Beginning the 2ww #1

I had a wonderful relaxing several days visiting family & friends for Thanksgiving. I let the TTC slip to 2 really good friends who are rooting for us now. I feel really blessed to know them, and have someone to talk to about this.

I've also vented for 2 weeks about the "waiting to ovulate" issues that I had or imagined :) to the TMP gals and I'd really be lost without them. It's nice to have friends going through this as well. I feel like people going through the TTC nightmare understand. It is so easy to communicate with them.

So I think I ovulated on CD 13 this month, because I was having some serious ovary pain ALL day. That would put me at just a few dpo (days past ovulation). I am already dying to test but we know that that is just not possible. Well, it's possible, but would be useless so far. I will be 11dpo on George's birthday. Now as unlikely as it is that I will get this first shot, I think that would be a great birthday present :)

Jackson is here!!

First I have to say a big congratulations to my best friend, Brandy. After fighting infertility for 4 years and having a 38 week long long tortuous, gestatuional diabetes ridden pregnancy, her beautiful baby boy Jackson is here.

November 24, 2009 @ 6:59 pm, weighing 6 lb 13 oz, 19 3/4 inches long, and beautiful!!!

I can't wait to talk to her tomorrow. I'd give anything to be in Michigan right NOW!

I'll update as often as I can with pics :)

Sunday Reflections

I'm rearranging my kitchen cabinets to make it more usable and to fit everything in the stand alone cabinet/pantry. To do that we have to do some repairs on drawer railings.... SO we emptied cabinets, took the drawers apart, and went to Home Depot.

Well, we tried.I had left my visor/mirror open last night and the battery was dead.. DEAD> Hadto go get Mr. Rodriguez to give us a jump, THEN we went to Home Depot. By that time it was time to cook, (see recipe below) and I'm glad I had planned on something quick. Yummy, too!!

So now I have a W-R-E-C-K-E-D kitchen and an awesome new recipe for you!

OH! My hubby bought me the Paula Deen Pie Board that doubles as a large cutting board. I LOVE IT!! I love him.. he's so awesome! I almost didn't get it. I usually put anything for me back, but he pulled the "Your birthday is next week" card and made me leave it in the basket. This morning I used it to cut potatoes and didn't have to stop after every one and move it to a disk,, tonight I am using it to hold my cooling racks while I make cookies.. I may sleep with it under my pillow.. I love it!!

UN-Stuffed Potatoes

The recipe calls for baked potatoes hulled out and refilled... No one eats the potato skins here so I overhauled everything.. starting with instant potatoes.

What you need:

• 2 cups instant potatoes*
• 2/3 c milk*
• 1 lb ground meat
• 1/2 cup seasoning blend
• 1 c salsa
• shredded cheese
• 12 oz frozen mixed vegetables, microwaved 3 minutes
• Seasonings to taste

What you do:

1. Prepare potatoes per package instructions.
2. Brown beef and seasoning blend. Drain. Return to skillet.
3. On medium heat mix together: meat mixture, vegetables, salsa, and season to taste.
4. Serve over mashed potatoes.
5. Top with cheese.

Garlic bread would have been AWESOME with this!

First Thing Friday

PLAY ALONG IN MY COMMENTS SECTION!!

Type the first thing that comes to mind:

1. milk
2. pop
3. test
4. fish
5. pencil
6. year
7. tug
8. boat
9. crop
10. hit
11. mom
12. hug
13. yolk
14. drink
15. food
16. water
17. plate
18. plane
19. terrorist
20. purple
21. fork
22. mouse
23. hippo
24. bubble
25. store
26. air
27. love
28. pickle
29. AIM
30. friend
31. hurricane
32. tornado

Scroll down for my answers after you post :)

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

1. milk STRAWBERRY
2. pop SODA
3. test SCHOOL
4. fish TROUT
5. pencil YELLOW
6. year 2005
7. tug WAR
8. boat ZOOM
9. crop FARM
10. hit POW
11. mom DAD
12. hug *smile*
    
