Burlap Ideas

Okay, so I know that I have been a louzy blogger as of late. Although I have been trying to refrain from posting more TTC updates since I don't want this to turn into a blog all about TTC. Quick TTC Update Though: My Eggo is NOT Preggo :( (yet)

Anyways, I have been searching Pinterest a lot latley, and have been getting that Crafty Girl itch. I have been wanting a monogram throw pillow for our bed ever since we have gotten married. I figured since burlap is so 'In' right now, why not try my hand at a Burlap Monogrammed pillow. I haven't attempted it yet, since I still need to trek over to my local Hobby Lobby to pick up some supplies. I did draw up a quick plan of attack though.

I hope to get my materials this weekend and have the pillow done sometime next week. I'll post with pictures of the completed project.

xoxo michelle

Trying to Make Sense

I know I haven't posted anything lately, I am just trying to make some sense of this current cycle.

I am currently at CD30/14DPO with no AF in sight. However, I have been having cramps and skin breakout, which I get before my period every time. I don't know what to think. I've already taken 2 pregnancy tests with my Wondfo test strips. I've decided if AF doesn't show by Wednesday I am going to break out my FRER since I only have 1 left.

xoxo michelle

The Long and Miserable TWW.

I need to stop symptom spotting... I need to stop symptom spotting... I need to stop symptom spotting...

Easier said than done. I really shouldn't be feeling anything since I am only 4DPO and implantation hasn't even occurred yet. However, this morning I woke up with a horrible upset stomach at 3AM, took a tums and ran the jets in the tub. I also was experiencing backache and heartburn and now I am feeling some soreness in my left breast. Sites like Countdown To Pregnancy don't help to much to calm the crazies. 

So, either yesterday or this morning I apparently missed the call of from the doctor's office to set up an appointment with an RE. We are still playing phone tag. If I can get in late next week I think I'm going to try for that, or I'm going to have to wait until the week of the 25th to go in, since AF is due the 17th.

On another note, I am really excited to cook dinner tonight. I was at Target earlier this week and saw that Campbell's had an already made sauce for Chicken Marsala(my favorite). I've pinned recipes for the dish on Pinterest before, but I figured this way didn't seem as intimidating. I'm going to try it tonight with a side of farfalle noodles and if I manage not to screw it up, I may try to make my own sauce sometime. 

If I remember to, I'll post a picture of the finished product. 

xoxo michelle

TTC terminology

Thought that it might be a good idea to post some of the TTC acronyms so that you have at least some clue as to what I am talking about when I post TTC updates.

TTC and Pregnancy Acronyms:

• AF - Aunt Flo (i.e. period)
• BBT - Basal Body Temperature (used to calculate a woman's fertile days)
• BC - Birth control
• BCP - Birth control pill
• BD - Baby Dance (i.e. have sex)
• BF - Breastfeed
• BFN - Big Fat Negative
• BFP - Big Fat Positive
• CD - Cycle Day
• CD - Cloth diapers
• CBFM - ClearBlue Fertility Monitor
• CIO - Cry It Out method
• CM - Cervical Mucus
• CS or C/S - Cesarean section
• DD - Dear Daughter
• DPO - Days Past Ovulation
• DS - Dear Son
• DTD - Do the Deed (i.e. have sex)
• EWCM - Egg White Cervical Mucus
• FRER - First Response Early Result (pregnancy test)
• HPT - Home Pregnancy Test
• IC - Incompetent Cervix
• IC - Internet Cheapies (pregnancy tests)
• IUI - Intra-Uterine Insemination
• IVF - In Vitro Fertilization
• KU - Knocked Up
• L&D - Labor & Delivery
• LMP - Last Mentrual Period
• LP - Luteal Phase, the medical name for the two week wait; after ovulation, before you start your period
• LPD - Luteal Phase Defect
• LO - Little One
• MC or M/C - Miscarriage
• NFP - Natural Family Planning (as a birth control method)
• NTNT or NTNTC - Not Trying Not To [Conceive]
• O - Ovulation
• OB - Obstetrician
• OBC - Oral Birth Control
• OPK - Ovulation Predictor Kit
• PCOS - PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome
• PCOD - PolyCystic Ovarian Disease (another name for PCOS)
• PG - Pregnant
• POAS - Pee on a Stick (ie take a pregnancy test)
• PPD - Postpartum Depression
• RE - Reproductive Endocrinologist
• SA - Semen Analysis
• SAHM - Stay at home mom
• SAHD - Stay at home dad
• SAHW - Stay at home wife
• SD - Step Daughter
• SS - Step Son
• SX - Symptoms
• TCOYF - Taking Charge of Your Fertility (book by Toni Weschler about natural methods to achieve and avoid pregnancy)
• TFW - Two Free Weeks (meaning you can drink or what not because you know you aren't pregnant)
• TTA - Trying to Avoid
• TTC - Trying to Conceive
• TWW - Two Week Wait
• US or U/S - Ultrasound
• VBAC - Vaginal Birth After Cesearean

