Are we there yet?

I grew more and more nervous as eight o’clock approached.  You see, tonight was the very first injection of my very first IVF cycle.  I had resolved that I needed to give myself the first one.  There’s nothing remarkable about the needle that delivers the medication.  It’s small, goes in easy, and my belly provides ample cushion.

What strikes me is that while there was no confetti, bells, or fanfare, there was still that air of excitement surrounding the event.  You see there was more being injected into me than just medication.  I was also sending hope, excitement, and the belief that this very well could be the answer to our predicament too.  That’s a tall order for one small vial and one little needle.  Many of our dreams are being placed in its abilities.  That is the promise that comes with the idea of in-vitro.

So today was one small step in the marathon of what is to come.  It might not have been fancy, but heck, all we’re looking for is effective.  So, tonight I can go to bed knowing that I just did something I never thought I would be able to do.  That in and of itself is a small victory.

On another note, thank you to Rick and Jess for coming over for lunch today!  It was wonderful seeing you and Princess Phoebe.  I will also pat my back for learning how to use a smoker today!  Go me!  I made some kickin’ smoked ribs.  Yep, I’ve got some skills.

Looking back on yesterday, almost makes me laugh.  Almost.  Upon reflection, I truly believe that the two workers just didn’t want to do more work than they have to.  It’s easy to manipulate a woman by threatening her child.  I don’t believe it was person with them, but more business.  We don’t want to work harder than we have to, and so we’ll make her do what we want her to do.  I find it highly unprofessional, but nothing that they have done so far has been.

We’ve decided there’s no way in hell we’re moving back into our house.  Our neighbor will put one of her trash cans at the end of our driveway on garbage day.  We’ll head to the house daily for a while.  Some lights will be put on timers.  We’ll make this work.  I can play their game, and well.  I just find it ridiculous that I have to.

To me it has always felt that social services didn’t feel we were the right clientele to adopt through them.  They made us feel as if we should have been doing a private adoption, since in their opinion we can afford to do so.  We have been made to feel as if we were working the system.  Truth be told that I’m the one who feels worked over.  Every time I turn in a mileage form or request a benefit that Lucky is rightfully entitled to, they look at me disapprovingly.  Hey, if I had my way the little guy would be on my insurance and this adoption would have been final already.

Yesterday was a power trip for the workers.  They  made a huge deal out of something that wasn’t.  They could have just nicely asked, and I most likely would have easily complied.  However, they were nasty, rude, condescending, and just plain out of line.

I’m glad that they’ve told me we aren’t eligible for any more infants, because it makes it much easier to tell them to stick it when everything is final.  Ok, I actually would never tell them to stick it.  I’m too nice, but I am just evil enough to file an official grievance and have the state crawl right up their ass.  It will be sweet revenge to know that they will be crawling through mounds of paperwork.  Rotten I know.

I should label it “All things poop related.”  No, I’m not kidding.  If you are brave read on. 

There I was bathing the cherub in the tub.  Then, I hear a faint grunting noise.  My eyes widen, my heart rate increases, and you hear a very quiet “Shit!” under my breathe.  I quickly snag the munchkin out of the tub.  One very small nugget of poop was visible in it.  I put him over the toilet dripping wet, while I reach for a towel.  Then, another small grunt from my wet one.  One more nugget falls on the floor. 

Then, things move more quickly.  I begin moving quickly towards the changing table, but before I do, there is a very large mass running down my pants and…..ALL OVER my toes.  Not just on, but in between my toes.  Then, a loud grunt produces a very large pile of it on the floor next to the changing table.  I get the poop machine on the changing table and he relieves himself all over that too.  I clumsily reach for wipes, because the stuff on my toes cannot stay there for another second longer. 

I get as much off as I can with one hand on the child.  I then decide to unbuckle my jeans and pull them off, using them to wipe my feet.  Gross.  I then wrangle a diaper on the wee one.  I place him in his crib, nice and safe.  I  on the other hand, sit down and take in the disaster that is now his nursery and the ugly side of being a parent.  Oh man, the room was nasty.  Then, I look at his grinning face staring at me over the railing.  His smile fades, and he grasps the railings and proceeds to grunt some more, using the railing as leverage.  The end result was one more nasty diaper.