13. yolk EGG
14. drink WET
15. food PIZZA
16. water DRINK
17. plate FOOD
18. plane AIR
19. terrorist PLANE
20. purple HEART
21. fork SPOON
22. mouse GRAY
23. hippo POTTAMUS? *yes, that was the first thing that came to mine LOL!*
    
24. bubble POP
25. store SHOP
26. air BREATHE
27. love GEORGE *hubby
    
28. pickle TART
29. AIM AOL
30. friend BRANDY
31. hurricane RUM
32. tornado RUN

That's the Plan Thursday Nov 19

As much as I am enjoying Meal Plan Monday..
it isn't working for me. "Why?" you ask.

Because I go shopping on a Thursday night - EVERY 2 WEEKS! By the time I put up a MPM, 1/2 my scheduled week has gone by, sometimes 1 1/2.

Because of the work/school/payday schedule, I create a two week meal plan, a minimum of 10 dinners, and randomly pulla a meal off that list for the next two weeks. When Holidays roll around, things get mixed up, if we're going out of town, etc.

So here is "That's the Plan Thursday" installment 1 - November 19 - December 3. With the holidays and my birthday I'm probably going to have about 8 days of cooking because I'm going out of town. I will sneak my cornbread dressing in for you in case you're looking for a new one.

Saving money (and calories) to lay out the holiday spread? Join me for a burger bonanza! Don't be afraid to serve burger nightly.. especially if you are using budget and figure friendly turkey burger! Just change up the way it is cooked and your family will never know what hit them! (Printable recipes & shopping list coming soon)

Baked Chimis
A more figure friendly version

Stuffed Potatoes
Meat, Cheese, Potatoes? Can't go wrong!

Ranch Burgers
Yummy & Moist.. and since we know this family LOVES ranch.. it's a winner!

Cowboy Stew
Hearty stew, stretchable with a side of rice. Crock Pot Friendly

Florentine Shells
Add some burger & bacon to a cute seashell.. and they'll forget all aboutt he spinach!

Shepherd's Pie
Old Fashioned Comfort food

Tamale Pie
Quick and still tasty! Shortcuts don't have to be flavorless

Calico Bean Bake
Changing some things up from a Papmered Chef recipe!

Saturday Night Supper
Good anynight of the week, but quick & easy for a busy saturday

Southwestern Cheeseburgers
A little splurge on the chesese, but WORTH it!

Meal Plan Monday November 16

I've got to get back on this blog :)

This week's meal plan:

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
Cheesyburger Mac

Chicken Stuffed Skillet

Parmesan Chicken & Rice

Fire Roasted Hotdogs

BONUS RECIPE WITH SIDES

Mom's Diner Enchiladas

Made this last week and it was GREAT!!!

Makes enough for a crowd!

Fire Roasted Hotdogs

What you need:

• Hotdogs
• Buns
• toppings
• wire hangers
• fire pit
• kids or child like hearts:)

Yep! You know where I'm going! LOL! It's cooler and we're roasting weenies on the fire pit!

Marshmallows for dessert!!

Parmesan Chicken & Rice dinner

What you need:

1. 1 Tbsp. oil 4-6 chicken thighs
2. 1 can (10-3/4 oz.) condensed cream of mushroom or chicken soup
3. 1-1/2 cups water or milk
4. 2 cups instant white rice, uncooked
5. 1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen peas, thawed
6. 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

What you do:

1. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat.
2. Add chicken; cover.
3. Cook 5-7 min. on each side or until cooked through.
4. Remove chicken from skillet.
5. Add soup and water to skillet; stir. Bring to boil.
6. Add rice, peas and cheese; mix well.
7. Top with chicken; cover.
8. Cook on low heat 5 min.
9. Serve sprinkled with cracked black pepper.

(Adapted from Kraft Foods)

Mom's Diner Enchiladas

I couldn't find a recipe I really liked so I created this from looking at several recipes. Exchange what we liked for what you like, and enjoy!

