Ode to a Photographer

I was sitting here going through Mike's albums of pictures and I decided to post a few of some fo the fun stuff he has done with his class in school. These pictures actually come from a class last semester on lighting, but I still think that they are cool and think he did a pretty good job.

A Jellyfish that he got me. It is clear in real life

Quinn and Casey in their Halloween Costumes last year.

A pot that he threw in high school!

Some awesome bottles we brought home from Argentina. It was worth checking the bag since they are all obviously over 3 oz.

This one is just cool, because we wrote that using a laser pen and leaving the shutter open on the camera forever.

It Gets Even Better

Wow, I love you all for being so quick on the blog...I thought, "Oh I will update today and then I will finish the story next week, since not too many people look at my blog anyways" but boy was I wrong. Every single one of you makes me laugh, thanks for being so loving and supportive to Mike and I.

Well, to continue the story, we had our home study on April 8th with a social worker we will call Jim*. Jim came over and he wasn't that scary in person. He was a older man who has been doing home studies for over 30 years. He has worked for LDS Social Services, for the State, for attorneys and now that he is part retired he does this work with the University of Utah pretty much for fun! He spent an hour talking to both of us, going over how we met, how our marriage was, or finances (all stuff I expected). Then I took him on a tour of the house. He like our house which made me happy. It was funny because he walked into our second bedroom, which houses our TV and elliptical and said "So this will be the babies room?" and I got a HUGE smile on my face and said "YES!!" It was probably the best moment of this whole ordeal so far. I actually got to say out loud that I would be having a baby someday and this room is where I would keep it (kinda like your favorite toy at age 3 that you hide from all the other kids) He then talked to me alone and Mike alone. He asked me to describe my mom, my dad, their marriage (or lack there of these days), to describe Mike and finally to describe myself. I had to tell him who I was more like, my mom or my dad. That was a hard one for me. He asked Mike the same questions (alone). He brought us back together and told us he thought we were a very nice couple. His only real concern was Mike's lack of job (don't worry Jim, it is one of my biggest concerns too). He left us with a bit of homework and he was on his way after just over 2 hours. It was not that big of a deal, and I did not need to scrub the floors with ammonia like I did (he didn't even check under the cupboards or in the oven...oh well at least they are clean now) I stressed more than I needed to but hey when the fate of your future family lies in the hands of one single man you do everything you can to make that person happy. We even bought lunch and snacks and water bottles just in case. Boy we sure are crazy.
He did leave us with a bit of homework. Mike and I both needed to get a Criminal Background Check and a Child Abuse Background Review done. That was easy, just requesting a few forms. It makes me wonder why they don't make every person having a baby do this though. Some sweet children would be saved from a very yucky upbringing. Truthfully I was bitter for a bit that I had to have these extensive reviews and checks done one me, and any 15 year old who slips up can have a baby, but I guess I have learned a lot about myself through the process. It really made me do a lot of looking inside to see what I am really made of. The last part of our homework was a packet with questions we had to fill out. These questions were tough for me and took a few days to complete. Just so you can see a what I mean:

c. Which individual had the most influence in your life?

d. What was your most negative experience?

e. What was teh best part of your childhood?

f. What was the most difficult part of your childhood?

i. How was love expressed in your family?

5. Describe situations that create conflict for your family and how conflicts are resolved

12. List names and relationships of those that will provide babysitting, child care, respite care, and long-term care should you be unable to care for your child.

Keep in mind that the person reviewing these answers has the option of giving you a baby or not!
Anyway you look at it, the information is all in. We got a call on April 19 telling us that Jim had sent his final report up to the committee at the U. I called April on April 22, and she did in fact have it. The committee will have to review it and we will get a secondary acceptance letter (or rejection letter) from them in about a month. At that time we get to start making plans and setting dates for the procedures. What a crazy ride it has been, and yes, I am for sure stressing about that second letter. I know in my heart I have nothing to worry about, but that isn't stopping me just the same.

*Real names changed to protect the identity of the innocent :)

The First Steps

December 10, 2008 (my 25th birthday) Mike and I had a meeting with a representative at the University of Utah. We will call her April. We met with her to begin our application for the Miracle Fund. The Miracle Fund is a way for a private donor to donate the money for a couple to go through the IVF (invitro fertilization) process. This donor donated enough to cover the cost for 25 couples in 2008. It was a crazy meeting and I left very emotional. I wanted so bad to get this fund. We had a 12 page application we had to complete, as well as 5 references we had to get and a few medical tests. We finished the application and got all test results in around the beginning of January. Then it was just a wait process. It was excruciating to say the least. I knew the committee that would review the applications only met a few times a year, but I didn't know how long I could wait. Then Friday, March 27, 2009 I got a letter in the mail with this logo on it

I still had to wait another 2 hours or so until Mike got home before I could open it. That was the hardest 2 hours to make it through. I ended up with a really clean house though, because it was the only way I could find to keep my mind occupied while I waited. When Mike got home we opened the letter:

Dear Nicole and Michael Montgomery
Through the generosity of anonymous donors, and after successful completion of a family study by a State licensed social worker, you will be able to be recipients of one cycle of IVF to be completed before the end of March 2010.

