Yea, it does get better, and then it gets worse, then better. It is seriously a roller coster ride. I am TTC our #1 and have odd cycles. I'm on cycle 8 TTC and nothing yet.
Best of luck to you:)

Surfed on over to your page from Doul-la-la and I just wanted to offer my sympathy for your journey to baby #3. It took us 2 years and 11 IUIs to get pregnant with #2, so I definitely feel your pain. Hope things slow down for you and your body catches on that it's time to turn on the vacancy sign!

You can put off the morning sickness starting at 14 weeks and puking in the street and have people think you're drunk and that's why you're puking!

Got my period yesterday and drank a Bailey's to "celebrate"! Though, in my case, I had mixed feelings about getting pregnant anyway. Though I really, really want another, I'm okay with it not being now ... our baby is still so little and could use more time getting all the attention, and I just accepted a part-time job too.

With you being so busy, I'm sure Julesy needs your time and attention -- which you might not have to offer if you were pregnant.

And, hey, maybe you can't get pregnant this month because her birthday is going to be some special day, like Easter or Mother's Day or something. You never know.

Cycle #8 and period is due in 9 days (not that I'm counting or anything) and I don't think that this month is the month. I'm trying to look at the positives of being not pregnant too. Like the fact that I can eat soft cheeses, drink wine, be able to get through the day without looking like the walking dead.

And also for me at the moment I'm focusing on really enjoying all of the one-on-one time I get with my first baby.

Still, as much as I'm expecting that negative, when I get it, it will sting and I'll need to crawl under my doona to cry for an hour or so.

25 pregnancy strips for $6 at amazon!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002YIQEQ?ie=UTF8&tag=girsguitothei-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0002YIQEQ

my sister sent that to me cuz she wants me to get pregnant and I thought I would share with u :P

How about avoiding the debilitating, mind-numbing fatigue? That's the one aspect of pregnancy that's killing me right now.

I know this sucks for you. I'm sorry =(

18 months. It took us 18 months to get pregnant. We seriously considered taking out stock in the brand of PT we were using, at 13 bucks a pop we wanted to reap some of the profits they were getting from our BFN.
However, when I look back and think about all the things that happened in those 18 months, it's no wonder it took so long. We moved twice in those 18 months, the first move we didn't even have a home to move into, the second we only had a week to find our new home in a foreign city before having to fly back home and pack all of our belongings. We both had to find new jobs, I had to leave one job and find another when we were moved because of his job. It was completely insane. And my body knew, it wasn't the right time. I was no less frustrated though. I doubted myself and my ability to create our family more each month. But now I can see why my body chose to wait. And what a blessing it was when we could focus on our baby, and step away confidently from everything else for a while.
Stay strong Gina!

You don't have to be tired all the time! My first trimester I was so tired that I wanted to sleep 20 hours a day. And I never had morning sickness, but I would get light motion sickness if I was the passenger in a car or on a plane (I had to take 2 airplane round-trips in my 2nd month). So at least there isn't that to deal with!

Stay positive, hon! Sounds like all your creative energy is being channeled in seventeen zillion different directions at the moment (which is wonderful!), your body is just waiting until you have the right amount free to dedicate to Baby! Best of luck!

Hugs, Gina! I think you are so right to try and focus on the positive, and especially to trust your body. I believe it will happen for you at the right time. It's ok to feel sad, of course, too. Hugs and hang in there...

You can sleep in any position that makes you happy. Also your body temperature is consistent with everyone else's.

Are you a temperature girl when figuring out ovulation or are you a mucus girl. I personally find the mucus most effective.

I just saw this babe and it sucks so bad. We had secondary infertility due to PCOS and while I got pregnant a few times after Peanut, maintaining the viability of my pregnancy...well, let's just say, we are blessed to have the one little boy gracing our lives with his presence.

Our bodies do know what we can and can't handle. Your plate is very full and it could be it's way of saying "It's just not time". But, the empty womb and the space in our hearts speaks powerfully.

Here's to you filling yours.

xoxo

Roller coasters! You can ride them now. You can't when you're pregnant.

