Here comes the weekend.... perfect time for some rest and relaxation! And hopefully the perfect environment for those follicles to GROW!!! Hoping and praying this isn't a "dud" cycle and that my body just needed some extra time this month oh... and we want our sperm and egg to meet!

Checked 9 out of the 10 (whole milk is tough to swallow!). An easy routine to follow but not sure how effective it is. Worth the try though :-)

BOOST YOUR FERTILITY
1. Take a multivitamin with folic acid (400 mcg) and iron (40 mg).
2. Aim towards a healthy weight — either gain or lose weight depending on your current weight. And this applies to men, too.
3. Exercise vigorously for at least 30 min/day.
4. Avoid trans fat.
5. Don't smoke.
6. Choose whole grains over refined carbohydrates.
7. Choose unsaturated fats.
8. Choose plant protein (beans, nuts) over animal sources of protein such as red meat.
9. Have one daily serving of whole milk or other full fat dairy.
10. Avoid soft drinks.

Did you know a "healthy" couple only has a 20-25% chance of conceiving each month? I swear when we were in junior high and high school we were led to believe it was like 100% Yeah... well that is NOT the case! Then throw into the mix some male and female "issues" and your odds go down from there. Not what I wanted to hear today.... but something I needed to here.

We started this journey slow and tried to take the least invasive and least expensive route. It has been an up and down battle. Had a new doctor today who I actually liked very much. Seemed very down to earth and explained things slowly and in detail. In fact, J asked a few questions... that is a miracle in itself!!!

So the news this cycle was I have two follicles growing but neither are big enough yet. This may be a "dump" cycle. I lost it briefly in the room then composed myself as J took the stethoscope placed it on my chest and said "Oh my are you alive?". He did bring a smile to my face.

We'll play the waiting game this weekend and see how the body responds.... hopefully my follicles will grow and we can "try" again this cycle. Of course this means we also get another $200 sonogram on Monday.... so lucky me instead of needing 2 (a baseline and mid-cycle) I'll have had 4 this month.

Could I just be normal?

Wow… am I really talking about all of this? YES! I am! Discussing this will hopefully give me some clarity, some comfort, and maybe even some peace too. No modesty here!

As I continue on this journey I realize it is taking more of an emotional toll on me than I thought it would. Not to mention some side effects of medication… hot flashes (which are spectacular when it is hot and humid in SD!) and moodiness. Really how can I be bawling over The Bachelorette? It has me hooked but I really do think it is scripted… so why am I crying? Better yet is watching So You Think You Can Dance, which I LOVE by the way, and during a jazz routine I start tearing up? For heavens sake this wasn’t the “emotional” routine. At this point I think any and everything is emotional for me. The good, the bad, the ugly, it ALL affects me! Oh and the one thing that has me laughing (not really) is my complexion. I look like I’m back in junior high, or just ate a bag of M&M’s (which I’ve been know to do!) and had a torrential breakout. Really now where did all these things come from?

So, last night sleep was almost no existent. My mind was racing and I was WIDE awake at 5:19 a.m. after falling asleep after midnight. Laid in bed until 6:00 and then thought “What the heck am I laying here for? I should just get up and head into work early.” So up and at em' and into the shower for some deep breathing and relaxation. Yeah right... my mind is still racing and wandering again, what if, what if, what if. As my husband says these what ifs are my demise.

So I did some more research on treatments (and success rates of course). I stumbled upon a website that looked super professional offering assistance to infertile couples. A non-profit organization whose goal is to raise money and awareness for infertility issues, while also supporting women in the costs of treatments. Wow, that would be great! The catch… you had to donate $100 to their cause. After reading and doing some investigation I realize it is an elaborate scam to earn money. These people are praying on those who are looking for help and holding onto hope, and it makes ill!

Next doctor appointment is tomorrow where I have a list of 10 questions for the doctor. My notepad has each listed with room to write down his answers. Hoping to have a nice, relaxing evening tonight before the "heavy" stuff hits tomorrow.

Havaianas

Here are a few samples of my "bling bling" swarovski flip flops! I can do sports... My Charger flip flops are below along with my SC flops. I can do almost any team, any color. I can also do plain flip flops (brown, black, white) with swarovski crystals, or plain with flowers as shown below or plain flips with a pattern of crystals.

Here we go....

WELCOME!!!

Infertility… the dreaded word that no one wants to hear! However, It’s not your fault. It's not their fault. It just is what it is. This is what we’ve been dealt with… and now we have to deal with it. Yes, it’s not fair but is life fair? Talking about infertility seems to be taboo in our society an often times couples feel lonely and don’t know where to turn. We are one of MANY couples going through this journey (possibly a long one) so that we can start our family. We are ready (and really who ever says they are ready?) and waiting!! And while there are many of you who we don’t know, we (though the husband skeptically) are inviting you to come along. We aren’t going to allow our infertility to get the best of us! We have faith and there is always hope!

What is this baby blog or bust here to do?
1) Raise money to help us become parents. We all know that the economy is in the dumps right now, but the reality for us is that infertility expenses aren’t covered by insurance. The average cost of a cycle of IVF is $15,000 and unlike other diseases and their treatments, though, infertility is not recognized by the medical insurance industry. Without the aid of medical insurance or other financial support systems, the cost of infertility treatments is currently precluding us from seeking IVF treatment.
2) To keep friends and family aware of what we are going through and to give others a look into the process as a whole. Despite the vast number of people suffering from this disease, there is a serious lack of education and a real need for increased awareness of the causes of infertility, available treatment options, and methods of prevention. Being the “researcher” I am, I constantly look on the internet – and sometimes this researching freaks me out! Maybe I’m here to help others through their process too.
3) To help us process what we are going through – let’s talk it out!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard: When are you going to have kids? You’ve been married 5 years already get on it! You’re only getting older. Kids will bring you such pleasure. Aren’t you guys going to pop some out soon?OK everyone, you can stop asking now. We are trying and want nothing more than to become parents. At first the questions didn’t bother me because at first we weren’t trying and then once we did start I thought it would happen so I could joke and say “We’re practicing.” But as the practicing became more than that and months and months and years went by…Joking was no longer there. Now it sucks when I have to paint big fake smiles and pretend we’re indifferent when it comes to this baby thing. As I said... We're ready and willing... now we just some help!

I enjoy crafting as a hobby and often make flip-flops, wreaths, birdhouses, trivets, etc. I will be posting samples of some on the website too and selling them to help raise money for our fertility needs.

We whole-heartedly thank you for your support and generous donations.

Here goes…..