Winter Cycle Friends 2009/2010 - Everyone Welcome!

[katie99]

Well I've been really busy these last few days trying to get that damn deck painted already, 4 days of painting and i'm almost halfway done now. So i want to catch up with my girls and instead I'm reading and getting madder by the minute.

Helene - I know you've said before that you've felt that women on the ivf forums are "being mean" to you. I think I know why now. I have to put my two cents in and say that I agree with Steph 100%. I dont understand your way of thinking at all. You are telling these women who have all suffered through the pain of infertility ( most of us for years) that if this baby is the "wrong" gender you'll just give him away??? How can you expect us to wrap our heads around that?
I mean I am the recipient of a donor embryo, so maybe thats why this bothers me so much to read your words. In my case without the generosity of my RE and a wonderful couple somewhere I wouldnt be pregnant right now.And I will never forget their kindness, it means the world to me and Chris. So how can I read that you're already planning another DE cycle and not be upset by that? Its like you are treating this pregnancy so blithely. How will you feel if its a boy? "Oh, just try again"? You know I would love to have a boy, but I'm having a girl, so does that mean that i feel any less blessed by the fact that I'm pregnant at all? I still to this day well up with tears when I think of the day that my RE offered me these embies because I know that was my only shot at motherhood. Most of us have run ourselves into debt trying to get pregnant and feel that to just have ONE healthy baby is the greatest gift of all. You cant possibly understand the stress both financial and physical and the pain of infertility because clearly you've never been there. And like Steph said, with all the pain we have seen on this thread of women losing their babies, its practically impossible to understand why you feel the need to have a girl no matter the cost.

Steph - Thank you for addressing this issue that I think has been bothering alot of us. I'm so glad that Andrew has decided to go with Ethan. Its a beautiful name. Now lets see if he'll get with the idea of Lily for your little girl. We keep going back & forth on names. He's finally over Samantha (yay) but now he"s over Caitlin too (boo) So that leaves us with Katherine, Emily, or Ryan which was my pick for a boy, but I think can work for a girl's name too. And yes, i've felt movement lately mostly when I'm laying down. I'm still waiting for it to be strong enough for Chris to feel. he'll go crazy when it finally happens, I think.

Angela - Crossed that your DH is right. Just a few more weeks and you'll know for sure are you hoping for one over the other? You take it easy in the heat too!

Babyluv - good thing you've got the twins/ multiple books, the reg pg books just dont give enough good info for you twin mamas. How much longer til you find out if you're right about the second baby? I'm thinking team blue for you also.

Gi - How are you doing honey? How are you feeling? Hopefully J is still pampering you every step of the way!

Claudia - oh honey, hooray for movement! isnt it something when you feel little Flick move for the first time? I think I missed it a time or two because I didnt know what that was. Silly me. And those round ligament pains, now that I know what they are and what they feel like its ok, but the first few times? I didnt know what to think! Thanks for asking, my ankles are normal, it seems like they sweeled up the really hot, humid days that I was of course on my feet too long. How much longer until you go onto full summer vacation?

Karen - Honey thats great news! Thank God the cerclage is working. I can imagine its hard to have 'limited activity" but if that what it takes to grow those little ones, then so be it. Please take it easy.

[karenthescorpio]

Helene- I have been ignoring your posts for a while but I can't take your psycho posts anymore. Please leave this forum. You are unstable and clearly have BIG problems. How did you pass psychological evaluation for IVF at all???? You don't deserve this baby. Give it to someone with some common sense and emotional stability. Go get some therapy.

[lycase]

OK everyone I will leave and I am sorry I have hurt you girls.

helene

[Stephanieford78]

Karen - Sorry I missed your post in the midst of things, but I am so happy for you! Who would have thought it would get better and not just stay the same. What great news! You definately made the right decision in getting the cerclage. You are going to have two wonderful healthy babies. Take it easy twin mama!
Funny you mention the psych eval for IVF... when I lived in PA and was going to MD to get my IVF back in 2006, they denied me because they said my tests came back saying I was too stressed. We move a lot being in the military, we had just bought a house, someone I knew died recently and I had lost my two oldest girls (though that was years earlier they included it). They thought for these reasons that I couldn't handle going through it. I didn't understand it and was so mad, but I guess everything happens for a reason.

