To TTC or not to TTC, that is one of the many questions...

[YorkshireTeaDrinker]

Ok fellow ditherers, as we have filled up one thread (and still not made too many firm decisions) here's another one for us to continue to procrastinate and worry on.

Here's to more monitoring of relative green and redness, mutual support and occassional chivving, discussion of everything baby or not baby related, and perhaps even our first BFP...?

Morning all,

Oooh HP held a baby - how thrilling! Not sure if you are 'so ready' but I detect a very slight and gradual shift towards readiness. Or perhaps you'll be tricked into it by your body's innate ovulation harlotry?

Confused sorry to hear about your Granddad. Losing someone when they are pretty old is always a bit mixed - you don't want them to go on forever and suffer, but at the smae time, you just want them to stay. However good an innings they may have had, and no matter how much of a release it is at the end, you are going to have a Granddad shaped hole in your life and that will hurt.

I had an eventful day yesterday. Got run into the back of on my way home from work. Wasn't a particularly violent bump, as I was slowing down and the car that hit me was braking pretty sharply, but it made a fairly big bang and was a pretty sharp jolt. Car is largely unhurt (probably needs a new bumper) but I have quite a bit of abdominal pain - likely caused by the seatbelt - so was a bit worried. I called the midwife, who told us to go to A&E, so DH and I has a fun Friday evening in casualty. Fortunately we were there before the Friday night rush. There's been no bleeding, just aches and pains, so I expect everything will be fine. I have an appointment at the EPU on Monday afternoon, where they may do another scan, just to check that everything is ok; but I think that's just a precaution. It was a bit of a worry though.

I have delegated chasing the electrician and sorting out the plasterers to DH today, which I speak to the insurers and then try to do a bit of taking it easy!

!!! That's how many posts since I was last in here?! Haven't had time to read back in detail so I hope you're all (bumps/eggs/exams/cars/family & friends/jobs/dogs/houses included) well and I haven't missed anything major.

Not much news from here. No action on the infant front and very little on the job front - it all grinds through so slowly. But thinking about a fairly major move which is hopefully not incompatible with an infant if that works out.

Flipping heck, YTD, I'm glad you are ok. What a fright. I've been rear-ended at low speed ( ) and it's a hell of a jolt and shock to the system. And that's without the extra worry of being pregnant. I hope all is well today, you may be aching more, my neck really hurt for a few days after. Let us know how you get on at the EPU.

Hi Suerock, yes, the thread has been busy, but some of that was C posting to move her previous post from the screen!! Glad you are ok, and I really hope things are moving on the job front. A baby friendly job would be an interesting development....

Quiet weekend here. Really nice. Have a few things happening in the next few weeks that are playing on my mind - docs appointment, hospital appointment etc. I'm hoping the time whizzes past.

Hello all,

YTD sorry to hear about the acccident. Hope you're okay and not having any nasty aches and pains. Sounds as if it's all precautionary with the EPU (what's that stand for?) but thoughts are with you all the same.

I think you hit the nail on the head (again) about my grandad. I am very against the idea of keeping going for as long as possible when it detracts from quality of life, after all we wouldn't let our pets go on forever would we, but the idea of letting go is also incredibly hard. While he is not there yet his health is failing and he is getting fed up with it all, as you would do. He has always been a very fit man who was never ill up until the last ten years and then it seems like it all caught up at once. My grandma, on the other hand, is only a year younger (exactly) but apart from her dodgy knee, which she has since had replaced, she's just the same Grandma she's ever been. In fact, I forget they are both pushing 90! Even my grandad as he's mentally just as quick as ever.

Suerock it's good to hear from you. You sound as dithery as ever (like I can talk!) What's the major mood you're considering? Locations or jobs? Or both?

LST where are you? Hope you're okay!

HP SP hope you're not too worried about the looming appointments. The sooner things are looked at the sooner they can be sorted out! That's my overly simplistic motto of the day, but hopefully one that does have at least some credibility...

Hi all

I'm fine, just madly revising for Tuesday's exam (having basically left all revising - and indeed learning - for this one until the last few were over - what a conscientious student, eh...).

YTD - add to the others' good wishes - really hope you're feeling better. It's such a horrible shock, a car collision, even if (thankfully) relatively minor. Hope you're feeling back to normal (or pregnancy normal!) soon.

confused - really sorry to hear about your grandfather. Can't say much more than the others and you have wisely said about this one, except I know what it's like. My grandmother has just come out of hospital after a small coronary, and moved into a nursing home from her house, which she's pretty devastated about (though she was totally unsafe at home and actually starting to not eat enough etc. because she couldn't manage to do things). She is in very bad health, having strokes and minor heart attacks every few months now, and lots of related horrible problems, and wants to slip away now (so v. unlike your grandparents, by the sound of it), which is terribly sad. But she's still more or less with it, which makes it very sad to talk to her - you just want to turn the clock back. She may go and live with my parents, but she and my mother (her daughter) don't get on very well so I really think she'd be better staying in her town with a few friends vising if she can bear the institutional nature of where she is (though it's good as they go). Hope your grandfather has the best possible quality of life for the remaining time (and my grandad had skin cancer (though v. treatable kind) about 20 years before he died so you never know).

