TTC #1 in our 30's April Thread - Page 3

[cking]

Originally Posted by xenon

The backsplash looks great! I really love doing home renovation stuff... this the photos of your work, and Jen's, make me nostalgic for owning a house.

But I can't get the YouTube of the Italy photos to load. Anybody else having that problem?

Sorry about that - the youtube thing backfired on me. I can't even access youtube from work, so I'll try to fix it later. In the mean time, I have the same photos on shutterfly. Hopefully this link works.

Originally Posted by kJad29

Christina, Do you mind if I put you on for May? I'll update the thread so that you're name shows, but if you want June I'll change it. Now all we need to do is find someone to take care of the June thread. Any takers?

I don't mind at all....May it is!

Originally Posted by SarahJen

One more week to go!

Oh my, it seems like a long week, doesn't it? Well, we're here to help you get through it. :

Jen, ouch, sorry about your finger.

Originally Posted by jencat

Christina - nice backsplash! And you and/or DH take beautiful photos! Very nice!

Originally Posted by CowsRock

Your kitchen project turned out great. Man, all these successful home improvements...we need to get with it over here.

I love the Italy pictures I saw so far. Hopefully I can look at the slideshow some time tomorrow. That breastfeeding picture is so beautiful.

Originally Posted by Kharen

Christina, those pictures are fantastic! Ah, Italy. I hope I can go someday (my family is originally from Abruzzi). I’m so glad you got the chance to go. And the breastfeeding piece was a rare and wonderful find! Your kitchen looks beautiful … wow. You have so many pretty things to show us today!

Thanks everyone! : It's fun sharing photos.
DH took most of the pictures....so I can't take any credit for those. He also did most of the hard work on our project...but I am so in love with our little kitchen right now. We always take on these projects, and end up getting in over our heads. It's nice to be done with this one, finally. Now we need to take a long break before we start in on the next one!

Kharen, I hope you can go to Italy someday too. It is an amazing and beautiful place. DH's family is from Southern Italy, and it was his first time there. Now he can't wait to go back....and he's saying that every vacation should be to Italy from now on.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by cking

Sorry about that - the youtube thing backfired on me. I can't even access youtube from work, so I'll try to fix it later. In the mean time, I have the same photos on shutterfly. Hopefully this link works.

Yes! Working! To echo everyone else, the photos are gorgeous -- your DH has a real eye for photography. But you do too... the ones of DH intently studying the guidebook are great.

I especially liked the Rome photos because I recognized so many places from our New Year's trip. You got to see the Pope!

BTW, you are such a cutie

[cking]

Aww, thanks, Xenon! :

the ones of DH intently studying the guidebook are great.

He does like those guidebooks! It's funny b/c when we're in NYC (where we work) he'll flip out if I pull out a map on the subway or the street, b/c he doesn't want to look like a tourist. But he doesn't mind carrying Rick Steves around with him everywhere over there.

Yes, we got to see the Pope for his Sunday blessing. DH joked that he refers to himself in the third person, because during the blessing (in latin, I'm pretty sure) he kept saying "benedictus".

[xenon]

Originally Posted by Kharen

I'm so happy to be here finally! I wish I could have figured out some way to bring some virtual baked goods into the thread to thank you all.

Awww, that's so sweet. We're more than glad to have you -- this thread fun and active and supportive, and I'm sure you'll like it here.

Kemi, being a lactation consultant sounds really rewarding. So are you looking for a mentor because you're still accruing your 2500 hours? How much longer until you can test for certification?

Rain, it's so sweet that you found your superhero. Somebody like that is definitely worth waiting for. Anyway, it's not like TTC in my early 30s really given me much benefit as far as getting knocked up quickly

Jen, ouch! Although I have to say, that even though I winced for you, I still was somewhat jealous that you were having beet greens for supper. I'm going to have to look for some when I'm shopping!

Sarah, it must be so weird to not know if symptoms are symptoms or not... I can totally understand your reluctance to interpret anything, but your non-symptoms sound pretty encouraging to me

Kripa, here's to a day without cotton under your tongue

As for me, I'm procrastinating something fierce. I can't seem to get focused after my mini-vacation yesterday, despite a full inbox and a whole slate of other work that I could be doing... sigh...

[xenon]

Originally Posted by cking

It's funny b/c when we're in NYC (where we work) he'll flip out if I pull out a map on the subway or the street, b/c he doesn't want to look like a tourist. But he doesn't mind carrying Rick Steves around with him everywhere over there.

That's so funny -- my DH is a bit the same way. When we were in Paris, he REFUSED to look at maps or guidebooks, because he lived in Paris when he was young, so he still feels a bit like a Parisian. On the one occasion where he did finally look at one, he tucked himself way into a corner with his back to the street!

