The Official TTC Thread!

[fisherofmengirly]

ROBBIE!!

Girl, you've been missed! We've been pestering Sabine about how you're doing. I bet by now your baby's moving around, or at least will be soon! How exciting! Thanks for checking in on us from time to time. We get anxious to hear from our pregnant friends!!

Are you finding out the sex of the baby? Isn't it close to time for that, too?

Ooh, and a baby bump picture. Are you going to post another one of those some time soon?

I hope work calms down for you, lady. You have a baby to grow, don't they know you're busy with other stuff right now??

As for me, I'm really okay. I think it's not "real" to me til I have my period, but a lot of the hope for this cycle is fading, which may be healthy for me, considering the fact that I was so very excited for this cycle to be the one. What's more, if I am/was pregnant, I'd be due the first part of October, and my dear grandfather was born 10/8, and I miss him so much but it'd be fun to get to tell a baby about the great grandfather they were born close to. My daddy's bday is also 10/23. And mine is 11/26 and I so want to be a mommy before my next birthday. Silly, I know. But true.

I've bought into shaded lines on pregnancy tests before and it hurt more than just admitting that when I look at it, there's nothing there. If something appears, awesome. But turning it to and fro and holding in the light and up to a mirror and all that isn't something I want to do anymore. But yeah, if I see something, I'll be doing all of that, and taking pictures and everything!!

I know so many of the girls will be happy to see you posted, Robbie. You're missed when you're away! Take care of that baby. Ooh, I put this in the preggo thread a while back, but I remember you saying your hubby was thinking of a name meaning "red" for the baby, if it's a girl. Well, I was looking through a baby name book and found a cute one meaning "cherry red," I believe. Cerise. I had a friend in grade school named that and she was "Cerie" for short. I always loved that name! Anyway, thought I'd throw it out there to add to your "red" names.

ETA: I even tried to hunt you down on the bump, but I couldn't find you. Haha. I don't understand that place!!

 

[blushingbride]

Hi Ladies! I know it's been a while...I've been working like a dog and away on business for a week (ugh).
I just wanted to say a quick hello to Mandarine!

I remember you from the brides forum and had fun planning my wedding along with you.

You are such a sweetheart and I'm glad to see you again!

Fisher - I've been rooting for you girl!

...and I hear you on how you'd "like to be done with is process!" Cheers to that!

LL - great to hear from you and so happy you are doing well and your little bean is growing!

Lulu - your pictures never cease to amaze me. Where were on you my wedding day? I can't imagine how awesome my pics would've been with you behind the camera!

Festy - happy belated birthday!

November and Natalina - Fingers crossed for both of you!

Peony - congrats on the crosshairs! I always love seeing those suckers appear on my chart.

Mela - I always love when you come and poke your head in here - I can't believe how far along you are!

InLuv, Amber, Sunkist and anyone else I may have missed...baby dust to all!

As for me, I'm on CD 5...and in the words of LL...FEH!!!

Anyway, I'm putting my thermometer away this month. I'm still going to use my monitor, but I'm really tired of temping. I know I ovulate and have done so since we've started trying. My monitor ALWAYS matching us up with shifts in temp so, I figure why add the stress of having to wake up at the same time everyday. Onward and upward!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Peony,

Thanks for posting your chart. Those hairs appeared at a good spot on your BD line, girlie!!

Hopes for you!!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

BB,

Good to see you around again! I hope work calms down for you, too. Thinking happy happy thoughts for you this cycle!! It''s still a new year, and much joy is to be found in 2009. That''s right!!

 

[Pandora II]

Fisher, is there any chance you can post a picture of your test?

If you remember back when I got my BFP, it was super super-faint - you could only just see it when it was held against a completely white background. It didn''t really start to get dark until I was about 20 DPO. It was a thickish shadow with a hint of colour. The only evaps I got were thin grey lines like they had been drawn with a pencil.

Don''t lose hope yet, I have real positive thoughts about this cycle for you.

