tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45623953437010061082024-03-06T14:02:54.304-06:00inconceivablea story of infertility and hope in our journey toward parenthoodUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-1115332394858559202014-09-09T16:51:00.000-05:002014-09-09T16:51:51.443-05:00Happy Endings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I haven't posted in a very long time. There are several reasons for it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One reason is that blogging sometimes dragged me down and kept me locked in the prison of my despair. Other times it gave me a voice and allowed me to advocate for myself, sort through my emotions, and share with others (strangers and loved ones alike) about how I was doing so I wouldn't have to discuss it when I didn't feel like it. But sometimes it kept me down and I felt like a slave to my sadness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another reason is that I did not always like the feedback I received from well-meaning loved ones with whom I'd shared the blog. At times, I unintentionally wrote things that hurt or offended them. And they let me know it. Sometimes, their taking offense offended me because they clearly missed the point of why I was feeling the way I was, or why I was writing about it. But it wasn't worth fighting over, so I tried to graciously accept their criticism and slowly stopped sharing as much on the blog to avoid future confrontations and hurt feelings all around. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes I wish I had made this blog completely anonymous and never shared it with anyone who knows me in real life. It might have protected some relationships. Although, if I never could have shared my general feelings, or how specific events affected me, or how those who care about me could try to help or be sensitive to me, would it really have made those relationships better? Or would I have just been suffering in silence? Would my own resentment have grown with every innocent comment, announcement, or event? Would I have withdrawn inside myself even further? Would they have continued in their daily lives unaware of the pain they might be causing other infertiles like me? I guess I'll never know. But since we can't re-write the past, I'll have to stand by my decision to write this blog, and the decision to share with people who know me. I can learn from this experience, and I can be grateful for the role it played in my journey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The biggest reason why I haven't updated this inconceivable story since Mother's Day is because I was actively living out the end of the story. And this story, thankfully, has a happy ending. Yes, DH and I are finally expecting and we couldn't be happier. In the end, we decided to do IVF and actually travelled to Czech Republic to do it because it was less than half the price to do it there, including all the travel costs. We were very lucky that it worked first try, especially because we have no frozen embryos left over to try again. We transferred two embies and one stuck. I am now over 17 weeks along and we are on cloud nine. We feel so blessed and are extremely grateful for how lucky we are.<br /><br />To all those out there who are still struggling, my heart goes out to you. I wish you all success in your journey and hope you all become parents, in whatever way you can. Or, if it's what's best for you, I hope you find peace and joy in choosing to live childfree. This journey leaves a mark on us all, and I know I for one will be forever changed because of it. But I also know I will be a better mother because of it too. Now I truly can live out the words from this comforting poem I found 2.5 years ago when I first started this blog: http://inconceivablestory.blogspot.com/p/i-will-be-wonderful-mother.html.<br /><br />I wish the same happiness to all the other hopeful parents out there who may not be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I hope you all find peace and take comfort in the hope that your own happy ending will come someday too.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-33438799698651649512014-05-06T10:48:00.000-05:002014-05-06T10:48:52.166-05:00Gratitude before Mother's Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's been 4 years since we decided to start TTC. I thought this milestone would be the perfect occasion to reflect back on our journey and to express my deep gratitude for all the family members, friends, co-workers, support group members, medical care professionals, blog readers, forum participants, acquaintances, and even complete strangers that have supported us along the way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am humbled by the amount of love and compassion that so many of you have shown us. If you are a friend of mine who has listened to our story, read my blog, sent me cards or messages to let me know when you are thinking of me, prayed for me, or cared and thought about me, even if I never knew it, thank you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you to all those who have checked in on me, given me space when I needed it, considered my feelings in social situations, privately notified me before announcing your own pregnancies, asked how you can help, listened to me, and hugged me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you to my DH who has been through the trenches with me, supported me, fought for our love, and done everything in his power and good conscience to give me what I want more than anything..... besides him and our love of course.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Although IF has changed me forever and at times has taken over my identity, something else has changed my sense of identity too: the kindness, love, and support of those who have been there for us along the way. I am so grateful to have so many people in my life who care about me. I hope you all know who you are, and I hope you know that you make me stronger. You make my life more full, more complete. You remind me of the bigger picture and all the small things too, and you help me keep my pain and grief in perspective. You pull me back out into the world when I get stuck in my own head, and you pick me up and carry me when I can't stand by myself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am sorry for the times I have not been the best friend, mother, daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin, in-law, co-worker, or listener. I want to be better. I want to remember that all those roles which I play and the relationships I have are important parts of my identity too. I promise to try. I promise to myself that someday I will work through this suffering and come out on the other side and be even better than the person you knew before this struggle took over me. I refuse to be stuck here forever. Someday, whether it's because I move on to motherhood or accept a new child-free life, I will put this behind me. I'm sure it will always be part of me, but I won't let it consume me forever. I'll grow from it, learn from it, and be stronger because of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And to those of you who will still be there ready and waiting for me when that day finally comes, thank you.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-90262656931555622092014-01-08T17:39:00.001-06:002014-01-09T21:30:32.401-06:00Finally, some updates<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I obviously have not been posting lately. It is most definitely not because I don't have anything to talk about. And it isn't that I don't have the time. </span></div>
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But, I don't know what to do with these words. I've said before that this blog can be an outlet for me, but it can also be a heavy iron chain tied around my ankle, not letting me escape my grief at times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But enough has happened that it warrants at least an update here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In July I began a new fertility-friendly diet, omitting gluten, cow's dairy, refined sugar, alcohol, coffee, most caffeine, frozen and cold foods and beverages, raw vegetables, and sugary drinks, including fruit juices. I've lost 23 pounds and am thrilled.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In August I began acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. We also began visiting a support group once a month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In October, I went to a new clinic for a second opinion since my old doctor, Dr. Robbie, went back to Canada (good riddance). This is when I learned that my AMH hormones are low, which means I have the egg reserves of a woman in her late thirties, not like the young 32 year-old that I really am. Clock is ticking faster than we thought. Great.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In November, based on information I'd learned from other women at our support group, I decided I must be a candidate for endometriosis, got a referral to a new doctor, underwent laproscopic surgery, and was treated for mild to moderate endometriosis. After which, I adapted my diet to be more friendly to endometriosis symptoms, which meant omitting soy and eggs from my diet as well due to their high estrogen levels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">During the surgery, my doctor also examined my uterus to make sure there were no fibroids or anything else abnormal in there. Fortunately I checked out just fine in that department, so that's a relief. He also did another dye test on my fallopian tubes while I was under so I could avoid doing a third dreaded HSG test. We wanted to see if my left fallopian tube was still open, since it had been blocked the first two times, but they'd broken through with a catheter during the second HSG. Oddly, the left was open but the right was blocked now. I later asked my new RE what she made of that, and she had no idea, other than that clearly I have some issue with my tubes, so there's another possible explanation for our years of infertility. Tube issues were one of the original problems that IVF was invented for in the first place, so at least there is a treatment I guess, but it's still kind of shocking to get this news.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the same time, B got another semen analysis and the results showed that he only has 1% morphology. This is the hardest thing to treat with acupuncture, and western medicine can only treat it with IVF and ICSI. I was so mad that our previous clinic had not been testing this, even after his varicocele repair surgery! I felt like all my acupuncture and surgery were for nothing after learning about this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In December, I completed a clomid challenge to check the quality of my eggs, especially since I now know I have a low egg count. I went off herbs this month so they didn't interfere with the clomid. In early January I learned that my quality is fine. What a relief. So I have good eggs, just not very many of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In January, I stopped acupuncture because of the high cost, and since we now know that IVF is our only hope of conceiving for several reasons, we need to save every penny for that if we want children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So that's where we are. I'll continue the diet because it reduces the symptoms of endometriosis, and because I would like to continue losing more weight, but I have little hope that it's helping me to conceive now. When we do IVF, I hope to pick up acupuncture again then, but we'll have to see what the finances are at that time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I feel like I'm coming close or the end of the road on this journey soon. We've gone from years of unexplained infertility, to completely over-explained and too many answers within a couple short months. It's overwhelming, and I'm becoming glad it will probably soon all be over, one way or another. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't wish any of this on my worst enemy. It's the hardest thing that B and I have ever faced together, and that's saying a lot, actually. It's pretty much defined our marriage, though fortunately not our relationship, thank goodness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm getting tired, and starting to be ready to look forward to other things in life. I've been thinking about trying to meet new people, make new child-free friends, and become more actively engaged with life... without thinking about pregnancy, children, families, and finances. We'll see, it's not over until it's over, but it's slightly relieving to fantasize about what it might feel like when it's all finally over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today is my 32nd birthday. This day means many things to me. It is a day I like to celebrate with my family, especially my mother who gave me life and who will always be my best friend. It is a day of excitement and reflection. A day to think about where I've been and who I've become, and a day to look ahead and dream about what the next year and phase of my life will bring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It also means I'm another year closer to my mid-thirties and my fertility is decreasing. I only have a solid three years or so left before I'm considered "old" for fertility standards.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It also marks exactly five years of infertility for B & I. We went off the pill on my birthday in 2008, and after more than 1.5 years of unprotected sex and then another more than 3 years of actively TTC, here we are, still with no baby.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Five years of infertility.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If we are lucky, and the IVF works early next year, I'll still be 33 when our first chid is born. If we want two, which is the minimum I'd ever planned, we'd have to start again soon after. Will we have secondary infertility too? How will we afford IVF again so soon after the first round? If we wait one year until our first child is one year old, I'd be 34. That's okay. That's still before the dreaded "over 35" age-group. And that's all only if this even works first-time around. No. There is now way we could afford it again so soon. We'll need a new car for the baby first. And we'll have to furnish the nursery and baby-proof the house. And pay off the first IVF. No, we'd have to wait at least two-years to try to pay for that again. And what if it doesn't work the first time around? Will we be able to try again right away? No, we'd have to wait a year to pay off something that didn't even work. Would we only ever be able to afford one child then? Maybe we better just plan to go all in and apply for one of those more expensive "shared risk" plans where you pay for two or three cycles at once at a discounted rate, and if you don't get a live baby in the end you get some or all the money back. If we spend $20-30K we wouldn't be able to afford IVF for baby #2 for 5-7 years. Maybe we'll have no choice but to be a one-child family no matter what we do!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you can't already tell, I'm prone to catastrophe thinking. But with so many unknowns, and with so much pressure from Mother Nature and Father Time, how can I not worry and speculate and try to make sure I consider every possible outcome so I can make more informed decisions in the here and now?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We started this whole journey (at least the actively TTC part) when I was 28 years old. Now I'm 32. The doctors used to get so excited by how young I was because it would make their jobs so easy. Now I'm creeping closer and closer toward their usual patients' age. The odds are falling further and further out of my favor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Okay, let's try to swing this back around into something positive to focus on. I mean, today is my birthday after all. I can't spend the day moping or wallowing in self-pity. No, let's do something empowering here. How about a list of 32 things that are positive in my life right now, in honor of my 32nd birthday?</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My husband, the love of my life, and partner in everything.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My big, supportive, caring and at times intrusive-in-a-good-way family, especially my Mom & siblings.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My quirky, loyal, entertaining, and comforting dogs.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My friends. And I am blessed to have so many of them! I still try to keep in touch with friends from my childhood and high school, and I'm best at seeing my girlfriends from college the most often, and some of my closest friends to this day are actually some I studied abroad with for a few short months over a decade ago. Then there are new friends too. Those I work with, or interact with professionally and even virtually. They all support me and keep me active, engaged, and busy.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My beautiful home. Sometimes I still can't believe it's really ours and wonder how we got to where we are here.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">An amazing job that always stimulates my creative and intellectual sides. Supports my needs and provides me with privileged opportunities.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My very own still fairly new-ish car, which I am very proud of to this day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The travel opportunities I've been fortunate enough to have in the past couple of years, especially New Orleans, India, and Italy with my husband, and a "sisters" getaway cruise celebrating my middle sister's upcoming nuptials.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Speaking of sisters, I have the two best ones in the world. I hope we never grow apart and that years only bring us closer.