OPKs, spiders and stinkin hot weather!

Soooo ... Still not much to report yet for this cycle. I had a reflexology session last weekend which was nice. Haven't had one for awhile since we were on a break so it was nice to catch up with my reflexologist and hear about all the exciting new pregnancies amongst her clientele :) I have to say I am yet to experience any serious jealousy in relation to hearing news about other people's pregnancies. Another girl at work recently announced she was expecting and I was intrigued moreso than jealous but I guess that's because we've only been trying for a year and haven't had to endure that many BFNs ... yet. Before we started this whole TTC process I remember being bitterly jealous of people who got pregnant because I felt like that was something I'd never get to experience. Just getting on the TTC train seemed like a pipe dream back then so I guess I just feel lucky to now be able to actually try which is more than we could do prior to 2010 when lesbians weren't eligible to access IVF clinics or donor sperm in our state. Crazy ... Anyway, I'm sure my jealous twin will raise her ugly head again a some point in the not too distant future but for now we're doing ok. How much longer we can afford to keep trying is another thing entirely and if we do reach a point where we have to give up for financial reasons I think I'll go back to being bitter and twisted again pretty quickly!

So far this 'natural cycle' business is going ok. I have to keep reminding myself that I'm actually IN a cycle. There's been very little I've needed to do which is a nice. I had a scan with my FS yesterday. One small 12mm follicle on day 9. I am now pissing on OPKs till Monday (day 14) and if I don't get a positive before then I'll need another scan. But essentially we are just twiddling our thumbs waiting for ovulation. We've decided to only put one back this time. I was keen to try two again but Scout was concerned that if we used two and got another BFN we'd be out of embryos and back to square one (ie putting up with me on crazy hormones again!) so we've decided to be 'conservative' with our last two. Of course my FS also reminded me (again) that it's possible one or both of our frosties might not survive the thaw so perhaps we will be up for another stim cycle whether we like it or not. Ugh ... I really hope that doesn't happen. Losing one or both in the thaw would be more than a little disappointing. I really don't wanna think about that.

Anyway aside from TTC, we have put up our christmas tree and lights :). A little early I know, but we need to be ahead of the game with everything we have going on in December. We also have spiders everywhere outside at the moment so I had to cobweb the eves before putting up the lights and I got Scout to spray as well. Spiders don't really bother me but Scout is petrified of them and of course when you spray they come running out everywhere so she was beside herself for awhile out there dodging them as they came spiraling down on they're webs left right and centre. I felt a bit bad making her do it but I can't be around the spray so I couldn't help her. Anyway I think she felt better once she got the upper hand but it was touch and go for awhile there!

Apart from that, Charlie participated in the Colour run last weekend which she loved. We will all have to do it next year. And today I got a little award at our last staff meeting for the year which was also combined with a Christmas lunch. It was a staff recognition award that your peers nominate for and I got a $50 voucher out of it so I'm pretty happy with that :)

We also had an absolute stinker today - 39 degrees Celsius. Dunno what that is in fahrenheit, but let's just say it's bloody hot and apparently it got up to 45 degrees in a few other areas which is nasty. We live in a high bush fire danger area so it's always a worry when the temperature spikes and the winds pick up. Anyway I am going to attempt to get some sleep now but I'm not sure how much luck I'll have since it looks like we're in for a hot and sticky night. We only have aircon in the lounge room so we may well have to sleep on the floor down there if we don't get a cool change anytime soon.  Anyway here's some pics for this post ...

Charlie before the run :)

The girls decorating the whole tree on their own this year.

The lights up after annihilating the spiders :)

Sexy wife saves damsel in distress

The sexy wife would be mine and the damsel would be me :) This morning my lady came to the rescue of me and my car after it decided to blow a hose somewhere between the country town we live in and the place I work. Cranky me was having a mini rant to myself in the car on my way to work about the teachers at Charlie's school refusing to write report cards this year as part of their protest for a pay rise (*@#!). Clearly my car sensed the steam coming out of my ears and decided to blow a hose as well in sympathy. Of course I didn't notice the smoke billowing out from under the bonnet while driving at 100km/hr until another kind driver pulled infront on me to slow me down. Luckily I had mobile coverage and could call my ex-truckie super mechanic wife who cancelled her 9.30 appointment and raced out to help me. I was cursing myself for forgetting to renew our roadside assist and was pretty convinced that we could now kiss any Christmas presents good bye but in less than an hour Scout had Buffy and I back on our way again :) I am so lucky to have such a wonderful wife who is so clever and who will drop everything to come rescue me - whether I need my radiator fixed or just a middle of the night snack. I love you baby. Thank you for saving me! Ever since the first day I saw you crawl under a car I knew you were me one for me ;) lol

Cd1 Natural Thaw

My last day 1 for 2012! After 3 very different stim cycles, I am relieved to finally get to try a natural cycle. No drugs, a scan at day 9/10, some blood tests, some OPK piss sticks and a transfer 2/3 days post ovulation. Talk about easy peasy! Our frosties have been very patient waiting their turn so I'm looking forward to them being put back and I'm hoping and praying that the lack of drugs, surgery and stress this time round = a happy, healthy and extra sticky ute for them.

