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)

sid looks completely anonymous to me.

Hi ladies

Got latest test results and my TSH is now a lovely healthy 1.52! Hopefully that is the last obstacle so I may be back on the game from this month? clutches at straws

sid I don't know about charts but just checked yours for password etc. does it show that you're having sex twice a day?!! Pheweeee- hats off to you and mr sid!

Bad luck with the itching boom

Hi kuma. Bad luck with the awkward conversation/questions thing. Love your response though- may use that myself in future!

Oh yeah meant to say that chart looks anonymous to me too, sid

Oh yay Thunder! Great news! Now just need AF to sling her hook and you'll be diffed in no time x

Thunder awesome news! Must be such a relief! Are you feeling a difference physically? Glad they got it sorted so quickly! And OMG sex 2x daily, not even we are that overachieve-y!! Must've recorded something incorrectly!!

Boom the only thing worse than horrible bitey things is.... mind is going blank sorry! makes mental note to check SKs for lice again Re: my mental toughness, don't be fooled; I cry lots & DH is sensible enough to roll with it, mostly bc all of the truly hard bits are ones he's brought into my life (sounds unintentionally pervy), but then so are most of the truly good bits so I keep going. stepmotherhood is no joke, check out the step parenting board if you're ever in the mood to see a beating!

Thanks Kuma for the confirmation; how're things with you today?

Ahh thanks guys. Yes it's gone down from 15 in March to this so I should be pleased- cant say the time has flown by though. No sid I feel no physical difference whatsoever, but I wasn't poorly to start with- they caught it by fluke really following my mc.

I probably read your chart wrong- just saw lots of AM and PMs on the BD but so assumed you were really going for it!

Really have nothing but admiration re step kids. From seeing friends who are step mums (and having a step mum myself) it seems to me from my outsiders view that a big factor in the relationship working well is how the dad behaves. Don't know if this really is the case though...

It's very quiet in here nowadays...

I agree, how the dad handles it is crucial. My DH is lovely 99% of the time and never takes offense if I get aggravated by any part of the situation. Luckily my SKs really are great, but are obviously conflicted about how to treat me sometimes, ie always quick to point out that they gave Mummy a nicer gift, card etc and it makes me sad for them; there's no reason to be that way but obv they feel they need to, and it is kind of hurtful, but hopefully they'll grow out of it. I read some step mother horror stories sometimes so I thank my lucky stars that my problems are small in comparison. Anyway.

I was thinking yesterday how quiet it had gotten...I guess more people are on either a TTC break or a MN one or have just found support elsewhere. Whatever happened to Gail, I wonder?

Isn't it just thunder! Where's everybody gone?

Have ordered that book - I don't have a Kindle so it'll have to be a paper copy which I like better because I'm terminally old-fashioned and want pages that TURN

Awaiting the arrival of the dog walking lady. We've been having some dog-dog hostility issues with BoomDog and want to see if the dog walker would be able to take her out with some other dogs to socialise her...I don't really know if this is a good idea or not but we're at our wits' end. Besides which she's now getting fat because I worry too much to take her off the lead when other dogs are about, and she's a (young) springer so I could never walk her enough on the lead in a million years! We adore her and she's the loveliest dog ever around people, but almost impossible to train (we got her after her gun-dog trainers decided she was useless!) and very unpredictable. Sigh. After this furry baby a human one will be a doddle!

Oo how did you get on with dog walker? I find mine is much less aggressive when not with me so that might be a good starting point?

Also have you tried cycling with the dog? Can be ace if you live in a suitably flat place!

One thing that made my dog much much better with other dogs (we still keep out of the way at times though) is doing some doggy classes/sports - agility or flyball are great ways of burning energy and using brain but also just getting used to lots and lots of dogs being around. It really helped us.

sid you've doubtless already said this but how often are the step kids staying with you?

