PROUD FIREWIFE!!

I'm always amazed and proud of my husband.

Yes, I get annoyed when the phone rings for overtime at 2am or 6am or at any time during the day when we're spending time together. Yes, it often infuriates me when he is stuck working holidays and weekends. It's hard when he's teaching at the college every Tuesday and Thursday night and all day on Saturdays whenever he's not at the station.

Today, we got some AMAZING news. It makes it all worth it.

Mr. FEO is the Instructor of the Year for the county fire academy!!!
This is the biggest honor that an instructor can receive, and his name will be permanently on a plaque at the college.

I haven't stopped smiling since he called from work to tell me the news, and to tell me that I have to take the day off on December 11 for the banquet that starts at 8am.

The banquet is formal. He'll wear his dress uniform (HOT!!) and I have an excuse to go buy a new dress. The banquet also starts at 8am and is a breakfast. I am taking the day off work, but wow ... that just seems strange to me, but it'll be fun regardless - and I get a long weekend out of it!

So yes, I'm always amazed and proud of my husband. He does a job that many couldn't do. He doesn't get the respect that he deserves by the residents of the city he works in. He calls himself a "dumb fireman" ... and he is obviously anything but!

So today I'm not only amazed and proud, I'm thrilled that Mr. FEO is getting the recognition that he has worked so hard for.

CONGRATULATIONS my love, I'm so excited for you!!

Irritability at it's finest.

Today is Provera Day 5. Just 5 more days of this wicked drug, and thank goodness!

I've been doing a pretty decent job the last few days with controlling my moods and keeping the irritability in check. It's all about having a positive attitude, really. But this morning when I got to work, I almost had a fit of rage because my coworker in the next cube was typing loudly. ???? Really ???? Why the heck did that bother me so much to trigger such a violent reaction? I was literally shaking in my cube trying not to say anything. All I could hear was CLACK CLACK CLACK, SLAM SLAM SLAM. And now that he's not there, even the sound of my own keyboard is bugging me. That SOUND is just obnoxious. This is not a normal reaction by any stretch of the imagination and I can think of little else. What is wrong with me?

I hate taking Provera for just these types of reasons. I find myself lashing out at Mr. FEO, yelling at the furkids, in general becoming antisocial and just plain mean. It is such a challenge because I really am a nice person and generally very tolerant, especially at work. I'm not any fun to be around when I get in moods like this, and I just don't know what else to do. I thought I was doing so good this time with the drug-induced meanness, but this morning it just hit full force.

Add that to the fact that my entire body feels bloated today, I have a headache and I feel like I haven't slept in a week.

Today is clearly not going to be a good day. I am so glad it's Friday, and I have a 3 day weekend.

Mr. FEO had an SA and....

...all NORMAL!!!

I pretty much did a jig at my desk at work today as I read the email from my doctor. I mean, it's one thing to deal with ....ouch.... infertility on my end because of the PCOS, but a definite relief to know that the swimmers are all A-OK!

I started the Provera yesterday and it's been making me pretty sick this time, what with nausea, bloating, insatiable hunger and a wicked cruel headache. But in 9 days or so AF will be here and then 5 days after that ... CLOMID. I know there will be side effects there too, but I'm thrilled to pieces to be given something that might promote my ovaries to do their job and release an egg for those healthy swimmers to attack with a vengence!!

Ah well, despite the irritability that often comes with progesterone, I'm in a good mood tonight :)

Opportunities arise, and for the first time in 10 months, I have some hope again!

Green Bean & Chicken Casserole

Okay, I know this isn't a food blog, and I've never posted recipes here. In fact, I deleted the food blog I used to have because we just don't cook often enough. I also didn't take a picture because I never intended to blog about it...

But now I have to RAVE about the casserole we made last night.

It's a spin on the holiday classic green bean casserole, so if you don't like that then you won't like this ... but for all of you who are lovers of those green beans like me, then this is for you!!

Mr. and Mrs. FEO's Green Bean & Chicken Casserole

Ingredients:
1 family size bag of frozen cut green beans
4 cans of condensed cream of celery soup
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 large can of french fried onions

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350*
2. Dice chicken breasts into small cubes and season as desired (we use garlic pepper)
3. Drizzle a small amount of extra-virgin olive oil into a large skillet and brown the seasoned chicken cubes (they don't have to cook all the way through, but most of the way is a good idea)
4. Mix the cans of celery soup, green beans and cooked chicken in a large bowl and then transfer into a large casserole dish.
5. Top with the entire can of french fried onions (we like the crunchy!)
6. Bake for 1 hour.

It's really easy, and really tasty! If you're looking for something unique to share with your family this holiday season, then this is great! You could substitute cream of mushroom soup instead of the cream of celery, but we hate mushrooms so that wasn't an option for us!

ENJOY!!

First Anniversaries and 30th Birthdays

I have to say, the months of September and October came and went in the blink of an eye. In reality, the entire last year went by so quickly, I can hardly believe it happened.

I first want to pay tribute to the most amazing, wonderful man I know ... my husband, Mr. FEO. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Our first year of marriage, and our 3rd year together as a couple was amazing in every possible way. They (whoever "they" is) say that the first year of marriage is the hardest ... I argue that and say it's the best! We were so stressed out leading up to the wedding, that it could only get better - and it did!

In remembrance of that day, September 27, 2008, here is the link to our wedding video highlight reel, and some pictures that show just how fun that day was!

Watch our video HERE!

Some of the best friends a girl could ever ask for: Magda, Kristine, Karen and Letizia - I love you all!

And those handsome men in my life: Franco, Steve, Mr. FEO, Matt and Scott - you make life complete :)

Really cool Bridal Party shot out on the golf course!

And last, but not least, a couple of pics of Mr. and Mrs. FEO:

Following our anniversary was a week long vacation in Virginia Beach .... where I celebrated my 30th birthday in grand fashion (haha) by falling down the stairs because someone else spilled beer and gave myself quite the concussion. I'm sure that drowning my sorrow at saying goodbye to my 20's with 3/4 of a liter of wine by myself was partly to blame. Nevertheless, it was a great vacation, and I can't wait to go back next year for Tim and Karen's wedding!! Still so happy for them getting engaged while we were on vacation!

And a few other updates:

The house fell through ... and it's not the best time for us to buy anyway, so it's okay. We're still in love with it, and if they would have ever called us back we would have made on offer on the spot.

I'm still not pregnant, and I still haven't ovulated. I got another BFN this morning. Yet, I'm once again getting phantom symptoms. I wish I could say that I'm immune to BFN's at this point, but I'm definitely not. This time though, I have heavy, sore breasts, bloating, lower back pain and extreme fatigue, along with some mild nausea. Maybe it was just too soon ... but I say that every time. I will take another test next Monday (11/9) before I head to my next OB appt, to discuss Clomid options.

All in all, it's been a hectic few weeks, and I apologize for the lack of updates before now!

Have a great week, my friends!!