Let me warn you that today's entry is very graphic as it deals with the digestive and urinary systems. However, as disgusting as it may seem to write about it, it pretty much took over my life yesterday. Therefore, I must write about it.

When I got up to go to the bathroom Saturday morning, I couldn't urinate. I always pee when I get up in the morning, so I was especially worried. Also, I hadn't had a bowel movement (b.m.) since before the surgery. I was very concerned that something was wrong. I didn't feel abnormal; it's just that my body wasn't acting normal.

I called up a friend who has some medical knowledge. She said that I had better go to the doctor and offered to take me. I called my husband, who was working that morning, and he said he would leave work and take me. So I quickly called my friend again and told her to stay home.

My husband took me to an immediate medical care center, since nothing else is open on Saturday. The doctor there thought I might have some sort of urinary infection. He gave me a something to help with the b.m. and told me to collect a urine sample if I could. When I was unable to, he had the nurse catheterize me to get some urine. Tests showed that I did have a urinary tract infection. The doctor didn't think this was too unusual considering the surgery I had just had. I was sent home with some antibiotics and directions on how to relieve my constipation.

The rest of the day I tried to do whatever the doctor and my mom suggested to get a b.m., but nothing worked.

We had hoped to go out for dinner and go shopping for an outfit for our new neice that evening. Instead, the friend who offered to take me to the doctor brought over dinner (she's such a sweetheart) and we stayed home. Then my hubby went grocery shopping and got me some cranberry juice and raisins. I had come to the conclusion that I wasn't constipated, I just hadn't eaten enough fiber since the surgery. Following my mom's advice, I ate some raisins before I went to bed.

Let me assure you that things are working just fine now. My digestive system appears to be almost back to normal. I just got back from announcing to my husband that the raisins have done their job.

Okay, that's all you need to know about my digestive and urinary systems. Now on to today's adventures.

This morning at church was an infant baptism. It's the first of several to come in the next month or two. The minister prayed for the babies born in church and prayed even longer than last week for couples whose wombs have been closed. It gave me tears in my eyes, and got my nose running. I had to borrow my husband's hanky to soak it all up. I was doing so well until he prayed for the infertile. I was a little grumpy and a little sore, but trying to remain strong and hide how I really felt. It was a futile attempt.

After church I spoke to my mother-in-law about my visit to the doctor Saturday morning. She was very nice and didn't ask me questions about my surgery.

We were about to leave when the minister's wife came up and asked how I was doing. I said I was doing okay. Another woman who had just talked with my husband overheard and asked if I had been sick. I said I had had surgery. Since this other woman was still there, I couldn't go into details, but I told her some general things. The other woman still hadn't left by then, so the minister's wife asked my husband about his diabetes. Eventually the other woman left and the minister's wife cautiously asked if we cared to tell her about what was going on.

We told her about our infertility and the surgery, and she said she had kind of suspected it when I didn't tell people about the surgery. She told us a little about the struggle she and her husband faced to have their children. It sounded like both she and her husband were the cause of their infertility troubles. She knew all about having numerous appointments to see specialists and about taking the medications. We told her about our doctor and what type of things our insurance covered. She asked how long we have been trying. When I said 3 � years, she said it took them 4 � years to have their first child.

My husband and I were glad that the minister's wife approached us. We weren't going to hide it from her and the minister forever, we just didn't know how or when to tell them. We made it clear that we have shared this with very few people, so we can be sure that they will keep our secret to themselves. The minister's wife said they would keep us in their prayers. Now when the minister prays for the infertile, I'll know he's thinking of my husband and I.

Yesterday I took off all the tape they used to close my incisions and covered them with tiny band-aids. So far they seem to be healing very well. Today I'm only feeling a little sore just below my belly button. I only notice it if I move around or press the area. I think the spotting has pretty much stopped now. My temps have been crazy, and I get stretchy cervical mucus here and there. All I know for sure is that I'm still fertile. I have no idea when I will ovulate. My body is so messed up, it probably doesn't know either!