Hello to my existing bloggie friends as well as to those of you coming over for the first time for International Comment Leaving Week! If you're here for that, welcome – I look forward to meeting you here, as well as to visiting your own space and learning more about your own journey.
You've arrived here at a happy time; or rather, at what is becoming a happy time. Last month, after my husband Gilles and I "celebrated" a year of trying (marked by an early miscarriage, the impetus behind this blog) and then made plans to schedule an IUI, we found out I was pregnant.
Unlike the first time, which was – for a few short weeks, anyway – nothing but blissful, due in no small part to my arrogant certainty that nothing could or would go wrong (oh, the hubris!), this one has been full of mixed emotions. We've been a lot more cautious, a lot more fearful. But so far so good, and I'm doing my best to be overwhelmed by happiness and not by fear – or paranoia.
A little bit on our medical background, in case you and I have similar "interests": my husband has super low morphology, a condition known as teratazoospermia or, more pleasingly, monster sperm syndrome. I have autoimmune hypothyroidism, which was badly controlled last time I was pregnant, which may well have led to the miscarriage. At the very least, it resulted in a hostile environment for a growing embryo.
I've been working closely with an endocrinologist to make sure that my thyroid hormones are tightly under control this time, and we have our fingers crossed that the sperm that met last month's egg was not of the monster variety. And that's all we can do other than just take each day as it comes, hoping that we'll have a little bundle of joy in our arms in just 219 more days ... but who's counting?
In the meantime, there's something very important I'd like to know about you, since I'm living in Switzerland, the land famous for both: what is your preference, chocolate or cheese?
A happy comment-full week to all of us!
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| us, enjoying a proper pint in an English pub last summer. |
Chocolate, no cheese, no chocolate. Agh! What a tough choice on a Monday. I love both so much.
ReplyDelete219 more days! That is nothing, it will be here before you know it. Sending you love as always.
Okay, okay, I won't really make you decide .... Thanks for the love, and sending some back to you, too.
Deletecheese! I could not live without cheese!!! Chocolate is a treat, cheese is like my life-blood!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't live without it either - or chocolate, for that matter ....
DeleteCHEESE!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLooks like the choice was easy for you!
DeleteHehe chocolate it is.
ReplyDeleteThen chocolate it shall be!
DeleteCheese!
ReplyDeleteMMMmmmmm.
DeleteHi, thanks for visiting my site! I like your sense of humor and writing style. Congratulations on your pregnancy! I hope that you will have a happy and healthy 9 months. It's a really hard call, but I think I'll go with chocolate (unless we're talking feta!).
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming over yourself, and thank you for your kind words! Okay, chocolate, but deal's off if there's feta around.
DeleteThanks for stopping by my blog! I'm sorry for your losses hoping you get everything figured out! I love Switzerland! I had fondue in interlaken (sp?) and Grindalwald is breathtaking!!
ReplyDeleteGrindelwald is my hometown!!! I can't believe you've been there :) (Spelling of Interlaken is perfeclty fine)
DeleteI loooove fondue. I haven't been to either of those places ... yet. I'd love to. Lya, that's awesome you're from Grindelwald; you'll have to give me some tips when we do go!
DeleteCongrats on your BFP! it sounds things are under much better control for you this time around. Wishing you a happy & healthy pregnancy!
ReplyDeleteI am definite chocolate enthusiast. Also a lucky almost-neighbor of a little swiss chocolatier. Dark chocolate had a major role saving my sanity through the IF journey. Funny fact, my cravings for chocolate turned down to zero during pregnancy. Fortunately, the gauge set back to normal post baby!
Thanks for visiting my site and Happy ICLW!
#51
Thank you for the wishes, Erika! We have a chocolatier as a neighbor, too ... it can be very dangerous, especially since it's between us and the supermarket I shop at frequently. I'm glad your chocolate gauge is back to normal - that's a terrible craving to lose!
DeleteCongratulations! Best wishes for a happy, healthy, easy pregnancy :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Alie!
DeleteI'm I allowed to vote too? How about chocolate fondue? LOL.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'll have to vote for CHEESE :)
But of course! Chocolate fondue is the perfect compromise; very diplomatic of you.
DeleteChocolate. I'd kill anyone who took it away from me.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Stick, baby, stick!
Let nobody step between you and your chocolate! Thank you for the wishes.
DeleteHow can I pick between chocolate and cheese. Both these words are currently making my mouth water...1/2 a vote for chocolate and 1/2 a vote for cheese! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy ICLW!!!!
I know, it's a terrible choice to make, isn't it? I'll take the half and half!
DeleteCheese cheese cheese! (though being pregnant somehow made me like chocolate more - I never used to eat it, but definitely indulge now)
ReplyDeleteWell, that's a beneficial and enjoyable after-effect of pregnancy!
DeleteGreetings from ICLW!
ReplyDeleteI'm crossing my fingers and sending you positive vibes for this pregnancy!
And to answer your question. Cheese. But it was a very close race.
Very close - too close .... Thank you for your wishes!
DeleteCheese and chocolate. Both. I cannot possibly pick one. And as I read your question, I then wondered if it's possible to have chocolate-flavored cheese. Because if it didn't taste disgusting, I could go for that. :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy ICLW!
See EmHart's comment just below ... yep! Go for it and let us know what you think!
DeleteI still refuse to choose. They have started selling chocolate Philadelphia in the UK. I haven't tried it yet.
ReplyDeleteI've seen that here too. I should try it for cupcake frosting/icing - often I use a cream cheese base with cocoa powder added. That would cut out a step!
DeleteOh no, I have to choose between chocolate and cheese?
ReplyDeleteI'll go with chocolate!
