Fireworks, bonfires and long winters' eves will herald the Rat Smacketeers' BFPs this month and we are Brooking No Argument!

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[bhmm]

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[bsmile]

Welcome Griff I'm one of the post grads. I joined the rat smackers on 7th August 2011 and got my BFP 13th September. DD is now 6 months old so can most certainly vouch for the power of no brooking [bsmile]

As Geek said you are now on day 1 of your pregnancy.

Un-MN hugs for you, Griff.

Oh griff I'm so sorry. Be kind to yourself, have some lovely wine and soft cheese and take some you time. It doesn't get any easier, no matter how many times you go through it, does it? Your time will come my lovely, for today is day 1 of your pregnancy.

Dreams shattered again as from today - thanx AF you witch! Onto month 27 I could really cry today - it is never going to happen. But I suppose I had been put on a smile and head to work.

How is everyone else doing?

Geek I loved your description of what you do at Yule. I also love your spreadsheeting! I, too, have a finances spreadsheet with all our direct debits and savings, so that I can stress out about plan how much money we will have during mat leave. Sadly I only get 6 weeks at 90% pay, then statutory pay and DH is a SAHD so we are a bit skint! Oh well, I'm sure we'll be fine.

Sweetie, I have no idea which option I would go for, but I'm sure you will think about it all and make a good decision. If it helps, I have (had) short, light AFs every time we've TTC'd and although I had some mcs, it seems like all is well this time and I'm almost 34 weeks now. Brooking that your lining will be just perfect for your brooking twins! (I have a strong feeling you are going to have twins - wooooo).

Solstice did the film get any better? When are you confirming your ironic BFP?

Keep that sounds very frustrating and I am brooking that you will get your clomid next week and lay a perfect egg as a result. Does your usual ov day have any bearing on which days clomid should be taken?

Boo, your MIL sounds a bit crazy! Hope things have calmed down now.

Nice to see Cups and Face back! Brooking for you both.

Hello everyone else, especially Maybe and Imps - I bet you're still lurking.

Thanks, hope so...

Griff I hope you've not been scared off by the proliferation of posts the last few days. Thinking of you x

(Hugs) Keep perhaps you may hear back from your consultant via email.

sweetie do you mean if you use a dedicated donor you have a chance of siblings through FET, or also because that lovely lady might donate again? If the second, might that also be the case if you shared with another couple (ie not the lady having if herself).

That's such a tough choice, and I guess depends on your finances. Also if it didn't work but you had frosties that'd be relatively cheaper to have another go, wouldn't it? Good luck to you and mrS in making the right decision for you. X

face how exciting. So when do you start on the steroids? A honeymoon baby...... Brooking!

geek that sounds so lovely!

I am pissed off and sad, though have now calmed down and think it's OK. I phoned the clinic as instructed this morning, cd1, only to be told by the receptionist with poor English that all the doctors and nurses have gone to hong Kong till Monday, so phone back then... Wtf?! I am supposed to take clomid, and seems that's either cd2-5 or cd5-9. Guess it'll be the second then as I don't have any, and though you can buy lots of stuff at pharmacies here I think that's a but pushing it... I wrote a stroppy email to the consultant saying I was upset and hoping we can still do the cycle, and cried on the phone to dh in India. There doesn't seem to be consensus on what days it's best to take clomid anyway,but I'm cross to be treated like this and have the decision made in this way.

On the plus side, if I go in on Tuesday, cd5, dh will be home and can come with.

Then went to try and get some Xmas decorations but total fail.

Urgh!

Geek your celebrations sound really lovely, could you post pics? I would be really interested.

Sweetie I'm sure whatever you decide will be exactly the right thing for you. Brooking you only need 2 goes at it, for dc1 and then for dc2!!!! :)

Solstice hope you enjoyed the rest of rule film.

I'm off to calm down DH, his mother just called to have a go at him cos he forgot to do her paper recycling well if she would a) remind him at a time he could do something about it and b) stop hoarding them like someone off I life of grime then blaming him for not putting out her 'allotted' papers one a fortnight (she keeps the rest in case they have something she needs), I might have more pity for her, but of course DH feels bad now

((hugs)) It may be worth asking on the other forum you're on, unless of course you've already done so in which case ignore me

An going to sleep on it and see how I feel in morning, it is a tough one really

I think I meant if you went for shared would you regret not going for dedicated say if that could have given you a pick of more eggs, future siblings etc? This is what our consultant was asking us when we were trying to decided to go for the lap.

I am not sure how long we have to make the decision, just let them know when we have decided. I don't think we can have any regrets because we are going through it at all. That is how I felt using my own eggs, at least we tried.

DH is out on a work night out and I am watching 21 Grams! I was quite looking forward to watching it after reading some good reviews but it's a little slow going hence why I'm MNing too!

Geek thanks for that and there are some very beautiful sentiments that we could all learn from.

Last sentence was meant to be, can you make the decision after the mock?

Sweetie I think the way I would approach it is making sure you give yourself the best shot without any regrets. If for some very unlikely reason it is unsuccessful would you be able to say, looking back in a few years time that I gave it my best shot for my family with no regrets? Which option would you regret taking if it was unsuccessful? Did the clinic give you any stats in terms of it being successful at the first attempt or not? Whether it takes couples a few goes or not? Does the mock trial will give some reassurance in terms of success? Ie can you have to make the decision after the mock?

Geek your celebration sounds lovely, very traditional and back to nature. We get very wrapped up in the commercialism of it all. It is just a time to spend with family and relax for us.

Yes it was a good appointment and I am pleased about the mock cycle as it will give us piece of mind that things will be as they should be. We are self funding so everything costs, I think it is £300 for the mock cycle thing. We can afford the dedicated donor but it is very expensive and of course i will be gutted if it doesn't work. I am thinking this is our only chance as i wont be doing it again if not successful. I would like to think that if we are successful first go then we would have the option of a sibling. It is more the way they would look if different genetics, and them feeling connected to each other.

We said blood type and CMV status (which should be matched with the donor), medium build, height under 5ft 6 is the most important then hair colour lighter than mid brown DH has red hair and is dead against red haired donor but I would love i ginger child and light eyes but not bothered if blue, grey or green. I did ask if we could go for rounder face shape and small nose, the nurse laughed at this so not sure if that is a bit too specific.

ooh sweetie cross post, sorry - what an exciting appointment! So you are starting to gear up now yes? The idea of a mock cycle sounds brilliant, hopefully that should take the stress of 'will it won't it' out of the drugs (and put you in a good position for an ironic BFP no?). You're self-funding yes? Can you afford a dedicated donor, knowing that there are no guarantees with anything? How strongly do you feel about having genetic siblings? They will be half-genetic siblings anyway won't they? How fab that they would be willing to put two back if you go down the shared route.

If you don't mind me asking, what kind of physical features did you have to rank? Was it stuff like height, eye colour, hair colour, or did it go right down to 'I hate my nose and want my offspring to have a better one'?

Sorry, this probably wasn't the most helpful of posts, I seem to have asked a lot of questions...

{{{hugs}}}