babies, infertility and meds again!

I had really planned on not mentioning anything till we are actually pregnant.. Then I remembered.. When I was trying for Chase? The other women out there blogging away about their experiences helped me through the hard times and made me feel much less alone. It was like a support group of women who had no idea they were supporting me.
Well.. It's official. We found a fabulous DR and have started taking medicine again!!

The meds this time??:
Metformin (pill) (For my insulin)
MedroxyProgesterone (pill) (Estrogen)
Clomiphene Citrate (Pill) (Clomid to help form the cysts that will be grown into eggs by the next drug listed)
Follistim(Injections) (A steroid to help my TEENY TINY cysts grown into full grown cysts so they can be popped by HCG and officially ovulate)
Ovidrel  (injection) (HCG stimulant to mimic a body's natural HCG surge to cause Ovulation)

We are hoping life changes for us quickly and are so excited to add to our family. Chase is quite excited about the possibility of a baby boy brother (his words) We had recently explained to him that boys are like him and daddy and girls are like mommy and mamma (grandma) he promptly asked for a baby boy. At some point we explained to him about baby brothers or sisters and which is boy and which is girl. So at the DR's office he asked for  a "baby boy brother please"

The DR was shocked and of course by this point she was deeply in love with my sweet toddler and she responded "No wonder you want another child. We will make you one just like him!" She promptly showered him with gifts out of her desk. He was thrilled. She provided him with paper and pens to color with and 3d lobster stickers to put on his hands. He kept saying "Thank you! thank you!!"

The whole visit was great. I had blood work done while I was there (they didn't even make me schedule it! They just planned to have it done! Which is what my office in Utah did but the 3 previous offices out here did not) And they had all my medical records and had already made a plan up for treatment. I was impressed, beyond satisfied and 150% happy and ready to go. They even had a nurse assigned to help me with Chase while I was getting my blood done. She is also the one I talk to every time I call or need to schedule anything. YAY! Three cheers for this office! The wait was worth it!  And so our journey begins! Baby #2 come home to mommy!! And big brother Chase! Of course daddy too. But mostly when they are tiny they are for mommy.... ;-)))

Updates on my BIG BOY CHASE!

Heads up. This is about.. 99.9% bragging about our child. Duh.. I don't know if I really ever put anything else in them. 

Sean has been spending some quality time with his guitar and that means Chase gets to sing and play as well. Which I love. This has to be one of my favorite things that they do together. 

You all know that when you sing or play it's usually about your passions and what you love.. Well I am including the lyrics to Chase's first song. It's going to be a number one hit I'm positive. A CHART TOPPER! This is the first time CHase has ever really sang with real words, he usually sings "laaaa laaaaa" 

Chase's song:

The baseball bat!

I hit the ball. ball. Ball.  (Hit the ball)

Baseball game (sigh!)

baseball swing. (baseball swing) 

to say we are a little proud of him would be a severe understatement...

This last week Chase had his 2 year old check up.. (bad job mom... he was a few weeks late getting in) And the dr says "So.. Does he Jump and can he throw a ball?" 

Chase immediately starts jumping up and down (wearing only his diaper and socks yelling "YES! I pitch! And jump!" as he continues jumping up and down.. 

He takes his toy balls that I carry around in my purse (there are 3 in there normally) and proceeds to show her just how well he can throw.. 

She stares.. Amazed. And watches as he says "I kick a ball! Soccer ball!" he begins kicking the balls around keeping them just in front of him so he can run and kick. I look at his dr (sweet lady! finally found a good pediatrician) and she is staring at him wide eyed and open mouthed) 

I tell her he plays football too and she should see his spiral.

 She just says "Oh wow. Your child is very advanced. Heads and tails over other two year olds I've seen. Usually I have people bring their children in again at 2 and a half for a progress check on them but we don't need to see him till he is 3." she pauses... watching Chase drill the door with his ball and looks at me and says "What else can he do?" 

   hahahahaaa I tell her that he also rides horses with us walking along beside them and that there is no fear there. That he loves to clean and all the other little things that he does that seem normal to me. She tells me what I thought was only in my head (proud mommy syndrome you know, thinking my child is advanced and perfect) that he is so smart, and advanced. She praised him over and over for his skills and how coordinated he is. EXTRA PROUD MOMMY MOMENT!!!!!!! 