Katie - You must have a pretty big deck. lol At least you are taking it slow and not trying to get too much done at one time. Yes, Andrew agreed to Ethan and I didn't even bring it up. That came out of nowhere, but glad he addressed it. I think it was a great compromise. As far as what he said about the girl, her name is Angelina Lily but I can call her whatever I want.. he will call her Angelina. lol I said ok to that because knowing me, I will call her a few different nicknames. Like DD is Alexandria but spitting that out all the time is a pain. lol So I call her Alex, when she was born I called her Tink and for years I have called her Boogie. So no Caitlyn.. Ryan is cute! I think boy names being used for girl's can be fun. Like Drew Barrymore... no one names their girl's Drew but it works great for her!
As far as addressing the issue.. I wasn't sure what everyone else thought. Now I see that it did bother people. I just hope if some people have been not posting because of this that they feel they can come back and post away and now maybe get their opinions off their chest. I just had to say something when I read about giving all the babies up from the DE's. Didn't want to cause drama, just speak my mind.

Babyluv - I just hopped on the scale and I haven't gained any weight back since being sick. So I have only gained 1 pound and almost 20 weeks. I think I will call the OB and see if I can be seen 2 weeks early just to be safe and see what he suggests. I will likely get a nurse who will tell me I am fine though like I did last time.

[angelaezra]

Hi everyone. Boy I didn't realize how long I've been MIA. My mom has been in town and keeping me occupied. She left today and I must say I'm kind of enjoying the solitude alittle. I'm not on official bedrest anymore. Just "limited activity"...but I still rest alot b/c I feel it can't hurt. Last Thursday I had my follow-up appt with my doc after having my cerclage put in. It was a great visit...my cervix actually lengthened 1.1cm and the funneling is gone!!!! I couldn't believe it. I was just hoping for "no change"...which would have been fine. I thank God everyday for these babies and my health. I hope everyone is doing well and happily counting the weeks like me!
xo
Karen

Karen – I am absolutely thrilled to read your post!!! Our prayers have been answered! Please remember to continue to take it easy!

Angela

[angelaezra]

Hello ladies – sorry I haven’t been posting too much this weekend but I have felt absolutely horrible for the last few days (horrible nausea and headaches). It started Saturday and has continued through today … but I do have good news I was able to wean off of the Xanax this weekend with NO cramping or spotting! I think that is why I feel horrible because of the withdrawal from the Xanax. I can’t believe how sensitive I am because I was on such a low dose???

Well, I had my first high risk OB appointment today w/ the OB. It was a thorough examination! He provided more info regarding the remainder of the pregnancy. He said that he will deliver this baby a week earlier than 40 wks, so if I haven’t went into labor when I turn 39 weeks, he will induce me! Once I hit 31 weeks, I will be coming in twice a week for examinations to make sure my baby is measuring correctly, the amniotic fluid isn’t too low, or my cervix doesn’t start to shorten or dilate. I was very excited that he is going to keep a close eye on me but I immediately thought how I am going to keep up w/ all of these appointments and work too. The hospital is almost an hour away and my company is going through turmoil and talking about restructuring in September, so more stress on my shoulders. But, I am going to listen to you wonderful ladies because you always tell me not to stress and that everything will work itself out.

Unfortunately, every since my exam today I am very sore and feel a lot of pressure (he did a pap smear to my disappointment … lol). So I will try to take it easy for the next few days to recover.

I hope you ladies have a wonderful night and are feeling better than I am right now.

Angela

[angelaezra]

Hello ladies – sorry I haven’t been posting too much this weekend but I have felt absolutely horrible for the last few days (horrible nausea and headaches). It started Saturday and has continued through today … but I do have good news I was able to wean off of the Xanax this weekend with NO cramping or spotting! I think that is why I feel horrible because of the withdrawal from the Xanax. I can’t believe how sensitive I am because I was on such a low dose???

