As of now...life is good.

Nope...still not pregnant, but not totally obsessing about it either every second of the day.  I think the break from hormones, endless doctors appointments and shots really has done me a lot of good.  Oh and add in the fact that I have been on a steady exercise routine and dropped a few pounds doesn't hurt either.

My summer activies/plans include:

1. My daily AM workout - challenge with co-worker.
2. Guitar lessons on Mondays
3. Thursday night bean bag league with the MR.
4. Tending to my garden and the endless weeds.
5. Keeping an eye on my new rose bushes - pics to come on this.
6. Looking forward to a summer wedding.
7. 4th of July camping with friends.
8. Nightly reading.
9. Summer "shortened" hours on Friday's for work.
10. Cooking and soon to be cooking from the garden!

I would say it is the perfect start to summer.  What do you have planned for this summer?

Julie

IF Update

The update once again is that there is no update.  I'm just getting anxious as another month comes near to an end...or a beginning?  We are at the 12DPO (CD 30)  mark and you will be so proud of me this month, I have not taken a HPT yet!  This is good.  This means I am calm (sort of) and that I am not totally letting it consume my life (right at this moment it kind of is though).  I'm starting to understand what they mean by balanced Qi.  I have been doing weekly acupuncture and taking an herb called Maternal Herbal which I wrote about a few blog posts ago.

Anyways, what has been filling my time is work, gardening and learning to play my guitar.  I have mastered the E, A, B7, G and D7 chords.  I am working on C, Am and F.  I am starting to learn "Hotel California" by the Eagles!  It really does bring a great joy to my life to just sit and practice and play chords.  I'm really looking forward to playing and having it sound decent :).   My garden has had a really good start so far this year.  I planted lettuce, radish and onion early in March and have been enjoying them ever since!  I also took a little risk by planting my tomato plants that I had grown from seeds and last night lost about 1/2 of them to a naughty little bunny (my new arch nemisis). 

I have pictures to upload, but I just need to remember to do it!  Stay tuned.  Fingers crossed over the next couple of days that AF keeps away!

Julie

Has Anyone Tried This?

Although we have taken a break from our standard treatment this month from infertility we are not on an official break.  This month I am going forward with acupunture and an herb called Maternal Herbal.  Has anyone tried this herb while TTC?

I am currently taking this along with my weekly acupuncture appointments.  While this is still expensive it is a large "discount" from the well over $1,000 I spent last month trying the IUI.  I also actually feel normal this month.  The most difficult thing was dealing with the hormones last month and managing my disappointment.  So far I am noticing very little side effects from the herb.  The last time I actually cried was during Grey's Anatomy during an emotional scene... so that is good!  I always cry during that show anyways!  We are currently about 1/2-way through this month.  I had to pull my thermometer back out because I need to know for sure when I do ovulate because that changes the acupuncture protocal.

Tonight I go in again for one last major session before we (hopefully) hit the ovulation mark and we are trying some stims in addition to the normal acupuncture!  I just love how "going all out" in TCM means a little discomfort followed by extreme calm and relaxation vs. traditional medicine which is just an entire month of out of whack hormones and mostly just discomfort.  So that is the update.  I would love to hear if anyone else has tried this herb and if it works I will be suggesting it to everyone!

Tonight is also my very first guitar lesson!  I'm so excited.  All weekend I would take it out of its case just to admire it and strum away and start to feel comfortable holding it!  Wish me luck!

Julie

A New Tab on the Junk Drawer

Hello again everyone,

You may have noticed a new tab on the ole junk drawer.  One thing I have always really wanted to do was to learn how to play the guitar.  One of the things I have learned recently in dealing with infertility is that you only have one life and you have to make it the best you can no matter what the circumstance.  Hence, I am going out tonight to check out guitars and possibly set up lessons.

SOOOO...keep your eyes on that Music tab and hopefully there are some good things to come!

Julie