Friday, October 17, 2008

Friday's Connections Abound

Welcome to today's edition of Connections Abound. The point to Lost and Found is to level the support playing field. When LFCA works correctly, the newest blogger with the smallest readership can receive the same level of support as the oldest blogger with the largest readership. Anyone can submit news to LFCA by clicking here.

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
  • Um...hello...did you check out the new stuff happening with U.T.E.R.U.S.?
  • Clickers Wanted: We could use some new clickers. If there is a specific category you want, let me know. If not, you'll be randomly assigned one. I mean, that is if you volunteer to be a Clicker...
  • Emailed Newsletter and Reader Feed: the feed is shorter right now. I am working on a way around the fact that the newsletter is only sent as a link. I may have figured it out and I will post the new sign-up space here if the new system works over the weekend.
  • Interesting Offer: AFA sent out an email yesterday about this program: "In these challenging economic times, Ferring Pharmaceuticals wants to be sure that you have access to effective and affordable fertility medications. The HEART (Helping Expand Access to Reproductive Therapy) Rx Initiative program is specifically designed for patients without insurance benefits for fertility medications. The program covers both BRAVELLE® (urofollitropin for injection, purified) and MENOPUR® (menotropins for injection, USP). Here’s how it works: Ask your doctor for a HEART Rx Initiative brochure. Brochures are also available at participating pharmacies. Bring the brochure, plus your prescription for MENOPUR and/or BRAVELLE to a participating pharmacy. For a list of participating pharmacies, visit this site. Pay $10 for a one-year membership. Start saving immediately – no waiting, no rebates. Full program details are available at the website. For more information, speak to your doctor or call 1-888-FERRING (337-7464)."
  • Question: The Maybe Baby could use some advice about emailing her boss following being 'outed' by her to her work mates.
  • Blog Move: If you would like an invite to Miss Conception's new blog (embryo donation), head to her old site and email her with your name and blog address.

Old
  • Send Them Your Stories: Mrs Spock and the editors of Our Bodies, Ourselves are calling for personal stories of your infertility journey, path to parenthood, loss, and pregnancies and births after infertility or loss. You will remain anonymous. These stories are for possible inclusion as web content on the Our Bodies, Ourselves website. Personal stories have always been an integral part of the Our Bodies, Ourselves books. Details can be found on Mrs Spock's blog. Everyone's story, no matter how big or small, is wanted.
  • The IComLeavWe list is up for October. Join along; who doesn't love comments?
  • Bridges continues to post daily. And it continues to be an amazing resource for insight into a multitude of worlds. And I'm not just saying that because I work on it.
  • 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 September or October 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)
  • Emily and Steve will celebrate their anniversary on the 21st. Go tell them congratulations!
  • Musings of A Barreness celebrated her one year blogoversary on Wednesday! Go wish her congratulations.
  • Rebecca is celebrating her 2nd blogoversary. Go wish her congratulations.
  • Mrs.Joyner just got married! Go wish her congratulations.
LOSS REMEMBRANCES (send in the dates of loss anniversaries and I will post them on the correct day)
  • Kathy will be remembering Molly on Friday, which is six months after Molly was born and went to Heaven.
LOSS ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • Blue at Operation Offspring had a scan this morning, and discovered that one of her twins had died. Please go and hold her hand for awhile.
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)
  • Sara is still holding tight on the mag. She is 90% effaced and 2 cm dilated. But there have been no changes for the past two days. She is 32 weeks right now.
  • The mommies over at Addition Problems could use some support as they try to figure out Teddy's breastfeeding problems...head over if you can offer some support or advice.
  • Yoka could use a hug right now. Her dad's lung cancer has been treated, but they found a new cancer in his pelvis area.
  • Miss Mac at Mac & PC is having some problems with a very long and heavy AF and it has been suggested that she may need surgery if it doesn't stop.
  • My Scar Smiles At Me, I Don't Always Smile Back is now in the TWW with her DE cycle. They transferred 2 embryos.
  • Twincredible Twosome is celebrating some good news about one of the boys.
  • Mcstarling just found out that the results from her 1st trimester screening showed a 1:5 chance of Downs. Please go give her support.
  • Broken Eggs is celebrating the anniversary of the 3dt that resulted in her beautiful son.
  • Sweet City Woman is feeling depressed and could use some support.
  • I Am A Butterfly had an appointment with her oncologist and has been told the cysts are most likely tumours and she will need surgery taking her ovary, if not a complete hysterectomy. She's booked in for surgery for December 4th.
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.
  • Gas Passer is on bedrest for the rest of her pregnancy.
  • A Uterus Divided is on bedrest.
  • The Duchess is on bedrest.
PREGNANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
BIRTH AND ADOPTION ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • Interrupted Wanderlust had her twins, Luciana and Nicholas, on October 15th. Go over and wish her congratulations.
  • A Journey of Hope has her delivery scheduled for today. More details once she posts.
Read and Support

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Mel,

I have a request. Can you turn the full feed back on so I can see the posts from bloglines?

It would make life so much easier!!

Geohde said...

I'll click.

You know my background/where I traipse through the blogosphere :)

Happy to put it to good use,

JPS- and yes to the above comment about the feed...pretty please?

Heather said...

I can click through one of the adoption categories. Domestic adoption is my thing, but I'm flexible.

Thalia said...

A question for everyone ,not just Mel, is whether the lFCA is really working. I go to sites mentioned here as needing support, and they often barely have 10 comments on the posts concerned - isn't the point to let people know you care? Do we need a little pep talk about not just visiting but supporting as well?

Lollipop Goldstein said...

It's a good question--Thalia--but it's also one that defines support. Is comment leaving the only way a person can show support? Frankly, knowing my words were heard is support. Knowing people were there remembering with me could be support. Not feeling alone is support or knowing that someone read my thoughts and they weren't shouted into the ether is support.

Would I love people to leave comments more--yes. It's a problem throughout the blogosphere. We read and run. And I am just as guilty as everyone else.

The question I have is are you commenting on the posts that you click over to read. If you are, what is motivating you and could you write a pep talk that people could read? If not, why don't you leave a comment?

People had spoken a long time ago about creating a symbol or word that people could leave just to show that they listened. A way to leave a comment when they can't think of the right words to say. Some people responded that they would love it. Others said they'd rather not get comments that simply say the person is listening. It's impossible to create a system that resonates with all sides.

All I can do is create the space. And I feel it's worth the work--even if only one person read it and was helped. I can ask people to leave comments and give support but I guess I created the space with the thought that support can be given in a multitude of ways. I do hear from people who had their news listed and what they're touched about is that someone noticed. That someone saw their words and thought it worth repeating. I'd be more curious to hear from people who have been listed--is it helpful? Not worth the work on my end?

SassyCupcakes said...

I have noticed a significant drop off in comments too. But the internet usually quietens down this time of year, you'll see it on blogs, forums, everywhere. It doesn't usually get noisy again until February. Hopefully then the comments will start flowing again.