391st Issue of the LFCA

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: None today because I've run out of time in putting together the LFCA. Back tomorrow with a new pick.
• And we're back! Sorry for the lack of LFCAs for two days. We shortened the trip to NY and did it in under 48 hours. Which also meant that the only time I had Internet access was when I mooched it on the iTouch in Lindsay's brother's apartment. Hence the lack of LFCAs. But I'm back. And trying to catch-up with adding to the blogroll and answering emails too.
• Vote: Weebles Wobblog is up for an award and she needs your vote. I've made the message 140 characters so people could tweet it too: "Help my friend: Go here http://www.socialluxelounge.com/blogluxe/ Go to "most inspiring." 3 rows down--vote Weebles Wobble. Please RT." Or, er, and don't just tweet it; vote too! And daily. Through July 6th.
• Movie Warning: In case you haven't seen the movie yet and intend to go, a fellow LFCAer sent this warning: "I wanted to warn people who may be in a fragile place that there is a scene in the movie UP that was very emotional and either dealt with pregnancy loss or at the least catastrophic IF (it was subtle but my 11 year old asked me why she was at the doctor and I had to explain). I have been out of the trenches for 4 years now and luckily blessed with 3 amazing kids, and it still affected me. The movie was very good, but that one scene left me in tears. I just would hate for someone else to get blindsided."
• Amazing Resource: I'm going to link to it under Operation Heads Up on Stirrup Queens, but I also wanted to put it here. Dawn Davenport pulled together a fantastic resource on international adoption. You can cross-compare all of the programs.
  
• Study: I received this from someone at the Department of Counseling Psychology at
  the University of Texas at Austin: "Have you or your partner been undergoing treatment for primary infertility? If so, please consider participating in an online study of the impact of an infertility diagnosis on marriage. You are eligible to participate if you: 1. Are a member of a married, heterosexual couple. 2. Both you and your spouse are between the ages of 20 – 45. 3. You do not have any biological or adopted children living in your home. 4. Either you, your spouse, or both has received an infertility diagnosis (including "unexplained infertility"). 5. You are CURRENTLY receiving medical treatment for infertility. 6. Both you and your partner are willing to participate & have access to the internet. To participate, please send an email to: UTInfertilityResearch@gmail.com.
• Password Protected: Happy Not-So-Newlywed has decided to go private. If you would like to be added, please email her at caliaustin@gmail.com.
• Advice: Gwinne is dealing with impending miscarriage (#2) and trying to figure out whether to do one more IUI or jump straight in to IVF. She's worried most about the possibility of another loss; stories of those who survived RPL would be most welcome. Also, Gwinne's RE is putting her on Fragmin, though there is not (currently) laboratory evidence that she needs it (she was on heparin during a previous pregnancy). Does anyone have any experience with this drug as treatment for RPL?
• Advice: Finding Family with Empty Arms is looking for some advice on which tests to be sure her RE's office includes in their "full workup" on her. Suggestions gladly appreciated.
  

Old

• Forums: If you are not a member of the forums, you will not have access to the LFCA on days when we are utilizing an open thread in the forums instead of posting on this site. Any blog reader or writer can become a member of the forums by clicking here and registering. On days when we don't have the LFCA, it also follows that I'll be slow on approving new members (that whole lack of Internet access thing) so please be patient.

NEW BLOGS (started in May or June 2009)

• None Today (more soon).
  

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)

• Denver Laura is celebrating her 34th birthday next weekend. Drop by to wish her a very happy birthday.
• CDE's birthday is on Friday. Go over and sing him a little song.
• Dawn will be celebrating her 40th birthday June 10th. On that day she will also be 11dpiui. She has had two decades of career building, hoping that the next decade is spent raising a baby.
• A Little Sweetness celebrated her birthday on Tuesday. Go sing her a little song.
• Infertile? Who, me? is celebrating her birthday on Sunday. Go have a slice of cake with her.
• Chris at Lazy Cat Farm celebrated his birthday on Tuesday, June 2. He told wife Dalene that all he wants for his birthday is his second son, healthy and breathing, in 6 weeks.
• Turtle and Monkey's Mama is turning 30 today. Please help her welcome in a new year, one full of good stuff.
• It Michele's birthday on Sunday, pop over and offer her a slice of cake while she is on bedrest.
  

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

• Life After Infertility and Loss is remembering the loss of Zach today.
  

