Who's Ovulating? .... This Girl!!!! :-)

I'm sorry I didn't post yesterday.  I was a little down since my status didn't change like I thought it would.  BUT, today that all changes!! My husband had to get up at 4:30AM to get ready for his 5:50AM PT formation, so since I was a little awake, and since it was within my testing window, I tested again this morning. It says I'm PEAKING!!!! AHHHHH!!!!!  That means that I'll ovulate within 24 to 48 hours!! I'm so freaking excited!! Here are the pictures of my test stick and the monitor! :-D Yay!

 The line on the right (I believe) is the test line, because the one on the left is 

the only one that has really changed. It wasn't there before. :-)

Look at that!!! How exciting is that!! WOOHOO!!

I couldn't go back to sleep after seeing this, so I decided to update y'all instead! The ONLY thing that I'm slightly afraid of is that instead of the egg releasing, it might turn into a cyst.  CJ told me I shouldn't worry about that because my OB/GYN cleaned out a lot of the endo when I had the surgery and I should be good to go.  I think it's just because it happened EVERY TIME I ovulated last year except in Nov and Dec.  But that was when the cyst didn't rupture and decided to hang around and grow.  I just didn't ovulate after that.  BUT I'm going to stay optimistic this go around!  


God has been SO good to us and has blessed us in so many ways lately.  It seems like everything in my life is falling into place for our future family.  We found an amazing deal on a used 2011 Chevy Tahoe.  So I have my family vehicle.  I finally have a job, but it's at the dojang, and since they have me working there, I can't practice Taekwondo except for MAYBE once a week now.  I passed my national exam, so now I can get my license in massage and get a job I enjoy and is not stressful.  And finally, my husband and I are closer than we've ever been.


So, since CJ left before I tested, I couldn't shove coffee down his throat like I had planned, so looks like when I get home from work, I'll have to make him a cup. LOL!  I texted him to let him know I wasn't broken and that the monitor said I peaked and he replied, "YAY!!!".  I love that man so much.  lol.  He makes me so happy and keeps me smiling. :-)


I'm so excited I can't even think straight.  I didn't get emotional and cry like I thought I would when I saw the monitor this morning, I just squealed a little. LOL!  I can't tell y'all how much I pray and hope that this is our turn. We've been eating the right things, I've been staying away from caffeine, and all the other precautions that I found in research.  I'm paying close attention to my body so I'll be able to notice any changes if we finally happen to succeed.  OH man, I don't know how I'm going to focus at work today.  All I'm going to be able to think about is babymaking. lol.

This is such a cool picture.  Only ONE little guy will make it in the egg.

I highly recommend this monitor I'm using.  Amazon ALWAYS has the best prices for everything.  It's the ClearBlue Easy Fertility Monitor.  The only down side it that you have to buy the ClearBlue Easy Fertility Monitor Test Sticks to go with it and they come in a pack of 30. They are cheapest on amazon.com.  It usually uses 10 sticks per cycle so it should last you three cycles.  It could use up to 20 stick in one cycle or until you ovulate.  It says it's 99% accurate and after reading TONS of reviews on it, I have to say I believe it.  It measures your Lh and Estrogen levels each day until you peak.  And then WE do the rest.  The other cool thing about it is if you do achieve pregnancy, you know the EXACT time you conceived.  It doesn't tell you that you conceived, but since it tells you when you ovulate, you can calculate when you conceived.


Wow, NOW I'm tired. I guess the adrenaline from all the excitement just wore off. lol.  I know for a fact I'm going to have a HARD time waiting to take a pregnancy test later on. lol.  I just want to be a mom so bad.  I just want that moment of extreme excitement when I get my BFP to be so special.  When that moment comes, and I have COMPLETE faith that it will, I'm going to record it.  I've also planned out how I'm going to tell CJ and our families, and I'll record all that as well.  Wish us luck and pray we have success, ladies, and I'll continue to pray for all of you.  

For all you ladies out there TTC.  Baby Dust all around!!

Good Luck and God Bless,
Ashley

The Gift Of Patience Or Lack There Of. :-P

Usually, I am a VERY patient person.  I started dating my husband almost a decade ago. We finally got married in 2009 and he deployed the day after our first anniversary for a whole year. Yeah, I'd say I'm pretty freaking patient. lol.  Lately, my patience has quickly dissipated over this fertility issue.  I mean, I know it's all a waiting game anyways, but I feel like the days are DRAGGING!! It's only day 12 of my cycle and the status on my monitor is still the same.  I know that ovulation usually occurs around day 14.  So 2 days, right? I seems like FOREVER!! lol.  I guess part of me is afraid that I'm not going to ovulate and I just want to hurry up and see if it'll happen.  Honestly, I'll probably be a blubbering mess when my monitor says I peaked. lol.  But then I'll quickly snap out of it and get to it.

