Moms the word.

My fight with endometriosis has been a long and tiring road. I've had three surgeries, countless painful procedures and survived three months of a medical/chemically induced menopause on a drug that is being recalled. What follows next is simply a miracle.

We're pregnant. Absolutely, unequivocally, beyond any doubt pregnant.



Enter me shaking, crying and sitting on the toilet with four tests in pure disbelief. We consider ourselves so incredibly lucky to have been blessed with this after such a hard fight. We are even more thrilled that this came as a surprise. Life hold such amazing twists and turns!

My little miracle is on their way :) We'll be heading to our first prenatal appointment tomorrow! In the meantime, if you are reading this, mums the word, please!

From two to three. Eventually.

Excitement has officially gotten the best of us. I'm off all meds :) No lupron, no pill, no nada. We're flying by on 'if it happens it happens!' Truth be told - we're scared shitless. :) If nothing happens by April/May, we'll start charting and trying more aggressively. In the mean time I'm going to change around our diet to prepare. I've set up a no-no food list and put us on horse-pill sized multi & prenatal vitamins.

For those that are looking or are trying to conceive, here are five foods that may enhance fertility: Yams, nuts and seeds - mainly pumpkin, walnuts & almonds, berries, oysters, and cruciferous veggies (aka veggies that make you fart - broccoli, cabbage & cauliflower.)

It's hard to believe that we've officially begun to journey from two to three.

Baby Blues

I'm fairly sure that the majority of girls my age cringe at the thought of babies. They hear other girls gushing about their pregnancies and mumble, "Not me!" excitedly under their breath. But I'm not the norm. Actually - I don't think I ever have been (define 'normal', anyway). Reality is - and this takes A LOT for me to say - I'm jealous. Jealous of pregnant women, jealous of girls my age with kids and pissed off at whatever higher being is making me feel this way.

Recently my FI and I found out a good friend of his and his wife are expecting. Through my gritted teeth congrats and fake smile, my heart had dropped to my knees. It had dropped so hard, in fact, that FI looked at me and said, "are you ok?" Oh, fuck yeah! I'm just peachy keen, babe! Isn't this just WONDERFUL news? The word baby just gives me those warm fuzzy feelings and I want to vomit puppies and rainbows! Can you sense the sarcasm or do I have to really lay it out on the table for ya? No, really - I'm happy for them. Don't get me wrong. I swear, I am. I'm ridiculously happy for anyone I know that has a child, is expecting or has just had a baby. But reality bites and that bite usually stings.

FI and I are hoping for a positive ASAP - but we know the road is going to be long and hard. I highly doubt that we'll hit a home run our first time out in the field (despite FI swearing his super sperm are freaks of nature [I'm still debating if this is a positive or negative or if I'm just marrying a weirdo?]), but we are ready. We've talked about the possibilities of it taking months, the high high risk of miscarriage and the probability of my ass being on bedrest. These converstations suck but they are the truth and it's ok and GOOD to realize what may (hopefully maybe NOT) happen, right?

Regardless, the outcome off all these is one thing: new life. No matter how much it stings now, I keep the pay off in mind. It'll be an amazing, morning sickness & craving filled time... but it'll be OUR time. So, until then - let the baby blues rule :) It's by far the most humbling experience ... because not all of us have the ability to procreate and experience the most precious gift of all.

A book a day keeps the stupid away

I used to be a reader. I also used to be a writer. The summer I turned 13 I read 12 books. 12 books in two months. My reading comprehesion skills usually far out-weighed those of other kids in my class. Though, my math skills were farrrrrrr from outstanding. :x Regardless, I loved words. The ability to sit down with a book and totally lose myself. The sad part? I haven't read a book in months. Not since my birthday last May when I read A Thousand Splendid Suns in five hours. In an attempt to start reading again, I've put togethet a list of books. A book a day used to be the norm for me, but since planning the wedding and everything else that's going in my life, I've set back to a book a month.

My list of reads in no particular order:

Three Cups of Tea
Greg Mortenson
David Oliver Relin

The Man You'll May
Debbie Macomber

Push
Sapphire

Time Travelers Wife
Audrey Niffenegger

The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini

The Wednesday Sisters

Committed
Elizabeth Gilbery

Have a Little Faith
Mitch Albom

Also - I'm going to FINALLY read Jodi Picoult! I think I may start with Committed? Although ... I already have the Time Travelers Wife and The Wednesday Sisters on my book shelf :) Tonight beings the reading!!!!!

Going to blog hell

Why you ask? Because I haven't blogged in MONTHS. Months. Badddddd bride.

