A hello, update, & request for bday party ideas (PIP too)

anitaflora

Hi there all!

I haven't posted over here in a while, but there are so many new faces that are here now or may be here soon that I know from TTCAL and PGAL that I wanted to pop in and say hello.  As well as many I know are over here that I knew from various other boards since I started bumping almost two years ago now!  So first, just a general "Hullo!!" and welcome to all the new ladies on this side now.  So, so overjoyed to know so many ladies who have had their rainbow babies

Here's a short little bit about me for those I don't know yet...

I have one little boy who is going to turn four this week.  We started trying for a second in Dec 2011 and have since had six early losses.  I've been to two REs - the first (Feb 2013) told me that based on my extremely low AMH and my age (I will be 41 in May) he didn't recommend IVF at all. The second (Nov 2013) reran all my tests and said that while my chances aren't great, they're enough that he's willing to try it with me.  I then had to get the insurance coverage in place - because of the Affordable Care Act and the coverage mandates in my state I was able to get insurance for treatment coverage which wasn't even possible before.  Then I wasn't sure that the insurance company was going to approve our going straight to IVF, which they did and amazingly quickly actually.  So now, since both things have come into place, I should be starting the pills for my first IVF cycle tomorrow. 

I am terrified of what I'm jumping into!  I had no idea the number of injections I would have to be doing!  I am frankly scared to death about what's going to happen to my body and how my body's going to respond to everything.  But I am also so excited we are being able to have the chance to even try this. 

So about the birthday party! 

My little man is turning four and he requested a Sesame Street theme.  So we're going to make some Sesame Street cupcakes - I think I have some good ideas for other snacks, and I'll pick up some decorations which should be easy enough.  But I'm having trouble with games/ ideas of things for the little ones to do!

So I'm going to have somewhere between 5 - 7 four year olds... I have a few ideas.... I'm going to put some big huge coloring pictures of Sesame Street birthday pics (blown up size) on one wall and a bunch of crayons and markers for them to color with.  Then I was thinking I would do a little craft area for them to make their own Abby Caddaby fairy wands and/or Oscar trash cans (gotta get some supplies for that). 

One game I was thinking of was freeze dance - but when the music stops what happens?!? 

I have a couple other very simple non-competitive game ideas but I definitely want more if anyone can throw them out at me!  Party is Saturday morning (we hope.... very, very sadly it appears that my grandmother in law is going to pass away sometime in the next day or so and we don't know when services are going to be so the party may have to be rescheduled - and of course we're all so sad about her loss as her illness spread very quickly).

I have a couple pretty small indoor spaces for us to use - as well as a fairly large easel... I was trying to think of something we could do with that?  Like a Pictionary kind of thing where the parents can draw and the kids can guess maybe?  But I don't have it formulated in my head how to do it! And I'm not sure how well that would go over or not??

Okay, this has been way too long.... thank you for reading! 

And here's my little man .... just because

Adam2010

Hi Anita! So glad to hear you found an RE that you like and you have insurance! FX and tons of T&P that your IVF cycle is a success!

Happy birthday to your son! I cannot believe our boys will be 4 on Thursday! Where does the time go?! The only other ideas I had for the Sesame Street theme is pin the trunk on the Snufflupogus (sp?) and something to do with cookie monster like a memeory game. I was thinking make cookies out of carboard or construction paper. Put choc chips on the front and a pic of one of the characters on the back- make a ton of them with matches to play a memory game That is all I have for ideas- sorry! I hope your son enjoys his party!

I am so sorry about your grandmother in law

Huge hugs!

Junebug060609

Hi Anita!!!  Miss you and am glad you've got an RE on board and insurance lined up.  Woo hoo!

I did a Sesame Street theme for DS's 2nd bday.  Here is a link to the Pinterest board for that.  

https://www.pinterest.com/renald99/2nd-birthday/

We did Pin the Nose on Elmo, but you could tailor that to whatever character he likes most.  I really liked the fruit/veggie trays in the shape of characters heads.  I also did a big container of goldfish with an elmo next to it that said "Elmo loves his goldfish" and some cookies on a platter next to a Cookie Monster with a sign that said "C is for Cookie"  

We didn't do it, but something I came across that might work well for that age group is "Oscars Trash Toss".  I think it was wads of newspaper being tossed into a new trashcan.  Basically like a bean bag toss idea.   

Wifey xo

Hi Anita! Just popping in to wish you well. I did IVF my birthday month when I was 39 (41 this summer) I know it can seem like a lot, and wish you the best this cycle!

AmyM72

No party advice but I just wanted to add my good wishes for your IVF. Hope to see you around.

anitaflora

Thank you so much ladies!!  Your posts have given me some great ideas to work with   Now just to use my super-woman-powers to create more time for everything!  And while I'm at it, more money too please lol!  And thank you so much for all the well wishes with my cycle coming up, as well as your thoughtful words about my GMIL. 

Thank you again!

egsquared

Just lurking and wanted to wish you all the luck in the world with your IVF cycle Anita! I had super low AMH and it worked for us. ((Hugs))

Also, your little man is adorable! Happy birthday to him! Hard for me to believe I have a 4 year old - she's so much a 'kid' now and not a toddler..