LOL

I read that if the guy drinks a cup of coffee just before the baby-making occurs, that it makes the swimmers super hyper and faster. I'm going to do more research on this before I shove coffee down his throat.  I've also read that a man's sperm count is higher in the morning.  SOOO, in other words, as soon as my monitor tells me I'm peaking, I'm making a cup of coffee and bringing it to my husband in the morning before he leaves for work. lol.  I already told him I was going to do that, and he said okay to it. I love that man. lol.  Here's the link supporting the coffee theory:


http://www.livestrong.com/article/32871-caffeines-effects-sperm/

CUTE picture!

Do NOT give babies coffee!! LOL Just the daddy 

before "baby-making" time.

Hopefully Sunday will bring me good news.  Before, instead of the egg releasing, it would just turn into a cyst and rupture.  That is another fear of mine.  I know God has a plan for us, but I'm just praying is doesn't include pain, again.  I have to cut this short so I can get ready for work.  They're keeping a TIGHT leash on me and I don't even get to practice, but MAYBE once a week. LAME!! Oh well.  I'll post another entry on Sunday.  Hopefully it will be an exciting update. I will continue to pray for all of you! Baby dust all around!! 


Good Luck and God Bless,
Ashley

All's Well So Far, How About You? Health Tips for fertility

Disregard the last entry.  I guess I didn't screw up the test stick.  It still shows me at high fertility status, and we're on day 9.

 :-) This was yesterday's, 

today it just has a 9 instead an 8.

I have been feeling GREAT, lately.  I've been full of energy and I've been so much happier.  My husband has notice as well.  No more mood swings.  lol.  Bless that wonderful man!  Today I've been exceptionally happy because I passed my national exam!! I don't have to study anymore! lol.  Now I just have to apply for my license and I'm set.  Like I said many times before, everything seems to be falling into place.  This could just be our chance! CJ said I'm going to jinx our chances with all this "it's going to happen this time" talk.  I smacked him (in a playful way) for it and told him that I don't believe in "jinxing" anything and that I do, however, believe in God's timing.  So, to make him feel better I'll leave my optimistic comments to myself and in prayer ..... and, of course, on here. :-)

I found a video that had GREAT suggestions to heighten the chances of getting pregnant.  If you are actively trying, and if you're reading this than most likely you are, that I highly suggest following some of these suggestions.  We want children more than anything, but we need to make sure our bodies are in top shape to create and carry a baby.  My husband and I have done the research a long time ago, so we already know the precautions and foods to stay away from and the ones to be best friends with.  After the video I will post a checklist, of sorts, to make sure important steps are not missed. :-)

How to increase female fertility. :-) They have one for men too. ;-)

There is also diets that are suppose to help boost fertility for men and women as well.  You can find those anywhere on google.  BUT make sure that the sites are known and their information comes from a fertility expert.  There are people out there that really have NO idea what they are talking about and try to tell you that certain to eat grass and wait till a full moon and walk backwards before you have sex.  lol.  Just stick to the facts from the experts.  Do the research and you'll be just fine. Here's a link to a healthy fertility diet: http://womenfitness.net/fertility_diet.htm

This is the link to the list I found below.  I couldn't find the original list that I thought was amazing, but this one is pretty close.

http://organic-nutritional-supplements.trevorz.us/2012/03/04/9_natural_tips_for_increasing_fertility_fast/

1. Try a recipe for sex

There are quite a few of them out there. A recipe for sex is basically a list of days to have sex on to try to get pregnant. My personal favorite is having sex on days 9, 11, 12, 14, & 16 of your cycle. Of course if you dont have a 28 day cycle this one probably wont work for you. Another plan is having sex every other day starting about day 10 of your cycle.

2. Try fertility charting

Fertility charting involves taking your temperature at the same time every morning before getting out of bed. You also observe for signs of ovulation and chart your cervical mucous pattern. Charting can help determine if you are ovulating and help you to pinpoint when ovulation is occurring.

3. Use ovulation prediction kits (OPKs)

You can buy ovulation prediction kits at your local pharmacy or you can find them even cheaper if you purchase them online. A day or two before you ovulate, your body produces a surge of luteinizing hormone, LH. OPKs work by detecting this LH surge. Follow the directions that come with your kit to determine how to read the test strips, what time of day to test, and also what day of your cycle you should begin testing. OPKs cannot confirm ovulation, but they can help you predict ovulation before it occurs. Used in combination with fertility charting, they are very effective in determining ovulation.

