Another Win for IVFMeds.com

I woke up before my alarm this morning, worrying even in my sleep about my meds being delivered. I checked the tracking first thing but it hadn't been updated at all since the package landed in New York. Uh oh.

I got everything ready to start prepping my morning shot and got USPS customer service on the phone. The rep was very nice but had absolutely no new information - all she could see was the same tracking page I was already looking at. I told her the package contained time sensitive medication that I needed for the weekend and after a 2 second pause she told me the package wasn't going to make it and I should look into getting my meds locally. Double uh oh.

So here I am, trying to mix my Menopur via needle and figure out what to do. I called Kaiser first since they had a valid prescription on file for me - no answer. I forgot that they changed their pharmacy hours and they're no longer open over the weekend. My next call was to Rox San pharmacy, the pharmacy my clinic deals with most often, where I left the most scattered voicemail ever:

"Hi, my number is...I mean my name is S, I'm a patient over at SCRC and I ordered my medication online but it looks like my package has been delayed. I don't have enough meds to get through the weekend...I'm supposed to take 8, I mean a day...so I need to pick up a couple boxes of Menopur. I should probably get my Novarel too....My name, I mean my number, is blah blah, sorry I'm super scattered today kthanksbye"

It's not easy to use a cell phone and keep your field sterile and I kept accidentally sticking the mixing needle through the side of the rubber stopper. Oy. The next call was to SCRC where I left a message for the weekend nurse since no one was picking up. This one wasn't as scattered but you could probably tell I was freaking out a bit because both the pharmacist and the weekend nurse called back a few minutes later. The pharmacist was calm and kind and told me she could get in touch with the nurse for me and have my meds ready asap. It was about 9:30am now and they closed at 11:30am so we would need to move fairly quickly. A minute after that, the nurse called back and said she was sending over a script for 15 vials of Menopur and the Novarel. I was finally able to take my injection and ten minutes later the pharmacy called to say my order was ready.

Now here is where things got muddy again. I was all ready to go and pick up my Menopur when I get a tracking update that my package has landed in Los Angeles at the big sorting facility. Thus began the debate - do we go and buy the Rox San meds? Do we wait and hope the package makes it to our local post office and out for delivery before they close? The package was running several hours behind the first one which had made it to our local post office by 9ish. It was now almost 11am and it still wasn't there. Do we risk botching the entire cycle and have to cancel? No.

We decided it wasn't worth the risk. Rox San wasn't open on Sunday and this was my only chance to get my medication locally so we went ahead and bought more meds. Three boxes of Menopur,  one box of Novarel and needles/syringes ran us $1250 that I hadn't planned on spending this month. Ouch. But now we were prepared, I had enough meds to get through the weekend and if the package didn't come till Monday I would still be okay.

The pharmacist who packed my order at Rox San gave me this lovely hand carved jade pendent for luck. I'm sure they give them to all their infertility patients but it still made me feel all warm and fuzzy. I can't help but appreciate the little things like this and the way they can brighten up even a crazy stressful day. 

1pm rolls around and our local postman pulls up with no package. He double checked everything and said that he usually receives express packages in the morning. They never make deliveries in the afternoon. He definitely hadn't received anything for me, so I shouldn't expect the package till Monday. Again I felt okay about our decision, we had made the right move, the package didn't come so we'd covered our bases. I bet you can see where this is going.

2:30pm rolls around and there's a knock on my door. Oh hey, look at that.  It's another, different postman. He has my package. Safe and sound and delivered as expected, given that it was shipped out two days later than expected.  Oh man. So now I have the whole IVFMeds.com order, each package was shipped on Wednesday and delivered on Saturday and I just spent $1250 on local meds. Whoops.

I probably would have felt worse if the stakes weren't about 20k high. Cancelling this cycle would mean we were out what we'd already spent plus all the medication, so I'm glad we covered our behinds. I'm also looking into the offer the IVFMeds customer service rep made to reimburse me the difference in medication costs since they knew my package was shipping two days late. I'm not sure if they'll still honor it given the circumstances, but I'll give it a go. I had to bump my protocol two days anyway to accommodate the shipping time which I know not everyone can do and I had 15 vials of local Menopur to offset it. We'll see what they say on Monday.

Day 5 of injections is now complete and it looks like everything ended up working out. I will definitely be ordering from IVFMeds.com again, but with a little more wiggle room for shipping. Four days really does cut things a bit close. Their customer service has been amazing thus far but I'd like to have my meds in hand a couple weeks before my second cycle so I don't have to repeat this crazy stressful process.

