tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post2398946293905254202..comments2009-07-18T10:48:56.594-05:00Julie Pipperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03169574697104642479noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-27237689343037862892009-07-17T08:22:01.717-05:002009-07-17T08:22:01.717-05:00I believe that if childbearing was something that white males did in this country, fertility would always be covered, infact, fertility would be cured. I know that probably sounds crazy, but I was labeled infertile, and remember wondering why the doctor wouldn&#39;t look me in the eye, or up from the chart as they gave me that as a sentence. I went on to adopt a son, and then give birth to my daughter, both true miracles. This post was really touching and beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.ConverseMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09964215682943025507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-52517564077645248412009-05-15T13:03:00.000-05:002009-05-15T13:03:00.000-05:00I never really liked Texas when I visited and now I know never to leave Massachusetts. My health insurance now is not as good as it was under an HMO (more forms and having to fight declined claims all the time), but it is still just fine for our family. Thank goodness you were fortunate enough to have been in MA in the beginning.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09384193725703209859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-4951143702792318882009-05-15T10:49:00.000-05:002009-05-15T10:49:00.000-05:00What a great post, Julie. Thank you for painting a beautiful picture of what good health care meant for your family and could mean for so many more.Hip Mom's Guidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04029757928192403201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-21190137696895275232009-05-14T06:15:00.000-05:002009-05-14T06:15:00.000-05:00Stunning piece. And I for one think MORE people need to read about stories like yours. Wanting children is a natural thing; it's devastating for those who struggle to procreate. And health care should be a right, a human rights issue in fact, not a privilege.<br /><br />I'm happy and relieved it all worked out for you and your family ... and sad for the far too many people our health care system doesn't look out for.ewe are herehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339650361453626546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-29926065356602583412009-05-13T11:40:00.000-05:002009-05-13T11:40:00.000-05:00Beautifully expressed. Thank you for writing that. <br /><br />Yesterday the ultrasound tech asked how I came to be carrying twins. "The miracles of modern science" was my reply. My sister thinks she wanted to hear that I am a twin. I think people without infertility issues assume pregnancy for everyone works as your gym teacher suggested. <br /><br />Off to check out the momocrats effort - quality, affordable health care access being my big issue professionally.nonlineargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414675024101618604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-58001424678318102282009-05-12T15:42:00.001-05:002009-05-12T15:42:00.001-05:00Reality is always beautiful, if not also magical realist sometimes in its own way.<br /><br />xxoocynematichttp://cynematic.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-19709161174357780462009-05-12T15:42:00.000-05:002009-05-12T15:42:00.000-05:00Reality is always beautiful, if not also magical realist sometimes in its own way.<br /><br />xxoocynematichttp://cynematic.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-3227873326549944622009-05-10T20:51:00.000-05:002009-05-10T20:51:00.000-05:00Thank you, thank you, for all the work you did helping me promote this, and for this lovely post, and for being awesome.Jaelithehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081888212421953409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-78596162123794288622009-05-10T06:34:00.000-05:002009-05-10T06:34:00.000-05:00First of all, the coach in health class cracked me up. I've said this several times before, too, about scaring us out of sex by lying to us about pregnancy. And the point about why we've all waited so long is really a good one.<br /><br />My story of moving into motherhood doesn't get told very often, either. I'd given up my career to move with my husband, and worked at Starbucks until the day I gave birth to keep their health insurance (which wasn't that great - we still owe several thousand on my first child's emergency c-section, even with the insurance). I would cry in the bathroom during my 10-minute break because I was so unbearably tired. A woman carrying a full-term baby is not meant for standing on concrete for hours at a time. Nor does she care if your coffee is correct.<br /><br />Anyway, it's a great piece. Thanks for sharing it.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175187905212028267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-44635805470931265482009-05-08T19:25:00.000-05:002009-05-08T19:25:00.000-05:00This is a great post, Julie.<br /><br />Not everyone gets the picture card outcome with motherhood - some in the transit into it, some on the train ride through.jeaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322709527738134797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-19108262326558537022009-05-08T08:08:00.000-05:002009-05-08T08:08:00.000-05:00Wow. Great message. Having had one of mine in New Hampshire and one in Texas, I totally get what you're talking about.TX Poppethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14383481571693166586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-76727689014675462242009-05-08T05:41:00.000-05:002009-05-08T05:41:00.000-05:00Oh, Julie, Happy Mother's Day to you and your whole family. I love every bit of your story. It is amazing and brave.<br />Wo-hoo! To Mass health insurance!!!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09390898429089863816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-12703689541405225822009-05-08T01:25:00.000-05:002009-05-08T01:25:00.000-05:00Amazing, amazing post.<br /><br />My husband recently had surgery, and as I review bills as they pour in, all I can think is to thank god we have health insurance.Lady Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13360693450146358247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-64563644602499648172009-05-07T22:32:00.000-05:002009-05-07T22:32:00.000-05:00It IS chilling. Absolutely chilling. I'm so glad it has a happy ending for your family.<br /><br />I hope someday it will be a happy ending for everyone's family.Mayberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342826784650208124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-67738511240282762032009-05-07T20:37:00.000-05:002009-05-07T20:37:00.000-05:00You are awesome. This post is awesome.<br /><br />YOU are awesome.Her Bad Motherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03535958887714152413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-81752480500166428192009-05-07T20:14:00.000-05:002009-05-07T20:14:00.000-05:00I have long thought (well, for about five years and four months, which is exactly how old my son is) that we do not have much truth in the cultural narratives about what it means to become and then to be a mother. There are lots of soft focus photographs and aphoristic maxims that stand for mothering. And even though there are an exponentially growing number of message boards and online forums and books with titles like <I>Pregnancy Sucks!</I>, they largely tend somehow to make light of the serious difficulties or elide the hardest questions. And, there is always that lurking feeling that even if a few readers agree with you, you are all still in the minority. As if somewhere there is a "majority" of women sitting dreamily in rocking chairs nursing perfect babies who sleep well and poop on a schedule and don't screw with their hormones. Whether it's infertility, or lack of medical care, or lack of self-awareness, or the crushing guilt of feeling inadequate for being depressed, there are many many things about our system and our narrative that do a disservice to real women.<br /><br />Thank you for this post that highlights one part of that. I only wish I'd known you 5+ years ago when a voice like yours would have been so very reassuring.MommyTimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860003098383600806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-33808506388776060912009-05-07T19:59:00.000-05:002009-05-07T19:59:00.000-05:00Thank you for sharing this very personal story. You are wonderful.<br /><br />It continues to shock me that so many people can't afford adequate healthcare in this country. Things have got to change.alejnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220142310790773053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-37540758360917308972009-05-07T19:30:00.000-05:002009-05-07T19:30:00.000-05:00wonderful wonderful post... thank you.Madgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905740781186585499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-72337630307440395952009-05-07T13:03:00.000-05:002009-05-07T13:03:00.000-05:00Julie, Julie. <br /><br />This is a great piece. Thank you.Magpiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15460136246441367993noreply@blogger.com