Semen Analysis Fail

Oh man. What a frustrating morning I just had. The Mr.'s semen analysis was scheduled for this morning, but it didn't happen. Warning: I sound like a big baby in this story. I think it's the hormones + my control freak, type A personality. 

Mr. B's doctor office gave me a lab slip for his SA a few weeks ago. I called the first lab listed on the sheet that processes SA's, a stat lab close by our house. Perfect. They told me they no longer process them there, so I called the next office on the list and they told me they no longer do them either. They did offer to transfer me to the Laguna Hills office, the last lab on the list that processes SA's. Or so I thought. I connected to a very nice woman, gave her all of our information and wrote down all the specific instructions. She called Mr. B the following Monday to schedule an appointment for me to drop off the specimen at 7:30am on 3/31/11. I arrived five minutes early and climbed the stairs to the 4th floor.

I signed in and the receptionist asked me for the lab slip. I handed it over, she reviewed the requested testing and told me that they do not do semen analysis processing here. My heart dropped. What?!?! That's impossible! I talked to someone here and made an appointment! I confirmed it was in Laguna Hills! She pulled out a much newer list of labs that work with our insurance and only ONE, yes one single lab, does SA's in all of Orange County. It's several cities away in commute traffic and I have 30 minutes until the specimen is a waste. I called that lab to see if we had an appointment there, if I made some kind of mistake. The lady didn't understand what I was asking. To be honest, she was a clueless idiot and I started to get irritated. So I asked her to just give me directions so I can get there as quickly as possible. She then tells me that they don't do SA's until 10am, so there is no one there to process it. Greeeeeaaaaaaaaat.

I drive to my office, crying because I am angry at the lab and sad that the Mr. is going to have to do this again. I have a phone number that I took down when I talked to the "Laguna Hills lab", so I Googled it to find out the mystery place we had an appointment with. Turns out, it's an infertility clinic in Laguna Hills. Hmmmm. How did that happen?! Ah ha! The shitty lab is at fault! I was transferred from that second lab to the "Laguna Hills location." No one told me they were sending me to a clinic, completely unrelated to this lab group. And of course the clinic thought I had called them directly, so they had no idea that I thought they were the lab. I called the infertility clinic and sure enough they had our 7:30 appointment. Thank you Google :) The clinic was SUPER nice, so I apologized that we missed the appointment and explained why. She told me that they can process the semen analysis there and send the bill through the lab & our insurance. She assured me that she would remind her office and let the lab know to provide more information next time. She also double checked the lab slip because she didn't want us to have any more hassles. She was soooo nice! Her help and kindness really made a difference in my entire day.

This is all such an adventure. The good news is that we are re-scheduled for Monday morning, with the super nice clinic in Laguna Hills. The kicker? This clinic is literally 200 feet away from the Laguna Hills lab I mistakenly was standing in at 7:30am. If only I had figured out the mystery sooner ;)

xoxo,
Mrs. B

My new running partner.

Apollo is sportin' his new camo Muttluks!

I mentioned here that I couldn't take him running because every time I did, his toe or toenail would bleed. But he really loves to go with me. I can't wait to take him & these booties for a spin soon :)

One Year

It's been almost one year since the Mr. and I tied the knot. We started trying to conceive on our honeymoon the week after (mid-April). At times, it felt like this year was dragging. Now that our anniversary is just around the corner and I am looking back, it feels like it flew by!

We have survived this first year of marriage and we both agree that we are the happiest we have ever been in our relationship (we have been together since 1999). I will be 28 at the end of June. Thinking about that age, just two years away from 30, really freaks me out. I have always hoped to have two children by the time I am 30. I feel that hope slipping away as the months pass. One thing I have learned about making a baby; you can't plan it.

In the meantime, I am continuing to lose weight (20 lbs lost as of today!) and spending quality time with my husband. We are going camping with family in April, planning a trip somewhere fun for my birthday in June and visiting friends in Florida in October. I also had my five year review this week and received perfect scores. Negotiations are underway for my promotion. We'll see what happens there. Lots of things to look forward to.

