ShannonO: I can totally see your point about not knowing just how meaningful a faint line might be until you came here and saw some. And I'm glad that the photo can make it more exciting for people! If it were me, I don't know that I would be able to bring myself to race not knowing for sure that I wasn't pregnant. But I'm a worry-wart that way. I think my tendency to obsess like that makes me much more stressed than I would otherwise be, so probably it's better if you go ahead and do it, but I don't think I could. Hopefully you can get in and get a blood test, and it will be a moot point, because they'll find out you're pregnant!
Tank: I love that you thanked your hubby!
Ceccy: I hope that your trip to Africa does the trick (northern Africa or southern?). I hope they've got just what you need.
Meander: Indeed, I also like your first baby picture. I think, when I get to that point, I'll start to feel a lot more confident.
nmouse: You've been added! Although I seem to have missed adding your chart, I'll have to go back and do it afterwards. We're happy to have you in our little online community. Do you know, are you still likely to ovulate every month with just one ovary, just from the same side every time, or does your body take some months off? I wouldn't worry too much about not having a health care provider that meets your needs - you've got lots of time to arrange for all of that once you get pregnant - that's why we gestate for so long, right? You'll find a good fit. I think your idea of "a lot of downtime" and my idea of "a lot of downtime" might be very different. I don't see going to grad school, having a part-time job, and being a parent as having much downtime. I clearly need more downtime than you! You sound like a supermom-to-be to me! I know I've heard a lot about false positives on blue dye tests, but I also know that FRER isn't all that likely to give you a positive at 11DPO, especially if you had a late implantation. It certainly can, but it isn't a sure thing. If you can, wait until 13 dpo (tomorrow, right?) and take another FRER - I think that's when they start being super-accurate. I'm hopeful for you, since you're already two days late! As far as worrying about jealousy with the pets, I have a friend with three dogs and two cats who had a baby last summer, and the pets are fine with it. The humans still make a point of keeping the pets routines similar, and they haven't had a problem yet. I'm a little worried, because our house is very cold and my cat seeks out the warmest areas. Last summer I was feeling a little sick and took a painkiller before I went to lay down . . . it was naproxen sodium, which is pretty strong stuff for me. I woke up because I felt like someone was choking me and I couldn't breathe at all, and sat bolt upright, which caused my cat to fall off of my neck. So I'm planning for a cat-proof crib cover, or something . . . I haven't worked out what to do yet, because I would really like to cosleep, but that will displace my cat from her favorite place - my armpit. We'll figure something out.
Bel: Thanks for the sticky reassurances in your earlier post. I need all of that that I can get. And my hubby is sweet. Very calm, and sweet. I think we make a good match because of our opposite natures. I remind him to get excited about things, and he reminds me to stay steady in the face of life's ups and downs. When we went on our bike trip, on our way through California, we saw a sign for an elephant seal beach. I LOVE sea mammals, and I got so excited that I was literally jumping up and down on the bike seat! It was a tandem bike (bicycle built for two), so when I bounced it bounced him too . . . and I was yelling, "Sea mammals!" in great excitement. He was also pleased to see them, which he showed by smiling. He did play a bit, though, when we went over and looked at them, because they make funny sounds. So we started making elephant seal noises at each other. Good times, good times. I actually handle his calm way better when I'm up than when I'm down. It's really hard for me to not think he's being callous when something happens that makes me really sad or angry and he stays in that same calm state. He tries to comfort me, but it affects him so little . . . it's just hard for me to understand. I'm so sorry that you're out again this month. Have a restorative break, for sure. Do some relaxing things, take bubble baths, drink wine, eat brie. You will still get pregnant. 
I wish I had some way to wave my magic wand and make it happen sooner for all of you, you all deserve it so much.
birdie.lee: I'm with you on the not having the money for treatments . . . I'm glad we seem to be able to get preggers (AND we're going to stay preggers, this time). I don't think fertility treatments are covered by health care here, although fertility testing is? Which seems strange to me, but I guess they figured they needed to draw the line somewhere. You will get pregnant too! Hopefully sooner rather than later.
Val: I'm so pleased that you're at news-announcing time already!
Taxlady: I think you have a great attitude about the timing thing. And I like that you can see the benefits of both SAHMing and working on a career that you love. Sometimes people seem to get so wrapped up in their decision of what's right for them that they forget that it might not be right for everyone, but you do an admirable job of seeing what's right for you and still seeing that what's right for someone else might be different! Just one of the reasons I value you so much! Sorry you have to pay someone so much to worry for you (I'm still hoping you won't have to, because you'll get the good luck you deserve this month), but you sure do have a good attitude about it. I agree, even though the crown sounds mighty cool, that I would take the BFP over it . . . hopefully our next threadkeeper can have both the crown AND a BFP. I like your plan for the future children to have summer camp crowns. I'm sure they won't think that that is in any way uncool. Or whatever that's called now (probably uncool is uncool). We can just tell them that's the price of their wonderful experiences - keeping their moms happy by wearing silly crowns, at least once, together. For a picture. 
Well, okay, twice, once here and once at Disneyland. And I love your use of the paper-bag smiley as the closest approximation of the threadqueen crown! All those smileys, and not a single one representing the Threadkeeper's crown, imagine that! I hope the remicade does everything you need it to, and no side effects more! So far so good, it seems like. And you have a wonderful attitude about money regarding this whole journey. I envy your good attitude and support from your DH in this matter. It will work out, and with any luck you won't even need to spend more than anyone else on having a kid.
