BFP Chasers...........Feel free to join....

[Wish2BMom]

welcome, serenity! I hope you get your BFP quickly!

 

[TTC74]

9 dpo bfn today. I’ve had terrible vertigo all day. I know it’s probably unrelated to TTC, but I have no idea what it is. I was at the doctor yesterday and he said my ears were clear.

 

[Vonn]

Happy holidays, everyone!

Miki--little Kai is perfect! Congratulations. Your labor experience sounds a little like mine. I'm so glad everyone is doing well. And I love the name, Kai was very high on my boy list.

Wish--that's awesome that you've decided on names! They are very distinguished. Love them! Do they have a story or family connection, or are they just names you both like? How exciting that you know when they are arriving.

Terri--hi, my friend! What's new in your world?

Rain--you have two year olds?!?! Seriously, where does the time go?

Ask--congrats on your pregnancy! Amazing news!

TTC--sorry to hear about the vertigo. Are you able to function at all? I know it can make people throw up. Not good.

Hi to everyone else!

It's been a long time, sorry for that. Things have been, and still are, super hectic. We put an offer in on a house a few days after getting home from the hospital & it was accepted, so it's been crazy with the competing interests of house stuff and infant. We are still in the process of moving (I won't bore you with the details...), but I just had to see how everyone is doing.

Our girl, Sailor Elizabeth, is over 5 months old. She is amazing! She is working on sitting up and drooling all over everything. DH adores her. He takes care of her during the day and works evenings. They play a lot of "Sheriff Sailor and Deputy Dad," galloping around solving crimes. It's so cute. I work daytime hours and have the baby in the evenings. She's a sweet baby. I feel very lucky. We joke about getting "the best baby money can buy." Infertility humor, I guess.

I wish you all wonderful holidays and a great 2018. Thank you for all the support over the years.

 

[terripeachy]

Vonn-its so good seeing your post and hearing about you and family. I'm sure things will get settled soon. Sailor is so beautiful. Those eyes!! I thought your joke was funny and so true. Glad everyone is doing well. Merry Christmas and happy new year to you!!

 

[Ask4joy]

Welcome, Serenity!

Vonn - I love the name Sailor. And she is gorgeous! Good luck with your move!

TTC - looks like your temp is back up today! Did you test again?

Wish - love the names! Curious how you chose them as well! You are getting so close! How are you feeling?

My step-sons are on winter break now and will be with us for the next week. They were supposed to be with their mother for Christmas Eve and us Christmas Day but she told them she wants them to stay with us for the whole thing. She did the same last year and for Thanksgiving this year when they were supposed to be with her (since they did Thanksgiving with us last year). Makes me feel sad for them. I know they prefer being with us on holidays because we both have big families and always have fun parties and I don’t think their mother has much of a relationship with her family but it’s still their mother and it’s still Christmas! She lives a few blocks away - no reason they shouldn’t spend Christmas Eve with her. Of course we are happy to have them!

No new pregnancy symptoms. Maybe I’ll be one of the lucky ones who doesn’t get MS. But it’s still early!

 

[Wish2BMom]

vonn! so great to see you!! I agree with T - I'm sure things will be settling down soon for you guys. DH's shenanigans with Sailor sound adorable, they are going to have such a great bond. I love it! And yeah, your joke is SO true!!

ttc - maybe it was implantation!!! GAHH! great temp dip yesterday and rise today. I hope you're feeling ok, though. I couldn't do vertigo. I'd be so nauseous, like vonn said.

terri - what are your plans for Christmas?

ask - I feel sad for your DSSs as well, though I'm very happy that they have you two!! You two just sound like such a great team and great influence on the boys. They are going to fall so in love with their new baby sister. I dread her dating days for her!!

So there's no real story to our names. I think I've always loved the name Timothy but never really had it on a list, oddly enough. And then when we went camping this summer (I was 11 weeks) with a big group of friends who are more like an extended family, one of them is named Tim. So I thought about it and was like 'wow, I really love that name!!' Of course his mother fully agrees with me!
And then Malcolm started off as a joke - we were nicknaming the babies funny combos and if anyone watches Always Sunny in Philadelphia, DH was calling them Mac & Charlie. So he extended the Mac to Malcolm (even though that's not the character's real name) but I kinda let it go as an extension of the joke. But after not really landing on a 2nd name for quite awhile, I remembered that and suggested it again. So it was, so it shall be!
Middle names are our fathers' middle names. And I love my father's middle name b/c it was his grandfather's first name, whom everyone loved.

