Sorry, I don’t have any pretty pictures for this post, it’s a little break from my regular programming.

My public service announcement is about the little-known issue of NSAIDS and infertility. NSAIDS when taken on a regular basis can inhibit ovulation BUT it’s more than that. All tests will appear normal. Hormones will still fluctuate, rise, fall etc as they are supposed to. Fertility charts will look good and indicate ovulation. The follicle, however is unruptured. Meaning no little egg actually goes anywhere. And that’s not all (insert tv infomercial voice)…if it DOES go somewhere by chance, the NSAIDS may even contribute to failed implantation.

How many women know this? How many doctors know this? I can tell you that in the past 6 months, I have listed my medications on 5 different doctor’s information sheets(rheumetologist, OBGYN, GI doc, sleep doc and Naturopath) and told all FIVE that I was trying to conceive and NONE commented on the 2X daily prescription NSAID I was taking. Most likely none of them knew anything about it. Which is why I will be sending them copies of these studies.

OXFORD JOURNALS – RHEUMATOLOGY
CLin-Alert – Google Books
1996!!! Rheumatology Journal
MORE REFERENCES

I’m thinking this is a seious enough side effect that ALL NSAIDs should have this warning ON THE LABEL (which was NOT on anything I received with the prescription):

(found on Drugs.com)

Impaired female fertility:

The use of Diclofenac Potassium tablets may impair female fertility and is not recommended in women attempting to conceive. In women who may have difficulties conceiving or who are undergoing investigation of infertility, withdrawal of Diclofenac Potassium tablets should be considered.

So, now here’s my personal case study. After 4 weeks off of Diclofenac, I have positive pregnancy tests. Plural. Lots of them. Because of my previous failed implantations (aka chemical pregnancy) I tested for 8 days straight. No disappearing lines. I am definitely pregnant. ONE CYCLE OFF OF THIS STUFF. Coincidence? No way.

So, I am putting this out there for anyone who may not know: If you are trying to conceive…lay off the NSAIDs. Including creams, patches, pills, syrups. Tylenol and Excedrin Tension Headache have no NSAIDs. And in the spirit of helping people through social media….share! Pass it on!

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So I had to post this photo of what kind of mom I’ve been since January 1st:

Ok, maybe I’ll start with just taking down the Christmas tree.

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Just some cute photos…had to share.

There are advantages to having years (and feet) between your kids. Full tree coverage.

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This Halloween was a super fun treat for our family. I signed up on shespeaks.com to test out and share a new Snickers candy ‘Snickers Peanut Butter Squared’. They sent us a big box of candy, some fun decorations and a strobe light and fog machine. We shared it all over the city it seems! Kelsey took it to the school halloween party, we brought it to the church trunk-or-treat and we had a Snickers Buffet at our house on Halloween for our friends and neighbors. I even made a SPB2 cheesecake! YUM! So, here is a little video montage of our Snickers Halloween! The candy will be in stores sometime in December, I think, so watch for it. It’s pretty yummy!

Snickers Halloween

Posted to SheSpeaks Video Channel by April on November 04, 2010

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We got our box of funs stuff today from Snickers and SheSpeaks.com and Joshua helped me unpack it. He was enamored by the bags and bags of candy until he saw that there was BUBBLE WRAP!!! (Side note: I think Christmas this year will be big boxes full of bubble wrap and those air pillows. I swear he’d enjoy playing with the boxes and wrap more than toys.)

So, we unpacked the goodies and of COURSE we had to try one. Can’t let anyone else beat us to the punch. They are pretty good, I must say. Snickery on the bottom layer with peanuts throughout (If you have peanut allergies, you might not want to come to my house – except to see me!!) and then a layer of creamy peanut butter on top, all covered in chocolate. A lot of times those fun size bars are about one bite, but this one lasts a good 4 or 5 unless you’re a 16 year old boy.

We’re getting the decorations up. I’m waiting for Ken to get home to hang the wreath I put together. I’m too freaked out to get on a ladder that high. We did, however try out the strobe light in the bathroom!

MORE to come later when we get all the fun stuff up! And just wait until you see my van for the trunk-or-treat!!

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Yeah, so it’s another post about Josh. No, he’s not my only kid, but he’s the smallest and the cutest (in the diminutive sense) at the moment, not to mention the LOUDEST!

Today was his first day at school. It is stinkin’ cute at this age. He’s going to Head Start for help with his speech before he goes to Kindergarten next year. He LOVES it so far.

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He insisted on a backpack even though one was not required. What the heck, they’re all on sale right now, so it only cost $3.99 to make him happy!

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Joshua’s Teacher dyed all this rice herself. Super colorful and fun to play in. Great idea for an ‘indoor sandbox’ at home this winter.

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The tongue came out in full force at the woodworking station. He’s so going to love this school!

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And just in case you wondered if he’s still Joshua…

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We just finished up the third round of surgeries since Joshua was born and once again, my little guy surprised me with his strength and resilience. He’s not afraid of anyone or anything. He jumped right up on the scale to get weighed and measured, stuck out his arm of choice for the blood pressure cuff and walked off confidently with the anesthesiologist as mom and Dad wave goodbye at the door.
When he woke up he was smiley and thirsty, but there was no crying or whining whatsoever. It didn’t take long for him to drink a bunch of juice and water and start asking for food. The nurse asked if him mouth hurt and he said no every time. What a trooper. Within a couple of hours, he was playing with a fun drawing book from our friend Angela and asking to watch some TV or a movie. He took a nice long nap and then ate some pudding and drank more juice. He did his typical flirting with the nurse, which got him some ice cream and THEN, even though we were supposed to stay all night, he was doing SO well the doctor said we could go home at 8PM! Yipee! He chatted all the way home telling me where to drive and how fast and what music to play. At home he ate a frosty, ran around with his new fleece blanket as a cape (THANK YOU to the people who make and donate those kinds of things to PCMC) and then slept the whole night through. When he woke up crying I thought maybe he was finally feeling some pain, but nope. He slept so well that he didn’t wake up in time to make it to the bathroom and he wasn’t happy about that. Nothing a trip to the store to pick out jello and ice cream won’t cure.

On the way home from the store, it hit me just how strong this little boy is. He handles pain better than I do and his outlook is so positive and upbeat. He’s outgoing and friendly, smart and strong all in one. He is amazing and I know he’s going to do great things with his courage and strength.

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Wow…40. My husband is old. OK, not THAT old, but WAY older than he was when I met him. Not to mention way cuter. He’s always been adorable, but I’m quite enjoying his 40 year old face with the laugh lines and the little bit of gray hair that frames it. I love that all our kids got his smile. Happy birthday, old guy! I’ll meet ya on the other side of 40 in a few years. :p

EVENING BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION UPDATE:

Birthday boy’s adorable smile is a little out of focus, but super cute anyway!
After homemade tacos for dinner came the homemade goodies nestled in those pretty second hand bags: yummy salsa AND strawberry jam (low sugar, of course!).

This may look like a sweet little cupcake, but it’s not! It’s a whole wheat roll baked in a cupcake liner topped with creamy butter. Ken’s not big on sugar, so we tried something different and he loved it. He said ‘Who needs cupcakes? Let’s do this more often!”

Joshua had fun helping with the candles. And poking at the ‘fauxcake’ wondering what the heck it was. He enjoyed a couple of them with honey butter and jam.

Super fun day at home cooking good stuff for the people I love. Great, great day.

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