Our 7th Wedding Anniversary-- May 25, 2011

Dear my husband,

Hey! We made it another anniversary! Happy 7th Anniversary to both of us. Last 7 years flew by so quick that I still feel like I am a newly wed to you :)  We have accomplished so many things together. Lots of obstacles, ups and downs.. we had them, and worked on them to overcome as a team. Thank you so much for letting me have such a wonderful marriage with you. There are really no words to show my appreciation. I have never been with someone as long as I have been with you, you know, I always tell you that you are my record breaker! I am still really attracted to you. I am thankful that we have almost same work schedule (for now), so we can have dinner together and chitchat about our days. We go to gym together after work to keep up with our health. I don't drink alcohol so you don't drink as much any more, and have water with me, instead. We do things together. You introduce me to new things in life. My words can't describe how thankful and happy I am to have a husband like you! Someday we will have a bundle of joy together. But you know what?, even if things don't turn out to be the way we planned, our life goes on. Even if I become homeless, as long as I am with you, I can survive! I miss you everyday! Wherever you are is the place for me to come home. You are my hero and my life! Love you~!

Hyperparathyroidism and my concern with IVF

I have a health condition called HYPERPARATHYROIDISM. Only handful of my IRL friends know about it. I know most of you have never heard of such a condition. Calcium glands in my body is overacting and causing it to pump in too much calcium in my blood. Symptoms and complications of hyperparathyroidism includes osteoporosis, chronic fatigue and kidney stones. Hyperparathyroidism is really RARE, happens to 1% of total population, versus 10% for people with THYROID problem. You think lots of calcium is good right? Not for people with parathyroid disease.  Everyone have 4 parathyroid glands in your neck. Each acts like individual thermostats. So when calcium level gets low in your body, the gland detects it and pump more into the body. When the body has enough level of calcium, then it turns off.  For those with Hyperparathyroidism, most of them (over 85%) only have 1 bad gland that turn into tumor. BUT! I had 2 tumors, which is only 10% of all patients. After all, that make me 1/10 of 1% of total population!!
Anyways, I notice the problem 5 years ago, had the 2 tumor removed 1.5 years ago. Post-op blood test showed that I still have high calcium and that wasn't good news. My local Endocrinologist tells me that I need another surgery, but my surgeon in FL worries that it might create HYPO parathyroidism ( will be on meds for the rest of my life) and that will be more dangerous to me and will make my life miserable one. The surgeon said as long as I feel great everyday and have lots of energy, he wouldn't make me go through another unnecessary surgery.  He is a world leading parathyroid surgeon/researcher and I weigh more on his opinion than my local doctor. After my years of researching,  I think I have better knowledge of this parathyroid problem than many endocrinologists. Once time my local doctor was going to prescribe me calcium pills for "testing purpose" when I already have high level, which would have put me in a serious health condition! People can be hospitalized for that.

In Every May, I go to regular blood work as my annual check up. But I am hesitant to do that this month. I assume that calcium level is still slightly high but it might have gone down since last check up in Oct 2010. I really don't want to see the result in the report. I worry because people with hyperparathyroid have high rate of miscarriage rate. And their vitamin D is always LOW (and I am no different). Vit D is important when you are pregnant for baby's development. I can't necessarily take Vit D supplement just because I have Vit D deficiency. Vit D helps absorb calcium into your body, so taking the supplement will increase my calcium level even more to dangerous level.

I know that as we get older, we can't expect to be 100% healthy. All we can do is try to do GOOD to our body. There is no medicine to my hyperparathyroid. Unlike many of people who suffer from this, my symptoms are minimum, almost nothing. I am thankful for that. But as much as I want to get pregnant, and If I do, I will be a "high risk" because of this. I'm just living with it. There are things in life that I have absolutely no control of.  Hyperparathyroidism and Infertility.

Another failed attemp on free IVF cycle giveaway

Last night, we attended the IVF seminar hosted by our RE clinic. They do this yearly for 2 consecutive days. And each seminar, they do ruffles to give away 1 free IVF cycle. Last year, we went and the couple who had the winning ticket was the one who checked in right before us. We were soooo bummed. They were walking slow from the parking lot, we could have passed them! We concluded that it showed one step closer to our IVF dream.Well, so that was the last year. 

