[jencat215]

I survived the bridal shower!!! It wasn't that bad- only one cheese game to play and I won! The theme was pumpkins. The groom loves pumpkins- carving them, growing them. I don't think he likes to eat them (he doesn't like veggies). But, we all had to bring pumking recipes and the MOH put them in a nice photo album. The bride seemed a little ticked because pumpkins are the groom's thing, not hers. And she started to get a little bridezilla. But it wasn't a big shower and the food was good.

Gators beat the Volunteers!!!! YAY!

Grits??? Report please!!!

Ronni-thanks for the vibes. They made the shower go easy for me. I am going to plan on having that 'right tube pick up left follies' dream tonight and the next and the next... Tomorrow DH has to give me a trigger shot. The RE said to do it about 2-3pm, but I am going to go to the Rockies vs Marlins game, so it will probably be more like 5pm. GO MARLINS!!!

Rachael- I am so sorry you are having troubles getting the ole booty into your pants! I just can't believe that they don't make maternity clothes for real women (who shops in that store, Nicole Richie???). You look like a perfectly proportioned pregnant lady!

[JustPeachy]

Thanks for the vote of confidence Jen. Even I can cheer for someone beating Old Rockytop and that ugly orange and white checkerboard! Glad you survived unscathed today. Cute idea for the pumpkin reciepes. And, yes, this must be the maternity store for Nicole Riches! The largest size jean in the maternity store was 32. Ummm... that just can't be right. I was a 30 pre-pregnancy so they've got to give me more than 2 inches here

[hopeful2bmom]

Ronnie! Holy C R A P!!!! Congrats!!!!

I am just coming in from DH's birthday dinner. Yes, I went out with my bandage and all and had a glass of wine. I feel great(until tomorrow.)
I will check back in the a.m.

[hopeful2bmom]

Well wine must be the cure for everything 'cause I still feel great this morning. Had a great birthday dinner last night with DH and our friends from the Cape. It's funny, I am a little, white, italian-irish girl and so is my friend that I was with last night. My DH is Filipino and her husband is Japanese. They are both neurosurgeons. She grew up here in RI and so did I. AND we both dated the same guy before we met our DHs but did not know it. Small world. When I look at them I feel like I am looking in the mirror. We even look alike (which is probably why my ex dated both of us) A little scary. He knows now that we are best friends and thinks that it is totally weird. Yes this is my ex that I share a doggie with that now lives in Nevada. My life is a soap-opera.

How is everyone feeling today?
Just got wind that my MIL is coming in November so I think that would be a perfect time for our little reuinion so I can high-tail it out of here!

[JustPeachy]

Susan - Glad you're feeling much better over there. Personally, I think wine is the cure for any and all!! Except maybe IF and now I probably sound like a complete wino But, I often think that my stress level is much lower when I can come home from a crappy day and just relax over a glass of wine.

Very funny about your other couple from last night! I was good friends with one of my ex's ex-girlfriends too when I lived in Philly. We often would meet up and he thought it was totally bizarre. We looked nothing alike - she was Catholic with blond hair and blue eyes and I'm dark haired Jewish! But, he of course assumed we spent the whole time talked about him... little self-involved PhdMd personality! Also, my brother and I were dating siblings (me the brother him the sister) for four years. Well, my brother married the sister. So, now I see my ex's parents all the time (even came to my wedding) and when I babysit his picture is all over the house. Weird soap operas I agree!!

Ronni - How is your little Easter laying bunny of a body doing over there today?? Are you getting excited?

Jen - Are you practicing your belly dancing yet?

We are having our first fall weather day over here. I love it! Our high is 80 and it's nice and crisp in the morning. The heat wave of a summer might finally be coming to an end! I think my body even noticed and has stopped retaining every possible ounce of water. I'm back in my bras (without an extender) and got my engagement ring back on. Little joys over here!!

[sunny72]

Hi girls. Well, I'm feeling so crampy and premenstrual right now. I feel like AF is around the corner and I haven't yet done the FET. Strange. I'm still unconvinced that the timing will be right. It's been 21 days since my last AF and I feel if they put any embryos in there now the environment will be ready for already.

