Happy Fourth of July

Happy Independence Day folks! This will be our first Fourth of July on a military base. I would figure there would be a bunch of activities, but we don't know how to find them! I'm sure by next year we'll know what to do. Instead, we may just grill out and play it by ear. (Non native-English speakers, this means -- "see what happens").

JB is off today! That is wonderful. In exchange, he's working most of the weekend so we are trying to treat today like a Saturday. John went for a run and worked in the yard most of the morning. I took today off of running. I'm trying to do two days on and one day off to give my legs a break. I instead spent the morning unpacking JB's books. (Stay tuned for more on this in a later-this-week post . . . complete with pictures!)

Quite honestly, between JB's busy schedule (Tuesday was as packed full as Monday) and my headaches, we just want to keep it a quiet day. I have refrained from commenting about my headaches on my blog because I've just been trying to ignore them, but quite honestly, I have had at least a slight headache since the Sunday that my Aunt Jane and Uncle Ed were in town. They came on hormonally, following the elimination of my IVF medications and the failed cycle. However, it has now been three weeks, and they aren't getting much better. Occasionally, they sprout into a migraine -- complete with the "auras" of light that often accompany my migraines. Sometimes they are on the light side. Sometimes they are just dull throbbing.

Both John and I thought that after about two weeks, they'd be gone since I am finally not on any hormones. However, now we are wondering if the absence of hormones is sending my body into withdrawal. Or, could it be that the headache medicine is causing me withdrawal? John has already cut me off of all Tylenol since that is the worst culprit of withdrawal headaches. But at this point, neither of us really know.

Since I have made a promise to myself not to enter a doctor's office for at least a year, I'm trying to muddle through, but it is becoming more difficult. The pain is one thing, however, the upset stomach that follows the pain can be even worse. Sigh . . . I can't wait to have my body back. I truly cannot wait to just feel like me. I'm not really sure what that feels like. At least these are not as bad as IVF cycle #1. The cycle that required 10+ Tylenol with codeines a day to function. Yikes!

Enough about the headaches. I don't plan on mentioning them again -- at least until they are gone for good. I know people have to get sick of my infertility-related-grumbles. And since we are not doing infertility treatments anymore, I'd like the grumbles to desist as well.

Anyways, have a great Fourth of July everyone! Oh and Happy Birthday to my brother-in-law Ray who turns 29 today as well as my friend Michelle who turned 30 on the 2nd! Hershal and Michelle recently had their first son. Congrats guys! Oh, and Shea, she turns 30 on the 7th. Wow, I'm really remembering some birthdays right now. And I promise, I'm not cheating at all.

For real, signing off. Happy Fourth . . . again.

Day one: completed

Yesterday JB completed his first "real" day as a "real" doctor.

Total amount of time gone for the day: 13 hours.

It was a strange realization of what the next year will hold for us. JB leaving very early in the morning. JB coming home very late at night. All this and the military residency is supposed to be less hours and less intense than the civilian. I am concerned for my civilian friends!

There are, however, some rules. These rules include:

• At least 24 consecutive hours off once each week.
• Cannot work more than 80 hours a week (on average) for the month.

The "80 hour work week" is a relatively new creation in residency programs. It was designed to help residents from being worked into the ground. The problem stemmed from the fact that residents are very cheap labor. Because they are so cheap, they could be utilized far beyond what is humanly possible.

At first, many found the new rule, a rule that no one was actually following. I compare this to the rules for NCAA college athletes. There are rules about how many hours we are supposed to be involved with basketball each week. But everyone knew no one was really paying that close of attention to these rules. That's how it was with this requirement until Johns Hopkins, one of the best programs in the country, was "busted" for violating the rule and punished severely. Now, it appears, that this rule is followed very closely. JB was told that if he is ever nearing going over this hour load, he is to immediately talk to one of his superiors so that the situation is avoided.

Many veteran doctors disapprove of the "80 hour work week" requirement. This is primarily due to the fact that they worked more than 80 hours, so the newbies should have to too. However, it is also because many believe that adequate training cannot be achieved without new physicians working an incredible amount of time. I remember my friend Calvin telling us that he was not able to actually get everything done that he needed to in just 80 hours a week. This seems hard to believe, but of course, Calvin is honest, so I believe him. It's just my opinion that if 80 hours isn't enough, than the system is a little warped.

Now mind you, this is all coming from a non-medical person. I am sure if one of my medical friends wrote this post, it would be filled with much more insight. However, I did attend a lecture at Mayo on this topic as my boss was giving a pre-lecture, and I wanted to see it. The speaker showed amazing research on how many more mistakes are made when a physician is working on lack of sleep. It was very eye-opening. Lack of sleep is one of the main reasons mistakes are made.

The speaker also discussed the fact that one of the reasons they like to work a person into the ground is because of "continuity of care". It has also been proven that less mistakes are made when the "crew" doesn't change as often. Mayo, in response, has created an "overlap" of crews. This "overlap" probably costs them millions upon millions of dollars each year. They are having two crews at the hospital at the same time so that they can properly communicate with each other and properly "pass" the patient off. But this means they are paying two crews. Mayo, however, can afford to spend the money so that they stay one of the best hospitals in the world.

All right, enough of me lecturing on a topic I am really not that familiar with!

One of the other difficult things about the next month is that JB is on OB (obstetrics). That means, for the next month, he is seeing pregnant women and delivering babies. Neither of us is really sure how to deal with this fact. Normally, John isn't fazed by much, but this is even difficult for him right now. The hospital averaged 3 deliveries a day and 300 deliveries a month. It's hard to imagine that the commonality of delivering a baby is something that is incredibly uncommon for our family. Well, not even for our family. Every single person in my mom and dad's family has made a baby without incident. Except me. And it appears nearly every person associated with Eglin Air Force Base is doing the same. That's difficult to comprehend.

I'm sure I will discuss this more in the upcoming month in many posts. You'll probably get tired of hearing it. So I won't go into it too deeply right now. For now, please just pray for both of us. When JB came home last night, we talked for awhile about we can handle the next month. Does he talk to me about his day? Does he edit his day? I know where he is all day: delivering other people's babies when we can't have our own. How do I make sense of all of this? How do I think about what he is doing as I am home alone for hours by myself without getting sad? How does he not think about what we are going through while he is doing this? We really aren't sure. He has done these rotations in medical school, but for some reason, this time is much harder for both of us.

Most likely this is because we aren't pursuing infertility treatments anymore. At least not now. In the past we both always thought, "Well soon it will be our turn." We aren't currently feeling that way. Pray that we continue to hope and trust and believe that this is possible for us. That our God can do anything. Just pray that the Lord fills us with peace, trust, and comfort during this next month.

Brianna

If you are an old high school friend, then you will probably think the chick featured at right in the picture below looks familiar.


