Friday, March 29, 2013

Infertility's Common Thread







http://stirrup-queens.blogspot.com/2006/09/history-of-infertilitys-common-thread.html.

Having lost a few pregnancies myself, I thought this post was important to pass along.  I found it originally on my sister-in-law's blog www.OhAirBiscuits.blogspot.com.  She got it from another blog, and so on...

I will link it to here and paste for others to see. Thank you for helping to raise awareness.

The History of Infertility's Common Thread

For anyone who has experienced infertility or who is currently experiencing infertility. For anyone who has suffered through pregnancy loss. For those who have conceived naturally, utilized treatments, adopted, used third-party reproduction, or chose to live child-free: a movement.
It all began when Paz lamented that there should be a secret handshake for those who have experienced or are currently experiencing infertility. She was finally pregnant after multiple miscarriages and she wanted infertile women to know when looking at her pregnant belly that she was one of them still–in heart and mind. She was open to questions and to passing along any information she had obtained along the way.
This led to a lengthy discussion about a signal we could give one another as well as a tangible object that would invite questions and subsequently discussion about infertility. The conversation jumped from idea to idea–a pomegranate-shaped charm, a Livestrong-esque bracelet–until it finally settled on a simple thread.
With the idea being that it was an item that was easy to obtain no matter where you lived. It posed a minimal cost. It could be ornamented or braided any way the wearer chose. It could be sent through the mail. It was simple. It was discreet. We picked the embroidery floss #814 because it was the colour of pomegranates. Which was one of the fertility symbols considered along the way.
Royalyne stepped forward and got the ball rolling with a write up that we tweaked until it became this statement:
Pomegranates, a longstanding symbol of fertility, serve as a strong analogy to those suffering through infertility. Though each pomegranate skin is unique in colour and texture, the seeds inside are remarkably similar from fruit to fruit. Though our diagnosis is unique—endometriosis, low sperm count, luteal phase defect, or causes unknown—the emotions, those seeds on the inside, are the same from person to person. Infertility creates frustration, anger, depression, guilt, and loneliness. Compounding these emotions is the shame that drives people suffering from infertility to retreat into silence.
In addition, the seeds represent the multitude of ways one can build their family: natural conception, treatments, adoption, third-party reproduction, or even choosing to live child-free.
The pomegranate thread holds a two-fold purpose: to identify and create community between those experiencing infertility as well as create a starting point for a conversation. Women pregnant through A.R.T., families created through adoption, or couples trying to conceive during infertility can wear the thread, identifying themselves to others in this silent community. At the same time, the string serves as a gateway to conversations about infertility when people inquire about its purpose. These conversations are imperative if we are ever to remove the social stigma attached to infertility.Tie on the thread because you’re not alone. Wear to make aware.

Join us in starting this conversation about infertility by purchasing this pomegranate-coloured thread (#814 by DMC) at any craft, knitting, or variety store such as Walmart or Target. Tie it on your right wrist. Notice it on others.

Paz also created a write up that people could place on blogs, bulletin boards, and email forwards:
For anyone who has ever had a miscarriage, struggled with pregnancy, and all things infertile…there is a movement upon us that you might want to join. It’s rather simple actually: a discreet ribbon on your right wrist to signal to others that they are not alone in their struggles.

As someone who has had 5 m/c but am currently 5 months pregnant (YEAH), I wonder who looks at my big belly with sadness because they are in the month-to-month struggle. I mentioned to a friend that I wished there was some secret nod or international sign as if to say, this belly was hardwon. Well, she posted this quandary on her blog (http://www.stirrup-queens.blogspot.com/) and the response has been quite overwhelming…and a movement has been born!

The pomegranate-colored thread holds a two-fold purpose: to identify and create community between those experiencing infertility as well as create a starting point for a conversation. Women pregnant through any means, natural or A.R.T., families created through adoption or surrogacy, or couples trying to conceive during infertility or secondary infertility can wear the thread, identifying themselves to others in this silent community. At the same time, the string serves as a gateway to conversations about infertility when people inquire about its purpose. These conversations are imperative if we are ever to remove the social stigma attached to infertility.Tie on the thread because you’re not alone. Wear to make aware. Join us in starting this conversation about infertility by purchasingthis pomegranate-coloured thread (#814 by DMC) at any craft, knitting, or variety store such as Walmart or Target. Tie it on your right wrist. Notice it on others. Just thought I would pass the word along!

