Update!

So I went to the OB yesterday and was absolutely amazed at what she had to share with me. She had the labs completed and run (from my blood work back in December), and she had my internal ultrasound results from the doctor that I went to last Thursday.

First off, I was very nervous. I wasn't sure what she was going to find, but I was alone and very nervous that it'd be bad news. As I think most readers know, I went because I've been having irregular cycles and bleeding and not been ovulating. She thought the internal would explain some things, but it came back completely normal. My ovaries are full of eggs (GREAT SIGN), and I have a nice uterus (thanks mom and dad) and my cervex looks great too. A girl couldn't ask for more. LOL.

So the internal ultrasound doctor (it wasn't a tech, he's actually a doctor that specializes in this) said it was most likely a hormonal issue because everything on the inside looks wonderful.

The first thing my OB said to me was, "You don't have genetal herpies." LOL. I busted out laughing because I didn't know she was even testing for that... and I said, "Well, that's good because if I did, my husband would be in some trouble." She said that with a woman looking to get pregnant, they always test for that because of complications that can come from herpies. Anywho--- I am STD free (lol). :)

I am also HPV free which was a little surprising because back in Michigan, I had an irregular pap and they said it was due to a strain of HPV. I had to take it very seriously because HPV can lead to cervical cancer. Anyway, I didn't know you could "get over it" but apparently whatever strain I had was mild enough that I no longer test positive for it and two different tests showed a negative result. Yay me! :)

My pap came back normal and everything looked good. More good news. So... where's the bad news? Believe it or not, there really wasn't any. All my hormone levels (with the exception of one) came back completely normal. I'm not diabetic, my insulin was in the normal-high range, but normal none-the-less, and my labs showed that I have eggs but am not ovulating. So, she put me on a prescription for something that starts with an M (can't remember the name), but it's supposed to help with the ovulation AND as an added bonus, will help me lose weight.

Her best guess as to what's happening with things is that I've gained weight and just am not ovulating as a result. This can happen to a 160 pound individual (I am not 160 btw)-- or someone like me (just a smidge more than 160 LOL). She said to focus on eating better (I AM) and to try and exercise regulary (I AM) and those things with this prescription should get things working for me. When I told her about my "New Year, New Me" campaign, she got really excited and actually got emotional about how proud of me that she was. She really is a sweet woman!

So... bottom line, I am good! Nothing really wrong with me health-wise, I just need to lose some weight. She said that she'd like me to lose 30-40 pounds before trying to conceive, because it'd be the healthiest for me and a baby. She also said that just losing 10 pounds will make a world of difference in my health. So I'm starting with 10 pounds, and working my way toward my goal weight which is well past 30-40. :) I think I am going to join Weight Watchers on Thursday. :)

Until next time...
>^..^<

New Year, New Me Part 2

Well... it's almost been a week and things are going strong! I am very proud of myself for sticking to my guns and writing down EVERYTHING that I eat. It's been enlightening to see just how much sodium is in food! Obviously processed food has more, and I'm trying to steer clear of processed foods.

I've been able to do my Wii Fit each morning and Thursday I stayed home for my internal ultrasound appointment, and did the Dance Dance Revolution 2. Talk about buring up some calories! I was sweating like crazy!

Speaking of my appointment, it went well. I had a slight melt-down because I hadn't thought about what I'd do, or how I'd react if he found something bad (tumors, etc.). Steve had meetings all day and wasn't able to go with me, and I was really nervous. Fortunately, he said everything looked normal, and nothing stood out to him. He said that his best guess is that it's something hormonal.

I go tomorrow for my OB appointment. I am nervous about it because she'll have my blood results and his results and we'll be talking about what to do next. Hopefully she'll be able to prescribe me something to restart my system and get me ovulating.

Speaking of ovulating... I feel like now that I've got a good start to my new lifestyle, I want to focus on losing weight and getting healthy before trying to make a baby. Don't get me wrong, if it happens that'd be great, but I think I'd be a whole lot better off if I lost some weight first and just focused on that for a while. I get very fixated on certain things and then they drive me crazy. Trying to get pregnant has been one of those things, and I'm ready to move onto something more productive with my fixation. I'm going to give 100% effort to me... and my health... and then worry about pregnancy stuff later.

Steve is being very supportive about all of this. WHICH IS AMAZING! I am no longer drinking regular soda... and really, have only had soda twice and it was Coke Zero and Diet Coke both times- and he and I shared it. All the rest has been skim milk and a whole lot of water. I've found my cravings for sweets and sugars have kinda diminished and I am not eating as much as I used to. I hope to be able to report some great things as a result of all this soon!

I have a lot going on this week. Tomorrow I go to the OB for my post-blood and post-ultrasound appointment. I'll try to get on and post more about that tomorrow. Tuesday I have my mentor practicum class... and pray that I pass! Friday is the OG staff party and should be fun and then there's no school Monday! WHOO HOO!!

Keep me in your prayers!!!
Until next time...
>^..^<

New Year, New Me!

Today begins the first day of a new lifestyle change for me. I don't have any regrets, I had my last regular Mt. Dew last night and enjoyed my last taste of real ranch with cheese sticks. Not healthy I know, but call it my last supper. LOL.

This morning I got up at 5:30 and drank a HUGE glass of water while exercising with my Wii Fit. I worked out for 35 minutes and did some yoga, some jogging, some hula-hooping and played a little soccer. I even did two rounds of step class. :)

After that I actually sat down and had breakfast! A first! I am keeping a food journal and writing down everything that I eat and I'm making a conscious effort to watch what I am eating. I made my lunch, got in the shower and now I'm getting ready to leave for work. All before 7am!

