Down East

That's what they call this place..."Down East".


Not sure if we can get in on that lingo, but are loving the lighthouses, rocky coasts, and lobsters abound!


We are here a bit before the summer rush. Things have just begun to gear up around here, so I think we've timed it just right. It is still a bit chilly, and some places aren't open yet, but we're not hurrying to dinner reservations or worrying about not finding lodging.


We spent some time in Acadia National Park.


While hiking, our views through the trees were always of the coast, no matter where we were.


The temperature has been about 70 degrees each day and atop the mountains it's cool and windy.


We hiked to the top of Acadia Mountain and Cadillac Mountain.


The water looks so tempting, but I know better.


My new shoes, which I *love* (clearance at Massey's!) stayed on my feet.

Charlie braved the cold and put his toes in.


I was content to enjoy the breeze and the view.


We've been filling up on lobster. We've had some each day, and I think Charlie's got designs on having it in an omelet in the morning.


We've discovered the best way to have lobster...at a "lobster pound." These are little, unpretentious, no frills joints that have the fishermen's catch for you to check out and select and then they'll steam it for you to eat out on picnic tables or take to go.

We found "Beal's" in Southwest Harbor. We ordered a lobster, some mussels, corn, coleslaw, and a few beers. A steal for $60...


...considering Charlie selected a 4.25 lb lobster! It was about the biggest lobster I had ever seen!




Charlie was quite content. I still can't believe I gave in and agreed to such a beast! I felt a little sad for the animal sitting in the scale about to be tossed into the steamer.


It was nice to dine on fresh seafood by the water.


Charlie's tired of hearing me "Oh, it's just so Americana" in my swoony voice each time we turn the corner or drive around the bend, but there's no other way to describe it. (I'm sure many of you out there can imagine what Charlie's dealing with!)


Tiny coastal towns, bed and breakfasts, bakeries, pubs...


No sweater wearing, really. I didn't even bring a sweater, but now know who wears all those cute pale spring pink and yellow sweaters I see in catalogs.


We're enjoying poking around someone else's neighborhood, having new people to watch, and even talking about the next place we'll live.

CCRM testing thus far

Messages left today:

• From CCRM nurse:
• Semen analysis within normal range...all numbers look good. Charlie doesn't remember exact stats.
• Free of communicable diseases
• Erin did not test positive for sickle cell or thalassemia
• Phone calls to come as the results trickle in
• Confirm appointment for afternoon of June 12
  

• From internist:
• results of my thyroid panel and CBC are in the mail to me and CCRM

Let the soup eating and sweater wearing begin

We made it to our hotel room at sunrise this morning after 12 hours of traveling. Delayed flights put us in Maine rather late, and we considered hitting the 24 hour LL Bean, but decided it best to head north and get to bed.

After sleeping for a better part of the day, we finally are topped off with lots of clams, both fried and in bowls of creamy chowder!

More rest tonight in flannel pjs and we'll be ready to explore and hike in the morning.

TiVo has its drawbacks

I am currently being subjected, at 7:00 pm, to watching the national championship lacrosse game which aired today at 1:00 pm.

If that isn't bad enough, I get to watch the hits and "sweet" goals over and over until I really watch and pay attention.

Ah, TiVo...

Ah, Charlie...

Sunday

It's not even June and the heat has driven us in. It was a cold movie theater, daiquiris, and popcorn for Sunday afternoon.

We loved, loved, loved Narnia. Loved it so much I didn't slip into typical movie nap mode, even with a daiquiri in me.

We made it to the deck at Landry's just in time for sunset over the lake. We try to avoid large chains in favor of small local restaurants, but lakefront options are limited these days.


Landry's has deck seating over the lake...something we loved at Brunning's and Sid-Mar's, both small, family owned restaurants. Most likely Landry's is the only operation able to afford rebuilding and insurance for a lake side location.

So we enjoyed the sunset, people watching, a few beers....

...gumbo, and crab.

Good date, out of the heat.

Then and Now

Last May things looked a bit like this....

Look at that tiny passion vine along the fence!

And now....


I wish I had a fisheye lens to help get it all in, but you get the idea.

