Interesting conversation with MIL today

I called MIL to let her know that some of the tax forms from Jackie's work might still be sent to her house and over the hour or so of conversation she asked how the treatment was going that the last dr we had gone to that she knew about had prescribed. I told her that we had decided not to go through with the treatment and that we were going to seek another opinion but that we needed to save money for the visit first. I told her we didn't have another $200-$300 to spend on another doctor's visit so soon.

MIL: Why do you have to pay so much? Don't you have insurance?
Me: Yep, but insurance doesn't cover any infertility related doctors visits or treatments.
MIL: Oh... I had no idea.
Me: Yeah, they consider everything having to do with infertility experimental.
MIL: I had no idea.
Me: yeah... so we're going to need to save money and take some time to try to decide what we want to do.

Then I proceeded to very excitedly tell her about my normal cycle where I ovulated on CD 14 and had a normal length LP and how I am on day 5 of my period and it is seeming like a normal period. She and I were excited together... isn't it amazing how some days you will hate your woman parts and other days you are so excited for the things that they do!

I think after this conversation it might be easier for her to hear that we are looking into adoption but I didn't think today or now was the right time to tell her that at all. Especially because we are not actively looking into it.

I went to the bookstore tonight to pick up The Shack as recommended by MIL and the two books that I wanted to get Jackie Lee for valentine's day. I was thinking about doing a lot more for valentine's day but I think the two books and dinner and a card will be plenty sufficient, so I am set for V-Day. [Plus, if God is smiling on me this week, my period will end tomorrow and we can do what married people do to celebrate love holidays!]

I also bought book one of the Left Behind series. I had no idea that there were 12 books and I had no idea that the books were so huge. I am now super impressed that so many people I know have read these books! I thought they were just little pamphlets. I am going to read the first chapter of book 1 and I'm sure that I will like it, but if I do I will look on amazon into finding the books for a lot cheaper by getting them used. If I know myself, I will have them read before the Summer starts.

In other, not quite so interesting news... My 23rd birthday is tomorrow. I am usually excited about my birthday and I'm usually the one who makes a big deal out of it. As I was sitting here thinking about it... Every year for as far back as I can remember I am the one who has made a huge deal out of my birthday only to be extremely disappointed by the lack of enthusiasm by everyone else around me or whatever circumstances or acts of God that surrounded my birthday each year. This year I am determined not to be overly excited.

While I was at the book store tonight, Jack decorated the living room and dining room with multi colored balloons and a banner that says "Happy Birthday to You!" He also put out some silly string (I have been eyeing it for months!) and a card. He claims he has a surprise in the garage for me but he insists it isn't too big of a deal since I told him not to get me anything else since he already bought me the sewing machine.

Earlier today my dad called from Germany to wish me a happy birthday too. He said he was going to be in Berlin all day tomorrow and wouldn't be able to call. I let him in on my secret plan for the quilt for his wife so he emailed me the names of Kelly and her 7 sisters. I am excited to start that quilt. I know it will be a lot of work, especially given that her birthday is March 22nd I believe... I have a lot of work to do.

My mom's 50th birthday is February 22nd and I have NO idea what to do for her. I would love to make her a quilt but I made her an awesome one that she loved for Christmas. I haven't seen her since Christmas and I probably won't see her until late March but I can mail her something. I want to have flowers sent to her because she sends me flowers for my birthday.

My birthday actually makes me kind of sad... especially with all the changes in recent years. Normally on my birthday or a few days before, I would go out to dinner with my family on my mom's side. We'd all go to a fun italian restaurant and Papa and I would order the same thing that we do every year, eggplant parmesan with cappelini and bolegnese. We would all make fun of the servers who never seemed to do anything right. We would laugh and joke and Papa would put silly things on his head.

I would get a call from my Grandparents on my dad's side as they sat around their phone and I would talk to them on speakerphone. They would tell me that it was in the 70's or 80's and that they had just come back from swimming at the pool and where they were going for dinner.

I would see my mom some time in the day and we would make orange sweetie rolls (cinnamon rolls with orange flavored frosting) a tradition in my family since we were very little kids.

And my dad would be out of town with his wife at some Superbowl party with all of his friends.

Inevitably there would be a huge bash at my dad's house since he was out of town, all of my friends and tons of alcohol.

.... Those were the days, right?

Now here I am, 500 miles away from the only Grandma I have left. I hope she goes to the italian place without me and orders eggplant parmesan. I'm 500 miles away from my mom and her singing and orange sweetie rolls just don't taste the same without her on my birthday. I'm 500 miles away from all of my old friends... I wonder what they do when this weekend rolls around every year that I'm not there since I've been having a big bash since I was 15. My husband will get up early and go to work and I will sit here and clean the house and attempt to work on a quilt. I will miss my family, especially the ones who don't have long distance from Heaven.

It's quarter after 11... I guess I should just go to bed and face tomorrow bright eyed and bushy tailed.