   And then to top it off? He sits down with the books and begins to tell her all the animals in them and about the cars and airplanes and shows off his counting skills (for now? he just says "one two. one two. one two") and is so sweet. He smiles and talks and answers the questions she asks me. Another quote from the Dr "I guess I don't need to ask mom if he is talking in sentences. He answered that question when he spoke to me." GO CHASE!!! you are a ROCKSTAR and I 100% knew it! Now it has just been validated by a professional. Perfect! 

Now.. Lets go back to the park so you can practice baseball some more. 

Letter to Kayla...

Dear Sister KAYLA!

So obviously.. Lots has changed and happened since you left. Kidding. Except the fact that I now have to miss you onTOP of doing all my normal activities. Boo. (insert proud sister statement here) YOU TOTALLY rock. For real. And you have great hair. Hope they are all appreciate it. And by all I mean the other sisters of course. 

Our lives are moving forward.. Crazy how it happens. We (Chase) makes a mess... then we (me) cleans.. repeat process on a revolving cycle every 20 to 30 minutes the whole day. Stopping for two hours in the middle while the little angel baby sleeps. 

ACTUALLY. Lots has happened. When you have an almost two year old toddler things change fast and furiously. He is TALKING!! Like... Funny full blown sentences! Not all day long but he seriously has figured out the American English Language!!! His new favorite thing to say? "Why do monkeys eat bananas?" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA (I never use LOL because I prefer to laugh for real and loud and HAHAHAHA just seems to make my point better) We tell Chase they eat them because they are yummy and he laughs and says "That's so funny" So of course... we HAHAHAHAHAHAAA again.. He is hilarious. Let me show you how he talks:

"Why oooo nun-keeys eat nannas?" insert little head tilt here. (like a puppy)

"woooook! WOOOOK!"  (This means look) he is pointing at many things. Moving his hand in different directions. SO we don't actually get to know what to look at

"Aht's so punny"   That's so funny... It's adorable. He then FAKE laughs very loudly. No idea where he got this.. (I do actually. Me of course. Poor kid. Laughs like his mom)

"Aw-ker-ball" soccer ball... it's adorable. He finally figured out "bah-get-ball" basketball... But now he thinks all "ball" words have 3 syllables... "Foot-get-ball" is football.... and "base-get-ball" is baseball. oh.. he is a smart one. I can't wait till he starts conjugating his verbs! hahahaha

"Whuts aht mommy, whuts aht mommy?"  What's that mommy!!!!!!!!! Pointing as well... To many things. Lots of times the same thing. He says this maybe 100,000 times a day at this point. He likes us to repeat the same thing over and over so he can hear how to say it. like... Helicopter? he calls it an "udder-copter" HAHAHAHAHAAAA some more. We do a lot of HAHAHA-ing at our house. 

So we just spent some time ad Disney World and Animal Kingdom. Chase was LOVING it. Animal kingdom was for sure his favorite. They had a safari. Oh my goodness.. This is how our safari went.

"Whuts aht mommy, whuts aht!!?? Whuts aht mommy, whuts aht?" Chase says.

"A tree baby boy." mommy tells him.

"Whuts aht mommy, whuts aht!!?? Whuts aht mommy, whuts aht?" Chase repeats...

"A tree baby boy." mommy tells him.

"Whuts aht mommy, whuts aht!!?? Whuts aht mommy, whuts aht?" Chase says.

"A tree baby boy." mommy tells him.

"Whuts aht mommy, whuts aht!!?? Whuts aht mommy, whuts aht?" Chase repeats...

"A tree baby boy." mommy tells him.

"oh tea?" He asks?

"Yes Chase, a tree" mommy says.

Repeat this process for every piece of vegetation in the vicinity, and ad animals. It was so funny. We get looks and smiles from every person we chance to meet or come into hearing shot of. Life is good. This little guy makes us work hard and play hard all day long. 

