Weekly Check-In (March 9th)

[RM80]

Morning All!
New format again!

When you start your thread, please add a header at the top for a quick reference on where you are at in your journey. Examples might include:
*TTC- IUI* *TTC-IUI, TWW* *TTC- benched* *Pregnancy- surrogate* *Pregnancy- 23weeks* *Parenting 6m and 3yo* *Pregnancy and Fostering* *Parenting & TTC* - you get the idea!

Tell us where you are, milestones, big deals, small wins, gripes, whatever you want to share.

**Please don’t share baby & bump photos in this thread, they can be trigger-y for some. Although pictures are highly encouraged, please start a new thread! Also, if you have a BFP to share- start a new thread so we can all celebrate with you!!**

Roll calls:

TTC
RM80
kh826
ionaerebor
mahler5
cetcar
wittyandwaiting
esquette
kona
Stringy
shemarie82
bmorecharming
PiradicalMaid
03mrstn
luckypanda,

Pregnancy
healz413
manada
karlamo
jgy
kevinandjesse
calsurb
twotxmommies
leftitblank
officerofthelaw
megd893

Parenting
kh826
karlamo
jgy
@sherminator
mahler5
wittyandwaiting
kona
Stringy
mrsnorris
2mrsks (mrs&mrsk) (mrs&mrsk)
jennicole
amberreva- Congratulations!!


If I missed you or you are mis-categorized- apologies, just let me know and I’ll add you to the list or move you around for next week!

QOTW: Favorite parenting, baby, ttc, or pregnancy related books that you've read & recommend??

[2mrsks (mrs&mrsk)]

Parenting -1w1d old

We took newborn pix yesterday! Sil did them and it was a bit rushed bc I have to use my groupon to make announcements by Thursday lol. Another "perk" of him being late.
Otherwise everything is going well- bf-ing, sleeping is ok, eating, dr appts, blah blah.

Qotw- we haven't read any of the 30-40 books we got for him to him yet but as far as pregnancy books I liked having what to expect but didn't follow everything in it. My Hypnobabies manuals/books were super helpful in the last few weeks - reviewing what may happen and how to handle.

[officerofthelaw]

*Pregnancy*

YAY! I have my first sonogram on 3-24-2015, I am super excited about this. My two beta's were 195 and 466, so it's looking good. We are super excited but definitely cautious. Hoping this sticks.

Qotw-I don't have a favorite pregnancy book quite yet. I am reading What To Expect When You're Expecting.

[healz413]

*Pregnancy-- 13w6d*

Things are going pretty well for manada and me. We're almost 14 weeks. My symptoms have subsided quite a bit. Mainly, I get full easily and hungry easily. I'm going to have to really learn to do the many small meals thing.

I'm really grateful for the doppler we have. Since we have 4 weeks between appointments, it's nice to be able to check in and make sure Rocky 3 is still alive in there.

I can now feel the top of my uterus above my pelvis, which is fun and explains the discomfort I felt periodically last week.

It's above freezing today and it's sunny! I'm so ecstatic about that. Maybe M and I can take the dog on a walk after work today. As much as my sleepy self wishes I hadn't had to get up an hour "early" today (still adapting to daylight savings time), I am excited about having it be light when I get home from work.

QOTW: I'm not sure. I tend to read a lot of online stuff instead of actual books. We have several pregnancy books that I should probably flip through again. Also, I probably should find a good parenting book. Apparently during pregnancy is the time to read the parenting books because you don't have time to do so once you're parenting.

[Stringy]

Parenting a toddler and TTC #2


As for TTC - went in this morning and have 17 and 18 mm follies on one side. So IUI tomorrow or weds depending on the blood work results. Is it pretty normal to have two that large - without fertility meds? I'm hesitant on triggering if that at all entices both to release!

Can I just say that, of course - this fell close to a weekend for me - so on Thursday they said to use OPK's over the weekend just in case. So OF COURSE I get a positive on Friday afternoon. So I went in Sat morning and low and behold, nothing exciting going on. If I'd been with the midwives soon we would have inseminated way early. So this is good. I finally feel positive about it. I never want to use OPKs again.

