The Crazier Side of Normal

As this is my first post I feel I should explain the title as it could be taken the wrong way or no way at all. I have always struggled with the term 'normal'. Not in the dictionary sense, but in the vernacular. How often do we hear the phrase ‘That’s not normal?’ Quite a bit I’d imagine. As a woman who has undergone the sometimes painful, often difficult process of IVF I often find it hard when people talk about ‘a normal pregnancy’. They don’t mean to offend me. It’s just an expression and one that gets bandied about quite a bit. Most days it doesn’t offend me at all, it depends on how much hormone I’ve had to inject!  Aside from the whole IVF journey I’ve been through to have my son Harrison and the one I’m going through now to have my number two I’ve always found the idea of normal as a tenuous one. I don’t think I’ve ever really been normal and I often ponder how much energy is used up by many of us in the pursuit of normality! My life has been anything but normal and so have the lives of the people around me. So this blog is a celebration of all things un-normal. Not just about IVF but about everyday bits and bobs that tickle my fancy and give me a laugh.

The Next Leg

Well we've said good bye to IVF. Do I miss it? Not at all. We worked out that last year I plunged myself with a needle more often than not! After nine painful egg collections I'm well and truly over it. Am I sad? Not really. And I'm being very honest here. I have an amazing son, who makes me smile every day and I'd rather spend my time with him that driving to those early morning blood tests. The legacy of IVF is that my poor little ovary is now relaxing! Ok it's a lazy ovary! Great! It ran a marathon every month for over a year and now it's buggered! It just needs some time out and then maybe, just maybe we'll be blessed with another child as wonderful as H. My only advice is not to wait to have kids, you never know what will happen!

New Cycle

You know when someone asks you how you are.... And without thinking you say 'Good'? Well this week... I'm not so good. I'm tired... And thanks to the crazy amount of hormones and drugs I'm injecting myself with I'm pretty bloody sensitive too... I hate how I feel... The last 4 embryo transfers didn't work... So we're back to egg collection... A horrible process which culminates in a day surgery and hopefully lots of good quality eggs. Actually I'd settle for another egg like Harry please...

He really is a 'Good Egg' in the old sense! Today he had his first fight, he didn't start it... Sone kid wanted his toy... Pushed him around... Glad to say he won!,, but I digress...

I know a ridiculous amount of pregnant people... Up to double digits now... And I am really happy for them... Truly... I'm just tired of it not being me... I hate how I feel... Some people say, text and post the most insensitive things sometimes... But how could they possibly know that? So here's to the new cycle... And not feeling so Meh all the time... I probably shouldn't post this... But I will because I think I need to be able to come back one day And see how things were.

Kitchen Renovation

My Dad is renovating his kitchen so to help him out we thought we'd go through his cupboards and help chuck out any unwanted bits and pieces. What started out as a spring clean ended up becoming a trip down memory lane. We went through the mugs, everyone had their favorites with different memories attached to each one. A mug that was bought on holiday, a cup with a dog that resembles an old dearly departed doggie friend to another that was part of a set that we had in our first home. All important. Do we chuck them out? Then we moved to the cutlery draw. Surely that would be far easier? Not a bit, a few rusty knives went out. That was it. We had knives forks and spoons from different sets, all with memories attached. It made me wonder about normal peoples kitchen drawers. I bet they're neat and ordered without all the strange odd things like a garlic press and an old apple corer that we used every day as children. It was a crazy place to find these memories, but it gave us a good laugh!

Lucky Number Three

On Saturday I'm heading back to the clinic to have my third embryo transferred. This will be a frozen embryo and after two failed attempts I feel a little bit nervous. This emotion is mixed in with excitement. I feel like I'm holding my breath. I really want this transfer to work. So fingers and toes are crossed. Come on little Embie!

IVF Countdown

Good news today... I'm having my next embryo transfer on Saturday morning. This is my lucky number 3. I really hope this embryo decides to stick around. Next Saturday I'll be 4 weeks pregnant. But I won't find out for another 2 weeks. This Is the longest wait. During this time I predict that I will over analyse every single change in my body. From sore breasts to going to the toilet more often. I won't drink any coffee or alcohol and I'll watch what I eat very carefully. This is my IVF countdown. And if at the end of this wait I find out I'm not pregnant. I get to do it all again.

Dilemma at the Zoo

I have a quick query. More of a 'What would you do?' My dilemma started while I was coming down an escalator at Taronga Zoo. The man in front of me smelt really good. Whatever aftershave he was wearing it was incredible. Now, what would you do? Would you stop a strange man and tell him he smelled really good and ask what aftershave he was wearing? Or Would you conduct a thorough search through every perfume shop until you found it so you could give it to your husband? Is that normal?