Working the Core

This is my first full cycle month post surgery, and I can tell my body's system has shifted for the better! This cycle I was on 50mg of clomid again--which is known for drying up fertile CM--and I still had an abundance of it, AND it stuck around for several days, which is really great news and new for me. (Sidenote: I HATE clomid! This month's heat flashes were absolutely insane & relentless, and upon my mid cycle sonogram, I still only had one egg in there, which I totally do on my own without drugs. That was all I needed to see to say "SAYONARA!" to future months on it!)

Last weekend was an exciting one-- I had my IUI on Saturday (on cycle day 23!! I usually ovulate on day 16, so I was almost a whole week late. You know you are TTC when your hubby actually complains about how many days in a row you're doing the baby dance- we started around day 13 so it was indeed a long run!) Because it was a Saturday, I was seen by the on call doctor, whom I didn't care for at all. Babycakes' sample was labeled "marginal" this round, with 13% motility, likely b/c we hadn't abstained long enough prior (being that late, it was really hard to pinpoint when to abstain/etc). Makes me wonder if we should start him on another vitamin cocktail (which he was doing for months prior to our big "break" in March. Admittedly he hated it, but our first IUI sample was off the charts good!)

The other exciting thing that happened last weekend was that I started filming an East Austin focused House Hunters episode with my clients! I filmed for two full days (my clients three) and the crew will be back in September to finish up filming. It was so fun to see what actually goes on behind the scenes to make the show. I LOVE that HGTV program, so am super thrilled & honored to be participating in it, with an estimated air date next spring. My clients are adorable, and we all had a blast playing together for the filming days.

I also got to catch up with my dear friend Jenny Monday night, and she mentioned to me that another friend of hers had just conceived after 1 1/2 years of trying, and one thing she did different the cycle she conceived was to eat a pineapple core. Now, I had heard things about pineapple being helpful for implantation, but never heard anything about eating the core! So I googled it and found this article:

http://www.amandabears.com/pineapple-core-for-implantation.html

Then promptly went out and ended up with this:

It's a little tough to chew, but I'm in the mode of being willing to try anything, and figure it can't hurt.  I also hit my weekly Pilates class today, so am officially "working the core" on all fronts. We're in the TWW now, and I'm just taking it one day at a time, happily distracted by all the filming fun & an upcoming trip to NYC. Feeling very grateful in general, and really, truly trusting that we are on the road toward making our family. : )

Red, White, & Blue

Late last week I started to feel the familiar pre-AF cramping, along with my typical spotting. My biggest initial disappointment was that I still felt cramps! I had hopes that clearing out the endometriosis might alleviate these; alas, not yet. AF came in all her glory Saturday, and definitely gave me a run for my money. She was heavier than she's ever been day 1, which I wasn't prepared for (cue us on our 2.5 hour drive to Houston, me frantically texting all my cousins to see who might have extra tampons. Score with a cousin who was currently at Wal-Mart!)

My concern with this cycle was that I only had a 10-11 day luteal phase, which is toward the shorter end for conception (my usual luteal phases are 12-13 days). I figure my body is starting 'fresh' again, re-learning its system & hormones now that the foreign endometrial tissue has been removed. And it may take a few months for everything to truly 'take,' which is why I didn't have an emotional melt-down with AF. I am keeping my emotions in check, and figure it is as if we are JUST starting to "try" again- and I need to be patient with the process (while also staying proactive!).

So July 4th found me showing my modern American colors of red, white, & blue: red (giving my cycle day 3 blood), white (my face as said blood was drawn), and blue (that good 'ole blue vein that always bruises after giving blood). Today I see Dr. Vaughn for my first round of clomid post-surgery, and we'll continue with a few months of clomid + IUI, with acupuncture thrown in for good measure. Heat flashes in 100++ degree weather? Awesome! But it will all be worth it when our little ones decide it's time to join the family-- the window of opportunity is wide open.