Out of control

I think the most difficult part of the infertility process for me has been the loss of control. I'm one of those people who really doesn't like to be out of control and unfortunately, infertility is something I have absolutely no control over right now. Tomorrow is our first consultation with an infertility specialist where I'll have an AFC done, a ultrasound to count my resting follicles, and we'll be going over IVF and any other options. This whole process has been weighing on my mind, I even dreampt about it last night. The doctor was doing my ultrasound and telling me that actually my eggs were just fine and if we could simply make E's swimmers swim, we could do IUI instead. I'm not sure if I should be holding out hope for that, but I've got my fingers crossed.

If it were only the infertility, I would probably be able to handle it just fine, but instead we seem to have walked into a shit storm of problems. Over the weekend, my best friend J's mother had a stroke. She is like my other mother and it's really hard to see her so out of control too. The doctors originally said she'd be back to normal within a day or so, but now it looks like she will need a little more time to recover. A stroke, even a small one, is a big deal and should serve as a big warning to her that it might be time to slow down and take some time for herself.

Then, to add to the general stress, this morning I woke up with ringworm. That's right, I said RINGWORM. Weeks ago I brought Button to the vet because she wasn't feeling well. They ran some blood work and had to shave her chin to get access to a vein. A weekish later she had some fur loss and dry flaky skin on the back of her neck and chin so I called and asked if it could be something like ringworm. Our vet reassured us that it was just stress, which was easy to believe because she stressed herself out so much that she gave herself a fever, and directed me to put some neosporin on it. As it turns out, the clippers they used to shave her chin weren't completely sterile and she brought home ringworm along with a prescription for a new diet. Joy.

I for sure have ringworm where Button lays in my lap, and I may have some on my thigh as well. It's making me feel really gross and I was freaking out about the doctor tomorrow thinking I'm diseased until I realized that I could just put a band aid on it. I think it might be time for me to slow down and take a breath too -_-

A Sticky Situation: How To Handle A Coffee Spill On Your Macbook

Nooooooooooooo!

After years and years of owning computers, I have finally done the unthinkable and spilled coffee on my laptop. Ironically, it wasn't my coffee and I wasn't drinking it but I somehow splashed some on the keyboard. After the initial freak out during which I frantically wiped off the keys and thought for a moment that it might be alright, my poor macbook turned off and I knew coffee had made its way into the insides of the computer. Since Apple doesn't cover liquid damage and my macbook is outside the warranty period anyway, the only way to save "Ping" was to open him up and dry him out.

Currently, E and I are house sitting in Agoura Hills. This means that I didn't have my tools with me and the house is somewhat unfamiliar. To fix Ping, we needed a lot of drying apparatuses and all of them pull a lot of power. We found a fan and a hair dryer but ended up unintentionally plugging them in to an outlet on the same breaker as the TV and all the electronics. This of course blew the breaker and we had NO clue where the breaker box was. It was 11pm, we couldn't find flashlights, and once we found a flashlight we couldn't find batteries for it. Note to self: Make sure there's always a flashlight WITH batteries in an obvious place. After an hour spent walking the perimeter of the house and checking cubbies and closets, E eventually found the panel in the front of the house (duh) and we reset the breaker. With our lights and power restored, it was time to tackle the macbook!

How to (Attempt) to rescue a Macbook from coffee:

Disclaimer: This guide is entirely use at your own risk. Opening your macbook is likely to void your factory warranty if it hasn't already been voided by you spilling on it. If you've already spilled, you pretty much have nothing left to lose. If you haven't spilled yet, keep these instructions handy in case you do. 

Tools:
- Fan, hairdryer, drying apparatus
- Super tiny phillips head screw driver, preferably with magnetic tip and short handle
- Q-tips
- Dishes/bags for screws
* Compressed air (optional)
* Rubbing alcohol (optional)

5 Day Check In!

To Do/ In Progress:

• Decide on ceremony music, entrance, exit and first dance song
• LEARN HOW TO DANCE!
• Submit music preferences by Wednesday 
• Make food by table list 
• Order extra tents or umbrellas for RAIN!
• Find cute umbrellas and rain boots for bride and bridesmaids  Done with the rainboots!
• Have fingerprint guest book tree made by Mish
• Finish bridesmaids jewelry
• Make rehearsal dinner reservations since rain is canceling the BBQ
• Design and print up programs
• Print up Candy Buffet Bags
• Purchase wedding dress underwear! 

• Hire shuttles for guests
• Rent helium tank
• Talk to, finalize and confirm all seven blessing speakers - Josh, Peggi, Anya, Ginny & Grandma down, two to go!
• Merge bank accounts
• Schedule any extra photography sessions you want. a day-after session in your wedding clothes - still have to schedule bridal session 
• Arrange wedding day transportation for you, your wedding party, and guests (as needed).

