30-Somethings TTC #1, January 2011: Year of the Bajingo Juice

[Calycanth]

Conceiving #1 in Our 30's January 2011

Last Month's Thread


If You Would Like To Join, Welcome!
Please give us your age, when you started TTC,
and a link to your chart if you have one.
And feel free to share a bit more - we are a really friendly group!

Active Members

AmandaMom ...........age 31 ...TTC since 03/10 profile 7
Ambers80...................age 30....TTC since 05/08

Amyfemme ..................age 35 ...TTC since 10/10 profile 12
BabyHopesCO ........age 34 ...TTC since 07/09 profile 9
Bel718 .......................age 31 ...TTC since 01/10 profile 12
birdie.lee ...................age 30 ...TTC since 04/10 profile 12

boggles.....................age 33... TTC since 02/2010 profile  12
Bootsvalentine ........age 31 ...TTC since 06/10 profile 12
BrownLioness.........age 31 ...TTC since 08/11 profile 11
Calycanth.........age 29 ...TTC since 03/10 profile  12

Cathelini.............age 34...TTC since 2009

Femmeknitzi......age 29...TTC since 12/10 profile 

Hykue ...................age 30 ...TTC since 08/10 profile 2

JlyGrnMigt ...................age 31 ...TTC since 09/10 profile 12
Kinza .........................age 31 ...TTC since 11/08 profile 10
Laggie .......................age 35 ...TTC since 09/09 profile 11
Lalazap.................age ??....TTC since 12/10 

Lustrae.......................age 33...TTC since 08/09 profile 

Mainebirdgirl ...........age 31 ...TTC since 06/10 profile 9

Mrswoodpeka............age 32...TTC since 03/10

Mole.........................age 32...TTC since 9/2010

Mrs.Nap515 .............age ?? ...TTC since ??/?? profile 7
Rubygirl36 ..................age 30 ...TTC since 10/10 profile 10

Rush2ady.....................age 38...TTC since 12/10

Shellhawk..................age 36... TTC since 05/10 profile 12
TaxLady ....................age 35 ...TTC since 08/09 profile 12
Tickletoes .................age 34 ...TTC since 08/10 profile 12
Towgirl ......................age 3? ...TTC since 09/10 profile 1012
Viola.Swamp .............age 30 ...TTC since 02/10 7
WTHamI? .................age 30 ...TTC since 03/10 profile 9

Pregnant Graduates

2011

ValH........................... at age 31...after 13 months EDD 09/11 profile

2010
 

HDSM........................ at age 32...after 1 month EDD 08/11

Tear78 ....................... age 31 ...after 2.5 years EDD 08/11 profile

meander ....................  age 37 ...after 13 months EDD 08/11 profile

Teetina ...................... at age 31 ...after 11 months EDD 08/11 profile

Fertilemyrtle ............. age 32 ...after 4 months EDD 07/11 profile

LivingSky ................. at age 30 ...after 6 months EDD 07/11 profile

annaconda ............... at age 31 ...after 2 months EDD 5/11 profile
Shyentist ................... at age 30 ... after 7 months EDD 5/11 profile
Bolobear ................... at age 32 ... after 1 months EDD 5/11 profile
Nutter ................... at age 32 ... after 1 months EDD 5/11 profile
Elonwy ................... at age 32 ... after 3 months EDD 5/11 profile
Blanca78 ................... at age 32 ... after 13 months EDD 5/11 profile
lauraska .................... at age 32 ... after 4 months EDD 4/11 profile
cb718 ......................... at age 33 ... after 2 months EDD 4/11 profile
Shabbers .................. at age 38 ... after 3 years EDD 4/11 profile
amp4piano ............... at age 3? ... after 5 months EDD 4/11 profile
Neuromancer ........... at age 33 ... after 1 month EDD 3/11 profile
rmiriam ...................... at age 31 ... after 8 months EDD 3/11 profile
jtc77 .......................... at age 32 ... after 1 year EDD 3/11 profile
IHeartMyFamily ..... at age 31 ... after 1.5 years! EDD 2/11 profile
Jenne ........................ at age 32 ... after 1 year! EDD 2/11 profile
PixelGeek................... at age 30 ... after 1 month EDD 11/10 profile
  

