The last of the 30 Day Challenge

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Day 28 - What do you use the “nursery” for right now? If you already had a baby, what did you use it for before pregnancy?

Currently the second bedroom has become a dumping ground for junk that needs to go in the attic as the attic door is in the closet of this room.  It used to be our office until we finished off the basement and moved the office down there.  Then it became my sewing room until I decided that I didn't want to sew anymore and it quickly morphed into the room that I want to keep the door closed to because I can't stand the mess!

Day 29 - If you had known that you would have trouble conceiving, what would you have done differently in life? If you already knew, did that knowledge affect your other life choices?

This one is hard. On the one hand I would like to say that we would have started trying sooner instead of me going to grad school, but I don't want to dismiss my degree and the wonderful things I learned during that time.  I always wanted to be a younger mom and that isn't going to be that way anymore. So if anything I would just want to get back to being the women who had three before 33. Not sure WHY I had that idea in my mind for so long... but I just did.

Day 30 -Tell us about a friendship you lost or a relationship that changed for the worse because of infertility.

I feel like several of my relationships have changed during this time of dealing with infertility.  I definitely keep to myself more and I don't share my feelings about this journey-rather just the process of our cycle.  I feel like people tip toe around me sometimes and that pisses me off... but it is what it is and I can't focus on it because it isn't about them anymore- it's become about me and my husband and that is where I need to focus my positive energy!

Day 18-27 of the 30 day blog challenge

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So... apparently I'm a super slacker at this. I've done 30 day challenges before and have been able to keep up with them, but this time, not so much.  Oh well. It is what it is.

Day 18 - Besides Mothers Day, what is the hardest holiday for you as an infertile?

The hardest holiday has to be Christmas because we start thinking about it right after Thanksgiving.  I see my friends cute pictures of their little ones making ginger bread houses or their first picture with Santa.  I see my nephew and niece all dressed up in matching holiday outfits and all I can think about is the idea that we should have a baby already and we should be enjoying this holiday as parents.
 
Day 19 - Write a letter (one that you never have to send) to a fertile in your life. Did they hurt you? Support you? Tell them how you feel, all the things you can’t bring yourself to say in person.

I've decided to remove this.
Day 20 - Discuss how you found your way into the ALI community, and what being part of it has meant to you – good and bad.

Way back when JT and I were engaged I used to spend HOURS on TheKnot or TK as we called it.  When we started talking about trying I made my way to the TheBump and started posting on the trying to get pregnant board.  Eventually we realized that this was not going to come easy for us so I moved my way over to the trouble trying to conceive board or 3T as we call it and I've been posting there for almost a year.  The girls there are amazing and so supportive and kind.  I love being reminded that we are not the only ones going through it.

I started reading blogs that were posted into the signatures on 3T and decided to finally share this blog.  I started writing in this blog a few months before we started trying because it was going to be our family blog.  Little did we know at the time that it would be difficult to get pregnant.  This became the place where I dumped my thoughts and feelings into.   Once I started sharing this with other IF bloggers I branched over to Twitter.

Sometimes though, I need a break from it all- the blogs, the boards, and twitter.  Sometimes I don't want to talk about it or think about it so I stray away and regroup.  No matter what I end up finding my way back and there is no judgement about how long I've been away for.  It seems everyone "gets" it.  I am so thankful for all of you! 

Day 21 - If you had gotten pregnant that first month you started trying, how would you have been a different parent? What changes have you made to your parenting style (either current or future) in the time you spent trying to conceive?

 I don't know that I would be a completely different parent.  I still hold the things JT and I value very close to me.  If anything we've just had more time to refine those values and to think about what is important to us as a family.  I've always thought about how important family time is and after going through all of this I know we'll keep family time on the front burner forever.

Day 22 - What was the first baby or pregnancy-related purchase you ever made? Was it before or after you started trying to conceive? Or was it after you were already pregnant?  Why did you choose that particular item to buy first? If you haven’t purchased anything yet, why not?