Also, I'm still feeling pretty good! Since working from home this week, my swelling has gone down markedly. I basically sit in my recliner all day for as long as I can. I still do a few chores around the house and such, which is great b/c this week is the start of the slow time b/c of the holidays. But overall, I feel better.
I'm not eating as much, which is probably also a little good. I'm still eating 3 meals a day with a snack but that's about it now. Not really the 6 smaller meals throughout the day anymore. Babies are still moving like crazy - I think they fight! And B, I think, pushes off of A and pushes his bum clear out the right side of my belly and the strain of it is STRONG. I have to push him back. Upside down, I have no idea how else he'd have the leverage to push outwardly so strong.

 

[TTC74]

Vonn - sounds like you've got a lot going on, but it all sounds quite wonderful. I love the "best baby that money can buy."

AFM - Tested today. BFN at 10 DPO but I'm still holding on to some hope for tomorrow because of the vertigo on the same day as the temp dip at 9 dpo (which is the most common day for implantation after all!). I don't know that vertigo is a sign of implantation but they say anything different is good, right?

And, I'm feeling much better today.

 

[Ask4joy]

Thanks, Wish! Jumping into step-mom role with two pre-teens (now teens) hasn’t been easy but they are very good boys. It has taken time, especially because their mother made it very difficult at the beginning (bashing me/us and causing weekly drama). I know the boys like me and have liked me from the beginning but with their mother so openly expressing her misery to them, it’s a tough position for them to be in. She still refuses to drop them off at our house and will park at the corner of the adjacent street and make them walk over. It’s sad. DH was miserable for so many years. He is very excited to “start again” and create the family life he always wanted. He comes from a family of 8 children! 2 more years of alimony support (she made out like a bandit)...I can’t wait!

TTC - those symptoms sound promising! FX FX!

Wish - baby B sounds like a wild one! Ahh I can’t wait to feel my baby moving inside of me! I’ve got a ways to go! Glad you are taking it easy and putting your feet up, literally!

 

[Wish2BMom]

vonn - meant to also note how gorgeous Sailor is!! i love thay pic!!

ask - ughhh i hate hearing stories like that! I'm glad the boys came to their own conclusions about you.
and it wont be too long til you feel movement! it all flies by!

ttc - ooooooohhhhhhhh

 

[terripeachy]

Thanks for the updates.
My sister flew in Tuesday so we are having a ton of girls nights. Hee hee. My hubs got a new job and he's been working late almost every night so my sis and I cook blue apron and watch hallmark movies. It's pretty fun even though I've been working late too.
I found out yesterday that my nephew, aged 10, got kicked out of school. My SIL was telling me that he had been great in school the last two weeks and then last night she said he got kicked out. Today is his birthday and she is having a family party. Who has a family party when you get kicked out of school? She has too many freaking kids and they all are going to have problems if they don't have them already!! I did have a sleepover with my niece last weekend and we had a ton of fun (just the two of us) so I hope she grows up to be ok. It's just a mess. My sis wants to take two of the kids out of the country with her and her husband to live/go to school but who knows if that will happen. I can't deal. Long story long, we will be going to my SILs apartment for Christmas and that will be that. My MIL is coming up on Friday and she's staying in a hotel down the street. Not sure how long she's staying but I'm glad she'll be down the street.

In other news, one of my good friends had a minor stroke last week so he's been in the hospital and is just starting rehab. I hope he can recover soon. His job was supposed to end at the end of this month but his HR told him he could stay employed until he recovers. Thank goodness. My friend works every weekend both days and stays late every day. I always told him it's not worth it and now look what happened. It's so sad, so please just keep him in your prayers. Thanks. Hugs to all.

