UT Trip

This past weekend we headed to UT for Bruce's ordination to becoming a High Priest. It was a jam packed weekend but we are so glad we went. We arrived on Friday Oct. 9th and checked into the Hotel, Bruce left to go to a Business Mtg. From there we headed to Bountiful to see my parents and extended family. After our visit with my family we headed to Nelson's Frozen Custard a must if you are in Bountiful. From there we headed to the Hendrix home. Finally we went to sleep at 1:00 Mtn. time. Sat. morning we woke up and were up and running - We went to Beto's to get my favorite Bfast Burrito and then down to Springville where Kent's parents live to see some homemade apple cider in action. After that Bruce and I headed to BYU so that I could see Shani and Theater Ballet. Bruce went to the bookstore which is always an interesting idea. From there we headed to Bruce's parents house for the Bruce's ordination to a High Priest. We were joined by so many friend and family - We are ever grateful that so many of our friends made the trip to Provo for this very special day. After the ordination, we headed to Brick Oven Pizza and got a chance to visit with the Pritchett family. Last stop was to Steve and Brooke's to see there Halloween Decorations. I wish I would have taken pics because Brooke did such a great job with everything. We miss our friends and family in UT and can't wait to head back in the spring:)

Hendrix Apple Orchard

Some of the apples that make the best Apple Cider you have ever tasted:)

The Boys hard at work. In the bucket is the pulp from all the apple leftovers.

Even the horses on the property like the apple cider process.

The Men at Bruce's Ordination

From (Left to Right: Rian Robison, Uncle Matt Asmus, Bruce Brown, Dad Swihart, Dad Pritchett, Todd Davis, Buddy Blakenfeld, Kent Hendrix - who you can't see is Daren Palmer of the Stake)

U-2 in Charlottesville, VA

So, as many of you know, I am a huge U2 fan. When I heard that they were doing a new tour I couldn't wait. I wasn't sure if they were coming to Charlotte or not, so when I heard that they were coming to Charlottesville, VA I decided that was close enough, and I bought tickets. Krista, Bruce and I headed up on Thursday. Yes, I made a U2-specific playlist for the road trip and made everyone listen only to U2 while we drove. Bruce had never been to one of their concerts before, so he had no idea what he was in for. After they finished playing, Bruce said it was the best concert he had ever been to :)

Ticket for the big event:

Bruce and I at the concert. (Yes, Bruce was hungry so he was eating something in this pic)

U2 Stage and Set (Rolling Stone called it the biggest concert ever, or something like that)

All lit up and ready to go!

Part of the set had this enormous, expanding TV screen. Here is the last shot I got of it.

Thanks, Bruce and Krista for indulging me in my favorite rock group!!!

Happy Birthday #32

Today I turned 32. It was a pretty low-key day as I felt like just relaxing with friends and family after the August we had. Bruce and I went to lunch after a Doctor's appt. to talk about where to go from here. It was a good appt. so I was really happy. We went to lunch at Brio - an Italian restaurant - and then it was off to Nordstrom for me to buy a new B-Day handbag and then to work. For dinner we got Sangam and watched TV - Like I said it was relaxing. Krista and Matt came over with a peach pound cake made by Krista herself.

Later that week Toni organized a luncheon with the girls from Church. It was nice to visit with everyone and catch-up on what is going on in all their lives. I am grateful to be surrounded by women that inspire me to be more charitable and better then who I am right now.

Thanks for all the Birthday wishes and I am excited to see what the new year will bring!

Cake from Krista - Can't you just taste it through the photo:)

Beautiful Flowers from Bruce!!

My new handbag and flowers from Kati!

Trial and Tribulation

After a ton of work and 20 days of intramuscular Progesterone injections (with a 22-gauge 

1 1/2 inch needle) we found out that the transfer on 8.5.09 did not work.  Here is a picture of the embryos on Day 5 (Wednesday, August 5) right before they put them into my body.  

What the next week was like: on Wednesday (8/5 and Thursday 8/6, I had to be on bed rest, lying flat on my back either on the sofa or in bed.  The girls came over and we watched a lot of my favorite girl movies and TV shows.  On Friday I was able to sit up and by Saturday I was able to move around but still had to take it easy.  The next week was a little better.  Monday and Tuesday  I spent my days being super productive at Krista's.  Wednesday was shopping and then I took a home pregnancy test and it came back pregnant. I was overjoyed and relived that I wouldn't have to go through this again.  I showed Bruce and we both 

were so happy.  That night Bruce and I went out for a special dinner at Dressler's to celebrate.  

The rest of the week was crazy.  Bruce was off with the scouts to the New River and I had the YW over for a sleepover.  However I think the only person who slept

 was me:)  By Sunday I was back on my feet and headed to church.

Then on Monday, I started spotting and cramping more than seemed normal.  Then while I was driving, I got a phone call from the doctor's office that my hCG levels were low.  They told me to prepare to miscarry by the end of the week.  I was devastated.  Broken and hurting.  The kind of loss I was feeling overcame me, almost to the point that I couldn't drive anymore.  I called Bruce and he hurried home to meet me.  I also called a few other friends (Nicole, Sherri, Krista, Laney) and they kept me driving on the road.  I didn't know where to go or how to feel.  I was trying to make it OK, but it wasn't.  I felt like my life had become a game of Candy Land and every time I got closer to the castle at the end of the trail, I got the gum drop and had to start all over again.  I didn't want to start all over again. I wanted so badly for this to work.  I wanted so much for Bruce and I to have a family.  I got home and Bruce was there for me and just held me while I sobbed.  Shortly after that, Krista and Sherri came over and stayed with me for several hours.  Lots of crying again.  Later that night Carrie came over and we just cried together.

