I went to my long awaited doctors appointment. I told that doctor that I have been trying for just under a year. She gave me a prescription for Metformin as she suspects that I have PCOS. She also gave me a package about female infertility, although she smiled and said that I probably know everything that is in the booklet.
DH got a bottle to give a sample of his swimmers as well as requisition for some blood work.
I got a requisition for blood work to go on Day 3. Then to go on Day 21, day 28, Day 35, etc until I get my next AF to check my progesterone levels. I also have to call on Day 1 to book an appointment for an HSG to check my tubes. She said I could old off on it to see if the Metformin helped, but I just want to make sure that everything is in good working order and I am feeling a little impatient. She also said that clomid would be our next step if the metformin didn't work.
I am supposed to be meeting with her again in 2 months. I am really glad that she is being so proactive, but a little sad that I found out today that she is moving away. However with her starting my work out, the next doctor, will just have to continue what she started, so I don't have to worry about the other doctor blowing me off. I feel pretty relieved that the appointment went so well and now I have steps to take. Oh and she told me to work on losing some weight, which is my ongoing goal, lol.
This weekend, I am just in the mood to bake and relax. My classes are all planned for next week. My course starts on Monday so after that I will be pretty busy. I organized the living room a bit and plan to tackle the downstairs bathroom tomorrow, as it doesn't get cleaned often ( due to it not being our main bathroom). My doctors appointment is quickly approaching and I am getting excited. I don't want to get my hopes up too much, as she might say to me to just keeping trying for a bit longer. I hope that doesn't happen.
So my two cooking experiments today were Soft Pretzels and Quick Spice Buns.
Soft Pretzels
My "Pretzel"
For 3 dozen 6-inch sticks or For 1 dozen 6-inch Pretzels
( I didn't find the dough went that far, I got 1 dozen sticks total)
1 tbsp Yeast
1 tbsp Sugar
1 tsp Salt
2 tbsp softened butter or softened margarine
1 cup warm (115-+ deg F) water
2 3/4 cups flour
Coarse Salt to sprinkle on Pretzels before baking
5 tsp baking soda mixed in 4 cups water in a non-aluminum saucepan.
1 large slotted spoon to "go fishing"
Greased cookie sheet
Preheat oven to 475 F
Put yeast, sugar, salt, butter/marg, water and ONE CUP of the flour into a medium mixing bowl and pour in the water.
Stir till all smooth, and yeast starts to bubble.
At this point add the rest of the flour, stir till it is mixed in.
When mixture is too stiff to stir with a spoon, begin kneading.
Knead dough till smooth and till it no longer sticks to the bowl and your hands
Allow dough to rise to about double its height.
While dough is rising, grease the cookie sheet. and prepare the baking soda-water mixture and bring to a boil on stove.
When dough is risen enough, punch down, knead for a minute or so, then divide and roll the 6-inch sticks with your hands, to about 1/2 inch in diameter, or 12-15-inch long rolls to make into the pretzel shape.
Allow sticks or pretzels to sit for about 1-2 mins. Place them into boiling water-baking soda mixture one or two at a time.
Let the pretzels boil for 1 minute 10 seconds, then flip them over with the slotted spoon and boil on the other side for 1 minute and 10 seconds.
This boiling step gives them a firm skin and adds some flavour. Not boiling long enough leaves them too soft and allows them to rise too much. Boiling too long makes them tough.
Fish them out of the water, let them drip off and place them on the greased cookie sheet.
When all the pretzels or sticks are done, sprinkle the coarse salt on them.
Bake for 12-15 minutes or till sticks or pretzels are golden brown.
http://strothotte.com/pretzels.php
The Quick Spice Buns are very similar to Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls
One of the buns I made today
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
3/4 cup buttermilk
softened butter
1/4-1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and sugar, until the flour is granular in texture. Add buttermilk to make a stiff dough. Knead lightly on a lightly floured board. Roll to 1/4 inch thickness to form a rectangle. Spread with softened butter and sprinkle with brown sugar and spices. Roll up like ajelly roll and cut into 3/4 inch slices. Place on a buttered baking sheet, cut side down. Bake for 15-20 mins in a 450F oven. Serve as is or ice with Butter Icing
Butter Icing
3 tbsp butter
2 tbsp buttermilk or milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2-2 1/4 cup sifted icing sugar
Cream butter. Add milk, vanilla, and a little of the icing sugar. Mix well. Gradually add remaining icing sugar while mixing until it reaches good spreading consistency. Icing should hold its shape.
I got this recipe from a Dairy Cookbook, can't remember the exact name though.
I needed to plan out my lessons for tomorrow and really it was mostly planned out, but other things seemed to be fun to do. So I made cinnamon bread ( well actually Amish Sweet Bread from All Recipes.com., but I make mine rolled with cinnamon and brown sugar). It was really good. Today I had a hankering for Banana Bread, so I made that today. Again, it was pretty good.
I did manage to get my lessons planned out. I was making a roast in the crock pot and realized I had no potatoes and no carrots. I went to the dollar store on the way to the grocery store. I found a really nice notebook ( 2 actually). I usually use the computer to plan lessons, but the problem with the computer is the internet. I think of things to look up to improve my lesson and then I never get it planned, so I will use the old pen and paper to get the initial stuff done.
I am teaching a short story unit and starting with a Tell-Tale Heart. I didn't bring home their short stories books with me during March Break, so I will pick them up and plan the rest of the weeks lessons tomorrow night.
I know haven't been around for a while. Busy with work. It's March Break this week so I went on a bit of trip. I spent a night in a hotel with my hubby and then 2 nights with my best friend Alice. I got some cute clothes which will be great for the spring weather that we have been having. It is supposed to get a cooler again, but most of our snow is gone.
While we were away, my friend and I went to go see Fred Penner at the campus Pub of the university we went to. For those who don't know who Fred Penner is, he was/ is a children's folk singer that had his own show for many years on CBC. He sang lots of our favourites as well as some newer songs. It was lots of fun. Here is a video of him singing the Cat Came Back. It is not the best quality as I recorded it on my camera, but you can sure hear his voice singing.
As well we also got a picture with him and an autograph
It was really nice to get away for a few days and not have to worry about too much. My DH got to spend a few days hanging out with his best friend who live there as well.
Now we have lots of laundry to do and I need to start preparing for the classes I have to teach on Monday. I have the classes for my cooking class planned out, but I need to plan out what I am teaching in the English classes I am starting to teach on Monday. I have some ideas in mind, just need things to be a bit more concrete.
In regards to things TTC, my appointment is less than two weeks away and I am currently 8 DPO so hoping I don't need that appointment to talk about infertility, but prenatal care.
So my mom called me tonight and told me that she had found some of my old baby clothes. She is going to wash them and keep them around. She seems gung-ho to start shopping and try to find some used sleepers and stuff.
She also wants to get some things like a bassinet, but I told her not till I am actually preggo. So hopefully I can send my mom shopping real soon:)
So after getting my feelings out on paper, I started to feel better. I was stressing about getting things organized for my new job, but I was able to spend lots of time on it today and now am doing fine. I have my next two weeks of classes planned, yeah.
So I had my first HipHop Dance class yesterday. It wasn't too bad. I am not the most co-ordinated person in the world, but I got some of the moves down. I can't wait to go next week. I also bought new running shoes and work out pants so I had come comfortable clothes to wear.
