May
2012

Amazon for Entertainment

categories: Infertility

I’m not really in the mood to chat about anything specific lately on my blog, I am on my third and final round of Clomid and giving myself permission to pout and feel sorry for myself. Tomorrow is another day.

In the meantime, I found myself on Amazon searching fertility. Since Amazon is full of random products, I am not surprised they have some interesting items for sale under ‘fertility’. Where shall I start?

1. Fertility Pills Cheng Zi (Yeng) Wan – I’ve been to China a few times and while I agree they have some good products, please, please, please, do not order fertility pills from overseas. Especially when the dosage is 10 pills 3 – 4 times a day. 10 pills. 3 – 4 times a day. 40 pills a day.

2. Earth Solutions Aromatherapy Scent Inhaler – I could get behind this. I love aromotherapy. I wonder if I pair it the ‘Abundance’ scent I will have multiples?

3. Spell Mix: Fertility: If only it had at least one review. And since S. works for the DEA, I might need to pass on the magical herbs.

4. Fertility Wishes Greeting Card: Yes. By all means. Send me a card with chicken’s eggs on the front. That will really help me feel better about ‘my situation’. You should totally write ‘you should take a vacation’ inside.

5. Axe Jade Fertility Medicine Dagger Phurba: I would have passed this gem over, but I noticed the pricetag. $78,299.99. I am not even sure what it is.  But I would probably swallow 40 pills a day before shelling out our savings (I WISH we had this in savings ….) for a rock.

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May
2012

Bravo Brings the Cra-Cra

categories: Pop Culture, Pregnancy

 

Just when I thought TLC cornered the market on crazy, I turned on Bravo this morning and was introduced to Pregnant in Heels. I’ve witnessed salon takeovers, culinary disasters and over plumped housewives, but this was a whole new ballgame.

 

Basically (if you want to pretend you are too good for Bravo and haven’t seen PIH), the show features Rosie Pope who is a professional maternity baby expert (and no, I am not sure how she got this title) as she helps NYC’s elite Mommies through pregnancy. She is adorable and friendly, seemingly down to earth.  I think this is would be an awesome job, and hey, if you can afford a baby concierge, why the heck not.

The episode this morning featured 2 women – one was anxious about being a mom because her’s died when she was young and didn’t really have a mommy figure. Super sweet story line, I am sure many women could relate. UNTIL (always an ‘until’ in true Bravo fashion) she wanted to surprise her huband by taking a nude picture on her much adored horse with her baby. Not just any picture mind you, an oil painting. That would be ‘revealed’ to her husband. In a gallery. In front of their friends. Welcome to Crazytown folks. The fact that this was crazy was confirmed by the look her on her friend’s faces when they caught of a glimpse of her oil paint boobs.

The 2nd Mommy-to-be was in complete denial because she hates all things medical. Breastfeeding didn’t seem natural, she is terrified of needles, and doulas seems stupid. Which is why, when Rosie brought a doula in for a visit to help her learn to breathing techniques during shots, Mommy said it didn’t seem natural. She has a point. Breathing is not natrual. Not at all. 

Look. I get terrified, sweaty and heart pumping freaked out around horses. But if they are the only way to get to my future baby, I will suck it up and immediately  turn into John Effing Wayne. This woman was just bananas. Ultimately in the end she was ‘fine’ during labor and breastfed for the first few months.

 

I am pretty sure I am going to watch this show on the regular. I like Rosie and how she interacts with her clients who are bat crap crazy.

 

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May
2012

Poo-Pooing Boo-hooing

categories: Infertility

As you may know, I am on my second round of Provera (which means I am trying to force my body to have a period). I remember a few small side effects, but NOTHING like what I have experienced this time. Aside from a ‘worse-than-drunk’ dizzy spell a few nights ago, crying seems to be the big side effect.  Not just a lump in your throat, or tearing up … no, no. This is full on, someone shot my dog in front me crying. Here are some things that have made me cry like a crazy woman:

  • Finding out Coach Beast’s husband was beating her up on Glee
  • The video to Florance + Machine’s Shake it Out
  • The fact I have no friends from college (I am watching Felicity)
  • Accidentally getting regular Coke instead of Diet Coke
  • Losing about a hours worth of work because I didn’t save properly
  • The dead cat in the middle of Lee Highway 

Thankfully, all this will end on Thursday when I take my last pill. Until then, don’t sneeze in my direction or I will be hysterical.