Boom I think someone has greased my yellow brick road, I keep slipping off it. No AF but if the Vit 6 has worked like last cycle I'd be due tomorrow. If it's worked better (I actually remembered to take it every day this cycle and didn't have lots of 'oh what's the point?' failures) then I don't know when AF is due and therefore when I could actually claim to be 'overdue'. So still on the waiting game. 10dpo today. Have dildo cam and FC appointment on Wednesday, so will PIMP Wednesday morning if AF hasn't arrived by then (see, still clinging to the yellow brick road really).

What are the dog issues? I've talked about my dog issues before but I'm better at reading the body language now and feel more aware of when to call my dog back and put him on the lead just in case, and when it's ok. My dog (springer x collie) is generally ok with most dogs, but can get grumpy if pestered too much when he's not feeling sociable and will do a classic collie warning air bite & growl. Most dogs take the hint and walk away, but occasionally they don't, and their owners don't bother calling them away either, despite their interest being clearly unwelcome. This happened yesterday. Two smaller and very yappy dogs came running up to him and tried to take his stick. They were either side of him and barking non-stop. He growled and they carried on barking and pestering. My dog had enough and started barking back loudly and showing his teeth. The owner of the small dogs squealed and called her dogs but they ignored her and kept barking at mine. I shouted 'leave' then called my dog, who started coming to me but her dogs followed him, still ignoring her. I walked over and took my dog by the collar, telling him to ignore them (but blatantly telling her exactly whose dogs I thought were at fault). I then carried on with my dog (and my friend's dog who I was looking after) both staying close to me but off the lead, and she was still calling her dogs and trying to get them back to her. What really annoys me is that if my dog had snapped and bitten one of them, he would have been blamed as the larger dog even though he totally ignored them until they both ran up to him barking and pestering him, and their owner did nothing to intervene.

Sorry, went off on a long one there. Will check back in later, need to go walk the dog before dinner!!

And that's me out as well
So I didn't even manage to get my LP longer than 9 days.

If AF is around does that mean I can't have a dildocam on Wednesday?? And would that mean they'll cancel the FC appointment as well as they wanted the dildocam done first?

If so I'm going to really lose my sense of humour .

Oh bugger barking I'm really sorry she got you too. Do you think us lot hanging out in here is synching our hormones? We're like nuns. Well not really or in my case not for one week a month ha ha

I don't know about your appointment I'm afraid but having af doesn't usually bode well for fanjokery. I hope they can do it.

Just put those bricks in the bag under the coffee table, yeah? I'll put em out again in a few days...

Oh dear we having a bad day for af aren't we?! for bunny, thunder and kuma and

sid no, you can't see your log-in! Is dh American or did you marry a Brit? Reckon my cycle will be about 33 days this month so not quite cycle buddies . I think your chart will be easier to read if you continue. That way we can see if your temp stays up.

and barking?? Jesus, that witch has been greedy today . Please don't put the bricks away for too long! We need your optimism! One of us needs some, at least!!!

sid I was thinking about Gail the other day as well (or mike or viv lol). Don't know if any of the others stay in touch with her? Going to Skype my mum later (she lives abroad too). Hoping that my imminent pregnancy will make her move back hone haha

Yes please to the . What a day

merk's in touch with Gail still...

blind is your ma far away? I wouldn't like that one bit!

barking - so sorry, life is a b*tch. Sending lots of sympathy your way. That really is too many of us in one go.... I don't usually stay in sync with anybody for long though, my cycles tend to be 26 days short long. I think LP is long enough and that I ov early in my cycle, but often have spotting at 11/12 DPO, so maybe not. God, so many symptoms to get wound up about....

thunder nuns! LMAO. I wouldn't want to be in that convent!

oh no barking. Stupid AF, always visiting when she's not wanted. it was looking so good for you
How long is she usually here? any chance she'll be anywhere near leaving? I'd call the clinic and find out. I'm so sorry

A quick google suggests that a transvaginal ultrasound can be done at any time in the cycle, so that at least is a relief. I wasn't told to call if the date fell during AF so I suppose I should just turn up?

