I just can't keep my mouth shut...

which shouldn't surprise any of you!

I've been reading a bit about the California mother of six who recently became a mother of 14 after giving birth to octuplets. We spent three years trying to conceive Cassie. Six months of Clomid courtesy of Dr. B. When that didn't work (hey--it was how we got Chase), she sent us to Dr. P for "ovarian hyperstimulation." We started on clomid, a slightly higher dosage than Dr. B's. I did another six or eight months on clomid (not consecutive because there were months I had to take off for testing and other things) and then I had a laparoscopy. Endometriosis was discovered and removed. I did three more months of clomid and still no pregnancy. So we moved on to the big guns--I started injectible meds and intrauterine insemination. I did six months of injectibles and had three IUIs. Cass was conceived on our third (and final) round of IUI. Praise God! If the IUI hadn't worked, we'd have taken two months off and started IVF in January 2007. Three of my injectible cycles were cancelled because I developed too many follicles (more than four) and my risk of multiples was too high. Since I said from the get go that selective reduction was NOT an option for us, conceiving higher order multiples was also NOT an option from my dr's perspective. During each of my three IUI cycles, I had four eggs release and approximately 180 million sperm deposited. 12 eggs + 540 million sperm = 1 Cassie. Really, how many people can say that? The bright side of infertility.

I had more vaginal ultrasounds and blood draws than I can count. Not to mention injecting myself w/pergonal. On good days I felt like a pincushion and on bad days--a science project gone bad. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat, without a second thought, for our Cassie. But I'd never do it again. Jamie and I love our kids and if God surprises us with a third, we'd be over the moon. But I can't imagine subjecting myself and my body to the hell that is fertility treatment again when I've been blessed with two beautiful, healthy, and perfect children. That just seems so greedy, selfish and wrong to me.

My doctor cancelled all cycles (clomid & injectible) if there were more than 4 follicles large enough to release. Did I ever resent his conservatism? You bet. I wanted a baby more than anything and I knew my chances of conceiving were higher w/a truckload of eggs shooting out. But we never tried "the fun way" during those cycles. Maybe it's because I'm a twin, or because I know my limitations as a mother, or because I'm vain and know my belly would never recover, but multiples scared the bejeezus out of me. I'll never forget freaking out on the phone during one injectible cycle to my mom and having her say to me, "Christi, if I could handle it, you could too." Thankfully, God blessed us with the singleton pregnancy I wanted! But the thought of multiples was on my mind with every needle stick and probe I endured.

Given the time I put in at the RE's office (that would be Reproductive Endocrinologist for those of you lucky enough to get pregnant w/o help), I think I'm qualified to say that California mother is crazy. And if she isn't certifiable now, she will be in a few years. Do you WATCH Jon and Kate plus 8? Because her life just became that plus 6 minus the husband part of the equation. Even more than that, there is a team of medical professionals who violated simple common sense and every single medical guideline for reproductive endocrinology with this pregnancy. More than the mother's lack of common sense (which bothers me a lot--because really, if you're bankrupt, you probably shouldn't be pursing fertility treatment to expand your brood of six), I'm bothered by the medical professionals who encouraged this. The whole situation is just really very sad and wrong to me.

The Good, The Bad, the Ugly

Good news first: At 10:05 tomorrow evening, Chase will be seven years old. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? I remember I stopped pushing (TMI?) just to see the lead story on KSDK's 10pm news--would it be Trent Green or Kurt Warner starting in the Super Bowl for the Rams? Chase came home with a Super Bowl onesie from St. John's, the Rams lost that Super Bowl and well into the throes of breastfeeding hell, postpartum depression, and new motherhood, I really didn't care. Seven amazing years later, Kurt Warner is starting in another Super Bowl for the Arizona Cardinals, and we're rooting for him again! And Chase has been a greater source of joy (and frustration sometimes) that we could have ever imagined. So a very Happy Birthday to our big boy!

The kind of good: my pinched nerve is improved to the point where I no longer need pharmaceuticals to function, although I'm long overdue for another chiropractic adjustment (hopefully tomorrow).

The bad: We missed my nephew Brady's bday party last Saturday because Chase woke up with pinkeye. And Sherman woke up w/an infected hot spot on his neck b/c Jamie forgot to take the e-collar off before he put him to bed. So countless loads of laundry and antibiotic eyedrops (Chase) and oral antibiotics & cream (Sherm) later, I think we're on the other side of this. Sherm's been w/o his e-collar or pinch collar the better part of the week and his behavior has been really very wonderful! I did use the e-collar when we went down to the common ground to sled yesterday, but didn't need to use it. He loves the snow more than the kids, I think! He is really maturing into a great dog and all that training is REALLY paying off!