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And my brother. He's always been there, ready to have a good time, offer thoughtful input, and receptive to advice from his three, bossy, older sisters. I love him.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know family in general was mentioned toward the top, but since I'm getting specific here anyway, I got to give a shout out to my mom. I don't know where I'd be in my life without her, and I should reach out to her more than I do right now. I let life and my head get in the way too much and time slips by so quickly.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Time to get small, petty, specific, and silly. I mean this is going to be a list of 32 positive things in my life, right? So, no matter how ridiculous it feels to write about them, I really should mention all the little things that make me smile, feel happy, or satisfied, or loved. So the first one on this portion of the list? My wedding ring. It's a symbol of the bond between my husband and I, and the love that we share, and everything we have been through and accomplished together. I'm reminded of all this every time I look down at it on my finger.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My make-up station in the half-bath upstairs. I've spent years perfecting my make-up routine, and now in my very own house I am slowly creating the perfect make-up application station. Silly yes, but organization and space of my own makes me happy and peaceful. So it makes the list.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The collection of costume and semi-precious jewelry I've acquired over years, and the organizational systems I've created to store them and make them more readily accessible to me. Again, organization makes me happy. And many of these pieces of jewelry hold memories of special moments with my husband, or family members, or fun adventures and travels.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My bathroom. It's what sold this cute little old house to us. It has heated floors, and a whirlpool tub, and a tiled shower with 4 shower heads spraying at you from every direction. Oh, and it's huge, it used to be a fourth bedroom in this house before they renovated the main floor.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My backyard. It's just lovely. It's a place where my dogs get to explore and have a piece of nature and the outdoor world to consider their very own. I love grilling with B back there and eating at our patio dining set. It's so pleasant to discover new flowers and plants blooming back there, or just goof around with the dogs.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My wardrobe. I'm not always happy with the way I look in it, but I am grateful that I have a good job that afforded me the opportunity to take advantage of some great sales after Christmas last year. I am personally very happy to be able to start dressing more professionally, and I love the way all my new jewelry coordinates with the clothes I selected.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The long days of summer. Now that I've travelled more, I'm beginning to learn that sunshine really lifts my spirits. The longer days of sunlight really give me more energy motivation, and hope.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Autumn. Even though the days are becoming shorter, Fall has always been my favorite time of year. I love the crispness in the air, the color of the leaves changing, the aromatic flavor of the foods associated with the season, and the coziness of snuggling under warm blankets and sweaters.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas are the best. They are all about family and love. I've looked forward to them since I was little girl.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, and the devices that bring them to us on the TV's in our home! B & I gave up cable 5-6 years ago, and these instant streaming applications allow us to stay connected to the world and catch up on popular culture.... all on our own time! Our busy schedules don't allow us to watch live TV most of the time, so this has really brought a great deal of pleasure and entertainment to our lives. This one seems so shallow, but it so true. So so true. And TV & movies offer me a chance to escape when everything else gets to be too much. For 30 minutes to an hour or slightly longer I can leave this world and all my troubles and fears behind and think about another time or place and focus on people's troubles that aren't my own. I value that right now, and I'm not ashamed of it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since I'm being shallow and going on about all my material goods, I must mention my iPhone. That little device has changed my life, and I don't know how I ever functioned, found my way anywhere, or planned a schedule without it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Photography. I'm not a photographer. Not even an amateur one. But I've always enjoyed taking pictures, and scrapbooking first with special paper and scissors and then later with digital tools to create beautifully printed and bound books. Now with my iPhone, I'm able take sharp pictures anywhere anytime, and then share them online via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or store them with Picasa, or create products with them with Snapfish. All the while, preserving the memories of life.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Genealogy, family pictures, heritage recipes, ancestry.com, and oral family histories and stories. I <i>am</i> the historian in the family after all.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Science. Specifically medical advancements and ART that provide opportunities for hope for families like mine and for the lucky ones, help make dreams come true.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Information. And mediums that provide access to information about things like the science mentioned in number 25 above. Mediums such as books, scholarly journals, blogs, the internet. I have learned so much about infertility and my options for coping with and treating it, none of which would have been possible 100, 50, even 25 years ago.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Baby Names. Just because I'm infertile and other people's pregnancy and birth announcements make me sad and frustrated, doesn't take away my life-long obsession with etymology. I still read blogs and websites daily for new gems and the latest outrageous celebrity choices.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The color purple. It's made me feel excited and peaceful all at once since I was three years old. I love it in all its cool and warm shades and hues. It makes me happy and I suspect it always will.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">New perfumes. My most recent bottles were Coach's "Love" which B gave to me this year on our 10-year-together anniversary, which happened to be on Valentine's Day. How appropriate and perfect :) For our 4-year anniversary, the traditional gift for which is "flowers or fruits," B gave me Coach's "Poppy" and it's light and playful. Perfect for summer! Isn't it amazing the way scent can change your mood, bring you confidence, or instantly remind you another time or place?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rocking babies to sleep. I'm lucky that my mother does daycare in her home, so I often have the opportunity to hold or play with some babies if I can manage to get home early enough on a weekday to visit. Otherwise, plenty of my friends have babies & even newborns. I don't do it often, but when I do, it's still the sweetest thing in the world. Always has been to me. Now my arms ache because I don't have my own to hold yet. But in those brief moments when I'm holding someone else's child, all that washes away and I bask in the moment of innocence and new life.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Friends and strangers who offer words of advice, support, and just show that they are listening either by responding to blog posts, writing to check-in, or asking how I'm doing when we speak in person or on the phone. It's not always easy for me to talk about, and sometimes they catch me off-guard, but in the end, it's always nice to be reminded that they care and they have been thinking about me. Now, the Resolve support group has introduced me to a whole new medium for this kind of encouragement and validation.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This blog. Sometimes it's an outlet, sometimes I feel shackled to it, sometimes it motivates me, other times I feel dragged down and overwhelmed by it and the feelings it forces me to face and express, but if it is nothing else, I think that it is valuable as a time capsule to help me sort out what is happening to me, how I am coping with it, and allows me to explore ways to take action and control of my life. It can be empowering, inspiring, humbling, and a release, all at the same time. I'm grateful for it, and am glad I started it and have stuck with it. I don't know that I'll have it forever, but at this time in my life, it is an important tool for me. And I need to take everything I can get right now.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And with that, I'm going to go out now and celebrate my birthday!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-6184503593628493522013-09-03T11:36:00.000-05:002013-09-03T11:36:23.269-05:00The Fertile Soul<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For three weeks now I've been seeing an acupuncturist. And for seven weeks I've been on a new diet to support the work my acupuncturist is doing to promote my fertility through Traditional Chinese Medicine. The quote above is actually an edited photo I took of a wall hanging in my acupuncturist's office. It really inspires me and helps me to look at my situation differently and helps me to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">take on this new challenge head on</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, as I've alluded to in previous posts, I'm basically trying to incorporate some holistic Eastern healing methods in with our Western medicinal approach. We've been down the route of IUI, surgery, diagnostic testing and Western Medicine has left us infertile for over three years and with a frustrating diagnosis of "unexplained infertility." The doctors say we have a 3% chance of conceiving on our own and that our best hope of achieving the family we want is to do IVF, which costs $13-23K and is not covered by health insurance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We decided to try something completely different as kind of a last ditch effort before financing IVF next year, so based off <a href="http://inconceivablestory.blogspot.com/2013/07/we-attended-our-first-support-group.html" target="_blank">high recommendations from other women in our infertility support group</a>, we decided to read <a href="http://www.thefertilesoul.com/The-Infertility-Curethe-fertile-soul.php" target="_blank"><i>The Infertility Cure</i></a> and I scheduled an appointment an acupuncturist in our area who specializes in infertility and actually collaborates with Dr. Randine Lewis, the author of <i>The Infertility Cure</i>, as a member of <a href="http://www.thefertilesoul.com/about-infertility-treatment.php" target="_blank">The Fertile Soul</a> group.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Fertile Soul is a body, mind, spirit program of deep internal healing based upon Taoist and Chinese medical practices. They treat infertility by integrating Western expertise with Eastern acupuncture, dietary modifications, traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and healing movement such as fertility yoga. This blend of therapies helps you </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">heal and strengthen your body and reproductive system by </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">overcoming obstructions to the creative life force, helping people take control of their lives, recognizing causes of imbalance, and obtaining inner peace and harmony. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />As I said above, I've been on the new diet for seven weeks and have had weekly acupuncture appointments for three weeks now. So far I'm really enjoying the program and looking forward to sharing my thoughts about this experience in a series of future blog posts. Topics I would like to cover include:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The book and TCM philosophy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The diet and weightloss, and how it effects fertility</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How acupuncture can help fertility</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The herbal treatments</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Charting your cycle</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Changes I've observed in my body and outlook</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Getting the support you need</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fertility yoga</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Meditation, relaxation, and mindfullness</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Financial considerations</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our modified plan for TTC & ART</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's going to be a busy Fall with work and personal life events but I'll do my best to check in as often as I can and chip away at this list of topics I'd like to explain as I explore this exciting new approach to our infertility journey!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-12127450880077083342013-09-03T08:58:00.002-05:002013-09-03T11:37:23.863-05:00A Day Too Important to Miss<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">B & I registered for this over the weekend. You still have 3 more days for the reduced early-bird rate if you want to join us at the conference!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 11px; width: 650px;"><tbody>
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<strong><span style="font-size: 120%;"><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=BpwiwGfw2bu7A2bAY18u3A" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="Register today button" border="0" height="56" hspace="5" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/Register_today_button.jpg" vspace="5" width="200" /></a>Exploring Paths of Hope</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: 120%;">Saturday, September 21, 2013</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 120%;">Golden Valley, MN </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 120%;">We believe that the RESOLVE Family Building Conference on September 21 is a day too important to miss.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 120%;">Why? Because the amount of information you will gather and the sense of hope you will gain by attending this conference cannot be overstated.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 120%;">In </span><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=s8NIdX7W_UG0nmzTo3boLg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 120%;">workshops</span></a></strong> <span style="font-size: 120%;">on fertility treatment, adoption, donor choices and more, you will meet others just like you who are on the same journey — searching for information and for reassurance that you will have a family. Our conference attendees always tell us how powerful it is when they realize they are not alone. Many tell us that the conference is a "life changing experience".</span><br />
<strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=374Gzvl5Abh_ERhNJz3e1g" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 120%;">Register Today</span></a><span style="font-size: 120%;">!</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: 120%;">For more information about topics, session descriptions and speakers — </span><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=gEO0VhepOnE5LOa-RQ2fTg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 120%;">click here</span></a></strong><span style="font-size: 120%;">!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 120%;">We enthusiastically thank </span><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=NhsDY5nmwjo7ul2YyTJP8g" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 120%;">our sponsors</span></a></strong> <span style="font-size: 120%;">for making this event possible.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px;">Phone: 703.556.7172 </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px;">Fax: 703.506.3266 </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px;">RESOLVE: </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px;">The National Infertility Association<br />1760 Old Meadow Rd., Suite 500<br />McLean, VA 22102</span></td> <td style="padding: 10px 0px 0px 10px; width: 33%;"><span style="color: #81b5ca; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"><strong>Important Information </strong></span><br />
<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=kiuVj97K7hjbxl9wes0LYg" style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">Ways to Support RESOLVE</a><br />