Yes folks, that is Brianna. Those of you who knew me then, remember photos like the ones below. If you didn't know me then, well, here I am in my mid-teens. Have a good laugh why don't you:


Brianna and I were, without a doubt, like sisters. Her parents -- Roy and Joan V. were great family friends of my parents. I grew up with them always in the picture. They had a son in 1982, Brant James. I started babysitting for Brant when I was 11 and he was 4 years old. When he passed away in 1989, I was nearing 14. I was lost without Brant and without daily visits to Roy and Joan's.

But six months later, they received an incredible gift -- Brianna. She was, the most adorable little kid!!! I babysat for Brianna all the time and hung out at their house, constantly. It was a second home to me. I went on vacations and absolutely loved growing up with Brianna.

When I left for college in 1995, Brianna was 5. In 1998, when she was 9, I married JB in Kentucky. Brianna was my junior bridesmaid.


As she became a teenager, we didn't stay as close as we were when she was younger, but I have remained very close with their family and still connect with Brianna (who is now officially known as "Bri") every time I am back in town. When Roy got very sick a few years ago, they spent a week with us in Minnesota while he was being treated at Mayo. (He's doing great today!)

They will always be extremely dear to me. This past week, Brianna was able to spend the week with me. It's weird to see her, now, about to enter her senior of high school, and becoming quite the grown-up. I am excited because she is going to spend her senior year at the high school JB and I went to -- Fort Lauderdale Christian School! It's also weird to have a teenager around. I'm afraid I really don't know what to do with a teenager. Am I really that old? But Brianna said I did well and seemed to enjoy her time here -- sleeping, eating, watching movies, playing on the computer, learning how to play me in Tetris, and shopping.

She and JB have a similar (slightly warped) sense of humor so they enjoyed watching movies together. This morning, I drove her to the airport in Pensacola and said good bye. It will be weird not having anyone around the house. We don't have any scheduled company for the next two weeks. [Edited to read: Justin is my next company and he is who I was talking about, but I counted wrong. He's coming in a week. SORRY!] We are therefore booked the week of July 9-12. However, we currently have a vacancy as of July 13. :)

Have you booked your vacation at the Kit's B&B?! WE WANT COMPANY so please come and visit and keep me from thinking my house is quiet.

I'll miss you Bri!

Pictures of our new furniture!

Okay Tara! Here's some photos.

These are obviously not in our house. I got these off Haverty's website. Below, is a picture of our living room. We did not get the non-hazelnut chair on the far right. Instead, we got a loveseat and ottoman.



And here is our dining room set. I have always wanted a tall table, and I just love this! The top is a textured tile. So beautiful. This was a special "celebrate adoption approval" gift that was definitely a splurge!

Watching lightning strike

Yesterday, while sitting in Sonic, ordering some take-out for Brianna, the lightning storm we were watching got up-close-and-personal. The largest "boom" I think I have ever heard was followed by a massive crowd of people near the overhang at Sonic. Then, we smelled something, instantly, burning. I let the doctor go take a look while I stayed safely put inside our car. He came back telling me that no one was hurt but that the lightning had struck one of the umbrellas in the eating area. I turned around and sure enough -- an unusable umbrella remained.

I came home and told Brianna that we almost died getting her a breaded chicken sandwich and strawberry slushie. She laughed but was mostly glad we came home with the food!

Speaking of Brianna, I actually took a picture of her and JB as he was grilling yesterday. However, I accidentally saved the picture to my internal memory card on my camera instead of the memory card itself. I can't figure out how to get those pictures off my camera now without the little cord I lost in Africa. So, I think the only way anyone can see those pictures is to see me camera itself. I'll take some more pics today so you all can see Brianna and how grown up she is (seventeen folks!) and also because I want to try to keep a "photo guest book" of everyone who visits us in Florida while we are here. I'd like to keep the guest book both on the blog and in a real, not-electronic book. We'll see how much my plans stay on track.

Speaking of the blog, did you all see the playlist I added to the side of the blog? I cannot take credit for this whatsoever. Kristen taught me how to do this. Anyways, you can click on a song and it will go through the whole play list. I have picked some of my current favorite songs. I also included the song my brother had on the CD at his wedding. It's called: "Short People". Please know that I don't really feel that "short people have no reason to live". However, the song is hillarious on a tall girl's blog (I think). And if you know my brother, you'd laugh even harder hearing this on his wedding CD. So if you are at work or at home and have speakers on your computer, just click on any song and the whole set of songs will start playing. Thanks Kristen for letting me copy you!!!

Yesterday, we decided to celebrate our adoption getting approved by buying furniture! We wanted to wait until all our financial paperwork was approved before spending money. Around 1:30, JB and a few other interns and their families joined us at the beach. It was sort of a cruddy day for the beach. It was rainy, the water was laden with seaweed, and the new Air Force-only beach had a water problem and there were no showers or toilets. However, it was still a wonderful day connecting with everyone. John's fellow interns Cliff (wife Jodi), Matt (wife Tiffany and son William), Philip (wife Joia and son Keenan), and Eric (wife Andrea and son Johnathon) were all there. I need to take pictures of these families so my long-distance friends are able to keep track of the new friends we are making. These are wonderful people! We are so blessed to have such fabulous people in our Eglin-circle.

Okay, so that has nothing to do with furniture ... sorry.

After the beach day, we ran home, showered, and headed to Haverty's. (This is the part where I talk about furniture.) On the way there, we decided that in addition to buying the couch / love seat / chair / ottoman that we had picked out, he also wanted to buy me the dining room table and chairs we had fallen in love with. I balked at this idea as it was much more than we had wanted to spend. (Remember Mom H and Mom K the pretty one with the tile at Haverty's? It's that one.) But he talked me into it! The furniture will arrive next week! I will be sure to take photos for everyone. We also realized that this is the first time we have bought "real" furniture for our house. We've bought some cheapy stuff in the past. But this is the real deal!!!!

Later that evening we headed over to Erik and Andrea's for some pizza, salad, and dessert. It's the last weekend before all the interns start "real work". The same group showed up plus Shannon and Rob, two other interns. Tomorrow they will be seeing patients.

For now, I'm going to sign off and get ready for church. We are going to try a popular Methodist church that Matt and TIffany have decided to attend. Brianna leaves tomorrow. It's been great to catch up with her again. She said as long as I have a computer and TV, she's content and that definitely seems to be the case! :)

Approved!

We've been approved to adopt through China! Our adoption agency called and emailed us yesterday with the news that we are in! We were pretty confident that we would be approved, but until you get the final nod of approval, you can't help but worry that there is something they won't like.