The ugly: Approximately 54-56 weeks ago I blogged about my then-three-year-old dishwasher needing repairs nearly equal to the cost of the dishwasher. I'm sure you can find the post (there may be more than one) under January 2008. My now-four-year-old Maytag stopped working yesterday afternoon. I spoke to Maytag/Whirlpool, clarified what would be covered under the manufacturer's warranty, and decided that we should do our part to stimulate the economy and get my third dishwasher (fourth if you count the one I had to buy for the rental house last year--I don't) in five years. I had to replace a five year old Maytag a year after we moved into this house. I wanted to get a Kenmore, stupid Sears saleslady talked me into another Maytag. Yesterday I got a Kenmore Elite from the same salesguy who sold me the oven in October. I probably should have asked for a frequent shopper discount since he actually remembered me!

I could do a long, huge rant about Maytag but I did that a year ago. Suffice to say, the parts that Maytag replaced a year ago failed again. The original cost of the machine, plus the repair last year, plus this repair would = a top of the line dishwasher and probably part of my new stove as well. Or the front loading HE washer I covet. But shhhhh on that. We've now replaced every appliance we bought with this house (the microwave, range & two dishwashers have died, & the water heater is on its last legs) and the house is only nine years old! Of the appliances that we bought when we married, the 12 year old fridge and 12 year old washer are still kicking (both Kenmore). And they need to kick a little longer or Jamie is going to make me work at Sears for an appliance discount...

Bottom line? Whirlpool owns Maytag. My sister replaced her four year old Whirlpool dishwasher this month and I had to replace my four year old Maytag dishwasher. Maybe I had a lemon, but I'm not testing my luck with another Maytag/Whirlpool appliance again! They just don't make them like they used to.

All in all though, more good than bad. And my new dishwasher is being installed tomorrow. YAY that! A happy, happy day tomorrow will be!

Ouch

So I pinched a nerve in my neck sleeping funny Monday night. Getting old sucks. I may be a bit scarce until I'm feeling better...

1. Do you like blue cheese? Not really. Feta, yes. But isn't blue cheese really just moldy cheese?
2. Have you ever smoked? Yes, but I didn't inhale. (Thank you, Bill Clinton for that line.)
3. Do you own a gun? Several. Along with a room full of antlers and an NRA membership.
4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite? I don't like Kool Aid.
5. Do you get nervous? I'm a little high strung.
6. What do you think of hot dogs? love them - nitrates and all.
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Christmas Vacation. And A Christmas Story (Chase calls it the Ralphie Story)
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Diet Coke or Diet Dr. Pepper
9. Can you do push ups? Yes I can.
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? wedding ring
11.Where is #11?
12. Do you have ADD? No
13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? I'm a little snappy.
14. Middle name? Carolyn
15. Name 3 thoughts at this very moment: I wish my daughter would stop hanging on the fridge when she wants something, my dog is being ridiculously good (I hope he's not sick), I need to vacuum.
16. Name 3 drinks you drink regularly. Diet Coke. Diet Dr. Pepper. Chai
17. Current worry? I need to vacuum and put laundry away. Yeah. It's a rough life. I know.
18. Current hate right now. The cold weather. The entire family is wearing long underwear. Even Chase. Ugh.
19. Favorite place I would like to be. A beach. With 80 degree temps. And sand. And water. And adult beverages and nannys.
20. How did you bring in the New Year? At home playing on the 'puter. Jamie was packing for another hunting trip.
21. If you could be anyone who would it be? Ann Coulter
22. Name three people who will complete this. IDK
23. Do you own slippers? Yes but hardly wear them
24. What color shirt are you wearing? White
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No - flannel, baby!
26. Can you whistle? Yes
27. Favorite color M&M? I don't really like M&Ms. I'm kind of a chocolate snob.
28. Would you be a pirate? No--I'm not so into eye patches or parrots.
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't usually. But if I do it's either from children's tv (like Elmo's Song) or a hymn.
30. Favorite girl's name: Cassie
31. Favorite boy's name: Chase
32. What's in your pocket right now? No pockets
33. Last thing that made you laugh? I laughed so hard I cried at my book last night (Bright Lights, Big Ass by Jen Lancaster--in case you're wondering)
34. Best bed sheets as a child? Cabbage Patch, maybe?
35. Worst injury you ever had? I gotta say post Cassie stitches. And even THAT wasn't so bad.
36. Do you love where you live? Yes, almost as much as I love little projects to make me love it more...
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? Six, but one is on the fritz.
38. Who is your loudest friend? Myself.
39. How many dogs do you have? 1, but 75lbs of puppy is MORE than enough, thankyouverymuch.
40. Does someone have a crush on you? Not to my knowledge
41. What is your favorite book? To Kill a Mockingbird, still
42. What is your favorite candy? bate, bate, Chocolate (props to you if you can name the children's cartoon in which that song is sung)
43. Favorite Sports Team? Dallas Cowboys!
44. What song do you want played at your funeral? I try not to think about my funeral. It's difficult for this self-absorbed control freak to imagine the world going on w/o her...I mean, NO ONE could do as great of a job w/the kids and house as me, right? Right?

