Short and Not Sweet..

CD 6 and turned 40 on Sunday....not happy about either! Sorry I have not posted in a while...having a rough time over here!

Time is Flying!

I can not believe I am already back to my 2ww. This is crazy. It feels like yesterday I was crying about a failed cycled. These months go by too fast and unfortunately the whole ttc thing doesn't help. Everyday is a cycle number and a different regiment of ttc vitamins or prescriptions. I am always anxious for the next day...and this is making my life fly by!!

So..on that note: Today is CD17 and P+3...at least I think...I am not that confident on my Peak Day. I re-read my Creighton handbook and they made it sound like it was as clear as day...that it would knock you in the face...I must be slowwww...

So, I went through the proper protocol this cycle and added the Fertile CM myself. I saw a HUGE difference in my CM. I have never had such great CM...well probably when I was 20...but I wasn't looking at that time in my life. Does anyone know (maybe the lovely TCIE) the mucus score calculator?? How do you add up the scores? I would be curious to know what my score is....when I got pregnant last May, I had an 8..which is not that great. Since then I have had a 3 and a 4...terrible!

I had the craziest dream two nights ago. I was given 6 babies. Not sure how I got them...but they were coming any day and I was freaking because I did not have 6 cribs. The dream took a weird turn and I was debating a Senator on abortion by the end of it...and then I woke...very weird!!!

If this cycle does not produce a screaming bambino I am going to start taking my temperature and use an ovulation predictor kit. I think that would help for me to determine when I ovulate. Another thing that I re-read in the Creighton book was that the egg is only good for 12 hours...which I realize there are other factos that keep it going longer...but that is not a long time...at all.

I found some cool Yoga videos on cable...I am excited to try them. I just did a 12 minute yoga stretch. It was pretty good....and I think I could get into this!

Okay...cooking london broil, garlic mashed potatoes, and spinach....must get back to my kitchen!
Have a great night!

(Watching Cake Boss tonight....if you have never indulged.....you should!!)

CD 11...Good CM

I am having great CM...fo me at least! The past three days have been 10K, 10CL, and 10KL!! Yeah!..I have never had such great mucus....since I have been charting that is... I am taking the amoxicillian 3xs a day, Fertile CM 3xs a day, Mucinex 2xs a day...and then my other vitamins and prenatal vitamins. I am totally FOCUSED!!

I need to be pregnant before November 29th....it is a mental thing. I'll be 40!! This way I can say it was a 39 year old egg!!!

Went to my mammogram last night. It took 7 minutes. I am most definetely on the smaller side..ha!...so I thought it was painless and quick!! Praise God! Ladies you have nothing to fear when the time comes...

Thanks to all those who gave me YOGA suggestions. I will look for all of those tapes...and I fogot that they have exercise shows on cable,....I will check that out too!!!!

I have a million things to do today and my laptop is not working. So, I am on my husbands computer. I love my Apple....and I am sad that something is wrong with it. So...I am off to the Apple store to see what they can do for me!


Happy Veterans Day!!!

Crisis Pregnancy HotLine!

I don't think I have mentioned that I have signed on to answer the phones for a Crisis Pregnancy Hotline on Mondays. The calls get forwarded to my cell phone. I totally forgot about it until Shanesha called and left me some crazy message about her 5 children needing healthcare or somehthing like that...! I have to remember to pick up my phone. I am one of those people that do not answer the phone unless I know who it is...

Anyhow, I got another call from an 18 year old who is being thrown out of her house because she refuses to have an abortion. Her parents are upset that the "father" is black and she is white...forget the part about him being in jail for drugs and already having another child that he does not take care of...they seem to only be worried about his color. So, anyway she is living in a motel and is 4 1/2 month pregnant. I managed to slip in about her thoughts on adoption...but she told me she could never do that...well, I congratulated her on begin courageous and choosing life for her unborn child...

I'll give her the chastity talk when I call her back once I have found her a place to stay!

I am on page 66 on Inconceivable. She is now jumping rope...something about shaking up the organs! So, I ran today. That should do the same thing.... She is also doing yoga. Anyone do yoga?? Or have a good video to recommend for yoga? I do not have the extra money to take a class....but I think stretching is a good thing...so...anyone?????

A Few Updates!

Had it not been for my St. Anne Novena..I would have been completely MIA. I am in a bit of a slump...like my Phillies I suppose. It it is either the turning back of the clocks..or the daunting 40th birthday day that is quickly approaching....in three weeks. Anyhow, here are a few updates.

1- My Sister, who has been doing Creighton had a miscarriage a week ago. I am starting to think there is something in the water in Philadelphia!