What you need:
2 lbs turkey burger
2 pkgs taco seasoning, or use your own blend
1 (24 oz) jar of salsa, divided 12oz/12oz
1 large can (32 oz) enchilada sauce
1 T cumin
2 bags shredded mexican blend cheese
flour tortillas - LOTS!
1 can chicken broth
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup buttermilk ranch salad dressing

What you do (filling/sauce):
Heat enchilada sauce with cumin in seperate saucepan. Set Aside.
Brown meat. Drain. Add taco seasoning.
Put 12 oz salsa to blender and pulse until smooth.
Add all salsa and 1/2 cup enchilada sauce to meat and heat through.
Stir in 1/2 bag (1 cup) cheese. Remove from heat. Set aside.
In shallow skillet, warm broth to simmer.


What you do (assembly line):
Preheat oven to 350°
Spray 11 x 13 pan with non-stick cooking spray, paying special attention to the SIDES of the pan.
Spoon a thin layer of enchilada sauce over the bottom of the pan.
Dip one tortilla in simmering broth to cover both sides.
lay flat and add 1/4 cup meat filling.
Roll tightly and place seam side down in pan.
Continue until pan is full, You will have about 10-12 across and 2 longways down the side, depending on the size of your tortillas. Fit snuggly so they don't unroll.
Spoon heavy layer of enchilada sauce over the top.
Put 1-1 1/2 cups shredded cheese over the top.
Bake for 15 minutes and serve with spanish rice or tex-mex cheesy fries!

Mom's Diner Tex-Mex Fries

Simple? Yes. Yummy? YOU BET!

What you need:

• 1 bag frozen seasoned fries
• cumin
• chili powder
• Tony's or salt
• 1/4-1/2 cup shredded mexican blend cheese

What you do:

1. Bake fries as directed until super crispy on the outside
2. Sprinkle lightly with cumin & chili powder.
3. Top with cheese

Mom's Diner Spanish Rice

What you need:

• Rice pot (unless YOU know how to cook rice on the stove top.. I can't LOL!)
• 2 1/2 cups rice ( I prefer medium grain)
• 1 tsp 1 pinch red pepper flakes
• 2 TBSP Knoor Chicken Tomato Boullion
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 5-6 cups water

What you do:

1. Melt butter in a non-stick skellet over mnedium high heat.
2. Add pepper flakes stirring constatnly for 1 minute then add rice.
3. Stir rice to coat with butter, then stir occasionally until it starts browning.
4. Add rice, water (start with 5), salt & boullion to rice pot.
5. Stir occasionally as the rice boils, adding water of it looks necessary. Browned rice will absorb more water than regular.

Chicken Stuffed Skillet

What you need:

• 1-1/2 cups hot water
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, melted
• 1 pkg. (6 oz.) boxed stuffing mix for chicken
• 6 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1-1/2 lb.)
• 1 can (10-3/4 oz.) condensed cream of mushroom or chicken soup
• 1/3 cup sour cream

What you do:

1. Mix hot water, butter and stuffing mix.
2. Cook chicken in large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat 5-7 min. on each side.
3. Mix soup and sour cream; pour over chicken.
4. Top with stuffing; cover.
5. Cook on low heat 10 min. or until chicken is done.

(Adapted from Kraft Foods)

Cheesyburger Mac

What you need:

• 1 lb. ground meat
• 2-3/4 cups water
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
• 1/2 lb. (8 oz.) American Cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1/3 c milk
  

What you do:

1. Brown meat in large skillet; drain.
2. Add water, ketchup and onion powder; mix well.
3. Bring to boil.
4. Stir in macaroni; cover.
5. Simmer on medium-low heat 8 to 10 min. or until macaroni is tender.
6. Stir in cheese & milk; cook until melted, stirring occasionally.

