No new fruit!

So disappointed that I don't get a new fruit for another 2 weeks. Bummer. I look forward to those fruits! Still a papaya.

Happy 23 weeks Nuggette!

As B was reading blogs this morning, she said to me "Have you read fruitlooped yet?" "Not yet"
These ladies are doing something great for gift giving during Christmas. Want, Need, Wear, Read, Share. WE LOVE IT. We are going to adopt this for ourselves and Nuggette next year. I had never heard of it before and it sounds awesome. Thanks for sharing girls!

A poke here, a jab there.

I promise to post the pictures of the beautiful ornaments soon! (Man, I feel like such a slacker lately). Good news is, mine went out yesterday, so my recipient should receive the box on Monday.

In Nuggette news, I felt her move from the outside a couple of days ago. I tried to get B to feel it, but of course, she couldn't. Until yesterday! She felt her and it was awesome. I love that she can share more of this pregnancy now. Woot!

I can't believe our little one is receiving gifts already and she's not even born! Aunt Sarah sent another package full of different kinds of pacis, a bib, paci holder, and a thirsties diaper. Last night, I was at a small Christmas gathering with friends. Typically, we only buy for the kids...well apparently my little kiddo counts! I received 2 beautiful and soft blankets from my friends. People's generosity is truly amazing.

The Met.

Today is day 7 of this cycle, and day 7 of being on "The Met." (Met. for.min)
I am doing ok, but it is still giving me stomach distress. I believe it is the ultimate diet pill, because if I eat too much, I'm in the bathroom. If I eat the wrong kind of stuff, I'm in the bathroom. I haven't quite figured out the right balance of foods yet to keep me out of the bathroom. I was thinking of going up to 2 pills tomorrow (working my way to the 3 a day I was on before), but I do not think my body is ready. I believe I will know when I know.

If you are the praying type, please keep my friend L in your prayers. She is currently visiting NYC and got some horrible news about her father. He is now in ICU and needs all the prayers he can get. I know that she would appreciate it.

Christmas was good. Hope everyone is enjoying their time with family. Only one thing could have made this year even better, but I know 2010 will be the year to remember!

BFN..again.

Af arrived at noon today. Happy Holidays to me. =/

Where was my temp dip warning?!?! I've never had an 11 day luteal before..wth?

I'll start back on the Met. tonight.

Today is the day...

our 2010 baby was conceived.
I am almost positive.
I have never been more confident on timing than I am today.
OPK was nearly positive yesterday, today's CBEFM stick was nearly PEAK and then I did an OPK at school and it was positive. No doubt about it.
I did an insem after school and will do one more tomorrow after school again.
I also put up the Christmas tree tonight to surprise B. We weren't planning on putting up any decorations, but I had a change of heart. This new found optimism is wonderful.

*edited to add* As of 4:45 this morning...we have a PEAK reading!

Shopping

B and I have a little bit of a tradition of picking out our own Christmas gifts and then waiting until Christmas (or Pearl Harbor Day...inside joke) to open them.
She is currently shopping online.
As much as I love getting what I want, I kind of want to scrap this tradition and go back to keeping the gifts secret.
We don't spend a lot of money on each other, anywhere between $20-40. We both believe it is the thought that matters most...what are your gift giving traditions?

Holiday Cards

I got an email advertisement a few weeks ago which earned me 100 free photo prints. I took the opportunity to print up some fun holiday pics of B and I. I received them in the mail today.
They did not come out as good as I wanted, but they are cheesily terrific.
I have ONE HUNDRED of them. We have no where near 100 friends. What was I thinking?
I never told B about my plan, so she is going to be surprised. Perhaps I'll send them out every year until they are gone..lol.
Anyone want a holiday card from our household?? Email me your address. =)

pairofmoms {a} gmail . com

In other news..I feel like crap-ola today. I don't think I am even going to make it to Thanksgiving dinner. I made stuffing and mashed potatoes for lunch today. If I can't make it to Thanksgiving, I will make it myself. This is my favorite food holiday of the year. Plus mashed potatoes and stuffing (and pudding for dessert) are wonderful comfort foods and are easy to swallow.

Noah

The story below is about a little guy who lives about 10 minutes from where I teach....