Most of this is a result of tossing open seed packets in late February and lots of water. I'll be cutting flowers for inside until we have a freeze.

I love having a garden.

Hydrangea this morning

Finally some blooms. I want them to be blue, so off to figure out the easiest way to change the soil pH and make it more acidic. I think I need to add aluminium sulfate to the soil.

TGIF

Starting the weekend off right...
...lime ice and tiramisu at Brocato's.

Worked up and worn out

Warning: Below post is not the most interesting. In an effort to keep record of appointments, tests, and results I intend to archive all information here for ease of retrieval and reference. Read on if you should so desire.

We made it home last night after nineteen hours in Denver. Our marathon day ended seemingly appropriately with us dashing through the Dallas airport with a very full bladder, knocking over old men to make our connection after a delay due to a tornado in Denver.

Overall, the seven hours we spent at the clinic went smoothly. We were both very impressed with the efficiency and competence of the staff. They were very accommodating and on the ball.

Test breakdown went like this:

• The ultrasound and doppler confirmed my thin lining and the work my body is doing to try to supply blood to the uterus. A high pulsatility index indicates poor blood flow to the endometrium. The pulsatility index value normally falls between 2 and 2.99. My left side was 3.2 and my right 4.2. The doctor is not convinced the poor lining is a deal breaker just yet, although it is associated with decreased pregnancy rates. He presumes that if he gets enough estrogen in me, the lining will respond. Removing caffeine from the body and acupuncture with points in the back are shown to increase blood flow and lining. So first plan of action is to resume acupuncture after a protocal is provided from an acupuncturist knowledgable about PI (pulsatility index) and kick the caffeine habit.
  
• The hysteroscopy revealed no real surprises, and nothing he feels would prevent pregnancy. This was very painful. My cervix had to be dilated to accommodate the hysteroscope, and there were tears. Thankfully it only lasted a few minutes.
• Semen sample was provided for anaylysis and testing of antisperm and antibodies, the sperm chromatin assay. The sample is being sent to a lab in South Dakota.
• In all we left 12 vials of blood. Some tests will be performed in their labs, and others will be sent out.
  
• Charlie's testing includes: cystic fibrosis screening (because of European descent), communicable disease screening, and a complete karyotype.
• My testing includes: screening for cystic fibrosis (European descent), sickle cell and thalassemia (because of Hispanic descent), Fragile X (because of age), and a complete karyotype
  

In our final conference with Dr S he implied if all tests come back normal, he'd recommend we proceed to IVF with an aggressive protocol of stimulation medication. He continued on that even if there are genetic or chromosomal issues preventing viable embryos, it is still possible through the wonders of science to get to a normal pregnancy and healthy child.

At this point we've decided, if all genetic and chromosomal tests come back normal, we will pursue IVF. Genetic and chromosomal abnormalities are a possibility though, and we won't decide what to do then until we get that information and speak with a genetic counselor.

We will conference with him in 3 weeks when all results are in and make a plan. In the meantime I need to have blood drawn on cycle day 3 and have it shipped to the lab. I'm thinking cycle day 3 may fall while I'm in Vermont, so I need a plan to get that done if we want to consider IVF in July. I also have to have some more records sent: most recent pap smear results, most recent physical results, and CBC and a thyroid panel.

And how am I feeling? Hopeful, confused, stressed...the usual. And as usual, Charlie is level headed, rational, strong, and calm. He feels hopeful, and thinks if we're going to get pregnant we're in the right place.

I would like very much to proceed with this in July if it is indeed going to happen, but like I've said before, there is just no convenient time. We are out of town until July 6th and I have a training the last week in July for a new part time job I've accepted (more cash and interesting work). So of course I am having doubts about why I took on another responsibility that may make this procreating thing more difficult, but at the same time I keep telling myself not to plan around it because it makes the sting of failure even worse.

Deep breath. It'll all work out one way or another...

Lovin'

• Grilling: burgers and veggies
• An avocado a day
  
• Finished paperwork...bring on summer vacation
• Blue skies
• Sore muscles
• Kisses on my forehead
• The fanny pack...on his fanny, not mine
  
• Walking to the park
• Sounds from the river
• Folded laundry
  
• Butterflies on flowers
  

Game 7

I learned how to use the timer on my new point and shoot!

