Fit For Future Families - April 2011

Ok so I know I just posted, but I am SO excited! My husband's aunt works for a company that does teacher training, creates helpful teaching products, does conferences, etc. So anyways, my hubby helps out with the conferences about once a year when they come to town and the ladies have really taken a liking to him (my husband is a "funny guy" and a big charmer). Anyways, one of the ladies just commented on the facebook page where I post updates on his cancer progress and said that they wanted to let us know that they are putting together a big silent auction when they come into town for the conference, and all the proceeds are going to go toward helping us afford a baby!!! I'm so excited that I dont know whether to jump up and down and cry. It's amazing how kind and generous people are

I've got tears! Thanks for sharing that with us! What a pick-me-up after a down time. Yay!!!!! I don't know what else to say. God's hands are our hands....I love it when people use them to help others. So.happy.for.you. Enjoy those happy endorphins!!!

Hi Everyone!

I was hoping to join your forum. My name is Sylvia and I'll be 39 next month. I'm married with 2 boys ages 12 and soon to be 8. I'm having a tubal ligation reversal on May 4th so I'll be officially ttc the end of May. Has anyone else had a reversal? Initially, my main reason for the reversal was because I've had terrible physical and hormonal problems after the tubal ligation 6 years ago and I heard that a reversal will alleviate the symptoms. However, now my hubby and I are excited about the possibility of adding a little one to our family and then possibly adopting in a couple of years (I'm a former social worker so I've always had a heart for foster children). So here I am almost 40 and wanting more children and sometimes I think, "What am I getting myself into?" But I just keep reminding myself that I'm healthier than I was 20 years ago and have a wonderfully supportive husband, so I can do this! I'm looking forward to continuing down the path of health with my family and sharing my journey with others.

Thanks Pam, it's really good to know I'm not alone - really. I've been feeling like a bit of a bad wife since I'm not enthusiastic about it anymore. Like... "I'm not pregnant again? Meh - okay. So what's for dinner?" It's a bit rough, and I know I want to be a mommy and I'm ready to be a mommy but I'm just not feeling like it'll be happening for us anytime soon. I can't believe it's almost May and I'm not pregnant yet... seriously? How the he11? I should have HAD a baby by now!

Home from the exam... passed and that class is o.v.e.r.. Had a good burn at the gym too (yay). DH and I have a date night tonight - dinner and a (high school) production of Grease. He laughed when I told him I got the tickets... it's from his old high school and he thought it was hilarious! I thought it would be fun.

So much exciting news to respond too and no time...
Wanted to drop off a quick note before disappear from the board til Sunday afternoon...
The Immigration meeting went awesome! The lady was very nice said my husband fully qualifies and should already been a citizen (which we knew but it was glad to hear she agreed with us.) We have to fill out one form (yes, only one form :bigsmile: ) and pay some money and from the time we submit it should onlu take two months. WHOO HOO so by the end of June we should have his certificate! So very excited!!!!
I'm leaving ready when I finish this to go on the retreat with my college girl friends (we do it annual and should LOADS of fun)
So I'll be back on Sunday!!!
Again sorry I can't respond to everyone but VERY EXCITED FOR EVERYONE'S GOOD NEWS! and welcome newbies!!!

Hi all! Welcome to the newcomers!

Just got back from a fabulous 24+ hour baby-free "staycation" with the hubby. (Stop reading now if you can't handle hearing about it.) We stayed in a hotel in our town (I used a deal on groupon that I found that gave us a really good deal), so we were "away" from the house, but we were still in our city, so we were familiar with the area and didn't have a long drive to and from somewhere. I highly recommend it. If the weather had been nice, we were going to go hiking in the nearby National Battlefield, but our plans changed based on the weather report. So instead we did our share of contributions to the Gross Domestic Product--we bought so much stuff (for us it was a lot). Highlights: champagne and strawberries, free cable, endless hot water in the shower, and down pillows. Ahhhhhhhh. And the sales in the stores. Haha. Today, since it was messy outside, after a nice breakfast we found a nice little corner in a Borders bookstore and read books while sipping coffee drinks. (I don't usually drink coffee--but I had a nonfat raspberry kiss latte today--and I liked it! Not a habit I need to get into). It was a lot of fun to just sort of let all the normal limitations go and have fun and spend a few bucks on niceties like coffee drinks that we normally wouldn't--especially with fertility treatment costs looming. I got some new pants, shoes and a dress that I hope to show off this summer, and a bunch of other little things that I have wanted for a while. We figure with the gas prices being what they are, we probably financed half of our purchases just by not driving anywhere far away for a vacation. How's that for rationalization for ya? Little boy had a great time with his grandparents, and we had a great time without him for 24 hours. I think we should do again next weekend. haha!

