Introducing- Sprout!

I'm back from "rest", and it's been great.

First,  being told to take a week and a half off from work would be a typical person's dream come true.  For a teacher at the end of the school year, it's not what you want to hear.  I did it, though- and I didn't complain.  I enjoyed my time at home (though I soon realized there is NOTHING on television during the day) and spent most of it on the couch.

I returned to work last week for the last few days of school.  It was nice being back, and my students were glad to see me (most of them).  They were a tremendous help with packing up my room, and I grateful that I was able to say goodbye to each of them on our last day together.

I'm officially on V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N ( in the summertime). :)

I had my first OB visit today.  It was nice not having to wake up at the crack of dawn to drive an hour to see my doctor.  It was also nice not having to take my pants off for an ultrasound!

I arrived right on time (after chugging my 32 oz of water), and they called my name immediately.  I held my breath as Sprout popped up on the screen.  I found myself searching for the heartbeat, and asked the tech to point it out.  It wasn't as noticeable as when she/he was smaller.  It was a normal 160 bpm!  Whew.

Given the date of my FET transfer, I should be 10 weeks 4 days today.  Sprout was measuring at 11 weeks!  My OB did a pap smear since I hadn't had one in so long.  I asked if it might cause spotting later and she said yes.  I'm really glad I asked, or I probably would have freaked out.  They sent me for labs and then home with a ton of literature to read.

I return on July 10th for another visit. 

Bossy Bud

Hip, Hip Hooray for Christmas Vacation!

It's official! I have the next two weeks off! Being a teacher definitely has its perks.

Although I'm looking forward to sleeping in every single day, I am going to miss my weekday routine. Teaching my lil' rugrats has helped keep my mind off of things.

Great news! I have an appointment with my RE on January 4th to discuss the next steps and our FET. I'm super excited and (almost) counting down the days until then. I told Mr. Bossy earlier today that I think I'll start feeling MUCH better when I know the plan. Then, I'll be able to feel like we're back on track.

Until then, I plan to keep as busy as possible with Christmas shopping (I still have a ton to do!) and quilting. Both of our families are local, so we'll be spending lots of time with them next weekend. One of my favorite traditions that my family has is watching Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation every Christmas Eve. Mr. Bossy, my brother, and I can practically quote the entire movie. We always find it hilarious how my dad can never stay awake through the entire movie!!


Hoping all of my Bud sisters have a VERY Merry Christmas and 2012 brings you much happiness!

XOXO

Bossy

Some relief :)

Well, I am happy to report that Mr. DBud and I are heading to the Happiest Place on Earth<3 this weekend for a little R&R. We won't have much free time until the Holidays, so we are definitely taking advantage. :)

AF still hasn't appeared, but I am starting to see some changes in my CM... Meaning I actually have some. I had been as dry as a dessert for some time now, but ever since I started this new diet (5 lbs gone so far!) and got back on Metformin, I have noticed a difference. Here's hoping! After all, she hasn't made an appearance since late May... Maybe we'll have a little Disney Miracle - though I am not counting on it as of yet. It would be a nice surprise, though.

Other than that, nothing major to report... I am going to start walking next week, so hopefully that will amp up the weight loss/metabolism, so we can get this show on the road!!!

Until next time :)







- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Travels with AF

I have been very lucky to be on vacation the majority of July and enjoying being able to focus less on no baby. I have finished reading Unsung Lullabyes which I would say is a must read to anyone going through infertility. I loved reading the whole book and I thought was great how it went over all the emotional side of each stage of infertility even the mental/emotional parts after you have a baby.

So as for vacation I have been working diliegently on my tan and would say I am successfully dark and relaxing and enjoying friends and family. I got to go visit my friend in California who just had her baby and was able to help out so she could get some much needed rest. It is always fun to hold a newborn and have them snuggle up to you, I think that is my favorite stage by far! Then I was able to go to a family reunion and hang out with the little cousins around the ages of 2 and 4 which was soo much fun to see them discovering things and getting soo excited about stuff, probably my next favorite stage.

Inbetween my trips AF arrived and hung around for about 5 days which was pretty average and it has been about 70 days or 10 weeks. So at least there seems to be some consistency of an average 3 month span between AF. We will have to see what the RE thinks at our first appointment this Thursday.