Well, I had my first high risk OB appointment today w/ the OB. It was a thorough examination! He provided more info regarding the remainder of the pregnancy. He said that he will deliver this baby a week earlier than 40 wks, so if I haven’t went into labor when I turn 39 weeks, he will induce me! Once I hit 31 weeks, I will be coming in twice a week for examinations to make sure my baby is measuring correctly, the amniotic fluid isn’t too low, or my cervix doesn’t start to shorten or dilate. I was very excited that he is going to keep a close eye on me but I immediately thought how I am going to keep up w/ all of these appointments and work too. The hospital is almost an hour away and my company is going through turmoil and talking about restructuring in September, so more stress on my shoulders. But, I am going to listen to you wonderful ladies because you always tell me not to stress and that everything will work itself out.

Unfortunately, every since my exam today I am very sore and feel a lot of pressure (he did a pap smear to my disappointment … lol). So I will try to take it easy for the next few days to recover.

I hope you ladies have a wonderful night and are feeling better than I am right now.

Angela

Oh lord ladies look how bad I am feeling today ... I replied to my own message ... lol. I am gong to bed soon!

[Stephanieford78]

Angela - Oh I am so happy that you were able to wean yourself off of the Xanax. Too bad it has you feeling poopy though. You are very lucky to have such cautious docs on your side. It might be a pain in the arse to keep up with the appts but at least you will know your little one will be perfect because of it! I hope your aches go away. I am surprised they wanted a pap.... where you over due? It is now every two years not once a year. I don't see the big deal some docs need one so bad, take a culture swab maybe, but why scrape? Just feel better, maybe just take it easy until you feel better. Keep your head up about your job. Things all have a way of working themselves out. Rest up baby mama, 2nd tri is right around the corner!

[babyluv]

Steph - try not to worry too much about the weight! If you started a little heavier, then it won't be as big of a deal. Just do what you can from this point on. And the book definitely doesn't recommend junk. It says to eat eggs, bread, veggies, fruit, meat, etc....just a lot more of it. And force yourself! It also warns that a lot of OBs and nurses are not used to it and may give you a hard time, but they are used to dealing with singletons. So just do what you can from here on out, drink tons of water, extra milk, and even enjoy that cheeseburger (but try to get something other than fries and soda...um, ok, sometimes, but not if it's my meal!). BTW - My DS is also Alex...and did you realize that first named storm of the season is Tropical Storm Alex??! SOOOOO fitting! HA!

Katie - Glad that deck is getting done! It is SOOO hot here now! I walked outside this morning and was hit by a wall of humidity. I believe the heat index is around 103. Should be a nice looooong summer.

Karen - That is AWESOME news!!! I am so happy to hear it!! You are doing great twin mama!!

Claudia - YAY for feeling movement! I had that same butterfly feeling the other day too. Like, "WHAT WAS THAT??!" It almost felt like a ripple. Little by little I am feeling bubbles, but still waiting for them to get stronger. I thought I felt I tiny little scratch inside, but who knows??

Angela - So happy you are doing well off of the meds! Are you totally off now?

Hazel - praying for your dad and family!

AFM - Got my Quad test done yesterday and they set up my high risk appt for next week. It was supposed to be tomorrow, but the kids have swim lessons and DH is entertaining board members (golfing for the second time this week...oh I feel SOOO sorry for him...although in this heat it sounds miserable), so we moved it. Since I just had an u/s last week, we wanted to space this one out a little anyway. So it's next Thursday when I'll be 17 1/2 weeks. Hopefully both babies will cooperate!

And here's a strange question. Ok, so I have hardly had any food aversions, but I seem to have SOUND aversions! Specifically to DS! He'll be 5 next week so of course he's loud and well, is ALL boy if you know what I mean, but the voices he makes (for his toys), his loudness, everything seems heightened...which makes me more irritated and more prone to getting upset with him. I just bought some ear plugs which are helping (I can still hear the kids, but it takes the edge off). Anyone else have this issue, or is it just my hormones?

