Mumsnet Talk

Old Fred here

Here we go Brookers, it's been a long year with lots of BFPs and newborn snuggles for the Brookers. We're just a sleigh-ride away from 2013, when the rest of us will get our get our 12 week scans (because of course we will all have BFPs under the christmas tree this year!)

So come all ye brookers, it's tinsel and baubels all the way!

Umm did I spell baubels correctly? Or is it baubles?

[Marks place with a glittery bauble]

It's bauble - John Lewis says so

Oh cripes it's baubles. What a great start to a new fred <goes off to digest a dictionary and will never again admit in pubic she used to be a teacher>

Oh FFS public

Ooh <moves in to new thread, hangs tinsel and fairy lights>

I love it Geek arf @ pubics

Anyone for eggnog, mince pies and too much chocolate

<marks place, adding some candy canes to the Christmassy haul>

Love the typo there Geek!

<tries to brush over typo by pointing out that the financial director of the VERY LARGE charity that I work for made exactly the same typo in his opening address to the financial statement of 2006...>

<runs away to hide under a tinsel-covered christmas box>

Erm Geek are you a serial name changer? check out the last post do you want of to get 'em?

Nah, just preferred to put that one on the list <keeps me anonymous here LOL>

I am a very fickle girl and really can't make my mind up which way to sway (so to speak - don't want any rumours starting in that direction please!!) but as I am geek it makes sense to be geek here <if that makes any sense in my wine-addled state>

I thought for an awful moment we had an impostor, phew!!

<off to hang more decorations and mull some wine>

Lovely and festive ladies - perfect for a bunch of BFPs!

No, no imposter either here or on the comp post, just a very festively dressed drunk geek

<decorating the tree with agreeable pee sticks>
<using ramekins as candle holders>

Tis looking lovely in here

I liked your other name too and I like drunk Geek <vaguely remembers drunk>

<is on third large glass of wine because I am going by the boo school of thought that if the pee sticks don't say I'm pregnant, I'm not>

woo hoo a christmas thread at last!!! Did we even get a BFP on the last one? I think sparks might have been the one before. Pesky autumn. Winter's where it's at for BFPs for the brookers!

scarlett great to see you again! My AF came last year on NYE and it was sucky. Somehow every month i dream about when i'll find out, who i can tell when etc. And that one was expesially bad as we were about 7/8 months in so i was still hopeful, and we were off on a long weekend where i'd hoped we'd be super excited. Anyway, that is all the more reason for us to UP THE BROOKING for you this month.

geek am so sorry that the NHS is being so wanky. But you are much better to try and sort it out now rather than assuming all is going on as it should, unfortunately. Just keep pestering them. Can you go through switch to get to the unit manager and say that you are wanting to make a complaint and leave it to him/her to chase things round for you? nice one solars on helping out.

solars boo to blooming AF. But i can't believe that your op is so soon, that's just brilliant! These antibodies are odd, maybe they're one of those unprovable/untreatable things...? In which case if it won't change the treatment plan then why go to all the hassle of the diagnosis.

I have an u/s booked for monday morning, and then they'll schedule the IUI, so earliest would be wednesday i think, but it'd depend how big and juicy my eggs are. Brooking for 2 or 3 good sized eggs, and a nice comfy lining ready to welcome my embies. At least DH is here to come with me for this, i suspect for the IUI he'll have gone back to work after doing his 'bit'.

Where's beedle and news of her JIAJ husband.

griff i'm so sorry to hear that you can't be referred to IVF for a while. I'm quite shocked at the waiting list, though. Two years?? WTF? Is there any chance of you going private in the meantime, it's expensive i know. How old are you? If not, or if so, stick with us and we'll brook you through to your ironic BFP. Unexplained is so hard. Other things you get whizzed into IVF, but just because the issues that we have are not easily found/known or tested for, we just get left to keep trying on our own. Sucky. So we have about 9 months to get you a BFP before you're on the waiting list. No problemo. I hope that you have some support in real life too? How is your DP finding it? Do you talk much about it? Is there anyone else you have told? My DH is great, eternally optimistic. He says we are just entering phase 2 (IUI), but there are plenty of phases and options for us, and the same is true for you.

Big hugs to everyone. A jug of christmas cheer all round, and here's to BFPs under the christmas tree or NYE disco ball.

ps sparks you said you felt bad as it was 'only' 12 months for you. Well, the difficulty is that you don't know when it might happen, or even if it will happen. So at month 12 you think there's no reason for things to change. If you knew at the start it'd take time, but you'd get there, then that would make a huge difference. It's the not knowing. And 12 months is not nothing either! Actually it is nice when it just happens naturally after some time for people as you start to feel that people either get diffed within 6 months, or it takes aaaaages.

Have you told people yet? That must be sooo exciting <wistful>

Sorry I've been AWOL its been very busy as work so no time for cheeky daytime posts. After much nagging arguing and crying MrB is going to book his JIAJ appointment today, w would probably have started IVF by now if he didn't have such a phobia about JIAJ . Hopefully he'll get an appointment before Xmas.

I'm having a symptom free 2ww this month, I probably ov'd a week ago but I have no sore boobs or anything, not that I'm complaining but how can I obsess over very little symptom if there aren't any

Anyway nuff about me, lovely new thread geek I won't mention the pubic typo, oops I just did, well it did make me laugh

biscuits I liked what you wrote about congratulations not being enough after all that time of trying

griff sorry you have to wait so long, it seems so cruel, almost as if they're saying well we can't find anything wrong with you (because we haven't looked very hard) so you must be doing something wrong I know some people do get pregnant without any help after that long, and I really hope you'll be one of them, but are they really saving that much money by not treating you earlier. I'm sure they just see it as a way to save money and it sucks.

Time to get ready for work, now its officially Christmas I'll leave some mulled wine

hmm that's a bit naughty of MrBeedle, he needs to get a move on! I can't believe you're already a week post ov, and i'm only cd 7 and last month we were synched up! my cycles are only 28-30 days... At least you get more throws of the dart, as it were. Don't fret about no symptoms - for one thing you are too early, and for another no symptoms=bfp, as we all know

it's weird how boobs are not sore some months and are from just after ov on others! i wonder if it shows anything about the egg, or if it's just random.

mulled wine for brekkie - we really are at christmas time.

I've always wondered that too keep, some months they're sore from about 2dpo, others not until about 7dpo (usually somewhere inbetween) and very rarely they don't hurt at all. I need some kind of report from my body each month stating:

Egg released cd xx
some kind of grading of the egg
Lining thickness
did any sperm get near
etc etc

So why don't we get that it would be so helpful

Yes please to the status printout from our bodies beedle !!! Well done on finally getting MrB to book his JIAJ appointment. I know it's not easy on our chaps, but if the worst they have to do is JIAJ then they are getting away very lightly. Perhaps they would prefer to undergo dildocam a few times instead?

To add to the sore norkage debate, mine are normally sore from 1DPO but this time they were sore from -2DPO. Very bizarre. They normally stop being sore by a day or so before AF is due. Hormones are weird things!

Right, got to dash, hadn't intended to post and am now very late getting MrGeek up for work!

yes! that would be amazing! i wonder sometimes if i've ever had a little embryo in there, even for a short time, or if the sperms have ever even got anywhere near... Maybe i have a 'hostile environment'. Do you remember Monica and Chandler on Friends? Tried for a while, told he had sperm issues, she had a 'hostile environment', so without trying anything or much angst they decided to adopt and bingo found a lady carrying (unknown) twins.

The media doesn't exactly help those of us with issues does it...

i don't feel sorry for the boys at all, really. a sperm sample every few months... Although the other day i asked DH if he was nervous about having to produce his sample at the hosptial for IUI. He thought about it and then said 'well, i hadn't even thought about it until now. Now i am!'. Oops. but also - wtf how has he not even thought about it?!

maybe with such mammoth cycles geek you have a build up of hormones. When i was on the pill i used to get sore boobs about 3 days pre AF, but then it got earlier and earlier, so i stopped taking the pill as it was annoying me. I always felt it was a build up of hormones telling me it was time to stop running the packets together and have AF.

I only used to get sore boobs about once a year whilst I was on the pill, so it seemed to be a definate symptom when we first started trying

Do you think our partners would think we are utterly obsessed with TTC if they knew how often we think about it I'm almost certain MrB only thinks about it when I nag him about JIAJ when I tell him my period has arrived or if I tell him we need to have sex this week. So maximum twice a month, so if he's relaxed we should get pregnant shouldn't we? actually I think it would help if he was a bit less relaxed about it, then he might take his vitamins more regularly and get a move on with the JIAJ

i think my DH would think me an utter loon if he knew, yes. I reckon he thinks about it most days, but only cos i'll be weeing on a cbfm stick, saying we need to have sex, or something. (i do try and be restrained though) Also he does remember to take his pills too, so i imagine he must think about why he's taking them...? But the rest of the time? nope, don't think he thinks about it too much at all. Wish i was more like him!

wish i'd never taken the bloody pill, obviously didn't need it also - yesterday he said something about 'when he'll get the snip' in the future and i was gobsmacked that he obviously thinks we'll have our family and then be like normal people trying to sort contraception. whereas i see this continuing on until menopause with no babies <melodramatic, i hope> or if when there are babies that we would need to bother thinking about contraception given all this hassle when we're actually trying!

This threads less than a day old and it already has 25 posts, amazeballs!!!!

I would've joined you ladies before hand but every time I found the new thread via the app it crashed on me still I'm here and in work super early so I can get on with some good old fashioned catching up (but not from the old thread because I cant respond to smileys!

Fab thread title Geek

Keep You're right, if someone told us at the beginning "its going to take you xx months" it would be so much easier to cope with. We've started telling people, but only as and when we see them, no mass text messages at this stage. All my family know, and a couple of people at work but it isnt general knowledge to everyone! we're taking our time. to be honest I'm not enjoying telling people as much as I thought I would! I sort of liked having the knowledge of baby all to myself!!

Beedles hmmm no symptoms?!!! the law of brooking suggests that means your diffed!! Dont make me recite the laws again!!!

I think Mrsparks new how obsessed I was by my pee stick addiction, even now as I piddle with wanton abandon (its a hormone thing) I still think "hmmm what a waste, surely there is jar that needs filling somewhere"

Oh and as for boobage, I wish it wouldn't vary BUT I think on a whole I was pretty consistent, my boobs would hurt on and off from a few days after OV, then as AF got closer they'd get sorer, but then I was proding them a lot, trying to tell whether they had grown or not!! The month I got my BFP there was no soreness but then I wasnt even thinking about it, so there was no prodding

Bodies are weird!!

<hot chocolate and marshmallows all round>

Morning, loving the thread Geek and the pubic typo, hehe

On the boobage discussion I get nada, zilch soreness, never ever have apart from recently during my ivf cycle when I took the hcg trigger shot!

And DH has only now started to think about ttc since watching me go through ivf and especially since part of the issue we've now discovered could be down to his sperm. Also with going private now there's a lot of money at stake too! Luckily he's never had an issue with JIAJ so I really feel for you Beedle

Brooking for those ripening eggs Keep I think for completeness I would like the test done for the DH's antibodies, partly to figure out if we ever really had a chance all those years of ttc and partly to find out what our chances are naturally. DH really wants to try naturally after the lap but if we've got no chance then we may as well head straight for the ivf, also say we get lucky with the next ivf and when we want another is ivf the only way we can have kids again? We need to think about our finances throughout all of this as we're lucky we have savings now but it was meant to be used as a deposit for a new house, which we are now having to shelve at the moment.

Oooo and I would love a ttc print out every month! come on bodies evolve

Nabs a hot chocolate from Sparks oh by the way I had a dream about you Sparks not sure exactly what was going on but all I remember you say was please don't call me Sparks I'm Sparkly.... Bizarre

<waves from not so sunny Tenerife>

Didn't want to miss out on the new fred action but will catch up properly when I am back at weekend

<resumes position on sun bed under towel>

ooh hope you're having a nice holiday sweetie even if its not as warm as you hoped

Hello all! Love the new festive fred. My Christmas wish is BFPs for all. Please, Santa, we've all been very good.

Yay lovely new Christmas thread

Sparks great news about your scan. Am so glad all is well with Twinkle What is you EDD?

Beedle well done on getting MrB to sort out his JIAJ. I've had no problem getting DH to JIAJ, worryingly he seems quite keen to. I think he enjoys permission to self love as otherwise he's not allowed
Don't forget the law of boob-
Sore boobs=diffed
No sore boobs=diffed

Solars am sorry about AF, I totally understand what you mean by saying you no longer expect a natural BFP. However they do happen, we have all heard enough stories so I'm brooking for an ironic BFP for all the brookers or else.

Sweetie sorry the weather isn't better. Hope you and DH are having a nice break from it all.

Keep thank god you finally got a treatment plan from the AWOL doctors. Have you already started the clomid? How are you finding it?

Griff your situation sounds similar to mine. I was told I would have to wait until we had been trying for 3 years to be referred for IVF. I was discharged from the fertility specialist in September who said I had to go away for another year & wait for IVF. I went back to my GP who promised me she would send my referral over and over again until I got accepted. She sent it again in November with a letter stating I was at 2 and a half years ttc, that I had received no treatment not even clomid and statistically I was very unlikely to conceive without help and that by the time I was accepted/got an appointment it would be 3 years anyway. I received my referral for IVF after that letter. How helpful is your GP? I have changed my GP about 7 months ago as my last GP was horrible & unsympathetic. I complained about him to the practice manager at my GPs. Also who told you it is a 2 year wait? What area do you live in? I'm really surprised by that as I've not heard of such a long waiting list before. I think you should go on Fertility Friends forum as there will be threads for your pct & you can ask people how long they have waited once they have been referred. I'm sorry that you are having to fight to get appropriate treatment, it makes me so .

Excellent advice from cup to griff. I second both going back to a nice GP, and also doing some digging around this 'two years', which must really be getting you down. If you tell me what pct you're in I'm happy to help?

Yes cup, I started 50mg clomid on CD 4, have taken three, two to go then dildo can on Monday! I don't think I'm really having any side effects, but we also know you can always feel things if you try. Anyway, nothing bad

Keep how exciting! I can't wait for dildo cam on Monday must get out more

Griff I'm also happy to look into it for you if you tell me what PCT you are in. I'm only questioning the 2 year waiting time as I had been told a lot of rubbish by my previous GP that I only found out was wrong by going on fertility friends. He wouldn't even refer us to a fertility specialist & told us we were not entitled to IVF at all.

aaaarrrrghhh dink boss has reached new levels of dinkiness!!!

Dink boss: The new software is unlikely to go live until April at the earliest now.
Colleague: Does that mean we need to do Year End on the current system?
Dink boss: What's Year End?
Colleague: ?????? <explains process fully, including that it is a big job with legal submission deadlines>
Dink boss: Is that something we have to do then? Can we just not do it?

Colleague now wishes to swap dink boss for a brick wall as he feels it might have a better understanding!

geek I know absolutely nothing about what you do but I could have a guess that Year End has something to do with financial end of tax year stuff? Would you like me to do dink boss' job from here

I am also looking forward to your dildo cam keep

Year End. As in the most important thing in the year. Optional. Erm... Tell him to phone the Auditors and explain that you won't be bothering this year

ooh keep can we have live dildo cam fred action please?

beedle I would LOVE for you to take over from dink boss, and you are completely spot on about the year end work!!! Please arrange plenty of meetings that mean I have to spend copious amounts of time in Snowland Sweden, too!

LMAO @ Jen - I said something very similar to my colleague after dink boss had gone - I am sure HMRC will forgive us for not bothering to submit wages details just this once!

WOOHOO MrB has booked his appointment for next week, now I need some serious brooking from everyone that he doesn't get stagefright. I'm going to have to be on my best non-nagging behaviour for the next week, of course I could just get an ironic BFP before that

By the way geek that Santa Baby song has been going round my head all day, and also I've booked us a meeting on Monday to discuss me taking over from dinkboss - I reckon that I should manage to do his job in my lunch break See you then

Go MrB!

Santa Baby is in my head too

beedle me too, it's going to have driven me completely insane by Christmas! Right, I'll get my plane tickets booked and winter woollies packed Congrats to MrB - so pleased for you both that he has finally done this. Brookety brook brook brooking that all goes to plan and no stage fright/spillage/missage is involved.

yes definintely pack the winter woolies geek the forecast for tomorrow is a high of -10 deg . Though we went out for a little walk at lunchtime and it was really rather lovely in the sunshine (but still bloomin cold)

I got a chorus of muuuuuum stooooop iiiit your sooooo embarrasing from teen boo for singing along to Santa baby in the supermarket can we all come to your Beedle? It sounds lovely

Am a bit weirded out but also touched by everyone's excitement about my dildo cam. Unfortunately as it's at 11am i doubt you'll want live updates, as that's 4am your time. I'll update as soon as i can get away from mrkeep as you are my dirty secret.

Santa baby is also in my head! I love teenboo. In fact i love teenagers in the aren't-they-hilarious from afar sort of way. must be harder to have one though. I do think i'll take pleasure in those 'embarrassing' moments though.

-10 beedle that is cold! do people still build snowmen in sweden, or is everyone so used to the snow they can't be bothered?

geek at least you can bond with your other colleagues about dinkboss

beedle well done on getting mrB to book his JIAJ without too much nagging. Wasn't it tock who got her bfp just before the SA results came back... I'm brooking for you for next week, both for your BFP and for mrB to do his bit.

we have a long weekend this weekend - monday off!

keep kids do still play in the snow and go sledging etc but at the moment the snow is too soft and powdery to make snowballs and snowmen - it doesn't stick together. Though that's not necessarily a bad thing, its very easy to clear the snow from the path with a broom, Mrb does our path in the morning whilst I'm setting the alarm and locking the door.

I don't mind that we're your dirty little secret from Mrkeep, Mrb knows nothing either

boo of course you can all come, though you'll have to leave before JIAJ day, he might find it a little hard to perform with a whole load of strange women in the house

i hope you mean 'strange' as in unknown, rather than as is 'weirdos'... Though possibly a bit of both i suppose
i hear in sweden people take it as their own responsibility to look after their paths and pavements, whereas in the UK we do nothing, leave it to the council, then fall over and complain.

Come ON, end of the (working) day.

of course I meant strange as in unknown honest

I think its the law that we have to clear the pavement outside our house though I'm not 100% sure and I don't think they send the police round to check

You know what Keep having a teen is not actually that bad, for every bit of attitude they give you, you have the opportunity to think of new and imaginative punishments and ways to embarrass them for example it is a lot of fun (for us) to change the security settings on his laptop when he is being a bugger, so he can't access his wank bank you tube, or spend the week before parents evening getting your panda onsie ready as the perfect outfit It is a lot of fun

Beedle we are on our way, and promise not to sit outside the bathroom with pom poms to congratulate Mr B and his jar

Morning ladies!

