PCOS and Weight Loss (dieting, exercise)

First, here is a little information PCOS:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001408/

Having PCOS makes it 3x as hard to lose weight as a Person w/o PCOS.
Which i have been experiencing, let me tell ya. I work out at the Gym 3-4x/week,
*trying* to diet and NOTHING is happening. Which leaves me feeling depressed and unencouraged.
I mean why do all the work for no results?

I have found this on http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=11182&terms=polycystic+ovarian+syndrome

Diet and PCOS
Research has shown changing eating habits and getting more exercise helps to manage PCOS.
Moderate weight loss (10 percent of total body weight) can help normalize menstrual cycles, regulate blood sugar and increase a woman’s chances of conceiving a baby. Eating more whole-grain foods, fruits, vegetables, lean meats and low-fat or fat-free milk, cheese or yogurt can help lower your blood sugar, improve your body’s use of insulin and normalize hormone levels.
The best eating plan for women with PCOS includes:

• Regular meals or snacks every three to four hours. Don’t skip meals.
• High-fiber carbohydrates to keep blood sugar levels normal and hunger pangs away. Eat whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
• More healthy fats, like olive and canola oils, walnuts, almonds and avocadoes.
• Proteins in all meals and snacks. Try nut butters, lean meats, fish, chicken, turkey and low-fat dairy products with all meals and snacks.
• Healthy beverages. Avoid high-calorie, sugar-laden and alcoholic choices.

Physical Activity and PCOS
Regular exercise can help alleviate symptoms of PCOS. Get moving with at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five days a week. (For weight loss, additional physical activity may be needed). Increase muscle mass with strength-training exercises at least two times a week. Exercise can help with depression and body image, too.

So i HATE going feeling uninspired and unmotivated, so here are some photos that make me feel MOTIVATED:

So, i have been doing a little crafting and have found it to be a GREAT stress relief for me!
I am so excited to share some headbands i have made. I absolutely adore them.
I love headbands, main reason is when i skip a day of shampooing i can just slip one on and go.
AWESOME!
Here are a few I've made:

Waiting....
Waiting...
Waiting...


Is it just me or is SO hard to wait?? We have been on the waiting list to start our parenting classes/home study with the state for several months now... AGH!
But *possible* good news. I contacted someone from the State and they said they are having a class in January, so *cross your fingers* that we are on the list! I sure hope so!!!

Christmas time is rough, or goal for 2011 was to have a baby in our home by Christmas... here we are, Christmas 2011 with no baby. I am praying that God will bless us with a baby in 2012. I am really really anxious. I am starting to wonder is God still listening to my prayers?? Does he hear me? Does anyone?

Please take a moment to read/watch:

http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2009/12/done-with-excuses.html

A friend did the 'Infertility A-Z'!

Here is hers:
A) Age when you started TTC: before first born age:23 trying for #2, age:28

B) Baby Dancing or Sex: Don't understand, I guess sex.

C) Children wanted: One more, unless it is a boy, then 2 more.

D) Dog/Cat/Fill in Children: We have one dog, Mac

E) Essential oils/ Vitamins/ Snail Oils: Vitamins

F) Fertility meds I've taken: Clomid for the first and still using, plus a round of IVF. I could not even begin to tell you how many.

G) Gain: gained 15lbs

H) HSG (Hystosalpingogram): 2 times (before Jonah, and during IVF.

I) Infertile Pet Peeves: seeing friends who are have number 2, 3, and 4. And they are younger than me.

J) Job title: Me:Teacher

K) Kids name you're afraid will be taken by the time you have kids: BOY:Chad Girl: Ashley nicole

L) Length of time TTC: 2+ years and still trying.

M) Miscarriages: ectopic pregnancy and 3 eggs during IVF did not make it.

N) Number of times you've switched OB/GYN's, RE's: 2

O) Ovarian quality: I have them both, but one tube. And they work every 40 days.

Q) Quote from an obnoxious fertile: "If you do IVF 3 times, you are sure to get pregnant.". Sure, I have 50,000 dollars to drop.

S) Sperm: Rockstar sperm

T) Time tried naturally: 2 years

U) Uterus: So far so good

V) Vagina: I blew it out with my first born.

W) What baby stuff do you have already: sold it all. Got tired of seeing it.

X) X-tra X-tra Hear all about it! How many people know the ins and outs of our crazy TTC? Quite a few.

Y) Yearly Exam. Yep.

Z) Zits: Right now, yes.

Infertility A-Z

A) Age when you started TTC: Me,21 Him,22

B) Baby Dancing or Sex: ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING

C) Children wanted: I want a large family!

D) Dog/Cat/Fill in Children: We have one dog, Dexter (Jack Russell Terrier)

E) Essential oils/ Vitamins/ Snail Oils: Not anymore

F) Fertility meds I've taken: Clomid, Glucophage, Byetta Pen, etc

G) Gain: gained 40 lbs...