[natasha10]

wow ladies i've been gone too long. i had a lot of catching up to do. I agree with all of your comments to helene that was weird,different. im suprised she can even think of giving away a baby after all the work to get as far as she is. to even go thru the process and procedure i cant imagine wanting to repeat it because of giving up a baby of gender. i want both if i could afford to do another cycle. im just in shock that she's even on this site because of her feelings and knowing how desperate everyone is here to have their own baby in there arms. wow that was heart breaking.

angela- i believe your Dh has visions

claudia- aww im happy for you you felt for baby. thats great news


i made a ticker finally lol

[Stephanieford78]

Natasha - Cute ticker! How are you feeling? I hope m/s isn't starting to peek it's ugly head. Oh gosh, you are pretty new let me fill you in a bit. lol She has vented about her husband hating her, her kids hate her and mentioned she should kill herself. I am sure RE didn't know her story, not 100% unless he was a quack or thought she was going to only be a surrogate. She is 45 with 7 kids, had a DS baby 2-3 months before cycling, wants to keep the baby if it's a girl but give away if it's a boy and any other babies that come from the donor embies, then go get donor eggs (since she doesn't want to chance having another DS baby of her own) to mate with DH sperm, gender test them and have how ever many babies from that. She has at least 3 babies in her future whether she keeps them or not. What I don't understand is if it's a girl, she keeps it but gives the rest of the babies to her friend, but if it's a boy she gives them all to her friend. The logic is nutty to say the least. I was just told that she was kicked out of another forum before this one. Anyway.. enough about that issue, it's giving me a headache. lol

Babyluv - I called and actually talked to my OB this time. He told me not to even worry about my weight even if I stay even. He said babies are great parasites and they will just take what they need. lol It seems that because I had the extra weight to begin with that I don't need to worry about what I gain at all. He said as long as I am eating healthy, I am fine. I am sure that all the water I am drinking and the good eating is helping me not to gain weight. So, he doesn't feel the need to see me before the 2nd so I am going to hold out till then and be calm. Gosh... do we ever really stop wrrying? As for the noise adversion... I think I get what you are saying. I have an older daughter, but sometimes she will play with her hula hoop and after a while that drives me crazy. lol She is very good at it and can go on forever and the noise the water makes can get on my nerves.

[katie99]

Hi everyone -

OMG I havent stopped running around all day - I'm so tired. I have to say that i did some thinking about what happened here yesterday and I stand by my words, thoughts, comments. And now that I think of it, I've been biting my tongue on this subject for awhile now. So I hope we all move on and that one crazy apple wont spoil the whole bunch. I was painting the darn deck again today, and I was feeling movement like wild! I wonder if that means she was happy or wishing I would just sit down already Either way it was pretty cool that was the most I've ever felt her moving around in there.

Karen - I'll stay crossed that your cervix keeps cooperating and you can stay on limited activity. Strict bed rest has got to be so difficult, I had a hard time getting through 3days of modified bed rest after transfer. Did you ever get a definite answer? Is it team Pink all the way?

Steph - Theres still time for Andrew to choose to go with Lily. I wish we could just decide and stick with it already even though i'll most likely be using a few nicknames for her. Chris even took a long time to decide on the dog's name, originally she was Ava, until we saw that she was a complete mud puppy. It had to be changed because it just seemed wrong to have such a sophisticated name on such a mud loving canine. Even though for the most part I call her doodles because this dog can putter around like no one's business - lol - How are you feeling twin mama?

Angela - Hooray for no more Xanax! Your HR OB sure sounds like he'll be keeping a close eye on you too. I know its hard to keep so many appts but I'm a firm beliver in the better safe than sorry method. do you think you will stay on full time until you labor? Or are you planning to drop down your hours?

Babyluv - I hope that both of your babies cooperate at your next u/s. You must be dying to know for sure. Glad to hear that you're feeling good. No sound aversions for me, but then again I've had stuffed up nose and ears so its kind of like built in ear plugs -ha ha

Gi & Claudia & Hazel - How are you guys all doing? I was thinking of you all. Hope that all is well and that you're just too busy lately

Natasha - Oooooh love your ticker girl! How are you feeling mama? Did you get all the billing straightened out with your RE yet?

hugs & prayers to us all - xoxo

[katie99]

