Happy Birthday to Me!

Today I'm 31! Woah! Hard to believe! But I don't really care about the number. I'm just so happy to be alive and healthy and happy!

It's been a GREAT day!!!

Last night I had a wonderful home cooked supper at Mama & Daddy's. Then we reminisced over my old scrapbooks & picture albums. Plus, I got a gift card to The Ol.ive Gar.den!

Jay woke me up this morning with a cake, candles, birthday banner, card, confetti & a big gift bag with a soft, fluffy robe inside!!!

And I spent the day with my mom, sister, & baby niece. We shopped, ate, & painted at a paint your own pottery shop. What fun!!! I also got a pretty glass cake stand from my sister & some money from my in-laws. My mother-in-law knows I love to shop! :) I plan to go to NY&Co.

I've already asked Jay if we can extend the celebrations through the coming weekend. He thought it was a good idea. :)

This is the necklace I made today at the paint your own pottery shop. We had a good laugh over how long it took me to paint it (a long time!). Hopefully it'll look better once it's been fired. :) But even if it doesn't, it was a lot of fun!

I was thrilled with the pretty cake stand my sister got me!

This is the cute card Jay got me. Notice the confetti he'd spread on the table. :)

Opening my card & gift card at Mama & Daddy's

Jay & I really enjoyed supper. Mama sure knows how to cook! I'd put her up against Paula Deen any day! :)

I'm so thankful for another year & pray that this is the best one yet!!!

Come on down...

Come on down! You're the next contestant on the Yard Sale is Right, and you could win one of these lovely prizes!

Actually, these are all the goodies I got yard-saleing on Friday. Let's see... Here's the stash:

2 flags to hang outside

an Old Navy skirt

a shabby chic chandelier (still in the packaging)

a book on Kentucky flower gardening

2 antique glass dishes

2 rooster trivets

an apple peeler

a white round thingy to roll dough on (not sure how this works, but hey, it was only $1!)

Grand total: $25.75

Even better: Time spent with my mom, sister & baby niece. :)

I LOVE going to yard sales! It's a new hobby of mine!

***********

I'm still feeling a bit like I need to get away from things, as I talked about a little in my last post. And I want to thank those of you who wrote me with your encouragement & your own experiences. It always helps just to know that somebody out there really understands.

I did have a good post-op visit yesterday with my ob/gyn which was helpful. I talked to him a little about some of the anxiety I've had, and he was very understanding. I also got a good report that everything looks good from the surgery.

My birthday is next Tuesday, so I think I'm also feeling better b/c I know I have some special celebrations coming up. :) It helps me to have fun things to plan for and look forward to. I may even go get a massage next week! I LOVE massages!

I look forward to the next couple of months while trying to conceive is on hold. Plus, we have a big beach vacation coming up soon!!!!! Woohoo!!!! Jay will finally ask off work for something OTHER THAN a surgery or doctor visit!!! Thank You, Lord!!

I'm still very optimistic & very hopeful. I'm so thankful for all my blessings, for I know that even my very breath comes from the Lord. And I still believe that one day I will hold my baby in my arms, whether biological or adoptive (hopefully both)! And I will be SO excited to share it with you & finally post pics of MY baby!!!! :)

God Bless You All. I hope you have a WONDERFUL day. Let's all try to see the blessings that the Lord has given us today.

Apple Butter

Today the weather was beautiful here in southern KY. I also enjoyed making apple butter at my parents' house. It turned out really yummy!

I had some extra left over and not enough jars, so I'm thinking of using it for a pie filling. Maybe I'll do that tonight.

My post-op appointment is tomorrow. I don't have to go all the way back to Memphis for that. I'll just go to my ob/gyn. But just thinking of going to that office makes my stomach feel nervous. But it's just something I've got to do.

After you had your miscarriages, did any of you just feel like you needed to get away??

Sometimes it's hard for me b/c even the ring of my cell phone reminds me of my doctor's office calling. When it rings I get a funny feeling in my stomach. Some places or certain situations remind me of bad feelings.

Sometimes I feel like I need a break from it all for just a little while to reprogram my mind not to associate so many things with negative emotions.

I'm so thankful today that my God is the Lord God my Healer and that by His stripes I am healed!! Thank You, Father!

God Bless You All. I hope you're doing wonderfully! I often pray for you.

Post-Op Day 1

Feeling pretty good considering I just had surgery yesterday. I also got a dozen roses from Jay today!

Wednesday was our 3rd anniversary. And we didn't get to celebrate b/c we were in Memphis, preparing for my surgery. So we're planning on celebrating this weekend. The flowers were a sweet surprise.

So far I am doing wonderfully from the surgery (other than being very irritable). I don't think I've ever been so irritable. I'm blaming it on the pain medicine they gave me after surgery. But I'm not totally sure. I know it's getting better, though. Thank goodness! I know that Jay's happy about that too! :) Hopefully I'll be back to my old self tomorrow.

So I could actually see the septum on the pics my doctor gave me. It was very neat to actually SEE the problem and know that he fixed it. The septum tissue was white, and when he cut into it there was no bleeding. Once he'd cut through the septum to good tissue, then it began to bleed. That's how the doctor knew when to stop cutting. When he saw blood, he knew that he was into the good vascular uterine tissue.

