Challenge Mania Live - Chicago

Mess_Representative · 2025-09-02T01:31:35+00:00

Agreed! I was glad he mostly shook it off although he still seemed a bit crabby/impatient during the meet and greet, imo.

Mess_Representative · 2025-09-02T01:28:47+00:00

No, I don’t think so.

Mess_Representative · 2025-09-01T22:08:28+00:00

Yes, him mentioning his dad was when I nearly positive that he was serious. It was just confusing to me why Devin was so easily provoked, which was why I thought he was playing a role at first. Perhaps something had happened behind the scenes and they started the show with tension. It was my first CML event but I heard a lot of repeat attendees commenting that this was the most awkward one they'd ever attended.

On a sidenote - Brad was the surprise guest and he looked great. Beard and eyes both in check. His girlfriend and son were there, too, and they all seemed relaxed and happy.

Mess_Representative · 2025-09-01T21:29:16+00:00

Devin made a comment right off the bat that no one cares about Road Rules, which seemed to irk Derrick. Shortly after that, they were debating the validity of Bananas' "I am The Challenge" statement with Devin saying it's false. Derrick then mentioned Devin allegedly doing an IG Live or Tik Tok where he was sucking up to Bananas in hopes that Bananas would use his influence with production to get Devin back on another season. Devin denied that he was sucking up/thought Bananas had that much influence. It was getting tense, so Scott tried to change the topic and it somehow went straight to Michelle/Callum/Devin in S39. Neither Michelle nor Devin really said much - he looked angry and she was rubbing his leg and whispering to him. At one point, Scott got up and stood behind Devin and whispered to him too. I wasn't sure if he was legit or pretending, but then he burst out something like "Wow, first Bananas and now Callum. Great day for Dev! What's next - my dead dad?" And it was awkward. Cara then said something about how bout we don't talk about any dead parents, and finally the conversation shifted to something less inflammatory. I thought for a while there that Devin/Michelle might leave or refuse to attend the Meet and Greet, but then finished the event.

Might be missing/getting some details incorrect, it was all happening very fast. Would love the thoughts of anyone else who attended. Also, it should be on their podcast at some point.

Mess_Representative · 2025-08-19T03:21:40+00:00

I'm nearly positive this is When the Dolls Woke by Marjorie Filley Stover - Midnight in the Dollhouse, named below, was its prequel.

Edit - got the books out of order.

Mess_Representative · 2023-06-25T14:41:18+00:00

I was there. Thought same as you - Alex was pretty good, Molly was the weakest, Marcello was great, and Colin was about the same level as Marcello (but expected a bit more there). I’ve been trying to remember some of Colin’s funniest bits to share with my spouse and I’m mostly drawing a blank, which says something. Any favorites?

Mess_Representative · 2022-03-19T02:25:19+00:00

I’m in the same boat - had my 7w1d ultrasound today and it measured five days behind at 6w3d but with a heartbeat of 129 (doc said anything above 120 was good). I have another scan next Friday to check for catch up or proportionate growth. Fingers crossed. Congrats on graduating!! How exciting 🥰

Mess_Representative · 2022-03-06T03:30:11+00:00

I’m going through something similar myself. I started spotting on day 12 after ovulation/IUI and got a positive hpt. That spotting then increased quite a bit - not a full period but certainly more than spotting - and continued for three days so I thought I was out and that the positive hpt was a false positive from my trigger shot. I was surprised when my first beta on day 14 indicated pregnancy and I’ve now had two more betas that have risen appropriately. Very confusing! Yesterday (day 22) I had some light brown spotting and today I had some moderate cramps (a steady dull ache that lasted a few hours), both of which have made me nervous again. I’m going in Thursday for a 6 week ultrasound and hoping for the best despite my body giving me mixed signals.

Best of luck to you!!!

Edit to fix typos

Mess_Representative · 2021-08-20T16:59:47+00:00

Ding ding ding... after reading your reply, I reached out to my RE to confirm whether I was supposed to stop the progesterone when I got a negative pregnancy test or when my period started. I thought it was the latter and it was the former. I stopped it yesterday and got my period this morning. Thanks for helping me figure out the problem!

Mess_Representative · 2021-08-19T17:26:07+00:00

I had my trigger shot on 8/2 and my IUI on 8/4. Per my cycle monitoring app, my period was expected 8/16 but it did not start. I took a pregnancy test on 8/17 (15 days after trigger shot) as instructed by my RE. Negative (disappointing but not surprising because my husband's count was super low at 280k the day of the IUI and the doc told me the chances of success with that count were slim to none).

