Morning HPT Test (Updated)

Update: Took second test..came out negative and then two seconds later AF arrives....

I bet the Phillies lose tonight too!!

Day 4

Glorious St. Anne,
filled with compassion for those who invoke you,
with love for those who suffer,
heavily laden with the weight of my troubles,
I knee at your feet and humbly beg you
to take my present need under your special protection...

(State your intention here.)

Vouchsafe to recommend it to your daughter,
the Blessed Virgin Mary,
and lay it before the throne of Jesus.
Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted.
Above all, obtain for me the grace to one day meet God face to face,
and with you and Mary and all the angels
and saints praising Him through all eternity.

Amen

---

---

Glorious Saint Anne,
I kneel in confidence at your feet,
for you also have tasted the bitterness and sorrow of life.
My necessities, the cause of my tears, are...

(State your intention here.)

Good Saint Anne,
you who did suffer much during the twenty years
that preceded your glorious maternity,
I beseech you, by all your sufferings and humiliations,
to grant my prayer.
I pray to you,
through you love for your glorious spouse Saint Joachim,
through your love for your immaculate child,
through the joy you did feel at the moment of her happy birth,
not to refuse me.
Bless me, bless my family and all who are dear to me,
so that some day we may all be with you in the glory of heaven,
for all eternity.

Amen.

Recite the...

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be to the Father...

Pray for us, Saint Anne!
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Invalid...nothing showed up on either side. How annoying! My husband wants me to take the second one...

But now I feel CD1 coming on....I am eating 5 pounds of raw tuna tonight!!

I'll be back to post Day 4 of St. Anne's Novena.

P+7 Results...

I finally got my P+7 results. I gave blood on Monday...and kept forgetting to call. I did call yesterday but they still did not have my results....which is unusual because they always seem to get them by the next day.

Anyhow, Dr. T called and told me my progesterone was...drum roll....

82.4

She used the word robust!! Ha!!...that must be good. Sounds like a good cup of coffee. Remember, I can't understand a word that Dr. T says...but she loves Our Lady and that's all that matters.

So, I asked her if this could be a pregnancy because I wanted to drink like a fish tomorrow night and eat raw fish too!! How often does your favorite team (Phillies) since you were 11 play in the WS and your favorite TV show cast sing the National Anthem on the same night???..and you were invited to go to sushi and then down to the local watering hole (The Flying Pig) for drinks and watch the game????

Okay..I didn't mention any of that...but she just said robust and PT test at P+15.....so that is in 4 days...I may just go get one today anyway......

I will Google 82.4 and see what I get...yes...just the numbers 82.4 and see what I get!
Maybe St. Anne will look upon her humble servant who is failing as a good person these past few days and be kind to me!

TGIF

P.S.....I don't want to get my hopes up because I am on Prometrium.....so that could account for the numbers.....but I just did Google 82.4 and that seems to be in the range of a second trimester pregnancy...which clearly I am not...so who knows what that means??????

Day 3 of St. Anne Novena

Glorious St. Anne,
filled with compassion for those who invoke you,
with love for those who suffer,
heavily laden with the weight of my troubles,
I knee at your feet and humbly beg you
to take my present need under your special protection...

(State your intention here.)

Vouchsafe to recommend it to your daughter,
the Blessed Virgin Mary,
and lay it before the throne of Jesus.
Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted.
Above all, obtain for me the grace to one day meet God face to face,
and with you and Mary and all the angels
and saints praising Him through all eternity.

Amen

Beloved of Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
mother of the Queen of Heaven,
take us and all who are dear to us under your special care.
Obtain for us the virtues you instilled in the heart of her
who was destined to become Mother of God,
and the graces with which you were endowed.
Sublime model of Christian womanhood,
pray that we may imitate your example in our homes and families,
listen to our petitions,

(State your intention here.)

Guardian of the infancy
and childhood of the most Blessed Virgin Mary,
obtain the graces necessary for all who enter the marriage state,
that imitating your virtues they may sanctify their homes
and lead the souls entrusted to their care to eternal glory. Amen.

Recite the...

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be to the Father...

Pray for us, Saint Anne!
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Day 2 of Novena and 4 Things I Need to Do!

1- Clean the bathroom!

2- Go for a 30 minute power walk.

3- Call Dr. T for Progesterone level.

4- And say the St. Anne Novena....

Glorious St. Anne,
filled with compassion for those who invoke you,
with love for those who suffer,
heavily laden with the weight of my troubles,
I knee at your feet and humbly beg you
to take my present need under your special protection...