 

[Wish2BMom]

thank you for the update, terri - you've been going through a lot! Glad you have your sis there to have some fun with, though. I think about your SIL's situation a lot. I feel so bad for those kids. I'm glad they have additional family like you and your sister there for them but I know you're not what they experience on a daily basis.

I'm so sorry about your friend. I hope he recovers 100%. That's awesome about his job keeping him on until recovery is done! That'll help so much!

I hope you have a fun day on Monday with all of the family! is your Dad able to come into town too?

Just had my weekly appt - all is good! measuring as a full-term singleton now at 44cm. BP was higher than usual but still normal. Doc blamed driving in the snow we're getting right now. Fine with me! Said to make it to 36 weeks and we'd be golden, basically. Any baby born before then automatically goes into the NICU.

 

[TTC74]

Based on opk, I Od on CD15. Based on my chart, it looks like CD17.

Thoughts?

 

[Wish2BMom]

i'd go with the OPK

 

[TTC74]

I guess if it was CD15, I’ll know in a couple days when af comes. HPTs are still negative.

 

[terripeachy]

Thanks Wish and great news on your babies update. I am just hoping for January so if you can make it 9 more days you'll really be golden. So exciting.

My dad is going to NM to see my younger sister and her kids. Our family decided to split up this year because there were too many people to get to NM and others didn't want to come to MD so we are in different places. It'll still be fun but it sure is a lot of juggling. I still have shopping to do. Grr. I hate shopping as it is, but I'm not an online kind of girl so we'll be going out with the crowds tomorrow.

Sorry TTC. Maybe it's still too early. Remember last time...👍🏾

 

[mikihope]

Thank you so much, TTC, Taurus!

Terri- Thank you for your kind words. I loved my birth experience, even though it was challenging. What a great birth team and hospital staff we had! I find that I’m having an easier time setting boundaries and letting my mom know she has overstepped them. Glad you’re enjoying time with your sister. Your SIL’s poor kids! At least you’re looking out for them, and I hope that they turn out ok. I’m keeping your friend in my thoughts, and I hope that he makes a great recovery.

Wish- Thanks, we love his chunky cheeks too! I could pinch those all day. Yeah, I think I’ve started acting like a mama bear already… or maybe it’s just those crazy postpartum hormones! It’s almost time for you to meet your little twins! I’m looking forward to that day for you. It will be love at first sight, and just unbelievable. Fx they make it past the magic 36 weeks.

Rain- Thanks! I think my mom needed to hear it too.

Ask- Thanks and congratulations on your pregnancy! Enjoy this wonderful time in your life. I loved being pregnant, despite all the uncomfortableness.

Vonn- Thank you so much! Yeah, I was wondering if you had a similar experience, since (if I remember correctly) you had to be induced early due to pre-eclampsia. That must have been so scary, and thank goodness everything worked out well for both you and Sailor. And Sailor is beautiful! I’m so glad that you and DH are enjoying time with her so much.

AFM- Still struggling with lack of sleep. I’ve had to see lactation consultants several times, and I am struggling with breastfeeding (have to supplement with formula and pump, in addition to regular breastfeeding). It started out really great, with Kai latching on and feeing well from right after he was born. But it got harder, and I basically have a couple of hours sleep total per day right now. My mom has become unbearable. She cooks meals and cleans, but she doesn’t care that I have a schedule to follow for breastfeeding. She screwed up the early days for me, so that I was not feeding Kai often enough. I think it messed with my supply, which caused a downward spiral. She would insist that I had to eat what she cooked before feeding him, despite my telling her that I had to feed him on a schedule. Truth be told, she doesn’t care that I want to be successful at it, telling me that formula is just as good.

She also barges in to the room at all times, which makes me so uncomfortable and embarrassed. I don’t want her inside as she doesn’t respect boundaries, plus she lets my sister’s kids come in as well. She’s told me to cover Kai up while we were doing skin to skin. Or telling me to cover myself up. She does nothing to help with Kai, she just cooks meals and cleans, which is something she really likes to do for some reason. I finally got so angry at her when she came in this morning that I told her to stop doing that, and “hasn’t she heard of privacy”. She immediately left the place with my dad, and DH heard her say that they were changing the date of their tickets to go home. I then got a text saying that she travelled all the way to help me out, and as a mom now I should understand. I told her not to guilt trip me and cross my boundaries.