So what's next? In about a week, we will get the final paperwork from our agency. We'll give our final signatures and make our first payment toward the adoption. I'm not exactly sure how much that is yet. I'll have to wait until we receive the paperwork. At that point, we can move forward with compiling our dossier and also getting our home study completed. To be honest, I'm not very sure what's involved with either of those items. When I can sound like I know what I am talking about, I'll explain it to all of you!

All in all, it should take between 4-6 months to complete the dossier and home study. Once that is finished, it is simply a waiting game until we get "given" our child by China. They will send us a photo, information, and a name. Once they "refer" us to our child, we'll have about 6-8 weeks before we leave for China to pick up our daughter. We hope both of us can go, but if for any reason JB cannot get off during that window, I can go solo. However, it's the wait for the referral that is extremely long. That stage is the long one: up to two years.

When I told JB that we were approved when he got home from work, he immediately said, "You're going to be a mom!" It sounded very strange, and for some reason, I keep thinking someone is going to call me and say, "We're sorry. Your test results were negative. Please try again later." It's incredibly difficult to fathom that adoption doesn't work that way.

In fact, it's one of the reasons we decided to do international adoption and international adoption through China. Neither John nor myself could handle one more negative result.

In infertility circles, a negative is referred to as BFN "big fat negative." I started thinking about what these four years have entailed and the best I could come up with was:

1. 8 months trying before seeing doctors due to no ovulation -- BFN x 8


2. 3 failed attempts to ovulate on clomid -- BFN x 3


3. 2 negative IUIs (artificial inseminations) -- BFN x 2


4. 2 cancelled IUI's -- BFN x 2


5. 1 year on metformin but no other treatments (ovulated twice) -- BFN x 2


6. 1 cancelled IUI/permitted to try on our own -- BFN x 1


7. 4 IVF transfers -- BFN x 4

So that equals 22 times that we had to have someone call us and tell us (or we found out ourselves) that things did not work. I also thought I would try to estimate how many pills, shots, and doctors appointments this was but quite honestly, I do not even know how to begin to calculate those numbers. I'll just say that from the best I can estimate, I have probably had upwards of FIFTY internal ultrasounds.

Unfortunately, adoption domestically, while fantastic, can result in some disappointments: birth mother changes her mind, birth mother chooses someone else, etc. While I think domestic adoption is wonderful, we, personally, were just not able to deal with that at this point in our lives. We just, emotionally, needed something concrete.

The last two weeks have been a time for great healing and great conversation for the two of us. We have spent four years of our lives dealing with doctors appointments, medications, shots, hormones, emotions, and physicians intruding on one of the most personal areas of our lives. We are so relieved to not be doing that anymore. I am relieved that, aside from some residual headaches, I am sleeping consistently. I am not crying uncontrollably. I can exercise whenever I want. I am not yelling at JB for no reason. We aren't answering to alarms telling me it's time to have another shot or another pill or another appointment. We are relieved to be done with all of that and relieved to finally be doing something where at the end, we know the phone call will be a positive one.

I am still not ready to venture into a baby store or to buy anything for a nursery. I know I'll be ready at some point, but for right now, I just can't go there. It's also a long way away, and I'd rather focus on something else until then.

One thing you can add to your prayer list is prayer for our daughter. She is currently, not born yet. But at some point, in the next year to year and a half, a mother or couple are going to have a little girl that they are going to decide they do not want to keep. This could be because of poverty or, more likely, because they wanted a son and are only allowed to have one child. Please pray for those parents. Please pray for that little girl. And please pray that the Lord brings us together in his perfect timing (but quickly if he can!)

It's official!!!

I am officially a Florida resident!!! And what's better, the DMV didn't cause me to hyperventilate.

I have had the opportunity to experience the DMV in a few different cities. Here is a quick summary:

Fort Lauderdale: The worst of them yet. There's a room for English speakers and a room for Spanish speakers. People are yelling and screaming. It can take all day just to get a license. The thought of having to go to the DMV causes me to get an upset stomach. Am I right Fort Lauderdalians?

Frankin, Kentucky: There isn't actually a DMV here. You walk into the courthouse and get your license. It will take only a matter of minutes as long as no one has to register a tractor or a missing cow for the day. Every thing is done at one window!

Rochester: Not my idea of a good time. Long lines and too few people working. Was cut in line by a 70-year-old woman after waiting for over an hour and almost lost my cool. I also failed the written driving test the first time because I didn't know how much alcohol was in vodka, because I gave a bike too much room on the road, and because I wasn't sure what to do when I was behind a snow plow.

Eglin AFB: An awesome experience. Every Friday, the DMV sets up shop on base. We walked in, took our photos, and were on our way. There was no line. There was no written test. There was no yelling. There was no line cutting. He also took my picture a second time when the first one didn't come out so well.

So it's official, I can now vote in the state of Florida, drive legally in the state of Florida, donate my organs in the state of Florida, and not pay income tax in the state of Florida. Go Wendi (and JB -- he got his too!)

Congrats Plan B Tara!

Charlie is here folks! Check it out: http://toplanb.blogspot.com/

After years of infertility and now a baby through surrogacy, I am unable to muster the words to explain how I know Tara and Dan are feeling.

If you haven't checked out the video I posted yesterday afternoon (below), I encourage you to. It will definitely tell you how Tara and Dan are feeling right now.

JB has the morning off so I'll hopefully post a "real" blog later. Sorry Tara (Bannana still good Tara). You won't have much "breakfast" material this morning.

Song on Infertility

Kellie Coffey video. Someone shared this with me on my infertility support group board online. Quite powerful. I have never seen one item so perfectly capture my heart as this video did. If you have any trouble viewing this, try this link to UTUBE. JB and I just watched this, and if you are anything like us, you'll prefer to watch it in a private place. It's pretty emotional.

A Shopping Guide for the not-so-vertically-challenged

I am desperately looking for some more shorts and capris. I currently own: three pairs of dress shorts and one pair of capris. In addition, two of these really do not fit after my African weight loss and really need to be taken in. This means that I actually have one pair of shorts and one pair of capris. This is not good when this is really all people around here wear! I desperately need a closet-expansion.

I was hoping Old Navy, which I stopped at yesterday, would hold the key, but alas, it did not. Part of my "problem" with clothes is that while shorts and capris are something I can buy in regular stores, I still have to be very selective. Often times the capris don't hit me in the right "capri-hitting-spot" since they obviously weren't designed for 6'3" women. This makes it look like I was trying to find pants and they were just a bit too short.

With shorts, they often are too short making it look like I am wearing shorts not designed for 6'3" women. (Which is true, but I'd like to fool people). So ... since my blog readers offered advice on where to look the last time I needed a closet expansion (Old Navy was the winning entry which, obviously, failed miserably last night) ... any other advice out there?

The problem is, right now, you are probably racking your brain and also thinking: Well I know where I would go for clothes. But Wendi is a wee bit taller than me. This is true.