(State your intention here.)

Vouchsafe to recommend it to your daughter,
the Blessed Virgin Mary,
and lay it before the throne of Jesus.
Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted.
Above all, obtain for me the grace to one day meet God face to face,
and with you and Mary and all the angels
and saints praising Him through all eternity.

DAY TWO

Glorious Saint Anne,
how can you be otherwise than overflowing
with tenderness toward sinners like myself,
since you are the grandmother of Him who shed His blood for them,
and the mother of her whom the saints call advocate of sinners?
To you, therefore, I address my prayers with confidence.
Vouchsafe to commend me to Jesus and Mary so that,
at your request, I may be granted remission of my sins,
perseverance, the love of God, charity for all mankind,
and the special grace of...

(State your intention here.)

which I stand in need at the present time.
O most powerful protectress,
let me not lose my soul,
but obtain for me that through the merits of Jesus Christ
and the intercession of Mary,
I may have happiness of seeing them,
of loving and praising them with your through all eternity. Amen.

Recite the...

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be to the Father...

Pray for us, Saint Anne!
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Day One Novena!

First, recite this prayer.

Glorious St. Anne,
filled with compassion for those who invoke you,
with love for those who suffer,
heavily laden with the weight of my troubles,
I knee at your feet and humbly beg you
to take my present need under your special protection...

(State your intention here.)

Vouchsafe to recommend it to your daughter,
the Blessed Virgin Mary,
and lay it before the throne of Jesus.
Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted.
Above all, obtain for me the grace to one day meet God face to face,
and with you and Mary and all the angels
and saints praising Him through all eternity.

Amen

Next, recite the prayer that relates to the day that you are at.

DAY ONE

Great Saint Anne,
engrave indelibly on my heart
and in my mind the words that have reclaimed
and sanctified so many sinners:
"What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world
if he lose his own soul?"
May this be the principle fruit of these prayers
by which I will strive to honor you during this novena.
At your feet renew my resolution to invoke you daily,
not only for the success of my temporal affairs
and to be preserved from sickness and suffering,
but above all, that I may be preserved from all sin,
that I may succeed in working out my eternal salvation
and that I will receive the special grace of...

(State your intention here.)

O most powerful Saint Anne,
do not let me lose my soul,
but obtain for me the grace of winning my way to heaven,
there with you, you blessed spouse,
and your glorious daughter,
to sing the praise of the most holy
and adorable Trinity forever and ever.

Amen.

Recite the...

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be to the Father...

Pray for us, Saint Anne!
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Not sure if I want to do the Novena for a baby....or for the Phillies!!! ha!!

St. Anne Novena

My Mom e-mailed me about starting a novena w/ her and my two others Sisters. So, I start tomorrow...I will post the prayers in case anyone is interested in praying along! Anne is the confirmation name that my Sisters and I chose..

St. Anne is the patron Saint of the following:

Whose Patron is St. Anne?

Adjuntas, Puerto Rico
against poverty
Boschi Sant'Anna, Italy
Brittany, France
Broommakers
Saint Anne the patron saint of cabinetmakers
Canada
Ann the patron saint of Carpenters
Castelletto d'Erro, Italy
childless people
Corinaldo, Italy
Detroit, Michigan, archdiocese of
Equestrians
France
Saint Anne the patron Saint of Grandmothers
Saint Ann patron saint of grandparents
Anne the patron saint of homemakers
horse men
horse women
St. Ann the patron saint of housewives
ace makers
lace workers
lost articles
Marsaskala, Malta
Micmaqs
Miners
Molo, Philippines
Anne patron saint of Mothers
Norwich, Connecticut, diocese of
Nueva Valencia, Philippines
old-clothes dealers
poverty
St Anne the patron of pregnancy
St. Ann patron saint of pregnant women
Quebec, Canada
Santa Ana Indian Pueblo Riders
San Joaquin, Philippines
Seamstresses
stablemen
sterility
Taos, New Mexico
Turners
women in labor

Guilty Pleasures!

I just ran for 30 minutes around town listening to my Glee Soundtrack and then came home and ate a piece of chocolate cake. What is wrong with me....I just ran for NOTHING!!

Speaking of guilty pleasures....God is not going to be to happy with me on my judgment day. I have a feeling he is concerned about my obsession with the TV series Glee. It is not very holy...and I should not be watching it. But, I really can not help myself. I have not been this excited about TV since Felicity in the late 90's. My TV exposure is limited to baseball and FOX news...

