Infertility's Common Thread

This is from Stirrup Queens and Sperm Palace Jesters:

Paz created a write up that people could place on blogs, bulletin boards, and email forwards: For anyone who has ever had a miscarriage, struggled with pregnancy, and all things infertile...there is a movement upon us that you might want to join.

It's rather simple actually: a discreet ribbon on your right wrist to signal to others that they are not alone in their struggles. As someone who has had 5 m/c but am currently 5 months pregnant (YEAH), I wonder who looks at my big belly with sadness because they are in the month-to-month struggle. I mentioned to a friend that I wished there was some secret nod or international sign as if to say, this belly was hardwon.

Well, she posted this quandary on her blog (http://www.stirrup-queens.blogspot.com/) and the response has been quite overwhelming...and a movement has been born! The pomegranate-colored thread holds a two-fold purpose: to identify and create community between those experiencing infertility as well as create a starting point for a conversation. Women pregnant through any means, natural or A.R.T., families created through adoption or surrogacy, or couples trying to conceive during infertility or secondary infertility can wear the thread, identifying themselves to others in this silent community.

At the same time, the string serves as a gateway to conversations about infertility when people inquire about its purpose. These conversations are imperative if we are ever to remove the social stigma attached to infertility. Tie on the thread because you’re not alone. Wear to make aware.

Join us in starting this conversation about infertility by purchasingthis pomegranate-coloured thread (#814 by DMC) at any craft, knitting, or variety store such as Walmart or Target. Tie it on your right wrist. Notice it on others. Just thought I would pass the word along!

Lastly, we have a graphic people can add to their side bars in order to get the word out (and create a link to this post or a similar one so people understand what Infertility's Common Thread is about).

Feel free to take and place on your blog or create your own in order to get the word out to others:http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4171/3241/200/Thread.2.jpg and please add a link back to this post:http://stirrup-queens.blogspot.com/2006/09/history-of-infertilitys-common-thread.html.

I am on vacation!!!!!!!

Well, starting tomorrow anyway.

I will be on vacation until Sunday, May 4th. So, when I don't blog - that is the reason.

I will update everyone on my trip when I get back!

I just realized that it has been 18 months

So after I wrote the last post, I thought to myself, "I know it was october 2006, what date was it?"

So, I looked at the side of my blog that shows my "journey" - well, wouldn't you know it......yesterday was 18 months.

18 months - that is a long time

Cruising on Friday!!!!!

I can't believe our cruise is on Friday. I have been so busy at work and busy trying to get ready for the trip that I have not had a second to blog.

It is so weird though - we booked our cruise in Oct 2006. It seems like forever ago. And guess what, we started TTC in Oct 2006. That seems like forever ago as well.

I rememeber when we first thought about the trip. It is a big family vacation, so we had to look at a lot of schedules.

When we decided on a time, the first thing that came to mind is, "Will it be fun to have a baby on the cruise?" At the time we booked it, I seriously thought I would have at least a 6 month old and I really thought I would be pregnant again.

Funny how niave I was back in Oct 2006.

So, here it is 18 months later and not only do I not have a baby, but I am not pregnant, either.

I really need this vacation, as I am sure all of us do. I just hope we have a great time.

The outside is almost done - but you can see the HUGE change already!!!!

Keep in mind that I live in a side by side - so I do not own the whole house - only the right side

DISCLAIMER: I have a crappy camera!

We still have to fix the steps, paint the porch, new gutters will be added, new storm door, etc

I just forgot I used to be pregnant

I forgot I was pregnant a few weeks back - it was just for a second, but I totally forgot.

I have a business trip in a few weeks. I am the coordinator of this trip so I speak to the travel agent a lot.

When I booked my trip, I asked for a seat close to the bathrooms. I figured I would want to be as close as possible so that if I needed to throw up it would be a close walk.

So, most of our conversations are through e-mail.

But, today I had to call her. We take care of what I needed and she says, "oh by the way, how are you feeling?"

I replied, "what do you mean? - How do I feel about the trip" Of course she says, "no, silly - your pregnancy"

I totally forgot. It was for a second, but I seriously had no idea what she was asking me.

So, I had to tell her about the m/c and then there was the silence.

I guess have a seat in the near the bathroom will still be good, at least I will be able to see if it is available.

No post since Monday!!

I did not even realize that I had not posted since Monday. I have been so busy at work and at home that I have not even had time to really check my e-mail.

We are going away next Friday so I have been trying to tie up loose ends at work. Right after I get back from vacation, I am only home for about a week and then I go away on business.

Crazy time that is for sure.

For those that want a post D&C update, here it is............there is no update. I still have not goten my period, not pregnant, beta down to 13 (as of last week).

You know with my luck, I will get my period on the day we leave for vacation. Lucky for me the vacation is 10 days. So even if I do get my period, it will not ruin the trip.

For those that want an update on my house........well there is an update. My contractor thinks he might be done before we go away. Yesterday they were almost finished with siding and then they just have a bunch of little things inside the house.

It sucks though because once he is finished, we still have SOOOOOO much to do in the house (filling holes, painting, sanding the floors, cleaning, etc)

Maybe I will be able to post some more pictures of the outside tonight.