MORE WITH THE MEEKS

I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me

We had an 8:00 doctor apt this morning

and then tried out a new church, Cherry Hill Community Church in Highlands Ranch . A friend of mine told me about this church so we had to give it a visit and we are SO glad we did! They had wonderful worship music to start our day!

From the time we walked in, we were greeted immediately and given a tour. (The church was quite big and overwhelming!) All the blinds/window coverings started to roll down and then worship music started. They started with one of my favorites "Raise a hallelujah" ... and it just got better from here!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=awkO61T6i0k

I had to take my trigger shots last night @ 12:15am and another @ 1:15 am. Nic and I went to dinner and a movie (Angel has Fallen, his choice) and came in planning to nap then wake up and do shots but I was too anxious and scared to go to sleep bc I feared we would sleep through the alarms! So we stayed up until the last shot was over then we crashed!

Several nights this past week, we haven't been @ the hotel for my 7:00 shot so I've been doing it in the car. I feel like such a druggy bc I have to sneak to the vehicle and give myself a shot in the stomach. It's really not that bad except lifting my shirt and pinching an inch of fat. That's certainly one thing I am doing right.... if you have fat to give the shot in, it's not as painful;)

I rarely go to movies with Nic but this one had recliners 💕

Today has been a wonderful, relaxing day. We had 1 more shot (my LAST one!!) to take @ 1:15pm so we did that and then watched movies in the hotel for 4 hours! I think one of the reasons I have felt so good since being out here is that I'm getting LOTS of sleep.

We just went for a evening walk. I took Nic to see some of the new construction homes around the area we are staying in. These houses go for 1.5-3 million and it just blows my mind! We walked in a few so nic could check them out

We just ate a later dinner because I can't have anything to eat/drink after midnight tonight. Hope to sleep late in the morning so its less time for me to think about eating before 11:15 procedure.

XOXO

No matter what life gives you, give more back

Friday was a great day! We had a wonderful doctor's appointment and then headed to Vail to meet up with one of my high school besties. She is moving to Salt Lake City for work and the Lord knew what I needed so he orchestrated the perfect plan. We had lunch and spent a couple hours walking around Vail before she had to hit the road to continue her drive.

What are the chances I have 2 work friends out here the day my mom left and then one of my lifelong friends drives through the same week?!

Hydrating on our road trip to Vail

It was a long drive through the mountains but so beautiful!

Nic loved the architecture and I loved all the beautiful flowers

We had a doctors appointment this morning and then headed to a farmers market in downtown Denver. Nic was in heaven. They had fresh vegetables, pastries, breads, cheeses, food trucks, flowers, local honey and olive oils, etc. Mom and I went last Saturday but we were late getting there so Nic and I went early today and had the best time looking around.

We heard from our nurse this afternoon and our retrieval has been schedule for Monday @ 11:15! We are so excited it worked out to be on Monday. We will have a full day of rest Tuesday before flying home Wednesday!!! (and maybe a Rockies game Tuesday night if I'm feeling ok!!)

We don't always get to chose what happens to us but we do get to chose what we do next ….

Whatever life gives you, you have 3 choices :

Give up

Give in

Give it your all

We are so thankful for the wonderful doctor appointments the last few days and super excited about Monday!!! 1 step closer to our baby Meeks

XOXO

Faith the size of a mustard seed

Isn't it amazing that faith the size of a mustard seed can move a mountain? Nothing is impossible when you have faith! Unfortunately I have been through more loss than I ever could have imagined. We lost my nephew March 2015, granddaddy February 2016, dad October 216 and our most
recent loss (miscarriage) April 2019. I can't imagine what dark place I would be in without.my faith.

I started 1 more shot yesterday morning (means we are getting closer to retrieval date) and other than bending the needle when we yanked the cover off, all went well. Nic & the doctor/nurses are surprised at how well I am feeling. Mind over matter!

Wonderful doctor visit yesterday and another good one this morning! Follicles are growing just as they should 🙌 We will get a call today letting us know our dosages for tonight and/or if I will be taking my trigger shot tomorrow or not. Retrieval scheduled for Tuesday but could possibly be Monday. It has been 2 long weeks but we are near the end!

Today’s Scripture

"He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength causing it to multiply and making it to abound."

(Isaiah 40:29).

If you are going through difficulty today, God wants to increase your strength. He wants to increase your power to overcome. When you keep standing, keep believing and keep doing the right thing, you are opening yourself to God’s supernatural strength. That’s when you know you are growing in Him. Be strong today. Keep pressing forward because God is at work increasing strength in you so that you can live in victory in every area of your life!

XOXO

He made it!

My sweet Nic arrived in Denver tonight and I couldn't be happier to see him. 12 days felt like forever. We had a wonderful dinner and have watched 2 movies. Several doctor appointments tomorrow and a dinner @ our clinic (it's a support group dinner for girls going through IVF) Going to bed with an extra grateful heart 💕

Creepy storm clouds rolling through Denver tonight!

Thanking HIM for reminding me just how lucky I am, and I pray to never forget to show my gratitude.

XOXO

Missing Annie

Since the day we got here, I have dreaded the day my mom had to leave. I was so glad when we made the decision to bump her travels back 3 days but selfishly I would still get so upset every time I thought about her leaving. Blaming the HORMONES!

Needless to say, yesterday was "that day." Since we I can't walk the mountain trails anymore, we have been playing in the hotel gym. For the past few mornings, I would snap pictures of my mom reading her book on the treadmill and bike....for some reason it was pretty funny to me. I have never seen someone coordinated enough to read while they are on the treadmill....except my MOMMA!