You won't have morning sickness in the middle of what seems to be a heat wave sweeping the entire universe this summer.

I think those two are the best I can come up with. Just hearing about all the hats you're wearing right now makes me incredibly tired for you. So maybe the cosmos is helping you out. However, I kind of want to punch everyone who is telling you to "relax" or "stop trying." Nothing irritates me quite as much as that.

I'm in the same boat, more or less. We've been trying for 6 months with no success. I got pregnant after 3 months with my son and got pregnant again last year, also after 3 months, but had a miscarriage.
The arrival of every period is harder and harder to take.

I wish both of us luck!

That sucks! Judging by the first two, you make awesome babies. The world could use another happy, healthy baby.

I do wonder how you manage it all. I'm trying to figure out if/when I'll have the time to go back to grad school with two kids. And here you are, opening a business and going to school and being an activist and keeping a blog and ... and ...

Hell, I'm amazed you have time to shower. I think if I had your workload and THREE kids I'd probably lose it and forget my own name or something.

You asked for positives to the negative...being able to move properly. You know, when you're huge and uncomfortable during the end of the pregnancy, sore hips, unable to sleep well, you can't use a public restroom without scraping your belly with the door, you forget how big your belly is and you accidentally rub against something - resulting in yet another dirty shirt...and one more, more time for your two sons - when the third comes along you'll wish you had more for them.

My sympathies that you are having to wait so long for your next little one.

You still have a little bit of 'me time', a little bit of sleep and can usually get the dishes done with two.

With three there is no 'me time' no undisturbed sleep, mess comes faster than tidy and the 'old' baby becomes the slightly sad tantrumming 'middle child'

Of course it still amazes me how I have so much love for three. After my eldest girl I was so in love I couldn't imagine loving anyone or anything as much ever. Now I have that much love for three- no time, no sleep- lucky they are soooo cute!

I am sending you a hug! I know so well what you are facing and applaud you for trying to stay positive. My husband and I have been trying in one way or another for a year and a half. I am lucky that I tend to get pregnant quickly but I have a hard time keeping it. We just got a positive this month, but it is our third in that 18 or so months. We are very very hopeful for a positive outcome this time, but it is soo scary. Each miscarriage I have had has ended up being for the best in one way or another. Each time I have been able to look back and see that the world saw a bigger picture than I did in my baby-focused mind. It is so hard though because not one of those things filled that hole. I am continuing to send you positive energy, love, and strength. Try to make this time about you and your successes and continue to trust your body and yourself to know and do when it is time. Hugs to you!!!!! And thank you for putting yourself out there. It is healing for you and all that share in your struggles!

Again, brilliantly expressed. It's like you're inside my head! After two recent losses here (2/1/10 and 6/1/10) I'm trying to convince that hole in my heart that my uterus knows what's right for us right now. Yeah, sure, I still want another baby, but I feel it's easier to let go right now since I have a very demanding, very opinionated 19 month old who still nurses on demand. She is a busy girl! I look at her and wonder, "Why the hell would I want another one?!" It's not that I don't love her, it's just utterly exhausting to keep chasing after her while trying to keep the peace between my other children. Between homeschooling, one child with PDD-NOS (10yrs old) (hopefully soon to be properly diagnosed and medicated), a chronically PMSing teenage daughter (14yrs old)) and one VERY naughty 8 yr old boy, who has the time for "just one more?"

-Kelly
(Very tired mommy)

Ooh.. I've got one. Don't have people with no sense of personal boundaries touching your belly!

I'm sorry you're having to feel disappointed right now. I'm sorta with ya. I'm intentionally waiting to get my ducks in a row (like not being in an accelerated school program, moving out of my in law's basement, stable job and health insurance for the "special" little guy I have) and it makes me really sad every day. Probably why I'm obsessed with birth stuff.

I'm so sorry....hugs to you. I know that in my experience when I stopped thinking and worrying on whether or not I would EVER get pregnant, I became pregnant with my daughter within a few months. It used to drive me crazy and make me feel stabby when people would tell me once I stopped thinking about it, it would happen and then, it did. As far as the list, you seem to have covered it all. The ONLY thing I can think of after racking my brain, and it's not great, is you could jump into a mosh pit. See I told you it wasn't great.