 

Mommy Graduates

2010's

Monarchgrrl, orandalady, grateful301, kmlcu, mollytommy, Adorkable

 2009's

violet_, Suka, CareCare, Sju88b, shantiani, Peace+Hope, lissame72, KikaKika, Masel, zenproofstella, Wanting2BaMom, jacappell, joyakshi, Octobermoon, EarthMamaToBe, Cellist, berryblndgirl, beth28, carmen358, marinak1977, makeminepink, humptydumpty, Lillitu, Catubodua, PoetryLover, cocoanib, welshwife08, Katie34, lilviolet, starkyld, Poetgirl, Somegirl99,Taylah, Houla055 

 2008's

Amahrey, jencat, Ms Sig, christigpa, ~sweet pea~, Nashvillemidwife, artsake, kJad29, elspethshimon, heinz28, nonsenseprecious, nalusj, musiclady, quasar & smartycat, tourist, penstamon, amymckinney, corikodjo, honeybunny65, fjkelly, tiggernorton04,sky_and_lavender 

 2007's

Hazieluna, ATD Mom, Brightside, K9sarchik, Amberbella, Shibababy, jpiper0430, MajorGroover, Grace24, Hezzy, CowsRock, Kharen, Nico DeMouse, xenon, SarahJen, Suzywan, Phillybama, jentina, Jujubie, Writerbird, Melanie_rabbitbarn, Cicely_m, PinkOrchid2,Cking, Mandy 74, Anouk, GISDiva, Raingyrl, ChristyM26, Starlightsound, Palma, Rhon, 11yrsNoKid, Desilou, Nony,AngelaM, hae703, Radiowave, FiberLover, Scalpel, Zucchini, Funnygrace, VeganCupcake, Illaria

2006's

Farmama, PiePie, Dctexan, Greengrey & Beckyphry
 
 

List Maintenance:
 

This #1 In Your 30s Thread welcomes everyone who's interested to participate in this thread. You are welcome to come and go as you are able, just please be aware that in order to keep the list of members manageable, the username of those who haven't participated in the thread within the last 6 months will be removed. If your name is removed, you are always welcome to rejoin the thread at any time. Graduates are listed indefinitely for the joy it brings!

Threadkeeping:
 

Members are most welcome to take a turn at threadkeeping for a month. It is easy and fun. All help you need will be happily given.

Edited by Calycanth - 1/26/11 at 4:00pm

[Calycanth]

Happy New Year!  Please let me know if your information needs to be updated.

Here's some for the 2011 Bajingo Juice Club!

[boggles]

Thanks for the new thread Calycanth!

Shellhawk - I agree with LivingSky that it's probably best to temp when you wake at 6, as long as you're getting at least 3 hours of sleep prior to that.  I would keep going with the Basal Thermometer too.  But what is the difference?  I use a thermometer I got from the supermarket that records to 1/10th of a degree - but maybe that's what makes it a basal one?  Oh, I can see your chart now too, but not sure what to make of it yet.  Hopefully you will get a big thermal shift after you O and it will all make sense

May 2011 be the year of the BFP! 

[Calycanth]

Amen, sister!

[Shellhawk]

Thanks so much for your tips LivingSky & Boggles!!  Thanks Caly for the new thread!

Babydust to all of your wonderful Ladies!!  

[Taxlady]

Thanks for the new thread - Caly - love the colors!!  I hope you are feeling better.

I hate to say this.. but will you change my age to 35? 

We're going to bed now.. Happy 1-1-11 to all!!

[Bel718]

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!  I hope that everyone had a safe and joyful one!

                            

and

to everyone!  

Calycanth - hope you are feeling better.  The flu is awful.  Hope you are taking care of yourself.

Shellhawk - it took me awhile to get used to temping.  I was using a Vicks thermometer myself until I started getting more info about TTC and have been using a basal thermometer.  It was hard for me to remember to take my temp when I first woke up, now its so routine.  As soon as my alarm goes off I reach for the thermometer.

