BC

I've been on NuvaRing for....5 years now?  A significant amount of time.  I've been on pretty much every form of hormonal BC on the market, and NuvaRing has worked for me the best by far (keeping in mind that every form of hormonal BC is going to work with your particular body chemistry differently, so what works for me might suck lots for you, vice versa).  In the past 6 months, I've had 3 crippling migraines...and the one I had earlier this week was the worst yet.  I started seeing spots, knew it was going to happen, and had complete tunnel vision and a full on blasting headache within 2 minutes.  It was fast.  So fast that it scared me-and it took me out of commission for a good 24 hours, migraine hangover the next day and all.

So I did some research, and it looks like a big trigger to a migraine is hormones, and I also found lots of forums where women reported developing migraines while on NuvaRing, while never having them before.  I'm not so likely to believe this, though, since I've been on it for so long and I'm just now getting them, but...it's too coincidental.

I'm not interested in trying to switch hormonal birth controls-been there, done that, it sucked.  So I'm wondering if anyone uses a non-hormonal form of birth control?  We'd like to start trying for babies in about 3 years, but I can't help but think it'd be a good thing to start getting all of these hormones I've been on for 10 years out of my system, and maybe avoid that potential waiting period of "getting off BC and hoping things get back to normal STAT so we can get knocked up."

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions?  I googled...but google is scary, and informed me that one woman who thought she had a migraine while on NuvaRing actually had a blood clot in her brain.  As you can imagine, that is NOT helpful to me right now, GOOGLE!

Babies

Babies.  We're coming up against our 2 year anniversary in July and babies are on my mind.

I've gone back and forth about writing about this, but then I thought, "Hey, I can't be the ONLY one out there who has this on her mind", so why not.  I'll keep it somewhat general so it's not all "gross TMI".

I've known since I was 18 that I have fertility issues.  I had my yearly in April, and shared with my nurse practitioner Glenda that I had had a little "scare", and she said "what exactly are you waiting for?  Because it's going to be harder for you to get pregnant, and then staying pregnant might not be easy for you.  I don't want you to wait too long."

Ryan and I's initial game plan was kids by the time he's 30.  I just turned 26 in January, and Ryan turned 28 in April.  I know that fertility starts to go down for me at 30.  Glenda also reminded me that you have to take some time off of trying to get pregnant in between miscarriages, and I've been on the pill for years, so it might take a bit for things to get back in business.  So timeline wise, it's kind of scary looking.

I'm torn between wanting to wait until Ryan and I are ready and moving fast to beat out this potential fertility issue.  I know you're never ready, financially or otherwise, but I do want a honeymoon pre-baby (still haven't taken that) and I want the last bit of our student loans paid off (we are SO CLOSE!).  We're 2 years out from both.

Ryan wants to wait until he's settled career wise and until childcare and healthcare co-pays won't break our bank.  I respect that, and I pretty much agree completely.  At the same time, I feel like I'm fighting off this low level of panic, of what if we wait too long, what if you can't be a dad and I can't be a mom?  I know how much adoption costs, I know how much IVF costs, and I know there is no. way.  Baby shower invitations are starting to come in from friends, and every time I get one I wonder if in a few years getting a baby shower invitation will be really painful for me.  I wonder if seeing a pregnant belly will physically hurt me.

I know, worrying is the opposite of constructive.  And I might get knocked up no problem 24 hours after I cut off the BC.  But my biological clock is ticking and I'm scared.

I try to focus on eating well and exercising.  Since I quit smoking and started honoring my body, I've felt 10000x better.  I know that I'm doing everything I can now to facilitate a healthy pregnancy in the future.  I try to keep my eyes on that.

I am so thrilled for all of my preggo-friends out there (the last thing I want is for this to sound like I'm not!), and I can't wait to meet your little bundles of joy!  It's kind of crazy seeing friends transition into mothers, isn't it?

Anyone else have pre-baby thoughts on their mind?

Blazer

I've been searching and searching for a fun little blazer I can throw on with jeans, work pants, a pencil skirt, etc etc for months and months.  And the jersey one at Target with ADORABLE polka dot roll-up sleeves that I initially discounted as too casual?  It was perfect.  And on sale, for $15.  Good thing my little sister Mary didn't end up wanting it, because I pretty much wrenched it off her back.  Thanks Mary!

