infertility link-up...and serious Man Fashion.

Today I'm linking up with Kelly's Korner for a little show-and-tell about everyone's favorite topic: INFERTILITY! And the crowd goes...um, well, not so wild. Whatever. So-- regular peeps-- I'm just going to do a quick intro/infertility bio and then I'll get back to your regularly scheduled programing. If you don't wanna listen to me rehash the sob story...scroll on down and I'll meet up with you in a minute.

Soo...hello, new people! If you're here cause you're experiencing infertility, then I'll start by saying I'm sorry and it sucks and I wish you didn't have to know what it was like...but finding people in my same boat to commiserate, swap stories, and cry with (as well as laugh, congratulate, and vent frustrations to!) has been one of the best things to happen to me during my rather lengthy journey towards building a family. And now I'm going to stop wasting time and being awkward and hokey and get down to the nitty-gritty brief overview of my IF story.

My husband and I have been TTC for 4.5 years. In 2010 we were diagnosed with severe male-factor infertility. We had three failed IUIs in late 2010. In 2012 I was diagnosed with stage III endometriosis and diminished ovarian reserve. Last August I had the laparoscopy/hysteroscopy/D&C to clean out the endo; in December, Matt underwent surgery to repair some of the veins and varicoceles causing his sperm abnormality. We have been told since 2011 that our only option to achieve pregnancy will be IVF, which may be true. It has certainly proven true thus far, but we hold fast to hope in our God of miracles and pray that there may be one for us someday. We may still choose to do IVF at some point- right now we are still 'waiting and seeing' as Matt's body continues to improve its capabilities post-surgery...and mine seems to get worse by the month. We are also actively pursuing private adoption. We desire a child more than a pregnancy and will be absolutely thrilled no matter what route our family grows through.

For extra credit, you could read the unabridged version of our TTC story. I have handy little categories for my posts regarding infertility in general (both ours and...you know, REALLY general...) and endometriosis. Sometimes I'm full of hope. Sometimes I'm teetering on the edge of despair. Sometimes I write you letters and tell you how it really feels. Frequently I overshare. Although my medical experiences and treatments are far, far less extensive than many IFers, I do my best to share information in hopes that the things I've learned along the way can help someone else. 

Although infertility tries hard to become my whole life and absorb all of my brain, I do my best to fight back, so I don't blog about only infertility. My husband and I are currently beating our bodies into submission and training for a triathlon, which is pretty laughable since we're not exactly athletic. I also have a deep passion for gardening, cotton candy, manatees, and reality TV, so I try to focus on those things (instead of sperm fragmentation) on occasion. 

So...that's kinda me in a nutshell. Feel free to stick around for the ride (and contact me if you have any questions) if you think you can handle my long-windedness! I promise that sometimes I'm funny...it's kind of like your prize for reading all of my words. Or at least that's how I think of it.

BACK TO YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED BLOGGING.

 So on Wednesday afternoon we decided to stop by the pool on our way home from work for a quick swim. Let's be honest: it was no less miserable than last time. Something tells me that 30 years of drinking daiquiris by the pool did not give me the swimming skillz necessary for this tri. Bah. But anyway, we did it. And didn't die, which felt like an accomplishment. After getting done with our laps, we hopped back in the car for the 10 minute ride home. It is important to note that we weren't really pool-ready for this excursion. We hadn't thought past throwing our swimsuits in the car that morning, so we didn't have any other clothes to put on besides our work clothes...and since it was such a quick ride home, we didn't see any reason to put work clothes back onto our wet bodies. We just hopped in the car in our wet suits and went on our merry way.

You can see where this is going, right?

Of course we needed gas. Of course we did! Of course the gas light was on and we'd gone like 20 more miles than we ever get on a tank...there was no way we could not stop for gas.

Matt bravely pulled up alongside the pump at the gas station in our small town. 

"I really do not want to get out of the car. I really canNOT get gas like this..." he whined. Ever the assuring wife, I was all "sure you can, babe! You got this! No one will even notice or care! No one pays attention to other people at a gas station! Just hurry and do it!!" 

I could write the textbook for How To Be a Supportive Wife, right?

And also probably the one for How To Be a Jerk Wife...because as soon as he was out and pumping, I was all over that mess...paparazzi-style. 

 
These were the best shots I could get because shockingly, Matt wasn't terribly enthused at me falling out of the car trying to get pictures. There may or may not have been a slight wrestling match over the phone, but luckily I prevailed. Because the world needed to see this. It was too amazing not to share. The avant-guard way he paired those striped swim trunks (ON TREND!) with the business-y shoe and sensible sock? Amazing. This man needs his own Fashion Week.

As I was hooting and crying with laughter, he was pouting that no one wears dress shoes with a bathing suit. I tried to make him feel better by reminding him that yes some people do. Miss America contestants. I don't think it helped.

After awhile he forgave me for my raucous laughter and abundant joy over his silly outfit. I offered to delete the picture from Instagram. He said I didn't have to. I gave him about 24 hours, and then I asked if I could put it on my blog. I said "THE WORLD NEEDS TO SEE IT! PEOPLE LOVE TO LAUGH!" and he said he had to think about it. An hour later, he said I could put it on the blog. For you. Because he knows I like to make people laugh. And he's a damn good husband like that.

So there you have it. I hope you're able to make equally amazing fashion statements yourself this weekend...or find someone else doing it and subtly take a picture. If you want to express your appreciation for Matt's willingness to take one for the team here, I would suggest leaving a nice haiku or perhaps a stock market tip for him in the comments. You know. Something he would enjoy. Because after I thanked him for letting me post these pics, he said "YOU OWE ME BIG TIME," so...help a sister out.