[lilac]

DeeDee, the 14-iui lady is an inspiration, really! I always think of that when I'm getting discouraged... that is great that you are investigating fostering. I'm sure you will find something that is right for you, whether it is this or something else.

Mindi, I'm so glad you aren't out this cycle! Good luck!

Ona! Holy moley, woman! Good luck. I have everything crossed for you! I am on the edge of my seat waiting to find out how it went!

Splitting headache and assistant issues all day for me today. I can't wait for the weekend to come! Only a few more hours...

[silverbrumby]

well, I am officially sprogged. Feeling a bit crampy and a bit of bloody cm but doing alright. I know they didn't get the measurement wrong cuz I watched my doc do it. My doc said the swimmers live 72 hours and given my follie grew so quickly, she wanted to err on side of getting them there early rather than late. I have to start progesterone on Monday. wee. If this cycle ends in a bfn then I'll be doing another unmedicated cycle.

[lilac]

Yay Ona! Sounds normal to me... and it is supposed to be better to get them in there early. 72 hours, really, I thought it was closer to 24 for the frozen guys, good to know!

Good luck on the 2ww!

[silverbrumby]

Hello Lasses,

Well, I am home and able to write a proper post using my computer!

Feeling a bit crampy and nauseous but other than that I'm good. A teensy bit of spotting going on as well.

Because I am silly, and still a bit stunned by today's events, I decided to do another OPK when I got home so I could take a picture of the smiley face...I was too stunned earlier to remember to do it. Oh, and I am a duh-head...the doc gave me the empty vial in case I wanted to keep it and I left it on the counter at the docs office. DOH! That would have been nice for the scrap book if this ends up working. So, yeah, basically I'm feeling a little bit brain fried.

I got hardly any work done today so I'm going to have to spend part of my three day weekend playing catchup.. I started work early so I could take a break to go get the cryotank, and then I got home and worked for about an hour until it was POAS time, and then after that, things just are a haze... I tried to work while I was waiting for the doc to call but couldn't concentrate...then she rang about 30 minutes later and said "can you come down now" so I literally hopped in the car...well...first I took the dogs out so they could get a potty break in and then I grabbed the cryotank...and THEN hopped in the car... and then the whirlwind... wee...

So, I definitely surged. I could feel the O pains on the left and now I feel those plus this wierd hot/crampy sensation... I just have never heard of someone doing an IUI right AT the LH surge, but I trust her and she says she thinks we got the timing SPOT ON and was really glad I was being so diligent about OPKs because otherwise I would not have gone in until SUnday for my u/s and we would probably have missed the O all together.

I also trust her about the 72 hour thing because I really pestered her about it and she said that 24 is what the cryobank will tell you because they don't want to get sued and err on the low side... some sperm will die off in 24 hours and there are definitely some that just don't survive the freeze/thaw process at all, but a health number will live three days, and if they get to the tubes before the egg does, even better.

So, now...the REAL wait begins... I'm officially on my TWW... time to update the signature list too.... I still am in shock. I mean, I was at 14.5 YESTERDAY!!! YEESH! Doc said that if this one doesn't work, then at least now we know that I am a freak and have small follies that go on massive growth spurt at the end, so if I have to do this again I'll likely end up having daily u/s once I near O time.

So I start progesterone on Monday and doc says that if period isn't here by Sept 16 to come in for a test. I'm pretty sure I'll be POAS long before Sept 16. LOL!

Deej! That is so coool that you're looking into fostering. I can def offer advice, although each state and each county is different. I start my foster/adoption training next Saturday and I have reems of paperwork to fill out. For the record, social workers don't care whether you are single or married and most foster kids come with financial assistance to cover their room, board, clothes, etc as well as any special classes they need and such. I couldn't be a foster mother because it would kill me inside when time came to give the kids back to their parents but I am definitely going to adopt.

If you are interested truly in this I have a great book I can lend you called "20 things adopted children wished their adoptive parents knew"...it's equally valid for kids in foster care.