Im actually having the worst morning (in comparison to other morning, not compared to say a homeless persons morning) SO the new app does not like the new brookers thread, every time I try to see it it just crashes, which is a huge problem obviously!!! then I look out of the window and theres no snow, which is fine, looked a bit damp out, got ready in weather appropriate clothes (trousers that dont drag on the floor) leave the house, and BAM, I'm down!! it wasnt damn outside it was flipping sheets of black ice!! Imagine a street after heavy rainfall, lots of surface water, now imagine it completely frozen!!! luckyily I managed to fall on my hands and knees, but it flipping hurt!!! AND unknown to me as I hit the deck the water bottle inside my lunch box exploded, so by the time I actually made it to work my lunch was ruined I shall be hobbling to the canteen later because Ive decided I deserve a bacon sandwich!!!!

right now back to the thread

Solars You can call me whatever you like as long as you dont call me later for my dinner!!

Sweetie pretty sure tenerife is sunnier than here! are you having a lovely drunken time?

Cup Thanks, I'm still reeling from it to be honest, EDD is 24th June, so it was only moved back 2 days from when I thought, but babies two measurements were quite different, one when twinkle was all scrunched up and the other when twinkle was mid stretch, so I'm hoping that Wednesday scan will help confirm everything. How are you doing?

Keep Ooooh Dildo cam on monday?!! exciting i need to get out more

Geek does dink boss think that because the software isnt ready we can just stay in 2012 indefinately? dink boss is indeed a dink!!!

Right sorry for the others I havent name checked but I really must get myself down the canteen!!!

Mornin all!

Happy Friday

oh sparks poor you, i hope you are ok and am sure twinkle is ok, but must be a bit of a shock for you. Your proper scan is wednesday? that's awesome, i guess you don't need to be nervous now just excited as you've already seen twinks.

going out tonight with work people. they will all be drinking but i won't be and will feel like a miserable cow.

morning ladies!

sparks you poor thing! Glad you are ok though, and I hope your day picks up from here on. how exciting about your scan! It feels like just last week that you announced your BFP. Mind you, I also can't believe the tripe whammy ladies are rapidly approaching their due dates, too!

I'm on christmas countdown now - just five more working days (today not included) to go, then I'm on leave for two weeks and two days - yay! Got work's christmas party tonight (I will be drinking), drinks with my old boss next Friday (I will most likely be drinking then too) and my archery club christmas meal the following Monday (when I won't be drinking, because my non-faulty pee sticks will have confirmed by pregnancy the day before).

I'm a little bit excited today because FF has put my ov at CD18, which is the earliest I have ovd this year. That's going from the first day of my weird bleed though rather than my last proper AF. It feels so good to be back in the 2ww <twirls, gets tangled in miles of tinsel and lands with an oomph on a still-ample backside>

Right, s'pose I should get on with some work...

Dink boss's offering for the morning:

Dink boss: Can I use your phone? Mine's broken. <work landlines, overpriced temperamental whoojamaflips>
Me: Sure - how's it broken? What does the screen look like?
Dink boss (sarky tone): Oh - are you an expert in phones now?
Me: Ermmm I do work in tech support you know!

And breathe...

ouch sparks hope you're ok now, you need some of those really sexy not metal studded things to attach to the bottom of your shoes. We have them for when its really icy out. Or you could just shuffle around on your bum until the ice melts

<watches the tumbleweed blow through the fred, leaving pretty tracks in the snow>

Isn't it quiet in here today?

I have got teen boo and toddly boo sorted with their main Christmas gifts today, and they were both bargains handed in the menu for the play group Christmas night out, collected a lovely maternity lbd from the post office, picked up my prescription, had lunch with my DB and his mate, glued the Christmas ornament that toddly boo broke (there was chocolate behind it, should have known better) and done my card list. That's why I have not been here all day plus you all ignored my extremely intelligent and witty posts earlier

Everyone go and vote for Smegs in the namechange competition here

I've voted and smegs is in joint first place, get voting brookers

Smegs is winning now cos I've just voted! <preens>

Go Smegs

Go Smegs

[does that funny arm circle dance thing to go with it]

Oooooh, lets get the Pom Poms out....

[rushes off to dig out her cheerleader outfit]

Biscuits have a look outside Beedle's bathroom for the pom poms

C'mon everyone vote for our Smegs

Brookers Smegs needs you! She is in joint lead at the moment. Vote vote vote!!

Voted but I have no doubt it will go to the most prolific 'general' poster rather than best name change

Girls, remember how I found out my sis was about to TTC her second, about six weeks ago? Well last night she told me she's pregnant. I can't believe it, or how unfair things are and am, frankly, devastated. I spent last night in floods of tears, and am just so angry and sad. I don't know what to do, or how I'll get through it all. I phoned her to congratulate her, but made it all a short conversation. I don't feel happy, I feel angry sad jealous, and then hate myself for feeling like this.

Dh took it really badly too.

solars I know you had this a few weeks back with you sil. How is it now? I can't imagine it'll get any easier as the pg progresses, tbh.

The timing is just so bad, me starting fertility treatment and this a slap in the face to show me how easy it is for normal people.

keep you poor thing. It's so hard to get news like that - double whammy when it is somebody you know you should just be pleased for so then on top of feeling envious you have to feel guilty . It will be your turn though, and soon. You're a brooker, so it is set in stone! I used to try and think to myself 'well that's fine, there aren't a limited number of babies, it will be our turn soon' but tbh it didn't really work - I still felt sad that it wasn't our turn yet!

Does your sis know about your treatment? Or do any of your family?

Take good care of yourself and DH and rest assured that we've got you covered on the brooking front - we'll get every single brooker their well deserved bfp. Fact. xx

Yes, she knows, as do my parents. I'm sure she was nervous to tell me, and know she waited to tell me till dh came home. But that also, I know irrationally, makes me angry - did she lie to me, I know she'll have been discussing me and feeling sorry for me. I said to dh last night I wish I hadn't told her, but I don't know really.

I can't think 'it's my turn soon' as this so clearly shows it's not about turns at all

Oh Keep that is such a hard thing to hear, especially as you are just starting your treatment. Be kind to yourself

You WILL get your bfp!

Oh Keep big, big hugs!

In all honesty for me it's only slightly got easier with time. It's still very hard to put on my smiley face for them even though inside i'm hurting. We're actually seeing them tonight which was a date organised months ago, luckily there'll be another couple there too. But can I say don't hate yourself for feeling that way, it's natural to feel that way when the one thing you've been struggling for has come so easily for someone else. Trust in the fact that it will happen for you, I think that's what's got me through so far. You've got 3 great chances of iui and you could very well be telling her in a few weeks time that you're pregnant too! Concentrate on yourself and DH at the moment, cry about it, get angry about it and let it out your system and then you can hopefully move on from it.

Oh keep you poor love. You have every right to feel angry and frustrated, it is so unfair that some find it so easy while we have to struggle. Please don't feel bad for feeling as you do. I am sure you are right in that she has probably tried to be as sensitive as she can, waiting til DH was back, but even if there were discussions about how and when to break it to you I am sure it was all done with the best of intentions to try and make a very difficult conversation easy on you. Unfortunately, when you are struggling to TTC, there is no easy way for others to tell us they are pregnant. It will hurt. Just take all the time you need, don't worry about how you are feeling because you have every right to those feelings. It is a form of grief that you are going through. But we are always here for hand holding and listening. At least you have some wonderful things lined up, you are already in your first IUI cycle and that BFP will be yours my lovely xx

<realise I sounded a right mardy cow in my voting post, sorry >

Thanks everyone xxx at least it meant we didn't go out with work people who were getting drunk last night...

solars good luck for tonight. Hope you manage the required amount of pg-related chat then can move swiftly on. I think it'll be worse once the bumps there, as I can't stop staring...

Oh keep there's no right or wrong way to handle news like that, and it's so conflicting!! But try to be good to yourself, take it easy!

PS I voted smegs too, and they're joint top again!

Deffo a minimum of second place for our smeggs (just two votes in it now)

Cmon brookers, we can do this

I haven't voted yet, when's my deadline? I need to get on a computer cus my phone doesn't like it!!!

Deadline is 10pm (I think?) on Monday night.

keep I didn't mean to offend with the taking turns thing . I didn't quite mean 'taking turns' exactly and i do know how hard it is . Sorry my lovely

I know you didn't, sweetheart. You are so lovely and like a shining star of what is hopefully to come. I hope if when I'm in your position I can still be there to support others in this shitty situation like you are for us. Cuddle to your little boys. X

Oh and you didn't offend anyway, i''m just in a grump

Gonna get an early night as emotions are exhausting.

Hey all

Loving the Christmas thread. I haven't been on these for a while as am now back at work part time. On Monday I go in for my SIS (putting dye into my uterus and having a poke around) and next month I should have one of the frozen embryos put back in, assuming all goes well.

Good luck to you all!

Ok voted!!

Geek You may be right about it going to a prolific poster!!

Gaaah sparks <sob> I so wanted to be wrong!

Hiya cru, glad you are back at work part time, how are you finding it? good luck with your SIS.

Just found out MrG has invited someone over on Yule!!! House is a tip so I know what I will be spending the remainder of my weekend doing.

Well prolific poster or not, smeggnog is a way better name. I don't actually get the other two front runners particularly.

You'll always be our no 1 smegs

Yes smegnogg is a tons better name!!!

Hi how is everyone doing? Love the Christmas thread hope it's a lucky month for us all. Got an appointment with my GP tomorrow to see if they can offer me a quicker route to getting on the IVF list. Also starting reflexology this week - probably wont make a bit difference but willing to try anything.

Hi Griff good luck with the gp, I think some of the Brookers have had reflexology, I'm sure they can tell you all about it.

Keep how are you doing today, lovely? Good luck with the scan tomorrow. C'mon follies grow!

Cru welcome back and good luck with your SIS tomorrow! How exciting about your FET next month!

Good luck at the GP's tomorrow Griff hope your have a lovely GP who will hurry things along! I've had reflexology before, it was very relaxing I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

Ok so I've wasted half the day hungover missed out on our local farmers market which only comes once a month but it was a lovely evening last night so not complaining too much! It's been a very, very, very long time that I've really been able to enjoy myself with a few drinks! Hope everyone else has had a lovely weekend x

Ooh is it fanjo cam day for Keep tomorrow, good luck

Morning brookers,

I can't sleep so figure I better check in with you guys. I voted for Smegs the other day, hope she wins as I genuinely think hers is the best name.

Keep good luck with dildocam tomorrow. I'm so sorry to hear about your DSis announcement, we all understand how you feel. It's especially hard when it's someone close to you as you have the added guilt to deal with. A very close friend of mine has just started mat leave and I have felt so guilty about how much I have avoided her throughout her pg. She has been so considerate to my feelings yet I've still struggled with her pg which makes me feel terrible. Be kind to yourself.

Griff good luck tomorrow, I really hope you get somewhere with your GP.

I've had a busy weekend. I'm feeling a bit rough, I've had a sore throat all weekend but didn't want to cancel any of my friends. The result is I know can't sleep as I'm full of a cold and my throat is killing

Good luck to keep, griff and cru for their respective dildo cams, appointments and SIS today.

Cup that is a ridiculous time of the night to be posting! Hope you managed to get some sleep in the end, and that you feel better soon.

Does anyone know what to do with persimmon fruit? MrG persuaded me to buy three without having a clue, and all I can find on google is that they are mouth-puckeringly bitter if eaten under-ripe. Now I'm scared I don't know what ripe looks like, I'm thinking of just using them as christmas decorations

though I had two good big follies and some medium sized ones, my lining was much too thin, so they cancelled the cycle. This is a known effect of clomid so I have letrozole for next month instead. I am so disappointed. No chance of a natural conception this month either as a fertilised egg couldn't implant.

What a shitty few days.

geek when ripe they taste a bit lie apple. We don't eat the skin here.

cru how exciting for your FET. Good luck.

cups I don't want to avoid sis, but don't know how not to. Urgh.

Oh keep you poor thing! But at least you know what's going on, and they can do something else next cycle. I know this is small consultation but its something!!

geek we have them once in a while, we let them ripen up the cut them in to chunks and just eat them raw like I do with apples or pears

Oh no Keep big hugs, you will get there and I can totally understand your frustrations. But you do have a plan in place for next month x

Oh keep I'm so sorry, how frustrating for you. I'm assuming there is nothing they can give you this cycle to boost your lining to improve your chance of a natural? On the plus side, you now know you respond perfectly regarding your follies, so brooking that next month is your month x

Keep Im off sick today, so did a bit of googling. Have you tried Raspberry tea leaf? thats meant to improve your uterine lining!

Oh no sparks are you ok?

oh keep what a crappy day. I have no words of wisdom to offer but I'm thinking of you.

sparks sorry you're sick, get well soon and cups hope you feel better soon too (though of course you could have that mystical pre-BFP cold ???)

I did the last of my Xmas shoppping yesterday, it was lovely, wandering around the shops and the Christmas market whilst it was snowing. Bit annoying having to take off hat and gloves and undo my coat everytime I went into a shop though

CD21 today and still no sore boobs, I managed to convince myself I must be pregnant on Sat, as I had a bit of a hangover. I'd only drunk 2 (330ml) bottles of pear cider in the pub over about 3 hours, so it was hardly a heavy night's drinking Anyway I'm fine now and expecting AF to show her face anytime after Wed.

I have 1,896 work-minutes left to go this year - yay! <does the tinsel dance, leaves a tray of mulled wine, and pours a little vino in the direction of the christmassy pot plant>

Geek and Beedles Im ok, I had a really nasty hives attack last night, and then woke up with the worst cold in the history of colds (ok so thats not true but Im allowed to be a little dramatic) Its complete un PG related, although this is the first cold Ive ever had where Ive not been able to reach for the ibuprofen/lemsip/cough mixture etc etc.

Jealous of your shopping trips Beedle They sound amazingly christmassy!! I finished mine yesterday.... I think... Just need to wrap them, but that can wait for a little longer

Geek You deserve a nice long break!! I have time off over xmas too so we should totes get together!!

Keep I'm so sorry, it's good they know what to do different next month but I understand how frustrated you must be feeling. It's horrible knowing you have to wait another month to get your chance.
I guess avoiding your sister is a lot more difficult than avoiding a friend. I'm brooking that you will be joining her next month.

Sparks you are most definitely allowed to be dramatic. Take it easy, I hope you feel better soon. I had to call in sick to work, I didn't sleep at all & I felt all lightheaded & nauseous. I feel terrible as I know I've left my work really short staffed

Beedle that sounds lovely. DH and I were going to go to the Christmas markets tomorrow as its my birthday. I hope I feel well enough to go, I'm also worried of anyone from work seeing me & thinking I wasn't really ill.

Geek am v jealous of your countdown to Christmas off work. I'm sure you'll miss dink boss though

Oh sparks not good my lovely! Look after yourself and twinkle - have you any idea what brought them on? Are you still able to take paracetamol for the cold? And you can still have your honey and lemon drinks without paying the lemsip premium. Yes please to the christmas meet-up, again I'm happy to go anywhere I can get a train to

beedle that shopping trip sounds fab. I keep checking our forecast here to see when is the earliest they predict it to snow. The answer so far appears to be 'never' <growls at snow bunny for not doing its job>

cup please don't feel too bad about not going in to work, it's much better that you are off for one day than that you make yourself ill for a week by going in when you shouldn't.

Just been shopping and bought our front door wreath and a fake-but-natural-looking drapey thing that I've done a very bad job of describing but it actually very attractive. I had wanted to buy a jumper I saw in a shop window last week, but all the shops seem to have changed their window displays and I can't remember which shop I saw it in. It's in a mall of about 10 very similar clothes shops and I CBA to trawl each one looking for it!

Just 1,838 work-minutes remaining, but oh, I will so pine for dink boss while I am off NOT

Quick! Thoughts needed....

Cleaner is here.
Different cleaner to the one last time, first time she's been here, my last clean before Christmas (which is 2 fricking weeks tomorrow - argh!). I pay cash. Do I give her a Christmas tip?

Also, she was recommended by my friend so not a total unknown iyswim?

biscuits I would - you would have tipped your normal one yes? Maybe wait to see what kind of a job she does first though...

Well it is only my second clean at all. But in the past when I've had a cleaner at christmas i would have tipped. She seems to be doing a good job though.

How much should I tip if I'm paying £30 for 2 hours?

Ooh blimey I'm no good at these things - 10%? A fiver? I'd probably go with a fiver because I hate the embarrassment of handing over change!

Went with a fiver

Nice one, I imagine it will be much appreciated at this time of year biscuits!

I wish I could have a cleaner, but that would mean me tidying up regularly...

A fiver tip?! <contemplates a second job as Biscuits cleaner >

Geek I'm afraid ill be unpopular as I'm hoping very much that we don't get snow as its a complete pain for getting to work.

I've just given my dog a bath so I'm currently being treated to evil glares and she won't come anywhere near me. She smells lovely though

Afternoon all!

sparks rubbish about you feeling rubbish, have you told anyone at work yet btw? HR or anyone like that?

geek I'm forever seeing things in shop windows and dithering then when I go back its not there - I like to think its the universe letting me know i didn't really need it

cup Noooooooo We Need Snow, in the North West, on Thursday morning <specific weather request> so they advise everyone not to drive unless its an emergency and I don't have to go and see a horrid customer in Manchester

biscuits am jel of your cleaner, I'd love to get someone in every so often to bottom the house out but I don't trust anyone enough

Waves at cru sweetie solars griff Maybe if you're out there boo and anyone else my Monday Mind has forgotten.

Well I've been terrorising myself reading stories on the internet today about the NHS refusing to try a second IVF cycle when 1 has been abandoned due to poor response like mine, although lots of people saying they went on to have a successful 2nd cycle so I just need to step away from the internet OH would go nuts if I told him what I'd been googling

In other news I've requested some responsibilty shifting at work so I can go back to looking after some customers I actually like and boss has agreed, which will mean MUCH lower stress levels in the New Year, and I lost 4lb last week in total so Operation ProperPrepforIVFAgain is in full swing and seemingly going well so long as I stop reading shit on the internet Oh and I'm going back to Acupuncture this week, I've missed it...

ooh scarlett when do you think your next round of IVF will be? I am brooking that they will still fund it; why wouldn't they... Brilliant news on the weight loss - 4lb in a week!

