[Shellyhume]

Alana - my last positive... I tested on days 11, 12, 13... 11 was really really really faint... 12 was a little bit darker... 13 was a little bit darker... that's when I started referring to it as my FDP instead... my Faint Dainty Positive... it's not a BFP until the beta says so. 80)

Rachael - you can rent a heartrate monitor?? Didn't know that.

DH doesn't approve of the whole POAS addiction thing... he said it's not helping anyhing. If it's negative, it's a let down and my day is ruined. If it's positive, I question everything and wonder if it's just left over trigger... and my day is ruined. OR if it's positive, I lose the element of that phone call surprise telling me yay or nay... well, this is all his logic anyways...

Last time, I tested early, they called and told me my HCG levels were 27... which means that they were 13-15 when I tested... and I used First Response Early detection. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

Two more weeks and I can get back up on the horse... just two more weeks.

[jencat215]

Oh Rachael- I don't work for Inverness for nothing! I have a unopened box and 2 opened ones sitting around. That probably amounts to 45-50 tests under my sink, calling my name.

Alana-I am also always in the lower odds stastically as well. Look at my ectopic- no factors whatsoever. My RE was completely surprised. Well, bully for him cause that has cost me several thousand dollars, not only from the IUI costs, but now the hospital bills are rolling in.

I am pretty nervous about the 2WW, but I am trying to take it in stride. I keep thinking, what if we didn't get the timing down right? I am trying not to let our decision to go natural bother me, but what irked me was after our CD14 u/s, while I was getting dressed, I told DH that I wouldn't mind doing the IUI since we know we have a righty follie and we can have the timing down and everything. He was like, well don't you just want to try on our own-kind of making me feel guilty. Then we met with the nurse and she told us to BD every day for the next few days. When we got to the parking lot to go our separate ways to work, DH says if you want to do the IUI we can (of course, after telling the nurse that we were NOT going to do it). Urg!!!
Regardless, if not this month, then next, right?

Yay Shelly! 2 more weeks!!!

[hopeful2bmom]

Hey everyone.
I just wanted to say that DH and I decided to try one more IBF cycle on our own before calling quits and moving on to donor. I am going to try my old RE down here in Providence instead of Boston for this one.
I just got a feeling a few days ago, and the feeling was that I had given up too easily, even though the RE said it was time to move on to DE. He never said I could NEVER have a successful cycle using my own. So IN October or Nov we will be trying one more time.

Alana, good to see you are still POAS!
Grits, always nice to see your smiling face.
Jen, how are you hanging in the TWW?
Shelly, 2 more weeks my dear, hang in there!

Rachel, how are you feeling these days?

[sunny72]

Holy guacamole Alana!!!! See what happens when I have to go away for a few days. I really understand your nervousness. When I first got pregnant I POAS and was in denial and thought the sticks were too old to take seriously so didn't POAS for another week and then decided to let DH look at it incase I had gone insane and had accidently peed on an ovulation stick. I'm so happy for you.... I await more news!!

[JustPeachy]

Shelly - Yay for two more weeks!! We'll be cheering you on before you know it. Yes, neurotic worriers like me can rent a heartrate monitor. It's just like the one at the doctors office and cost $45 a month. I know it's pricey but it gives me such peace of mind and I don't worry near as much between doctor visits now.

Jen - I'm so proud of you for stockpiling HPTs!! Great workers comp. I hear you on the hospital bills and unexpected odds. I've beat them all too - in the negative direction! Plus, now I get all these "this is not a bill" statements from insurance. I can't figure it all out and I'm a finance major! Don't worry about the natural cycle vs. IUI. I'm sure your body appreciates having a little more time to heal before getting overwhelmed with meds. And, with all those scientific genes between the two of you, I'm sure DH's guys know where to head!

Susan - Very exciting that ya'll are going to try IVF again. I know it's an emotional decision but sometimes you have to go with your gut in these situations. If IVF was a perfect science, then everyone would only have to do it once so you're right - nothing is an absolute.

Heidi - Welcome back to the excitment!

Alana - Did DH buy you your digital yet??

Well, I am officially 20 weeks today. Hard to believe! For a normal pregnancy, it would be the half way mark. But, since we're planning on the 36 wk c-section, I've only got 16 weeks to go. Wow. I've been super crampy today which always makes me nervous so it's nice to have something to celebrate too.

[GRITS]

girls, it is exciting around here lately.

Jen, your TWW is slipping by. I almost missed it because you have been so busy cheering everyone else on. One more week........

Alana, did he bring one home?

Susan, I agree...go with your gut. I will keep praying

Rachel, congrats on the 20 week mark! So when do you have to go on bed rest? 24 wks? I am sure if you try real hard you can find lots of silly things to consume your time online. Make sure you journal though for Aidan later. I would love to have a journal from my mom while she was PG.

Hi Sunny, and Shelly

[designdiva32]

Originally Posted by JustPeachy

Well, I am officially 20 weeks today. Hard to believe! For a normal pregnancy, it would be the half way mark. But, since we're planning on the 36 wk c-section, I've only got 16 weeks to go. Wow. I've been super crampy today which always makes me nervous so it's nice to have something to celebrate too.

