Cib at the children's museum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0gvEeUX2LA

Merry Christmas Everyone! This year has been crazy fast! We are approaching a 1 1/2 back in Houston. This time last year we were planning for our last Frozen Embryo Transfer and wondering what God had in store for our family's future. It's amazing how many changes can happen in a year. This year I have spent being a full time mommy to Cib and it's amazing just how busy that has kept me. I do want to thank Nancy (aka Granny Nanny) for ALL the endless help she has given us. Without her, we literally would not be where we are. Thank you Nancy!

We are enjoying our Christmas with the Templeton family this year in East Texas. We can not wait to see Cib's face in the morning. He is very aware of Santa this year and is on pins and needles....don't you remember that excitement?!

Today, amidst severe preggy sickness, I am counting my blessings. I have a husband who is employed and whom I adore. I have a son who is amazingly sweet spirited and well behaved. I have two sweet babies on the way, who will change our lives in the most amazing ways. Family who I love very much. Friends who are so much family it's hard to know the difference. And most of all a Saviour who gives gifts far beyond what I deserve. There is no gift under the Christmas tree this year better more wonderful than all this.

Priase the Lord - A King is Born!!!

Turkey Turkey

Sorry for the bloggy break but we've have been trying to wrap our minds around this news before sharing it. It looks like our little Thanksgiving Embryos turned into TWO TURKEYS in the oven; or as we are (affectionately) calling them - Turkey 1 and Turkey 2.

On Tuesday, the 21st we saw two strong heartbeats. We are overjoyed and our heads are spinning...just a little. It is still early (almost 7 weeks) and our past has made us a bit leery but as for now things look great!



How you can pray for us:

Prayers for continued health of both embryos.

Prayers for a ceasing of the 'all day' nausea plaguing Amber.

And Prayers for peace of mind as we move forward into a world of to do lists, doctors visits and preparation to become the parents to three.

Merry Christmas!!!

Here are some photos that Meena Jeanes took of us this past weekend. She is such an amazing photographer!

http://www.meenajeanesphotography.com/Fatherees_2010

From our Family to Yours-
Christmas Blessings!!!
Austin, Amber, Cib & ???

YES YES YES!!!

We are SO blessed! I am pregnant!!! We received an HCG (blood pregnancy) test result of 500 today! (50 is pregnant) We are overwhelmed with joy!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Prayers for rising numbers as they continue to monitor my HCG. And the end of next week will be our first sonogram to find out who's in there.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and endless support!

Cibs school project

Austin is singing Christmas carols and doing Cib's school craft. He's such a great dad.

Cib Meets Santa!

Well, meeting Santa actually went better than I expected. There was no wild screaming. But we did have a bad case of being 'star struck' by Santa. Cib was so shy. (And Cib doesn't do shy.)

Cib wouldn't even go near poor Santa. He wanted to hide behind momma.

BUT he didn't want to miss the opportunity to put in his wish list. So Cib told me, to tell Santa, the three things he would like from Santa.

So Santa and I had a nice chat with Cib listening intently to make sure I got every detail right.
1. Some new Thomas the Trains
2. A green garbage truck
3 A blue cement mixer

Santa said he would do his very best to meet Cib's wishes. And blew us a nice kiss!

Cib & his cars

No, he isn't spoiled.

Thanks Granny!

Meet our littlest ones!

We had 5 grade AA embryos this morning. (the doctor said this is aome of the best ivf results he seen. With 70% fertilization rate and all embryos with highest possible ratings)

We placed two embryos back in mommys tummy. (see pics below) She is resting and watching Macys Parade. She will be on bed rest till Monday morning and light duty until heart rate sounds in three weeks.

Here we go!

Bits even lent me his lovey.

My portion

It's amazing to me how God always gives me the perfect portion. I too often doubt that it will be enough and alas it always has been.

Yesterday they retrieved 7 mature eggs. I found myself disappointed and feeling like a failure. I had high hopes of more. Isn't that true of most of our desires? More Lord. This is a constant prayer for me.

Yet the Lord beams through with my perfect portion. Today I was told we have 5 growing embryos. Today I am a proud momma of Gods perfect portion for me.

