Tuesday'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

• Bridges continues to post daily. Click over to read Aspergers Syndome by Robin.
• I have 22 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.
• The IComLeavWe list for August is closing soon (on the 21st) and the actual commenting kicks in by the end of this week. 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).
• Get Rich: I'm declaring a race. Nancy has pledged $5 to whomever reminds her to ask a question at her September 3rd appointment. Will it be me? Will it be you? Which one of us will walk away with cold, hard cash for Starbucks? Oh, it's on, baby, it's on.
• 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.
• Get Active: Carole, Clicker Emeritus, sent this to me. It is seriously one of the most bizarre things I've read in a while. Apparently, despite the fact this person has been using a TM after the words, it has not actually been trademarked yet.
  

  There is a group attempting to trademark the phrase "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness". This is an effort to prevent any other person from using the phrase without getting permission from and giving the profits to that certain organization. No parent can raise awareness or hold fundraisers or benefits that have to do with awareness without facing a possible lawsuit. And it will happen if this is granted. You can see there is a past history of threats without even having a leg to stand on. I don't want to think of what is going to happen if the trademark is actually granted.

  http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cdhawareness/

  If this trademark request is granted...it will open up the floodgates for all people crafty enough to get there first. Diabetes, Cystic Fibrosis, Cancer, Autism...the list goes on. The right to raise awareness could cease to exist for all of us in one way or another.
• Mary Update: "No heartbeat today. The doctor thinks it is just a chromosonal fluke. Happens in about 1 in every 400 pregnancies. Of course it would happen to us. Now I need to decide whether to have a D&C or wait to miscarry naturally." She wrote at the end of her message: "Please thank everyone for the kind thoughts and comments. It does make it a tiny bit easier somehow." My heart is breaking for her. Please leave her good thoughts in the comment box below and she can collect the messages when ready to read them.
• Honoured: Glow in the Woods has posted their August honouree.
  
• Request: Msfitzita's friend is entered in a contest. Go over and help him win.
  
• Question: DrSpouse is panicking about US healthcare and insurance coverage when she moves there, would really appreciate some advice. Head over to her blog to read the situation and give your thoughts.
  

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 July or August 2008)

• Barren is the New Black (POF)
• Hot Mama Bear (pg loss)
  

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)

• It was No Swimmers blogoversary this week. It's not too late to go wish her congratulations.
  

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

• Niki is remembering Myles sixth months after he died.
  
• It has been four months since Molly died.
  

LOSS ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Nichole at My Grasp at Sanity lost her baby on Friday. She could definitely use some support right now.
  

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)

• Lemmondrops has started her latest round of chemo. Go give her support.
• The Baby Chase transferred four embryos and she is now in the two week wait.
• Busted had her FET on Friday and they transferred one.
  
• Indi's Human got the all clear for a new cycle: no cyst.
• Infertile...Who Me? is pushing to a 5-day transfer despite a poor fertilization rate (only 2 of 11 fertilized). Please give her some positive thoughts, as this is her last IVF attempt.
• It's Just Me's homestudy is this Tuesday. Wish Debbie good luck.
• Just What I Always Wanted is in the 2ww.
• JustamereIVF is in the 2ww.
• Reluctant and Infertile has been told that she needs to proceed with IVF. Please send some good thoughts her way.

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). 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

• Mil and Moosk are pregnant! Go over and wish them congratulations.
• It's twins for Down That Dirt Road--and two beating hearts.
• Possible twins for Fertile Yet Infertile. An ultrasound revealed two sacs and one very early heartbeat. They'll know more in a week at the next ultrasound.
• Antigone had a good appointment and Persephone had a wonderful heartbeat.
  
• It's a BFP on a stick for Cathleen - Beta is Wednesday.
• Infertility Bites has safely rising betas on IVF #2!
  
• Ten Times Crazier is almost 28 weeks with her twins and has had some pre-term labor and a positive Ffn. After a 4-day stint in the hospital she is now at home on bedrest. Please keep her in your thoughts.
• KimboSue is pregnant with safely rising betas!
  
• Just Off Magazine had a wonderful 13-week ultrasound!
  

BIRTH AND ADOPTION ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Ashleigh gave birth to a girl, Eden, on August 14th. Ashleigh is doing great after delivery, showing no problems from her lowered platelet count. Ashleigh’s brand new daughter Eden is having warning signs of platelet problems as well. Go over and wish her congratulations and give support.
• Julia at I Won't Fear Love gave birth to a boy on August 15th. Go over and wish her congratulations as well as give support as he remains in the NICU.
• Reservado Para Futura Mama is finally a Mama. She picked up her daughter yesterday and has now been home with the baby for a day. Go over and wish her congratulations.
  

Read and Support