"A happy marriage is a long conversation that always seems too short." Andre Maurois

xoxo,

Mrs. B

Mountain Biking

I love it. I have never had such a blast on a bike as I did on Saturday! It was the first time we took out our new bikes. We were worried about rain, but it turned into a beautiful day. We rode a course we have ridden once before on borrowed bikes. There were five of us; 4 guys and me. The uphills were difficult. At the top of each one, I wanted to puke. But I realized that if I stopped to rest, I felt more sick. So I kept on going. It was the kind of workout I love. The one that pushes me to the edge, and just when I think I cannot go anymore, there is a sweet downhill. The first few were terrifying. The guys took off as fast as they could ahead of me. I was on the brakes the entire time, afraid of tumbling down the hill to my death. But after a while, my confidence grew and I picked up speed. I even launched off a railroad tie, my feet flew out of the pedals and I shrieked. But I stayed on and kept going.

Hopefully next weekend and the one after we can go again. No more rain, please :) I really surprised myself. I wasn't expecting to love it this much. Maybe it reminds me of the thrill of galloping on a horse...

Did any of you discover something unexpected that you love? Please share! 

"Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving." Albert Einstein

xoxo,

Mrs. B

Nutrisystem - 7 week update

I can't believe it's been seven weeks already. We are still making great progress. The Black Plague I had kicked my weight loss into overdrive because the nausea kept me from eating much at all. I honestly never thought we could do this and I am so proud that we proved me wrong!

Our seven week weigh-in...

• My starting weight was 185 lbs. Today I weighed in at 167 lbs. = total weight loss of 18 lbs.
• Mr. B's starting weight was 204 lbs. Today he weighed in at 184 lbs = total weight loss of 20 lbs.

"Never, never, never quit." Winston Churchill

xoxo,
Mrs. B

Back from the dead.

I just survived the Black Plague. Wowza.

It all started with a cough last Thursday evening. Since then I had a fever, the chills, a hacking cough, congestion, headache, nausea, dizziness and body aches. I was miserable. I am finally feeling human again today. And good thing, because I had my doctor appointment this afternoon.

I met my PCP for the first time. I really liked her. She gave me a lab slip for CD3 bloodwork to check my hormone levels, some recommendations for an OB/GYN, and asked that Mr. B have a semen analysis. She said the SA is really the place to start. I called the Mr.'s doctor to get a lab slip for him to do his thing, so they are calling me back tomorrow. Everything I expected. I am excited to hopefully get some answers. Of course I really hope that we won't have to worry about any of this, but you know my track record for staying positive about each cycle. ::sigh::

We will be out of town this weekend with family, but I am planning to work on house stuff again the following weekend. I still have my eyes peeled for orange accent pieces. Pun intended :)

xoxo,
Mrs. B

The Next Step

I started cycle 11 yesterday. My hormones were raging. I cried in my car at the office. I wanted to call my doctor and make an appointment, but then I remembered that our stupid insurance company screwed up and no one received their new insurance cards. So I cried about that too.

Then my luck turned around. My insurance cards showed up in the mail yesterday afternoon! Good timing, Blue Shield :) I called my doctor and they offered me a March 23rd appointment. I asked her to put me on the cancellation list and then she asked me to hold for a second. She came back and said they could fit me in on March 9th. I'll take it! I always see the P.A., even for my paps, so when they didn't mention seeing the P.A. I asked if this appointment was with the doctor. She said "oh yes." I haven't even met my PCP yet, ha! Sweet.

Mr. B was so excited to hear I got in next week. He is anxious to have answers, too. I printed my charts out for the doctor to review. I assume our first step will be to send the Mr. to have a Semen Analysis. He knows this, and while the idea is awkward, he is amazing and said he will do whatever he needs to do. I am not sure of my next steps, but I am ready for anything. Anything to have our little B.

You're welcome :)

xoxo,

Mrs. B