Parenting side of things. My sweet loving little 1 year old suddenly is showing her 2 year old self. The no-no-no-no no complete with foot stomp and this arm swing move that sometimes I actually laugh at is totally new. Luckily so far when she does this (usually in response to, diaper time, or any suggestion of ANYTHING) if I just pick her up and do it anyway and she drops it. I'm sure the next step is full blown meltdown. She even says no no no in her sleep. Sigh.

[megd893]

**Pregnancy, 24.5 weeks**

Had my glucose test this morning, so I'm hoping results come back good from that and I wont have to go for the 2, or 3 hour test.
I'm trying to stay calm and relaxed for me and the boy, but over the weekened realized that deep down I'm pretty scared. I think I've decided not to go on my work trip next week, even though I essentially run the entire week. All in all though, feeling good.

QOTW: Oh the places you'll go baby! It's the classic D. Seuss book adapted to be read while baby is still in utero. K has been reading this to my bump nightly, and its one of my favourite times... the three of us in bed before sleep. It's not informative, but its when I feel most like a family.

[shemarie82]

**TTC-eventually & Foster to adopt**

Nothing much new to report. We decided last week that we are going to put off meeting with the RE until around September. We both want to spend the rest of our first year of marriage without me stressing out with TTC. Because...well...I can be neurotic

We went through our foster care re-orientation to meet new state regulations. It was the first time that we were in a group setting with other parents. I think that it was good because we heard some real life stories of others. On the down side, 6 of the 9 of the other people were related, and pretty much kept to themselves.

[RM80]

*TTC- IUI*

Nothing new here, I'm 10dpiui today. Yes I POAS this AM, yes it was a BFN. I know it's still a few days, it's early, and there's time. BUT I'm pretty sure this cycle is a bfn. I have ZERO symptoms, even with the progesterone, nada. Last time I got my bfp I was tired, boobs hurt, thirsty... so I'm pretty sure its a bust, but I'll know for sure Friday I guess.

QOTW: I mostly do internet reading but looking for suggestions I guess to pass the waiting.

[RM80]

Mar 9, 2015 10:01:33 GMT -5 Stringy said:

Parenting a toddler and TTC #2


As for TTC - went in this morning and have 17 and 18 mm follies on one side. So IUI tomorrow or weds depending on the blood work results. Is it pretty normal to have two that large - without fertility meds? I'm hesitant on triggering if that at all entices both to release!

Can I just say that, of course - this fell close to a weekend for me - so on Thursday they said to use OPK's over the weekend just in case. So OF COURSE I get a positive on Friday afternoon. So I went in Sat morning and low and behold, nothing exciting going on. If I'd been with the midwives soon we would have inseminated way early. So this is good. I finally feel positive about it. I never want to use OPKs again.

Parenting side of things. My sweet loving little 1 year old suddenly is showing her 2 year old self. The no-no-no-no no complete with foot stomp and this arm swing move that sometimes I actually laugh at is totally new. Luckily so far when she does this (usually in response to, diaper time, or any suggestion of ANYTHING) if I just pick her up and do it anyway and she drops it. I'm sure the next step is full blown meltdown. She even says no no no in her sleep. Sigh.

So glad you feel good about the timing this month!! I had 1 follie at 23mm and 1 at 18mm at trigger.  My Dr said that not every follicle will contain an egg, but it COULD, so its a risk I guess.  Good luck!!

[healz413]

Mar 9, 2015 10:01:33 GMT -5 Stringy said:

Parenting a toddler and TTC #2


As for TTC - went in this morning and have 17 and 18 mm follies on one side. So IUI tomorrow or weds depending on the blood work results. Is it pretty normal to have two that large - without fertility meds? I'm hesitant on triggering if that at all entices both to release!

In my experience/knowledge, most people who aren't using fertility medications only have one dominant follicle (so, like an 18mm and then a 13mm), whereas it sounds like you have two. Some people have one dominant follicle on each ovary and these people are typically those with a higher chance of fraternal twins because they are double ovulating every month (or most months).

I do not know whether your body is likely to release both follicles on that one side if you do not use the trigger shot (because I've generally only heard about what happens when there are two dominant follicles but each is on a different ovary).  I do know that if you use the trigger shot, it is very likely that both follicles would be released (the point of the trigger shot is to have you body mature and release any follicles close enough to that point); therefore, your chance of fraternal twins would be increased.

