Drowning.....NOT in IV Fluids!!

I don't even know where to begin with where my sanity January went!! Oh wait, yes I do, it was me glued to my home office getting ripped a new one EVERY SINGLE DAY. To say work this month has been stressful is a complete understatement. Perhaps you're in the medical field, so this has already impacted you or your facilities, but in case you haven't been flipping through USA TODAY recently, the news has finally gone to the media. Feel free to take a gander here about the National IV Solution Shortage that we are starting to see the impacts of and will continue to do so until the end of the year. 

Of course the media has taken a different twist as to WHY we are in a solution shortage until the end of the year (yikes) which is completely inaccurate, but hey, whatever twist they need to put on it to completely freak people into getting more vaccinations, they will. The article states that "due to a violent flu season" manufacturers are dealing with IV Solution shortages that are preventing hospitals, surgical hospitals, oncology facilities and the alike from receiving enough fluids to treat their patients. That part is true... and scary as hell, however it's not due to flu season it's due to a product recall on Hospira's behalf last year, which caused way too much bandwidth added to the other two fluid manufacturers causing allocations, backorders and more business than we were prepared to handle. Other than B. Braun (the company I work for) only Baxter & Hospira make these IV bags that you see hanging from IV poles that are necessary to treat each and every patient having surgery or treatments that require admixture/drugs (Oncology facilities).  So, as you can imagine they are VERY necessary for facilities to have. In the landscape that we are currently in, cancer patients are being referred to hospitals for treatments because they dont have enough fluids to treat them. Smaller Physician Offices and Gastro/Endo facilities arent getting ANY product and are having to refer patients elsewhere as well, so you can imagine how pleasant these conversations have been to have. People are literally being forced to close their doors; it's terrible. 

Have I mentioned I need a vacation/pay raise/mental health counselor/massage?? Cuz I do! Mehhhhh.

On a positive note, my gf Brittany recommended a really fantastic course that I started beginning of Jan that couldn't have arrived at a better time. I've been taking Oprah's LifeCourse by Brene' Brown which I cannot rave enough about. This is a 3 month online course focusing on "The Gifts of Imperfection" {which is also a book written by Brene; at the very LEAST I recommend you pick it up and take it for a test drive}. It's been 3 weeks and I've really benefited from this course already. You keep a journal and have specific growth projects that really make you dig deep and essentially work on how to accept your imperfections and know that you are good enough in all that you do (there's a new concept for a Type A who grew up getting her balls busted more often than not). Is this possible you ask? Pah, well I'm a work in progress. Everyone feels pain, everyone feels judged at times and this course allows you to learn how to open up and live a more authentic life. It has shown me how to set boundaries with people, and how to love myself more; in all of my imperfections!! I've always been pretty open and authentic (never been able to fake a thing) but as you may have noticed in previous posts, there are still things in my life that I 'shame' myself for and of course everyone has their own inadequacies & insecurities. Mostly, I'm growing, learning and coping better; and in my opinion friends, that's worth every individual ($40) dollar that I paid for this class! Who doesn't like a little self help every now and again? 

So that's what's been going on with me this month. I feel like my head is about to spin off like a top-- but guess who just booked a night out with the girls tomorrow night & a massage for Friday? THIS GIRL. I don't know of a better way to release some steam & round up January. I hope yours was much less hectic than mine!

Xoxo,

Andi

Holy Horoscope!

I think we all can agree Horoscopes are fun to take a gander at. My gf Brittany was sending me some screenshots of hers that were spot on. It tempted me to add it myself. And can I just say, goosebumps?! Check out the first horoscopes I came to when I pulled it up! ......Its like they know me! ;)

Happy Hump Day all!!

Xoxo,

Andi

Bring it on 2014!

2013 was kind to us in many ways. We were blessed to sell our home at asking price {for sale by owner} within 30 days. That process, albeit stressful, couldn't have gone any smoother. Blair received a fantastic offer on his new position and although the change & newness of building a basketball program has it's stressors, he's never been happier. Makes it all worth it. We are still "in transition" from 2013 as we enter 2014 while waiting for our house to be finished, but we have so much to look forward to & be grateful for!