So, I thought I would take a minute to tell you the advice I give every tall woman on the street who asks me where I find pants. I kid you not. I have had no less than a dozen women over six feet tall ask me this, and I am quick to give them an answer.

I often get asked where I find clothes. I truly don't mind when people I know ask me this. I did, however, get a little bit twerked when a stranger stopped me in the frozen food aisle to ask me, with the most Kentucky-southern-drawl I ever did hear (and yes, I meant for that to sound redneck), "Where in the werrrrld do you find clothes?" I am not sure this is actually a polite question, but I, of course, managed some semblance of an answer. I don't know that we would ask this of people of other body shapes, so I am not sure why it is okay to ask an extra-tall person that you don't know.

All right, so I will save my "tall" soap box for another day.

While rude when asked by a stranger in the frozen food section, the question is a good one and obviously important if I want to blend accurately into society. (I'm not sure, however, that I actually blend. The closest I have ever come is when I spent a few days in Switzerland. I stepped off the train and immediately told John, "Honey, I am home!")

All right back on track, sorry.

I am able to find shirts, shorts, capris, skirts, and dresses, at the same stores as everyone else. I just have to be picky about what I buy and where I buy them. I just try to stay with stores that favor people with my body shape. These stores, while not designed for tall people include:

• Target: Great for shirts!
• New York Lerner/New York & Company: Great for long sleeved items and skirts. Pants are a bit too short for me but run on the longer side for my other vertically-challenged-but-not-as-challenged-as-me friends.
• Old Navy: Seems to have longer length. Possibly because people who shop here where their clothes baggy.
• Gap: A little hit and miss for me, but their pants do come fairly long.
• Tall Girl Shop: If you live near the Mall of America. (More on this in a moment.)

As far as pants, I shop at a few different stores:

• Long Elegant Legs ONLINE STORE. Everything here is good but often expensive. I look for deals. Pants are mostly 36" inseam -- I'm a 36.5-37. But they have some in 37 or even 39 which requires me to get them hemmed.
• Tall and All ONLINE STORE. I only buy their pants. This is a place in Europe. Their shipping is $25 but it is for everything you buy so if you buy a lot, it is a deal. Their dresses and tops are very strange and not what we Americans would wear. Only buy pants here!!!! I repeat: only buy pants here.
• Buckle Is in many malls around the U.S. I buy their blue jeans: Lucky (goes up to 37" inseam) or the store brand (37" as well.) Strangely, the Lucky store itself doesn't have jeans my size, but Buckle carries them in their store. It's funny, nearly every time I have gone in here, I have run into some women's volleyball or basketball team trying to find jeans. Their jeans are VERY expensive but amazing!
• Alloy ONLINE STORE. This is sort of a teeny-bopper online store. However, their pants are great, and I strongly recommend them both for fit, size, and price.

I also shopped at a store in the Mall of America (can't go there anymore!) called "Tall Girl". This store had some hit and miss good stuff, including my winter coat (can't where that anymore!) However, I hated the name of that store. After I bought something, I'd have to walk around with a description of my body shape written on the bag. At least "Petite Sophisticate" sounds sort of regal. "Tall Girl" sounds quite lame. I thought it was just me until a few friends commented in the same regards. "Big and Tall" for men follows suit. What is it with calling tall people out but labeling the petites "sophisticated"?

As far as shoes, I wear a size 12 and probably, actually a 12.5 although I have never actually seen this size. I think they stop making half sizes after 10. The ONLY real store I have ever seen that carries a 12 is Payless and they usually only have about 5 pairs in the store. Oh, and there is a store in the Mall of America (Nordstram Rack) that carried up to size 14!!! This always shocked me. Unfortunately, we don't live in Minnesota anymore and a "Rack" is a place where all there unsellable shoes went so they had some weird stuff. If I look online, Nordstram does carry my size but they are very expensive. So with shoes, I usually order Payless online. They have free delivery to their stores. You go in and pick them up, and if you don't like them, they keep them there and give you your money back. It works pretty well!

All right, so there it is ... everything you wanted to know about how to shop if you are a tall woman or love someone who is. I plan to put this post on the right side of my blog so tall friends, if you have any other suggestions, let me know, and I will add this to my blog.

Check it out!

My "Plan B" friend Tara is going to be a mom very soon! Keep your eye on her blog: http://toplanb.blogspot.com/.

Her surrogate, Dana, has been induced. Now the waiting begins!! So excited for you Tara. So blessed to watch you finally become a mom.

Trying to find a groove

I still don't really feel like I am living at my house. It just doesn't quite feel like home. JB says I have to be fair. It has only been three weeks! He said it took months at our condo. But I don't remember it taking that long to get that "I live here" now feeling. Does anyone know what I am talking about? I know I have a ton of friends that have just moved? Do you feel this way too or am I the only one still feeling like this?

I think part of this is because the house is quite a bit bigger than any house we have previously lived in. We have a couch, an entertainment center, and a bookshelf in a huge living room/dining room area as big as our whole living room/kitchen in Minnesota. It looks quite empty.

We are also, patiently waiting to hear that we have been approved for China from our adoption agency . Once we hear this, we will consider purchasing the couch we have picked out. Until then, however, we are in a sort of holding pattern. While we are in a holding pattern, I'm hesitant to hang any pictures or make any significant purchases. So as a result, our living area looks pretty sparse.

I was watching Oprah the other day. She had on that cool designer "Nate". He said that you should never make a purchase just to fill a space. He said you should wait until you find just what you want. (He also said if you like something, buy it, and you'll find a space. I'm not so sure about that. I'm not so sure he understands my skill level.) But I did agree that you shouldn't but something you aren't in love with just to quench the emptiness. So we are going to wait until the perfect time.

The kitchen is a little more homey, but it sure isn't the kitchen JB designed himself in our condo. As a result, things aren't exactly where we want them yet, and some things, won't ever be exactly where we want them. The dishwasher is quite tiny and hard to put things in. The sink's cold water, is actually, quite warm. I thought this was just me until Tiffany, around the block, asked me about it. Apparently we aren't the only ones with quite warm cold water. The stove is gas. JB says this is good (cooks more evenly), but I need to get the hang of it still. We have some food items sitting on the counter because we aren't exactly sure where they go.

Please don't misinterpret this post as complaining. I like our house. It is large, spacious, open, convenient, and full of storage and closets. I'm just still sort of trying to find my groove.

The "groove" goes farther than just our home itself. It goes into finding a routine for myself with work, exercise, hobbies, and devotional time. My goal is to do small "bursts" of exercise throughout the day so as to break up my day a bit and get me off the computer for a bit of time. I think this can work, and I'm going to try it today. My ideal schedule would be:

• 5:30 wake up (this is what time JB gets up)
• 5:30-6:00 run with JB (t least 5 times a week)
• 6:00-6:30 devotional time
• 6:30-7:00 "fun" stuff on my computer (email/blogging etc.)
• 7:00 start work
• Inbetween 7-5 break for additional exercise times
• 5:00 end work

I think this schedule can work. I also want to be able to take time off to do things with the "wives" or with JB if he gets some time off during the day. In order to do that, I'm going to need to bank some extra hours on the weekend or evenings when John is still working.