AFM - wouldn't you figure after almost a year of weird cycles and having to take the Prometrium to induce AF (when it decided to come on its own before 80 days) and then taking Clomid (I am thankful!  I really am!)  I got a + OPK for 2 days.  The thing was BD-ing was going to be near impossible.  I was taking my sister out to celebrate her bday (dinner and to a piano bar).  I had arranged with DH to BD when we got home b/c I figured me, my sister, and friend can't hang like we used to. But we did!   I finally had to tell my friend what was going on and tell them hey...gotta go BD  I will be back in an hour.  This was so stressful for DH... then yesterday we were staying at a hotel with a friend to attend a big New Years Eve party...  We did manage to BD the two days with + OPK, but I couldn't 'sit and simmer'.  Not to mention I had no EWBJ - I had to use Pre-Seed....we will see what is going to happen.  Hope everyone else has better timing that that to start the New Year! 

Sorry...the point of the above paragraph was pretty much to vent. 

My timing was off but hey! - My cycle is shorter and I actually detected an LH surge within a reasonable time frame!       

Yes boggles!  2011 will be the year of the BFP!                                      

[birdie.lee]

Thanks for the new thread Cal, such pretty colors for the new year!

Shell ~ I would probably use the first waking temperature taking, as long as you are getting enough sleep before that.  I have a BBT that goes two decimal places, but I only pay attention to the first decimal place.

Bel ~ Just want to give you some huge props for making BDing a priority and fitting it in to your very busy schedule!

AFM, still not charting, and I am actually enjoying it.  I'm not working and my much lower stress levels are doing wonders for...ahem...how do I put this delicately...getting in the BDing mood, LOL.  I had no idea how much my work stress/unhappiness was bleeding into the rest of my life.  It definitely shows me how important it is to have boundaries.  When I do start working again, things will definitely be different.  And I am so totally hopeful that DH will knock me up this year. 

Boggles, love your statement about 2011, the year of the BFPs!

[bootsvalentine]

birdie, we had to look up your icon, but we were pretty sure, DH and I love the new BBC Sherlock, too! :) When is the next one?

Can't believe it's back to real life this upcoming week. We had some friends over and now are trying to do a lot of practical crap so we can enjoy our Sunday. I am down two two OPKs and I think it should be O soon, but I'm not sure. Gotta get some BD'ing in soon.

Besides a BFP, what are you focusing on for the New Year? I am not so much into resolutions but we did just spend awhile making a new budget on mint.com and we want to work on getting out of debt, but of course as you all know I've been sick so much, so health is a huge priority too. Our biggest focus is making sure we cook meals at home and stay within other shopping budgets.

When is Taxi coming back to recount her adventures abroad so we can all live vicariously?

Hope you're feeling better Caly!

[birdie.lee]

Boots ~ So cool that you and your DH are Sherlock fans as well.    The second series comes out on BBC in fall 2011, so hopefully it will air on PBS soon afterwards.  After the cliffhanger ending of season one, I really, really want to know what is going to happen!

What am I focusing on in the new year?  I plan on keeping track of DH and my spending more (I even have an excel worksheet all ready to go), losing a few pounds that crept up during our move to our new city (and keeping it off), and learning how to dress less frumpy (sounds weird but I need it).  This is of course besides getting a BFP :)

Now off to enjoy a lovely Sunday and  to everyone.

[Bel718]

Thanks Birdie.lee!  I am feeling a bit sheepish for venting pretty much about nothing.  So glad to hear that not working has helped decrease your stress level.  It really does bleed into your life...  Have you started bird feeding?  I could be wrong I thought you mentioned you feed them in the winter.

As far as New Years resolutions - getting fit and trying not to stress out too much.

[Taxlady]

Hi guys..

We're still in Paris going home next Saturday.   It's a long trip but hopefully the DH and I will have way less time to travel soon.

My New Year's plans are to also get our budget into focus - I also use Mint.com which I think is a really great tool!  Excel spreadsheets are good also but the Mint, tracks everything for you and downloads it for you.  You can set up goals and budgets and it will also allow you to add your assets so you know what your net worth is... or lacks

Can you believe the Taxlady is going to owe taxes this year??  We say "in the biz" getting no refund is the best tax planning, but paying a penalty...not so good.  At least I didn't give a free loan to Washington (no politics or anything.. but it's rare to get a free loan). 