We used the Michelin Green Guide for Rome, though, and consulted it unabashedly.

Originally Posted by cking

Yes, we got to see the Pope for his Sunday blessing. DH joked that he refers to himself in the third person, because during the blessing (in latin, I'm pretty sure) he kept saying "benedictus".

Oh, funny! I didn't really follow the Latin part of the blessing when we saw him (also at at Sunday address.) I was really impressed with the quality of his English and French, though, and the gently way that he spoke them. I presume the other languages were just as good, but those were the only ones I understood.

[dctexan]

Christina - LOVE the Italy pictures. Wow. Gorgeous. Thank you so much for sharing.

[KitttyKat]

Hello, Happy April!!

I still have no idea what my body is doing.
It's been 15 days since my one day of super heavy bleeding.
I have cramps in my low left abdomon quite regularly and my boobs feel strange. Not hurting, just kind of tingly. All I want to eat these days is cheese and crackers, and citrus friut. I'm thirsty, tired, and the last 4 days the first things I eat make me horribly nauseous.
Sounds all good...

Except my temps are neither high nor low. They're too high to be pre O and their too low to be pregnancy. They finally evened out and are holding steady at around 97.7.
Yesterday (CD maybe 14) I had my usual temp dip (97.6...usually it drops from 98.1 to 97.6) then this morning it was up to 98.2. Probably means I ovulated...I decided that around 4am this morning.
But then my very bland breakfast just turned my stomach.
Who really knows.

I was looking up early ovulation in one of my father in laws medical books (he's a medical doctor)(yes it was a recent book...last year). I was wondering why there's no information about how to treat early ovulation online. All you can find online is basically that you're either old or screwed.
Well appearantly that's because it's not a big deal one way or the other. Since we're born with all the eggs we'll ever have, it's only possible to pass an imature egg if you ovulate around 3 years old.
(Late ovulation and over mature eggs are far more of a concern.)
Infact something like 17% during the first 5 days of their cycle. The main reason these woman don't get pregnant is because 1. Sex on your period can be gross. and 2. it's hard to keep the sperm in their while you're shedding your lining.

[SarahJen]

Christina beautiful pics! Thanks for sharing, Italy is definitely on my list of places I have to visit (it's a long list).

Xenon how goes your 2ww? Your chart looks : very nice, nice little dip yesterday!

Jen Hope your finger is feeling better, your chart is also looking very nice, how are you feeling about it?

It's very frustrating having all these symptoms because it has to be from the clomid - it's way too early to feel anything. I'm so nauseous today, I actually had to run to the washroom at work this afternoon because I was sure I was going to yatch but I just gagged a few times which is exactly how I felt in the fall when I was pregnant. SO frustrating because I know it's impossible to feel anything this soon even if we were successful this month. I was crampy yesterday but not really today, just tired and nauseous. Ah well, one more week right? Save me from myself I'll never make it!

[kJad29]

Originally Posted by xenon

Kemi, being a lactation consultant sounds really rewarding. So are you looking for a mentor because you're still accruing your 2500 hours? How much longer until you can test for certification?

I currently have 656 contact hours from the private practice I used to work for in VA. I also have about 80 hours of continuing education units (CEUs) and need another 70 units to get 500 hours shaved off of my time. If I get that time taken off, I'll need 1344 hours left. If I don't get the 500 taken off from education units, I'll need 1844 hours to before I sit for the exam. When I have a baby, I'll join LLL and become a leader after a year or so. As a LLLL you get 500 hours a year towards your contact hours to sit for the exam. This going to take a little while considering I plan on taking a bit of a break when I have kids. I may work part time for an LC getting hours like 2 days a week and bring my baby along since this will be a very family friendly environment (well that would have been the arrangement if I stayed in VA with my previous mentor), but I'm not too sure. The only reason it will only take me 2500 hours is because I already have a bachelor's degree. If you don't have one, it would be something like 9000 hours. If I had just gone to nursing school, and decided to work in postpartum it would only be 900 contact hours. I know, not really fair considering I know lots of nurses who were in the same class with me and didn't know squat about breastfeeding even though they were going to sit for the exam that year. : I even had more common sense with some of the questions and they were very surprised that I could "keep up" since I wasn't a nurse. : Excuse me, I got my degree in biology thank you! Not an easy task if I do say so myself. No offense to nurses. I know some who are really awesome (my mother included). This is just going to take some time. I'm just very happy to have a DH who is very supportive of my decision. I'm very happy with it, and it is very gratifying. I love my career. I plan on having my own private practice clinic one day.

[jencat]

Evenin' ladies!

