https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 19 May 2026 14:47:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-281656 Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:27:29 +0000 MaisyMay 281656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Welcome! I'm with the rest on wanting to follow your story. :-)</p> <p>In regards to deleting posts or editing posts, make sure to check out the terms of use. Check the link at the very bottom of the page. I'm glad you are here with us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-281524 Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:40:22 +0000 regberadaisy 281524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Welcome! Wow! My head is still spinning. I agree, what a wonderful gift your sister is giving you. </p> <p>Agree on applying to blog! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-281510 Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:33:58 +0000 DillonLion 281510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ha - guess everyone was thinking the same thing as me. Would love to read about your journey on the blog!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-281506 Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:30:45 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 281506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wowwwww!!! I'm so glad you shared and I'm super interested in hearing more about it! Yes, I agree w/ everyone else - you should blog!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-281497 Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:25:31 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 281497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>what an interesting story!!! you should apply to be a blogger because i would LOVE to read more about you and your sister's journey into motherhood together! and she does sound like such a fascinating person! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-281458 Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:58:25 +0000 Mrs. Train 281458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Welcome, your story is amazing. I love that families can be built in many different ways. As far as your newborn pictures go you might be able to find someone with a studio that you could use if they know your story. If not you could always ship some of your favorite props to set up a mini studio then ship it back. </p> <p>Again welcome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-281303 Tue, 04 Sep 2012 10:16:30 +0000 mrsjyw 281303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Welcome to HB and yes please blog!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-281048 Tue, 04 Sep 2012 03:45:12 +0000 Arden 281048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with everyone, you should totally blog here. Your story is fascinating, and awesome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-281045 Tue, 04 Sep 2012 03:18:55 +0000 mrbee 281045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@however briefly: We give everyone one free username change! You can just post the username you would like to change it to here, and I'll take care of it right away:</p> <p><a href="http://help.hellobee.com/board/username" rel="nofollow">http://help.hellobee.com/board/username</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-281043 Tue, 04 Sep 2012 03:08:18 +0000 however briefly 281043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you all for such a warm welcome!</p> <p>@artbee / @mrs. sunglasses / @mama moose /@coco bee - I wouldn't mind writing about our journey but before I even consider applying, I'm going to have to talk to my sister. Because of her work, she is very paranoid about what is put on the internet regarding her and since I have put my username as my website name where I'm going to have photos of us and the little one, I know she won't be comfortable. I had planned on deleting/editing this post after a couple of weeks as it was. I'll have to see what she says. Maybe she would feel better about it if I used a different username or something. If not, I'll just keep updating in the forum which isn't quite as noticeable as the main blog. :)</p> <p>@mrs. jacks - Thanks for the info! I will definitely be on the lookout in the adoption info I'm looking at. Since my husband will be the bio dad we're actually hoping to postpone my adopting the little one for a couple of years if we can. Baby will be born on the east coast and both my husband and I are residents of a state on the west coast and it's looking like that's where we'll have to process the adoption. We're already going to be on the east coast for 2+ months so the very last thing we want to do is have to fly across the country after that for who knows how long to process the adoption. So yeah, I'm looking through adoption blogs and forums like crazy right now.</p> <p>@sloaneandpuffy - YES! My sister linked me to her column last Christmas and I spent like three days reading through everything she had written at that point. SO FUNNY! I really should get back and catch up.</p> <p>@anacarlin - I am completely surprised at her willingness as well. Even my mom still can't believe it! My sister is pretty known for her selfish tendencies :) I don't think anyone will ever believe it until she's actually showing!</p> <p>@coco bee - I charted for about two or three years while the doctors occasionally ruled out what *isn't* the problem. But I was distracted by both heart problems as well as severe anemia which my menstrual cycle would only make worse every time. It wasn't until I fainted head first onto concrete because of my anemia and ended up landing myself in the hospital for a bit that I finally gave into my doctor's pleas that my priority needed to be on getting my anemia under control and to do that, giving up on TTC at the moment and getting an IUD in to hopefully stop menstrual bleeding altogether would be a huge help. So that's what I've done and am very happy with the decision. I feel so so so much better and have pretty much gotten my anemia under control. Maybe when it's time to get the IUD taken out (2015? 