In a little email sent from our editor, I was reminded that National Adoption Day is coming up this weekend. To educate myself, I wanted to find out a little bit more about the history of this day.From Bella Online

This day originated in 2000 to celebrate adoption, provide positive adoption education, and find homes for waiting children. Many of this year's events are designed specifically for families finalizing in November. Many are public events. Others are private. While most events will take place on November 18, others will take place at other times throughout the month. This article will address events... more

As luck would have it, my best friend was a stroller designer during my pregnancy and while Ivy was a tiny baby. We have so many strollers that it is crazy. I believe that we had 3 types of "jogging" strollers, 2 umbrella strollers, a general folding stroller and my absolute favorite stroller, our InSTEP stroller/backpack.

While researching for this post, this link had the best price.

The pluses for me for this stroller is that it is so tiny and lightweight that I bring it everywhere.... more

One of my best girlfriends bought me a subscription to Child magazine for Christmas. My subscription started last month and even before I was through with the first issue, I was so excited about the magazine. Mostly because of the beautiful photography, but also because of the ideas that I got for this blog.

In the first issue, this advertisement caught my eye. It is from ConfirmClearly and it is a refillable pregnancy test. From their website:

The only test with money-saving refills! Be sure to save your reader for future... more

This may be a little bit out there for some of you, but I wanted to give the rest of you the link for angel cards.

I was first introduced to Angel Cards during massage school. I know, it is pretty woo woo, but I went to school with a lot of woo woo people. I was actually on the normal end of the spectrum if you can believe that! And I also don't want to turn anyone off of massage either, we really did balance the woo woo with the medical. It was a full range education.

Anyhow, whenever we would first come in to class, we were asked to draw an Angel Card to help see what our direction as an individual would be that evening. After we drew our card, we could share it with... more

I took a journaling workshop at our local cancer care center while my dad was sick and getting chemo. Last night I came across one of the handouts from the instructor, who is also a close friend. It has some great info in it and I thought that I would share it with you all. Journaling through the stress of his illness, and the grief of his death has been helpful to keep my head on straight. Any type of infertility stress can also benifit from journaling.

Journaling In earlier generations it was common to keep a diary or a personal journal. However, today few people do it and very few recognize the value and astonishing power of keeping a journal.

A... more

This weekend Chris and I were driving somewhere and I mentioned that I thought that I had heard that an average person spends about 80 kcals per hour watching tv. He thought that there was no way that that number could be right. He estimated that there were a lot less kcals spend doing nothing.

Not one to really back off from something that I was pretty sure was true, I went to trusty google to see what I could find. And boy, did I find a treasure. I felt so much better about myself just reading through the list that I found. And no wonder why I was in such great shape when I was going out all of the time. Although, I wasn't dancing to "rock and roll" (who says that anymore?).

... more

"Whose Egg Is It Anyway?" by Louise Farr

I have had the September 2006 issue of More magazine on my desk since August. A close friend of mine gave me her magazine because there was a fertility article in it that she thought I could use for the blog. Well, I've read the article. And read it again and again. And honestly, I still don't know what to say about it. Talk about conflicted.

The article is about the legal battles of Augusta and Randy Roman over embryos that the couple created, yet didn't implant. And now the question is created, whose eggs, or... more

As you all know, I've been on the pro side of the Madonna adoption, partially because I think that I've stayed away from a lot of the gory back and forth accusations and partially because I'm a fan of Madonna in the first place. And a huge fan of her parenting, mixing and blending family members to the benefit of her children.

But this story has had a personal effect on me. And on my family, as far as my mom and my sister are concerned. People have been pretty closed mouthed when it has come around to Becken's adoption. I have mentioned in an earlier post that I have been surprised at the small amount of reaction that we have gotten in public, which we dreaded at home while filling... more

3. Select a clinician who offers the latest techniques in dental care, including conscious sedation. Conscious sedation can help reduce your dental anxiety, fear, and apprehension. This new technique will allow you to sleep through the most complex of dental procedures.

4. Make an appointment, and keep it. Before making an appointment decide that you will follow through, because the doctor has set aside that time just for you. Write down the issues you have concerns about, as well as any questions you need to get answered and resolved. It really doesn’t matter if you have all the desire in the world if you don’t follow through.

5. Call a friend or other... more

I am the hugest chicken when it comes to the dentist. I even get the nitrous to have my teeth cleaned! Leave it to an orthodontist who never should have been working with children, and then you get someone like me, terrified, even at 35!

Through the grapevine, when my beloved dentist retired, I had to find another kind and gentle dentist who would be ultrasensitive to my needs. And I found her! The downside, she doesn't offer nitrous at her office. Now I was really in a dilemma. Stay with her and handle my anxiety, or go to someone with less understanding,... more