On to IUI #4

I am already on CD2 so I have my baseline blood work and ultrasound tomorrow morning. I'm looking forward to hearing from the RE what my protocol will be this time. Also, I scheduled a consult for March 9th to discuss next steps.

If it's ok to move forward with 2 more IUIs after this one, I'd like to do that and if they fail, then I will be taking a break until November when I will be moving on to DH's health insurance which covers some IVF. If I do have to take that break, I will take the 6 months or so to drop 30 or so pounds and get healthier.

What also sucks is that starting next month I will have to pay $123.20/month for the same health coverage I have right now (which was free) because our plans have changed with my employer. They still offer a free plan but it basically means much more out of pocket if I end up in the hospital (including maternity).

Product Review : Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo

I tried this for the first time tonight because I have an oily scalp and I wanted to find something that will allow my hair to last a couple days longer between shampoos.

I've kept my hair wavy (my natural texture) for the past couple of days and decided to try this tonight since it was starting to get a little oily. So I followed the directions on the bottle which say to shake the bottle well and spray onto the hair concentrating on the roots. Then wait 2 minutes and brush out excess product.

The result was honestly as if I had just sprayed with super hold hair spray and then tried to brush it out. Alex said I looked like Lionel from Thundercats, lmao! Soooo...I had to friggin shampoo my hair afterwards...like WET shampoo!

Oh well. I'm going to try one more time on a day when I've straightened my hair and I'll try spraying less of the product on my hair. We'll see.

BFN

I hate this :*(

POAS tomorrow morning...

I don't know whether to put exclamation points after that statement or little scared faces.

Tomorrow will be 13dpiui so whatever the outcome should be accurate. I have my beta on Sunday morning but I'll just get the stress of it out of the way.

Please, please, please pray for me, send positive vibes my way, or just positive thoughts! I'll gladly and gratefully take them all.

TIA!

Pics from Valentine's Day!

Hubbs was so sweet and romantic on Valentine's Day. He woke me up with breakfast in bed (french toast, eggs, and bacon - well, he bought it from the store but so what?! It was yummy!), then he brought in a huge card, a rose, and a heart shaped box of chocolates that played "Still the One". It was funny and sweet. Then he walks out of the bedroom and comes back in with a large shoe box. When I realized they were the Uggs I had mentioned I wanted (tall grey ones) I was so excited!!


We had breakfast and then relaxed for most of the day until about 6:30pm when we left for dinner. Hubbs made a reservation for dinner at this really nice Italian restaurant called La Prete's. Here's what the outside looked like:


I ate an awesome filet mignon with mached potatoes covered in a mushroom, leeks, and prosciutto sauce (omg, so yum) and garlic brocolli. He had the same except with a NY Strip. The we had chocolate covered strawberries for dessert.


At one point the music changed and became louder...we looked around and there was a ballerina making her entrance!
Here's a horrible pic of DH and I at dinner. You can really tell how much weight I've gained since coming off BCP (stupid PCOS).

Some of my favorite products

• Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser (for Normal to Oily Skin) & Cetaphil Moturizing Lotion

I have very oily, acne prone skin. This cleanser and lotion is gentle and keeps my face clear of breakouts.

• Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2

My hubby gets this for free from work and this really helps to keep my face clear. I dab this on with a cotton ball after washing my face every night.

• Proactiv Solution Refining Mask OR Neosporin

I use the Proactiv Mask as a spot treatment whenever I get a zit. Another option is Neosporin...this is really just as good.

• Soft & Dri Pulse- No Residue Solid Deodorant

I love this deodorant. Its a clear solid which I love and it doesn't leave a nasty residue. I always have issues with other deodorants that leave a residue; even after showering they leave a sticky layer. This doesn't do that and it leaves you smelling fresh. The only thing to keep in mind is that it does feel sticky once you put it on until it dries but it's worth it.

• Head & Shoulders Shampoo & Conditioner

A couple of years ago my scalp changed and I developed dandruff. It was very strange for me because I'd never had it before and my scalp was also oily...how does that even happen? So I started using H&S ever since. It works great and keeps the oil to a minimum.