I was a theater major in college and have been singing since I was nine. I have sung in bands, community theater, the Spirit of Philadelphia...and auditioned for all the wacky singing shows...Star Search, The Al Albert's Show..(totally aging myself there....) ...too old for American Idol. but, I am still waiting for the day the age change comes!! I have my song all ready! So, I am living vicariously through "Rachael" on Glee...

The greatest thing has happened this week: The cast of Glee is performing the national Anthem at the World Series in Philadelphia!!! This is a "baseball loving theater geeks" dream!!! I am too excited!

Off to give blood for P+7....need good progesterone numbers!!

Enjoy this beautiful Fall day if you are in the Northeast!!

Miscarriage, Chemical Pregnancy..and Late Ovulation!

That all makes for a depressing lunch! The three woman at the lunch table had all this going on within a few days of each other. I went out for lunch with my best friends from high school yesterday..and it was all baby talk. My one friend had just had a miscarriage after having one in July and a still birth last November. Plus, they discovered that she had some genetic clotting disorder on top of it all. My other friend just got her period after getting a few positives on some HPTs...chemical pregnancy.

And me...well my cycle is WEIRD this month. I am not sure if it was the Master Cleanse, the mid-fertile start of Amoxicillin...or what! But I ovulated 6 days later than usual. And the CM was all over the place.

So..we all got ice cream for dessert! It was sooo good!!!

I am currently taking the oral progesterone from P+3 to P+12....Post Peak Day 17 (The day you check for pregnancy) will be CD 34. I have never had a cycle that long....maybe there is a full moon???

I have been turned down for international adoption. That was quick!! You need to be married for 3-5 years for the particular countries. But Kathryn at TAR....told me Ethiopia was 2 years...so I am going to check that out!!!

International Adoption

I am exploring...any insight? I applied online to Bethany Adoptions...but honestly, I have no idea how to begin.

I have always wanted to adopt internationally. I have been on a few missionary trips (Swaziland, Costa Rica, Bosnia...) and had to control myself into NOT stealing a child and bringing them home. So, why not explore.

I would be thrilled to get pregnant and have an adopted baby at the same time....fun!!

No Rash...No Closed Up Throat!

I feel like I have been living a lie all of these years. Telling doctor after doctor that I was allergic to penicillin. Constantly writing it on countless medical documents. When I went to pick up the prescription..the young high schooler behind the register whispered that the pharmacist would like to speak with me. Darn! I was so close to getting this magical "mucus enhancer" that I could only once dream about! "There is a warning on your account about an allergic reaction to penicillin." she said. "Yeah, it is a rash and I am totally okay with getting a rash...is there a waiver I can sign???"

Got my drugs..and went on my merry way! I was already half into my "fertile time"..so I just started taking it and stoppped today. I was told to stop on Peak Day...which is kinda hard to determine until after Peak Day ...so it is a little bit of a quessing game.

Anyhow, had 10CL this morning...so I have no idea what that means..did I ovulate?? Did the antibiotic do it? Who knows???

On another note....I always have these weird run ins with people....and then I over analize them and think they were trying to give me some message form God.

So, I am walking out of the Village Bakery buying my daughter some Bubble Tea to take to her work.. (pictured above..cold tea with cream and tapioca balls!) And this woman says out of the blue..."Everyone thinks my daughter is my granddaughter. That's what happens when you have a baby in your late thirties." Then she starting going on about her daughter teaching her "texting." But, I was stuck on the "late thirties" part.....

I worry about that....and I am constantly bringing it up to my husband. I don't want to be an old tired mom. If I get pregnant today...I am still 60 when the child is 20! I'll be 70 when the child is 30! This is a tough pill to swallow....

Maybe there is a reason I am not getting pregnant...and this lady reminded me of it!

The Worst CM Ever!!

CM is the key to conception. If you ain't got it...you ain't getting pregnant. Plus, I just found out at my Creighton Model appointment that the lower your CM score..the more likely you are to miscarry. Great!

I feel this cycle is a bust. I had 6K, 6K, OAD, 10SL...and that is it! My past CM scores have been a 3 and a 4.....a good mucus score is between 9-16. So, mine is HORRIBLE!!! You can not get pregnant on a 3. And if I miraculously do...I am not starting out well anyhow.

These scores were computed towards the end of my meeting. I turned into a miserable human being from then on....

I need to get my CM working. I want to try the amoxicillin. My Creighton lady faxed my doctor all of the information and I have been trying to call her all morning...but the line is busy. Don't these people have call waiting?

