So...yup sex week did not happen for us what-so-ever! Is it August 16th yet? Waiting a freakin month seems like eternity right now. I hate starting all over and having nothing to show. August 16th, would put us past my first EDD, so that would be great if we could skip over that as well! My OPK this month has been positive the past 3 days which is confusing to me. I never thought I ovulated this late. How can that be possible when AF is due the 19th?
I'm so frustrated. Things are not great at MrsJT's residence. I can't figure out what to do and I just feel trapped! Trapped in this hell, that wouldn't be hell if I didn't loose 2 babies. Some days I feel like such a failure. I'm tired of all these tests Lord. I swear I'll do whatever it takes to have a healthy baby in my arms in 2009. I know you will not put us through more than we can handle but right now I've had enough and don't know how much longer I can fight. I just want to surrender but that means I'm still a failure for giving up.
Sorry I'm already prepared for AF in a week. Bring on the those symptoms...the tiredness, the gas, the thirst, the peeing 8 times today. Screw you body I'm tired of all the tricks you have played on me!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Can we just fast forward a month?
Posted by Jess at 8:37 PM 3 comments
Labels: baby for 2009, God, O-ing, sex week
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Sex week = HELL
Disclaimer #1: So I'm going to apologize now...this may be TMI for many of you but I need to vent and this is where I can do that. So please if you don't want to know any detail about my sex life...DO NOT read any further.
So as some of you know sex week began for us. I'm using an OPK this month and the line continued to get darker. Which is grrrr-eat! Well it would be if my husband was feeling half way decent. Out of the 8 months we've tried....we have been sick 3 of those months during sex week. Can you say frustrating?
When we were not TTC Mike was typically the one who wanted sex and initiated it. I definitely do not need sex as often as he does and find myself doing it to make him happy, at least in the first few minutes until I get turned on. Some days its a chore though.
Now that we are TTC I'm the one who wants it. I'll just say that thinking about making a baby....turns me on. Sex week = me being horny! So of course...Mike finds this odd in some ways and of course is NOT turned on during sex week. He feels I'm only this way because I want a baby. Which I understand to a point...but I'm not making this baby for me...I think/thought this is what we both wanted. I'm trying to open a new door for the two of us, not just me.
So...according to my OPK my LH surge is positive on day 19 (yesterday) & 20 (today). The test strip has been much darker than the control, there is no mistaking it! However, I'm usually on a 28 day cycle. So I'm very confused that I would be ovulating so late. Now I realize this is my 2nd cycle after my D&E and AF arrived 30 days after. So who knows my cycles could very well have changed or just be F-ed up. So throw that into the mix...as well as...
Anyways...our fight had to due with me only being horny at this time of the month and only when were TTC do I seem to initiate sex. Fine, I'm guilty! Now that the roles are reversed and he's not the horny one he feels like its a chore. Welcome to my world! How comes he does not find making a baby sexy, he finds it now to be a chore? Is it because I tell him when I might be ovulating? But if I don't tell him, he'll know any way if I initiate it. Its not like he asks where are you in your cycle? I know planned sex might not sound sexy but...I don't want him using all his energy and when I come home saying I'm too tired. He feels like I just want him for his sperm and in a way I do...but I want to make a baby for us. It totally turns me on that its us expanding our family or at least trying.
He is also blaming me for indirectly putting pressure on him. He says when AF shows its hell week and everyone has to pay especially him. He tells me when AF shows he feels that I'm mad at him that I am not pregnant. Which is not the case at all! I'm disappointed that I didn't get pregnant and I'm frustrated that we didn't time it correctly or that something wasn't right (ie. sperm weren't good swimmers, egg was bad, who knows). Which not knowing the reason that I didn't get pregnant also frustrates the hell outta me because I'm left wondering what we did wrong and no one to tell me. So I am a bitchy lady, but what he also doesn't understand is I never experienced PMS like I do now. It wasn't nearly as bad on BCP, now its miserable at times.
So sex week is becoming hell week it seems. I am frustrated and stressed! I'm frustrated to the point I just wanna freeze his sperm throughout the month and during sex week I'll just shoot it up there! That way it doesn't require the effort on his part nor the stress on my end. Why does this have to be so frustrating? Who ever thought?