Some might be asking what brought about this new frame of mind, and some might just assume it's a New Year's Resolution. Well... it's actually due to realizing that I want to become a mother and whether it's through physically getting pregnant and carrying a baby, or adoption, I need to be healthy for that. I am only 32 and I need to lose weight for me. I need to be around and be healthy to enjoy my life with Steve and all that he brings to my life. I don't want to feel bad, or uncomfortable and I don't want to be held back or not do things because I feel too fat to do it.

So... on a positive note, today is the last day that I'll ever weigh what I do, and the first of many days to come of me feeling great. Now I just hope my day at work is as great as my morning has been!!

Until next time...
>^..^<

Well, I am happy to say that I made it to Christmas Break! The last week before break was impossible. Not only were the kids a little loopy (which is normal), but we had report cards due on Friday. There was a lot going on and no time to finish anything. I worked until 9pm on Wednesday (12-17-08).

I had an OB-GYN appointment yesterday. It's the first one since before we moved, so it was good to get back in and start getting back on track with my yearly visits. I have to have an internal ultrasound done because I am not ovulating. That's kind of a problem when you're trying to get pregnant. LOL. So I have to go have that done during the first week in January. They'll hopefully be able to give the doctor more information about what's happening. I had to go in this morning and have blood drawn, so the ultrasound and the blood work should help paint a better picture.

It's very frustrating. She said that I am still young and not to worry about things yet. She said it could be insulin resistance (not good) or my thyroid, or cysts on my ovaries. Until I get the internal, they won't know for sure. I also have to go and have a mole removed because she freaked when she saw it (didn't make me feel very comfortable). So... more to come on that later.

I went to the dentist today. I haven't been since before we moved (March 2007). Surprisingly, I only have a few cavities to get filled. No root canals (whoo hoo) and she said it looked good. Must be the Sonicare that I use. ;)

Other than all that junk, things are good. I am very excited to see my mom and dad next week. They're coming on the 30th and staying through New Year's. I am excited because this is the first year (in 32 years) that I haven't spent Christmas with them. So, it'll be so nice to have them here for a bit! I think they'll really appreciate the weather because it's cold in Michigan and supposed to be in the 60s tomorrow and Thursday! :)

That's it for now... I'll write again soon. Be sure to check out the Walker Blog to see other things-- like the slide show from DC in November, the slide show from Thanksgiving and the slide show from the Burt's Bees Holiday Party last weekend.

Until next time...
>^..^<

"Yes We Can"

Okay, so I worked the polls yesterday and it wasn't as bad as I expected. I didn't get any sleep Monday night because I was so nervous about Tuesday and making a mistake or doing something wrong.

I ended up getting up at 4:45am and got into the shower. I had to get dressed and then eat breakfast, and pack any/all food that I was going to eat all day. We were told that there wouldn't be a lot of time to eat and relax, so to pack lightly. I did.

I arrived at the precinct at 5:45 and there were people already lined up outside the door. Our polls don't open until 6:30 here in NC, so they had quite some time (in the rain, I must add) outside before being allowed inside to vote.

There wasn't a lot to do inside because we had set everything up Monday night (I went after class). I was assigned to work at the Ballot Table. I was a little nervous because it's a pretty important station, but I had time to reread my manual and familiarize myself with the procedures for the table. We were told we'd be rotating throughout the day, so anyone who had a station that they didn't like, would have the chance to move. That didn't happen. I worked the Ballot Table the whole day.

I really liked being the person to give the ballot and tell people, "Thanks for voting." We had more than 640 people (648 to be exact) at my location. The longest line that anyone had was from 6:30a-7:00a and it was like 10 minutes long from arrival to departure. Not bad at all.

My mom and dad had to wait for more than an hour in Michigan to vote. I think because we had early voting here in NC, it REALLY helped with the lines and the turnout. My precinct had more than 80% of the people registered come and vote (either early or yesterday).

Anyway, I got home late (9:00p) and right away called my dad and told him about my adventures as an elections official. LOL. Then Steve and I watched television. I stayed up until 10:57 and then I couldn't stay up one minute longer. Little did I know what was about to take place at 11:00! ONLY THREE MORE MINUTES LONGER!!!

This morning I got up at 6:30 and headed downstairs to watch the news from 10:57pm (last night)-5am (this morning). I had DVR'd it anticipating that I'd be zonked before 11:00. I am glad I waited until this morning to watch because of a few reasons. A) I ended up watching from 6:30-9:00 this morning and would NOT have been able to stay awake that long last night-- yet I would have made myself stay up to watch. B) I was alone in the comfort of my home able to cry and cry and cry. :)

I can't even put words to how touched I was watching the events unfold. Pride? Disbelief? Lucky? Blessed? I don't know... but it was absolutely amazing to watch things change at 11:00. The reactions of the students at Spielman College, the crowd at Grant Park in Chicago, the people in Times Square... all just moved me to tears. Listening to a black commentator say that throughout his entire life, he NEVER thought he'd live to see a black man be elected as President. He was crying, I was crying, Jessie Jackson and Oprah were crying. It was just very moving.

I know there are a LOT of people out there angry and disappointed that "America got it wrong," with Obama being elected. Well, now you know how I have felt for the last eight years. Only to be able to say, "I knew it..."

I am excited for the changes that are happening and I am thankful to be alive and filled with so much energy and excitement over something so historic.

Enough from me... I could go on and on but I'll spare you.
>^..^<