The Elderberry Pavlovas: sit on the sofa of hopefulness and make yourself a special omelette while prescribing the vomming cat to those that deserve it and observing the lunching of the tactless.

[barkingtreefrog]

It's time for some more grads!!

The smallprint - Berries have a strict entrance criteria (TTC #1, over 30, TTC for 3+months NO instadiffers, must have a special pot)

they're hoping to release him tomorrow...surgery was to remove a gland with a nodule on it, which was meant to be a piece of cake. They called me in the middle of the op to say the nodule was much more entrenched in surrounding tissue (near major vein), to find out how I wanted to proceed, since 'any complication would be extremely serious'. Despite this the vet wouldn't cite odds or say anything further than that, so I took it to mean the surgeon felt it was probably too risky (hence the call), so I said to please not take any unnecessary risks that could be fatal. They took a sample of the nodule, which turned out 'inconclusive' (they didn't take enough tissue to be testable, apparently) so nobody knows if it's benign or malignant, or how it may be contributing to the odd test results that brought us to the specialty vets in the first place. And yesterday he developed pancreatitis, from having his organs handled during surgery. So essentially he's had a hellish week, and for no forward movement in his treatment. I'm sick over it. He's better today & they hope to release him tomorrow but the path forward isn't clear, and there seems to be no way to find out what's going on without putting him through another very risky surgery, which I'm not even sure they'd agree to do. He's only 6.

Sorry to have such a one-track mind; this is all I can think about at the moment, I'm still just so confused by how different it's turned out from what I was led to expect.

Oh my goodness sid sending a massive hug and . I would be absolutely beside myself (I'm welling up just reading what you're going through). I really hope you get him home for lots of cuddles tomorrow and the vets start sounding a little less clueless .

DP is still waiting at the hospital, got there at 11.45 but not been in for surgery yet. I've been sent home until I get the call to pick him up.

oh sid, that is horrendous, your poor pooch!! sending you huge hugs, I would be beside myself!
poorly ferret is still poorly but we can't afford xrays. we are at the point now where without insurance we might not be able to treat him an more if this batch of drugs doesn't work. we can't put him through a slow and painful wasting away so might have to consider the other option. I can't bear to think about that, he's only 4! ferret insurance is ridiculous and with 3 it's impossible.

Oh sid that's horrid, hugs x

I'm now in Warwickshire with DH for this work thing, bought my opks but guess who forgot their pot! Doh

Oh god syd I hope he's ok. My cat is my world so would be just the same if it were her x

Earlier asked my neighbour if she fancied a quick glass of wine (I don't know her well btw!) and we got a bit drunk oops! Didn't think she was going to bring a load of hers!

Oh no, big hugs for sid and tally and your respective furry little critters. Can't bear hearing about poorly animals, it's just awful . Hoping the vets perform miracles in both cases.

Bunny there must be a soap dish...

Managed to do about three hours constructive dissertation work before feeling the need to open the wine. Now waiting for my MIL and SIL to get back from shopping in York for fajita dinner...they said they'd be back at half six, still not here and I'm getting a bit pissed off and really hungryhaving made guacamole and salsa and everything from scratch, now my guacamole is brown and my salad is wilting!

Oh ffs I'd be annoyed too boom. Just eat all the guacamole and you'll feel loads better...

Well I found a suitable alternative pot, can anybody guess?!? Lol

Oh and looking after my best mate's cat atm. the neighbour is having some work done on his house and one of them saw me sat on her toilet earlier through the sky light!!! Argh!!

bunny not the tooth mug...?!

kitty oh no that's actually like one of my dreams where I'm always trying to find a toilet but there are no doors... Made me though even though I'm sure it was mortifying! X

In-laws turned up eventually, SIL is veggie so had made her quorn fajitas, one taste and she turned her nose up. Grrr! I don't mind doing veggie alternatives but she hardly eats any veggies, no tomatoes, guacamole, asparagus, mushrooms etc so was trying to play it safe with quorn! She's very lucky I like her apart from her frustrating eating habits!

Oh boom no ewwwwwwww! I was quite inventive, I took advantage of the tea making facilities and then swilled out a little milk pot, bit messy though lol , the things us TTCers do eh?!?
Not that I think it's going to help as I don't think any DTDing is going to happen, neither of us got much sleep last night so we are shattered before we even start a day working!

boom what would she have wanted then? I use quorn mince mixed with beef mince for bolognaise, etc. cuts the fat down and dh still hadn't realised haha!

Bunny phew, the toothmug grossed me out a bit Maybe tonight...?

Kitty Apparently she normally puts rice in to bulk it out. I thought she ate quorn because she eats the mince, but apparently the 'chicken' is too realistic and meatlike. Next time she's getting Linda McCartney sausages and that's it!

Barking how are Mr Barking and his bits? Hope it went well.

Back on the dissertation warpath. It's SO BORING!

talking of dissertations, I found the one I wrote ten years ago the other day and I can see why I only got a 2:2. Can I go back and re-do it please now I've grown up a bit?

