Things are pretty boring around these parts. Not much to talk about.

We've officially put our baby plans on hold since we found out Steven will be getting out of the Army in February. It's kind of a mixed blessing type thing. I'm mostly okay with our decision, I do have my days where I really wish we could go ahead and have one, but then I'm really enjoying being child free. Besides, this should help us find a job and new city with more ease. And with the Clomid not really helping us achieve pregnancy, things look like we may need more help, and that is just something we can't afford or have time for right now.

I got an update from the Adoptive Family a few months ago with some new pictures. He's gotten so big! It's really hard to believe he'll be 5 in December. Some days it feels like yesterday, other days it feels like longer. They gave me some exciting news, they started the process of Foster to Adopt. I think that is just so neat!

I've been a crafting machine lately, I've made 2 wreaths in like 2 weeks. I have some left over fabric from the last one I made and I think I'm going to make something to go in the middle of it, because it is just so plan. I made the tutorial for the first one and posted it on the other blog. A couple friends have asked me to make them one, so I'll have to get on that soon.

First wreath - House Divided GA Tech/UGA

Second Wreath - Falcons Wreath

Anyways, just thought I'd update a little. I really want to get better at blogging, but I just feel like I have nothing to say!

July Blogger Book Club

Here is July's Blogger Book Club post, I did not get a chance to read the book they picked out, but I will review another book I read for a different book club I'm apart of.

Don't remember what the Blogger Book Club is about?!

I've joined My Name Is Madeline, A Mile in Her Boots, and Confessions of a Busy Busy Bee and we will be reading a book a month and reviewing it on the last day of each month, starting in June 2013 and ending in June 2014. You'll read one book each month that has already been picked out, and write a review on your blog answering the questions provided regarding the book. Be sure to go to their blogs to link up!!!!!

July's book was America the Beautiful by Ben Carson, however, I didn't read that book, instead I read Bound South by Susan Rebecca White, August's is Start by Jon Acuff

**Spoilers ahead**

1. What is the book about?

From Amazon - "By turns hilarious and poignant, the lives of three vibrant and unique Southern women -- a proper Atlanta matron, her rebellious teenage daughter, and their housekeeper's young daughter -- intersect in unexpected and extraordinary ways in this richly compelling debut novel of family, friendship, and folly."

2. What were your initial thoughts on the book? Were you impressed? Disappointed?

We read this book for the book club I joined when I got to Fort Jackson, the one who told us about it said she was recommended it and they told her it was funny. But I did not find this book funny at all, there really were only maybe 1 or 2 funny things.

I had to keep a list of who each chapter was about and the time that chapter was written (i.e. Louise, Fall 1998 then the next chapter was Caroline, Fall 1999) so I wouldn't have to search. It jumped around from person to person, which I guess when it's about 3 different people that makes sense, but it made it really hard to keep track of what was going on. 

I really was not impressed with the book, I tend to read romance novels, so I'm usually not too shocked by crude things, but this book seemed to go way too far. 

3. Favorite Shocking quotations from the book.

There are a few things that were said that made me really shocked...

One was when Louise was describing what her daughter smelled like after being at a party, it's one thing to say she smells like stale beer and sex, but she took it way too far - saying "she smelled like some boy's dried semen, probably caked on that flat stomach of hers"

Another was Caroline, with the teacher she had a relationship with, they wanted to get something for lunch but it was Sunday and she wanted Chick-Fil-A and got so mad they were closed she exclaimed "f***ing Christians" - I get it, we've all forgotten Chick-Fil-A is closed on Sundays, and it is annoying, but what she said was uncalled for.

4. What did you like most about the book?

The writing really wasn't that bad, it was just what she wrote about that had me unimpressed.

5. Would you recommend this book to a friend?

No, and I'm so very glad I used my swagbucks to buy Amazon giftcards to buy this book.

Randoms

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again....

We aren't too disappointed about a failed cycle of Clomid, as it is our first one, and we are still waiting on blood work results to see if it even worked. That's not to say I wasn't sad when I realized we weren't pregnant.