The moral of this story?  Let your kid go in the tub.  It’s WAY easier to clean up a bath tub than to have to steam clean carpet, wash poopy clothes, change the changing table, and get poop off of your feet.  Yeah, moving him was where I went wrong.  Lesson learned!  I’m sure there’s more than one lesson in there somewhere, but I’ll let you find it on your own.

Not much else to report. 

You can read about it over here on Sharah’s blog!

You can read about it over here on Sharah’s blog!

The entire house is painted.  Thank you Mom and Dad!  It looks amazing!  New shower curtains have been put in place, new hand and bath towels, furniture removed, floors cleaned, a gazillion boxes of stuff put in storage, and now all we need to do is some finishing touches. 

However, this will still take a few days, because Lucky is cutting all four molars and two additional teeth at the same time.  Oh, it is far from fun.  This week has been one of the few where I’ve placed him squarely in his daddy’s arms and declared myself officially “Off Duty” upon his arrival.  I’m just tired, and very excited about getting away from it all with the girls tomorrow night.

I’ll be happy when our house is sold, and we can finally be done with it.  I’ve also learned that it is possible to fire our realtor.  That just might be in the works very soon.  I expected them to bring their “A” game, and I’m getting their “D” one.  Not pleased.

So, tonight, I’m going to sit down and enjoy an hour and a half of Dancing with the Stars and just breathe.  I’ll also pretend that I haven’t been bleeding for nearly a month straight.  I was told not to worry, but I just don’t get it.

So, this week, the interior of the house we are trying to sell will be painted (ahhh, cream, how neutral.)  We’re also removing some larger pieces of furniture to showcase the space the house has.  We’re also changing some of the decor of the home, because let’s face it, not everybody wants to walk into a house and see children’s things everywhere. Sorry, I know I’m preaching to the choir right now. 

I can’t change the fact that there’s a nursery in the house, but I can tone things down a bit.  Toy removal will be in full swing.  The really fun kid bathroom will become sophisticated by this weekend.  We’re also mulching, landscaping, and airing things out.  Let’s hope our efforts improve our chances of getting an offer.  There has been little foot traffic, and therefore, we need to make sure that those who do come simply fall in love!

Any house selling tips? 

I know de-cluttering will come up, but there aren’t any pictures of us up in the house at all.  No magnets on the fridge.  No mail to be found.  The dang place is super clean.  Think steam cleaned and vacuumed.

OOOOOH, forgot to mention that I’m a proud new owner of a Dyson!  I’m in love.  No really.  I didn’t know one could have a love affair with a vacuum cleaner, but trust me, it’s possible!  Our old one broke into many pieces, and so if Justin gets a new tv when we move, I wanted a decent vacuum cleaner.  Love the thing!

I always laugh a bit when it comes to weather here in Alabama.  I grew up in upstate New York, where snow is expected.  I would jump off the roof as a child into it. There were days when we couldn’t go out and play because the snow was over our heads.  Snow was just something that was.  I realize this is not the case here, and I am so glad!

So, we’re expecting snow here.  The temps will drop below freezing, and that prompts a frost warning.  The last time there was more than 0.3 inches in Hutsville was back in 1993.  They are calling for 1.5 to 3 inches.  Can you just imagine how this place is freaking out?  I know that we will be here in the house ALL DAY tomorrow, because they will ask you not to drive.  Ha!  As if I want to drive in snow here!  The roads react different than the ones in the north.  They are made of a different material.  Let us also not forget that people aren’t used to driving in it in this area.  So, um, no.  I’ll stay put right here thanks.

No worries though.  Monday we get back into the mid fifties and seventies by Thursday.  Whew!  I’m ready for spring.  So, now let the itty bitty bit of white stuff fall.  I want to take Lucky outside to play in it!  This will be his only shot at snow until we get to go and visit our eskimo family up there in NY.