I received some books from a friend right before we started to try and then bought some books at a closing book store after we were already trying.  I bought a Red Sox bib after we started trying and that was the last thing I've purchased.  I never had a reason to think we needed something. It's just too painful.

Day 23 - Talk about how you chose your RE.

There are only 3 clinics in our region so we would have to travel about an hour to either place we selected.  I had heard about our RE several different times and when I saw his face on the internet it just seemed like he was the one we should be seeing.  After our first meeting we felt comfortable and trusted him instantly.

Day 24 - If a very observant stranger were to walk into your house, what clues could lead them to believe that you have struggled with infertility?

They would see the injection container sitting on our counter. My huge bottles of vitamins and prenatals.  Upstairs in the second bedroom they would see a basinet my brother-in-law gave us.

 

Day 25 - Have you ever bonded with someone IRL over infertility?

Yes, but I think it became too painful for my friend and we've stopped talking about infertility in the past few months.  I miss the connection of a real person to talk to.

Day 26 - Were you the product of infertility? Was anyone you know the product of infertility? How do you know? Or do you just suspect based on circumstances like age differences between siblings, time between marriage and conception, etc.

No. My mother got pregnant with me on accident and never had an issue getting pregnant with my sister.  I do have aunts and uncles who have decided to live child free, I know that one of the couples decided to on their own but do not know about the other couple.  My aunt on my dad's side had multiple miscarriages before having my first cousin.  That is all know.

 

Day 27 - Talk about a time when you made someone in your life understand more about infertility.

I think my closest friends have been able to see the pain and the hope and the sadness that comes with infertility but I don't know that they can understand it more.  It is a lonely thing to go through.

Day 15 to 17 of the 30 Day Challenge

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Day 15 - Show your favorite outfit or fashion pieces.

 I love big sweaters with dark jeans (when they feel comfortable!) and boots

 

Around the house I wear my yoga pants

 And recently I've been stepping out in my yoga pants with an over-sized shirt (to hide the bloat) and a scarf

Day 16 - How did you and your partner decide when you were ready to start trying to conceive?

JT and I got married and I was ready for kids before him so we had to set a timeline.  I was starting my Masters so we derided we would talk about it as I neared my graduation in two years.  JT was ready by then so in May of 2010 as I finished up my thesis project we decided it was time to start adding to our family.

 
Day 17 - Discuss the most ridiculous thing you ever heard about conception. Where did you hear it? Did it work for someone else? Did you try it?

 I don't know that I've heard of one out of this world story but I consistently hear, and get told, that I need to get drunk and have great sex.  Many people say that is how they got pregnant.  I've tried it and obviously, nothing happened!

Day 11-14 of the the 30 Day Challenge

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Day 11 - If you could have 3 wishes, what would they be?

1. I wish for our IUI to work.
2. I wish my sister lived in the same state as me.
3. I wish that my husband and I could go on two long vacations a year.

Day 12 - List 5 pet peeves.

1. When people pull out in front of you and go slow but there are no other cars behind you... so they could have waited.
2. When people don't say thank you when you hold the door for them.
3. People who interrupt.
4. When men leave the toilet seat up at work.
5. When people take my ideas and claim them as their own. 

Day 13 - List 5 guilty pleasures.

1. US Weekly magazine
2. Jersey Shore
3. Twitter
4. Gummy bears
5. Sweatpants right when I get home

Day 14 - Put your iPod on shuffle.  List the first 10 songs that play.

1. MerryChristmas Baby- Christina Aguilera
2. Big Willie Style- Will Smith
3. God's Been Good To Me- Keith Urban
4. My Love- Justin Timberlake
5. Violate You-Maroon 5
6. There it is- Ginuwine
7. Harajuku Girls- Gwen Stefani
8. So AMazing -50 Cent
9. Live A Little- Kenny Chesney
10. Love of My Life- Brian McKnight

 Quite the mix!