4. Get to an ideal weight

Many women do not want to hear this one, but being overweight or underweight can affect your fertility. Women who are significantly underweight or exercise excessively often lose their period all together. It makes perfect sense then that if you are significantly overweight your fertility would be affected as well. Losing weight if you are overweight is one of the best things you can do to improve your fertility. Sticking to a sensible diet and increasing your weight if you are underweight will also help. Weight issues can also affect your partners sperm, so if your partner is over or underweight encourage him to reach his ideal weight.

5. Check out your medicine cabinet

Certain medications can affect fertility. Talk with your doctor about the medications that you and you partner take. Even over the counter medications can cause problems. For example, medications such as tetracycline, erythromycin, and cimetidine can reduce a mans fertility.

6. Position yourself properly after sex

After your partner has ejaculated inside of you, get your partner to put a pillow underneath your buttox and try to hold the semen inside your vagina for about 15-30 minutes. This way the sperm won’t be able to drip out of your vagina.

7. Try a supplement

There are many over the counter natural supplements now that may aid in fertility.  Vitamin B6 may also be helpful with improving your chances of getting pregnant. Men should take a daily multivitamin and women should start taking prenatal vitamins when they begin trying to conceive.

8. Check your position

The best sexual position for trying to conceive is with the woman on the bottom. It may also be helpful for her to lay on her back after intercourse with her knees to her chest for fifteen minutes.

9. Talk to a naturalopathic medical doctor

Although many doctors will not investigate infertility until youve been trying for a full year, many will and even those that are more conservative with treatment may be able to offer you valuable insight and suggestions.

Your doctor can also look at related health issues that may be affecting your fertility such as thyroid disorders. Even infections and viral illnesses can cause problems getting pregnant. Your doctor can work with you to come up with a plan for you to get pregnant.

A naturalopathic medical doctor can give you and your partner a full workup to check for potential causes of infertility and natural remedies for you to deal with your infertility.

I really hoped all this info helped.  It really is very important that we be in our best shape before we conceive.  Our body is a gift from God, and I treat mine as such.  You wouldn't go rubbing a gifted diamond ring against concrete, would you? No, you'd take care of it and clean it.  Making sure it shines very bright.  Treat your bodies the same. It's a gift. Special and unique in it's own way. I wish the best for all of you and continue to pray for y'all's success. :-)

Good luck and God Bless,

Ashley

Fertile, I think, but Confused

So I did my second test stick, but I think that it was faulty.  It didn't look right like the one did yesterday.  I probably screwed up the whole reading for this whole cycle.  It said that my fertility status bumped up to high, NOT peak, today.  It's only day 7 of my cycle.  I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow, but I think it's best if I collect first, THEN test instead of just putting it in the stream.  That way if I have a faulty looking test stick, I still have some of the "first morning" sample left over.  Maybe I just ovulate way sooner than I thought and earlier than normal. Who knows? We'll see I guess in a few days.  If worse comes to worse, I'll just have to wait until my next cycle to try again, now that I know how to use the monitor. 

I know you can't really see it, but there's a faint line below the dark one.

This means low fertility. Today it moved up to the middle.

The way the test stick looks after use is kind of just like a pregnancy test.  It'll seep up and, on mine, one dark blue line showed up followed by another, less visible, blue line.  I guess the second line's shade changes according to your hormones.  


Well, I'll write a more informative post tomorrow, but I have to run to go to a neighborhood bar-b-que then go to a movie with some friends.  Wish us luck ladies, and we'll pray for the same for y'all!


Good Luck and God Bless,
Ashley

Opening Up a Dark Corner and Letting It Go.

Holy energy Batman!! I don't know what's going on, but I have TONS of energy! I haven't felt this good in a LONG time.  I think it has to do with when I was slightly depressed before I started.  I was being so hard on myself and didn't enjoy doing anything anymore.  So naturally, I just stayed home and wallowed in self pity.  In reality, I was being selfish.  Instead of focusing on what I have and the blessing God gave me, I was focusing on what he didn't give me and what I couldn't do.  A couple days before I started, I started looking at myself as a Christian and was very disappointed at what I saw.  I was full of hate for people who have hurt me deeply in the past, and I was negative about my life.  I started praying and asking God to forgive me for the way I was thinking and I change my way of thinking.  That Sunday my husband and I talked to the Pastor and asked about getting baptized together and decided we will get baptized next month.  The next morning is when I started my period.  Coincidence? I think not!  God wants us to praise him in our darkest hours and hardest struggles.  I realize that now.  He has his reasons for making all of us wait, even if we never understand why that may be.

