Showing posts with label insemination. Show all posts
Showing posts with label insemination. Show all posts

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Perfect

Yesterday, B and I drove about 30 miles north to hit up a new-to-us vegetarian/vegan/organic/etc restaurant. (I, of course, had a coupon-I use restaurant.com when it is 80% off.) Well the food was Ah-mazing. It wasn't crowded at all (we went at lunch time) and the atmosphere was lovely.
As we were waiting for our lunch, I was looking at the artwork displayed around the room from a local gallery. I fell in love with a painting. Like seriously "IneedthatRIGHTnow" fall in love. I went over to see who the artist was and made a mental note of the gallery. I told B we HAD to go to the gallery, because I needed that painting/print. I said, the only thing that would make it better was if there were two women in the picture, instead of just one.
After lunch, we walked around downtown and found the gallery. Shortly thereafter, we saw the painting on the wall, but it was small, and framed in a way that I didn't like. So we searched through the small bin of prints. Sure enough, it was there. But wait, good folks, there was another one, with two women! It was perfect. We even bought two mini-prints to frame next to our big one. Ladies and gents, we have our nursery art.
The artist is local, from Traverse City. We lovelovelove her work. The title of the big piece we got is "Sisters." (It's at the bottom of this page on the left)
Oh, and I had a positive OPK yesterday, spent the night out with fabulous friends, went dancing, had a friend meet us up at the club to tell us he got engaged that night, and then came home and crashed. I'm up early this morning to go meet up with NKD to do one last insem. (I got my PEAK reading this morning!)
Everything is just perfect!

Friday, July 30, 2010

Gaining Confidence

After yesterday's sticks. GAME ON. I still don't have a positive OPK and I am on day 7 of HIGH on the CBEFM, but I just know O is right around the corner. In fact, I even asked NKD if he would do one more insem tomorrow morning.
I also am trying to win a basket of vegan cookies from The Twinners Reviews and Giveaways. If you are interested in a basket of vegan cookies, or other give-aways, please click on over.
*Edited to add* OPK was positive today! Woot!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

2 down, 1 to go

It's CD13 and as of today, we have two inseminations done for this cycle, and one more scheduled for Thursday afternoon. I'm feeling very good about the timing. Also, many signs of luck popped up for me today. We went to Panera for dinner. Our pager number was 33 (my favorite number). Then we went to Rite Aid to pick up some OPKs (using my 2nd $25 gift card from playing the transfer prescription game) and my receipt said I need 33 more points until my next reward. Then, we stopped at Hallmark to kill some time before NKD was ready and they had the most perfect lined journal with inspirational quotes on the bottom of the pages and our little Sprout bird on the cover. I also picked up a package of three positivity bracelets...all at half off. It was a great trip.
In non-ttc news, we went to a Partylite regional hall show yesterday that was Halloween themed. We love Halloween and decorating for Fall, so when given the chance to check out new product, we do. Let me tell you, I felt like I was in an episode of the office. All of these middle-age women SOEXCITEDABOUTCANDLESANDNEWSCENTSANDHALLOWEENANDOHMYGOD! B and I kept looking at ourselves in disbelief. They were so happy and excited, we couldn't help but be happy and excited for them too. One woman had been with the company for 20+ years and they surprised her with her family and gifts and hugs. She was crying, the presenter was crying, and I'm sure there were people in the audience crying too. All of the regional leaders were in costume, as well as some consultants, and many of them took their costume very seriously. Not in the Halloween kind of way, but in the, "how can I relate this to Partylite" way. There were calendars and chefs, and people dressed as dollar bills. I'm pretty sure there was a pimp at the table behind us. I can't describe the experience nearly as well as B, but I had to write it down somewhere for posterity. Needless to say, we left early with our free bag of tea-lights.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Non-stressed

