Good morning All. Coffees on.

[Kylie]

Morning! 

@KymmieL I must say, I’m jealous you’re getting snow. Last winter here in NC we didn’t get much, so hoping this winter we get more! Have been watching weather here, possible getting a tropical storm/hurricane  this weekend in my area..so we will see what happens.
 

@Bri2020 I remember those days with Spiro! I’ve been off of it a month now since srs and I can tell my intake/output have changed!

 

Hope everyone has a good day!

[KymmieL]

Kylie, I take it you are in Western NC as eastern doesn't get snow.  I used to visit my grandparents in Western NC yearly. I love it down there.

 

Kymmie

[Kylie]

I live in Central NC. I used to live in Western. We still get some good bit of snow my way. I’m about an hour from the Virginia mountains. So some winters we will get 1 or 2 nice snow storms here with pretty snow. It just differs year to year. Some of my friends on the coast got more snow last year than I got here! Not fair!

[Willow]

Now tagging on to the hormones and affects seen.  My hips are unchanged, no fat redistribution to them.  My figure has become more hourglass, and I am finally seeing a tiny bit of breast growth from 41 to 42 ½ with a consistent 38-39 below my breasts.  I always use the same tailors tape measure.  Also my left nipple is tender these days.

 

Willow

[SaraAW]

Good afternoon everyone! So came out to my last team member this morning and have now updated my signature. We'll see how many people catch on and are brave enough to inquire. LOL  Work can't fully change my name in the systems until it's legally changed, so where they can't, they are going to include A. (my first initial of my legal name) and then Sara and my last name. Hopefully have all of that changed this week. 

 

So far everyone at work has been super accepting, we'll see once it gets around more outside of my direct team.

 

Dug my old birth certificate out of my safe to include along with my name change form, as required. I will be mailing it on Wednesday. they 6-8 weeks to get my name change certificate and new birth certificate. Then I begin changing over all of my other ID. Might try to do the sex change designation first, so I don't have to redo all of my ID 2x.

 

Had a lovely tea on Saturday, socially distancing on a patio, with a friend I met online a few months ago. It was great to meet her in person finally. 

 

Was supposed to get my first feminine haircut, but the stylist was not feeling well and rescheduled for tomorrow. So looking forward to it.

[Elizabeth Star]

Congratulations Sara.

[Susan R]

41 minutes ago, SaraAW said:

So far everyone at work has been super accepting, we'll see once it gets around more outside of my direct team.

A big congrats on your workplace coming out. You cruised through that like it was nothing. I’m happy everything went smoothly for you and hope the rest of the name change stuff goes smoothly as well.

 

My Best,

Susan R?

[Elizabeth Star]

I'm so happy this forum is back up. During the time I realized how much I need you ladies in my life. Being here has really help normalize the fact I'm trans and I just think of myself as a woman. We talk about so many different things, most of which are probably not "socially acceptable" but are a normal part of our processes.  I don't feel isolated and alone anymore. From the bottom of heart, thank you everyone for being here, thank you Trans Pulse for existing, and thank you Petra and your team for keeping this place together.

[KayC]

Well.. if you guys are just waking up, you may find your threads for the last couple of days might not be here.  When I tried to sign in yesterday (would've been probably Wed morning US time) the site was down for the count.
That was scary ?
But looks like its back up and running.... whew! 

Have a great morning, Everyone, and enjoy the coffee☕

[Elizabeth Star]

On Wednesday I hit the 9 months on HRT. It's surreal at times. I never had thought I would be happy or even accept my authentic self but here I am. If you had asked me a year ago I would have called you a liar.

I also got my hair done. It dyed red-ish brown and cut to a shoulder length asymmetrical bob. I got all the fried stuff cut off.

Yesterday marks 1 year in therapy. We did a "year in review" and it made me think about how things have changed and how thankful I am.

 

I'm still waiting for my employer to update my name. I'm going to be patient and give them until next week before I ask what's the hold-up. By then it will have been 2 weeks since I asked.

 

[KayC]

1 hour ago, ElizabethStar said:

On Wednesday I hit the 9 months on HRT. It's surreal at times.

Congratulations, Elizabeth!  those are some significant milestones you have reached.   Very happy for you❣️

 

[AmberM]

Waking up and drinking my iced coffee. Already went through my work email, it feels like another slow day for me as I am about to be off for the next week on vacation, which isn't a terrible thing to be slow given the being out thing. Glad to forums were down, but luckily I recently joined the live chat, so I was able to chat with a few people yesterday about different things.

 

@ElizabethStar Those are wonderful milestones and congratulations.

[Maddee]

Good happy Friday morning.  Where did the night go where is coffee

 

Congrats Elizabeth

[Emily michelle]

Congrats Elizabeth! I’m sure your hair is lovely.