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<tr> <td bgcolor="#015673" style="padding: 10px 0pt 5pt 20px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">© 2013 RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association 1760 Old Meadow Road Suite 500 McLean VA 22102 </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-27095851697843631872013-08-07T06:00:00.000-05:002013-08-07T06:00:00.724-05:00Bitterness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGFz_BihoHqEO28GHiHzUevGbYqaSwEQPVitSv6Osf10PC7K20mqlp1Fkuwd4f0wj_fFd2g2ifL1GmP9HlAQ65i3qdqkMcShW2CopP8RNvaw6w-A5I1LFmhuHmkcC-ZlKdgtrKzBKq_kc/s1600/Buy-Buy-Baby.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGFz_BihoHqEO28GHiHzUevGbYqaSwEQPVitSv6Osf10PC7K20mqlp1Fkuwd4f0wj_fFd2g2ifL1GmP9HlAQ65i3qdqkMcShW2CopP8RNvaw6w-A5I1LFmhuHmkcC-ZlKdgtrKzBKq_kc/s1600/Buy-Buy-Baby.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had other plans for what I wanted to blog about this month. I wanted to go into the details about TCM and my new diet. I have an appointment with an acupuncturist next week and thought this would all lead to a really upbeat month full of hope, a sense of being proactive, and a feeling of general optimism as I head toward the last quarter of 2013 and prepare for IVF as soon as we can pull everything together in 2014.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But instead I need to get something off my chest that's been nagging away at me. For several months now, probably beginning back in June when B & I were travelling with friends (who have children, but this was an adults only trip), I've been getting more and more resentful, angry, and bitter about having to "buy" our potential children.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been getting so annoyed by the fact that we have to sacrifice and change our lifestyle so drastically, just to pay for the possibility of getting pregnant. And don't tell me its just a drop in the bucket of what you'll be paying once you have kids. That's not true because while you just have the normal expenses that come along with kids, I'll still be paying for my IF treatments for years after my first child is born, if I'm even so lucky as to get a live birth out of the whole endeavor. Seriously, my first child would be in grade school before I've finished paying off their conception.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Which begs the question, how exactly, per se, am I supposed to be able to pay for daycare, and $500-$1000 a month in IF debt, and even begin to think about doing it all over again to try for a second child? Seems impossible. It's sounding more and more likely that B & I would be facing a future raising an only child if we don't knock it out of the park with twins on the first go-round.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm just so angry that I even have to think about these things! The only thing holding B & I back from the family we are trying to achieve is money! And it's holding us back so definitively that I'm leaning more and more toward exploring a child-free life choice. I just don't know after all these years of bitter pain and sacrifice, if I could even enjoy a pregnancy that I had to pay so much for the way I once could have. I don't know if B & I would be happy with the life we'd be bringing a baby into under those circumstances now. I don't know if we'd be happy now, with the way it seems that things would play out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A baby won't fix all of our problems, just our biggest problem, which is infertility, of course. But this one big one extends its roots and creeps into all other aspects of our life. It affects our finances, our home, our relationship, our sex-life our lifestyle, and all conversations about our future. Maybe choosing to live child-free would eliminate the biggest problem, so that we could work on repairing all the smaller ones and live a simple, happy life together, like the one we had before we started TTC.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Would I regret this choice later?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once we've solved some of our other smaller problems (mostly financial I'd say), would we then be left feeling that something was still missing? Would our arms and hearts ache from the emptiness that a child was supposed to fill?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maybe I don't have to write the whole thing off in order to feel better about things right now. Maybe just putting IVF off for another year or two while we get other things more squared away would be a better compromise. Maybe we should pull back and revisit all this in a year or two, while I'm still young enough to have good odds of success. Before that dreaded 35th birthday...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQIbSptlBpGGEqeOBwbNV9gtSHQsBZd8BEy5tQkhLobldI7IjheU0reylZ8wHLw7L-Mrh0bEku4SPIJ0SdtgmDfELTZpPyY9eUVVAZTJz4wtmQAnQC0rFf2-5MAHqXFqx8Be0rNyG94S6/s1600/A+Little+Bit+Pregnant+-+Infertility+Rollercoaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQIbSptlBpGGEqeOBwbNV9gtSHQsBZd8BEy5tQkhLobldI7IjheU0reylZ8wHLw7L-Mrh0bEku4SPIJ0SdtgmDfELTZpPyY9eUVVAZTJz4wtmQAnQC0rFf2-5MAHqXFqx8Be0rNyG94S6/s200/A+Little+Bit+Pregnant+-+Infertility+Rollercoaster.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then again, maybe I'm just stressed right now, and have been living off the "vacation-high" all summer where the world's grass seems greener on the other side. Maybe next month, or next week, or next year I'll feel differently and be ready for IVF as soon as possible again. A cousin once told me that IF is a roller-coaster of emotions. Geesh, she wasn't kidding!</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-23046091188260110352013-08-06T11:27:00.001-05:002013-08-06T11:27:35.474-05:00Plan your family building journey with professionals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr> <td style="padding: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Received this in my my email inbox recently... it's on my birthday and in my area. I may just have to consider attending...</span><br />
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<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=Rq8uk4Jq-qJghQsdyInOvQ"><img alt="" border="0" height="61" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/17756.png" style="display: block;" width="204" /></a> </td> <td style="padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px; width: 296px;" valign="middle"><div style="text-decoration: none;">
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<strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=stWLOKN7QnPOe4x8bo85Sg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 140%;">The 29th Annual Midwest Infertility and Adoption Family Building Conference</span></a></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size: 120%;">Exploring Paths of Hope</span></strong><br /><span style="font-size: 120%;">Saturday, September 21, 2013</span><br /><span style="font-size: 120%;">Golden Valley, MN </span></div>
<span style="font-size: 120%;">The RESOLVE Family Building Conference outlines options you have on your family building journey:</span><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=fiQze5Dhx3V4np6-S3Lqwg" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="2013 Midwest Family Building Conference image" border="0" height="162" hspace="10" src="http://www.resolve.org/assets/images/2013-midwest-family-building.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=OZ7XSHRdJ-I7kPFTpEbLiw" target="_blank"></a><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 120%;">Learn more about the latest fertility treatments</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 120%;">Talk one-on-one with local doctors</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 120%;">Explore the world of adoption</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 120%;">Find out more about the mind/body connection</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 120%;">Factor in the financing of infertility and adoption </span></li>
</ul>
<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=0OzLK8V9h7AkUGDMuhJAiw" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size: 120%;">Schedule:</span></strong></a><br />
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<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">7:30AM-8:15AM</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">Registration, Continental Breakfast, Visit Exhibitors</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">8:15AM-9:15AM</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">Welcoming Words & Keynote Speaker</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">9:30AM-4:15PM</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">“The Professional Is In” — Various specialists provide consultations at 15-minute intervals. </span><span style="font-size: 12px;">Must sign up day of conference — on a first come, first served basis.</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">9:30AM-10:45PM</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">Breakout Session 1</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">11:00AM-12:15PM</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">Breakout Session 2</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">12:15PM-1:00PM</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">Lunch With Table-Talk Discussions</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">1:15PM-2:45PM</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">Breakout Session 3</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">2:45PM</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">Afternoon Snack</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">3:00PM-4:15PM</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">Breakout Session 4</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">4:30PM-5:00PM</span></td> <td><span style="font-size: 12px;">Closing Remarks</span></td> </tr>
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<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=do1FnQfCyTz20WGc7ceiOQ" target="_blank"> </a><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=rIhEah44nsrhAdh6nbI-Gw" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 120%;">Register today</span></a></strong> <span style="font-size: 120%;">and visit </span><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=mG1YjYxTT_5OCZHRXln6aw" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 120%;">our website</span></a></strong> <span style="font-size: 120%;">for more resources and information<strong>, </strong>including </span><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=gTc0AByBnZMl_eUNAQ1MXw" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 120%;">session descriptions.</span></a></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: 120%;">Questions? Email Lisa Houts a</span>t <strong><a href="mailto:resolveLisa@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 120%;">resolveLisa@gmail.com</span></a></strong><a href="mailto:resolveLisa@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 120%;">.</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 120%;">We enthusiastically thank our sponsors for making this event possible.</span><br /><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=D00l5nYW4r9HRkEG3D3rzQ" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 120%;"><strong>Click here to see who is participating in the Midwest Family Building Conference</strong>.</span></a><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px;">Phone: 703.556.7172 </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px;">Fax: 703.506.3266 </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px;">RESOLVE: </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px;">The National Infertility Association<br />1760 Old Meadow Rd., Suite 500<br />McLean, VA 22102</span></td> <td style="padding: 10px 0px 0px 10px; width: 33%;"><span style="color: #81b5ca; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"><strong>Important Information </strong></span><br />
<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=O3CnOr5WzJaygX5q3RlNbg" style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">Ways to Support RESOLVE</a><br />
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<tr> <td bgcolor="#015673" style="padding: 10px 0pt 5pt 20px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">© 2013 RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association 1760 Old Meadow Road Suite 500 McLean VA 22102 </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-49660121048702224572013-07-22T06:00:00.000-05:002013-07-22T06:00:02.008-05:00Night of Hope Announcement <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">May be fun for any readers in the New York, NY area:</span><br />
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<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=fNQbSlmY8DfG8cqrYh4IWg" target="_blank"><img alt="2013 Night of Hope Invitation Image" border="0" height="750" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/NOH13_invite_v3.jpg" width="600" /></a><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-74680687147869551052013-07-16T06:00:00.000-05:002013-07-16T06:00:01.972-05:00Please take annual RESOLVE Community Survey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A request from resolve that I received in my email inbox:</span><br />
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<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=9ljQaoqFQEejmPRuzsrbrw" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">Home</a> | <a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=-j4faHa0BurcgbNNrZ4Yxg" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">Calendar</a> | <a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=rI418RnezIE4oNCcYaM-Ag" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">About</a> | <a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=1_whoBSe--v2tKDOkadn7Q" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">News</a> | <a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=cEVEmajXnJd-l7ZOzS0nPA" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">Contact</a></div>
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<span style="color: #00718f;"><strong><span style="font-size: 140%;">Help us better serve the infertility community.</span></strong></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: 120%;">Dear</span> Friend<span style="font-size: 120%;">,</span><br />
<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=W6rJvf9fic4tAuQ1dbOmYQ" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="To Do Checklist" border="0" height="150" hspace="10" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/To_Do_checklist_sm.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 120%;">We value your opinion. Each year we survey the RESOLVE community so we can continue to improve the work we do at RESOLVE.</span> <a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=LfqTDZ0XFSGlKSuNF91_6Q" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 120%;"><strong>Please take 10 minutes to tell us more about your infertility experience and your interactions with RESOLVE today!</strong></span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 120%;">This survey is confidential and your name/email will not be attached to your answers.</span> <br />
<span style="font-size: 120%;">Thank you, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 120%;">Barbara Collura</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 120%;"> President/CEO </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 120%;"> RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association </span><br />
<img height="1" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/PixelServer?j=aaoOSIX5CtGiuR8pWLXMQw" width="1" /> </td> </tr>
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<tr bgcolor="#016a87" style="vertical-align: top;"> <td style="padding: 10px 0px 0px 10px; width: 33%;"><a href="mailto:info@resolve.org" style="color: #81b5ca; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none;"><strong>Contact RESOLVE today</strong></a><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px;">Phone: 703.556.7172 </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px;">Fax: 703.506.3266 </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px;">RESOLVE: </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px;">The National Infertility Association<br />1760 Old Meadow Rd., Suite 500<br />McLean, VA 22102</span></td> <td style="padding: 10px 0px 0px 10px; width: 33%;"><span style="color: #81b5ca; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"><strong>Important Information </strong></span><br />
<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=kt9AHof_h6O3F4n2lsybqg" style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">Ways to Support RESOLVE</a><br />
<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=4zHcTnaOK_g4ZdcpMSBp8w" style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">Infertility Diagnosis</a><br />
<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=H8y9Vo3XSsqmGxN-KWq1-w" style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">Family Building Options</a><br />
<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=l3xsjktFgw1jHsL6fa8zRQ" style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">Insurance Coverage</a><br />
<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=nMdcjX9RJuZ9ftVwJXfG6g" style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">Find RESOLVE Near You</a></td> <td style="padding: 10px 0px 0px 10px; width: 33%;"><span style="color: #81b5ca; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"><strong>Support and Services</strong></span><br />
<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=5rEmgqzAuMziI1zsfUgYKw" style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">Find a Support Group</a><br />
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<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=hPI2PH3KtUxsv5wKlBrbiw" style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">HelpLine</a><br />
<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=vAbgPMOtNFykwouwGpXkuw" style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">Find a Professional</a></td> </tr>
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<strong>Connect With Us:</strong> </div>
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<tr> <td bgcolor="#015673" style="padding: 10px 0pt 5pt 20px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">© 2013 RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association 1760 Old Meadow Road Suite 500 McLean VA 22102 </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-43067082889639800242013-07-15T06:00:00.000-05:002013-07-15T06:00:00.618-05:00Your RESOLVE Summer Reading List<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The July issue of Resolve's monthly eUpdates, from my email inbox last week:</span><div>
