New

My NEW haircut - shaved on the sides mohawk (I poofed it instead of spiking it in this pic) - I ADORE it!

It's kind of ironic that I recently got a new haircut; because there's LOTS of "new" things in my life right now.

1. I still HAVE NOT STARTED MY PERIOD!  This is 15 DPO - longest luteul phase of my life (well, at least for the past 3 years of charting).  I always start on 14 DPO - always.  But yesterday came and went without even a cramp.

Before you start getting excited for me, I have taken two pregnancy tests (and yes, one was a First Response) - both were negative.  I had very, very light brownish and pinkish spotting on 12 and 13 DPO.  I thought for sure my period was going to show up as usual on 14 DPO, but nothing...........yet. 

I'm not trying to be negative, but I want to be sensible too.  There are a lot of reasons that my period could be late - one very obvious one being the Chinese herbs I was on this cycle.  Maybe they somehow slowed things down?  Who knows?  All I do know is that I got one and only one +OPK this cycle, and Mr. C and I fulfilled our duty; so, we did everything we could to make it work this cycle.  This was also our last cycle of acupuncture before the adoption starts; so, it was kind of our "last ditch effort" cycle.  If it is pregnancy, God has a crazy sense of humor.

My mom recently told me that she was pregnant for two months with me before she got a +HPT.  That gave me a bit more hope.  I had stopped taking my progesterone support thinking I didn't need it after the two -HPT's; but I started again tonight, just in case.

I feel ridiculous getting my hopes up; but then again...maybe...

2. My sister W was in the ER again today.  As many of you know from reading my blog, W's PCOS has caused her to have catamenial epilepsy; which means she has seizures (painful ones too) around her period and ovulation.  We've known since December that this was the case, but she is just now going to be going to a specialist in this area on the 14th of this month.

So, back to today: W had 3 cluster seizures today.  We are exactly ONE WEEK away from our hometown show.  Another tid-bit you probably know from reading here is that I'm in a band (The Beautifully Broken) with my two sisters, M and W.  We've been "on hold" for two years now trying to get W healthy enough to perform again; now, we finally get the balls to do a show, and W has 3 cluster seizures one week to the day to the event.

She's MUCH better after a stint in the ER, but it just sucks that it had to happen at all.  At the end of the day, though, we are not giving up.  We're moving forward, and this show is not only going to happen, it's going to ROCK.  W's so amazing - she has just kept pushing forward.  I am really looking forward to this show; I can't wait to perform again after two years away!

3. I was asked by the fabulous Keiko at Hannah Wept, Sarah Laughed to write a piece for her blog specifically about my experience with PCOS this week since it's September which is PCOS Awareness Month.  So, on Wednesday, make sure you head over to her blog to check it out.  I'm going to be talking about PCOS in general a bit, but also the "natural" or "eastern" medicine way of dealing with your diagnosis.  I hope it will help some people.

I've said it many times before, but I'll say it again.  If you have been diagnosed with PCOS or know someone who has, PLEASE, do yourself a favor and go check out Soul Cysters.  It's amazing and full of incredible resources and community boards with women ready and willing to share their journeys with you.

4. Hives.  I'm still getting them.  Well, I guess that isn't "new"; but it's weird to me that even after a steroid shot that I would be dealing with the itchy, little (or not so little) buggers!  Argh!  They are truly annoying.

Okay........I've GOT to go to bed!  I'll try to remind you all to check out Keiko's blog with my post on Wednesday.  In the meantime, be well and be blessed!

All the Love in the World,
*mandie*