and shock.  Choking out a prayer in my sobs.  What an absolute MIRACLE I was witnessing.  If ever there was a miracle known in my life, this was it.  The biggest one yet.  Our dreams were being realized.

13 weeks, don't mind my bunchy pants, it was all I could do to button them.

I pulled myself together and climbed into bed next to a snoozing Dallin and shook him awake telling him he had to see something. "What?" he asked.  "A pregnancy test," I said.  "What does it say?" he whispered?  "You'll have to read it yourself," I said.  He sat up, arms of victory raised in the air and then flopped back down.  We laughed, we cried, but most of all we poured out our hearts in prayer.

We had never wanted anything so bad, prayed so hard and worked month after frustrating month for anything like this.  NEVER have I been so grateful, humbled or speechless.  There are not words to express our thankfulness.  So all I can do is bear humble, fervent witness of a loving, mindful Heavenly Father, who hears and answers prayers and has not ceased to be a God of Miracles.

Vacation Part II

Wednesday we headed to Disneyland.  One of my most favorite places on the planet.  I went to the bathroom at Space Mountain and the toilet shook a bit.  I thought, "Jeez, that ride is really close to the bathrooms!"  Come to find out it was a 4.5 earthquake!  The rides were shut down for about 45 min. while they checked everything out and for damage.  About 10 min. later there was a 3.5 aftershock but we didn't feel it.

It was HOT and crowded.  We didn't even make it over to the new Cars Land because my app told me there was a 90 min. wait.  I did get my corndog I'd been craving for the past 4 years though.  It was so worth every bite.

While waiting to ride California Soarin', we were about to get out of the heat when they shut the ride down for a minute because a kid had puked everywhere.  The dad left holding him just in time for us to witness him puke all over his dad.  We're glad they made us wait so we didn't have to smell it while they cleaned it up.  We had a really great conversation as to what we'd do in that situation and I think we have a good plan in place.  Luckily there are lots of t-shirts at Disneyland.
After almost all day there, we were all pooped.  We were able to catch Mickey with just a few people in line so we got a quick picture.  Fun times at the Happiest Place on Earth!

Thursday we had another bum day at the beach and pool.  It was nice to take naps, relax and read my book.

Friday we woke up and headed to the San Diego Temple.  It was great to do a session as a family.  The workers were so apologetic that the session was so big.  There were maybe 40 people.  It was pretty funny.  Afterward they told us to check out the atrium and you could see the angel Moroni right there.  It was beautiful.  Inside and out that temple is gorgeous.  We had lunch at the cafeteria.  It was obvious the Lion House does not make their meals. :(

Dallin and I had an inner conflict as we watched this humongous (yet, luckily, skinny) spider crawl along the wall of the cafeteria.  We didn't want to kill it and get guts all over but also didn't want to leave it.  It eventually moved on so we left it.  Pretty nasty though.

Saturday was our last day before the long trek home.  We went to the outlet mall for a while and had a good time there.  Dallin got a t-shirt and I got a few clothes.  Then we headed for lunch which was when I found out my uncle had passed away.

My poor mom was a wreck that she wasn't there (since he was probably dying of cancer) but come to find out he died of a heart attack which is something nobody could have predicted so she had done the best she could to be there for him.

We then headed out to Las Viejas which is right by an Indian Reservation and there are more outlets there and a casino.  Since I didn't get a chance to play in Vegas, I played there.  I lost $20 at Roulette real fast as they upped the minimum from $5 to $10 right as I was playing.  We left that table and found another one that still had the $5 minimum.  Played another $20 and even got up $20 so I would have broke even!  If I would have walked away.  But this lady comes, lays $20 down, puts all her chips on 17 and it hits!  She walks away with over $100.  So I'm thinking, "I'm up, I can make up the $30 Dallin lost too..." Then it's all gone.  $73 all gone.  I was fuming mad.  I became the idiot the casinos feed off of.  I told Dallin to never let me play again because it just pisses me off.  I should just go hand them my money.

Ranting over.  Learned my lesson.  We went to a restaurant in Oceanside that used to be an old lighthouse.  The sunset was beautiful.  Then we went home and packed up and hit the road bright and early the next morning!  After 11 1/2 hours, we made it home.  It was sure good to see Mags and we're so grateful to all those who helped take care of her while we were away.  Wish we had another vacation coming soon.

Vacation Part I

Where have I been?  I can't believe it's been a month since the last post.  So sorry.  We had a little pre-vacation getaway to the Zermatt in Midway (with 18-holes of golf for Dallin's birthday) then we've been playing in California!
Our first stop was Vegas for the night and us gals headed to Celine Dion.  It was FABULOUS!  Just like expected.  I wanted it to never end.  It was fun to run into a friend from my ward there too!  The boys had a good time gambling while we were there.

The next morning we headed out bright and early to California.  We made it to the beach house we rented in Carlsbad (1/2 hour away from San Diego).  We got situated and had a steak BBQ compliments of Mike.

The next day we went to SeaWorld!  My brother-in-law Jeff had never been and was in heaven being able to touch a dolphin and the sea lions went crazy for the fish he fed them.  It was HOT that day.  You can see my awesome burn line on my neck in the picture below.  I even put sunscreen on.

We had dinner with Shamu that night.  It is a buffet and a lot of fun because the whale is right there.  He decided to have some fun and jumped up and a HUGE wave came crashing through the slits in between the glass where we were eating.  Fortunately, we got the least of it.  The little girl sitting at the table behind us got soaked.  Food and everything and started crying.  The worker came to clear her plate and tell her to get more food and was trying so hard not to laugh.  It was pretty fun though.

We went to the Dolphin Show, the Shamu Show and the Walrus Show.  The Walrus one was soooo funny.  We were dying.  It was a great way to end our day there.  We got annual passes so maybe we'll have to head out there around Christmastime when we're off work and check it out again.  For sure it won't be as hot!

Tuesday was a bum around day.  You can see me (well, my feet) enjoying the beach of Carlsbad while I read a book.  I am not a huge beach person because I don't like to be sandy.  Also, I heard the water was super cold so Dallin and I headed back to the pool at the beach house after a little bit.

We ended the night (like all the nights) watching the Olympics.

More to come!