So we just got home late last night from Florida. Sorry i didn't have your letter to you yet. But I was under the impression I had one more day. Nevertheless! I am bummed you can's laugh and think with me this week about all the new funny things my child is doing. 

I have to clean my car.. and do some laundry before baby boy wakes up. PS my ovaries are starting to feel good?? You must be doing something right! Keep it up!! We'll have baby #2 here in no time!!! (Crazy how that works. I had a brother on a mission in Ukraine when we got pregnant with Chase, but since he didn't have ovaries I had to wait almost the whole two years for the blessing to trickle down and hit me)

Totally love you. Miss you. Can't wait to hear more about all the fun things! And I love the quotes...And I love how you are so completely you. I really am so proud of you Kayla! We are praying for you every day. (it works best I think.. if Chase does the praying. Of course Heavenly Father listens immediately when my tiny boy , kneels on one knee and braces his foot up on the other one since his balance is not quite good enough for 100% kneeling, and folds those little arms and squeezes his eyes shut so tight and with a huge smile on his face he says "thank you for foot-get-ball. and bless Lay-duh and Bwyice(sean is feeding him the words at this point, but Chase always adds the sports without needing to be told)) 

Anyways!! Love you. Miss you. chat soon!!! 

Lauren

I'll send an email with photos next!! they are loading still. 

body update on me! the mom

So we missed about 8 days at the gym. It's weird how hard that was for me. Being in Florida with family was so fabulous. We got to spend lots of time with our loved ones! And even still with our busy schedule?? I had this crazy itch to hit the gym! Since we got back I nearly doubled my weights and hit it hard. My body had time to recover and get itself ready for more work. This was the first rest I've had in 18 weeks. This photo really does a great job in showing 'me' I am seriously the most girly of girls. Make up. Earrings. High Heels (although it has changed to  more 'mess friendly' fabrics since my son was born) And yet. there is a switch that flips at the gym. Go hard or go home. I don't socialize... which is super weird for me. I talk and talk and sometimes (lots of the time) I don't know when to stop. I love to meet new people and share my passions with possible friends.. And yet.. I go to the gym and couldn't get more serious if I tried. Headphones in. Supp-ed up. cardio. then lift. Cardio then lift. ABS. LEGS. (Legs are my favorite!) then upper-body.. (upper-body is my favorite) Cardio... (cardio is my favorite) Abs... (abs are my favorite.) I love it all. But silently and with no smile on my face.. TILL I get home and my sweet husband is cheering me on telling me how proud he is and saying how impressed he is with the knowledge I have gained over the last little while. When he asks what I did at the gym... and I tell him? It's always a little pride boost for me to see his trying to hide his shock at my form or knowledge of how a lift works and what part of my body to squeeze or push with. Makes me feel like i can support him as well. He has had a passion for the gym much longer than I have. In high school? I ran. That's all I did. and I loved it. Now?? I get bored WAY before i get tired. BUT running with Sean? Way more fun. My cardio lately has been the stair climber at the gym. Hit it and hit it hard. Love it. And all of this?? Done when chase spends his time with Daddy. My two favorite boys don't get to see each other often and if I am there, Chase tends to lean towards mommy. So me leaving? Has created a special time for them to bond. It has been sweet to see my boys turn into best friends. Chase even asks for daddy when he wakes up now! Makes this mommy very happy. Anyways... Here i am! The princess at the gym.

photos!

We went to the Washington DC zoo the other day and really had a good time! Chase was exhausted and super ready to leave by the end! BUT we loved it! He especially LOVED the monkeys!! (minus the ENORMOUS gorilla that felt the need to protect his baby from my baby... you'll see pictures below of him guarding at the window)

Mr Chaser update. 22months. (almost 23)

He is now saying two to three sometimes five word sentences! I am such a proud mama! 

"my choose" = is 'my juice'

"my shoes-uh"= 'my shoes'

""beeepbeeep-ball please mommy" = 'lets play basketball please Mommy'

"baseball baT please" = find me my baseball bat Mommy'

"me meet! me meet!" = 'my baseball mitt!'

