4 Weeks/12 Weeks

Last week I started my Sunday out feeling nervous for two reasons.  One was that I was singing in Sacrament meeting, which is not something I am terribly comfortable with (I think it turned out well). The other was that I started birth control.  The first step to the In Vitro process.  Taking the first step made me nervous because it really refreshed how much I want this to work.  I bought some prenatal vitamins, started making sure I was exercising.  Prayed really hard that I would do the right things.  I do this for 2 more weeks and add some lupron and other things.  Only 4 weeks until the actual procedure gets done.  6 Weeks until we would "KNOW". Oh man, I can't hardly wait.  I believe in Miracles, I believe in Miracles, I believe in Miracles.  :D

I was talking with my students the other day and we mentioned how there was only 12 weeks of school left.  Much to my delight they moaned because they didn't want this year to be over.  I am happy to say that I still really love teaching and am so happy spending my days with these cuties. 

We are putting up all the March decor. in the class room which has given me a bit of spring fever.  I keep thinking about my garden and my flowers.  I want to order seeds.  This year I think I will try growing asparagus.  Yay.

This is a picture of the general look we want to give to our house.
The basement is actually coming along as well.  We have finished the electrical and framing as well.  It also is completely insulated.  Unfortunately my next dentist appointment is going to slow down the next step. Yikes, sorry honey.

Here are some other fun pictures that I caught from Alishia's Wedding Day...funny I don't have any of her!  This is while we were waiting for them at the Wedding Luncheon. 

 Anna and Andrew.   Andrew loves Anna and was teasing her all day and telling her to come and let him pick her up but she would refuse knowing it was a game.  At one point he said "come here Anna" and held out his arms and she looked him in her 3-yr-old voice and yelled "NEVER!" Andrew loved it :D.

 Kenny and Baby Josh, like father like son.

 Another of cutie Anna

 Becky :D

 Ian in front of Todd, being so cute.

 Now Rissie and Lauren are posing with Ian.

 

This was the entertainment coming from my iphone, they are all watching Dragon Tales.

Josi, Duncan and Kalli.

Pants

Mom and I made a cute Mr. Potato Head for my class to add parts to earn their class party.  I started over this month and gave him a nose, some eyes and then the class asked.  "Would you please put his pants on?"  They didn't like that Mr. Potato Head was pants-less.  After school I was out in the hall with one of the parents and Ben comes out and says "Thanks Mrs. Shaw for putting some pants on."  The Mom smiled and had quite the look on her face.  I quickly tried to explain what exactly he was talking about, while Ben laughed.  He knew exactly what he was doing.  The little stinker.  Funny kid.

My Life Back

After a long stretch of multiple jobs, school and infertility I feel like I have my life back.

The first week of April is taking its sweet time getting here, but I am excited about the increased likelihood that we could have a family this year.  I spent some time reading out patriarchal blessings and I am completely confident that the day will come whether this is the first step or not.  I just need to remember to be of good cheer.  Andrew is really looking forward to this and likes the plan we have in place.  He wants to have kids with our genetics (I don't care where they come from as long as they come), so he is really happy about the In-Vitro route. 

Besides the infertility challenge life has been significantly simplified.  I have found that I actually have the energy to cook and Andrew actually gets meals.  I have ONE job and no school. It feels blissful.  Not only that the prospect of spending the summer out in my garden and reading makes me rejoice.  My house feels like it is gradually getting cleaner and cleaner because I take the time to deep clean different areas here and there and it doesn't just build up and up and up. 

Andrew's birthday is this week. I got him a deep fryer.  It is pretty cool.  We made onion rights yesterday with both of the Lee's and they tasted just like Mom's...delicious.  I think that it was good that we got the treadmill for Christmas because I think we will need it after this purchase. 

One part of my life I haven't gotten back into yet is my painting.  Andrew has had me spend all of my evenings working with him in the basement on framing.  I think that summer will lend itself well to that hobby.   FYI we are 96 days into the 180 day school year.

New Year

I have been waiting to post until I got some pictures that I could add, but my camera charger has gone missing and I haven't been able to do that so, without pictures I will continue.

Our Christmas and New Years were wonderful.  We had a wonderful time in St. Maries.  I was able to get my quilt top finished and will be quilting it on Monday (on Alice's fancy machine).  We also had King Crab legs at the Casino with the family, which I forgot was so good.  I bonded a little with my niece Alexa who told me she wished I was her Mom, ha ha, don't tell Niki.  The girls spent a day in Spokane and we did a little after Christmas shopping and had lunch.  Most of the time we had extra Andrew and I listened to the Hunger Games books.  This led to some interesting dreams.  My favorite gifts were of course my new sewing machine which has barely been put away since I got it.  The other is the new treadmill.  I love running, but it is so cold and dark for half the year that I never get to go.

We spent New Years in Utah County and Alishia and Tyler threw a super fun pajama party.  We played games and mingled and everyone had a good time.  Carillisa and I made a crossword puzzle with clues about our family and the answers all had family names or memories, it was great. All the kids were so cute.  I just love being around them.  Dad seemed happy with how the gear stuff was going and Kenny was invited with Valmir to help with the "Brazil" side of the project.  I think it will be great for him.

I was actually excited to get back to school and see my class.  I got food poisoning the night before however and that food was DEFINITELY rejected...without the gross details, I will just say I was up every hour.  At 6:30 I finally called a sub.  Sigh.  Things are going really well at school these days and it is so nice to be done with college and be able to focus on getting things in place for the kids instead. 

I talked to Andrew the other day and told him I thought that the kitchen should be bumped up on the priority list because I wanted a dishwasher (after a week of us both being sick and dishes everywhere).  This was enough motivation for him to really think about it and decided we really needed to finish the basement.  This was great because as we speak I am listening to the floor being cut out downstairs for plumbing and windows have been ordered and tubs and cabinets for the bathroom are being researched.....aaahh it is so fun. 

The other fun news is that we talked to our Dr. and we officially have everything set in place for InVitro and we start taking the medications to get ready next month and the first week in April is the procedures!!  That leaves us with a baby (if it works) in December.  Pray for us that it works.  We are still really hoping for something to come of the adoption side of things too. 

Hunting

This picture is perfect.  Exactly what you would expect from the Shaw boys.  Andrew and the dogs doing what they do best.  Kevin left, Ryan, Nash, Shasta, Duke, Andrew and Al.  This hunt was at Muddy Road Outfitters which is here in Benson.  I think I would actually really like to go sometime.