Bracelets are in, "forever" homes and Christmas...

Well the bracelets are in. I was so excited to see them. I was stressed because I had spelled conceive wrong and was worried the company did not get my emails (5) and phone messages (3) as they had not returned or answered anything. Well, they apparently got the messages because they corrected the spelling..

So a recap for the bracelets:

$4.00

They are baby blue
and say

Believe * Conceive
Fighting Infertility

They are nice and very basic. Hopefully we can sell all 40 of them and put it into our savings account with our fertility clinic.

I will say I am saddened by the amount of negative comments we are getting from various people. I don't think people understand that IVF is SO expensive and our insurance is not covering ANYTHING in reguards to it. I suppose their views of us trying to get people to "pay" for us to have a baby is understandable, but we are not doing that, at least we don't feel like it. I dunno?! Floyd and I have decided once we DO get pregnant, to donate [our] eggs to others who are in our situation. We would actually be donating our blasted embies to couples who can't afford fertility treatments. Something we feel so strongly about.

This is truly a test of who really is "there for us" and who is not I suppose. I do hope all my friends and family are out there to support us in this even if they do not agree with our "method" of raising the money.


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On another note:

We were pre-approved for a home loan. We meet with the loan people tomorrow (Friday 12/28/07) at 1pm. I am very nervous. We currently rent a nice, VERY VERY nice home. We pay $1100.00 to live in 2300sq feet. It is really about nothing in the area we live in. Being able to afford this loan means so much to us. I have always wanted to find that "forever home". The one my parents have now. The one you come home to every Christmas and every holiday. The one our children will someday bring their children too. Not only is that important to us but we hope that in a year or so we can use some of the equity in the home to help afford IVF.

Floyd and I have looked at about 15 homes in this area. We finally found one we love. It doesnt need anything really but a new coat of paint (b/c white is boring!) and some yard loving...easy! And I would like to put hardwood floors in at some point but the carpet, even though its a blue color is brand new...we may have to work out something in the loan with that as its not my favorite but it is new. We are just hoping the guy will go lower on the price of the house. Our real estate agent (kinda cool to use that statement) says that since its a buyers market right now we are pretty lucky and will probably get a lower price or closer too than not! So that is exciting! Here is the link to the house. Hope you can see it. http://locator.nwmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Locator&PRGNAME=MLSPictureDescriptions&ARGUMENTS=-N180459157,-N27178280,-AE

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So Christmas has come and is now gone. Christmas certainly came very fast this year. I was not at all prepared for it, but it was great. This weekend the tree will come down and the trash and recycling bins will be emptied...thankfully. Nathan and Breonna were rather spoiled this year by family and friends. They both recieved an Ipod Nano from "Santa", clothes, money, books, cds, more money and much more. Santa was very nice to Floyd as well. He got a new 37' flat pannel television (HD. LCD) that he wanted. I kinda think it should be from Santa and the birthday fairy as well...I too was overly spoiled. Floyd and the kids are wonderful shoppers. I even recieved a "DAY OF BLISS"...pampering of my very own at a spa! I have never done one of those before. I can't wait to find the time to go!

We went to the 9:30 church service. It is probably my favorite thing to do on Christmas Eve. Last year was Nathan's first year to be in the living cross. You have to be in the 6th grade. This year Breonna was so sad to realize she wouldnt be able to be in the living cross until next year. I was thankful she would have to wait as I just didnt feel she was truly ready. I saw flashes of her dripping hot wax on the ground, running her fingers of the candle flame and much more. However, seeing how sad she was that she would have to wait until next year I asked my mom to see if the Youth Director Dutch would just let her do it...he did it and Breonna was amazing. She sat with the Youth Group through the whole service quietly, nicely and patiently. She followed all the youth and did GREAT! I was so impressed and VERY proud and she too was very proud of herself!!!

Floyd and I were blessed with another Christmas with his dad. His dad as most of your know has been battling cancer. It has been an up and down ride with him and so far things are even and he is doing okay. He has been battling this evil demon for about 6 and half years now. We are certainly lucky to have him still in our lives.

This Christmas flew by and I think I missed some of the important things Christmas offers. I did however remember to remind myself how incredibly blessed I am to have a wonderful, loving and patient husband, two annoyingly loving children who make me crazy however I see how much I am in love with them and how lucky to have them in my life. I am blessed to have 4 walls to keep me safe and warm and great family and friends surrounding us in their love. We are healthy and happy and learning from each other each day and I couldnt (and shouldnt) ask for anymore...

Christmas Get to know me...

Christmas get-to-know-me
I "stole" this from Michelle's sister's blog and thought it looked fun! Anyone wanna copy and paste their own answers into their blog?


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper! It makes opening things so much more fun!

2. Real tree or artificial? We have a fake one. I would love to get a real one again but watering, vacuuming up the needles, etc would just be another task to add to my already busy day!

3. When do you put up the tree? About a week or two after Turkey Day

4. When do you take the tree down? Usually the day AFTER Christmas..

5. Do you like eggnog? Nope, but then again I should try it before I say no.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? It was Opsy Daisy Doll. It crawled and fell. Cute.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes I do. Two actually. One I bought many years ago when Floyd and I first moved out. And another one by Willow Tree, which I love.

8. Hardest person(S) to buy for? My mother and father in law. And also my youger sisters.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Breonna

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I honestly can't think of one..
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11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, but I don't send them. I should.

12. Favorite Christmas movie? The grinch and Peanuts Christmas

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? uh, not soon enough. I have 7 days left and we are not ready at all.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Sadly, yes. But it was sent from out of state and given to someone I knew would love it. That being said I am not saying WHO got it or WHAT it was!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Oh just food in general!

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear, but i think next year i will buy some colored ones.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy night and Silent Night

18. Travel for Christmas or stay at home? We travel to Tacoma and Olympia, about an hour from us either way.

19. Can you name all 8 of Santa's reindeer? I could try, but I know it wouldnt be able too with out help or having to sing the song, which I would mess up anyways!

20. Angel on the tree top or star? We have an Angel. She is ugly. I bought her about 8yrs ago at Big Lots. It was for our 1st Christmas together (Floyd and I) and I havent bought another one. I would like a nice star to put up there for next year. But I am not huge on change, so she will probably be around for another 10yrs.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Traditionally on Christmas eve since i was a little kid we opened Pj's. Since having my own family we too do this. But everything else is opened on Christmas Morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The amount of money I end up spending even though I always tell myself I won't spend that much. I suck!

23. What I love most about Christmas? Christmas Eve. I love it. We go to my moms, see family, eat, be merry (ha! ha!) and then we go to Church. I love the the "living cross" and Nathan will be old enough again to be in it!

IVF Fundraiser

As many people know my husband Floyd and I have been trying to get pregnant for close to 7years now. The cost for IVF is upwards from $15,000.00 of course we do not that kind of money. I keep watering our money tree in the backyard, but there is nothing growing.

So Floyd and I decided it was time to try something else. We have purchased about 20 silicone bracelets to sell as part of a fundraiser to help afford IVF. They are just like the yellow Lance Armstrong bracelets. They are baby blue in color and will say:

"Believe * Concieve" on one side and "Fighting Infertility" on the other side.

They will be $4.00 per bracelet and all the money we collect will go into an account at our fertility clinic in Seattle Wa. Like I stated above we only purchased 20 so far and if there is a want for them we will order more after Christmas.

If people are interested in them please email me at NPowell1980@comcast.net and we will be sure to mail them to you if we can't meet up.

Please feel free to pass this on to anyone and everyone who may be interested.

Thank you

Floyd and Nicole