 

[ljmorgan]

Yeah... and I had internet cheapies give me NO line at all on 14 dpo... when the frer showed up nice and clear. Good luck fisher, it ain''t over until you know who sings!

 

[Mandarine]

Date: 1/30/2009 7:36:24 AM
Author: blushingbride
Hi Ladies! I know it''s been a while...I''ve been working like a dog and away on business for a week (ugh).

I just wanted to say a quick hello to Mandarine!

I remember you from the brides forum and had fun planning my wedding along with you.

You are such a sweetheart and I''m glad to see you again!

Hi BB!! How nice to see you!!!. I so remember your wedding!! it was so beautiful!!!

...so nice to see the BIW graduation class of ''07 and ''08...hehe

 

[Mandarine]

Fisher, Obviously I don''t understand all these charts and stuff...but I''m with the other girls on this! Give it some time and don''t lose hope.

I loved reading your other post about trusting God and praying...reminded me how very sweet and kind you and Paul are

So hang in there! Having Paul and your faith will get you through this process and it will be "over" (so to speak) before you know it...Then the *real* process begins!!

So hang in there girlie!

M~

 

[Festy]

Oh dear! Re: GOF, once I realized what the "F" stands for I thought, "oh no, Fishie will not like this at ALL!" Without the help of all you super-smart Googlers, I STILL had it wrong. I was thinking Good Ole F******. Which I like better. However, in deference to my dear dear Fisher there will be no more of this talk!

Last night I dreamed that I had twin boys. I know this is a delayed reaction to seeing those gorgeous pictures of Neat''s boys. Hi Neat, if you''re listening! Anyway, in my dream, DH was feeding these poor newborns solid food until I realized hey, I should probably be breast feeding. I hope we''re better parents than that!

Lysser, I confess that when I saw your thread about finding a p.t. job I was *this* close to totally threadjacking and popping in to say how excited I was for you that you were maybe feeling confident enough in your pregnancy to post that. But I didn''t want to jinx anything and I wasn''t sure how your anxiety levels were and well, I just didn''t want to be the one to make you think about it. So I''m glad to hear that you''re hanging in there despite some pretty strong and understandable worries. One day at a time. I hope you do find that something to help occupy your time and make those days go faster.

On that subject, I was looking forward to redoing our guest room (future baby room) this winter. We''ve already stripped off the p.o.''s Winnie the Pooh wall paper border. I know, it sounds heartless and I love WtP, but it was just a little too too, you know? I''m dying to repaint but feel like we should wait til spring when we can crack the windows and get some air in there. Does anyone have any thoughts on painting while TTC or PG?

Fishie - I''m sorry about the negative test. You''ll know in a day or two what''s going on. I hope those days aren''t agony for you.

Sunkist - Looking forward to seeing pics of your new bag when you get it!

It''s great to see this little BWW reunion we''ve got going on. Peony, Robbie and BB,

CD5

 

[mela lu]

Fisher - it ain't over yet

ETA: my dollar store cheapies NEVER gave me a line (until way later) and the only tests that ever 'worked' for me were the ClearBlue Easy - which a lot of people 'dis' because the blue dye creates evaporation lines. Who knows!?

Anyways. As I said...it ain't over

 

[Dreamer_D]

Fisher I got a negative on my cheapies *after* my positive on the FRER... I wouldn''t trust those tests as far as you an throw them. And YES you can get a false negative at 15DPO, it all depends on how fast the hormones are changing. I thin you need to test with a FRER tomorrow morning!

 

[Mandarine]

A few questions from the newbie..

What is FRER?
What is DPO? (I assume days post ovulation?)
and CM?

Sunkist - What new bag did you get? I''m lost...hehe

 

[Sha]

Hi Mandarine,
Welcome!

I think FRER means First Response Early Result/Response Test - one of the more sensitive pg tests on the market, favoured by many TTCers

DPO - days past ovulation

CM - cervical mucus ( you might also see CF- cervical fluid)

Fisher - sorry about the shadow thingy.

