I've got what you've got!

I met with the dr and after a bunch of blood work they figured out my thyroid died. This is and isn't surprising. Isn't because for the past three years I have been complaining to my GP about symptoms that I was having and last year I even brought in a checklist for hypothyroidism and said- this has all of my symptoms, do you think I have it? And she said that it was probably just stress. Well, guess again. Score one for Shellie's Self Diagnosis. Your TSH levels are supposed to be between .3 and 3.0 but mine is 169! The doctor said she doesn't know how I manage to wake up in the morning and get out of bed (it actually does take some work, but always has, ask my sister) let alone work 40 hours, go to the gym and do volunteer work. She prescribed me some medication that she said would take a few months to get right and in the meantime, we have to stop trying to get pregnant as my levels are so low that it would be hazardous to adeveloping fetus IF we could even get pregnant to start with. She said all the pregnancy symptoms I've been experiencing the last few months can all be attributed to my hypothyroidism. At least it wasn't all in my head.

After the gym, M and I went out for dinner to catch up. We were chatting about her trip to Australia and my health problems and she said, "I think I have what you have." She's been very tired and her cycles are all messed up. Then she added, "And my boobs are so sore. I almost couldn't do yoga tonight!" Well, call me crazy, but that sounds more like the symptoms SM and SJ have been complaining about. I told her to go home and take a test. She was like, "Oh No. We aren't even going to start trying until my next cycle and we're not even sure if we'll do it then." I told her to take the test because if she calls her dr, that's the first thing they will ask her anyway so she might as well know for sure before she goes. Sure enough- she's pregnant!

Two Down, One to Go!

Well, I've been feeling awful! My period is a few days late. I'm nauseous all the time, I have hardly eaten anything in days and I'm sooooo tired. We went to PA to visit DH's US family and I felt like a walking zombie. I flew back on my own and so nauseous that I decide I will take a HPT as soon I land. Couldn't wait! Unfortunately it was negative, but something is definitely not right so I made an appointment with my GP. On the bright side, I just heard from SM that she's pregnant! That puts her and SJ at about two weeks apart! It couldn't have worked out any better for them! I'm so relieved!

Two down, one to go (soon to be two as M will start trying next month)!

One Down, Two to Go

My period was late again, but again no positive pregnancy test (for me anyway)! Argh! That's right, the bad news is that my cycles are evidently irregular when I'm off the BCPs, but the good news is that SJ announced she is pregnant! She told a few people- SM and her mom right away, but she waited until she heard the heartbeat to tell me and M. We're all so excited! It was only two cycles for her because hers are 6 weeks long so that means there is hope for the rest of us. SM is feeling a little down because she wants their baby-share plan to work out. I have my fingers crossed that it does because I know how much they are both counting on it, but I try to be realistic so I keep telling them both (separately), that it wouldn't hurt to come up with a back up plan.

Having sex so much is tiring! My Dear Husband (DH) is LOVING it but I feel like it's a lot of work. It does turn him into a very sweet sensitive guy though. Can't help but love that.

Half way there

It's been two months and SJ, SM and I have all experience pregnancy symptoms. Who knew PMS and Pregnancy could share so many symptoms? We realize that it's our mind playing tricks on us, but it doesn't help. We're all Doing-the-Deed (DTD) on a VERY regular basis. Not to name names, but some of us are going for the every day method and the others for every other day, some only during the "window" and others for 24 days straight! Poker night has turned risque now that the boys are getting laid regularly!

We bought a bulk order of pregnancy test and SM also bought ovulation sticks (who knew?). Evidently you can use the ovulation sticks starting 7 days after your period to see when you will ovulate, than you can start testing with the home pregnancy tests (HPT) starting 7 days past ovulation and keep testing until your period comes. Sounds like fun, right? It's not. Every negative test is like a little chip off your hoping heart. But, we're two months down and two months to go (keeping in mind our 20% success rate each month, we should all get pregnant in about 4 tries) so we're halfway there!

Everyone's in on it!

Simon and I talked about it and we think we're ready! We thought it would take longer to settle into the whole being married thing, but really we're settled. We are sickeningly happy, we have a 3 bedroom house, great jobs... what more do you NEED to start a family?

Imagine my surprise when I tell my three closest friends SJ, SM and M and they say that they are all going to start trying to get pregnant (aka TTC- Trying to Conceive) soon too! I tell them, that I'm stopping my birth control pills mid cycle to see if that helps (you hear about all sorts of girls who get pregnant because they missed one or two pills), SJ and SM are going to start next month and M is waiting until she gets back from her trip to Australia in November. Who would have thought? All of us TTC together! It will be so great if we all get pregnant at the same time. In fact, SJ and SM have a plan- they will work together and alternate days off so that they can baby-share. One day SM will have both babies and SJ will work and then they switch. Sounds improbable that it will work out timing wise, but who's to say.

We have all been researching TTC tips and met with our OB/GYNs and we've learned that:

• Each month you have a 20% chance of getting pregnant
• You should limit caffeine (and alcohol, of course)
• You need to start taking prenatal vitamins with folic acid BEFORE you get pregnant!

Baby Insanity

Ok, now I know it's gotten bad. I started a Baby Registry. I didn't mean to, it just happened. I went on Amazon.com and just started browsing all of the super cute baby things, but then I saw some great items so I decided it wouldn't hurt to keep a list and since it's baby items... so now I have a registry. It's funny and pathetic and it's mine.

I've also decided on a name- Lily! I love it!

Baby Crazy

After being asked "When are you guys going to start a family?" a million times and answering with our standard "In 3-5 years" response, it's time to rethink things. I'm officially "Baby Crazy!" I'm not sure when it started. I've always loved kids of all ages, but suddenly, I'm obsessed. We went to dinner the other night with R&M and I couldn't stop starring at the baby at the next table. He was making the rounds at his table and my body ached to hold him. I felt like a piece of my was missing and I need to reach out and grab it. Everyone laughed at me, but it got me thinking...