I'm with BIRDIE  (that's me and Birdie) - Getting fitter is on my list, the Whole Living Magazine has a good 28 day plan, I don't plan on following the entire thing - but I would like to do the first two weeks of exercise and yoga poses.  I am going to try to cut down on my morning coffee (I can't give it up) and shake off the cheese I've loved eating here. 

I just want to mention that the bbt is important because it goes to two decimals - that really helps catch the temp shift - so if you can get that extra decimal.  I haven't temped for two months, I think.... hopefully, I won't need to.  The DH and I are going to Holland on Tuesday, which is "supposed" to be my fertile time.  I've had tons of EWBJ - TONS!!  I'm hoping that is a good sign.

Bel - PROPS TO YOU!!  I hope your due diligence pays off in big ways!!!  And, you should know.. this is not a place to worry about venting - I don't want to say I enjoy it but I do, it's important to me that you tell me how you feel.   Vent away!  I am hear to listen!!

Bootsie - This is your year for being well!!  No more sickies for you.  When do you go back to work?  DH has another week, I watched him get sick about 3 hours after he left school then I was worried all week that he was going to be sick for the trip.  He's pulled through, but you teachers are amazing - you seem to hang as long as you can but then finally your body says NO MORE! 

Caly - I sure hope you are feeling better, too...

Hey Boggles and Shellhawk - back when I was "Reine du fil" everyone told us the story behind their screenname.. CARE TO SHARE??

I know my friend Val doesn't post on the weekends, but I miss you all so much.. I hope everyone comes back in full force soon.  Anyone heard from Meander? I might have to PM her, I think of her often.

EVERYONE TAKE THEIR VITAMINS AND STAY WARM

[Blanca78]

Hope she doesn't mind me posting this here, but Adorkable had her babies! I saw the thread in her January DDC: http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1287456/in-labor-i-m-now-the-mom-of-twins

Happy New Year and best of luck for getting those BFPs, everyone!

[Taxlady]

YEA!!  Thanks Blanca and happy pregnancy to you!!

[Calycanth]

Hi ladies!  Thanks for all the well-wishes!  After three days of 102-104 degree fevers, I am finally feeling a bit better.  My throat really started to bother me yesterday morning, so I took a look at my tonsils.  Turns out I have a pretty nasty case of strep.  I went to urgent care today and (after waiting nearly three hours to see the doctor) got a shot of antibiotics in my backside (ow!) as well as a prescription.  According to the doc, the shot is supposed to "really attack" the bacteria so I'll get better faster.  I hope she's right.  Now I'm worried about how the drugs might monkey with my fertility this month.  Anyone have any experience with this or know anything about it?

Taxlady - Love the new avatar!  What a classic setting!  Hey, owing taxes is a good thing, right?  Doesn't that mean you're making decent money?  We also use mint.com.  It's awesome!

Birdie - I'm so glad you've been able to relax and enjoy yourself since the move.  Hopefully having less stress in your life will help in the BFP department.  I'm kind of a frumpy dresser too - I love jeans and sweatshirts.  I always feel disingenuous somehow when I wear "stylish" clothes.

Boots - OK girl, read, set, O!  that this is your month.  And stay healthy when school starts up again!  I know it's hard in your line of work - classrooms are basically cesspools of contagion. 

Bel - I agree with everyone else, you should feel free to vent as much as you like!

Congrats to Adorkable!  And happy new year to Blanca!  I hope your little one brings you incredible joy this year.

My resolution this year is to make peace with food and my body.  I am going to eat food because it is delicious and nourishing, not because it's low in calories!/has tons of fiber!/boosts metabolism!/or whatever.  No more diets and no more obsessing for me.  I'm going to work on appreciating my body for all of the awesome things it does and all of its beautiful curves rather than mentally berate myself whenever I try on clothes.  2011 is going to be the year of self-love for me.