"dut is dut" = 'what is that'

"do you see a bird?" = do you see a bird?

"do you see (insert and of his words here)" = a cute sentence!! 

He is also kind of sneaky now! Today? He dismantled one of his puzzles that has batteries in the back of it? And tried to sneak of with the battery! (DANGEROUS!!! battery acid! if he bit into that thing!) He put it in his tiny little fist then proceeded to come and kiss me then tried to run out of the room! But of course my all seeing and all knowing mother eye caught the battery! I couldn't help but giggle a little. The smart little sucker! 

He is a bundle of energy. He has adjusted his wakeup time to about 8am. It feels much earlier than his 9am wakeup call he has had for the last 7 months or so. So we now get up earlier, but I do feel like I have more time in my day. Which is nice. The house is usually clean by 9 and then messy again by 9:15 or so. BUT my kitchen stays pretty clean. Since we are way to busy playing any and all forms of basketball, football and baseball to do much cooking. He does eat, much to his dismay. He can barely be bothered with food. He just doesn't have time to be stopping and eating all day long! He thinks... I try to tell him that he needs energy that comes from food to play better, faster and be stronger. He is learning. 

We (Sean and I) are absolutely in love with him. That doesn't mean it's not hard sometimes. Chase is very opinionated and likes things a certain way. He also sometimes wants something to specific that I'm not even sure he knows what it is. So.. Yes. We have whining and crying and temper tantrums that can wake the dead sometimes. BUT my son loves his family, he is very partial to mommy and daddy. We are proud of him and enjoying watching him grow. Love that little(BIG) baby. 

I will post a photo blog post next. '-) I know thats what you love!!

life love and fitness???!!!

So I have to admit something.. I have become a complete gym junkie... I hit it hard 6 days a week and Monday twice.. I have been running in the afternoon while Chase is sleeping.. Then taking Les Mils Body classes in the evening. I've been doing this for 13 weeks..
Every day at 7pm there is a class... And I go. I don't miss. Here is what my schedule looks like
Monday:
10:45am Body Pump.
07:00pm Body Pump.
Tuesday:
Cardio and a muscle group. (Legs or arms. or Chest and back. and I always do abs) This is the only day I don't do a class. The class they have at 7:00pm just didn't work it for me. The workout itself was not challenging enough and I didn't feel like the instructor was the right one for me. It's also NOT a Les Mils Class.
Wednesday:
1:00pm Cardio (I run at my house)
7:00pm Body Pump
Thursday: (MY FAVORITE WORKOUT)
1:00pm Cardio (running at my house)
7:00pm Body COMBAT! this is a Mixed Martial Arts class. I fight! Seriously. If you have never taken a MMA class you are missing out. I had NO idea I would love it so much. It was the hardest for me when I started because I had no idea what I was doing. I looked dumb and the teacher?? She is seriously ripped and so so serious about her fighting. She is cRAY-zzzz. I love it. She is the best teacher and has such a passion for what she does. And her muscles?? MUCH bigger than mine.
Friday:
1:00pm Cardio (running again)
7:00pm Yoga MUCH NEEDED by the end of the week. It's just a stretch yoga and I love it. I have fallen asleep in this class a couple times. The teacher's got a great voice and she stretches me out just right.
AND SATURDAY!??
9:45am Body COMBAT!!!! The teacher is different than the one on Thursdays. Her style is completely different. AND she has a crazy cool british accent. TOTALLY love her voice. She is intense on a completely different level than Kristen.
Sunday... I rest. My much needed rest day! Feels good. BUT i'm always excited to hit the gym first thing on Monday. I have never had such a great time and a deep passion for the gym! (WEIRD i know..) But i'm loving it. I have been doing this for 13 weeks now and I'm loving every week. The progress is amazing. Although, I did just ad the running in this week. SO before that I was not running every day.  I am working on building muscle and toning. It has been really cool to see the progress.  And feel the amount of energy I now have compared to when I was just living. Not prepping my body for chasing after a toddler and doing everything I can to prolong my own life and work just as hard as my sweet husband does to look my best and feel my very best.