Posted by Jess at 5:10 PM 1 comments
Labels: TTC #3
Sunday, July 6, 2008
"I Never Held You"
"I Never Held You" by Ellen DuBois receives two thumbs up from me. If you are looking for an easy to read book that deals with the emotional aspect of miscarriage, this is the book for you. This woman has been through a miscarriage and offers hope for the rest of us, 15 years after her loss. She nailed everything on the head and touched most thoughts and fears that have come to my mind, and written them on pages of a book. I really recommend this book to those who are struggling with their own loss. Hopefully it will give you support, comfort, & hope...and lead you to the right path.
Posted by Jess at 8:17 PM 1 comments
Labels: book review
Bleeding Love.......
When I hear this song by Leona Lewis I think of all of us who keep bleeding love from our miscarriages........
Closed off from love
I didn't need the pain
Once or twice was enough
And it was all in vain
Time starts to pass
Before you know it you're frozen
But something happened
For the very first time with you
My heart melts into the ground
Found something true
And everyone's looking around
Thinking I'm going crazy
But I don't care what they say
I'm in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don't know the truth
My heart's crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open
Trying hard not to hear
But they talk so loud
Their piercing sounds fill my ears
Try to fill me with doubt
Yet I know that the goal
Is to keep me from falling
But nothing's greater
Than the rush that comes with your embrace
And in this world of loneliness
I see your face
Yet everyone around me
Thinks that I'm going crazy, maybe, maybe
But I don't care what they say
I'm in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don't know the truth
My heart's crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open
And it's draining all of me
Oh they find it hard to believe
I'll be wearing these scars
For everyone to see
I don't care what they say
I'm in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don't know the truth
My heart's crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
If you watch the show "You Think You Can Dance" a couple did a performance to this song and the choreographers interpreted this song as a workaholic crushing his significant others heart. Check it out! I love it! Once I open my dance studio...I plan to choregraph a dance to this song.
Posted by Jess at 6:08 PM 0 comments
Labels: song lyrics
Thursday, July 3, 2008
"Coming to Term"
"Coming to Term" by Joh Cohen is getting a thumbs down from me. It started off really good and held my attention with stories I could relate to but half way through I lost interest. I think why I do not like this book is because it jumps around from subject to subject and some of the information I feel is unrelated or just not important. I was hoping this book might bridge the gap between men and women and how they handle miscarriages since it was written by a man. The book is written by a journalist who's wife has been through recurrent pregnancy losses. I think I may be one of the few who did not like this book. Oh well....onto "I Never Held You" by Ellen DuBois. Stay tuned.
So today Mike and I met with our RE, Dr. Dodson, for the very first time. I liked him, he was straight forwarded and informative. However, after spending the past 6 weeks researching stuff I don't think he brought anything new for me to the table. Eh, ok...so after going through our medical history he says to me that he doesn't see anything that would raise a red flag. That it seems to be a matter of bad luck and that he sees a rosy future for us. :::Do I see the birdy flying??::: I would have liked to given it to him. He goes on to say that he understands how frustrating and difficult this can be...when everyone is celebrating a positive pregnancy test we (RPL) wonder if we even should get our hopes up. So he truly is sympathetic...empathetic I don't know. He gets it though which is a + and he took 45 minutes of his time to listen to our concerns and feelings. He left the decisions up to us today whether we wanted any testing and told me...I don't want you going to bed and wondering well maybe we should have done this or that. He truly wanted me to be comfortable with the decision and supported us 100% even though he doesn't think anything will come back with a red flag. He wanted to give me a piece of mind, this is more than any other doctor. So Mike and I decided to go ahead with blood work and genetic testing.
As I said before we did have genetic testing done when I had my D&E. That came back normal...46xx...the RE said the thing that stinks about doing genetic testing is they may have contaminated the gestational sac with my cells/DNA. Which I understand...so I may have had a daughter which breaks my shattered heart into smaller pieces. :::sigh::: But it may have been my own chromosomes....maybe he will be able to tell after they repeat the genetic testing this time around. Who knows.
The one thing that I was truly happy and grateful to hear was when I do get pregnant, I am to call him right away whether its a HPT & BFP or a late period or even just symptoms. He will have me come in to check my hcg levels and progesterone. Of course that would be checked again and I would be scheduled for an u/s right away. From there I would see him every 4-5 days until a fetal pole is seen. Then once a week until I'm out of the "clear". I know, no one is ever out of the clear. I will then return to my regular OB, which by the way we have decided to switch to a practice closer to home & the one that Mike has contacts at. So I was very reassured by the care I will receive.