H) HSG (Hystosalpingogram):

I) Infertile Pet Peeves: people complaining about pregnancies or kids

J) Job title: Me:Nanny Him: Glass Technician

K) Kids name you're afraid will be taken by the time you have kids: BOY:Case Girl: Emma Grace

L) Length of time TTC: 3 years

M) Miscarriages: no

N) Number of times you've switched OB/GYN's, RE's: 3 times (1 OB, 3 RE's)

O) Ovarian quality: NO GOOD

Q) Quote from an obnoxious fertile: "Dont worry...You dont have a problem(getting pregnant) until its been a year"...hmmm its been 3--now what?!!

S) Sperm: Rockstar sperm

T) Time tried naturally: 1 year

U) Uterus: So far so good

V) Vagina: I'm a bit sick of getting dildo-cams and speculums shoved up it, truth be told.

W) What baby stuff do you have already: A closet full of girl clothes/bows, stroller, jogging stroller... a little obsessive.

X) X-tra X-tra Hear all about it! How many people know the ins and outs of our crazy TTC journey?: EVERYONE, i am an OPEN book.

Y) Yearly Exam. Yes. Which reminds me..lol

Z) Zits: No.Thank the Lord.

That was fun...I wanna hear yours! :) Comment with your A-Z!!!

Thanks Tristan for this A-Z! Follow Tristan's journey at
http://kimerlingjourneytoababy.blogspot.com/

Please take a moment and read this Blog.
A friend forwarded it to me and all i can say is WOW. This is a story of a sweet girl who went to India and her and her husband fell in love with a baby boy. He is a very special boy, he has a cleft palate and lip, no eyelids, feet are fused and no little toes or fingers. This sweet young couple saw thru the deformities and saw the face of God in that sweet baby and were able to adopt him in 7 days!

The blog can be found here.

http://www.babyadamsjourney.com/

Birchbox (non infertility/baby/pregnancy related)

Ok, so this is totally NON infertility/pregnancy/baby related but i had to share.
My all time favorite blog ever www.thesmallthingsblog.com always talks about Birchbox.
It's like a magazine subscription that comes in the mail every month ($10/mo) with 4-5 beauty samples. And ladies, it's not brands like: Covergirl, Almay, Elf, etc (not jabbing those brands, i use them too), but it is more like: Stila, Nars, etc. I jut signed up at http://www.birchbox.com?raf=3jvr1 , you should too! If nothing else, it's a little surprise pick me up every month! I know i could use one!

Side note: please also go check out www.thesmallthingsblog.com. FANTASTIC blog, with amazing hair tutorials and much much more. Trust me, you will love it as much as i do! Plus, i just one a $25 Credit towards http://www.modernfabricstudio.com/ off 'Small Things' Blog. Be sure and check out Modern Fabric Studio too for some amazing fabrics!

Friends having babies

This time of year it seems that EVERYONE is having babies. Especially close friends.
Don't get me wrong, i am SO happy for them! Just a bit jealous too, i mean let's be honest. you are to, right??

So how do we deal with it? PUT YOUR BIG GIRL PANTIES ON AND CONGRATULATE THEM! Trust me, i know it's hard. I do. But, i figure i can do one of two things:
1. Sulk, be jealous, and lose their friendship
2. Be genuinely happy, a little jealous, and just accept it
It makes life so much easier to opt for the second option. I am not saying you have to be there to listen to every pregnancy related story, symptoms, look at ultrasound appts, help decorate nursery, plan baby shower, etc. If you do, you are WAY stronger than I am. Just be happy. I just tell myself one day this will be me (by MIRACLE pregnancy or MIRACLE adoption).

What do you do? How do you handle the situations?

FUNDS

HOW IN THE WORLD CAN PEOPLE AFFORD TO ADOPT THAT AREN'T 'WELL OFF'???

I have been looking and looking into Adoption with different Attorneys and Agencies. But quite frankly, I can't afford the $25,000-$30,000 price tag. WHAT IN THE WORLD?!?!? And this is Domestic Adoptions!
B and I have prayed and prayed and are being led down the road with state adoptions. Luckily, they are little to no cost, BUT the waiting list for a baby is ridiculously long...
We went to an informational meeting and they pretty much said they weren't looking for adoptive parents but rather foster parents. B and I do not feel led to foster at this point.

So we are on the waiting list to even start our parenting classes/home study.

Back in the waiting game......

In the meantime we are trying to have 'fundraisers' to grow money in our fund... currently, it is very low... we have had two yard sales which have helped but no where near 25K...

We are just waiting and praying, waiting and praying....

Best Music Video on Infertility EVER

Please check out this music video on Infertility.

The Birds and the Bees are having trouble conceiving....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYgZKTCnrM0

Glamour Magazine Article

Check out this great Article on 'Infertility in a Baby Crazed World'

http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/2006/07/infertility

Have you ever wanted something SO badly? For me, it is A FREAKING BABY!

All i want to do is be a mother. And give Ben a baby. I want to give him the gift of fatherhood so badly. I feel horrible that my duty as a wife (starting a family), I can not fulfill. I am still struggling to see God's plan for us. I want to see it so bad. Why did God choose Ben and I to struggle with this for 3+ years? I mean i know it says God won't give you anything you can't handle, but i'm starting to wonder.... I think God thinks i am way stronger than i am...