Christina - beautiful photos! You and DH look so happy and cute together! thanks for sharing.

Wow, Kemi - that's a lot of hours/work! You are very dedicated.

Sarah - sorry to hear you're going a little bit nuts! And sorry to hear you feel crappy. I hope it's pregnancy and not the clomid. You could have had implantation by now, yes????

I feel good, thanks for asking. I'm pretty much not thinking about it at all. I've had a few Smirnoff green apple drinks (just one at a time!), I'm working out as hard as I want (which is not THAT hard! ) I'm basically pretending like I'm not in the 2ww so I don't get freaked out. In fact, I'll probably wait til the weekend to test even tho I think my test date might be Thursday. Tomorrow I will probably start watching and waiting for AF... Who else is close? Xenon, Sarah,... I'm probably forgetting someone...

Kittykat - interesting... you sure have some symptoms! that would be really cool if you O early and now you're PG!!

Xenon - the beet greens were ok. A bit on the bitter side. DH wouldn't eat them so I get them all to myself! I'm sure my body (and potential baby's body) is appreciating the superfood goodness! We get the beets raw with the greens still attached from our organic veggie co-op. I love it! I hope you can find some. I seasoned with oregano and lemon juice per a cookbook. I would do something different tho if I were you. I think the lemon juice made them more bitter.

Kripa - hope you had a good day and got in a walk. I hope you get a + OPK. Maybe we haven't heard from you since early this morning because... you're busy BDing!

Ok, I'm finished just in time for my closet addiction - american idol. Hope you haven't lost all respect for me! I just love hearing those kids sing! I love how they're all rooting for each other and cry when the others get kicked off... Call me sentimental and naive. And I love to hear people sing (mostly b/c I can't!)

See ya'll tomorrow!

[SarahJen]

Good morning

Jen so funny about AE, you're not alone! DH would kill me if he knew that I told you he comes home from work early on Tuesdays so we can watch it together, we even close the blinds in case anyone on the street figures out what we're in here watching! Glad you're feeling alright with the 2ww, I hope this is it for you.

Kemi becoming a LC sounds very rewarding, how amazing that you've found something so gratifying to dedicate yourself to. It makes such a difference in life when you love what you do.

So my temps went up a bit more today and I still feel nauseous and I'm still trying not to acknowledge any of the symptoms because a little hope is a dangerous thing. One day at a time... : : : Have a great day ladies, it's miserable and rainy here and it's supposed to snow again this weekend, those damn groundhogs lied.

[xenon]

Kemi, your requirements are intense! It's so cool to hear to describe it, though, because it's so obviously what you love doing. I hope you get something lined up soon, so that you can get back to accruing hours!

Jen, I laughed when you said that your DH wouldn't eat the beet greens... my DH has a similar streak in him, although I'm pretty sure I can feed him swiss chard without any problem. Something about beets, though, and anything associated with them...

Nice work on not obsessing this TWW... good thing you and Sarah have American Idol to distract you

Originally Posted by SarahJen

Xenon how goes your 2ww? Your chart looks : very nice, nice little dip yesterday!

: Yes, well, if one disregards the pre-O weirdness, it is quite a lovely chart. Unfortunately, my charts almost always look nice at this point in my cycle. I don't put much stock into them until DPO>12, when my temperature usually drops.

I haven't been dwelling on symptoms too much this TWW because thing have been a bit hairy -- the deadlines I had to meet over the weekend, coupled with a week-long visit from my SIL, who is wonderful, but... we live in a 1-bedroom place, so she was sleeping on the floor of the living room, which is the same room as the kitchen and office... all in all, just not completely relaxing, you know?

On top of that, DH's dream job came open, and he's applied for it, and he's going to interview, so... nervousmaking! If he gets the job, we'll move, and I'll need to find a new job, all within the next four months.

So any symptoms I've had, I've ascribed to stress :

BTW, Sarah, that is one sweet temperature rise this morning

[CowsRock]

Originally Posted by jencat

Kripa - hope you had a good day and got in a walk. I hope you get a + OPK. Maybe we haven't heard from you since early this morning because... you're busy BDing!

Busted!
I got my +OPK yesterday, woo-hoo! I have someone working remotely on my work computer at the moment, so I had a minute to check in on my personal computer. Hopefully I'll be back on later for personals.
It's rainy here too. We had a really quick thunderstorm just before our BD'ing, so hopefully the environment was extra charged and clean.

[CowsRock]

Actually, I do have a question this morning. I've been feeling kind of crampy the last two days. It has been on and off and it is kind of like little sharp quick stabbing cramps. It doesn't really hurt so much as surprise me and is kind of uncomfortable but since it isn't steady it doesn't really bother me. I'm feeling it I think in my lower abdomen. Could it be ovulation pains?

