As for my intro/story:
I am 39 and have an almost three year old son with my husband.
We didn't have any problems getting pregnant with my son when I was 36. It was the second cycle off the pill and my pregnancy was super smooth sailing until the delivery, which was complicated.
We decided to wait a little bit before trying for a sibling. Of course my husband was convinced that since it happened quickly last time it would happen quickly again. I tried to convince him that it might not be that way at all but I only got so far with that. Really neither here nor there I guess, but I'm just saying I had a feeling it might take a lot longer and wanted to start trying again sooner than we did, but of course was respecting what he wanted too. So we started TTC for number 2 in December of last year.
Our first BFP was in February and I was so naive and happy it was great. We went ahead and told family right away. I didn't even POAS again. One BFP and I thought that was most likely that. Then I started bleeding a few days after my period should have been and I learned the phrase chemical pregnancy for the first time.
The second BFP was in May and at my first appointment in June we discovered there was virtually no growth at all. They couldn't see anything on the ultrasound in the OBGYN's office. One of the hardest moments of my life is remembering lying on that table hearing the midwife tell me she didn't see anything. I had a natural miscarriage in June, three days after the four year anniversary of my mom's passing.
At this point I still didn't think I really needed to see an RE for sure yet. Because the first loss was never considered an official pregnancy. So at this point I was really only at one official loss. And even though I had reached the "trying for six month" mark recommended for over 35, I had two BFPs already so I wasn't convinced I really needed to see anyone yet.
BFP #3 was in October, again quickly - two months after getting the green light to try again. And not a chemical pregnancy but it did end very quickly. This time my blood was taken and determined that I had ridiculously low progesterone (I think it was at a 1) and my TSH level was too high - 3.74. She started me on progesterone supplements but by that time I was expecting to miscarry since I saw my temperature take a plunge and stay down. So after this one my midwife and OBGYN both recommended that I see an RE to do testing on my hormones and thyroid and see if he could figure out what was going on. Since it was such an early m/c I asked if I should wait before trying again and was told, "Well, that's up to the RE." Since I wasn't going to see him for a while and no one told me not to, and I figured well what's the worst that could happen? Another miscarriage? Well I've done that so fine, let's not super try but what the heck if we have sex during the window then so be it.
And we did which led to BFP #4 in November. I got it the day I was scheduled to see the RE. He tested my TSH that day (12 DPO) and it came back 2.54 which he said was in the range of normal so he didn't prescribe anything for that. He did put me on 200 mg progesterone 2x per day right away as well as baby aspirin. We tested beta levels and while they were rising within the range of normal they were always low and somewhat slow. But they told me not to worry because the ranges can vary so widely and they were still doubling within an acceptable rate.
At my first u/s my heart was broken all over again when they again saw a sac measuring way behind and no fetal pole. After a series of follow up u/s it was determined for sure it was not a viable pregnancy. This time I opted for a D & C which was last Thursday.
So now I am on the bench waiting for CD 1 to roll around so we can do a full RPL work up. I am waiting for the nurse to send me a packet that describes all the various tests the RE is recommending for me and what I need to do and when they occur etc.
As for my son, we are just enjoying the holidays with him since he is just at the age where he is really excited about Christmas. I am trying to treasure every moment with him as much as I can. Sometimes I feel a little selfish because I want to be with him so much and I may be guilty of hogging him from my in laws a little. But when I think that they've had three kids and five other grandchildren and this could be our only one, I don't feel that bad honestly!!
QOTW: Really, really simple and probably kind of dumb to even call it a tradition. But ever since I was little when we went to my mom's mom's house, everyone would take turn opening their presents from youngest to oldest. Everyone would watch and appreciate each gift the person was opening and make comments etc. And that's just the way I like it to be now. Even though it's so hard to do sometimes with littler ones, I think it helps teach patience and gratitude to appreciate every gift and give that person undivided attention while it's their turn.
The other thing is that we don't put out Christmas presents until Christmas eve night. My husband tried to do this just yesterday and his take on it was that it creates anticipation to have the presents sitting there. And I see that but we talked about it and he was okay with my feeling that I'd rather start the tradition of having all the presents show up all at once Christmas morning.