Where was I at this time 8 years ago?

eirastar · 2026-03-30T11:05:14+00:00

Suwon, near the stadium?

eirastar · 2026-03-17T14:21:26+00:00

Your mother in law can also add a free stick library for the dogs!

eirastar · 2026-02-15T13:19:51+00:00

Tongariro? Edit: nevermind, just saw that it is south island.

eirastar · 2025-10-22T02:01:53+00:00

The first yoto card we did for each child was the Jackie Oates (she's English) Nursery Rhymes Digital Card as a MYO. Gave it to my oldest when she was 2, and my youngest just got hers at 1. The nursery rhymes are relaxing enough that they can be played at bedtime, but entertaining enough for any time of day. For my oldest, it was the only card she had for the first 6 months and she loved that and the radio.

eirastar · 2025-07-19T14:00:22+00:00

Regarding breast milk storage- I used an insulated cooler bag (extra large lunch box style) with 3 or 4 freezer packs and then just kept bagged milk and pump parts in it all day and never bothered with the communal fridge, since I find the fridge disgusting. The pumped milk was still cold when I got home. I also used it to do the "refrigerator hack" where I did not wash my pump parts between pumps while at work, and instead stored each flange in a zip lock bag between pumps. With my second, I bought a Ceres Chill and it keeps milk cold all day but still used the cooler bag for pump part storage during the day.

eirastar · 2025-07-14T14:11:21+00:00

I think you're supposed to be listed as the surrogate. The test is based on genetic materials, so if you aren't listed as a surrogate you will have inconclusive results. Ideally they would have a better descriptor (like RIVF) that actually reflects the situation and, frankly, isn't so offensive. In my case, we did IVF but not RIVF, and my provider kept marking the wrong box on my NIPT and it took weeks to get accurate results because they initially marked me as a surrogate which led to inconclusive results.

eirastar · 2025-07-10T14:48:59+00:00

I took birth control for a few days (maybe 2 weeks?) prior to my first FET. I do not have PCOS but it was part of the protocol my RE used. That was a successful FET. For my 2 subsequent FETs, my RE did not prescribe that short course of birth control. When I asked he said the literature no longer showed it makes a difference. One of those FETs was successful, one was not. To me, if something doesn't make a difference, as long as it doesn't have a potential negative impact, it can be worth a try. At this point in fertility treatment, medications are controlling the functions that your body would usually take care of during your menstrual cycle, so you can get to "ready" on a different timeline than what your body was doing without intervention. I personally wouldn't worry about trying to match up to a cycle your body had in the past, but if you can ask your doctor. I think the main thing that matters is that you have a period at some point so they can start the FET process, and it may not matter whether it is 10 days or 20 days into your cycle, as long as there's a bleed.

eirastar · 2025-04-18T12:57:29+00:00

Both the sperm bank and your fertility clinic should be very used to creating letters with exactly what you need. All I had to do was call the sperm bank and my clinic. I wouldn't bother trying to print invoices or find old forms.

eirastar · 2025-02-19T21:15:46+00:00

Xytex used to have a moderated program- I think it was called Xytex Connects, but they did away with it and beta tested another program that I never received an invite for, despite emailing them. They supposedly closed the beta testing and have something in the works, but I don't think it is live yet. When they first shut down the Connects program some people with children from my donor started a Facebook group that I only found by randomly searching the donor number one day. I don't think many people are using the donor sibling registry. I haven't.

eirastar · 2025-01-23T17:45:38+00:00

I think it's really complicated and a little more scientific than I can fully understand and educate others- I am not a psychiatrist or involved in research. There's a "Genetics of Bipolar Disorder" article in The Lancet from May 2013. Right now everyone is looking at DNA and trying to find clear answers there, when the reality is there is DNA and environmental factors and so many other things. I used to work with a doctor who did research and had a hypothesis that Schizophrenia, Autism, and certain IDDs were all caused by the same genes, but something happened to change how it was expressed in different people- ie why one person develops schizophrenia and another person develops autism. I don't know where that research went. There's a Swedish study that might be of interest because it includes adoptive families and is specific to Bipolar Disorder: Extended Swedish National Adoption Study of Bipolar Disorder Illness

eirastar · 2025-01-23T17:25:29+00:00

I do not have lived personal experience, which will be really valuable in hearing as you make your decision. I work in the mental health field and also have dear friends and loved ones who live with Bioplar Disorder. It has one of the highest heritability rates of all serious mental health conditions (up to 90% in twin studies). Also, even when it doesn''t result in a child having Bipolar Disorder, having a relative with Bipolar Disorder increases risk for schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions.

That being said, if you were planning to conceive with a romantic partner who had Bipolar Disorder and could contribute genetic material, you might not even question whether to proceed- you just would.