When I was depressed, all I kept thinking about is what if I miscarried. What if I kept having miscarriages every time?  A few years ago, I took a pregnancy test because I was a few weeks late.  It was positive.  I was scared at the time because I knew my husband didn't want children any time soon and I didn't know how I was going to tell him.  I made an appointment to get a blood test to confirm it even though I had all the symtoms.  I knew I was, but I wanted the blood test for guaranteed proof for my husband before I told him.  The appointment wasn't for another week.  During that whole week of waiting, I was sick, had a constant migraine, and had really bad cramping.  I had a second hpt, because 2 comes in a box, and just before the appointment, I don't know why, I checked again.  This time is was negative.  I was so confused, but went to my appointment anyways.  The results came back and the doctor said that my body rejected the pregnancy and just absorbed it, I guess.  I never understood that explanation.  I ended up not telling my husband about that for a year. I don't know why I kept it from him.  My mom didn't even know about it until I went to visit her in North Carolina this past Easter.  Until right now, only 4 people knew about this. My husband, my mom, a friend, and that doctor.


For a long time I didn't understand why my body did that until I was diagnosed with Endometriosis.    There was nothing I did to cause it, and nothing I could have done to prevent it from happening.  The one mistake I made, then, was not putting God first in my life.  Instead, I ended up blaming Him and getting mad at Him.  I now praise him for giving my husband and I a chance to become closer in our marriage.  I mean, NOW he wants children, and we are closer than we've EVER been.  We are, also, closer to God, as a couple.  Maybe that's what God was waiting for.


Now, in the back corners of my mind, I still have a small fear that I won't be able to carry to full term.  What I NEED to do is lay all my worries and fears down and hand them over to God.  I don't need to worry about things that haven't happened yet or won't even happen.  I just need to focus on the present and taking care of myself right now.  I need to make sure that my body is the perfect and most welcoming environment to carry a child.  My heart is stronger than it use to be and, as far as I'm aware, my endo is at bay and my feminine health is the best it's ever been. God is going to bless me with something special and I just have to believe that it's going to be the most amazing experience of my life.  God is BEYOND amazing.  His love never fails and he know the the desires of my heart.  As long as I delight my self in the Lord, he will bring those desires to light.

Never give up. Your blessing could be just around the corner. :-)

I will continue to pray for all of you in hopes that your BFP will come one day soon and turn into a beautiful, chunky, bundle of joy. ;-)


Good luck and God Bless,
Ashley

Update and Prayers For Those With Infertility

Sorry it's so late, but I've been so busy and I finally have time to post like I promised I would  today.  Unfortunately, I didn't get to use my first test stick with my monitor today.  I misread the instructions and it actually asks for it on the 6th day of the cycle. Eventually, once the monitor learns and records my cycle patterns, it says that it could start asking for a "first test of the cycle" anywhere from day 6 to day 9 of the cycle.  I'm just praying that I'll only have to use this monitor once.  Then maybe again years down the road when we want a second child. :-)  BUT, let's just work on "numero uno" first. lol. I don't want to get ahead of myself.  


I'm feeling REALLY optimistic about this cycle. I don't know why, I just do.   It has seemed so nice and normal, not that I know what normal is like, I'm just assuming because I've felt no pain and it was nowhere NEAR as heavy as it use to be.  It's been amazing really.  I'm already done with it.  :-O  It's crazy really. The only thing I have experienced was extreme fatigue.  I've been SO much happier since I started.  My husband just told me that he's excited too, and feel optimistic as well.  That warmed me up and made my heart smile.  Everything seems to be falling into place.  God has been SO good to us.  I just can't wait to see what he has waiting around the corner.  

I found these 12 prayers for infertility and I found of them really comforting.  There's a prayer for EVERY religion.  One that I personally liked most was:

Lord, help me to know that You are enough. Take my eyes off of myself. Take my eyes off of the child I desire. Help me to delight myself in You. Mold the desires of my heart to be in line with Your will. I don't want to need to be a mother more than I need to be your humble, obedient child. I don't want wanting to have a baby to be a stumbling block between You and me anymore.

Lord, I want to give this desire, this drive, this ache up to You. Help me not to snatch it back as I so often do with the burdens I place in Your hands. Help me to be truly content with Your will and Your timing.

Lord, You know that I still desire a baby - someone to mold, teach, train, shape, guide, and help to grow in You. But until the day You give me that joyous blessing, help me to grow in You. Let me reach out to those around me. Let me witness and minister to the children You place in my path.