Catching up on the 30 day blog challenge

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I mentioned yesterday how busy and overwhelmed I've been this past week.  I'm glad to finally have a chance to blog again and reconnect with my IF girls.

Day 6- A picture of something that makes you happy.

Day 7 - Where do you like to shop?

Day 8 - Describe your dream vacation.

Any tropical island will do...

Day 9 - List 5 things you want to do before you die.

1. Have a baby.
2. Run a marathon-full or half
3. Live by the ocean
4. Have a successful photography business
5. Have another baby!

Day 10 - What is your favorite book?

By far the best book I've read in a long time and I read it way before there was ever going to be a movie made.

Day 4 and 5 of the 30 day challenge

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Day 4 - If you won the lottery what would you blow your money on (after charity and bills, of course) 

list 10 material possessions you would buy for yourself.

I'm so glad I don't have to worry about the charity and bill talk.. because OF course that is what I would do with my money first.  I'm exited to think of the fun things I could do with the money! In random order:

1.  A new car!
2. An 85mm lens for my camera
3. A new external flash for my camera
4. An iPad2
5. CLOTHES!!!
6. A trip to ARUBA
7. New bedroom furniture
8. Heck... a new house!
9. I would pay someone to come style my hair and put on my make up!
10. Pedis every week

Day 5 - 15 facts about yourself.

 

1. I am a summer baby. Love JULY!
2. My husband and I are high school sweet hearts
3. I am a teacher
4. I do photography on the side
5. I could watch episodes of Friends, Sex and the City and King of Queens every day
6. I love buying the US weekly magazine
7. Gummy bears are my favorite candy
8. I love chewing bubble gum in the summer
9. I have 4 tattoos---maybe I'll share pictures some day
10. I have a younger sister
11. A lot of my family lives in Texas...including my sister :(
12. I've never been on a cruise
13. I have to sleep with a fan on
14. I listen to the radio while I shower
15. I love all kinds of music except that screaming punk crap 

A little bit about me...

I'm finally able to say thank you to EndoJourney for passing this my way! I look forward to our conversations on Twitter and your support means a lot! Thank you!

The rules for receiving this award are: Tell seven things about yourself and pass on the award to 15 other great bloggers.

7 things about me:

1. I love dogs! Especially Boxers. They just melt my heart!
2. I don't like chocolate and peanut butter together.  GASP, I know! I like them separately though!
3. I love watching shows like Project Runway and Project Accessory.  Of course I love the drama but I am so amazed by what they can make!
4. I could eat pizza all week long.
5. I love the beach.
6. My sister and I look like twins, but we're not.  We are actually 4 years apart!

15 blogs: 

(I'm only sharing 10 because I'm still getting to know bloggers!)

1. Infertile in a Fertile World
2. Mrs. Slick
3. What IF?
4. Hoping for Baby 4678
5. Living with IF
6. MissConception
7. Mission: Fertile Seoul
8. Searching for our Silver Lining
9. Somewhere In The Middle
10. Finding my new Normal

Rebecca over at Pink Lipgloss and Prenatals is doing a 30 Day Challenge for December and I've decided to join in:

Day 1 - What is the meaning behind your blog name?

We spend so much timing waiting for the "perfect" time to work on conceiving and then we wait, and then find the bad news and we continue this cycle over and over...so the name just came.

Day 2 - What's in your handbag?

 

All the goods!

Mirror, floss, a great selection of chapstick/lip gloss! hair tie and bobby pins, tissues and a snack! My day planner, wallet, blue tooth, pen/pencil, hand sanitizer, gum, business cards and rewards cards

Day 3 - What's in your makeup bag?

I always use natural earth tone colors on my face and this summer I got into purples.  I have concealer, zit zapper cream, eye liner, mascara, eye shadow primer (amazing stuff! You don't get lines on your eyelids as the day goes on from the eye shadow shifting) eye lash curler, tweezers, bronzer and a very soft brush!