Ok, there's lots more I need to respond to but I'm feeling a bit crampy and need to go lie down because I still have to vacuum before my friend comes over.

[Deej]

Ona - I am so excited for you! I can imagine the shock feeling you are having.. and now finally i get to use the "sprogged" word for you! So you, Mindi, and Jen will be sort of in the same 2ww window? I have to go back and read the older posts. WooHoo!! All sprogged up..
Jen - your positive attitude reminds me of miranda (lady w/ 14 tries) i gave up long ago figuring out why some cycles work and others dont... may number 9 be THE one!
Mindi - did you get the b/w results yet?
Styltryn - that is great you were able to help out w/ your siblings. i have a special needs sister that i care for often. she is 16 but mentally about 6/7.
We shall see what is up w/ the fostering. I have not written off having my own bio child, fostering would allow for both! I have two cousins who are adopted, one who started as a foster child. I understand the uncertainty and sadness of having to say goodbye, but in the long run, i hope that the experience for the child will be something that carries over into their future. I am not unrealistic with the obstacles of fostering, and only time will tell what comes my way...
ONA I cannot believe you are SPROGGED! This is too exciting. You have kept all of us encouraged and held my hand via internet during my trials and tribulations.... So here I am, cheering you on, from miles and miles away!

[lilac]

Ona, I can hardly believe you are actually sprogged!! I'm so excited for you.

Deej, I am just trying to trust that it will happen. I'd prefer it to happen on #9, of course... Several of mine have been picture perfect, so as to why it didn't happen... well, I can't exactly dwell on that, can I? I try to look ahead.

I love the idea of doing both - bio child and fostering, bio child and adoption, whatever. I always wanted two... I just don't know about managing two, financial-wise.

[silverbrumby]

Deej, Jen, today has been rather surreal. It still feels strange knowing that there are little swimmers in there...my best mate in Australia has nicknamed them "Michael Phelps" so now our new word for spermies is Phelpses. LOL! Swim Phelpses SWIM!!!!!!!!!

I'm feeling very positive about this cycle and visualising a happy result. I did some reading and a lot of docs out there recommend getting IUI the day of LH surge when you are doing a natural cycle (no trigger, no meds) or timing it within 6-12 hours after...it's just hard to get that timing spot on because of the limitations of OPKs...

I tested yesterday at 1pm and it was negative. When I tested at 2pm today it was positive but only just, so I did a digital one just to be sure and got a smiley, but it was still not a very dark dark line, if that makes sense...well when I did the test tonight so I could get a photo the line was SUPER dark, so I think I'm going to O very soon. I feel the twinges on the left side too... of course, it's hard to feel them now over the cramping.

So yeah...cramping and slightly bloated and have this odd warm sensation in my belly like pins and needles... the spotting has stopped though, so that is good.

As to fostering or adopting, I think that financially it's very doable. At least it is so in Virginia. They give foster kids a stipend to cover living expenses and such and have options for less expensive childcare. Some of the kids available for adoption also have a stipend, so that is a huge financial help. I definitely plan to adopt too because I think it's important to have a brother or sister and I really want to help give a kid a family since I know what it is like to come from a situation of abuse and neglect.

Teri, as to your question about hospitals... the term for catching a "bug" when hospitalised is nosocomial infections, and not only are they on the rise, they are becoming resistant to most antibiotics. It has nothing to do with the competency or kindness of docs and nurses, it's just a fact of today's society and the overuse of antibiotics.

As to my birth plan...I live too far out to have a home birth with my midwife so I plan to have a birthcenter birth. The birth center is just like a bed and breakfast but with lots of cool stuff like a soaking tub for labouring... I trust my midwife and know that if I become high risk or if there is any sign of distress in baby they'll bring me to hospital, which is literally down the road from the birth center. I don't want to have baby in hospital because they are geared towards clinical invasiveness and try to push things like drugs, epidural, etc. I don't want an IV. I don't want someone asking me if I want something for pain cuz then I'll cave. most importantly, I want to have my baby in a place that I can feel free to walk around, listen to my music, eat, have friends over, or do whatever I like to feel most comfy.