Oh, and she has been asking me about the money I got from the sale of my apartment. And she tried to tell me that it is mine alone, and that DH doesn’t have to know about it. I really hate that she treats him like dirt behind his back. He is an amazing husband and person, and the only thing he has done “wrong” is to not come from a family that is well off. I told her off and walked away. Ugh. I’m already so emotional and hormonal and sleep-deprived, I don’t need this nonsense.

It’s been so surreal, the sudden switch from almost daily prenatal visits and all those tests and screenings for my suddenly high risk pregnancy, to almost daily visits for Kai (he was found to have slight jaundice on day 5) and with lactation consultants. I miss being pregnant and feeling gummy kicking in there. My belly is basically flat now, it’s almost back to where it was before, but kind of soft. It grosses me out a bit, but DH likes rubbing it! Time to get back to feeding Kai, a highlight of my day! I could cuddle and look at him all day

 

[Wish2BMom]

Wow miki, you’re going through so much!! I’m glad you’re telling your mom like it is. I have a feeling if she leaves early, it’ll be better for everyone. She doesn’t sound like she’s being much help and is causing more grief than anything. I’m so sorry about that - now what you need right now.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas- you AND your already flat belly! Haha you were so tiny, I’m not surprised at all. Good for you! I got one of those belly bands to support mine after birth. I feel like I’ll be cavernous!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

 

[TTC74]

Miki - I can really relate. My mom lives with us now and she’s such a pain. She’s just mean! She loves the baby, but the rest of us get backhanded compliments at best.

Terri- you have such a great memory! You’re absolutely right, though. After my late bfp with the LO, I should know better than to count myself out prior to AFs arrival!

 

[Rainshiny]

Terri- I’m sorry you have to worry about your sisters kids, but so nice for them that you are there for them. I hope the school is taking into account that your nephew lost his father last year and that he’s getting some support... sounds like not which makes me mad. Sounds like mixing it up for Christmas will have it’s good points and be fun on one hand anyway.

Ttc- I forgot about your mom having issues. Does she behave ok during the holidays? Fxfx for a late bfp!!!

Miki- well I guess you know your mom but it was probably still very hard and disappointing she couldn’t just help and support you rather than micromanaging you!!! Erg. Btw I would think it might take outside gummy a few days longer to pull down the milk if he was a few days early- mine were not super proficient at breastfeeding until they were the age of their due date. Lots of feeding and skin contact and pumping and you’ll get there. Try to sleep if you can - can hubby do one or two feedings for you?
Also fenugreek supplements really helped me.

Vonn- good to see you!!

Wish- you are doing so amazing you might even make it to term! The longer the better of course- I found mine didn’t do as well with sleep, and breastfeeding until they were at their due date. And colic lasted longer. They could breathe and eat and regulate their temperature by 36 weeks but other neurological milestones took longer. Now is a good time to read up on sleep strategies if you haven’t yet!!. I love the baby sleep site, and gentle sleep solutions, and healthy sleep habits. We took ideas from several places and modified them for what worked for us and our twinnies. You can start with good sleep hygiene the day they come home. (Stop me if you know all this already!!)

What happened with that gal who popped in and had an ectopic and was going to have surgery for a cyst? What was her screen name already? If you’re out there, are you doing ok?

The kids party was really fun- they were singing happy birthday by the end of it. They got so much more out of it than last year.

Well now three of the four of us have stomach flu! I told relatives in town to stay away from us. I’m ok... so far. I think the kids have a cold on top of it. Little boy is mopey but girl has some energy to make messes (haha) and her appetite is improving. Fx we feel good enough to join everyone on Christmas.

Our first daycare is still going through a licensing fiasco, and they lent us a teacher to watch our kids but she and another teacher quit so we put them in another center which is ok but not stellar. I’m hoping we can go back to our beloved first choice soon! I hope she hires awesome teachers or we might have to keep them where they are.

 

[Ask4joy]

Merry Christmas to you lovely ladies! Wishing you peace, love and happiness.