In reflection of 2013, my one word to sum it up is GROWTH. I have had to grow more mentally through personal challenges than ever before. I never realized how much stronger it truly makes a person to have no other choice but go through obstacles & dig deep to find solutions that work best for the 'self'.  Until this year, I've been fortunate enough to struggle through small hiccups in life {breakups, moves, family distresses & drama} but I have never had to deal with a situation that I had no other choice but to have patience and faith in. I've always been able to make a Gameplan and work my butt off to accomplish results. In reflection, I have to say I'm very grateful as this year has made my faith stronger, my relationships deeper, my patience larger & most importantly, the ability to be kinder to myself. So many quotes and motivational segments have helped me push through this year; it's truly amazing how much words can inspire. This one has been one right at the top of the list for me.

I never do resolutions, but this year I thought I'd at least post one of my "Goal Boards" as it's always nice to review at years end. I'd love to hear what some of you are planning to work on this year. It may inspire me to add it to the list. 

Personal Goals: 2014

- travel somewhere new 

- strengthen faith & commit to a stronger spiritual/mediation schedule. Find a local church in our new town. 

- influence others positively 

- influence myself positively  

- learn a new hobby 

- minimize (home, office, closet)

- Top 3 in work rankings; Rep of the Year, earn company reward trip

- become more involved in our new community

- be a better wife 

- plan less, live more

I have a good feeling that this year is going to be one of the best years yet!! I'm really going to work hard to do my part to be a positive role model to myself & others. So, don't be alarmed when you see straight sunshine rays comin right outta my arse ;) Happy New Year friends!! I wish you all the absolute best year yet.  Xo.

Xoxo,

Andi 

Happy Holidays from The Albright's!

This years holiday cards.... Well, I almost didn't send them. I had to show a few people {Mom, sis, bestie} beforehand to make sure I didn't sound too "bah humbug" this year. I was still amped on pills when I made this card, so it never hurts to be sure I hadn't completely lost it. My husband begged for the mustache pic, and I was in no mental state to argue. Luckily, my bestie and I share a similar humor {unlike my Sis & Mom} so the verdict was SEND!

A little dry humor & something different than the rest. Next to my Mother in Law wondering if the dogs were naughty or if we were naughty {oh lord} 95% of our friends got our humor. Happy holidays from us! Wishing you a safe & joyous Christmas & New Year, as well as many blessings in 2014!! 

Xo,

Andi 

Back to my roots

After 2 months short of a year of being on what feels like a hundred different meds, I've decided that enough is enough and that I need to take matters into more natural/holistic hands. This whole TTC process has been discouraging, exhausting, and out of my comfort level. Coming from someone who only takes Advil or antibiotics to someone on some pretty potent daily meds (Clomid, Letrozole, Ovidrel, Progesterone) has been quite the road. This gals synthetic journey has finally come to an end. Although those meds regulated me, they made me bloated, tired, overly emotional and miserable. I feel that they have robotically made my body to perform, but obviously that still hasn't done the overall trick. It's time to get back to my "roots" and try some herbal, natural remedies for my irregular hormones & cycles. 

As we approach another year, it has made me reflect on the one passed. It's been an intense year with significant work training & travel as well as selling a house & a move while building another. In one word, I have been cloudy. I've been incapable of living life to it's fullest, and for that reason, I've decided it's time for a play off from it all. I don't want to reflect come 2014 and feel this way then as well. 

I'm not sure if it was the fifth time in a month that my doctor replied "well, as I say, ovaries have a mind of their own" when he couldn't answer the answer to my question {well then what the HAY am I doing here paying all this money for you?!? Clearly I'm smart enough to know THAT much douche}. Or, the fact I was recapping things with B and he cut me off by saying "Andi, seriously listen to yourself, you sound like a doctor! I can't even keep up with the amount of medical terminology you just used. Enough". 

As much as I'm a stubborn, bull headed, never give up type of person by nature, he's right, enough is enough. This way is not a way that's true to what I have always wanted or believed. I've wanted to treat my overall body vs only one area {my ovaries} and that's what I intend to try.

It's not easy to explain what it's like being in my shoes, but I'm thankful that I do have a group of other friends who are also going through their own sorts of fertility issues. I'm ready to fully live life again. It will be impossible to completely suffocate my feelings on this matter but it's necessary to quiet them a bit in order to see the beauty that's around me. 

So, {raises glass} here's to Accupuncture, herbs, and clean eating!! 

Here here!

Xox,

Andi 

Loving Lately.....

It's not even Thanksgiving & I've already started to shop for friends & family for Christmas. This time of year is filled with online shopping (the only way to shop for this gal) and while surfing for friends & family I just happened to detour/glaze over on some goodies I'm now pining over. 

