Hi Bathsheba,
Thanks so much for your post - you've no idea how much it means to get some encouragement
The last week has been a bit of a write-off, with preparations for xmas and then the aftermath, not to mention it's been so HOT here in Perth that it makes it hard to study! We've got aircon but it doesn't really reach my study!
But my next chapter target is Jan 12th, and I'm NOT going to let myself miss this one (I missed my first target, but it was a bit unreachable!).

Also I'm starting on a new healthy eating plan, which is also related to my fertility issues - so no caffeine for me, amongst other things Plus DH and I are starting the 'Couch to 5K' program in Jan too. So hopefully that will help me feel less stressed, by actually doing some exercise! I find that my weekly acupuncture is great for stress too, I just WISH it would do what I want it to, which is make AF return for me! I'm waiting on some saliva hormone results from my naturopath, I think my appt is jan 18, so hopefully I'll have more info on my situation then.

I sounded so secretive about my thesis, it was more because the actual stuff I work with could easily come up in a google search - so if I posted it in here, someone might find the thread! But basically it's an essential oil that has antimicrobial activity - you probably have a bottle of it at home! But my job that I have is pretty much not related - I'm an environmental scientist I work on management of contaminated land sites, and also do stuff like human health and enviro health risk assessments and also some toxicology stuff. So quite varied! I'm really enjoying it, and the company is AWESOME (good pay, great conditions, regular pay reviews AND bonuses!) plus the people are great too - so I'm really looking forward to being full time - so yep, that should be my motivation right there

I think my problem is that I'm scared about not being able to have kids.. just because I'm having so many issues right now with no AF.. you know how the mind wanders and thinks the worst. So since all my friends / every person on the planet that I know is preggers (ha maybe slight exaggeration!) it's just on my mind ALL the time. SO it's all I think about, plus I'm always trawling the forums - I may need to go on a BB ban!

OK so now I've written a novel, but if you got this far, then thanks for reading!!