The Fabulous Ladies from the Hopeful Momstalk boards!
See the boards at www.preconception.com (click on Community) for details!


Becca
I'm 28 years old. I'm into my 2nd year of ttc. I have PCOS. My DH and I live in our new house in Denver, CO with our cat. I'm a third grade teacher and also sing in a professional Christian accapella group - three guys and three girls.

BJ (Bharti Jogia)
I am 30 and DP (Kamila) is 31. We have been married almost 6 yrs currently living in Los Angeles, CA. We are both of South Asian descent Indian/Pakistani. Currently our only baby is a Marmaduke-like (Great Dane/Rhodesian Ridgeback) Dog named Buddy (I swear he is part human too!). DP is an educator mostly training teachers how to work with Special Needs Kids ( so I always have to use PC language at home when it comes to Learning Disabilities). I am a Corporate Financial Controller (long huh) for a Real Estate Investments Firm (many of our clients are Hollywood folks though my department rarely sees anyone). DP and I have been TTC with the help of our Donor Daddy (Salman) who is a close friend of our family and also of same ethnicity. Under CA law, in order for DP and I to be able to be the legal parents of our child ( the birth certificate shall have both our names) our Donor Daddy had to waive his parental rights and hence he is also not responsible, financially, for the future child. However, he will participate to the fullest extent in bringing up the Baby(ies) and be known as "Daddy". Obviously, such an alternative blend of family has its own challenges and I think we have handled them fairly well for the most part. I find it interesting that I met our Donor Daddy, as a friend, the same day I met my DP :) We have been pursuing TTC via IUI and Clomid.

Cassie- PG!!
I am 32 and DH is a whole 6 months younger than me and never lets me forget that he’s my “boy toy”. We just celebrated our 2 year anniversary. We met while I was in the UK taking a much needed break from my career (as a Respiratory Therapist) just over 4 years ago. My 6 month holiday turned into a 2 year experience of a life time... when we decided to get married my DH knew that I wanted to be near my family when we had children. We came back to Ontario, Canada in spring 1999 and were married at my parents’ home that summer. We always knew that we wanted children so when I forgot to bring my BCP hometo my parents during our first Christmas holidays as a married couple, we took that as a sign that the time was right. We conceived in April but I mc’d at 6 weeks. It took a full year to conceive again... all the while I started reading more and more about fertility. I started temping in April but really didn’t know what it all meant. When I finally stumbled across TCOYF early in June, I read it cover to cover and we conceived again that month! Unfortunately I that pgcy was lost at 6 weeks too. We are more determined now than ever that the third time we will be lucky! As much as I want children, I never lose site of the fact that my DH truly is the best thing that ever happened to me. My life is so full of happiness that he gives to me. I feel so incredibly lucky to have in him in my life. If we can never have children, having my DH will be enough. He makes my life complete. Anything else is a gift.... that being said.... I am sooooo ready for that gift!!!!!

Cathrine
I am 33 and DH is 36. DD is 15 months. We have been ttc au natural for 7 mo. We live in Northern Canada (brr). I work for a college and DH is an electrician.

Darian
I live in the San Francisco Bay area, in the East Bay. It's just me and DH and our two kitties in our house (for now). We've been married for a year but have been living together for 8. I went off BCP at the end of April 2001. I'm a retoucher in the pre-press industry. I do a lot if image retouching like on wine shots making the bottles and labels look perfect. I really like what I do. It's fun! My temp chart site is http://www.tcoyf.com/cgi-bin/chart.pl/darian

Deven
Hello I am 21 yo and DH is 25, DS is one and a half his name is Preston he was born march of 2000. We live in Hanford Ca were Dh has lived for 3 years and we have been married a little over 2 years now. I went off Depo Provera in Febuary 2001 after being on it for 9 months. We start trying actually just Bding, since July 4th we started actually trying in August with me jioning the ttc board and learning to temp, check cm and watch for O. this month Oct. has been the best month for catching O i hope we did any way. Lets say we both got into it a lot more this month. We have one dog Sammy a boxer and a horse Skittles and that is it for animals I would like another cat my first I got right before we got narried died right before Ds was born i am ready for another cat and Lb. Aren't we all ready for a LB!