Unfortunately, my personality does not lend for me to go out on a limb and self prescribe myself...so I have to wait for action on my doctors part. I mentioned Fertile CM....and she said it was not part of Napro protocol.

Any other ideas??? Maybe I should go back to the doctor that told me to use egg whites!!

UPDATE: Just got my prescription for amoxicillin!!!!! Yeah!!! I did not mention my allergic stuff. So, if you don't hear from me soon...it is because either my throat has closed up or I have broken out in a deathly rash!!!

Off to CVS.....

Day 9: Struggling and Cheating!

Yesterday I could not down even 1 liter of that lemonade stuff (Noticed how I have lost my affection for my survival drink) But, I was determined not to cheat. So, instead I ate practically nothing. Woke up feeling lightheaded and nauseous. I decide to finished out the detox w/ just juicing vegetables and fruits. I am very glad I made that decision...I feel so much better and went for a brisk walk on the beautiful fall day.

Also, I noticed 8K CM....immediately I went from wanting to starve my body to wanting to feed my body. I was worried that if I got pregnant..the poor child would be sucking on lemons! It is just the protective nature of a mother....so I got myself an Odwalla Superfood Omega 3 w/ Flaxseed Beeries GoMega and indulged! And I got some spicy V8.....which I will have for lunch...yummy!!

I was at the grocery store and saw the biggest pomegranates ever!!! So I bought two. A quick way to add pizazz to your salad is to sprinkle these seeds on top!! I can't wait!

I am so glad that I did this detox. It really helps you to appreciate food ina different way. And when I ween food back into my diet, I am going to be very particular about what I put in it. I am going to try and do more fish...nuts....and raw vegetables!!! Yeah!!

Oh...and on the baseball front...the most amazing game last night! Phils beat the Rockies and we are on to play the Dodgers!! So excited!!!!

Day 8: Hungry....

Good Morning! Yes! I am hungry. I had a meeting this morning to straighten out a tax issue with our accountant and I came out and smelled bread! Panera Bread!! I could practically taste it. I had to quickly get in my car before I made a detour.

I know I have lost weight...and I like that...but I am really sick of this lemonade. I am on Day 6 of just the lemonade....and I am dying to chew something...even a little piece of gum! I find myself making plan about what I am going to eat next Sunday. The day I come off the detox.I feel like I am on Survivor...

My husband refuses to give up the coffee in the morning. I told him that was not part of the program and that it kinda defeats the purpose of the "detox." He would never last on Survivor.

Great news: Phillies won last night...and I am such a loser...I stayed up til 2:30am to watch the game. I will pay for it today. Maybe that is why I am feeling low energy and hungry.

I am thinking about taking Mucinex. The detox says not to take any medication...but I really don't want to miss out on this cycle...I hope it doesn't matter. I need some good CM!!! If not I am kidnapping my doctor until see gives me some amoxicillian! Ha!

Day 6: My Jealous Husband Is Joining!!!

I lost one, but I think I am gaining another!! My husband is feeling really guilty about eating and was making fun of my "cleanse"....and wouldn't you know it...he was secretly wishing to do it himself! Ha! So, tomorrow I am putting him on the cleanse...easing him in w/ fruits and vegetables! He is just going to finish in out with me....not add any extra days.

I am bored with the lemonade....I only drank 1 liter today so far....I just can't do another sip today. So, I made myself the tea w/ 1 tablespoon of maple syrup...since I didn't use it in the lemonade. I am getting creative...

I went for a brisk walk and felt great....I definitely feel lighter and healthier.

I spoke to my sister tonight. She was diagnosed with low progesterone as well....honestly there is an epidemic!! We need to go back to storing foods and drink in glass! And getting rid of those extra hormones in everything...ugh!!! What is a woman to do??? Anyhow, she has to take the shots of HCG...(maybe I can sneak a hit!!) So, my husband needs to have a conference call with her husband to explain to him how to do it. My husband was very good w/ the shots...I think he actually enjoyed it. He always wanted to be a doctor instead of a funeral director!! Ha!

SNOWING in Colorado!! The Phillies game is canceled for tonight. Play the stupid game during normal hours...and get a dome over your stadium!!

Day 5-My Daughter Bails!!

But, I am kinda happy about that! I didn't think she needs it..and shouldn't be doing it while trying to do well in school and work after school. So, last night she broke down and had New England clam chowder...it looked good!