So that makes the yesterday's seminar a second attempt for us. It was a lot less couple than last year, which supposedly gave a higher chance of winning. This time, too, we weren't the winner. Also they had a deal that first 10 couples signed up for IVF cycle will receive $500 off of medication. However, I couldn't do that because I signed up for IVF 2 weeks ago and was told that it had to be signed up AT THE SEMINAR!!  We are just not one of those lucky people. Always end up realizing that we have to do everything in a hard way, more like, no shortcuts. We didn't win the ruffle but I learned more about IVF. Listening to RE's insights and knowledge was refreshing. We don't always get to hear about what professional has to say unless you go in the office paying the office visit. So this was my Monday night, 5/2/2011.

Chinese Sweet Corn and Chicken Soup with touch of Indian flavor

Because I COOK or PREPARE meals so far and between, I feel the need of blogging the recipes every time I cook. I know, it doesn't sound like I should be saying this as a wife of a man. hahaha. But this is our household ;-p  Today, I had an whole day to myself, just relaxing and catching up with things. When I called my husband about dinner tonight, he screamed and was letting everyone around him know that his wife was cooking!  I could hear on the other side of the phone.. :-D !

This recipe is from my favorite chef ,Aarti Sequeira, from FoodNetwork TV show. I DVR every episodes and always on quest of finding recipes I can try. And today, this is IT!!!  I had to drive to the grocery store real quick to get things I need. I always end up calling him from the store if we have 'this' or 'that' because he is in charge of items in fridge and cabinets. I don't always know about my kitchen well to the T like he does!  I think we make a good couple! 

Start to Finish : 1 hour

Serving : 4-6 people

1 leek, green parts too. sliced in half and wash well

1 carrot, chopped in half

3-inch chunk of fresh ginger (no need to peel)

1 tsp whole coriander seeds

1 tsp whole black peppercorns

2 big chicken breasts

3 (14oz) cans creamed-style corn

2 chicken bouillon cubes

3 tbsp finely chopped ginger

4 scallions, chopped finely

1 tsp sesame oil

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup cold water

2 egg whites

1 tsp rice vinegar (not regular white vinegar. If you don't have it, that's ok.)

Kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste

cheesecloth ( if you don't have it, you can use coffee filter and use any string to tie )..

1. Into a big pot, pour 10 cups water, leek, carrot and ginger chunk. Place the coriander and peppercorns into a small sachet ( like teabag, made out of cheesecloth or coffee filter) and throw that in the pot, too.

2. Skin the excess fat on the chicken breasts and throw them into the pot as well. Allow the pot to come to a boil, and turn it down and simmer. Cover it until the chicken is cooked and tender 30 minutes.

3. Remove the chicken and allow to cool. Strain the stock and discard the leeks, carrots, ginger and the sachet.

4. Return the stock to medium heat. Add the cream corn, bouillon cubes, chopped ginger, (hint of garlic power or paste if you have), scallions, and sesame oil. Let it simmer while you shred the chicken using fork.

5. Turn up the heat to high and bring the soup to a boil.  In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with water. Add half to the soup. Boiling will allow the cornstarch mixture to thicken the soup.  You can add more cornstarch mixture depending on how thick you want the soup to look.

6. Turn the heat back down to medium.  In another small bowl, beat the egg whites with a little water. Stir the soup in circles as you add egg whites. It should form white wisps on the surface of the soup.

7. Add the shredded chicken and rice vinegar. DONE!

8. You can add chopped scallions as garnish! I put parsley only because I LOVE parsley.

Finally step 1 to IVF!