I am now taking a cocktail of home remedies in the hope of plumping up my lining to increase the chance of a natural conception, but actually am going to try and think that there is no chance this month, and just enjoy the next three weeks and worry about everything next year. I am young, a month will not make a difference, i need to chill the fuck out.

biscuits we have a maid out here v cheap who comes in every day and also does all our washing and ironing. I am not sure how i will ever go back to the UK, where we have noone, and our jobs are longer hours...

cup our dog always knew when we planned to bath or brush him before we'd even said or done anything, and used to hide from us. They're so clever!

griff good luck with hassling the GP, and let us know how it goes!

Last day of work on Friday for me!

very quiet today!

nice to see you scarlet/plant excellent news on the weight loss and the prepare for IVF plan

keep can I borrow your maid for a while?

cup don't worry about wishing for no snow, MrBeedle was the same when he had to drive to work everyday - at the moment he gets the tram with me so he doesn't mind if it snows

Hi everyone - saw my GP yesterday and he agreed to write to the hospital querying their decision abt placing me on the IVF list. Received a lovely patronising letter in today's mail from my sub fertility nurse. What annoys me is if I was an alchoholic or a drug addict I'd receive immediate treatment for a health issue. It would seem our NHS doesnt reward those of us who live a healthy lifestyle. Looks like we will need to dig deep into our saving and go private. How s everyone else doing today?

griff rubbish news about the letter, but surely it came too quickly for it to be in response to your latest GP visit? I would have expected it to take at least a week (if not 6) for your GP to write and the hospital to reply.

Hi Griff I agree with Beedle I would say the letter is a coincidence your gp will send his referral in the next week or so, by the time it goes through internal snail mail it will be a few weeks before you get a reply to that. Hopefully you can get some better answers this time, your gp seems sympathetic which always helps will try and catch up properly later.

Griff Sorry about the letter, what does it actually say? not word for word but what does it indicate? I think if your GP is on the case then things might get moving a little faster!!

I'm still fully of stinky cold but Ive run out of tissues which means that I'll simply have to be well starting from.... now....

I have another scan tomorrow, and all being well, I may start to feel a little more confident (I really should now I've gone pasted the 12 week mark) soooooo I have some 'supplies' to give to any of my fellow brookers, think I have some CBFM sticks (think a couple of you use these) some OPKs, and maybe some cheapy cheap hpts as well, also have some TTC type vitamins, errrr agnus castus, EPO, Raspberry tea leaf... think thats it!! If any of you lovely ladies want these then just let me know. I really want to spread some of the love, it was after all Biscuits digital test that absolutely confirmed 100% that I'd smack the rat properly!!

Good harfternoon ladies! Only 1,260 working minutes remain to me in 2012

griff I agree with beedle and boo, that sounds like an awfully quick turnaround for the letters. If you'd like confirmation, could you perhaps ring the clinic and speak to the nurse who sent the letter, to ask if it was indeed in response to your GP's letter?

No news here, all terribly boring. It was incredibly frosty here this morning though. Still no snow forecast - cups, I promise to ask the snow bunny to keep your way to work clear but please please please Mr Snow Bunny can those of us who want it have snow in just our areas?

My kittens were so funny last winter, jumping around trying to catch the snowflakes before they landed.

My desk is all tinselled out and I am wearing antlers. I think I have managed to get myself a bit of a festive reputation with those staff who didn't already know what I was like

Most of the house is now decorated, but the trees haven't yet gone up. I was going to wait until next weekend, to start my holiday off with a bang. I think we will be lucky if the trees even stay up a week between the cats playing with them, and MrGeek shouting at the cats for playing with the trees, and me shouting at MrGeek for shouting at the cats for playing with the trees.

<waves to all the brookers and goes back to counting down my work-minutes>

Afternoon all been a bit hectic and bloody freezing since getting back from holibobs. Now in mad panic to get everything Christmassy sorted, I was like a woman on a mission at the local shopping centre last night while DH put up the tree. So what have I missed?

<passes tissues, hot lemon & honey to snotty Sparks>

Keep so sorry that your IUI couldn't go ahead. I have been to collect my prescription for womble lining enhancers technical term!!! today ready for AF arrival next week. I hope they give you something that can sort yours out too. Try to keep that fighting spirit and positive attitude, can I also just mention I am sssssooooooooo jealous of you having a maid!!!

Cups no snow here either but very very slippy still at 4pm on pup walking. Have you had snow yet or just doing the snow dance?

Geek am loving the sound of antlers nearly bought some for pup yesterday and our office if a tinsel-fest too. Are you going to share some photos of your tree(s) with us?
<tries to calculate number of work minutes left>
<fails>

Griff I would say the letter is bad timed, and just plain BAD too. I had some shockers from our clinic, in fact I might try to photo them so you can all be appalled. They have no feelings these "people", I know they have to switch off but it costs nothing to be polite or at least civil. It makes me so

Scarlett don't forget you are a brooker and take no crap about failed cycles, you get what you are entitled to. Well done on the weight loss in preparation for you next super successful cycle. I was told at my new clinic the optimum for DE IVF (not sure if the same for all IVF) is BMI 26. Unfortunately DH is already BMI 26, so all he keeps doing everytime I pick up a biscuit wine, mince pie, wine, chocolate, gin & tonic, yule log, wine he gives me a knowing look and mutters 26. Slap him you say - hmmm let me think about that, oh OK!!!

So as for me, well we had blood results to come back to which have confirmed both DH & I are CMV negative. This may be an issue as the majority of donors, 80%, are CMV positive. CMV is some virus, like chicken poxes, that you may get in your youth but not even realise as it has cold/flu like symptoms but remains in your system for life. If you get it when preggers it can be bad for baby. So have a mismatch donor carries a risk I would get the virus if using a CMV positive donor. So we don't know how much longer the wait will be for a negative donor, but need to ask the clinic as one could just pop up. Every turn brings up a new dilemma as we could take the risk and be fine.

So we have decided to go for a dedicated donor, when our chance comes up. As we don't know how long we would have to wait for another matching donor, plus there is always the possibility of a further try with more eggs, either for a sibling if first is success or just another go if unsuccessful.

Still very positive and happy that all is going in the right direction-ish. So all good.

<puts down biscuit tin>
<picks up celery stick>
<pukes>

WHAT DO WE WANT???
WHEN DO WE WANT THEM?

come on ladies we haven't have a chant for ages

WHAT DO WE WANT???
WHEN DO WE WANT THEM?

POSITIVE PEE STICKS
<shakes tinselly pompoms>
NOW!!!!!

I'm loving the optimum BMI = 26 sweetie - I've just calculated mine and I'm 25.1/25.2 depending on which site I use. Unfortunately anything over 25 is still officially overweight and I have yet to reach WW goal. I wish I had set my goal at just inside the healthy range instead of 9st 5lb <stoopid emoticon>

sparks best you hang on to the raspberry leaf tea my lovely - you will be needing that in 6 months time to prepare for your sneeze birth

Argh no time to write more - sorry for not name checking!

Hey thanx for the comments everyone - yeh te letter was just to back up the bad news from last week. It was just horrible to see it written down - telling me there is nothing wrong with me and that they cannot help me any further. They are quite confident if I keep trying it will happen -arghhh Month 27 and I fail to have any hope or enthusiasm. I take my hat off to each and everyone of you - always full of support and positivity - thank you

Oh griff how frustrating for you. I know what you mean - come on, there MUST be a problem or we would have conceived by now. They're just not looking hard enough/at the right thing. But you have your gp on the case now, so hopefully at least you can be put on the waiting list so that as soon as you hit the three year mark you can get IVF. We're all here, waiting, sitting it out with you.

sweetie great choice on the dedicated donor, i am brooking you get loads and loads of eggs so can have a football team (one after the other, not as octo-mum) if you so desire. But argh at the CMV. It's just one thing after another, isn't it!

sparks let us know how the scan goes today. Is this your NHS nuchal scanny one? Good luck, and just enjoy seeing twinkle. So happy for you. I won't take you up on the ttc goodies from your drawer, as am far far away...

as for me, well apparently the thin lining is reversible, so should be ok next cycle. they measured it on my natural october cycle and it was fine, so it's just a side effect of clomid. a known one, but still annoying when it happens to you. I think we are going to give IUI another shot with letrozole in january, and then February, and then move to IVF in March/April, in order that we can fit in two cycles before the end of July, should we need to (WHICH WE WON'T).

i am not listening to sweetie and scarlett on optimum bmi. I am on 18.9 which is normal (above 18.5) and trying to get up to 20 but it's just not happening. ARGH.

geek love your countdown to christmas. not long now!

beedle am hoping that AF is staying well away. That would be amazing for you to get a christmas BFP this week. Are you going to test or wait it out?

face if you're there i hope you are not stressing and getting to enjoy the pre-wedding stuff. i loved that part. is the date the 22nd? are you started on the steroids already? hope no side effects.

sparks good luck with the scan today - is this the official "12 week" scan? Give twinkle a wave from us

sweetie how annoying about the CMV thing, but it sounds like a good plan to go for a dedicated donor, hope you don't have to wait too long.

keep actually I tested yesterday it was obviously tooo early But now I'm in a dilemma about testing tomorrow. I have soem Cb digitals that I bought when we started TTC, but have never used as i have never been more than about 1 day late, and they go out of date this month. Do I use one tomorrow or save them, knowing that if I save them I will never believe what they say cos they're out of date. But I think a test that says not pregnant would be more disappointing than a lack of a second line - no idea why really

And in other crap news MrB has an early morning meeting tomorrow so needs to postpone his JIAJ till after Xmas, I said it was OK as its pointless him trying to do it if he's going to be stressing about getting it done and dropping it off and getting to his meeting on time. Plus he's at a Xmas do tonight so i'm sure a hangover wouldn't help. I've told him he has to book the new time when he cancels this one.

Oh and cups I'll try to keep the snow here

oh mrbeedle Yes, i'm sure there's enough stress involved without the timing issues as well. Is there any chance he organised the meeting on purpose...? I wonder if he could squeeze it in before christmas though, here's brooking!

If i were you i most likely not test, as i agree that testing is too depressing. Also, those tests may say they're out of date, but will still work really. When would you have expected AF? Are you actually late yet? how about testing friday at the weekend if she's not arrived, but otherwise not? But then some people test all the time and aren't too bothered, so it depends how you feel.
<useless advice>

i never really trust sell by dates, but having said that the other day i took a slug of milk that had about 5 days till its date and it was off and i almost vommed in the sink. We have the milk out on the breakfast table each morning. Yes, that's about 15 mins a day in 30 degrees, but surely it couldn't go off that fast??? Off milk is soooo gross. Off CBDs? well, i don't see why they would stop working really, but then, what do i know.

2.5 days left in my job!!

Usually I'm fine about testing and don't remember to look at the pee stick for about 30 mins. I'm on CD23 today so hopefully AF won't come before friday anyway - though tomorrow wouldn't be that unusual. Though I think I might agree with you how can a pee-stick go off?! but I think i'll add some first response tests to my next amazon order just to be on the safe side

ah, well then in that case yesterday's test was far too early, you silly moo
save it for saturday then!

ok, high on the brooking agenda at the moment we have
-Cru, having SIS and FET
-griff, getting her IVF appointment sped up
-beedle, bfp on saturday
-me, that my lining plumps up ready for ov, to give some hope this month
-sweetie, that a suitable donor comes up on 1st Jan or so
-solars, for the lap on Friday: good luck!
-face, that steroids don't give her a fat face
-scarlett, that ivf happens soon soon soon soon, with no PCT delays or wriggles

whew! what have i missed!

Morning brookers

sweetie well done on making your decision about the type of donor you want - that is a huge step. I am sure it won't be long before a CMV-negative donor shows up for you.

keep that is great news about your lining for next month. I am sure your BMI is fine, you have regular cycles with ovulation, so I can't see that it will cause any issues. <nosey> What are you going to do when you are a lady of leisure? Have you got plenty to keep you busy or will you look for another job?

beedle I would suggest not letting your CB digitals get too out of date. I had one (not digital, one of the blue cross ones) that was years a while out of date and it gave me a very strong false positive. I've seen another thread about someone getting a false pos off an out of date CB stick too. Boooo to MrB's JIAJ date rearrangement. Brooking they can give him another before Christmas because otherwise that is just pants.

Please add me to the brooking list, I need a miracle I think. FF reckons AF is due on Saturday, I have her down for a Sunday arrival. Either way, I need a BFP by the end of the weekend please universe. I should add my temps have been ridiculously low for the last few days so I am actually expecting the witch to land early.

In positive news, it snowed slightly this morning - a tiny sprinkle of white dust as I walked from the train to work. It was so fine I had to do a double take in case it was dust from the bridge works!

1183 work-minutes left of 2012 for me

Morning everyone,

I'm posting in from my sick bed. We went out yesterday ice skating & to the Christmas markets. I feel so rough, every time I swallow it burns I should have stayed home but I really didn't want to spend my birthday doing nothing.

I've just realised I missed Cru's post the other day. I'm sorry. Am brooking for your SIS & FET.

Sweetie good choice on the dedicated donor. I hope they match you and DH as soon as possible. Hope you enjoyed your holiday.

Sparks good luck with the scan, it must be lovely that you get to see Twinkle again so soon.

Solars wow I can't believe it's time for your lap on Friday. We will all be brooking for you.

Scarlett/Plant lovely to see you back. I'm sorry to hear you've got a rubbish client to visit but I need to drive to my in laws (4 hour drive) on thurs so could do without the snow! Have you got a date to start treatment or do you have to wait a certain amount of time before you can try IVF again?

Beedle that's pants that DH has to rearrange his test but am brooking that he won't need to do one at all. A christmas brooking BFP would be lovely <stares pointedly at Beedle and Geek>

Geek I can accept that amount of snow have you got an appointment yet for your lap?

Griff sorry for the rubbish letter, I was told the same by the specialist when they discharged me. It made me so angry, of course there is still a chance of natural pregnancy BUT after this length of ttc the odds are low and they know it. Hope your GP pestering the commissioning group works like it did for me.

Boo hope you and Booby are well

Well I am on CD 27, AF due god knows when. I have got all the usual pre AF signs so sensibly I'm not expecting anything but the stupid part of me can't help hoping for a Christmas miracle. Why do we torture ourselves?! When I get AF I need to ring the IVF clinic to get all our baseline tests done before we book our appointment. I really hope we can get in before Christmas or they will make us wait another month.

I'm also thinking about starting acupuncture. What do people think about it? I'm unsure (mainly cos its expensive ) but I feel it's the only thing we haven't tried.

Oh cups so sorry your feeling rotten. There are some really nasty things going around at the moment. Even worse that it has happened around your birthday though. I am glad you were able to get out and try to enjoy the day yesterday. Are you still off work? Am I imagining that you work in healthcare? You'll be pleased to know our snow didn't get any worse, the west side of where I work had almost an inch but by the time it reached the centre of the city it was just non-sticky dust.

<returns cups' pointed stare and refuses to accept that they are pre-AF signs>

We've not tried acupuncture either, but that's probably because I can't bear to part with £35-£40 per week for the foreseeable future. Just think how many posh sticks I could buy to pee on with that! Much more satisfying

Just had another look at my chart on FF and have decided that I could in fact be either CD9, CD10 or CD11 today. How's that for mixed up! My LP is usually just 12 days so it won't be long before the real CD reveals itself in true blind date fashion.

1,053 work-minutes to go!

cups just realised how daft my post sounds - of course you are off work since you are in your sick bed, I meant are you off sick or have you got a day off anyway...

<breaking news - munching celery sticks and yellow peppers all morning makes you dense>

OK, updated
-Cru, having SIS and FET
-griff, getting her IVF appointment sped up
-beedle, bfp on saturday
-me, that my lining plumps up ready for ov, to give some hope this month
-sweetie, that a suitable donor comes up on 1st Jan or so
-solars, for the lap on Friday: good luck!
-face, that steroids don't give her a fat face
-scarlett, that ivf happens soon soon soon soon, with no PCT delays or wriggles
-geek, to get bfp on Saturday
cup, bfp NOW, or if not then AF to come soon and tests done by Xmas

Surely at least some of these should come true for us brookers...

Am on the phone, so will write more tomorrow. geek I'd rather thought to grow a baby in my free time but have booked language lessons, have quite a few visitors, and am expecting to have lots of appointments for ivf etc. Tbh I can't seem to realise that January is soon, I have this big block in my head around Xmas, so it'll hit once we're back from hold. I'm the sort of person who goes mad very quickly, so I think I'll have to fine something to do.

Poor cup hope you feel better tomorrow. I think I'll do acupuncture in the new year, as it's covered by insurance for me, so worth a try.

No snow here!

Work has been keeping me very busy lately, so sorry this is going o be a little short...

Keep whilst we were out in Darwin, the first 4 months I wasn't working because we were also travelling and doing all sorts when we first got there, so what I did from stopping myself going mad was volunteered at the Oz Red Cross, which was great as I also kept it up when I did start working too. I did meals on wheels and helped out at the blood bank! Sounds like you're doing all you can to plump up your lining, my acupuncturist told me home made chicken stock is also good for that!

Oops didn't mean to post just then...

Cup a belated happy birthday to you and hope you feel better soon! Acu is very spenny isn't it, the way I looked at it is that I wanted to give myself the best chance with ivf and although there were mixed reports on how it could help but I thought anything that gives you a little control in this whole process was I felt positive for me so I thought I may as well go for it. Plus it is relaxing and the acu person can help with some of the side effects of the drugs if anything. Having said that I haven't been back since the ivf failed but will do so after the lap.

Geek did you ever hear back from your consultants secretary?

Sweetie so glad you've made a decision now and you're sounding nice and positive too, brooking you get your donor match very soon lovely!

Brooking for your Saturday BFP Beedle

Scarlet hope you've stepped away from google, when is your cycle review? I remember you saying you postponed it.

Griff glad you got your gp on the case, mine was brilliant too!

Good luck with the scan Sparks

Ermmmm I think that's everything now....

Bloody phone app keeps gobbling my posts!!

So super quick one to say all is very well twinks!! Official NHS due date is 21st June so few days earlier than private scan!!!

Will catch up properly when I get to a computer

Excellent news sparks a midsummer baby

Actually if its ok with you lot can I have my BFP on Friday, its my work xmas party so i think i should test before I get drunk. But only if that's ok with you lot?

