Yesterday Ben asked me when the last week I actually worked all five days was. Wasn't sure, so I looked it up. Last Friday of a 5 day week? March 19. Next Monday of a 5 day week? July 9. Working for the government and taking advantage of vacation, holidays, and a CWS schedule? Priceless! Just for the record, two of those weeks my one day off were sick days, so I was NOT out gallivanting around, but home in bed and/or at the doctor.... and a lot of those CWS days and some of the vacation days I had lots of appointments. But what a gift to be able to fit all that in and still be working full time with plenty of leave remaining! (-:
Ben and I have an incredible vacation coming up. We're leaving Tues June 12 and returning Thurs June 21. Paula is getting married in Glacier National Park on June 14, so that's what got us started... We're headed to Glacier National Park in Montana for several days and then Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming for several more. We'll fly to Spokane, WA and rent a car to drive all over and then fly out of Salt Lake City, Utah. We've not been on such a long vacation before, so we're looking forward to it. Our honeymoon was cut short because I was new in my job and in training, so we are really excited.
Ben got a new Nikon D-50 Camera for his birthday (It will be "from" my parents, but I let him go ahead and get it before we went on vacation... his birthday is while we're gone). I moaned and groaned saying we didn't need a new camera until we had children, but I actually LOVE this camera. It feels like a "real" camera and it makes a super cool camera sound when it takes pictures... probably the shutter or something technical, but all I know is it makes ME feel like a REAL photographer, which I definitely am NOT. We'll have lots more pictures to post soon., but here are two I took. They are of my immediate family, of course.... Ben emailed these to me after saving them on his computer, so they aren't as high a quality as they originally were, but you'll get the idea...
Ben, my "Honey Bunches"
Lucy and Baxter, my baby kitties.....
I went through some really yucky depression from late March to early May, but I am happy to say my Psychiatrist increased my meds just a tad and I got myself back into counseling, and things are going just fine now. Thanks so much for your prayers during that time. It means so very much and really does help! Ben, btw, is an amazing husband and is more than I deserve- especially during my down times. Can you believe we recently celebrated our 2nd anniversary?
My Mom and my Aunt Pam are driving my Mom's old car from Atlanta to Oregon in a few weeks. Mom got a Lexus for her birthday. It's pretty neat and has that Satellite Navigation and NO KEY! We're excited to see Aunt Pam for a few days before they leave.
My Dad's friend Sandy will soon begin a new job in Atlanta, and is moving here from England in a few months. She's got four kids ranging from 6yrs to 18yrs, so I'm planning on having a new extended family! She's visited several times before, and I e-mail with her occasionally, so we're excited! She'll be here shopping for houses at the end of June.
I have cousins in Missouri. Lynn and her family are going to Hilton Head in early July, so I think we'll get to see them when they have an Atlanta layover. Very neat! Haven't seen them in a very long time.
We went to a new fertility doctor last week. We like her tons more than the previous practice we went to. Her name is Dr. Hasty, and she is a Davidson grad and went to Emory Med School. It was fun to find out that her daughter is currently a sophomore at Davidson, and her brother was the Chaplain while I was there! Anyway, her bedside manner is wonderful, and our visit left us feeling more hopeful than we have in the past. She suggested Ben take a Male Fertility Supplement- anyone ever hear of Conception XR?, that I get started on Glucophage (Metformin) for PCOS, and that Ben go to a Fertility Urologist. I also must lose about 20 lbs to be able to do any fertility treatments, but she assures me that I can do it and it shouldn't be too difficult with the help of Metformin, cutting carbs a bit, and adding some walking. What a nice change to feel encouraged rather than blamed or condemned. I've already cut out all soda and sweet tea, and decided to change my morning coffee to half-caff. I'm also trying to choose fruit instead of fries at lunch. I have to go get one more blood test, which might be after we return, and then I can start the Glucophage.
I have had three or four people say to me, "oh, have you thought about Acupuncture?" in the last month, so it cracked me up to see a flier about it at Dr. Hasty's office and get a referral sheet of acupuncture doctors. Deane gets it for headaches and says it's wonderful, and my sister actually gets it for her Agility Dogs, so I figure at least it will get some endorphins flowing which will help reduce fertility stress and at best it might just help us get pregnant! (-: I will look into that when we return from vacation. (-:
Jen's Prayer List.... lift these people up, too, will you? Deane and Erika who are in chaos amongst moving a family of 6 into a new house that isn't quite finished and for which Deane is the builder.... Paula and Daniel who get married next week.... James and Andrea.... Sandy who is working out a move from England to Atlanta with four children.... VBS at Midtown... new Elementary Age Sunday School Class at Midtown.... Ben and his quest for which career God wants for him, and, finally, that Ben and I would continue to follow God's leading and be patient for His plan to unfold regarding our family.
May God Bless You and Keep You Always,
Jen
