November 17, 2004
Super Shrink Me
I looked a lot better naked a year ago (I'd like to believe this anyway.) But unless you're lucky enough to see me naked you may not realize I need to lose almost 10 lbs. I do.
This weekend we watched Supersize Me and the guy gained almost 30 lbs in one month but it took him almost nine months to lose it. Why? Why is it so easy to gain weight but so difficult to lose? Biology is so cruel. This is not a time of famine (for me). Anyway, I was inspired by this tragic film and I spent the whole weekend in the kitchen just like one of those 1950s moms. Not a single artificial ingredient was used. I have a philosophy that if I need to lose weight I'll just eat less. Shouldn't that work? No South Beach Diet for me. No splenda. No weird manufactured food for me.
The only other time I dieted I gained weight so I'm calling this my non-diet Diet. If it works I shall write a best-selling book and sell it to make millions.
Posted by jana at 8:04 AM | TrackBack
July 12, 2004
Happy Birthday Britta!
34 weeks and 1 day.
Happy Birthday Britta Astrid Kleitsch!
Born: Monday, July 12, 2004 at 9:30am
4lbs 10ounces
Brown hair!
The most beautiful rose-colored lips to cry with.
No extra oxygen needed, monitors hardly beeping.
Mommy’s percocet is in action and the popsicle selection is adequate.
Today was the happiest day of my new life.
Posted by jana at 4:11 PM | TrackBack
July 11, 2004
Today: 34 weeks
My belly and I have made it to 34 weeks! Soon I'll be off the migraine inducing Nifedipine.
Coincidentally, 3 years ago today was Karsten's due date but he arrived instead on June 1st, at 34 weeks.
Posted by jana at 11:19 AM | TrackBack
July 8, 2004
Update: Still Pregnant
I wound down my evening with various guests. Ivan was the last one to stop by and I convinced him to watch a movie with me while I was hooked up to the monitor. My poor friend didn't know what he was getting into. I started contracting (read: panicking) and he learned how to read the monitor print outs. He should consider a career change as a nurse. Anyway, he finally had to leave and the nurse came back in and told me to get ready for more steroid shots... oh, but wait, I'd only had 6 contractions in one hour! You have to hit 7 before they order the shots. Britta settled down (or was it the lovely Ambien that settled me down?). Ivan left to join Eben in Slovakia this morning and called me from the airport to make sure I was not yet a mommy of two. Fortunately all has calmed down and there is still talk of me heading home to my own bed as soon as tomorrow! Some people go to Slovakia, some people move from hospital bed to home bed. I'd prefer the former but no one asked me.
Posted by jana at 4:40 AM | TrackBack
July 4, 2004
10 Deja Vus
The parallels from Karsten's birth and Britta's *almost* birth are eerily similar:
1. I had insomnia the night before. I woke up at 5am, had a snack and forced myself back to bed. Same experience 3 years ago.
2. In my head I thought, I need to get everything done at work today. I hadn't uploaded all of my mockups yet. I was able to get my work to a place where I felt I could leave without my team scratching their heads wondering what was going through my mind. The day Karsten was born I had finished everything at work as well.
3. I got the nursery done this weekend, well at least 80% done. With Karsten I worked like a madwoman getting the nursery done the weekend before his arrival. It is almost like these babies know there is a cute crib waiting for them at 3 tree point and they are anxious to be greeted.
4. My black crow. The bad omen. I won't mention names because I would feel terribly if this person knew I considered him a bad sign for me. But sure enough I saw this person in the elevator ride on Wednesday and I swear he asked me the same question about my pregnancy as he had the day Karsten was born.
5. Wearing the same pants as I had on the day Karsten was born. I almost wore the same shirt too oddly but decided against it.
6. My boss was on vacation. Same boss, different vacation. 3 years later.
7. The day before Karsten was born I took a longer beach walk than I had in ages. The day before Britta's almost arrival I took the longest walk I had taken in at least 2 months.
8. Becca reminded me she bought her first house when Karsten was born. She just made an offer on a condo the day before I landed at Swedish.
9. And finally... the feeling that something wasn't right. I told 4 people I woke up with the feeling that today was the day. I was hoping I was just paranoid but... I wasn't.
10. And finally, FINALLY, the gush. You may not want to read #10 if you are squeamish. I felt the gush of blood flooding and knew immediately what it was. The only difference this time is that instead of being at work I was at IKEA with my mom and Karsten. I called my mom from my cell phone in the restroom and told her to meet me in the car. Once my mom was able to find her way out of the IKEA maze we headed for triage. At least this time I knew where triage was, and most importlantly, how to dial room service.
Posted by jana at 7:58 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
June 26, 2004
Week: Almost 32
Hurrah, I feel as if I can finally celebrate this baby girl I've been incubating for almost 32 weeks now. I don't know what the mental change has been but perhaps it was the last doctor visit that did it. The doctor declared, "everything is going great" and suddenly my life seemed to be better. This new feeling of peace of mind allowed me to spend a half an hour or so yesterday bending over and picking up random things on the floor of my house. What a difference that made to how the house looks and how I feel.
Here is one note to all pregnant women: NEVER RENEW YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE WHILE 8 MONTHS PREGNANT. Ohmygoodness do I look huge, puffy, fat, unattractive, blah and this photo will stay with me for the next how many years? Plus, talk about lying about your weight on your license...
Posted by jana at 4:40 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 11, 2004
Doctors, doctors, doctors and a diagnosis!
Hurray, a diagnosis. I have Factor V Leiden heterozygous. I spoke with a perionatologist who suggested I call my old OB/GYN for a referral to a hematologist.
What does this all mean? I'm not sure. Will I have to wear special socks? Have a less sedentary job? Get injections before I fly? Take asprin the rest of my life? I really don't know. I'm glad I know about this condition so hopefully I can prevent anything bad from happening with my pregnancy.
Posted by jana at 11:55 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 4, 2004
pregnant dream
I haven't had one of those strange pregnant dreams in a while but last night I was rewarded. Andy was dating Barbara Streisand but I didn't care. I don't remember many details but I guess I was okay with him dating her because heck, she's Barbara Streisand. Go Andy.
Posted by jana at 1:28 PM | TrackBack
May 5, 2004
"but you look so healthy…"
What does this mean? People ask me about my pregnancy and if the conversation gets detailed enough that I mention I am having complications and that my pregnancy is "high risk" some people will say "You look healthy. Your baby will be fine." I've heard this comment several times now and it's starting to wear on me. How do they know? Can they see into my womb? What the heck does "looking healthy" mean? Should I have leper-esque sores pussing all over my body for people to think perhaps something might not be going quite right? Can you look at someone and tell if they have high blood pressure? Diabetes?
I apologize to anyone reading this post who may have told me I look healthy. Bless you. I'm glad I don't look like I'm about to keel over or ooze on you.
Another pregnant, hormonal rant by me. Just wait until June when I said I will start complaining.
Posted by jana at 4:52 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
April 12, 2004
I'm not complaining...yet
Kathy is 2 centimeters dilated and she could give birth any time now! I asked her how she is feeling and she said, "I feel pretty good." I let her know that this is bad behavior on her part. She really needs to be complaining -- a lot -- because I sure plan on doing so. Just to warn everyone who wonders why I say, "I feel fine now," that is because after June 1st I plan on non-stop complaining until this baby is born. Sample complaints: my back hurts, I can't trim my toenails, I can't sleep. The list will go on and on. Even after the baby is born I figure I'll have a good six weeks of complaining about post C-section pain, lack of sleep and who knows what else.
Next time I talk to Kathy I'd better hear at least 3 complaints! She's giving pregnant women everywhere a bad name.
On a more positive note -- tomorrow is my ultrasound! Around lunch time tomorrow I will know if I'm having a boy or a girl (not a critter).
Posted by jana at 6:38 PM | TrackBack
April 7, 2004
Choco Vice
Help! I'm spiraling out of control into a choc-o-holic bender. Chocolate covered strawberries are healthy, right? Even in mass quantities? Oh, the urge is getting worse. This baby must be a girl and is guiding me towards the fridge. Andy has gone to bed and there is no one to talk me away from those strawberries.
Boy, I've been starving this week. Perfect time to find this article.
Posted by jana at 8:16 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack