Friday, May 22, 2009

Friday Update


Tailgating at Notre Dame...there is nothing better!

Mackenzie & I both had appointments this week so I thought that I would update on how everything went.

I haven't gotten my period yet, so as planned, I went in on Wed., May 20th for the usual ultrasound and blood work. My ultrasound revealed that I have developed two follicles (yay!) one of which was about to ovulate! (on the u/s screen it appears "fuzzy" around the edges - not a defined circle, pretty cool to see) Dr. Hickey noted that it will always be a possibility that we conceive naturally. I may not ovulate every month, but there is always a chance (a pretty small one...but still a chance) that I might. I won't say too much more about Brian and I taking matters into our own hands....I mean...seriously...my parents read this! ;)

Sue called on Thursday afternoon to give me my blood work results. My estrogen level is at 425, so we still have a bit of a ways to go to get down to the 20's. They want to see me again in two weeks (June 4) or on day three of my next cycle - which ever comes first - in order to check it again. Pretty much as soon as it gets back down to 20 we are good to go and we'll start the donor process. A level of 20 represents my body resetting itself; and we need it to reset before we begin the process. Sue also told me that my prolactin level is still a bit high. I am currently taking the medication, Bromocriptine in order to keep that level under wraps, but I'm only taking a half a pill. It sounds like the half of a pill that I'm taking isn't keeping the level where they want it right now. So I now take a 1/2 pill in the morning and a 1/2 pill in the evening. Hopefully that will take care of it! It's always something...

Mackenzie finished up her cycle evaluation today. She went in for some quick blood work in order to test her Progesterone level. The results came back and she is all good! Her thyroid level has stabilized and her progesterone was right on target. Mack's only job now is to wait for me and my estrogen level.

At this moment in time it looks like we will be able to BEGIN the process in June. I'm not sure what it looks like for the actual transfer and we really won't know that until we start. My biopsy cycle took 10 weeks, so if we think about 10 weeks from June, we're looking at sometime in August/September. I don't want to get my hopes up...but to be honest I just can't help it!

As always I will keep you posted as we progress....

Have a great Memorial Day weekend! Love you all!

Monday, May 18, 2009

A seriously BUSY yet FUN weekend!

Alright it's been awhile since I've last posted... but man! do I have things to update you on! This post may be picture overload...so be ready for it!

First up - Thursday, May 14th - Kristen's Birthday. Our Krissy turned the big 2-8!!! Happy Birthday Krissy-Poo!!! Love you!

Me & the Birthday Girl!

Dad & Brian enjoying a Skinny Pirate (captain & diet)

Mom judging the funniest card contest - I think Aunt Lynn won!
By the way...doesn't mom look great in green?! SOOO pretty!

Aunt Lynn, Uncle Rick & I

SISTERS!!!

Next - Friday Morning, May 15th - Mackenzie & I headed to HCR for her Mid-Cycle Ultrasound and blood work. I was lucky to get to finally go to an appointment with her because I had the day off due to Brad & Megan's wedding! It was definitely interesting to be the one in the "dad" chair vs. being up on the bed. We sure did laugh a lot! I love my sister!

On our way...

Mackie getting ready! Seriously...isn't she the best!

This is usually where Brian gets to sit!

Appointment update...after a bit of drama we have found out that everything is going well and right on schedule with Mackenzie. Her blood work and her ultrasound both looked great. Mackenzie will head back in to HCR this Friday, May 22nd for more blood work. They will check her progesterone level. This will then conclude the cycle evaluation. I believe that I am going in on Wed. May 20th...but I just realized that I haven't made that appointment yet - wow this weekend really helped get things off my mind!!! Gotta love it!

Next up - Friday Afternoon/Evening, May 15th - Megan & I (Bride & Best Girl) headed out for some pampering and girl time! Then later on in the evening we headed out to the church for their wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner...

you gotta love pedicures!

The Bridesmaids

The Groomsmen
(minus Brad & Brian...they were already up on the altar)

Bride & Best Girl!

Rehearsing our kneeling...check out Brian
in the background...we had to kneel too

Almost done...yeah right...

Saturday, May 16th...Brad & Megan's Wedding!!! As you'll see in these pictures the Milazzo family was out in full force for Brady and Megan's wedding...

A Zano's getting our hair done early - thank goodness for mimosas!

get that garter up there!


Just Married! Mr. & Mrs. Samples!

Best Friends!
Best Man & Groom

Chilly Bridesmaids...
Maggie, Katie, Laura, & Jaimie

Seriously - how cute are we?!

Me & Brady

Mackenzie & Chacal

My cousin Nick & his girlfriend Sarah
(they drove in from Ohio!)

My cousin Joe & his girlfriend Erin
(they flew in from Florida!)

The Bea's were there too!

Brad's Mom and Dad - Sassy & Jimmy

Aunt Rachel & Baby Boy Bea
Gosh...I already love this child so much!!!

my brother-in-law Kevin & my sister Lizzie

my brother-in-law Eric & his girlfriend Sabrina

Kristen & Brady

Megan using Brian as a chair as
Brad is swimming in to get the garter!

Dancing Machines!

Greg caught the garter!
Doesn't he look like Little Miss Muffett?!

me & my pretty Beanie girl!

Whew! Still with me???

Last up for the weekend - Sunday, May 17th - Renee & Alan Myers' Baby Shower!

Renee is one of my best friends from Illinois State...she and her husband are due on June 25, 2009 (Brian's birthday!) with their baby boy!

The Milazzo and Howard Sisters!
Mackenzie & Jamie
Me, Nay & Kris

The Illinois State Girls
Go Redbirds!

Me & Nay

Wow! What a weekend, huh?! We sure were busy but we also had such a great time with our friends and family. We really couldn't ask for a better weekend.

Congratulations Brad & Megan! What a beautiful wedding...and of course what an awesome reception - we had a blast! Thank you for the honor of being the Best Girl and Best Man, we were very lucky to share in your day right by your side. We love you!

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Take This and Eat It...

...Aunt Lynn... hahaha!

This weekend Brian & I (and mom & dad) traveled to Richfield, Ohio for my cousin, Sal's First Communion. We had a great time catching up with some of my aunts, uncles, cousins, and my Grandma & Grandpa Milazzo. I ATE and ATE and ATE...seriously, I haven't eaten that much in a long time. I don't think I stopped eating at all this weekend. There is something about chips and dip...I just can't seem to stop!

Congratulations Sal on making your First Communion, thanks for letting Brian & I have your bunk beds for the weekend! You're the best!

Thank you Uncle Mike, Aunt Kim, Marissa, Sammy, and Sal for having us! We had a GREAT time! We are looking forward to coming back this summer for the pool party! ;)

Alright here are a bunch of pictures of our weekend...Aunt Kim is excited to finally be pictured on the blog!

Sal & Aunt Kim, my #1 follower and commenter
(with Mary in the background!)

Brian & Rocco (my cousin, Julie's son) in Church

Sal & his Godparents (my mom & dad)

The Richfield Milazzo's
Aunt Kim, Sal, Marissa, Sammy, & Uncle Mike

...now with Grandma & Grandpa Milazzo

Aunt Lynn, Uncle Rick & Sal

Sal, Rocco, & Mikey
yes, those are the bunk beds we slept in...
Brian on the top bunk, Me on the bottom!

Brian looking cool while he is smoking a cigar and driving the Go-Kart

Sammy holding Rocco

crazy women!
Aunt Jan, Aunt Lynn & Momma

me & my love

Dad & Rocco nuzzling

How many mimosas is that???

Auntie Lynn & Roc

Here we go, it's a race to see who will comment first! Will Aunt Kim be first again???