At the start of this year a clairvoyant told me we would have a baby on the way by Christmas. I am really hoping she's right ... But just incase she isn't, I am going to have to work pretty hard not to get my hopes up this cycle. It would be nice to finally see a BFP, but if we don't get it, I plan on drinking and eating whatever I want over Xmas and new years ;)

Apart from AF arriving today, I got flowers delivered to my work last week courtesy of my beautiful wife :)  And Scout and I went on a fishing charter over the weekend and caught a ton of fish ... Finally! We caught mostly flathead, but Scout also got a snapper. There were a few other nasty looking fish we snagged and had to throw back and I hooked an eagle ray at one point that put up more of a fight than I bargained for (my left arm is still recovering from it!) but we fished for 8 hours solid and could have kept going. It was awesome :)


Anyway ... 1 day down and 27 more to go. Since there won't be much exciting stuff happening this cycle (apart from the BFP at the end of it!) I will keep you posted with some of the many distractions I have planned to help me stay sane!

Scout and I actually  bought each other flowers on the same day without realising

Scout hooking up a Snapper

Me with another one on the line ;)

Feeling festive!

This week Scout and I switched roles alittle as her business kicked into overdrive. Normally I'm at work full time and Scout is part time shuffling her appointments around to fit in with the kids and school / kinder / daycare drop offs and pick ups. But this week Scout has been working crazy hours with some 7.30am starts and a couple of 1am finishes so I have been sorting the girls which has been nice. I often feel like I miss out on alot of stuff with them because of my work so it was nice this week to let work take a back seat and spend more time with the them - as crazy and hectic as it has been!

On top of juggling the girls, I have also caught a touch of Christmas fever this week which is kinda nice since I had trouble getting into the spirit of things last year. Over the last month or so I have been buying up on solar christmas lights to deco the outside of the house so I can't wait to put them up next weekend. Jazz and I also got stuck into making our traditional mango chutney which we have with our Christmas ham and give to others as gifts. Making mango chutney is one thing that never fails to make me smile. It's my nan's recipe so I love it and it was cute having Jazz help this year with chopping up all the apples ;)

Also this week I had my post op review which was all good so now I'm just waiting around for my period to kick start our last cycle for this year :) My GP had to write me a new referral for my FS as my old one is about to expire, so as of the start of December we will have been offically on the ART merri-go-round for a year. Hopefully we are in for an little pre Christmas surprise that will graduate us from that ride and onto a much more exciting one in the new year!

Jazz chopping apples for the chutney.  She's also rocks fruit salad ;)

Mmmmm ... all that goodness simmering down to pure yum!

The finished product ... ready for Christmas :) 

A crampy day and a double Liebster!

First let me say I am NOT A FAN of Misoprostol. My FS did mention it had some 'unpleasant side-effects' but f*#k me! I took two tablets 6 hours before my surgery today and within 20mins I was cramping like nobody's business. First I thought I was going to crap myself, then I thought I was gonna pass out. It was pretty much the equivalent of the worst ever period cramps and I couldn't take anything for it! I spent the first hour dashing back and forth to the toilet trying not to pass out. Almost thought I was going to have to just curl up on the floor in the toilet for awhile there since being vertical was not an option, but thankfully Scout rescued me with a heat pack and a cold washer. I was seriously starting to wonder how the heck I was going to cope sitting in the waiting room but thankfully by the time we got in there, things had eased off to a point that I could handle. The actual procedure itself went off without a hitch and I was up and out of there in no time :) They managed to get the bigger scope in this time (so I guess all that cramping was worth it) and apparently everything looked fine. She took a biopsy and I still have to go back for a post op review but hopefully it's all clear and we get the go ahead for a natural cycle when my periods starts in 2 weeks!

Apart from the D&C, I was also nominated for a Liebster Blog Award by not one but two fellow bloggers :) - Lexi and Sarah at 'Our baby making journey' and Mamma V. Thanks ladies :)

So as part of the deal I need to answer their questions, nominate other blogs with less than 200 followers, and give the new nominees some questions to answer.  Here are my answers to Lexi, Sarah and Mamma Vs questions :)

