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Monday, November 21, 2011

WE GOT NEW WINDOWS....


This post is a bunch of photos. I'm not going to bore you with a tutorial...cuz to be honest...my contribution to this effort was minimal...more gopher, less worker. Needless to say, I am super pleased and proud of my hubby! Thanks to his step-dad and mom for helping us and giving up two FULL weekends of their time! <3 them!!!

Uh oh there's a hole in my house!

Men at work

Directions help

Peekaboo!
I helped a little!!! Yay me!
 
The "why are you taking MY picture" face


We can do it!
SOOO much better!

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Purchased my new living room rug...

Bought my new rug for the living room!



from o.co

So excited...really can't wait to see it in place.

Anyways, that was really the big news of the weekend. Hubby worked all weekend, so I chilled after my busy busy week. (Brand-new baby enrolled at the daycare, and I always forget how "hands-on" 2 month olds are. She's beautiful and we worked it out by friday...I really think she'll be a great addition to our group!)

We did make it to Sam's Club for some bulk supplies and will go to hubby's grandma's 80th birthday party tonight. Hubby also gets to go hang with the boys for some Ravens vs Steelers action at the sports bar tonight. GO RAVENS!!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Basement Progress...

We have drywall up and mud slapped on the walls!!!! DH worked hard, with the help of our good friend Troy, every day after work to get this together. I helped as I was able, over the weekend, but hubby was so nice to let me focus on the rest of the house and get ready for a new baby to start in the daycare this past week. He knows how anxious I get, and I have to clean, clean, clean. 
The Den/Office

Family Room

Bar wall
The only section that isn't drywalled and mudded is the section in the photo above. This is the area where our sewer pipe exits the house. Unfortunately, we've noticed there is 'something' wrong with the pipe...AFTER it leaves the house. We've had seepage through the block wall down the wall, onto the floor. Luckily we have the wall open & nothing on the floor. Un-luckily, but perhaps to be expected, neither the contractor who did our original renovation (including dig-out, install and re-grade for the door & stairs we added) or the concrete contractor who did our outside patio are being very helpful to determine who might be responsible for possible damage to the pipe. We're getting the run around, kind of typical for the reno-contractor, unfortunately. Hopefully, though we can muster through and get 'er done before too long so we can wrap up this second reno quickly. I have plans, man!

We have decided to continue on in all other parts of the basement. I am excited that next week we can start putting primer on the walls.
Further to do items for our basement living space.
  • Finish up sanding & clean up
  • Clean the floor
  • Seal the cracks in the concrete floor
  • Prime the walls
  • Paint the walls
  • Install new LED lights in office
  • Replace new drop-ceiling tiles in office (to match family room)
  • Install vinyl floor planks in family room, office, and hallway (only leaving section referenced above bare floor)
  • Repair, paint & re-install trim
  • Order new rugs
  • Bring in FURNITURE!!!!!!!!!!!! (can you tell I can't wait to have my couch back?!)
We aren't positive, but we may have our living space back by the holidays. It all depends on how much we can get done in the next few weeks. Luckily I don't mind painting.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

On the road to baby H, HSG

Yesterday, I enjoyed a visit to the Radiology department at the Harrisburg Hospital.


I was pretty anxious. Ok so really anxious.

I've been lucky enough to have a pretty healthy life so far. I've never had to have x-rays, or broken bones, or surgery or anything. Well, to be fair, I did have stiches when I was 4 after taking a header into a corner of the wall. I can remember bits and pieces of that visit to the hospital: just slightly do I see the doctor's standing above me, and I remember screaming bloody murder, but I truly don't remember the pain or the feeling of the stitches going in.

So, walking into a hospital for this was a little unsettling. Something I knew I had to do, but anxiety inducing none-the-less. My mom drove down and went with me...while my hubby stayed home with the daycare kiddos. I'm so glad she was able to come with me. Just knowing she was there with me, eased some of my nerves & allowed me to be more open to the experience.

So, anyways to be technical: The HSG test (or hysterosalpingogram, or hystogram) is an x-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes. This test is done between days 7-10 of your cycle, after mustruation has stopped but before ovulation.

The test is performed by a doctor, radiology assistant and nurse. You lie on your back with feet placed as you would for a pelvic exam. The doctor will insert a speculum to hold open the vagina to allow for a view of the cervix. They clean the cervix and insert a device to hold the cervix steady. Then they pass a thin tube into the uterus. As the radiology assistant takes pictures with the x-ray machine, the doctor injects a special dye through the thin tube into the uterus and fallopian tubes. The fluid will cause the uterus to stretch, resulting in uterine cramping. If the fallopian tubes are blocked, this fluid will cause them to stretch also, maybe causing pain as well. Images are taken as the fluid fills the uterus and tubes, they may ask you to turn from left to right to better grab pictures. If there is no blockage of the tubes and/or scarring of the tubes or uterus, the fluid will slowly spill out the ends of the tubes. After it does, it will be absorbed by the abdominal wall cells. After the test there are some minor side effects. These include, a sticky vaginal discharge (fluid draining), cramping, feeling dizzy, faint or nauseus, there may also be slight vaginal bleeding. There are some risks and/or complications to this procedure including allergic reaction to the dye, injury to the uterus or pelvic infection. Please discuss the symptoms for these with your doctor prior to the exam. Be sure to have someone drive you home after due to the possibility of some of the side-effects.

For my exam, I was instructed to take 400mg of ibuprofen 1 1/2 hours before the procedure to help alleviate any pain during the exam. I did, but it didn't help much. I have to tell you...the insertion of the tube and the fluid was painful. For me it was close to a 7 on the 1-10 pain scale (1=lowest, 10=highest). However, like I previously stated, I have never really had any chronic pain, trauma or surgery. I've never given birth, I've never had a broken bone. I don't really know what real pain is. So, when I was told there would be some moderate cramping, I just assumed it would be close in relation to my menstrual cramps. NOT SO! At least for me, this was the worst cramping I've ever felt...and I thought I've had some pretty bad ones. It was sharp, acute pain and seemed to last the ENTIRE time. I don't write this to scare anyone reading this, just be prepared for intense pressure and some acute pain. Feel free to tell them it hurts and squeeze the sheets/blankets. Once the tube is removed, for me the pain went away almost immediately. I did have some general feelings of spasms after, with some discharge and some nausea, but that was all VERY minor and didn't bother me much at all.

The results were positive and gave me much relief. My tubes and uterus are clear of any blockage and/or scarring. In fact the doctor was saying during the exam that the fluid was moving beautifully and everything was clear. The doctor performing the exam did mention that there might be a slight heart-shape to my uterus, but she hasn't seen enough of them to be definitive. So, I must wait to hear from my doctor after the radiologist has a chance to look at the films and write his report. I have been doing some research on a bicarbauate uterus, and there are some scary issues with that and pregnancy, but that is for another post when I have more information, including whether it is an issue for me or not.