hoping for a baby

Hello everyone! My name is Megan and I am married to a wonderful man named Mark. We have been trying to conceive (unsuccessfully) for over a year. I have never been pregnant before so I really have no idea what to expect. I have read all the books and heard a lot of stories though. In the past year I have gone through many stages of hopefulness when my period had not arrived on the day it is supposed to, sometimes being up to a week late. I am currently facing this same thing yet again. My period is now again a week late. The thing is, I was experiencing “symptoms” around the time I ovulated which is nowhere near normal for me. I decided when it was occurring that it must have been wishful thinking and that there was no way they were actual symptoms, and as I expected they subsided. Now here I am a week late and the only thing I have felt is cramping. It isn’t a normal menstrual cramp though. It felt more like a bladder infection… but in the wrong spot. lol. :S I guess I don’t know what to think. I have taken a home pregnancy test and it was negative. It was also a very cheap one too so… no telling how accurate that thing was. I am just afraid that I am getting my hopes up for nothing yet again, just to have them hammered back down. My husband and I have been trying for so long, and all of the other options for conception are so very expensive. Any thoughts or advice? I could really use some encouragement. :unsure: