Summer Lovin'...bring us some babies!

[floridasian]

My parents are not animal lovers so I wasn't allowed to have a pet growing up. I got my first cat in college when I was 20. Four years later I found out that he was sick with renal failure. I was completely devastated not only because this was my first pet ever but because it was just the two of us as I lived alone and had no family around. I had just moved to a new city at the time and a co-worker recommended this cat-only vet. Since a lot of cats are very timid and can be scared of dogs and my cat had never been exposed to dogs I thought it was a good idea to take him there. After looking at him for about two minutes the vet told me my cat had renal failure and I should probably put him down right away. I was like, what? What are you talking about? I then took him to another animal hospital where another co-worker's wife worked and we began treatment on him and I slowly nursed him back to life with two daily injections and pills. For a few months he appeared normal and was not in pain. Unfortunately renal failure was irreversible and five months later he passed away.

We got two more cats later and although I love them both dearly they will never be able replace the one I lost. Same with the rabbit we got a few years later after the kitties - he was a five-year anniversary gift from DH, your typical little white bunny with red eyes. I REALLY fell in love with him. I would hold him like a baby all the time. Both DH and I treated him like our own son. He passed away in September last year and we were so sad we pretty much cried for three days straight and unable to function for a few weeks. I now wear a locket with his pictures in it.

The connections we have with our pets are so strong that people who never had pets will never understand!

 

[floridasian]

Beaglemom - sorry to hear that your hubby didn't get the promotion but that also means he won't be travelling as much and you'll be able to continue ttc as scheduled without much interruptions!

 

[floridasian]

Forgot to add that my skin was breaking out really badly this past cycle EVERYWHERE! Face, back, scalp! I always got that in my LP but the past two cycles my skin was fine. I found it strange. I'm glad my "natural" progesterone was working again! I also took two weeks of antibiotics for that nasty strep throat I had in April so maybe that was suppressing the zits too?

 

[JCM]

Oops I read that wrong! No promotion=no delays. Is he sad about it?

 

[beaglemom]

Floridasian, my husband also is on that supplement...also make sure no lap tops in laps! I honestly started thinking cell phones are screwing with the fertility of this world. My husband always has his in his front pocket...always has...so that is like 15 years of exposure.

I thought you were the one with the rabbit, but couldn't remember. Last year I lost my cat...we named him Jeter after the Yankee short stop. It was me & my husband's first pet. He was bitten by a tick & it was deadly. I was so devastated. He was 11. But unlike when my dog died, I was desperate for another cat (we had 3 before he passed...he was the only male). So I had to have another cat & it had to be a male. Within a couple weeks I found a manx at the shelter...cutest kitty ever. We named him Short-Stop as a tribute. I am so in love with this cat, I can't even believe it. He happens to be the same color as Jeter...so sometimes looking at him makes me think of him.

When my dog was diagnosed with cancer, I think he only had 3 months left. We treated him & he was happy & no suffering until the last day. It makes me happy to think we gave him that extra time. Some people thought I was crazy to spend the money. But I did the math...in dog years, we gave him about 2 years more time. That makes me happy. And he was a rescue...we only had him 2 years...so I know we gave him a great life while we had him.

 

[beaglemom]

I think my husband is ok about the promotion. I know he is a little bummed, but he had a feeling he wouldn't get it. It sucks, though, why he didn't get it. He works for Walmart as a shift manager in a supercenter...that is the guy right below the store manager. So he was signing up for a store manager in what they call a neighborhood market which is basically a walmart grocery store. So a step up for him, but not as high as a store manager of a supercenter. Well the person who got this position was a supercenter store manager. So basically she is stepping down. So it really isn't fair that he wants to move up but gets trumped by someone who can't cut it where she is.

He has to do 4 weeks training out of town...so like I said, now no ttc delays. He has sources that were in the discussions on the applicants. And his market manager basically said if they don't give this one to my husband, my husband will get one in the future. He said he has more growth opportunity. There are more opening in the next few months...so it will all work out. I am so proud of him. He started at walmart in 1996 as a stocker making minimum wage. And he has moved up every since. No college education. That is the other part of what I meant before...now we both have great jobs & can better take care of a child rather than where we were 10 years ago.

