Well, hardly is it beginning. I started this separate blog for my, or DH & mine's road to conceiving baby #4. Not everyone who is interested in my family wants to hear the ins and outs of my menstral cycles and baby making. You would think that after 3 kids we wouldn't have any trouble with conceiving. We already have 3 great kids...Liv 10, Esther 4, and Jack just turned 3 a few weeks ago (and is potty training!!!). DH & I have been married just about 11.5 years.

So how did we come to this? Well, after it was apparent Liv had problems (autism and seizures) we put off other children although we desperately wanted more. About 5 years later we had an "oops" and Esther was born. After 9/11 we decided to try for what was to be our "last" baby. That first time DH was in port for an entire cycle we conceived Jack. Fast forward to about 18 months ago. DH starts telling me how he is missing having a baby in the house and we throw out birth control (end of March 2004). We try for about 3 months and then stop trying (June 2004). We both go gaga again and feel the Lord is leading us to have another child so...we again throw out the birth control (end of January 2005) and have been trying ever since. We are into our 9th month of trying now.

So what is the hold up? My periods have always been really wacky. It is not unusual for me to skip a few months and NOT be pregnant. A dear friend of mine starts asking me questions about my cycles. And it turns out she says she thinks I have PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome). Oh great...while that does explain it - it is not a good thing to have if you want to have kids.

I go to my PCM and tell her, "I think I have PCOS" and list my symptoms...(1)irregular, heavy, painful periods, (2) hair growth under my chin, (3)having insulin resistance -previously diagnosed by a former PCM, etc. She tells me she agrees and tells me to come back on CD3 for a ton of blood work, and she is going to start the referral to a fertility specialist (aka reproductive endocrinologist, aka RE).

The referral to the RE came through and the doc. I am to see is a leading guy in PCOS. Yippee! But, he only sees patients 2 afternoons a week...so even though I called in mid-August, my first appt. isn't until November 10th.

And my period just won't start so I can go into my PCM and get my blood work done. RRRR. I am now CD43. I had been having some nausea for a few days but it is now gone. I thought I was seeing a faint line on an HPT...but when I used a very sensitive dip sticky test it was very (-). I don't really think I am pregnant...but I would like to get on with it. And while my cycles linger and linger not only can I not get my blood work...but I can not get another chance to ovulate. I really want my blood work done so I will have it to take to the RE.

I have tried loosing weight in the hopes that it would kick me back into good ovulation. I have as of today's weigh in lost 34 pounds. I will keep it up until I loose it all...after all I am only making myself more healthy for baby #4. Oh, and I have been taking prenatal vitamins for about 4 months now.

It doesn't help either that all my mommy friends are popping up pregnant...and now that they are theyof course want to change our trying to conceive board to a having another child board. Now mind you I am happy for them, and if they leave the group there will be only a sad few of us left...but there are days it is hard.

So in a large nut shell that is where I am at on this journey. Hopefully we will be abundantly blessed soon and can discontinue this blog and start a pregnancy one.

May God Bless Us and Increase Our Numbers!,
T