Hi Suerock! Good luck with the decisions - really hope there's some movement and good news soon.

Good luck this week, hp.

Not much news with me - have just been busy revising and had to go to a one-day conference yesterday in Nottingham (great timing!) for my MSc project. Holding out on the testing, though it's hard... Had a twins panic in the middle of last night - only actually half sure I want to know this morning! (Dithering to the end...)

OK MUST get back to the books
xx

OH MY GOD. Oh my god. I have to tell you as I can't tell anyone else (and DH is away and not back until 7ish). I cracked. I knew it was past the point when I could reliably test. And it was a Sunday afternoon, and I was bored with revising, you know how it is... So I tested. And got a BFP!!

This is so strange. I'm mainly weirded out by how not different I feel. But so strange to actually see that cross after years of testing (at least a few months a year) and not seeing it. Eek.

This was a very STUPID thing to have done, of course, as I've still got an exam, and masses of revision to do, and somehow I suspect I might not be 100% focused now...

Oh well. It's done. And much better news than the alternative. (The whole twins/not twins discovery is still to come [gulps hard]).

OK, I'm going to go and try to read about the aetiology of depression. Oh yes, that's going to go in.

Eeeeeek!!!! Congratulations!!!

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

Come back here and talk to me!!

Im so pleased

OMG!!!!

Thank you!!!! Managed about 10 minutes of revision...

I've rung my sister, who is the only (RL!) person I'm going to tell (apart from DH) until I've had a scan (this isn't great restraint as I'll probably have one v soon because of it being IVF). Well, that's the plan, anyway, but am not famous for my discretion. Anyway, the point is she was on her mobile but she's going to ring back so I may disappear again.

Quite exciting, really (even though I'm sitting here on my own so it's hard to feel as hugely excited as I might have done). IVF weirdness being what it is, I'm actually already in week 5, just, which is great news re. getting through the first 12 weeks (and no sickness yet, though probably this week). Wow. It is quite unreal, really. Wow.

Ohhh, LST, Im so chuffed for you, you've been a complete Dithering Star going through IVF and yet being a founder member of our gang.

So how far passed testing time are you, I assume you havent been to the clinic for the blood test yet? You must be quite pregnant (technical term there) as it wasnt even first wee of the day!!

OMG!!

Please drink any alcohol you get the chance to today for me!!!

Believe me, if you want to see post-BPF dithering, you will doubtless see it over the next few months, especially if it is twins! (I know post-BFP dithering is a) pointless, b)silly, and c) probably very annoying because a) and b) but I'll certainly be overcome with panic and doubt and I have a feeling this will be the place I'll choose to express it!).

I think I could have tested on 13th (May), which is technically 14 days after ovulation (ovulation being egg collection). So I'm not hugely past, but certainly safely so. This is only a home pregnancy test so far, so have yet to have a blood test, get any official confirmation. In fact if I rang them tomorrow they will probably rap my knuckles as I was under strict instruction not to do it until Tues! (Although when I rang and said I'd rather not do it exactly on Tuesday if it was all the same to them as I had an exam, they said I could test the day before, which is only tomorrow, right? Hardly naughty at all...)

No, far from first wee of the day (!) - in fact I've been drinking loads of water today as have had a very dry mouth (was thinking sneakily it might resemble the 'metallic mouth' people talk about in early pregnancy - but was trying not to symptom spot TOO much!). So it is quite convincing in that it must have been quite dilute... (I know you must be relieved about that!)

Sorry, meant to say 'panic and doubt at some points' - hopefully won't be all the time!

Flipping heck, isnt today the 16th?? You have the restraint of a saint and you can tell the clinic I said that! Surely there is no way anyone waits until 18 days after 'ovulation'? I have seen crazy threads on here where people are asking if 5 dpo is too early....And from what I've read, HPTs are just as accurate as any lab tests, the biggest difference is that the lab may give you a concentration of HCG.

Oh my goodness. Im all giddy.

This is so strange, do you remember ages ago when we came up with the List of Pregnancy? YTD was first, then you, then.....shit, I just remembered who was third......

This is amazing news. I'm so pleased for you. I don't think you would have found it that much easier to focus on your studies with the "am I or aren't I?" hanging over you. When are you going to tell DH?

