Allergic to Sperm?

Probably not, but S is sick and it seems like every time we do an IUI she gets sick immediately after.  Probably just a combo of living in Austin where allergies are crazy for everyone along with having a germy 3 1/2 year old in the house.  Jude was sick earlier this week so we think that is the bug S caught but hopefully she will be feeling better tomorrow.  He was only really sick for like a day but has a little cough and is super tired and has been all week.  In fact it is 7:30 on a Friday night and both my babies are already asleep in bed.  Fingers crossed at least I avoid it.

In pregnancy news, no news.  S has felt bloated and weird all week but it's hard to tell if it is anything other than the progesterone she is taking combined with being sick.  I feel good about this try being "the one" but of course that doesn't mean anything.  So keep thinking those sticky baby thoughts with me!

-Liz 

A Way Better IUI

This morning we had our second IUI and it went much better than yesterdays.  Still uncomfortable but not painful.  Of course S has a tiny bladder and she can't stand to feel like she has to pee so she only made it ten minutes of laying down afterwards instead of fifteen but oh well.  Lesson learned, S can either have a full bladder for the IUI or she can lay for fifteen minutes afterward but she can't do both a full bladder and lay for fifteen minutes.

Sperm count today was good.  Yesterday's was 15 million motile and today was 17 million.  Keep fingers crossed and what not as we now enter the two week wait!!

Liz 

IUIs Suck

We had IUI #1 this morning and while it was nice to get it done on the weekend when S isn't worried about work, it was not great.  Our doctor is a big believer in having a very full bladder during an IUI so that the pressure pushes your uterus flatter and apparently this makes everything easier/better.  That may be true, but it does not make thigs better if it is your bladder.  When we got there S was already feeling hydrated but not full and so we do an ultrasound and her bladder is not full.  Cut to 45 minutes later and 4 of those tiny bottles of water later and she is uncomfortable.  Add a pinching painful speculum, an ultrasound thing being pressed down super hard on the full bladder, a catheter going through the  cervix, and lots of jostling.  So needless to say it was a painful and unpleasant experience for S.  And I hate that.  I wish it had been more peaceful and relaxing.  I'm hoping tomorrow we can do wayyyyyy less water and make the whole thing easier to deal with.  Think sticky baby thoughts for us!!!!!

Liz 

Two Eggs Locked and Loaded

We had an appointment this morning to see how the folliciles were doing.  And yay, we had two mature folliciles!  One at 17 and one at 19.  And I think we had another at like 15 so there is a small chance for that one too but not likely.  So S will do the trigger shot tonight at 11pm and then do the IUIs tomorrow and Monday morning.  I'm so excited that for one the drugs did what they were supposed to this time and that we actually get to try this month.  We've been working at getting pregnant since the beginning of the year but this will only actually be our third try.  So let's all cross our fingers and think third times the charm!!

-Liz 

Looking Good so far

S had an appointment for an ultrasound this moring.  And it looks like so far we have two, maybe three contenders for this month!  She had two folliciles on one side that were around a 14 and one that was a 13 and then a few smaller folliciles on the other side, 12s and 10s I think.  So fingers crossed that the next few days of shots produces three good folliciles so that this month will be a success!  We have another appointment Saturday morning to do another ultrasound and possibly trigger.  We are looking at possibly a Sunday/Monday insem or a Monday/Tuesday of next week!  I really really really hope that this month is our lucky month, so send us the good vibes please!

-Liz 

Winner!

Amanda, you won the backpack!  I sent you an email but if you don't get it today please contact me.  Thanks for entering guys!

Aurorae Sling Backpack Review and Giveaway!!

I was recently given an Aurorae sling backpack to review for you guys.  I wasn't paid for my review but I was given the bag for free.

I've been using this bag for about two weeks now and even though it is technically a yoga bag, I use it as a diaper bag.  Or more accurately as a toddler bag for Jude.  Normally when I am out and about with Jude I have an extra pair of pants and undies just shoved in my purse along with some snacks and possibly a drink. And I know at least three different times now a sippy cup has somehow opened up and spilled inside my purse.  Ugh.  Just yesterday we were out and even though Jude doesn't really have accidents anymore, he still managed to pee on his underwear while sitting on the potty and so I got to put his wet undies wrapped in paper towels into my Michael Kors purse .  And it made me wish I had used my Aurorae sling backpack instead because it has a section in it that has a wet liner which would have been a far better place to store those wet undies.  So even though Jude doesn't really need a diaper bag anymore, he does need something.

This bag has worked out really well for us.  It has tons of pockets so that snacks don't have to end up in the same pocket as wet undies.  Its really durable and well made.  I really like how it wraps around your body and distributes the weight of what you are carrying so it isn't all pushing on one shoulder.  And because it is a backpack style it doesn't get in the way of holding Jude on my hip.  It has a mesh pocket on the side that is perfect for water bottles, sippy cups, bottles, whatever so that if they do leak or spill it isn't all over the inside where your phone or wallet would be.  The bag does have a cell phone pocket on the front of the strap, which I liked until my phone fell out of it.  I have an iPhone 5 and a pretty slim case so if you had something bigger you might not have the problem but I won't be putting my phone in there again!  I think it could be improved by having a snap or something to keep your phone from sliding out.  Another improvement I could see is that the zippers on the bag are all on the opposite side of what I would want.  I'd love to be able to just slide the bag around so that I could get into the pockets while wearing it, but where the zippers are now you have to take the bag off to get into anything without it being awkward.

The Aurorae sling backpack also makes a good gym bag and with how it holds a yoga mat I'm sure it makes for an awesome yoga bag, but I don't do yoga so I couldn't tell you anything about that.  So if you are looking for a bag to use with kids that is a little more practical and not totally girly or if you are looking for a great gym/yoga bag, check it out at www.auroraeyoga.com or enter to win one of your own!

Contest is open to U.S. residents only!  Just leave a comment below telling me what color
you would pick if you were the winner! Contest ends on July 15th at 8:00 am central time.  Winner chosen at random and will be contacted by email.  Good luck!!

Aurorae sells the best reviewed yoga mats, yoga apparel,and yoga and meditation accessories online. You can browse their yoga mats, yoga bags, yoga apparel and other yoga accessories here.

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Gearing up again

I know I've been totally absent from this space this last month.  I'm going to try to get back into it.  So just so,e quick updates to get the ball rolling.

-S has been taking birth control for the last three weeks to suppress everthing in hopes that we won't keep getting a bully egg sucking up the drugs.

-Birth control sucks and it has been a very hard three weeks, mostly for S.

-Last week we went in and she had a cyst on her left ovary.  Today we went back in and it was gone and so all things will move along. In a few days she starts the Fermara and then the Folistim.  We have another appointment on the 15th to see how things are progressing.

-Even if there is only one follicle we will still inseminate.

-Fingers crossed that this is the time and she gets pregnant.  But if not we have decided we are done with the drugs.  We will still try a few more times but it will be with just unmedicated IUIs.  It's just not worth all of the side effects.  And not to mention how hard it is to do all of the doctors appointments when she already has a demanding full time job.

-I have a product review and give away that I'm going to post later this week, so keep an eye out for that!

-Liz