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May
2012

Our Baby, Sponsored By …

categories: Infertility

In an effort to make me less crazy, Sam brought up having our baby sponsored. So a company, like Exxon or Target, would help us pay for our fertility treatments, then we give them the name (you know, like Target Smith or Time Magazine Jones) and brand the baby clothes.

Good idea! We are drawing the line at ED medicine and feminine hygiene products.

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May
2012

The Girl Who Got Hysterical On The Phone With Shady Grove

categories: Infertility

Oye. I finally looked into our infertility benefits with S’s insurance and found out they cover …. nothing. The consultation. That’s it. And since we live in the great state of Virginia, there are no laws that make infertility coverage mandatory.  Next call this morning was to Shady Grove Fertility Center where we will go if this round of Clomid is unsuccessful. Bad, bad move. But in a good way. Here’s the breakdown:

Consultation: covered, but if not, $300 – $350

Prescreen: not covered, $1500 – $1800

IUI: not covered, $1200 – $2200

At this point I was holding back tears and my new BFF at SGFC had to talk me off the ledge. She was so amazingly kind and understanding. And she did Clomid too and understood I am a weird weird person right now. She also told me about their financing (hey, let’s rent to own a baby!) and a few payment plans.

I am feeling so hopeless right now – money is super tight as it is, we don’t have $5000 sitting around.  I know, it will be okay, something will work. I just don’t know how to stay calm and stress free right now – which is apparently super important to getting knocked up.

Anyone have connections with MTV? I would love to get one of those adorable babies those teenagers are popping out in meth houses.

Tomorrow will be better.

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Apr
2012

“Come In Immediately, You are Doing it Wrong”

categories: Health, Infertility

So I called and left my OBGYN another voicemail asking what the hell I am suppose to be doing. Well, not those words, but the emotion was conveyed because Nurse Betty called back and said the doctor wanted to see me. Today.

Dun, dun, dun.

Though I don’t remember being called to the principal’s office, I imagine this is how it feels. Oh shit. I am in trouble. I knew she was going to find out  S and I were doing it wrong and we are complete morons. I won’t lie, I was hopeful she would look at me and know immediately I was pregnant and the pee-pee tests were wrong.   Thankfully, or not, it didn’t go either way.

The good news is my Backup Doc was nice, human and comforting. The bad news is I had to do a pelvic exam (I like to mentally prepare for these things, ya know?). The good news is I don’t have some alien life form blocking my eggs. The bad news is, since I never got my period, I am back on Provera. And I did invest in a fancy pill holder to keep my life in order. As an organizing fanatic, this makes my day better.

This is our last chance before calling the fertility specialist.

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Apr
2012

Joys of a Captive Audence

categories: Unrelated

So one of my favorite bloggers (who just had a bebe!) posted a survey on her blog, and I thought it would a fun way to capture me and give me something to focus on instead of my effed up eggs. PS – today, so far, is going much better than yesterday.

10 favorite musical artists (this is hard, I wish it was songs):

  1. New Found Glory
  2. Adele
  3. Train/Pat Monahan
  4. Mumford and Sons
  5. That chick from the Voice – Lindsey Pavao
  6. Taylor Swift
  7. Drake
  8. Garth Brooks
  9. The Cure
  10. Kelly Clarkson

 

9 things in your purse:

  1. Eos lip balm
  2. Wallet
  3. Griot pens
  4. stylus pen
  5. iPad
  6. iPod Touch
  7. envelope of coupons
  8. rouge eyeliner
  9. hair ties

 

8 places you want to visit:

  1. Tuscany
  2. Barcelona
  3. Austin, TX
  4. San Deigo, CA
  5. Toronto, Canada
  6. Berlin, Germany (again!)
  7. NYC
  8. Washington DC (my own town tourist style)

 

7 movies you love:

  1. Newsies
  2. Brown Sugar
  3. Penelope
  4. Serendipity
  5. Finding Nemo
  6. SLC Punk
  7. Home movies

 

6 favorite hobbies:

  1. Scentsy
  2. Reading
  3. Decorating (DIY style)
  4. Organizing
  5. Volunteerism
  6. Napping. That’s a hobby right?

