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
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• Kirtsy'd Pick O' the Day: Please vote for this one from all of us. Lori from Weebles Wobblog kirtsy'd the creme de la creme list yesterday. Let's get it on the front page for all to see. 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: The Creme de la Creme list was posted. I continue to add to it daily and update the date/time link on the right sidebar whenever there has been a change.
• Fantastic Idea: Barren Is The New Black is having an online Not shower for those of us infertiles who need to treat ourselves. We're invited to pour ourselves drinks and buy ourselves a present.
• Request for Stories: A writer is seeking stories on unusual ways to get pregnant: "My blog is called Quips & Tips for Couples Coping With Infertility, and I’m looking for unusual or even miraculous ways to get pregnant. I want to spread hope, faith, and optimism to my readers – so if you’ve gotten pregnant in an unusual way, or conceived after years of trying, please email me lauriekienlen@yahoo.ca. If you like, I'll include your full name, occupation, and website. I'll send you the link when the article is live."
• Question: Holly needs help with questions to ask the surgeons, peri's, ob's, and NICU docs in Houston and Philadelphia next week. She's getting a full days worth of tests on her daughter at both places next week. Then will have decide where the best place to deliver and have her daughter treated will be. Those of you have had NICU experience please share! Those who had to deliver far from home please share. Also, if anyone has had to "interview" pediatric surgeons please share. As always anyone with experience with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia please share.

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• Political Action: There is a movement in AR to repeal the IVF mandate. In the Conceivable Future wrote a post about it and the state Rep responsible for trying to repeal the IVF mandate in AR found her IF blog and left a message! She writes, "We have his attention, let's give him our opinion." Head over and tell him your IF and insurance story.
• 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)

• This Woman's Work celebrates her 8(!) year blogoversary on Thursday. Go over and give her a massive congratulations.
  

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

• On January 3rd, STE will be remembering Jacob's birth/death date. On January 4th, she will be remembering Joshua's birth/death date. Please give her support this week.
• January 3rd is also Lennox and Zoe's birthday. January 5th is Lennox's death date. January is a difficult month for Allison--please give her a lot of support.
• Further Records is marking the two year anniversary of Natan's birth and death on the 3rd as well. Please give her support.
  

LOSS ANNOUNCEMENTS

• None Today.
  

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)

• Love, Hope and Faith marked her 300th post.
• After three failed IVF attempts with a previous RE, Miss Tori will have her first consult with a new clinic this week to determine if her own eggs can be retrieved, rather than using donor eggs, as she was told by her previous RE.
• Please keep DayzofRain's sister in law in your thoughts. As of today her fluids are low and so they may be taking Azuriah via c-section on Saturday- determined by her appointment on Friday.
  
• 2 Infertiles' Journey to 2 Pink Lines's infant daughter (3 month old) was diagnosed with plagiocephaly. the flatness on the left side of her head is affecting her ear (shifting forward) and eye (facial asymmetry.) She is looking for others who have experienced this.
• Jen at Onwards! has been diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Send her some support and your ideas for coping with the nausea!
• Sighing Softly's sister-in-law miscarried last weekend at 13 weeks. She was a few weeks ahead of Sighing Softly, who has been spotting herself. Give her your support.
  

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.
• Heather is on bedrest for the foreseeable future after having a cerclage put in. Sweetpea is still doing great!

PREGNANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS

• Motherhood (the not so easy road) had an ultrasound where the baby was measuring five weeks with no fetal pole when she should be at least six. Go be a shoulder for her to lean on.
• Sighing Softly has been experiencing severe abdominal pain after eating. She had an appendectomy, during which they discovered that there was nothing wrong with her appendix but that she had a ruptured ovarian cyst. The pain persists, and a subsequent scan has also shown her to have a subchorrionic hemmorage. Keep her in your thoughts.
  

BIRTH AND ADOPTION ANNOUNCEMENTS

• My Baby Quest is scheduled for a c-section on Tuesday, the 6th. Go over and wish her good luck. More details when she posts again.
• Soper received a wonderful surprise last week. A new daughter, born on the winter solstice, joined their family through adoption. Go over and give her congratulations.
• Maria was induced yesterday! More details when she posts again.
• Antigone Lost gave birth to Perseus on January 1st. Go over and wish her congratulations.
  

Read and Support