The Berries: Projecting the sausage signal and chasing rainbows whilst chanting FUFC in the hunt for that elusive BFP (thread 19)

[happylass]

The smallprint –
Berries have a strict entrance criteria (TTC #1, over 30, TTC for 12+months, NO instadiffers, must have a special pot and def no mention of baby dust or baby dancing UGH !!! Ooooh aren’t we strict!

Hello berries,

I had my cervix scratched today. Thought you'd all want to know (sorry, not trying to be unfunny, just mildly irritated at the amount of poking and prodding my body is going to be put through in the next few weeks).

Hi everyone, busy in here innit?

Parsley I love My Big Fat Diary - totally reminds me of my formative years growing up in the 90's. The music in it is awesome and make me feel all old nostalgic.

I snorted tea all over my laptop when I read about the rap rp! I work in a Uni and with a lot of, um, interesting people!

Barking I have a recipe for GF, no sugar biscuits/cookies which I find satisfy my need for something to have with . They sound delicious I know, so don't all rush at once for the recipe!!

Kami I chuck kale in the oven tossed in some olive oil, tamari and chilli flakes. Brilliant with

Oh holidays.....I'd bloody love to be able to afford a honeymoon but I don't think it's going to happen. And according to MN it's a hideous, unforgivable crime to ask for honeymoon donations so I don't think we'll do that.

Oh because, that doesn't sound fun. Sorry you've got to go through so much shit.

Thanks for all the wedding congrats . We've booked the venue and the band. Just need to find a cheap dress and buy the booze and we're sorted.

In shitey ttc news, my AF turned up this morning two days late. It's such a mindfuck when that happens. Anyway, that's me onto yet another round of Clomid. 3 more rounds left. I told DP that we should put ttc on the backburner until after the wedding in July but, I was drunk I was fooling myself. I can't waste the Clomid. I think DP was relieved to be honest, argh, I hate this crap. Oh, and if I'm not upduffed by then, AF is due the day of the wedding. Awesome. And I need to try and change the date of my FC appointment in May as it falls on the third day of my new job. I called the clinic who almost laughed when I asked if they had any sooner appointments. Humpth.

Kale in the oven??? hold the phone otters! what is this craziness you speak of? I love a bit of kale!

boodle and otters a bit of happy nostalgia is always good! Did you watched the finale on Monday? I might have shed a tiny tear!

bushy we're staying in Bel Ombre in the south of Mauritius. Can't wait!

because that sounds super fun. FX all the prodding and poking and scratching is worth it!

Time for a self indulgent rant. Apologies to otters who will have already read this on the MC thread!
My cycle is totally effed. I’d thought I’d lucked out with an immediately perfectly regular (if a touch longer) cycle after the MC 5 months ago but it now seems that was entirely down to the Agnus Castus and Evening Primrose I’d been taking. 31 days like clockwork with OV CD16/17.
Lucy @ Catching Rainbows reviewed what I’d been taking and told me to halve the Agnus Castus and totally ditch the Evening Primrose as her suspicion was that I was oestrogen dominant and also that these were why my cycle had lengthened. Ok, thought I.
Stopped taking EP this cycle and dropped Agnus Castus to 800mg along with starting to take a v low dose of B6, Magnesium, Omega 3, CoQ10 and my usual Pregnacare conception vits.
My CBFM has now given me a peak on day 10. DAY 10!!!!!

I was supposed to do my Day 21 bloods this month but as I now have no clue when period will come I can’t! Also, GP wrote our referral letter to FC last week which will state I have beautifully regular periods.

Hmm Parsley that's really strange, just shows what effects supplements have too. Ovulation around day 10 can still be fine though, but it will probably lengthen again now with your plan although I know the wait is shit. I love mad fat diary too, the music is brilliant

RP did you not get up and join in with the rap?? One ridiculous action deserves another in my book haha. I can't believe someone did that...! How you all managed to not laugh at them!!

Barking that's rubbish re the observation, how annoying for you. Your meal out sounds lovely, I'd love a brownie right now. Am on 3rd day wheat/gluten/sugar/dairy free and want to cry so badly.

Because I'm with you on the prodding etc, sick to death of it. Hope all results come back great.

Feather you must be really frustrated with your long cycles. Were they this long before the ectopic? Have your FC given any advice about them?

Otters I missed your post! Sorry AF got you. Can I have your biscuit recipe too please? Hope you get a bfp before your wedding! What a nice present that would be!

Yep Otters, kale in the oven is awesome. It's my alternative to munching crisps with my wine when I'm being a 'good' diabetic. Olive oil, chili flakes and tamari (very like soy sauce but gf and saltier) is my favourite. But you can do all sorts - sesame seeds, paprika, herbs. Just google baked kale chips.