These statement necklaces via JCrew--loving!

These ankle boots? 7.5 please & thank you!

Perfect faux leather leggings to dress up or dress down. EXPRESS bound immediately! 

Loving any leggings this season.... 

And layered with this tribal sweater? WHERE Pinterest, WHERE!?? {I hate when you click the pic and the link takes you to no mans land) 

And last but not least, the bed for our Master Bedroom that I just COULDNT leave on the screen. It just arrived & is sitting in storage paitiently awaiting it's/ our new home!!! Eeeekkkk. 

I mean, who actually shops in person these days? Even when it comes to Black Friday deals you'll find me bundled on my couch, iPad in hand. What are you jonesin for this holiday season?

Xo,

Andi 

"Chance encounters"

There is no doubt in my mind that some people are put in your lives during exact moments of need.  I've had two recent scenarios that stand out amongst a lifetime of others. I don't call these chance encounters or coincidences but prefer to think of them as little jolts or reminders from God.

 

My first encounter was a few months back when I had to meet with one of my distributor reps for a lead an at account. She needed me to talk to a doc about B. Braun pain trays so I brought in samples and met her for the first time at the account. When I got there we started chatting it up in the waiting room as the doc was running late and the easiest topic to kick off the intro was her pregnancy. You could clearly tell that she was over half way through it and we got to gabbing about how she was feeling, was it a boy or girl, etc. She was very easy to talk to and before I knew it we were already at the topic of how long it took her and her husband to TTC. She later (at lunch) told me she couldn't believe how open she was with me about it all from the get go as she hadn't even told most of her closest friends about their 'troubles' but felt like she could openly express those things with me. Let me preface this by saying she had no idea that my husband and I were TTC or becoming impatient in the fact that we hadn't yet. She started to tell me how after all results came back 'unexplained infertility', and after trying for nearly 2 years, that they decided to move forward with a specialist and alternate methods and that the baby boy brewing in her belly was her first try at an IUI! Although her end result is not our current end result, we made fast friends and the floodgates opened on our experience and a fast friendship ensued. She is due THIS FRIDAY and I am just beaming with joy for her. The week of her delivery is finally here, when at one point in her life she never thought it would happen, and I know that she was placed in my life as a sounding board and a testimony to have patience and peace with all of this.

People in similar shoes have been coming out of the woodwork since I've been open to talking about this process. People who are actually in much worse shoes, so it has also reminded me to be thankful of the ones I wear although they are not perfect. A close friend I cheered with and her husband have been trying well, for always. Ever since they started dating really, there were no 'boundaries' as they were of age and ready for children. Once married, and years went by, they finally started to look into what the issue may be. Come to find out she has a congenital disease that has basically shut down one of her ovaries, and the other functioning one has low egg reserve. She will soon go into menopause and she isn't even mid 30's. To add to that, her husbands sperm count is very low. They will try IVF in the Spring, although doctors don't predict a positive result, and will begin the adoption process from there if IVF fails.

A new friend in town {who is one of the coaches wives} & her husband have also been trying for awhile and recently opened up to me over dinner about their story. It absolutely just breaks my heart. Her husband was diagnosed with Leukemia a few years back and went through chemo. As we all know, the drug is very potent and strongly correlates with the minimizing of sperm count. His Dad is a Hem/Onc MD and recommended that he freeze some sperm in case he were to marry and want children someday. Well, today is someday & when they had his sperm tested the result was 0. Literally, zero. By the grace of God & the smarts of his Father, they have their ONE vial of sperm on freeze and will have their ONE attempt at IVF. Even more strange, she drives an hour south to the very same specialist I going to! She stopped seeing him last year and has been "pending" on her move forward due to his dry bedside manner & is hopeful after my take on him to finally begin the IVF process there again. What are the odds?

It sure makes me thank my lucky stars for my health and reminds me to be mindful that although it's not happening as quickly as I'd like it to, that I need to have patience and faith that it will in the end. My situation is certainly one that I'd gladly take over some others out there. Although you may not be going through the exact same hurdle in life, everyone has one. It's worth talking about and finding a community of people who can relate and be of strength to you when you are feeling weak. I'm learning patience. I'm learning to give myself a break. And most of all, I'm learning how to be a better support system to others. I am a work in progress on this saying below, but I am trying.  

Xoxo,

Andi