A very belated updated

We found out that FET #1 was a BFN on July 11th. Even though I knew it in my heart, it still hurt more than anything. However after a day of crying and an hour of talking with my therapist, I felt much better. I am still going to continue with treatments even though I am not very confident for some reason. I am going for our WTF this Wednesday. I was going to go alone, because Mr. PlannerBud is starting a new job on Monday and doesn't want to ask for time off so early. However, my therapist convinced me to bring my mother along. I normally go in with a list of questions and ask none of them; this will help me get the answer I want. If our RE doesn't change the protocol at all, we are going to another clinic (about an hour away) for a second opinion. I hope it doesn't come to that, but I want to be prepared.

The reason for this long delayed update is that Mr. PlannerBud and I took off for a week long cruise on Saturday. I was really anxious about going since I knew it was summer and lots of kids would be on the ship. What I didn't know is that it was a Nickelodeon cruise. Every show at night was started by either Patrick and Spongebob or Dora and Diego. Luckily there was a lot of alcohol on the ship and we both partook in plenty of it. Unlike other ships I have been on, there were very few places to escape children. The adults only pool was right next to the family pool and the adults only rule wasn't strictly enforced. The night club was supposed to be 18+ at night, but they allowed children in with their parents. The only true child-free place was a stateroom, which I swear was a broom closet originally. To make matter worse, every couple we sat down next to asked if we left the kids at home. When we said we didn't have kids, they almost always responded with something about how difficult or how horrible kids are. GRRR. That makes one more "last vacation before children" vacation to add to the books. Let's see how many more of these we can list. :::insert eye roll:::

Vacation Report and 4 Week Update

We made it safely back from vacation at Disney World yesterday, and had a great time during the week we were gone! We head down with friends every year or two for the marathon weekend, and this year was no different. I usually run the half and the full (Goofy Challenge), but my midwife only cleared me for the half this year. It was a struggle to get Mr. Magnolia Bud on board with me even running that, but he finally came around. I had a great time, even though it was my slowest half ever. At least being pregnant, I was able to set a PPR--pregnant personal record, haha! I felt really lucky to run a lot of it with my best friend who lives in another state. She knows about our miscarriage, and was SO excited to find out that I'm pregnant again.

After the race on Saturday, we spent Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday at the parks. Mr. Magnolia Bud is such a kid at heart--he had a great time. He also insisted on buying a couple of onesies. One from the race expo that has the race logo, a picture of Mickey, and says "In Training: 2030," and the other is orange with a picture of Tigger's face that says "Grrrr" underneath. I've given up trying to stop him--we won't be back there before Baby MB is at least a year old. However, they're going in the back of the future nursery's closet until we actually bring this baby home.

Here's my 4w4d pregnancy update. I'm not sleeping well, but am able to get 5-6 hours a night. My boobs are sensitive and noticeably bigger. I'm bloated. I'm tired. I'm having WAY more cramping this time than last time. Every day, and it feels like menstrual cramps. Mainly light, but some are more moderate strength. Nothing that I've needed to medicate, until last night. Last night was a doozie of a night. I woke up about 3am with pretty serious cramps that went away after I used the bathroom. But then I got nauseous and hot, and spent a solid 10 minutes dry heaving. Then spent another 30 lying on the bathroom floor still sweating. My poor cat Tiger probably thought I was dying, so he came over and was licking me and sitting with me--what a good caregiver :)

Last time I was pregnant, the exact same thing happened to me at 5w5d--the same day the baby stopped developing (though we didn't find out about it for another 2.5 weeks)--so needless to say, I'm on edge. But the other part of me is telling myself that the cramps are my uterus getting ready to grow even bigger with this baby, and that getting sick at night this early is a good sign that things are progressing normally, since my Mayo Clinic book says morning sickness generally strikes between 4-6 weeks. My first appointment is tomorrow, though we're not having an ultrasound--only confirming the pregnancy and scheduling the first ultrasound for sometime after 6 weeks to confirm a heartbeat.

Time to get to work! My new position is kicking my butt, but in a good way. Golden Bud, I'm thinking of you as you and Mr. GB talk through your options.