LOSS ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Crying Over the Fish Sticks's beta dropped and she has been told she will miscarry. She could use some love and kind words of support.
• Please surround Ashley with love and support as she mourns the sudden death of her much loved brother. Thank you.
• WannabeRE recently learned that her pregnancy is not viable. Please go leave her a word of 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)

• Taking the Statistical Bullet writes: "A friend of a friend lost her baby boy (Baby Hale) in April at 17.5 weeks and has started a blog to remember him." Please go over and flood her with support.
• After egg retrieval for her first IVF cycle on her birthday on Sunday, Amy was informed that of the 8 eggs retrieved, only 3 were mature, and none of them fertilized with ICSI. Go give her support.
• Reproductive Rhapsody just found out she has to have laproscopic surgery later this month rather than starting an FET cycle. She is devastated and could use some support.
• Cara from Share Southern Vermont got word that the corporation was finally approved for 501(c)3 non-profit status. This status will allow the group to make an even bigger difference in the community. Hop on over and congratulate the board of directors for all their hard work.
• This Wasn't The Plan is back from a blogging break. Retrieval was Tuesday and they got 8 eggs. 3 fertilized. Go keep her company while she hopes for transfer on Friday.
• Alison at Run Amok Amok is currently undergoing worsening of her pancreatic disorder. She actually first wrote about it in two posts Pancre-Ass Act 1 and Pancre-Ass Act 2. She coming up on having a sixth surgical procedure for this in 5 years followed by lengthy and serious recovery and hospital stay. She's stressing about it but still being very upbeat about the whole thing. Alison and Husband could use the added support during the next few months... and Alison is pretty ill these days and generally confined to her home unless having tests or a doctors appointment and could definitely use some daily distractions.
• A Journey to Conception has just found out that she will be starting her meds on July 15th with an egg retrieval on Aug. 3! She wasn't expecting to start her meds until August and is thrilled to know it will all begin earlier than planned.
• NoodleGirl at On and Ongoing has started the stimming for her first IVF cycle, which will be an Estrogen Priming Protocol. Please go over and send good follie vibes for this low responder!
• An Unwanted Path is dealing with the start of CD1 as well as news that her aunt may soon succumb to the cancer she has been fighting since 2002. Give her a hug and a kind word.
• Courtney's first IVF ended in a negative beta. Please give her some love.
• This week was transfer day for Caroline. She's currently PUPO with one embryo and good wishes appreciated.
• This week was Katie's IUI. Send her some good wishes for this cycle.
• Princess Jo's abusive father just got parole (after only serving 3 years of a 7 year sentence) and he is already contacting family members: a stressful situation for all involved.
• Nic has been trying to get pregnant for a while, and had her lap yesterday- the news was not good. They didn't even remove any of it, they just closed her back up. It is fully involved in her pelvis/bowels, and she even has nodules on her liver. She is devastated. They want to put her on an injection for 6 months then bring her back in 6 months with a team of doctors to clean her up. Then they told her she would need to straight to IVF.
  
• Miriam has been diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which complicates her decision-making process about family building. Go show her some support in a difficult time.
• Andrea is in the WUB zone, and hoping that her three embryos are doing well. Go wait with her and give her encouragement.
• Blossom and Her Fruit could use some extra support right now.
• Tina is on the countdown to her Dr's appointment and finally getting a plan in place. Swing by and cheer her on. Your support means alot to her.
• Leslee had a BFN on her 10th dIUI. Please stop by and give her a hug.
• Infertility, Yoga, and Chocolate has a very low beta of 8.9 after this most recent IVF, and is in a holding pattern until Friday's beta. She could use some comforting words now, especially if you have a story about a low initial beta that resulted in a successful pregnancy.
  

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

• Mrs M@sk has been put on bedrest at 26 weeks with incompetent cervix. She will be there until her little girls are born, which will hopefully not be too soon. Her doctor is aiming for 30 weeks. Go keep her company and send her good thoughts.
• My Journey Towards My Little Miracle is in the hospital on bedrest until the twins come. Go keep her company.
• Michele had her cerclage placed. Please go to her blog and offer her support. She has endured so much to get to this point.
• Courtney at PrayingforaLittleOne is still having contractions even with the procardia and will be on bedrest until Henry comes.

PREGNANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS

• Debbie had her nuchal scan, and both twins looked good.
• A.M.S. had her first beta with a result of 167. The follow-up beta will be Friday. She and Shannon are cautiously happy, but more than a little nervous and will probably be holding their breath for a while longer.
• After IVF #1, We Are What We Repeatedly Do's beta came in at 20 and the doctors believe it is a chemical pregnancy. Please go over and give her a hug as she waits to see if it doubles.
• Blood Signs just entered the second trimester and also got good NT results back. Celebrate with her!
• Why can't I stay pregnant? has graduated from the RE to the OB but is worried because she can't hear her baby's heart on her doppler at home. This is a stressful time for her and your support is really appreciated.

BIRTH AND ADOPTION ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Onwards! gave birth to twins on Friday, May 29th at 26 weeks, 6 days. The twins are both in the NICU.
• K, who chose Luna and her husband as adoptive parents, gave birth to a beautiful daughter on Sunday, in a home birth with Luna and M present. Please go give them all congratulations and support during what is sure to be an emotional period.
• After a long wait and some nerve-wracking moments, Dave and Elaine welcomed their adopted daughter, Little Bug, who was born May 27th. Go and rejoice with them!
• More Than Dog Children are celebrating the finalization of son Declan's adoption!
• My Journey to Mommyhood started her induction last night and will continue the meds in the morning. More news when she posts again.

Read and Support