Thank you Lord for grace on this imperfect sinners life.

Austin and I are excited about our transfer on Turkey Day!

Off and Running...

This Saturday is the big egg retrieval!!! Please pray for a successful & safe egg retrieval. For a high fertilization rate; with lots of healthy embryos. And ultimately a healthy happy baby.
We are hoping to get 10 eggs based on the sonogram this morning.
And our embryo transfer is tentatively scheduled for Thanksgiving Day!!! Cibbers will be in Austin with Granny Nanny & Cap'n Jim. Austin & I will be home alone but all for a good cause.

Thanks for your prayers friends!

Cheers!

Wassell!!!

Fun with noises

Project Winter Wonderland

We, here in the Fatheree house, love getting Christmas stuff up with enough time to enjoy it before it's time to take it all down again. Cibs reaction when he awoke from naps to this was priceless. Happy Holidays!!!

It's Begun

With the arrival of the first Christmas toy catalog, Cib has asked for a marker to remember all things he would like to ask Santa for. He's been at this for 20 minutes!
Happy Holiday season y'all!

Fall Cookin Ya'll!

I had to share my utter excitement for this cooler weather! So with my red wine in hand - I share with you some tasty Amber original recipes (and our dinner tonight) to get you in the mood for fall.

Butternut Squash & Apple Bisque
By Amber Fatheree

3 tbs butter, unsalted (not margarine)
3 Leeks, Whites only, cut into thin slices
3 cloves garlic, rough chop
2 med. granny smith apples, diced
1 large butternut squash, cubed, about 4 cups
4 cups chicken stock (homemade is best, but you can use the boxed kind, but not broth)
Dash each: Nutmeg, Cinnamon & Sage
3 tsp. Kosher Salt (adjust down to 1 tsp if you using table salt)
3 bay leaves
1/2 cup of heavy cream, creme fraiche or half and half (I use what I have)

Preheat oven to 400. Toss squash with Olive Oil. Cook for 35 to 45 minutes. Squash should be tender.

Heat butter in dutch oven over medium heat until melted. Add leeks and saute for several minutes (5 to 7 min) or until leeks begin to look translucent. Add garlic and apples. Saute for another 5 minutes. Add stock, seasonings and bay leaves. Add cooked squash to pot. Simmer for 45 minutes on stove top or in crock pot on medium.

Remove bay leaves. Puree with stick mixer or blender until smooth. Temper half and half by adding a small amount of soup to it, which will bring it to room temp. Then add half and half back to soup pot. Stir and serve warm with rustic bread or gourmet grilled cheese. (I am doing 12 grain bakery bread with Vermont white cheddar and pesto spread, tonight.)

Buttered Rum Glazed Apple Sauce Cake
Serves 6 - Betty Crocker
Cake:
1/3 cup butter (not margarine, it will not give you nutty flavor)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt

Glaze:
2 tablespoons butter (not margarine, it will not give you nutty flavor)
1 cup confectioners'' sugar
1/2 teaspoon rum flavor
3 - 4 teaspoons milk or half-and-half

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 8-inch square pan. (Amber used a 9x6)

In 1 1/2-quart saucepan, melt 1/3 cup butter over medium heat. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally until butter begins to brown. Immediately remove from heat. Stir in sugar, applesauce and vanilla extract.

In large bowl, mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Stir in applesauce mixture. Pour into pan. Bake 30 minutes or until a wooden pick comes out clean.

In 1 1/2-quart saucepan melt 2 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Cook 2 - 3 minutes until beginning to brown. Immediately remove from heat. Stir in remaining glaze ingredients until smooth and spreadable. Pour over warm cake. Cool 30 minutes. Serve warm.

YUM-O! Happy fall ya'll!!!

M&Ms anyone?

Cib's 1st Trick R Treating

He did so well. He said Trick Treat! And Thank You! He loved it!

A lone super hero

The "chicken park"

This what Cib calls the play area at Chickfila.

Classic "it's mine" moment - Ugh!

Cib & Percy slide!

Off to the game

4th

Daddy Day!

Cib got to join his daddy for a very special treat today! Thanks Granny for the pics.

