Lately I have been making some big changes in my life to help my body produce better eggs. I figure that while we are saving for IVF, I need to do something and I definitely want to go into our first IVF cycle knowing that I did everything I could to contribute to a successful outcome. This all began when I read, "It Starts with the Egg." There were tons of things I didn't know about egg development and I am thankful the book was recommended to me by a friend.
Since reading the book, we have eliminated all plastic cups and food storage containers, changed all of our cleaning products, changed all of our personal care products including makeup, soap, shampoo and deodorant and changed our diet. I'm also taking the right kind of CoQ10 in addition to my PNVs and Pregnitude.
Overall, the changes haven't been too hard, changing our diet meant learning a lot of new recipes but that is actually fun. The only real challenge I have had is with Shampoo. I went super crunchy and in an attempt to save money, I bought castille soap online and made my own shampoo. I do not recommend this. My hair was ok after the first washing and I figured it wasn't a big deal. I could handle it. I could not. After the second washing, my hair felt coated in wax. By the third washing, it was a waxy tangled mess. If I had short hair, I could probably get away with it but my hair is very long, down to the middle of my back long and my castile soap shampoo was not gonna work. So, I ordered some Burt's Bees shampoo and it is much better. My mom promised me some honest company stuff for my birthday too so I'll have that as an alternative.
I'm on my way to making good eggies for IVF. Even if these changes don't make a huge difference, at least I'll know I did everything I could!
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Friday, January 2, 2015
Still Here!
I know it may not seem like it, but I am still here! It's hard to update an IF blog when nothing is going on. DH and I are still trying for a miracle and saving up in the meantime. We have had a lot going on with the puppies and family visits and drama with his side of the family so I have only been online to do work and keep up with TB and IDOB.
I just finally finished reading "It Starts with the Egg" and boy am I in for some lifestyle changes! DH and I eliminated all of the plastic in our kitchen and I (begrudgingly) parted with all of my makeup and hair care products. I am massively guilty of making a completely processed food full dinner one day a week so we are eliminating that as well. Our monthly grocery trip is going to be very different. Since DH is allergic to fresh fruit and veggies, it will be hard to try and make separate dishes for each of us for dinner, but I am going to try. Shampoos without all the bad stuff are expensive and we are on a strict budget so I am going to attempt to make my own shampoo this weekend. It can't be that hard, right? I already make my own soap so shampoo can't be that hard. We shall see how it goes. It kinda makes me feel like a "crunchy" but whatevs!
The puppies are eight weeks old and ready to go to their new homes! It's crazy to think it's been eight weeks already. Two pups left on Wednesday and all but one will leave this weekend. Part of me is SO ready for them to go because they are so much work and part of me wants to keep them all! I will definitely miss their sweet little faces.
Here is one of the boys:
Excuse the non-IF related tirade I am about to go on, lately I have had a lot to process with DH's family and I just need to get it out. Feel free to skip it!
DH's family is a mess. Remember the meth addict SIL? Well her fiance got arrested on NYE for possession and driving while intoxicated. I don't like to make assumptions and usually give people the benefit of the doubt, but in this case I will not. If he is using again, so is she and it's unacceptable. I've never met an addict who can have someone living with them, who is using and not use themselves. I will never understand how it is that she can have kids (two amazing, wonderful kids) and I can't. I feel like I am a good person, I always try to do the right thing. What is wrong with the universe that allows such terrible people to be parents?
DH's dad (adoptive) is a terrible person. Terrible. We found out some facts about his past that are truly stomach turning and we want no part of him in our lives. We have long known that he had an affair when DH's mom and dad were first married. What we didn't know is that the so-called affair was actually him molesting a young student while he was a pastor/teacher. We also found out that he is suing us for property that we own that he lived on. Who does that?
I feel bad that I don't feel bad that I told DH that we are done with his family. Finished. I do not want to speak to them, see them or have them near either of us. They are truly poisonous people and I cannot have people who behave the way that they do, in my life. I have an extremely long fuse. I am patient and forgiving and for 14 years I have continued to allow these people into our lives and home, regardless of their transgressions, but his sister's drug abuse and dad's disgusting behaviors are not something I can continue to tolerate. The only thing I do feel bad about is the fact that he keeps apologizing for me having married into the mess. I jokingly said, once, that if I had only known... but have since changed my response to, but then I wouldn't be with you. I hope it gives him some solace to know that I don't blame him, he was adopted into the mess!
I hate to play to comparison game (my family is better than yours) but really? I thought my family was a little BSC. I had no idea what a BSC family really was.
So that is what's going on in these parts! Not much on the IF front but we'll get there eventually!
I just finally finished reading "It Starts with the Egg" and boy am I in for some lifestyle changes! DH and I eliminated all of the plastic in our kitchen and I (begrudgingly) parted with all of my makeup and hair care products. I am massively guilty of making a completely processed food full dinner one day a week so we are eliminating that as well. Our monthly grocery trip is going to be very different. Since DH is allergic to fresh fruit and veggies, it will be hard to try and make separate dishes for each of us for dinner, but I am going to try. Shampoos without all the bad stuff are expensive and we are on a strict budget so I am going to attempt to make my own shampoo this weekend. It can't be that hard, right? I already make my own soap so shampoo can't be that hard. We shall see how it goes. It kinda makes me feel like a "crunchy" but whatevs!
The puppies are eight weeks old and ready to go to their new homes! It's crazy to think it's been eight weeks already. Two pups left on Wednesday and all but one will leave this weekend. Part of me is SO ready for them to go because they are so much work and part of me wants to keep them all! I will definitely miss their sweet little faces.
Here is one of the boys:
Excuse the non-IF related tirade I am about to go on, lately I have had a lot to process with DH's family and I just need to get it out. Feel free to skip it!
DH's family is a mess. Remember the meth addict SIL? Well her fiance got arrested on NYE for possession and driving while intoxicated. I don't like to make assumptions and usually give people the benefit of the doubt, but in this case I will not. If he is using again, so is she and it's unacceptable. I've never met an addict who can have someone living with them, who is using and not use themselves. I will never understand how it is that she can have kids (two amazing, wonderful kids) and I can't. I feel like I am a good person, I always try to do the right thing. What is wrong with the universe that allows such terrible people to be parents?
DH's dad (adoptive) is a terrible person. Terrible. We found out some facts about his past that are truly stomach turning and we want no part of him in our lives. We have long known that he had an affair when DH's mom and dad were first married. What we didn't know is that the so-called affair was actually him molesting a young student while he was a pastor/teacher. We also found out that he is suing us for property that we own that he lived on. Who does that?
I feel bad that I don't feel bad that I told DH that we are done with his family. Finished. I do not want to speak to them, see them or have them near either of us. They are truly poisonous people and I cannot have people who behave the way that they do, in my life. I have an extremely long fuse. I am patient and forgiving and for 14 years I have continued to allow these people into our lives and home, regardless of their transgressions, but his sister's drug abuse and dad's disgusting behaviors are not something I can continue to tolerate. The only thing I do feel bad about is the fact that he keeps apologizing for me having married into the mess. I jokingly said, once, that if I had only known... but have since changed my response to, but then I wouldn't be with you. I hope it gives him some solace to know that I don't blame him, he was adopted into the mess!
I hate to play to comparison game (my family is better than yours) but really? I thought my family was a little BSC. I had no idea what a BSC family really was.
So that is what's going on in these parts! Not much on the IF front but we'll get there eventually!
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Bad Blogger
Yikes, it's been a while!
Thankfully, our company has gotten very busy. We were at the verge of having the "closing our doors" talk if things hadn't picked up. Sadly, I had to lay off my sales guy and cut my shipping guy's hours so DH and I are working overtime: him blowing glass and packing and shipping orders and me doing all the accounting, business stuff and making all the sales calls. Between that and the puppies, it has been crazy around here.
