Caden and his Easter visit

We weren't able to see Caden on Easter this year, so Jason and I stopped over on Thursday night for a visit. He is really getting quite the personality! I can't believe he will be 2 years old this summer.

Guess he knew this package was for him! He pulled it right off the table!

He looks pretty excited about swim trunks, huh?!
And, he even knew what to do with them? (We really didn't pose him this way!)

Uncle Jason showing him his card - it made trucks sounds, so much fun!

Uncle Jason and Caden

Still here...

It's been a little busy at the Patterson house, but nothing too exciting. Guess I wanted to do an update today to let you all know that I am still here! I took some days off work at the end of last week and Monday so that was nice even though the weather didn't cooperate. On Friday, I met a friend in Peoria for pedicures, lunch, and shopping. It was a nice time as usual and these feet needed some attention! We had dinner with friends on Saturday night and then Sunday we met my mom & dad, sister, brother-in-law, & nephew, and brother-in-laws parents for a nice lunch after church. My nephew is doing well...almost 7 weeks old. He had to have surgery last week. I am pretty sure the condition was called pyloric stenosis. He is doing much better now, so that is good. My boss had a baby girl last Thursday, so I took dinner to her yesterday and got to meet Lauren. She is a cutie...bigger than my nephew, I think! :-) Then, I went to a visitation last night for a friend who lost her husband. Talk about both ends of the emotional spectrum in one day - celebrating a birth and mouring a death with a friend. We have small group tonight and then we head north this weekend to celebrate my college friend's son's 1st birthday and birthdays with the family.

In IVF news...I'm back on the bcp and have my start cycle appointment on the 30th. Two more weeks... I'm still checking in on you ladies and where you're at in the cycles and, of course, checking in on the three - Jill, Cady, and Erin - of you that got your BFPs! Congrats ladies!

Sisterhood Award & Honest Scrap

A very sweet thank you to Ashley for nominating me for the Sisterhood Award! Please visit her blog and give her some love. She is starting her first (and hopefully only!) IVF cycle!

Rules of The Sisterhood Award:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate 10 blogs with great attitude and/or gratitude.
3. Be sure to link to your nominees in your post.
4. Let your nominees know they have received the award by leaving them a comment on their blog.
5. Be sure to link this post to the person who nominated you for the award

Thank you all for being an awesome, amazing support to Jason and I as well go through life and the ups and downs of infertility.

1. Elaine
2. Tammy (although I know she has already been nominated!)
3. Jamie
4. Cady
5. Jackie
6. Tonya
7. Tiffany
8. Kristin
9. Janell
10. Angry Infertile

Please visit their blogs and give them some love!!!

And, quite some time ago, I was nominated for this award:
Thank you so much to the Angry Infertile! I love your blog, and sorry I am so late in posting!

1) Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design.
2) Show the 7 winners names and links on your blog, and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with "Honest Scrap." Well, there's no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon.
3) List at least 10 honest things about yourself.

Here are my 10 honest things:

1. I love reality shows (Biggest Loser, The Bachelor, American Idol, Amazing Race, Big Brother)!
2. I also am a HUGE Chicago Cubs fan - have been since birth!
3. Ice cream is my favorite food. I could seriously eat it every day and not get tired of it.
4. I can't stand cigarette smoke and was so happy when Illinois went smoke free!
5. Yes, I am a Harley girl. My husband has a Harley V-rod that we enjoy riding (especially in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado with friends!).
6. I don't like going to the movie theater. I'd rather sit at home on my couch to watch a movie.
7. I am a huge planner. I have a smart phone so my calendar is always with me.
8. There are two things (okay, probably more) that drive me crazy - using double negatives in sentences and things misspelled in professional marketing pieces.
9. I am very detail oriented so I like things organized, and I love to edit printed pieces (see #8).
10. I like to exercise, but need someone to push me to do it.

If you are listed above or want to do it, consider yourself tagged!

We have a plan!!

After having a "stubborn" period as my nurse called it, she has finally arrived! I just talked to Dr. J's office and we have our "schedule" for IVF #2. We're doing a Micro Lupron Protocol...so it will be different from last time - less suppression and more stimulation! Hopefully things will go great, and we'll get our baby this time!

Tears and Hope

This is a great video posted by one of my blogger friends, Ashley. Please visit this website www.tearsandhope.com to view.

Cathy's Shower

On Saturday, Jason's sister, Karen and I headed to Chicago for their cousin's wedding shower. Cathy is getting married in June to her fiance, Corey, in Missouri. We don't see them very often so it was nice to celebrate with her and hopefully we'll be able to make the wedding this summer!

This was a sheet set that Cathy's mom, aunts, and cousins embroidered for her. Many of us were rookies! :-) I had never embroidered before and have to say that it probably isn't something I'll continue. Don't mind the stickers on her face. This was from a game that her aunt came up with. You probably know that at most wedding showers there is a game about how well you know your future husband. The extra part to this was that if she got a question correct, they put a sticker on her face (?), but if she got it wrong, she had to chew a piece of gum without spitting out the others.

Aunt Leta and Aunt Pam (Cathy's mom)

Linda, Cathy (cousins), me, and Karen

Karen, Cathy, me

Happy Birthday, Dad!!!