Studies going well...TTC not so good!

Well this past few weeks has been really busy with one thing or another. One of those things being the completion of my very first essay for my Open University course and this week I received the result.....drum roll please..... I got a Whopping 70% otherwise known as a pass 2. Not to shabby for someone not to good with academic stuff.

So that's a highlight of my month. The TTC front is not so full of sunshine. 19 months in I am going to have to do something drastic to change things. Hubby had a sperm test done.....he has very happy healthy sperm. So now I require testing but have to wait for a new cycle to start!

In the meantime we've had the usual you have to lose weight get your BMI under 35 for help if it turns out you need it blah blah. Which is easier said then done. But we're going to have to face it at some point. If life was easy it would be boring right?

Trying to get my life back!

Yesterday was an awfully hard day for the people all around me. Neighbours, friends and my husband. We attended the funeral of a lovely bloke, who I regret I didn't get to know very well, but he was always smiling and he will be sadly missed by all.

He was only 27 when he had his life taken away from him, but had achieved so much. He leaves behind 3 lovely children and a fiancé and ALOT of friends and family. The turnout for him was truly incredible, a true testament to just how many people's lives he had touched.

Well it has gotten me thinking, of course it did. He achieved and gained so much in his short life and I spend most of my time wishing my life was better. This makes me feel utterly selfish and I know I need to be a bit more pro active in enjoying life!

There are lots of things that get in the way of me enjoying life. My weight being a huge one (no pun intended), my seriously low confidence being another. But thats another post for another time.

I need a huge confidence boost and re motivate myself to get back on track with the weightloss. I did ok with a 3lb loss the first week and not so good this week with a 1lb gain. Not the greatest start.

I've got lots of catching up to do blog wise so will post again ASAP. But I'll leave you with this thought: life is for living so enjoy it. If there's something you don't like about it, change it. If there's something you want to do go and do it because we just never know what's going to happen tomorrow!

My '30 Day Shred': Day 1

     Oh my life what have I started! This is definitely some workout!! All in the name of trying to conceive baby no2!!
     I have joined a handful of my friend doing the '30 day shred' at home (you can get this DVD for around £6 on eBay). It is a really good work out. Hard- especially for my 20st frame but really good all the same.
    It has 3 levels. I've started on level one and will prob be here for a while. at least 10 days anyway. I'm hoping for 10 days at each level but we'll see how it goes!

     So I'm starting this at a hefty 20st 5.5lbs (as of Saturday 3rd March) and a size 24. Not a comfortable size. And certainly not a healthy one for conceiving a baby!! Alongside the DVD I will be following a 1900 calorie diet with the Biggest Loser Club (your calorie count is dependent on your starting weight etc. So will decrease over time to what your body actually NEEDS). It has a friendly community and graphs for everything, literally everything. Even a pie chart for your food to tell you how much of your food has been made up of carbs, protein, fat etc. Its very detailed but a fab site. Even though I didn't start the '30 Day Shred' until today (grrr postman) I will be weighing in on Saturdays!

  I think that's all for now. I will keep you up to date as much as is possible. Hoping for a daily diary but we all know life can sometimes get in the way. Wish me Luck xx

Nappy of the Month....MARCH

Being the EXTREMELY heavy wetter that C is he is the PERFECT toddler to put cloth nappies to the ultimate test!

He is 26 months old but not quite ready for potty training yet! During the Tots Bots Birthday week we were lucky enough to be given the opportunity to test out the NEW Tots Bots with Minkee core and poppers. It was a privilege to test out a nappy that was not going to be released to the public for another month (you can pre order yours here)

Key Tests: Washing - Wash at 40 or 60 degrees
                  Drying time- Airer - Overnight/ 12-14 hours
                                         By radiator - Overnight/ 8-10 hours (radiator on for 1 hour appx)
                                         Line Drying - Not tested
                                         Tumble Drying - 50- 70 mins on low but not recommended.

                   Absorbency- Great. Lasts up to 2 hours with no booster or 3 1/2 with. (after only 1 - 2 washes!)
                   Pooplosion containment - Excellent.
                   Fit -  Great fit on C. Tall 26 month old with smallish waist and chunky thighs.

So all in all the NEW Tots Bots nappies with Minkee Core have not been beaten by my Extremely heavy wetter! No leaks of any kind. Great fit. Great in pram or car. Not tested as a night Nappy.

CONGRATULATIONS Tots Bots on being our MARCH Nappy of the Month.
                  