1. What's your favorite season and why?
Favourite season would have to be spring :). I love watching the trees and gardens come back to life after winter. Seeing new buds grow and flowers that only blossom once a year. But my absolute favourite part is all the baby lambs and little ducklings following their mamas around in the fields near where we live. That's when I know spring had truly sprung :)
2. What is something you can't live without?
'Buffy' ... My car. I'm very lazy, live in a country town with limited public transport and both the girls school and my work are waaaaaay to far to walk to everyday. If I need to get somewhere, move something or toe a trailer ... She's my girl ;)
3. If you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Probably somewhere in Africa for the landscapes, coastlines and amazing animals. Our girls would also benefit from playing with kids of other cultures, especially those who have to struggle for the basics in life.
4. If given the ability to change one thing in this world, what would you choose?
To eliminate poverty. It's an epidemic.
5. Do you have any regrets in life?
Not coming out sooner! Who knows how many cute lesbians I missed out on while pretending to be straight and wasting time lusting after straight women!! But seriously, my life just improved a billion times after I finally accepted myself, fessed up to the world and discovered lesbian women :) I think the year I finally came out was the best year of my life and it makes me sad to think that others never get there.
6. Why did you start blogging?
To record our baby making journey and pay it forward. Other people's blogs have been the greatest source of information and enlightenment for me throughout this whole process. They've given me hope and also helped me keep things in perspective. I really struggled to find Aussie lesbian TTC blogs to follow so I figured I should put one out there.
7. What is your best trait?
I care.
8. What is your worst trait?
My temper ... I'm a bit of a snappy tom at times.
9. What is your best childhood memory?
Spending weekends at my Nan's, reading books while watching Daddy Long Leg's crawl up the wall of her spare bedroom, swimming in the creek near her house, eating ham and pickle sandwiches with her sitting in the grass, trolling through her old photos for hours on end and sitting in her big recliner chair eating bacon and eggs on a tray in front of the tele. I loved my nan and I loved hanging out with her and sitting in her big old chair. She died about 10 years ago but I can still feel her around me. I made my mum keep her old chair and I sit in it whenever I visit :)
10. Who are 3 people you would love to have dinner with (living or dead)? They would all be family members who have passed (my nan, Scout's nan who I never got to meet, and my poppa). But if I had to pick celebs ... It would be Lady Diana for all the gossip, Joan of Arc for inspiration, and the Dalai Lama for insight and a good laugh :)
11. Who is someone you miss?
My nan ... and my mum.

Phew! Onto nominating other blogs, this is a little hard as both ladies who nominated me have already nominated many people I would have! So I've done my best to share the love but there was still a few already nominated that I just had to nom again!

1. My TTC Obstacle Course - I love the humor and language in this blog. It's genuine and direct and has made me 'laugh out loud' on numerous occasions :)
2. Lezbemoms - These two women are amazing! Prepping for one baby and ending up with two!
3. Double Trouble Bangkok - An already popular blog but still eligible for and very much deserving of a Liebster (and a foot rub by the looks of that last post!)
4. Baby Mama(s) Drama - Another great read with lots of insights and cute pics :)
5. And baby makes 3 ... hopefully - A grounding blog. They've had a rough trott so I have everything crossed that good things are just around the corner of them :)
6. Two birds building a nest - Not a very active blog these days after the birth of their twins but I really loved following their journey when they were blogging lots, and I have to give credence to the fact that this was the blog that inspired me to start blogging!
7. The Terrells Journey - A cute couple and a funny read. Due any day now!!
8. Bao in the Oven - Another oldie but goodie that makes me laugh :)
9. The Daily Adventures of Two Girls in Love - A 'pink' blog about two lovely ladies who now have two very cute babies!
10. Thoughts of Babies - Two ladies that deserve a boost. Fingers crossed better things come their way real soon :)
11.  .....   I can't think of any more that haven't already been nominated ... I'm recovering from my 4th general anesthetic for the year!

Unfortunately I have trouble posting a comment on some of these blogs so I'm not even sure how to let some of the wordpress ones even know I've nominated them but anyway ... Here are my questions for those who do get my messages :)

1. Favourite Christmas tradition?
2. Worst gift you've ever been given.
3. Best gift you've ever been given.
4. Scariest encounter.
5. Most embarrassing moment.
6. A guilty pleasure.
7. Something you're proud of.
8. Worst habit.
9. A food you don't like.
10. Someone you admire
11. Favourite jelly bean :)

Happy blogging!

Can you believe it's November?!

Even though I feel like I've lived most of this year from cycle to cycle (and much of it has seemed to drag!), I'm still surprised by how close Christmas suddenly seems. I am really looking forward to the holiday season but we still have a heck of alot of thing we need to get through between now and then. We have loads of birthdays, an awesome fishing trip in bass strait and of course we need to get pregnant ;) all before we can even start to think about Xmas! This week at work was insane trying to make up for the fact that I won't be there much next week due to my D&C, Melbourne Cup and an OT conference. I also had my pre-op appointment with Dr P last Monday which was basically a very short conversation so she can say I have been 'informed' about what the procedure will involve (again).

So the D&C will be Monday afternoon (finally!). I have to take some drugs 6 hours beforehand to soften my cervix so they can get the necessary tools in there. My last D&C they struggled and had to use a very narrow catheter and extra thin scope to get in there to do anything. They couldn't even take pictures because the scope they had to use had terrible resolution. So I'm hoping this time they'll be able to dilate me enough to get a decent scope with higher res in there. I'm certainly not wanting them to find anything as that would screw up my FET in december but it's always been in the back of my head that the crappy scope they used the first time may have missed something. Anyway, I'm just hoping the dilatation works and we are good to go for an easy FET next cycle. Fingers crossed that's how everything plays out.

A Cute Pic ...

Just had to snap this shot when I came home yesterday and found two little witches looking out from our back deck :)