Beaky The basic recipe is for Almond Biscuits and you just add whatever you like:

100g ground almonds
1sp Vanilla essence
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
Stevia - I try to use pure stevia rather than blended stuff in supermarkets (or sweetener of choice) to taste

Mix everything together, roll into balls and flatten slightly and then bake in the oven for about 15 mins (ish) at around 200C. Keep an eye on it and brown as you wish.
You change change the flavour by adding different ingredients:

Dessicated coconut and coconut essence to make coconut cookies

Smooth organic peanut butter. Whole Earth has only peanuts, palm oil and salt in it. Add to make Peanut Butter cookies. Peanut butter is about 9g carbs per 100g so negligible.

Chocolate Cookies. 85% green and blacks cocoa powder. The darker the choc, the lower the sugar and carbs.

I also add cinnamon to them. Again, just add to taste.

A bigger version of it can be used for base for cheesecakes (add philly, some pureed raspberries)

For the savoury version, cut the stevia and vanilla and add garlic salt, herbs, and anything else that takes your fancy.

Gluten free, low carb and sugar free (depending on your added ingredients).

Enjoy

Oh I managed to address myself in that post. Doh! I meant Parsley obvs.

Thanks Otters they sound really nice- especially the peanut butter! Do you have a measurement for how much stevia is needed?

No worries beaky. I find that different sweeteners need different amounts so I just add it until the mixture tastes sweet enough to me. Actually, I add until the point it starts to taste just a bit too sweet and that does the trick.

Cripes, got home tonight and I have received a letter from the FC saying I'm top of the waiting list...! Excited and scared. I have to ring them tomorrow to confirm I still want to go ahead. V.nervous but I think it's more because of having to take more time off from work.

It mustn't have been a very long list though. Maybe some of you berries should relocate!

parsley you lucky sausage, Mauritius is lovely. We went there for our honeymoon, we stayed in the la morne peninsular, really lovely hotel, happy memories!

because cervix scratch!does not sound nice. Know what you mean about being fed up of being fiddled with. I had my lap op back in october and I still get a pulling sensation near my belly button, anyone else find this?

Otters kale and weddings, whatever next. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for honeymoon donations at all, you can give options, one to donate to honeymoon and one more trad list. Bad luck on af, mine also mindfucked me by turning up three days late, beguiling me into thinking I had a fufc!

I am going to google my big fat diary, perhaps it's something I can watch on the I pad whilst dh watches football.

Ooh beaky how exciting! Where abouts are you again? (Sorry, memory like a sieve!)

otters those cookies sound divine! Definitely going to rustle some up, and the kale chips too! Yum yum

bushy I am really looking forward to it, got a while to wait tho!

Quick update on my wacky cycle: did a (way too late in the day and therefore totally pointless) IC OPK which showed negative.
I am going to do another tomorrow lunchtime at work and see if it corroborates what my CBFM is saying. I am hoping it's just wrong, but will be dutifully shagging away until I'm sure I've definitely OV'ed/MrP drops dead from exhaustion. Whichever comes first!

Woah, fast moving thread! Will try to keep up!

tiger and beaky no, FC have just said that it's just the way it is with pcos and that my af regulated on clomid and has now gone back to 'normal' - they said that if regular af is important to me, the I should consider going on the pill. . My acupuncturist is trying to get my cycle down by 10 days a month. Saw her today and she's hoping af will arrive within the next five days (in now CD38). To be honest I'm just so bored of it all. Feels like nothing will work at this point so focusing on the wedding plans instead.

otters sorry the witch arrived. You're right, it's always a headf*ck when it's late. Your biscuit recipe sounds divine! I'm making them soon! Kale chips are delicious too. Mmmm.

parsley I loved the first series but not got round to watching the second one. Love Rae and the music is a brilliant trip down memory lane. Your honeymoon sounds dreamy! We're putting ours in hold till the end of the summer, although we are going to Glastonbury two week after the wedding.

beaky fantastic news about getting to the top of your waiting list! Is that for ivf? Brilliant!!

because ouch! It's meant to make you more fertile though, isn't it? Hang in there with the prodding. The beginning is the hardest but you get used to it and hopefully you won't need lots. These days, if I ever see stirrups I practically leap into them I'm that institutionalised.

Who was it that was talking about honeymoon funds as wedding presents being bad? There goes my an out the window, then! We've been living together for nine years so we don't need anymore stuff - what we will need after the crazy expense of the wedding (done on quite a budget but still a lot of money for us) is cold hard cash to go away! What does everyone think though? I trust you ladies and I've not been to enough wedding myself...

Where's our barking then? Was your dinner last night lovely?

boodle how are you doing? Are you peaking out from under the duvet?

happy remind me again of where you're at in your ttc 'journey'? (If I hear one more person call it a journey I'll scream!)

Im northern Parsley Things seem to have gone really quickly in my fc.

Feather its for IUI, the list is shorter for that than IVF.

I think I need wanging, I know its great and I need to just get on with it but I hadnt got my head round it all yet, having a really bad time at work too and am stressed to bits because of it all. I keep trying to remind myself its all fine and focus on the bigger picture. So sorry I for sounding like a whinger I know I'm really lucky they are so quick. Just having a low patch.

