So where did I disappear too? I was relaxing all summer at my parents cottage before heading off back to school. I am now a month into my doula studies program and I’m loving it! I was supper anxious about going back to school after so long out of school but I am finding it is all most like I never left. You might be wondering what this means for my goal of becoming a single mom by choice and it has only pushed it back a bit during this time I am taking time to pay off debts and save money towards my baby. I am also taking step to set up my life more including putting my name down on apartment wait list since that is what needs to be done to move in my city due to the high demand could be a few years yet to get my new place but that is just the system.
One month in
May was my first month of home AI. Was unsuccessful in May but positive still of this working after all it can take up to a year of trying. 
First month of trying
May will be my first month of trying to conseive by home insimination. In prep I have already started to take prenatal vitamins and have stopped any drinking as well. My Donor came over Friday,Saturday,Mondayand Tuseday to donate on my most fertile days. Now just playing the most nervouse games of wait and see if my period comes or not so fingers crossed.
how to track fertility
SO i was asked by a friend who is also TTC how i track my fertility and my answer is simple. I have two tools that I use a tracker app and an fertilitiy thermomater. The app that I use is Clue( https://helloclue.com/) but there are many diffrent apps out there so pick your favorite.
Now you can not use just any regulare thermomater it has to be a BBT thermomater which you can find at your local pharmacy in the family planning section. BBT must be take first thing in the morning before you even leave your bed so make sure to keep your thermomater close to the bed.
Another thing that I will start next month(forgot to put it into my budget this month) is ovultatio test the ones I plan to use are easy at home 50 pack from amazon ( https://www.amazon.ca/Easy-Home-Ovulation-Test-Strips/dp/B00F3IH58Y/ref=sr_1_4?crid=ZHHD5LHM1HAL&keywords=ovulation+tests&qid=1556905375&s=gateway&sprefix=ovulat%2Caps%2C378&sr=8-4) Some women will also take track of there cervical mucase but i have not added that to my tracking routine so far.
Known donor
So after considering almost all option I over looked the most easiest and affordable option using a actual person i either personaly know or through an site like coparenting.com. Known donors can be utilized two ways at a clinic or at home. Going through a clinic takes about 6 months of preparation since your donor’s sperm will need to spend time being quorantined before it can be used. After the quorantine you will be able to continue on with insimination as normal. Doing the insimination at home be sure to cover both yourself and your donor by having a donor agrement signed. Home insimination can be done two ways sexual intercourse or using a home insimination kit or keep it affordable just use a turkey baster ( i am seriouse it works as well as a home kit and cost about $1). The trouble comes from home insimination due to donors changing their minds and fighting mothers for rights that is why no matter how well you think you know your donor get them to sign a donor agrement before you even start to try to consieve. This is definitly a more inexpensive than using a sperm bank.
Geek Parenting book review
Geek parenting by Stephen Segal and Valya Lupescu is a nice quick read. I goes through relationships from many different fandoms and discusses the lessons to be taken out of each relationship. I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars since it was a short and sweet book but allows you to take away many different lessons from our favorite characters and their family relationships.
Last holidays without kids
As I’m getting ready to attend my family’s Easter dinner I’m realizing that hopefully these coming holidays will be my last without my own kids. It is an exciting realization for someone who is ttc. Hope you all have a safe and happy Easter.
School vs. baby
So i recently made the choice to go back to school before I have my baby. many reasons went into this decision. the big one is financial and having a job able to pay for my baby. the second reason is it is a lot easier to get through school with out a baby than with not impossible just easier. It also allows me a extra year of saving and preparing for baby. even though I am going back to school I am continuing on my journey next week I will be getting my blood work results back and getting my referral to the fertility clinic of my choice. Hoping to start my IUI by November.
Ontario sperm banks
From my research I have found a total of three sperm banks that operate in Ontario so here is a beak down but first we need to define some terms. There are two different types of donors anonymous and open ID. Open ID means that identification is available to your child once eighteen and a more in deft profile for background and health is available as well. Out Reach is the only facility that has different pricing depending on ID or anonymous. They are also the only one with different pricing for washed sperm vs unwashed sperm. Washed sperm is when the semen has been separated from the sperm and is ready for IUI and other procedures. The three sperm banks in Ontario are Repro Med out of Toronto, Out reach health group in NewMarket, and Can- Am cyroservices in Hamilton. All prices listed do not include shipping just sperm and are to date as of April 2019.
My number one pick is Out reach health group from NewMarket. This is the more affordable bank with many price points and access to three different banks. First you have Xytex open ID washed $910-$935, open ID unwashed $785-$810, anonymous washed $780-$805, anonymous unwashed $675-$700. Than there is XyGene open ID washed $910-$935, open ID unwashed $785-$810, anonymous washed $780-$805, anonymous unwashed $675-$700. Lastly you have XyLimited open ID washed $630-$655, open ID unwased $545-$570, anonymous washed $540-$565 anonymous unwashed $465-$490.
Next up is my second pick is Repro Med in Toronto. Repro Med has access to four different banks with no price difference for washed or unwashed or if donor ID is known. The first bank is their very own pricing $670-$695. Secondly is Seattle Sperm pricing at $800-$825. Than Fairfax pricing at $805-$830. Lastly NW Cryo Bank pricing in at $725-$750.
Lastly is Can-am Cyroservices in Hamiltion. Can-am has access to four different sperm banks with no difference in washed or unwashed sperm. Fairfax pricing at $805-$830. NW Cryo Bank at $733-$750. Cryogenic Labratories pricing at $805-$830. And finally seattle sperm bank $800-$825.
Pregnancy 101 handbook for first time moms
This is a book from amazon kindle for about $5. it is exactly what I would expect from a ebook nice and short and directly to the point. very informative of the week by week of your pregnancy but dose not go into much detail so if you are wanting a more in-deft of what your body is going through I would look to another book. That being said it is a nice on the go guide since you can use the kindle app on your phone. All in all definatly worth the read through.
canadian single mom by choice 