Maybe Baby?

Since I am an active member on a few TTC forums, I have been introduced to the amazing website that is Fertility Friend. Because of this site I know when I am ovulating, when to expect my period and when there is a good possibility that I will get a positive on a test. I am now in my fourth month of trying and because of FF(Fertility Friend) I can confidently tell my doctor if I ovulated and what cycle day.

I will say that I am really hoping that this cycle is THE cycle. If I conceive this cycle there is a chance for a Halloween Baby. I would LOVE to have an October/Halloween baby. This cycle is a bit strange though. From my temps so far, it looks as though I ovulated a day or two early(I won't get a confirmed ovulation date until I enter in one more temp). I usually O(ovulate) CD17, but it looks as if it might be CD15 or CD16 this cycle. Just hoping that ovulating one day early won't mess with my luteal phase. The past three months that I've been charting I have had a perfect 12 day luteal phase. I still plan to test on Monday the 18th, the day that my period is due. 

Past TTC stats:

Cycle 1

First cycle off of Birth Control Pill

November 2012

31 days

annovulatory cycle

Cycle 2

December 2012

29 days

O on CD17 

Cycle 3

January 2013

29 days

O on CD17

Cycle 4

February 2013

Cycle length TBD

O date TBD

xoxo michelle

The Day I Became Wife of Waters

It's 8:00am here and the sun is shining. Hope it gets to 50 degrees today. It felt so nice yesterday.

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So, today I thought that I should update with photos from the day that I became the Wife of Waters. Peter and I have been together since Winter of 2007. The following winter I moved in with him. In February of 2011 he asked me to marry him. In May of 2012 we wed. 

I loved everything about our wedding. We got married at The Jewel Box, which is a glass building that houses plants all throughout the year. I loved that we chose to get married here, the pictures from inside the building turned out great.

 

We were so lucky that we had such a beautiful day. I think the weather was the one most thing that I was worried about leading up to the wedding. I have no idea what we would have done about pictures after the ceremony if it would have rained that day. Luckily, the weather was perfect and we were able to take photos around the park. 

This is my favorite photo of the Bridal Party. Every time I look at it, I want to laugh.

Our reception was held at a historic ballroom. There was even a balcony that I was able to throw my bouquet off of. 

Our wedding day was such a beautiful day and was definitely the happiest day of my life. 

xoxo michelle

Crossing My Fingers for the Near Future

I am really hoping that this is my month. According to my OPK's I either ovulated today or yesterday. Two days before I normally do. I have such high hopes for this month, I really hope that I am not let down. I figured that I conceive this month, there is a strong chance for a Halloween baby. I would love a Halloween baby.

So I went to my OB/GYN for a blood draw to check my thyroid. It's been almost a week now and I have yet to hear anything. Kind of getting a bit nervous about that.

In some non-TTC news, I just received our electric bill in the mail, $380. I think that's the most our electric bill has ever been. Last month it was only $200. We keep the thermostat set at 64 degrees and I make sure to turn off the lights once I leave a room. I just don't understand. Anybody have some useful tips to keep your heating bills down?

xoxo michelle

Quick TTC Update

So I just wanted to post a quick update. I went to my OB/GYN this past Tuesday for a 'pre-conception' appointment. Basically, I just wanted to pick her brain and see if she had any suggestions that I haven't tried yet. She confirmed that we should shoot for every other day during the fertile window. She also discussed the possibility of IUI down the road(praying that it won't have to come to that and that I will get my positive test SOON!)

I had her draw my blood to check my thyroid. My mother has low thyroid and read that it can be an issue when TTC. Still waiting on the results but hopefully we can rule that out.

That's it for now.

xoxo michelle