[SarahJen]

Originally Posted by CowsRock

Actually, I do have a question this morning. I've been feeling kind of crampy the last two days. It has been on and off and it is kind of like little sharp quick stabbing cramps. It doesn't really hurt so much as surprise me and is kind of uncomfortable but since it isn't steady it doesn't really bother me. I'm feeling it I think in my lower abdomen. Could it be ovulation pains?

That's what it usually feels like for me around O time.

[kJad29]

Originally Posted by CowsRock

Actually, I do have a question this morning. I've been feeling kind of crampy the last two days. It has been on and off and it is kind of like little sharp quick stabbing cramps. It doesn't really hurt so much as surprise me and is kind of uncomfortable but since it isn't steady it doesn't really bother me. I'm feeling it I think in my lower abdomen. Could it be ovulation pains?

That's what O pains feel like to me. Well actually for me it feels more like a burning on one side combined with a light stabbing feeling. The burning usually lasts for about an hour and then it's over. All the best of luck to you! Go get that egg spermies! :

[kJad29]

Jencat, SarahJen, and Xenon: thanks for the compliments. I really do love what I do. It's not as stressful as an office job. Sometimes you'll get a lady who is a bit more high needs, but if you can work with her to calm her down then everything works out wonderfully.

Xenon wrote...
Unfortunately, my charts almost always look nice at this point in my cycle. I don't put much stock into them until DPO>12, when my temperature usually drops.

I totally understand where you're coming from. I've had some months where at about 7-10 dpo my charts are so awesome so I don't take much stock in them now. I totally understand the craziness of the tww. I've had every symptom and sign in the book so now I know that early pregnancy symptoms are just my regular PMS symptoms, but I still do convince myself every month that I could be pregnant. So like SarahJen I'm trying not to get too excited over symptoms.

[Kharen]

Happy Hump Day, all you gestational-goddesses-in-waiting!

KittyKat, I’m sorry this has been such a confusing time for you, but I hope you get some good news soon! Re: your temps staying steady … My friend’s temps just sort of steadily rode her coverline (97.0) the cycle she conceived; it was odd, but evidentially, something worked!

Sarah, that IS a very pretty temp rise you had this morning! I hope it’s not just the clomid playing tricks on you. You know we’ll all be thinking about you as you ride out this week.

Kemi, your enthusiasm for your work is palpable, and that passion will undoubtedly fuel you through the hurdles of credit hours. I’m very excited for you!

Jen, fingers crossed for your upcoming test. Good for you for freeing your mind and your body during the 2ww and just trying to relax. I’m taking notes because I’m a bit worried about how poorly I’ll handle the 2ww myself.

Xenon, wow—you have really had a great deal going on! No wonder you’re stressed. Good luck to your DH—very exciting.

Kripa, congrats on the +OPK! The cramping you describe also sounds very close to what I get around O time.

I hope everyone else is doing well!

Well, CD10, first EWCF sighting … I’m entering into the famed Window of Fertility and getting ready to trip the LH fantastic! I feel that mix of nervousness and exhilaration that rises in your chest as you crest the top of the rollercoaster’s first downhill run. It’s just sex, right? I’ve done this a million times before (okay, well maybe not *that* many times. Lol.). Shake it off, Kar. You can do this.

[dctexan]

Originally Posted by jencat

Ok, I'm finished just in time for my closet addiction - american idol. Hope you haven't lost all respect for me! I just love hearing those kids sing! I love how they're all rooting for each other and cry when the others get kicked off... Call me sentimental and naive. And I love to hear people sing (mostly b/c I can't!)

In the spirit of honestly, I'll confess that DH and I also watch AI - I actually voted for Blake last night : I've never voted before (this is actually the first season I've watched it. DH watched last year too, but he was out of town during the week so I never knew!)

[Dee-Groovy]

Christina the photos are beautiful! You did such a good job paring down 600(!) into the slideshow - I loved it.

Jen you chart looks fab! :

Kripa your timing is looking good this cycle.

Kemi your LC training sounds really rewarding. I'm scared of how difficult breastfeeding will be, especially if my nipples stay as sore as they've been!

Karen yay for fertile CM! I admit I was a little freaked out about the reality of "trying" the first month too. It's a totally normal feeling after years of avoiding.

Xenon wow your life could be changing a lot really soon! I hope your DH gets his dream job and yours follows.

Sarah happy belated birthday! I commend you on your commitment against obsessing but your chart is looking a lot like the cycle you got pregnant. :

OK I guess I have to fess up - I had a birthday last week too so my age needs to be changed to 32. Totally. can't. believe. it.