So overall, we feel good about the whole situation.

 

[floridasian]

I've also been thinking about the cell phone connection!! Every time I see him pull the cell phone out of his front pocket I'm wondering if it's killing his sperms!!

I put 5K on credit cards during the five month period when my cat was ill. I was just out of college and all on my own at the time but there was no way I was going to give up on him! I even looked into kidney transplants for cats. Yeah..people thought I was nuts and that's probably why the first vet recommended putting him down immediately.

 

[lacanadienne]

Floridasian, I can completely relate with the "if I get pregnant this cycle..." problem. I've been working really hard not to think that lately, because it's been making me feel even more down every cycle that I don't get pregnant. I've also been in a situation at work where getting pregnant early on would have meant that I didn't really have to make a decision (been on stress leave for three months). Now that I'm not yet pregnant, I've had to make a decision to go back to work or not, and I've decided to make it as though I won't get pregnant for the entire year cycle - six months in now. I've had to do this for my sanity, as uncertainty was driving me crazy and not letting me move on with my life. It's never good to stay "stuck".

I've been doing alright the past couple cycles, but DH keeps saying "you never know - this could be it" even when I pretty much know AF is coming, so I'm working on him now.

 

[JCM]

I just spent 4k in January because my dog had parvo! Lots of people said oh yeah that's too bad he probably won't make it. But guess what!? He did! He is perfectly healthy! I always cry more when an animal dies in a movie rather than a human. I'm THAT woman.

 

[FutureBabyG]

I just spent 4k in January because my dog had parvo! Lots of people said oh yeah that's too bad he probably won't make it. But guess what!? He did! He is perfectly healthy! I always cry more when an animal dies in a movie rather than a human. I'm THAT woman.

HAHA!! I am right there with you! Probably part of the reason I watch Disney moves once and done! Animals always die. Dogs have my heart tho. Hopefully My fur baby Lily will bring us luck with a human baby because i will relax a little!?!?!

 

[sarahok]

Oh all your animal stories are making me snuggle my poodle baby a little bit closer! I hate the thought of ever losing him. My hubby had a cat for 13 years which passed away last year. Although he at first had the "I'll never love again" reaction, soon he was antsy for a kitty. We got a sweet rescue baby, and he got hit by a car when he was about 6 months old! Fortunately we rushed him to animal emergency and despite breaking 6 bones and suffering a brain bleed, he ended up completely fine!! Not even a limp! He's our miracle kitty.

FBG--not a bad wife AT ALL!! We all have to do what we have to do to keep our sanity!! Glad you made the decision to do what you needed to do rather than make the token effort and suffer at an event where it probably wasn't that important for you to be there anyway. Good for you! Also cute pics!

Suzy, thanks for letting me know your Clomid experience. Glad to have another newbie in it with me!

JCM, good for you for working out and eating right! We have an exercise room too, but it's impossible for me to exercise alone! I have found I need group classes to keep going, and that works great for me. Sounds like you had a great time shopping with your DH. Mine is NOT a shopper! I take him to Sam's on the way home from somewhere so I don't have to get out again, and Mike acts like he's being tortured. LOL

Floridasain, I think it's so smart to try to identify destructive thought patterns and weed them out. Good for you! Glad you had a nice trip!

Erin, hope everything is good with you! Can't wait to hear about implantation. Hugs!

AFM, feeling a bit bloaty but otherwise fine on Clomid day 3. I did ask the nurse about my IUI with my husband's schedule. 2 days a week he has to go to clinics 2.5 hours away and the other days he is very busy with clinic here and procedures. She said he could "deliver the specimen" in the morning before leaving then I could take it up there, then come back later for the IUI. So that's a relief.

For my IUI experts, did the cramping/icky feeling last into the next day? I am a personal chef and have a party the day after when they think my IUI will be (I'm just PRAYING my follies will cooperate). I am self employed and don't have anyone I work with so it would be really bad for my reputation if I had to cancel for some reason. I would probably just try to pull it off even if I was about to pass out.

