Master Bath: Before and After

Halleluyer! The master bath remodel is done! Get ready for the 'Before and After Party.'

Before:

Meet the gross art deco-ish master bathroom,

courtesy of an amateur remodel circa the early 90's.

After:

Look at all my storage!! Before, there was only a pedestal sink (which provided no storage) and one niche with open shelving.

Call me crazy...because demo has already begun on the guest bathroom. Eeeek!

Workin' On My Fitness

Back on Monday, April 4th, I decided I was done being 30+ lbs overweight and that I was ready to tackle the extra baggage I've accumulated. I have been idle with my health and trying to get back in shape for the past two years, part of the lovely infertility holding pattern I'm determined to get out of. I used to think, "Any day now, I'll be pregnant. So why don't I just wait to get into shape until after I have a baby?" Silly thought, but admittedly, it's true.

My first step in getting healthier and fit was downloading the app, My Net Diary. With the app, I created my plan and plugged in all my key information and began using it religiously. I input EVERYTHING I eat and it counts my calories. I also input any activity/exercise I do and the app assigns a caloric value to each activity. I am not only counting calories, I am trying to make healthy choices with the food I eat. At the end of the day it shows me an analysis of my total calorie deficit. Along with counting calories, I have been hitting the gym at least 5 times a week (sometimes more, schedule permitting).

My first weight loss goal was to lose 13 lbs by the time Tom and I leave for vacation. From April 4th to date, I have lost 12.8 lbs. And yes, I am counting that .8 lbs because that means I am only 2 oz from meeting my first goal! Even if I don't end up dropping those 2 oz by the time we leave, I have succeeded in my first goal by 98%. I think that's a pretty dern good margin of success!

I have noticed that my muscle tone is improving, my clothes are fitting looser, and my energy level has greatly increased. But there are days where I don't think I can keep it up and days that I get really discouraged if the scale doesn't move. This post is to serve as me going on record with what I've been doing in hopes that it will create some accountability for myself.

At a later date, I will post my new weight loss goal.

Timeline Update 1

Written on May 4, May 10, & May 17, 2011

Sorry for the continued heavy blog content. But, it's update time - and this is real life...

April 2011: On Friday, April 22nd, I went to my first appointment for IUI Round 3. We did 7 days of shots and had the actual insemination on Saturday, April 30th. As I type this, I am 2 days shy of being 1 week into the LONG two week wait (TWW). The TWW is the time you must wait between the time of ovulation/IUI and testing for pregnancy.

May 2011: On Friday, May 6th, I had my 1 week post IUI check-up appointment just to take a look at my follicles, lining and such. I may have only had 2 eggs this round, which isn't much better than a normal cycle w/o meds.

On Saturday, May 14th, I had my appointment to determine pregnancy. I knew the answer was 'not pregnant' beforehand because my body doesn't even make it through the TWW before it tells me itself that I'm not pregnant. So, the pregnancy test appointment has just been a formality for me. I had prepared for a resting month after Round 3 and my Dr. determined it wasn't needed. That would normally be good news, but because I planned on having to take a resting month, we scheduled to go on vacation with friends. The vacation falls smack dab in the middle of when we would need to be seeing the Dr., so we could not proceed immediately with Round 4. We essentially took a resting month on our own terms. Good thing the study allows participants to take 1 resting cycle. Kinda ironic that the only round where we could have immediately progressed, we actually couldn't because of scheduling and not due to my body. I'm taking this in stride and trying to remember it is not about MY timing. We also need to go ahead and live our life and get out of the infertility holding pattern. I'm done giving infertility so much control and being defined by it. I firmly believe our getaway/vacation with friends is going to be a much needed rest for my soul.

Bittersweet

Mother's Day evokes an array of emotions for many. For me, the emotions are bittersweet.

The sweet...

I count myself extremely blessed to have my mom on this earth walking through life with me. She is my go-to consultant for many things from cooking advice, stain removal, career moves, to how to navigate through life's toughest moments. And when the day comes that I enter into motherhood, I will turn to her for mommy advice. I hope to be even half of the wonderful woman and mother that she is.

The bitter...

This day is an abundantly emphasized day which unfortunately serves as a painful reminder of the deep longing that fills my heart. I thought for sure Mother's Day 2010 would be the last one I would spend as a "Mommy-in-Waiting." But what a sweet sweet day of rejoicing I will have when I get to celebrate my first Mother's Day as a mommy. Thank you Mom, for the shining example you've provided for me when that day comes.