• Print place cards and frame them - in progress!
• Make sure everyone in the wedding party is aware of what you expect of them -- especially your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Provide a list of duties to the maid of honor and a list of to-dos to the best man. Still have to let everyone know where to be and when
• Buy or rent ceremony decor and reception decorations that aren't included in your flower proposal (chuppah, program basket). We've collected most of our Mason jars, globe lights, finished the aisle kissing balls and are working on the tent kissing balls!
• Create a must shoot list of photos
• Pay the cake baker!
• Pay the DJ!
• Pay the rental people!
• Pay the staff people!
• Pay the Rabbi!
• Transport mason jars, candy buffet jars, supplies to Fallbrook - Wednesday March 23rd
• Pick up flowers, accept delivery of flowers, cut stems and rehydrate - Wednesday March 23rd and Thursday March 24th
• Make floral arrangements, bouquets and boutonnieres - Thursday March 24th
• Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties - Thursday March 24th 
• Set up ceremony and reception sites - Thursday March 24th
• Wedding rehearsal and dinner - Friday March 25th
• Wedding! Get married! - Saturday March 26th 

Done!

• Find a chuppah, somehow. Gary is on it, I relinquish control
• Hire parking attendants
• Hire general staff
• Buy cocktail napkins
• Buy bread baskets
• Make signs for the guest book, gift table, card cage, candy bar, coffee bar, dinner buffet(no longer a buffet ah! )
• Pay the photographer!
• Buy play sand for mason jars 
• Buy soda and water from costco
• Buy Fingerprint wipes
• Make a wedding weekend timeline
• Design and buy wedding bands!
• Write and finalize wedding vows
• Get Batteries for candles
• Get wine goblet for ceremony

10 day check in!

To Do/ In Progress:

• Have fingerprint guest book tree made by Mish
• Hire valet service
• Hire general staff
• Buy ketubah signing pen
• Buy fingerprint wipes
• Pick out photos for engagement album STAT
• Make all signs for the guest book, candy bar, coffee bar tables
• Book the rehearsal dinner BBQ truck
• Design and print up programs
• Buy beer and soda glasses, clear plastic

• Buy soda and water from costco 
• Design and purchase wedding bands. - jeweler is making them!
• Purchase wedding dress underwear! 
• Talk to, finalize and confirm all seven blessing speakers - Josh, Peggi, Anya, & Grandma down, three to go!
• Pick all wedding music including entrance pieces, exit pieces and first dance song
• Merge bank accounts
• Schedule any extra photography sessions you want. a day-after session in your wedding clothes - still have to schedule bridal session 
• Buy funky groomsmen socks - why is it so hard to find brightly colored argyle socks??
• Arrange wedding day transportation for you, your wedding party, and guests (as needed).

• Print place cards and frame
• Purchase table number frames, scan old photos and print table number photos
• Make sure everyone in the wedding party is aware of what you expect of them -- especially your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Provide a list of duties to the maid of honor and a list of to-dos to the best man. Still have to let everyone know where to be and when
• Buy or rent ceremony decor and reception decorations that aren't included in your flower proposal (chuppah, program basket). We've collected most of our Mason jars, globe lights, finished the aisle kissing balls and are working on the tent kissing balls! We need to order our card cage, flower girl baskets, cake stand, LED lights. 
• Write and finalize ceremony vows - english, hebrew or both?
• Decide on ceremony music, entrance, exit and first dance song
• Decide on a guestbook 
• Book a photobooth if we're using one
• Create a must shoot list of photos
• Make a wedding weekend timeline 
• Transport supplies to Fallbrook 
• Pick up flowers, accept delivery of flowers, cut stems and rehydrate - Wednesday March 23rd and Thursday March 24th
• Make floral arrangements, bouquets and boutonnieres - Thursday March 24th
• Set up ceremony and reception sites - Thursday March 24th
• Wedding rehearsal and dinner - Friday March 25th
• Wedding! Get married! - Saturday March 26th 

Done!

• Finalize the reception menu and service details with the caterer. Mostly done, just waiting on the final phone call
• Order flower girl headband gifts
• Order E's shoes
• Sort out veil pricing Also waiting on confirmation phone call
• Order flowers to be delivered to the ranch
• Choose bridesmaids accessories
• Pick reception dance music
• Make seating chart
• Create a must play list of songs
• Finish buying 
• Make seating chart
• Create a must play list of songs
• Make seating chart
• Create a must play list of songs
• Finish buying bridesmaids accessories
• Buy fingerprint ink
• Given up on the take better care of yourself, I'm sick and stressed and am having enough trouble remembering to put food in my mouth let alone monitoring what it is! 

It's Black, It's White, Linens Are Tough

Update: Three votes say white, so white it is!

Okay blogosphere, I'm getting ready to send in my rental check and I need to make the final decision about the linens. I don't feel particularly strongly about one color over the other (they're tablecloths...) but somehow this little decision is driving me in circles. The black makes the white plates pop but isn't really vintage (unless we are having a funeral) and I don't know if the blue mason jars will stand out against the black since they're translucent. The white should show off the mason jars and blue napkins but doesn't really pop the white dinnerware. The chairs are also a dark fruitwood and might go better with the white while the silver table number frames would stand out more against the black.

Black Tablecloths

White Tablecloths

So, in the spirit of fast decisions and because we're only 13 days away from the wedding (ahhhsehfjdhsfgjf) I'm putting it to a vote. Which tablecloths should we use for our evening, early spring, vintage garden wedding? I really hope someone out there has a strong opinion since no one here can muster the energy to form one!

Well Phuck

When you start wedding planning everyone always says things are going to go wrong. It's like a mantra, designed to be chanted under your breath while calling vendors and making reservations

Somethingswillgowrong. Don'tfreakout. Somethingswillgowrong. Don'tfreakout.

I've taken a really laid back approach to wedding planning. A comfort over style approach from my shoes to the catering. Is it comfortable, does it taste good, is it fun? We really want to enjoy our day, not spend it freaking out over little details and whoopses and things that didn't go quite right.

To make our day as stress free as possible, I mapped out my priorities early on and I've been planning a lot of things ahead of schedule to prevent hiccups. My big can't-compromise-on-must-be-perfect "thing" was the wedding photography. I figured no one would remember if the food was good, what songs we played or what our flowers looked like, but the photographs of our night will last forever. When we are old and wrinkled and arguing about who has the best dentures, and subsequently who had the best teeth, we can look back on our wedding photos and compare chompers in our perfect wedding pictures.

It doesn't help that I'm slightly obsessed with photographs and art as well, I'm out of available wall and dresser space, I compulsively make photobooks and have a stack of beautiful frames waiting to be filled. I even registered for photo ledges because I'm just that obsessed. Photos capture a moment in time, like a window into the past and I'd never remember half the things I do if I didn't have a photograph to cue the memory.

All this brings me to the inevitable: we have a problem with our photographers. 

Everything was going so well. The nice to meet yous, first date, do we get along aspect went just dandy with David of Ohana Photographers. He's creative, funny, and easy going and we like to think we're equally awesome. We connected well and I think we'd be more than comfortable working with him and entrusting our precious memories into his capable hands. So where, might you ask, is the problem? Why the long, emotional, digressing post?   Oh readers, it's bad. The problem is the date. Our date, the date that's been our anniversary for the last eight years. Apparently, David's sister has taken a shine to the date as well, and has decided that she wants to get married on our day too.

Cue the angst.

Obviously, David cannot be at our awesome wedding and his sister's wedding at the same time. Obviously, family obligation, blood is thicker than water, etc etc means that he will not be able to shoot out wedding. This. Really. Blows. We're 6 months in to this planning thing, and most other photographers are booked. Even if we could find an available photographer, we've looked at just about every photographer between Los Angeles and San Diego and we really have our hearts set on Ohana. At this point, nothing can compare now that we've jumped in, both feet first, ready to get wet. How many photographers do you know that would bring buckets and umbrellas to an engagement session so they could chuck water at their clients? Or throw mass quantities of large, white balls in the air to snap the perfect picture? Don't even get me started on making out on cop cars, champagne piggy back rides and goofy groom face masks. Although a lot of it is the couple, Ohana really captures everything about the wedding that we want captured.

So, what do we do??? We could go forward with David photographing our engagement and possibly our trash the dress, while his associate photographs our wedding day. OR we could start from scratch and try to find a new photographer that hopefully has our date open and is awesome and up for some serious dorky fun. I just don't know what would be best. I also have a bad feeling that our less than favorite photographs on their website are from their associate though that could just be us projecting our angst. I was thinking that maybe if David threw the trash the dress in with the package we might be able to get over ourselves and give the associate a shot. That way if the associate's photographs of our wedding day suck, at least we have some photos by David of us in our wedding clothes....we'd just have to get hair and make up done again? Man, I just don't know.

What do you think? What would you do? What should we do? Why does the one thing you don't want to go wrong always go wrong when planning a wedding???