 Monday

Confession:  I'm so excited about this blazer, I wore it Monday AND today, and I am seriously considering wearing it tomorrow since I'm out of the office all day and won't see my co-workers.  

Today

It's the little things!

Any fashion finds you've been hunting for a while?

Tea with the Ladies

Yesterday we went to a Mother/Daughter Tea at a local restored Victorian mansion open for tours.  The tea was in the original carriage house, which is now the cutest little venue out there for a shower or small dinner!  They had it done up soooo cute, with vintage dishes and silver.

There were tons of homemade snacks in cute little bite size pieces....and they kept the refills going!

They had hats and everyone got to pick one, how great is Alli's?

 We had a great time-it was an afternoon we'll remember.  Alli and I might've had WAY too much fun.  When the petite fours came out we looked at each other and said "just like SAMANTHA!" The American Girl doll, that is.

My grandma is 87.  There's nothing material I can give her.  But an afternoon together, doing something unique and fun?  That's something we can give her.

Books, Outfits, and the Local News

I'm loving what I'm wearing today, and this outfit is now in my rotation (necklace and all....I'm timid in the accessory department, so its good for me to wear a bigger necklace!):

I made our local news last night-a Congressman here in Missouri brought up a proposition to change our slogan from "the Show Me State" to the "Great Rivers State."  Since I work in tourism, they called me, and naturally I had 20 minutes warning which wasn't enough time to fix the fact that it was a ponytail-no-appointments-not-leaving-the-office kind of day.  Oh well!

Anyway I come in about halfway through.  I love the guy who kept getting "the Show Me State" confused with that movie where they keep yelling "show me the money."  

I just finished reading 11/22/63 by Stephen King.  

Source

It was long.  Overly so, in my opinion.  I still really enjoyed it, and the ending was much better and more satisfying than I thought it would be.  It seems much more sentimental than his typical book.

The weather here has been gorgeous lately--we've had such a long spring--and my lucky dogs have been getting walked at least once a day, and twice yesterday.  How's the weather in your neck of the woods?

Harry Potter World

HARRY POTTER WORLD!

My mom just booked my sisters and I a trip to Harry Potter World December 27-30. The hotel we're staying in includes early admission to the park, so we'll get to get in before everyone else. This is beyond exciting!

Me, Alli and Mary Harry Potter-ed out for the last movie premier.

So why is my mom booking the trip? My MeeMaw passed away last March. She had Alzheimer's, and it went on and on. And on. That disease is the most brutal thing I have ever witnessed. She slipped away one night while she was sleeping, which was a blessing. MeeMaw owned a large farm about an hour's south of where we live, and the estate has recently been divided up. So in a way, MeeMaw is sending us on this trip. Mom thinks it would make her really happy to know that she was doing this for us.

We'll be staying at the Loew's Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando, flying in Thursday, having all day Friday and Saturday at the park, then coming home Sunday. 3 days with some of my favorite people in Harry Potter World! I just wish my mom could come, but it's tough for her to get off work around the holidays like that.

Anyone been, advice, what should I wear, things we should do/avoid?

I've felt odd about blogging lately (HA try the past year). Without a clear focus, like the wedding was, I've struggled with what to write. I realized though that I enjoy everyday updates from my wedding planning blog buddies, so as boring as I think my life is, maybe just "hey, this is what we're up to, look at the skirt I'm trying to sew, etc" might be of interest. So I guess we'll see!

Family Pictures

For Christmas, my sisters, Ryan and I got my parents professional family photos. We wanted them to be really casual, laid back and include all 4 dogs (my parents dog Mia, my sister Alli's dog Henry, and Ryan and I's dogs Ninja and Oscar). We definitely got the fun, relaxed pictures we were aiming for!

My awesome parents with Mia:

Everyone:

Sisters make the best friends. Isn't it nuts how much SHORTER I am than they are?:

Our first official family picture!:

The puppies were handed over to their grandma:

Ryan and Mary were involved, so the following was inevitable:

Alli's friend Karen took the pictures (she was home visiting family for Thanksgiving and was kind enough to take these the Saturday after Thanksgiving). She actually specializes in pet photography-how beautiful are these pictures of my dogs! I mean, I'm biased and all.

Needless to say, she did a phenomenal job. We linked my dad's laptop up to their big screen TV, so Christmas Eve morning we were able to show them the pictures for the first time. Mom and Dad really liked them, thereby cementing Alli's status as best gift giver of all time. Well done!

Check out more of Karen's work here.