Lots of love and baby dust to each of you!
-Magnolia Bud

New Beginnings for a New Year

I know it has been a while! Our first IUI cycle ended in AF, which had already become obvious last time I posted with my temp landslide. A couple days later, we were off to North America for Mr. Blueberry Bud to attend a conference and to spend quality time with both of our families. The last few months have been pretty stressful for me between TTC difficulties and work/grad school-related woes, so the change of scenery has been refreshing and it is always great to see our families, since we live half-way across the globe.

On the TTC front, we are on a break from treatment this cycle as we take a break from our normal lives. My gosh, it is so liberating! No more ultrasounds, bloodwork, fretting, acupuncture appointments, waiting rooms, etc for one whole month. I've also ditched the thermometer (not waking up to temp every morning has helped to free my mind from the constant reminder of TTC and our lack of success). The past two cycles I was reticent to give up the BBT even though I was being monitored by ultrasound despite pleas from DH and the nurse at the fertility clinic, so this is a huge step for me in giving up a little bit of my obsessive need for control. I am just happily plodding along keeping track of CM and using OPKs.

Psychologically it is still difficult -- on one hand I have very limited expectations for this cycle since we aren't doing any treatment and those low expectations are actually liberating; on the other hand, I am secretly praying for a Rosh Hashana miracle this week. I am pretty sure I will actually O at a normal time this cycle and not so late like last cycle because I have lots of fertile CM that began yesterday at CD12.

One thing that has been really awesome about this break is that I have taken it as an opportunity to get back into my running groove. Since getting married I have really "let myself go" as they say:) Not in terms of weight, but in terms of sitting on my freaking butt and vegetating. I have tried to get back into running several times since TTC, but getting truly back in shape involves some pain, pain and stress on my body that I felt could interfere with our TTC efforts. I decided that since this was our "off" cycle I would use it as an opportunity to push myself and get back into shape, with the goal of maintaining it but not necessarily pushing myself too much further when we go back to IUIs. I am so glad that I did--not only do I feel better, but the running has truly lifted my spirit. I am still feeling down about work/grad school related stress, but I am generally feeling more optimistic about things in general.

As Rosh Hashana , the Jewish New Year, approaches, I wish a year of many sweet and new things for all of us -- may we be blessed with the things we have worked so hard for and long desired and also some happy surprises along the way! The image for this post is a pomegranate, called a reemon in Hebrew, because it symbolizes new beginnings for a the start of a new year, as well as health and yup, fertility:)

SMILE!

I came back from vacation with a very positive attitude. Read a fabulous book called "A Few Good Eggs" that gave me great perspective.

http://www.afewgoodeggs.com/

I highly recommend the book if you need a laugh or a pick me up or just a good ol' kick in the pants.

Anyway, back from vacation, rested and refocused and ready to go. I started temping again while on vacation. Naturally, with my wonderful luck, all I could find in Canada was a Celsius BBT. That's been fun...

I normally start doing the OPK's on CD10 but I forgot last night because I was too tired. Shrugged it off because I don't ovulate until much later anyway. Needless to say, I was floored when I saw this little diddly smiling back at me this afternoon at noon on CD11:
So part of me is worried that it's might be leftover from the miscarriage. I'm waiting for the doctor's office to call me back and reassure me that I am indeed probably ovulating. Holy early!!!

Here's hoping that's a great sign for a great month!

Babymoon, Birthday Celebrations, 3 Year Anniversary and 1 year Brain-Aversary all in one trip!

Hawaii!

Hawaii was great. It was a good getaway. I could have managed without the time zone change or the flight back from LA. It was miserable because I was so sleepy and so cramped. Dumb red eye flight But we had alot of fun. I wish I would have been prepared for the horrible trip to the top of the volcano. Poor Mr. OB had to tell me multiple times I was okay and we were fine. No one was dying. I got altitude sickness along with motion sickness from this windy road and crazy bus driver. It wasn't so great but the view was AWESOME. Once we stepped out of the bus I was 100% fine.

I loved the sno cones. So amazing. On the bottom there is a surprise waiting for you.. Ice Cream! Yum!

We saw some amazing fish and SEA TURTLES. Snorkeling was so much fun with Mr. OB. I enjoyed so much of it. I hope one day to take Ms. Pepper so she can see the fun fish for herself.