Wow Rachael, thats an incredible milestone you have just passed. I think in about 4 weeks? from now no matter what happens baby Aiden will be able to survive. That is the best news ever!! I can't believe you will have a little one in only 16 weeks also. Yay...lots and lots of baby pics coming our way soon!!

Brenna, as for the digital test, they didn't have one ANYWHERE! I was very annoyed, so DH brought some more FR's home with him. I'm very reluctant to test again though. I just have a sneaking suspicion it will be lighter or BFN tomorrow. Guess I'll just have to see how I feel in the morning. I might leave it until Monday. Unless you poas-pushers convince me otherwise.

Shelly, I think my DH personally thinks these HPT's are evil too. It definately alters how you feel that day when you use them. Still, how can we resist? Especially now we can get freebies from Jen. Which reminds me, I'm going to PM my address to you Jen so you can send me a bucketful.

Jen, hang in there hun. I'm here freaking out with you as you all well know...lol. I'm sure also that you timed it fine. As long as you the days the nurse said you can't go wrong. All we can do now is yell 'go swimmers go!' and hope they hear us. Just think, they're probably fertilizing Gertrude as we speak.

Susan...yay for trying with your own eggs again! This will be your month and you will get your healthy BFP with your own little Gertrude. Hey, would that mean you and Jen have to name your firstborns Gertrude?? lol

Heidi, welcome back!! I'm sorry to have caused a complete fuss and left you probably pages and pages to catch up on. I am finally calming down and just taking it as it comes. Especially knowing that whatever happens you girls will be there, thats the greatest strength I have. In the meantime, how was your trip and all the famly? Was it NZ family or is that later on? Tell us all!

[sunny72]

Alana, we went to visit MIL and BIL with kiddos came down from Maine. Stella had a blast but it's amazing how catty little three year old girls can be. They would play together peacefully for hours and then something would happen and they honestly would be physically fighting and giving each other dirty looks until eventually making peace and off they'd go again. Not to be biased but Stella only fights back when provoked and she's usually the one that dissolves into tears rather than resort to violence. I'll have to give her some self defense lessons!
The kiwi aunt's ETA is about a week. Which reminds me, I better email and place my order. Mmmmm, pinky bars.

I still awaiting AF. I seems like everytime I have to hang out with family or go somewhere I'm always premenstrual, puffy, grumpy and preoccupied in the bathroom checking to see if AF is coming or not. Hey any ideas about what excuses I could make about having to go for RE visits while family are visiting??

Susan, I'm really happy you are going to try IVF again soon. Keep us up to speed with the plans as we move closer to Oct/Nov. It's just around the corner.

Rachael (that is my closest cousin's name: Rachel. Her mum is the one that's coming to visit). More importantly, how thrilling to have reached the 20 week mark. We all have a vested interest in the growth and safe delivery of wee Aiden.

Big hi to everyone else!!

[Shellyhume]

Hi Heidi!! Welcome "home"! You probably wouldn't have to "tell" your family anything... maybe just say you have a meeting or you're meeting someone for coffee/lunch/brunch/etc. Good luck with that, ay? My family knows what my next step will be, but I don't think I'll be telling them exactly when things will be going on... totally not telling anyone anything until I'm 8 weeks... that includes my parents. I've already put everybody through enough rollercoasters with this... *sigh*

Came back to my apartment yesterday after visiting my gram... and the whole building's electricity was out... that made the most horribly boring night of my life... Not to mention the hottest, most boring night of my life. I can't believe how dependent on electricity I've become!!! Well, as you can see, lights are back on and I'm feeding my forum addiction... rather than doing all the things I know I ought to be...

[jencat215]

Morning girls...

Rachael- I hear you on the "this is not a bill" statements. I have enough of those to cover all the walls in my house. As for the HPTs- hey I have been stock piling ever since I found out we could get them. It is crazy. We have demos and returned product (can't send out anymore) all over the place. I am glad the are PIACs (pee in a cup) instead of POAS otherwise I would be doing it all day at work!


OH, and congrats on the 20 week milestone!!! So exciting. I hope you had a good celebration with DH! Any new belly shots we need to see?

Brenna-Kinda hard to figure out exactly when the 2WW started- I am thinking either last Wed. or Thurs. Weird how it makes so much more comfort knowing exactly when you should have O'ed and when conception should have occured.

Alana-I forgot to mention...Gertrude is DH's grandmothers name. Anyway, did you POAS again this AM? Are you driving yourself nuts with it? I totally understand you there!

Welcome back Heidi. Glad your trip seemed to go okay. As for your REs visits, just tell your family that you have a Drs appointment and leave it at that! You could be going to your ob/gyn for your annual, or your annual check up with your GP. Dentist, even.

Hi Shelly. Glad your electricity is back on.

Ronni and Martie- how's it going? Martie, were are your pictures???