Who knows, maybe it'll get darker? Does it have any colour to it at all? My tests from last cycle had white lines, almost shadowy, but I think they were evap lines. But I know some bfps start out with very faint lines as well. The girls are right - it ain't over till it's over!

It's great to hear how supportive Paul has been throughout this whole process.

That definitely helps to buffer some of the stress of TTc, doesn't it?

 

[fisherofmengirly]

For the recently new people around here; I''ve gone back and found a list of some of the most frequently used shorthand for all things TTC:

CM-cervical mucus
CF-cervical fluid (this is the same as CM, and they''re used interchangably)
BD-baby dancing (intercourse)
DTD-doing the deed (intercourse)
CD-Cycle day (day of the menstrual cycle you''re in)
O-ovulation
DPO-days past ovulation
TWW-two week wait (waiting for period to show up)
AFF-aunt flippin flo (period)
AF-aunt flo
FRER-first response early response pregnancy test
EWCM-eggwhite cervical mucus (if you have any questions about what constitutes this, Fertility friend has a great description).
EW-eggwhite (see above)
OPK-ovulation predictors
Sticky-hoping a newly pregnant woman’s baby sticks in there and goes full-term
RE-Reproductive Endocrinologist (specialist)
DH-dear husband
EOD-every other day (doing the deed)
TTC-trying to conceive
FF-fertility friend (website)
POAS-pee on a stick (pregnancy test)
KTFU-knocked the flip up (preggo)
BFP-big fat positive pregnancy test
BFN-big fat negative pregnancy test

There is a longer, more inclusive post (WAY BACK) on this thread with abbreviations, but this is the shortened version of what tends to be stated the most often around here.

Hope that helps!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Pandora, I didn't take a picture of it. I was too upset!

No really, I just didn't see the point in it.

***
Mandarine,

That list of shorthand is for you, girlie!!

***
Festy,

Aren't dreams so funny sometimes? I once dreamed that I had a baby and then was confused why it couldn't just get up and start talking to me right away. Nutty! As for painting, I've read that if you have the room ventilated and use a mask and try to use low VOC paint, it should be okay. I'm way too anal to let Paul do the baby's room on his own, so I'll be playing around in paint as a prego myself! Are you painting the guest room with plans for it being the baby's room, or will you repaint when you're pregnant?

***
Thanks for the stories about $ store tests being crappy. Made me smile like this:

If I need to take a test again (this time I'm going for Sunday or so), I'll use one of the beloved FRERs. By Sunday I'd be 17DPO, that should be late enough, don't you think? But then today I was wondering if maybe I did O on CD 26 like FF was tempted to change my crosshairs to. Hmm. I hate FF sometimes!!

 

[robbie3982]

Fisher, I''m so excited for you to test again! I''ve definitely felt some movement now. Only a few kicks, but some flipping/swimming or something like that too. Kicks started last week, but I''m almost positive that the fluttery/twitchy things I felt at 12 and 14 weeks (only once each week) were the beginnings of movement. We have our big u/s tomorrow at 18 weeks! We want to be surprised about the sex, but I''m still so excited to see the baby again. It''s been 10 weeks since we last saw him/her. I promise to post a real update complete with my most recent bump pic over on the preggo thread on Sunday. We''re having DH''s work friends over tomorrow and I''m supposed to be cleaning to get ready. Oops. That''s a really cute name! I think DH is off of his red kick now though. If we have a girl, her first name will be after my grandmother (Lenore) and her middle name will be Grace after MIL. Right now Lydia is at the top of our list, but Ellianora (we figured the Lianora in there is close enough to be after my grandmother) is up there now too. If we have a boy, Desmond Jack (Jack was my grandfather) is our front runner. We change our minds a lot though. I have a feeling Sunday is going to be a great day. A bfp for you and a win for the Steelers! Crossing my fingers for both!

