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My life is not governed by IVF

Yes, IVF is a big deal demanding a lot of physical and mental strength, and also significant chunks of finances, but I refuse to make it the central part of my (and Arnab's) life. There are lots of other stuff happening to us and they are good things. I should be enjoying those, which I am happy to report, that I am.

For the first part, Arnab got a new job and we decided to buy a new house. This is our second house, we moved and are settling in now. For me, deciding on paint and organizing the house is a big deal. I am doing that with full vigor. Choosing furniture, window treatments, and all the normal stuff a couple with a new house need to do, we are doing those.

We got a new cat too. This happened after our beloved May passed away. I promised May that we would keep her legacy alive by providing forever homes to many more cats during our lifetime. Gemini, or now renamed, Alpha Gemini, is the soft furball who we found sleeping in a small cubby at the Seattle Humane Society. After stroking her sleeping head, Arnab and I decided, she is going to be the one. So she came. And within a few days became an obedient mentee of our orange boy Lightning. Following Lightning at every step and learning both the good and bad kitty things from the big brother that he is.

On a personal side, work is there, of course. I went through a role change at work. Generally women tend to step down or step back when they plan a baby. But following Sheryl Sandberg's advice, I chose not to step back, but rather to step up. So I changed to a software developer from the software tester that I was for the last 9+ years. It is challenging, I am learning whole new technologies, and keeping my brain occupied with good stuff. We also need to take turns being the oncall engineer and I would be doing my week of oncall work after my embryo transfer. Technological problems are easier on me than IVF thoughts and brooding.

I am also going to publish my family and friends magazine in fall. Currently I am still collecting articles and poking people like the shameless editor I can be. I also completed a summer reading book bingo. There were 24 books to read, and I bugged librarians, bookstore people, Arnab, my friends, coworkers, and probably everyone I talk to, about suggestions. As a result I finished reading all the 24 books.

Vacations, brunch plans, hanging out with friends, cooking classes, ice cream trips, laughing like crazy at lunches - those are all things to be thankful for.

There is so much to do, so much to be grateful for. Sunlight is streaking in my office now, bathing the freshly painted red walls in a warm glow. I am not letting IVF to have so much power over me to negate the warmth, happiness, and great things which are happening to me everyday. 

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