2017? something like that) it'll be time to try again. I am just enjoying actually feeling *good* everyday to take that away just yet. Especially if I'm going to be taking care of a little one at the same time. I would be okay with not giving birth to any of our children if it weren't for the cost of adoption. This surrogacy situation has been costing way more than we were planning so our adoption fund will pretty much be dry by the end :( Ah well. It'll be worth it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-280702 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 15:59:33 +0000 ladyfingers 280702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, that's quite a story! Welcome, and I'm looking forward to learning more about your journey! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-280525 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 11:51:05 +0000 autumnlove 280525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Welcome!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-280520 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 11:49:52 +0000 Mrs. Pen 280520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>oh my goodness I was just completely drawn into your story!! It's sooo intriguing. I vote that you apply to become a blogger ;) I am really excited to follow your journey here on Hellobee. And welcome!! It's a really amazing community and I'm sure you'll love it.</p> <p>So I do have one question: Did you decide to just forego any TTC attempts because of your medical conditions? Or did you try with no success? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-280498 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 11:26:44 +0000 mrbee 280498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow what an amazing situation! Thanks for sharing... and welcome, welcome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-280417 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 10:09:17 +0000 luckypenny 280417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Welcome! What an incredible story and what a great sister! I asked mine if she would ever do that for me and her response was "Hell No!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-280396 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 09:38:27 +0000 mamimami 280396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Very interesting! Some elements of your story reminded me very much of Michelle Tea (on xojane.com). Have you or your sister read about her journey? It's not an adoption thing but there are other parallels :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-280368 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 08:48:47 +0000 MamaMoose 280368@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow. What an amazing story. You should absolutely apply to be a blogger!! I would love to hear about your journey! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-280362 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 08:44:07 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 280362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What an amazing gift your sister is giving you! It may be useful to read some of the adoption literature because there is lots of information out there about how to make staying in random places for prolonged periods of time with a newborn... Many adoptive parents have to travel to random places and stay until paperwork is processed.</p> <p>Our very good friends stayed in Kansas for weeks until the Interstate Compact paperwork was processed.</p> <p>Best of luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-280320 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 07:48:32 +0000 Mrs. Sunglasses 280320@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>oh wow!!! awesome. and welcome. I agree with @artbee: you should apply. such a unique and rarely documented story. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-280313 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 07:41:58 +0000 Mrs. Blue 280313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, this is such a great story! Welcome and keep us posted! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-280312 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 07:40:53 +0000 heffalump 280312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow! I know I for one would love to follow your story.... you should apply for the blog if you're interested!</p> <p>Congrats and wishing you the best! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-280307 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 07:31:39 +0000 sorrycharlie 280307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>welcome to hellobee, and best of luck!! can't wait to hear more :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-280306 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 07:30:20 +0000 Cherrybee 280306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, what a story!!! Wishing you lots of luck and happiness! It's lovely to hear from you - I hope to see you popping up on threads from now on! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-280281 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 06:42:01 +0000 ladybee 280281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nice to meet you. Thank you for sharing your story! Best of luck and keep us posted, I hope everything works out the way you dreamed. I have no advice to give since I do not have a baby but I think whenever you get your bundle of joy, nothing else will matter! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-280279 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 06:36:53 +0000 StrawberryBee 280279@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh wow, what a fabulous story. Your sister sounds like a fascinating person to know. I'm so excited for you! I hope everything goes as planned :D. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-280275 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 06:17:57 +0000 Clementine 280275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for sharing your story! I'm crossing my fingers that everything will go smoothly. If there's any consolation, we never mustered NB photos, but decided to do some faux ones around 3 mos with the LO buck naked and in cute poses. Came out better than expected! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-time-stalker-first-time-poster#post-280264 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 05:14:25 +0000 however briefly 280264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I've been stalking this forum from the shadows for a few months now and finally figured it was about time I joined in :)</p> <p>Here's my story if you're interested:</p> <p>I am an American photographer/military wife living overseas. My husband and I have spent pretty much our entire married life overseas away from our family and friends. We lived in Germany for over seven years and now have been in England for a year and a half. </p> <p>For the first three years of our marriage, we continued to use birth control before deciding that while we weren't quite ready to TTC, we would just not actively try to thwart it. Even after two years of no pregnancies, we really didn't worry too much about it until my mother started mentioning all the problems she had had in getting pregnant. We did a little bit of preliminary testing but never figured out more than it was an issue on my end and not my husband's. I was dealing with another fairly serious medical condition at the same time that took all my attention and by the time I was ready to possibly start fertility testing again, my doctor strongly recommended I get an IUD (Mirena) to help with my other medical condition. It was about that time that we started putting money away towards adoption instead. </p> <p>Then, last year, close to my 30th birthday, I was talking with my sister on the phone and mentioned all the usual 30-year-old fears about getting older and such and how I was giving up on ever getting pregnant altogether. She (a very strong woman in a high-powered job in a very open bisexual relationship with a handful of people who has been anti-kids for as long as I can remember -- she's the type to get freaked out and painfully awkward around pretty much any kid under the age of seven) joked that if she ever accidentally got knocked up, she'd just give the baby to me, and OMG how perfect would that be? Because she'd lately been slightly interested in the actual experience of being pregnant but she wanted nothing to do with all the responsibilities of a baby at the end. There was no way she would give up her 80 hours a week job and all the bars and parties on the weekends. And somehow over the next few months it evolved from a joke into an actual plan.</p> <p>That was a year and a half ago. This idea has gone from her randomly getting knocked up to asking a few of her guy friends if they would be willing to have sex for a good cause and give up all rights to the resulting child to using an anonymous donor from a sperm bank. Then, about six months ago, my husband and I flew back to the States to visit the in laws and ended up driving up to my sister to go to a cryobank to freeze my husband's sperm to use. </p> <p>And so that leaves us where we are today. By state law, my husband's sperm had to be quarantined for six months before it could be used and that six months is up in just two weeks. My sister has been -- confusingly for me -- having the time of her life visiting acupuncturists and herbalists getting her cycle normalized (she had her Mirena removed a couple of months ago) and is nervously anticipating the first IUI treatment that should hopefully happen in October. She's the type of person who runs marathons and gets her master's degree a year early. She derives pleasure from pushing herself and achieving what she set out to do so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that this is something she is literally giddy to do. </p> <p>As for me, well, now that we've gotten this far, I'm trying to get my head around exactly what will happen once this baby is born. It's looking like we'll have to stay with the baby in the States for what could possibly be upwards of 8 weeks while the baby's processed for a military passport and UK visa. We're hoping to be able to stay with my in-laws but it's all down to timing. If my sister conceives right away, my in-laws will be able to house us the entire time. If not, well, we'll be house/hotel hopping with a newborn which doesn't sound fun in the least. Not to mention, the longer she takes to conceive, the younger the baby is when we have to move to another country in a year and a half. But then I'm honestly not sure at what age packing up and spending 24+ hours traveling would be easiest. Nine months if she gets pregnant right away? Younger? Is it ever easy with an infant? :)</p> <p>So yeah, that's the situation I'm currently trying to navigate. And out of all the issues and concerns that are still ongoing, my husband is ashamed that my biggest upset about this entire thing is that I am a newborn photographer who will finally have a newborn of my very own but will be halfway around the world from my at-home studio and all my fun props and sets. By the time we actually get home, the baby will be over two months and too big for most of them! So sad, hahaha!</p> <p>Thanks for reading all that if you've gotten this far. I look forward to chatting with you all! </p>