This whole move has done wonders for my stress and anxiety. I feel safe. I don't worry if we go to bed upstairs without a phone by our bedside. I am fairly confident I will not hear gun-shots or someone will not break in. I never realized how unsafe I was feeling in the old house. I didn't like being home alone, especially at night. I didn't like B driving home at night. Here, it is a completely different story.
Apparently my body is reacting to the non-stress. I got a PEAK on the monitor today on CD16. FF thinks I will O tomorrow. CD17 folks. That's awesome. I texted our donor, so I hope he is in town and available.
*Edit* He IS available. Love it!
My newest doc prescribed me some prenatals. (Pre.nate Plus) I went to the pharmacy and neither my insurance nor B's insurance covers them. How is this possible? I am so frustrated. Luckily, a local chain of mega-grocery stores offers them for free. I took my prescription there after I found out. We are not poor people, just budget conscious and until December (after our credit cards are paid off), every nickel counts. However, had I not known about the free prenatals and I was poor (or uneducated) I may have just skipped getting the prescription filled. I know there are ways to educate women who don't know about these resources, and I would like to help.
Another thing that bothered me was dealing with unemployment. For the first time in my 16 years of working, I was laid off. I had to file for unemployment. (Luckily, I got my recall letter last week-so I won't be needing unemployment). Again, for uneducated people, or those without internet access, the process can be daunting. I just want to fix everything and help everyone. One step at a time.

Monday, May 10, 2010

CD14-First High

This is a copy of the email I sent to NKD this morning:

I think this may be an early ovulation month (and I mean early for me, not
for a "normal" person). Today is CD14 and I just got my first high on the
monitor. Typically, when I don't get a high until this late in the cycle
(as opposed to starting off high on CD10 or something) I have anywhere from 5-7
highs before a peak. So I will watch the OPKs closely and the CBEFM
sticks. My best guess for the earliest date for the first insem would be
Friday, May 14th. Are you in town at all this weekend?
Thanks for everything,
J

Monday, April 12, 2010

Rockstar

I'm pretty much a rockstar ovulator. When I do it, I do it well!
I got another positive OPK this afternoon. Our timing is impeccable. The last time I had this great timing, I got pregnant with Sprout. Bring on the pregnancy!
Another co-worker announced her pregnancy (I had heard about it last week or the week before, but I dismissed it since we were just at a conference together and she was drinking like a sailor.) Either she didn't know yet, or she's not that bright....I'm guessing it's the first, because she's typically a highly intelligent woman.
So that's two preggos in the school...one due in June, one due in November. (She is due near Thanksgiving, so I am guessing she is only 7ish weeks along...right?) I am guessing another one will be pregnant before the end of the school year (she just got home from her honeymoon last week...and they delayed the honeymoon almost a year after their wedding). Once I join the club, there's going to be fights for the staff bathroom. =)

PEAK!

CD25 and I got a PEAK!
Yesterday was a very positive OPK, so I was expecting it, but you never quite know with my body.
We did the insem last night and I will do another one after school today. Most likely, I will do one on Tuesday as well (depending on if I get a temp shift tomorrow or not).
This is so exciting.
I'm off the Met and waiting to be put into that study (the nurse emailed me last week to set up my initial appointment). I can't wait to tell her that I can't be in the study because I am pregnant. I'll have the confirmation in just 2.5 short weeks! Woot.
In not so exciting news, today it is back to work/school for both of us. This was a work-filled vacation, but we sure did reap the benefits of our hard work!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Spring Break

I was on Spring Break this past week...but it wasn't much of a break, really. We were packing and having a garage sale. Those garage sales are a LOT of work. I am glad we made enough to get our patio set, a futon, a flat screen monitor, and even some flowers. Now if the people that are currently in the house will just move, we will be all set.
I got a perfectly positive OPK this afternoon, so we are off to do an insem tonight. We will do one tomorrow afternoon as well. Depending on my temps and the opks, we may do another on Tuesday as well. We will see. My body tends to give false positives sometimes, but I feel in my heart that this is a true positive.
Here's hoping I can catch the end of the BFP wave that has been around here for a little bit.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Almost in the TWW

