Miracles Really Do Happen!

When I was a little girl I planned out a very unrealistic plan for myself. By age 21 I would be out of college, married and by age 25 I would be a mom. For starters, I am Hispanic so all my cousins had babies way before my timeline. I didn't meet the love of my life until age 21, and we married at age 25. About a year into our marriage we decided we wanted a baby so I went off the pill. Little did I know I spent a fortune on birth control when in fact I didn't need it. My ovaries were my own birth control. After trying unsuccessfully for a year we made an appointment with a fertility doctor and was shortly diagnosed with Polyscystic Ovarian Syndrome. The doctor said it wasn't impossible to become pregnant but it would be harder since I only ovulated like 3 times a year. We didn't lose hope. We tried various treatments but nothing seemed to work. At our last doctor's appointment we were told the next step would be IVF, this scared me. I told my husband that I didn't have it in me anymore and needed a break from all the tests, drugs and doctor appointments. He was so supportive and understanding. For several months we didn't even speak the word "baby". We continued with our routine but there wasn't a second of the day that I didn't think about the situation we were in. I worked very closely with pregnant women and their children, so I couldn't escape it. Last year around this time I was promoted and am longer in the clinic day in and day out, breathing, thinking pregnancy & babies. After settling in to my new position, I communicated to my husband that we needed to think about our options because I really didn't think I could face the disappointment if IVF didn't work. On our 5 year anniversary we headed to the beach for some relaxation. Months had passed with out a period but wouldn't you know I started one that weekend. 4 more months went by until another period in August. 2 weeks after that menstrual cycle I started having period symptoms again, I remember commenting to my husband that I might have 2 periods in a row, a rarity for me. Well the time came and went for my period to start and I was still having symptoms. On a Thursday night we met up at a Mexican restaurant with some close friends for dinner. Having grown up eating Mexican food my whole life and enjoying spicy food, it struck me as odd when I got the worst case of heartburn after dinner. My husband and I starting thinking back and he pointed out that I have been very tired lately. He said he noticed that I didn't order a beer with dinner or had for a while now. He suggested I take a pregnancy test. I told him there was no point because they were always negative. I said something must be wrong with my stomach and that I would make a doctor appointment the next day. That night I couldn't sleep, I was so sick. I tossed and turned all night. The next morning I thought back to what my husband said and remembered I had a pregnancy test in the cabinet. I took it out of the pack, read the directions, like I hadn't done this 5 million times before. After completing the test, I set the test on the sink and proceeded to shower. When I was drying myself I didn't dare look at the sink, I kept telling to myself it was negative. When I finally glanced at the sink I saw the darkest pink little lines (for the first time in my life). I picked up the test and shook it, (why I don't know) I stared at the lines for what seemed like an eternity. I can't possibly express what I felt that very moment. I walked to the bedroom put some panties on and grabbed my phone. I took a picture of the beautiful little pink lines and sent it to my husband. In my text I told him not to freak out, that it may be a fluke. For some reason I always think the worst so I am not disappointed. He text me back and said that I was going to have to explain how not to freak out! When I got to work, I called my doctor and made an appointment for later that morning. I took another test at the doctor's office and within minutes the nurse came in and hugged me. She knew how long we had been trying. I was speechless! That was the beginning of our wonderful pregnancy! I use the word wonderful lightly because it has been quite awful but I don't care, it will all be worth it! Since week 6 I have been ONE with the toilet. After every meal I vomit, the nausea lasts all day long. I felt so weak and tired. All of that was irrelevant when we got to see and hear our little peanut's heartbeat. It became so REAL for me that day. We are now approaching our 17 week and I am starting to feel much better, the vomiting episodes are less and less. Our next ultrasound appointment is next week......what will little peanut be? A boy or a girl? Only time will tell for sure!

Freaky Friday

Our second Halloween Costume Contest at work was a flop! I was really the only one who dressed up. Two co-workers kinda thru something together but I went all out. Winning this year was a piece of cake!

This little girl makes my heart melt!

Little Cheli is technically my second cousin but she calls me Tia. Her mom is like a sister since I grew up with her. Anyway, we just celebrated Cheli's birthday a few weekends ago. She is the littlest child in our family right now so she is spoiled rotten! When my mom asked her what she wanted for her birthday, she said "a cellphone, a real one", mind you she is four years old. I had already purchased her gift; which consisted of clothes and one toy, a sufficient gift for a four year old I thought. Boy was I wrong. My mom and stepdad actually bought her a cellphone! Everyone at the party couldn't believe that a four year old got a cellphone..... yes folks, that just happened. I just shook my head at my mom and stepdad, as I thought "those suckers"! To make a long story short when the party was over and we were cleaning up, Cheli ran over to me and asked me to pick her up. I did even though she is too heavy to pick up, then she brushed my hair away from my face with her little perfect hand and said, "Tia Clarissita when I grow up I want to be just like you". I was speechless for a second, I would have gave her my car that very moment if she asked me for it. Who is the sucker now?

Can't read enough lately!

I finished "The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo" & "The Girl Who Played with Fire". I absolutely love Lisbeth Salander, she kicks ass!

Funny tidbit: I had to sleep with the lights on one night b/c I was scared to death during a couple chapters of "The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo". (I know I am a big puss) Regardless, I would stay up half the night reading this suspense novel... I just couldn't get enough. I am looking forward to reading "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest"

Old School

Recently while cleaning out our closets and I stumbled upon old pictures documenting my adolescence. I was flooded by so many memories as I leafed through the pictures. I hadn't laughed so hard in a long time! We think we know so much, we think those are the most important years of our lives but in reality those years were mere stepping stones. Yes, those years helped shape the person I am today but I have experienced and learned so much since then. I am lucky to have all those memories to look back on, so lucky that some of the people that meant the most then still mean so much today and definitely lucky that I have so many more memories to live through with those dear to me. That's why I always carry my camera, a snapshot is a memory waiting to be remembered!

Talavera Baby!

Claymates is my NEW favorite place to hang out with my girlfriends.
Girl's Night Out Consists of:
a little wine, some snacks,
great conversations,
laughter & letting your creativity run wild~PRICELESS!

P.S. This is my first attempt at painting a Talavera design and it definitely won't be the last!!!

EAT PRAY LOVE

Just finished indulging in "Eat, Pray, Love"; an incredible memoir about Liz's journey to find herself. I have always wanted to travel the world. Elizabeth Gilbert is my hero! Up next on the read list is her book "Committed, A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage".

*Holy crap I almost forgot to mention that one of my favorite actresses, Julia Roberts, will play Liz in the upcoming flick. Javier Bardem plays the sexy Brazilian named Felipe she meets in Bali and even better than that James Franco plays David (I couldn't think of anyone better to play David). Only time will tell if these actors and movie writers do this GREAT book justice. August 13th can't get here soon enough!