Ok! Yesterday 4.19.11, I finally made a deposit for IVF to secure my spot for August cycle. My game plan now is 3 cycle Outcome Base Plan. The clinic raised the package price by $4K since last year but I was advised that it actually has gotten cheaper. The only difference is that they used to charge ICSI separately every cycle, versus new plan includes them all. If you get Bingo after the 1st cycle, it will be the most expensive IVF in the clinic. If I have to go all the way to the 3rd cycle, then it becomes the cheapest pkg. You know how it goes. But If I get BFP on the 1st cycle, it will be the Win-Win situation for both me and the clinic. Baby for me, and $$$ for RE. I guess I have no complain. Fair enough! ( If I never had to go through IVF, I would have bought a motorcycle for my husband. He deserves everything. He is my world! :D )

I was also advised that I won't need to be taking BCP till the end of June, since the monitoring doesn't start till August 19. What does that mean? I thought I have to take BCP as soon as possible to get my AF cycle regular..?? Any advise, fellow IVFers??

Just an weekend recap

Every Tuesdays and Wednesdays are my days off. Luckily they are the same as my husband's. We both work in the morning, meet at the gym after work and be home by 6p. Anyways, 2 days off is just too short. I used to have 4-10hr shift with 3 days off. Anyways, we always do things together and try to be productive on our days together. This week, aside from doing regular errands, we went hiking! As many of you know, I hike A LOT! But this week we went out with other hiking lovers in town. Have you ever heard of Meetup? You get together with people who share the same interest/hobby. Great way to meet new friends and for networking as well. Yeah. We joined the group. Oh I was so excited! I had a blast! 

Top of Sloan Radio Tower 

In between doing weekend things, we were lucky to get complimentary tickets to DAVID COPPERFIELD at MGM Grand!  I have been to many different shows in Las Vegas. Concerts, Cirque du Soleil, Talk Show, Magic, Comedy, Topless and many more.  Oh by the way, when we went to JUBILEE at Bally's, the show actually put both me and my husband to sleep! Just that dancing girls with topless and boobs everywhere jumping up and down didn't cut it. It was so boring!  hahaha. Well, anyhow, that was NOT where we went this week. DAVID COPPERFIELD it is!

He has been doing the show at MGM for a while now but never went to see him before. Of all the magic show I've been to, Lance Burton at Monte Carlo was my favorite. But now I changed my mind. DAVID COPPERFIELD blew my mind! He was soooooooooo interesting and great magician!!!! For a magic show, it is so important for the magician to connect with audience, otherwise the magician could be all into himself and his illusional world that we as an audience won't have a clue what the heck is going on on that stage. And he did it. Magic may sound cheesy to you, but he is something else. No wonder he is so famous in the world. 

We also took Rocky to haircut. He is an American Eskimo so his hair gets really thick at full length. He just loves salon! Here is the before and after pictures.

Before

After

No lion cut or anything fancy. Just shaved him off!  OK Rocky, no haircut for another 6 months! You cost too much, babe!

Tuna Avocado Sandwich

I have been really lazy about exercising and eating right. Chocolate everyday, pastries every morning, cakes here and there, and I can list more. I need to start watching what I eat. After all, YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT. I want to do good to my body. Today is the day to start back again! Do you like avocado? How about tuna? This sandwich recipe is easy because all the ingredients are pretty much your everyday fridge and cabinet items. 

Start to Finish: 20 minutes
Serving: 2-4 depends on the size of bread you use

2 can (5oz) tuna, drained and flaked

2 ripe avocados, peeled, coarsely mashed

2 Tbsp lime juice ( fresh or bottle)

1/2 onion, julienne cut and sauteed (to give some color and to make it more flavorful) OR just a few red onion slices

2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

6 slices multi-grain bread (This is what i used to make 3 sandwiches)

Tomato slices 

1.  In a medium bowl, combine avocado, lime juice, parsley, garlic salt and pepper. Gently flake and fold tuna in the mixture

2.  You can toast the bread if you like. Fill each sandwich with tomato slices, avocado filling and sauteed onion or just red onion slices.

3.  Done!

Tip 1 : It is better to use Tuna can that come with FLAKEY tuna. Some of the tuna can is pretty shredded and mixed too well. With FLAKEY kind, you can actually still bite into big tuna chunk. 

Tip 2 : For onion, I don't like raw onion flavor so I sauteed mine. I thought it was better because it added some sweetness to the onion.