Sunday, November 29, 2009

Hey

Getting ready for my trip, been so busy and such a bad blogger.

I miss you all and promise to catch up reading soon.

Happy belated Thanksgiving to my US friends.

See you soon.....

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Hair pulled and ready

Yesterday i went to the coiffure (hair salon) to get my hair colored. I have a regular girl who i use each time, but found out that she is no longer there. Damn, she did such a great job i thought.

They assured me "we are all good and A can do just as good as N did for you". Ok. Lets do it.

Color went fine, I mean how can you mess that up, well ok you can, and I have- but I bring my own color and I just have them apply it.

So after washing my hair out, conditioning it (supposively) I go back to my lovely spinning chair and the torture began.

First she started with a wide tooth comb, ok thats good as my hair is very long, and this is the best way to untangle it first. Next she takes a fine toothed comb and thats when the shizit hit the fan....

My head was flying back, she was pulling and breathing hard and I was like " min fadlik, bess, kefayaa!!!!" (please, thats enough, stop!)

I told her in my best Arabic (em hm) that last time and every other time N would condition my hair and had no problem at all combing it out. I asked her if she even used condtioner and she swore to God not only did she condition it but she used alot. Yeah ok, that why i don't smell it right?

I told her to look at the comb, and asked her what are you doing??? The comb was filled with waaay too much of my hair.

She stopped, I paid, left a VERY SMALL tip and was on my way. Why did I even leave a tip? I know, but trust me the amount I gave her was more of an insult than if I gave her nothing at all.

I intended to have a few more things done at that salon after my color, but off i went, never to return again, ever.

My color looks hot, but my neck and head are still sore as hell.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Because its been awhile

... since I talked about our babies, here are some pics I snapped a few hours ago. They are getting so big man. Fiona, their mother came later, but it was dark so i didn't snap any of her.

Hey, anyone know why she hisses at them? Its like she doesn't like them anymore? They don't have to do anything, she walks by and hisses at each baby and then sometimes attacks them, not badly, but like she is scolding them.

Poor babies, their papa Florenzo doesn't like them and now their mommy Fiona too, LOL. We love em so much though. They are so spoiled. Super S and I often say can you imagine when we have kids, all this love we have to give.

Today we were in the backyard playing with them. Charlie loves to chase Super S around. I was thinking how nice it will be when we have some real kids to chase and play around with... but for now we are cool with these little guys.

Its still amazing to us though as we have never been animal lovers, at.all. Not that we didn't like them, neither of us grew up around them nor had them as pets, so for us to be so super in love with cats now still makes us laugh. We are those crazy cat people for real.




Charlie




E.T.




Naranja



Florenzo



Florico Pico Fajito




E.T. poo poo




Charlico Pico




Naranjita Fajita


*** Completely unrelated. I am still trying to find out when to start IviG/maybe steroids/blood thinners, before transfer, at transfer or after positive beta. Dr. K says he likes to do IViG and other things after beta confirmed, I am thinking more like at transfer or before any ideas?

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Welcome November ICLW-ers

Its that time again, ICLW week. Welcome if you arrived here via the November ICLW list. Of course welcome to you ALL however it is you got here. Aren't you glad ya got here?

My IF story, in brief, you can find on the right sidebar. We will be trying IVF for teh 4th time in January 2010.

So what's up with me? Well not too much actually. I am preparing to travel back to the US soon, so I am looking forward to that. I'll be gone about a month and then back here to Cairo. Super S is not coming with me this time, so that'll be hard. But we talk online every other day so its all good.

Looking forward to hanging out with my Dad, I'll be staying with him. He's single so I can spoil him with some good cooking, something i love to do. He does good for himself, but cooks for one, so you know I can get a little more creative maybe.

My sister also lives in the same state, so we will hang out I'm sure. Although she is so busy, working full-time and going to school, I hope she'll make some time to fit me in.

Her birthday will come while I am there so we'll hang out and go for dinner or something. We are 16 months apart, like day and night, totally and completely different.