Some of the highlights:

Our Balcony and Pepper - 23 Weeks

Our Balcony and Mr OB's Beer Baby?

SPAM!

The day on the beach with beer strawberries and cheese!

Waiting for the sun to rise on a volcano 10,000 feet in the air! Talk about altitude sickness = NOT FUN!

Visiting the Brewery for Mr OB- Notice I'm a good girl and drinking water

Taking a scenic road trip!

Sailing to Lanai and snorkeling - Notice how sunburnt I am =*(

Road to Hana

SNO CONES!!

Luau Time!

So sad to leave this:

Next up: Finishing up the nursery. We have registered already and need to just finished up the room. Hopefully by next week I will have some more progress in that department!

We need to finish painting, put up the decor, and my mom and I need to start on the bedding. Fun stuff!

Pepper is doing wonderful. No that's not her real name. She is measuring 1lb 9 oz and growing so fast! I can't believe I am almost 25 weeks already. Where did time go? Before I know it she will be here and I will finally know what she looks like!

STILL no O

CD33 and I still haven't ovulated.

I guess this puts me back in the long-cycle club. I have been teased by a few small temp rises, only to be let down the next morning when it drops again. This is really hindering my progress with my TTC plan, since I have to wait until CD1 to schedule my HSG. As I mentioned in my previous entry, Mr. Sassy Bud is also waiting to do his S/A until then. I like to call this TTC limbo.

Photo Credit

Yep that's me. Somewhere between TTC heaven and hell.

I sit and hope for a BFP to end this craziness but I also am trying to be realistic to avoid the roller-coaster of emotions when AF comes. And she does. Every month.

Non-TTC life is good. Once this school term and tax season are over, I'm going to visit my sister and nieces and nephew in Texas. We are also celebrating our anniversary and Mr. Sassy Bud's birthday by taking a trip to Atlantic City and New York City. I have never been to either place so I am very excited to be able to go. I am also going to visit one of my "nestie besties" while I am there, so that is something great to look forward to.

Until then, I wait, and wait, and wait.

Back home!

After a long week in NYC we made it home. Mr Flora Bud had a conference and I decided to tag along (I mean, c'mon who wouldn't?!?!?). Here are a few pictures of the snow days:

All I can say is I am so glad to be back to sunny South Florida and no more snow!

Today is cd 31 and no sign of AF and a few 'not pregnant' pregnancy tests later I'm so ready for AF to get here already. This is the first month EVER in my life that I have been this late and no BFP. I have never been on the pill and my cycles were always 28 days. What the heck is happening?? And I do not want to continue using my daily Progesterone supplements if I do not need them... ugh

Trying to go with the flow

One of the hardest parts about TTC is not knowing how long it will take. This weekend, Mr. Nature Bud and I visited a ski club up north with some friends. It's basically a big dorm-style house with 30 or so rooms, a large kitchen, common areas, etc. maintained by a club that families join for a yearly fee, and then have a ski house to stay at each weekend they head up. The annual fee equates to about 3 weekends at a motel or other lodging, and the nice part is that the club aspect fosters community, so you always have somewhere to stay while skiing, and there's always friends there. Plus you can use it in the summer, which we'd totally take advantage of. We seriously considered joining, but not knowing if and when I'll be pregnant, if and when we'll have an infant, all the uncertainty of TTCing... well it makes it pretty difficult to plan that far ahead.

Photo credit

We encountered the same roadblock when discussing a trip we'd like to take to China. How can I even purchase airfare, not knowing what stage of my TTC journey I'll be at when the trip happens? I can't, plain and simple. I know you're not supposed to put your life on hold for TTCing, but sometimes, with all the uncertainty involved, it becomes necessary.

On the bright side, the weekend ski getaway afforded plenty of warm and fuzzy BD juju, which was perfect because it looks like I O'd at a ridiculously early CD9. I had some pretty strong and alarming cramping that could've been ovulation pain, and then a distinct thermal shift. My doctor said not to worry about the cramping. He actually told me to look on the bright side, at least I know when I'm about to O! I'm worried because I wasn't checking CM, using preseed, or even OPKing, but maybe this surprise early O will turn into a surprise BFP and it'll all work out.

