Little Happies -- Carving Pumpkins

Hey, friends! Welcome back to the Little Happies link-up, in which we all share our small happy moments and things from the week past.

This week, I've got one Little Happy brought to you by a fun night with friends.

--one--

One night last week, John and I were just sitting around with no plans in sight. So on a whim we texted some friends who are kinda stuck in their house these days (they just had a baby) and asked if they'd be up for some pumpkin carving and cider sippin' later that evening. I offered to bring all the supplies and they excitedly said YES PLEASE! 

3 pumpkins, 2 carving kits, 6 bottles of hard cider, 2 jugs of virgin cider, 1 apple pie, and 1 big carton of vanilla ice cream. . . sounds like fall, doesn't it? 

We made our way over to our friends' place with all our supplies and just had a fantastic evening celebrating the turn of the season. They even lit their outdoor chimney for us!

Also, I was shocked to find out that the wife of the couple had never carved a pumpkin before!! What?! Crazy!! By the end of the night, she loved communal pumpkin carving so much that she asked if we could make a tradition of it every year. :)

We all agreed that our favorite moment of the night was lighting these bad boys after all our hard work. 

And then we posed with our pumpkin. We've learned over the years that carving a pumpkin, especially one that size, is best done as a team. When my arms would get tired, John would take over, and vice versa. Plus, I was able to convince him to do all the gut scooping while I did all the seed sorting. I think I got the easier job. :)

Hope you're all having a lovely fall, friends. Have you carved any pumpkins yet? 

An InLinkz Link-up

Little Happies -- Fashion Show, Watching Movies, Eating Junk, and a Dog Fail

Why, helllloooooo! And welcome back to Little Happies, the most cheerful internet link-up in which we share all the small joyful things going on in our days. Would you care to join us? :)

Let's dive right in... --one--

I got another Stitch Fix! 
Striped dress, maxi skirt, floral blouse, teal dress, and gold collar necklace.
And I kept . . .
The teal dress!!! I know it doesn't look that great in the pic, but trust me when I say it's awesome. The draping in the front is a lot of fun and it looks great with a pair of boots. Plus, it gives me plenty of room for the belly to expand, whereas the other pieces I really liked (the striped dress and maxi skirt) didn't. And that floral blouse. My husband really disliked it and I thought it was a bit baggy, so bye bye! Oh, and the necklace. It was so hard to part with, but in the end it didn't seem worth it for $36. 
Also, another reason I didn't keep the striped dress: I found one similar at Target for $12 the day before I sent the Fix back. And actually, it fit even better that the Stitch Fix one! Winning. 
Btw, the day I found out I was pregnant, I noticed Stitch Fix now has an "I'm pregnant" checkbox on their style profile, so I'm going to try that out for the next few months and hope they can accommodate my expanding waistline. We shall see!

--two--

source

Excuse my language, but . . . 

Harry Freaking Potter!!

Once a year, right around J.K. Rowling's and Harry Potter's birthday (July 31st, duh!), John and I start a Harry Potter movie marathon. It's taken us a while to get through them all this time around, but we're on the last movie now and it's just been so fun hanging out with some of my favorite characters again. Watching them grow from movie to movie is adorbs. And now that we're watching all of them for like the 10th time since they first came out, it's given us a chance to really appreciate some of the smaller details, like the gorgeous, eerie music and the beautiful cinematography of each scene. 

Fun fact: The last movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, came out the night before our wedding. While I really wanted to see it after our rehearsal, John thought this plan was (obviously) crazy, so we held off a few days and enjoyed it during our honeymoon in Aruba. Good times.

Who else out there is a HP fan? 

--three--

Ok, don't judge, but in my early post-college years, I was a bit of a freezer meal junkie. 

I know, I know, I know. . . so gross. But, it was cheap and easy and some of the meals were dang tasty. As time went on, I figured out how to follow a recipe and quickly learned that fresh cooked meals are way yummier than the ones hanging out in the freezer aisle of Kroger. So freezer meals were done-so from then on.

That is, until I started growing another human. 

Me and food are in a weird relationship right now. I definitely don't like most foods at most times and mild nausea is a pretty normal thing these days. Plus, I'm lazy/tired as can be and don't want to spend even 30 minutes in the kitchen putting together a meal that I probably won't even want to eat once I'm done. SO, freezer meals have made an appearance in our kitchen once again. (So sorry, John.)

My past addiction taught me that Smart Ones breakfast quesadillas are where it's at. So, it was the first freezer meal I looked for. You can imagine my immense sadness when they were no where to be found at Kroger. Wahhhhhhhhh. And then you can imagine my immense joy when I found them at Target a few days later. I'm not going to admit how many I've eaten since then, but they've hit the spot lately and for that I'm grateful.  

