Chart isn't looking so good this month. Temps haven't gone higher like they did last month, no possible implantation bleeding like last month, and no creamy CM like last month. (Remember, I think last month that I might have been pregnant for a few days, but it didn't impant properly.) So, even though last month looks like I didn't get pregnant, I sort of want my chart to look the same (except the period at the end!). No other symptoms to report, either. In fact, I feel pretty good today - I worked out last night and my allergies aren't too bad.

But, I looked at the chart gallery on the Fertility Friend web site, and I saw many charts that looked even worse than mine does this month, and they still resulted in pregnancies. So, as I've said before, it's not over until it's over!

Three more days to go until my period is due!

It's getting to be crunch time! Three or four days until my period is due. My chart doesn't look any more promising that it did last month, and it still looks eerily similar (though, this month I'm getting a little higher temps, and a little less creamy CM).

No symptoms to report. =(

Again, my temperature is almost exactly the same as last month. That is so odd! Like I said before, it could be a good sign if I was pregnant last month, could be a bad sign if I wasn't.

So I went to several garage sales yesterday, and at this one there was a huge pile of baby clothes for 50 cents each. I looked through them and there was some really cute stuff - like Baby B'gosh, Gap Baby and Old Navy. This is expensive clothes. But I told myself it was a little too obsessive to buy clothes now - even if I AM pregnant, it will be 9 months until I have a baby! And another year after that until I have a baby that will fit into these clothes (most of it was for a 12-month-old baby). So while I was looking through the stuff, the owner of the garage sale said he would lower the price to only 20 cents each! So I told myself that if I saw something that I just HAD to have, AND it was gender-neutral, I would go ahead and splurge! I ended up buying just two tops: one is a white ribbed turtle neck size 3 - 6 months, and another tan sweater with a really cute bear on the front (that has fuzz on it, like a stuffed animal) for size 12 months. That sweater is like $55 if you went and bought it in the store. So I think I did good!

Temp rose today like I said. Possible implantation dip, or just a dip. Interestingly, I got a dip on CD17 last month as well. Not sure if that's a good sign or a bad sign. Could be bad because it could mean the dip is just typical hormones that I have when I'm not pregnant. Could be good if I was pregnant last month, and this month my chart is looking the same.

Gotta go, am going to stop by some garage sales this morning!

Temperature dropped this morning. If it goes back up high very soon, I'd say this could be an implantation dip! I also got really good sleep last night for the first time in a while, so perhaps that influenced the temperature. We'll see!

This is my first week back to work after taking 3 short weeks to use up my vacation time. I worked 4 days, then had 3 days off, then worked 2 days, had 5 days off, then worked 2 days, and had another 5 days off (those days off include weekends). So it is hard having to work for a full week! I feel so tired! I only want to work 3 days a week, but get paid the same. OK?

I had trouble sleeping two nights ago, and the night before last I got pretty good rest but was still tired. Slept well again last night and I'm tired again today! I even took a nap when I got home from work yesterday. I just need to go to bed earlier, like 10pm.

No symptoms to report. Just waiting!

Got my ovulation coverline on Fertility Friend today. Basically, it is a red X on my chart that shows when I ovulated. It calculates it based on three days of high temperatures, which I have had. No symptoms or anything else to report! See ya later...

Added some more pictures to my house progress page. Check the new pictures out here.

Temp went even higher today, which is good. No symptoms yet to discuss, of course. Though, by now, the egg is either fertilized or not. =)

Also, I got a letter today saying that I'm going to get $1800 from my old company because they're cashing out my pension. After you deduct 20% taxes, it means I have enough money to buy an island in my kitchen (in the house we're building). You see, I really wanted the island so we'd have more counter space in the kitchen, but Kevin said no because there wasn't enough room. Then, when we saw a totally completed model of our house, we realized we definitely had enough room, so we regretted not getting the island. And, since it was about a thousand dollars, which we would have to pay our of our pockets since it was too late to add it to our mortgage, it was too expensive. Now, thanks to my pension check, we can afford it! So, I think we've gotten every upgrade to our house that I wanted, including:

- Upgraded brick on front, with brick "lock" around top window and with key stones.
- Island in kitchen.
- Gas fireplace in family room.
- "Open" downstairs design.
- Finished lower level (for a total of 3,072 sq. ft.!).
- Maple cabinets (though this wasn't an upgrade, suprisingly)
- Bigger bathtub and toilet
- Pergo (hardwood laminate) floors in the kitchen and dining room

And, we've saved up enough money to buy brushed steel appliances in the kitchen, which will look so beautiful. There were a few other upgrades, like garage door opener, sink in laundry room, or garbage disposal, but those seem like they should have just come with the house, and aren't really a luxury item, ya know?