On Tuesday I had a very positive OPK while at school, so B and I swung over to see NKD and did an insem. Then yesterday I had a negative OPK (but still a pretty dark line..clearly the down turn of the surge) so I did another insem.
Because of timing, location, and the fact that I had a sign language class to get to, I ended up doing the insem in the ISDs bathroom. Since I use an instead cup, it wasn't a big deal...awkward, but not a big deal.
I fully expected a temp shift this morning, but of course did not get it. I am just giving it up to God now. As soon as I get my temp shift and crosshairs from FF, I am stopping temping.
I feel very good about this cycle, but don't want to get to the obsessed-temping stage.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

5th insem

Today we are doing our 5th insem of the cycle, but really only the 2nd one that will "count."
I was able to see the LH surge up, and now down again. The monitor never went to PEAK, but I am not worried about that. It's my first month back on the Met, so it may be confused.
I have exactly one CBEFM stick left. I will use it tomorrow morning and will not buy more until we are trying for Baby #2.
Say it with me, "This one will work."
A lot of my blog friends are pregnant with their second babies, have second babies in their arms, or are thinking about trying for second babies. I'm still waiting....I know there are a few of us out there, still waiting (*waves* to you, and you...oh, and you too), so let's get this show on the road.
2010 is my year. Is it yours too?

Saturday, January 9, 2010

I am getting good

at interpreting the CBEFM sticks and the OPKs. It only took me 2 years, but by saving the CBEFM sticks for the last two cycles, I can totally see the surge. (Why didn't I do this sooner?!?)
Anyway, we are going to do another insem today, and perhaps tomorrow.
Our donor is amazing. Shout out to NKD! (He reads the blog)

*edit to add* Guess who got a positive OPK? Woot! Woot! Perfect timing. If I don't get a temp shift in the morning, we are good for another insem tomorrow afternoon.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

7th HIGH

Today is CD16 adn the 7th HIGH on the CBEFM. Clearly, my body has confused the monitor, which I was afraid of. The OPKs are teetering near positive, but no clear positive as of yet. My temp was way low this morning, so perhaps today is the day I will get the positive OPK and tomorrow will be the PEAK...I wish my body was more predictable.
We did our 3rd insem last night, and are skipping today. I want to wait until I see a positive OPK or a PEAK before doing another. I am very grateful for a super accommodating donor.
Yesterday was my first day back to work after the holiday, and it went pretty well. I am already looking forward to the weekend though! I am so tired!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

CD14-2nd insem

We did our second insem of this cycle today.
Tomorrow we will do the 3rd. The 4th one is up in the air right now, because I want to see what the monitor and OPKs say.
Today was day 5 of HIGH on the CBEFM. Tomorrow should be day 6 of HIGH, then PEAK....we will see. I can see the lines getting darker on the sticks and the OPKs, but I was kind of hoping to see a positive OPK today. Ah well.
Tomorrow is my first day back from vacation. I know the building will be absolutely freezing, so I will be sure to dress in lots of warm layers. I am proud to work in a very energy efficient district, with one of the only LEED Silver certified high schools in the nation. We take our energy consumption seriously. It's a good thing, except when classrooms flood because pipes freeze. Let's hope we don't have any of that tomorrow.
So far, I am a big fan of 2010, what about you?

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Surprised again.

Today is CD10 and I had my first HIGH on the monitor. I have been so concerned and consumed with the Met.for.min side effects that I didn't notice the impending ovulation!

My temps have been wonky because I'm on vacation and not taking them at the same time consistently and the temps in our house have differed greatly each night as well. I have to find the right balance of blankets and furnace heat. (I've now put plastic on some of the windows downstairs and am considering covering some of the windows upstairs...our house is old and poorly insulated.)

If the CBEFM is correct and my body cooperates, I will typically have 6 days of HIGH before the first PEAK. Sometimes I ovulate the night before the PEAK, sometimes I ovulate the day of the first PEAK and sometimes I ovulate on the day of the second PEAK. I will be saving my sticks and OPKs again this month to see the surge. (This worked quite well last month, with a textbook case of ovulation-go me!)

I emailed NKD this morning to check his availability. I am worried with the holiday, he may be out of town. I know his kids start back to school on the 4th though and he usually has them on Mondays, so at the least, I can squeeze a couple in. Hopefully though, we can do one on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th. We will see.