[bootsvalentine]

Birdie, Fall 2011 seems so far away. We are huge Doctor Who fans, too, and it seems like those short British seasons take forever to come out! DH is reading some of the original Sherlock stuff now because it peaked his interest. What's your plan to de-frump your wardrobe? :) Do you ever watch What Not to Wear? You know Stacy and Clinton would prescribe a dress, dark wash jeans, and a jacket. ;) It's always the same!

Taxi, I can't believe you've got another week in France! Glad your DH is healthy and able to enjoy the trip. I don't get the way our bodies hold out until break, either, although honestly as you guys know basically mine has been having mini-breakdowns since Thanksgiving. Mint.com is pretty cool, I read about it while browsing the frugality and finances forum here. Our bank had some online tools but these seem way easier. I'm also afraid we'll owe taxes this year again because DH got a raise and I don't know if my withholding was ever right... blah.

Aww, congrats to Adorkable and thanks for keeping us posted, Blanca. :) Hope all is well.

Caly, yuck! Sounds like you were really, really sick. I do hope all the drugs start to help. I haven't heard anything specific about antibiotics messing with TTC. Goodness knows I've been on enough of them in the past few months.

Enjoying reading about everyone's plans to be good to themselves this year.

Hey, where's Val been? We miss you, lady, happy new year!

AFM, I think those cryptic relationship problems are going to keep us from trying this month. Basically it seems to be causing performance issues for DH and I don't know that I have the time and patience to try to work through feelings right now. It either needs to happen or not.. I am so disappointed but trying not to be too dire. I do need to focus mainly on staying healthy so maybe ttc should take a back seat for awhile anyway. but yeah,  :(  Even though I don't think I've O'd yet, I don't know if I can go through "trying" to try again this week. I am going back to work tomorrow and there's just a ton of other things to think about and do. None of them are my #1 priority, but if that's not going to happen I might as well step up to everything else.

[Hykue]

Bel:  I hope this doesn't sound offensive, but I thought it was funny that your poor hubby got stressed about the quickie before you went back out.  I think I would find that a little disconcerting as well, but I still giggled, just a little.  Anyway, thanks for telling us, it's nice to know other people do things like this . . . Not that I ever go out, but if I did, I could see this happening . . . on my part anyway . . . I think DH would be too weirded out.  Anyway, it sounds like your cycle is regulating pretty well now, so yay!

Boots: I'm planning to stop gaining weight and get more exercise.  I needed to gain weight for years (I weighed the same thing from when I was 17 until I was 27), until we went on a 4000 km cycle tour.  I surprisingly gained a little while we were cycling (muscle in my legs), and then I converted some of it to fat when we finished, and my menstrual cycle became more regular, I had more energy, I became capable of thermoregulation, I looked more healthy . . . it was great!  And I kept gaining fat . . . for the first time in my life, my BMI became "normal" instead of underweight.  And I'm very very happy about it.  But now, I want to stop gaining weight.  I'm starting to edge out of normal and towards overweight.  And I'm getting really sick of buying a whole new pants wardrobe . . . twice was enough (and I bought them too big both times, too!)  So I don't need to lose weight, but I do need to figure out how to stop gaining, which will be hard, because gaining was my goal for a whole decade.  I'm feeling really positive about my ability to get more exercise, because I'm finally learning to enjoy exercise and love my body for what it can do instead of feeling stupid for not already being good at something that I've never tried.  Also, I can really tell how much better I feel, mentally, physically, and emotionally (in that order) when I get enough exercise.  I swear, my (brief) pregnancy last fall jump-started my change-yourself-for-the-better engine!  The only other thing is make a point of being less selfish in my relationship with my hubby.  I've been working on it for a while, and I'm getting better, and I want to keep up that trend.

Birdie:  Frumpy dressing, you say?  You know, I don't think I do dress in a way most people would call frumpy.  More like "hobo", perhaps?  My neighbor made a joke about it when she saw me doing laundry, about how I'm always wearing the same pair of ripped pants . . . the funny thing is, I didn't even know those pants were ripped . . . I mean RIPPED, like the butt was completely blown out.  And I was WEARING them.  This is the level of my obliviousness about style and clothing.  So by all means, improve your dressing to a standard you're happy with, but don't feel bad about it, because however badly you've dressed in the past, there's one Saskatchewonian who dresses MUCH, MUCH worse.  Feel free to be horrified, but I hope that makes you feel better about where you're at AND helps motivate you to move towards something better.