I probably need to change the name of this blog, huh? Technically I'm not menopausal anymore. My three months Lupron anniversary was January 2nd, which was an amazing way to start off the new year. Fresh & menopause free. Crappy part is that my symptoms from the shot are linger like something wicked. Not only do I have hotflashes bad enough that I feel like I'm going to spontaneously combust, but if I even look at food I get sick. Not that I'm *totally* complaining, but really? Do I need to feel like I was just on an episode of Man (in this case Woman) vs Food every.single.night? Silver lining? I'm down 20lbs. TWENTY POUNDS!

ALAS. I come with updates - both Endo and wedding related: While the pain from my Endo is back with the force of an adhesion like Jedi, Fiance and I came up with a game plan. ::puts black ink under eyes:: TTC! Shush. This is top secret. Like manila envelope, don't push the red button top secret. (And yet I'm writing it on my blog? Go me.) I'm on a major round of estrogen and progesterone to bring back the non-existent cycle. This time everything will be different. We will get the biggest, fattest positive ever. I know it. I feel it. Bring on April, biitches!

In other news, I found a dress & she is magnifique! My mommy cried. I loved it. There was a big group hug at the end. No, not really. But here's to hoping that SOB fits when I'm four months pregnant!



P.s. Hi Taylor :D

Fall is in the air... but its 90* out

What's more fall than apples? Hmm. Homemade applesauce, perhaps? Apples fall into my diet (and should in any diet), and since I'm making pork chops this week, I figured what better to go with them than applesauce? SO excited.

Homemade Applesauce ala MBride

3 Mcintosh
2 Granny smith
1 Gala

Feel free to use which ever apples you like. These apples were the best in my local grocer, so I chose them.

Personally, I add cinnamon, nutmeg & allspice to taste (the amount also varies on how many apples you use) and usually add a bit of orange juice. Unfortunately I only had apple juice so I used that instead. Just add enough liquid to keep the apples from sticking on the bottom of the pot. Let the apples simmer on low until they are nice and soft, then use a whisk to break them up. Tada! You have homemade applesauce! Use all organic ingredients to make it MBride approved!! You can also try this recipe in the over vs the stove top :)

A bit on Lurpon

Because a. I'm bored and b. M groom is in his er... 'office.'

Just quickly - for those that don't know what endometriosis is, it is a disease where the lining of your uterus (the endometrium) grows outside on other organs. When you get your period, you are supposed to shed this lining; that's why you bleed. If you were to become pregnant, the fertilized egg would attach to the endometrium and thicken from progesterone to keep baby happy & healthy for 40 weeks.

Lupron, aka Leuprolide stimulates the production of specific hormones in the body so eventually the the body shuts those hormones off. I know, I know that sounds NUTS. Within a week or so of receiving this shit.. er.. shot, the body makes a mass amount of estrogen, aptly called an 'estrogen surge.' A few days after that, the body shuts down ALL production of estrogen. No estrogen = menopause = crazy person = crazier bride going off about why her e-pics need to be done in the fall and not the spring because the spring isn't as pretty and fall is better and well it makes so much more sense because the weather is cooler and spring could rain and really who likes spring anyway, right? ::deep breaths. in through nose, out through mouth::

Happy Halloween!

One day early...

Breakfast

My diet is strict, and by strict I mean no gluten, minimal diary & sugar, lean lean meats and lots of fresh (not frozen), fiber rich veggies and fruit.

I'm not a breakfast person ... at all. I think it's rare to find someone who *loves* breakfast outside of pancakes, waffles and bacon.

To make my breakfast eating easier (after all, it is the most important meal of the day), I make Irish Oatmeal. It is a gluten free wonder.



1 cup water
3/4 cup irish oatmeal
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons Virgin Organic Coconut Oil
Sprinkle of nutmeg
Sprinkle of cinnamon
Optional Dark brown sugar


Topped with a protein rich banana!

Breakfast is served.

Sip, don't slurpe

The person sitting across from me is slurping their coffee. [Insert evil eyes here].
It's 6:15 am. Do us all a favor: take the lid off and SIP.

On why I've not been to the gym...

... since last Thurday.

I'm a baddd bride. Baddd bride. I went for a four mile run last Thursday (mind you, that was the first time I've stepped into a gym in over two weeks). Can't tell ya how I made it through four miles but I did. Higher power, perhaps? I say massive amounts of Red Bull. It gives you wings, after all. Or, in this case, legs?