After the gym, we had to get her stuff packed up=(

Since she has been here for 10 days, she was leaving with a little more than she brought. I learned my lesson the hard way when we came to Denver (my luggage was 16 lbs over weight). It was $41 to check my bag and then I had to fork out an EXTRA $75 because it was overweight. Stupid money! Wont let this happen again.

We bought a luggage scale and literally weighed everything we could hook it to....shoes, cosmetic/make up bags, our purses, clothing wrapped in a box, etc.

We ended up sending stuff home via Fed Ex (only $20) to keep from her having to pay extra on overweight luggage. Lesson learned! When we got to the airport, they still said her bag was overweight.. (can't imagine how bc we literally removed all the "heavy stuff" and then weighed it 5 times) but by only 1 lb and they let it slide. Thankfully!

For the record, most shoes (4 of the 5 we weighed) weight 1 lb for the pair. Ann likes shoes so you can guess where her luggage weight came from.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

Although yesterday was literally one of the most dreaded days for me, it ended up being one of the most fun! God always has the final say. I prayed diligently the last few days for strength to get through Monday. I was so scared I would break down at the airport when mom left (and I did) but I put it in his hands and moved forward with confidence knowing that he is working things out and HE did just that!

Two of my very good (and super FUN) work friends flew into Denver yesterday. They planned these travels a couple months ago before I knew what dates I would be in Denver. They met us around 1:30 and mom had to be at the airport by 2:30 so they drove me and mom around to the front of the airport so I could get her checked in (and make sure the luggage stuff worked out). When I walked out crying, they were right there to pick me up (in a fancy Jeep Wrangler) and we headed to Boulder shopping and sightseeing. God Wink. Strength when I needed it most.

We had the absolute BEST time. We drove up mountains and took pictures at the lookout points, came pretty close to several mule deer, saw lots of prairie dogs, drove by JonBenet Ramsey's house (possibly even drove up the back alley so we could get a closer view), went to the premium outlets and played in fancy purses, tried on diamond rings, ended the day at a wonderful steakhouse and had so many laughs in between.

JonBenet Ramsey house

After dinner, they had to drive to Cheyenne WY for work and I headed to my "home" to take meds and hit the sack.

I had a wonderful doctor appointment this morning followed by a lazy day at the hotel. I worked for several hours this morning and have been facetiming with my Lucy and Aideyn most of the afternoon. I'm ready for it to be bedtime because TOMORROWWWW my sweet Nic Nic will be here. I CAN NOT WAIT.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds Philippians 4:6-7

XOXO

Mom's last Saturday in Denver

We had planned to go to Vail yesterday but by the time we were ready to hit the road, the GPS said 2 hrs 40 min drive…..we changed our plans=)

Ann has bought FOUR books since she arrived in Denver. She reads on the treadmill, who would have thought?!

Since we skipped out on Vail, we went to downtown Denver instead. We did 16th street mall (a street full of shops and restaurants) and Union Station area. We ended up stopping for early dinner @ a restaurant called Seasons 52 ...amazing! We had grilled artichoke with lemon hummus, grilled parmesan cauliflower and ahi tuna.

We found a farmers market in the middle of downtown Denver so we stopped and walked through.

Beer Garden

Although I didn't sleep too good Friday night, I did feel much better yesterday so we stayed busy as much as we could. The thought of my momma leaving tomorrow makes me sick so we are making the best of EVERY moment.

Most people here have asked if the altitude is bothering us but really I think the reason I have felt so weird is because I had to stop all my vitamins a few days ago. That sounds dumb but my doctor had me on like 15 pills/vitamins a day for the past 11 weeks (the target was for 10-12 weeks so I JUST made it in time before my stim meds!!) and the day after I stopped them is when I started feeling funny. So I'm blaming the vitamins !

Those vitamins and these weird feeling are going to be SO worth it.

Gratitude reflects our trust in God. he tells us to be thankful in order to right our perspective. We thank Him intentionally, for every blessing and burden because we trust His plan for our lives. He is faithful to hear and answer us. We may not understand a hard season until we can look back and see His hand all over it.

XOXO

"Short term inconvenience for a long term benefit"

Psalm 142:3 When my spirit grows faint within me it is You who watch over my way. (My scripture text this morning 🙌)

Today started the 10-12 day stimming so that puts me 1 step closer to a Baby Meeks. Last night was rough... I got pretty emotional organizing my medicines (it's overwhelming),, I woke up nearly every hour just feeling ick and I had horrible neck pain (tension) ...….I was SO ready for daylight!

"Short term inconvenience for a long term benefit" as a friend reminded me today 🙌

Mom helped me do the medicine mixing and shots this morning and then we jumped in the car and headed to Gardens of the Gods in Colorado Springs CO.

We had a wonderful, relaxing day and currently on our 2nd lifetime movie with dinner on the stove!

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy and with my song I praise him.

XOXO

Be strong and courageous

Today is a good day!

A total stranger (to me) who has heard our story and prays and checks on me frequently sent me this beautiful song this morning. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IvSuGyJQ6oM This was just the start of my good day!

I had an ultrasound and labs done today, received my follow up call that everything looked great and I am ready to start the stim meds tomorrow 🙌 I'm trusting in HIM and HE is making my paths straight.

Mom and I walked the trail again today after my doctor apt. (No more trail walks after meds start tomorrow morning ) We were a little winded after we finished so we found a covered area to sit under for a bit. When I walked up to the bench, something shiny was glaring at me

A Sister Fatima charm

GOD WINK!

We have to learn to trust God in every circumstance and in every area of our lives and I personally sometimes need nudges like this. (I now have a charm as a reminder!)

Mom and I went and had mani/pedi's this afternoon. I'm not sure if anyone else picks their color based off the name but I sure do!! Check this one out..... COURAGEOUS. I wore "its a boy" by OPI during my stimming last year and every time I did a transfer but I'm changing things up... I figured this one was fitting.