And..... a million congrats :-) I can only imagine the joy, trepidation and excitement you and DH must be feeling. Hang in there, good things coming your way in 219 days :-)
Good choice! Thank you for your sweet wishes.
DeleteCONGRATULATIONS on the pregnancy! How excited you must be!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd... I could never choose between chocolate and cheese. They are like the two best foods in the world!
Not only the two best foods, but also the two best food groups! There are only three, really: chocolate, cheese, and everything else.
DeleteThanks for the wishes!
Congrats!
ReplyDeleteHappy ICLW!
I'd pick cheese!
Thank you! Cheese it is.
DeleteDefinitely chocolate!! Although I do love cheese so it is a hard choice to make!
ReplyDeleteSo happy everything is going well for you!! Wishing you a happy & wonderfully healthy remainder of your pregnancy!!
I know, it's an unfair question. Thank you for your kind thoughts!
DeleteHappy ICLW and congratulations on your pregnancy! You're in Switzerland? I think in that case I can't choose between chocolate or cheese. Equally yummy!
ReplyDeleteEqually yummy, and equally irresistible. Thank you for your wishes!
DeleteHello, visiting from ICLW. Congratulations on your pregnancy!! That is a tough decision..... hmmm I think I will have to go with chocolate, but both are sooooo delicious!! I look forward to checking back in on your pregnancy journey.
ReplyDeleteAmy
Thanks Amy! I look forward to checking in with you again, too. I know, it's a difficult question - a bit unfair really!
DeleteHello from ICLW as well. Congratulations. When I was pregnant with my son, yes, caution and counting days was how I got through. It's tough to manage the fear and hope all at once. Fingers crossed for a long, uneventful 218 more days. :)
ReplyDeleteCheese OR chocolate? Can't I have both? I love both equally, though at this point, I am looking forward to a night with my best friend with stinky, unpasteurized, gooey cheese. We will likely finish it off with chocolate, though.
xoxo
That sounds like a perfect night between best friends - enjoy! Thanks for relating to the fear, and the hope, too, as well as for your wishes.
DeleteThanks for stopping by my blog. Happy ICLW and a huge congrats on your pregnancy. As for cheese or chocolate....CHOCOLATE all the way!
ReplyDeleteChocolate it is! Thank you for your wishes and for coming over here, too.
DeleteChocolate, always chocolate!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!! What exciting news! Being pregnant after a loss is always a different experience than the naive bliss that women experience without the loss. It seems like just yesterday that I had 200+ days to go and my bubs is now 10 weeks old! It flies by. Wishing you peace, health and rest in these early days! Look forward to following your story.
Sounds like the choice was easy for you!
DeleteYou're right that the loss changes everything. Thank you for sharing a bit of your experience, as well as for your wishes.
Now there are only 218 days left to go...woohoo! Just catching up and wanted to say hi. I am so glad that you are doing so well!! :)
ReplyDeleteAs for the chocolate or cheese...that is so tough. Right now cheese is on my must have list and chocolate is on my like list. Put a bag of M&Ms Pretzel in front of me though and I might change my mind. :)
And now it's 217, but still, who's counting? I brought a bag of pretzel M&Ms back from the US with me last time because my husband adores the peanut butter kind and I thought he would like this variety, too. And now I'm very tempted to rip into them ... hmmm.
DeleteUpdate: just did. Yes.
DeleteHappy ICLW and congratulations on your pregnancy! Normally, I would say cheese, as I am a completely fanatic! My sweet tooth lately, though, is ruling my life, so chocolate it is!
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by my blog!
Okay, chocolate it is, but you can reserve the right to change your mind once your sweet tooth has got itself under control!
DeleteThank you for your thoughts.
Hello from ICLW! Thanks for stopping by my blog and big congratulations on your pregnancy! I don't think I can choose between cheese or chocolate. Those are two of my very favorite foods!
ReplyDeleteIt's really an unfair question, isn't it? Choosing is just too much! Thank you for the wishes.
DeleteDepends on the moment but really, chocolate wins every time! lol. Except that I had a lovely grilled smoked cheddar sandwich today for lunch. Hmm, no, back to chocolate. :P
ReplyDeleteCrossing my fingers things keep going well for you!
Mmmhhh ... your lunch sounds lovely! I love (and miss) cheddar - it's difficult to find here. Thanks for the crossed fingers!
DeleteAs a decedent of the Swiss (I'm only 1/4) that is a tough one. Although now being lactose intolerant, I am going to choose 'Chocolate'
ReplyDeleteAn ICLW Visit from #2
liddy @ the unfair struggle (mfi, speedskating, life)
Good choice! Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteCheese wins, no contest. Unless we are talking molten chocolate cake, and then I...just...can't...choose.
ReplyDeleteOooh ... it wouldn't be fair to force a choice in that situation!
DeleteI got so caught up in fantasizing about cheese and chocolate, I forgot the most important thing: congratulations on your BFP!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you!
DeleteChocolate!
ReplyDeleteI also have thyroid problems and getting on meds helped me get pregnant. We also got pregnant just before we were about to do IVF.
Hope your babies can get out of ICU soon.
Thanks Heather - I just checked out your thyroid tapping post. It sounds like an interesting theory.
DeleteHappy happy ICLW! I am Hypo (unexplained) but have tested negative for every underlying condition there is... :(
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the pregnancy and I will be keeping my fingers & toes crossed for an uneventful one. :)
Cheese please!!! I love me some cheese.
Bree
Me too! Couldn't live without it. Thank you for the wishes, and sorry to hear about your unexplained hypo - it's frustrating not to have a real answer.
DeleteTell me about it...It sucks! You're very welcome and thank you!
DeleteBree :)
Just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Liebster Blog Award :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kelly! I will pop over to your blog to see ....
Delete