Today

Was my IUI......and I was late! Ugh! But I did make it.

Hubby's count was awesome. He had over 100million at the pre-wash and 37.4million were put into me at the end of the wash. The "boys" had good speed and motility as well. So this means my body needs to just let these eggies work and get pregnant. So 15 days from today I take a pregnancy test. I won't be taking one, I will just see if my period finds me.

On the house front....the bank accepted our offer. Great News! The bad news is we need to have the HOA of the housing area "vote" to allow me to have my daycare in there. So that is our hold up. We have 7 days to hear back from the HOA president, which he said should take only a couple days (hopefully tomorrow!) and get an inspector in to check the joint out as well. I am finding inspections are quite pricey! Anywhere from $325 to $415.00. That is just so much money to toss aside if we decide the work on the house is just too much! But then again its the biggest purchase of our lives so spending the money will be worth it to not move into a money pit.

Another area of concern is carpet and paint. Very minor but very expensive. We do not have ANY savings left so we are kinda screwed. Not sure what to do about that.

Daycare is going well. I am full with kids. I have a new one starting on Monday and then an interview today for an infant. We will see how it goes. I am trying to get "preschool only" kiddos in here so we can get this preschool program going. My assistant is WONDERFUL. She truly is a blessing to have. The kids love her, she lives next door (until we move) and she is so helpful.

Breonna is playing basketball and boy is that girl good! Her 1st game was awesome. Breonna made all the baskets but 2 and they won! Her 2nd game was great as well. They lost, but the other team was hard! Breonna was bummed but losing is great for them. Nathan is trying out for basketball at school today. So hopefully he will get on the team. I am sure he will, but I just never know with try outs. He is a good basketball player and played on the AU team last year so I am hoping this works out for him.

Floyd and I are doing great. We have had some stress over the last few weeks with house buying, finding money to save and fertility. Once this is all done and over with we will be less stressed!

Off to get a screaming baby!

Tomorrow....

Is my IUI.....in 2 weeks we should find out if we have a baby Powell....heres to praying we do!

New Baby name...

Well...I have a new name I like for a girl...

Harlow Michelle Powell

Hubby isnt too keen on it. But I like Harlow. We both like Suri as well, however I think people will always say "Ohhh you mean like TomKat's baby" Ugh!

So thus far for girls we agree on:

Suri Michelle Powell

Adyson Michelle Powell


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We were approved for the loan for the house. Should be writing an offer on a house in the next week or so I hope. I have some paperwork I need to get in to the bank people. We are also talking with our real estate agent about possibly going with another bank to give us the loan. Long story. I will post more on that later.


I started the provera this past week. Tonight is my last dose of it. My period should be starting with in 3 to 5 days. So I will go in for a day 3 ultrasound soon and start another round of injections and clomid. I am praying it works this time around.

On a sad note my very good friend Heather has told me her husband was offered a job in Oregon. He will be making more money (always a bouns) and since he was offered this job they will get a great moving package. This is a great adventure for them and I truly wish them all the best, I will miss Heather so very much. Heather and I met on a website about 4yrs ago called www.matchingmoms.org , we met a local park and hit it off one night on instant messagener. Ever since then we have been great shopping buddies, super best of friends, wonderful OG goers and just well, she is one great person to have in my life. It will be sad to see her go, but she isnt going to be to far, just a little too far for the OG every other week and Target shopping, but only a phone call away....Everyone say a prayer that the Bullion Family has a safe move in the upcoming months. I hope this move is not too stressful.

*Kyle, Heather, Kiera and Alaina I love you all very much!*

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..
.
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

Thankful...

Well its been awhile since I have posted. There are two reasons for this!

1. I forgot my user name AND password. That sucked!

and

2. I had fallen into a sad place with the fertilty treatments not working.

But over the last few days with Thanksgiving here (and Christmas following not too far behind) I have had some time to reflect over the happy things I do have in my life. There are many things in my life I need to be thankful for having and being blessed with. God has blessed me with much happiness and for that I am going to follow suit with Michelle's blog and leave my list.

I am thankful for:

1. My family
2. My health
3. My friends
4. The loving and lasting relationship I have with my husband.
5. Nathan and Breonna
6. Being able to work from home and be here for my family.

All too often we forget the things we have been blessed with. And I have been one of those people who have put aside the blessings and worried over what I want to have or don't have. I am sure we all go through that from time to time and I hope to be able to pocket this list and keep it with me so when I do forget I will have these reminders next to me.

What are you thankful for? You can blog it here on the comments or post it on your blog. Don't forget to send me the link!


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Fertility

Nothing new here on this. We took some time off due to my job and staff and money. Floyd and I decided to try brand name Repronex. Maybe this will work better than generic? I doubt it but its worth the try if it helps me keep in the game. The original plan was to try again in December, however it seems the office we be closed over certain parts of December due to the holidays so we will just move the next cycle to January. :)

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Nathan and Breonna are doing great. Nathan had a rough start at the beginning of the school year. Big changes being in Jr. High School. Since second quarter has come Nathan has A's in all but one class where he is getting a B. He is doing great. I remember in middle school there being more homework, but so far Nathan's homework seems to be far and few between. However he is passing all classes and doing well so no worries there. Nathan had his first girlfriend, which lasted a long, long time...3 days...according to Nathan the "relationship" went like this...

Nathan and "J" were walking our dogs on a Friday afternoon on a non school day.

J: "Nathan, I like you"
Nathan: " Oh, Okay"
J: "wanna be my boyfriend"?
Nathan: "Ummm, sure!"
J: "Okay"

For the rest of Friday they talked maybe three or four times. By Monday morning at school one of J's friends told Nathan "its over".

Ahhhhh love....and I am glad its over :)

Breonna is doing wonderful. Doing great in school. Loves her teacher! She will be starting basketball for her school in the next few weeks. She is very excited! No boyfriends, which is just fine by me and her father!

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Well its late and Monday comes very early!