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<tr> <td width="189"><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=MgHaHi4h_kt_be8okrd5oA" target="_blank"><img alt="RESOLVE: the national infertility association" border="0" height="70" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/18193.gif" width="189" /></a> </td> <td valign="middle" width="460"><div style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; padding-right: 11px; text-align: right;">
A monthly reminder that RESOLVE is working to<br />
improve the lives of people diagnosed with infertility.</div>
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<tr> <td colspan="2"><img align="middle" alt="eUpdate" border="0" height="125" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/18192.png" width="649" /> </td> </tr>
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<tr> <td style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px ! important; line-height: 16px; padding: 23px 16px;" valign="top" width="395"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Summer is a great time to catch up on your reading, and RESOLVE has many suggestions. From new articles featured in our newsletter to blog posts nominated for a Hope Award to the content posted daily on our </span><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=Edxl95yVlmfjNZq6ciozfA" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Facebook page</span></a></strong><span style="font-size: 12px;">, RESOLVE offers you reliable information, important updates, and great advice from the infertility community. It’s not exactly beach reading, but these recommendations will certainly help you along your journey through infertility – no matter what the season!</span><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color: #006b88; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><img align="left" alt="" border="0" height="30" hspace="10" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/18208.gif" style="margin: 0pt 12px 0pt 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20px;" width="18" /><span style="font-size: 140%;">Help Us Better Serve the Infertility Community</span></span></strong><br /><span style="font-size: 12px;">We value your opinion. Each year we survey the RESOLVE community so we can continue to improve the work we do at RESOLVE.</span> <a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=jxiUxFw7os9B-KLtAtFQBg" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size: 12px;">Please take 10 minutes to tell us more about your infertility experience and your interactions with RESOLVE today!</span></strong></a> <span style="font-size: 12px;">This survey is confidential and your name/email will not be attached to your answers. </span><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=HZQRvjfS_JMkCOoA3nlPwA" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><strong>Take the survey here</strong>.</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006b88; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><img align="left" alt="" border="0" height="30" hspace="5" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/18208.gif" style="margin: 0pt 12px 0pt 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20px;" width="18" /><span style="font-size: 140%;"><strong>Make Your Plans for the Night of Hope</strong></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=0itt4tTbiJPNV8R51e_o0A" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="Night of Hope logo" border="0" height="19" hspace="5" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/NOH640x120.jpg" width="100" /></a>The 16th Annual</span> <strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=DaCbp-ILFDr8xAFle_27JA" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Night of Hope</span></a></strong> <span style="font-size: 12px;">will take place Wednesday, November 6 at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in New York, NY. Join us for an evening celebrating the efforts of those who improve the lives of people living with infertility.</span> <strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=w3WnaavSRy__8Kr0f2_5rA" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Tickets are now available.</span></a></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #006b88; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><img align="left" alt="" border="0" height="30" hspace="10" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/18208.gif" style="margin: 0pt 12px 0pt 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20px;" vspace="10" width="18" /></span></strong><span style="color: #006b88; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size: 140%;"><strong>Vote for the Hope Award for Best Blog<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=HgoVfQmdlKpnyzUMFmYnwA" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="2011 Hope Award for Best Blog Nominee" border="0" height="100" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/WebImages7-nom1_sm.jpg" width="100" /></a></strong></span></span><span style="font-size: 12px;">Be a part of the Night of Hope! Your vote will help determine this year’s Hope Award for Best Blog. The </span><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=YDqEkBpbaANYl-MEu4HGbA" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Best Blog award</span></a></strong><span style="font-size: 12px;"> is given to a blog written by someone who is living with infertility and whose blog posts raise awareness about what life is like when you are faced with infertility. Spend some time reading the nominees’ blog posts, and then vote for your favorite. The winner will be invited to accept his/her award November 6th at the Night of Hope.</span> <a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=z8YRVDpkL0DJqsiu5Sfxdw" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><strong>Vote today - voting closes July 17</strong>.</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006b88; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><img align="left" alt="" border="0" height="30" hspace="5" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/18208.gif" style="margin: 0pt 12px 0pt 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20px;" width="18" /></span><span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="color: #006b88; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size: 140%;"><strong>Read New Articles</strong></span></span><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=NJljQzBxMVIoXaUhhybEXQ" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="Newsletter image" border="0" height="129" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/17911.jpg" vspace="5" width="100" /></a><span style="font-size: 12px;">The summer issue of</span><em> <strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=o0Ft0ZsC-hMiHmurVe_E8Q" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Resolve, for the journey and beyond</span></a></strong></em><span style="font-size: 12px;"> was recently mailed to subscribers. You can read select articles from this issue online:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=fEW9r3TSgnuV-5H9ls5XGQ" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">In Vitro Fertilization: Understanding the Process</span></a></strong><br /><span style="font-size: 12px;">By Althea M. O’Shaughnessy, MD</span></li>
<li><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=1W9vj23XLS-vm8Gw742EMQ" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Intrauterine Insemination: Will it Help Me Conceive?</span></a></strong><br /><span style="font-size: 12px;">By Deborah Smith, MD, FACOG</span></li>
<li><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=FiNd4WwVRr6Ig5EDOrIAXQ" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Infertility Does Not Always Mean IVF</span></a></strong><br /><span style="font-size: 12px;">By Desireé McCarthy-Keith, MD</span></li>
<li><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=q-qooIfctGYekmivJ-BU3A" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Evaluating Male Fertility: Interpreting Semen Analysis Results</span></a></strong><br /><span style="font-size: 12px;">By Michael Feinman, MD</span></li>
<li><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=PutqRvRZMl9tOk1Md28Tcw" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">The Top Ten Things I Learned About Infertility</span></a></strong><br /><span style="font-size: 12px;">By Susan Bisno Massel</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: 12px;">Would you like to receive our quarterly newsletter in the mail? </span><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=QJ3F-8NUI59o56-9Tc4_Qg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><strong>Find out how you can subscribe</strong>.</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006b88; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><img align="left" alt="" border="0" height="30" hspace="5" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/18208.gif" style="margin: 0pt 12px 0pt 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20px;" width="18" /></span><span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span><strong><span style="color: #006b88; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size: 140%;"><strong>Write Congress Today</strong></span></span><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=8-H6VZ8yTFR98tU3vkQseQ" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" border="0" height="87" src="http://www.resolve.org/assets/images/hb-1-get-involved-image.jpg" width="100" /></a></strong><span style="font-size: 12px;">RESOLVE is urging the infertility community to write Congress and ask them to support federal legislation important to our community. Use RESOLVE’s online Action Alert system to send your letter immediately. Please remember to personalize each letter so that your legislators know why the bill is important to you and the people from your state. Members of Congress will support legislation that matters to their constituents in their district or state.</span><strong> <a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=tY4kcVQkiYn0kYsMUglvQw" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Make your voice heard!</span></a></strong><br />
<ul>
<li><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=VBLX3j1g-k2XkfstTPbuUA" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">The Family Act, S 881/HR 1851</span></a></strong><span style="font-size: 12px;">, will create a tax credit for the out-of-pocket costs associated with IVF and fertility preservation.</span></li>
<li><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=_oN1GZwQ1ecRWHQveLNDZw" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2013, S 131/HR 958</span></a></strong><span style="font-size: 12px;">, would improve the reproductive assistance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to severely wounded or injured veterans and their spouses.</span></li>
<li><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=Y1iMEqUQN8p0cdm4ZyMRcg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2013, S 1056/HR 2144</span></a></strong><span style="font-size: 12px;">, would make the tax credit refundable, thereby helping more middle and lower income families take advantage of the Adoption Tax Credit.</span></li>
</ul>
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<strong><span style="font-size: 140%;"><span style="color: #006b88; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="color: #006b88;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">July 2013</span></span></span></span></strong><strong> </strong></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-30140296638246666082013-07-14T11:32:00.000-05:002013-07-14T11:32:18.618-05:00We attended our first support group meeting this week<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04pQeO22HFHBWjr-SPwQGIo0RFxuovUsOthPWi4vcgQfJeZwmPUoNPYhtaX3_xwmWZSeaiMIG9sAbWJ0hUZxqB65hfBBiWbXRNVaw4aeBcHcQzt7vjkwKN_zjStzIi7j1nLME9VmUYIPs/s1600/Support-Group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04pQeO22HFHBWjr-SPwQGIo0RFxuovUsOthPWi4vcgQfJeZwmPUoNPYhtaX3_xwmWZSeaiMIG9sAbWJ0hUZxqB65hfBBiWbXRNVaw4aeBcHcQzt7vjkwKN_zjStzIi7j1nLME9VmUYIPs/s400/Support-Group.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">B & I attended our first Resolve Support Group Meeting on Tuesday night this week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been thinking about going ever since we cancelled our IVF cycle in January 2012... maybe even before that. I never pulled the trigger for the following reasons:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">B wasn't really interested, but was willing to go if I pushed the issue.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was in such a dark place after<a href="http://inconceivablestory.blogspot.com/p/why-we-didnt-do-ivf.html" target="_blank"> what happened in Jan. 2012</a> that I kind of took a hiatus from researching action plans or moving forward on our infertility journey.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rather than channelling all my emotions, fears, anxiety, and other negative energy into exploring what "the next step" would be for us after we cancelled our IVF cycle, I kind retreated inside myself. I started this blog at that time to try to sort through some of what I was feeling, but I never really looked into other alternative plans of action.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think we never went to the support group before because I was afraid it would be like ripping off a band-aid and opening old wounds before I was healed enough to handle that. I wasn't ready to start taking much action since we couldn't afford IVF for a couple years, and I didn't want to spend all my energy thinking about this painful experience, except when I couldn't help it or actually wanted to, and then I chose to channel those thoughts and feelings into the blog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The last year and a half wasn't all just sitting around stuck in my own head and blogging. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The blogging came in spurts sometimes. Sometimes even the blog felt like it was ripping off bandaids, so I would have to take breaks from this too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We went through periods of trying to say we were on a break from even thinking about TTC because it was all too much... though I don't think we were ever successful with that one. Eventually, I opened up and was ready to start peaking under the bandaid again, just peeling back little corners of it at first.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A few months ago I got really interested in advocacy and legislation that affects infertile couples like me, so I kind of jumped from being completely stuck inside my own head and heart, to going completely outside myself, to a point where myself as an individual wasn't the issue, but rather the focus was on the good of the whole community with whom I was now identifying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now that we are half way through 2013, and only 6 months away from the year that we set as our goal to find a way to pay for IVF, things starting getting a little more real, and alot more scary. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>You'd think we'd be more excited that all of our goals and dreams were about to become a possibility. </b> But truthfully, I think the financial risk is what is becoming more real. There is no guarantee that IVF will work for us, but there is a guarantee of the monthly sacrifices we have to make now to pay off our credit cards again, or to put more money in our savings account, or of the monthly loan payments we'll have to budget for next year if we finance the whole thing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>In preparation for taking this last big step next year, we want make sure we have left no stone unturned.</b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I blogged previously this summer about new beginnings and being ready to go back into action mode. We want to get a second opinion from an RE that will take a more holistic approach toward me. Someone who will examine my BBT charts, analyze my cycle lengths, and take a look at my luteal phase (which I think is too short). Someone who will do a post-coital test on my cervical mucus, someone who will do serial testing on my progesterone to make sure I'm not actually conceiving but having early miscarriages each month. Maybe even someone who will test to see that I'm actually releasing an egg each month when my hormones imply that I am about to on OPK's.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, it seemed that the time was finally right for us to check out a Resolve support group. We are ready to start actively researching our condition and trying out various ways to improve it. I remembered that the support group in our area only meets once a month, so I checked out the <a href="http://www.resolve.org/support-and-services/support-group/support-groups-list.html" target="_blank">Resolve website</a> and realized that the next one coming up in July worked with our schedule. I emailed the contact person to ask if there was room for us and received an almost immediate response that we were welcome!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I honestly don't know why we didn't do this before.</b> It was overall not just a neutral, but actually a pretty positive experience, and both B and I found it to be worthwhile. I really appreciated hearing from so many other couples with a wide array of conditions, but we were all bonded by the common goal of having a child... and often a similar journey of testing and treatment. B even spoke up and asked a few questions of the group, which impressed me, because he was actually engaging in the activity. I had thought he was just going to humor me, but there he was, actively participating!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I thought it would be good for him to see that other men cope with all this female-craziness similarly to the way he does... but I think it actually helped me more than him! It was relieving for me to know that it's not personal or unique to our situation that I am more consumed with all this than he is, that he doesn't want to talk about it all the time, or cry, or research, etc. It just validated what I blogged about previously, that men and women grieve differently, and the greif associated with infertility is no different.