Taxlady:  Glad it sounds like you're having such a blast!  I love that you call your work "the biz" . . . that cracks me up.  I think the tons of EWBJ is a good sign - and probably is happening because you're relaxed and having fun in such a romantic locale!  Thanks for the warm wishes, we can use all of them we can get up here . . . Right now I'm wearing two layers on bottom, three (wool) layers on top, slippers, and a wool poncho (with scarf).  And I'm only about 10 feet from the fire!  Also, I wanted to mention that I appreciated your well wishes on 1-1-11 - what a great date!  Although 11-11-11 will be even better, especially if a bunch of us give birth that day (or even just one of us, like, for example, you).
 

Calycanth:  I'm glad you're starting to feel better, but I'm very sorry about the strep.  Strep sucks bigtime!  I'm not sure what antibiotics you got - some of them might mess with fertility, but I looked up the one I got last month for my UTI, and it wasn't supposed to affect fertility.  I tried to ask the pharmacist about it, and got a blank look, and then he told me that it's usually prescribed for bladder infections . . .   So I looked it up online, and it was supposed to be a-ok.  You can look it up if you know the name of the antibiotic and are willing to wade through a bit of jargon.  On another note, I'm pleased that you used the word disingenuous.  That's fantastic!  I've never had opportunity to use that word, and now I'm going to look for one.  It might be difficult, but thanks for the challenge!  I love your plan for the year of self-love.  That sounds like a good way to go.

Boots:  (Yes, again)  I'm sorry about the problems you and your DH are having.  I hope you two can find some kind of common ground that leads to a breakthrough and a stronger, happier relationship.  A lot of times problems in relationships seem to lead to a stronger relationship eventually, once they get worked through.  What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, and all that jazz.  Anyway, I hope you can get to that stronger bit soon and get out of the rough patch. 

AFM:  Not much more to say, as I talked about myself in the personals that I wrote .  Been having a good time here, got some new hay for our critters, my DH made a nice manger for the donkeys, it's all ok.  CD 5 or 6, so pretty boring there.  I suppose if I were being honest, I would have to admit that I'm having to try not to start stressing again, because really this is only the second cycle that we'll be TTC since my chemical, but it might be starting to creep back up on me.  I'm not stressed about not getting pg right away, but I am stressed when I think that I might not get pg before DH goes away for work again in May.  Then I would have to try and visit him during O time, which would mean trying to get the timing right, and 8-10 hour drives (or more), and me worrying that he would feel like I was using him.  I shouldn't be stressed about this yet, it's only January, we'll get a lot more tries between now and then, but I can't help but worry just a little.  Oh well, worrying won't help, and it might hurt.  So I'm gonna try to stop now, again.  Thanks for being here, ladies.  I read all the time, but I don't get the gumption to post very often.  Hugs to all!

[ValH]

Good morning, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I know, I haven’t posted in probably week (very out of character for me).  Last week was crazy busy at work, with twelve hour days.  Then it was the holiday, and the weekend.  But I’m back now!  So sorry this is a long post, had to catch up with everyone.  And sorry if I miss anyone in the personals. 

Taxlady – I LOVE your new profile picture… so very cool.   And thanks for the wish for all of us getting BFPs… that’s definitely my wish for the New Year, too.  Actually, my wish for YOU is a romantic European baby.  That would be so cool if you caught the egg while abroad. 

Jolly – I know what you mean about all the crazy shows that are on now, it’s insane.  I’m not into the whole reality TV craze (unless it’s on TLC or Discovery… or Big Brother – my guilty pleasure).  I’ve never seen 16 & Pregnant, but have passed it on the guide, and plan to keep passing it.  I hope you are had a great time at your MIL’s, and that she got over the weeping. 

