December 2012 – First ultrasound at 6 weeks, exactly. Revealed a babe measuring at exactly six weeks with a heart rate of 115 beats per minute!

November 2012 – Eighteenth cycle, sixth medicated cycle, and third IUI. Femara on CD 3-7. Continue to use meditation, foot baths, castor oil packs, red raspberry leaf tincture and bromelain in an effort to improve uterine lining. IUI cancelled after ultrasound revealed a thin lining measuring at 4 mm on CD 13. One follicle on the right at 17 mm. Told to try naturally and come back next month for an IUI with injectables. Ovulate naturally on CD 19. BFP on November 26th! The first beta at 13 DPO came back at 508. Second beta came back at 1,470 at 15 DPO.

October 2012 – Seventeenth cycle, fifth medicated cycle, and second IUI. Femara on CD 4-8. Included meditation, foot baths, castor oil packs, red raspberry leaf tincture and bromelain to the regimen in an effort to improve uterine lining. Lining improves to over 8 mm! BFN.

September 2012 – Sixteenth cycle, fourth medicated cycle, first Femara cycle, and first IUI. Switched to Femara after Clomid caused blurred vision – a rare side effect. Took medication on CD 4-8 and was shocked to have a mature follicle on CD 12. Trigger with IUI on CD 13. Testing out the trigger resulted in test strips going from positive to negative to positive and then back to negative. Suspected chemical pregnancy. Period one day late and beta at 1 at 15 DPO/16DPT.

August 2012 – Fifteenth cycle and third clomid cycle. Took medication on CD 3-7. Was able to attempt procreation in the majestic Redwoods where Spirit Babies are known to hang out. BFN.

July 2012 – Fourteenth cycle and second clomid cycle. New RE changed up the routine by prescribing clomid on CD 5-9 instead of 3-7 and adding baby aspirin. Crossing our fingers for an April due date. Have also enlarged job search to include entire continental United States.  I will move ANYWHERE to work within my field.  Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

June 2012 – Thirteenth cycle eclipsing the entire month of June. Not actively trying this cycle in order to grieve, recover and “relax”. CD 1 of Cycle #14 set to occur on June 30th.

May 2012 – Twelfth cycle results in BFP. Beta at 15 DPO is at 33, 66 at 17 DPO, 140 at 20 DPO, 410 at 24 DPO, and 120 at 27 DPO. Vaginal ultrasound reveals what may or may not be gestational sac. Diagnosed with a second miscarriage. In the midst of it all, moved from the OC to Palm Springs for Big Guy’s job. My job search suspended due to the tenuity of a temporary relocation. Scheduled to meet with a new RE. FML.

April 2012 – Tenth BFN during my eleventh ttc cycle following the D&C. Starting first medicated cycle during the 12th cycle, after sixteen months total of ttc. Easing into things with 100 mg of Clomid on CD 3-7 combined with timed intercourse. Refocused job search exclusively on Denver in hopes of relocating ASAP. Life is really hard.

March 2012 – Ultrasound at 8 weeks 6 days reveals that the baby’s heart has stopped beating. Cause attributed to an abnormally large yolk sac, indicative of chromosomal abnormalities. D&C to terminate the pregnancy. Genetic testing reveals Trisomy 22, which is considered “incompatible with fetal life”. Life looks bleak. Again.

February 2012 – Pregnant, yeah! Ultrasounds at 5, 6 and 7 weeks appear normal. We see a strong, fast, heartbeat at 7 weeks.

January 2012 – Meet with new RE to discuss more aggressive interventions. Ultrasound reveals low levels of estradiol and thin lining at ovulation. Things don’t look good this cycle. Yet…BFP!

December 2011 – Ninth BFN. Crickets in regards to the job search. Life looks bleak. Repeat HSG with tubal canalization results in cleared right fallopian tube. Life looks a bit better.

November 2011 – Eight BFN. Crickets in regards to the job search.

October 2011 – Seventh BFN. Crickets in regards to the job search. HSG with tubal canalization rescheduled.

September 2011 – Sixth BFN. Dissertation successfully defended. PhD in hand!

August 2011 – Fifth BFN. HSG with tubal canalization rescheduled.

July 2011 – Fourth BFN. Routine Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) reveals a blocked fallopian tube.

June 2011 – Interminable cycle ends. Third BFN. With the help of metformin, my cycles begin to regulate with an ovulation date of CD 18-22, for a range of 32-35 day cycles. Big Guy’s semen analysis results comes back. Turns out he has an Olympic caliber swim team.

May 2011 – Wiley Protocol fails. Lots and lots and lots of sex every other day in hopes of capturing the elusive and unpredictable ovulation. Naturopathic doctor suggests meeting with a Reproductive Endocrinologist. Met with RE. Begin taking metformin. Diarrhea ensues.

April 2011 – Lots and lots and lots of sex every other day in hopes of capturing the elusive and unpredictable ovulation. Naturopathic doctor/acupuncturist suggests Wiley Protocal ie the use of bioidentical hormones in an attempt to treat PCOS, kick start the cycle, and regulate the cycle.

March 2011 – Lots and lots and lots of sex every other day in hopes of capturing the elusive and unpredictable ovulation. Second BFN.

February 2011 – First BFN. Sad. Was hoping to be miracle PCOS test case. Am not miracle PCOS test case.

January 2011 – Officially began ttc! IUD removed by midwife and first acupuncture appointment scheduled. Cycles still irregular.

December 2010 – Began charting my cycles.

October 2010 – Relocated to Southern California for Big Guy’s career. Began enhanced supplement regime in addition to continuation of herbal regime in attempt to regulate my irregular cycles naturally.

August 2010 – Met with herbalist again in an attempt to regulate my irregular cycles naturally. Began a full-fledged PCOS diet and cleanse using the PCOS diet ebook.

June 2010 – Met with herbalist again in an attempt to regulate my irregular cycles naturally.

April 2010 – Met with herbalist in an attempt to regulate my irregular cycles naturally.

October 2009 – Married Big Guy.

April 2007 – IUD placed in uterus. Ow.

March 2007 – Diagnosed with PCOS – Again.

August 2006 – Met Big Guy. Fell in love.

August 2004 – Threw away the birth control pills. Peace out you nasty assholes.

March 1999 – Diagnosed with PCOS. Doctor told me I would never have children.