Creating.My: Blog Updates

Many of you follow this blog purely by email subscription but you all know there is a website that I work really hard on too, right? Just teasing! But seriously… please check it out. I have been making a number of changes lately and I want your feedback! Not completely happy with the layout right now, but can’t seem to figure out another way either…

I Bought A Car!

Yup! I am not the proud new owner of a moderately used Honda Civic!

I picked the car up last Friday, Friday the 13th, with a full moon and horrible rainy weather... and so far so good! She isn't cursed! And I have named her Stella because she's gonna help me get my groove back and it's fun to scream that out in the parking lot when you lose your car!

Stellllaaaaaa!

Three Years

Three years ago today something awesome happened...

A friend of mine had reservations to a restaurant we had really wanted to try, which had a six month waiting list, and she was unable to go so she let us go instead. It was a great experience and we have been back many times since! We even got to meet the owner back in February when we went there for an early anniversary dinner. He put a sparkler in our dessert to celebrate which was very sweet! Counting down the days until we go back… and hoping DH takes me there for my birthday (hint hint)!

Oh, and now that my SIL is nicely fuming about me talking about a restaurant….

Something even MORE incredible happened after dinner that night… we found out that our first niece was born, and that means that she is turning three years old today! I can’t believe it has been three years already… it seems like it was only a few months ago… wait, no, that was their OTHER daughter! Ha, ha? Anyhow, looking forward to her birthday party this weekend and even more excited to babysit both of them on Sunday! 

Happy Birthday from Zia and Zio, G!

Have A Maleficent day!

“I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream
I know you, that look in your eyes is so familiar a gleam
And I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem
But if I know you, I know what you'll do
You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream”
Once Upon A Dream Lyrics – Sleeping Beauty - Lana Del Ray

Some say I’m a Disney junkie, others that I am obsessed with Angelina Jolie. But those who know me best know that both of those are true! And today the movie I have been waiting so long for is finally in theaters and I am getting off work early to go and see it!

Any excuse to leave work early on a Friday is a good excuse, but this one has been long anticipated!

Let the countdown begin…

The Cost Of Happiness

Little girls don’t dream of growing up and having their own children through assisted reproduction methods. In fact, until I found out that this was what I needed to do in order to have children of my own, I really didn’t know much about IUI, IVM, IVF etc… let alone what any of those acronyms stood for! I was also completely unaware of the associated costs. Whoever says that money can’t buy happiness has never learned that they can only have children through IVF because you need a whole lot of money to get what you want!

I have spreadsheets detailing all of the costs over the years and it’s just incredible. Back in 2010 my rounds of IVM medications alone cost about 5600$ (1300$ out of pocket thanks to insurance) and my cancelled IVF back in 2012 cost about 1850$ (425$ out of pocket this time). But when you break that down to a day by day cost, some days were costing me 200$ or more! That’s a lot to deal with when you have to pay everything up front and then wait for your insurance claims to be completed and refunded. But don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining because this is considered to be cheap now that the Quebec government is paying for treatments; the only thing they don’t cover is the medication. I am extremely grateful for this!

Actually, I was talking to a friend recently about by upcoming (and somewhat dreaded) 35th birthday and the cost of treatments whenever we decide to start again. Jokingly, he suggested everyone should buy me a shot – and not the kind with alcohol, the injections! I might seriously have to consider this idea though; joke or not, it’s not a bad plan!

Our new clinic is also semi-private which means that while treatment itself is still covered, all of the diagnostic testing we have been going through is not. I have spent anywhere from 100$ - 450$ each time we walk in that place (also covered by insurance, mostly) but it has all been worth it and I am glad we did it. The staff is so much nicer than most of the people at the hospital, the appointments are actually on time, and when I make an appointment to see my doctor I actually see MY doctor and not an army of residents. I understand the need for teaching hospitals, but I am tired of feeling like a lab rat; I have paid those dues over and over again!

So if you see me or DH panhandling one of these days, you know why!