Noah Biorkman is a 5 year old boy who is dying of cancer. The doctors are only giving him until Thanksgiving to live. His family is having Christmas early for him. (This weekend) He does not want toys because he can not play with them. His wish is to receive as many Christmas cards as he can. He would like to break the world record. His family would like everyone that can to please send him a Christmas card by next week. Do not send money or gifts, he just wants cards. Just sign your name to the card. Please pass this along to everyone that you can think of that would help.

The family would like to thank everyone that helps with their son’s dream.

Noah Biorkman
1141 Fountain View Circle
South Lyon MI 48178

Thanks for your help

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/medical/biorkman.asp

Photo Friday

This is me, (J), playing in the snow in my backyard. My parents still live in this house.

B's holiday photo is already on our sidebar. =) (from B) That is my Christening pic. Here is a holiday photo for y'all:

Is my body trying to be "normal"?

CD15, FF has predicted my ovulation to be anywhere from CD21-CD26 in the past. Although, ovulation has not been detected on many cycles because of lazy charting over the past year.
I started using the Clearplan FM last month and had 13 days of high fertility before the peak came (a day after FF said I ovulated). Anyway, since it was my first month on the monitor and it was just beginning to learn my body, that was considered normal. "Normally" you get anywhere from 1-5 days of high fertility. Well today, on CD15, I got my first "high." I set today as the day I was going to start with the OPKs anyway, but that high was a surprise.
Now I don't know if I have 1 day before ovulation or 5. I emailed our KD this morning to see if we could get 3 tries in this time. Today, Friday, and possibly Saturday/Sunday (of course depending on ovulation). I don't want to insem too soon, but I also don't want to miss our opportunity here.
This is so surprising and it came up so quick. I thought I was going to have another week of waiting.
Perhaps this is God's way of involving KD's SO in our little plan to start a family. She is visiting for the holidays and we can't wait to have this amazing woman be an aunt in our child's life.
What is weird is I was getting ready to blog about the dream I had last night where I got a BFP but then looked at the results of my FM and had another topic! The feeling in my dream was amazing when I saw those two lines. I can't wait to feel that way in real life.
Anyway, I am excited about all of this and can't wait to tell B. (Alas, she is at work and left at 5am).
Hooray for Christmas surprises!

Sick and tired...or maybe just one.

My body is clearly fighting off something fierce..or I just really need this vacation.
I haven't felt "right" in a while. I am usually a pretty tired person, but these past few weeks have been horrendous. I have been so utterly exhausted. In the past week I haven't made it past 9pm. Two days this week I was asleep before 8:15. Boy am I tired. I wake up tired. Most nights I am sleeping through the nights, but during a few I have woken up. I also need to take naps during the weekend. I can't make it through the whole day!
Then there is the back pain. I have never had a "good" back since high school. I remember the first time my back went "out" when I was in college and I thought I was going to die. The doc put me on 800 Motrin, and that was laughable. It didn't even dull the pain. My back hasn't gotten to that level in a few years, but it seems like whatever I do, doesn't help.
Of course there are the mysterious stomach/menstrual cramps. I'm CD10 here people, with an average cycle of 35+ days. No reason for this. Its not ovulation, its not AF, but I also have some stomach nausea as well, so perhaps its just gas or something.
All I know is that I do not want to be sick for my Christmas break, and these symptoms are getting old. I am hoping a few good nights rest without having to wake up before dawn will help.

Think yourself pregnant for Christmas

This is a rhetorical question for this bunch, but have you ever just wished you could think yourself pregnant?
I am a really great thinker. I think about lots of things, in many different ways. Sometimes I can even trick myself into feeling pregnant or feeling like I am already a mom, even though I have no idea what either of those things feel like.
The brain is very tricky.
In other news, the holidays have snuck up on me this year. There is not too much hoopla going on at school, no Christmas concerts, or holiday sweaters (save the one my mom bought me that B hates when I wear it). There are 3 more school days left until break, and boy do I need this break. The snow day on Monday was a welcome relief.
Since B works retail, this is a crazy and hectic time for her. I hate how stressed she gets. I try to help as much as possible.
For Christmas this year we are celebrating on Saturday with friends (although not B, since she has to work), Sunday with my Aunt and family, Monday evening at my parents', Tuesday morning at my parents' and Tuesday afternoon/evening at B's mom's. It will be a crazy few days.
Then, as it has been for the past 3?4? years, our KD will come over on NYE. Only this year, he is bringing his gf/so. We are so excited that she's coming! Usually its just the 3 of us, but not this year! Yay for quiet nights with friends.