Over the last week HL and I have been paying catch up around home.  We had the garden to finish planting, a new chicken coop to build, a pool to put up, & spending time with Makinlee.  A week ago we were sitting in the Dr’s office trying to digest the news that our fresh In Vitro cycle was being canceled.  It felt as if the rug was pulled out from under us.  We were naive enough to think that since the procedure was scheduled and no one mentioned the possible cancellation that we were good.  We were not good.  My uterine lining wasn’t good enough to justify wasting great embryos on a transfer.  The Dr said he was 99% sure it wouldn’t have worked anyway had we proceeded with the transfer.  Now we are struggling with being able to schedule a Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) that will allow HL to be home during the painful Progesterone In Oil (PIO) shots.  This is not an easy task.  I think we are almost there with a schedule and it looks like it will be mid August before we try again but that is not set in stone yet.  I’m struggling emotionally with the fact that there are 11 “textbook” grade 5 day blasts frozen just waiting for us to figure things out.  This should have been our time, our chance but it wasn’t meant to be.  It’s hard to just sit and wait almost 3 more months but this is what must be done.  I hope the next 5 weeks fly by because then it will be time for us to go on vacation and get a much needed break from everyday life.  I do however have a ton of projects to keep me busy.  There is sewing that MUST be done, Makinlee’s bedroom to paint, duck and chicken eggs to be incubated, & the garden to be tended.  Also Makinlee is playing T-Ball and I’m helping coach.  We are busy but not busy enough to keep my mind from going to Houston and thinking about our embryos.

We have a new addition to our family.  Here she is in all her cuteness.

My good friend and neighbor gave her to us for Christmas.  Well, she really gave her to KP but of course I’m the one that spends the most time with her already.  She is a little Chihuahua and she needs a name!!!!!!  Internet please help us name her.

I usually try to keep things organized.  I’m sort of a neat freak but it is certainly not something I am proud of.  It takes time away from my family at times and it takes time away from the things that I want to do like sewing or knitting or reading.  However, before I can sit down and relax with the family or sit down and knit things must be tidy. It’s a vicious cycle that haunts me.  I love that within the last few years there are websites that help the OCD type person that I am.  I absolutely love Paperbackswap and Ravelry to name a couple. Too bad there is nothing close for sewing supplies.  Today I am spending time sitting in front of the computer, going back and forth between my yarn and book stash to make room for new and get rid of the old.  I just finished updating my Bookshelf at Paperback Swap.  Go check it out and see if there is anything you need.  There is quiet the selection because HL and I differ drastically on what we each read.  He is more of a Dean Koontz & Stephen King guy and I’m more of the chick lit, Oprah’s Book Club, vampire romance junkie.  Okay, so basically I read anything that doesn’t scare the crap out of me like Koontz & King.  My best online friend, Chasley, is sending me the Sookie Stackhouse Vampire Series that True Blood is based on. Apparently, it’s all the rave after the beloved Twilight Series.  I’m currently reading Marked part of the House Of Night Series about a vampire finishing school but after Twilight it just doesn’t grab me but I’ve been told to hang on it will get better.  Oh and speaking of paranormal books & series I just found out about The Hollows Series by Kim Harrison.  This one is about witches.  That’s all I know about it but it doesn’t have awesome reviews at Amazon and PaperbackSwap.

For those of you who knit or are just nosey here is my stash at Ravelry.  I’m still updating it but it should be complete by tonight.

After I am finished with that I will move on to what is next on my list…my closet.  HELP!

Here are photos of the long awaited wooden toys HL made during his last weeks home.

This is the kitchen.  We copied one we found on OhDeeDoh with help from Jessica at Balancing Everything.

I just loved the vent hood and the simplicity of the entire design.  HL totally rocked it out with only a grainy photo to look at.  He’s awesome that husband of mine.  We chose not to finish the wood and only applied a, homemade by moi, beeswax & jojoba oil finish to it.  Don’t tell Makinlee but her Aunt Jamie is going to supply the new kitchen with brand new stainless pots and pans  on Christmas Eve. Santa may even have a few pieces of handmade felt food for her stocking.  We shall see.

The playstands, the perfect playstands oh how I wish I had my own.  It is so magical and peaceful underneath them.  The nephews were over this weekend and the kids just sat underneath and played the day away.  Such perfect fun.  This photo doesn’t do the stands justice.  The hand routed hooks are covered with silks but the detail is amazing.  My guy, KP’s daddy well he just rocks!

We decided to go ahead and let daddy give Makinlee these items because there was no way I would be able to haul them up the stairs to the playroom by myself if Santa delivered them.  That’s the thing about an oilfield family.  Christmas is when daddy is home because daddy trumps Santa.  There is another wooden surprise in store for Christmas morning.  I cannot wait to see Makinlee’s face when she discovers it!!!  She helped build it and didn’t even know it.

While in Korea we sort of wandered off path as far as Makinlee’s play was concerned.  Unable to bring simple wooden toys and other Waldorf inspired items in our home due to shipping cost from the states and import duties we caved and allowed cheap plastic crap to invade our home.  It was something that happened slowly and without us fully aware of it sneaking in.  We are now finally settled in our home, Makinlee in school, & I’ve started to realize that she has changed in the way she plays.  She’s 4 and already I’m hearing her say that she is bored.  This is not okay with me.  A 4 year old shouldn’t become bored so easily.  Over the last few weeks the Waldorf books have been dusted off and re-read, ideas have been lifted from various places on the internet, & changes put into action.  HL has been busy outside creating a set of play stands like these from Three Sisters Toys.

Waldorf inspired play stands are simple pieces of furniture that can and will inspire imaginative play.  They can become a road side fruit stand, a secret cave, or just a canopy to read under.  However, they are quiet expensive to purchase but luckily I have an awesome handyman on the payroll around here.

The other item that is on our list is a play kitchen similar to this one we found on OhDeeDoh.

We also plan to make a simple refrigerator mainly for food storage (we have a ton of HABA wooden food).  I want to have a place to store it neatly when not in use.  This is really for me and my OCD notion that EVERY thing has to have a place.

I also would love for her to have a doll cradle for her Waldorf doll she got for Christmas last year.  Over the next few weeks Makinlee and I are going to go through the toys she has now.  We will make a must keep pile, a give to those in need pile, & a trash pile.  I think this is the perfect opportunity to teach her about giving.

I want her play space to be less cluttered with a bunch of junk she doesn’t even play with.  I want it to inspire her to use her imagination or to just relax and look at a picture book.

Photos of our progress to come.  HL was busy outside with the projects and I’ve was busy inside today cleaning, washing clothes, & packing.  Tomorrow we are headed back to Houston for more tests at the RE’s office.  I’ll update as soon as we return.

I hate to say things are not going well here because things are not bad but they are not good either.  I’m struggling with HL’s new schedule.  The doing everything myself for 6 weeks thing.  I’m on week 5 and I’m exhausted mentally.  Between all the Halloween mumbo jumbo, school crapola, the farm, & the business I’m beat.  I find myself unable to have a normal conversation with an adult without jumbling at least 15 words.  I’m a wreck.  It doesn’t help that I tend to get a bit of seasonal depression this time a year and we just found out HL will not be home for Christmas.  I would rather just forget about it then, at least the whole tree and presents bit.  I’m going to stop complaining now and got get Kinlee in the tub.  Mom needs a glass of wine tonight.