We cheered and cursed during Thursday's game, but the Hornets didn't pull it out in San Antonio. So now we have a game 7 in the series tomorrow night in the Arena. Ugh. We love those games but going to a game 7 is cutting it too close, not to mention we are going broke. We spend lots of cash on sporting events!

Unfortunately, if when the Hornets move into the semifinals and finals, I think we'll have to sell off some of our tickets as we have several days out of town over the next few weeks. But, it made me feel better to see that tickets comparable to ours for tomorrow night are posted for sale for $726!!!

You read that correctly, Seven Hundred Twenty Six Dollars! I don't know how many have been sold for that price but that's what they're asking. That would nearly pay for all of our season tickets next year.

But, it is just too exciting of a game to pass up.

But, damn, $726?!?!

Sunday

Charlie went in to the lab early this morning and we were having coffee and bagels by 8:00 at the Laurel Street Bakery. Reading the newspaper across from each other is really the perfect way to start the day, and being at the bakery somehow makes it even better. This morning Charlie read aloud a few bits of the article about the man floating in the Gulf while a shark circled before we read and sipped in silence, enjoying the sound of the bread hook at work in the bakery and the breeze from the open door.


Our bikes were already loaded, so by 9:30 we were on the Causeway, heading to the north shore of the lake. We listened to The Chronicles of Narnia in preparation for the newly released film. We had listened to about half of the discs in all of our cross country driving while evacuated after Hurricane Katrina, but hadn't really been in the car for enough time to make any progress since then.

Starting the discs made me a bit teary at first. It was a difficult time for us, uncertain what our future was and where our future was for our family. And during the time we listened I was pregnant and we spoke of listening to books on tapes as a family and even added "Lucy" (one of the characters) to our list of baby names. But the tears came and went as I brought myself to the here and now on the Causeway with Charlie listening to a book on tape on a Sunday morning.

By 11:00 we were peddling out of Covington on The Tammany Trace. It was once a railroad corridor through St. Tammany Parish but now it is 26.5 miles of paved path connecting Covington, Abita Springs, Mandeville, Lacombe, and Slidell.

We started in Old Covington with designs on making the entire 53 mile round trip journey to Slidell and back.


I spent most of the day following. Same old excuse...my short legs can only peddle so fast, and besides I was overstimulated and had lots to look at! He would have died if I hopped off my bike to photograph the turtles an waterlilies.


After riding out two hours, and a few stops to massage the jello legs and munch on granola, we decided we had better turn around and head back.


I figure we made it about 20 miles out, and it was an awfully long peddle back.


I was dumped when we reached Abita Springs, so he could make better time without me. The last 3 miles to Covington he did solo and then met me with the truck at the Abita Brew Pub.


And in compete South Louisiana fashion, there was an outdoor concert going on at the park next door! Lots of umbrellas, lawn chairs, and beers with the fiddle and washboard and accordion providing tunes.


Beers, burgers, beers, and root beer floats!


I am not sure if I'll be walking in the morning. I hope I can manage to get down the stairs to leave the house.


Charlie brought home two growlers...one with Andygator and the other with a new Four Grain Brew.

And you know, those beers don't last long in the growlers, so we are drinking up, trying to forget our legs are attached to our bodies!

Cross Coutry Work Up

We will be in Denver this week for 19 hours. And in that time I will undergo some testing, each of us will provide blood, and Charlie will hand over a "specimen".

It's not exactly the best time for us to do this considering we have a trip to Maine planned the day after Memorial Day and Charlie has been trying to plow through some writing and research before heading to Vermont mid June. And damn airfares are sky high. But sitting with a calender and counting potential cycle days made it evident that there really wasn't ever going to be a good time.

My body can't seem figure out how to get pregnant, so I am not sure why I had even considered it might provide cycles at convenient times.

Initially we decided that I'd make this appointment solo, as I do with my others (except when I'm too drugged to drive or sperm are needed), but he decided he should come. I'm a big girl and would have been fine for 19 hours and a few tests in another city by myself (wouldn't you know his parents had planned on being out of town that day). I am really ok doing it by myself. But there is a part of me that's relieved he'll be there....signing consents, asking questions, and hearing everything first hand. I think mostly because this is our last ditch effort at pregnancy.

