Finally hoping for a NEGATIVE Result!

I completed phase 1 of prepping for IVF which was STD testing.  I was excited to finally have some tests that a negative outcome was what I wanted.  I seem to be very good at that!  Thankfully I could just go to my regular doctor here in town but unfortunately I was feeling kind of snippy (the poor nurse).  She went through the tests..."chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV, okay so a cervical swipe and blood test".  I responded with...OH!  My two favorite things to do!  She just kind of looked at me and with a sad grin said, "so you've been at this awhile, eh?".  She was very sweet and actually made me feel better.

The Mr. has to go through some similar testing (not the cervical swipe) and then we have to take an IVF and injections class before we can get started.  I'm not sure with the holidays if we will get that done before or after the new year.  Speaking of the "holidays" right now they are uncertain for us.  We don't know if the Mr. will be working or not yet.  That will pretty much dictate what we are able to do, but I'm not too worried about it.

What is bothering me is that this will be the first Christmas without my Grandpa.  It will be difficult because Christmas was always kind of Grandpa's holiday.  He loved singing, "Silent Night" and his birthday is a few days before Christmas.  It just won't be the same without him.  The family has decided to really make this Christmas special and make the focus on Grandma.  Each family member is going to give her an ornament with our names and tell a story of a favorite memory of spending time with her.  This year I will also get to bring along my guitar and play since I have been practicing Christmas music the past few months and my family LOVES to sing!  I know Grandpa will be smiling down from heaven!

Alright I need to end on a silly note so I need to bring this back from last year for any new followers.  Enjoy!

Julie

Coping with a different kind of pain

Last week I got a call that my Grandpa (on my Mom's side) was not doing very well and that I should come to visit.  So my husband and I went over to the house right away and got to spend some time with my grandpa.  He was on pain medication so he slept most of the time, but would wake up from time to time to say he was "doing okay" and to say he had "such great kids".  I brought my guitar along and played him one of his favorite songs "Silent Night".  We left for the evening and when we came back the next day his condition has gotten worse. 

Surrounded by family and friends he passed on to heaven around 10:55 Wednesday night.  I had left to go home around 9:00 and got the call at home.  The next morning we woke up to a storm with loud crashes of thunder and lightning.  I knew that Grandpa had made is safely up to heaven and the party was already well under way.  It would have been his mother's birthday that day and we were all so happy he got to spend it with her.

There aren't enough words to describe what a wonderful man my Grandpa was.  Everyone who knew him adored him, but at the same time he was one of the most humble people I know.  He was a hard worker and he had a strong faith.  He lived his life to the fullest and left this world with no regrets.  I was lucky to be able to have him in my life the past 28 years.  Amost all of my favorite memories I have growing up always included Grandpa and Grandma.  A lot of my interest in gardening came from helping out in grandma and grandpas garden when I was young.  The past days have been very tough coping with this loss, but in the end we all know that he is in a better place. In the last line of Silent Night I find to be so fitting, "sleep in heavenly peace" Grandpa.

Julie