Also all of a sudden my butt looks like Mike Tyson has been using it as a bunching bag (we've met him by the way). I was thinking of not alternating cheeks this time because on one side I have sciatic problems and it seems not so painful that side. But I think that's a little unfair and I should even out the bruises and lumps.

Susan, glad you had a nice night out and feel much better today. Sometimes I miss having a wine, but I always liked the smell better than the taste anyways.

Peachy, I recommend plain old OldNavy maternity jeans. Not the most stylish things, but sooooo comfy.

Your ex's mustn't be so bad because I don't even like knowing anyone that knows some of mine.

Jen, anymore weird dreams?

[JustPeachy]

Heidi - Thanks for the jeans recommendation. I'll have to order them online and give it a try. The old navy here has such a small maternity section. I vividly remember the butt bruises! I was fine at the begginning but it got rough towards the end. You're doing all the usual tricks - heating the PIO before drawing it into the needle, massaging the spot afterwards for a few seconds, sitting on a heating pad after?

[sunny72]

Peachy, you would think I'd know better, but I've never heated the oil before and I lost my heating pad, so the only thing I'm doing is the massage. We'll do it better tonight. How did you warm the oil?

[designdiva32]

Heidi, I'd definately ask your RE about the timing issue. How long are your cycles usually? I get why they need to put them back a few days later, but why wait until day 21? I guess theres a logical reason, I'm probably just too blonde to figure it out!

Rachael, your booty is perfect hun! Like what Jen said, not everyone is a stick insect like Nicole Ritchie. How on earth has she managed to keep that pregnancy I wonder? It always seems like the people who don't look after themselves (think Britney Spears) seem to have no problem getting pregnant with sticky ones. Although I was happy to read that Halle Berry is finally pregnant. I know from an Oprah show some time back she was trying then. So I wonder if she had to have treatment too...she is 41 after all.

Susan, glad you are feeling good. I had wine last night too. I'm going to keep indulging until the D&C and then stop for all the tests I'm going to demand my (hopefully) new clinic do. But its definately fun in the meantime!

Ronni, are you getting excited yet? I know I am, I can't wait to read about your upcoming bfp. I wonder if there will be two in there???

Brenna, how are you hun? Getting a little worried over here.

Jen, more dreams please. Your last one had me in stitches...I haven't laughed so hard in awhile. I think it was the whole chest hair with the obscure name on it. Too funny!

[JustPeachy]

Heidi - It took a little creative thinking to heat the oil... here is the best scenario I came up with. You basically surrond the vial bottle with warm water. But, everytime I tried to do this just by stopping the drain on the sink and filling the sink with water, the bottle would float and tip over and I became crazy about water somehow mixing in with the PIO. So, I took a shot glass (or any other small skinny glass), put hot water in there and the PIO vial and then put that whole concoction in the sink with the hot water to keep it warm. I know.... some work. The good news is you only have to leave it in there for 2-3 minutes and you'll feel the vial is warm. Another option people told me was to put the vial in your bra for 10-15 minutes before the injection and let your body heat warm it. You could probably wrap it up in the heating pad too. Oh, and I just bought one of those cheapy microwavable heating pads and it worked just fine. I think it all really helped to make the oil more liquidy and easier to inject and dissapate.

Alana - Thanks I just took Heidi's suggestion and looked online at Old Navy. Tons of stuff and they even go up to XXL. LOL! I just need a normal large bottom. I think I'm headed there for my outing of the day. I'm still blaming DH for putting all my maternity clothes in the dryer too! So, are you drinking red or white this weekend since I'm living vicariously through everyone? I'm glad Halle Berry is pregnant too! Nicole Ritchie I could do without seeing her sad bump.

[goob07]

Hey Girls!

Susan - So glad to hear you're feeling better!

Heidi - I draw my PIO into the syringe and hold it under hot running water while I ice my butt. I just sit at the vanity in my bathroom with one hand icing my butt while the other holds the syringe under running water (making sure not to let the water touch the area with the needle). I just do that for 1 or 2 minutes. Then, aim, stick and shoot. Massage for a while (hard and fast) and if I feel like it lay on a microwaveable heating pad. I rarely did the heating pad last time.