I totally forgot...he also mentioned in his 24 years of practicing how little progress this field has made. He's embarassed by what little knowledge there is. I completely agree with this after my research. I think the field is an embarassment but realize that it is one of the more difficult areas to understand. It just amazes me that we are in the 21st century and cannot figure out why most m/c happen.
Oh! By the way Doc gave us the go ahead to TTC again!! BRING ON SEX WEEK!! My OPK is showing a very faint line. Bring on the LH surge! Let's get this show on the road!
Posted by Jess at 5:19 PM 0 comments
Labels: book review, RE
Friday, June 27, 2008
35 weeks....13 weeks.....take your pick
So I figured I would write about my shitty day before Mike got home. I don't want to be a bad wife and sit on the computer all night, though I feel like that's where I might find most of my support. :::shrugs shoulders:::
So as you know from my posts below...work has been...challenging...(yes, that's the word)... for me the past few days maybe weeks. I've been holding up fairly good emotionally as far as my m/c but...this past week has just been a downer in general and today is no exception to this. I don't know if it has to do with being sick or what. I have decided that I am going to stay in bed on Friday's from now on to avoid all the drama that seems to happen. Refer to post Stupid people.
As you also might know one of my co-workers is pregnant and is approximately where I would be if I was still pregnant with Baby #1. I've never actually liked this woman, just don't like her attitude and we've never really clicked. It's been very hard being happy for her and I find it hard to pretend that I care. But today my work spouse decides to help her out and do some manuals on her once again because her back is bothering her. No big deal we didn't have any patients at the time. However, he had a interview coming in 15 minutes. Of course the interview shows up 10 minutes early and he tells me to take over.
Let's rewind a little for those of you who don't know. My work spouse, who is the boss of the entire clinic, has become a close friend. We didn't start out on a great foot but we got passed that and have worked together for 3 1/2 years now. I've been very blessed as far as my job & having a great all around boss. He knows about my m/c's and has been very supportive of me in needing time off, emotionally when I'm upset or down, and is there just for me to talk to. He genuinely cares and worries about me just like any friend.
So anyway....I give him this look like "are you #(&% kidding me??" And I usually do not show attitude (at home...yes...but not to my boss or co-workers) but I definitely left him have some today! I was NOT a happy camper and still am mad, upset, bitter, and angry all rolled into one!! Watch out I don't know what emotion might jump up next!!!
So I "jump" in and take over for him as he goes on his merry way. The whole time all I could think of is damn this should be me! I should be 35 weeks pregnant about ready to pop and if not that I should at least be 13 weeks pregnant entering my 2nd trimester.......TODAY on the dot! Grr...it took almost everything I had not to loose it!!!
Thoughts were just running through my head!! Its amazing....how quickly those who care about you forget. Don't get me wrong...there are times I forget and almost feel guilty for forgetting....but this is life...we move on after time...time that mends the heart. Its not an easy process and I don't wish it on my worst enemy EVER!
People who have not experienced a m/c don't understand why we react the way we do to pregnant women. Hopefully this may explain it & hopefully someone will get it....but when we look at a pregnant woman we (most ladies) think "how cute"....we possibly touch our bellies...wishing that that was us but we then realize that we've lost one or multiple babies...which leads to us thinking damn this could be me...it was me for a very short time....why isn't it me now? When we see a pregnant belly we want to reach out and touch it just to get a glimpse of what it might be like because we have never felt it and we long to know what that feels like. We yearn so much our heart aches. We begin to feel like failures. These feelings turn us into bitter women who have babies in heaven and not on earth. Its not fair! We know life isn't fair but we still want answers!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
No Man....to shutting down....
Sorry...its been awhile since I last posted. Things are a little crazy right now. I've been sick and even though I feel better I still have a lovely cough. AF was roaring its ugly head as well. Thank goodness AF is over...10 more days until....well you can figure it out.
So...quick update...Saturday I spent the day cleaning and recovering from this awful chest cold that seems to be lingering even after a course of antibiotics. Sunday proved to be a much more interesting day. But before I go into that let me give a little history lesson about Mike & Jess. My Dad and grandparents raised me in the Catholic church. My mom was raised Lutheran. Mike was never baptised but his parents and him attended a Methodist church when he was little. Most of his friends were Catholic growing up and he attended many masses with his friends. When Mike and I got engaged Mike converted to Catholicism. Which I never expected him to do. I just wanted to be married in the Catholic church.