I felt kind of bad because my sister and her family came to visit last week and I didn't get to spend any time with them. But, I'd rather not lose our company so the fact that we are busy is a Godsend.
In some ways, I am relieved we aren't cycling right now. I don't know how I would fit monitoring appointments in. Not to mention all the fun emotions that come with meds and stimming. I certainly don't want sales to get slow again but I am hopeful that I'll be able to find a way to balance everything once I am used to doing two jobs (well three if you count the puppy care).
In other news, the puppies are doing great! They are eating puppy baby food and are running around and playing with each other; they are so freaking cute!
We had to build them a new area because they were outgrowing their box, so now they have a puppy apartment. It's a pain to keep clean but they're so cute it's worth it. Here's a picture:
DH and I are keeping one of the pups, her name is Tully and she is a cutie. I absolutely adore her and carry her around everywhere (that won't last much longer)!
They tackled each other now and chew on each other, it is quite cute!
Thankfully, our company has gotten very busy. We were at the verge of having the "closing our doors" talk if things hadn't picked up. Sadly, I had to lay off my sales guy and cut my shipping guy's hours so DH and I are working overtime: him blowing glass and packing and shipping orders and me doing all the accounting, business stuff and making all the sales calls. Between that and the puppies, it has been crazy around here.
I felt kind of bad because my sister and her family came to visit last week and I didn't get to spend any time with them. But, I'd rather not lose our company so the fact that we are busy is a Godsend.
In some ways, I am relieved we aren't cycling right now. I don't know how I would fit monitoring appointments in. Not to mention all the fun emotions that come with meds and stimming. I certainly don't want sales to get slow again but I am hopeful that I'll be able to find a way to balance everything once I am used to doing two jobs (well three if you count the puppy care).
In other news, the puppies are doing great! They are eating puppy baby food and are running around and playing with each other; they are so freaking cute!
We had to build them a new area because they were outgrowing their box, so now they have a puppy apartment. It's a pain to keep clean but they're so cute it's worth it. Here's a picture:
DH and I are keeping one of the pups, her name is Tully and she is a cutie. I absolutely adore her and carry her around everywhere (that won't last much longer)!
They tackled each other now and chew on each other, it is quite cute!
We've gotten deposits on all of the pups, except for three of them, we've had some inquiries on the chocolate female that is still available but none on this little cutie
Hopefully, we will find her a home soon, although they still can't go to their forever homes for a month so there's plenty of time!
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Sad Day
About an month ago, our sweet Pygmy goat, Grace, started falling down a lot and seemed to be wheezing. We had a big fire in the area and there was a lot of smoke from the fire lingering, so while we knew that Grace was getting old, I was hopeful she just had a respiratory infection. (DH thought she was just getting old and was on her last legs) We brought her in the house and cared for her and dosed her up with B vitamin injections and Robitussin for a week/ She improved a great deal so we put her back out with the rest of the herd. The problem we encountered, though, is that they weren't being very nice to her. (DH was concerned that the rest of the goats were trying to thin the herd) They were constantly head butting her and chasing her away from the feed. So, like a good husband, DH built a pen next to the yard where we keep the goats. That way, she could be near the herd but wouldn't be bullied.
After a week, she was so much better, we started letting her back in the yard with the herd for short periods of time and no one was bothering her, so I moved her back in, full time. Things seemed fine, although sometimes she seemed a little less energetic than usual. Yesterday, I noticed that she was moving kind of slowly, but she wasn't wheezing or acting sick in any way so I didn't bring her in the house (with the puppies in the house it didn't seem like a good idea to bring a potentially sick goat inside). But sadly, this morning, when I went to feed everyone, she wasn't with the herd. In fact, she wasn't anywhere to be found. I called for her and called for her and looked everywhere. Then, I thought that maybe, since it had been raining, she might have gone under the shed that's in their yard (it's built on a hill so there's a clearance of about 4 feet). Sadly, that is where I found her. She looked like she was just sleeping, but after climbing under the shed, I realized that she had passed in her sleep during the night. I am thankful that she seemed to have gone peacefully but will miss her immensely. She was my favorite goat and always wanted love and affection from me at feeding times and whenever I went in the yard (as opposed to the other goats who are just interested in whether or not I have food).