I know those of you who know Sean know how much he loves the gym. It's not a passing phase for him. He really REALLY loves the gym. He has been dedicated to lifting since he got home from his mission. That is 9 years ago now. He has been 100% serious about it. But over the last few moths he has found more information that has helped him achieve his goals. He is sitting about 183 pounds right now. And for him? Being 5'9 and naturally REALLY slender?? That's amazing. He has gained about 30 pounds in the last 15 weeks. Poor thing hates food now. He has to eat all the time, and his coworkers people think he is nuts. BUT if they only saw his without that shirt on his back. It's been so inspiring to see the change in him. he is not fat. NOT at all. He is in fantastic shape. And he is doing it in a healthy way. I'm really proud of him. He works hard for his results and I decided I would too. And we are doing it together. And together we will be in the BEST shape of our lives!! (For a short time. THEN I'll be pregnant and have a huge belly to go with my muscled shoulders and arms.) oh.. and all this weight gain for my husband?? He went up a size in all his clothes... Oh dear... He is ripping out of all his old t-shirts and jeans! He even ended up with a few new suits for work. Love my big TUFF man candy!

 This is one of Chase's favorite dance moves... He pauses.. And then hikes up his leg like this and holds it.. Then?? He jumps up and down as fast as his little legs can go. It's ADORABLE. LOVE that little boy. 

 my boys and their music. Chase LOOOOVES the guitar. He is so much like his dad. Athletic and musically inclined. ALL boy and ready to do anything ALL the time. And he loves me. 

Memorial Day weekend down in Richmond VA. We usually go to our family memorial sites but they are all back in Utah. So we went to Arlington Cemetery the weekend before and then spent the actual Holiday weekend with our family. 

I swear the back and shoulder muscles all come from Body Combat. With all the punching and cardio we do it's a wonder I'm still standing and breathing. LOVE the hard work. 

Here I am! Pregnant with Chase August 2011 and this photograph was a few weeks ago. 2013. Working for myself to be fit and healthy! And I am really enjoying it. 

of COURSE what blog post would be complete without photographs of my darling Angel baby!!! He is such a delight to us. And he has LOVED having that time in the evening to spend with his dad. they have become even better friends and really get to enjoy one another while mom isn't around to infringe on their time. Sports. jokes. Music. they get to do it all!!!

Chase comes and watches me lift (at the end) and he watches me fight. He LOVES all the moves. He practices and stretches and does crunches. It's really REALLY adorable. 

Dr distress

So when we lived in Utah we had a fantastic clinic we worked with and the staff was wonderful. Since we moved back East we have had more bad experiences with Dr's than in my whole life combined. My experience at the Fertility Clinic was not a good one. And I'm on to Dr number 3. Hoping this one will workout for us. From what we've talked about on the phone I'm pretty positive this will work out. We shall see! That's why there have been no updates on fertility progress. Because there has been a lack thereof. 

Check back in soon. I'm sure we will be moving right along. Baby dust to you want to be mama's doing the same journey as we are. 

posty posty

It's been too long since i have updated the world on the Sean and Lauren Stewart Clan life. Well things on the East Coast move a little more quickly and there is much to see. We have done some amazing things. But seriously? All I like to talk about it my baby. So let me tell you the amazing things Chase does.

my baby boy has:
Sat through 8 solid innings of a National's baseball game.
(well he stood for the whole time.. right at the glass wall and tried to catch the ball every time the pitcher threw it)
He has started saying sentences...
(He blew my mind when he looked at Sean and said "I see a bird!")
He stolen more hearts than most people do their whole life.
(okay.. Maybe an exaggeration but everyone loves him..)
He gives out kisses like candy still... Hugs mom. Plays hard with dad. Wrestling.. Baseball.. Anything BALL.
He calls me "mommy" and grandma "mamma" he calls his Aunt Megan "Nai-gen"
He does Karate (Im taking a combat class and he mimics all my moves)
He jumps straight up in the air. getting completely off the ground
OHHHHH get this one. He throws balls at stuff on the counter that he wants. And he knocks them down to the floor so he can get them.
ALSO! He pulls all the drawers out in the kitchen and climbs up the like stairs... (Scared the crap out of me) But of course I was impressed!
He whispers.
He tells secrets (whispers in your ear non words)
He can get himself dressed.
He picks out his outfits. The other day it was a dress shirt with a sweater and a tie even. (ADORABLE)
He combs his curly hair.
He brushes his own teeth.
He puts his shoes away.
And he SINGS... it's adorable....
prayers?? YES he prays. Over every single different type of food we try to feed him.... (even if its all on the table when we prayed the first time)
He has started being interested in the TV. But he wants to watch Baseball. Football. Basketball. He wont sit and watch Barney.. Caillou or anything else for long. He LOOOOVES his sports.