If you're concerned, I think it is definitely worth directly asking your doctor whether having two near-mature follicles on one side means that they're both likely to be ovluated.

[shemarie82]

RM80, wishing you patience in the next couple days! Hoping for that BFP!

[healz413]

Mar 9, 2015 10:03:14 GMT -5 megd893 said:

**Pregnancy, 24.5 weeks**

Had my glucose test this morning, so I'm hoping results come back good from that and I wont have to go for the 2, or 3 hour test.
I'm trying to stay calm and relaxed for me and the boy, but over the weekened realized that deep down I'm pretty scared. I think I've decided not to go on my work trip next week, even though I essentially run the entire week. All in all though, feeling good.

manada and I were talking about you this weekend (we were driving to your area to see her mom so I was thinking about you and updated M on what's going on with you). 

She was saying that if you're worried it might be worth asking for a referral to Dr. Kingdom at Mt. Sinai hospital in Toronto. He runs the placenta clinic there and could advise you well on a variety of things including whether a placenta scan would be helpful in your case.

I'm sorry that you're scared (although I understand it). I'm glad that you are proactive with taking care of yourself and cancelled your work trip.

[jgy]

**Parenting - an ALMOST 2 year old & Pregnancy - 16W3D**

2 weeks into 4 consecutive weeks/weekends of my wife traveling for work, and we're hanging in there! The solo parenting week-days actually went really well last week (W, Th, F). And then her team lost Friday night so she actually got home Saturday at nap time and we had a really nice weekend together. Yay for silver linings! Yesterday, we finally got the boy in for a haircut so he looks MUCH more like my little guy, and much less like a Muppet.

Right now we do daily battle with the things G WANTS to do, none of which are really appropriate things for him to be doing. Mostly it involves playing with water. He likes to climb up on his tower in the kitchen, or (worse) the toilet and trash can in the bathroom, turn on the faucet and play. I know it seems harmless, but it wastes a lot of water and it just really stresses me out. So any time we miss the opportunity to eliminate access, and have to pull him away from it, we deal with a major meltdown. Sigh. Also, on a more humorous note, G is now obsessed with examining the contents of his diaper. "See poopoo?" Just one more thing to add to the list of complicating factors when it comes to diaper changes. I'm sure you can see how this goes:
- We wrestle kid down and manage to change his diaper
- "SEE poopoo??"
- Okay buddy, here, look. See it?
- "Bye bye poopoo?"
- Sigh, okay let's go say bye bye to your poopoo.
- Everyone walks to bathroom where we dump the contents into the toilet and throw out the diaper or put cloth in the bin.
- "Flush, flush, flush"
- Okay, you can flush then turn out the light and we're done.
- G dutifully flushes, then instead of turning out the light he does a 180, grabs the faucet handle, and starts playing the water.
- Mommy pulls out her hairs one by one.

On the pregnancy front, I finally had my first prenatal visit last week and it was awesome. I still really love my new midwife group, and all seems well with the baby and with me. This group goes 6 weeks between appointments though, so that will take some getting used to. Really glad I have my borrowed doppler to help ease anxiety during the wait between visits.

I finally pulled up a pic from last pregnancy where I appeared to be about the same size I am now. Then I painfully calculated where I was at in that pregnancy. Ugh. 22 weeks. I'm 16 now. This ought to be interesting.

QOTW: My favorite book is one that I am "Reading" right now. That is in quotations, because I've been working on it since last summer. Read? When??!! Anyway, it's called "Kids Are Worth It" by Barbara Coloroso. And even though I haven't gotten very far into it yet, it's already had a profound effect on the way that I approach situations involving not just my own child, but other children as well. It really requires that you accept a stance that every child is "Worth it" no matter their situation or family makeup (or current actions).

"As adults we need to be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to ensure that all children in our community will be able to have what they need: proper medical treatment; food, clothing, and shelter; opportunities to explore, grow and be nurtured in a safe environment. This is too much for one individual to do, but it is definitely possible if as a society we believe that our kids are with it, worth the time, energy, resources, and commitment necessary."

Easy to say, hard to live.

An example of how this has shifted my thinking? Playground setting - one child is being aggressive, unwilling to share, reckless. Rather than seeing this child as a "Bad kid" (which I regretfully admit I likely would have done previously), I strive to view this child as one who needs attention and is just as worthy of receiving it as the other child playing quietly in the sandbox. This boisterous child needs and deserves positive interactions with adults, and that has helped to frame how I have approached and responded to kids like this on a daily basis.