After a week, she was so much better, we started letting her back in the yard with the herd for short periods of time and no one was bothering her, so I moved her back in, full time. Things seemed fine, although sometimes she seemed a little less energetic than usual. Yesterday, I noticed that she was moving kind of slowly, but she wasn't wheezing or acting sick in any way so I didn't bring her in the house (with the puppies in the house it didn't seem like a good idea to bring a potentially sick goat inside). But sadly, this morning, when I went to feed everyone, she wasn't with the herd. In fact, she wasn't anywhere to be found. I called for her and called for her and looked everywhere. Then, I thought that maybe, since it had been raining, she might have gone under the shed that's in their yard (it's built on a hill so there's a clearance of about 4 feet). Sadly, that is where I found her. She looked like she was just sleeping, but after climbing under the shed, I realized that she had passed in her sleep during the night. I am thankful that she seemed to have gone peacefully but will miss her immensely. She was my favorite goat and always wanted love and affection from me at feeding times and whenever I went in the yard (as opposed to the other goats who are just interested in whether or not I have food).
My Sweet Gracie Girl
Monday, November 10, 2014
We missed O but... puppies!
For a long time, I have suspected that I only O one or two good eggs a year. While I get occasional cross-hairs on FF and positive OPKs, I never get any other symptoms of O (i.e. it's usually as dry as the Sahara down there at O time). Last year, I think I had a strong O in July and in December which was unmedicated and resulted in a CP. Wouldn't you know it, the day after the puppies were born I had a strong O? It was like a slip and slide down there ya'll. And wouldn't you also know it, we missed it due to momma's labor, delivery and complete exhaustion on our parts. DH fell asleep and I couldn't bring myself to wake him up because I knew I had to stay awake until he got up at 2 am to relieve me from puppy duty. I knew that if I woke him, he'd sleep later than 2 and I would have to stay awake longer! Now of course I am bummed and wish I had woken him but hindsight is 20/20.
Sigh.
On the plus side, we have puppies. Lots of adorable puppies. I love them, I love snuggling them. But I will say that it's a damn good thing they are so cute because when I have to get up to supervise feedings three times a night and look around our house and see that it looks like a bomb went off, I am none too pleased with them. But then I see these little faces and my heart melts!
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Puppies
So we have ten, adorable, healthy pups and one tired but content momma. Even though I will have to be up every two hours for the next week, to supervise feedings, I am overjoyed. I love caring for all the pups and keeping a record of every milestone for their family's to have. It makes me happy to know that we are going to be able to give other's the same joy and happiness we have experienced due to having our own fur babies in our lives.
This time around I am particularly excited to be passing on this joy to one of our soon to be fur parents. We ask any perspective fur parents to fill out an application and then I end up corresponding with them via email for a while before they come to meet their pup. I like to be sure that every puppy placement is truly a forever placement so I like to get to know the new owners. Obviously, people are also interested in knowing about DH and I, so I'm never surprised when they find my FB page or find out some detail about us by googling us. This time, one of our perspective parents came across my public IF blog. She emailed me to tell me she had found it and shared her story with me: she wants a puppy because after many failed attempts to have her own child, including surrogacy, she is now living child free, not by choice. While we always encourage people without children to adopt a dog from a shelter, we sometimes make exceptions to our rule. This is one of those times. I get to spend the next eight weeks, raising her fur baby who will be her child. It may sound silly, but I feel pretty honored to be able to give her a little bit of something she has longed for.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
***Canine Pregnancy Warning****
Oooo! I am just so excited! We just got back from the vet, we had Dakota x-rayed so we could find out how many cute, adorable, labs to expect next week and it looks like we are expecting EIGHT!
I am so excited :) Without further ado, her x-ray
I am so excited :) Without further ado, her x-ray
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