OMG!!

I log off for a few hours and look what happens!

LST you would not believe how utterly delighted I am for you! I have been wondering when you'd crack and test but also didn't want to bring it up, especially in case you already had. Oh, this is WONDERFUL news! You star!

Am going to have to open a bottle on your behalf!

Am guessing you're telling your DH now... eeek!

Back in 5

xxxxx

How'd it go with DH? I guess I am actually more likely to be talking to myself now as you'll be busy breaking news about twins (sorry, couldn't resist!) to your DH. Drinking for two anyone?

You know, you say you don't feel any different but I have heard that was the case with quite a few of my friends. Some do as soon as they know they are pregnant though so maybe the symptoms may hit you big time tomorrow! And will you care? Will you hell!

We've kind of gone of subject and are now on lighter and happier things but wanted to thank you for the kind and thoughtful words re my grandad. It is so horribly sad. We don't know as yet about the type of skin cancer he has, and it may be something relatively harmless but we'll know for sure in the week. However, he's not in the best of health anyway so how long he'll be with us is anyone's guess. C'est la vie I suppose.

Anyway, I think our latest BFP makes for far cheerier reading. Anyone around?

HP we have three BFP's on this thread now so you'll have to be fourth

I'm still here.

I think she is telling DP as we speak. This is BIG news.

Ahhh, sod it, Im ovulatory and very hormonal....hurrah for babies!!

Jesus.

I've heard it all now!

Bit of a delay as laptop is being slow again and also meant to be peeling carrots (but this is far more exciting!)

LST sorry to talk about you as if you're not going to read this, but I now realise I was quite nervous on your behalf. I think you have been such a star with the IVF sessions on your own and so on and also very realistic. I know you're officially out the woods post 12 weeks but it seems to be looking good so far.

HP are you as choked up as me? (and no, I'm not pissed!)

Yes, I think I am!

Have to go and watch a film now, but will check in later.

Okey doke.

I'll be loitering while telly watching although doubt we'll be hearing much more from LST tonight.

But hopefully will tomorrow!

I hope she is having a lovely evening and DH wasn't too surprised. I bet the revision went out the window!!

I'm sleeepy.

And can't stop thinking about BFPs and babies now after all the excitement.

And what exactly do you mean by that?!

So chuffed for LST! I reeeaaalllly am!

Yes. I think revision has gone out the window too. It would for me anyway!

Just that it brings it all to the 'surface' when someone really gets a BFP. Don't worry, I'll be back to normal in the morning!

Off to bed, yay, another Monday to come!

Hi lovely people,

I'm touched/pleased/tickled that the northerners are cracking!

Sorry to disappear but DH came home (!) and then got an impromptu text from some v. dear friends who were in Cambridge unexpectedly. So had to go and sit in the pub with them for an hour, drink 0% alcohol beer (don't bother...) and decaff coffee, and not tell them - though I was grinning in an insane way the entire time, I think, so they probably guessed something was up (that and the uncharacteristic lack of pints - did have driving as an excuse but the decaff coffee probably did it!). I didn't want to tell them in part because they announced they were getting hitched in September so didn't want to steal their thunder. It was also fascinating as I was on the 'other side' in some sense when they were complaining about children on trains - not that I didn't agree with them, but suddenly thought, eek, I'm (possibly all being well) in a v. slightly different camp now...

DH was not overcome with joy and enthusiasm, but I wasn't really expecting that, but he was fine, and has said one or two things in a nice way which suggest he's taking it seriously and is ok with it! I could have wished for a slightly more Hollywood emotional conversation, needless to say, but it was alright (and I've been bouncy for the both of us - wasn't expecting to be this excited, actually). He also did cook me a very nice dinner (even with two kinds of vegetable, which is quite impressive for him!) so as good as it was ever going to be, really (and don't take that the wrong way - that's pretty good).

I know (in my head, at least) that this may all come to nothing and there's a long way to go yet. I'm trying to be a bit realistic. I'm sure YTD and lq can tell me there will also be a lot of stress ahead as well - I know no stage is a picnic. The early scan for IVF mums is 35-40 days, so after we've got back from the trip we have at the end of next week, so won't know if it's one or two for quite a while (unless the severity of the morning sickness and symptoms tells me!). But allowing myself to be happy and excited today.

Oh god though, I'm now totally up s**t creek with this exam!! Really ridiculously unprepared. Hope I can get my head back into gear tomorrow.

OK, going to love you and leave you but thanks so much for the lovely sentiments and excitement on my behalf. I am watching and waiting for the next candidate... (Quite understand if you're all back to red tomorrow, of course!)

Hope everyone has a good week and there's good and positive news for hp at the doc's, and for your grandad, confused. xx

Ah, okay then!

Night!