--four--

Ok, call me immature, but this made me laugh a lot. 
Annnnnnd that's a wrap!

Have a lovely week, friends! <3

An InLinkz Link-up

Little Happies -- My Cousin's Wedding

Howdy, y'all! And welcome back to Little Happies, the happiest little link-up on the planet, in which we share the happy little things going on in our lives currently.

This week's Little Happies are brought to you by a short trip to Rhode Island to attend my cousin Sarah's wedding.

--one--

Sarah asked me to do a reading for their ceremony, so of course I said yes! And come to find out, it was the same first reading we had at our wedding!! It's such a beautiful reading, I couldn't help but share here:

Hark! My lover! Here he comes,

springing across the mountains,

leaping across he hills.

My lover is like a gazelle

or a young stag.

See! He is standing behind our wall,

gazing through the windows,

peering through the lattices.

My lover speaks and says to me,

"Arise, my friend, my beautiful one, and come!

My dove in the clefts of the rock,

in the secret recesses of the cliff,

Let me see your face, let me hear your voice,

For your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely."

My lover belongs to me and I to him,

He says to me,

Set me as a seal upon your heart,

as a seal upon your arm;

For Love is strong as Death,

longing is fierce as Sheol.

Its arrows are arrows of fire, flames of the divine.

Deep waters cannot quench love,

nor rivers weep it away.

Song of Songs 2:8-10, 14, 16a; 8:6-7a

My husband gets teary-eyed whenever he hears it. So sweet.

--two--

We got pedicures! My mom, my sister, my niece, and even the little nephew joined in on the fun. Although he was just hanging around. No painted toes for him.

Pedicures are always a fun treat, no? 

My niece got bright pink toes with pink glitter hearts, obviously, and then tried to get the rest of us to add glitter to our toes. It was cute.

And I got this fun color that I totally spied on some random lady's toes as they were finishing her pedi. I had already picked out a color, but that went out the window when I spotted that purpley fun!

--three--

My husband is holding the flower girl's bouquet. Your argument is invalid. 

--four--

It's fun getting all snazzified for a wedding. Totally rocked that Stitch Fix dress. And my husband always looks dapper in a suit. Dapper, I say! 

That's all for now, folks! Peace and love and a happy week to you all!

An InLinkz Link-up

Little Happies -- A Photo of Me as a Youngster, Special Emails, and an Application

Well, hello there! And welcome back to Little Happies, the happiest little link-up this side of the universe, where we all share our small joys from the past week. Won't you join us? :)

Before I start, I must mention that while my biggest dream has finally come true, that doesn't mean I have no need for Little Happies anymore. I promise you, that while I'm happy as a clam over our pregnancy, I also still have my daily ups and downs and need to be sure I'm focusing on the little positives often. So, without further ado, here are those little positives from my past week...

--one--

My mom sent me a few pics of me as a youngster! She was going through some old files and stumbled upon the pics and I just thought this one was too cute not to share.

I'm on the left, btw. And my sister, Lauren, is on the right.

Look at that bright red hair!! And those extra cheery smiles.

There's just something so fun about looking at pics of peeps as babies. Like, "Awww, look at all that cuteness I used to have!"

--two--

I love waking up to three very special emails every morning...

Blessed is She reflections on the daily readings (even though I really do think they based their name off of my blog name... NAME COPIERS),

Novenas from Pray More Novenas,

and a short gospel reading from Gospels in a Year.

I've only started doing all three of these things in the past few months, but it's a great way to start my morning, and I don't even need to leave the comfort of my bed to read them! (Thank you, cell phone.)  I love waking up to all three and enjoy such a positive, prayer- and gospel-centered start to my day.

--three--

John applied for the job in Johnson City, TN this past week!!!!! We're still waiting to hear back and that could take a week or two. But even though there's not much to celebrate at this point, just the process of applying is so exciting! We get to daydream now about what life would be like on the other side of TN. And with family only a few miles away! And buying a house! And making new friends! And all the fun things that come with moving! Eeeee!!

Have a blessed and happy week, friends! <3

An InLinkz Link-up

In Which I Speculate On Why Pregnancy Finally Happened

Before I dive in, I need to preface by saying while I have some idea of why my last cycle was successful, I do not know the mind of God and therefore, that makes this all speculation. Still, it's fun to speculate. :)

I'll start with a list of what we've done in the past year and a half while working with our NaPro doc...

A hormone profile showed low pre-ovulatory estradiol.
A uterine biopsy showed endometritis (infection).
An ultrasound series showed normal ovulation.
A laparoscopy was performed and a very mild case of endometriosis was excised and tiny uterine polyps were discovered.
A hysterosalpingogram showed clear tubes.
A seminal fluid analysis came back relatively normal.