I also decided to change a few things:

I didn't do the orange juice "ease in" day...so I only did two "ease in" days. I am getting rid of the orange juice ease out day. So, that lessens my detox to 2 weeks instead of 16 days. I think that is enough of a detox. 2weeks without food is hard enough!!! Plus, I am not doing the salt wash at all. I mixed the salt and water up....and it almost made me throw-up....and I just can't imagine having a quart of sea water in my belly! The teas work just fine...and really!....there is nothing left in me to come out...the teas will be milder and easier to digest. I believe the original detox said you could do either/or/both....

The chocolate tea was not as tasty as the original.....the "chocolate" in the title got me excited...but there is no Hersey in that tea!!!!

Phils lost....sniff...sniff...

Remember When I Said I Loved My New Juicer....

Well....I take it back. I am tired of juicing lemons!!! Already! Day 4 of the Master Cleanse...and all is good. But the juicing is never ending. Everything must be made fresh! I am perplexed as to why I am not hungry and have had no hunger pains. This lemonade stuff must really do the trick.

I had the "smooth move" tea last night...and I am telling you this stuff is better than any type of medicine!! It works...it taste like crap....but it works. I had to get more lemons at Whole Foods and I found some Chocolate "smooth move" tea....maybe that will taste better. I drank it at 8:00...while watching Glee....and by 7:00 that next morning my intestines were clear!!! Craziness!! I feel like I am 10 pounds lighter!

I am making my husband an amazing dinner...it looks so good!! However, a flip flop would probably taste good at this point! I am making a cashew crusted salmon w/ rice and a Ceaser salad!!
Yummy!!

Dr. T called me this morning (the call back took about a week...notice how patient I was)...and she told me that my progesterone levels at p+7 were great! And that I was officially allowed to TTC....I am wondering if the MC will effect this in any way....

Anyone know???

Off to watch the rest of the Phillies....they are losing 4-3 right now...ugh!!!!!

Day 3 of the Master Cleanse!

Am I becoming a broken record? I feel like I need to document this adventure...it will hold me accountable. I had a really hard time sleeping last night. I got up at 3:30...and was in and out of sleep till about 6:00. I usually get up at 6:00 to braid my daughter's hair and then I go back for 1 hour. My daughter gets up at 5:30 every morning and leaves the house by 6:50 for school!!

So, today was just orange juice w/ the maple syrup. I was so sick of orange juice that I decided to make a liter of the lemonade concoction. 7 tablespoons of lemon juice, 7 tablespoons of the pure unrefined maple syrup, and 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. I like it! It is spicy, but much better than the orange juice! I can't imagine drinking only this stuff for 10 days....but if you are not suffering there is no gain!!

Tonight while watching "Glee"..I will drink a cup of the "smooth move" herbal tea....love the name!!

On the fertility front: CD5...nothing to say.....nothing!

Day 2 of the Master Cleanse!

Feeling good....not really hungry. Although I should be. I had a glass of organic o.j this morning, a raspberry, banana smoothie....with no smooth (milk)..and a glass of V8 for lunch. I might just skip a dinner...I am not a fan of the texture of things blended up so I am already ready to move on to the lemonade mixture. I don't like yogurt, tapioca pudding, cottage cheese..or anything of the sort. I have never been a fan.

I am going to try and get a walk in by the end of the day. It is so beautiful out!!

Day 1 of the Master Cleanse!

The "Ease In" started today. It is going okay...but would have gone better if I didn't go out last night for a few beers with my husband. So far I had a banana, apple, half of an avocado, and some slices of red pepper. For dinner I am going to have broccoli and some cantaloupe. I also went out and got a citrus juicer using my 20% off coupon at Bed Bath and Beyond...which is so much fun! I tried it out on an orange and the juice is perfect! My third day will be only orange juice...so that won't be that bad.

I have a headache...which could be from the beer, lack of coffee, or sugar...not sure which. I am excited to feel light and energized. I hope I can make it for the 16 days!!! I have to cook a London Broil tonight for dinner. The smell is going to torture me!!!

I wish I owned a scale because I won't be able to document weight loss. I can always tell by my clothes...so that will have to do

I am sorry that you will have to be reading about food...but I will try to shake it up.

I'll be back to post at the end of the day....

Period!

Yeah..that's right! Period! CD1...knew it was coming. I feel crappy and I am sad about this....I am running out of months. That is how I feel...I wanted to at least be pregnant before I turned 40.....I have two months left. I hate putting a time frame on this...I am already going to be an "Old Mom"....I should just just give in and get a dog......

But, I don't want a dog!!