Lord, if adoption is the path You would have us take, prepare our hearts, and prepare the child who will share our home. If adoption is not Your will for our lives, keep me from pushing ahead of Your plan. Help me to stay submitted to my husband's will, and to Your will. If we are headed in the wrong direction, change our hearts.

Thank You for lifting my burden. Help me to keep You first! Let me seek Your face daily, and let me know that You are enough!

Here is the link to the website with the rest of the prayers:


http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/2008/09/Healing-Prayers-for-Infertility.aspx?p=12

A little motivation for everyone. :-)

I hope y'all find some comfort in these prayers and I pray God blesses you with the child your heart desires so much for.  If any of you have any questions, leave them in the comments below and I'll will answer the best I can.  It's late, so I gotta get to bed and snuggle with my hubby. ;-) He has a 4 day weekend thanks to Memorial Day.  Be safe and have a fun filled and blessed Memorial Weekend!

Good Luck and God Bless,

Ashley

CD 3 and so much anticipation!

Here we are day 3 of my cycle and everything is going great so far.  It seems like it's SO much better than they use to be.  I know I keep saying that, but it's true.  I have, however, been extremely tired. I could sleep ALL day if I was allowed to. lol. But, I have to work today. Well more like volunteer because I'm still not getting paid yet. I'm not going to attend Taekwondo today either.  I mean it will be our first time attending the black belt club class (we finally got invited into it), but I'm just so dang tired. 

SO, 2 more days, I believe, and I get to use my first test stick for my fertility monitor!! YAY! I'm so excited. My husband is too, just as much as I am.  He looks at me different now.  With more excitement in his eyes and happiness.  I mean, I don't know if I was just depressed, but when I wasn't starting and as soon as we found out I couldn't have children (before the surgery), I felt SO unattractive. I felt like a failure as a woman, less than a woman.  I started asking him if he still loved me and if he was still attracted to me.  I got REAL insecure.  I know he would NEVER cheat on me, but at that time, part of me felt like I wouldn't blame him if he left me and found a fertile woman who could bare him children.  I blame the jacked up hormones too.  Apparently, I was a little crazy and I'm not afraid to admit it.  My poor husband had to deal with my major mood swings, but shortly after I'd always apologize for my actions.  I got really bad just before I started. Whew I'm glad that's over with. I asked my husband if I've been better since I started and with wide eyes he nodded really fast. LOL.

HAHAHA! I showed this to CJ and he laughed pretty hard. 

This is pretty accurate. LOL

I am so blessed to have such an amazing man who willingly stuck by my side through all of this. We are both can't wait to start trying again. We feel VERY optimistic about this cycle.  Now, the only thing I'm wondering is that if the fact he's having to ride his motorcycle again will affect our chances of conceiving.  I'm not saying that his boys are questionable at all.  I'm just curious.  I also just want everything to be 100% ready to go.  We both really want this to happen.  I'm still drinking my FertiliTea to keep all my stuff healthy and welcoming. lol. He's taking a multivitamin and we're both eating really well.  I was bored and ended up researching fertility foods for "happy swimmers" and stuff like that, and I found that the foods that we've already been enjoying was actually on the list. lol. Woohoo!!

I read that eggs, red meats, wild caught fish, and organic produce is great for fertility in men.  Good thing I've been on a deviled egg craze the last few months. LOL. I've also read that hot baths, motorcycles, and whitie tighties are bad for the boy's swimmers.  Well, we're 1 out of 2.  He hasn't riden his bike in 2 years, but since his Jeep died and I need to get to work somehow to help pay for classes, he had to renew his registration and start riding again.  He rides a crotch rocket.  I don't know what kind, just that it's REALLY fast.  Supposedly hot baths reduce the sperm count, the vibrations from a motorcycle damage and reduce count, and whitie tighties do the same.  Who wears whitie tighties anymore anyways? lol.  

Anyways, I'm not really worried about my husband's fertility.  I guess I'm still worried about my own and wondering if it's going to happen this time.  I'm praying that this time I'll get my bfp! No more negatives! AH I'm so nervous! Happy thoughts, ladies! Happy thoughts!!!!

I sure hope so!

Well, we'll see what happens ladies! I'm sure I'll post another entry when I start using the test strips for my monitor. I'll do a product review on the ClearBlue Easy Fertility Monitor as well, after it shows my peak and I, hopefully, skip the next period. Cross your fingers and pray ladies.  I continue to pray for all of you for the best of luck and health.  

Good luck and God Bless,
Ashley