So Sunday Mike & I woke up early to go to early mass. Some how we got on the topic of Pro-Life vs Pro-Choice. OH! I know how...Mike recently researched the difference between the groups and came across a Catholic site which clearly expressed its views as well, that Mike was not in agreement with. But anyway....we were on this discussion and he brought to my attention that Pro-Life is now stating that NO ONE should be able to have an abortion. While Pro-Choice is now on the side that many do not support abortion as birth control but do view some abortions necessary such in the case of rape, incest or if the mother's life is at risk, etc.....I was blown away by this new info. I always consider myself Pro-Life but I do not agree with their current views nor the Catholic church's current views. I was highly upset when Mike pointed out that in the Catholic church's eye I had an abortion with my D&E. It made me angry...angry that MEN of all people in the Vatican have devised all these "laws"!! I stand behind when I say NO MAN will ever understand the emotional pain I have been through during & after my miscarriages, including these men of God! Thought I would just point this out....because I was unaware. Mike was also disgusted with how the Pro-Lifers represented themselves on their websites while Pro-Choicers were very factual on their websites. He did give the Catholic church credit though in the way they explained themselves.
Anyway at church the homily was an interesting one. It was about fear and trusting God with your fears. Father, gave a funny story (I'm not sure if its fictional or not) that this religious woman got on a plane to travel to the holy land. It was her first time traveling by air. As she fastened her seat belt she closed her eyes and didn't open them until they were at cruising altitude. She looked out the window just as one of the engines was falling off, she started screaming "oh my God we are going to die!" Flight attendants quickly attended to her and tried to calm her down. They tried telling her that they could safely fly back with just 3 engines but that did not satisfy her. She kept yelling "oh my God we are going to die!" They also try to calm her down and brought 4 bishops. She cried out "I rather there be 3 bishops and 4 engines!" I thought it was rather cute and tried to apply what father was telling me to my own life. Sure I am afraid of spiders and heights all which I can trust in God. However, the fear of never having my own biological family scares the crap outta me along with having more m/c and I'm having a hard time placing that in God's hands.
I am still looking into a dance studio. I have a budget set up with price quotes from flooring specialists, barres, mirrors, etc...I have also met with a realtor at a local plaza, which was very helpful and eye opening. But if I do open up I would def like to open in this plaza for various reasons but no point in getting into that now until it happens.
Lately I feel very under appreciated at work. My boss is a great guy and a great work spouse. But he is overly frustrating on a lot of days! Being the boss he has a lot of responsibilities which I understand and have to cover for him, treating our patients, writing notes, and the list goes on and on while he's attending his boss duties. Sometimes he doesn't think though and does it at the worst times and I feel like he leaves me stranded. He has a lot on his plate I know...but...but....maybe I should just stop complaining.
So work hasn't been an enjoyment lately and I'm at the point that I'm tired of hearing patients b!tch and complain like I have nothing at all to complain about. They've had o-p-t-i-o-n-a-l surgery, they chose to get their knee replaced, no one forced them into it and they expect it to be healed in a week! HELLO, are people idiots or are the doctors for not explaining the extent of surgery? GRR! I'm just sick of the mentality of these patients, some days it drives me nuts.
So I'm starting to wonder if this is God's plan? If he doesn't want me to have children just yet and wants me to use the gift that he has given me to start my own dance studio. I've always loved this quote:
"What you do is God's gift to you, what you make of it is your gift to God."
Today was a very off day for me....maybe this week has been. I feel as if I've been shutting down like I go through the emotions, my head is spinning with thought (babies, dance, house, etc..) but I'm not up for communicating with anyone. Does that make sense? This is mainly at work. I mean one minute I'm talkative and the next I don't want to be bothered. I'm not up for sharing personal information except with one or two people. I'm just usually very open & share personal detail like what's been going on in life, etc...but I just shut down and want to get the heck out of there.
I once again today was reminded that I would be almost 1 month away from my due date with Baby #1. I walked out into our front office and there our pregnant woman is sitting with a co-worker of mine on her knees rubbing her belly!!! SLAP 1! The pregnant woman has also been complaining of some back issues and my PT that I work with offered to help just like he does with everyone while I'm left treating our other patients. But they start talking about adding her baby girl to her insurance and its just like damn shut the #&^@ up! Slap 2! I don't understand any reasons for shutting down. <--sarcasm!
This week my Rav-4 is being repaired and I have a Nissan Murano which I have fallen in love with!!! I don't want my car back! My total damage is now totalling closer to $2700!! Thank God for insurance!!