Told myself I was to run Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday I went to Target, retail cardio, right? Saturday we went grocery shopping - weight lifting... heavy bags filled with yummy food. Legit in my book. Sunday, I laughed. Like, a lot. It's good for the soul. So, I didn't totally skip out. Ugh, ok, fine. I did. I did. I'm terrible! Wasting $40 a month for nothing. I know! Stop nagging me. Geez.

Between yesterday and today I work 25 glorious hours (Oh, how I'll love thee paycheck next Friday). Tomorrow = gym. Thursday = gym. Friday = gym. Saturday = gym. I'll give myself Sunday off, maybe.

It's time to dress shop....

Oy.

How Mbride became Mbride.

Long story short? A drug called Lupron.

But short stories are never fun, and I like to tal.. er type, so here's the story, in a nut shell:

I was diagnosed in 2005 with Endometriosis. Don't know what is it? Google is your friend. It's a bitch of a disease. I've had three surgeries (and numerous procedures, including an HSG), my uterus lifted and the top of my rectum removed. TMI? Welcome to my life.

Really, though - being a 25 year old bride in medically induced menopause has it's perks. I can be snarky (sometimes) without repercussion, and generally speaking, I can get my fiance to do anything by saying, "but... Babe... I have cramps." My life revolves around what I can do without being in pain, what I can't do becuase it causes pain and the never-endng fear that I'll lose my uterus and left ovary by the time I'm 27.

So here's my blog. I'll post everything wedding and a good deal of Endo stuff here. I follow a strict diet and I'm always coming up with recipes that are low in fat and gluten free! From time to time I'm sure I will share those. Though, for the most part, I'll just talk about how I'll be the hottest bride to hit Fox Hollow's dance floor... like ever.

Because I have an excuse.

I was thinking in the shower (I'm still in my towel [try not to picture me naked :)]) about this whole vendor issue on the The Knot. Not only is the entire situation utterly unfair and ridiculously sided, but it's down right, well, ridiculous. So, because I have an excuse to be snarky on a rather regular basis, here is my letter to vendors.

Warning:: This letter is not directed to any particular vendor, nor is it meant to cause harm to their business. Rather it is a suggestion from a bride who is investing a large sum of money into the day of her dreams and expects nothing but the upmost respect from ALL vendors.



Dear Vendors,

Take this as a bit of advice. Stay off The Knot. Good Lord Sweet Baby Jesus, if you know what is good for you and your business stay off The Knot.

If it happens that your fingers find their way to your address box on Safari (or FireFox) and they type in WWW.TheKnot.COM, run away from the computer. If you need, cut off your forsaken fingers and leave them the F behind. They can't type without your nuts for brains.

Here's another thought: ALL brides are entitled to an opinion, whether is good or bad. DEAL WITH IT. That's business numbnut. You'll get over it. I work in the most customer service geared position known to man, and trust me, I GET IT. When a bride comes screaming to you because her roses are the wrong shade of peach, it's annoying - but guess what, IT'S YOUR JOB. Make her happy and move on. Apologize. Don't go on the a public message board and badmouth her. Hello. Worst marketing ever. My 10 year old niece has better marketing for her lemonade stand in the middle of summer than you do for your expensive wedding vendor business. There are 35+ brides on the South Florida board, all potential clients - times that by the average of $3000. Can't do math? Oh, I'm sorry - that's $105,000 that you just lost out on. Aw shucks.

So, next time you click "Local Boards," think twice about actually posting. Because we have no shame in calling you out, defending our friend and keeping our money - that equals roughly $100,000.

Dumbass.


Always,

Menopausal Bride.

How to make MBride very happy.

MBride, if you haven't already figured it out, is short for Menopausal Bride. Fab, right?

On to happy thoughts. How to make MBride happy:

Bring her Trix and SmartWater.
Make her rice noodles and grilled chicken for dinner.
My photog, www.twelfthnightphoto.com, offering us a wicked deal. Aka, bring cash, we'll skip the tax and call it even. Dear Dom, I LOVE YOU! But I love your pictures more. <3 MBride.

No, seriosuly. Vendor deals for any bride could be equivilant to birthday presents or Christmas morning. They may only come around every so often, but when they do - BOOOOYAHHH! We welcome them with open "grabby-grabby, gimme-gimme" arms. Make brides happy vendors :) Cut us deals. We'll love you and maybe, just maybe, give you a rave on The Knot.

Deal with it.

I'm 25. I'm in menopause. I'm planning a wedding. Lord help all vendors who pass in my hot-flashed-cold-sweat-anxiety-ridden way. Ooops! I blame it on the Lupron. Stay tuned for more. If you dare.