Whew, that was long! Have a great week, everyone.

[cetcar]

**TTC-IUI**

CAR authorized me to do our update this week since she's getting a haircut this morning while she's home visiting her parents in MA.

We're getting closer to the end of our first TWW, and both traveled this week (her home, and me to a conference that got cancelled in DC after I arrived, giving me my first 'snow day' in 6+ years. It's been hard being apart for this week, but probably kept our minds a little busy, though there's still been a lot of obsessing.

We're 12 DP IUI today, and she's been on progesterone since the day after the second IUI. It's hard not to try and pick apart symptoms, trying to guess what's the meds and what (if anything) is real. Besides the symptoms that started right away, and were also from the Clomid, at about 7DP the second IUI, she had some cramping, and then started noticing that water tasted strange, backache, etc.

Anyone have experience with these meds vs real symptoms? Two weeks is a long, long time....

CAR gets home Wednesday, and we have our test on Thursday, so at least it's coming to an end, one way or another.

QOTW: I'm not sure about books, we got a couple early on about the process, but lately I've been relying too much on 'Dr. Google' for my info. Probably not something to recommend!

[jgy]

cetcar, one of my earliest pregnancy symptoms (both times) was a metallic taste in my mouth, particularly when drinking water. Good sign for you two? I hope so!

Kudos to you two for holding off from POAS, since I know that's what you wanted. I have no where near that much self-control!

[cetcar]

Mar 9, 2015 10:39:56 GMT -5 jgy said:

cetcar, one of my earliest pregnancy symptoms (both times) was a metallic taste in my mouth, particularly when drinking water. Good sign for you two? I hope so!

Kudos to you two for holding off from POAS, since I know that's what you wanted. I have no where near that much self-control!

Thanks!  She really noticed it starting last Wednesday I guess, and for a few days, but not as much this morning.  Did it come and go for you? 

And yeah, being apart for this week has definitely made it easier to not test early.  We want to both be there when we find out.

[officerofthelaw]

TwoMomsInTX I am keeping my fingers crossed for you
cetcar I really hope you two get good results on Thursday!
@stringalicious Good luck with your IUI

[jgy]

Mar 9, 2015 10:01:33 GMT -5 Stringy said:

...

Can I just say that, of course - this fell close to a weekend for me - so on Thursday they said to use OPK's over the weekend just in case. So OF COURSE I get a positive on Friday afternoon. So I went in Sat morning and low and behold, nothing exciting going on. If I'd been with the midwives soon we would have inseminated way early. So this is good. I finally feel positive about it. I never want to use OPKs again.

...

This is a MAJOR development!  If for no other reason, I am ecstatic that you made the switch to an RE despite the frustration that has come along with it.  I really, truly hope that this makes the difference in timing for you guys and you get a BFP SOON!!!!!

[megd893]

Mar 9, 2015 10:12:21 GMT -5 healz413 said:

Mar 9, 2015 10:03:14 GMT -5 megd893 said:

**Pregnancy, 24.5 weeks**

Had my glucose test this morning, so I'm hoping results come back good from that and I wont have to go for the 2, or 3 hour test.
I'm trying to stay calm and relaxed for me and the boy, but over the weekened realized that deep down I'm pretty scared. I think I've decided not to go on my work trip next week, even though I essentially run the entire week. All in all though, feeling good.

manada and I were talking about you this weekend (we were driving to your area to see her mom so I was thinking about you and updated M on what's going on with you). 

She was saying that if you're worried it might be worth asking for a referral to Dr. Kingdom at Mt. Sinai hospital in Toronto. He runs the placenta clinic there and could advise you well on a variety of things including whether a placenta scan would be helpful in your case.

I'm sorry that you're scared (although I understand it). I'm glad that you are proactive with taking care of yourself and cancelled your work trip.