Sound like me?

After having a discussion w/a friend about the Myers Briggs test, I took an online version and came out w/the result:

ENTJ. Of the four aspects of strategic analysis and definition it is marshaling or situational organizing role that reaches the highest development in the Fieldmarshal. As this kind of role is practiced some contingency organizing is necessary, so that the second suit of the Fieldmarshal's intellect is devising contingency plans. Structural and functional engineering, though practiced in some degree in the course of organizational operations, tend to be not nearly as well developed and are soon outstripped by the rapidly growing skills in organizing. But it must be said that any kind of strategic exercise tends to bring added strength to engineering as well as organizing skills.

Hardly more than two percent of the total population, Fieldmarshals are bound to lead others, and from an early age they can be observed taking command of groups. In some cases, they simply find themselves in charge of groups, and are mystified as to how this happened. But the reason is that they have a strong natural urge to give structure and direction wherever they are - to harness people in the field and to direct them to achieve distant goals. They resemble Supervisors in their tendency to establish plans for a task, enterprise, or organization, but Fieldmarshals search more for policy and goals than for regulations and procedures.

They cannot not build organizations, and cannot not push to implement their goals. When in charge of an organization, whether in the military, business, education, or government, Fieldmarshals more than any other type desire (and generally have the ability) to visualize where the organization is going, and they seem able to communicate that vision to others. Their organizational and coordinating skills tends to be highly developed, which means that they are likely to be good at systematizing, ordering priorities, generalizing, summarizing, at marshaling evidence, and at demonstrating their ideas. Their ability to organize, however, may be more highly developed than their ability to analyze, and the Fieldmarshal leader may need to turn to an Inventor or Architect to provide this kind of input.

Fieldmarshals will usually rise to positions of responsibility and enjoy being executives. They are tireless in their devotion to their jobs and can easily block out other areas of life for the sake of their work. Superb administrators in any field - medicine, law, business, education, government, the military - Fieldmarshals organize their units into smooth-functioning systems, planning in advance, keeping both short-term and long-range objectives well in mind. For the Fieldmarshal, there must always be a goal-directed reason for doing anything, and people's feelings usually are not sufficient reason. They prefer decisions to be based on impersonal data, want to work from well thought-out plans, like to use engineered operations - and they expect others to follow suit. They are ever intent on reducing bureaucratic red tape, task redundancy, and aimless confusion in the workplace, and they are willing to dismiss employees who cannot get with the program and increase their efficiency. Although Fieldmarshals are tolerant of established procedures, they can and will abandon any procedure when it can be shown to be ineffective in accomplishing its goal. Fieldmarshals root out and reject ineffectiveness and inefficiency, and are impatient with repetition of error.

I don't care to sit by the window on an airplane. If I can't control it, why look?"
ENTJs have a natural tendency to marshall and direct. This may be expressed with the charm and finesse of a world leader or with the insensitivity of a cult leader. The ENTJ requires little encouragement to make a plan. One ENTJ put it this way... "I make these little plans that really don't have any importance to anyone else, and then feel compelled to carry them out." While "compelled" may not describe ENTJs as a group, nevertheless the bent to plan creatively and to make those plans reality is a common theme for NJ types.

ENTJs are often "larger than life" in describing their projects or proposals. This ability may be expressed as salesmanship, story-telling facility or stand-up comedy. In combination with the natural propensity for filibuster, our hero can make it very difficult for the customer to decline.

TRADEMARK: -- "I'm really sorry you have to die." (I realize this is an overstatement. However, most Fs and other gentle souls usually chuckle knowingly at this description.)