Anyways, I guess the "theme" of this post is that it takes some time when you get to a new place to get used to a new routine and living in the new place altogether. JB's mentor in Minnesota told him that you should give yourselves 4-6 months when moving to a new place to see if things are working and to feel comfortable with how things are going. So I'm not even into the one month mark yet. I have time.

I'll keep trying to find "comfortable".

It is possible ...

Believe it or not, it is possible to somehow get into bed with the portable phone on the outside of the bed, fall asleep, and only at 4 in the morning wake up and discover that you are sleeping on a telephone. I have no idea how I managed this.

However, I do think this is proof that Florida must be good luck for me as far as sleeping goes. Or maybe it is the fact that my body, for the first time in three years, is free of fertility medications. Either way, I am sleeping unbelievably well every night. I do wake up to use the restroom periodically (which my roommate from college, Kristi, can vouch for, has always been my style), but I am falling asleep quickly and even when I get up, falling asleep again quickly. Sleeping soundly is such a wonderful feeling. I love going to bed and not waking up in tears, frustrated from tossing and turning all night. JB also loves this as he isn't woken up from my tossing and turning either.

Yesterday I successfully navigated my way to Pensacola to pick Brianna V. up from the airport. "Bri" is seventeen. Her parents, Roy and Joan, have been friends with my parents since before I was born, and I grew up hanging out with Joan all the time and babysitting Bri from the time she was five months old as well as their son Brant who passed away when he was seven and I was thirteen. Anyways, her parents went on vacation to Vermont for two weeks and Bri decided to come hang out with me for a week of that. JB was glad to have someone with his humor to watch Office Space with. I just don't laugh at that movie. All I do is feel bad for the guy who keeps losing his stapler and Jennifer Aniston for her problem with the "flare". These things really bothered me, and I find myself feeling bad for the characters instead of laughing at their plights.

But I did make it to Pensacola without one wrong turn there or back. It's about an hour and fifteen minute drive. Apparently, the Pensacola airport isn't that much bigger than the Fort Walton airport. This is obviously the reason that the tickets into this area are expensive -- period. I've looked at flights to Fort Lauderdale, and they cost more than a flight to Rochester, Minnesota! Are you kidding me?!

I also saw the hospital that JB will be working at the entire month of August as it is across from the airport. This drive back and forth everyday will be a tad bit painful -- not only because it's nearly 3 hours in the car but also because gas is nearly $3 a gallon.

I've also been running again. Another benefit of quitting infertility treatments is that I don't have to be on that stupid "yes you can run month. No you can't run month." Instead, I can run whenever the heck I want to. And I plan to! I am thinking about looking for a 10K and possible a half marathon that I can start training for to give myself a goal of some sort. I feel so good after a good run in the morning both emotionally and physically and am excited to be able to do this for the next few years without huge gaps which require me to return to running out of breath after one block.

The only "fertility" question JB and I currently bouncing around is whether or not I should stay on Metformin. I've now been on this drug for well over two years. Some of you may remember how green I was for six weeks when I first started taking this medication. I was horribly sick for quite some time. However, I'm accustomed to it now and would hate to go off of it and then be told to restart it later. This drug is usually used for diabetics (and I have to remember to tell every nurse that I am not a diabetic as I have had my fingers poked before I realize it a few times). It has some research behind it that indicates it helps non-ovulatory women (me!) ovulate. However, more recent research is indicating this may not be as accurate as originally thought. So, we are still trying to decide whether or not I should continue it or not. If it gives us even a remote chance of conceiving on our own, we'd like me to stay on it. But if, weighed against the possible liver damage side effects and occasional bouts of upset stomach, doesn't measure up, I may go off of it. We are still discussing and will probably talk to my doctor back in Minnesota to see what he thinks.

Actually, on a doctor-related side note, I have a goal I have set for myself. I want to go AT LEAST a year without one single doctor's appointment. I think this is quite possible. I figure I spent enough time in doctor's offices these last three years to last a lifetime. I estimated that I was probably in getting something done at Mayo at least 100 days a year over the last 3 years. That's 300 days!!! I think I deserve 365 off. So, since I have a handy dandy doctor living in my house, I'm going to do my darndest to avoid any appointments for as long as possible. We'll see how well I do! :)

All right, it's nearing 8:00. I'll end with a trivia my mom sent me last week:

Dogs destroy 58000 of these a year.

Anyone? Give it a try in the comments section.

Things I didn't know yesterday but know today

Last night was the "Real Truth" party. This is where all the second year residents have the first year residents over for dinner and answer any questions they have about anything. By the time the evening was over, both JB and I were very educated. Here are some things I personally learned:

• No one knows a good mechanic. We got a name of someone else who may know a good mechanic. This is a problem since currently, we can't get the key to turn in our ignition on a reliable basis. I won't even tell you how we are getting the car to start day in and day out (ask me in person). We definitely need to get someone to look at this.
• The best place for a women to get your hair cut at is New Image with Kristi. I also received two recommendations of places not to go.
• Don't get your hair cut at the barbers on base. (Okay, I already knew that but someone still recommended it.)
• Matt and Tiffany bought a couch from Ashley furniture that we really liked. It was our favorite at Ashley's. Their favorite couch at Haverty's is the one we plan to buy. That was a bit strange. (I didn't learn this during the "Real Truth" part of the party, but we rode with them to the party and received this information on the way.)
• JB cannot be more than a six hour drive from the base without taking leave! If he is, and anything "bad" happens, the military won't pay for a thing.
• JB gets a total of 10 working days leave. If he works it right, the resident who does the scheduling will try to get him the weekends on each side of the five days. However, these are not guaranteed.
• He is promised a total of 24 hours off each week in a row. So that means he will get at least one day he doesn't have to work. This could be a day he has to sleep from being on call the night before.
• He is promised to not work than more that 80 hours each week (on average) during a month. This means he could work two 100 weeks and then two 60 hour weeks.
• He does not have any time off during Thanksgiving.
• He will have some time off during Christmas.
• We will need a real vacation during the year at some point. I mean a vacation where we go to a resort somewhere and JB can just sleep the time away. I'm going to start researching right away! He's going to be working a lot.
• There is a place for JB to shower at the hospital. This means that if he wants to run or bike into work, he can. Good information if we are going to try to get through three years of residency with one car.
• We live in the house of one of the upper classman who decided to move off base. That same guy invited JB over for dinner when he was here last August. That means that John ate dinner in the house we live in now before it was our house.
• Nearly everyone in the residency program is married with children. In fact, there was only one person there without a significant other. Her name is Casey, and she is really sweet. She also loves to cook so I think we will have to share some dinners. She is dating a dentist who is working in Tampa. I think there were only two other couples without children and one of those couples is newly married. There were also quite a few people who were pregnant. Being as I am trying to block out the fact that we are still just a family of two, this is difficult when surrounded by that many children. In Minnesota, I had my group of women that were single, without children, or dealing with infertility like me. I truly feel like the only one here. I know there are other women who like me, are still waiting for the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom. I just have to find them. But don't get me wrong, the wives I have met are wonderful women. Super sweet and very welcoming. I just feel a bit different.
• I did meet another couple in the second year who after complications during his wife's first pregnancy, adopted their child. They adopted domestically when the little girl was six months old. It was a great story, and she is a precious little girl.
• John is going to have a busy year.