Monday I called April back and got the name and number of a social worker who would come to our house and complete a home study. A home study is where a social worker comes to your home, interview you and your spouse, inspect the home, and evaluate you as an individual and a couple. Pretty scary if you ask me. But, the social worker sounded really nice over the phone, and the interview date was set.

What Makes The World Go Round

There are some things I hate in life more than others. One of those things is people who get a blog and then NEVER update it. To me a blog is a way of telling those you don’t talk to on a daily or weekly or monthly basis what is going on in your life. Well I am one of those super sucky people that I hate. It has been over a month since I last posted, and I feel so bad. It has been a crazy crazy time. I will update with the biggest highlights, but I spent a few days in Louisville Kentucky, which was interesting. The city is beautiful and I actually had a lot more fun that I had expected to. Quinn left on his mission. He is already in and out of the MTC. He is currently serving in St. Vincent. It sounds like he is having a good time. I haven’t seen any pictures, but I would assume it is beautiful. Maybe I can get his mom to update his blog with the pictures he sends.
Mike managed to lose his job. He is working at 2 part time gigs right now, while he looks for a full time position. He has great potential with his travel business, and I see that taking off HUGE in the next few months. With him working so much I rarely get to see him. I might see him for a whole hour once in a while, so really the only time I see him anymore is Sunday. Luckily our car is in the shop getting new brakes today, so I got to see him while he took me to work and took me back to the shop to pick up the car. SCORE!!! Love him to bits, yes I do.

Whilriwnd

Well I made it back to Salt Lake City at 9:10 am on Thursday morning. I made it to the rehearsal no problem. The wedding was beautiful. I don't have any pictures yet, but as soon I get some I will be sure to post them. It was so much fun to see my brother get married, and then 2 days later see my brother-in-law give his mission farewell speech. Quinn did such a good job. He is going to be a very good missionary. He is going to the West Indies Mission, which is in the middle of the Caribbean. I am excited for tomorrow, when we get to take him to the MTC. It will be such an exciting time for his family. Now all boys will have served missions for the church.
I will say I will be glad to get back to work on Thursday. It has been a full schedule ever since North Carolina and I am ready to get back to just plain normal life. Guess we will see if just plain normal life ever exists again.

Best Job Ever...Yeah Right

Many people tell me that I have a great job. I sit at a desk working 4 10 hr days, I have management that I am friends with, and I get to fly to exotic (including Phoenix) locations. Well to all of them I say BLAH!!! I was sent to Raleigh North Carolina (RDU) this week to do some work. Well, not only is it the first week in March, but it is also the week of my brother Nathan's wedding. His rehearsal dinner is tomorrow and the wedding is on Friday 3.6.9 (love the date, it is so numerically fun). Anyways, the rehearsal is tomorrow, and I am stuck here in Raleigh, with a broken plane and a flight attendant that will time out (not be able to fly due to workhour restrictions) if we do not take off soon. So, either I fly really late into Atlanta, and stay for 5 hours there, or they cancel the flight here, and I come back at 4am to fly out on a 520am flight to Atlanta, then finally to Salt Lake City. Oh what choices!!!
I am trying to find the humor in it, I promise I am, but if you know me you know that things like this stress me out. Of course it is only happening because I have something to get home to, because I have plans from the minute I get home all the way through next Wednesday. If you ever get stuck in the Raleigh airport flying Delta, the agents are super nice and super helpful. Just tell them you kow Nicole from SkyWest and if they know me, they may be extra super nice to you.
Jessie & Nate, I love you and promise I did not mean for this to happen. I will make it home by the rehersal...PROMISE

My Crazy Wonderful Man

"Honey, I have a great idea for a snack" That is my favorite line these days. My cute husband knows immediately that I am going to ask for something to eat. It doesn't matter that I am actually closer to the kitchen, or that I am such a picky eater, he will look at me and smile. No ladies, he does not get it every time, but he is pretty darn close. He is such a great guy and I wanted to thank him for being that way. He loves me and I could not ask for more. He has put up with not only me, but me on anti-depressents (not pretty), me on fertility medications (even worse) and me in the hospital on multiple occasions (I am actually pretty funny then). He continues to strive to do his best to take care of me and provide for my future. He has recently started a new travel company M&M Photo Tours. He is very excited about it, and I love seeing the enthusiasim in his eyes when he talks about it. Good luck babe. I know you can do anything you put your mind to. Sorry I don't have a picture of you, but because you are photographer, you are always behind the camera.