Oh my god beedles I actually demand you test on Friday!!! How very exciting!!

keep by the time you read this it will be your last but one day woooohoooooo I love your list btw, a target for each of us [can you tell I work in sales lol] I think we should keep it updated.

griff a few of us on here have had success with the NHS simply by questioning them so dont give up

geek I hope this isn't a rude question, but given your beliefs how do you feel about all the domesday preachers using Winter Solstice as the End Of The World this year? Some of the Rapture sites are worth a giggle look [if you like reading Internet garbage with your mouth wide open!]

sweetie lovely to see you so upbeat about it all medear my BMI was 29.5 when I did IVF in September, but for Feb I want it 26 or so - it's 27.8 now so getting there!

cups I loved Acu but maybe a part of that is because it was an hour s week that was all about me, plus my Acu lady is also a Fertility Counsellor so I got 2 services for the price of 1 I am having 1 a month around ov but will go back for full IVF support Acu When I start jabbing again. The nurse commented on my 'beautiful' womb lining before telling me my ovaries were shit and I don't know how much of that 'perfect environment' was a result of Acu so I'll stick with it!

solars well remembered, I moved my cons appt back from 18th Dec to 22nd Jan, although I am relieved I don't have to deal with it over Xmas I am a little frustrated waiting now and wish I'd left it as it was now

beedle looking forward to Friday!

Waves to anyone I've missed xx

Hey all

It's amazing that you are all able to keep track of where we all are. Hey, this time next year we will all have lovely little new babies. Who will be the oldest in the year.

And you'll all send out Christmas cards with pictures of the newbabies in Santa hats on the front. People love those.

Love

CruCru

argh i've just realised it didn't post my message from hours ago!

scarlett yes i think it's easier to have mini goals rather than always just the Big One. Well done on the weight loss, that is fast! When will your next cycle start do you think?

solars that's a good idea, i think i'll look into voluntary work. it's only 7 months left after christmas, so i doubt i'll get a 'real job'.

beedle yes, deffo test tomorrow. In fact i just meant you'd be double confirming your bfp on saturday. i am brooking all day that AF stays away for you. geeky same for you.

sparks how lovely, congratualtions on the scan. When i was naive and thought i'd have a choice or control i always thought i'd want a late spring/early summer baby. You get to play with them outside, and not be pregnant when it's hot. Sigh. Hope you can relax and enjoy it all now, and also that the sickness abates a bit.

Good morning lovely ladies, how is everyone feeling? It was sooo frosty here this morning, painfully cold but very beautiful.

beedle Yes please test on Friday! I too have a work's do (meeting up with old lovely manager for drinks) that evening so will bring out the trusty ICs if AF hasn't found me first.

keep I love your list, and how you are able to keep track of everything! I have a brain like a sieve at the moment and can't even remember what I just got up to do How are you finding the language? Are you a language person? Definitely worth keeping yourself busy as you have so much ahead of you in the next few months. PS, January is only 18 days away...

cups No, no appointment for the lap yet. solars that secretary never did call me back. I'm not in the mood to go chasing any more right now though, I think I'll just wait until after Christmas and hopefully will feel a bit more go-getty then.

scarlett You did the right thing for you at the time, moving your appointment. At least now you can have Christmas without the inevitable dissection of the conversation, the reading into 'what did they really mean when they said x'. It is frustrating though, it would be nice if everything could have happened yesterday!

sparks congrats on your scan! <waves to twinkle>

Oooh the Rapturists and End of Worlders! They are hilarious aren't they? We had one in the centre of town yesterday - must have got wise to everyone giving him a wide berth because he had his accomplice assistant standing on the opposite side of the street handing out cards I've not really looked at any of the websites to be honest, though I remember reading up on the Mayan side of things years ago when I was teaching about the Aztecs in school. I love how people have turned the Mayan equivalent of the millenium into the end of the world, but the best we could do for our own millenium was a computer bug

756 work-minutes to go, starting to get excited now! The rest of the decs will be going up in the house this weekend, as will the trees. All your trees look so fab! I promise to post photos of mine, but they are nowhere near as classy as all yours.

geek and all, am v jealous of the decorations! Nothing chez-keep.

geek did you decide to work over Xmas, or take time off?

We are going to see Elton John tonight!! Freaking awesome.

Elton John!!! My DH would be Keep the closest we got to see celebrity in darwin was an ABBA tribute group oh and we also met the NZ cricket team who came out for some warm up training matches!

Geek I'm loving your count down, unfortunately I'm probably working through.

Scarlet good to see you around, I think the other good thing about acu is you can talk about it all openly with someone, I had family and friend support but they didn't quite comprehend what was really going on with ivf, if you see what i mean.

I've just been out to the shops as i'll be a little out of action tmrw so wanted to make sure we were covered for everything and can't believe how busy it was already so early in the day

keep you lucky thing!!! Please report back, it is bound to be an amazing show! I decided, based on how exhausted I was last weekend and not really capable of even doing anything around the house, that it was probably a very silly idea to go looking for work to do during my holiday. I'm just going to concentrate on getting the house looking good, sticking to my diet (mostly) and having a break from dink boss work.

Solars Good luck for tomorrow, I can't believe you describe it as being 'a little out of action' - I'm expecting maid service for at least a week after mine! (PS keep can I borrow your maid some time please?)

595 work-minutes left, I'm starting to feel all christmassy Brookers! <wafts tinsel and lametta about the place>

Keep I'm so jealous, I've out my best of Elton on now while I do some tidying. Have a great time.

Solars good luck for tomorrow, I will be thinking of you. Is DH going with you?

Geek I've been on holiday this week. I was doing an extra shift at the start of the week which I had to cancel but luckily have not had to take any time off work. Your countdown is going quick. I think it's a good idea to leave chasing up the lap until after Christmas. Hopefully you can have a nice relaxing holiday.

Sparks yay for happy scan news

Scarlett I'm sure you made the right decision by delaying your review. The 22nd is just too close to Christmas. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on acu. I think I will give it a go next cycle.

Face how are you doing? Not long until the big day!!

We are off to the in laws tonight for our Christmas get together with them. I'm looking forward to it but am a little but apprehensive as all our nephews will be there. I love them so much but it seems to upset me more spending time with them as our ttc journey drags on. Last time the oldest (8 years) asked if we did not want a baby

Ladies help - please tell me I did the right thing - I jsut got a random call at work from an elederly-sounding lady saying she thinks she's had another stroke. <cue mad panic mode, this isn't my normal tech support call> Managed to get basic details off her but she was ever so confused. Got some symptoms, asked her can she move/stand/lift her arm then called NHS Direct. They have said they will take it from there and will call her on the number she gave me. Did I do the right thing? Or should I have called the drop in health centre, or somewhere else entirely?

You did the right thing Geek. If NHS direct can't get through to her they will send an ambulance around.

geek of course you did the right thing melove - she is lucky she got through to someone like you - this way a trained nurse can make a call on whether it warrants emergency attendance x

Thanks cups and scarlett they don't train you on how to handle calls like that!! Most of my office were out at lunch so I didn't exactly get much help here

You definitely did the right thing Geek DH came home from work last night with one of those small bars of galaxy it wasn't even one of those big bars and said this is cos you're going for your lap tmrw needless to say I've learnt not to have any expectations from DH, let alone maid action!

Awww Cups we got a Xmas card yesterday from one of DH's friends whose wedding we went to over the summer and the card was signed 'DH's friend', DH's friends wife' and bump even DH looked at it with glumly. Yes DH will be with me, luckily we he's got the day off!

Oh Geek you did exactly the right thing well done lovely is your number similar to a Dr's number? Quite random she got you, but well done.

Ooh Solars I have just seen your post, can I say I absolutely hate that from bump thing in cards and have absolutely refused to put it is any of mine. DH found out his best friends wife was pg when she put from bump in toddly boo's birthday card.

Thank you boo and solars MrGeek hasn't been helping matters, he's been emailing me pictures of grave stones and asking who will look after her young puppy now she's dead

solars those 'and bump' cards should definitely be reserved for close family only, not as a way of announcing a pregnancy. Just wrong. Poor you and DH.

cup it doesn't get any easier does it my lovely? ((hugs)) Enjoy the time you have with your in-laws, maybe go for a walk (if you're well enough) if your nephews get a bit much?

I have been told tonight is sherry, eggnog and christmas card writing night tonight. Day 2 of being super strict with the diet and I'm already seriously considering blowing it but I will be strong, I will, I will!

<hands Geek a wet fish to slap Mr G with>

Evening brookers - how's everyone doing tonight? I had my first reflexology session today - really relaxing I was almost asleep. I've tried everything else so even if this doesn't help me I certainly enjoyed it!

Argh ladies you make such a valid point about bump cards, I'd have hate that BUT we were planning to tell mrsparks siblings by giving them a card with a scan picture in! They've both got kids so this is acceptable right?

geek you totally did the right thing, a lot of people would have just said "sorry wrong number" and left her to it!!!

sparks wouldn't it be nice just to tell them? Obvs you know them better than me lol but there are plenty of people on these boards with 2ndary infertility so just because they have kids already doesn't make them immune iykwim?

<hands a bucket full of prawns to Geek >

Hi Griff sounds like a great session! Did the reflexologist give you any insights into what was going on in your body? Mine used to say things like, I can feel some tension in your head or everything feels really clear in your uterus? I think just having time for yourself and helping your body relax is a real bonus and there are some positive stories by doing reflexology. I gave it up for acupuncture once I realised we would be going down the ivf route, would have loved to have done both but just too expensive.

Hi Boo yeah Geek 'the bump' thing should be reserved for close family. I love the fact people give their bump names but to write it in a card to announce it seems a bit odd.

Is it wrong that I am crazily stuffing my face this evening because I know I can't eat anything from 8 tmrw morning? <Fat face>

X-posts Sparks I'd agree with Scarlet depends on how well you know them I guess.

Thanks ladies, you're right, I don't really know what goes on behind closed doors! I know the one is actually a grandfather twice over (don't get me started on that again) and the other has two and talks about seeing "the light at the end of the tunnel" where are the rule books on this?!

solars id have gone for the biggest fattest meal tonight!!! Good luck for tomorrow

geek you did just the right thing, and NHS Direct would have handled it just great (i used to work there). Have a good last day at work today, and i think you made the right decision to not work over christmas, despite it impacting on your mat leave spreadsheet

solars massive good luck for today. Glad you have mrS going with you, but make him propoerly spoil you over the weekend, what's that about with the tiny chocolate bar...

sparks it sounds like you're most likely ok on the conception issues front how does mrsparks' sibling have grandchildren I know that i am so looking forward to telling people, so would want to tell them in person or on the phone. I think if you're there with them a card is a nice idea, but if it just arrives in the post it's a bit weird.
boo that's horrid to find out about a BF through toddlyboo's card!

so Elton was FANTASTIC. We had cheapish seats but still got a good view. his voice is still great, and i was very impressed - he only ever has about 10/20 secs between songs, for two hours. he did all the old classics plus some i'd not heard of.

right, last day here so just clearing things up, then most likely leave after lunch. last days are always a bit weird aren't they?

ps geek it's odd that woman called the IT helpdesk....?

Wow geek you sound like a proper heroine to me, ignore that nasty MrGeek and his emails

solars good luck today, I'm sure MrSolars is just saving the huge galaxy bar for afterwards
<stares menacingly at MrSolars>

keep have a nice last day - is it over yet? I'm not quite sure how many hours you are ahead of us.

Well I did one of the CB digital tests and it was quite exciting as I've never used a posh test before! Anyway once it had finished deciding it did say pregnant but unfortunately it said Not in front pregnant. Damn. But on the bright side no AF yet and at a minimum I'll be back to a 24 day cycle. and more importantly I can get drunk tonight at the Xmas party

And MrB has rebooked his JIAJ appointment for the beginning of Jan so not too long to wait

Just poking my head in to wish solars MASSIVE good luck for today

I'm really sorry that I'm losing track but is it 'just' an exploratory lap or do they have an idea of what they're looking for / trying to achieve? I'm sure you've mentioned this before but my brain doesn't work at 6am (union rules you see) so I can't remember

OMG beedle I saw you said that and then could see the smiley so thought you had a bfp. Nasty beedle to taunt us... Sorry, though. Have fun boozing later.

We are gmt+7. I've just got home after lunch, and about to spend the afternoon by the pool

And just saw ewcm for second month in a row, and nearly/maybe positive sneaky opk this morning, so will surprise dh when he gets home. Am brooking lining has had time since Monday to up its game. Also pleased as hopefully now will not be on the beach if/when af comes.

Quick post from phone as running really late this morning.

Good luck for your lap solars xx

Beedle boo to the bfn but yay to the drinking.

Bfn for me too this morning but i wasnt due to test til either sat or sun anyway, so ill be drinking tonight too, but only what my ww points allow!

Will do a proper post from work as have now sussed how to mn discretely

Beedle you tease, you! Obviously too early to test anyway! Well done to MrB too on getting another JIAJ appointment so soon!

Keep by the pool you say!? No fair, we've been having some really frosty days here!

Hi Biscuits they're going to remove the endometrioma cyst on my left ovary and then have a hunt around for any other endometriosis, hopefully I'm clear elsewhere. Hope all is well with you!

Sparks a grandfather you say

I've just had a massive breakfast before 8 which I had to force down me as I'm not a big eater in the morning, I'm usually a mid morning snacker, so I feel like a right heifer!

Sorry for teasing you, but I'm not as big a tease as keep mentioning her afternoon by the pool it was -10 for my journey to work today brrrrr. ANyway no AF yet so I shall continue to kid myself that I'm one of those people who doesn't get a +ve stick for ages

Solars good luck for today, thinking of you

Good luck Solars.

Sorry for making you jealous...

solars am brooking that all goes well and they find something minor that explains it all, which they can sort and it will then be baby-time. Big hugs.

geek sorry you had another faulty pee stick but have fun drinking too!

Super quick message from me as Internet is rubbish at the PILs.

Good luck Solars I'm brooking for a drama free lap & pain free recovery x

Beedle and Geek faulty sticks I tell you

I'm off to sainsburys with my MIL, I lead such a rock & roll lifestyle

Ok, at my desk now and have got rid of dink boss for the morning yay!

beedle and keep I am jealous of you both - I love the idea of the pool (though we have our own version here today - above zero, and pouring with rain!), and beedle's -10 journey to work which no doubt involved much snow. Jealous, I tell you!

Well done to MrBeedle for rebooking the appointment, hopefully there will be no more meetings to interfere.

Sparks Given how much ribbing you have got from your extended family, I think they are getting off very lightly just to have a scan pic in their card. I don't think I would be able to stop myself from putting in a few of the gory details - After 12 months, PCOS, numerous drs appointments, we are finally thrilled to announce our imminent twinkle... thank you for your patience and understanding in what has been a very difficult time but then I am evil like that.

solars ohhh yummy big brekkie - that reminds me of hotel stays, it's about the only time I have breakfast (and definitely the only time I have a cooked one!). Hopefully it will keep you going until your op. Brooking it all goes smoothly, and you need minimum recovery time to make up for a pathetically small galaxy bar

Lots of cramps here so it feels like the witch is circling, but I refuse to allow her to ruin my weekend. I have loads planned, with a meal out tonight, another on Monday, and my archery on Saturday. I also want to get the trees up and keep the cats away from them long enough to get fb-worthy pictures and finish decorating the house.

Today I am wearing rudolph antlers and a santa hat. It's kind of fitting, as I am munching on raw veggies in an effort to shift some of these evil pounds that have crawled on when I wasn't looking in the last few weeks.

Right, time to get back to doing my handover notes I suppose!

287 work-minutes remaining brookers, and I am starting to get quite excited!

Not long now geek!! Enjoy your weekend.

sparks I forgot they'd all been awful to you... So just do whatever you want! X

Ooh Geek how many minutes now?

29 minutes to go, boo and brookers - anyone want to join me down the pub??????

5 minutes to go - that's it, I'm packing up - my next post will be from the pub, with a beer in hand

MERRY CRIMBO BROOKERS

Aag you must be in the pub by now!! Have many mulled for me Geek and there was something else..........erm .......oh yeah I remember

MERRY CHRISTMAS

<raises a pint of clootie pudding to boo and the brookers>

Dink boss stood me up for my handover meeting, so he has had to make do with a hastily written email.

Cheers all

Oops obvs had too much already - tis actually clootie dumpling!

Well, I have been out all evening and have checked back in for Geeks drunk posts, and what do I find???? Hmm? Nowt, nothing, nada let down!!

Hiys boo jusht got in from a wonderful night on the tiles far too much too drink, but the wethersppoons wherer I was didn't have much inthe way of phone reception so very few posts. Lots of drunken photos of my ex boss and a few colleagues. Also a primose of good times to come from MrG still wearing my antlers, told AF she can feck right off as I am planning on having a bloody good timje this weekemd xxx

ps primose = promise

Well that more than made up for it it had all, embarrassing photos, fighting talk (to be fair af does deserve it) and a promise of drunk sex, fabulous, just fabulous

Out of all the typos that's told only one you saw

erm I'm going to say that at the time yes, btu I wish I'd spotted more...

oh Geek you are priceless, don't ever change

<promisees never to change apart from to become maybe slightly mor sober occasionaly>

Bahahaha drunken geek you made me chuckle!! Worse than imp finger!!

<stumbles out of bed, gives the cats some paracetamol, grabs a couple of mouthfuls of cat food and stumbles back to bed>

Ha ha ha geek - hope you had a fab night and can snuggle under your duvet until you feel better.

My favourite drunken typo was 'jusht' - it made me feel like I was there listening to you

solars lovely, how did yesterday go? How are you feeling today?

Thank you biscuits, though I have a feeling my typing was probably more coherent than my speech last night! Feeling loads better now after mountains of toast and gallons of coffee.

MrG and I have decided it is probably safer for us to not go to archery today! I fancy a slow mooch around the shops instead

Have been enjoying your drunk posts Geek Yesterday went really well, they got rid of the cyst and there were no signs of any other endometriosis anywhere else, which is good so all clear. I kind of stupidly thought it would be like the EC in and out but this kind of knocked me for six! Still quite sore today but slowly feeling myself again now! I have a follow up in about 3-4 weeks and the consultant told me things would hopefully even happen naturally for me now, although he doesn't know about the antisperm antibodies yet!

Hope everyone is doing well x

Oh solars that is BRILLIANT news!!! I am so pleased it went well for you, and that they didn't find any signs of endo elsewhere. That must be such a relief for you. Where are you at with the antibodies now? Are you waiting for further tests or do you now know as much as you are ever likely to about them? I love that you have been told that natural is now an option for you. I am Brooking. No. Argument. That BFP will be yours

Lots of crappy pains here so didn't bother testing this morning. Noticed some slightly discoloured CM about an hour ago, so I think the witch is about to descend. Shh don't tell her but I have the pantry primed, she is going to get locked in, and not allowed out ever again unless she promises to clean my house for me (and even then I'd have to think about it)!