Bel718 – As for the water and OPKs… I’ve been using the smiley ones (Clear Blue Easy).  They are more expensive, but I use a lot less of them because I trust them more.  And, they say to use with FMU, so I can do it when I first get up.  I’ve been using them for three months, and love them.  One box lasted me three months, so I actually saved money!  This month I took them from CD 11 – CD 14, so I’m only using about four a month.  If you find that you may be diluting your urine and are worried about the OPK results, I’d highly recommend the smiley OPKs as an option.  And it sounds like your BD timing was good, if you were able to BD on the OPK + days.  If you can’t “simmer” have you thought about using the Instead menstrual cups?  I heard they keep everything where it needs to be after BDing.  I’ve been using them (with no success), but I have a friend that swears they helped her get pregnant. 

Birdie.lee – Glad to hear that you are doing better.  I think we all go through those TTC slumps.  And as for New Year’s resolutions… I think my only one is the normal “lose weight” one.  And to get pregnant.  And to not stress so much about not getting pregnant. 

Boots – I think it’s a good idea for you to see a specialist.  I hope you feel better very soon, and stay that way!  Also, sorry that you and DH might have to not try this month… but maybe it’ll be good to not have the stress of TTC for a few weeks, and you can focus on healing yourself and reconnecting with DH. 

Calycanth – I hope you are feeling better!!  And THANKS for the new  thread!

Shellhawk – I know I’m late in this conversation, but I’ve heard great things about the TCOYF book you mentioned.  I’ve never read it, but a lot of ladies on here swear by it.  As for when it says you are most fertile – it is definitely correct, the four or five days leading up to O and the day of O.  Sperm can live for days… the egg only lasts about 24 hours, so it’s good to have sperm already waiting, or on the way immediately.  I hope January is your month! 

Boogles – AMEN!  I hope 2011 is the Year of the BFP for us all!

Hykue – My fingers are crossed that you get your BFP soon and all the worrying about timing and DH’s work will be unnecessary.

AFM – I’ve been having a hard time getting into TTC this cycle (could be another reason I haven’t been posting).  I haven’t cared about taking my vitamins, drinking my water, doing the OPKs, etc.  I’m just so very “blah” about it all.  But, DH has been very into it… he’s the one that reminds me to do the OPKs and he checks the results (and does a little dance when the smiley shows), reminds me to temp every morning, etc.  And this cycle he’s been muck “friskier” about the BDing.  TMI alert – I usually do the every-other-day thing, and DH seems happy with it, but this cycle he’s been all about every day (or more).  But anyway, despite my lack of motivation, it seems I’m going to O either today or tomorrow.  I had a positive OPK yesterday (negative again today), and I usually O shortly after it goes back to negative.  I did have some odd pains over night last night, enough to wake me up.  Not sure if it was O pains or not, but OUCH!  Whatever it was, it was weird and painful. 

Anyway, I have missed you ladies!  I hope all of our dreams come true in 2011. 

[Bel718]

Thanks Taxlady!  Tough work.  As far as owing taxes...ugh!  So glad you are enjoying Paris!  And yes - here is to not being able to travel lightly for the next 18!   Enjoy the rest of your trip and YOU stay warm, too!

Caly - oh no!  Glad you went and got rx'd for it.  Getting shots always suck, but I wish you a speedy recovery.  Thanks!  I appreciate it  I need to adopt your resolution as well...I just need to be healthy and love myself the way it is!

Boots - Sorry about whats going on.  I know its hard trying to balance TTC, performance issues, and the relationship. 

Hykue - no offense taken.  It was hilarious after the issue, that it was an issue.  Not sure if we will be successful this month, so maybe February will be less eventful.     Its so tough trying not to worry and leaving that in the back of your mind - I hate that also feeling like DH feels like I use him.  We just talk about it and get all those thoughts all in the open.    No 10 hour drives for you!

Good luck to everyone! 

[Bel718]

 Val!  I always post when someone else is.  I am using the Smiley's by ClearBlue easy.  I will start to use FMU next month since it does say it in the instructions.  I was going by what I read online.  Now that my cycle may be normal they are more cost effective.  Last cycle I used the entire box - hope I save money this time.  Nothing wrong with taking a mental break from TTC.  Awesome DH is very supportive and helping with it.  Hope those were O pains!