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Ovulation predictor kits are a great way for women to determine exactly when, during their cycle, they are ovulating helping to take some of the guess work out of determining when they are most likely to conceive. The kits are also a good way for doctors and patients to determine if a woman is not ovulating resulting in a potential fertility problem.
For women planning a pregnancy and trying to conceive one of the big challenges is timing, knowing exactly when that little egg drops. There are several ways to go about determining when you will ovulate including taking your basal body temperature and determining the consistency of your cervical mucus, however, those often still leave room for error, still leave questions. Ovulation predictor kits take a lot of the guess work out of it and provide women with an easy method to figuring out when they are ovulating. If a couple is having difficulty conceiving their doctor will often recommend the use of an ovulation predictor kit as the first step in determining if there are any fertility issues preventing pregnancy.
Ovulation predictor kits are easy to use and are very similar to the home pregnancy tests available on the market. In fact, many of the same companies that produce home pregnancy tests also produce home ovulation predictor kits as well. The kits use urine to test for LH hormones (luteinizing hormone) in your system. LH hormones are released within 24-48 hours of ovulation. If you get a positive result on an ovulation predictor then it is safe to assume you will be ovulating some time in the next 24 to 48 hours. Those 24-48 hours before ovulation is the most fertile time in your cycle and the time when conception is most likely to occur.
Each ovulation predictor kit will come with its own set of instructions and since each test may vary slightly be sure to read through the directions carefully before taking the test. If you are unsure on how to use an ovulation predictor kit or if one would be useful to you as you are trying to conceive be sure to talk to your doctor.
Autumn has always been my favorite time of year. I discovered this past weekend that it is also my favorite time of year for a road trip. The colors are beautiful and the air is cool and crisp. Perfect for road tripping.
Saturday my brother-in-law and his fiance got hitched. We had to make the trip up to Thunder Bay, Ontario from St. Louis in order to attend the festivities. Since the drive is quite long we had to break it into 2 days. The first day we drove to Minneapolis, about 2/3 of the way there. The drive was beautiful and our destination, the Mall of America, was so much fun.
Maya wanted to take a turn driving.
Maya loved the Mall of America
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The day ended with us in Thunder Bay at Chad and Kathleen’s house (my brother-in-law and sister-in-law). We spent the next couple of days helping them get ready for their big as we hoped the very nasty, chilly, rainy weather would clear for their wedding.
As luck would have it, the weather on Saturday was perfect. Crystal clear skies and perfect fall temperatures. The perfect backdrop for what ended up being an absolutely beautiful wedding.
Lorne, his brother Chad (the groom) and his brother Cliff
Chad and Kathleen exchanging their vows.
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It was a perfect weekend. A beautiful road trip and an even more beautiful wedding. I’m so glad we were able to make the trip up to help Chad and Kathleen celebrate.
What can I say about my hair. We have been in a love/hate relationship for as long as I can remember. I was blessed (?) with very thick (I mean, crazy thick), wavy hair. I’ve struggled to find the right way to wear my hair. All through my teens and most of my twenties I was in and out of hair salons making changes, getting it cut, trying to find the perfect way to manage this unruly mop of mine. To say I had some hairdos I regret, that I wish I could wipe from my memory, is an understatement. I learned the hard way that I could not have short layers, that my hair just wasn’t cut out for many of the cute, shorter styles that were so popular during my late teens and early twenties.
Today, I think it is safe to say that I’m okay with my hair, we’ve called a truce. That truce came in the form of a hair stylist I adore, a cut that works and being introduced to the flat iron. The flat iron, my friends, is God’s gift to people with thick, wavy, unruly hair. Without it my hair would be destined to spend each and every day in a ponytail. With it, my hair has the privilege of letting loose every now and then.
Most days my hair is in a ponytail, tucked safely away from the humidity that is my enemy, but every so often I take the time necessary to make it manageable, and I dare say, cute.
My hair before I use the flat iron. Don’t be fooled by it’s rather calm nature today, it spent half the day pulled back which helped to keep some of the frizz at bay, and I have the front pieces safely tucked away in a bang braid. Oh, and you can’t see the back, which is just, well, a mess.
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My hair after the flat iron. It’s like I have half the amount of hair!!!
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Do you have a love/hate relationship with your hair? How do you find your happy balance?
We all know and hear about the common early signs of pregnancy, things like nausea, cramping, tiredness and breast tenderness. They are the symptoms we are on the look out for when we suspect we may be pregnant, those tell tale signs. However, for some women there are no early signs of pregnancy, their missed period is the only indication that something is going on inside their body. For others, there are symptoms but they don’t fit under the normal and common categories, instead they find themselves experiencing some very unusual and uncommon early symptoms of pregnancy.
Early signs of pregnancy can be deceiving when they are common, especially those symptoms like bloating and breast tenderness, that are common premenstrual symptoms as well. When you begin experiencing uncommon or unusual symptoms you can really begin to second guess what is going with your body and be very unsure of what to do. So, what are some the uncommon and unusual symptoms of early pregnancy:
- Nasal congestion – a stuffy nose feeling, similar to what you would feel if you had allergies or a cold, but without any other cold symptoms. Most common in the early morning when you first wake up.
- Excessive Salivation – an increase in the production of saliva caused by hormones. This increased salivation can also lead to increased nausea.
- Metallic Taste – a strange taste of metal in the mouth, also thought to be caused by hormones.
- Spider Veins – an increase in the appearance of the veins on your chest and upper arms, they are very small veins that resemble spider legs, hence the name spider veins. Thought to be caused by an increase in the volume of blood your body produces during pregnancy. A common symptom later in pregnancy, it is considered uncommon during early pregnancy.
- Leg cramps – a cramping of the legs most common at night while you are trying to sleep. This is a very common late pregnancy symptoms, however, it is uncommon in early pregnancy.
The only tell tale indication that you are indeed pregnant is a positive pregnancy test. If you are experiencing any of symptoms, whether common or uncommon, that lead you to believe you may in fact be pregnant be sure to take a home pregnancy test and consult with your doctor.
Did you experience any uncommon or unusual symptoms early in your pregnancy? What were they?
We are hitting the road…again. I know, you’re thinking to yourself, didn’t they just “hit the road” a few weeks ago, didn’t they just get back from vacation. Why yes, yes we did. However, we are heading out again. My brother-in-law and his fiance are getting married this weekend, and Lorne is in the wedding. So, needless to say, that requires us to head back up to Ontario.
Of course, like with most of our vacations, it also means we will be spending a great deal of time in a car. 4 days to be exact (to say I’m not looking forward to that part of it is a complete understatement). The idea of sitting in a car for 4 days out of 7 isn’t exactly my idea of a good time, but I know it’ll be worth it to help the happy couple celebrate their marriage. Plus, I love an excuse to put on my fancy clothes and see my husband in a suit. And, since I don’t get to do it all that often, I’ll settle for driving long distances for the opportunity.
The bags are packed, our dress up clothes are pressed and ready to go, and movies and coloring books have been procured for the entertainment of the little one. The only thing left to do is wake up bright and early and head on out on the open road.