We are all jolly well going to smack the rat this month and grow a baby and we'll brook no argument. And probably eat some cake too.

[Imps7]

Ladies....begin.

Good for you Stasi! I will brook no argument for good results today.

I should have offered the biscuits around! I didn't get around to doing any baking this weekend, was knitting a jumper for DH instead, so will have to make shop bought biccies look posh - put them on a plate!

I have plated a selection of bourbon cremes, hob nobs and chocolate (dark and milk) digestives. Tea, coffee and milk also on offer.

I had a friend at uni who, when trying to pull women, used to pretend he was a biscuit inventor, and that the hobnob was his greatest work. Haven't been able to look them in the eye since.

I just found some ginger nuts in the work kitchen. I'll add them to the plate, and sneak a couple for me.

lmao! Did it ever work?? :o

That has brightened my day no end Whim

Though I do love a chocolate hobnob...

Mmm hobnobs. Been for the hubby's appointment. It's pretty good news...I think. Bit vague....the anxiety has probably caused the initial infertility, the increased anxiety resulted in him needing meds. The meds may have caused problems with his swimmers! Plan is to stop the meds and scan his brain to see if he's got one, ha! and see which is causing it. Either way he thinks it's treatable and once his hormones are back in the normal range I'll be upduffed. The meds will be withdrawn by Christmas so I'll be brooking again in the new year
We've both relaxed massively.

That sounds like good news Have - hope they get him all balanced ASAP xx

Oh Have that is great news Am going to be brooking like crazy for you x

Thanks bicci. How are you?

Great news Have

Cuddles for Stasi

Thanks all for your lovely words and welcome. Feeling wobbly but I know I will be OK!

Hi Have! Glad to hear your good news, sounds like everything's set for a NY BFP!

Also keeping my fingers crossed for Generic on Wed! You have nerves of steel to wait that long before confirming the inevitable! I'll be checking back in for your good news on Wed morn!

Stasi it was so interesting to read your comments on adoption. I've always been the same actually, I want to have biological children first (it's important to DH) but I'm really hoping by DC 3 and possibly even 4 we'll be able to adopt. DH is on board in principle, but we'll see how it goes! I think I'd want to wait until my own children are old enough to be fully involved in our decision though, and also fully supportive of their new siblings. I think I'd be aiming for a 4 or 5 year age gap.

Have, that's fabulous news! :D

Generic, so excited for you - roll on Wednesday! :D

Stasi, glad you're feeling more positive :) We all have down days - ttc is such a rollercoaster..

raspberry, you're not being unreasonable, that's weird! I am getting a bit annoyed at a pregnant friends' constant statuses - I'm sure I've whined about it before - two recent ones include one going on about how much she wants a baby shower, and another counting down to her next scan! Aaaah....

Biscuit wise.. I've never been entirely convinced with regard to the hobnob. Chocolate digestives all the way :D

Have that is great news! I'm glad you both feel more relaxed and I will be brooking no argument for a January BFP and a baby by next Christmas (aaaw!)

Munkii totally understandable that you would feel wobbly. It takes time to feel better but it's good to see you back and brooking no argument.

Thank you Scream and Muscial!

I am cracking up here - I have totally convinced myself I must be pregnant, but I am also very nervous about the chance that I may not be and am having a dodgy cycle. I've decided to bring forward the testing to tomorrow morning as I'd rather just know one way or the other now! Thank you to everyone that has listened to my ramblings over the past few days!

have that's really positive news, you must be feeling really happy. Looking forward to having you brooking on here with us!

stasi I know how you feel about loosing confidence with your health, even though I am lucky and have not had serious health problems. It's hard to keep the faith that everything will turn out ok sometimes. Glad you're feeling more positive today.

Hurray for generic testing tomorrow morning! Everything crossed for you my lovely.

I think that's quite sensible actually Generic. You are actually late according to your usualy cycles so a pee stick should be correct either way tomorrow morning. The mentalling you'd do waiting for another day to pass is horrible.

I'll be logging on first thing to congratulate you I'm sure. Non-stop brooking going on here.

Oh Generic this is amazing news. I. Cannot. Wait

Ladies, I have the cake recipe I promised. Do I just copy and paste it here, or is there a way I can attach it? I am so technophobic I can't fin the recipe online so have typed it out!

140g unsalted butter
200g caster sugar
60g black treacle
60g golden syrup
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
310g plain flour
1tbsp cocoa powder
1tsp ground ginger
1tsp ground cinnamon
1tsp ground nutmeg
2tsp baking powder
1tsp salt
240ml hot milk

Icing

600g icing sugar
100g unsalted butter
250g full fat cream cheese
1tsp lemon zest

Preheat oven to 190°C/375°F/gas mark 5 and line cake tin

Cream butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy

Add treacle, golden syrup, egg and egg yolks until combined

Sift together flour, cocoa powder, spices, baking powder and salt. Add to butter and egg mixture in batches, alternating with the hot milk. Mix until smooth.

Bake in oven (I normally make cupcakes which take about 20 mins, but if making a whole cake, bake until springy to touch and skewer comes out clean, I reckon at least 40 mins)

For icing, whisk icing sugar and butter until the mix is sandy in texture. Add cream cheese and mix until light pale and fluffy (around 5 mins) Stir in lemon zest, and ice the cooled cake.

Sorry about mega post preggos. I normally make cupcakes from this, but it will work as a whole cake. I want to make it now Hope you are all ok, very quiet this evening. Must be all that sexing that's going on

Ooh, exciting news Generic! On tenterhooks for tomorrow.

Glad to see your appointment went well, Have, and I hope Stasi's results are good too.

Sorry, this is going to be a short but traumatic one. I haven't read back much so very sorry if I've missed something important.

AF is being freaky. I normally have shortish periods with medium to light flow. It started last Thursday, unbelievably heavy on friday and saturday (DH wanted to take me to A&E at one point, it was that bad), stopping yesterday. And now it's back! Proper flow and everything. There is something very weird going on with me today . I'm making an appointment with my GP asap, I don't think I can wait when things are this odd.

Thank you everyone, I feel like I've gone on about it enough now - time to know for sure!

Maybe yum yum yum! That cake definitely deserves to be baked at the earliest opportunity. DD loves baking with me - she has a little bowl and spoon and I put some sugar and flour into it for her to lick off her fimgers stir, while I get on with the proper cake! She also help crack the eggs for me and stir the mixture and she certainly helps with the eating part!

Scrambled that does not sound right. I think you are wise to visit the GP - there is something going on with your body and you need to get checked out. I hope you will be OK soon because we are brooking no argument for miniscrambled number 2!

Scrambled definitely get yourself to the GP, even if it is just for reassurance. Hope you are feeling ok. Make sure you get lots of iron in you tonight.

Oh Generic I wish it was tomorrow morning already!! Your DD sounds very cute indeed

Brooking madly for tomorrow generic.......