Hazel- midwife appt on 6/16 @ 28 wks! - EDD is Sept 7
Riley -EDD is on Oct 5
Katie - OB appt on 6/28 -EDD is Oct 24 -
Merri - EDD is on Oct 26
KTelise-EDD is on Nov 3
Hope -EDD is on Nov 7
Gi - EDD is on Nov 14-
Positive thinking - EDD is on Nov 14
Claudia - next OB appt on 7/6 - EDD is on Nov28 - Thanksgiving weekend!
Libby - HB was 173! - EDD is on Nov 29 - Thanksgiving weekend!
Angela - HR OB on 6/14 - EDD is on Dec 22 - A Christmas baby!
Natasha -BFP! 1st u/s on 6/11 -EDD is on Feb 4 2011




Karen - next HR OB appt on 5/27 - EDD is Oct 4
Ashley -EDD is Oct 7
Stephanie- OB appt on 7/2 - EDD is on Nov 4 - AND
Sara - EDD is Nov 22 - AND
Babyluv - next u/s on 6/24 - -EDD is on Nov 28 - AND 1 SURPRISE.....





Tammy - m/c - 1 angel looking over her -
DrBoots (Ryan) - m/c - 1 angel watching over her -
Lou - m/c 11wks - We all grieve with you.. -
Franca -m/c - angel baby -
Malya - premature labor @ 20wks - 1 angel watching over you -
Natakia - m/c - 1 angel watching over you -
Ronda - m/c - we all grieve with you -

[hjw]

Afternoon ladies, I'm finally back home for a while, so determined to start being a more regular poster on this thread!

katie - yay for lots of movement yesterday! Isn't it an incredible feeling? And it just gets stronger and better from here on in... Is it strong enough that DH can feel it yet? My DH tried for a good 2 weeks before he happened to have his hand on my stomach at the right moment - my tip would be to try it after you've eaten something and are sitting down (or lying in bed in the morning after a cup of tea), as the sugar rush always seems to get Zorba going! Are you getting closer to narrowing down a shortlist of names? I've always liked Emily, I wonder what you'll end up going with! (Btw, our friends have just called their little girl Ava, and I think it's a beautiful name, but I guess you won't want to use that if that's what the puppy was originally called!) I think DH and I need to start thinking about names as well at some point... p.s. I see that I'm currently at the top of the due dates list, now that we haven't heard from Rachel for a while. All my cycle threads I've been pretty much the last to go, and now I'm going to be the first (well, that's if some of the twin Mummies don't beat me to it!) - scary!!

gi - has your little girl got going now as well? I bet those tiny thumps were it starting, won't be long now! Btw, I'm always so happy when I see your ticker and see those weeks clocking up for you - 18 weeks already, almost halfway there!

claudia - yay for another Mummy starting to feel movements! Have you felt Flick again much this week? Are you still getting stretching pains? I had lots of those, some of them around week 16 were actually pretty painful and in the middle of my abdomen rather than down the sides - worrying, but all totally normal.

Karen - I'm so happy for you that the cerclage seems not just to have halted the thinning but actually improved things as well. How are you coping with the limited activity which has been imposed? Will that continue right up to term?

Steph - thank goodness your headaches are letting up, that must be such a relief. I LOVE your baby names, Ethan Jay and Angelina Lily, so cute!! Hahaha, so it's not just me then who comes up with various nicknames for people/animals which sometimes have nothing to do with their given names??? Thankfully, each of our dogs (although not always the brightest!) has worked out that their name at any given time is one of a small collection of things! I have to say, I'm slightly jealous of you not really putting on much weight - I'm 13kg up already (that's a little over 2 stone or 28 pounds, I think) and I've still got 12 weeks to go! No matter what I eat, Zorba is piling the pounds on me at a rate of knots! Mind you, my appetite went haywire at about 24 weeks and I feel I could eat a horse most days... Speaking of which, mmmmm ... lunchtime soon...

babyluv - more cute names, I love the name Juliet Helen. Do you know what flavour the other baby is yet? And another one starting to feel movement from your little ones, how exciting!