Until next time, sending sled-fulls of baby dust your way!

Nature Bud

Baby-making-moon!

Last I left off, I believe we had finally bought a second car. Yay!! That was part of our cross off-to do-need to get done before baby list.

Now it's just to keep plugging away and saving money.

Which, I DO fully intend on doing. Until it comes to our baby-making-moon.

Mr. Snow Bud actually came up with this one, he's so great. We were thinking about taking a small little trip somewhere, leaving the dogs with a sitter, getting in our car and taking off for a weekend. This would all be sometime this summer, I believe. He suggests that it would be a perfect time to start TTC, we would both be relaxed, happy, out of our normal hustle and bustle element. I think I fell in love with him all over again.

So, we narrowed it down to getting away for a weekend in Seaside, FL or renting a home in the Georgia mountains. The mountains sound amazing, and we could tuck ourselves away and not have to worry about people, traffic, civilization. On the other hand, we went to Seaside this past weekend for my birthday and both fell in love.

Either way, I'm now dreaming of my baby-making-moon.

Georgia Mountains

Seaside, FL

Until next time,

And that vacation was freaking AWESOME!

I cant even tell you how fun it was and definitely needed. The best vacation ever. To be honest it shed alot of light into our life and our grateful and fortunate we are.

We are both healthy. We both had the time of our lives and enjoyed every.single.minute of it. It was complete bliss. We got to visit 3 continents in 1 trip. We got to see 2of the seven wonders of the world. We did things most people of our age never do. Or people in general never get to do. It was amazing. Just what we needed.

I realized I can wait for a baby. I mean don't get me wrong I want one but I can wait. I saw some new parents there and they were struggling. Struggling to take photos, feed the baby, take excursions, see the awesome port of calls. I know when the time comes we will deal with it but at the same time I know I can think of a MILLION other things to keep me busy. Like planning another trip to this awesome place.


Malta. This tiny little country / island near Italy. Its so amazing. Beautiful. Breathtaking. Peaceful. We are going back. I don't care what we have to do.

On our trip we realized how much we both really enjoy traveling. If we don't have kiddos it makes it alot easier to plan and travel. We really want to go to Australia some time in 2010 and I know we can make it with a little one but it would be so much easier without.

So this is how I am getting through the days when I see pink or red. Like today. I haven't cried (yet). I haven't said why not me because I look at where we have been, what we have been through and realize we still have time. Maybe we can go to Australia in 2010 or 2011 and make it our babymoon? Who knows. What I do know is we are saving TONS of money without a baby and I can do TONS of stuff with that money. No daycare = an extra 800 dollars a month in our pocket.

Its the little things like that that keep me going.

So on to cycle # 7. Maybe this will be the cycle? If not Ill make it. I mean whats 1 more cycle. I have went through 6 already.

Enjoy some photos we took!

Bad Blogger

I must admit I have been a bad blogger. My life has been chaotic with all sort of things to fill my days.
DH got laid off finally. It sucks, but honestly, I am glad that the waiting game is over so we can't keep getting our hopes up for more time. Now we can just move on.

I also hosted a Twilight:New Moon premiere event with some friends, and while you can criticize me all you want about the fact that I am almost 29 and head-over-heels for a fictional vampire, I seriously had a ton of fun. Aside from the movie itself, it was just great to get together with people. I don't get to do it much, so I had a blast.

My quarter-life crisis is definitely in full-swing. Suddenly I feel as though I am truly looking at my life for the first time.....or maybe just more closely than I ever have before. Thinking about what I truly want, and why. Thinking about why I have become such a cynic. Realizing that the reason I haven't followed many of my dreams is because I was afraid of what people would think. Scared to NOT follow them anymore. I am putting myself out there. I have made it my goal to do at least one thing every day that scares me. Simple or small, no matter. Yesterday the thing that scared me was to go to the gym and do 10 miles on the bike. I didn't think I could. And I did. So today I am going to do 12. Because now I know that I can.

I also made an appointment for a consult on the tattoo that I want. I have a tattoo that I got on my 18th birthday from a place that gave 50% off tattoos on your 18th birthday....so needless to say, I am now ready for a cover-up! I have spent a LONG time deciding what I want to do and I finally came up with a design that is super meaningful and beautiful, and I hope to get myself inked really soon!