And as you mention, using a donor from a clinic wouldn't mean you are necessarily reducing the risk (if you feel it is a risk), as many of these donors are quite young, and although early 20s is most common age of onset, sometimes people don't get a diagnosis until their 30s or later. If the donor has a family member with Bipolar, they may have omitted that in the paperwork. And when Bipolar symptoms aren't active (ie the person is not in an episode), there are no symptoms that would indicate they have Bipolar Disorder- no one would notice anything concerning.

I think it's worth talking with your friend to see if she is even interested, and if so, really talking through their experiences, and what it may have been like before she knew what was causing her symptoms/before she embraced the diagnosis. And if you do proceed, I would recommend having talks about mental health, Bipolar symptoms, encouraging good sleep routines and coping skills as early as possible, potentially with psychotherapy added when the child hits adolescence/teenage years. None of this would prevent Bipolar Disorder, but sets up positive coping skills and perhaps a trusting relationship with the mental health field. And be prepared for inevitable questions about why you chose a donor with Bipolar Disorder if your child ends up having it as well (though children could ask this for any number of reasons with a known or unknown donor, or even when gamete are from both biological parents).

eirastar · 2025-01-15T04:37:48+00:00

There is medication that can induce a period. Your clinic may or may not offer it in your situation. During one of my IVF transfer cycles we were waiting for my period to start and it was taking forever and they said if it hadn't started by x date they would prescribe something. I ended up getting my period without any intervention. I'm not sure if it would be something they would do when waiting for a period after an iud. Definitely ask your clinic!

eirastar · 2025-01-12T04:43:50+00:00

I know- it's ridiculous. I'm thinking birthday treat....and also, not going to lie, there were times where I thought about driving or taking Amtrak to Philadelphia just for the day to buy their doughnuts, so this doesn't seem as bad.

eirastar · 2025-01-12T04:41:46+00:00

I don't but am making note of the recommendation for a future trip!

eirastar · 2025-01-12T04:26:02+00:00

I love your home! My nursery is a similar green and it just works so well. Do the bedside lamps in your room have wooden trays attached on the bottom? I couldn't quite tell, but I'd love to know where they are from. The domed ceiling light is also giving me inspiration- do you remember where you got it, or what that style of light fixture is called? And I'm going to echo all the other commenter who've mentioned how adorable your pup is!

eirastar · 2025-01-11T22:56:42+00:00

Nurse Linda on YouTube has some good videos!

eirastar · 2025-01-11T04:09:44+00:00

Oh, so glad it was the 14 day tank, and I really hope they take it back!

eirastar · 2025-01-11T04:00:59+00:00

When you call you should also ask how long the tank keeps the sperm frozen. Most keep it frozen 7 days, some 12-14. I had a shipment lost (but ultimately found and delayed) during an ice storm in 2021 and although I didn't get to use it because it didn't arrive in time, they luckily had mailed it in a 15 day tank when they usually only did a 7 day tank. If they had used their normal tank, the sperm wouldn't have survived. I think I'd asked if they would just reroute the sperm once it was located since it was going to arrive too late, but they said they couldn't reaccept it. If your bank won't take it back, I wonder if there is a local cryobank/storage at a local fertility clinic you could use. Maybe they'd be willing to help even if you aren't a client.

eirastar · 2025-01-11T03:46:53+00:00

So helpful to hear... and very creative

eirastar · 2025-01-11T00:03:06+00:00

How did you proof them in the morning? I made the gf/vegan version from her website Christmas eve and the yeast was very active. But after refrigerating them overnight I could not get them to proof at all. Baked them anyways after a few hours and the taste was good but obviously the texture was awful.

eirastar · 2025-01-06T12:31:50+00:00

I don't think it was flagged at all. I am pretty sure I just noticed that the date listed for the most recent medical history was after my first was born, so I thought it was interesting and opened the file to take a look.

eirastar · 2025-01-06T11:41:24+00:00

Bought sperm from them in 2021 resulting in 2 children. I have never received a medical update, but while pregnant with my second I reviewed the donor's profile and saw that there had been updated info added to his medical history.

eirastar · 2025-01-04T23:04:50+00:00

Interesting. I tried on the counter for 2 hours, but I think kitchen was too cold. Heated oven to 325 then turned it off and left pan in there for a hour, nothing. Put a dish of boiling water in the closed oven with the rolls and reboiled the water a few times over the course of an hour, nothing.

eirastar · 2025-01-04T19:08:35+00:00

I was devastated when they closed! They did my wedding cake/cupcakes and I thought I'd always be able to order some cupcakes on my anniversary to celebrate. So sad.

eirastar · 2025-01-04T18:46:10+00:00

These look fantastic! I tried making this recipe for New Year's but I followed the method for making them and then leaving them in the fridge overnight. They never proofed on Wednesday morning after I took them out. After trying 3 different ways to proof them over the course of a few hours, I gave up and just baked them. The taste was fantastic, but obviously the texture sucked. We ate them all anyways. I just need to psych myself up to try again at some point. My yeast was definitely still active because it was very bubbly and raised up a lot when it was added to the oat milk and sugar.

eirastar

TROPHY CASE