 

[Sha]

Robbie - wow! 18 weeks already??

Fabulous!!

Fisher - any more news?

Peony...? How many dpo are you now?

And what happened to Natalina?

 

[Blenheim]

MANDARINE!!! Great to see you here!

Fishie, hugs. I''ve heard that the Dollar Store tests are crap too. I''d heard enough bad things, in fact, that I completely stopped buying them and didn''t even have any in the house to try out by the time that I was getting BFPs. I hope that Sunday''s your day.

I''ve heard GOF too and that''s actually my favorite BD/DTD/etc acronym.

 

[sunkist]

Hi Robbie, glad you''re doing well! I can''t wait to find out what you''re having. That is if you''re finding out. Will you name him Sam if it''s a boy?

Fisher hey, that''s stinks about the shadow. I''m not losing hope. Your month is coming soon.

DD - I am checking CM internally once a day and trying to see if there are any changes in CP too, but not a whole lot seems to be happening still. Don''t worry I''m being patient, kind of

Blusing it''s good to see you too!

I think that''s a great idea to do away with the temping and just do your monitor. I still don''t know how the monitor works, haven''t taken the time to look it up

but it sounds easier than wondering what a high or low temp means!

Mandarin - I just bought a diaper bag. It was really temptingly cute! and so I finally bought one. And it came today! i just took some pics to post but I can''t find the memory card adapter so i''ll have to wait till hubby comes home to post. I also realized I''ve never taken pics of my e-ring with the new camera! it''s night so I dont know how the pics will turn on in the house, but I''ll see if there are any good ones.

 

[robbie3982]

Sunkist, I suggested naming the baby Samuel if it''s a boy or Samantha if it''s a girl, but DH doesn''t like those names so the nickname Sam won''t go beyond gestation.

 

[sunkist]

Robbie, Samuel and Samantha would be cute. I''ve been thinking about Samantha for a girl, but I don''t think my hubby likes it much either.

Fisher, I was just wondering today, did you and Paul buy one of those houses you were looking at last year? We''re really wanting to buy a home, but in our case here in CA it''s most likely going to be a townhouse/condo. I''m getting excited and eager, but still nervous.

 

[natalina]

Hi Girls!!!! My goodness, you miss a lot if gone a couple days!

Mandarine- Welcome! I was a lurker when I was planning my wedding (glitch in trying to register with PS so I couldn''t post, DH finally helped me figure it out- not too technologically advanced over here

) and I remember your wedding so well! It was just gorgeous! So happy to see you here on the TTC thread! Wishing you lots of luck! When we say we hope you''re not here long we mean it in the best way possible!

DMBsGirl- Welcome! Wishing you lots of luck on this adventure!

Radiant- BIG congrats to you!


Fisher, DD, Mela, Sunkist, Sha, Sabine, Pandora, C-tek, InLuv, Festy, ChinaCat, Peony, November, LL, Blushing, and anyone else I missed-
Thank you so much for thinking about me and sending all that dust. I am SO sorry to have kept you hanging for a couple days. Hopefully you aren''t too upset with me, because I have good news! FRER says BFP!!!!!!!! Had to work it out posting this with my very-superstitious DH. I also wonder what the chances are of someone IRL seeing this and figuring out who I am (it wouldn''t be hard), and I hope that doesn''t happen because we are really looking forward to keeping this as our little secret for a while for a lot of different reasons. But it was SO hard to not tell you guys! I had to physically stay away from the computer or I knew I''d crack! We are so excited! At the same time, it doesn''t seem real... Just praying each day for a healthy sticky bean!

Fisher- I have been thinking about you so much and wishing you all the dust in the world! I have such a good feeling about this month for you. Please don''t let the test get you down. Hopefully it was just too early! I have to say that I had major CM after O this month, never happened before. Fingers crossed that we will be starting this next adventure together!