I ate a LOT, was probably way over my calories, but didn't go nuts and tried to make better choices than I could have. Tomorrow is back on the bandwagon. It was a great weekend. I don't think we realized just how much we needed that. Now we are back home with our little boy in bed, and are getting ready for what is supposed to be a beautiful day tomorrow. We are going to an Easter egg hunt after church, so I'm hoping it is pretty outside. I feel really rejuvenated right now. I hope it lasts.

BTW Jalara--the being over the whole thing....totally been there, done that. I think part of it is a coping mechanism for me after lots of let-downs. I just can't maintain that same level of intensity over the process of trying/tracking/etc. I'm really enjoying not tracking, etc, right now,even though my "wanting of a baby" really hasn't changed in it's intensity. Of course, if the relaxing at a hotel this weekend helped our natural baby-making chances, that's great, but I'm not getting my hopes up, ya know?

I am currently TTC with fertility meds. I do have a 3 year old I conceived on the same meds-Femara. I have PCOS and insulin resistance. I am about 13lbs heavier this time than I was when I conceived my son.

When TTC my son I lost 60lbs and did not get pregnant like I was told I would. Gained 40 back, took femara and got pregnant first cycle.

I am currently on CD5. Day 3 of femara 5mg.

Hope to get to know you all.

lukimakamia-I hate that he was diagnosed with diabetes but it could very well be your answer to the unexplained fertility. If he could get his sugars under control then you just might see that BFP. Hope this is yall's answer!

Fitterpam-Thanks! I think femara is an excellent medication! I have my 3 year old son because of it. Hopefully it will work well for you too. Nothing is really covered by my insurance. But since femara is a cancer agent my insurance does cover it. It would have been around 45 with insurance but I went to the femara website and printed out a free 30 day trial and a femara coupon card. So it only cost me 10 bucks. Do you have male factor as well? Good luck girl!

KAH- It sounds like you had a fabulous weekend! I think I need a staycation with my hubby and we don't even have kids yet! Haha, although my family is renting our upstairs while we save for IVF so...thats its own story Lets just say that we're getting to practice with teenagers in the house and having kids looks less and less appealing, lol.

So, I did great this weekend!! I got lots of exercise and ate within my calories I went grocery shopping and got lots of veggies, alt. protiens like nuts and beans, and decided to try the full fat dairy. I have a hard time getting past the whole milk... haha. I hate the way its so thick and it coats your mouth, ugh. I'm sticking with it but I'm only able to drink like 1/4cup twice a day at this point. lol. I also ordered a yoga dvd to try out! It called restoring fertility with yoga. It comes with four yoga routines that you do in different parts of your menstrual cycle--one for TOM, one for the day after, one for ovulating, and one for off-period. I'll let you know how it turns out!!

For any PCOS ladies:

I found this website earlier and looooove it! It reminds me of the biggest loser or one of those shows but for PCOS!!! It's worth checking out

http://www.pcoschallenge.com/

I dont think that there is a speciifc test to tell how long ago you dropped the egg, but he said by the number of cysts that i had on my ovaries he could tell it had been a long time. Does that make sense?? Like i said its all so confusing.

Ok so with my IUI i had 2 follicles which is ok i think? did things just not line up and thats why i didnt get pregnant? Or could it be something else?

DH's swimmers are above average and i had my tubes checked for blockage in 2007 and they were clear. He didnt feel like we needed to do it again but maybe we should?

I am having a hard time with weight loss. I think the main thing is that i dont eat enough throught the day most of the time. I am starting to do small meals every 2-3 hours.

Hello! I've been gone forever. Last time I was here I sort of felt like the annoying kid asking the questions the adults didn't want to bother with answering. I'm hoping I can use this as a resource now.

I've been TTC for about 4 months now. I feel like I still now as little about what I'm doing now as I did when I was here before. But I don't know where to begin. I was on oral BCP since I was a teenager (to mitigate my abnormally bad cramps) and was until this past December. We've been actively TTC since then. I've been temping daily for the past month or so. Now that I'm beginning to see the data, I'm unsure how to read it. I use an iphone app to chart everything (BBT, moods, symptoms, playing, etc.) as I'm sure most of you do.

I just wanted to check in. I'm finding that I'm stressing over this a lot and think I need to step back and try to prevent that. I feel, right now as I sit here, that I am experiencing PMS which to me implies that I will get my period this month. I'm devasted.

Anyway, I just wanted to check in and see if anyone has any kernals of wisdom to share since I feel like I have no idea if I'm doing this correctly.