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Some of the questions B asked the group was pretty revealing about what he values, or fears, or is concerned about the most.</b> The responses we got from other members in the group to his questions were really helpful to us too, and we keep going back to their comments as we've been continuing to digest things since the day of the meeting:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He asked how the other couples have wrapped their minds around the cost of IVF and other ART treatments. And how are they paying for it? And how do they justify the risk?</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One woman (the facilitator actually), who successfully went on to conceive naturally after a failed IVF cycle, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">confirmed that it was all completely worth it. Does she get angry that she had to pay so much for what others can do for free? Sure, but </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">in the grand scheme of things, this extra cost is just a drop in the bucket. Think about what will come if we are successful, daycare, college savings, etc... Relatively speaking, this won't be so significant later on in our lives.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The men in the group validated his concerns, saying they wholeheartedly agreed with everything he was worried about, but then said "you just do it." It seemed all the men in the group were doing it for their wives, much the way Brian seems to be just doing it for me and my well-being and happiness. I think this is good because it might ease some of his doubts about whether he's making the right decision.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One woman in the group said that her parents loaned them the money and they are making monthly payments to her parents</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other couples are paying for everything out of pocket al a carte style as they can come up with the money</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some couples opted for the "package" deals you get from the hospitals for multiple cycles at a discounted rate - financed through Attain fertility (that's what our clinic offers).</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">B also asked how bad the hormone stimulating injections really are... which revealed an anxiety I didn't even know he had, about having to give me shots and how bad my mood swings would be!</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some offered tips such as icing the skin before the shot with an ice cube, and after the shot putting an ice pack over the injection site.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Someone said the inter-muscular shot in the buttocks was much less painful than the fatty-tissue shots in the belly, and it probably had something to do with not being able to see it going in, even though the one in your butt has a much bigger needle!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Several said they really did have crazy mood swings caused by the hormones, and I think it was good for B to see that their husbands were still there by their side supporting them and this whole process, despite the mood swings and all :)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>We also got some really great tips and referrals from others in the group about resources in our area that we didn't know about and hadn't opened up our minds to explore yet.</b> A well-known acupuncturist who specializes in infertility and prescribes herbal remedies was highly recommended by the majority of the group. Someone else mentioned fertility yoga classes at our city's only independent birthing center. A few of the women had gone gluten-free and suggested re-examining my diet again, even though I had originally gone vegan and then vegetarian in effort to improve my fertility. They suggested it wouldn't hurt to take another look. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A book called <i>The Infertility Cure</i> was recommended too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">B & I both left that meeting agreeing that looking into incorporating some Eastern holistic methods with our Western diagnoses and treatments would be something we'd like to explore. We plan to get a consultation with the acupuncturist that was so highly recommended soon, and I plan to sign up for the next fertility yoga class when it starts later this summer. I also bought that book yesterday and plan to do a little research about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) this weekend. I'm sure I will probably have to blog about my thoughts on all that soon too ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All in all, attending this support group meeting was positive, and I think really <u><i>good</i></u><i><u> for us</u></i>. Each day that has gone by since, I we are realizing more and more of the positive aspects that we have actually taken away from that one 2-hour meeting! I would really like to go back again, and I'm sure we probably will as long as our schedule allows and we continue to take positive things away from it.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-58244018102141925022013-07-08T06:00:00.000-05:002013-07-08T06:00:05.202-05:00Video: 5 Reasons to Join a Support Group<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F5BbNJv0cus" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<span class="watch-title long-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" style="-webkit-user-select: auto; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; letter-spacing: -0.05em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="5 Reasons Why You Should Join a RESOLVE Support Group"><span style="font-size: large;">5 Reasons Why You Should Join a RESOLVE Support Group</span></span></h1>
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">They are free</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">They are in-person, no computer necessary</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lifelong friendships have started at RESOLVE Support Groups</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Support Groups offer a safe place to talk through the emotions of infertility with others who understand</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No one facing infertility should feel alone</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A support group, whether professionally-led or peer-led, will help you feel less isolated, empower you with knowledge and validate your emotional response to the life crisis of infertility. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To find a support group near you, visit the <a href="http://www.resolve.org/support-and-services/support-group/support-groups-list.html" target="_blank">RESOLVE website</a> for a list of support groups organized by state.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I looked up my state on this webpage and discovered that there will be a meeting in my area tomorrow night. B hasn't resisted going to a support group or seeking therapy, but he also isn't very excited about the idea either. He always feels like he is doing this more for me, and that I'm the one who really wants kids anyway, so why should he go to a support group? What would he get out of it? I think he must have some buried feelings about all this and it would have to be good for him to be surrounded by people going through similar experiences. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If nothing else, maybe he'll see </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">that </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm not the only woman going through all these crazy emotions, and having these crazy thoughts & obsessions all the time. Best case scenario? Maybe he'll find other men who feel exactly the same way he does, and he'll realize it's ok for him to feel the way he does. Even if it means that other men feel like their wives or partners want this more than them, at least then I'd know B & I aren't the only ones going through this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If we decide to attend, I'll be sure to post about how it went!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-84709943535218820412013-06-20T06:00:00.000-05:002013-06-20T06:00:11.219-05:003 Years<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjERZanrYM8pLynE7ZWNIA2M_nw59zUQWkvGTcpf5OPP8_qTYPuGFRDPdwfNBAT90NElsYk2sXd17U6V_MlW4tPVET-a8jdkKxXuapq_ykQJxGDW0Vmz96ksq5O6XI4Cpz56-mNvKI8G2b/s1600/JessicaandBrian-1466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjERZanrYM8pLynE7ZWNIA2M_nw59zUQWkvGTcpf5OPP8_qTYPuGFRDPdwfNBAT90NElsYk2sXd17U6V_MlW4tPVET-a8jdkKxXuapq_ykQJxGDW0Vmz96ksq5O6XI4Cpz56-mNvKI8G2b/s320/JessicaandBrian-1466.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today is our fourth wedding anniversary. It marks the 3-year point of our TTC journey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Something that I find even more shocking, is that I just realized that this day also marks over 5 1/2 years of suffering from infertility... even if we didn't realize it until we were a couple years into it. But it's the number our doctors really care about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You see, we went off of birth control due to other health-related issues for me in September 2008. That was nine months before our June 2009 wedding. We tried to be careful *most* months, using condoms or abstaining when we thought I might be ovulating, but back then I didn't keep a calendar or chart temps or anything. And some months we honestly didn't care and went for it anyway. Back then we thought we were lucky that we didn't have any oopsies before our wedding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Beginning on our honeymoon, we decided we wouldn't start "trying" yet, but we also wouldn't try to prevent. So we just did whatever we wanted and let whatever happened happen. A year went by as I finished up grad school and again, we figured we must have just been lucky, since we still had not gotten pregnant before we were completely ready.</span><br />
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Where the three-year-mark begins:</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">By our first wedding anniversary, in June 2010, I had graduated from grad school, was interviewing for my first real professional job, and we knew the time was finally right. We'd been together for seven years, been through a lot of milestones together, and everything had finally fallen into place for us. We were officially ready for the next step, we were going to start our family! Although even then, I distinctly remember B voicing a faint concern that was beginning to creep into his mind.... why <i>hadn't</i> we gotten pregnant by "accident" yet? We hoped nothing was actually wrong and we really were "just lucky."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I remember being so excited, I started buying all kinds of books about what to expect before you're expecting, I downloaded an app for my smartphone to track my cycle, I even bought ovulation kits and pregnancy test kits. I think I also bought my first basal body temperature thermometer at this time, having heard you were supposed to chart your temp but at the time not fully understanding why.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nearly six months passed, and we were still not pregnant. I needed to have my yearly exam anyway, so I figured I'd ask what steps should be taken to get us checked out just in case, since several of my friends and acquaintances had been suffering from various forms of infertility.<br /><br />My OBGYN recommended we start with B getting tested first. In January of 2011 he did and we got our first analysis with low numbers. We tested again in April, same. I started getting all my tests done, everything checked out until the HSG... those results came back with a blockage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We got a second opinion with a urologist specializing in male infertility. He did a special test on B's sample to check for sperm defragmentation. Like all his other counts, they came back on the low-end of the normal range. That cost us $400 out of pocket.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The new doc wanted me to get a second HSG, I did in July and they were able to break through the block this time. He suggested we give it a couple months. Nothing. In October we did our first IUI. It didn't work. We wasted $1300 this time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our doctor recommended another IUI, I read on my health insurance website that we could get IVF for $5000 down in Illinois, and a friend's sister was able to gather free meds for me. We thought we'd go for it, rather than doing a few rounds of IUI which would add up to the same amount quickly anyway. You can read about what happened with that <a href="http://inconceivablestory.blogspot.com/p/why-we-didnt-do-ivf.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When we decided not to do IVF in January 2012, we decided to do one more IUI in case B's counts improved at all post-wash this time. In February we did an IUI cycle, but B's post-wash count came back so low this time, they couldn't even in good faith recommend we proceed with the procedure. $900 wasted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The urologist suggested varicocele repair surgery to see if it improved B's counts. He agreed to the procedure and went under the knife in April 2012. His counts did not significantly improve by the three or nine month marks post-surgery. At least our health insurance covered this one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here we are, over a year past his surgery, and exactly three years past our official TTC date, and well over five & a half years of unprotected sex and still no baby. Still no hope for improving our situation naturally. Just waiting. Planning for IVF next year. Sitting alone together in the empty house we bought last year with plenty of room to grow our family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But at least we are together. And this is our four-year wedding anniversary. We do have a lot to celebrate today, and we will. But I just wanted to take these few minutes first to pay respect to everything we have been through together the last 3-5 years. The strength it has taken for us to face these difficulties is something to be honored and celebrated too. So today, we really do have a lot to celebrate. And hopefully next year at this time, we will have even more to celebrate and plan for, especially if the IVF early in 2014 works and we have the baby of our dreams on the way :)</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-37664665440987011272013-06-10T13:07:00.000-05:002013-06-10T13:07:02.796-05:00Photo Spam from our trip to Italy :)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKuQ8TUj6cLGPPtIdRD7ruGlClOQ5p0lG3Wy44FSTYwEECGT3zQWqDN2gWc7Do4UngB8oLmT2DC8Ie9zG5pyqzm5eHA6m_f_MWXMcYyA874yMUNYG_7pGntkjq5JfAxiTDu7Jyl2SJI9e/s1600/999388_10100334791192764_304431193_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKuQ8TUj6cLGPPtIdRD7ruGlClOQ5p0lG3Wy44FSTYwEECGT3zQWqDN2gWc7Do4UngB8oLmT2DC8Ie9zG5pyqzm5eHA6m_f_MWXMcYyA874yMUNYG_7pGntkjq5JfAxiTDu7Jyl2SJI9e/s400/999388_10100334791192764_304431193_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Blogging may be on a brief hiatus because B & I are currently in Italy celebrating his 40th birthday with his best friend & their wives! They were born a day a part and have been dreaming of this trip together for years!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This photo is from earlier today, when B & I struck out on our own and took a day trip from Rome to Pompeii & fulfilled my girlhood dream of seeing the ruined city from Ancient Roman times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love this picture, and it kind of makes me feel grateful for what we do have. We have each other, and some pretty amazing life/world experiences. Hopefully babies will come too, but if not, we'll always have the memories of shared experiences like these, and that's more than a lot of people have. We are definitely blessed and I am thankful.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-78888945575391922302013-05-30T06:00:00.000-05:002013-05-30T06:00:03.647-05:00Managing Your Infertility Online<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCDui-86zwALxaFRT6PF3uoVsb3ZdKrhDUZLooCxW5MFi9iQWlgsi8MFZWavHEgvBMb2qDK7UhCaIKZG1K_jGU2qmSXfrnu0yJW1LWOZA-lKP6n4aoFnU7rNNkCfTfuN4vBZJf53vd7py/s1600/online-infertility-support.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCDui-86zwALxaFRT6PF3uoVsb3ZdKrhDUZLooCxW5MFi9iQWlgsi8MFZWavHEgvBMb2qDK7UhCaIKZG1K_jGU2qmSXfrnu0yJW1LWOZA-lKP6n4aoFnU7rNNkCfTfuN4vBZJf53vd7py/s1600/online-infertility-support.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wanted to take a moment to share information from the <a href="http://www.resolve.org/diagnosis-management/managing-infertility-online.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">RESOLVE website</span></a> about various online tools available for managing your journey through infertility.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I personally have been using some of these tools since very early on in our journey, and others I am still learning about and experimenting with. I've been blogging for nearly a year and a half now, but have only recently started following RESOLVE on Facebook. I had done a lot of internet browsing about buying cheaper meds when B & I thought we were going to do IVF, but didn't have any guides to help me sort through the scams from the legit pharmacies. Had I known about some of the RESOLVE resources below earlier, I might have made some more informed decisions earlier on. My hope in copying these resources here on my blog, I will increase awareness of them and others like me may benefit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><a href="http://www.resolve.org/resources/infertility-2-0.html"><span style="color: orange;">Infertility 2.0</span></a><br />Discover infertility related blogs, videos, rss feeds, news and more.