Thursday'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

• I know it's strange to have LFCA in the morning, but the edits are sucking away my afternoon. Luckily, they'll be finished next week and then it's just blogging all. the. damn. time. Except when I'm...you know...living life.
• Bridges continues to post daily. Click over to read Aspergers Syndome by Robin.
• IComLeavWe for August begins TODAY. If you've forgotten what you have to do, click back over to read the commenting guidelines. The list will remain open until this evening when it will close until the new list goes up around September 1st (I may open it a day or two early due to Labour Day in the US). Join in the conversation--it's a week of increased comments and commenting (and hopefully picking up a few new permanent readers along the way).
• Mary Update: Her D&C is scheduled for Friday. Her birthday is this Saturday. Please leave her a message of love below in the comments section.
  
• Get It Funded: Resolve is up for funding by American Express so they can bring infertility support groups to every local area. To nominate the project, Bringing Hope, Building Families please click over and vote for them.

Old

• I have 26 posts currently for the first 100 Words project. Please click over to read and participate. The entries thus far have been incredible. My goal is to have a minimum of 48 so I can run a post every half hour. They are some of the most moving pieces of writing I've read all month.
• Get Fed: At least on chocolate. Lori and Chicklet are doing a giveaway for free M&Ms. Seriously, it's a comment for chocolate, how can you not enter? Running this through the 25th until the contest is over. Just because I feel that way about M&Ms.
• 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 July or August 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)

• Searching for the Right Path celebrated her birthday yesterday (Wednesday). Go over and sing her a little song.
• It is Here We Go Again's blogoversary today. Go wish her congratulations.
• Adventures in Parenting is celebrating her anniversary on Saturday and Jayden's 3 month birthday. Go wish her congratulations.
• Sell Crazy Someplace Else celebrated her anniversary (in Hawaii!) yesterday. Go over and see pictures while you wish them congratulations.
• Our Box of Rain celebrated her anniversary yesterday too. Go over and wish them congratulations.
• In Due Time is celebrated her 3rd blogoversary yesterday and a big year of changes ahead of her.

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

• It's the five year anniversary of the loss of Boulder's daughter. Please give her support.
• Teri is remembering her miscarriage one year ago today. Please go offer her support.

LOSS ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Some of you got to know Adrian, also known as Baldy, during the Weblog Awards last year. And I am incredibly sad to tell you that he died on Tuesday night. I have been following his blog since last winter and I consider him an honourary Iffer from the emails we exchanged about treatments (he was likely infertile from the chemo). Please keep his family in your heart.
• Nancy's friend, Jen, lost her husband this week right before her first OB appointment. Please go over and give her support.
  

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)

• Our Journey Down the Winding Path of Infertility just found out yesterday that her IVF cycle was cancelled early in stimming because her estrogen levels skyrocketed. She's terribly devastated as this was her first IVF cycle since losing her twins in 2006. She could use some encouragement and hugs.
• Navyblueelephanttrunk's daughter, Azure, was diagnosed a couple of months ago with hepatoblastoma. Things are going ok. Azure was born at 24 weeks, after a long infertility battle and had a miraculous recovery from her NICU time. This is hopefully another blow she will recover from. Please go give good thoughts.
• Young, black...(in)fertile? started an IVF cycle on Tuesday.
• The Infertile Journey didn’t make it to transfer after the less than stellar performance by her ovaries. Only 2 fertilized and both stopped growing normally. Please go give her a hug.
• Please continue to flood Bee Cee with support. No embryos fertilized, so transfer was canceled. Also, their family dog passed away. She's looking for guidance on their next steps.
• The Sluggish Butterfly had a beta of 15 and is having what is most likely a chemical pregnancy Please go give her support while she waits.
• MerrieB goes in for her HSG tomorrow and her husband just resigned from his job. Send some encouragement her way.
  
• Tammy at Normal is Just a Setting on My Dryer has a job interview tomorrow. She could use your well wishes as she heads into the interview.
• The Not So Secret Life of Us could use a hug right now.
  

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

• Ten Times Crazier is in the hospital on bedrest for contractions and her cervix is dilating. She will be in the hospital until 34 weeks or until the twins come.
  
• BabyQuest is in the hospital on bedrest (more likely until she delivers Bub). Brenda thinks she is 24 weeks now and will be starting steroids soon. They are waiting for a bed to open up at a hospital with a better NICU and then she will be moved. But she is in the hospital for the duration.
  
• Gas Passer is on bedrest for the rest of her pregnancy.
• JJ is on bed rest until further notice.
• Wonder Twin Power, Activate! is back on bedrest for the duration of the pregnancy.
• Rebecca at My F*cked up Uterus is on modified bedrest and due in less than a month.
• A Uterus Divided is on hospital bedrest.

PREGNANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS

• It's a boy for Dear Gherkin!
• Jessica at The Kings of Huntsville is 5 weeks pregnant! The first OB appt is Sept 5th.
• Great beta of 219 for Cathleen. Next beta is Thursday.
• Your Average Infertility Blog had an excellent 3rd beta.
• Mil's first ultrasound is set for September 4th.
  

BIRTH AND ADOPTION ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Wishing, Hoping and Praying went in for her scheduled c-section on Monday. More information once she posts.
• Owen and Everything After went in for her scheduled c-section Tuesday. More information when she posts.
• The Way I See It was being induced yesterday! More information when she posts.
• Becoming Mom gave birth to a boy, Jasper, on August 19th. Go wish her congratulations.
  

Read and Support