 

5 favorite fruits/vegetables:

  1. Passion Fruit
  2. Spinach
  3. Corn on the Cob
  4. Sliced apples
  5. Cucumbers

 

4 favorite colors to wear:

  1. Blues
  2. Coral
  3. Black
  4. Grey

 

3 things that stress you out:

  1. The feeling that time is passing too quickly
  2. My body
  3. Monday

 

2 things you say too much:

  1. “I know right”
  2. “yes”

 

1 favorite dessert:

  1. Aunt C’s Cherry Cheesecake
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Apr
2012

*Insert Foot Stomp*

categories: Infertility

I woke up this morning having a mini-temper tantrum. Maybe this is an indication that I am about to start my period (you know. Aunt Flow is comin’ to town). It’s a damn good thing I work from home because no one, NO ONE, wants to see me today all pouty and pitiful. Here was my internal conversation.

Pitiful J (PJ): I don’t want to DO this anymore.

Real J (RJ): Yes you do. You know you do.

PJ: I do not. I am tired of figuring this out. You know how ADHD I get when things get hard, I shut down. I am shutting down.

RJ: No you aren’t. Oh hey! No baby this month means you can pop your ADHD drugs again. Score. But seriously, you want this. A perfect little J. or S. Jr. to cuddle and snuggle and watch grow up to a cool kid. You told S. last night you want a little hipster baby. Remember the onsie with a fake tie?

PJ: God. What are you? A motivational poster? I am pouty. And tired. And confused. And frustrated!

RJ: Okay, you win. Today. Be pouty, feel sorry for yourself, pick your nail polish off, watching bad tv while working, sing along to Glee and drink lots of Diet Coke. But that’s it. Tomorrow you put on your effing big girl panties and figure it out. FIGURE. IT. OUT.

PJ: Fair enough.

When I started this blog, I remember I said I was trying to keep it fun? Well it’s not always fun. And that’s okay. I’ve done lots of things that weren’t fun, but they led to fun things. Like my Mama says, use it as guilt in a few years. She reminds me often I was 9 days late with a big head. But those 9 days and however many hours of big headed labor resulted in fun right? Right?

Tomorrow will be better. Todays sucks.

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Apr
2012

Baby, Baby, Baby … All I Hear is Baby, Baby, Baby

categories: Infertility

Everyone wants to know if the 2nd round of Clomid was successful …. but before I say no … it might be too soon to tell. Here’s the story:

I should have started my period yesterday, I did not. I was bullied by R. (the Sister in Law, also trying to get pregnant) to take a pregnancy test, that came out negative, but I am still probably (maybe?) too early to tell.  So I guess we are still waiting. Why are the details so complicated?

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Apr
2012

Craving FroYo Does Not Mean You Are Pregnant

categories: Infertility

So now that we are in our first ‘Two Week Wait’, I am finding every little thing might indicate a baby in the belly. Today I noticed my belly a little rounder and a strong desire to eat bowls and bowls of frozen yogurt from those trendy, hipster DIY places. This probably doesn’t indicate I am pregnant, it probably just means I am a being a fat girl. I don’t think it happens this fast.

Can I also talk about how annoying sites that tell you ‘how to survive the Two Week Wait’ are? Apparently, during these two weeks I should be indulging in spa treatments, learning a new hobby, spending romantic time with S. and being nice to myself. Where are the women who do this? Do they have a job? I am going to be so busy with work, chairing a church committee, taking care of the dog, and going about my business that I won’t have time to focus on spa treatments OR wondering if I am pregnant. Perhaps I am a little judgy about this because it’s our first opportunity to ‘wait’, but for now I am rolling my eyes.

As I write this I am feeling a little tired. I must be pregnant. Or it’s time for bed.

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