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.resolve.org/resources/three-ways-to-get-more-from-the-internet-and-social-media.html"><span style="color: orange;">Three Ways to Get More from the Internet and Social Media</span></a><br />Learn how to successfully find online the infertility and family building information you need to make informed decisions.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.resolve.org/resources/online-support-communities-could-be-your-lifeline.html"><span style="color: orange;">Online Support Communities Could Be Your Lifeline</span></a><br />Online support communities can be your lifeline when you need to reach out to people who understand what you are going through. RESOLVE offers two types of online communities that offer different levels of privacy and engagement. <a href="http://www.resolve.org/resources/online-support-communities.html" style="color: orange;"><span style="color: orange;">Join a Online Support Communities</span></a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/DocServer/Using_The_Internet_To_Adopt.pdf?docID=549"><span style="color: orange;">If You Are Using the Internet to Adopt</span></a><br />Some adoption agencies and businesses that facilitate adoptions function only online and do not have offices. Unfortunately, there have been some tragic outcomes when the Internet is used to adopt. Here are some questions to ask before proceeding with an adoption via the internet.<br /><br /><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/DocServer/If_You_Are_Considering_Buying_Medication_Over_The_Intern.pdf?docID=450"><span style="color: orange;">If You are Considering Buying Medication Over the Internet</span></a><br />RESOLVE supports consumers in their efforts to secure safe and effective medications at the best prices. As more pharmacies are offering medications online and some consumers are considering getting their medications from foreign countries, consumers need to carefully consider these sources. Here are some questions to ask in order to find a reputable online pharmacy.<br /><br /><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/DocServer/Using_The_Internet_For_Infertililty_Information.pdf?docID=548"><span style="color: orange;">When Using the Internet for Infertility Information</span></a><br />Keep in mind that while the Internet is an excellent vehicle for communication and information, it also can be a sophisticated and subtle form of advertisement. Additionally, don't base your medical work-up or treatment options solely on others’ personal stories. Ask your specialist what his/her opinion is about a particular test or treatment. No information on the Internet is a substitute for medical advice from your doctor. If you use the Internet to connect with others experiencing infertility through news groups, forums, bulletin boards or chats, or if you are using the Internet as an informational resource, consider asking these questions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><a href="http://www.resolve.org/resources/resolve-social-media-let-s-change-the-conversation.html"><span style="color: orange;">RESOLVE & Social Media: Let's Change the Conversation</span></a><br />Whether we like it or not, social media is a big part of our daily lives. Let's use it to change the conversation about something that is important to all of us.</span><br />
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<span id="shareLinkText"></span><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/TellAFriend?page=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.resolve.org%2Fdiagnosis-management%2Fmanaging-infertility-online.html&type=0&id=0&taf_sec_cat_id=0" style="color: #f09814; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><img alt="Email" class="socialSharingProviderIcon" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/social/email.png" style="border: none; padding-right: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a><a href="http://www.resolve.org/diagnosis-management/managing-infertility-online.html#" style="color: #f09814; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><img alt="Facebook" class="socialSharingProviderIcon" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/social/facebook.png" style="border: none; padding-right: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a><a href="http://www.resolve.org/diagnosis-management/managing-infertility-online.html#" style="color: #f09814; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><img alt="LinkedIn" class="socialSharingProviderIcon" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/social/linkedin.png" style="border: none; padding-right: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a><a href="http://www.resolve.org/diagnosis-management/managing-infertility-online.html#" style="color: #f09814; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><img alt="Twitter" class="socialSharingProviderIcon" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/social/twitter.png" style="border: none; padding-right: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What about you? What resources have you found that should be added to this list? What of the above have you found to be helpful in your journey?</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-71343568789067881362013-05-27T06:00:00.000-05:002013-05-27T06:00:03.387-05:00Crowdfunding a baby?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54SGTipXHreU_kRck4BPy4WSJGHZhs2Km5E4Uzhh7MJoLoiL5BUPd0jn9x1j5TbghaVEMVZEXJEMj-bosufO2HuErDBFKdVXiCXrRZttIbrKC7bo_3BI0bwGuFUzNnBATROb6dGHj9F-F/s1600/crowdfunding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54SGTipXHreU_kRck4BPy4WSJGHZhs2Km5E4Uzhh7MJoLoiL5BUPd0jn9x1j5TbghaVEMVZEXJEMj-bosufO2HuErDBFKdVXiCXrRZttIbrKC7bo_3BI0bwGuFUzNnBATROb6dGHj9F-F/s400/crowdfunding.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The message below was included in a daily digest of news alerts I get about infertility. This one was particularly interesting to me as it was something I've actually secretly fantasized about but never thought could be a reality: crowdsourcing your family.</span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
---------- Forwarded message ----------<br />
From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Google Alerts</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:googlealerts-noreply@google.com">googlealerts-noreply@google.com</a>></span>Date: Thu, May 2, 2013 at 1:42 PM<br />
Subject: Google Alert - infertility<br />
To: <a href="mailto:gile.jm@gmail.com">gile.jm@gmail.com</a><br />
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<tr><td><u></u><b>News</b><u></u></td><td align="right" width="70%"><b>1</b> new results for <b>infertility</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="padding: 0px 8px 16px 8px;"><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.itnewsonline.com/showprnstory.php%3Fstoryid%3D269049&ct=ga&cad=CAEQAhgAIAAoATAAOABAhOeKjAVIAVAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=AS6MQSNtcR8&usg=AFQjCNEgqYjRjTSLieXrMblg546HjacLmQ" style="color: #1111cc;" target="_blank">KrowdKidz Launches Crowdfunding Community for <b>Infertility</b>, Surrogacy and <b>...</b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4562395343701006108" style="color: #777777; text-decoration: none;">IT News Online</a><br />
TEMPE, Ariz., May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Today KrowdKidz announced it has launched its crowdfunding portal designed to help families challenged with <b>infertility</b> to find donors willing to help defray the costs of <b>infertility</b> treatments <b>...</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />On May 2nd, KrowdKidz announced it launched a crowdfunding portal designed to help families challenged with infertility to find donors willing to help defray the costs of infertility treatments, surrogacy and adoption. The portal launched with three initial families seeking help. Donors have the ability to contribute as little as $10 to a family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/">IndieGoGo</a>, and <a href="http://thenextweb.com/gadgets/2011/12/09/7-of-the-best-tech-innovations-on-kickstarter/">Kickstarter</a>, are other crowdfunding sites that have has seen some wild campaigns this since 2011, including a family <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-the-haleys-have-a-baby?website_name=babyhaley" target="_blank">asking for help funding IVF to start their family</a>. It was successful and the woman got pregnant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A quick search in the IndieGoGo site of "IVF" produced six infertility campaigns. One of the more successful ones featured a video I'd like to share here:</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/11214833?portrait=0&color=ff0179" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pretty powerful stuff.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've talked to B about the idea of doing something like this. He isn't super comfortable with the idea, he says it would feel like begging. He said his family could never know about it if we did it. He admits it is pride that stops him from being on board. That is frustrating to me, since it is only money that prevents us from being parents and having the family we are ready to have. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I guess I could fairly argue that pride and money are the causes of the hell I am living in. Or at least they are keeping me from my happiness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What do you think, would you ever crowd-source IVF? Would it be too embarrassing? Would you be ashamed? Would you ever donate to it for another couple? What if it helped you attain your dreams? What if you helped a family to grow?</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-37025593513714604632013-05-24T06:00:00.000-05:002013-05-24T06:00:15.681-05:00New Beginnings?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coming across <a href="http://www.resolve.org/support-and-services/Managing-Infertility-Stress/this-year-make-mother-s-day-your-own.html" target="_blank">this article</a> about turning Mother's Day into an empowering day for the infertile, which I blogged about <a href="http://inconceivablestory.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-little-laughter-to-ease-pain-of.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and which was written by someone not too far away and kind of close to home (at least the home where part of my heart still is) reminds me that B & I have been thinking more about getting a second opinion before pulling the trigger on IVF next year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had been putting it off because I've been so busy with work and travel, and honestly, for a long time we still had hoped that B's varicocele repair surgery would have worked, but now things are slowing down and we are fairly confident that one year post-surgery, the lack of improvement in his semen analysis is pretty indicative of the surgery's affect on our fertility. Which is literally nothing. Zero improvement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But come mid-June, we'll return from our last scheduled trip in the foreseeable future. I have asked B to get one more semen analysis done over the summer sometime just to confirm that 1.25 - 1.5 years out from surgery, nothing has changed. I was thinking about visiting an entirely new clinic and going through all the rigors of female infertility testing again just to double check and see if in 3 years my hormones or blood levels have changed, or if my fallopian tubes are still open, or if my ovaries, cervix, or uterus are all still okay. I was thinking we could try to find referrals for places that are very "holistically" focused, so that they would consider my cycle more instead of just doing the bare minimum and pushing us toward IUI & IVF like our current clinic. Our RE just moved back to Canada, so we need to see someone new anyway. Maybe this is the time to try someplace new just to make sure we've explored absolutely everything before we go into so much debt for IVF.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If we start hunting around in July and spend the summer getting things checked out.... again.... that would still give us six months before IVF to sort it all out definitively. I think it would also be nice to start some therapy or find a support group at that time too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Yes, I think upon our return from this last trip in June, much of our focus and energy will need to shift toward building our family and our future. I'll be sure to blog about those experiences here, as this is my best place to sort through my feelings and record all that I learn along this crazy journey!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-61541749567469371252013-05-20T06:00:00.000-05:002013-05-20T06:00:04.919-05:00How Men & Women Grieve Differently<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Those of you who have experienced the pain of infertility may have noticed that the emotions you are experiencing may not be the same, or at least not happening the same way at the same time as your partner. Perhaps it seems to you that your partner doesn’t care, or doesn’t understand, or is never on the same page as you. Maybe you feel like you are dealing with all of this by yourself because he just doesn’t seem to be as affected by it as you are. But it may just be that he is processing his pain in his own way, which is different from yours. And he may be just as befuddled by your reactions to the experiences of infertility as you are by his. <br /><br />It is widely known that men and women grieve differently. While a couple may be grieving over the pain of infertility, it is important to remember that no two people grieve in the same way, or at the same pace. In addition to social cues and family traditions, men and women may find an extra challenge in understanding the grief experienced and expressed by the other gender, even while grieving together over the same thing. Rather than getting angry about our differences, we might try to learn to accept them as a part of the grieving process and support each other as we move toward our shared goal of healing. <br /><br />The following is from a blog about greif in general, and specifically a post about the differences between how men and women process grief. The original post is written about grief over the loss of a loved one, but I was struck by how applicable the descriptions were to what B & I have experienced while struggling through years of infertility. My re-posing this </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">is meant not only to help each gender in a hetero-sexual infertile relationship understand how the other gender may be processing their pain, but also to offer some tips on how support the your partner through it all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>If you are the man</b>, you may want to take away her hurt and make her feel better, most often by distraction or trying to lighten her mood. In an attempt to remove her pain, you may however be denying her the ability to express her feelings and emotions in a safe way. Women need to talk and express how they feel; it is natural to them, it is what they do. Remember, you don’t have to solve anything. It can also be excruciatingly uncomfortable to be with your partner who is crying and your natural response may be to try and deflect this in some way. This action may serve also, to protect yourself from your own vulnerabilities in relation to the expression of such a strong emotion. She is processing grief in her own way, as a woman. <br /><br /><b>If you are the woman</b>, you may want him to talk about his feelings and wonder why he doesn’t even seem to care or shed a tear. You might be amazed that he wants to make love to you at a time when it is the last thing on your mind or spend hours out in the shed, keeping as busy as possible. Men generally process and respond to their grief very privately and actively, they like to keep busy. You may not see the occasions where they do cry just like you do, they feel the pain just as much, but express it in different ways – they still hurt. You may notice that he is flying off the handle at the slightest thing or muttering and swearing at the lawnmower that wont ‘go’ – men are more likely to be angry when they are grieving. As women that may be an uncomfortable emotion to witness. He is processing grief in his own way, as a man. <br /><br />Whichever way you deal with grief, try to nurture and support each other during such an extremely difficult time: <br /><br />♥ Be near – in physical and emotional closeness, sexual or otherwise <br /><br />♥ Refrain from offering solutions or becoming judgmental <br /><br />♥ Listen without interrupting <br /><br />♥ A silent comforting hug heals much <br /><br />♥ Remember significant difficult days – birthdays, anniversaries <br /><br />♥ Understand that grief never ends, the individual person simply adapts over time <br /><br />♥ Invest in your relationship – take the time for what’s important <br /><br />♥ Value talking <br /><br />♥ Love generously <br /><br /> </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-15959910193301613392013-05-18T06:00:00.002-05:002013-05-18T06:00:09.592-05:00The 5 Stages of Infertility Grief<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We've all heard of the five stages of grief. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just as with any other grieving process </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">the progression of infertility emotions clearly has stages as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The following examples of things infertile couples might think, say, or experience while processing the pain of infertility were originally featured in a <a href="http://ctworkingmoms.com/2012/12/03/the-five-stages-of-infertility-grief/" target="_blank">blogpost for Connecticut Working Mom's</a>.<br /><br />I think most infertile women will be able to relate to several of the statements below. I think I fluctuate from one phase to another and back again, because while the pain of loss may dull over time, the pain of infertility never goes away. We have monthly reminders, facebook updates, shower invitations, and birth announcements to constantly remind us and open up new wounds. I also believe that these are not chronological, I think we can float between any of these stages at any time, and that doesn't mean we are regressing, it just means we are normal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Denial</b> <br /><br />“We must have just gotten the timing wrong. Again.” <br /><br />“Male factor infertility, you say? Hon, we’re switching you out of boxer briefs into boxers. That must be the easy fix. Bonus points if you want to go commando.” <br /><br />“Something must be wrong with these pee sticks, I can’t ever seem to get the second line to show up.” <br /><br /><b>Anger </b><br /><br />(see also: jealousy, irrational behavior, selfishness) <br /><br />“Whaddya mean she’s pregnant, again?!” <br /><br />“Everyone around me is pregnant. It must have been so easy for them. Must be nice.” <br /><br />“They sent me the defective pee sticks again, these are OBVIOUSLY BROKEN!” <br /><br /><b>Bargaining </b><br /><br />“I’d give anything to be pregnant.” <br /><br />“If only we had started sooner, I’d probably have a baby by now.” <br /><br />“Why can’t we just skip all this testing and get right to the IVF? We know that’s what we’ll need anyways.” <br /><br />“Hello, Amazon.com? Yes, if you could send me another batch of pee sticks, the ones that work this time, I’ll take back that nasty review I wrote last year when I tried to order on Christmas Eve in time for Christmas. I know you have deadlines for a reason. Besides, you have the cheapest pee stick prices…” <br /><br /><b>Depression </b><br /><br />“Nothing is going right. I’ll never be pregnant at this rate.” <br /><br />“My 18-year-old employee was happy when her pregnancy test was negative. It’s all I can do to keep from sobbing each time I get a negative result.” <br /><br />“Those pee stick manufacturers obviously don’t want me to have kids.” <br /><br /><b>Acceptance </b><br /><br />“It is what it is. We need to just keep going with the tests to give us the best outcome when the time comes.” <br /><br />“We’re not the only ones going through this. So many other couples have struggled with infertility, whether we know it or not. There’s a lot of support out there from places we never imagined we’d find it.” <br /><br />“Maybe I’ll stop peeing on a stick for a while.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I think back, I can see that during the the year and a half that B & I were not using contraceptives but were not actually TTC, we were in denial. We just kept thinking we were "lucky." Even the first six months that we were TTC, we just figured we had the timing wrong, or I needed to stop drinking caffeine, or B needed to quit sitting in hottubs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I kind of think I moved from that phase to bargaining. We wanted to fast-track to IVF, I started researching cheaper ART treatments in other countries and egg-donation/funded IVF arrangements. I became vegan and tried to lose weight so I'd have the BMI required for many of these programs. I was trying to figure out any way possible to avoid being infertile. I wanted to make a deal so I could outsmart infertility and move onto my baby dreams.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once I realized I couldn't bargain my way out of this situation, I admit that I moved into anger. Anger at everyone who is pregnant, including celebrities, strangers, friends, family, everyone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think I fluctuate between anger, depression, and acceptance now, though acceptance is usually rather fleeting. I'll briefly come to some idea or resolution that sounds a lot like acceptance and feel better for a night, a few days, maybe even a week or two, and then something will trigger a return of anger or depression. It's unpredictable. Sometimes I learn new things that push me briefly back into bargaining again too. Often that ends either in acceptance or depression. It's a never ending random cycle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My hope is that this post will show women that is perfectly normal to feel the way we do about infertility. We are not crazy, irrational, or over-emotional. We are grieving, and that is normal, and it should be expected... and accepted by those around you--pun intended ;)</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-60951977148921855462013-05-16T06:00:00.002-05:002013-05-16T06:00:12.140-05:00Understanding the Grief of Infertility<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chances are, you know someone who is struggling with infertility. More than seven million people in the United States experience infertility. This figure represents 12% </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">of women of childbearing age, and</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> one in eight couples. Yet, as a society, we are extremely uninformed about how to provide emotional support for our loved ones during this painful time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Perhaps attempting to explain the pain that an infertile couple experiences can help others to understand what their infertile friends and family members are going through. Understanding the pain of others can foster empathy, and true empathy can create the environment necessary to sincerely support other people. Therefore, let us try to explain the pain of infertility to others so that they might be better equipped to support us through our grief.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br />As the <a href="http://www.resolve.org/support-and-services/for-family--friends/infertility-etiquette.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">RESOLVE website</span></a> explains, "infertility is, indeed, a very painful struggle. The pain is similar to the grief over losing a loved one, but it is unique because it is a recurring grief. When a loved one dies, he isn't coming back. There is no hope that he will come back from the dead. You must work through the stages of grief, accept that you will never see this person again, and move on with your life. <br /><br />The grief of infertility is not so cut and dry. Infertile people grieve the loss of the baby that they may never know. They grieve the loss of that baby who would have had mommy's nose and daddy's eyes. But, each month, there is the hope that maybe that baby will be conceived after all. No matter how hard they try to prepare themselves for bad news, they still hope that this month will be different. Then, the bad news comes again, and the grief washes over the infertile couple anew. This process happens month after month, year after year. It is like having a deep cut that keeps getting opened right when it starts to heal."</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHFv9fKTKC6Byy89fulQ_p0gCIo_5uOuRHQ4qq0iEbOSgQ5MN6eRsJ7XPamoa_oHic0k1d7Zo6vM_B3nLim_1U42530mXQeZ5h952n5sHQm4MPSi9GMj-TOXL47rcj2UyZW-8glpjlnQ4/s1600/consoling_friend_infertility_main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHFv9fKTKC6Byy89fulQ_p0gCIo_5uOuRHQ4qq0iEbOSgQ5MN6eRsJ7XPamoa_oHic0k1d7Zo6vM_B3nLim_1U42530mXQeZ5h952n5sHQm4MPSi9GMj-TOXL47rcj2UyZW-8glpjlnQ4/s640/consoling_friend_infertility_main.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />I found an older blog post on <a href="http://worldofwinks.wordpress.com/things-i-wish-i-could-tell-people-about-grieving-infertility/" target="_blank">WorldofWinks.wordpress.com</a> where the author took information a friend had sent her about grief, and she adapted it to be perfectly applicable to infertility. I think it might help my friends and family to understand how I feel and what they can do to help me when I am struggling or having a bad day... and maybe it will help them not to say the wrong thing when I'm happy & having a good day too :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Things I Wish I Could Tell People About Grieving Infertility or Just Grieving</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<li>I wish you would not be afraid to speak to me about what is going on in my life, and to ask what you can do to help.</li>
<li>If I cry or get emotional when we talk about them, I wish you knew that it isn’t because you have hurt me. The fact that I have suffered has caused my tears. You have allowed me to cry, and I thank you. Crying and emotional outbursts are healing.</li>
<li>I wish you wouldn’t pretend that nothing is happening to me, because it is a large part of my life. I need my friends and family by my side.</li>
<li>I will have emotional highs and lows, ups and downs. I wish you wouldn’t think that if I have a good day, my grief is over, or that if I have a bad day, I need psychiatric counseling.</li>
<li>Grieving and what I’m going through is not contagious, so I wish you wouldn’t shy away from me.</li>
<li>I wish you knew that all of the “crazy” grief reactions I am having are in fact very normal. Depression, anger, frustration, hopelessness, and questioning of values and beliefs are to be expected during and following what is happening to me.</li>
<li>I wish you wouldn’t expect my grief to be over if and when I appear to be smiling or happy.</li>
<li>I wish you would understand the physical reactions to grief. I may gain weight or lose weight…sleep all the time or not at all…want to surround myself with business or be all alone, all of which may be related to my grief.</li>
<li>A birthday, anniversaries of big days, holidays, and the day I found out, are all terrible times for me. I wish you could tell me that you are thinking about me, and if I get quite withdrawn, just know I am doing my best to cope. Please don’t try to coerce me into being cheerful or tell me that it will be better soon.</li>
<li>It is normal and good that most of us re-examine our faith, values, and beliefs throughout this journey. We will question things we have been taught all our lives, and hopefully come to some new understandings to include those with God. I wish you would let me tangle with my religion, opinions, and beliefs without making me feel guilty.</li>
<li>I wish you would not offer me drinks or drugs to ease the pain. These are just temporary crutches. The only way I can get through this grief is to experience it, and sometimes immerse myself in it. I have to hurt before I can heal.</li>
<li>I wish you understood that grief and difficult situations change people. I am not the same person I was before I experienced it nor will I ever be that person again. If you keep waiting for me to “get back to my old self,” you will be frustrated. I am a new creature with new thoughts, dreams, aspirations, values, and beliefs. Please try and get to know the “new me”…maybe you will still like me.</li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-77674257726758792982013-05-14T06:00:00.002-05:002013-05-14T06:00:18.030-05:00Khloe Kardashian is Pissing Me Off<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TwfQkepQtVI_84lQpshDHSPX6EHhtSo9TLRwJTwFGJs_pCqrdH567Q_X86acItcbzmacbaX8rHmG0xMl18YTEKSEODhTIewxQr0gRvhOwUI5iGWiQ4lKKBvFgE1BWdcWUx16yCujQ7Zt/s1600/khloe8f-3-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TwfQkepQtVI_84lQpshDHSPX6EHhtSo9TLRwJTwFGJs_pCqrdH567Q_X86acItcbzmacbaX8rHmG0xMl18YTEKSEODhTIewxQr0gRvhOwUI5iGWiQ4lKKBvFgE1BWdcWUx16yCujQ7Zt/s400/khloe8f-3-web.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom married in 2009. Since that time the couple has been trying to conceive, and haven't been successful. According to <a href="http://perezhilton.com/perezitos/2013-05-07-khloe-kardashian-reveals-that-shes-not-struggling-with-infertility-her-hormones-are-just-off" target="_blank">Perez Hilton</a> on May 7, 2013, Khloe had an interview with <a href="http://www.redbookmag.com/video/#v2363318276001">Redbook magazine</a> where she discussed her infertility issues. She claimed she wants everyone to know the "truth." Many applaud her for coming out and discussing her pregnancy issue, but I, along with many others, question whether she’s telling herself "the truth."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the article Khloe </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">discusses hormone treatments that she has undergone to try to get pregnant. “It’s more about my hormones being off. I was taking hormone shots to stabilize them, and you have to take those shots consistently and they have to be done by a doctor—you can do them yourself, but I couldn’t. And then after your cycle, you have to go to the doctor for ultrasounds and more testing. And if I’m in Miami and miss a treatment, I have to start all over again. It’s a commitment and I don’t mind doing it, but the timing was just off.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Khloe wants everyone to know that she is "not infertile and that she is tired of discussing the issue."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And this is what pisses me off. The very definition of infertility is a lack of conception after 12 consecutive months of unprotected sex with a fertile partner. There are many causes of it, and hormonal imbalances and irregularities are one of the many of them. She is in denial and it is pissing me off that she won't own this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Look, I get it. Nobody likes being labeled, especially by others, and particularly when it's something we find to be negative. But COME ON! You can't just say you're not infertile and make it be true! You've been trying for 3.5 years and haven't gotten pregnant yet! That's the definition of infertility!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And get this, she does admit that she thinks her difficulty in getting pregnant has helped a lot of other women who are struggling with similar issues.... except for the fact that the entire interview demonstrates that she is completely attempting to separate herself from these women! She clearly does not want to be identified with women struggling from infertility, so why claim that you are proud to have helped them?!?!?!?<br /><br />How cowardly and two-faced.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I used to like her, she was my favorite of all three of the Kardashian sisters. This is an opportunity for her to become an activist and a role-model, and instead she is in denial and diminishes the truth of the struggle that 12% of American women are facing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Come on Khloe, be brave and own this. Lead the way for us. Continue bringing awareness to this issue instead of shying away from it. Help us teach society that this is a medical disease and it is okay to talk about it. Lead by example. Show us that it is not something to be ashamed of. Help us create awareness and demand equality, so that all states will mandate health insurance coverage. Help us, don't lie to yourself that you are not one of us. None of us wished this for ourselves either, but you could be a voice for us. You could do something to further our cause. Use your celebrity and fame to say the things we are thinking, talking, and blogging about. Advocate for us. Speak up for us so that more of us can someday achieve what we are all dreaming of, children and families of our very own, and if nothing else, acceptance and support.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You did great things for animals suffering from in-humane cruelty when you advocated with PETA, now do the same for something that hits even closer to home. Continue making a name for yourself as the Kardashian with substance, courage, and strength. Do this for the sisterhood you belong too whether you want to admit it to yourself or not.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rant over. I hope she bounces back from the press this interview is currently generating, and I hope it's in a way that supports infertile women, rather than ostracizing them.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-70161354622009506322013-05-13T06:00:00.000-05:002013-05-13T06:00:11.720-05:00May is all about you<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought I'd post a copy of the monthly e-newsletter that RESOLVE sends out to anyone on it's mailing list. If you'd like to sign up for their mailing list, visit the <a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/UserLogin?NEXTURL=http://resolve.org" target="_blank">RESOLVE website</a>.</span><br />
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<tr><td width="189"><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=kr7gjSEWc5rF2Opvug5lfw" target="_blank"><img alt="RESOLVE: the national infertility association" border="0" height="70" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/18193.gif" width="189" /></a> </td><td valign="middle" width="460"><div style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; padding-right: 11px; text-align: right;">
A monthly reminder that RESOLVE is working to<br />
improve the lives of people diagnosed with infertility.</div>
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<tr><td colspan="2"><img align="middle" alt="eUpdate" border="0" height="125" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/18192.png" width="649" /> </td></tr>