ENTJs are decisive. They see what needs to be done, and frequently assign roles to their fellows. Few other types can equal their ability to remain resolute in conflict, sending the valiant (and often leading the charge) into the mouth of hell. When challenged, the ENTJ may by reflex become argumentative. Alternatively (s)he may unleash an icy gaze that serves notice: the ENTJ is not one to be trifled with.

Functional Analysis

Extraverted Thinking
"Unequivocating" expresses the resoluteness of the ENTJ's dominant function. Clarity of convictions endows these Thinkers with a knack for debate, or wanting knack, a penchant for argument. The light and heat generated by Thinking at the helm can be impressive; perhaps even overwhelming. Experience teaches many ENTJs that restraint may often be the better part of valor, lest one find oneself victorious but alone.

Introverted iNtuition
The auxiliary function explores the blueprints of archetypal patterns and equips Thinking with a fresh, dynamic sense of how things work. Improvising on the fly is something many ENTJs do very well. As Thinking's subordinate, insights are of value only insofar as they further the Right, True Cause celebre. [n.b.: ENTJs are capable of living on a higher plane, if you will, and learning to value individuals even above their principles. The above dynamic suggests less individuation.]

Extraverted Sensing
Sensing reaches out to embrace that which physically touches it. ENTJs have an awareness of the real; of that which exists. By stilling the engines of Thinking and iNtuition, this type may experience the Here and Now, and know things not dreamt of nor even postulated in iNtuition's philosophy. Sensing's minor role, however, puts it at risk for distortion or extreme weakness beneath the hustle and bustle of the giants N and T.

Introverted Feeling
Feeling is romantic, as the ethereal as the inner world from whence it doth emerge. When it be awake, feeling evokes great passion that knows not nuance of proportion nor context. Perhaps these lesser functions inspire glorious recreational quests in worlds that never were, or may only ever be in fantasy. When overdone or taken too seriously, Fi turned outward often becomes maudlin or melodramatic. Feeling in this type appears most authentic when implied or expressed covertly in a firm handshake, accepting demeanor, or act of sacrifice thinly covered by excuses of lack of any personal interest in the relinquished item.

Famous ENTJs:
U.S. Presidents:
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Richard M. Nixon
Benny Goodman, "Big Band" leader
General Norman Schwarzkopf
Harrison Ford
Steve Martin
Whoopi Goldberg
Sigourney Weaver
Margaret Thatcher
Al Gore (U.S Vice President, 1993-2001)
Lamar Alexander (former governor, US Secretary of Education)
Les Aspen, former U.S. Secretary of Defense
Candace Bergen (Murphy Brown)
Dave Letterman
Newt Gingrich
Patrick Stewart (STNG: Jean Luc Picard)
Robert James Waller (author: The Bridges of Madison County)
Jim Carrey (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask)
Steve Jobs
Penn Jillette

Hmmmm--that whole "often find themselves in charge w/o knowing how they got there" sounds a little familar (Cub Scouts, anyone?). So dear readers, use the comments and tell me what YOU think--does this sound like me?

Shermy's First Hunt

Jamie just called a short time ago to let me know that Sherm retrieved his first pheasant. We were both worried that Jamie would spend most of this trip chasing after Sherman in the field, but our fears were totally unfounded. Our Shermy must have some field dog in his bloodlines b/c he is sticking close to Jamie's side and retrieved that bird perfectly.

Pheasant hunting is different than duck hunting, in that it is preferred that the dog flush out the birds ahead of the master (so that the master can then shoot the flushed birds). As such, Jamie has a bit of work to do w/Sherm in getting him to flush out the birds w/Jim's pointers, as opposed to sticking to Jamie's side like glue. Nonetheless, Jamie is quite pleased that his "housedog" is also a "hunting buddy." And I'm glad he's sticking to Jamie in the field...

I love being RIGHT!

Don't worry, it's not a political entry. I'm too tired for politics. Rather, I ordered my sister a Mei Tai for Brewer for Christmas. It arrived late, but she got it yesterday and this morning I got an email telling me she loves it and that it has changed her life. I hate to sound smug, but I told her so! I STILL use mine with Cassie...I wore her in a wrap for about 5 months, then switched to the Mei Tai when she got too big for her wrap. Other than the crib/stroller/high chair/exersaucer, I can't think of another baby item I've gotten 13 months of use out of! I wore Cass in the Mei Tai for an hour at Target last week (she gets squirmy and climby in the cart), I wore her at the grocery store this afternoon (didn't want to risk her spreading her tummy bug in the cart)--it's still very useful to me. So I'm glad it is working out for my sister, too!

I'm watching a 20/20 on Extreme Mothering. These people are nuts. I'm off to bed...