 

[beaglemom]

Sarah, I seriously doubt you will have any issues after your IUI. I only spotted my last IUI but I think that was the nurse's fault. It was also more painful than the others...& remember I am on #5! This past one was so uncomfortable, but I had 3-4 eggs dropping. Never any major discomfort on any of the others. Even this past one, I had very minimal cramping the next day...& that was after having to stay all day on the couch the day of. You will do fine. Glad to hear your husband can deliver his sample.

 

[beaglemom]

So this girl who I replaced at work (used to be my banker's assistant) is having a baby. We have never been super close, but talked when I saw her when I was a teller. Then she went to another branch & I got her spot. So I have seen her around & even ran in to her shopping. She is very nice. Anyways, she is pregnant & she sent an invite with me & my banker's name on it for the shower (at work). We thought it was funny we were getting a joint invite. I think I am officially his work wife. Anyways...I have no negative feelings on the pregnancy. She is really nice & I don't know anything about how long she tried. I know she has been married a year. Anyways...the point...I bought her some things for her shower. It was nice buying things for a baby & not feeling like a crazy person. But I hate showers...always have. I often wonder if I will even have one. I do not have a ton of female friends & I hate showers. Anyways, she also put a cute note in the invite...if I have a shower, I am totally stealing this.

 

[beaglemom]

Inspiration for you ladies...

 

[floridasian]

Love your new profile pic, beaglemom!!

 

[sarahok]

Ok thanks for the info, beagle. That makes me feel better.

Yeah I'm with you on the shower thing...not my favorite events to attend. I don't think I'll register but after such a long and difficult journey, I think I would like to have a celebration. A friend of mine did a "sip n see" asking for books in lieu of gifts. I think that would be more along the lines of what I'd like, though I'm not sure if before or after baby is born.

 

[beaglemom]

Me & my husband will be so excited, we will be lucky there is anything left to buy for us!

 

[Suzy18]

I'm not sure I'll want a shower either. Maybe if one of my girlfriends wants to do it for me. Otherwise I don't know... I hope I will have to make that decision very soon!

I got my positive opk today. I already BD'd last night so we still have to BD today, tomorrow and on Friday and then again on Sunday. I'm trying out the SMEP plan. I started out later than CD8 but I will try to stick to the plan.
I feel SO bloated today. I feel terrible. Like a fat cow. I don't know if this is a side effect from the clomid but my belly is really huge and so are my boobs. And my butt too. I know the belly and boobs are probably due to O but has anyone else gained weight because of clomid? I feel like I've gained weight and I'm not eating a lot of junk food I think. I have been eating some cookies & chocolate now and then but I don't think it's enough to justify this weight gain. I’m afraid to weigh myself now.
TMI! Also, yesterday BD was a bit difficult at first. I could literally feel my right ovary. We had to change to a more comfortable position for me.
And I’m also burning up today. I don’t temp but doesn’t your temp usually rise after O? I don’t get why I’m feeling so hot today…

But I’m not complaining. All in all, I’m just happy to O

 

[JCM]

Suzy, I had major hot flashes when I was taking clomid. Almost immediately. I was hot at night. Woke up dripping with sweat and I kept the ac at 74. My husband was freezing. I have gained about 8 pounds since starting fertility meds. I'm also on blood thinners and a couple of prescriptions for high prolactin, and a hostile uterus apparently! My RE said it would be normal to gain 10-15. I've always obsessed over my weight so it's driving me crazy. When I was younger, I think it was the only thing I could control and my mom had eating disorders while I grew up. I'm a little over 5 feet 7 inches and I used to bounce between 128-132. These last couple of weeks I'm a solid 138 and it doesn't change. I just stopped looking! Lol! The bloating went away after I stopped clomid and came back when I started hmg and antagon injections last week. I think cause so much was being done to my stomach and the bruising made it worse with swelling. I found putting a ice pack on my stomach helps me feel better. Even today (2 days after trigger and iui day!) I'm feeling like my belly has gone way down. Oh yeah and my boobs were HUGE! They are normal again now. : ) all of the weight gain was definitely my bloated belly....yours should go away soon and hopefully come back with a baby in it!

 

[JCM]

Oh, and it's IUI DAYYYYYY! I am so so excited!