I know you ladies know what I am like, so I know you won't think I am any crazier than you already did if I tell you about a little experiment I did this month. I was curious to see whether CBFM sticks could be used to test whether I was not pregnant. Amazingly, I do believe they can! Right throughout my LP the oestrogen line has been almost non-existent, it was so faint. Yesterday it was clearly visible, and this morning it was dark blue. My understanding of the CBFM sticks is that the oestrogen line gets faint when oestrogen is present in high quantities, and dark when it is present in much lower quantities (kind of making use of the hook effect - the reason why HPK tests don't show positive in late pregnancy). As oestrogen stays high during pregnancy, but drops to its normal pre-ov level just before AF lands, I'm pretty convinced my CBFM sticks have just predicted AF's arrival.

How sad am I?!?!

solars what good news!! Is he saying the cyst could have been the problem then? Let's hope so! Rest up and take care this weekend. X

geek you are actually hilarious! I hope you're wrong though. But why use cbfm stick not a normal internet cheapie? Just in the interest of science? Here's hoping you follow boo to a drunken bfp.

All good here. Lots of nice rat smacking but am going to try not to mental this month. We went to a wedding last night and dh sleeping off his hangover Also my little brother arrived this morning

Morning brookers, what a lovely sunny day it is!

solars hope you are feeling more like your normal self today - you are really giving me hope that my lap recovery time will also be awesomely quick.

keep well done on the rat smacking - not mentalling is definitely a guaranteed way to get your BFP because all the super fertiles say so but more than that, you are a brooker, and we are brookers, and we are brooking that this will be your BFP month

keep the reason I used the CBFM sticks rather than the ICs is the ICs only measure LH, which drops to background levels shortly after ovulation, and remain there (in all normal non PCOS people, anyway) until shortly before you are next due to ovulate. The CBFM sticks have two lines, but neither is a 'control' line - each line measures a different hormone. One measures LH, and the other measures oestrogen. It was the oestrogen levels I was interested in following throughout my 2ww, as if I was pg they would remain high with no drop towards the end whereas if AF was impending then a day or two before she was due the level would drop, as this is what hormally brings AF on.

I actually feel better for having had that couple of days' warning. AF arrived this morning, and I felt fully prepared. It's the first time since MrG and I decided to get medical assistance to TTC that I haven't wanted to curl up into a ball and cry the day AF arrived. Though I suppose some of that is me coming to terms with how badly screwed up I am inside that until I have my lap I have no chance of conceiving either naturally or with assistance.

AF is now duly locked in the pantry, contemplating the cleaning products and my promise to release her (only to house arrest you understand) if she will clean my house for me.

hormally = hormonally it's still too early to be up, sun or not!

Oh geek . Glad you're not feeling too bad though, and looking forward to your lap.
But IC opks can also measure hcg, so a pg person would see a drop in Lh, then a rise again as hcg rose. So could also be used. So cbfm with both may be quite helpful.

Ps, geek you are awesome. Hope you know it. Xx enjoy your hola. Is MrG already off too?

Can't believe I'm not going to work tomorrow. Woo hoo.

Hiya, Geek so sorry about AF, but I can understand what you mean about having a few days notice making it easier. Give old AF a boot from me while she's locked in your pantry! Tummy is still sore and it's a little painful to bend and laugh too! I'm trying not to do too much but I'm one of those people who can't sit still so that's the hard bit for me! In terms of the antisperm antibodies, DH's gp will only do a blood test and said we would have to go private for a SA so we thought we would wait until we go to the next ivf clinic before he gets properly tested.

So what have you got planned now that your brother is here Keep? I'm not sure if he was implying that the endo cyst would explain the infertility plus he was saying all this as I was still coming out of the anaesthesia. But we've not mentioned about the antibodies yet, so he may have another opinion? We'll see what he says at our follow up!

Right ladies, my christmas tree pics (and pagan house decs photos) have all been added in to a facebook album, feel free to have a browse and feel smug about your own trees being far more gorgeous

keep I was more looking for something that would forewarn me that I was not pg rather than an early indication that I was - my PCOS often means that I get random LH surges, and for the last three cycles I have had them coinciding with the start of AF, so they are really not reliable for me. I wanted to get away from all the 'oh it must just be too early' business, and know for definite if AF was on her way. I can cope with anything with enough preparation.

Yes, MrG is off now until the 27th so we really are on christmas wind-down. Unfortunately I have the dentist at 9am tomorrow, but I'm hoping it will be like the last few appointments and I'll not need more than a scale and polish.

<gives AF a good old boot> solars good idea about waiting - what on earth could a blood test tell you about antibodies that occur in semen?? Unless they occur generally throughout the body? <clueless> Good luck for your followup

Right, time to sort tea out and whip up some eggnog. I am determined to have some this year since AF has declared that I am perfectly ok to eat raw eggs.

PS I am very cross with AF - she made me clean my house myself

Geek I see that AF is at your house. That probably explains why she still hasn't visited me and I'm on cd30 now

Solars glad it went ok, brooking that you now have sparkly new innards as it were, you are ready for your lovely shiny BFP

oooh jen is there something you need to <ahem> tell us do ??

I bloody well hope not!

<bets there is>

Solars just popping in to make sure all went well on Friday for my lovely. You continue to take it easy a few more days sit on your hands

Sorry if I have missed any other news
<stares pointedly at Jen>
<pushes peestick in Jens direction>

Geek am loving your traditional decs, still looks very festive.

Need you guys to help me do the delay AF dance. Need her to arrive after Thursday to time my womble lining scan for when clinic reopens after hols. Scan should be done 10-14 days after AF, but clinic shut until 3rd jan which would be day14 if AF arrives Thursday.

That would make a 15 month age gap

Even if I was TTC, it most definitely isn't my turn. hopefully she will turn up tonight now I've said this

Hi Brookers,

<nudges spare ramekin over to Jen>

Geek yay for finishing work. I really laughed reading your drunk posts. Priceless

Keep are you completely finished with work too? Hope your having a good time with your bro.

Solars glad it all went ok & they didn't find anything else. You must take it easy & rest, nurses orders <adopts stern nurse face>

Sweetie I will do my very best to hang on to AF for you. The cow arrived this morning for me. I was really upset as I was actually a few days late & planned to test this morning. I never learn & got my hopes up. On a positive note have got an appointment on wed morning for my next bloods & scan.

Well we had a lovely christmas weekend at the in laws however I had some bad news re: work on fri and sat to deal with so was quite upset over the weekend. I can't really talk on here about it as it would certainly out me so may spill my guts on the other place.

<joins sweetie in the staring-at-jen stance and nudges peestick slightly closer> WE NEED A CHRISTMAS BFP AND WE DON'T CARE WHO GIVES IT TO US!!!

<does the delay-sweetie's-AF-til-Thursday dance>

<drags AF out of the pantry and makes her join in, just to really get the point across to AF that she isn't wanted until after a particular day>

Thank you sweetie most of that is MrGeek's work, I just tend to do the trees and keep out of his ways!

Oh cups I can't belive AF cloned herself and landed with us both <boots AF again> Good luck with your appointment. I read your post on the other place, what a nightmare! I hope things become clearer for you.

Tea's ready so got to run xx

Jen, Jen, Jen! Are you going to be the first recycled brooker?

My name isn't Mary IYKWIM

Jen

jen, but maybe if ds is only six months it's just your cycles still being irregular? We'll gladly give you AF for a while.

sweetie am brooking for af's delay for 9 months, or at least four days if we can't manage the first.

cups sounds like you had a rough weekend, what with work stuff and then AF. Hugs. Some months we really get our hopes up don't we? Glad you have your next appointments sorted at least.

Am not sure if I've ovulated, have had tummy pains and nearly-positive opks (I didn't use cbfm this month due to supposed to be doing iui) so think I'm gonna just have to wait and see. Will surely have delayed AF, and misplaced mentalling. Damned evil clomid. But am hoping that, like, four eggs will pop and surely give those misshapen sperm something more than normal to aim at, and that lining is now cozy.

We are staying in bkk till Wednesday night, then going to rainforest and beach until nye, so I may be out of contact, not sure on the WiFi situation.

geek and cups I'm your cycle buddy too. AF finally turned up on Sunday, giving me a 26 day cycle - you can imagine how convinced I was that the pee-stick was finally going to be positive.

Oh no, not you too Cups & Beedle <sits on AF to keep her away from Sweetie too>

<Wraps a tinsel around a ramekin and innocently passes to Jen >

Lovely decorations Geek We weren't quite sure what the blood test would tell us so thought we would give it a miss and not waste our time on them. The gp was clueless anyway!

Cups I read your rant on the other place, can't believe that! You poor thing, hope it gets sorted soon x (have to say all you nurses do a brilliant job, I felt really looked after, before and after the op)

Keep sounds like you have some fun times in store over the next few weeks, keep in touch if you can!

What do we want?
Positive pee sticks

When do want them?
NOW

<Stares at Jen>

Awww beedle no 26 days sounds good though, definitely a step in the right direction.

jen you are aware what happened approximately 2012 years ago, aren't you? <nudges ramekin nearer>

keep rainforest and beach? Now I am seriously jealous!!! Good luck for your four eggs, surely MrKeep's swimmers can't miss with that many floating around

Well, I survived the dentist, then went shopping for a purse and came out of the shop almost £100 lighter. Whoops!

<Stares back at everyone>

Now you see AF should have been coming to stay with me but she seems to have got her directions mucked up and so has ended up visiting Beedle, Cups & Geek by accident. I've texted her and told her she needs to head South West so hopefully she will pack her bags and come to me now.

What do we want?

Positive Pee Sticks!

Who do we want them from?

Anyone but Jen!

geek what on earth did you buy?!!!

jen im afraid you'll just have to poas!!!

Just popping by to see if Jen POAS yet?

Obviously not

I could POA piece of kindling from the wood shed but that is the closest you lot are going to get.

sparks I couldn't make up my mind between two purses, so I decided to get both. Then I spotted some black leggings, and as mine are falling apart I decided to get a couple of pairs. Which led me towards the coloured leggings, so I got a couple of pairs of those two. Heading to the checkout to pay for them, I spotted some lovely looking undie sets, so picked up a couple of those... before you know it, I have single-handedly got Peacocks out of administration!

<sits back and keeps a beady eye on jen >

should read 'those too', not 'those two', d'uh!

jen will you be one of those deny-ers until 7 months preg? just poas, woman...

geek amazing shopping skills.

beedle noooo! I've had it with that blasted woman, why can't she just go to the right blooming house (jen's!) Her sense of direction's as bad as mine.

face good luck for Saturday! Have an amazing day x

la la la

Afternoon all, hopw everyone is well. Did you all know it is only ONE WEEK TO XMAS EVE OMFG WHERE HAS THE BASSTARDING TIME GONE I HAVEN'T BOUGHT ANYTHING EXCEPT A DIRTY WEEKEND AWAY FOR OH NEXT FEB AND I HAVEN'T GOT A SPARE MINUTE NOW UNTIL 3RD JANUARY HHHEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

Ha ha Scarlett love that you've bought a dirty weekend!!

Dh sick, so no more rat smacking yest or today, but that shouldn't make a difference to Project Get Pregnant.

Keep sorry to hear DH is poorly and out of rat smacking action. Brooking that enough has been done already

Scarlett am loving pressies that benefit both giver and recipient I was like a mad woman getting all my gift shopping sorted & don't even get me started on the wrapping up

<nudges ramekin in Jens direction>

Cd27 here & AF not arrived so that delay dancing obviously working. Thanks muchly

sweetie AF has been delayed you say?

jen stop playing around now, I'm not sure i can handle it!!! The rat smackers def need a BFP to boost morale!!!

keep you just have to wait for those gloriously fertilised eggs to implant now!! contemplates quads

scarlett ah a naughty weekend away? That sounds like a great idea! Cus you get to enjoy it too bit like buying your hubby sexy undies that you have to wear for him!!!

Ladies the most excellent early Christmas pressie apart from an ironic BFP I have just had a call from the clinic. They have matched us to a donor, she is everything we asked for including cmv negative!!! She has kids of her own & been a previous successful donor.

You see the power of brooking has worked miracles again!!

That's fantastic news Sweetie

Ong sweetie I am so happy for you!!!! When might you start? Cycle after next? Awesome, awesome news. Now am brooking for af to stay away another couple of days, or best of all for your BFPeeeeeee!!

Oh Sweetie that is wonderful news!

Sorry to hear about the AFs for Cup, Beedle and Geek, but this is THE LAST ONE y'hear me. And I will Brook No Argument.

Brooking for everyone else too, of course.

Sweetie that is amazing news! I'm ramping up the brooking in your direction. When will you start?

Oh I am so so delighted for you - I have to say it has brought a little tear to my eye! (Embarrassing really as I'm stood in the pharmacy - maybe I can pass it off as some sort of allergic reaction that I need drops for.... )

Oh this excellent news Sweetie I'm so incredibly happy for you, lovely! by the way when is AF due? Sounds like you may also be on for a BFP!!! <nudges ramekin back in Sweeties direction>

oh Sweetie that is brilliant news, I am so pleased for you!! just brilliant!!!! brooking for ironic BFP's for all

Aw Biscuits I had a bit of a tear myself. We will get started in the new year, I would think it will be late Feb to sync cycles. I will check that all out when I speak to the clinic tomorrow. I am so excited, it really hasn't sunk in that they have found us a donor so quickly. Even DH was really pleased and he doesn't really do emotional.

Solars I don't think an ironic BFP is on the way, I can feel womble cramps so think AF has finished at Cups Beedles & Geeks and is heading to mine. At least she will be over and done with before the big day.

Ooooooh sweetie amazing news!!!?

Wow that's nice and quick sweetie, it must be complicated with two of you. I'm thinking we'll do ivf found 1 in march as well, so we'll be in it together. Am seriously happy for you, you deserve this good luck, and how lovely just before Christmas! X

Af is due for me xmas eve, this week is going so slow for me, I'm super anxious! This is month 6 of TTC, not getting my hopes up tho...

Hello and welcome Lyndsey brooking you will be getting that BFP of yours on Xmas eve! Just by being here its guaranteed fo' sure!

Sweetie hope the news is sinking in!

I'm still not quite 100% but feel more myself than I have done! I know this sounds yuck, but I actually washed my hair for the first time since the lap today, I was dreading getting the dressings too wet!

How is everyone else doing?

Sweetie what fantastic news. I can't believe they have matched you already! I think this calls for a imp style gymnastic celebration

<desperately looks around for more athletic brookers to help out>

Solars glad to hear you are recovering ok. Don't worry about your hair, I think I've left mine for nearly as long when I was sick a few years ago and I didn't have the dressing excuse

I can believe AF has dared to visit so many of us

I'm still having a rough time at work so am a bit unhappy about all that. I had my appointment for my investigations prior to IVF this morning. I had lots of bloods done (including AMH which I was surprised about as thought they didn't do it on the NHS). DH had bloods done. I had to give a urine sample. I then had the fannycam, which was completely normal apparently. I was a bit as my pelvic uss showed polycystic shaped ovaries but the sonographer was 100% sure that that report was wrong. We then spoke to a nurse who told us the results take 3 weeks then our consultation will be about 3 months after that so hopefully we will have a plan by April.

<under normal circumstances I would have attempted attempted being the operative word the gymnastics but not today>

Cups that's great news about your tests and your plan coming together, exciting times for the new year! That is surprising about your amh on the NHS. Sorry about work being pants though! Do you know whether you're working over Xmas or not?

We've got our follow-up consultation booked for jan 5th so quite looking forward to that now!

New grad thread if you see any please let them know, we completely filled up the old one and I can't post a link

Ooh and you lot come and mark your places too, you will all be needing them very soon

Hey brookers how is everyone ? I need some advice hoping to go private in the New Year for IVF should we pay extra for ICSI? Any advice would be appreciated

sweetie that is the most AMAZING news! Brooking for your own BFP before then, but even so what a fab, wonderful christmas present for you.

lyndsey hello! Welcome to the brookers. Good luck for your 2ww and xmas eve BFP

solars Glad you are feeling better, if it's not too personal a question, how many entry points did you have?

cups oh no, work still hasn't sorted itself out? I had my AMH done on the NHS but that was after I mentioned two CPs in close succession (which I am now convinced were all in my head) and it was then done as part of the full work up for recurrent mc. Be aware though that while most bloodwork comes back in about 3 weeks, AMH results can take 4-5 weeks. Re polycystic ovaries, they can look very different depending on where you are in your cycle. My crappy NHS consultant said mine looked perfectly normal, with only a few follicles on each; my IVF nurse said one looked polycystic and my IVF consultant (at the same scan but 10 minutes later) said they both looked 'classically' polycystic. Brooking for some excellent news for you between now and April, but otherwise that really isn't so long to wait at all - well done!!

<waves to boo and does a at the idea of her filling a grads fred up already>

hiya griff how are things?? I have sherry brain so you'll have to remind me - what tests have you had done so far? Have you had any indication that you should go for ICSI rather than IVF? If SA etc is fine then you should be good to go with IVF, ICSI is more for if there is a low reading with the swimmers (either their shape, speed, direction or number) by my understanding. If you're going private, expect to add £2k - £2.5k to the normal IVF prices if you want ICSI.

Right brookers, all pressies have been wrapped; I have two little surprises for MrG and they will go under the tree tomorrow ready for Friday. I'm rather excited because I've agreed to meet up with someone off MNLocal just before New Year, so I may have a new budding local friendship in the offing (go me!!) and I don't have to go back to work for another fortnight - no more dink boss for two weeks - BONUS!!

Time to go pour a sherry - WW says I can have two more tonight before I breach my daily points limit.

How is everyone else doing???

Geek how exciting about your meet up! Of course not too personal a qs to ask, I have 4 entry points, 1 at my belly button, 1 below that, much lower down and the other two over my ovaries. He didn't stitch the one at my belly button as he said that would heal in the folds. Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know.

Griff as Geek says it can depend on your DH's SA. Although I think the fertilisation rate is better with icsi?? It's probably worth discussing at your clinic, have you registered with a clinic yet?

DH is still not back home yet poor guy is working very late today!

Morning all - is it too early to offer around mulled wine & mince pies???

Geek how brave are you meeting other strange MN type folks. So how will you recognise them, is there a funny signal or something <curious emoticon>

Solars are you all healing up well? or is it still sore my dear? When do you go back?