Sorry for the vent, just really feeling it today.

Side note: Please be in prayer for the following ladies in our Support Group (and a few others):

E.C. - Pregnant! Pray for safe and healthy preg/delivery

E.S. - Praying about Surrogacy

T.K. - Currently doing IUI, testing SOON!

L.M. - Break time

N.B. - Trying, Trying, Trying

J.V. - Pursuing an IUI

A.C. - Fostering, in pursuit of own pregnancy, possible adoption

M.L. - Failed IUI, praying for direction

A.E. - Starting IVF in November

Which way God?

God, which way do you want us to go? Adoption? Fertility treatments?

Do you ever wonder where God is leading you? Just when we thought God was leading us 100% towards Adoption he lays IUI on our hearts.
Should we see the Dr and give it the good ole fashion 'one more try' or be finished (what we thought we were) and go straight to adoption? We are certainly on our knees praying!
We have our name on a list for the Home Study here in Fl. So we will keep our names on the waiting list, but I am going to call our new insurance carrier and see whats up! Praying I won't have to go back to my OB/GYN and get a whole new work up to be referred to Dr.Brown. I pray not!!!
I'm not to sure if I'm emotionally ready to go back...all the visits, all the hormone pills and meds. Agh! Are we ready?!

What do you think? How did you know which way God was leading you?

Always praying

Resolve (Local Chapter) Expo

Our Story

Our Story....


It all began in 2008. My Husband and I decided to 'start trying'.


I knew we would have problems as I have never had a 'regular' period. What's regular anyway?


Right? Anywho, we tried by ourselves for about 6 months and I couldnt take it ANYMORE! (Might i add, i am extremely Type A and want what i want when i want) We decided to go to the OB. I made the appointement and went to see my sweet Dr. She told me 'Oh Hunny, you are only 20, i can get you pregnant in 6 months.' I JUMPED FOR JOY! So 6 mos (to the day) i went back. I saw my oh so sweet Dr again and said 'it's been 6 months'. We were trying BC for those 6 months (which doesnt that kind of seem like defeating the purpose?). So we did a Vaginal Ultrasound and found out i had the 'string of pearls' around both my ovaries.... so she sent me for more testing. This is when i found out i had PCOS. (For more info on that, please see http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001408/). I did EXTREME research and freaked myself out. I mean CYSTS ON MY OVARIES?!?! OVARIAN DRILLING?!?! CHANCE OF NOT GETTING PREGNANT??! OVARIAN CANCER?!?! GENETIC?!?!


AAAGGGGHHHH I literally FREAKED, as i looked at worst case senario.


My Dr and I decided it was time for my Husband i to transfer to a RE. We prayed and prayed asking God for direction. Clinging to 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.' (Philippians 4:6-7)


We decided on a RE, and made an appointment to meet with him. My Husband wouldnt be able to wiggle his way out of this appointment! We met with Dr.B and did another VU and did more glucose testing and again determined i had PCOS. He was so sweet and sat with us while i cried hysterically. Again, he told us 'I can get you pregnant in 6 months.' (Long story short) we tried BC, Glucophage, Provera, Clomid, Byetta Pen, etc (all multiple times) with NO SUCCESS. A year later we decided to take a break. I couldn't handle the emotional stress and ALL THE FREAKING PILLS AND SHOTS any longer! I remember one night laying in my bathroom floor sick (thanks clomid), crying my eyes out. I couldnt take this anymore.
This is when I searched for a Support Group. Lo and behold, there are VERY few in Jax. WHAT?!?! Why when there are 7.3 million women who are dealing with Infertility are we not booming with SG's? Anywhoo, I visited several. Not one did i come away feeling encouraged. And that is SAD. When i picture a Support Group, i picture leaving HAPPY and ENCOURAGED knowing that we will eventually come thru this (pending God's plan). So i decided to take this challenge and run with it (mainly to distract myself). Ladies, I tell you Facebook is an AMAZING resource. I put on FB 'I am infertile and need women to talk to'. You would NOT believe the number of people that commented or messaged me saying they went (or are going) thru this too! I was SHOCKED! I was expecting one, maybe two responses. It was unfathomable.
So we decided to meet one night at Panera, that's where it all started. It was amazing. It was a great time of talking, crying, loving, encouraging and most of all praying. It was so amazing to know women who are dealing with the same sadness,hurt,shamefulness,emptiness as me! Who knew?! Anyway, I say all that to say this. If you are going thru Infertility (primary or secondary) don't be the 60% who stay 'hush hush' about this. SAY SOMETHING. It really helps to be apart of a group where you can come and be encouraged and in return encourage others.

Trust me, i know how much INFERTILITY SUCKS! I am praying for every woman who is dealing with Infertility. I am praying for God's plan and will for your life (and mine).
As for B and I, we are praying and pursuing Adoption! (Stay tuned for more on that).

If you would like to chat with me one on one, please feel free to email me at benkatierice@gmail.com

XOXO