well...

So the diligence didn't happen exactly as planned. The monitor says I ovulated day 11/12; we tried on day 9 and 11, but the hubby was having some performance anxiety on the other peak days. I think knowing this was our last attempt pre-IUI made him feel even more under pressure than he has other times. I didn't make a big deal out of it... what can you do? He was upset enough as it was. And, honestly, given the sperm morphology issues that we know exist, who knows what our realistic chances are in our own? The good news is that my temperature spiked today, which means that my peak day was 2 or 3 days ago. So... well, who knows. I'm tired of over-analyzing.

The doc told me I needed to give them two weeks' notice prior to starting the hormone injections for IUI, so even though we don't know anything for sure I called them to get that ball rolling. I am still a little fuzzy on the details of that whole endeavor, but I'm trying not to think about it until/unless I have to. Fingers crossed for another two weeks...

phase 2 diligence

today is day 9. according to the ovulation monitor, i'm still not ovulating, but i think that it's coming soon... based on how my body feels. as we enter our peak fertility window for this 2nd cycle post-surgery, i'm trying to be as absolutely diligent about every detail as possible. i've been consistent about taking my temperature, which i have been kinda lazy about the past few months. but this way i'll know for sure when i've ovulated (and if that silly monitor actually knows what it's talking about). i also started taking Mucinex, which i've done a couple of times before but again have slacked off on. the general consensus is that since it's a drug that loosens up mucus, it's helpful in the realm of cervical mucus during peak fertility. i've also decided -- again -- to quit coffee. i've been trying with varying levels of success for awhile, but i just read an article about a new search study that seems to have determined exactly why caffeine might prevent pregnancy (http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/study+shows+caffeine+might+prevent+pregnancy/4838701/story.html). even though i rarely drink more than one cup a day, which isn't considered "excessive" by the researchers, it can't hurt. so we'll give it our best, and cross all our fingers and toes...

phase 2, cycle 2

as you have probably guessed given my lack of posting, i am not pregnant. i got my period in the midst of last-week-of-school chaos, which made it somewhat easier to deal with... i just didn't have time to dwell. i am disappointed, but not crushed. the hubby, in his typical scientific mindset, said, "what did we do wrong?" he just doesn't understand how it's possible that the correct procedure is followed and the predicted results don't occur. but, as i explained to him, we did everything we could, and we'll do it again this time around.

today is day 8 of my cycle, which means i'll likely ovulate this weekend. we'll give it another go and hope for the best... but i'll also give the fertility institute a call, because if it doesn't work i'll be starting my hormone injections when my cycle begins. let's hope it doesn't come to that...