446th 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: Please vote for this one from Still Life with Circles. A beautiful post that returns to the reason why we join together and find community and how important that relationship can be in the face of our personal truths. 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!
• Off-Topic Warning: Read if you have a blog via Wordpress and you're not upgraded to the latest version--there has been an attack on Wordpress blogs.
• Reporter: Got a request from a reporter doing a story on infertility. You can contact her at kse@columbus.rr.com if you are interested in being interviewed. "I'm working on for the magazine Conceive. I'm a freelance writer and the article has to do with envy -- do women who have trouble with infertility or maybe they have miscarried feel envy toward women who become pregnant without difficulty, new moms, maybe moms with several kids? I'm looking into whether or not this is an issue and what can be done about it."
• Activism: September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Support those battling the disease and raise awareness by wearing teal this month.
• Question: Isn't TTC Supposed To Be Fun?! is faced with a shortened cervix, but not short enough (thankfully) to do any type of interventions. She was hoping some other women who have a history of LEEPs and a shortened cervix could come by and offer her some advice, their stories, or tell her to chill.
  
• Advice: GracieInBrooklyn's SIL has announced a pregnancy and Gracie would like advice on how to deal with it.
  

Old

• Helpful Site: For those of you considering domestic adoption or those of you already on the path, Lori of Weebles Wobblog is re-running her serialized infertility and adoption stories on Drama 2B Mama. Starting today there will be three posts a week through February, 2010.
• Invite Only: Down that Dirt Road has gone password-protected. If you'd like to keep reading, you can email Browneyedgirl.
• Prayer Site: a new prayer site has started called The IF Gathering Place. Please click over if you'd like to join others in group prayer.
• New Face-to-Face Group: a new face-to-face group has started in Dublin. If you want to connect with other Iffers in Dublin, contact Fran at Everyone Else But Me. This information is always housed on the left sidebar of the LFCA (just scroll down to see other face-to-face groups).
• Project: Joy writes: "This is a request for non-U.S. bloggers - we need your healthcare stories! Yesterday in my gym I heard a woman tell another woman that in the U.K., once you get to be over 60, you're 'put on a list' so that you can be denied joint replacements and other health care measures for which you are now 'too old.' Please set the record straight about whether you like your health care, how long you wait, and how your older friends and loved ones have fared. The misinformation here is incredible and insulting to you, our UK / Canadian / Aussie / South African / friends. We can link to these blog entries and try to inject some real experiences into the conversation."
• Giveaway: Noswimmers is hosting a contest/giveaway. The winner will receive a RESOLVE membership--a $55 value! All you have to do is guess Sherbert's birth date/weight/length--the closest guess wins!
  
• Raffle: Life According to Leah will be holding a raffle of amazing prizes every Friday. If interested, go check out her website. Fabulous prizes could be yours for just $5.00.
• 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 August or September 2009)

• A Tale (of the Trials and Tribulations) of Trying (pg loss)
• Waiting for Baby Godot (varicocele)
  

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)

• Curves with Attitude is celebrating their wedding anniversary. Wish them many more years of happily ever after.
• We missed Bagmomma's blogoversary last week. It's not too late to swing by and offer her congratulations.
• Soapchick turns 41 on Wednesday September 9th. Although she didn't receive the birthday present she hoped for with her DE cycle, she is still celebrating.
  

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

• None Today.
  

LOSS ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Heather recently delivered her daughter, who passed away soon after birth. The funeral was this week and she is currently struggling with her pain. Please send her warm thoughts and love.
  

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 looks like this coming cycle has gotten underway for An Unwanted Path. Go cheer her on as she starts her injections.
• Baby Mama Drama has had some spotting and bleeding and ended up in the ER over the weekend. A yolk sac was confirmed but still too early for a fetal pole and no known cause for the bleeding. She is scheduled for another dr's appt tomorrow, with an u/s. Go give her some words of encouragement as she waits.
• After some time off from blogland, Barren Blog is back and scheduled to start IVF next month. Go welcome her back and share some love as she recounts how hope screwed her over recently and it has been a hard road back.
• The Happy Hours recently got a part-time job offer and has gladly accepted it--it's at a yarn store and she's looking forward to starting (and hopefully not spending all her pay on yarn). Go wish her well in this new role.
• Hold My Hope could use additional support right now after this last negative. Please go over and give her a virtual hug.
• Frantic and Frazzled (unable to link to the site--please leave her comments here) and her husband have been able to save up to have a round of IVF Tomorrow is her transfer day followed by the 2ww. Please go and wait with her.
• Beth's mom broke both ankles and a foot over the weekend, and Beth is caretaking after the surgery to repair the extensive damage. Head over to give her some support.
  

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

• Michele received the news that Bobby was having SVT on Tuesday. With medication it has gotten a little better, but he is still having arythmia. Unfortunately the medication is wreaking havoc with Michelle's already high blood sugar so she will also have to go on insulin therapy. The good news is that Maya is still doing well and it looks like the babies won't be making their entrance any time soon.
  
• Devon is home, but still on bedrest.
  
• Carrie of Tubeless in Seattle has been released from the hospital and is back at home on bedrest, awaiting her triplet boys.
  
• Jamie was recently released off hospital bedrest but is now on modified bedrest at home.
• Baby Smiling In Back Seat is still in the hospital at 30 weeks, staying put for at least a couple more weeks to keep holding off preterm labor. The twins continue to look fantastic.
  
• After a scary hospital visit at 24 weeks, Chelle is on modified bed rest. Her restrictions will increase as time goes on to try to avoid preeclampsia and keep her twin girls growing inside her as long as possible. The girls are doing great.

PREGNANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS

• Baby, Borneo or Bust is past the midway point in the pregnancy. She's 21 weeks.
• C by the Sea has a BFP! Beta is scheduled for Friday.
  

BIRTH AND ADOPTION ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Out, Damned Egg! Out I Say is on her way home with her daughter, currently referred to as BabyFood, after the expectant mum (Ms. FoodNetwork) she matched with gave birth last week. Please congratulate and support all the family members in this open adoption.
  

Read and Support