My first PIO is tonight so we'll see how it goes.

I'm feeling crabby today. DH made me made last night and I really blew up at him and now I feel bad. I'm anxious to get an embryo update tomorrow so I can juggle my work week and get as much time off as possible.

I'm bloated, can't poop, and have been spotting a little since ER. Bright red CM and spotting but not much. The cramps haven't let up either.

Just got out of the shower so I can head down to the nursing home to visit with grandpa. I know I won't make it over to see him during the week so I'm going today even though I'm really, really not in the mood.

[goob07]

Had a good long visit with grandpa and I'm so glad he was having a good day! When I left, my parents had just showed up to take him out for dinner. So...he's having a good day and if he has a good day, I have a good day.

I stopped by the mall on the way home and picked up some of my Estee Lauder stuff and it's free gift time! What luck! I had no idea so that was a nice surprise.

Took my car to get it washed and now doing some laundry so I can really relax this week.

I'm so eager to hear how the 11 candidates are doing at the clinic! I'd pay good money for an "EmbieCam" right now.

Hope everyone else has had a good weekend!

[JustPeachy]

Heidi - HUGE THANK YOU!! I went to Old Navy today. Miracles. Everything fit and they were having a 25% off sale. I even bought some long sleeve tops so when I get put on bedrest I won't have to be cold! Thank you again. Yesterday was so discouraging... I always envisoned myself as one of those cute pregnant ladies with the outfits but those 1st trimester purchases just weren't working anymore. The bottoms are still tough but I've got 3 pair of jeans now and I can live in those If DD needs anything, all the kids clothes are 25% off too. Adorable girlie things...

Ronni - I hope everything went ok with grandpa. I know he appreciates seeing a friendly face. I'm sorry you and DH had a fight last night. This is one of the hardest parts of the struggle right now. Everything is out of your control but you'll get lots of good news tomorrow. Maybe we didn't have a spy cam but those embies are "dancing" away in there and staying very busy splitting away! Just keep up the positive attitude and just think of all the excitement you have this week. I know DHs can put us all in foul moods very quickly. But, the right words from them can put a smile on our face too! Maybe he just needs a little sticky note next to his toothbrush (or the coffee pot in my house) to remind them Oppss... we posted at the same time!

[Shellyhume]

Alright... back from the in-laws... more on that later...

Jen - How are you doing out there? Between the belly dancing and wild dreams, sounds like you're coping pretty well! And your RE looks a little goofy. You should see mine... woowee... This is Dr. Clark... *sigh* I heart him... in a strictly patient/doctor sort of way, of course... Dr. Brian Clark
And this is our IVF specialist, Dr. Summers. DH calls him Dr. Bean because he reminds him of Mr. Bean... I don't see the resemblance except for the accent... at first Dr. Summers was kind of a wanker but he was really sweet this time around. Dr. Michael Summers
Anyways, so glad to hear that you survived the bridal shower... the bridezilla was very insensitive... but then again, someone who has never experienced infertility has no idea how it makes an infertile woman feel. I struggle with this with everyone in my life (with the exception of my 'cyber' life and you girls) and have to keep reminding myself that I cannot get upset that they have no idea what it feels like. I have an old "friend" of mine, (whom I haven't really spoken to much since she had her son a little over a year ago, and haven't spoken to at all for two or three months, her doing, not mine), got online a few days ago and sought me out to tell me she was pregnant again. Normally, I wouldn't care but it felt very deliberate... like she was trying to hurt me. Anyways, then she started interrogating me about whether I had "given up" or if we were still trying to make it happen by going to the clinic... and what treatments we were going through... I just didn't respond at all and logged off. We were friends, but her asking me about it was just wrong. Bah. But anyways, I chuckled when you started talking about matza ball soup and pork chops for easter.

