I am his "master"...his words, not mine

It's official, one piece of good news for the week, and one piece of bad news for the week. I'll start with the bad news to get it out of the way. It appears as if this round of fertility medicine did not do the trick. We were pretty bummed today when we came to the realization that we are not pregnant, and therefore will be moving on to the next medicine. Although the medicine did cause ovulation, which was a mini-success, we are not pregnant... yet!

We will be starting the same cancer medicine as last month again this weekend, and then next week we will be adding in some pretty powerful injectible medicines (gonal-f for all of my IF buddies). I will do shots in my stomach for 4-5 days, then more ultrasounds to see if follicles are growing, then eventually another shot in the butt to release the eggs, followed by an IUI (think turkey baster (or google it) and you'll get the idea, lovely... I know!)

Although I'm pretty bummed that this month wasn't our lucky month, I am trying to remain hopeful for next month. And for the first time EVER we'll be able to start medicine right away, instead of having to wait 2 weeks for things to "get going". So at least my anxiousness will be calmed a bit, always a good thing for our marriage. =)

Now for the good news, and the title of this blog, I HAVE MY MASTERS! I officially graduated last Friday! It was a great week in LaCrosse, Wisconsin!

It started with a quick trip to get a noise in our car checked out, only to find out that they were going to need to fix it before we could drive it, so since I was leaving the next day for Wisconsin, where my school is at, I got this jazzy rental car for the week:



Renee, who I work right across the hall from and took all of my classes with, and who is also my very good friend, and another teacher rode up with me. We also all stayed together in a suite for the week to save some money. The week was broken up into several "sessions". We had one session to present our research to our peers and staff, and then 4 sessions to complete book talks related to the books that we had to read before we arrived on campus, and then 5 sessions to attend other research presentations of our choice. The session that obviously caused the most stress was the one where I presented my research. I was actually lucky enough to get assigned the very first session. So Tuesday morning at 8am I presented my research, it went really well! I had tons of great questions, about 30 people attended, and several people wanted to know how to get ahold of the materials that I used for my research. My research was based on a program that helps teach students sight words.

Here is Renee and I before our presentations:


Here we are after the presenatations! *that would be my nametag flipped up in the wind... not a nasty huge band-aid! :



Here is the lecture hall I presented in: (some people were lucky enough to get classrooms, but I got a lecture hall...thanks luck!)




About half of the 500 graduates were from Iowa, one day we all took a picture together:


Later in the week we did a tour of the main chapel on campus. Viterbo University is a catholic university and the chapel has two parts, the smaller chapel has sisters praying 24 hours a day, it was phenomenal to enter that part of the chapel! You could feel God in every inch of that room, it was amazing! Here are some pictures of the chapel.



And the way too cute sister that gave us our tour!


On Friday we had our graduation speaker in the morning, because he spoke for 2 hours they brought him in before the ceremony, he was phenomenal! The most motivating and inspirational speaker I have ever heard!

Friday afternoon Matt, my mom and dad, my grandpa, and Matt's parents Patty and Kevin all arrived for my graduation ceremony. It was so nice to have all of them there!

Renee and I before the ceremony:


Getting my diploma!


Matt, Me, & my parents & my Grandpa (not sure what my dad's doing, and it's the only one we have together, sorry dad!)

Me, Matt, and Patty & Kevin


Me, Mom, Patty & Matt...this picture makes me laugh everytime!


As my graduation present from Matt, he surprised me with a camping trip! We were on the way home and we suddenly pulled off on a gravel road, and ended up at this camp site at Spooke Cave!



We had so much fun, we even did the corny spooke cave boat ride, and no, I didn't jump when they turned the lights off, but Matt somehow thinks I did, yeah right! =)

Matt & I in the corny picture thing:

Overall it was a great week. I can't believe that I'm done with school, I already feel bored... I know, that sounds so silly. I like having things to do to feel accomplished and keep me busy, so it's weird to not have assignments in my planner to do, cross off, and feel accomplished. I guess I'll either have to get over that feeling, or start my phd! =)