Griff I agree with the others that the clinic will usually decide on the day depending of DH SA if it needs to be IVF or ICSI. I think we were borderline at the first test but on the day DH swimmers were ok for IVF. Geek it is an extra £900 at our clinic for ICSI rather than IVF so these thing vary loads depending on clinics.

Lyndsey welcome, hope you manage to sit on your hands & not POAS too early to avoid that disappointment. Christmas Eve must feel miles away for you.

Cup AMH must be another postcode lottery thing as they defo don't do it on NHS where I am. I had to pay £80 for the pleasure of being told my zero result!! Try not to read too much into it, look at miracle Smegs with her low result & HSG result which is now a real little baby!!! At least the ball is rolling now and you will be getting started in the new year, all very exciting. Did DH have to JIAJ? Those pesky men get off so lightly!!

Jen have you POAS yet or has AF shown up?

I had another chat with our clinic yesterday and accepted the donor. So then they could give me a bit more info. The donor had written a bit of a pen portrait about themselves, education, interests, values etc. It was so lovely, it is fate ladies, she sounds just like me!! I am welling up just typing this. We have very similar jobs, skills & education. The statement she said for her values is what I would have said, it is a bit of a trite statement but I say it to DH all the time when he is being bitchy about his colleagues and she must be an animal lover from her interests which is important to us too. So it is all falling into place and I am proper excited now, I almost wish I could meet her to give her a massive hug for what she is doing for us. It is the most special gift.

Anyways AF hasn't arrived yet, CD30, why oh why does she never arrive when you need her to??? Obviously I POAS this morning will I ever learn?? of course BFN!!! So I will have to ring the clinic to see what to do about the womble drugs if AF ever decides to show up. They are closed for 2 weeks after tomorrow, although you can get hold of a nurse apparently. I hope they let me book the scan anyway as I really don't want to delay another month when we have the donor lined up and ready to go.

Am WFH today as am full of cold and don't think my colleagues will appreciate sharing my germs so close to Christmas, so I will be back later for a catch up.

Sweetie your donor sounds so well suited to you and DH. It's all working out perfectly. That BFP will be yours before you know it

Geek is it tomorrow you are celebrating Christmas?

Griff as everyone already said I understand that ICSI is more commonly used for sperm problems. However I have heard that a lot of clinics prefer to use it over IVF these days. Are you going to a open evening?

Solars not long until your review now! Have you got any exciting plans for over Christmas?

DH has got to JIAJ on the 2nd jan. I know that AMH is considered unreliable by some. I'm intrigued though as both my mum & nan went through early menopause. My mum was 36, so I do really feel that time is ticking away for me.

I'm working over Christmas, my shifts have been changed today. I've still got the same days off but have had to cancel my plans for Christmas Eve. I'm determined to find another job. So much so that I have given myself a deadline to find a job. If I'm not pg or in a new job by summer I will resign & get any job possible. It seems dramatic but for the past 8 years my job has always had to come first and my family second. Life is too short & I'm finally fed up of it all.

Oh and welcome Lyndsey I'm looking forward to celebrating your BFP on Christmas Eve

Cup bad timing for DH to JIAJ, might not be the best results after Christmas & new years festivities Poor you on the job front too, you need no stress in your life at the moment. it is terrible if you are unhappy at work, we spend too much time there to be unhappy

Hi, can I join? me and my OH are TTC our first, I am very positive this month, we DTD all 5 days prior to OV and on OV day (I got a plus on the OPK so know I OV'd). AF due new years day so I have 11 days to symptom spot.....eeek. FX

Never too early or too late for mulled wine or mince pies!

Sweetie I am so excited for you, it is all working out perfectly, 2013 is definitely your year for that BFP! Did you manage to ring the clinic for your womble drugs? Hope your cold gets better too! I think I'm healing up ok, still feels a little tight in that area and I'm a little bruised in a couple of locations. My follow up with this consultant is on 5 jan.

Cups lovely, I think you're doing the right thing about giving yourself a deadline with work and I'm brooking you'll land that perfect job soon! I've definitely realised career isn't the be all and end all! Yes poor DH having to JIAJ on 2 jan! Really your mum was 36 when she went through menopause, can they take this into account? surely this is also a reason why you should be referred asap?

Right I need advise here, not sure what to do as yesterday I used an opk and it was nearly positive, today it was definitely positive, so ovaries seem to have got back to normal despite the lap! I was hoping ov would be delayed! However I think dtd will be a little painful so not sure whether we should give it a shot this month! DH seems a bit reluctant as he thinks he'll be hurting me but I just also feel we shouldn't waste a month?? What do you think, should we just rest up this month? I could probably just about bear the pain!

Hello and welcome MotherOfCleo of course you can join! Brooking for your New Year's Day BFP!! How exciting!

Hey everyone. Slap my wrists for being a bad brooker of late. I should be back with u all properly in the new year. I shall try not to miss any Christmas bfps.
I bet I've missed loads of news, I feel totally out of the loop. Sorry everyone!

4 more days to go ladies! Fingers crossed for all xx

In advance, apologies for drunken post - all inthe nme of science is allI will say... -

solars thnk you - I will have 4 entry pints tool, but in slightly different locayins t you b bu the sounds of it. It's so good to know recovery after that is so uick, I was really worried it was going tpo be 4+ weks.

sweetie we have given each other our fb names, so we know we are not weirdoes men and I haven't dared suggest a rat on the shoulder as yet, given she is not yet a brooker. Brooking tat AF contiues to not show up for you, and you give us your ironic BFP as I'm sgtartng to feel like the brooker that stole christmas (all threse freds and no BFPs iykwim)

cups despite unreliability, I am in the camp of all info is good info iykwim. If you at least know your AMH, you can at least know where you stand - if it's good, that's great, if not then you know your options if that makes sense.

Wow cups about your job though. It really sounds like you have had enough, so giving yourself a deadline sounds like the best thing you can do. Brooking you get a lovely job in the meantime though.

hi motherofcleo, good luck on your post-ov wait. Do you temp at all?

solars I can't really advise as I don't know how painful it might be for you - if you feel up to it, maybe go ahead (but really gently!!!) but to be honest if you gave it a miss this month it probably wouldn't be the end of the world - you have had a pretty major deal this month, maybe you mgiht need a month off? I would say take it as you feel like, and don't push yourself beyond what you want.

Got reminded today that despite all my planning and prep, I hadn't bought MrG a christmas card. oops!!! Ended up uying one in a drunken stupour after being taken for a pub crawl. REALLY hope he likes it (aand the presents!).

Yes, it's Yule tomorrow, so trying to stay awake for the obligatory midnight sherry tonight. Not enough pressies to do the midnight thing, though he seems to have got me more than enough and I'm now feeling really guilty... still, I have spent enough and more so no need to feel bad I keep telling myself

Right, time for food, happy Yule all, see you tomorror when the stress is over.. xxx

Happy Yule Geek I love your drunk posts, better than mine were

Brooking for xmas (and Yule) BFP's for all and welcome new brookers, I will catch up with you all properly soon.

4 entry pints tool? Oh cripes shoot me now!!!

I read your post assuming at least 4 pints had entered you Geek

ermm In my defence I had hd about 4 pints beofre posting..

Have had a biut of a discussion with MrG about the saddest xmas story... hve just read him The Little Match Girl nd plan on reading him the little christmas tree and the little mermaid soon...

Well if your writing is owt to go by I would pay good money to listen to your reading you know I'm only jealous though!!! Sounds like your having a fabulous Yule

happy Yule Geek or should that be hiccy Yule?

Happy Happy Yule Geek

Is the wedding this weekend Face? or have i missed it? hope you have/had a wonderful day x

We decided to give ourselves a break and not dtd, thought we'd give myself time to heal and not cause any possible complications such as bleeds or infections.

I'm getting married tomorrow!

Good luck

Have a fabulous day :-)

Happy Yule Geek too

Happy Yule Geek hope you have a fabulous day (and your head doesn't hurt too much)

Good luck tomorrow Face hope you have a lovely day, post lots of pictures!

Morning brookers, who is getting their Christmas BFP's this week then?

face congratulations, enjoy every minute. It will be the happiest day of your life - FACT

Ahh face have an amazing day!!!! xx

Have a fab day tomorrow face, can't believe it has come around so quickly.

For all of you who were wondering, AF found me in the night told you so

aw Jen sorry to hear AF is with you. That is obviously what's delaying her from me, currently cd31 usually only have 26 day cycles. Am getting a bit fed up of the waiting now, I want her here and gone befire the big day.

Geek hope you are enjoying your Yule?

Solars did you manage to DTD yesterday?

DH has just finished work for Christmas and decided to make a start laying the laminate floor in the hallway. AIBU but WTAF - is it not the Christmas holidays????

Erm Sweetie did you say AF was 'delayed'? <pushes pee stick towards Sweetie>

Ummm, Sweetie, m'dear, I have heard of people, when AF is delayed like that, doing something called a home pregnancy test - apparently it's some little stick that you can wee on and it will tell you if you're pregnant . Amazing really what they can do with science these days.

Just sayin'........

I used to have AF visit me every month but September 2011 she didn't arrive. October came and went, still no AF. Then in May the funniest thing happened to me, I had a baby! AF decided to wait until August 2012 before coming back and is now visiting me monthly again.

Just saying

haha, love the last three posts! sweetie you need to POAS lol, for your's and our sanity. GOOD LUCK!

Ooh hi Mother I don't think we have met yet, when is AF not due for you? How long have you been ttc?

Oi Sweetie you peed on a stick/in a ramekin/tupperware/coffee cup yet?? <taps foot, checks watch, getting impatient>

Hi MissL nope I'm a newbie AF is due new years day....so either a fab new year or a not so fab one. This is month 4 but cycle 3.....my body went a bit awry in month 2 and 3 after coming off the pill...very annoying. I am hoping so damn badly that this is my month.

Yes sweetie I have my FX for a BFP!!!!! You need to tell us soon as I'm working and typing is hard with your FX lol.

No Mother firstly AF is NOT due on new years eve, it's just not! Secondly your a brooker now, your BFP is guaranteed it is just a matter of finding the pee stick that agrees with us welcome, glad you found us , we enjoy a good 2ww symptom spot

Symptom spotting is very easy here:
symptoms = diffed
no symptoms = diffed
AF not arriving = diffed
AF arriving = diffed
Sore boob = diffed
No sore boob = diffed

Sorry but what does diffed mean?

I think it's too early to symptom spot, as I'm only 3 dpo (well days past positive OPK) but I have quite noticeable cramps and pains today. Not much fun really, just hope it is a good sign! Even had some shooting pains.

I am in search of that pee stick MissL your right I'm about to miss 9 AFs in a row lol. [grins]

Diffed is the brooker way of saying up the duff. That's the way Mother brooking spirit has got you good, already knowing you are Diffed and AF will be staying away most of next year!

Sweetie have you tested again? That does seem quite a long cycle for you! Brooking!! No we decided against dtd this month, didn't want to risk any complications and thought we'd give ourselves a break!

Geek hope you're having a lovely day!

Sorry about AF Jen

Hmmm cramps and shooting pains Mother? definitely promising signs there!

Have a lovely, lovely day tmrw Face

Don't be sorry about AF. I'm glad she is here so I can stop wondering when. Hopefully she will be on her way out on Tuesday.

I did a test yesterday, faulty pee stick obviously, but if AF doesnt stops messing with me I will test again after the weekend if she hasn't darkened my door by then. Also I have terrible cold so that might be delaying things. Oh and did I mention no other symptoms. If I get a BFP it will be the most ironic of all ironic BFPs and I demand a place in brooker hall of fame - ok?

Mother brooker symptoms or lack of can start even before ovulation has happened. There has been moment of pure mentalling on this thread in the past.

I've got one of AF's helpers here too - I'll keep her busy - you get your BFPs in quick girls!

(hello mother I'm a sort of ex current brooker - joined the brookers in June 2011, got a BFP in July 2011 (after 19 months of ttc) so brooking works. Fact). Ds2 is now 9 months old )

loving this group alreasy, so positive and friendly!
I really hope you are all my good luck charms!

sweetie damn faulty pee sticks!! One of us needs to right a strongly worded letter!!! Oh and no symptoms = def diffed!!!!

mother welcome to brooking!! How exciting to get your BFP on New Year's Day!!! Like biscuit I'm a graduate Brooker, except I'm slightly more 'current' I got my BFP in October after 12 months of proper trying, I'm now 14 weeks these lovely ladies helped keep me sane!!

Was there another new Brooker? Wish I could scroll back on my phone!!!

Merry Yule Geek albeit a little belated!! Loving the drunkeness!!!

face have an amazing day on Sunday!! Enjoy every minute!!!

<waves to everyone else>
<leaves late night/early morning toast for everyone>

I just can't get back to sleep!! I think I'm too excited for Christmas!!!

Face happy wedding day hope you and your DH have a fantastic day x

Solars I think you did the right thing, it's not worth risking any infection etc..I know how hard it is to skip a month.

Geek hope you had a fab day yesterday & you are not too hungover.

Sweetie am brooking for a miracle BFP! Come on you pesky pee sticks

What do we want?
POSITIVE PEE STICKS

When do we want them?
NOW!!!!!

Sparks hope you got back to sleep. PS I met a child called Twinkle the other day

Hello Cleo welcome to the wonderful world of brooking. Can anyone clever link to the first thread so Cleo and the other new brookers can see how the brookers started?

Our mantra is that we are all brooking no argument for positive pee sticks. We will get pregnant, in fact we all already are we are just searching for a pee stick that agrees with us
We are also known as the Rat Smackers as someone once referred to ttc as being like a game of smack the rat (you know the one where you hit the rats over the head with a mallet)
PIAR means pee in a ramekin, it's how the classy ttc-er does a test. One brooker likes to PIACC (pee in a coffee cup if I recall correctly)
PSEPP means pee stick endorsed pregnant person.

Erm I can't think of any more acronyms that we use. I'm off shopping with DH to get the last of his Christmas presents as he is completely unorganised as usual.

Morning brookers! Just popping my head in to say Merry Christmas to all! Im looking forward to welcoming you all into the grads room in 2013 because you are all going to find an agreeable pee stick very soon indeed - fact!
Just thought id mention that there may be 2 snugly new Christmas babies to sniff over in grads very soon - Stacks and Gen are both in hospital!
And last but not least Happy Wedding Day face enjoy every single second
Xx

Hey Brookers - hope everyone is doing ok. Hoping for lots of BFPs next year!!

Think I am losing the plot - month 27 TTC and struggling. My SIL presented my MIL with a bracelet engraved with all her Grandchildens names - DH and I had quite a lump in our throats as we are the only ones who haven't got kids. Made me really sad.

Oh Griff that is hard, is there room to add your many many brooking babies names on it? When is your AF not due?

Brooking that Santa leaves fully working pee sticks for all

Hi MissLToe - no she didn't leave any space . AF not due New Years day - so fed up trying and just don't understand why it doesn't happen.

How are you?

Oh I'm fine thank you, getting fatter by the day and booby boobino is kicking up a storm don't get disheartened your a brooker now, you will will will get your BFP we brook no argument!

Griff don't forget that if you aren't in the mood for brooking then we are here to brook for you. None of us can manage it 100% of the time which is why we are here to support each other

griff it's hard when things like that happen BUT just think your mum can have a bracelet with your babies name on!! I'll brook while you have a little break x

Thank you guys - I hate being miserable all the time - going to get next AF out the way then start being a little more cheery for a change. Will start saving for that bracelet in January .

hey gorgeous girls, my incredible PMA is fading....i was soooo sure that this was our month, now I keep thinking what if its not....need some brooking to sort me out

strangely each month i think i have symptoms and this month i have less than ever, this is obviously a good sign and means im diffed huh!! That has to be the only way to look at it

You're a brooker now Cleo and we are all here to help you.

<Waltzes in spreading seasonal cheer>

I'm waiting for DH to hurry up and get ready to go down the road for a few drinks with neighbours but as usual he's taking longer than me!

Just wanted to wish you all a lovely christmas and hoping they'll be a few agreeable pee sticks under the tree for us all!

Just popping in to say Merry Christmas Brookers! Hope you all have a fantastic time with your family and friends. Here's to BFPs for all in 2013 (any last minute 2012 BFPs are also welcome)

Griff sorry to hear things have been a bit rough. You get saving for that bracelet for your own DC. I know how hard it is to be the only childless family members. It won't be long now, you will get that BFP

Cleo did you PIAR this morning? It's ok to feel down about ttc, we have all been there. Hope your feeling better today.

I'm off to work the night shift in a few hours, am absolutely dreading it. I'm terrible on nights, I feel so sick all the time. Ive applied for a couple of new jobs today so get brooking for a nice mon to fri job for me please!

Popping in to wish everyone a very merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all my lovely brookers!! I have such a good feeling about 2013 for all of you!!

But obvs still plenty of time to sneak a couple of 2012 BFPs in, who is in the 2ww?

Wishing all brookers a very merry Christmas
Technically me sparks swi has resumed! I have to start preg testing from cd 25 which is in 11 days. Funny thing is I'm not sure that I've even ovulated yet I think its 2mora!
Thank u everyone who wished me well on my wedding day it was amazing.
Looking forward to catching up with everyone properly very soon x

face mega congrats!! Just seen your rings on Instagram, beautiful!! Please post a pic of you and mrface because I haven't got Facebook anymore

Hi

Cupcakes I didnt PIAR yet, think its still a bit too early im only 6dpo, im going to hold out to the 27th. I dont want to be down for xmas, ive been a bit emotional today tho, actually held back tears at the snowman an the snow dog lol, prior to that I was proper bitchy with the OH. Dunno if its a sign but I hope so, also (sorry for tmi) ive been so gassy today and that is really unusual.

Sparkly Im in the 2ww, AF due new years day! Everything crossed!

Face im glad you had an awesome day! Im on the app but once im on a comp I cant wait to look at your pictures. Such a lovely time of year to get married!

p.s brooking for you cupcakes!

Happy Christmas all!!! Haven't caught up, but see we have some new brookers, welcome!! We're having a lovely time and I've not thought much about ttc. Af due around nye but with the clomid who knows really.

Love to all x

merry christmas guys! I got over eager and PIAR got a BFN which I pretty much expected....oh well, merry christmas to all and to all a goodnight

merry christmas to all brookers, past, present and future. hope everyone has a fantastic day with friends, family and significant people in your lives. very best festive wishes to all xx
.

merry christmas guys, I may still have hope, I have very light spotting today, really hope I find the magic pee stick by new year!

cleo you obviously tested too early!! Fact!!!!

