Baby Bents Benefit

Happy Summertime!!!!  
Summer is my favorite season of all, too bad it's the shortest here in Minnesota.  I love the heat and sun and a good thunderstorm!  

We have been blessed with the surprise of a friend planning a fundraiser/benefit to help us raise money for IVF.  This is something I would never have done on my own because we have ZERO desire to ask people for money.  But we have had multiple friends and family members ask us how they can donate to help us have a family.  Because of this I'm happy to participate in this benefit if it brings us closer to having our own little family.  

The benefit will have a number of things going on! We will have multiple crafters and businesses set up selling their items, items for a silent auction to bid on and a handful of items for a raffle.  There will also be baked goods and our friends' amazing eggrolls for sale for eating.  :-)

I really just want the place to be packed with people we love and who support us with no obligation of donating anything!  

If anyone has any ideas of anywhere we can ask for more auction items or ideas, please let me know!  We will take all the help we can get to make this as successful as possible.

The Baby Bents Benefit will be held on Saturday August 15 from 10am-1pm at Riverdale Church in Andover, MN

I have also set up a youcaring page for those that can't make it to the benefit but have it on their heart to contribute.

http://www.youcaring.com/alaina-and-joe-bents-386014

Garage Sale-ing!

Hey y'all! I think summer has finally arrived for us Minnesotans and I'm so very happy for it. With summer in Minnesota comes garage sales, Joe's favorite thing!

I have decided this year to join in on our neighborhood garage sale! I am using this as a jump start to raising money for us for IVF treatments. We have been blessed with many donations of items from family and friends for us to try and sell.

The sale is Saturday June 13 from 11-6. If you want to stop and just say hi I'd love to see your pretty faces! No need to buy things, I'm sure we will have plenty of garage sale-ing people for that.

If you are in need of any items like tools, household items, baby clothes etc, feel free to come look around. There may or may not be special treats for your purchasing pleasure as well 😉

Woo-hoo for summer!

New Seasons

Hello Spring!!!!!!  Is everyone as excited about the nice weather as I am?!  I have beautiful plants and flowers coming up and it makes me so happy!  Spring means new growth and life and a new season.  And also no more winter ;-)

I've been trying to brainstorm ideas for raising money for us to do IVF.  I've received a lot of advice and support on different things to try.  The big one everyone recommends is garage sales.  I'm going to try and join up with as many as I can.  We don't have a garage nor a yard really to host my own.  If anyone out there does one or plans on it this year and wouldn't mind me setting up my own stuff and helping you work it, I'd love to!  Also, if anyone out there has stuff they know they want to get rid of but don't like to or don't have time for marking and selling, I would love for you to consider donating the items to my "cause".  I will happily price, transport and sell it for you!  I'll do whatever you'd like me to do with the proceeds I make from selling your things. 

I'm also thinking of making/sewing items to sell either in an Etsy store or possibly at these garage sales. My sister in law Brianna can knit and will learn to sew things with me and my other sister in law Kristie has offered to help teach me how to sew!  Considering I've never touched a sewing machine (maybe in middle school???) I will need all the help I can get!!!

Feel free to contact me if you're interested in helping in any way.  Or if you have ideas for me!  I'm not good at this whole brainstorming/raising money thing.  I'll take all the help and advice I can get!

One more time

The last 2 months have been kind of intense on the baby front. We have increased my meds including injections and progesterone supplements. If any of you know me, you're aware of my hatred of needles but I'm rather proud of myself having done them all myself! Unfortunately, even though my body reacted perfectly to the meds and our numbers on all fronts were fantastic, it still didn't take. Here are my fun shots - 

With this heartbreaking news comes some major decision making on our part. We're allowed one more round of what we've been doing. Then we will have to move forward with IVF most likely. This option is scary and stressful not only in the case of what I will have to go thru but financially. The prices are astronomical and that is a stress I'm not sure we are able to endure.  Elsa tries to help me feel better by taking naps with me....its as comfortable as it looks

In the meantime, prayers are always welcome. For what choices to make and God's patience, healing and guidance for my heart.

Also a hilarious video of what I imagine it was like having me as a child getting shots.  My dad says that's pretty much what I was like....

Baby Update

 I thought I'd give an update on the baby front since this is why I started this blog.  It has definitely been therapeutic for me.  It helps me to write things down and I also don't get so many questions from so many people regarding the topic.  I definitely don't mind the questions, but I know some people might feel uncomfortable asking and this way it's out in the open.  

Many of you know that we went thru an IUI treatment (IUI info) last month and also know that it didn't work.  Because of some insurance things we found out about we decided to try again this month.  I chose not to tell anyone this time because of how hard it was on me emotionally last month when I found out it didn't work.  Unfortunately it didn't work this month either. 

I can't even begin to explain the heartbreak of having this not work for us.  I'm not sure what our next step will be but I have a meeting with my fertility doctor on Wednesday morning. 

I'm just going to put it out there for everyone.  Nothing anyone says to me will make me feel better.  Unless you've gone thru this and treatments yourself, you can't comprehend the pain and heartbreak I go thru every single month.  The emotional roller coaster is exhausting and there's a solid week out of every month where I'm straight up faking it.  I'm not writing this blog for people to pity me or feel bad for me.  I'm writing to get this stuff out of my head and heart and so those interested stay updated.  As encouraging as you may think you're being or the advice you're giving, remember I've heard it all.  I've researched it all.  I tell myself the same things over and over.  I just need/want my friends and family to understand it sucks.  

