The Ups and Downs

....I've been high and I've been low.....
(sorry that is the singing in my head, its a Train song)

I have been a busy busy bee lately with life and work. However no matter how busy I get or how much I do I can still hear and feel that ticking clock in the background. My husband's birthday is coming up this week and mine is not that far away either. I know we are just waiting now to try out our first IUI and its only a matter of another month or so, but the waiting makes me feel just useless.

This last month I did not track the cycle with the monitor or sticks and just went with it. On some days I could forget about the time in the background. However I do know my body well enough now to have an idea of what is going on even when not tracking. Without the definite dates on the cycle days I did not notice how much I continued to internally hope that maybe, just maybe this cycle would be a miracle. Towards the end of it I even got hopefully enough to test but like normal it was a BFN. And then the next day the spotting showed up. I felt crushed and stupid all at the same time.

For a few days of spotting I got over the disappointment and then when AF kicked in I started worrying. (FYI, TMI) I had huge blog clots which is not normal for my cycles at all. After three days of this my mind really started to wonder if we had been successful this month but then lost it. I wonder how many ladies question this each month. Do you ever feel haunted by the wondering and loss of hope? Maybe it is this just a cycle of the hormones and AF making my mind go a little crazy.

Now that AF has passed and a new month started all I can do now is go back to hoping again and seeing how things go. I've told myself that instead of hoping for a successful cycle I am just going to chart the next two months actively and have it for the doctor when we try for the IUI. This will keep me feeling busy and active and preparing for our next step.

Giveaway Reminder

Hi Ladies!

No new updates on my end really, just waiting for AF to show up (what fun).
How are you guys doing? Anything exciting going on?

I did a book review for a book club blog on an IF/TTC book. You can see it - HERE

I also wanted to post a quick reminder on my giveaway. I can't believe there are no entries yet! Just to confirm this is not limited to the US so you can enter wherever you are. There are mutiple chances to win too so go check it out!

CLICK HERE

Pre-Seed Giveaway! _ CLOSED

*UPDATE*

The Giveaway is over and the winner was Amy (A Southern Love)!!!

thank you so much to all who entered!

I have one full size bottle of Pre-seed lubricant to giveaway to
one lucky TTC reader!

Unless you are new to the TTC world I think it is safe to say you have at least heard of the ‘Fertility-friendly’ Pre~Seed and if so you just might have tried it. My husband and I have and still use it. This is why I jumped at the chance to host a giveaway.

The hubby and I are currently TTC and have been using Pre-Seed for a while now. Over the past year we have learned that our main IF issues is less than stellar sperm. While TTC, I personally feel a bit of stress being lifted knowing we are giving his swimmers as much help as possible by using Pre-Seed.

Before the giveaway here are a few Pre-seed facts -

• Traditional lubricants harm sperm because they have the wrong pH or osmolality (ion/salt concentration) or because they have ingredients in them such as glycerol (glycerin) which is toxic to sperm, especially at body temperatures.

• Pre~Seed mimics natural body secretions to relieve vaginal dryness while providing an optimal sperm environment. Its moisture is delivered in the same pH , osmolality and viscosity (thickness) as fertile cervical mucus. Pre~Seed does not harm sperm and is less irritating to women than the leading lubricants

• Pre-Seed can be found at most drugstores these days. My local CVS and Target currently stock it. If you have trouble finding it you can also do so online. To find it closest to you click HERE.
  

On to the giveaway! Please read the following on how to enter.

In order to win you have to be a follower of Waiting For That Positive AND like Pre~Seed on Facebook . Stop by their page and let them know I sent you.
(this counts as your first entry. comment below with something like this - "I follow you and stopped by the Pre-Seed FB page")

Since I like you all so much, here are a few more ways to earn entries.
These all count as one entry each and need separate comments.

• 
  
  
  Add my button to your blog - link can be found to the right.



• 
  
  
  Go to the Pre~Seeds website and tell me one thing you've learned that I have not mentioned here.



• 
  
  
  Tweet this giveaway! Can be done once a day and you must leave a perma link! Each tweet gets 1 extra entry!



• 
  
  
  Check out one of my Positve Friday's posts and tell me something positive about your day, week or TTC journey.

Giveaway is open for ONE WEEK! And will close on August 21st at noon central time.

Positve Friday

So this will be just a quick one but a good one. I want to get back to doing my Positive Friday posts again. Things have been going well but we are just in a holding pattern right now on the baby making front. I'm not charting and just waiting until the schedule clears and we can plan an IUI (hopefully November - fingers crossed!).

A few positives for today -
-Got to leave work early today :D
Had a doctor's appointment and was able to happily tell him that I'm feeling a lot better emotional -wise and have not had any breakdowns since being in.
- Went on vacation a couple of weeks ago and have a lovely time. Even got a tattoo while there. I'll post more about it later on.
- Work is busy and I'm having a nice time training new people.
- Starting next week I get to train a lady flying in from Australia. I can not wait to get to meet her and hang out. I'll have her as a contact for at least a while and I am looking forward to getting to know her.
- I have a few family members in town that I get to see this weekend
- I've been entering in a lot of sweepstakes lately and got a full mailbox this afternoon that included a pair of jeans and a kids bike (we'll have to wait to use that one!)
- Last but not least, I'm hosting a giving away this next week. So make sure to come back!

Hope everyone is doing well and have a positive day!