I keep thinking about 2010. I still have the feeling that it is going to be a great year, in so many ways. Hoping that one of those ways will be the one that gives us a baby. I feel it, I know its going to happen. Just watch.

I pray that I will able to come back to this post and say "see, i told you so Wishy". Ha, wishful thinking Wishing4One, but I sure hope I'm right man.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Even if you are not a soccer fan

... you would be if you were here in Cairo tonight. Super S and I are not really, but the city is on fire man. Egypt plays Algeria in Sudan in a half hour and the streets here are crazy! Beeping cars, people with drums, screaming, celebrating and the game did not even start yet!

If Egypt wins tonight, they qualify to go to the World Cup in South Africa.

Last week it was crazy too, Egypt won against Algeria here in Cairo and people celebrated ALL NIGHT LONG!

We have TV on and will be fans for tonight. It will be so nice if Egypt wins, nice for the country I wish them luck! Nice, LOL... Cairo will be cRaZy!!!

UPDATE: Algeria 1, Egypt 0
A very quiet Cairo tonight.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Just low dose aspirin for now

Just talked to Dr. K. He said to continue low dose asprin for now. In January when we start IVF cycle, he said we will add some things before transfer.

This man goes beyond being our RE, he is truly a good man and a good friend.

I want to bring him something really special back from US any ideas?

Friday, November 13, 2009

Just realized its Friday the 13th

Hey. Been missing in non-action. Have not commented all week, have not posted since my immune test results. Just been around. Nothing exciting at all going on, just here.

Getting ready to travel next month, trying to think of all the things I want to bring along, or not. I go lightly as I have to pack my bags comin home. Earlier this year I paid for an extra bag and my two aloted free bags were overweight so paid for those too. Not trying to have that happen again. Good news is I am approaching Elite status with one of my frequent flyer cards so I think i may get away with free bags in the near future.

I texted Dr. K and sent him my test results via email, haven't heard back from him. Which is unusual, so if I don't hear from him by Monday I will call him. I want to see if he wants me to start anything while I'm gone or wait until I get back.

Man, not working sucks, just wanted to share that.

Hope your Friday the 13th is going well, I'm off to bed. Peace.....

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

The results are in...

Here are the results of my immune testing. I have not yet talked to Dr. K about them. I plan to contact him with the results before I travel in case he wants me to start any treatment while travelling.

Here goes...

1. Anti Nuclear Antibodies (ANA)- POSITIVE (Nucleolar)

2. Antithyroid Antibodies
Antithyroglobulin- NEGATIVE
Antimicrosomal- NEGATIVE

3. Anti-Cardiolipin Antibodies (IgM)- 4.4 MLU/ml

4. IgA Level (serum)- 237.7 mg/dl

5. IgE Level (total)- 18.8 IU/ml

6. IgG Level (serum)- 1173.1 mg/dl

7. Anti-Cardiolipin Antibodies (IgG)- 39.2 GLU/ml

8. IgM Level (serum)- 273.4 mg/dl

9. Immunophenotyping CD56- 14.7%


By my quick observation all seem okay with the exceptions of :

number 1-ANA being positive
number 7- Anti-Cardiolipin Antibodies IgG is high
number 8- IgM level seems to be a bit on the high side

All this according to the reference range this lab lists.

Those of you who have had experience with immune testing/treatment any comments?

Friday, November 6, 2009

I guarantee this never happened to you

Went and gave blood for immune tests. Results in Tuesday.

Here everything is bargainable. Not just in the souk (outdoor) type shopping, even in malls, in some stores, you ask "is there a discount?" and they discount the price.

Well I was totally joking when I asked the lab guy "is there a discount" and sure enough he discounted the total price by like 100 Egyptian pounds!

Super S was with me and he could not believe it, we could not believe it!!!

God Bless Cairo man, I swear.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Mommies and Stuffed Cabbage

Yesterday was a fun day here in Cairo. The weather is feeling more like Fall, still low 80's and sun in the daytime and getting down to like 50 at night, perfect huh, I know.