And the medications I took during the cycle we conceived...

Femara (for low estradiol) on CD3, 4, 5
Biaxin (for infection) CD8 thru peak
Progesterone P+3 thru P+12

Plus, we mustn't forget the Anti-Inflammatory Diet.

So, of all these things, where do I think we finally went right?

Let's just say I've been calling our conception a Femara-cle!! (Get it?)

So yeah, I'm pretty sure it was the Femara that did it. But how can I be so sure?? Well, I can't. BUT! It was our first cycle using Femara!! So either it was just a crazy coincidence OR Femara was our miracle drug. I choose to believe the latter. :)

That's not to say all the other stuff we did was for nothin'. I'm pretty sure every step along the way was important. Clearing out the endometriosis, treating the infection, checking to make sure everything else looked normal... all important! We just had one thing left to do and that was increase the pre-peak estradiol. While I'm not sure at all that Femara did that (I didn't have levels checked that cycle), I'd say it's still a pretty good guess. I was actually on Clomid for 7 cycles before switching to Femara, so it's not like we didn't try to improve the low estradiol situation as soon as possible. I guess Clomid just wasn't doing it for me. But Femara did!!

Now, as for the Anti-Inflammatory Diet... I do think that it can help with conception. In fact, I know it can! My NaPro practitioner struggled with infertility for years, got the whole NaPro work up, went through surgery, tried it all. It wasn't until she started the Anti-Inflamm Diet that she got pregnant. So, I know it can help! BUT, I've got to come clean and say I don't think it did the trick for me.

Why do I say this?

Well, let's just say, while I was totally rocking out on the diet for several months, I totally threw it out the window the cycle we conceived. That cycle started with fried chicken and mac and cheese on CD1, then John's birthday came around and we threw a pizza party where I at tons of pizza AND cake, and then we went on vacation to visit the in-laws and I ate whatever I wanted for that week and a half.

So yeah, I'm sorry I can't be the poster child for the Anti-Inflammatory Diet. But that doesn't mean I don't believe in it anymore. While it didn't do the trick for me, I'm still convinced it can do the trick for the right person.

Along with all this NaPro stuff, there are two other things that I think may have helped...

First, a week and a half of relaxation and fresh mountain air during the end of the cycle. This is by NO MEANS me saying that I just needed to relax to get pregnant. Duh. I hate that line along with the rest of ya. I clearly had medical issues that needed fixing in order for conception to happen. But, I do think that relieving myself of stress during the 2 week wait may have been helpful. And that's exactly what that little trip did. It was all fun and games and quality time with family. Doesn't get more stress-free than that!

And second, I was 6 days into a novena to the Holy Family when we found out we were pregnant. This is by NO MEANS me saying that if you had just prayed that novena with me, you'd be pregnant too. Or that you need to pray more novenas in order to conceive. It was just a beautiful novena in which I asked the Holy Family to intercede for us and bring our desire to become parents (through either conception or adoption) to God, and I was so moved when our prayers were answered! I've continued prayers to the Holy Family ever since, for protection of our little one and a safe pregnancy. It gives me goosebumps to think that the Holy Family is interceding and looking out for us. So amazingly beautiful.

But most obviously, the real reason for all of this is...

God.

Without Him, none of this "perfect cycle" stuff would even have mattered. I praise Him every day for this precious gift He's entrusted us with. I have no idea why He chose this cycle as the one or why He chose US, and I likely never will this side of Heaven, but I am eternally grateful!!

And so, for all those reasons above (and probably a bunch of hidden others), that's why I think my last cycle was the one. Maybe I'm 100% wrong, but those are the best guesses I've got. :)

How We Found Out

A few days before AF was due, I remember turning to my husband and saying, "Listen, this is definitely not the cycle. In fact, it would take a miracle for me to be pregnant right now. All signs point to period, so let's just face it an move on." I never ever say hopeless stuff like that, but I just knew it was going to be easier this time to accept it rather than fight it. And so we did.

Fast forward a few days to P+17. I was about a day or two late for my period but not thinking PREGNANT at all. In fact, I figured it was because I accidentally took an extra day of progesterone. It made sense at the time that that would delay my period by at least a day.

When I started taking progesterone, Dr. G told me to continue it if I got a positive pregnancy test. So, while I was SO convinced I wasn't pregnant, mostly because I had every normal-for-me PMS symptom under the sun, I still went home later that day and took a test, just to be sure I didn't need to restart the progesterone. But honestly, even more so that I could just see it was negative and definitely expect my period the next day.

So you can imagine my SHOCK when, while staring at the test, waiting to see the absence of a second line, instead a super dark second line appeared!!! And almost instantly!! My first thought was, "IS THIS REAL??? CAN THIS BE REAL?! IS THIS REALLY REAL??" And then out came the second test. And it was instantly positive again!! AHHHHH!