So the game plan now is to take a break this month from the Clomid as I'll be gone during the vital days. I really didn't have many side effects from the Clomid, I might have gotten a little crazy a few times, but nothing Steven couldn't handle, and there were a million hot flashes. And I really feel like the Clomid made me ovulate because boy did my ovaries hurt. And now that we aren't pregnant these cramps are by far the worse cramps I've ever experienced, and there have been some pretty bad ones. If my sister weren't visiting and if my birthday hadn't have been yesterday I would have likely spent the whole week in bed with my heating pad and begged my doctor for something way stronger than Naproxen. But my sister is here, and my birthday was yesterday!

Speaking of my birthday, I got some pictures of J this week. He has gotten so big, and I just cannot believe he's going to be 5 in a few months. Steven looked at his picture and said he looks just like me. It really made me happy to hear. His mother also told me they are going to start the process to adopt again, this time they're going to foster and then adopt. She said the boys are so excited to have siblings and ask all the time when they'll join the family.

It was also really special to spend my birthday with my sister. I cannot remember the last time I got to spend it with her. For the last few years we've never been in town, and she's spending a few weeks here. I went to Olive Garden with some new friends for lunch. I had another new friend make me a cake, it was heavenly! Then Steven was able to get off work early and we went to Outback. I got sung to at Olive Garden and Outback. Today I went to Starbucks for my free drink because I just did not have time yesterday. This weekend Steven is suppose to take me to The Melting Pot.

And hopefully the weekend brings sunshine, because I'm SO sick of all this rain!!!

June Book - The Help

Since we were on vacation the last week of June, my review and answers for the Blogger Book Club are just a tad late - oops, I'll try to do better next month!!

Don't remember what it's about?!

I've joined My Name Is Madeline, A Mile in Her Boots, and Confessions of a Busy Busy Bee and we will be reading a book a month and reviewing it on the last day of each month, starting in June 2013 and ending in June 2014. You'll read one book each month that has already been picked out, and write a review on your blog answering the questions provided regarding the book. Be sure to go to their blogs to link up!!!!!

This month was The Help by Kathryn Stockett, next month is America the Beautiful by Ben Carson

1. What is the book about?
It's been a while since I read this book, I read it back when the movie first came out, I wanted to read it before I saw it, so my review might be a little lacking.

Skeeter, who just graduated from Ole Miss in the 1960's moves back home, and learns that the maid who basically raised her is no longer working for them, she tries to find out what happens. In doing so, she realizes that there are many maids who are mistreated by their employers, so she decides to write a book, Aibileen, and Minny reluctantly, help her write a book that is a tell all about what it's like to work for the white woman in their town in Mississippi.

2. What were your initial thoughts on the book? Were you impressed? Disappointed?
I loved it, it was such a good book. And man was it hilarious at some times!!!

3. Favorite quotations from the book.
It's been so long since I read it, I can't think of any, but my favorite part is when Minny gives Hilly shit pie and Hilly eats it.

4. What did you like most about the book?
It was a fast read, and I loved the friendship that Skeeter made with Aibileen and Minny. I'm glad I read the book before I saw the movie. And it really only took me a week to read. T

5. Would you recommend this book to a friend?
Yes, I would totally recommend it friends, along with the movie, but I'd recommend they read the book and then watch the movie!!

Life After Placing...Infertility Treatments

It seems that one of my fears is coming true in regards to my life after placing. I'm suffering from secondary infertility.

I've stopped ovulating. The gyno I saw a week ago thinks that I do have PCOS, and that my inconsistent cycles are showing I don't ovulate. My blood work to confirm that had not come back from Fort Gordon Wednesday and my gyno went out of town, so we're acting as if I don't ovulate. So tonight, June 15, at 9:30 pm I started Clomid. And I'll take it every night, at the same time, for the following 5 nights.

So not looking forward to the side effects, but I'll gladly deal with those if it means we'll be able to have a child.

I do want to apologize in advance if I start acting crazy, one of the side effects is mood swings. So I might become crazy, my poor husband! Ha!