Heidi - eek! FET tuesday, right? It's great that you can have some quality incubating time. I'm afraid that I may not get the same... I'm doing my student teaching and I MAY be able to get a day off, but more than that is unlikely. I'm just praying my ET falls on a Friday. Ooh, and this next tidbit is for you AND Jen... a few months ago, I had a dream... one of the most vivid I'd ever had, where I went to the hospital to pick up our new baby (because that's how it works, you know. ). Well, they wheeled her out, and I looked at the name tag that they put on that baby cart thing and it read "Stella Mae Hume" on it. I think this was shortly after we all met in Boston and you told us your daughter's name. Well, I woke up, got a drink, and went back to bed, and dreamed the exact same dream again. Anyways, ever since then, I've thought about your beautiful DD, Stella.

Ronni - 11 FERTILIZED!! YAY!! I'm holding out for your high quality ET!! Wow. And the embycam, thing? You've got a million dollar idea there. I would do my nightly "cybertherapy" with you girls and then spend the rest of the night watching my embabies grow. Well, to tell the truth, I probably wouldn't do much else... over analyzing every movement, growth, lack of movement/growth... maybe it's a good thing they don't let us watch. And stocking up for your bedrest this week sounds like a great idea... don't forget your fresh pineapple!! Sorry you're not feeling well... I get crampy, cranky, and constipated after I trigger, too. I was always afraid that I would "push" too hard and push my little embryo(s) right out before they got a chance to implant. Several people have assured me that this is not possible... but still.

Alana - Never been much of a wine-person. I've tried only a few varieties... but they always taste like bad grapes. Haha... I mean, they are fermented grapes, etc... but I can't get over that taste. Maybe it's an aquired thing? Well, never been much of an alcohol-person, either. Maybe that has something to do with it. Anyways, what's your favorite wine? Rachael, this question is for you as well... seeing as though you're a real "wino" and all.

Shawna - it's time to find an RE who is more capable of treating his/her patients in a timely manner. I know they're probably few and far between up there... so move to Massachusetts. We'll take care of you down here, won't we Heidi?

Alright... so my in-laws... love my FIL... good man, cheesy humor, very loving. My MIL... wow. I really don't know how to talk to her. She has such severe "allergies" that she can't garden in her front lawn without a gas-mask because when cars drive by, the fumes give her an incapacitating head ache. No scents in any of her all-natural soaps/shampoos/detergents/dishsoaps... everything she eats is all-natural, no preservatives, strictly vegan. (And yet there isn't a specialist in the Northeast who can diagnose what is giving her these problems.) She's ALWAYS talking about how this, that, and the other thing causes cancer, birth-defects... infertility... she's always giving me advice about what i should eat, shouldn't eat, shouldn't cook with, shouldn't breathe. She's a shut-in because she can't be around smog, perfume, cigarette smoke, or any other strong odor. Then, together with my FIL, they have two dozen "house projects" started and ZERO finished, so their house is just utterly in chaos, and she doesn't do anything about it, and he works so hard to keep them afloat that he has no time to do anything about it... it is no wonder to me that she has depression. Everytime she talks, she sounds angry, even if she's not. That poor woman is living in paranoia of getting disease from chemicals that she's literally shutting the world out. Being in that house for just 38 hours made me so tired, so irritable, and so miserable, I couldn't imagine living there full-time. Cacophany. That's the only word I have to describe my weekend at the in-laws. Ugh, I just wanted to go home all weekend... I like harmony and calmness... I like low voice tones and peaceful communication... and I just needed to get out of there. DH wants to go up next weekend, too, to accompany them to the county fair. I told him I had other plans.

PS - I take my first BCP tonight... Here we go...

[hopeful2bmom]

Ciao le belle signore! Spero che lei è tutto il pozzo.
Sorry, just practicing my Italian before class tomorrow.

Heidi, I can't beleive your FET is coming up!
Ronni- Any more news?
Shelly, yay for starting bcps!!! You are on your way my dear.
Rachael- Ann Taylor Loft just launched a maternity line. It's limited but some cute stuff.
Brenna- You there?
Jenn- Is the iguana still eating kitty litter?
Alana- What kinds of reds do you like? If you ever get a chance try Terre Rouge Syrah, northern california. Yum.

I am watching the Emmy's. Loving the Bush bashing and making fun of current events... hehehe.