I just remember covering my face with my hands and my jaw dropping in disbelief. Then, I ran over to one of our Crucifixes and started thanking our Lord and asking Him, "CAN THIS BE REAL?? IS THIS REAL?!?!"

When I finally somewhat composed myself, my next thought was, I HAVE TO TELL SOMEONE! And obviously, that first someone needed to be my husband. But this was not our plan! I had always thought we'd be together when I took the pregnancy test that turned positive, because in my mind, I always assumed I'd just know I was pregnant and the pregnancy test would just be a confirmation of what my symptoms already obviously told me.

But that's not how this happened at all. I took the test having no out-of-the-ordinary symptoms, thinking I'd just confirm AF was on her way. I didn't think I needed my husband around for it because I just knew it was going to be negative and I didn't want to bring him in to the heartache. But then BAM! It was miraculously positive!!! And my husband was over 20 miles away still wrapping up at work. What was a girl to do?

So I called him! And didn't even ask if he was in private to receive some important news. Nope, I just said something like, "This isn't how I wanted this to happen, but I just took two pregnancy tests and they're both positive." To which he responds, "Ummm, can I call you back in 5 minutes? I'm in a room full of colleagues finishing work for the evening."

Ha!!! The poor thing couldn't even be excited in the most exciting moment of his life because he was surrounded by coworkers. Ooooooops!!

When he called back, I could tell he was THRILLED and also a little confused. He also had the "IS THIS REAL???" thing going on! And then when I said, "Yes, I think it's real!" we both just exuded joy. The moment we had hoped and prayed and longed for was finally here! It certainly didn't happen the way we had thought, but it was SO JOYFUL nonetheless!

Since all the pregnancy tests we had at home were purchased about 2 years ago, right before we started our TTC journey, they were actually expired, so we made a plan for John to pick up another test at the store on his way home, just to be sure this wasn't a fluke! And then he proceeded to distract me over the phone with stories about his day, though honestly, I can't remember a word of what he said because all I could think about was our joyful news!!

When he finally got home, we enjoyed a very happy hug and then marched into the bathroom for me to take test #3... one of those fancy tests that shows a PLUS sign for positive. And wouldn't you know... that was instantly positive too!!!!

We spent the rest of the night glowing and treating ourselves to the best pizza in town. I hardly slept a wink because I was so dang excited and my heart was beating out of my chest!!

It was unexpectedly one of the most amazing days of our lives and no matter what happens, I will FOREVER be grateful for it!

God has truly granted us a miracle. We certainly aren't deserving, but we are OVERJOYED!

BIG NEWS!!!

And probably not the news you're expecting. (Because this is not adoption news.)

We really weren't expecting it either!!!

WE 

ARE 

PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my GOODNESS, I still can't believe those words apply to us!!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

I'm a mother!!!! John's a father!!!! And I have a sweet baby growing inside me!!!

I have to be honest, John and I are still both totally shocked!! We were completely caught of guard by a cycle that was NOT looking like pregnancy AT ALL. But then God worked a miracle and HERE WE ARE!

We found out exactly two weeks ago on P+17. I immediately went in for blood work the next morning...

HCG: 2,247
Progesterone: 32

And then three days later...

HCG: 8,035
Progesterone: 31

And then two days after that...

HCG: 13,312

And then two days after that...

We got an ultrasound at 5w4d!! Our little one was actually too little to see, so we only got to peak at the yolk sack, but what a beautiful yolk sack it was! I was worried about a frequent but mild pain on my right side, so Dr. G let me go in for an ultrasound, just to make sure our babe was in the right place. And sure enough, Baby Schweitz is nestled right where he's supposed to be!! Eeeeeeee!

I'm not going to lie. These past two weeks have been the happiest yet scariest two weeks of my life! Anxiety has been sky high because when my mind wanders, it goes to worst possible outcomes, like losing our sweet child.

But we're also on cloud nine!!!!! No matter what, we'll be mom and dad from this moment on!

First family portrait!

Please keep our little one in your prayers!! While we're over the moon excited, we also know we're not out of the woods yet. Not even close! I'm only 6w3d today. And my symptoms come and go, which can be normal, but also, of course, is causing me to worry!

Also, please please please know of my continued prayers for all of you, especially those who may experience sadness upon hearing this news. How I know that pain all too well. Sending so many hugs your way today, sweet friends.

Also also, if you know me in real life, please don't spread the word yet! We'd like to keep this a real life secret for a while still, especially until after we hopefully see/hear the heartbeat at our next ultrasound on Tuesday!

Coming up next... deets on how we found out and why I think this cycle was the one!

Eeeeeeeeeeee!! :D :D :D