Super Baby

Cib has been playing Super Baby with this out fit that he got from Aunt Lindsey. She has more at http://www.feathertreeinvites.com .

Do do doooo!

Spoiled much?

Well Cibs new favorite words are, " And Momma pays for it"
I hate to think I am spoiling him... But... I am. If I was part of the McDonalds generation Then Cib is the hallmark child for the Chickfila generation.

Hold Your Breath...Here Comes the Cold Water!

Well... I have been writing this post and deleting it for a few days now. So here goes nothing.

Have you ever had the dream where you are naked in front of a large group of people? Well, I have. Usually I am about 17 and some how show up to school wearing my birthday suit and all my fellow classmates have a good chuckle. I am not sure why I am always a teenager in these dreams...presumably because these were not my best moments in life. I wasnt very grounded and sought the approval of others in almost everything I did. Thank goodness high school is only four years and we all grow up...well most of us anyway. :)

Writing this particular post feels a lot like standing naked in front of the Pineville High School class of 1999. I started this blog so that maybe someone else could benefit from my struggles with fertility, but after our last failed FET in April, I closed the doors of our fertility journey to the outside world.

A few weeks ago I ran into someone I haven't seen in more than 8 years. This person confided in me that they and a friend of theirs I have never met, read my blog regularly and found a lot of hope in their own fertility struggles. It reminded me that although I can not fully understand it- in this life, Infertility is part of God's greater plan for us. He will be truly glorified through our journey....even when I feel as if I have failed. Which means not only sharing God's miracles in our lives but our struggles as well.

SO....I am swinging open the doors once again with a prayer that those who read about our struggles and God's victories in this life will be comforted to know they are not alone.

We are against all odds and due to God's abundant mercy starting the IVF process again. I have had two minor surgeries in the last 6 weeks to correct a recently found uterine birth defect. I start medications this Friday and on Dec. 1st we pray that that dreaded (pregnancy) test, that I hate so much, will say..Yes, you will have another child.

In the meantime we ask you to pray with us. Pray that we don't miss a day of the miracle child we have in Cibbers. And pray that the Lord will make me a fruitful tree. These are the scriptures that I am currently reciting in prayer.
Psalm 113:9
He settles the barren woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD.
Psalm 128:3
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your sons will be like olive shoots
around your table.
Leviticus 26:9
I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you.

I pray nightly with a very full heart of empathy for those known and unknown to me struggling with fertility. If we have met or not, I hope you know we are walking this road together.

Mud pies

Flu Season

Well after a 6 hour wait in a very long line in a very hot hall at our pediatricians office last year I decided to go a different route....I fibbed, just alittle. I told them we simply could not make the regularly scheduled Saturday flu clinics to receive Cib's flu shot this year and TA-DA! We got a flu shot appt. Today we went and got our flu shots, Cib and momma too.

Cib was very upset that I was not offered a sticker or lollipop after my shot. And he offered me his (that he was presently enjoying) but sweet none the less. After our shots I took him for a special treat. A train ride and chikfila...possibly his two favorite things in the world. And then to put the cherry on the sundae....a surprise guest that really made this little boy smile.

Thanks Granny Nanny for a great day! Cib couldn't stop talking about it.

Fin!

A birthday waffle!

Chicago

Off to brunch!

73 degrees and sunny!

Cowboy mouth concert in Chicago

Labor Day 2010

We had a wonderful weekend with Austin's family in Bandera, TX. A place very close to Austin's heart and mine. We got to share Granny Nanny and Cap'n Jim's river house with Cib. He had a wonderful time! He played hard. He skinny dipped for the first, second and third time. The boy discovered being 'naked' and loved every minute of it. He adored the river. He took lots of rides with Cap'n Jim on 'scrambler' aka the polarus. Granny and Cap'n took him to a longhorn stampead and a parade! We celebrate Aunt Lindsey's 29th birthday. And Cib and Caroline spent lots of time together. The adults played board games and laughed. It was really wonderful. Thanks Granny Nanny and Cap'n Jim for an amazing weekend we will not soon forget!