Hi Gina,

Lots of hugs to you! Going through the "what if I am?" roller coaster each month is emotionally draining. Kudos to you for trying to see the bright side, knowing that conception can take time. And you're right - you're busy with a new business (congrats!) and getting ready for BlogHer. The stress of that alone can throw your body off-balance.

I'm a Reiki Master healer, and have worked with a few women who have had fertility issues. At least 3 that I know of (because sometimes they come for a few sessions and then I don't hear from them for a long time) became pregnant after receiving Reiki from me, including a friend of mine who went through months of very expensive IVF treatments with no success. I can't make any guarantees, because everyone's body is different, but I do suggest energy healing as something for you to try.

There are Reiki healers in the Chicago area, if you prefer in-person sessions. I also do distance healing work. My Reiki website is: www.dragonflyreiki.net if you'd like to learn more about energy healing.

Hang in there!

Dana

I don't get pregnant on my own. 5 years of BFNs taught me that. It was a hard, hard, hard, hard, hard road for me. The consolation that finally made it ok was this.... We knew that we would be able to empathize and support a whole new group of families. The infertile. And it really gave it purpose and context for us. Maybe that sounds really weird, but it really helped knowing that I would be able to help other women navigate the territories of having aching hearts and empty arms.
On August 5th, I go back to the reproductive endocrinologist to see about babymiracle#2. I believe, for me, our first miracle came exactly when she was supposed to. And fighting to make her was a part of the process we had to go through to become the parents we are.

Sorry, I don't think this is making any sense!

<3 thinking of you!

I am right there with you. We are on cycle # 6 of trying with no baby in sight. I have 1 perfect, wonderful daughter who was conceived without ANY difficulty and I was shocked when I didn't get pregnant as soon as I wanted to.
It is so heartbreaking to get let down month after month. I get my hopes up every time (I know, I try not to, but I am SO ready to do this! The only difference is I am healthy, financially stable, and actually have the time to do this and every month another let down.
Thanks for blogging about this, it takes the stigma away and makes me feel less like a barren, dried up old maid :)

I'm not TTC like you, however the last couple of months I've secretly been hoping for a baby. For me, as well, right now would not be the ideal time to have my third. I love the fact that you and I had our first births via C-section within a couple of months of each other, our vbac the same month, and have the same length menstrual cycles. My luteal phase is 13 days and today I JUST started my period. I also endured a negative pregnancy test yesterday. I had been experiencing strange symptoms and wanted to test it out. Despite it being the worst possible time to conceive in my family's life I am still horribly crushed that the hpt was not positive & that I now have my period.

Bummer :( I think you're on to something, though. I don't know how your body would handle pregnancy on top of everything else you've got going. It was a challenge for me just to stay on top of my inbox during the first trimester. Another positive? Being able to drink at Blogher :) I'm going to be surrounded by drunk happy women while I sip on lemonade.

I hear ya. I do. Been TTC (naturally) for don't-remember-how-many months with the same results. Of course, I'm a ten years older than you, so it'll be a miracle if it happens (as it was when it did with Little Miss Kickboxer 2.5 years ago). One of my colleagues who'd gone through several IVF cycles said that, once she relaxed about the whole issue, she got pregnant naturally. So, I stopped timing things and counting obsessively (even though I still count the days) and am hoping that maybe a more relaxed attitude will help speed things along. Best wishes to you!

Yeah, this sucks. At least it did for me. I also have ridiculously long cycles, so I know all about that, too.

Here is one upside - you don't have to deal with the weird way that everyone treats pregnant women. Maybe I was particularly bothered by this, but as a society we act as if pregnant women have not a brain in their head. I hated that.

Also? The second time around, when I finally got pregnant on my 8th cycle / 9th month of trying, it was awesome. The first time, even though it was planned, I felt kind of conflicted when I was actually pregnant. The second time, after all the months of working through everything, I was jubilant. I knew this is what I wanted, no doubts.