We're going where there is the highest percentage of live births from embryo transfers for women in my age group. And somewhere in the back of my mind lies the very real possibility that after testing it may be recommended that we not attempt another IVF cycle at all because our chances would fall far below their success rates.

The clinic sent our schedule of appointments and fees:

• 8:00 am -- Ultrasound and doppler; I don't know much about this doppler thing, but my understanding is that it measures the blood flow to the endometrium. I am not to consume any caffeine for 72 hours prior as it supposedly diminishes blood flow. $600.00
  
• 8:30 -- Provide blood and semen sample for ASAB – Semen Analysis + Antibody Testing $370
  
• 9:00 -- Business office. I'm sure this is to discuss payment.
• 9:30 -- Break.
  
• 10:00 -- Nurse Consultation. This is to go over medicine administration and we will sign consent forms.
  
• 12:30 -- Hysteroscopy. A camera will be used to view the inside of the uterus, the fallopian tubes, and examine the endometrium. $625
• 12:45 -- Meet with Doctor. I suppose we'll discuss the hysteroscopy. $85. Funny how talking to the doctor about the procedure he just did isn't included in the price. I'd much rather they tell me the hysteroscopy was $710 than show me a separate charge for a 15 minute conversation.
• 1:00-- Break. This is our lunch break, but there are no food options available on site.
• 1:30 -- Labs. We will discuss which tests the doctor specifically recommends. We'll have to do communicable disease screening even though we did this twice before with our other IVF cycles, because they want it done at their lab. There will be some genetic testing done as well. Minimum fee is $620, if extended labs are recommended fee will be $1255, and other genetic tests may incur additional fees.
  
• 2:00 -- Review consents with the lab.

We are set to be out of there by 2:30, and have a 4:45 flight. We want to leave there informed, if not hopeful, but I don't think we'll have the full scope of things for several weeks, when all labs, both blood and semen, are completed.

And yes, the crazy train is once again leaving the station. Charlie's on board and holding on tight. It is what it is, as he likes to say, and thankfully we've got each other.

Bobblehead

Well, we did it again.


Our pooch is now a bobblehead.

We attract looks in the park from snitty Uptown women talking about me under their breath wondering why I'd get my dog such a hair cut....if I had a full time help to sweep up all that hair my dog wouldn't have to run around all summer looking so ridiculous! And then there are the folks who tell you the dog needs his fur to regulate his body temperature and stay cool, which may very well be the case, but I think the dog sitting in the air conditioned house will be just fine.

His groomer loves him...when he's out of the kennel. She and all the other dogs were relieved to see me this afternoon since Batture barked the entire time he waited in the kennel. Poor dog. He's hoarse and walking around looking a bit self conscious.

But, I really don't care. He'll get over it, and less sweeping is worth every penny of the $60 shave.

Butterfly Bush this morning

This weekend I got two new plants: this butterfly bush and a Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow bush. And somehow I managed to find them each a place in the garden. Slowly but surely the entire yard is becoming garden. The butterflies couldn't be happier.

Another Sunday

We planned an all day cycle on Sunday, but quickly changed plans when we awoke to an early morning shower and a sky full of clouds. It actually turned out to be a great day for biking, but I am happy that we got some errands out of the way and some chores done around the house.

But late afternoon on Sunday we went to enjoy some of the music presented in City Park. There are bands in the Botanical Gardens on Thursdays and Sundays.


We enjoyed the tunes of Soul Project and Johnny Sketch under the live oaks while sipping mint juleps....just soooo Southern.


There were a fair amount of people lounging on the lawn. I think this is something we'll try to do more often.

Lee and Angie joined us for a while.


Afterwards, the four of us headed to the Bulldog for some burgers and to watch the Hornets. Ugh, what a disappointment that game was. Hoping they get back in the series with Tuesday night's game at home in the Arena.

Sundays are shaping up to be quite the day of the week for those of us on Bordeaux Street. Already looking ahead to the next one.