Christmas miracle over on the ante-natal

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse - SIL announces she is pregnant. The same SIL that didn't want anymore kids. I actually hate myself right now for feeling this way. I seem to have lost the inability to feel happy for others.

griff don't feel bad, we've all been there, especially if they've said they didn't want anymore!! I had many a cry after announcements while we were trying!! And then dreading seeing people in case they pounced an announcement on me!!!

Take a few days, it'll be ok in the end!!

Thanks SparklySanta - Will try and snap out of it before I turn into a really horrible person.

<turns brooking dial to maximum>

Don't feel bad Griff you are allowed to feel this way. Have a cry, take your frustration out on a pillow, do whatever you need to.

ahh Griff dont worry, I feel the same, its not fair is it. knocks the wind right out of your sails. thinkn of u xx

Griff I cried about three days in a row a few weeks ago when my sister told me she's instantly pregnant again. It's horrible. Don't worry about not feeling happy for them, as long as you go through the minimal actions of congratulations that's fine for now. I'm trying to think of it as a new baby, which is exciting, more than her being pg, which is a knife in my heart. She's coming too stay next month though, which will be vvv hard.

You'll get there. You will.

We've all been there, Griff. Sending hugs.

Oh Griff I'm so sorry, you will get there, it's tough isn't it.

Keep I still can't talk to my SIL properly about the pregnancy yet without welling up inside, how long is your sister staying for?

How is everyone else doing? Did you all have a lovely christmas? I've been back at work today although not too busy and only for a few hours.

Aw Griff those feelings dont make you a bad person. ttc is such an emotional rollercoaster. your feelings are totally normal. I have also shed many tears at pregnancy announcements even Kate Middleton Look after yourself and take your time

Solars take it easy getting yourself back into work. Are you all recovered now?

AF arrived on Sunday for me so I have been taking the womble lining improvement tablets. nothing exciting to report as yet. have had terrible cold over the whole of Christmas, today is the first day of feeling human again.

if Stacks is lurking away from the new born snuggle s I just want to say massive congratulations after the epic journey you have had. a true Christmas miracle.

We are quiet aren't we?

Sweetie how are the tablets going? Do you have to take them throughout your cycle? I take it you'll be getting scanned regularly to see how it's all going, right? My work is very easy and not stressful at all so I'm still taking it nice and easy! But yes I feel fully recovered now!

I've been living either in the supermarkets or in the kitchen this past week, but it's been lovely catching up with family and friends over the past week! Some of whom I haven't seen for a few years

yep its pretty quiet

Can I ask a question? Im now 11dpo an got a BFN this morning Im pretty sure I had implantation spotting which started xmas day an lasted until yesterday. I read that for a urine HPT you need to wait at least 6 days past implantation.....any ideas if that is right?? Im just so sure this is the month.....FX! Now where can I find the magic pee stick?!? Any ideas

MotherOfCleo, sorry about the BFN - but it's not over until AF puts in an appearance! Besides which, you're clearly diffed - you're glowing! Now to find a pee stick that agrees

Pleased to meet you (and the other new brookers!) - I'm another graduate, thanks to the Power of Rat Smacking

I've been missing AF for some time, and would quite like her to put in an appearance... so I'll gladly adopt other brooker's AF s in return for their BFPs. Come on Gods of Brooking, it's a no brainer...!

Please do Musical. Remember that Boo got a BFP at the same time as AF returned to me

you can have mine Musical, she is obviously on the lookout for a new home as I have no use for her lol

cleo it could still be too early! If it makes you feel any better, my positive test was so so so faint 12DPO mrsparks thought I was imagining things, in fact I never got a fully solid line, I only believed it when I got a positive on a clear blue digital test which didn't happen until 2 days after AF was due!!

Jen is right, she took AF and I got my BFP and I was 3 days late when I got the really faint line good luck cleo

I'll happily have it MotherofCleo :-)

Can't contribute to the best time to test discussion though.. I was one who had a weird AF, then felt shocking quite a few days later and thought I'd test 'just in case' before going the doctors..

thanks guys I shall stay hopeful

solars I've mostly avoided mentioning her pg, which is bad, I know. They are coming for two weeks when she'll be 15/16 weeks. This is her second, will she be showing? I'm kind of dreading how I'll handle it. One of the things I was in a mad rage about, though didn't say anything, was her booking her flights when she knew but hadn't told me. Urgh, it'll be tough.

sweetie what are your womb improving drugs? What are your timings again?

Oh and musical take mine too! Due in the next week, post clomid so not very sure.

Good luck Cleo, maybe a new years day bfp?

Ooooooh some new year BFPs coming up!!

Especially given the recent graduates of the antenatal thread, plenty of spaces to be occupied by the freshly diffed!!

It has been a very active festive period on the antenatal side of thing and I think there are a few more brooking babies waiting to put in an appearance. Am looking at you tinytock

keep it must be more intense for you when visitors come to visit, you really can not avoid it. I would imagine she will be showing by 15/16 weeks too. I feel for you my dear. will you be young through IUI when she is visiting too?

Geek how have you Yule celebrations gone? are they all over with now?

Cleo it isn't over until proper AF arrives and even then doesn't mean anything just give it a few more days and test again after af is actually due, but all sounding very positive for you

I am on day 6 of taking climaval, which I think is HRT, but I take 6mg rather than the standard 2mg. It has been ok, just feel normal apart from being a bit more frisky than normal but that could be done to being off from work I have to ring the clinic to make an appointment for late next week to be scanned to check womble lining. if all is ok they give me something else to bring on my period and then I will start my down reg jabs to line my cycle with the donor. not sure how long this will all take but things are moving forward

Geek you ok?? Not heard anything from you since your Yule celebrations.

Also all you other lurkers out there, hope you all had a really good Christmas and have fabulous new year we will see you back here very soon clutching your BFP's

Sorry Sweetie posted too soon, wow, can't believe how fast this is all moving for you, you will be on the grads thread before you know it brooking that your womble is perfect and your embys love it so much it they stays for 40 weeks!!

:::::Twirls::::: Tis I, Boo, MissLToe seemed a bit out of season now, I will be looking for a permanent name change soon, I have decided that Princessishavinababyboo (my usual name for the new brookers who only met me in Christmas costume) is a bit too .....erm....... in the news, cos there is an actual princess (sort of) having a baby Any suggestions welcome as long as I have my Boo!

Booby

<tut> there's always one isn't there Jen

But not big booby

what about AllNewBoo for booby arrival in 2013?

I want a new 2013 name too. Just want to keep Sweetie but something short to go with it. Any ideas?

How about BOOmtownrats?? (Now please don't tell me you've never heard of them)

Sweetie will get my thinking cap on!

Ta...DAh...I'm back to Solars!

Tested again and still BFN
Still 3 days early as witch (isnt) due NY day......still hope?

Cleo, there is always hope!! Sounds daft but what are you testing with? Internet cheapies are in fact rubbish!!

Some advice please - AF due yesterday/today. Not actually here yet having mild cramping on an off for about 3 days no spotting and no real symptoms whatsoever. Is there any chance or is AF on he way?

hey sparkly Im testing with amazon ones (they are meant to pick up 10ml rather than the usual 25ml), same type as the opks I used and they worked fine. I have some cramping today but at the mo its more like OV pain than AF pain if that makes sense? I hope im juse testing too early FX

Griff that sounds promising! Ive had a fair bit of spotting which is usual. FX for us both!

doh meant to say UNusual!

Thanks cleo just after posting got te mst horrible pains so I think I'm safe to say I'm out onto month 28 I go - this really is a nightmare.

FX for you hope you get good news

cleo if you're near an asda pick up one their tests, I got my Internet cheapies from amazon and the line remained super faint even when AF was late by over a week!! Just saying!!

griff sorry if AF is lurking, but you never know until she is actually here!!!

Same here sparks, only a very faint ic line when all the other tests (I did a few to make sure) were screaming pregnant, good luck Cleo and Griff

And it is never over till the red lady sings!!

I didn't test until the day after AF was due. I used Amazon cheapies and never got a strong line. They say that they are super sensitive but that is a lie.

So I hereby decree that Internet cheapies are banned from the land of brooking because they're crap!!!

ohh thanks ladies! i have an asda one and a sainsburys one, i'm going to try some self control (what the f is that lol) and wait a day or two before testing again with a diff test.....wish me luck

Bugger. Af is here. Cycle 19 here we are. IUI me up.

Sigh.

I'm not a fan of testing. If af doesn't come you're pregnant. I think early testing options drive us mad.

Griff hugs. It really does suck. And that's all there is to it. Vent, cry, rage on us. I hear you, as do many other lovely brookers.

ahh Griff u poor thing its not over till its over tho.

My inlaws have recently moved and are yet to clean their old flat....ive just had to clean their bloody oven...wtf! I dont even do mine!!!!

Oh no Keep do you start your tablets from tomorrow? Are you on different ones this time around?

Griff & Mother not over until AF arrives!

Oh keep that sucks big fat monkey balls!!!

Well brookers that me out again - I can't even face month 28 so I'm giving up. Just cannot start another year of this shit I really can't.

I want to wish everyone else the best of luck in their journey.

Wouldn't mind knowing why I won't happen bu I guess that's something I won't ever know.

Rock bottom is a nasty place to be - so 2013 will just need to be my year at doing something else.

Happy New Year Brookers.x

ahhh griff feel for you sending love and hugs your way xxx

Oh griff this makes me so sad xx

Oh Griff I'm so sorry to hear that. This is such a tough journey and such a difficult decision to make, I'll still be brooking for you though!

Mother hope you're still doing ok, when will you test again?

How is everyone else doing? What are your plans for this evening?

We are going out for an early supper and then seeing the new year in at home, the 2 of us! We had invites to parties but I especially couldn't face them! To be honest I'm glad to see the end of this year it's been emotionally all over the place and looking forward to a bright new start next year with BFP's for ALL of us!

PS I'll gladly take anyone's AF this month as we didn't attempt at all, so hurry up AF and come and find me!!

<Wafts freshly baked bread around to entice brookers in old and new>

What do we want?
Positive pee sticks!

When do we want them?
Now!!!! (well in my case in about 5 weeks time!)

<follows smell of bread Mmm!>

Morning ladies Happy New Year, I am also staying in tonight cos we got no invites to go out by choice, honestly we would stay in any way, Toddly boo gets a bit very grumpy when he is tired, and so do I at the moment

Griff so sorry to hear your news, I hope you don't mind me brooking for you.

Keep may I second the big fat monkey balls for you too, 2013 is the brookers year, I just know it!!!!

Hi solars im going to wait till I'm actually late (or at least try too!)
AF is due tomorrow and so far no cramps etc, altho I do still have pink spotting so not sure what to think....everything crossed!

Just popping in to wish you all luck for the new year. Almost a year ago I got my BFP, think it was the 3rd Jan? Now have a very smiley DS 2 and I hope that a year from now you all have smiley babies of your own x

A grumpy Toddlyboo and princess boo does not sound like a good combination of fun! Is the newboo bump coming along well? Have a lovely New Years Boo x

Mother I have absolutely everything crossed for you to be our first New Years brooker BFP! <starts the hunt and capture of Mother's AF so she stays at chez Solars this month>

Loopy lovely to hear from you and congratulations, I don't think I recall the announcement of DS2, happy new year to you x

Thanks Solars hope u find the witch before she finds me
My back aches today, I did clean the MiLs oven yday tho (not by choice) so that may be why? My hips hurt too which is random, plus I was actually crying at an animal program yday round the inlaws an I have kind of OV type twinges on the left side.....more random. I hope so much AF stays away and I get my BFP! Crossing everything!!!

I agree Solars any invite would have been politely declined, I'm sure next year it will be party central in the boo house newboo is coming along lovely now, DH can feel the kicks so he is really pleased. Have you fully recovered now? That BFP is surely in the bag for you!!

Cleo you too, a BFP for new years day will do very nicely!!

Anyone else testing? Sweetie??

Geek how are you my lovely?? Hope you are gearing up for a very drunk new years party, I love your drunk posts

Sorry Toddly boo was helping post that one, he likes smiley faces, meant to say -

Anyone else testing? Sweetie how are you doing, what's next??

Just to let you know the bitch has landed at chez Scarlett, 2 days early and with an almighty kick in the guts...

Happy New Year.

Oh scarlett I'm so sorry, are you going to have a little tipple tonight?

god im emotional today! so teary for no damn reason at all! its knackering

I'm going to have several

Have fun y'all see you on the other side!]

Wishing you all a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR and hope 2013 brings a BFP for all.

Happy New Year lovely brooking ladies! Wishing you all a healthy and happy 2013 and BIG FAT POSITIVES all round!!

Happy New Year everyone!!!

I'm all tired and headachey and fed up of separating fighting cats so I hope you won't mind if I don't namecheck everyone. You've all been so busy on fred this Christmas!

scarlett bloody AF, what a day for her to turn up <ninja-slams AF into the doorframe then bounces her down the front steps>

Boo to AF turning up where she isn't wanted, and not turning up where she is. I hope someone got her a proper, up to date satnav for christmas to prevent this happening again.

griff I'm sorry things have got to the stage they have with you. Take all the time you need away from it all.

Boo I can't guarantee any drunken posts I'm afraid - if I can shift this headache then I might hit the lambrini later (oh yeah baby I know how to live it up!) but otherwise it's tapwater, decaf coffee and an early night for me!

Sorry for all the silence the last couple of weeks, I was more stressed out with work than I realised so just kind of crashed once my leave started.

How did everyone's Christmas go? My Yule was lovely, very quiet just the two of us but at least that meant there were no obligations to have christmas food out for the whole time.

Oops - meant to add hi to cleo - not sure if we've met yet!

well.....just did another internet cheapy (please dont be mad) got a faint faint faint line, you wouldnt notice unless staring like the crazy woman I am lol.....gives me hope tho! xx

I had a line that was barely a smudge, turned into DD

Looking pretty promising Cleo

I hope your right Jen! I darent quite believe it! eeeek, so hopeful!

You're a brooker now

Oh my god cleo!!!!!! Test again in the morning with one of your better tests!! Mine started as the faintest smudge on a cheapie as well!!!

Hi Geek, sorry work is stressing you out!! Glad your back through

DS & DD both started the vaguest of vague lines too!

Do you have a test for tomorrow morning, Cleo?

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda Brookers!!

Ay a rate good un brookers

For the un-diffed among us, I definitely recommend a toast of brandy and lambrini, with a maraschino cherry on a stick - heaven

You better have one for me Geek

Happy new year.

Happy new year lovely brookers!!!!

Sorry boo I can only cope with one - back to normal lambrinis now (party animal me see!)

Time for bed methinks - oooh boo I've a question I need to pm you... check in a minute

Happy New Year brookers. I have ordered BFPs for all May 2013 bring us all what we want. May the brooking force be with us all

Seen and replied Geek

Ooooooh boo/geek that all sounds very mysterious!!!

Congrats Cleo, how long have you been trying?

Looks like we're cycle buddies, Scarlet . Stupid AF.

Start my letrozole tomorrow, for 5 days, scan on the 10th, then schedule iui. Get brooking, brookers.

Happy new year to everyone. Ours was v quiet, as family left last night, but I can highly recommend Christmas on the beach. I wore my Santa hat all day, inc while swimming and sunbathing for fear of forgetting it was Christmas Let's brook for bfps for all us old-timers this year (early this year!).

Sweetie, am v excited for you!
face how was the wedding, and when's your bfp due?

<waiting for Cleo to come and confirm>

Keep your Christmas sounds lovely, I like the bit about the hat so you didn't forget your BFP will be here in no time! I'm brooking no argument.

hello, well no news really. Apart from the fact we didnt shut the puppy gate well enough last night and I now have a puppy in the bed...ooops.

No sign of the witch so far, check my cervix again and its even higher than yday, so high I can hardly reach it! All the brown spotting has stopped and I now have creamy cm (sorry tmi!)

Im wondering if I implanted later than I thought, maybe 9 or 10dpo rather than 7dpo as I originally thought. Im going to rest tomorrow and hope hope hope until then that AF stays away and I get a BFP....FX!!!

P.S Been trying since sept but my cycle went a bit awry after coming off the pill so Ive only had 3 cycles.

keep brooking that your letrozole does the trick and you have a fab, super-implantable lining and the perfect number of follies when the time comes. Christmas on the beach sounds amazing, I love that you wore your hat even while swimming!

sweetie yay! You mentioned 'May' a bit in your post. Perhaps that has some significance for 2013 - we must surely be due another tripe whammy, or even quadruple whammy - maybe that's when it will happen? It seems forever ago since sparks announced, the fred really needs another BFP or she and boo will be all alone on the grads fred soon.

sparks just making sure the fred remains family-friendly <will say no more than that>

cleo those ICs are pesky beggars. I've had everything on them, from 'nope not even in photoshop', through 'well that's definitely where it would be if I had a line', to 'well blow me it's even pink', but all were BFNs for me. I don't trust them any more and keep a stock of PPS (posh pee sticks) for if the occasion ever arises when AF is late, but I still use them just for giggles in the lead up to AF being due, purely to scratch my testing itch. There is still time though - as long as AF is not here, you are in with a chance! When was AF due?

I got a surprise peak on the CBFM today, so will be breaking in the last of the christmas undies with MrG Not holding out too much hope that ov is imminent though as it's still pretty early in my cycle (for me, anyway) and my temps aren't acting as they normally do pre-ov. Still, I will take all I can get and be grateful

hi all especially new brookers!
the wedding was amazing it just feels like a blur now though, i feel a bit sad its over. i want another wedding day! ive put up a pic (its not very good though) for you guys ill put more up (better ones) when i can. xmas was lovely but tiring with everyone here! we got back from 3days in a log cabin in cornwall yesterday. i loved the hot tub so much, i need one in my garden!
argh being rushed as off to my mums ummmm ill read everyones news properly later promise.
ps i shall be testing in the morning, hardly neccasary really though as i have decided i am pregnant, obvs!!

Bartlet came to Cornwall and is having a baby

Boo came to Cornwall and is having a baby

Based on this huge sample I officially declare Cornwall to be fertile and therefore a BFP is bound to happen for you Face ignores fact that Bartlet was already pregnant when she came down

so was I but we won't mention that either good luck with the test Face

face welcome back & congratulations. fingers crossed for testing, sounds like Cornwall might be a lucky charm.

keep hopefully the meds will kick in ready for iui

Cleo am waiting for the good news, all looking very positive for a bfp if ic are giving faint lines too.

Geek I have had a few medicinal drinks when posting last night, prompting an overuse of "May" but it could be significant. I do hope we all have our bfp before May though. Hope you manage a bit of swi incase the cbfm is right, don't let these chances pass by.

