Bag-O-Tricks

It's late. I'm not tired. I'm taking in a quiet night very early morning, in my favorite spot on the couch. I'm burning the last of our $4 Walmart "Juicy Melon" candle in honor of summer coming to an end. I'm hoping. I'm praying. I'm of course, thinking.

This week was a busy one. And when I mean busy, I mean busy in all aspects.
Take it from my little friend, the ovulation test.

I decided this month, I would pull out a few tricks. Because, in my mind, they really are just that. The ovulation test tells me what I 99% already know...that I pop out an egg around day 12 or 13 on unmedicated cycles. But, because I haven't used one of these mid-cycle pee sticks in a couple months I figured, what the heck. Changing things up a bit can't do any harm.  Hopefully, it does some good.

Can I just say how nice it is to see that smiley face staring back at me!? So much prettier than that one line on a pregnancy test or "Not Pregnant" on a digital! So Wednesday, day 11, "Mr. Smiley" gave me the "Go" signal.

*be warned. it's about to get personal. this post will contain words that make me and maybe you, make this kind of face.

What?! You scared? That ain't nothin'. I got way scarier faces than that! Just ask my friends.

Ok.
Topic.
Cervical Mucus.

*EWWWWWWWW, Maria said, "cervical mucus"*

Those two words mean a lot in the land of trying to conceive.
You need it. The more, the better. And, the more, the easier the swimmers get to where they need to get goin'.
So, meet my Bag-O-Tricks for this month's cycle.

Ovulation tests. Grapefruit Juice. Cheap-o brand Guaifenesin.  Pre-seed. And Softcups.

I bet you're wondering what those softcups are for, considering they are for "period time".  Think about it, because I'm not explaining  *EWWWW!*

 The ovulation tests.  It is said, once you see a digital happy dude pop up on the screen, you are to do the deed and cover your bases accordingly for the next 48 hrs.  Note - Bases have been covered.
Ovulation typically occurs anywhere in the next few days after the smiley.  I'm an early ovulater, so technically, my two week wait doesn't start for another day or so.  *Joy*

Stop teasin' me, baby!


The grapefruit juice helps with the production of cervical mucus.  Thanks for the tip, Maria! *more on Maria, next week*
The Guaifenesin helps loosen up mucus...everywhere in the body, it's not just for the sniffles. *EWWW*

I drank the whole bottle in 3 days.


The Pressed helps with um, the gettin' busy part.  And it's very sperm friendly. Are you feeling uncomfortable yet?! If not, read THIS POST.

I have heard so many "trying to conceivers" rave about this product, but I never gave it a try.  Thanks to a friend, I was turned onto it. (no pun intended) So was Steve.  Sorry, had to say it! ;)
So there ya have it.  That wasn't so bad.  Only a quick paragraph about, *say it with me people*, cervical mucus.  Last time I say it in this post, promise.

Lucky for you guys, there are no pictures coming up of the crazy, naked yoga positions that occur once the deed is done.  You know, the ones we attempt in hopes to get the swimmies headed in the right direction.  It's one "trick" I have never strayed from in these almost two years.  Just the other night, I typed my dear friend, Jessica, a long email while I lay in a position made for a contortionist, while Steve lay fast asleep in Sleepytime Land.

So all these little extras.  Do they really help?  Who truly knows.  I have a hard time doing some of them.  Partly because they have made me crazy in the past.  Ok, crazier.  We've already established a long time ago, I AM CRAZY.  It doesn't make sense. When seeing our RE, I have less of a problem with the monitoring and all that jazz over some of these tricks.  I guess it's because when we're in doctor appointment mode, we are in a different mind set.  In these past few months, on a break from our RE, we haven't used many tricks.  Just, Sex  Hope and Prayers.  No drugs.  Maybe a little Rock n' Roll.

Sure, the items above might bring us some peace of mind.  Make us think we did all we can do.  But in the end...
I know the things that bring us the most peace in our life right now, are not things.
There are the people in our life.  The love in our life.
And the faith in our life.
I sit here now and think of my past week.  The items in the pictures aren't what help me rest at night.
It's the prayers I pray and the people I love.
 

I will leave with some pictures from a wonderful Thursday.

Kim came over for breakfast. I'll give it a rest on the food pictures, for this post.  Just imagine bakery goodness.  And us two, laughing hysterically.  The kind of laughter that makes you cry and unable to catch your breath.

There was a lovely, impromptu Girl's Night

Me and Kelly

Kelly and Jessica

Jessica and I

I <3 them.  And I know they are honored to be included in a post talking about cervical mucus. (Oops, I said it again!)

Wishing you all, a SUPER DUPER SATURDAY!

Another big THANK YOU, to everyone. Your words always make me :)


*Tune in Sunday night, for a guest post by my husband, Steve*

Weekend Lovin',