Green, It Does A Body Good

I don't know if what I have been doing qualifies as 'going green' but it is so hip right now. And I wanna be hip.

Since I started the TTC, I've changed my lifestyle quite dramatically and I’ve been struck not only by how quickly I've done changed my lifestyle but also by how long it’s lasted. If anyone had told me two years ago that I would give up alcohol, I would have slapped them. Over the course of my egg drop drama, I’ve given up some things and I’ve added some things. Here is the run-down.


WHAT I’VE STOPPED
My Biggest Accomplishment
Since March 0f 2007, I’ve stopped drinking alcohol. This is surprising because I used to drink at least two glasses of wine every week, sometimes more. I love Malbec and Pinot Noir. I read that drinking alcohol can impact your fertility and at my age (as my doctor drilled into my head recently) I can’t afford to ingest anything that will slow down my egg production.

No Cow’s Milk
A few years ago, I gave up all diary products but I used to cheat all of the time, so it was very half-arsed; however, since October 2007—the month I had fertility surgery, I have successfully given up all forms of diary—for real! And I have never looked back. I don't think that this impacts the TTC so much but I am lactose intolerant and I feel so much better now that I don’t cheat.

No Sugar Orgasms
Oh, yeah, I no longer eat any chocolate. Why? My face was ‘hot mess’ I figured out that my chocolate intake used to make me break out all of the time. Chocolate coupled with injectible medication made my face look at a walking billboard for Proactiv. Just call me Jessica Simp.son.

No Caffeine
My favorite drink in the world used to be a soy café mocha. They I switched to soy lattes but that all came to an end in March 2007. I don’t drink coffee. The caffeine ruined my sleep and made me nervous wreck. I had to give it up especially when I started the injectible cycles.

Okay, so the four things that I have stopped taking regularly within the last year are: diary, chocolate, alcohol and caffeine. I do drink green tea, though, and that does have caffeine in it but it also has anti-oxidants so that cancels itself out, right? My doctor said that if or when I get pregnant I can drink the equivalent of one can of coke a day, so I am not going to beat myself up to much for an occasional cup of yerba mate. For the most part, though I drink no caffeine herb teas.

WHAT I’VE STARTED
Folic Acid
I take pre-natal vitamins. My doctor suggested that I take the pre-natal vitamins because it can help to prevent miscarriage.

I have also increased my vegetable in-take, especially green leafy vegetables which are supposed to be high in natural folic acid--good for baby.


ISO My Inner Om
Within the last two weeks, I have started yoga and I think I've lost at least two pounds. I am going to the gym later on to weigh myself, so I will let you know for sure.

New 9 to 5
Also, I started a new job this week and I think I will like it. The last one was waaaay too stressful and Nadia and I both think that it had a negative impact on my fertility.

Obviously, this new approach to my taking care of my body emerged from the TTC but it is taking on a larger meaning for me. I think that contemplating conception has forced me to consider what kind of planet I want my child to live in and how I want to leave the planet when I’m gone.

I'm going to spend more time writing about going green during TTC.

As Legend Would Have It

I used to collect dolls when I was a child so for those who know me, it will come as no surprise that I've added some fertility dolls to my collection. Technically, only two of them are fertility dolls but I've thrown in a baby bump accessorized Barbie for the heck of it.

The first was a gift from my dear friend, Dr. Prescience. She gave me a Ghanaian Akuaba doll for my 37th birthday, which was right around the time I started this blog and the journey. Thanks, Dr. P.

According to a West African legend, Akua was unable to bear children and a wise man told her to make a wooden doll, carry it on her back, and treat it as her own child. The villagers made fun of her and she endured a lot of hardship but after a while Akua became pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful child. Akua ba means child of Akua.


The second doll was a gift from Nadia. Ironically, it is also an Akuaba doll. Nadia ran across this one while researching fertility charms online. She said that she was deeply inspired by the story behind the hand carved doll so she bought it to bring us luck. Nadia felt that given the length and emotional nature of our journey, it would be okay if we had two Akuabas.

Isn't she beautiful?