Lovely to see you Boo & Sparks in the full glow of preggersness now

<waves to everyone else and potters off to consider 2013 name change>

im considering a name change to, perhaps something to incorporate my new surname.
keep i loved your brooking list and think we should keep it up, especially since it'll help me remember where everyone is at because my memory is terrible! so here it is again
-Cru, having SIS and FET
-griff, getting her IVF appointment sped up
-beedle, bfp on saturday
-me, that my lining plumps up ready for ov, to give some hope this month
-sweetie, that a suitable donor comes up on 1st Jan or so
-solars, for the lap on Friday: good luck!
-face, that steroids don't give her a fat face
-scarlett, that ivf happens soon soon soon soon, with no PCT delays or wriggles
-geek, to get bfp on Saturday
cup, bfp NOW, or if not then AF to come soon and tests done by Xmas
hope your medication does the trick fingers crossed for you. ive been on my riods for ten days, im supposed to stop them now though if im not pregnant. i didnt seem to have any side effects particularily. i have been symptom spotting though oh how i missed it!
here they are -
spots on my jaw line ( i only get them there when im preggo)
headaches
feeling sick, actually vomed the other morning when using my tongue scrapper
(will ignore the fact that ive done that before by being too over enthusiastic)
my wine tastes funny
twinges in my womb area
of course it could be the riods and/or all the stress and bad food etc of the wedding and xmas.

<sigh> back to work tomorrow brookers I can't believe I have had two whole weeks and two days off work and away from rinky-dink. Checked on my email earlier, there were almost 200 in there - and 194 were automatic emails I get routinely copied in on. Four were asking me to do something, and two were telling me the four things I had been asked to do had now been done by other people. I feel so redundant <WAIIIIILLLL>

sweetie fear not, some SWW (shagging with whatever) was definitely achieved so whether it's a true peak or not I have at least one in the bag. Brooking also that all our BFPs have been received well in advance of May, but if not, May is as good a time as any to get one. February would be a nice time to have a baby as would January, March, April, May, Ju... you get my drift

Agree, geek, any time is good for a bfp. Now, no complaining about being useless, at least you don't have 200 emails that need action! Am sure it's just everyone's been away, and you'll have too much soon enough.

face good luck for today's test!

bfn for me. Mr s says to test between cycle days 23-25 today was 23. do I bother trying again tomorrow?
first day back at work today and dreading it, anyone else?

Sorry face. Do you know when you ovulated? Do you stop the drugs if bfn? I think I'd test cd25, if you stop the drugs if negative, just in case.

I had a positive opk on the 23rd Dec. I take the steroids for 10days starting when I ovulate. so I've finished them until the next cycle. unless of course I get a bfp, in which case I've got a whole bag full of other drugs to make a start on!

do u start ur meds today, keep?

Yes, tonight. I'm going to poas first, despite having a period because I'm crazy

That's only ten days ago, and you might have ovulated two days later, so it's def not over for you. Since you need to start new drugs if you're pg i'd probably test every other day till AF or bfp, so you'd catch it early!

You must have big post wedding and Christmas blues...

not crazy, sensible. always best to check I think.
yup massive blues! I will probably hang around here all day so u can all cheer me up. not sure if there'll be much to do at work or not.

the witch has arrived
im so so so sad an to top it off today is my first day back at work after xmas hols...crappy all round!
I dont know how my egg can have missed 6 lots of swimmers I thought we'd done enough this month. DTD the four days up to ov day and twice on ov day.....gutted!
So depressed right now

It's early days Cleo, don't panic. I've had swimmers there at the right time for 18 months and it's not worked, it's not an easy thing, this conception. But it sounds like a chemical pregnancy, so sperm and egg did meet. Welcome to day one of your pregnancy!

So it is of course bfn, but I could be a smegs one of those periody pregnant lady keeps dreaming of popping out a baby unawarees and imagine how guilty and stupid I'd feel having taken hard core drugs. Onwards and upwards.

2013 do your thing. 2012 sucked monkey balls, to take sparks' lovely turn of phrase.

Face I was v down when I got back from honeymoon. But you have an imminent successful pregnancy and morning sickness to look forward to, and
I'll
Brook
No
Argument
:-)

Keep Did you like my use of monkey balls? Im so good with words arent I?

Face I was the same after our wedding was all done and dusted, except we had a delayed honeymoon (about 7 months after the wedding) so the deflated feeling hit much later!! find yourself something else to focus on..... like the fact your diffed!!!!

Cleo Im so sorry to here about AF, remember you are just waiting for the perfect egg to meet the perfect swimmer!!! It took me 12 months to find the absolute perfect combination, you'll get there, you're a brooker, and brookers can overcome everything, fact!!!

Not sure who else I shouldve name checked, I really need to get ready to go out, last day of freedom before being back at work! Seeing mummy sparkes as its her birthday, then visiting nanny sparkles in hospital, she was rushed in just after christmas with pnuemonia and they think she'll be in for atleast another week, stressful few days!!

Hi cleo nice to meet you, sorry are having a rubbish time of it, but everyone here will help you along and cheer you up, they always have me!
i was so tearful those first few days after the wedding worrying that everyone had a good time, if my dress looked ok (it was slightly big on the day) if we had enough pics done etc etc. sparks we will hopefully have a delayed abroad honeymoon also. im considering booking one actually anyway because that will surely guarantee my diffedness. i also brought a size 8 dress at the weekend to wear to bro in laws wedding in april which clearly i have no hope of actually still fitting in it.
where is everyone today?

face I would've been emotional after the wedding of I hadn't caught norovirus 2 days later!!! We also had a 'mini moon' to a family members apartment I'm Cyprus but then mrsparks got poorly!!

Oooooh and my dress was too big as well, but you can't tell on the photos!!!

You'll be unable to wear that dress, hope you kept the receipt!!

argh not nice! poor you. i bet a lot of brides lose some last minute weight through nervous. i had a bit of a poorly tummy in the morning too. i was terrified!

i cant decide who to trust with dry cleaning my wedding dress, the shop i got it from will do it and box it for £140! i have no idea where they take it though. timpsons will do the same for £85. but ive never used timpsons before so im a bit nervous.

How organised are you? Mine is still hung up on the spare bedroom door and I've been married two years!!!

I used these to clean and box my dress. It was very easy, they collected from my house on the day I chose and delivered it back the same way.

thanks jen they look good.
I know sparks but i hate the thought of it sat there all dirty! its absolutly black along the bottom.

there is news over on grads come and see, you will all need to mark your places over there anyway

A bit late to the party but, Happy New Year!!

Keep I'm of your Xmas on the beach! Have everything crossed for this months iui! How are the drugs going?

Kicks AF in the nuts for Cleo first day of AF is always the most emotional, I prescribe chocolate, wine and a good movie!

Hope your nan is doing better Sparkes it's always worrying when they're in hospital.

Face nice to see you back but sorry you're feeling the post wedding blues, I was lucky that I didn't feel it as a few months after our honeymoon we flew out for our year in oz. I do however often catch myself thinking I'd love to do the wedding again as it was such a lovely day and correct all the things that didn't quite go to plan

I'm actually already in bed feeling shattered! I was quite emotionally up & down yesterday, I think the thought of having to go through ivf again this year and still having to face ttc took its toll! However I have bought some lovely figure hugging dresses & skinny trousers in the sales thus ensuring my inevitable ironic BFP next month! Waiting for AF to arrive which should hopefully be in the next few days!

Thanks for the heads up Boo

Oh yes and I'm back onto the yoga after nearly 3 weeks off, easing myself in gently with only a half hour session, I felt all creaky especially where the stitches are but felt so much better for it afterwards! Just need to get back into running sometime soon.....

Er, solars, she won't be arriving...? Glad you're feeling better after the op. When are you thinking you'd do if?

So we've been told we shouldn't do stimulated iui the month before ivf. So new plan is stimulated iui in Jan, natural iui in Feb, ivf/icsi in march. Then see. The more I think about it the more I think iui isn't worth it, and would rather just get on with ivf.

solars new dresses hey?!! Diffed this month for sure!!!

First day back to work today!! Yawn!!

My nan was doing much better yesterday when I saw her! She'll be in hospital for a while but it's the best place for her at the moment! Visiting will be tricky now I'm back at work!!

Hi all, thought it was about time to return after a little no-mumsnet holiday. sounds like everyone had a nice Xmas and new year - shame about the arrivals of AF for some.

Good news here MrB finally at long bloody last JIAJ yesterday, so now we should have another appointment at the hospital, where they will put us on the waiting list for IVF. I've been reading the Swedish equivalent of MN and it seems that there was 6 month waiting time for IVF this time last year, but they were hoping to try to reduce it.

its also the 1st day back at work for me today, luckily most of my colleagues are still on holiday so I won't have to work too hard (sounds a bit odd, but we all have our own stuff to do, so i don't have to cover for anyone else. And we don't have desk phones just mobiles, so I don't even have to answer other people's phones)

Will now pop over to the grad thread to see who has sneezed out a new year baby

Hallelujah to mrB's jiaj!!!! bout freaking time Do you know when your appt will be at the Hosp?

Beedle well done to MrB and his JIAJ at least he got there in the end. Fx the appointment comes through soon or maybe that ironic BFP arrives first

Solars - new clothes = DIFFED for sure or is that only with new undies?

Cleo so sorry AF has arrived. We have all been there, convinced this is the month, then wham she arrives. You are a brooker now so take no crap, onwards my dear to the lovely shiny BFP

I just checked in the grads thread and didn't realise so many got agreeable pee sticks at the same time the stork is going to busy for a few weeks yet then the thread will be very lonely so we all need to up our brooking game and get moved over there to keep boo & sparks company

Sparks forgot to say, glad your nan is ok too

They'll need to send me a letter about the appointment, they don't book anything until you have done your required tests, but hopefully we won't have to wait too long.

I think someone else's DH was due to JIAJ yesterday too, but I can't remember who it was cupcake maybe?

Er, Keep there was no swi this month so she has to arrive, so we can get on with mentalling next month. It's strange but our pct just doesn't even offer iui, it's straight to ivf. But it can work well for people with mild male factor problems.

Nice name change Sweetie how are the drugs?

Yay for MrB's JIAJ, Beedle

Yes, there was a glut of good pee sticks, which has tailed off, so we'd better up our brooking.

solars we are private at the mo. I don't think most pcts fund iui, and it's been shown not to be cost effective on a population level, ie the number of people having multiple cycles then onto ivf you'd be better to give everyone ivf straight off. If we weren't going back to the uk in the summer I'd be more willing to try more iui cycles, but I really want to fit in two ivf (or FET) before end of july, so no hanging about. Of course am brooking I won't need two, but. But. But.

sweetie how are things with the mock cycle?

I think it was poor MrCup who was also JIAJ too

The womble drugs have been fine. Am booked for womble scan tomorrow at 12, am sure all will be ok. Hopefully we will get our next steps plan then too. It is all very exciting

Ooh you kept that quiet... How blooming exciting!!

Surely mrCup would jiaC not jiaJ
Arf
cups how's it going? Any ivf news?

I was thinking of some of you and your husbands as I sat in the phlebotomy department at my local hospital yesterday and saw the sign for the euphemistically named "Andrology Room"...

Brooking for 2013 babies all round!

I'm curious, do all preg tests get evap lines on them?

ooh cartoon why do you ask????
personally I've never seen an evap line, so I can't really help, but I believe that if the line comes up within the timelimit it should be a proper positive.

Are you going to be our first BFP of 2013?

I'm afraid I very much doubt it. its just I'd never seen it before but I'm sure that's what they are as they seem to take longer than the test time to show. poor dh got his hopes up.

<pulls up a chair & waits for cartoon to find an agreeable stick to pee on>

<pops by quickly before dink-boss notices my lunchtime is actually over>

Well done beedle and mrb about bloody time brooking you get your tests and dates pronto.

sweetie best of luck for your scan tomorrow, how exciting that your time has come round already!!

cup good luck for MrCup's JIAJ/C

cartoon I believe all tests are capable of getting evap lines, some are just more prone than others. Cracking open 'cassette' type tests almost guarantees some degree of evap line (either grey, pink or blue). The clincher as to whether it's an evap or not is definitely whether it appears in the right time frame or not. I've had a lot of evaps, but they've all been out of the timeframe.

<waves to sparks, keep, bartlet, beedle, gen, biscuits, and everyone I've not name checked. Boss is hovering so got to dash>

im using frer's. I'm sure these lines are appearing out of the time frame so are evap lines. I have to test again 2morrow just to be sure.
I'm terrible for keeping the tests in the bathroom and analyzing them for hours after, u know squiting and seeing imaginary lines. I really should chuck them straight in the outside bin! I much prefer digitals no change to see something that's not really there with those!

Thanks sweetie the witch only actually just arrived this morning, yesterday I have pinky brown only when I wiped (sorry for way way way TMI!) was really confused and wondered if she would ever arrive but then WHAM she flew in on her nimbus 2000 yes I like Harry Potter and I am back to cd1 again.

I am taking no shit this month pardon my bad language I have told my body in no uncertain terms that this time next month we WILL be preggo, there is no point fighting it. slightly worried everyone now thinks I am a loop the loop crazy woman as I think AF flies in on a nimbus 2000 and I talk to myself

I shall be OPKing from cd11 (my app says that is when I should start) maybe I am crazy? I listen to what my phone tells me to do lol the OH shall be unceremoniously jumped cd11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, maybe even twice on OV day if he is lucky lol.

cartoon I think evap lines are generally a different colour? Greyish?? Is that right ladies or am I talking crap?

Also I'm new to the JIAJ, I chuckled when I realised what it stood for

Cleo I like ur way of thinking, I tend to go for it on a daily bases right from when af is done with me. there's no such thing as too much swi if u ask me.
I'd love to think I'm still in the running this month especially as its only cd24 but I think my first response wouldve realised I'm pregnant. so that's me out but Still with the horrible wait for af to actually arrive. I thought I'd enjoy being 'allowed' to test really early but actually its no fun

haha, no probably not cartoon we get knackered though, it becomes an 'if we must' rather than an 'if you please' type affair if we try to dtd every day. Good on you though!!!! How long have you been TTC? I feel like a bratty kid, I want to be PG and I want it now! [grins]

well its probably easier to say how many cycles! its a bit complicated. I'd say around 7 cycles maybe 8. but that's over approx 15months. the first few were a let's leave it up to fate rather than actually TTC. I've had 2 Mc's and have had a few months off this month was the first one of getting back to it. hope that makes sense!

Sweetie good luck for tomorrow that has come around quick and seeing that beautiful thick lining!

Keep I'm hoping you won't need ivf anyway as this months iui is sure to work!

Face how long are your cycles normally? Did your consultant recommend any tests that are more likely to pick up your pregnancy early? I have everything crossed for a BFP tmrw for you!

Our follow up lap review has been postponed until next week now, which is good as I was worried about AF being here and being scanned coinciding!!

I seemed to have regulated to 28days. he said to use first response. that can pick it up, up to 6 days earlier but obviously some women won't get a positive that early I can't remember what the percentage of accuracy is. so ill test again in the morning, then I've done days 23-25 like he said.

solars that's good that its been changed to a better day for u!
keep what is iui? I really shouldve asked ages ago but thought I was probably being thick. (as usual)
sweetie hope it goes well tomorrow. think thick!

Solars that sounds better timing of things, was it Beedle who was scanned when AF was calling. I am not sure I would be very comfortable with that --after 10 years of avoiding going for smears

Brooking my brooking socks off for you tomorrow cartoon I suppose everyone is different on when the tests show as positive. I think there is a web site that actually gives brand percentages if you google it.

My notes came today from my previous clinic. It is very interesting totally inappropriate to see what the various Drs actually write. I am so glad I moved clinics as some of the comments those I can actually read make me out to be some neurotic person, who is FUTILE in attempting IVF with my own eggs!!! Don't these people realise it is more than a physical investment, the mental undertaking is far far greater. MUPPETS

<gets down off high horse and calms down>

face Just thought Id say that my BFP (on a frer) was on day 28 (of an average 30 day cycle) so therefore about 12dpo. I never tested earlier than that as none of my pregnancies showed positive until 12/13 dpo. Fingers crossed its just to early for you!
Waves to all the brookers - I always keep up to date with what's going on here and hope with all my heart that an agreeable pee stick is imminent for all of you very soon!

Apologies for spelling/grammar, I am one tired brooker tonight!

um so Dr google tells me frers don't get evap lines, surely that's not true?!

face step away from google!!! It's possible to get evap a on any test BUT its Far less likely with a pink due test!! Fingers crossed for tomorrow

I know Google always mis informs me! ( but well frers are pink so maybe!) must not get my hopes up.

rite someone fetch me a sodding digital!
I timed it this time this faint faint almost colourless but with a very slight tinge of colour came up in 3 mins

face you may have to start facing facts that you're diffed congrats!!

Sounds like congratulations are in order to me face!

woohoo cartoon 1st BFP of the year

may it be the first of many

whoop whoop cartoon!

let's wait for digital conformation. just incase

Sounds like a BFP to me too. Congratulations cartoon honeymoon baby!!! Cornwall obviously is the lucky place for BFP s

<whispers> diffed

cb says so

cartoon I have everything crossed that this one is a super-sticky bean that will be sneezed out in 8 months time.

Is Cornwall nice in January? <plans holiday>

ps did you go out in your pjs to tescos to buy the CB digital cartoon?

haha no!
is it ok to admit I'm really scared....
no ones that lucky

Awww Face well done, lovely You deserve to be lucky! <Ramps the brooking for stickiness> do you now go onto different meds? I can't remember?!

Congratulations Face that is fabulous news, well done.

oh yes solars just about to go through my instructions. ive got a cocktail of meds! and ill need my first drip really soon.
thanks for all the congrats, i definatly think that the brookers vibes helped!

Congratulations face!! It's OK to be scared, just take it to be day at a time. Remember you're on the drugs now, so you have every reason it'll work out.

Now, was the baby actually conceived on your wedding night???

Iui is intrauterine insemination. Basically I take drugs to get two or three eggs, then a trigger to time ovulation, dh jiaj, the sperm are 'washed' to get the good ones, and then injected right into the uterus. It sounds great, but success rates are actually pretty low.

Congrats again!!

whoop whoop whoop, if the CB says so then it's a diffed FOR SURE!!!!! Yay! So chuffed for you, envious, yes but beyond excited for you!
Get on those drugs! People can be that lucky, you have been!

xmas day i think keep!
that does sound good. it must work for some so theres no reason it wont work for you. what stage are you at?

Taking the drugs at the mo, cd3 to 7; had a rash yesterday but it's gone today. Scan on Thursday, and iui prob next Sat or Sunday!