My uterine cavity is now 25-30% bigger than it was before. It's normal!! Woohoo!

We are now on a 2 month break from trying to conceive. I really don't mind the wait. I need a break. I want some time to relax, refresh and enjoy life before delving back in to pregnancy tests, ovulation tests and thought of pregnancy and miscarriage.

My doctor also said that he estimates our chance of having a baby at 75%. I'm not sure exactly how he arrived at that number. I was still asleep as he was explaining everything to my family. But that's something I'll ask him more about at our follow-up appointment.

But I won't put too much stock in the numbers because I know that the Lord can do anything. However, I do think 75% is a great chance. And I'm thankful for that good report.

I'm SO relieved to have this surgery behind me!

I'm also waiting to hear the results from the long list of labs he did prior to surgery to further investigate the possible clotting disorder.

And then.... This is IT. All tests have been done. This is what it's come down to. The septum (which is now gone!!!) and a possible clotting disorder.

Tonight I'm very thankful that God has brought me this far. He's been very faithful to me, and I'm eternally grateful! I'm taking one step at a time with Him! :)

God Bless You all!

xoxo,

Birdie

creekjc @ nctc . com

That Septum is Outta Here!!!

I'm already home from my surgery. It was a long couple of days. We spend the night in Memphis last night and got up early this morning to go to the surgery center.

The surgery was a success!!!!! THANK YOU, LORD!!!!!!

The septum is gone. Now I'll be healing for at least the next 2 months before trying to conceive again.

I'm SO thankful that I came through this surgery safely and that all went well.

God Bless you all. Thank you for your prayers. It means so much.

I would write more, but I'm still so tired from the anesthesia and the whole experience in general. So good night for now.

Thanking Jesus,

Birdie

Results

THANK YOU, LORD!!! This morning I got the wonderful news that my mammogram was NORMAL!!!! I also got the news yesterday evening that the ultrasound was normal!!!! I am SO utterly relieved! I am so very grateful! This is one more thing that I can add to my list of answered prayers. Not only were the tests normal, but the Lord answered my prayers by being with me and giving me comfort and peace.

Yet, I know that somewhere in the world today a young woman was told that she does have breast cancer. I know that God loves that woman (or women) dearly. And I pray for them, that they would know God & feel His peace & presence surrounding them on all sides.

Now, I'm preparing for surgery tomorrow. I'm ready to get that septum out and move forward! Thank you for your prayers.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

God Bless You

Awaiting Results

I really hate waiting for results!

This afternoon I went to the clinic and had my mammogram and ultrasound. The mammogram really wasn't bad. I had some fear that it would hurt, but there was really nothing to it.

**ALERT!! I JUST GOT A CALL FROM MY DR'S OFFICE**

Okay, I just learned that my breast ultrasound was NEGATIVE!!!!!!!! She said that means that it was normal, no masses, no abnormalities!!!

BUT they still do not have the mammogram results yet. She will call me as soon as they get them tomorrow.

Any words of wisdom? Your own experience? From what I've read, ultrasound is actually more reliable in young women anyway. So I think this is a GREAT sign!!!!! Although, I will feel more relieved once I hear that the mammogram is normal too!

THANK YOU, LORD!!!!!!!! I am almost ready to dance & shout!!! :)

Please keep praying for continued good results.

I thank the Lord for this answered prayer!

Tomorrow's Mammogram & Ultrasound

I am so thankful for strength from God. Having a mammogram & ultrasound on Tuesday to make sure I don't have breast cancer and then surgery on Thursday (and in a city four hours away) is a lot to go through.

YET...

I know that He sustains me. I keep praying and leaning on Him. I couldn't make it without the Lord!

Please do keep me in your prayers. I'm hoping that by this time next week:

1) I will know that the breast lumps were merely cysts and nothing to worry about and

2) that the surgery was a huge success!

I also want to share that Jay & I hosted a prayer meeting at our house Friday night. We had around 16 people come, and I baked and made snacks all day long. It was a HIT! Everybody loved the food, and I felt such a sense of accomplishment. I love hosting & baking. What fun!! And we also had a wonderful time of prayer and a very encouraging message. It was just what I needed.

xoxo

Have a great day!

I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Psalms 77:11-12

Home Visit #1

This morning we had our first home visit with our social worker. We are on our way to becoming foster/adoptive parents. We are taking this slowly and one day at a time. Still, I am excited to see what's to come!

In other news, I'm still scheduled for the mammogram & ultrasound next week. Then on Thursday is my surgery to remove the uterine septum.

Please do keep me in your prayers. I appreciate it so much.

I have a lot of anxiety about the mammogram & ultrasound results and also the surgery. But I keep trusting the Lord, and I know He's with me!

I hope you all have a wonderful day!!!

Foster/Adoptive Mom

Well, so much has been going on lately that I've neglected to share some important information!!!

Tomorrow morning Jay & I will have our first home study to become foster/adoptive parents!!

This is the first big step (after taking the classes & turning in the paperwork) to move towards approval.

As I've mentioned before, 2 of my darling nieces were adopted through foster care. Jay & I love them so much, and we are huge fans of adoption!

The social worker is coming bright & early in the morning. I'll let you know how it goes!!

God Bless You All! Thank you so much for reading my blog! :)