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. We will be attending a burning bowl service at our church (which I blogged about last year.) Sadly, our former KD will not be able to share NYE with us, as has been our tradition for the past 5 years, because he lives in Boston now and is already back home. Luckily I was able to spend an afternoon with him while he was here for a short holiday visit.

We are having a small group of people from church come over to ring in the new year with us. Our minister is coming too and will be doing a midnight meditation. How cool are we? We have 2 full time ministers at our church of over 2000, one being Rev. Ric. Ric is openly gay and an all around great person. We are so privileged to call him our friend and are happy to be spending the last moments of 2009 and the first moments of 2010 with him. It's going to be a blue moon and a partial eclipse. What a special NYE!

*edited to add* NKD is available! God love him!

Monday, December 7, 2009

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!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Surprise!

On Friday night we were supposed to have our Team Meeting for our Church Sunday School Teaching Team. It was scheduled for 7:30 at the restaurant where we normally meet. Around 6:30 I get a call from my sister telling me that my brother-in-law is in urgent care, and we need to go let their dog out. I bought it hook, line, and sinker. We rushed over to my sister's house, punched in the garage code, and met the dog at the door. As soon as I turned the corner into the kitchen...SURPRISE! So many of my friends were there to wish me a happy birthday. It was truly a surprise and I was so happy. I felt like a princess for the entire party! There was food and presents and games and laughter. Lots of laughter. I couldn't have asked for a better party. I even got a Snuggie! My lovely wife, my mom, my sister, and my friends planned this wonderful surprise, and I am so grateful.
This was the best birthday a girl could ask for. Tomorrow (November 9th) is my official birthday and I will joyfully enter my 3rd decade.
(Oh, and we did a safety net insem today as well...just in case!)

Saturday, November 7, 2009

My body is playing tricks on me

A person cannot ovulate twice in the same cycle, right? Why would I get TWO positive OPKs?
Just to be safe, we are doing another insem tomorrow.
I also have to post about my kick-a$$ surprise 30th birthday party as well! So great. =)

Friday, November 6, 2009

Confused

Today is CD24. I did not get a temp shift this morning, nor was there a peak on the monitor, just day six of high. I haven't had 6 days of high since Sprout's pregnancy. During that cycle, we did an insem on the 3rd day of high, and then again on both peak days, with FF guessing I ovulated on the second peak day. For the chemical pregnancy in August, I had 5 days of high and ovulated on the 5th day. We insemed only on the 3rd day of high.
I thought our opk was positive on Wednesday. Yesterday it was not positive, so I was pretty excited about the timing.
Now I am confused. Should we do another insem? When? When it says PEAK?
Let me know your expert opinion. =)

Monday, November 2, 2009

Halloween Picture


J as Octo-mom and B as "The Inseminator"
Pretty apropos, given we did our first insem of this cycle tonight!

Monday, August 24, 2009

Crazy

What a crazy morning.
I left my school around 8:15 to get to NKD's house by 9am. (My school and his house are 25 minutes apart.)
I was cruising along, ahead of schedule, when I heard on the radio that the freeway was closed up ahead do to an accident. Everyone was being forced off at the exit I was supposed to get off at. By the time I got to the exit, it was already 9:35. I only had 2 miles to travel to get to the downtown area, but at 2.5 miles per hour, it was taking way too long. Did I mention that NKD had to leave by 10:15 to pick up someone from the airport?
Very long story short, I got the swimmers and pulled into a hospital parking lot to send them on their way. It took 2 hours and 10 minutes to get there. Wow. What a story we will have to tell this kid.
The funny thing is, this is just a hail mary pass...as I am only on High on the CBEFM. Since I leave tomorrow morning for my epic road trip (first stop-Mt. Vernon, IL, second stop-Hope, AR, final destination-Austin, TX), I wanted to shoot some sperm up there, just in case I ovulate today, tomorrow, or Wednesday. If I O on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, I'm kinda screwed. I'm so glad I know that God has perfect timing. All is well.