Shots, more shots, and more to come...

So far things are going good on the IVF front. Not sure if its my naivety on what I am doing, or because I have read and read about this procedure or the fact that, frankly, my life goes really fast paced most of the time, so I just don't have time to linger on it...

Anywho...started out taking 10 units of Lupron on April 17th, and now I am down to 5 units of Lupron and 300 units of Gonal at night. Tomorrow I get blood work, and they will then tell me what next. So far, not sure what I think of the clinic. They are friendly and nice, but, aside from when I come into get bloodwork, they are mainly a faceless bunch who leave me voice mails on what the next steps should be. Not sure if this normal, but at least for right now, this is right for me. I prefer to just do it on my own--I will call to ask questions, but generally, I like to be left alone to my own devices. And so far, while I have a general idea of what is going on, I do like the fact that they are giving me this piece meal.

In other news, went to Philly for part of spring break. It was wet (this was during the Nor'easter), the hotel was below expectations and Philly has some big city problems that are more noticeable than, say Boston. Let's just say, reminded us of back home in Michigan (like, say, Detriot). But the things we did were fun, including going to the Franklin Institute and seeing the King Tut Exhibition (the main reason we went) and the Giant Heart (!) (Michael went into it 3 times). Also went to the Mutter Museum (HAD to do that) and Eastern State Penitentary. I have some pics, shortly will post some. All in all, it was fun, and after the first downpouring day, the rain did taper off, and we were able to enjoy the things we did.


Michael at Eastern State Penn. A stabilized ruin, abandoned as a prison in 1971. It is supposedly haunted (Ghost Hunters has been there).


The Giant Heart at the Franklin Institute.

Black Belt Club!

So, who knew he would actually want to commit? Not I!

Michael has decided he wants to practice and actually be a part of the Black Belt club in his karate class. I am wondering if its because he looks good in the black uniform....

I am definately proud of him, especially for the way he convinced us that he indeed would practice more and his understanding of the higher level of commitment.

I'm going to do this??

Okay. Okay. Getting ready for a go at IVF (in vitro fertilization). Waiting for the start of menstration. Then have to call the lab, start taking birth control pills (one of the many ironies of doing IVF), and then....okay. I can do this. I think.

Husband and I have been reading about it, taking books from the library, buying books. I have looked at various blogs of many many women, most of whom are in worse circumstances than me (why don't I feel luckier, then). Our nurse gave us a password to a site that has videos on how to take the shots, etc.

But yet...I am not sure if I am ready for this. I learn best by doing. And right now I am just WAITING (I hear that is a lot of IVF cycle--waiting and tests and more waiting). Not a patient person, I think I may have to learn to be one!

Of Battlestar and Rome

So, BSG is almost done for another season (the season finale is next Sunday). I am unsure what I have thought of this season. Generally I liked it, but it was uneven. I also have to admit that part of the reason I have been enjoying it (more so than some of the episodes warrant) has been listening to the podcasts. Thanks to Dear Hubby giving me an I-Pod for my birthday, I have been able to easily download and listen to the podcasts. And maybe I am podcast addicted. Just maybe. But I can actually make apologies for the problems with different episodes based on what the producer says "was" going to be vs. what the final outcome was. Okay, so my gripes on this season:

1. Not enough cylons. Okay, so we got on their ship earlier in the season, and there were a couple of cylon-centric eppys, but generally speaking, the "cylon threat" was not that present this year. I mean, its BSG--get the frakin' cylons messing with the rag tag fleet, instead of them "indirectly" influencing things. And what IS the cylon plan anyway?

2. Too much Tyrel. I like the chief. But not that much.

3. Too many episodes that really had nothing to do with the story arc as a whole. NOW, in the last two episodes they are finally going to have Balter's trial?


Now, onto the other show that has kept me thinking on it while I am at work and supposed to be doing other things. Hubby and I are netflixing "Rome". I love netflixing shows. Its fun, and I don't have to see them at the times that just don't work for me (like my son's bedtime, my dinner time, my reading time, my snuggling time--okay, I have other things to do than watch t.v. damn it!). Also, it really does keeps the dramatic pacing of the shows alive for me. "Rome" itself is "I, Claudius" on steriods. And I loved "I, Claudius". And, its got sex and violence (every American needs that, so I am told). Why, last night, I saw three severed heads!

R.I.P. Delenn

This morning we were saddened to see one of our chinchilla's had died. Delenn was the daughter of Claudius and Leeloo. Claudius is still with us (the old man); Leeloo died of pneumonia a few years ago. Delenn did not seem to suffer, and in fact, up till a few days ago, seemed fine. Last night we noticed she was not running/hopping about like normal. She just wanted to stay in her cage, resting. Claudius bounced into her cage and nuzzled her. Brad held her for a bit, but she just seemed listless. No visible signs of sickness. Then, this morning, I was worried about her, and checking in on them, found her lying on her side. She had died probably just a few hours before.

Delenn was a wonderfully curious chinchilla. A happy accident and definately one of the gifts Leeloo, who was always sickly, gave us. When Delenn was a baby, she would squeeze out of the cage and follow the baseboard heating system around our second floor. She would pop up in the various closets in the house. We finally put her in a mouse cage for a little while, until she got bigger. Whenever one of the chinchillas escaped, it was usually Delenn. Delenn knew she was the darling, and often was able to get three or four more raisins out of us. Michael loved both Delenn and Claudius, and both of them were patient with a small child. As he grew up, Michael became quite the "Chinchilla Wrangler" and both Delenn and Claudius liked having Michael build them a little "Chinchilla city" of blocks, etc.

We will miss you Delenn.

Movie stuff

Saw a great movie two nights ago and then a good movie last night, both interesting looks into psychology and our world.

Unfortunately, while I am at work and using a mac, I can't fully access my html stuff, but here is a link for information on "Pans Labyrinth" which I thoroughly enjoyed.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pans_labyrinth/

It was disturbing, but not in the sense that one would think, not in the sense of the creatures and fairy tale-ness of it (although pretty ghastly images there), but in the way humans can be towards one another.

Then, last night I saw "Idiocracy", which is a movie most people have not heard of. The movie studio practically put the project back on the shelf, something about not being "patriotic" or some such crap. Below is a link about this movie:

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/idiocracy/

(Yes, I like rottentomatoes...also like ruinedendings)

Idiocracy also was about the way humans can be towards one another and was a very disturbing satire of modern life.

Ah yes, Something we knew could be made...