Posted Sunday, January 22, 2012 10:09 PM
We're still working on the "why" behind why we haven't gotten pregnant yet. We took two approaches this week: DH went for Western medicine and a urologist meeting - I went for Eastern and a meeting with an acupuncturist,
My best friend, who became a mother six months ago, mentioned that another friend of hers, who was having trouble conceiving, got acupuncture - and it helped (she had a baby four months ago)..
So three hours after my cousin announced she was pregnant, I googled my city and "acupuncture" and sent an email to a woman who does acupuncture. She is a mother herself and, when I mentioned our issues getting pregnant, she didn't flinch or say I was crazy.
I met with her last week for an evaluation, and it was very therapeutic: we talked and I told her what our issues were and she listened. It felt good. I had filled out a form about any ailments - interestingly, all were connected to my kidney (when I was 7 I had a kidney infection that was so bad I was in the hospital for two weeks).
So I went back to her Saturday, and had my first acupuncture appointment. It was so strange - but it didn't hurt. I was face down and she massaged my feet and my back before inserting the needles in my back, ears, ankle and top of my head. It was relaxing - so much so that, at one point, my butt even fell asleep.
So what does this mean for conception? I'm not sure yet -- I'm going back for another appointment in two weeks - along with taking ovulation tests, prayers and wishes - I'm hoping something helps.
I asked DH if he would want acupuncture - I think he'd rather get a root canal . 
Posted Wednesday, December 14, 2011 10:25 PM
It's been a while since I've posted on my blog. I thought by now I'd be posting about being pregnant or even having a baby. However, it hasn't happened yet.
I read an article that says even if all the stars aligning and you do everything right - there is still only a 25% chance of getting pregnant. 25% - those odds suck. I mean it's good for a discount or an interest rate, but 25% is not comforting.
We started trying last January, but my husband went on Levetra in June. So we can cut out the first half of the year. Then came then fun "I hate math" part of my life. We thought we' d figured it out - but I guess I was off (and that was with ovulation kits). So we continue with the kits - I even bought fertility stones and a mojo baby when we were in Salem (I figured it couldn't hurt).
Went to the doctor when my period was late two months in a row. He told me sometimes women who want to have a baby stress themselves out to the point that they end up being late. Lovely.
Next step is DH going to the doctor and making sure he's not shooting blanks.
He stresses himself out wanting this - and though he tries to relax, he knows we both want to be parents, so that ends up stressing him out more.
The really frustrating part is women all over the world (and many
teenagers in this country), who get pregnant without even trying - yes I'm talking to you Teen Mom.
My grandmother passed away in October. The rabbi told my mother that when someone passes to Gan Eden (the next world), they can watch over those they left behind and thing seem to happen -- like pregnancies.
I sure hope so.... I think we'll make damn good parents - 100% guaranteed.
Posted by
Shoshie
Filed under: TTC, getting pregnant
Posted Saturday, February 05, 2011 11:01 PM
I guess this is the first post I've written about the baby thing.
It's strange writing a pre-pre-natal post. We haven't been trying very long (I think two weeks at this point)- we
were waiting until after a zipline excursion during a recent cruise.
I've been writing on here since before we were married in 2007 (Tales of a Jewish Bride to be), to our first year of marriage (Tales of a Jewish Newlywed) and now to our life in our new home (Tales of a Jewish Suburbanite). So I figured I would track our baby story here, too (since I'm superstitious, the title won't change to Tales of Jewish Mom-to-Be until after I've reached my second trimester).
In the last year, several people in my life, who I didn't realize were trying to have kids, have had them. And it's strange... I can't define it, but there are just some people you can't picture as parents.
We decided to take the relaxed approach (although when I woke up with an upset stomach last week my DH freaked out and ran to the store to buy a pregnancy test).
Today walking into a maternity store to look for a gift for a friend and seeing all the doodads for the mom-to-be -- my aunt remarked that things had changed quite a bit since she was pregnant in the late 1970s.
So that's my story. I'm on Flintsone pre-natals (LOVE THEM), and have been watching A Baby Story from time to time.
When we do have a child, it will be the first grandchild on both sides
and the first great-grandchild on one side. Reactions to us trying to
have a child have ranged from ecstatic/nagging (my mom) to supportive
but indifferent (my dad) to outraged/pissed (DH's parents).
It'll be a doozy when it actually happens - stay tuned!
Posted by
Shoshie
Filed under: Jewish, baby, TTC
Posted Tuesday, December 28, 2010 1:17 PM
I e-mailed the Bump and asked if they could create a baby board for Jewish Parents (or parents-to-be), I mentioned: Right now we are using the Knot Jewish Wedding board as a catch all for Knot/Nest/Bump -- and it can get a little crowded.
