Acupuncture

This week I had my second round of acupuncture.
I am still on the fence about if it works or not.
But I did want to share some information on why I am doing it.
As some of you know I have been part of a message board for a couple of years now.
It is for anyone with any type of infertility, even family members of people with fertility problems.
I usually stick to the "military" group because they know what its like to have to move around and change docs often.
You form really good relationships on the board, and it helps to have "cycle buddies".
It's nice to compare numbers and experiences.
Anyway, that is how I got turned on to acupuncture.
A lot of the women on my board got pregnant after failed cycles when they started acupuncture.
I am going to just plagiarize a pamphlet I found.

The treatment of infertility with acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) dates back 2,000 years. These ancient, time-tested techniques improve fertility rates and support a woman's whole body, unlocking unlimited potential for health, healing and childbearing.

A landmark study published in the medical journal Fertility & Sterility found that acupuncture dramatically improves the changes of becoming pregnant when used in conjunction with other assisted reproductive techniques. Researchers from Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York reviewed studies and concluded that acupuncture helps to:

- increase blood flow to the uterus, which improves the chances of an ovum implanting on the uterine wall.
- reduce anxiety, stress and the hormones that are secreted during stressful situations that can significantly decrease fertility.
- normalize hormone and endocrine systems that regulate ovulation, especially in women with poly cystic ovarian syndrome.
- positively affect the hypothalamic-pituitary- ovarian axis, which plays a key role in fertility.
- regulate menstrual cycles.

In a study published in Human Reproduction Journal, an ultrasound was used to evaluate blood flow to the uterus during acupuncture treatments. The study found blood flow increases during treatment. According to Dr. Nancy Snyderman, "When acupuncture needles are placed correctly, it can affect the nervous system, you can make the uterus quiet and allow blood to flow." Relaxing the uterus and increasing blood flow allows for the successful implant of an embryo within the uterine lining. Another study appearing in the British Medical Journal concluded that acupuncture can be offered as a significant, clinically relevant adjunct to in vitro fertilization. 

It goes on but I think that pretty much covers the things that apply to me.
It seems that every key point above is something that I am desperately seeking.
So lets hope that it works :)

Update from last Friday.

Things did not turn out as I had planned when I wrote that last post.
I thought that Claire and I would just have a brisk 3 mile ride to our yoga class but when we got to the class it was canceled.
So we decided we should just keep riding our bikes to make up for the missed yoga.

Also, we did not make it to the beach.
Which is a bummer but we have plans this Friday to go out with some friends since the boys aren't working.
So it should be pretty fun.
I still haven't seen the big waves that have come in.

I had my first acupuncture treatment on Monday.
I am not sure what I think of it.
Although I will say that the actual process does not hurt.
It was a bit awkward laying there in the dark for 20 minutes with needles hanging out of my body though.
I was afraid to move, which is probably silly but I didn't want anything falling out.
I am scheduled to go back next Monday for round two.
I will keep everyone posted if anything changes in my body.

Okay, time to walk to pups.
Love you guys.

Hey Friday.

As Ryan likes to say, "I only have to make it through one more day until my Hawaiian vacation starts again".
Tonight we are going to his company's Hail and Farewell party at the Air Force Base.
I am not exactly sure why we couldn't have it on our post but who knows.
Best not to question these things.

But first my friend Claire and I are going to ride our bikes over to the gym and take our Friday morning yoga class.
We have been going to the Monday and Friday classes for a couple of weeks now and I really look forward to it.
The class on Monday is much harder than the Friday class.
So of course I like the Friday class more.

We haven't seen the beach in two weekends so hopefully we will get some beach time weekend.
I would like to head to the North Shore and see if the big waves have shown up yet.

Feeling down.

I have been having one of those weeks.
I am just feeling very sorry for myself.
It's sad to admit, but it is true.

I really wish we could have a child.

Weekend Update

I am not sure if you can tell but that is an upside down helicopter.

We have seen this guy twice now; he flies the Red Bull helicopter.

It really just scares me everytime he does that!

Here are some (pretty bad) pics we took of the Blue Angels.

They also scare me.

Every time they fly by I get really nervous.

I have decided that the show would be just as cool if they spread out a little bit.

My stomach was in knots the whole time!

We gave Dukie a bath today.

He looked so comfy laying on the rug I was going to take a picture.

But before I got my camera Ryan attacked him.

Please notice how unhappy Duke seems about this sneak attack.

After the attack :)



And of course I have to include a picture of my little Turdy.

Oh really?

I live in Hawaii and I have a cold.
It just isn't right.

But the good news is that Ryan and I found a church.
Our Savior Lutheran Church
We really enjoyed the service last Sunday, so we are excited to go back.

There is an air show at the Marine Corps Base this weekend.
We are going to head that way with our neighbors.
It should be a good time.

The boys are back!

Sunday afternoon we went to the Honolulu Airport to pick up our little guys.
They were not as thrilled to see us as we were to see them.
We tried sticking our hands through their carriers to pet them and they just looked at us like we were crazy.
Once we let them out of their crates at the park, they were all tail wags though.
I think they may have been a tad upset with us for making them spend 10+ hours under a plane. 
I took Murph for a much needed grooming yesterday.
Here is the before and after:

Before: Afrodog

After: Murphy the Gentleman

While "summering" in NC with his Auntie Robin, Murphy decided to go for the natural look :)

Duke, of course, always looks the same.
He is a low maintenance dog when it comes to beauty.
Just brush and go.

We are so happy to have them home.
And so thankful that Robin was able to keep them.
I have heard horror stories about the quarantine station here.

Monday night I made my first ever batch of homemade dog food.
Here is the end result:

It took quite a bit of time but it made 5 days worth of meals for each pup.
I am not feeding them this food alone but mixing with dry food.
They seem to really like it so it was worth it.

Lastly, I want to show off the lunch I just made myself.

California hand rolls! YUMMY!!

Okay enough blogging, time to get back to putting together the house.