Can you tell I'm excited about the house? =)

Temp went up today, which means I ovulated! It is strange, my temperatures for the last 4 days have been exactly the same as last month! So I guess I am pretty regular. And, for the last 3 months, I've ovulated on exactly the same cycle day each month.

I think our BD timing is good, though perhaps not as good as last month. We BDed on the two best days though, which should give us a great chance. Now I'm officially into the two-week wait, waiting to be able to test! What does this mean for you, the faithful and loyal readers of my blog? That means that for the next two weeks you'll be hearing of every slight symptom that I have that could possibly signal pregnancy. Isn't this fun?

We looked at the house yesterday, it was great! The second story isn't done yet, but there are more walls and the windows are cut out, so you can really see what the house is like now. I will try to get the pictures developed and online today so you can see them soon. We are still set on a move-in time of mid-November, but it could be a few weeks before or after that. Who knows!

Temp dropped today, which usually happens the day of or the day before ovulation. So this is prime ovulation time!

I had to stop taking Zytec because ovulation was coming, and now I'm feeling stuffy and sniffly because of allergies. Worst of all, the stuffiness is giving me a sinus headache, which sucks! But, it hasn't affected my asthma, so I'm OK as long as I don't get wheezy.

I was reading a book today that said that 25% of all pregnancies end in the first few days after implantation. I really think that's what happened to me last cycle. We BDed on exactly the right days, I had some (possible) implantation spotting, my temps rose higher than ever before, then they fell and I started spotting, then had my period. It is very possible this was an early miscarriage - it has all the signs. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Obviously it is bad to lose any pregnancy, but the good thing is that it means we're able to get pregnant easily. So that part is good news. We just need the lil guy to stick around!

Tomorrow we're going to check out the house again. Hopefully I will have some pictures to update the house progress page. =)

My temp was up slightly today, not enough to signal ovulation though. But it should be coming soon! We started BDing last night, and will keep doing so until a few days after I ovulate.

Not much else to report! Cross your fingers!

Well I feel pretty good today! My bronchitis seems to be almost gone. I'm going to the doctor again today though to check up and talk to him about what medications to take while TTC. I still have some antibotics to take, but the other medication is gone now.

I got a new thermoniter so my chart is accurate again. I've decided to start BDing a little early this month, just for good luck. So, we'll probably start tonight.

And, I have the rest of the week off for vacation, starting tomorrow. Hopefully since I feel much better now, I will enjoy it more than I did last week. Last week sucked because I was so sick - like two of the three days of vacation were totally ruined.

Well, I can't find my thermomiter so I have to buy another one. I'm sure the cats were playing with it and batted it into a corner somewhere, so I won't find it for 3 months. *sigh* Oh well, my period stopped today, so I didn't really need to take temperatures, but I'll need to start tomorrow! We're going to start BDing a day or so earlier this cycle, just to cover the bases.

Today Kevin and I went and looked at the house. We've actually got wood! They're starting to build the skeleton of the house and it looks really awesome! When you just have foundation there, it doesn't look like much, but it is actually starting to look like something now. I took a lot of pictures, but I need to use up the roll before I develop them. I'll probably use it up next week, so I'll add them to the house web site at that time. I'm so excited!

I went to the doctor on Thursday and he said that I have broncitis and sinusitis (basically, a sinus infection). I am now taking the following medications several times a day:

- Predisone
- Zyrtec D (with a decongestant)
- Cexphalexin (a antibiotic)
- Perscription prenatal vitamins

So far, I feel slightly better. A lot of the wheezing has gone. But I'm still coughing a lot.

The doctor made me start taking Zyrtec again as you can see, which means I have to postpone my allergy test that I described on Wednesday (because I won't be off antihistamines for 7 days now). I have another checkup on Tuesday with another allergy specialist just to talk to him though. To see when and if we can do the test, and what I can do when I get pregnant.