Hope you enjoyed your weekend in ktown
Thanks for the wonderful advice, AND the doctor recommendation.  I think I may need to ask for another US before 32 weeks.  It costs me nothing, so I just need to push my doc and he'd likely set it up.  I'm going to look up placenta scan... he didn't mention it and I wonder what insight I'd gain.  
Thank you, again *hugs*

[PiradicalMaid]

FX RM80 & cetcar!!
Best of luck with the IUI Stringy

***TTC-surrogate, TWW***

8 DPO today. Our timing this cycle was not great, but I'm still hopeful. The dads aren't sure if they want to continue at-home ICI going forward. We know a midwife who works with a local clinic and does at-home IUI, so that may be our next step, although I'm not sure what the timeline would be.

I think we're holding off making any definite plans until we see if our first attempt worked, so FX for now

edited because 8 DPO without a space made a smiley, ha ha

[karlamo]

RM80, I hope it's too early for you. FWIW, I hear every pregnancy is different.

Stringy, Tough call. We are gamblers and once we triggered with 3 large follies. Now that I already have a kid, I would never do that again! I did see a woman on here who did an IUI with 1 follie and got triplets so you never can tell.

Parenting R, 1 year old and Pregnant 15 weeks

I know this sounds so cliche and every parent says this but I look at R and can't believe how fast he has grown. He had 2 major milestones this weekend. The first is he said his first sentence. He walked up to our cat Billy and said, "Hi kitty". My wife and I were floored. He has been saying both words for months now but this is the first time he strung 2 words together. He also got his first pair of shoes yesterday. We went with Striderite but my poor baby has Fred Flintstone feet and needed extra extra wide.
We got his 1 year pictures and cake smash photo's back. They came back awesome and we are really happy with them.

On the baby front, I found Moka's hb last week. I know I said we wouldn't try again for awhile but R was down for a nap and I thought why not. I found it in the same spot as my MW. It was softer than I remember R's being and I after hearing it and seeing the BPM, I bet we had found it earlier but just didn't recognize it. I think my last memory of hearing a prenatal hb was R's at 40 weeks which sounds much louder and stronger than 15 weeks. In any case I heard it and it was great!

QOTW: My favorite parenting book that I read for R was "How do Eskimos Keep their Babies Warm". It takes a parenting topic like bedtimes or potty training and shows how it's tackled in other cultures. I also liked "The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy" the author went through IF and treatment herself so I felt like she "got it".

[ionaerebor]

Stringy, I hope all goes well with your IUI this week
RM80, Good luck for Friday

**TTC-IUI
I'm half way through the TWW tomorrow, and I'm probably going to POAS. Obviously its far too early, but I want to see if the trigger is gone yet.

QOTW: I haven't really read any yet, though A picked up some yesterday.

[luckypanda]

**TTC -- IUI**

I am half way through the TWW... I POAS today, obviously it was negative lol I posted about our pretty terrible experience with the RE last week, but I am still really hopeful this will be our month. (Gotta be hopeful, right?)

QOTW: Favorite parenting, baby, ttc, or pregnancy related books that you've read & recommend??
Reading through Taking Charge of Your Fertility! It is a really good read and is not dry like I expected!

[mahler5]

TTC and Parenting one year old

Parenting

C is doing great. Nothing new really. She seemed to be saying more words but then the last week she has started calling most things just "Ba". Like before she would call the doggies "dada" and now she calls them baba. So weird. She still says hi and bye. And mama. Also when we start telling her not to do something, even if we don't say no, she starts saying "nehnehneh," in this negative tone. I think she really picks up on our tone of voice.

I'm at my mom's right now. She is having so much fun but I am constantly on my toes because it isn't baby proofed at all! It's exhausting having to constantly follow her around. My mom helps but it's still way more exhausting than having her in a smaller, baby proofed area. She's napping now

TTC #2---reciprocal IVF
We are waiting for L's period to start. I'm still on birth control pills. I have to have a swollen lynph node looked at Friday by an ENt. I had an ENT look at it a year ago, and previously 2 years ago, and he wasn't concerned. He just said if it gets bigger to come in again. Well, it seems to be a little bigger so I'm going to a new ENT in our new area Friday. It's probably nothing , but I'm still a little anxious. And I kind of want to know ASAP if it's something that is going to require more invasive monitoring or possible treatment, as I wouldn't want to be pregnant and have that cause issues. Hopefully the dr. Can do testing quickly if it is warranted because right now we are scheduled for ET April 15 approximately and we have to pay $8000 by March 21st for the ER expenses. Ugh!!! We got another estimate of expenses from the RE last week and L started going budget crazy this weekend. She even said maybe we should do IUIs with my eggs instead. But i know she really wants to try and have a genetic child. It just puts off us buying a house for a little while longer. I also wonder if I should go back to work. I was thinking about starting this doctorate program this Summer or Fall if I get in. But part of me thinks I need to try and make money now. I may be able to do some consulting work but I've put off trying to make that happen. It would be flexible with SAH so I really should try but I think in afraid of failure. I should just try and see what happens.