It sucks but please know that I still appreciate everyone's support and prayers.  I don't know what our next step in this experience will be for us but I pray for guidance and financial answers as well.  

I think my next post will be some sort of delicious Christmas baking thing....

My Soapbox for the Day

Carrie Underwood came out with a new song last week.  It's beautiful, moving and inspirational, with a very strong christian/biblical stance.  For me, it has touched me and spoken to me in a way I didn't realize I needed until I heard it.  I know I've said before that I am mildly (slightly more?) obsessed with her.  I love her voice and her music but mostly I love her steadfast faith and the fact that she doesn't let producers/managers/the public tell her she shouldn't be vocal about her faith in God.  She's not afraid of whatever public backlash there may be just because she loves God and doesn't care who knows it.  

Unfortunately, because of her beautiful song (which I'm sure has spoken to others, not just myself) atheists are screaming mad and demanding radio stations stop playing her song.  Because they don't believe in God.  

Look, I am a big believer in not judging others, it's not our place.  Do I fail at this at times?  Yes, of course, I'm only human.  I have to remind myself constantly to not judge someone, I don't know their life story, where they've come from, what kind of day they've had etc. Therefore, I will do my best not to judge you based on differing beliefs.  But I would NEVER demand that a friend/coworker/family member/stranger stop what they're saying and be silenced simply because I don't agree with them.  I mean, we live in America where our founders created a Bill of Rights that has established the freedoms we have in our country.  The very first amendment includes freedom of speech.  It was written with the original intention of making sure the government couldn't silence a citizen simply because they don't agree with them.  I highly doubt the government would get involved in banning a Carrie Underwood song but it won't stop radio stations if they are pressured enough.  

I guess my issue is, I as a Christian, am not demanding that atheists be silenced because I don't agree with them.  Why does one group of people get to bully and push around another simply because of differing opinions?  And yes, I'm serious when I say bully.  A bully is defined as someone who attempts to dominate or intimidate another they view as weaker Bully Definition.  Why do we focus so much on the bullies in our schools etc when they are only learning from the adults in the world around us?  Why do we as adults think we can essentially bully someone just because we don't agree or don't like them, then reprimand our children for doing the same to their peers?  

Thankfully Carrie has said what I would say to those that want to silence her,

 “Country music is different,” Underwood announced. “You have that Bible Belt-ness about it. I’m not the first person to sing about God, Jesus, faith, or any of that, and I won’t be the last. And it won’t be the last for me, either. If you don’t like it, change the channel."

Carrie Article

Though I wish she didn't feel the need to justify it by saying "country music is different", at least she's not backing down and backtracking on her beliefs.

If you don't like it, change the channel.  I love it.

She has another beautiful song for our troops.  I won't share so as not to overload you all with Carrie but it's called Keep us Safe if you'd like to find it on youtube. 

Weddings, State Fair and New Babies!

August came with lots of fun things to do!  We got to go to Atlanta for a friend's wedding and got to see some great friends while we were there!  

And then there's the MN STATE FAIR!  For those that don't know, I'm mildly obsessed with the fair.  I've only got 1 visit under my belt....so far this year.  Joe and I plan on going tomorrow though as well!  My first visit was just me and my niece and nephew, Jaden and Skylar.  They let me take a few photos.  Jaden even insisted on taking a selfie with me =)

    Sky insisted on cross eyes in this pic          

 Here's a normal one

Selfie time!

Little farmers in the making!

In other fun news.....I decided to start fostering for the Animal Humane Society. You thought I meant "real" babies?! The only animals I'm taking right now are kittens and oh my goodness, are they so much fun!!!  They are all black and Joe calls them his ninjas. I've named them;

Princess Buttercup - The only girl in the group, is half the size of the boys but very vocal and holds her own against the boys really well!  Loves to cuddle right on your chest tucked under your chin.

 Brutus - The biggest and only longhair, he's kind of a loner, but totally chill.  Lets you pick him up and hold him like a baby and is super gentle.  When they get tuckered out he's the only one that will go nap across the couch from you instead of cuddling with you.

The Twins - working on names for each but I seriously can't tell them apart!  Both will purr immediately when you just touch or pick them up.  Both like to lay on your lap or right by you with their head on you when they need a nap. 

The Animal Humane Society needs fosters for kittens mainly because they aren't big enough to be adopted yet.  So I get them when they're really little and take care of them, bring them to vet rechecks where they get weighed and shots and basically just play till they weight enough  They are seriously so much fun and so adorable I can't hardly stand it.  I will have them a total of at least a month and will be so sad when I have to bring them back in.  We're welcome to have visitors come and meet them so just let me know if you wanna come play!  

I've also started a second job serving at a restaurant by my house.  It's newer and so delicious!  It's call Sonora Grill right on Lake street east of Hiawatha.  I'm working mostly lunch shifts but come see me and try it out sometime!

That's all the news right now other than being sad that its basically September which means summer is over =( I am definitely not looking forward to cold weather coming our way.  Except for cooking delicious feel good home cooked meals.....Chili for dinner tonight on this rainy Friday.

Have a Lovely Labor Day weekend everyone!  Be safe and have fun!