Today will be my first trip to Pensacola. I'm picking up Brianna from the airport at 11!

Life is just different here ...

When I moved to Minnesota and started teaching at St. Charles High School, I was asked to be in a research study. The researcher was studying the fact that 50% of teachers left the career by their fifth year of teaching. (Ironically, I left after this year -- my fifth year of teaching.) He said to me once that culture differences are often more difficult to manage moving from region to region in the U.S. then they are when moving from country to country in the world. I don't know what this research is based upon, but his explanation was that when you are switching countries, you are prepared for the cultural differences. When you are switching regions, you don't think much will change and yet, a lot does.

We've now been living in Northern Florida for about three weeks. Here are some factual statements about our cultural changes:

1. Northern Florida is nothing like south Florida despite the fact they are still in the same state.
2. Northern Florida is not really anything like Kentucky despite the fact that people in both locations would consider themselves southerners.
3. People wear a lot less clothes here. I keep doing a double take, trying to be sure that I am seeing things correctly.
4. People in Minnesota wore a lot of clothes all the time. Even in the summer, the percentage of clothes was considerably higher.
5. I absolutely do not have the right clothes to fit in amidst this new culture.
6. I have way too many: hats, gloves, boots, scarves, sweaters, long underwear, and pants.
7. I do not have nearly enough: shorts, flip-flops, short-sleeved shirts, and capris.
8. Shopping is a mandatory event in my near future.
9. The food here is, obviously very different. I've eaten more fish in three weeks than I did in all of 2006.
10. I really like grouper.
11. Churches are different wherever you go.
12. In Kentucky, everyone is a Baptist or Presbyterian. Everyone believes in God but not everyone acts like it.
13. In Minnesota, everyone is a Catholic or Lutheran. Only people who truly have a relationship with God will tell you they believe in Him. They will not hesitate to tell you that you are unusual if you believe in God or go to church.
14. People in south Florida are just very mixed up. There's a little bit of everything, and since everyone is so different, no one fails to fit in somewhere.
15. That leaves northern Florida. I don't know how to put my finger on people here when it comes to church and relationships with God. We tried another church today that we liked okay. It just didn't feel like home. We'll keep trying.

What does all this mean. I'm not sure I can really say. I just know that moving is not easy. You are excited for the change and exited for something different, but suddenly you miss the familiarity and routine of what you knew. Believe it or not, I am missing things from Minnesota. I miss how quickly we could zip around from place to place in Rochester. I miss living in a downtown area where all we did was walk. I miss our friends. I know I will get used to things, and in three years I will miss our life here. We have met some wonderful people in just three weeks. I just still feel like I am living in a home that is not mine. I know I'll get used to all of it. I know I just need to be patient.

Speaking of culture differences, an ice cream truck just rolled by my house. I kid you not. It was playing the music and everything. That is something that definitely doesn't happen in Minnesota.

Halfway through the weekend = busy, busy, busy

It's Saturday. Close to 5pm, and this is one of the first times today I've even had a chance to write a blog. Most of the 10 residents in JB's class are now fully settled in and so, I guess this was the weekend to dive into activities. We have been quite busy despite the fact that the weekend is only half done. It is great to meet people but man are we beat!

Friday evening we went over to the home of Eric and Andrea. Eric is an intern with JB, and they have a toddler son: Johnathon. They are just entering their 30's as well and live right outside the base in a very nice town home. (They also have a dining room table that I LOVE! Trying to find one like it!) They are very strong Christians who have basically been doing mission work for a good portion of their married life. They have lived in France and also did a mission trip in Nigeria.

In addition, another one of JB's classmates, Philip and his wife Joia came over. They have a three month old soon Keenan (I hope I am spelling that right.) They met on a mission trip and just like Eric and Andrea were basically engaged shortly after they met. They are also very medical missions focused. Quite awesome in a class of ten to already meet two other couples that are so interested in missions. Apparently there is another girl in their class, Shannon, who is also very interested in mission work. I have only met her briefly once.

Andrea made a wonderful dinner: chicken cordon bleu (which I love), new potatoes, green beans, bread, and brownies. Awesome!!! We also shared pictures from our different mission trips with the group. It was a wonderful evening, and we got to bed pretty late.

This morning, I woke up early. My headaches are getting better but was still bad enough to wake me up. Thinking it may be a result of Tylenol dependency, my doctor/husband has CUT ME OFF!!! So I am allowed to take two Aleve in the morning and two at night. The headaches are getting better so maybe he knows what he is talking about.

JB woke up shortly after I did, and we decided to go for a run. We also decided to check out a few places on base (the "cheap" ticket center and workout facilities.) I was disappointed to see that they don't have any volleyball leagues starting until 2008 but excited to see we can go to a lot of places for a lot cheaper.

There was an Eglin Family Medicine Residency Program beach party from 11-2 on base that we spent the afternoon at. The three couples we have already hung out with were there: Eric and Andrea, Philip and Joia, and Matt and Tiffany who live around the block from us along with each of their sons. (Don't worry if all these names are flying by you. I'm having difficulty keeping track of everyone too.) In addition, I met some other couples from John's class and one of the two female interns are her boyfriend. It was a wonderful afternoon.

Following the cookout, we headed out to look at furniture. Man, this is an exhausting activity. There is so much, so much is expensive, and so little is what we would like or would want to pay. We have, basically, settled on a living room set that we want. We have a couple of dining room tables we are tossing around, and we know we want a Tempurpedic.

Part of our issue with buying these things is the adoption. We need to make sure we keep our net worth at an appropriate spot. Another issue with buying these things is that so far, John hasn't actually gotten a paycheck. Apparently, this is very usual with the military when you enter a new position -- it can take a bit of time for everything to get set up properly. However, we don't really want to buy something before we see a paycheck. So we know what we want -- we just are going to wait for the perfect time to buy the different items.