So Monday started out with lunch with two of Super S's sisters and his aunt. They made mashy crump (cigar sized stuffed cabbage leaves) something I don't make too often (cause its a pain in the.... i mean really a long process) and his aunt makes them amazing so whenever anyone is making this we always get invited cause they know Super S loves it!

Then we all went to one of Super S's nieces house. She is leaving the country in a few days, so everyone was there to visit. The sweetest girl, I just love her! She's like 34 I think and has a 2-1/2 year old daughter.

But can I just say that it was like, um i don't know what to call it, but picture a roomful of 21-30 year old ladies and their babies. Their babies. Lots of cute little babies and toddlers.

I was fine, happy actually, cause I love em all- but that little bit of self pity tried to creep in as it always does. I swear I try to keep that shit in check, but its hard.

Then another one of his nieces, one of my favorites, said she dreamt of me, for the second time. At first she didn't want to tell me what she dreamt, she just kept saying "kheyr inshallah." (like, good blessings God Willing) Then why did you mention it? She told me. She dreamt twice that I had a baby and in her dream our little girl was 3 months old. Everyone was so happy and our daughter was beautiful. Thanks. Thanks alot.

Also a few weeks back a friend of mine from back home who lives on this side of the world too, sent me an amazing email, she too dreamt of me with a baby. And her dreams have proved to come true on more than one occassion. Again, thank you very much.

But you know what, yesterday as with a few weeks back I felt hope. I don't usually give much credence to dreams actually, but they made me feel happy and feel even more hope for some reason.

Everyone in Super S's family knows, obviously after our 13 years of marriage, and no baby that there is a "problem". They do not know details, but know we have an "issue." One of his Super S's brothers actually had their first child after 12 years of marriage, something they always bring up to make me feel better.

I laugh to myself when I try to explain IVF to a few of the nieces I am kind of close with, cause we are so close in age and my Arabic does not allow me to communicate what I want to say. They speak English, some better than others, but even talking about IVF with English speaking people who don't know much about it could sound like a foreign language huh?

Then I think of my Mom and my Dad who both know what we are going through, but of course they don't fully understand the IVF process. And why should they? To me its enough that they know we are trying and I don't want to get technical about it. I just hope one day I am able to tell them the end result of a successful IVF cycle.

Man do I hope. You know what guys, I am thinking 2010 is IT for us. IT meaning our babies will arrive. How cool would that finally be?

Gotta stay positive and optimistic, which is not always easy, but I am trying so hard to. Some days are better than others, and don't think my outlook is always this way, cause its not. Wish it could be, but as most of you know its not happening. After so much failure and heartache though I want need some good news.

So take a minute today wherever you are and think 2010 will be a great fresh start for all us. And for those us trying to get pregnant, we will. Ok? Ok.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Just spreadin some love





All we need is a little LOVE! This award is about sisters uniting together and giving others some love because life is hard and who couldn't use a little love? The rules for this award is simple. 
I LOVE YOU = 8 letters which gives you 8 rules :)



Here are the rules:


1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award and write a little bit about why you love them.

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.


3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.


4. Nominate no more than 17 people (why 17, not sure?) who you love or you think could use some love.


5. Write one word (you can only use a word once) about what you love about their blog.

6. You cannot nominate someone who has already been nominated-the love has to spread to all.


7. Post links to the blogs you nominate.


8. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they’ve been nominated.

So my thanks goes to Circus Princess at Circus Children. She is a ring leader indeed. She is currently in her 2ww and is experiencing some spotting, which we hope is implantation bleeding, so go show her some circus love.

I love her blog, because despite her struggles she always writes with a sense of humor, circus humor that is. Her posts make you think, laugh and smile all at the same time. Thanks again Circus Princess, and I love that you think I am so exotic, LOL!

I nominate all of you wonderful ladies and a few guys in that blog roll to the right, so if you accept, consider yourself nominated. For lack of time and space, I single out the following:
 
1. Are you kidding me? HILARIOUS
2. Murgdan at Conceive This! PREGNANT
3. Kristin at Dragondreamer's Lair HELPFUL
4. Kelli at No Lingerie Here... SWEET
5. Flying Monkeys at One Eye Open and Dreaming... REAL