Being the doll lover that I am, for old times sake, I also purchased a pregnant black Barbie, aka Madge. According to her official Mattel paperwork, Madge is married with one son and she has another baby on the way. Hence the baby bump. Can you see it in this photo?

In this country, we don't have lucky charms for fertility. In fact, as we know, fertility is a taboo subject. For the most part those of us who are tyring to conceive feel ashamed about our lack of success. It's a shameful secret, though that is s-l-o-w-l-y changing thanks to all of you. I love the repro-blogosphere because I can share my thoughts and feelings (as random as they are), read about other TTC journeys and feel not only as if I am heard and supported, but that I am part of a community of kick-arse women. Thanks, gals!

But I want to confess that also love my dolls. Just like when I was a child, they give me comfort and help me pull myself together. They inspire me, particularly the two Akuaba's. There they stand near my bedside waiting along with me until I can get back on the TTC hamster wheel. I generally don't believe in fairly tales, legends, or myths but I'm counting on my Akuabas to bring me luck in the fall.

I just hope they don't bring me twins. If they do, Nadia will kill me.

Extreme Makover

Okay, maybe not extreme, but...

It has been a world wind of a week. Last Friday was my last day at my old job and I've had fun relaxing. I have another week off before I start work again. I am going to visit family and then go on a “pamper your inner-mama vacation’.

In case you don't know what a “pamper your inner mama vacation” is, it’s a vacation designed to spoil my inner mama. I know she is in there even though I don't have a physical child-yet. Over the past two years, I've been working soo hard and I've felt soo stressed that I need at least a week to be totally self-indulgent. I need time to get mentally and physically prepared for my new job and my fall IVF cycle.

Ironically, last Friday was also the day of my yearly gyno exam-fun! I told my doctor that after all my IUIs and exams with Dr. Feelgood, the awkwardness of the pap smear experience was no longer even a blip on my radar. She laughed a little at my silly joke before she delivered some not so good news.

She said that I should try to lose some weight. In fact, she recommended that I use my time off from the TTC to lose 15lbs.

15lbs???

15lbs is nothing to sneeze at but I am going to give it a try. She explained to me that I would have a smoother pregnancy if I lost the weight. So far this week I have worked out every single day and I even started doing yoga. That sounds promising, sort of.

Well, I think it would be for the average person. But for me, I always get into a health kick before I fall off of the wagon. I have to admit that it is one of my vicious cycles. I am just hope that this time I can keep up my routine. I mean, the stakes are high enough, right?

Anyhoo, I am also planning to give The Egg Drop Post a total complete facelift over the next month. I am going to move over to wordpress—where a lot of the cool kids are-- and change the layout and visuals. It should be exciting, if I can figure it all al out. I am not the most technologically savvy person out there, but my reading comprehension is decent. Please bear with me as I work the kinks out with this blog and come into my true self.

As you can see, I have a few projects planned to keep my mind off of the TTC. The only problem is that they all revolve around the TTC-- updating this blog and losing weight.

We’ll see how I do with my extreme makeover. As always, I will keep you posted.

My UPS Pal

It came today.

And by ‘it’ I mean my IVF box from hell full of medications for my impending IVF cycle. I won’t begin cycling until the fall but I was advised to buy the medication before I switched insurance.

I already have lots of Menopur left over from my failed IUI cycles so here is a list of what arrived today:
· Progesterone vaginal insert
· Progesterone Injection
· Ganirelix Acetate Injection
· Novarel—trigger shot
· Doxycycline
· Methylprednisolone

And let’s not forget the infamous: Gonal-F Pen! I feel as if I have crossed a TTC threshold with that last one. I have heard and read so much about them. I was also send another sharps container--I think I have about 10 now-- and last but not least, I received several (approximately 50) 1.5 inch needles .

Yowsa!

When I figure out what I am doing I will add a ticker tape to countdown to my IVF cycle.

Believe It or Not

Hey! Was everyone glued to the TV tonight to watch Quads with 2 Moms? I DVRed it but have yet to watch. I can't wait. What an interesting cultural moment! Particularly for us Queer TTCers!

In other news, this is my last week at my old job. I have been walking around singing my old favorite song "Believe it or not, I am walking on air".