First Day of School

My sweet boy went to the 'big 2 year old boy' class at Mother's Day Out today. He ran right in and with great pride started handing out the cookies he helped me make yesterday. He told each person he gave them to that "Momma helped me" and he was beaming with pride.

I teared up a little as I watched him run into his class and hug his teachers. No tears or fear. He ran to the toys and started playing. He stopped and turned around and said, Bye Momma!
I left feeling so proud of my Bits. He is growing up way too fast. (Sorry no pictures from this mornings drop off - he is just too quick)


I did get one photo this afternoon. He might not be smiling but all he could talk about was his new friends and teachers. How much fun he had. And when can he go back.
Tomorrow, Bits, Tomorrow. But for the rest of today it's snuggle time!

Oh my!

Cib is very excited about all the construction machines in the neighborhood that are refinishing our roads. We drive over and look at them everyday. This morning we walked out to find them right outside our house! Here is Cib in the driveway oouu'ing and aawwee'ing.

Collin's Baby Shower

This weekend Cib and I have been out at Nana and Papa's for Baby Collin's Shower. My brother Russell and is wife Trisha are expecting in October.


Here are some pics from the weekend:

Cib was VERY excited to have both his favorite people in the same place!

Nana and Granny!

Trisha and Papa Rusty

The hosts with mommy to be


The Loot!
Can't wait to meet my first nephew - Baby Collin!

Cib is enjoy our tour of Dallas.

Laughs with Papa

Last day of school

Here is Cib with his best friend Liam & his teachers Ms Jennifer and Ms Morjgan. We are so sad to be leaving their class! They were great teachers!

Seaside 2010

Here are some (if you can believe this isnt all of them) photos from our Seaside Trip.
Cib loves it there; we all do! Cib loved the beach this time. We found a great park with a fort that we went to several times. He loved playing wtih his sweet cousin Caroline.
And sno cones AND/or fro yo were a daily indulgence! YUM!

Happy Summer Everyone!

NOLA There and Back

Here is the first and last sections of our great American Road Trip. We stopped in New Orleans going to/coming from our Fatheree Family Seaside Trip.
Austin was such a trooper on the way to NOLA. Cib and I both had a stomach virus and to say the least, he had his hands full. We overcame the great stomach virus of 2010 on the way there and Tropical Storm Bonnie on the way back.
We had a blast!
Laissez Le Bon Temps Roulet

And in this corner, the heavy weight champion of the world...

CIB FATHEREE!
Today Cib had his two year check up.
Here are his medical stats:
39 inches or 3.25 feet tall (off the charts or 100%)
34 pounds (100%)
And 20 inches head circumference (90%)
The doctor said our Cibbers is the picture of health.

Mommy Stats:
He is sleeping 13 hours (collectively- naps and night time)
Talking in up to 8 word sentences -
Last week he said, "Momma I would like more milk in my cereal please."
Some of his newest phrases include:
No Way! (better than no, I think)
I hold you (when he wants to be held)
I really like (fill in the blank)
I wuv you
I sawies (I'm sorry)
Thanks!
While giving hugs he makes a kissing sound.

He can also identify all his colors and shapes.
He can count to 8 (90% of the time he gets it right)
And he knows most of his ABC's but not in order.

Cib loves movies! Toy Story, Cars and Nemo
He loves swimming and is pretty darn close to doing so on his own.
He also LOVES to sing and dance.
He likes to 'stack stack stack' his legos and make garages for his trains and cars.
Cib likes all sealife and bugs. Sharks especially.

Making friends at the park

Cibs big dump truck is a big hit at the park. The big kids say he is super cool.

Happy 2nd Birthday Bits!

Sweet Cib,
Two years ago this boy came into our lives

Cib at 3 days old.

It's hard to explain how much we love this boy. Or how he grew so quickly!

Cib at 5 months.

How he lights up our lives. Then ...and Now...

Cib at 9 months

How much this boy could eat!

Cib at 1 year

How your smiles would turn our world.


Cib at 18 months

That sweet boy who changed our world was You, Bits!
Momma and Daddy love you so much.
We are forever thankful for you, our little miracle man.

A gas station that is also a "choo choo"!