All right so it's Saturday, nearing 5:00. Our weekend is halfway done, however, we still have a ton of activities lined up. Did I briefly say I was a little lonely this week? Scratch that. This evening we are going to the Officer's Club on base with Matt and Tiffany and maybe a few other couples. Apparently this is a nice restaurant just for officers. Tomorrow, we are going to try another new church: Covenant Community with Eric and Andrea. Then tomorrow evening, we are going to something called a "Real Truth" party at one of the 2nd year resident's house: Rick. Apparently, this is a time for all the second years to tell the interns what they should expect during their internship year.

Monday, Brianna V. comes into town for a week so I'll be heading west to Pensacola to pick her up. I have yet, since 1995, lived in a city that has a regular sized airport in it. In Bowling Green, we drove an hour to Nashville. In Rochester, we drove over an hour to Minneapolis. And here, we will drive an hour or so to Pensacola. There is a cheaper airport right around the corner: Fort Walton. But you guys know how expensive little airports are. Bummer!

So that's a newsy post for all you detail-oriented people out there. I'll finish up the weekend report tomorrow evening.

Adoption hopes ...

Last night I dreamed that we adopted a little girl. She wasn't Chinese. I think she was Hispanic. And for some reason we were debating between her and Caucasian twins who seemed more than we could handle. She was seven and a half months old. I think her name was "Kylee" and I remember that we weren't crazy about the name, but she seemed to like it so were going to leave it. That was my dream.

What's odd is that the first time I have ever dreamed about having a child. Ever. I've often wondered why I never dream about children, but I just haven't. So last night was a bit strange to me.

Maybe it was because yesterday, we submitted our two required pieces of paperwork to America World. This included our financial statement and JB's employment letter. I totally gave the financial letter requirements over to JB. Figuring out your net worth is NOT easy. How do you estimate how much your TV is worth? Your dining room table? Pots and pans? Pillows? In the end, we went by what our renter's insurance is worth. As we figured it out, we had the net worth required to adopt through China. However, you never feel totally confident until you get the nod.

As I have explained before, China has really tightened their requirements for adoptive parents. They are a very popular country to adopt through, and they wanted to narrow their applicant pool and make sure their kids would go to the best families. I'm not sure that requiring a certain net worth , no facial deformities, a certain body fat percentage, (and the list goes on and on) does that, but nonetheless, those are the new rules.

JB and I would really like to be accepted into the Chinese program, and this paperwork we submitted will help determine that. Our reasons for going through China include the fact that it is a very proven country as far as adoptions are concerned. I like to say "it is a well oiled machine." Unfortunately, due to their one child rule, Chinese daughters are frequently abandoned. As a result, they have nearly all girls available for adoption. We are excited about this. For some reason, we both felt that having a female for our first adoption would be easier. We have no real reason that we feel this way we just think it would be.

We also think that there are a lot more "stories" about people adopting through Asian countries than through other countries. We feel that the first time we do this, we'd like to do through a country that is a little more proven in assimilation success. John and I are not giving up our dream of biological children, however, we also have plans to adopt many children! We'd like to adopt from different countries, however, we wanted to start with one that we could get support from other parents who had done it.

Some of you have asked me about the cost of adoption. If you ask me in person, I'll gladly discuss it with you. I think that people should be educated regarding adoption, especially because I want to encourage others to adopt as well. However, I feel I should refrain from discussing finances on our blog. So, if you really want to check into prices through America World, you can check them out on their website: PROGRAMS. You can find all the details on cost for various countries at this link. I will say that if I am still employed at Mayo when our child comes home we will receive a check for $10,000! In addition, the military provides $2,000 toward costs. And, currently, there is a $10,000 tax write-off in place for adoptive families. We will see if that is still in place at the next election. Either way, with all this, our adoption costs will be greatly diluted.

What is very strange to me right now is that, for the first time, we are actually starting to say, "When we have a child." We have spent so long completely protecting our hearts. We don't go into baby stores; we don't discuss names; we don't say: "When we have children..." But lately, we have been. In the car the other day, John asked me if I had thought about names. I looked up and just started at him. Names? Of course I hadn't. We never discussed names. In the beginning, we used to. But then, with every negative, and every friend taking the name you liked, you just stop doing it. It hurts even more. Now, possibly, I can think of a name?! I truly don't know where to begin.

So I guess I write all this to say that we are excited. I have gotten an abundance of mail and email during the last few weeks. (What a blessing!) Many of you have admitted to me that you are glad we are taking a little break from the infertility treatments. You are glad that we are moving forward with something that will, eventually, have a positive outcome. Please don't stop praying for our adopted and biological children. We are praying for both. However, for now, we are very excited, to have the opportunity to be parents. We know it's the right time.

I'm finally allowed to get my hopes up!

Story People

So some of you remember that JB and I took a weekend trip to Decorah, Iowa about a year ago. There was this fantastic store there that sold these amazing prints. We LOVED them! However, I knew we were moving soon and didn't want to buy anything new. I figured I could find them online. I never could!

The other day I am browsing on the website of my online friend Tara ("Plan B" Tara). Tara is getting ready to have their first son via a surrogate. She took pictures of their nursery, and I see this picture hanging on the wall, and I know that picture! It's my artist-guy that I love: Brian Andreas.

So anyways, I've already decided that someday, I'm going to have some of these prints hanging in my own home. Can you imagine a print more perfect than the one shown above ("borrowed" from Tara's blog) for those of us couples waiting (not so patiently) for children to enter our lives? You can click on the picture to get a better view.

Just had to share! He has tons of other prints. If you come visit my house in a few years, I'm sure you'll see some!

If you are unable to click on the picture and see what it says, it says:

For a long time there were only your footprints and laughter in our dreams and even from such small things, we knew we could not wait to love you forever.

Thanks for sharing Tara!

The grant is done Dude!

As I sit here in my shorts and t-shirt (believe it or not, these items can be worn around a home without being a first layer), our little bird Twain(ette) is sitting on the chair behind me squawking away! (We try to take her out more and give her company since her mate is now deceased.) John, on the other hand is nowhere to be seen. He went to the first CMDA (Christian Medical and Dental Association) meeting this morning which started at 6am. I planned on getting up at the same time as him. The alarm went off at 5, and I rolled over, and that's all I remember before looking at the clock again and seeing 6:42. I slept right through our morning time together. I've made it my goal to try to keep a similar schedule to him. I failed miserably today.

Okay, so now Twain(ette) is on my arm while I type. She is always on the lookout for paper (and there is some on my desk). She likes to shred it up and stick it in her tail feathers for the nest she dreams of but never really successfully makes. Actually, she's on the lookout for anything that she can possibly shred. This included two books (one a paperback version of the Bible.) I blame JB for this as he was watching her that day!