The board would be a place to discuss Jewish names, traditions, bris, baby namings, showers (to have or not have), and other areas important to Jewish families
This was their response:
Thanks so much for your board suggestion – we keep track of all of our board requests and when we have a substantial number of members expressing interest in a topic we can create the board.
So if you want a Jewish baby board/parent board... please contact community@thebump.com -- and let them know!
Posted by
Shoshie
Filed under: Jewish
Posted Wednesday, September 29, 2010 2:26 PM
It happened.
We actually found a house.
After a year of searching - and switching agents - we found an amazing house that is perfect for us.
Has every feature we are looking for, plenty of space, and is about 1/2 a mile from our best friends' new house.
I had come close to giving up hope. Our former agents weren't listening to us and kept showing us houses that we would never want -- or ones that had so much wrong we would have had to spend mucho $$ fixing up.
We then didn't hear from them for two months -- giving us the perfect opportunity to get an agent in the area we wanted to live.
We went out with him several times over the course of a month -- and HE drove us around, too.
He knew what we wanted and that several of the houses we saw came close. And then this one came on the market.
We actually met the owner the second time we looked (a day after the first time). She really liked us, but there was a second party that had bid. We offered and both of us received counters. We accepted the counter -- and the seller accepted us!
It is a regular sale (which means they have to make fixes, too) and, as such, we are pacing to close in the middle of October - it all happens so fast. We hope to move in early November so we have a chance to paint and carpet.
The hard part is, as I've said previously, we are NOT DIY people. wish we knew more about colors and decor. But one step at a time.
If anyone in So Cal is reading this and is starting out in the decor business and could use a boost (free PR on here and FB, plus copy editing in exchange for helping make our house pretty), feel free to contact me!
Posted Tuesday, June 01, 2010 11:00 PM
We resume the hunt this weekend. I'm very excited to get out there - the thought of having a home that is "ours" is something I've been looking forward to for awhile.
The funny part is we have friends who want a home where we are looking - it would be so great to have a built-in social group with people you like, and have your future children grow up together.
We hope to see four homes this weekend.
There is one that I get more and more excited about each time I look at it online, which, Murphy's Law says, means it will be sold by Saturday.
Fingers crossed!
Posted Tuesday, May 18, 2010 12:00 PM
Yes, it is May.
No, we still don't have a house.
We bid on our first house last January: A townhouse in a great neighborhood. It was a short sale. We saw it, we bid, we got it. We had to walk away.
It all happened so fast! We had expected several months in which our family could see it and where we could assess everything. It happened in 24 hours. And right after we signed, my husband was told he might no longer have a job -- so we pulled out.
Just as well. The HOA fee broke out to $370 a month!
Live and learn.
We DID bid on a second house in April -- an REO that our Realators found while we were looking for another house (where the train practically rolled through the backyard).
We really liked it: updated everything (almost), built-in bookshelves, crown molding, but no central A/C, we couldn't get into the garage, the kitchen cabinets were falling apart and there might have been termite damage.
The bank wanted WAY more than we could afford and way more than the house was worth. (And they actually had an REA from Bakersfield list the house? Really? Stupid move).
We put in a bid. They countered and lowered the asking price (still too high). We recountered and raised a bit (still too low). They rejected.
We were the only bid and the house is still on the market. The problem is, you cannot negotiate with a bank; sellers yes - banks no. They want their money and they don't care if the house has no air and you can't get into the garage.
You'd think they would do anything they could to get the house sold... even if it means putting in a new garage door of fixing a lock on the side.
So the hunt continues. This month has been especially hectic for us, but we're goign back out there in June.
My husband promised me a new home for my birthday (that's July). So we'll see what comes on the market.
The federal tax credit is over, but there is a state one we can enjoy -- I hope!
Posted Saturday, November 28, 2009 3:16 PM
It began some time ago:
We decided it is time to start looking for our own house. DH has been renting a home from his parents for years.
Last week we looked at our first "open house home." It was in a great area, but wouldn't have fit most of out furniture (which is a bad thing).
Today we met with a Realtor -- we were so nervous. It's like going on a first date. She was amazing. We talked about what we wanted and what we didn't. She's very well-versed in first-time home-buying, and since that's us -- it works!
After we left her, we went to the bank to get information on a preapproval (the mst-do step in our househunt) -- actually two branches of the same one since the loan officer was not around at branch No. 1. We were thisclose to getting on the freeway and heading to the branch where we purchased our CDs... but there was a mega traffic jam (looks like fate intervened).
So we met with the officer who told us what paperwork we needed and, amazingly enough, it looks doable. We'll be scheduling a meeting with him for later this week, and meeting with a few other lenders, just to have something to compare it to.
Then, once we have offer letter in hand, the hunt can really begin.
The nice part is we aren't rushed and we know our dream home is out there waiting for us -- it just might not know it yet. 
Posted by
Shoshie
Filed under: house, home, household