2- While on the phone with her see told me about a book that she read called: Inconceivable. She gave it to me when I saw her at a family party this weekend. I am on page 17 so I don't have much to report. But, it seems that this 42 year old woman has one child and then is told that her FSH level is too high to ever achieve again. So, she takes a non-conventional way of getting pregnant. Lots of herbs and different techniques. Here are some of things that my Sister is now taking becuase of reading the book:

-Bee Polin, (Royal Jelly)
-Rasberry Tea Leaves
-Blue-Green Algae
--Wheat grass

I will read the book and decide if I am giving it any credence!

2- I am on CD7....and noticed some 10K...very early for me...not sure what that means. But, since I saw it I am starting the amoxicilian, the mucinex...and I ordered Fertile CM and as soon as it comes, I will take that too!!

3- Made an appointment to have my mammogram....yeah I am pretty bummed about that one...I was hoping to be pregnant and avoid that....for a few years!!!!

4- I have my first meeting at Williams Sonoma tonight for my Holiday Employment!! I need to make some extra cas fast....should be fun!

Alright! Have a great night!!

Last Day: 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

---

---

Most holy mother of the Virgin Mary,
glorious Saint Anne, I, a miserable sinner,
confiding in your kindness,
choose you today as my special advocate.
I offer and consecrate my person
and all my interests to your care and maternal solicitude.
I hope To serve you and honor you all my life
for the love of your most holy daughter
and to do all in my power to spread devotion to you.

O my very good mother and advocate,
deign to accept me as your servant,
and to adopt me as you child.
O glorious Saint Anne, I beg you,
by the passion of my most loving Jesus,
the Son of Mary, your most holy daughter,
to assist me in all the necessities
both of my body and my soul.
Venerable Mother,
I beg you to obtain for me the favor I seek in this novena...

(State your intention here.)

and the grace of leading a life perfectly conformable
in all things to the divine will.
I place my soul in your hands
and in those of your kind daughter.
I confide it to you,
above all at the moment
when it will be to separate itself from my body in order that,
appearing under your patronage before the Supreme Judge,
He may find it worthy of enjoying His Divine Presence
in your holy companionship in Heaven.

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 8: 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 kneel 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

Remember, O Saint Anne,
you whose name signifies grace and mercy,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help,
and sought your intercession was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence,
I fly unto you, good, and kind mother;
I take refuge at your feet,
burdened with the weight of my sins.
O holy mother of the Immaculate Virgin Mary,
despise not my petition...

(State your intention here.)

but hear me and grant my prayer.

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.

A Little Late: Day 7 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 kneel 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

O Good Saint Anne,
so justly called the mother of the infirm,
the cure for those who suffer from disease,
look kindly upon the sick for whom I pray;
alleviate their sufferings;
cause them to sanctify their sufferings by patience
and complete submission to the divine will;
finally deign to obtain health for them
and with it the firm resolution to honor Jesus, Mary,
and yourself by the faithful performance of duties.
But, merciful Saint Anne,
I ask you above all for the salvation of my soul,
rather than bodily health,
for I am convinced that this fleeting life is given us
solely to assure us a better one.
Now, we cannot obtain that better life
without the help of God’s graces.
I earnestly beg them of you for the sick and for myself,
especially the petition for which I am making in this novena...

(State your intention here.)

through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ,
through the intercession of His Immaculate Mother,
and through the efficacious and powerful mediation.
O glorious Saint Anne,

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.

Vote Pro-Life!

There are some big races out there today...NY District 23 and New Jersey!! Remember to always think of the babies first! Health care, taxes, and the economy mean NOTHING if we do not uphold the Constitution that says: no one has the right to deny anyone of LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.....

"It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa

Day 6: 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 kneel 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,
mother of the Mother of God,
I beg you to obtain through your powerful intercession
the pardon of my sins and the assistance I need in my troubles...

(State your intention here.)

What can I not hope for
if you deign to take me under your protection?
The Most High has been pleased to grant the prayers of sinners,
whenever you have been charitable enough to be their advocate.

Kneeling at your feet,
I beg you to help me in all spiritual and temporal dangers;
to guide me in the true path of Christian perfection,
and finally to obtain for me
the grace of ending my life with the death of the just,
so that I may contemplate face to face your beloved Jesus
and daughter Mary in your loving companionship throughout 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 5- 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

---

Great Saint Anne,
how far I am from resembling you.
I so easily give way to impatience and discouragement;
and so easily give up praying
when God does not at once answer my request.
Prayer is the key to all heavenly treasures and I cannot pray,
because my weak faith and lack of confidence
fail me at the slightest delay of divine mercy.
O my powerful protectress,
come to my aid,
listen to my petition...

(State your intention here.)

make my confidence and fervor,
supported by the promise of Jesus Christ,
redouble in proportion as the trial
to which God in His goodness subjects me is prolonged,
that I may obtain like you more than I can venture to ask for.
In the future I will remember
that I am made for heaven and not for earth;
for eternity and not for time;
that consequently I must ask, above all,
the salvation of my soul
which is assured to all who pray properly
and who persevere in Pray.

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.

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!!