Monday, December 22, 2008

Monday'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
  • Kirtsy'd Pick O' the Day: Please vote for this one from Life From Here. The author reflects on the cycles of the earth and the process of building a family, and she celebrates the renewal that is coming after the period of darkness. An important post about waiting to adopt. How do you vote? Simply by clicking on the words "this one" above and then clicking on the post's title. Why the Kirtsy'd Pick O' the Day? Click on that link in the header navigation bar above for the story. And send me stuff!
  • Creme de la Creme Update: Though the deadline for the guarantee of being on the list when it goes up January 1st passed last Friday, you can still submit your entry for The Creme de la Creme list. Your submission will go up as soon as possible once the list is posted and over 40 people added themselves after January 1st last year (the list is continuously updated; usually daily through February). The list is currently at 185 participants.
  • IComLeavWe: start your commenting! IComLeavWe began on Sunday, the 21st.
  • TV Program Alert: from Calliope: "All this week CNN's American Morning will explore alternative methods of starting a family: 'cutting-edge fertility treatments, surrogate mothers and of course adopting a child in dire need of a family.' Watching the first installment now and it seems pretty decent..."
  • Contest: Dora writes: "I am giving away a beautiful custom made hat to help Cara at Building Heavenly Bridges raise the start up money for her miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss support group. Just a $5 donation is needed to be eligible to win."
  • Help: Dayzofrain writes: "I need help with Creme de la Creme! If any are willing please let me know which you think will do then I'll put up a poll so we all choose together."
Old
  • Holidays and LFCA: I am going to keep posting over the holidays, though I may wait until I have a semi-critical mass before posting. Therefore, send news early. You'll notice I have things listed below that aren't even happening until Wednesday or later of next week. But I want to make sure those people get support.
  • 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 November or December 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)
LOSS REMEMBRANCES (send in the dates of loss anniversaries and I will post them on the correct day)
  • Thursday, December 25 will be one year since Sue's water broke and she found out that one of her twins had died. Ten days later she delivered both of her twins, Jacob and Joshua, at 21w 5d. Please give her a lot of support during this very difficult time.
LOSS ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • MrsJoyner was pregnant, 6w1d, and is experiencing an early loss. She went to the doctor and has to go back in 2 weeks to make sure the HCG is gone. Please send her good thoughts.
  • Bunny learned on Friday that she had miscarried. Please go and give her some 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)
  • It is with enormous sadness that I write this update: Emilie from Lemmondrops has moved into hospice care after it was decided that further treatment was not likely to halt the cancer. Please give her a lot of support and love right now.
  • Jane is in the 2ww. Please go over and keep her company.
  • A Mending Heart is having a rough time and really missing Jessica.
  • Polly is awaiting a transfer and is experiencing many, many emotions. She could use a hug, especially form those with firsthand IVF experience.
  • Barren Is The New Black had a negative this last week after a faint sort of maybe line. She could use some hugs.
  • After a scary trip to the hospital, Heather has gotten a cerclage put in and is resting at home with their baby girl still safely inside.
BEDREST BABES: on bedrest following infertility or loss and needing support. Drop in on them and keep them company.
  • Dee is on bedrest after Pprom at 13 weeks. She could use support as she helps her babies defy the odds. She has made it past 20 weeks and found a specialist to take her on.
  • Elana had the cerclage and is now at home on modified bed rest.
PREGNANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
  • Almamay gave me permission to announce...she's pregnant! She writes: "After 14 years, 11 IVFs, 7 IUIs and 2 mcs we had the unbelievable joy of seeing our baby's heartbeat today." You can leave her congratulations on this post or request an invite to read her blog from the password-protected blog list.
  • Good Times, Good Times has a faint positive on a HPT on 11 dpo. She is waiting to do the beta on the day the clinic scheduled it and is cautiously optimistic.
BIRTH AND ADOPTION ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • Denise is being induced today. Please think positive thoughts for a smooth delivery of Apple and Banana. More details once she posts again.
  • Christyna gave birth to a boy, Chase, on December 11th. Go over and wish her congratulations.
  • Kim of Good Woman - Bad Eggs gave birth to a boy. Go over and wish her congratulations.
Read and Support

4 comments:

Paula Keller said...

Almamay! Congratulations! Sounds like the end of a very long journey and the beginning of a many happy years!

Anonymous said...

Hey Mel - thanks! I actually couldn't do it - I mean, me? Do what the clinic says? So I went today - beta of 85. Not good with my history, but we see what Wednesday brings.

annacyclopedia said...

Congratulations, Almamay! May this be only the beginning of good news to announce to the world.

..al said...

What a beautiful way to usher in 2009, Almamay! Congratulations!