Well, DH and I went out to dinner last night and I seemed to have got a small piece of something stuck at the back of my throat. I tried everything but could not get it to go down. So we got home and started to finish The Two Towers and I drank a nalgene bottle full of water (4 cups) and a popcycle to get that annoying thing down my throat (couldn't cough it up). Anyway, I spent the entire night in the bathroom peeing. Sleep wasn't too good.

Going to take a power walk this AM. DH and I walked to my work (about 2.5 miles each way) yesterday about 2pm...very hot out. It was nice cause we didn't go to the gym this week in order to let things happen. I've got my heart monitor so I can watch my HR (supposed to keep it below 140 during this time). Luckily my walking buddy called last night to push back our time to 10am. 8am is just too early on a weekend!!!

My wonderful DH story- I had a $10 Kohl's card that expired yesterday. I told DH that I wanted to use it cause it was $10 free! So DH took me and of course their t-shirts were on sale for $5.99 so I got several while DH played clothes carrier. I love those t's cause they are so cheap! They wear nice for awhile, but I don't feel guilty beating them up in only a few months (they aren't the best quailty) and getting new ones!!! And got a cute pair of capri pants and a new bra. I tried to get DH interested in picking out a new bra with me but he's like "I'll just wait for 10 months then we'll get you some nice bras. Right now it is all about business!" It was more cute the way he said it-he didn't say it mean or anything, more like "I am hungry...hurry up so we can go get dinner". He is a good shopping buddy though. He did find a cute shirt for me. And he said that he much prefers J. Jill to Kohl's cause they have very nice 'man chairs'. Though last time we were in J. Jill he spent plenty of time pouring through the racks finding stuff for me. Actually, he is good at finding stuff that looks good on me. He also likes the man chairs at Ann Taylor, not a fan of the Gap, likes to go through the racks at Macy's, but doesn't like the high end stores like Lord and Taylors and Saks cause they have a rack with 3 articles of clothing on it. He likes to really search through those things!!!

[GRITS]

Alright Alana, did you poas yet..........?
Dh's just do not get it. If it were them they would be poas too!!

[sunny72]

Talking about bills grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Just before we left for MILs I was feeling okay, cranky for reasons already stated and I decided to check the mail. I got a bill for the anaethesiologist for $350.00 for the "missed abortion" they phased it. It was $800 minus what I get covered for and I am lumped with the rest. I was totally not expecting it at all? This was from the D&C a couple of months ago. Lets just say it put me in a fowl mood for the drive. DH thinks it can't be right and I'm wondering what other bills are going to pop up after I just put another $2K on the credit cards for the FET.

Sorry just had to get that out of my system.

[designdiva32]

Missed abortion...thats what they wrote on my form too, like we CHOSE it to happen or something. What a horrid way of wording it!

Jen, glad to see you have been doing some retail therapy. I really really need to go out and buy some more work clothes but you know what TTC is like, most days are taken up with u/s/bw etc. I think I might try to do some this week.

Oh and Grits, I did poas this morning, the FR was staring at me from its box and I just couldn't resist. Anyway, the line was slightly DARKER this morning! So I'm guessing its not the trigger shot now...but you know me...until theres a positive beta result I just can't really believe it. I guess we'll wait and see.

[jencat215]

Shame on you Alana for holding out on us for so long!!! Yay! Glad the line is darker. I knew it would be. This is so exciting!

[goob07]

Hey Ladies!

Alana - I'm so excited to hear your line is darker! You must be wearing a sly smile every where you go now...so happy for you!!!

Jen - I continue to be impressed with your walking. I haven't been as good since I'm not training for a 3 day or anything. And, with this heat (100+), I'm more inclined to float in the pool. So lazy but so much more comfortable! I'll never take this IF weight off by floating in the darn pool! But, I'm hoping that my next IVF will be fruitful and I'll be plump for a good reason. (I'm an excellent procrastinator, huh?) Also, I slipped into "lurker" mode over the past few days and failed to pass along my congrats to your DH for taking over in your walk for you. My DH would never think to do that and I think it's awesome that you've got that kind of support! Can't wait to hear how your work with Gertrude/Monet/Julius turns out.

Rachael!!! I can't believe you're now past 20 weeks! That's so great. Sounds like you and Aiden are doing well and I want to see pictures of the nursery when the painting is done!!

I'm doing fine over here. Just choking down the BCPs for another 3 days. I had really been doing so well on them compared to last time. No foul moods and no anxiety -- until Friday. For some reason, I was in the most horrible, hateful mood all day! I don't know where it came from and I couldn't shake it. I'm a little better now and am literally counting the days left on BCP. Tuesday night is the last one! Thursday will be my end of cycle/baseline sonogram. This is the point in my last IVF where they didn't see ANY follicles at all and they had expected to find at least 5-10 antral follicles. They thought I might need to cancel my cycle but I said that my meds had already arrived and that I was going to go for it. (Ended up with 7 mature eggs at ER.) We'll see if this one starts any different!

Have a great Sunday everyone!