The doctor that I saw on Friday said that I shouldn't take any antihistamines while pregnant or breastfeeding. I guess it is a good thing I didn't get pregnant last month, since that was the one medication I kept taking. All the doctors don't really agree on what to take though, so it is kind of hard figuring it out.

For anyone interested in my house progress, here is a new page I made to show the progress.

My period definitely started today! So this now becomes Day One of my new cycle. I feel a little sad, but I'm slightly relieved that I at least know the answer to the question now (the question being, "Am I pregnant this month?" of course).

I think I'm really sick. I have really bad congestion and have been coughing non-stop for two days. (Kevin is getting so annoyed with my constant hacking, I feel sorry for him.) I'm going to the doctor tomorrow to see about getting some medicine. I think I might have pneumonia, I've had it before, and it was a lot like this! Although, the doctors used to think I had pneumonia all the time and it was just my allergies. So maybe that's the problem again. Usually some penicillin and/or prednesone helps. I can take whatever medicine now that I'm not pregnant! Least, for a few weeks. ;)

I'm also going to see a allergy specialist next week. So I have to stop using all antihistamines to prepare to take a three-hour long allergy test (which means that my allergy symptoms may even get worse if that's possible). Basically they subject you to various allergens and see if you're allergic to them. Then, after the test, I'll be able to say, "I'm a pet dander, ragweed, mold" like they do in those Zyrtec commercials. I will then ask the allergy specialist about how to control my allergies and asthma during pregnancy. I think that controlling my asthma will be one of the hardest parts of being pregnant! (Of course, I have no idea what I'm talking about, since I've never been pregnant before!). Just because I have trouble with breathing now, and during pregnancy you get a chronic stuffed up nose due to pregnancy hormones. That would make me sooo miserable. Supposedly, some women experience a temporary remission from allergies during pregnancy. That would be nice if that happens. =)

I'm on vacation for a few days (taking a few days off this week and a few days off next week) so I may not be updating the blog as early as I usually do. Even though I won't have much baby news while "Aunt Flo" is here. Hehehe.

Ahh, I really think I'm out of the race this month. My temperature took a nose dive again today. In fact, I would say I should start my period tomorrow, a day early.

It's not over until the Old Witch shows her face of course (Old Witch = Aunt Flo, which is a cute message board name for one's period). But let me tell you, my body is sending all the signals for her to visit.

So, what happened? Well, it's pretty obvious that we had great BD timing. When my egg was released, there were sperm there (unless there is some problem with them). From what I understand however, even if the sperm find the egg, there is a chance fertilization will still not occur. The egg only lets certain sperm fertilize it. It is unknown why, out of perhaps dozens of sperm the egg will choose only one, or none. Perhaps the genetic code of the sperm send out certail signals, and the egg in effect chooses the best sperm. Perhaps my egg last month was particularly picky. What a bitch she was, thinking she was so much better than everyone else! But, I guess having choosey eggs leads to a better baby, right?

There are of course other potential problems - sperm problems, or cervical mucus problems. But, I'm sure we'll figure it out eventually. We'll just keep at it month after month until we win! 50% of couples conceive in the first 4 months, so we've got a good chance to get pregnant pretty soon here! Maybe even before we move into our new house. ;)

Ugh, my temperature took a nasty dip this morning. My chart no longer looks triphasic, really.

Here's one theory I have. You see, I'm a really light sleeper, and Kevin snores pretty bad because of his allergies. So sometimes I end up sleeping on the couch because I can't get to sleep with him snoring next to me. So, since it is hayfever season, both of our allergies have been bad lately, and almost every night for the last week I spent at least half of the night on the couch.

Last night, however, was the first night for a while that I slept soundly through the whole night, all snug in my bed. So, I think because I wasn't sleeping well before, it might have made my temperatures artificially high. (Even though it is supposed to be accurate if you sleep for at least 2 hours straight, and I think I always did.)

I'm not saying there's no chance for me to be pregnant this month. I just think that my odds have gone down.

In all honesty, I'm starting to feel a little crampy, like my period is imminent. It's a little early for cramping though.

Also, I tested this morning and got a negative, again. I'm really starting to not trust these cheap tests I got. A woman on the fertilityfriend.com web site told me that her friend was pregnant and the tests she bought from the same place I bought mine didn't even show positive until 2 days after she missed her period. By then she had already gotten several positives from other store-bought pregnancy tests.