I plan on sticking around for a while, I hope that''s okay. I know I haven''t been here too long, but I think about all of you all the time and hope that we see many BFP''s coming along soon! Also, I realize that I won''t be out-of-the-woods for a while, and I would really like to stay a part of everything here.

(ooohhhh...I actually feel nervous to hit submit.....)

 

[NovemberBride]

Congratulations Natalina! So excited for your good news! Many wishes for a happy and healthy pregnancy!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Natalina that is wonderful news! Of course, you must follow the rule sof this thread now and post your chart (if you have one), a picture of your positive test, and also you have to tell us when you got your BFP in your cycle! Yippeee! Welcome to the roller coaster ride that is pregnancy. The first 12 weeks (well 8 weeks from the BFP) ar ethe hardest wait and then it gets easier. Come join the preggo thread when you feel ready, we are a nice bunch and you will probably recognize some people there too!

 

[Festy]

Congratulations Natalina!!! Like DD says, post whatever you got! I can understand worrying about people figuring out who you are. (I actually created a new name when I started posting in the family thread but still post on jewelry threads under my "old" name. Weird, huh?) If it makes you feel any better, there are a handful of PSers who live in my city (it''s a pretty large one) and I can safely say I have no idea who they are! Stick around here as long as you like, you are always welcome.

Fisher, I''ll be thinking of you tomorrow. Fingers and toes crossed.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/31/2009 11:31:34 AM
Author: Festy
Congratulations Natalina!!! Like DD says, post whatever you got! I can understand worrying about people figuring out who you are. (I actually created a new name when I started posting in the family thread but still post on jewelry threads under my ''old'' name. Weird, huh?) If it makes you feel any better, there are a handful of PSers who live in my city (it''s a pretty large one) and I can safely say I have no idea who they are! Stick around here as long as you like, you are always welcome.

Fisher, I''ll be thinking of you tomorrow. Fingers and toes crossed.

Festy I remember when you joined you mentioned this and I must say, the mystery of who you *really* are is making me a little mental when I think of it... which isn''t all the time, I am not a stalker

... but it had crossed my mind. When you get preggo and you go public in your real life, will you reveal your true identity?

 

[Festy]

Date: 1/31/2009 11:33:45 AM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 1/31/2009 11:31:34 AM
Author: Festy
Congratulations Natalina!!! Like DD says, post whatever you got! I can understand worrying about people figuring out who you are. (I actually created a new name when I started posting in the family thread but still post on jewelry threads under my ''old'' name. Weird, huh?) If it makes you feel any better, there are a handful of PSers who live in my city (it''s a pretty large one) and I can safely say I have no idea who they are! Stick around here as long as you like, you are always welcome.

Fisher, I''ll be thinking of you tomorrow. Fingers and toes crossed.

Festy I remember when you joined you mentioned this and I must say, the mystery of who you *really* are is making me a little mental when I think of it... which isn''t all the time, I am not a stalker

... but it had crossed my mind. When you get preggo and you go public in your real life, will you reveal your true identity?

Oy. I feel kind of stupid about it at this point. Like I''ve created a monster. There are times when I''ve had to double check that I''m logged on as the right "person." I''ve been trying to figure out how I can merge my two idenitites, in fact. (How very Batman). I don''t want to lose my old screen name b/c I''ve been a member since 2005. But here''s a deal...when I get KTFU and am posting in the preggo thread I''ll come "clean." You''ll probably say "who?" I don''t post very often under my other name. And I reeeeaaaally try to stay away from the controversial threads.

 

[sunkist]

Yay, Natalina!!!! Congratulations

Ahh, this is so awesome. I hope you and hubby can feel less nervous about it soon, but I think I can totally understand how you don''t want to jinx it! I''m like that with some things too. Mounds of sticky dust headed your way and a big HUG!

by the way, if you can I too would like to see your chart and details

 

[sunkist]

Ok, I have my pictures I took last night. First my new bag and then just a few pics for fun!

 

[sunkist]