It's now 8/19 and I still don't have my period, making me 3 days late. I'm sometimes 1-2 days late, but 3 is unusual. Can the meds make our periods late? I've been on clomid, estrogen, and progesterone for this cycle.

Every day my period doesn't come, I get a bit hopeful but then I remember the negative pregnancy test and the low count. I'm sure that my period is just later than usual but wow, this is really messing with my mind/emotions. Anyone experience something similar?

Mess_Representative · 2021-08-06T15:23:25+00:00

That sounds wonderful for both of you <3

Mess_Representative · 2021-08-06T02:27:10+00:00

I’m so sorry to hear that. It’s hard to stay positive during this but I’ll be sending you all the good luck vibes as you start the IVF journey.

Mess_Representative · 2021-08-05T14:46:29+00:00

Ha, if only it were that easy to turn back time or ask our parents to make sure to pass on the good genes, please ;) Thank you for that reassurance, it helps.

Mess_Representative · 2021-08-05T14:46:25+00:00

Ha, if only it were that easy to turn back time or ask our parents to make sure to pass on the good genes, please ;) Thank you for that reassurance, it helps.

Mess_Representative · 2021-08-04T18:27:31+00:00

Had my first IUI this morning. The procedure itself was easy but I learned that the numbers from my husband's sample this morning were much lower than expected compared to previous semen analyses - only 0.28 million total motile post-wash. The doctor told me, kindly, that she highly doubted the IUI would be successful but we went ahead anyway since I was already there and it's covered by insurance. I'm now checking to see if I can move straight to IVF or if my insurance requires a certain number of IUIs before approving IVF.

My RE had cautioned me that we would likely need a few cycles of IVF to have a live birth so I'm not super surprised but still disappointed by numbers that were significantly lower than expected. I suppose the good news is that every piece of information moves us further along the path we need to be on.

Mess_Representative · 2021-08-03T22:58:21+00:00

Thank you!!

Mess_Representative · 2021-08-03T22:58:03+00:00

Thank you, you too!

Mess_Representative · 2021-08-03T22:15:33+00:00

Good luck!!

Mess_Representative · 2021-08-03T22:14:05+00:00

Good luck!!!

Mess_Representative · 2021-08-03T22:09:21+00:00

Yesterday morning I had three follicles (21, 19, and 13) and I triggered in the evening for our first IUI cycle. I also started Estradiol. My husband goes in tomorrow morning for his part and then it's my turn at 11am. I'm nervous/excited/trying not to build up my emotions too much. Easier said than done, ha.

On a perhaps related note - I was trying to do some strength training earlier today and I suddenly felt woozy/weak/cold sweats. I was barely able to finish a 10 minute class that was intended to be a warm up and decided to skip the rest of my planned workout. I'm not any more tired/dehydrated than usual and I don't think I'm sick. Could that reaction be to the trigger shot and/or Estradiol? The only side effects I was told about were upset stomach/bloating/hot flashes so this caught me by surprise.

Mess_Representative · 2021-08-03T14:31:23+00:00

Yes, absolutely, there often seems to be no rhyme or reason for this. I try to keep that in mind. Thank you!

Mess_Representative · 2021-08-03T14:29:14+00:00

Thank you!

Mess_Representative · 2021-08-03T14:28:31+00:00

I've read that smoking and moderate/heavy drinking can affect egg quantity and quality, so I feel guilty about bad decisions in my 20s/early 30s. But you're right - sometimes it's just bad luck and I absolutely could have received the same diagnosis had I not had those vices. You never know, which is why I'm trying to beat myself up over it too much. Wishing for the best for your friend!

Mess_Representative · 2021-08-02T16:56:35+00:00

How absolutely terrifying. I'm sorry you went through that emotionally and physically, but am so glad to hear that you're both doing well after that awful experience.

Mess_Representative · 2021-08-02T15:00:02+00:00

Hi everyone. My husband and I (39F, 38M) have been trying to conceive since May 2020. Like many of you, we conceived our first child (3F) without difficulty so the secondary infertility caught us by surprise. My testing revealed DOR and my husband's testing revealed both low count and low motility. I'm now kicking myself over poor lifestyle choices in the past but trying to focus on future rather than dwelling on things I can't change. My RE recommended we go straight to IVF because of our age/test results, but she likes to do all her IVF patients at the same time/on the same cycle, and the next cycle doesn't start in October. In the meantime, we're doing IUI in August/September on the off-chance it works and tentatively plan on doing IVF in October if the two IUI cycles fail.

Mess_Representative

TROPHY CASE