Lastly, we have a graphic people can add to their side bars in order to get the word out (and create a link to this post or a similar one so people understand what Infertility’s Common Thread is about). Feel free to take and place on your blog or create your own in order to get the word out to others:
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4171/3241/200/Thread.2.jpg
and please add a link back to this post: http://stirrup-queens.blogspot.com/2006/09/history-of-infertilitys-common-thread.html.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Catching Up

Things have gotten pretty hectic here as of late.  The substitute jobs have started to pour in and I have even been specially requested for a few.  I have cut my shifts at Barnes and Noble down to two or three per week.  While I miss working there more often, I am enjoying the time at home with Dan and the girls.

Recently, we have had some visitors.  Kylie came in for her birthday and St. Patrick's Day weekend.  She got to ride the Metra by herself for the first time.  This was an adventure for her, and Dan was there to put her on the train.  He is a good host.

Then, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Liz and Max came in for a visit. 
Jeff playing mandolin and Max playing fiddle while Liz watches and listens

Max (Matt) is a great fiddle player.
They were really here for a bluegrass festival, but the girls would like to thing that they solely came to see them.  We went to the festival to see what all the fuss is about and found it mesmorizing.

Jeff has a soft spot for our girls, I think...

So does Liz!

Bluegrass music just makes Abby want to dance!




Then, Dan, the girls and I took Max to Legoland for the afternoon.  I don't care how old you are, everyone loves to sit down and play with Legos.  Seriously.

Juli is tickled pink by this Lego man.

Dan, Max and the girls.

Max loves Star Wars, so we had to take his picture with R2D2.

Ok, I might like Star Wars, too.

Could not pass up the chance to have my picture taken with one of my favorite literary characters.  Do you know which one he is?

Daddy playing with our not-so-little girl.

In homeschooling, we have been focusing on science.  The girls have been learning about the human body.  This has been fascinating for them and I really think they like it.  Juli has been taking the book to bed with her each evening and lifting the flaps to look at all of the parts.

Samara is coming this weekend and next week Aunt DeDe and Uncle Craig will be here, too.  Fun!!

Wednesday, March 06, 2013

Family Movie Night #3

This past weekend, we had our third family movie night.  As a recap, we try to watch a movie that does not cost us anything and it has to be kid-appropriate and it has to be new to at least one of the kids, if not both.

We watched this:

Kung Fu Panda 2
Great movie for kids.  Entertaining and funny for adults.  A winner all around.  The message here seems to be to find your inner peace - meaning be content with where you are and who you are with.  Your family is not necessarily confined to those who bore you, but also includes those who raised you and loved you.  Finally, loyalty to your friends is important.

If you have not seen this with your kids, do so.  If you don't have kids, see it anyway.  You will get a chuckle out of it.

Min

Tuesday, March 05, 2013

Snow Day

We are having our first snow day of Winter 2012/2013 here in Chicagoland.  I was actually shocked that they called it last night when it had not even started snowing yet.  However, since the chance of snow was predicted at 100%, I am guessing they felt pretty secure in this decision.  Sitting here looking out the window, I can see how parents who are fortunate enough to have a bus pick their children up (we live too close to the school for this at .8 of a mile) would feel antsy about having the kiddos come home on such slippery streets.

Soooo, we have had our own version of school here.  We studied Samuel in the Bible and then started our science lesson in this book.

Usborne Flip Flap Body Book by Alistair Smith
Sorry about the really small picture, but as I tried to make it bigger, it became really distorted.  I really like Usborne books - they are high quality in terms of materials and they are straightforward with regard to science.  Today we learned about where our food goes.  As you can imagine, when we got to the part where food exits the body, there was some giggling.  Aaaand the girls learned a new word for that body part.  We had always called it the "pooper" or "butt" before, but now they know the proper name.  Not sure if this is a good thing or not...

Snow days...gotta love them.

Min

Teaching is Hard

I'm have been teaching in some capacity since 2003. I started out as a substitute teacher and did that while I went BACK to school and g...