                                         

And the Winner is.........

What a fab week it's been! I've had the chance to try out 3 different nappies....one that doesn't even get released until March. I'm honoured, more about that later. Also seem to be able to focus on getting myself in shape a bit better ready for conception. I've added a little tracker to my iPod and my 2 study days a week when my Mother in Law has C for the day I am going to start my day with a fitness DVD and shower. Who knows maybe it will help me concentrate better!!

Anyway you want to know who is being given a gorgeous Lime Green Snap In from the wonderful people @ Tiny Nippers don't you!! Well there were quite a few entries, I also included the lady who was unable to comment on the blog but random.org decided the winner should be............


Ellen Mackenzie

CONGRATULATIONS. I really hope you like your Tiny Nipper Snap In. We are really enjoying testing one out at the moment :D! Please could you email sales@tinynippers.co.uk with your address please and your nappy will be sent to you ASAP.

The rest of you do not despair. The discount code BROODYNEWS is still valid for 10% off all purchases until the 3rd March and we also hope to have more giveaways soon.

Took a Trip to Boots...

    Got my swanky new boots advantage card in the post today, so took a trip out to stock up!

    This cycle is the cycle I have decided to try and get my act together a bit. I really want another baby but there are allot of walls blocking my way. I have been awaiting a root canal for 7 months and have been taking paracetamol and ibuprofen several times a day not realising just how bad the impact of these painkillers can be on a person!
    Ibuprofen can begin to effect your fertility if taken in the long term! I had no idea about this until the other day when I became rather ill and my Hubby was forced to take action. Googling and a phone call to the doctor it turns out both of these painkillers can cause serious side effects and eventually we found out that Ibuprofen could be causing quite alot of problems for me.
    I am gutted to say the least but on a positive not it can be reversed simply by not taking the Ibuprofen. Simple eh? Well actually it's not because I am in total agony however I have cut right back and getting through the day as best I can without it. Holding a warm hot water bottle to my face every now and again helps a bit. But I am determined to nip this in the bud ASAP. My root canal is finally on Tuesday. fingers crossed there is nothing to stop it from happening this time.

     In the meantime I've popped to boots and gotten some mum to be multivitamins. Sanatogen Pro Natal with Omega 3. Normally I just take one without the Omega 3 but I do recall switching and adding Omega 3 when we concieved C so I have decided to give it a go.  It's good for me either way. So can't complain. So thats 2 things off my list. Now the stuipdly high BMI wall. This is where the challange really begins...............

Another Day.....another friend with a BFP!

       Me? The green eyed monster? NEVER! OK that's a lie because I really really am!! Terrible isn't it. Don't get me wrong I love that all my friends and Facebook acquaintance's are getting their BFP's (Big Fat Positive) I really do but i can't help but be a teeny bit envious especially when the say "it just happened" when you've been battling month after month for YEARS to create your family!

OK maybe I am actually a terrible person after all I don't really help myself do I?? Let's look at my mission as it stands

• I forget constantly to take my pregnancy vitamins.
• I eat far to much chocolate and other Junk
• I'm horrifically overweight.
• I rely far to much on caffeine to get me through the day.

OK that list could go on FOREVER so may as well just cut it down to the things I DO get right which is not smoking or drinking alcohol - which I've never done- so never really going to be an issue.

     The thing is I start each new cycle with some degree of optimism. I begin taking my multivitamins, eating well and getting my exercise DVD actually in the DVD player which is progress. I suppose. But It all get's very tedious very quickly. When your cycles can be anything from 35-80 days long your patience wears thin and even sex can become boring or turn into 'just doing it to get pregnant' which isn't really what it should be about - in my opinion.

And I know if I just shifted some of this weight it would make such a difference. Since last september I have lost and regained the same stone and a half THREE yes THREE times!! If I had just kept it off and kept going i might not be in this predicament and could actually be getting some help with TTC but alas - until I can get my BMI under 35 they won't touch me a barge pole (or any other kind of pole!) and as my BMI stands closer to the 45 mark I have really got some work to do. Initial will power and motivation I can do. But it only take one bad day to completely throw me off track! One chinese and I throw in the towel and tell myself to 'just except im fat and never going to have another baby'. I am my own worst enemy!!

I have no idea where I'm going with this. After all the only person who can help me is me. But I would love some tips and advice. Food needs to no longer be my best friend!! I have got to do something about the rather large behind of mine if I want that longed for BFP!