I'm a proud mamma. And I can't believe my baby is 21 months old. I honestly thought he would never get bigger... And he does. Every day. Growing and growing. Each day he is more loving and smarter than the day before.


Our family just came out for a visit, Mom Dad, Kayla and Megan (Brice is on his mish now) Chase was in heaven! We had a blast. touring. visiting anything and everything we could. The ladies all went to a First Lady Luncheon. I won't really get into it because of the serious difference of opinion I have with everything she said. But the idea of "Having lunch with the First Lady" is a really cool thing. I just wont be going again till there is a First Lady that shares my views. We did get to eat food made by Paula Dean and see Trisha Yearwood sing live. It was very cool. AND we got to spend time together and get dressed up. I am very lucky to have married into a family of wonderful women. I have the best sisters a girl could ask for. (not all could come here this last week) but I am so blessed. I would have picked all of them for my brothers if I could have had a say. So the boys did good. And sweet Meg.. Love my sweet Meg. She was my little Nutmeg and she has now grown into an almost women who can drive and date soon. And she is gorgeous. I love her. She was supposed to be my sister but she had to be born to Evie (who also is a wonderful wonderful mom) So she could be Sean's sister so he could have some help in dating his future wife. She is an angel. all of the girls are fantastic. And Kayla?? sticking up for her beliefs at all times in all things and in all places. She just does. She's getting ready to head out into the Mission Field as well. She will be going to rock her assertive personality all over London. I'm proud of her. Cassidi?? As sweet of a girl has never been found. Kind. Kind. Kind. And fiercely protective of her family and loyal. I love her.
I have lots more sisters... Gwen..  My very first married in sister! She married my brother Randall when she was 19 and he was not even home from his Mission for a year. They go together like glue and paper! In a good way! She is his match for sure. Stronger than I am.... Beautiful and loving! I love this woman. She has been my sister for years and years now! I love her....
Erica??? Ohhhh my sweet sister. We got married into the Stewart family only 11 months apart. Lucky me! Sweet funny and so so good for Lance. I'm a lucky lady! She is a mother of two little ones and lives way to far from me!!!!  Then there is Melani!! She is brand new to my family! She married Trevor over Christmas and I don't know her well enough yet for my liking! But from what I've seen... She is wonderful.. Kind and happy. Can't wait to know her better! And my own sister Blaire... She is my born sister!! Came around when I was about 9 years old... Love her till the end! Gorgeous. good at everything... She is amazing...

thats all. Had a sisterly love moment!

beautiful Tayler!!!

This last weekend's location shoot. We spent the morning down at Mason Neck State Park. And... As you can see ;-) it turned out so lovely!! It was also so fun. Tayler was a dream to work with. 

fertility fertility what can I do!

So. We have made appointments.. but the good Dr's are so far booked out, out here. So.. we are waiting and waiting. But that's okay! First appointment is at the end of this month. Wish us lucK!

more baby vids.

A few of these videos are from back when we very first moved out here. I'm just throwing them all up!

video updates of my baby love!!!

Beautiful Marianne!

back in the saddle!

Had a beautiful mother daughter shoot yesterday. Check out this beauty!! She was so kind as to offer a before shot for my portfolio. And here she is! Gorgeous Shannon. I'm only posting a few or there would be a hundred... Loved all her images. 

All photos: COPYRIGHT @Lauren Michelle Images