Also Feather we had a honeymoon gift list thing, it was a few years ago now and I never thought about what people would say at the time but we had lived together for ages and didn't need anything. I think whatever you ask for theres always someone who has something to say about it so if thats what you want to do just go for it. Most of our friends and family were happy enough as far as I know!

Happy is it your FC appointment tomorrow? Good luck

otters no sugar biscuits?! No, sorry, I just don't get it .

I went to tescos today. Bought gluten free bread (jury is out), gluten free chocolate chip cookies (gorgeous), cereal bars (not tried yet) and pasta (perfectly edible). I haven't tried the flour yet but might get some in for this weekend and try pancakes with it.

beaky that was bloody quick! . No IUI letter for me yet.... No word from bump-same-as-mine either. She's now overdue.

feather if you want to ask for honeymoon donations just do it. We said don't get us anything and people bought us random stuff anyway (like vouchers for the restaurant we went to last night ).
If people aren't inspired they won't bother, if they don't mind they will contribute. It's not like you're robbing them at gunpoint .

Ha ha ' journey' eh!! feather I don't think there's anything wrong with asking for honeymoon donations. We booked our honeymoon and they actually did a honeymoon gift card thing to put in your invites telling people how to donate, we did that and trad list, got a few donations. I think it depends on how you phrase it, something like ' we already have a lot of the things newly weds need but if you would like to give a gift, then a contribution to our honeymoon would be gratefully received/ appreciated?' A friend of ours had a nice line on their invite something about your presence is more important than presents but should you wish to get a present...

Just watched first episode of my big fat diary, omg I loved it!! The music and the clothes, props are spot on. Love how her bedroom is that crossover between child and adolescent, with the Care Bears duvet but britppop posters everywhere. Also the clothes are spot on- anyone remember crop tops, high waisted jeans and big belts. Quite funny how they're all back in!! A good show for the berries, we can remember doing and wearing all that stuff!!

Barking not read all the thread yet but DSis3 is a baker who doesn't eat grains at all, so she makes her brownies not with flour, but with ground almonds. They are sinfulicious.....

Ugh 14 hour day for me and same again tomorrow so apologies if I make no sense. Brain is frazzled. Because cervix scratch sounds ouch! Why was that done?
Well done for getting to the top of the list Beaky. Is that for IVF? If so, where are you? I may have to move in with you for a while
Feather we're still fighting our way through the FC jungle. Had letter 2 months ago saying that my AMH is on the low side of normal and DP's sperm may be 'clumping and sticking'. These are the only issues that have come up so far. Our next appointment is tomorrow so watch this space!
Need my bed now before I collapse in a heap! Night all.

Sorry. Took me so long to type that I've x-posted with about a million people

beaky it's totally normal to feel overwhelmed when things are moving faster than one is emotionally about fertility treatment and you're allowed to feel how ever you want. BUT what you need to do is chill out! Go and do something just for you - go or a massage or facial or a fancy yoga class or something. Consider yourself wanged.

happy I am such an idiot - of course! You have fc tomorrow. Hope all goes well and don't forget to kick some butt while you're there.

barking, beaky and bushy (you sound like a three piece folk band with your names together - thanks for the advice on honeymoon fund. Like Bushy's friends' line about 'presence bring more important than presents' - May have to steal that!

Thanks, I needed a wang! Feather that sounds like a good idea, I may have a look to see if there's anything I can do this weekend!

Will be waiting to hear how you get on Happy I'm north east so you'd have a fucker of a commute

Barking the gluten free stuff sounds nice, I am sugar free at the mo as well so may need to try some in a couple of weeks. Fx you get your fc letter soon.

feather most weddings I've been to have had honeymoon gift lists or asked for a honeymoon contribution. Frankly I don't see why that should be considered different to any other gift list, and whilst there are one or two close friends for whom I've bought something special, I'm happy to give something that the couple want and not have to agonise over a gift. Jealous that you have glasto tickets although I swore I'd never go again after a miserable wet one in 2007. Then I watch it on TV and wish I was there! I love festivals though - trying to pick one out for this year.

Great food suggestions otters, I was wondering about a soy sauce alternative.

because there is no end to the indignity is there?!

beaky that's exciting stuff! Don't be down - no wang from me, just calm positive vibes to help you get through it all xx

Parsley argh to the wonky cycles but lol at poor old MrP! It's a bit like that in our house this week - CD 15 and a positive opk yesterday. We are SMEP'ing this month

tiger my biggest festival recommendation for the last two years has been Festival No.6 in Portmeirion - it was and is amazing!!

feather there's something about the b's..... About 9 months ago boom, boodle and barking had to refer to myself in the 3rd person to get the b in all started clomid the same month. We were hoping we'd all get upduffed together. No luck for boodle, I got my bfp but obviously didn't hang onto it, boom however will be giving birth to twins very soon. Maybe boodle and I can leave with beaky and bushy instead on the IUI/IVF train.