Monday's Connections Abound

Welcome to today's edition of Connections Abound. The Face-to-Face Lost and Found page is permanently located beneath this current post. Old Connections Abound can be accessed via the date or subject archives listed on the sidebar. Check the submissions page, FAQ, and ways to get involved for additional information. Email me at thetowncriers@gmail.com with any questions/concerns.

Lost and Found is open to anyone in the infertility, pregnancy loss, adoption, pregnancy-and-parenting after infertility, assisted conception, living child-free after infertility or loss community (as well as anyone I inadvertently missed on that list). Please support the list as well as anyone posting announcements below.

Connections Abound

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS
New

• Since LFCA may or may not get spotty (I have a feeling I'll keep posting it through BlogHer, though who knows what will happen since I heard I'm buying drinks and therefore may be stinkin' drunk), please send anything that you know will need to be posted between Thursday and Sunday to me by Wednesday morning. Not just Clickers; all of you guys too. I mean, anyone who has anything to post send it along. Perhaps I started drinking early. I'm not being very coherent.
• Last week of IComLeavWe sign-up for the month of July. And then commenting kicks into high gear on the 21st.
• Connection: Jess is looking to connect with others who have built their family through both adoption and childbirth. She has one daughter who is adopted and one son who was conceived via IVF. If you have a similar story (especially if you write about it on your blog!), could you leave a link to your blog in the comments section for her.
  
• Connection: "My husband and I found out last November that our only chances for conception were through MESA/ICSI. It would really help to hear from someone else who is experiencing/has experienced male factor infertility." If you'd be willing to connect, you can leave a note with a link to your blog in the comments section and this non-blogger (but blog reader) will pick them up from there.
  
• Connection: Life in the White House: "I am looking for people who have been faced with having to use donor insemination (and either chose to or not to go that path). I'm trying to put together a list of blogs/stories. I'm looking for whatever people want to share: Experiences, fears, concerns, protocol, how they came to the decision, how they felt about it, how others took the news, whether they plan to tell or not, everything and anything. If I get a lot of feedback from people I'll probably start a website/blog independent of mine with everything on their. There just seems to be a need for this, and so little information available, especially positive information."
• Connection: WhenSarahLaughed is looking to connect with others who have had an amnio. If you're willing to talk about your experience, contact her through her blog.
  
• Question: There's a Baby at the End of This has questions about three adoption agencies. If you've pursued adoption, please click over to see if you know them and can offer an opinion.
• Question: MamaSoon needs advice on whether it is safe to fly home after transfer or if she should take the train. It's an 18 hour train trip... Weigh in with your thoughts about flying after transfer.
  
• Question: A blogger asks: "My sister's best friend, C, has known about my IF journey (bits and pieces). C has a sister, D, who has a 1 y/o son. D has had continuous issues with being involved with drugs, which brought her to create an adoption plan for her last child at birth. C and her family are looking into having D's son removed from her custody and possibly being adopted by us. They have known me and my family for many many years so they are thrilled with the idea of having the boy grow up with us as parents. The details are still coming together, however, I'm wondering if anyone has gone through a similar situation? I'm not sure if it's best to have CPS remove the child first and then deal with the adoption process, or if we have to have a lawyer involved, or only an adoption agency? So many questions on where to go from here and I don't know where to start. If anyone has suggestions, they can email me at treasurethelittletimes at hotmail dot com." Please email her directly if you can help.
  

Old

• If you notice another loading slow down or receive error messages for Stirrup Queens or Lost and Found, please let me know. Now I'm nervous every time I add anything to the side bar!

NEW BLOGS (started in June or July 2008)

• None Today.
  

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES (celebrate your birthday or blogoversary with the community. Send me date at any point and I'll post them on the correct day)

• Womb for Improvement is celebrating her birthday today. Go sing her a little song.
• I Think I Hear Your Mother Calling missed her blogoversary. Please go over and still celebrate with her.
• Peesticks and Stones is celebrating her blogoversary on Tuesday. Go wish her congratulations.
• So Dear and Yet So Far is celebrating her birthday on Tuesday. Go sing her a little song.
  

LOSS REMEMBRANCES (send in the dates of loss anniversaries and I will post them on the correct day)

• High Land, Hard Rain is coming up to the anniversary of an unfulfilled due date. Please go over and give some support.

LOSS ANNOUNCEMENTS

• New Year New Ute is experiencing her sixth loss. Please go flood her with love.
  

MISCELLANEOUS SUPPORT AND CELEBRATIONS (scary scans, anxious waits, OHSS, and a host of other reasons why these bloggers could use some additional support right now. Also, celebratory retrievals, transfers, and other good news)

• 1+2=Love's water broke at 28 weeks (on Friday) and she is currently in the hospital keeping in the twins. Please keep her in your thoughts.
• Motherhoodbound has four good follicles and is going for her IUI on Tuesday.
• Our Life in a Nut Chell has a huge number of follicles and is having her egg retrival on Tuesday. However due to the huge amount of follicles they are not going to be doing a fresh transfer. They are going to wait 3-4 weeks to let her body settle down before doing a FET.
• Michell got a negative. Please go over and give her a hug.
• Down That Dirt Road had ten eggs fertilize and they're transferring two today. Go over and wish her good luck.
• Jumping Through the Hoops had a negative with her most recent IUI. Please go give her a hug.
• Creating Motherhood is having her transfer today. Go wish her good luck!
• Jason and Samantha's Journey is concerned because her mother may be dealing with a possible diagnosis of MS. If anyone has information or first-hand experience with MS, she could definitely use some encouragement now.

BEDREST BABES: on bedrest following infertility or loss and needing support. Drop in on them and keep them company.

• BabyQuest is in the hospital on bedrest (more likely until she delivers Bub).
• Schatzi is down for the count and will be horizontal the rest of the pregnancy. Her doctor is worried about preeclampsia.
  
• When All Else Fails... is on bedrest due to a shortened cervix.
• Geohde is on increased rest too as she keeps in the twins to 32 weeks.
• Crowded Uterus Syndrome is on bedrest.
• Milenka is on bedrest due to low fluid.
• It Will Happen is on bedrest for a shortened cervix.
• Gas Passer is on bedrest for the rest of her pregnancy.
• JJ is on bed rest until further notice.

PREGNANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS

• Letting It Out finds the due date of the twins is getting closer, and is feeling overwhelmed. She could use some words of encouragement right now.
• I Dream of Baby will find out if they're having a boy or girl today.
• Crowded Uterus Syndrome may get to go back to work in a few weeks if everything keeps going smoothly and quietly with her pregnancy.
• Maybe if You Just Relax had her ultrasound and saw one beautiful baby. Her EDD is 2/24/09.
• Butterfly on My Shoulder got a positive!
• Duchess is having an important ultrasound today. Please go over and wish her good luck.
  

BIRTH AND ADOPTION ANNOUNCEMENTS

• One Big Maybe gave birth to a boy on July 11th. Go over and wish her congratulations.
  

Read and Support