The Daily News

LFCA Latest Issue: Friday, September 25, 2009.

Latest Post on BlogHer: Parenting after Infertility.

My Status: Fed Josh's almonds to the squirrels. They needed them very badly.

Monday, June 01, 2009

Happy Birthday, Dear Me, Happy Birthday to You

I have sort of been dreading tomorrow all year. Today is my last day being on the correct side of the thirty-divide. Tomorrow, I will be 35-years-old.

Every once in a while this year, the fact that I was almost 35 would float into my mind. It was the age you always read about in books in regards to fertility. The age where fertility falls off the cliff, where chromosomal abnormalities go up, where miscarriage rates increase. On one hand, it feels really silly to look at 35 as this big, flashing red number when you had high FSH at 27 and implantation issues. But just as I can't dismiss the half hour after eating in regards to swimming or the eight hours in regards to sleep or the five-second-rule, I can't erase that this number is also ingrained in my head as a warning, a threshold, a no-going-back point.

Gulp.

Me, still 34 this past weekend, talking to the ChickieNob off-camera

Okay, so good things that happened this year: the twins started school and I survived (oh, and they survived too). I finished writing Navigating the Land of If and it came out. I wrote my first chicklit book. I finally got to see Smith Island after being in love with it for many years. I continued to be mushy-in-love with Josh. I went to BlogHer, my first conference ever. And I aged one more year and I aged one more year and I aged one more year, and while that may not seem like a large accomplishment, we are all too keenly aware of the alternative. So a year should be celebrated.

I was about to list sad things that happened this year, but fuck that. Not every post needs to be symmetrical. It's my birthday tomorrow. Let's celebrate instead.

Showing off the manicure that I got over the weekend. I look like an adult!

And yes, the red nail polish means that I chose the red bag...

104 comments:

In Due Time said...

Happy early Birthday!!! :-)

BigP's Heather said...

Happy Birthday!!

Wishing 4 One said...

Happy Happy Birthday Lolli. (Even though I chose the black bag with feathers, I think the red bag and that sexy new manicure is going to be super hot! Do post pics for us to see how lovely you look.)

Again, happy birthday my friend and congrats on a year of great accomplishments, wishing you many, many more to come.

JB - A.K.A. Jenn said...

.....Singing Happy Birthday to you........(well...maybe not)
It's the thought that counts, right?

LOVE LOVE LOVE The red nail polish and matching fantastic youthful smile!

HUGS

♥.Trish.♥ Drumboys said...

Happy birthday ... have a super day

jill said...

Happy Birthday! :)

one-hit_wonder said...

Happy birthday!

Emmy said...

Happy birthday tomorrow!!

I think it's good not to post the bad stuff that happened in the past year, focus on the good!

I hope your 36th year is filled with lots of love and joy.

LJ said...

Such a pretty princess! happy birthday!

Much love from the badgers.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!

TheMrs

Ellen K. said...

Happy birthday, dear Mel!

Queenie. . . said...

Happy birthday! And it's really not so bad on this side of the fence, fertility issues aside. I still feel like I'm 12 most of the time. Love the nails-very sassy!

Lori Lavender Luz said...

Omedetoo gozaimashita!

Mabruk! Eid milad sa'id!

Feliz Cumpleanos!

Enjoy your fete-ing. I am so happy for the happy things this year.

Tash said...

Happy Birthday!

And oh honey, wait until 40 to think about your body falling off a cliff. I'd be 35 again tomorrow if I could. Sigh.

loribeth said...

From where I sit, you're still a spring chicken!! Happy birthday!!

Kristin said...

Happy Birthday you gorgeous thing!

N said...

A very happy birthday in advance!!

S said...

Happy birthday!!!

I turned 38 in March and have LOVED being in my 30s!!

Delenn said...

Happy Birthday, you young one!

Jamie said...

Happy Birthday, Mel! I hope tomorrow is wonderful!

Eve said...

Happy Bday to you! I'm so feeling it myself these days!!!! I'll be 34 in July, and can hear my biological clock ticking around my neck like a the timer of a bomb. And, of course, I already have an elevated FSH and lowered egg reserve anyway, and yet I can't shake the BIG 35 looming cloud either.

Wishing you much happiness this coming year...and wow, what a year this past one has been! So many things to be proud of!!!!

Shelby said...

Happy birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy birthday dear Mel!
Happy Birthday to you!

Hope you have a great one!! You don't look a day over 30!

Jess said...

Happy Birthday!!

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday!! Here's to celebrating a wonderful year, and many more to come.

Anonymous said...

Hey, since 40 is the new 30...

Happy 25 yo!

Beautiful Mess said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Here's to a wonderful, fantastic year *raises glass* I didn't comment becuase I just NOW remembered *sorry* but I would have chosen the red bag too. I love red! Enjoy your birthday, hon! You deserve to celebrate!
*HUGS*

calliope said...

Happy Birthday Eve!!
You look stunning- and you are, inside and out!

(& damn- what a big, giant, GO YOU, year you have had!)

Faereyluna said...

Happy Birthday Mel,

I am right there with you as far as the fear of 35, I turn 34 in a Month and I am dreading it.

Anyway, shouldn't we all have a round of cyber margaritas to celebrate?

Hugs,
-Adela

annacyclopedia said...

A very happy birthday to you, dear Lolly. May the coming year bring you peace and joy beyond your wildest dreams.

Deathstar said...

Oh, I'm singing a happy birthday son ala Steve Wonder for you! I fell off the cliff, rolled down and got hit by tree roots, crashed into the river, got swept along into the rapids and fell down the waterfall! But I'm floating on down the river - enjoy the ride!

Anonymous said...

Very happy birthday!! you have achieved an awful lot and you shoudl be absolutely proud to show off your 35 years. Love, Fran

Kim said...

Happy Birthday to you!!! That is wonderful list of good things. I hope this year brings even more.

Anonymous said...

Have a great birthday tomorrow!! :)

a Tonggu Momma said...

Delurking to say happy birthday tomorrow! And I turn 35 on Wednesday.

still life angie said...

Happy Birthday, Mel, to a fellow 1974-er!

Erin said...

Happy birthday! I know what you mean about 35. It is creeping up on me as well.

KLTTX said...

Happy Birthday!

The nail polish looks great. I hope you got some great lip stick to go with it :)

Alexicographer said...

Happy birthday!

Not to bother you with facts and figures ;), but you've got nothing to worry about. The reason 35 is a "big deal" in the world of female fertility is that at the time amnio was identified as a test that could identify DS babies, the risk of an amnio causing a m/c equaled the risk of a 35 year old woman having a DS baby (based just on maternal age and no screening). The powers that be decided it made sense to recommend that women 35+ have amnios since that was the point at which the two risks were mathematically equal -- as if it's reasonable to equate those two very different probabilities/outcomes ... m/c versus baby with DS. Drives me crazy.

Our fertility doesn't drop off a cliff until 37. You've got 2 years to go, and I've got -3. Eh. Hang in there.

AnotherDreamer said...

Happy early Birthday :)

just me, dawn said...

Happy birthday!! I dreaded 35 too but every year we get is a blessing :)

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!!!!
And I loved the red bag :)

HereWeGoAJen said...

Happy birthday!

What kind of cake should I make us?

Clare said...

Happy Birthday! Hope you have a fabulous day!

Malky B. said...

Happy Birthday Mel! I'd say you've had quite a successful year!

Betty M said...

Happy Birthday!

Cara said...

Happy Birthday Mel! You look goooood in red.

Celebrate indeed, a virtual party for you perhaps??

Bernice Clifton said...

Happy birthday Mel! What an amazing lady you are!

FattyPants said...

Happy birthday. I think a virtual party is in order!

Aurelia said...

Alexicographer is right! And those ancient numbers are based on the very poor technical skills used to do amnios done back then.

So 35 is irrelevant. Look at me--DHEA and boom, my ovaries come back to life. I'm 25 again, and my FSH is normal. So relax and enjoy the number birthday girl. *Smooch*

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!!

Baby Smiling In Back Seat said...

Happy Birthday!!!

Finishing two books and publishing one of them in a year is an unbelievable accomplishment, not even counting everything else.

Michelle said...

I know what you mean about 35. I felt the same.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

SS said...

Happy Birthday!! 35 looks good on you. I was there in February. On the positive side I believe we're at our peak! On the negative side, we're at our peak, so it's all downhill...ha.

(just on the looks front of course!)

Geohde said...

Happy of happiest birthdays to you, Mel.

I'm not far behind in age. :)

g

nancy said...

Happy birthday dear Mel :)

I had a "mid life crises" (I guess that means I will die at 70) when I turned 35. It's when I joined roller derby. That's an idea, why don't you join??

But really, it's not that bad on the other side!

ColourYourWorld said...

Oh you make me feels old !
You look as gorgeous as ever.
Happy Birthday again xx

Vintage Mommy said...

Oh to be 35 again!!

WooHoo for the red bag, and a very very Happy Birthday to you Mel.

Rachel said...

Happy birthday, enjoy your day tomorrow!

Sunny said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :D

Hillary said...

Happy birthday!! I hope it's a great day that kicks off a great 35th year!

Meghan said...

Happy happy birthday!!

Jendeis said...

Happy Birthday Sweetie!! JD took a pic on his phone of your book at the Tysons B&N. Will email once he figures out how to do that. :)

chicklet said...

Happy birthday!

Once Upon A Time said...

Sending birthday wishes your way!

Rebecca said...

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEL!

I hope it is as fabulous as you are!

And I know I've said it before, but you have one of the most gorgeous, welcoming, peaceful smiles I've ever seen. I get a big ol' smile in my heart every time I see it! ((((BIG SMOOSHY BIRTHDAY HUGS!!!))))

FET Accompli said...

Happy Birthday!!!

battynurse said...

Happy Birthday!!! Even if they can be depressing. I hope you have lots of cake.

chickenpig said...

You are such a young puppy! :) I will be turning 39 this August. My twins were born the year I turned 35. My baby girl was born 2 weeks before I turned 38. At the time I did the fresh cycle to conceive her I had 57 mature follicles the day of retrieval...yeah, 57. So, suck it infertility ;) HAH!

Happy Birthday to you. And many more!

Leah said...

Hippo Birdie Two Ewe
Hippo Birdie Two Ewe
Hippo Birdie Deer Melissa
Hippo Birdie Two Ewe

It's much better when you can see the visual of all the animals. :-)

I plan to give you a big, wet, sloppy birthday kiss when I see you on Sunday. So make sure you are looking smokin' hot with those red fingernails and whatnot.

tireegal68 said...

welcome to the age where it's all happening!
happy birthday from a 41 yr old who is still alive and kicking!

areyoukiddingme said...

Happy Birthday, Lollipop! Welcome to a new demographic. I'm about to leave said demographic, and that's slightly more traumatic than entering was. I hope 35 is your best year to date!

..al said...

Happy Birthday!

Tiger said...

((Hugs))
Happy Birthday!!

Heather said...

Happy birthday to you! I'm just six months behind you, so you'll have to let me know how 35 goes. :)

Somewhat Ordinary said...

Happy Birthday, Mel!! What a great year of really fabulous things. I can't wait to share many more with you in the blog world!

Artblog said...

You've still got your youthful looks which is a plus for any woman. Happy Birthday dear Mel, may your year be fruitful and filled with all good things :)

And your nails are the same colour as mine this weekend, very chic :)

Larisa said...

happy birthday!!

MsPrufrock said...

A manicure, oooo la la. No manicurist would be able to find my stumpy little "nails", so I shall not bother with that. Yours does look wonderful though!

Happy birthday! 35 is the new 20, or something like that. You look marvellous for it. I hope your day is full of relaxation and good times.

Kathy said...

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Mel, happy birthday to you! Here's to another wonderful year in your life! CHEERS! :)

Soupy said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, to one fabulous 35 year old from another 35 year old! LOL :) Hope your day ROCKS!

Coffeegrljapan said...

Good gracious I hope you're celebrating with some cake and ice cream! Everything is better with cake and ice cream ;) And congratulations on a fabulous year. I can't wait for that chick lit book.... :-)

Anjali said...

Mel,
I think you'll find this side of 35 to be absolutely divine. Screw AMA.

All the best!
Anjali

T-Mommy said...

35 are the new 25 or as I like to call them, the 35 reloaded!

Wishing you not just a Happy B-day, but a GREAT year also!

Anonymous said...

The world is a better place, truly, because you're in it. Happy Birthday to you. Hope this year is the best one, yet.

Sue said...

Wishing you an awesome birthday! Enjoy the red bag!

N7 said...

Wishing you a wonderful birthday filled with hugs and cake!!!

Mrs. Chop said...

Wishing you a very happy birthday!

MLO said...

Happy Birthday!

Here's hoping to many, many more.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Mel! I hope you have a wonderful day.

astral said...

Happy Birthday to you Mel!! I wish you all the best on your special day. I think you are a wonderful, kind and caring person--I feel so lucky to have you as my blog buddy. {{hugs}} Now go party!!

Barb said...

Happy Birthday sweetie pea! Poo on the divide! :)

B said...

Happy Birthday lovely Mel

Tara said...

Happy Birthday, Mel. I hope it's been fabulous.

Wordgirl said...

Better late than never -- but wishing you happy birthday wishes..and the other side of 35 isn't too terrible...;)


Love,

Pam

Elizabeth said...

Happy Happy Birthday! How in the world does your hair grow SO FAST?

Dora said...

Happy birthday, Mel! Love the red bag!! Want a pic of the entire outfit. Please?

Paz said...

Lordy Lolli, so many birthday wishes, my finger got tired scrollin' all the way to the end of the comments. Ditto what they all say.... Happiest of years to you friend, happiest of special days.

Stacie said...

Happy Birthday!

Eden Riley said...

Mate ... 35 was my favourite age. I got my sh*t together ... so grown up. And you are still in your early mid thirties. You're fine.

Hope it was awesome XOX

Billy said...

Happy Birthday :-)

Alana said...

Happy birthday to you and your lovely fingernails! :)

Jamie said...

Happy Birthday, Mel!! Sending you much love and all the birthday wishes I've got!

Caro said...

Happy (very belated) birthday. I turned 35 this year too and know what you mean about it being a little scary.