Feeling really down. It's all up to the fertility clinic now. Not even feeling positive about the possibility of clomid at the moment. Can't do anything this cycle as if I do get clomid it'll be too late to start taking it, and DP's 'apparatus' is still in recovery anyway.

And I really want to crack open that bottle of that I didn't drink on my birthday as I was stupidly cradling the idea it could actually have happened, but I feel tired and nauseous and just want to go to bed. Which means that big pile of washing will still be on the spare bed waiting for me tomorrow.

p.s. sid, sorry, I've just seen your chart link Go and finish your work and don't bring it back until you've at least completed a whole cycle, you can't see a pattern emerge until you have at least one complete cycle to compare with future ones, have you not been listening? .

< hopes sid has a sense of humour similar to hers and doesn't take offence.... >

Ugh AF really has given the Berries a battering today hasn't she? Bloody evil witch. Hugs to all those that need it. Thunder I thought that about everyone getting in sync before I read your post! Not me though I'm just starting the 2ww - trust me to be different!
Great news about the thyroid levels Thunder
Viv/Gail/Mike if your reading this pop in and let us know how you're getting on.

thunder yeh she's a missionary in Albania (very random I know). I'm hoping a spot if emotional blackmail will make her come back...now if only my uterus would comply!!!!

barking you have plenty of right to moan so moan away! That's what we're here for!

sid, barking is right, I'm afraid! Go and finish your work!

Maybe merk can send Gail our love?

Aaaaaand instadiffa friend has just announced her third pregnancy in four years. Where's the ??? Just seems so flipping unfair doesn't it, I don't think she was even trying!

Barking so sorry she got you after all your positivity, was rooting for you. Re the dildocam, I'd probably phone up and check? It'd be rubbish if you got there and then they said no. Big hugs xxx

thunder fanjokery: new favourite word!

Where is merk anyway? On MN sabbatical?

barking dog issues are many! She's totally atypical of a springer, very nervous, quiet and timid as a rule (I suspect she was badly treated before we got her ). The problem when we're out is a) her recall is terrible; she knows the whistle but only responds when she wants to and b) she runs up to other dogs but is spooked if they react to her or try to sniff her and snaps at them (and I mean proper snapping, not air snaps ). Never used to happen, it's a recent thing but we can't work out what triggered it. We're waiting for her next season so we can get her done, which might help, and we do as much whistle work with her as we can (to no avail!) and try and wear her out with fetch games when there are no other dogs about! I might look up agility classes thunder, that's a good idea although I'd be very nervous of taking her...last thing I want is for her to actually hurt someone's dog! Oh and I don't have a bike or I would try cycling! Dog walker seemed a little odd but willing to take her out with a quiet old lab on Friday so we'll start there and see how we go...

Got my hycosy tomorrow. I was fine about it until today, now I'm a bit worried especially after barking's horrible experience. Fingers crossed it goes ok...

Hey, been absent this evening making macarons, nom nom nom!

Booooo to all the AFs!!! The evil witch arriveth here proper tomorrow me thinketh!

thunder yay for the results!!!

kuma great response!!!

Oh barking I do love a good whinge moan woe is me

It is quiet in here, was it something I said?!?

barkng sounds positive then- hopefully all will go ahead as planned.

Do people here have short afs btw? mine usually lasts 6 or 7 days in total. I thought that was normal but now I'm thinking I'm looong.

boom rubbish to bloody instadiffs. They have no idea do they?! Are you in the SW? Good luck for the hycosy tomorrow. No shellfish allergies yeah?

bunny have you still got clothes on?

Fact of the day...

Ever heard the saying that the Germans have a word for everything?

I've just learnt the word Gluckschmerz - kind of the opposite of Schadenfreude, it means feeling unhappy about other people's good fortune. Yup. TTC involves a lot of Gluckschmerz!