Angela - are you still suffering in the heat? Hopefully the summer won't be too bad for you - you should get some energy back soon and the second trimester should be a little easier than the first, at least it was for me. Sounds as if your weaning off Xanax has gone well, save for your nausea and headaches, poor thing. I know what you mean about juggling lots of appointments with work and other commitments, but these things do tend to just work themselves out, so try not to stress over it. The main thing is that they are going to keep a close eye on your baby, and that's the most important thing. Is your local baby boom still continuing? How funny that so many people are announcing their news and due around you.

lou - honey, I'm so pleased you had a good holiday, you and DH really needed that time together. It's good news that there are no obvious problems from the hysteroscopy, did you get the genetic testing results back yet? I have absolutely everything crossed tightly for you in your July cycle...

Finally, Steph, katie and Karen - I just wanted to say thank you for raising an issue with Helene which had been bothering me as well. Perhaps if it was a general feeling across the thread, we all should have said something before, but it definitely needed bringing up. I wish I'd been around at the time, as I would have chimed in with my own support of what you guys were saying. I think the issue of what people in some cultures might do if the baby is the 'wrong' sex is the reason why a lot of public hospitals in this country won't tell you the sex, and I'm pretty sure that there isn't a clinic in this country which would do genetic testing just to work out which sex the embryos are before transferring the 'preferred' ones (the only exception I am aware of is where there is a serious genetic condition which is gender specific). While some of us might have a slight preference about whether we would like a baby girl or baby boy, I'm sure that without exception we would all say that all we actually really, really want is a healthy baby (or babies). I just cannot get my head around the concept of having baby after baby until you grow your family into the 'right' group of genders, particularly when you already have 7 kids. Plus, how must the poor ladies who've suffered such terrible tragedies on this board feel when they read about Helene's plans for a 'designer family'??? Sorry, rant over!

AFM, all is OK with Zorba. I had my 28 week midwife appointment this morning (only 12 weeks to go - eeek!!!) - my stomach measures at exactly 28 weeks, my blood pressure is still on the low side but the same as before, and we heard a nice healthy heartbeat. (katie - next time you're updating the list, I have my next midwife appointment at 32 weeks on 14th July.) We're off to a department store on Friday to look at buggies/car seats/nursery furniture and then I think we need to make some decisions - some things take 8 weeks to deliver so we don't want the baby to be here before the stuff arrives!!

As far as things with my father go, as you know we got the biopsy results last Friday. Essentially, the news was at the better end of the range. It is definitely pancreatic cancer and definitely inoperable - the oncology doctor was surprised at how fit (relatively speaking) Dad still feels (apparently most people by his stage of the cancer have lost a lot of weight, can't eat, and feel horribly fatigued), and said because of that, he might have 12 months or possibly even 18. We were dreading him being given a timeframe of a couple of months, so whilst it is obviously still bad news, it's not the worst that it might have been. The doctor suggested that chemotherapy might also give him a little extra time, and has invited him to take part in a trial for a new pancreatic cancer 'vaccine' (which seems like the wrong word for something which is essentially intended to be curative rather than preventative). So Mum & Dad went off on Monday on a planned holiday for a week in Scotland and the intention is that Dad will start both chemo and the vaccine trial at the end of this month. In a strange way, I feel pretty positive about it all, probably because I was preparing myself for the prognosis to be much worse.

That's all from me for now (apologies for writing a novel!) - speak to you all soon. Take care,
Hazel

[natasha10]

stephanie- i didnt know her whole story. wow that definetly a headache. she has a lot of problems and egh theres nothing we can do but stay away from negative people.

AFM- i feel ok i suppose. im not too sure of what im feeling. i cant sleep a whole night thru and im mnever comfortable. my back is starting to hurt. otherwise no m/s yet. my appt for the first heartbeat is saturday so im excited its something to look forward to. i also found out im going back to work as of wednesday next week. my RE said after hearing the heartbeat they will treat me like a normal pregnancy and im off restrictions and back to the real world they said. but thats their oppinion. we'll see what my OB thinks or decides when i make that appt.i was just nervous of having to lift double my weight i didnt want any problems. I have a funeral to attend on friday with my DH. his cousins daughter drowned last weekend. it was a tragedy. she was only 2 yrs old. poor baby just thought is is sad. i guess she fell in the hot tube at an hotel and no one noticed cuz she was under water. they were looking and looking for her and finally noticed her under the water. so as of now thats all thats knew with me.

have a nice day ladies