Tuesday wasn't much better.  I still cried most of the day.  I'm so thankful that I was never alone all day.  Bruce was here for me in the morning, then Sheri M. came over and Bruce left, and when Sheri M. left in the middle of the afternoon, I went outside with Oliver and talked with Beth.  Then Nicky came over with Jefferson, and Heather stopped by with flowers just to make me feel better.  Bruce got back home right has Nicky was getting in her car.  With the help of friends I got myself to a place where I could ask for help.  I asked Bruce and Curtis to give me a priesthood blessing.  They did, and I am so grateful because I felt peace and knew that it wasn't just about me, and I wasn't alone any longer.  The alone feeling was something I prayed really hard to go away.  I wanted to feel supported and healed, and I did.

Slowly and surely Wednesday morning came and I started telling a few more people, Shani called and we talked and I felt myself talking about what I learned and how much I found that I was never alone.  By Wednesday night I was able to head to church and hang out with the girls and found myself laughing which was a surprise to me and thought wow I am laughing and it feels really good.  By Thursday I was done crying and ready to move forward.  I had my last shot with Paige in the morning and I was happy that I knew I wouldn't have to do that for a while! Thanks Paige for being willing to stick a 1 1/2 inch needle in my bottom every morning - What a friend.  I headed into the doc. and at 11:00 am got the phone call that it is confirmed which I already knew and as I was talking to the nurse I felt myself say OK what about next time. I am not going to give up on this dream.  Shots and all I think that it will work. Sheri M. gave me a quote that I really love and it states "There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream."  I really feel this is true on more levels then one but I am going to chase this dream.  

Thursday afternoon I went to the mall and got some new jeans which I have been putting off because I was saving for maternity clothes which I don't need right now but I think I will at some point.  That night we headed out to the movies with Teresa and Matthew and saw 500 days of summer!  It is  great movie.  It was so honest.  We were sitting there and Paige and Curtis walked in so it was even more fun.  What are the odds of going to the movies on a Thursday night and running into friends.  

It is now Friday morning and Bruce and I are heading to Isle of Palms to get away and just be together.  What a week it has been and I am so grateful for an amazing husband who supported me, cried with me, and keeps dreaming with me. I am grateful for wonderful friends who helped me, cried with me, prayed with me, and allowed me to feel everything I was feeling.  It has been a sad week but now I am filled with hope and a renewed sense of who I am and where I am going.  

Where we are now....

What a lucky girl!! Flowers, books, white chocolate popcorn, oh my...

photo by: Krista Faulkner

July 31st was a big day for the Pritchett family: I went in for the retrieval of the eggs from my ovaries.  We got to REACH at 10:30 for my 11:45 procedure.  At 10:45 they brought us back to the pre-op/post-op room and had me change into the standard hospital gown.  Then they tried to put the IV needle into my wrist, but they hit a nerve or something and a burning pain started shooting up my whole arm.  I was gripping the bed handrail with my other hand so tightly, trying not to cry out, that it turned white.  So they had to take it out and switch to a baby needle and put it into a vein on the top of my hand.  

At 11:45 we met the Doc that would do the retrieval procedure - Dr. Wing - one of the country's best in infertility.  He was on Good Morning America just a week or two before.  Then they walked me back into the surgery center and I laid down on the table and started talking about Pilates and how great it is and before I knew it the procedure was over and I was waking up. Bruce was awesome and was right next to me the whole time.  

After it was all over we headed for home where Krista met us with some yummy chicken noodle soup and a bouquet of flowers. Then a purple delivery truck showed up and dropped off another bouquet of flowers from Nicole and Nohel. Lastly Bruce came home from picking up Oliver with another bouquet of flowers in tow.  I am so grateful for everyone that supported us.  In the evening Sheri Manwill brought us some yummy potato soup which was exactly what we all needed after such a fun day.

The next morning we got a call from the Doc.  He gave us the good news: 10 eggs were retrieved and 9 were mature.  7 of those eggs were successfully fertilized.  Bruce said "Wow, we have 7 little Pritchetts growing in the lab."  Now we are ready for the next phase.  Thanks for all of your prayers, love and support!!

And so it begins

After several months of going back and forth about when to start IVF (In vitro fertilisation) - we have finally decided to start now.   We are going to REACH -- a leading clinic that specializes in treating infertility.   It has been a very hard time in our household as we are starting a journey that will with any luck permanently change our family forever. 

It is hard to imagine that all these drugs are going to be put into my body for the next month.

However, there is light at the end of the tunnel - my very good friend Krista went through this process, and now she is expecting twins.    Thanks to her for being such a great example.  There have been moments when I felt that I have hit my brick wall, but then I see that I am still here and moving forward.    We also really want to thank all our friends and family for supporting us.  Your smiles, friendship and laughter really do make a difference.

Here's for hoping...........

Happy Birthday Bruce!!!

This year for Bruce's B-day I went all out.  Starting on Tuesday June 9th - I gave him his 1st present of an i-pod touch.  The scouts convinced me that he would love this present and were they ever right.  On Wednesday June 10th - Krista and I went to Best Buy to install the new stereo for the Jeep.  After getting a fancy I-Pod you need to have a cool stereo right?  Then on Thursday his actual B-day he got the Apple TV.  Now his Apple entertainment products are complete.  That night we headed to Bucci's - Bruce's favorite Italian Restaurant in the area.  The for the big finale I invited 50 people over kids/families to celebrate in style.  Krista and I spent the day cooking Cafe Rio style (a great Mexican restaurant in Utah) for the big party.  We had two Pinatas and cupcakes for the kids and cake for the adults.  My carpet might not look the same after this big bash but it was all worth it to make the man that I love smile like that on his special day. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRUCE!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!