She is also chirping very loudly. This is all the worse for me considering the fact that I have been dealing with some pretty strong headaches for the last five days. Actually, I am pretty sure they are migraines that I am managing to keep at bay by medication. I haven't had a headache in months and so we are pretty positive that these are hormonal headaches, a result of our failed IVF which ultimately puts an end to the hormones I am taking and sort of puts my body in withdrawl mode. Either way, we are pretty sure the headaches will end in a few days.

As you can see from the title of this blog, we finished the grant yesterday around 4:30! For those of you who hear the word "grant" and don't have an idea what it is, a grant is basically a large application written to request funds to accomplish some task. In my Mayo boss' case, his grants are submitted to the NIH (National Institutes of Health), the largest funder and most stringent in requirements. He would like to do some certain research and is requesting them to fund his research. He currently has a few grants already funded through the NIH, but you are constantly looking for more if you are going to stay a researcher. These grants are ultimately, vital to me working for him, as I am funded by a grant.

The NIH has recently shifted from paper-submissions to electronic-submissions. This was the first time I had done an electronic submission. These are definitely easier, but it also doesn't give me the totally "finished" feeling that mailing the grant off to Fed-Ex does. The grant is still hovering in computer-land, the final "submit" button still about 10 days away from being hit. So while my part is basically done, there is no doubt in my mind that a few more things will probably emerge for me to do. Oh well. The grant is still, for the most part, done.

We also got it finished in enough time for JB and I to go out to dinner. On the recommendation of my friend Jenny, we tried "Bonefish Grill" and got the recommend "Bang Bang Shrimp" Appetizer. Yum!!!!! This restaurant was fantastic and one we will definitely go back to. I got the Atlantic King Salmon, and JB got some Mahi Mahi and lobster tail, and then we split the whole thing. Really, really good.

Afterwards we went to ... Home Depot! :) I know, exciting isn't it? No, truly, JB is very excited about having a yard for the first time in our married life and wanted to look at some flowers and bushes and other such things that I can look at for about 30 minutes before feeling like I am John waiting not-so-patiently while I try on clothes in the dressing room. We did leave with quite a few really beautiful plants. It will be neat to see where our yard is in three years or even three months.

After that, we planned on getting some dessert, but despite JB allowing me to take a Tylenol with Codeine (I know! I can hear the gasps from loyal blog readers who can remember my previous "dependency" issues with Codeine!) but I was desperate to feel good on our anniversary. But despite this, I just didn't feel good, and we decided to save dessert for a night we could both really enjoy it.

We were also hoping to sit on the beach for a little bit, however, here, we also messed up. We decided to dress up a bit for dinner. This included black pants for me and jeans for JB. Too hot then to sit on the beach in 85 degree weather. Now, please note that I am not saying it was too hot out. I will NEVER EVER EVER say that. I was just saying, in what we were wearing, it was too hot to sit on the beach. (Speaking of this, some of you have commented on the new banner on the top of my blog -- gift from JB. Cool, huh?)

Speaking of clothes, my wardrobe is in real trouble. I now have a wardrobe (and shoes) for any place who's temperature stays in the negative. But a place who's temperature stays one hundred degrees warmer than that? Not quite sure what to do. Close-toed shoes just aren't right for most occasions and either are pants. I need more capris, shorts, skirts, and flip-flops! Yikes! I forgot how differently people dress here. I also forgot the fact that I now know what my toes and legs look like. No hiding under eight layers!

I also liked my friend Tara's post a few days back on the fact that you must bring: a bottle of water and sunglasses every time you leave the house now. (She's in California.) So, very true. Instead of needing to bring hot water everywhere you go (yes, folks, Tara drinks water, hot water, just plain, hot water -- or at least she did in Minnesota). All right, enough picking on Tara, but you get the idea. Life is just different in these tropical climates. And it will take some adjustment.

Well, it's now nearing 8am, and I want to get started on work. So far, my phone connection problems with Mayo seems to have rectified itself. Pray that stays the case!!!

Happy Anniversary JB & Wendi

One thing our journey with infertility has taught me is that you have to be understanding of other people's feelings. Today is our ninth wedding anniversary, and I recognize that for some of my single and divorced friends out there, that can be a bitter-sweet thought. Just as I am so happy for all of my friends having their first, second, and even now third children, I am also sad for myself that we are still waiting. I know that while they are happy for me, they are, still waiting as well.

So, I begin this post telling those people (you know who you are!) that I am praying for you just as you are praying for me. That I am praying that some day you will be blessed as you hope each day you are. Just as you pray for JB and I to someday be blessed ourselves. My heart has become ultra sensitive to singles among us. Don't forget them folks!

I also put this here so that if my single friends don't want to read on, I won't be offended. I never want anyone to be hurt.

With that said, today is our ninth wedding anniversary! I thought it would be fun to go skipping down memory lane for a moment with some old photos. These are photos I scanned at some point. (Back then, you didn't get electronic copies of your photos like you do today.) I recognize that JB is not actually in quite a few of the pictures. Sorry about being a little heavy on "the bride".

For those of you who don't know the story of how we met, I wrote about it on a previous blog HERE. We have gone to school together since elementary school, but only after working at our school's summer camp one summer (with our friend Leina), did we become very good friends. We spent the next year or two hanging out all the time, and eventually, I talked JB into falling in love with me!

I truly believe that I am married to the best man ever! After nine years of marriage (and thirteen years "together"), I am so much more in love with him today than I have ever been. And that's despite the fact that the last four years have involved some pretty cruddy circumstances as we have battled infertility. I am so blessed that when I left for college in 1995, JB was determined that he was going to marry me. I wasn't so sure and was often a little difficult to be in love with, but the guy didn't give up! He moved to Kentucky to be with me with only his little car filled with stuff and one month's rent. What a guy.

Those of you who know JB personally know that he is one of the most even-keeled, intelligent, patient, and calm people you will ever meet. As Dr. Fischer described him at the Christian Medical Ceremony before this year's graduation, JB is a leader. People naturally follow him. I never thought about that before because, he's my JB, and following him just seems natural. But I really saw this in Africa. He's just the type of guy you want on your team and you want to be in charge. He is very predictable and very consistent.

And he loves me so much. He has always made me a priority despite the incredible demands on his time (and the incredible number of hobbies he has). He is funny, smart, charming, and just comfortable for me. I can't imagine spending my days with anyone else.

So today, I say HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my best friend. I also say YAY RACHEL FOR STARTING A BLOG and YAY LESLEY TO SWITCHING TO BLOG SPOT! Okay, so those things had nothing to do with our anniversary, but I had to squeeze them in somehow.

Also, by the end of today I hope it will be YAY WENDI FOR FINISHING THE MAYO GRANT. It is due today at 5:00. I cannot WAIT for this thing to be done. Hopefully it will be done on time so we can go out for our anniversary tonight. Wish me luck.