Elissa
I've lived all over (San Diego, CA, St.Louis, MO, and Elgin, IL) but consider the Northwest suburbs of Chicago home (it was for 17 years), that is until I was married 6 years ago and moved to Decatur, IL with my DH. We are both 30 yo, and met in the journalism program at Eastern Illinois University. We went through some tuff times deciding whether we would become parents, but are finally on the same page and are both excited about becoming parents! We officially started trying in July of 2001. I work for United Way as a Marketing/Communications Director. My job requires a ton of PR related activities and just getting out there and shaking hands and kissing babies, it's borderline political. DH works for UPS aka "Big Brown" as a Customer Automation Specialist (Computer Technician). We just bought our first home, a 130 yr old Victorian home in our towns historic district. We have 3, yes I said 3, cats. They are all girls and all have boy names, Bob, Ralph and Hunter; let's just say DH won't be naming our child! :)

Elizabeth
DH and I are both 27. Off BCP in April 2001. Started TTC in June 2001. I'm an accountant, but I really want to be a stay-at-home mom! DH is a manager and was ready to TTC before I was. :) He is the most supportive, wonderful DH ever. God really blessed me with him.

JenH
Born just outside of Chicago, Illinois, my DH (Darrell, 26) and I (27) now reside in steamy San Antonio, TX. It took me close to 6 years to get him to tie the knot with me, but I managed it on April 29, 2000. I've wanted a LB since I was a teenager and I get more desperate every year! DH took a little more convincing! We began TTCing in April 2001. I recently found out that I rarely ovulate because I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Soon I will begin Clomid. I am currently a nanny for a 16 month old boy, Sammy, and a 12 year old girl, Amanda. I am getting lots of "mommy" practice! I have a nursery all set and waiting! Come join us, little one!

Jen P
I am 31 and just celebrated my 2 yr. anniversary. DH is 39. We live in Ohio--let me clear up my beach story from above for those of you that think Ohio is cornfield central. LOL We live about 20 miles east of Cleveland, which sits on Lake Erie. When I say beach, it feels like the ocean (minus the sharks-yikes!) because Lake Erie goes from the US to Canada. When we look from the beach at the homes by my in-laws, I feel like we are on the Cape (except only one has the clapboard siding-my fave. I love that look) I work in insurance, but don't want to anymore. I am going to go back to school for my teaching certification. I am also going to research how much school I would need to be a pharmacist. We love the beach, baseball, college football-GO BUCKS! We like spending time with our families-DH is one of ten kids and I have twin brothers. My bro's wife had the triplets with 50 mg of Chlomid, but my bro is an identical twin, grandpa was a fraternal twin, and her brothers are fraternal, so Lord knows if that threw a wrench into it. That is why DH tells me absolutely no drugs. His mom, sisters and nieces are all twins as well. We have been ttc since last Christmas. I am getting very impatient. We missed a few months because of illness and travel. I would love to announce my pregnancy at Thanksgiving when we all go to NC to my Grandma's. I would be ~14 weeks then.

Kim B
I'm 30 and DH is 40. We've been married since December, 2000, and that's also when I went of BCP. We live in Northwest Florida with our two white cats, Aspen and Vail. My cycles are generally short and my doctor put me on Clomid in August to remedy that. I am a former pharmaceutical representative, quit my job to stay at home and try my hand at domestic engineering in July. I am also learning to cook and clean - making this my new job.

LA
I am 30 (31 next month), DH is 32, and DC (darling cat) is 5. We have been married for five wonderful years. I went off BCP's in April of 1999 (just to see if anything would happen) and when nothing did, we got into it a bit more seriously. We've been actively TTC since July 2000. I was diagnosed with mild PCOS in June 2001 and in July we discovered that there is also a slight male factor. We are kind of in limbo as we wait to get in to see specialists and begin treatments (I have an ob/gyn appt in Oct. and DH has a urologist appt in Nov.). As I said above, DH is a teacher. I am in documentation for a high tech company in Ottawa, Canada. We are both very active and enjoy doing pretty much any outdoor activity (running, rollerblading, cycling, skiing...).

Laura L
I am 28 and DH is 31. We met in July 1998 when I was working as a party planner for the catering company where he was a chef! Now we have made major career changes to allow us to spend more time together and with our families-- and to have more time for the family we will create together. I work for a staffing firm as the staffing manager and DH works for an electrical supply distributor. We live in Virginia Beach. We were married March 18, 2000, and have been TTC since mid-August 2001. We closed on our first house this past spring, and we have a cocker named Kirby and a kitty named Curtis, and plenty of room for a LB! As I write this we are starting cycle 3 after only two full months off bcp, which I had been on for two years.

