We just finished up a big step in this surrogate journey...the Mock Cycle! Whenever I’ve heard the word “mock” before, it made me think of “mock trials” in high school or “mocktail drinks” before turning 21. So, what exactly is a Mock Cycle? This process is done to determine how your body will react to hormone medications and exactly how much is needed for your endometrium to thicken (that’s a fancy word for uterine lining). A thick (ideally >8mm) lining is ideal for the embryo to implant during transfer. Some women swear by drinking pomegranate juice, taking Vitamin E supplements, getting weekly acupuncture, and many other methods to assist the medications in this process. After quitting birth control and starting my menstrual cycle, the nurse scheduled me to begin meds on day three. Every other day I would stick on Vivelle patches which are transdermal Estradiol. The number of patches increased over time and Estradiol tablets were taken also. During this specific schedu...
The second week of ultra (?) training is over and everyone is surviving so far. Our daughter seems to enjoy cruising around in the stroller more compared to going to the YMCA and my husband holds down the fort for me to get some solo runs in too. Having the structure of certain mile requirements and specific rest days has been a nice change. I’ve only followed, loosely followed , a training plan before. Being a stay at home mom for me has typically meant no plans or structured anything can really be followed. Little Boo wakes up with a runny nose, we stay home so she doesn’t get other kids sick and they don’t give her even more germs. Then, we stay home a few more days "just in case", which quickly adds up for time spent at home/not running. Life is unpredictable with a babe, so we’ve gotta go with the flow. SUNDAY: Walked 1 mile MONDAY: RAN 3.0 miles @11:42 pace on the trails TUESDAY: RAN 6.06 miles @8:25 pace + strength + walked .5 miles WEDNESDAY: Walked...
We have been reading about life in the dessert and one of our favorite things is the cactus, obviously! They range from big to small, and some even have beautiful flowers! Not only have we looked at pictures and watched videos about them (did you know some types absorb rain water and swell up?), we have been able to hike and view them locally, as native species! Very cool! Here's a short educational video for you to watch with your child before starting this craft! Salt Dough Cactus Craft You will need: 2 ½ cups flour ½ cup + 2 tablespoons salt 1 cup water Large bowl Wooden spoon Baking Sheet Parchment Paper (optional) First things first, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Now, add the flour and salt to your bowl. Pour the water in slowly and begin to mix with a spoon. Switch to mixing with your hands (or your kiddo can have fun doing this) to thoroughly knead the dough and get a sensory experience! If sticky, add a little bit more flour. If too dry...