Lastly, I booked a trip to NYC in March. A good friend lives out there, and I have been wanting to see her for years, but schedule and money and all sorts of other excuses prevented me from going. Not this year. I am going. I realize there is a possibility that I could be KU at that point in time, but I am going regardless. I don't want another opportunity to pass me by. I also was invited to the Sundance Film Festival in January, and that one might be a little bit more of a stretch for me, but I am going to weigh it out and see if it is feasible.

In any case, the point of this long drawn-out post is to say that 1) I am still here and 2) If you get one message from this post at all, let it be this. Never ever ever give up on your dreams! We never know how much time we have....all of our days are numbered. So how will you live them??? In the words of Thoreau: "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you have imagined."

Pep talk concluded. Have a wonderful day!

I'm in love with my doctor.

Not really. Or maybe. My OB/GYN takes me so seriously. I really do love how much he respects me. And best of all believes me.

So lets talk about my appointment yesterday. I went into to see Dr. Jenkins and this was our conversation.

Dr. J : Mrs OB, you are back? I guess you aren't pregnant yet.

Erica: Yep, I know something is wrong. My husband has great counts and I feel like his sperm don't get a real chance at surviving. I don't have a normal Luteal Phase and I know its causing problems. I used to be so normal... until I gained weight but I promise I'm trying to lose it. I promise.

Dr. J: Oh I know. I see you all the time working out with Elaine. I know you are trying.

Mrs OB: Umm what the hell? How the hell do you know my personal trainer's name?

Dr. J: Oh she's my trainer also.

Mrs OB: I promise I'm not stalking you. I promise its the only good gym around here.

Then we go on to talk about my cycles and LSU football. And then working out. And then LSU football again.

He really is a great doctor. We decided the weight could have caused some issues with me however, I am working hard to lose it and I could probably use some progesterone supplements and maybe some clomid.

So here I am today. A happy duck with a plan. A plan to continue working out, a plan to use the progesterone and maybe the clomid this cycle. I'm excited! Not only for the plan but for our vacation!

Sorry guys, I will be gone for 2 weeks. 2 weeks of bliss with my wonderful husband. I'm so excited!

I decided I would also give a thank you shot out for Thanksgiving.

5 months ago today, Mr.OB went under the knife to have his first surgery, brain surgery. 5 months later my husband is healthy and we are going on a trip of a lifetime. Its truly amazing and unbelievable what has happened in 5 months. 5 months ago I was praying to God just to not take away my husband. 5 months later, I am thanking God for a wonderful life he has given us. I am so thankful for this opportunity we have. 5 months after our horrific ordeal we are going on an unbelievable vacation. 5 months later I am packing our bags with my husband, who won't let me pack the dogs. I'm thankful for the friends and family who got us through this roller coaster. 5 months later, you can even tell we experience what we experience.

And that is what I am thankful for.

Two week wait..

Sucks. Its just beginning. I think. It seems I o'd yesterday and my temp rose slightly this morning. I'm excited. This cycle was a little different. Mr. OB wasn't feeling that great. He had a fever 2 days in my fertile period and he couldn't 'concentrate'. All he could think about was not getting snot on me. HAHA! Too funny. Oh Mr. OB, you are so silly.

Needless to say we did do the deed on Sunday and Monday so hopefully that will be good enough. I mean it only takes 1 right? That's what everyone always tells me.

I think this 2ww is going to go by so ridiculously fast. Why might you ask? Well in 2 weeks we leave for Barcelona to hop on this.

Photo Credit

Yeah, I know you are jealous. You don't have to tell me. Who wouldn't be? HA! I am so excited! This is exactly what Mr. OB and I need after all we have been through. This is our little treat since we have been through alot since his surgery.

So here we are. In 14 days we will board the ship for 12 days of bliss. A 12 day Mediterranean Cruise. I'm so excited! I can't believe this. This is definitely one of my things on my top 10 list. I can't believe we actually GET to do this. Its purely amazing.

If I'm not knocked up. That's fine because I have a consolation prize...