Tally it's always cringeworthy re-reading your old work isn't it! What was it on? The last dissertation/project I wrote was in Japanese and now I can't read it at all, so have no way of knowing how dreadful it is

Huh. Well after 59 days of staying the hell away when I wanted her to show up, AF finally put in an appearance this afternoon when I really, really don't want the ol' witch! Now I can't have my hycosy next week, which means I can't have my clinic appt the week after. So having to rebook everything for another two weeks down the line. Not the end of the world, I know...but frustrating when I've already waited 3 months for this appointment!

In other news, I finally got a secretary at the GP to tell me what my scan report says. Apparently it's an arcuate uterus rather than bicornuate, which is much better . One ovary looks normal, the other is the Godzilla of ovaries with multiple follicles and 22cc in volume which is waaaay over the size it should be. Please let this mean I'm going to get my PCOS diagnosis when I finally get to the gynae clinic!

And now I'm off to buy a Magnum. Because I don't get to use AF as an excuse for being fat very often, so I'm going to make the most of it!

Japanese? wow! mine was on something to do with the representation if goth fashion and it's use in mainstream fashion. I had no interest in the mainstream stuff so I was at a disadvantage straight away. should have stuck to the goth stuff, although I felt a bit of a fraud at that too. but I couldn't think of anything else to do it on, so that was that!

Oooh sounds more exciting than most dissertations! Mine was very interesting actually, on the history and social/cultural aspects of Japanese tattoos. Ended up being all about the Yakuza and stuff...pretty cool. Shame I can't read it!

Sorry about af boom & all the inconveniences she brings with her! What great news about your uterus, though! Why on earth did it take them so long to tell you?? It sounds to me like PCOS diagnosis should be a shoo-in so fx your gyn gets with the program and is ready to take you to the next step.

Not much news here; my dog is spending the weekend at the vet's where he apparently is being showered with affection but vomited yesterday, hence his extended stay. He's active and engaged, which is great, but they need to make sure he can eat normally before discharging him. So, DH and I are taking advantage of a dog- and SK-free house, and taking ourselves to London for a weekend wander Silver linings. Still would rather have my doggie back but can cope as long as I can get him Monday, like they're aiming for.

I've started to read TCOYF and am finding it incredibly reassuring. Funny thing, it mentions avoiding antihistamines, bc they can dry up cervical fluids, making TTC more difficult. Guess what's a component in the pain medicine I was taking daily up until a month ago, when I cut out caffeine (mostly) & all meds at the advice of a new neuro? Yep. So am wondering if that's been working against me for 11 cycles now, as opposed to my lady parts just being old as hell! Clinging to any bit of hope over here. Anyway it's fascinating reading & I'd highly recommend it. I've started temping now, so will finally be able to join in conversations about coverlines and temp dips etc

Crikey boom 59 days that is mental! Sorry witch messed your appts up though! I forget, is there a reason your cycle is so long?

sid TCOYF what is this my dear? Do you recommend?

Just got back from our work thing and trying to decide whether or not to jump on DH! Been a long day spent on our feet at this show, he is probably too tired

Ugh Boom sorry about AF - that really is the law of sod at its finest
Sid I've heard the same about anti-histamines too. I took strong ones every day for my general allergic-ness for years before I started TTC. Wonder if that's caused any problems

Bunny I believe it is 'Taking Care Of Your Fertility'. Am I right sid ? Do I get a star?

But antihistamines? Like I'm taking every day right now for hayfever?! Oh. Best stop those then...

Boom that majorly sucks. Big time.

Sid sorry pooch is still not home .

My DP is home and I just persuaded him to let me have a look at it.
. Massive TMI alert It's swollen and all colours of blue and purple with blood soaked stitches poking out of it. It's now more than 24 hours so he's allowed a bath but I can hear him gasping as he gets it wet....

Just popping in from lurking again & send commiserations to boom, sid & mrbarking. OUCH!!!

Had a 8 week scan this week & strong heartbeat but not out of the woods yet obviously. In less good news my work decided my role was no longer required so I will be unemployed & probably unemployable on a permanent basis in about a week! I have been given a payout that will tide me over till when mat pay would have finished anyway & I managed to get extra by telling them I was pg but even so . Not sure what I'm going to do until Dec as no one is going to want to employ me permanently!

barking oh your poor DP! I read that out to DH and you should have seen his face, tee hee hee (evil cackle)

frog very glad to hear about scan but sorry about job! We are still hoping somebody else will join you soon! I bet most of the grads are about to pop!!!

Today was knackering so no DTD was done! So not holding my breathe for good news this month. Gonna go to new docs Monday and register then try and see the doc and see what they say!

Omg barking! Your poor DP, I hope he recovers soon xx

Tcoyf = taking charge of your fertility, v good book, temping bible so yes I highly recommend it!

bunny do it! About to take my own advice - DH & I have it come back from drinks out & he shared that this cycle 'it will happen' so about to go get a move on