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<tr> <td style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px ! important; line-height: 16px; padding: 23px 16px;" valign="top" width="395"><span style="font-size: 12px;">National Infertility Awareness Week® 2013 was a resounding success! Once again the infertility community came together to change the conversation about infertility. “Join the Movement” was embraced by thousands of professionals, volunteers, and RESOLVE community members. Our collective efforts </span><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=K0lOISXriiwIdHqmDNNuNQ" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">reached millions</span></a></strong> <span style="font-size: 12px;">with information about the disease of infertility. Thank you to all who participated!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><strong>In May we turn our focus from raising public awareness to helping you. You are the reason RESOLVE exists, and you keep RESOLVE going.</strong> You have connected with RESOLVE because you either value RESOLVE’s programs and services or you care about the people we serve. Read on to learn what RESOLVE is doing for you. And reference the sidebar for tips for how to handle Mother’s Day.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #006b88; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><img align="left" alt="" border="0" height="30" hspace="10" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/18208.gif" style="margin: 0pt 12px 0pt 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20px;" vspace="10" width="18" /><span style="font-size: 140%;">RESOLVE's Advocacy Day brings largest infertility group to Washington, D.C.</span></span><span style="font-size: 140%;"><span style="color: #006b88; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=vOmhMnNJI5eOvllAJprrxw" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="Advocacy Day png logo" border="0" height="42" hspace="5" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/AdvocacyLogo_copy_png_file-sm.png" vspace="5" width="100" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 12px;">Today, RESOLVE and more than 115 infertiliity advocates are in Washington, D.C. talking to Members of Congress about issues important to the infertility community. You can make an impact right from your home!</span> <br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">Call Congress today! It takes 5 minutes.</span> <strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=aRstvPVEsn6CsC2YY_SDAw" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Click here for details!</span></a></strong></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">Send an email to Congress and ask them to support the </span><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=63-WB6p-BVro0NAim7nBog" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Family Act</span></a></strong><span style="font-size: 12px;"> and a bill to help wounded</span> <a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=_2iFfjISsv_a0JpxZ0wKcw" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><strong>veterans get infertility coverage</strong>.</span></a></li>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;">By adding your voice to the efforts of those on Capitol Hill today, you can increase our impact and make a real difference for those that need financial relief for infertility treatments. </span><strong><span style="font-size: 12px;">You </span></strong><span style="font-size: 12px;">will make a difference.</span><br />
<span style="color: #006b88; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><img align="left" alt="" border="0" height="30" hspace="5" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/18208.gif" style="margin: 0pt 12px 0pt 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20px;" width="18" /><span style="font-size: 140%;"><strong>RESOLVE Support Groups: You make them happen</strong></span></span><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=mfQrGEatP7rc2IFgUAfBtw" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="Hm_pg_support_group.jpg" border="0" height="47" hspace="10" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/11148.jpg" vspace="10" width="100" /></a><span style="font-size: 12px;">We have added 8 support groups in 2013, bringing our current total to 163 nationwide! Thank you to all the volunteers who make support groups possible. May is the perfect month to take charge of your infertility journey and do something for yourself.</span> <strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=ogsYkqzsA9lohsxItjmZnQ" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Find a support group near you.</span></a></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #006b88; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><img align="left" alt="" border="0" height="30" hspace="10" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/18208.gif" style="margin: 0pt 12px 0pt 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 20px;" vspace="10" width="18" /></span></strong><span style="color: #006b88; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size: 140%;"><strong>National Infertility Awareness Week® Highlights</strong></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=PSTuIcs5KlsKQoMCR4YnSw" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">NIAW in the news</span></a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=zMVfgUGATtwBr2-2ufOsDA" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">RESOLVE in the news</span></a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=4OzFG7Qd70Z22VxbI2EV_A" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Personal stories from the community</span></a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=oznQ5NsDCdjJsPHs5ZkdoA" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Bloggers respond to "Join the Movement"</span></a></strong></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: 12px;">Thank you to family building professionals and volunteers who held more than 100 events nationwide in an effort to raise awareness. And thank you to all of our</span> <strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=pABNl-ifp9vlzJK0j0VBhA" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">NIAW Sponsors.</span></a></strong></td> <td bgcolor="#eee6d8" style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; padding: 10px 0pt 10px 8px;" valign="top"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 14px; width: 200px;">
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<strong><span style="font-size: 140%;"><span style="color: #006b88; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="color: #006b88;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">May 2013</span></span></span></span></strong><strong> </strong></div>
<strong><span style="font-size: 140%;">Connect with RESOLVE<br /><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=p2jItV5oJEtu5L1U3ce4iw" target="_blank"><img alt="email_facebook_icon" border="0" height="25" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/17754.png" width="25" /></a> <a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=jMc_wK-t8Dqs8vUe0ormWg" target="_blank"><img alt="email_twitter_icon" border="0" height="25" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/17759.png" width="25" /></a> <a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=45FP6HnTbQiRaeAWgaWDwg" target="_blank"><img alt="Linkedin Logo" border="0" height="25" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/linkedin_logo.jpeg" width="25" /></a> <a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=uNw4OMz9WsSMzzRsFJ1BAA" target="_blank"><img alt="email_youtube_icon" border="0" height="25" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/17760.png" width="25" /></a></span></strong> <a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=0AvDL0M2h1FU1IP9jBEPKQ" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size: 140%;"><img alt="Pinterest logo" border="0" height="25" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/pinterest.png" width="31" /></span></strong></a><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 140%;">Tips for Dealing with Mother’s Day</span></strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=tldfjqp0Dx2wbNkaigGedA" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Advice from the Community</span> </a><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=0L_t7QXbWe_TinzkKccWBA" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Advice from RESOLVE</span></a></strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=bLdVHw0p1cW6ckpHSJIlnA" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Make the Day Your Own</span></a></strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=U_ssAp269wFjznWpc0-Z5g" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">We Are Your Support System</span></a> </strong><br />
<a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=Q3reZe3MlGlkzcjtnd67RQ" target="_blank"><img alt="Walk of Hope logo png" border="0" height="72" src="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/images/content/pagebuilder/Walk_of_Hope_LOGO_copy.png" width="152" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 12px;">Attend a 2013 RESOLVE <em>Walk of Hope</em>!</span><br />
<strong><a href="http://familybuilding.resolve.org/site/R?i=-0YGseGuWA4THI_jPMzTkA" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Houston - May 18<sup>th</sup></span></a></strong><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-7192113698996592312013-05-12T06:00:00.000-05:002013-05-12T06:00:05.387-05:00Thoughts on Mother’s Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxbDv0YFD1PapN0IFE17aJmQ8rN_YiNrQgB-BqIV7xEUYDq5CdYbQahXDF47f6ddt-0RQgT0SrP1rMCT6ozXSPkjUL6ZLYntQ6DCig6-J4ZWgMUaYIUeuVSTaHHyH7psSzQjfIZdwPVe6/s1600/mother's+day+in+hearts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxbDv0YFD1PapN0IFE17aJmQ8rN_YiNrQgB-BqIV7xEUYDq5CdYbQahXDF47f6ddt-0RQgT0SrP1rMCT6ozXSPkjUL6ZLYntQ6DCig6-J4ZWgMUaYIUeuVSTaHHyH7psSzQjfIZdwPVe6/s400/mother's+day+in+hearts.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />There are many good reasons to celebrate Mother’s Day—it can be a day to honor your own mother. One day out of the entire year to thank, honor and celebrate all the sacrifices women make for their families. It should be about love and families. <br /><br />And there are a lot of good reasons that many do not like Mother's Day too—for me, Mother’s Day is hard because it is a day-long reminder that my husband and I have been struggling from infertility for over 4.5 years. There are many others who share my sorrow today. Just google infertility blogs, news, and websites to find many beautiful posts, articles, poems, advice and other information reminding society not to forget about the infertile on Mother's Day.<br /><br />But it is not just childless infertile women who find mother’s day to be bitterly sad. What about all these other women who dread Mother’s Day? <br /><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Anyone who has lost his or her mother? </li>
<li>Those who have lost a child? </li>
<li>Those who have not yet found the right partner to start their family with? </li>
<li>Those who are estranged from, or have difficult relationships with, their mothers or their children? </li>
<li>Those who have disabled children, who cannot make those sweet homemade cards, say “I love you,” or give loving hugs and kisses to their mommy? </li>
<li>Those women who struggled for years to create their families and even once they had children, still cannot forget the pain that this particular day used to make them feel. </li>
</ul>
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This day can be difficult for many women, and men too. To all of you who are struggling today, I want to tell you it is okay not to celebrate. It is okay to take care of yourself today. It is okay to treat today like any other day. It is also okay if you do want to celebrate, whether it be your mother, your children, your memories, or your own strength. Whatever you need to do today, it is okay. And you will be okay too. This day shall pass soon enough and everything will be okay tomorrow.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562395343701006108.post-24755311006078651222013-05-11T12:04:00.000-05:002013-05-11T15:15:49.663-05:00A Little Laughter to Ease the Pain of Mother's Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJkMX7G-LhB_QAAzpw7WppekuOCJQ1rkCzFahGopKvm1pWDBeETGB-ah4_UCX-b3vwJTC7wvQGHjZf_wHyMt6GjLJcab07mZVCWxg9Wk7eRIH59ekuYOYghKmOfBij8Vmos95EbSy3S0U/s1600/happyuterusday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJkMX7G-LhB_QAAzpw7WppekuOCJQ1rkCzFahGopKvm1pWDBeETGB-ah4_UCX-b3vwJTC7wvQGHjZf_wHyMt6GjLJcab07mZVCWxg9Wk7eRIH59ekuYOYghKmOfBij8Vmos95EbSy3S0U/s1600/happyuterusday.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />For anyone dealing with infertility, Mother’s Day can be a very difficult day to cope with. In anticipation of tomorrow's holiday, I am reposting a 2011 blog post from the author of <a href="http://www.999reasonstolaugh.com/2012/05/619-happy-women-with-working-uterus-day/">999 Reasons to Laugh at Infertility</a>. <br /><br />"Perhaps it would be just a bit easier if we could re-name the holiday to something that didn’t remind us of moms and babies. Here are some suggestions for re-naming Mother’s Day: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<li>Women who are not on Clomid Day</li>
<li>International working ovaries Day</li>
<li>Bratty toddlers and their Mother’s Day</li>
<li>Her loins really procreated Day</li>
<li>Please don’t post your Mother’s Day photos on Facebook Day</li>
<li>A vaginal and brunch celebration Day</li>
<li>Sperm and egg conceived Day</li>
<li>She ovulated Day</li>
<li>Happy pre and post-menopausal Day</li>
<li>Overpriced chocolates and flowers Day</li>
<li>You’re not my real Mother Day</li>
</span></ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">…or how about Mother’s and Mother’s-in-Waiting Day."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These are pretty funny, and finding reasons to laugh about infertility does help to ease the pressure that this day brings. This day can be a national reminder of everything we have wished for, lost, never had, worked for, despaired over, fought for and because of, and physically and emotionally hurt from. This is something most of us feel every day, but on Mother's Day, a day when everyone else is happily celebrating their own mothers or children, the infertile can be overwhelmed by facing all of their experiences and feelings at once. It can be too much.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">An article by Deborah S. Simmons, PhD, LMFT published in the Spring 2013 RESOLVE newsletter and posted on their <a href="http://www.resolve.org/support-and-services/Managing-Infertility-Stress/this-year-make-mother-s-day-your-own.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">website</span></a> suggests letting this day become "your own personal <b>Empowerment Day</b>."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As the article said, "F</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">or many who are undergoing fertility treatment and family building, this manufactured holiday can generate anxiety, dread, and anger. You want to be one of the people being celebrated, but you are not there yet. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">...You may not feel that you have many choices about fertility treatment, but you absolutely do have choices about how you approach Mother's Day."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rather than a day of “Why?” let this become a day of “How?” Ask yourself:</span><br />
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“How am I doing on my journey to parenting?”<br />“How do I need to change my perspective or treatment protocol?”<br />“How would I LIKE to spend the day?"</span></ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The article goes on to say:</span></div>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Let this be a decision day about where you are in your life, not just in your attempts to conceive. Let this be a day that is all about you. Embrace self-care as part of your quest to be a mother.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Did you know that you do not have to attend celebrations, even though you have been asked or even if someone demanded you attend? What would you like to do? Being honest does not make you Debbie Downer. It makes you human, and real, and a person. Here’s a truth—someone else may not like you making a different kind of decision, but you will do better. You have absolute permission to stay in bed the entire day, to cry, and to breathe.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">... You can also choose to engage in celebration of your own mother. This year, find a way to do so that fits with your love for her and for yourself. In whatever ways you choose to spend that day, empower yourself to be the beautiful person you were before your fertility journey began and the person you will be after your fertility challenges are resolved."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm glad to see that this article reinforces that it is okay to NOT CELEBRATE Mother's Day with others. At first I felt kind of guilty that B & I didn't make plans to visit our own mothers or grandmothers this year. We planned ahead and sent them all flowers or gifts to make sure they knew we were thinking of them and appreciating them and honoring them, but now as this day draws closer, we don't really have to focus too much on it or draw much attention to it. It can be just another day for us. And honestly, it would have had to be a huge production for us as all of our family lives 2-4 hours away, so it would have been a weekend-long road-trip making multiple stops at several family gatherings. For us, no holidays are a simple "afternoon over at Grandma's" and Mother's Day would be no exception. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So this year, like last, we are staying home with our dogs and having a day together, just the 4 of us, doing whatever we want and not really directing any attention to the day at all. This is what's right for us right now. There is no telling what future holidays will bring, but for now, we will just be happy at home together and that's okay.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In regards to the above article, as it turns out, the author, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Deborah S. Simmons, has been a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine for 15 years and is the co-owner of Partners in Healing of Minneapolis. I am originally from MN and most of my family is still there, so it's kind of neat to see that someone from the Twin Cities is writing for a cause and is such an expert in an area that I spend so much of my own time researching and thinking about. Kind of neat I think.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0