Trigger Shot Done

So I gave myself the trigger shot last night. It was really thin and tiny. Nothing to freak out about and didn't hurt at all. I sat down to do it and then said "That wasn't bad." Jeff looked up and was like "you already did it?" Yep! Pin cushions have nothing on me. Only issue is, I decided to take a HPT this morning so I could see what a positive test looks like in person. And I can't see a line! OK, it's super super faint that it might be there, but I thought the trigger made it so HCG was in my system which would show a positive test... So shouldn't it be darker? Like "here there is def. a line there." ?? I planned on testing out the trigger with dollar store tests, so I guess I will just see if they get darker tomorrow or Saturday. I'm saving the EPT's for 13dpIUI forward.

Holy Egg Follicles Batman!

So I went in today for my cd12 ultrasound to see how my eggs follicles are growing and Wowza! I have two ready to pop any day now. The one on my left is 19.5 and the one on my right is 27!!! I don't know that I've ever heard of one that big. No wonder I have been waddling around in pain the past day. I KNEW I was getting close because of the pain and my temp dropped yesterday and today. Plus I normally go between cd13 and 15. They said my lining looked good too at 7.9. The tech said anything over six can have pregnancy implantion but that they like to see it at 8...and since my IUI is scheduled for Friday morning, I assume in the next two days I can get there. I have to give myself the trigger shot. :( I thought they were going to give it to me. I had not ready psyched myself up for giving myself a shot but I have to today since I need to do it at 9pm tonight. Jeff asked "Can't I give it to you?" Umm...Yikes! I think I'm more confident at giving it myself then trusting Jeff to do it. The nurse gave me the timeline for everything and said to do the HPT on the 14th. She laughed when she heard we're going to Reno that day. She said "that's OK, just take the test and if it's positive you can come in for the bloodwork when you get back." Umm, OK. And if it's negative we will be taking that month off anyway since we won't be around cd3 u/s or to get the clomid refilled. Besides, I'm trying to stay positive that it WILL work.

Keep Truckin'

I have no idea why that I have the song "Truckin'" by The Grateful Dead in my head. Well really just the line "What a long strange trip it's been." I guess that's what you can say about our TTC journey so far. But today is our last day of clomid for our first medicated IUI (fingers crossed, hopefully our last) and all I can say is - so far, so good! The only side effect that's been really noticeable is cramping in my ovaries on and off. I wonder how bad it will get by late next week? Other than that...I might have had hot flashes and I might be a little moody...but it's hard to tell if that is true or not, and if it's due to the clomid or not. Because if any signs they've been very slight. ***Knocks on wood that I'm not jinxing myself***
I am soooooo looking forward to this week's appointment. Seeing how the drugs effected my follicles. See if I can trigger on Wednesday. Seeing if I can get the doctors office to test before we leave for Reno.
Oh, did I tell you we're going to Reno at the end of our first treatment cycle? It was not really planned this way except to say that Jeff always has to go on the trip around April 15th and we knew we were doing the treatment sometime after March 15th. It just so happens now that our beta should probably be the day after I fly out of town. D'oh! If they will not let me do the beta at 12dpIUI then I will be peeing on sticks alot in our hotel room. The cleaning staff will think I have a problem! LOL. But I will really enjoy the mini vaca for six days, and I can't help it....I love to gamble. But I will gladly give up all my "lady luck" with gambling if she'll smile on me for a BFP!

Cangrats Barbi

I knew for the last several months that it might be a possibility. Both my friends Brit and Barb have been trying for their second. I have tried to mentally prepare myself for this to happen. And yet, still nothing prepares you for that phone call...
Aside from her parents my best friend has not told anyone as she is 9 weeks along and wants to have her first ultrasound before telling siblings & friends. But she wanted to tell me. I could hear in her voice she was worried about telling me. I asked her when her due date was, if they are stepping up house hunting questions, joked asking about how they found out. I tried to be as upbeat as I could be, and I think I pulled it off pretty well. That is of course until I hung up the phone. I'm sure its because I'm on cd2 and fairly emotional. I'm sure it's also because since this is finally our IUI cycle I have higher expectations. I'm sure it's also because she knows all about out IF struggles and know this is the cycle I've been waiting for and asked where we were with that. Because I can't be that person that can't be happy for her best friend. I can't be. Jeff held me while I cried for about ten minutes. And now that it's an hour later I'm OK but still have a tear welling in my eye as I write this. I asked him, why is it so simple for everyone else? He reminded me of my friend Lauren who is also struggling with IF and the bump girls. He said "It's not everyone else. And it will be our turn soon." I can only hope.

Things I've done...