Anyway, time for bed. I'm seriously in need of being horizontal.

Cheers,

Ona

[styltryn]

Ona, we are all cheering you on!!! That's really interesting news that the CB will give a shorter than actual timeframe, and it explains why my RE was always for going earlier with the IUI than I thought it maybe should be. Also explains why bb IUI isn't that much more successful than single. Can't remember if you are doing single or bb, but I'm guessing you've gone to bed by now - hope so!

had to edit my post as I was looking at some bookmarks I made awhile back and this happened to be the first one that came up... enjoy! Experiences of Older Mums

[silverbrumby]

ARGH! I am tired and want to sleep but I'm crampy and totally keyed up!

Thanks styltryn! I really really hope the timing was right. Medical texts say frozen sperm can live 24-72 hours inside the woman but optimal chances are in the first 12-24 hours... the overwhelming concensus also seems to be that timing an IUI either 6 hours before or after ovulation gives the best chances...

Gosh, I sure hope I am ovulating NOW NOW NOW... maybe if I do jumping jacks or something.LOL!

I'm just doing a single IUI... I did find some clinical studies on bb IUIs and they say that the improvement in your chances is "not clinically significant"... there's like a 1-2% improvement in your chances and that could just be the margin of error.

Ok, gonna go try sleep again... yeesh!

[kblythe]

Wow ... so much has happened. I feel like I'm in such a time bubble, then I log on and a day has passed and so much has transpired.

Teri, glad your dad made it through surgery. I don't know why, but it has always been particularly scary for me when a parent is ailing. My mom's terminal illness about did me in. But even when my dad had rather simple back surgery, I was a bit of a wreck.

Ona, Yay! You're sprogged! I hope those Phelpses are in for another medal. I know these next two weeks are going to be tough, but I also know you can handle it.

Deej, I think it's great that you are looking into fostering. You clearly have a lot of love to give, and I know that foster children are in dire need of love. And, as you've said, it doesn't preclude you from pursuing your own bio child down the road.

Jen, keep the faith. It will happen eventually. And I've always liked the number 9.

As for me, I'm still trying to work out the breastfeeding thing. I'm off to post a general query ... ooh, had to take a break since Davis started squawking.

Kathryn

[charltac]

I noticed the thread for singles, but also noticed little to no action on it lately. I have been trying for 3 years and did 8 different IUI cycles and am currently going through IVF for the first time. It's scarier than i thought it would be.

Anyone else gone this far?

[kblythe]

Oh, there is a lot of action on this thread! Multiple posts per day. So feel free to ask us any questions you may have.

Also, to our little group!

I understand what you mean about the process being scary. I tried several IVF cycles before finally getting pregnant with donor embryos. I don't think anyone else on this thread has gone through IVF, but there are lots of girls trying through IUI.

Best of luck, and again, feel free to ask any questions!

Kathryn.

[lilac]

Charltac! You should notice a lot of action on here... we're very talkative!

I've done 8 IUIs (#9 probably next week) but there are a couple of ladies on here who've done ivf. We've got a nice variety here so feel free to ask anything! One of us will probably have some sort of answer!

[charltac]

I think I was looking at the dates wrong, it looked like no action since early Aug.

Though i've been successfull giving my own PIO shots in the back hip area, has anyone given the shots in the leg?

I have given HCG in leg before and gotten huge welts and been sore for days doing that, is it any different with PIO? Should I just keep giving it in the hip and not worry about it?

[silverbrumby]

Charltac! I think there are a couple of ladies on here who have done IVF. I know Styltryn is going to be doing IVF her next cycle.

I'm just starting ttc so am in my tww for my very first iui... wow, that's a lot of acronyms!

You may have had your thread set to show the last post first...that is the default unless you configure it otherwise. We're a very chatty bunch and like Kathryn said, there's active posts in here daily.

I hope you'll stick around. These gals are so awesome!

Cheers!