 

Thank you Petra for your hard work getting the forum up and going.

 

These past couple days made me realize how much I rely on this forum and how grateful I am for it. I use this instead of therapy. I really wish I had a therapist but insurance doesn’t pay for it and my work schedule is to out of whack. Looking back I realized that if I didn’t admit it to myself that I was transgender I probably wouldn’t be alive. I have recently started reminding myself that I have come a long way since January and even the 4.5 months on hrt. I went back and started reading the blog that made me realize I was transgender the other day, which became a real tear jerker even more so now then before since I have emotions now. I have my days but I think I’m in a much better place now. I’ve been struggling lately between the dysphoria and some of my coming out hasn’t gone well at all. I really cried the other night because I started thinking of the holidays and how I probably won’t join my family because of what they have done. I used to say that I don’t need them but now it really saddens me. I feel bad for my wife she didn’t ask for this. Then I look at it I have some amazing friends and an amazing wife that have stuck by me and continue to do so. Things take time I guess.

[Heather Shay]

@Emily michelle @Ms Maddie. @QuestioningAmber I felt lost yesterday checking about every hour or so. I appreciate Petra Jane does for us and I appreciate her and you my sister's... I missed hearing from you yesterday.

Love you all

Heather Shay

[Kylie]

Glad to see the site is back up! Might enjoy some left over Mexican food for breakfast and just lay in bed. I noticed this morning when I got up to walk it felt a little easier to walk. Slow progress had me a little discouraged but I see it all works out!

[Jackie C.]

1 hour ago, Kylie said:

Glad to see the site is back up! Might enjoy some left over Mexican food for breakfast and just lay in bed. I noticed this morning when I got up to walk it felt a little easier to walk. Slow progress had me a little discouraged but I see it all works out!

 

It took me about eight weeks to get completely back in the groove and it was still painful to sit for most of that. Don't rush things and stop if you get tired or you feel things pull. Take care of yourself and listen to your body.

 

Also, leftover Mexican food sounds really good. I want a quesadilla now. Maybe with steak. Ooh, or queso. Gosh darnit. Now I'm all hungry. ?

 

Hugs!

[Heather Shay]

@Kylie you're doing fine and every day will get better - as a nurse you know healing after a major jolt to the body does take some time and you know you are getting better when your want Mexican food for breakfast K - Sa - D - a

[Kylie]

My bed rest has been rough. But I’ve tried to rest as much as possible. I’m going on week 6 now..so hopefully soon I’ll be slowly returning to normal! Just reminding myself one day at a time!

 

The leftovers were excellent!

[Heather Shay]

yum

[Bri2020]

Congrats Sara and Elizabeth!  Kylie I know bed rest sucks, I've been through some back surgeries and being laid up sucks. You will get there. And damn you for the leftovers thread- I'm starving right now lol.

I echo everyone's thoughts on this forum. I missed you ladies . ?

Emily I am sorry you are going through such family challenges.  I can't even imagine ?   Know that all of here are there for you through the holidays at least.

 

I had my first voice therapy session at an ungoddessly time of 7:30am and she encouraged me to cut out caffeine.  I'm not sure I can go back to her hahaha.  On a positive side, while I think of my voice as this deep manly thing, I'm not far off from a "gender neutral" pitch. She thinks I can do this pretty easily if I do my homework.

Has anybody else gotten totally overwhelmed with all the changes, appointments, etc etc their first year transitioning?  I'm just toast right now.  I know that I started hard and fast but with all the support and encouragement I've had I wanted to jam. (plus, 53 years old so time's a ticking). 

 

In other news, I don't think I posted this yet but if I did forgive me please: I (sort of) finally came out to my father and he accepted me unconditionally. Was a shock to the whole family.  I didn't mean to do it then but it was planned for sometime this week. I wrote a letter (based on some here) because he's got hearing issues and some mental deterioration so I didn't want there to be any confusion about what I was saying. I sent the draft to my sister who lives with him to see what she thought and to plan out how to give it to him and who should be there.  She decided it was fine and that she was there then to support him if needed so she just gave it to him!  Bam, done, painless.

So that's it- I'm fully out to everyone!!!!!  Very liberating.

[Heather Shay]

@Bri2020 unconditional acceptance from your father. THAT is ultra Fantastic. I bet you are radiating smiles ear to ear.

 

What a great day.

[Emily michelle]

That’s awesome your father was very accepting congrats. My dad never even said a word when I told him. That’s been like 2 months he has yet to contact me or even ask.

[Elizabeth Star]

Congratulations Bri  

[Heather Shay]

@Emily michelle keep planting good seeds and don't give up. I hope he comes around and shows his love. My dad passed long ago and I sense he wouldn't be the type to give me acceptance - because he didn't give me acceptance when I was a kid - before he passed and I was his child.