Every week while I am away from my computer I think of things to blog about. And then when I am home they disappear from my brain. I am such a horrible blogger! I know I wanted to write one about how I appreciate my parents more now a days... Because as times have been a little tough financially these past two years and my parents hear me talk about cheap dinner ideas or asking for dinners out as gift ideas and they'll say "that reminds me...when you were a kid - we did *blank* to save money". I NEVER noticed we were short on money when I was a kid. Before last year, I would have said we were always comfortably middle class. Thanks Mom & Dad for keeping my childhood worry free and yet opening my eyes as an adult on how a family can go thru some lean years and be happy in the process!

And now for something a little fun to let you blog readers know more about me. Anything in bold I have done. I might add a little to explain the event. *whoever wrote this, some are pretty boring but most hold a story. You can copy & paste to your blog if you want to show how many of these 99 things you've done in your life:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band *marching band counts right? right?!
4. Visited Hawaii *I was 14, would love to go back as an adult
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (Disney World) *I was five, I only remember what I've seen in pics
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightening storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch *is trombone an art? LOL, but also drawing
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill *Just last Friday :)
24. Built a snow fort *growing up in Chicago - this is a must!
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping *And was watched by friends ex-military neighbor with his night vision goggles. He told us later that week. CREEPY!!
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors *Barham, England...very small town but very cool to see the remains of my family castle.
35. Seen an Amish community *When I worked for CBS in Iowa- I tried to sell the television commercials! LOL had to explain how funny that was!
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied *2004, ah it was a great year!
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke *used to do this all the time when I was single. Try to get the gals to go out doing it once a year now that we're all old & married :P
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance *twice, yuck!
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater *saw ET at a drive in when I was five
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check *sophomore year of college. Thanks Dad for saving me! Most embarrassing thing ever!
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper *for swimming in HS
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life *Lifeguarding, I saved a seven year old that jumped off the high dive but didn't know how to swim.
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous *at NATPE, I met Will & Grace,Luey Anderson, Hal Spark, Alex Tribeck, and mini me. Maybe a few others but that's off the top of my head.
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo *gecko on my hip
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee *I'm allergic, that is one of my ambulance rides.

Boy Scout motto "Always be prepared!"

In the spirit of preparation, I thought before I go on Clomid (Late March) I should make a list now of things that don't bother me but when I am medically hormonal might cause me to go a little nutty. This way, next month I can look back and remind myself to not throw a fit.

1. When my husband has to work late, it's not his fault. He doesn't want to be there and will be home as soon as he can. And remember, he's the bread winner so we need him to keep the boss happy.

2. My family is NOT trying to drive me crazy. They love me and are only concerned for my well being. They do not say things to try and hurt me. Don't blow anything they say out of control.

3. NO, while it may seem like it....the whole world is not getting pregnant around you.

4. You've always let Jeff watch that much sports on TV. You enjoy reading and playing on the internet while this is happening so don't let this week of meds make you think you have a right to play couch commando.

**OK ladies, that's all I can think of for now. Do you have anything that made you go crazy while on the drug that I should be prepared for? TIA!

Stylish Blog Award

Thank You Magnolia for picking me for the Stylish Blog Award. As I commented on her page, clearly the blogosphere is a shallow pool if we're thinking me stylish LOL. You are too sweet! And since I hate to break with the tradition of the award I will follow the rules of blogging seven things about me:

1. Quitting my career in television advertising has made me happier then I could imagine. I worked for years (being a type A personality) trying to be the best sales person, climbing the ladder, and getting so stressed it effected my health. I quit to be with the love of my life and I think it's saved my sanity.

2. HOWEVER, I miss having a job that takes more than an IQ of 70. While I can be mentally challenged through reading & conversations I find that not having a career has given me less to talk about, and I fear I'm becoming dull LOL.

3. I have a bit of OCD but for *odd* things. For example, I only set my alarm clock to times ending in 1's, 3's, 7's & 9's. Like for some reason if it's set to even times or something ending in five it won't go off.

4. I take between five to eight bathes a week. To me there is nothing more fantastic then surrounding myself in the warm water while reading a great book.

5. You can tell when I'm really upset or mad because when my blood pressure goes up both my ears turn red, as well as a spot on my left cheek.

6. Because of my useless movie trivia knowledge - my husband LOVES to challenge me with the "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" game. I have gotten to Mr. Bacon in six or less steps on literally at least a hundred actors.

7. I didn't date a whole lot after college so when I was 25 I said if I didn't find someone by the time I was 32, I would look into IVF with a donor in order to be a mom. I started dating my husband when I was 29 and married him when I was 31. The irony is now we may need to go to IVF anyway. I guess it's a little easier for me to wrap my head around it since I had thought about it years ago.

I am supposed to pass the award onto others, but I may have to edit this...I believe all the wonderful Bump gals I follow have already gotten it and I don't think "stylish" is the right way to describe my cousin's personal blog on his Crohn's disease.