Whew! That got long and off topic. Anyway, hope everyone has a good week and hoping for lots of BFPs on this board soon!!!

QOTW -- I found the What to Expect book helpful at first but now I find it and it's website really annoying. For internet info I like babycenter.com much better now. I did find the Happy Baby guide to sleep book helpful at times by Dr. Harvey ______. Can't remember last name now. I'm reading his toddler book now, which is ok.

[twotxmommies]

stringalicious - best wishes on your IUI this week
RM80 - fingers crossed!


**19W 6D**

Took a little halfway vacay last week. Had a blast and so enjoyed the warmer weather! Texas has been nasty with all this snow/ice... it was great to get away.
Nothing new to report. We have a 21w apt on the 17th and I am nervous about weight gain. trying to stay off the scales at home:(
The crib was delivered yesterday and it is even prettier in person. I am so happy with what we went with! It is already up and ready for my MO to make the bedding! Can not wait to see it all come together over the next few months!!

[karlamo]

mahler5, I can't believe how close you are to starting IVF. I'm so excited for you both.

[kevinandjesse]

2mrsks (mrs&mrsk), What fun!!! Newborn photos are so adorable! Enjoy your precious moments!
officerofthelaw, Good Luck at the first sonogram!!! Keep us updated!
healz413, Sounds like the beginning of the 2nd tri is beginning to treat you well! We're from PA here so I sure do hear you about finally seeing the sun and warm(er) temps! Bring on the spring!!


*Pregnancy- surrogate -21w+1d*

Our little baby boy is starting to kick... and not just kick, like "kick kick" our poor surrogate was texting us "Tell your son to calm down and go to sleep! He's playing soccor with my bladder!" haha. Other than that, not much to report. Went shopping yesterday with DH and picked up a few little things. Trying not to go wild and wait until after the shower... but a few things won't hurt, right?

QOTW: Favorite parenting, baby, ttc, or pregnancy related books that you've read & recommend??

- Not much of a book reader here... but we have a family tradition of "Oh the places you'll go" - in fact... I think I'll probably flip through my old copy and have myself a good "I'm going to be a daddy soon!" ugly cry tonight :')

[wittyandwaiting]

**TTC: taking a break for the month of March & Parenting: a wonderful 13 year old son**

No big things happening here which is actually quite nice.

DS and I have talked about puberty almost every day this past week. I feel like I need a book about boys and puberty....

QOTD: How Do You Tuck In a Superhero?: And Other Delightful Mysteries of Raising Boys

Love this book!!!!

[wittyandwaiting]

Mar 9, 2015 15:04:17 GMT -5 kevinandjesse said:

- Not much of a book reader here... but we have a family tradition of "Oh the places you'll go" - in fact... I think I'll probably flip through my old copy and have myself a good "I'm going to be a daddy soon!" ugly cry tonight :')

That's an awesome cry. I had a "I can't believe I have raised such an amazing young man" cry the other day.

[esquette]

*** Getting Ready to TTC ***

I'm really happy this week. Things that are good: I'm getting my butt back into gear and working out, the sun is out longer, two weeks until Spring Break, I bought a snowboard for 70$ (including bindings!) and I'm planning to board on Saturday. I'm trying to live my life really hard, and enjoy my body and just have so much fun. Hopefully, that's a healthy pre-TTC attitude.

TTC stuff: I finally ordered a BBT on Amazon. I'm glad I waited, because now I know I have to chart for a few months before we can really start trying. I'm hoping we'll look at starting to TTC in May or June. We had our first big baby talk. It was very general: what do we see our family looking like, what are we scared of, what ground-rules should we have for talking about this. It was a lot of meta-talking actually: talking about talking. It was really good and I am really peaceful and excited for the next steps. I can't wait to talk donors with Sweetie, because so many other decisions can happen after we get that decided.

Yay!