Itinerary

Day	Port	Arrive	Depart
Thu	Barcelona	-	7:00 PM
Fri	At Sea	-	-
Sat	Rome (Civitavecchia)	8:00 AM	8:00 PM
Sun	At Sea	-	-
Mon	Athens (Piraeus)	11:00 AM	8:00 PM
Tue	Ephesus (Izmir)	8:00 AM	5:00 PM
Wed	At Sea	-	-
Thu Fri	Alexandria	7:00 AM -	Overnight 6:00 PM
Sat	At Sea	-	-
Sun	Valletta (Malta)	11:00 AM	6:00 PM
Mon	At Sea	-	-
Tue	Barcelona	5:00 AM	-

So if AF does come.. she can suck it because I will be drinking away on a boat a far far far way from reality!

New cycle, new plan

AF finally decided to showed up Monday afternoon, 16 DPO, so my plan was to call my doctor and she was going to schedule me for a HSG the following week. She told me that they like to schedule them between cycle days 7 and 9, and that from this moment on we were to have "no intercourse until after the procedure." DH was none too pleased with this order. So she scheduled the procedure for the following Tuesday afternoon (cycle day 9). Thankfully, she then mentioned that when we arrive at the radiologist office that they will make me sign a waiver because often times this procedure isn't covered by insurance. I'm so glad she said this because this then prompted me to call my insurance lady and she did a little digging for me and called me back to tell me that my insurance covers no fertility testing and this specific procedure is a fertility procedure. She told me that the procedure would cost about $700 out of pocket. OUCH! I quickly realized I'm not ready to pay that much money for a procedure that isn't 100% necessary at this point. We haven't even been trying for a year yet, so I called my doc office back and cancelled the appointment. I did however call the Urologist and schedule a consultation for Mr. Hopeful Bud, so that we can get a referral to get a Semen Analysis.

So that's our new plan, to get Mr. Hopeful Bud's guys tested and then just see what happens for a couple of months. I still have a ClearBlue Easy Fertility Monitor and Pre-Seed so hopefully those will work for us in the next couple of months, pending no issue with Mr. HB's guys. If we still don't have our BFP in a couple months (say 3 months) then I will schedule the HSG and other tests.

To tell the truth, I'm a little sad that we won't be having the HSG this month. I guess I got excited after hearing two of my friends tell me that they got their BFP the month they had the procedure.

On the bright side, since AF is here right now, she will be leaving real soon, so I don't have to worry about her while we are at the lake and I can partake in a couple Vodka Lemonades. And I guess since I'm not have the HSG procedure, Mr. HB and I can keep BDing and having fun!

Beantown was a great distraction to the 2WW

So this morning I took my temperature at 5:30am for the first time in five days. That's the longest break I have taken since starting to chart. I decided before leaving for Boston that I was just going to relax, I had ovulated the weekend before, so I was in the 2WW and didn't want to stress any more then necessary. So I didn't even take my BBT with me. Boston was a great distraction, it is a wonderful city and we had the most incredible time. But this fun city provided a bit more temptation then I could turn down. Usually during the 2WW I am very good at not drinking alcohol, but not this last week. On Thursday when we arrived in Boston, Mr. Hopeful Bud and myself started down the red brick path of the Freedom Trail. After two stops, Mr. Hopeful Bud decided that he was thirsty and wanted to go to Cheers, so we did. We even sat at Fraiser's spot at the bar. It started to pour as soon as we got into the bar, so a couple drinks later, we left once the rain cleared up. Later that evening there was wine with dinner. The next day we enjoyed Blue Vodka Lemonades for dinner. It just seems like all we did was drink and eat while in Boston. Please don't judge me, I am usually a poster child of moderation and drank in moderation this week as well. I hate the feeling of being drunk, so I avoid that feeling very well. I guess I just feel a bit guilty for the multiple indulgences on our trip even though I know that IF I was pregnant, the baby and I would not be sharing blood yet at this point. So the baby would not be affected. Good to know, but I still feel a little guilty.

Since we are back home, I will start behaving myself. No more drinking until AF shows up. I will get back to being my good 2WW self. I'm currently at 10DPO, so I'm hoping that I can wait until AF is late before I POAS. Only time will tell. Wish me luck!