Anyway, let's hope my temperature goes back up tomorrow, and my period doesn't come! =)

Temp at 93.4 today! I love how my chart looks now. It is definitely starting to look triphasic. (Though, I must warn you that not all triphasic charts are 100% pregnancies.) I still have no symptoms at all, though. =/

I didn't take a pregnancy test this morning. I learned my lesson yesterday. =P But, I will probably take one tomorrow at 11 days past ovulation. Then every day after that. =) My period is due on 14 days past ovulation, and I should either test positive by then, or get my period! (Which we don't want to happen!)

I had a bad asthma attack this morning. I had to turn the shower on the highest temperature (so there was lots of steam) and stick my head in to breathe in the moisture. The steam really helps open my airways. I should go to a doctor, but I going to wait until I find out if I'm pregnant first. It's really just a few days away! ;) Then I can say, "Yes, I'm pregnant, we need to figure out how to keep my asthma under control without hurting the baby." or "No, I'm not pregnant, gimme any medications that will get rid of this!"

Bye for now! 4 more days to go!

Temp was up to 98.3 today, which is really good! I hope it stays up!

I broke down and took a pregnancy test today and it was negative. But at only 9 days past ovulation, it is way too early! I knew that ahead of time, so I'm not disappointed. I have 13 more tests to use anyway, hehe. =)

Today is my 30th birthday. Kevin's birthday is the 17th, he'll be 28. He's a young'un. ;) We're probably going to buy some special food as a birthday treat. Not really buying eachother presents because we're saving money for the new house. =) It feels strange being 30. It seems like I never thought I'd be this old, or maybe that I'd have done a lot more, ya know? But, I guess my next year I'll have a house, a husband and hopefully a new baby, then I'll have done a lot! =)

Temp is up slightly, but not much. I got a tiny bit of spotting yesterday. There are many potential reasons for spotting this early in my cycle (usually I have one day of spotting which happens a day or two before my period starts) and one of them is implantation! And if it was implantation spotting, I should really see my temperatures go up as protesterone increases to support the pregnancy.

I still don't really feel pregnant. I have no symptoms at all. But, if I'm not pregnant, there's always next month!

Ehhhh... temperature went back down.

There is something called a triphasic temperature chart. Basically, it means that you can take your temperature chart and split it into three levels: The low temperatures of pre-ovulation, the medium temperatures of post-ovulation, and then high temperatures of post-implantation (when your body is pregnant and releases progesterone to begin the pregnancy, which makes the temperature go higher). In about 30% - 40% of pregnant women, there is also a temperature dip during implatation (due to a surge of estrogen) that precedes the higher temps.

My temperatures were nice and high in the beginning, right after I ovulated, which was a great sign. They were much higher than last month. And then I got a llittle dip, which I thought COULD be from implantation. But implantation dips only last one day, and my temperature really hasn't gone back up again.

So, right now my chart doesn't look like a typical pregnancy chart. =( It is still possible to be pregnant! But the chart wouldn't be a good indication... And, I haven't experienced any symptoms either. Kevin says that last month I had lots of symptoms (I was probably feeling crappy after my HSG test) and thought I was pregnant but I wasn't, and this month I have no symptoms and don't think I'm pregnant but I probably am. =P I hope he's right!

Also, thanks Mom for posting some comments! It feels good to have feedback. =)

One last thing, my step-Mom in Oregon is sick and has to take these shots of antibiotics through an IV every day for two months. It really sucks for her. =( Hopefully everything goes well and she can get this OVER with and start feeling better. She has felt shitty for various reasons for quite some time, and she really deserves a break from being sick! So everyone send her good vibes, please. =)

Temperature went up slightly. I want to see it go up even a few more degrees though! I will probably take a pregnancy test in 5 days. I can't wait!

No real symptoms to report today. There was a slight drop in my temperature this morning, which I don't really like. You want to see the temperatures get really high and stay there. But, it could be an implantation dip. (In some women, their temperature dips during egg implantation.) But really, as long as the temperature doesn't go below my coverline (at 97.6) it's considered good. 18 days of tempratures over the coverline is a great indication of pregnancy.

We will now move the blog into "symptom-watch" mode. It's too early for the egg to implant, so there shouldn't be symptoms yet. But, as I did last month, I will soon decide that I have some, because I'll be overanalyzing everything! For example, am I starting to feel some boob soreness? Or, is it just that I've been squeezing them a lot to see if they're sore? Hmm...