(Adapted from Kraft Foods)

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

What you need:

• 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 can (14-1/2 oz.) chicken broth
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
  
• 3 cups instant white rice, uncooked
• 1/2 lb. (8 oz.) American cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped broccoli, thawed

What you do:

1. Cook chicken in large nonstick skillet on medium-high until chicken is done.
2. Stir in broth & bring to boil.
3. Add rice, cheese and broccoli; cover.
4. Remove from heat. Let stand 10 min.
5. Stir until cheese is completely melted and mixture is well blended.

(Adapted from Kraft Foods)

CD 1 - and I appreciate it this time

It's amazing how most months whether TTC or not, we're dreading the arrival of good old Aunt Flo. It's not always that we're waiting on a baby and she shows up to ruin everything.. sometime's she's simply an inconvenience and a pain (literally for me). Just always in the way.

Then a day like today.. I'm waiting... and waiting... and WAITING on her so I can start my first cycle TTC. Now I'm counting the days till O.

I'm sure I won't be this happy to see her if she shows again in 28 days.. but today.. I like her.

Dear Aunt Flo,

Welcome to the party. I'm glad to see you this month. Settle in and unpack your bags. Yes. You heard me right. You're welcome here. You see I hope that while you are twisting & turning my insides to a painful pulp you forget that there are other women out there that you might oughta be seeing and just settle for me. They've had enough of you. No. No. I know it's hard to be at 2 places at once.

Just kick back and relax. I'll get us some Pamprin and hot chocolate and we'll have a good week long visit. After that you can pack your shit and head to Timbuktoo for about 36 weeks. Nope, not even kicking you out full term. See I like you.. a little.

Your Niece,

Still no AF

Just throwing this out there if anyone is reading...

Still waiting on AF. 5 evenings off the pill, so I expect her tomorrow sometime. I stopped the pack before I got to the high hormone pills, I think. I used tri-cyclen so it has 3 stages and a placebo week. But I started putting my bcp in my nightly medicine holder thing.. but when i'd remember oh, it's pill time!! I'd take one out the pack.. or out the container. I totally spaced. I missed a few days and took 2 pills at once like twice... maybe three times.

This cycle I expect to be screwed up because it was an exercise in my blondness and who knows if I stopped or screwed up in time to be fertile? Wouldn't that be a friggin riot? I don't totally trust my memory or the pill anyway since I conceived dd#1 so easily literally right after coming off them, so if my period ever takes more than 7 days off hormones to start I POAS. Addiction satisfied, and usually that is the perfect way to jump start AF. It's like she lurks around bored than goes "Wait! That was a stick! I'm supposed to be visiting now! **** cookies distracted me!"

Provided AF starts 11/15 as planned, and counting on the fact that I should still have my normal cycle after getting off (if history holds)...

Estimated CD 1 = 11/15
OPK starting CD 10-15 = 11/25-30

Ugh Thanksgiving... that might be hard. I'll be out of town. But I definitely don't want to miss it!! I usually O on CD 15 almost religiously and that puts me at the ex in laws?!?! OMG! I'm being conspired against!

Well maybe we'll have to break in the SUV Got it last year and needless to say I'm past the "park & play" age.. but I'm willing to make an exception for TTC! LMAO!

Until later!

tickers!

waiting on AF to show so we can get the game ON!

It's finally beginning...

Hubby has finally agreed to TTC!

As of last night I am officially of my birth control pills. **happy dance** I'm not allowed to temp or obsess but I will try to calculate the correct dates in my head so I have a decent chance.

So far I've come up with this:

TTC CYCLE 1
Nov 15-16 AF estimated arrival
Nov 30-Dec 1 O estimated arrival

(I'm usually O pretty regular at CD 15)

TTC CYCLE 2
Dec 13-15 AF estimated arrival
Dec 29-30 O estimated arrival

TTC CYCLE 3
Jan 11-13 AF estimated arrival
Jan 26-27 O estimated arrival

In February if AF shows we re-evaluate and decide if we go ahead with the hysterectomy.

Now with only ONE tube that means I'm gonna have a useful O once MAYBE twice before he (most likely) shuts me down.

Never thought I'd say this but AF COME ON AND GET HERE!!!!! I wanna get this show on the road! LOL!