• Redken Color Extend Rich Defender

I don't have color treated hair. About 2 years ago I decided to allow my hair to recover from being color treated and grew my hair out. I say that all to say, this cream treatment really heals your hair and makes it really smooth for blow drying even if it isn't color treated. It's a cream that you leave on for about 15 minutes after shampooing, then you rinse it off.

• Ion Healing Jojoba Flat Iron Cream

I found this cream at Sally Beaty Supply while looking for my Redken product above. You apply it to towel-dried hair before you either blow dry it or flat iron it. It keeps the frizzies away without using an oily serum (which is not good for my hair).

• Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Lip Balm

I love this lip balm. It's smooth and creamy and smells nice.

• Vaseline Lotion for Men: Strength (for hubby, of course)

I like this lotion for men. I bought this for my husband one day while looking for a lotion for both of us (of course, I decided to get something different for myself). My hubby always forgets to put lotion on but I comment on how good he smells when he uses this lotion so he's encouraged to put it on.

Sore boobage (oYo)

I'm telling you...every freakin cycle has been different. Obviously I'm attributing any changes this cycle to the new meds. After ovulation/IUI I have had sore boobies. I know it's not pregnancy related...I'm not even close to implantation at 2dpiui so I'm not under that impression. I have b/w tomorrow morning to check my progesterone. Hopefully I don't need to take Prometrium again because I know my boobies will feel worse then.

IUI #3 is behind me now...in the 2ww again :)

My 3rd IUI was yesterday morning. DH was so proud of his count at 43 million post-wash (his highest post-wash count yet). It was so nice to finally have an IUI scheduled on a weekend. Instead of heading back to work we were able to go right back to bed and relax. Later we went to my brother's house and spent time there and had fun. It was nice to relax. We also took today off from work, slept in late and then went to see a movie. Back to work tomorrow but this time off was awesome for my emotional well-being.

I've also started eating pineapple core...hey, anything that might help. At this point in time, I'll try anything.

This is what having trouble TTC looks like to me...

I've got a fast one in my ovary...

Hello! Anyone out there?

So I had my u/s and b/w this morning (CD8) and can you believe it, there's a 20mm in there already! We just checked 2 days ago and all were less than 11mm. I'm shocked that my IUI will be taking place on CD10...10! My last 2 IUI's were more like CD 13 or 14.

Anyway, I trigger tonight (which is the first time I'll be doing it at home instead of having the nurse trigger me at the RE office). I hope this one doesn't hurt. DH insists on giving me this one just to keep me as calm as possible. Although I've been doing great giving myself the Follistim, I'm fearful that the Ovidrel will feel different and I will freak out again and take 15 minutes to stick myself. So, I'll let him do it. He's seen me do the Follistim enough that I think I can trust him.

So IUI is scheduled for Sunday morning.

::prays:: C'mon...this HAS to be it!!

Going on 16 months TTC :(

I honestly can't even begin to tell you how many cycles it has been. I only know that it hasn't been many at all. I think I got 1 or 2 periods in the first couple of months TTC (but I wasn't charting then or even really knew much about how my body worked). I did also get a period after 2 cycles of Clomid (unmonitored cycles might I add). Then with these recent IUI's of course I count these cycles since the meds help me ovulate. I think maybe only about 6-7 cycles have passed in this time (most medicated).

What is wrong with my body??? I'm at my 3rd IUI cycle and I honestly have a hard time being positive. I have never ever seen 2 lines on a HPT. What if something is wrong with my eggs? What if they are bad quality? DH's sperm are fine. I've never had a CM ferning test...maybe my CM is toxic. Then again, I guess the IUI's should bypass that issue.

What about if/when I do get pregnant...can my bitter ute hold on tight? I wish this were easier. DH is handling it well but he isn't the one that has to get poked, stung, drugged, and violated every few days.

I'm not sure why I'm feeling so...I don't know..."dramatic" I guess? I'm just reflecting on the time that has passed and I pray that the end of this struggle is near.