Calycanth: I'm glad you got your birthday brunch with your hubby! Birthdays with DHs is really something to be thankful for . . . when my birthday comes, my husband is pretty much always out at work. He is very sweet, and last year he went out of his way (WAY out of his way) to call me - they didn't have cell service where he was working (pretty usual) so he had to drive most of the way to town after work. Anyway, it makes me happy that you got to spend your 30th with yours. And now that you mention it, I've been known to forget it was my birthday before, for things less important than BFP's. In fact, I routinely forget everyone's birthday, including my own. So I guess it isn't too surprising that I forgot yours, but I was trying SO hard to remember! I felt gloomy and discouraged around 6-8 dpo last cycle, and we know how that turned out, so don't put too much weight on your mood (as far as your chances go, anyway . . . it doesn't make it any easier to feel that way). And as far as not being pregnant yet, you know you can conceive. You will conceive again. The chances of miscarrying again are very low. I know you're about to hit the one year mark, but you said that not all of those months have been good tries - because your DH was away for work, right? So don't be too discouraged. You are fertile, you know you're fertile. It's just a matter of time. Not that I don't understand, I fully expected to be pregnant by the summer of 2009, but life got in the way, and I let it slide more than I should have. I almost cried in January of last year when they couldn't take out my IUD before I left the country for three months! I know it's a little different, because I wasn't "trying" all that time, just wishing, but I remember you saying that you weren't trying all those months either. Take heart, it's going to happen for you, I'm certain of it. Hopefully in the next few days! You sure do have a better constitution than me, all that early testing would put me in the nuthouse!
Boots: I am, indeed, very lucky to have both Tank and Val in my DDC. Val is the fearless leader of the three of us, forging ahead to show us the way, and Tank and I are the rearguard, keeping a close formation! Not that I'm really posting there yet. I liked your comment about insurance companies not being great humanitarians. 
You can say that again! I also really liked your comparing TTC to a writing a novel instead of to a math problem. That's a very fitting analogy, and it's what makes our BJC so interesting, that everyone is writing a different novel. You have an amazingly good attitude right now, it seems to me, so good job!
Tickletoes: I hope your hubby gets home on time! Again, I know seven months is an eternity in some ways, but you know you can get pregnant. You will get pregnant again! Gypsy looks like she's enjoying being a jungle-kitty. My cat loves anything that resembles "the wild" - plants are the best, but any kind of unusual textures make her go into jungle-kitty mode. Simon has huge ears! Is he still pretty young? Or just cute? And Tokyo is very pretty. Thanks for the furbaby pictures!
AFM: I'm happy to provide pictures of my BFP(s) for people to see, and now I think I understand why people want to see them. I guess I would too, except that we got pregnant the second time we really had a shot at it, so I got to see the BFP, and it didn't result in a baby, so I'm not super-excited by the two lines, and I don't have as much confidence as I used to that they lead inevitably to a baby. But this time it will! I want to be confident again. I'm not posting much in the DDC yet. And I'm still really hopeful that a bunch of you ladies will be joining Tank and I in the November DDC - I think we both can hang out there, since we're due the last two days of October and first pregnancies usually go late! Here's hoping!
is one touchy B****. I mean, you were totally polite and sweet about it. I hope she settles down. Good luck on your race, I feel like now that she showed up you're going to do awesome!! It's perfect timing IMO. GOO SHANNONO! I'll be with you in spirit! 
GET BACK! I hope you have a relaxing day off.. gotta love those presidents. My DH joked with me all day yesterdat that because Franklin Pierce is my favorite president (he's not but that's a running joke with my US Government and History buff DH - who doesn't think much of FP) I don't get to celebrate president's day. It's ironic that the IRS takes away a US Holiday from us serving them.. Now as for the hot weather, I don't like hot, but I truly understand how the cold is messing with you and there is a reason so many people move to AZ.. it's a great place for people with allergies. Nice and dry and HOT! You've had a tough winter season.. I hope it gets better for you. And the "Ride Along" - so funny.. and so cool you have someone like that in your life. 
I am a public school/state college gal.. and not for nothing, I have the least expensive education in comparison with DH, SIL, Sister and BIL... and guess who has the most earning potential.. That's right.. THE PUBLIC SCHOOL KID! 
I was just making a joke, it's sort of my way of coping with the impending worries I am having. For most people, the Medical Deduction on your tax return is a tough one to actually get to take, NOT THIS YEAR!! HA - IRS TAKE THAT!! (and give me back my holiday.. ) 
Although, I'm thinking, if Hykue is going to homeschool, maybe I could put my future child in her school, the commute to Saskatchewan would be brutal.. I'd probably be late for work. 
Now she wants grandkids.. HELLO??!?! I'm sure at 18 we could have provided more she could have ever wanted. AH WELL..
the sarcasm of the crowns and our children finding them uncool. I'll have to ask DH what the going term is out here.. he's always coming home with the new slang and I'm like WHAT???? Or one time he came home and showed me the newest dance craze.. called "The Jerk". First he showed me, then he showed me some of his students on You Tube, because unbeknownst to him they had been making a video of themselves in his classroom and he's actually in the video. His version of the dance was FAR FAR different than the talented kids... so funny! P.S. You really had some wise things to say in your last post. I think you're a really kind and caring person. 
And thanks for chart whispering for me. I've bought all my supplies... we're going full bore. 
Follow Mothering