PCOS sucks. TTC sucks. I think I always pictured it as this romantic process where there would be wine, music and birds chirping. Unfortunately, this is not the case for most. It definitely hasn’t been for my husband and I so far. My story starts in college where I met my husband. After being friends for 2 years, dating for 4, married for 2 and 1/2 we decided to maybe start for a family. 

 My dermatologist put me on BCP when I was 15 for acne and I’ve been on it since so I really had no idea what my natural cycle would be. About 1.5 years ago I decided to take myself off BCP just to see. After going off the pill, I felt amazing. I always struggled with fatigue and bloating and I realized how amazing I felt off the pills. My husband and I weren’t ready yet for kids so we played the “careful” method for a while. Ovulation tests sort of became my method of birth control for a while -NOT recommended FYI. I think I had maybe one or two “normal” cycles before the crazy started. I would go some cycles without any signs of ovulation, long cycles and no positive opk. Other cycles would have a plethera of signs, too many. Two weeks worth of ewcm, 7 days of “high” fertility, and 5 days of peak. Apparently the body can keep trying too put out an egg, hence the lh surge, but there is no mature egg to pop out because of the imbalance of hormones. After a few months of this I went to the doc just to check in and get some blood work done. The results- PCOS. I’m about 5′7 and 125 pounds. My thyroid is in check, my BS is good and I’m not overweight so weight loss is not really any help in my story. 

We’re in the thick of our 3rd month of trying. We are 2 no meds cycles and 1 clomid cycle in. Clomid gave me terrible night sweats, mood swings and horrible horrible bloating. I’m pretty sure it thinned my lining as well as my period was 2 days shortner than normal and very very light. We already have 2 sets of twins in the family, so we’re hoping to go natural to conceive. It has been a struggle. Timed intercourse, watching what we both eat, avoiding the questions- it sucks!!!! And the whole time wondering- am I even ovulating??? I’ve now started temping which is not really the easiest thing to pick up. I’ve tracked a thermal shift, but its so slight I wonder if its real. And all of this for a baby. A little peanut. And even through all the craziness, its still worth it. 

Doing homework

I have to try to keep this post quick because it's dinner time! So sorry I can't go into detail about what I saw. I guess you'll have to see pictures when i get back!

Akwaaba from Ghana! It is pouring rain outside right now, my favorite weather! Love the sound and smell of it =]

First off, can I say that Salima is the best?? I was worrying about having to go a ton more clothing (shouldn't be a problem for me) but Salima opened up her suitcase and started putting together outfits for me..so sweet. Today we went sightseeing and went to the market. I skipped out on part of the market experience (because we will do it again multiple times..) to go to the airport and try to track down my luggage. We toured the university of ghana campus and saw government stuff (presidents house, independence park) and we went to WEB DuBois' house (he lived in Ghana during the end of his life..) which is now a museum. We all tried local food for lunch..fried chicken, spicy rice, fried plantains, and something else that im not sure about...it was green/yellow and mushy...spinach and something?

Our tour bus is legit...it's basically a party bus, colorful lighting and everything.

Dad is helping track down my luggage (THANK YOU) and hopefully it will get here soon. Trying to talk to people for help at the airport is tough..it's super hectic, people are in blobs, not lines, and half the time I'm not really sure what they are saying. The first words I learned in Twi were "Boa me" which means help me! Also, they kind of go around the question without actually answering it, but saying a lot of other stuff you don't really care about. I am enjoying the laid back atmosphere and slowed down lifestyle of Ghana, but I would have appreciated some more order/efficiency in the airport. I haven't been TOO worried about it, because honestly, I'm used to having weird stuff like this happen to me...haha. Worst case, I GET A SHOPPING SPREE =P