Lorri
I'm 31 years old I've been married for a little over 11yrs. Originally from Florida but moved to Texas after getting married. Quit working to be stay at home mom for my son born march of 2000. Has been a adjustment but a good one. He was concieved using Clomid. Now trying for #2 after miscarriage in July 2001 also concieved with Clomid. Now on clomid and Pometrium because of low Progesterone. Have wonderful DH who is very supportive and wants babies as much as I do. =)

Marie
23 years old, DH is 30, married May of 1999, TTC#1. I am also working on my MBA at a local university. I live in Virginia. DH will most likely be a SAHD after LB is born. DH is a big waffler - he is never quite certain about TTC and favors the withdrawal method (so you'll probably hear me complain about that from time to time!).

Melissa P- PG!!
DH and I have been married 6 years, DH and I are both Pharmacists. TTC for 15 cycles now. Unexplained infertility…that is all our tests to date including SA, hormone levels, thyroid levels, and HSG to see if my tubes were open have been completely normal. So after 12 cycles “au natural” the OB decided we should try Clomid with IUI to increase our chances. I have been in Clomid hell ever since.

Monica H
Just turned 27 this month and DH is 34, we've been married for 7 years and have a DD 2 1/2 years old. She's the light of my life and wasn't sure my heart could take loving any more until I unrepentantly became PG again in May 00. Once the shock wore off, along with trying to figure out how I would do as a mother of 2 just 22 mths apart, I was really loving the idea until I had a MC at 9 weeks due to a blighted ovum and had a D/E in 6/00. DH and I decided to wait until our original plan of having our children 3 years apart and started to try again in 6/01. Thought it would happen right away as it did with the other two and have taken PT every month since only to have AF come the day after the test. Just started to temp and chart this month and find it all fascinating. Full time stay home mom after retiring at 25 from being in HR as an Employment and Benefits Manager. DH is a Drug Rep and does a great job, allowing me the luxury of staying home. We live in PA in our 2 year old house just off of a lake. Glad to connect here with everyone, but like everyone else hoping my stay will be very short.

Nathalie
I'm 25 & so is DH. We live in Pennsylvania & we've been married for 1yr & 4mos. I went off the Pill last August & my periods got real out of whack!!! I started charting in February and I I've just finished my 2nd round of Clomid. This month I'm going through some crazy hot flashes. I still chart on Lifecycle - haven't gotten to the TCOYF yet.

Nicole
I am 23. My DH is 25, and we have just started talking about TTC#1. Our one year anniversary is the 16th of this month. We have decided to start trying in March. We gave ourselves a six month bumper to hopefully become experts. HAHA!!!

Susan B
I'm 27, married for 4 years, stay at home mom to Bobby (6/6/99). We live in Minnesota, but I would love to move back home to Iowa. I'm a horticulturist by education, and I actively volunteer with my church and the Girl Scouts. We are currently very involved in Early Childhood Education, both taking classes and facilitating a class for first time parents. I love to read, cross-stich, do jigsaw puzzles, craft, scrapbook, stamp and recently started sewing (I'm not that good at it yet, but I try!), and often wonder why I never seem to have any time!

Quinn
DH and I are 31 and have been TTC for one year this month. We had a m/c in March. Our pets - Fox the dog and Malory the fat cat - are our children, though snuggling with a pet at night is an appointment with the sneeze/fur fairy, it seems, and so I'd rather have a child! DH programs software (he's in Italy now crammed onto a ship), and I spent the last eight years teaching high school English until our move to a new town last month. My big news these days is my new job. The official title is "Adult Education Projects Specialist," which means I provide training and support to GED and Adult Basic Education Programs. I will do everything from training GED teachers to typing newsletters. The "GED Girl Friday with a Master's Degree" should be my title, I think, since it involves everything from administrivia to curriculum development.

Whitney
I am 25 and DH is 27. We live in Casa Grande, Arizona. We have been TTC since July 99. I have slight PCOS and do not O. I am currently taking 200mg clomid, hcg trigger shot and IUI. We have 3 dogs-Mikey, Timmy and Suade.