What's new?

I think at least 5 people in the past 5 days have asked me what's new with all this infertility stuff...and honestly, I hate when I have to tell them that pretty much nothing is new. I think that's what is so frustrating about this whole journey. You do SO much waiting and there's SO much down-time in between treatments that I think I can even hear my ovaries crying out to me about how old they're getting and how my egg supply is dwindling (my RE's words, not mine), but then when you are in the middle of a treatment cycle, the days seem to creep by even more slowly because you're living from one appointment to the next, hanging on every word of the nurse/doctor/ultrasound tech/embryologist/etc. telling you the good (or in my case, grim) news. The waiting game is slowly killing me. The good news, however, is that I spoke with the doctor's office last week about the overview of my new protocol & I'm excited about it (Lupron Flare Protocol, for those of you interested) & hopeful that it will do the trick for us. I started on BCPs last Thursday & will continue on those through April 13th, then about a week later, I'll start Lupron, then stims. I'll keep you updated on that as things (slowly) start to unfold.

In other news, God is Good! Ok, so that might not be news to some of you, but if you've read any of my previous posts, you will know that I am absolutely in love with my job, but seeing as how I work about 10.5 hours a week at a church, the pay is not exactly fantastic & Gregg has started to get a bit cranky & worried about our financial situation...which I suppose is reasonable since we do have a $12000 medical bill looming over us again in the near future, but I digress. Last week, I was down in our living room testing my fitness age on our Wii (34, not too shabby for this non-athlete) when I got a call from my boss at the preschool/daycare informing me that one of my co-workers (R) handed in her resignation that very day, effective March 28th, thus opening up more hours for me! She offered me a promotion, asking if I would consider becoming the summer activities coordinator (for the full-time daycare kids).

After weighing all the options, Gregg (yes, the one worried about the money) & I decided that it would be best if I didn't work full-time in the summer since it is really our only time to spend an extended period with my family (who live 3 hours away) and to vacation together. I spoke with my boss yesterday and worked out a new plan for both the remainder of this year, as well as next...here is how things will pan out...

• For the remainder of this year, I will be working Monday through Friday, 8:30AM to 5:30PM (with a 1 hour lunch break in the middle). I will spend the 8:30-12 time slot teaching my 4-year-olds on MWF, and R's 3-year-olds on Tues/Thurs. From 1-3:30, I will be working on putting the daycare kids down for naps, then planning for the summer program. From 3:30-5:30, I will be helping with snack and after-school activities for the school-aged daycare kids. That means that I'll be gone from approx. 7:45 to 6PM everyday...I know that housework & cooking will suffer, but if it makes my husband feel more at ease with the money situation (I've never been one to fret over money matters), then I'll make it work somehow.
• During the summer, I will probably fill in for the full-time daycare teachers when they have vacation time. This will allow me to at least post some income, but basically still have my summer off.
  
• As for next year, I will most likely be working 5 days a week from 7-12, helping with the before-school daycare kids, then teaching both the 3 & 4-year old preschool classes. I also spoke with my boss & she is totally ok with me keeping my name on the sub list at the local school district to work days where they can put me in the books ahead of time (like when the teachers have workshops or appointments), so that I have time to give her a heads-up and find a sub for me for the day. This will allow me to keep my name active in the school district & bring in a little extra income here and there.

So, in other words, God has been very good and has really provided for us in this situation. I know that it still isn't ideal in Gregg's eyes (he wants a second full-time teacher's income), but it will have to do for now, seeing as how I've applied in this area for 6 years and only ever had 3 interviews (and only one position came from that), despite my 3 years of full-time teaching experience since that time. Thanks for all your prayers! :)