WPPWSPUF

Whiny Pathetic Pregnant Woman Seeks Pretty Unswollen Feet

My feet are already swelling! I can't believe it. I'm only 18 weeks along! What is wrong with me? UGH! I know that it's partly my fault...ok, maybe mostly my fault.

How is this my fault? Depends on how much you know about edema and it's causes. Pregnancy can cause swelling in the extremities but you can lessen the effects by doing things like not eating salty foods, high calorie high sugar foods, and by increasing your water intake (a lot!). So you can imagine I must look like a blimp right now since I have eaten horribly and drank little water this week. I'm turning it around, but man does it suck.

Have you ever had swollen anything? Not just a bruised-type-swollen, but swelled up from excess water retention in your interstitial tissue (sorry, my nutrition class is peeking in)? Well, let me just tell you about my experience with my previous 9 months of hell.

the swelling was progressive, so it wasn't like my feet doubled in size overnight. But when they did get huge they didn't look like feet anymore. They look like those squishy toys that are fairly fallic - they're at the check-out like at the grocery store and when you grab them they slip out of your hand over and over. They have that look, but they have the consistency of the toy right next to it that is always called a "stress ball" but I've never actually seen one work. When you poke your finger into the flesh it makes a huge indent that takes a very very long time to go away. It's disgusting.

And not only does it look gross, but it hurts. You feel like your feet have fallen asleep all of the time. Every step makes it hurt more. like your walking on pine needles all of the time. Fun stuff.

Can you still be cool and be a hippie?

I'm just wondering because I would like to retain my "cool" and "hip" status (go ahead laugh) but my obsession with cloth diapering is about to take a turn into the deep dark woods. Does my other obsession with Mac makeup and that adorable Coach handbag (in multicolor, not bronze) that I'll never buy (because it's $218) not count now?

How about I compromise. I'll make designer diapers. They won't just be your run of the mill diaper with Strawberry Shortcake or Dora on the outside. I'll make sure they're studded in Swarovski Crystal, with a velour cover and matching Gucci sunglasses. And what toddler can go without her bling bling?

Maybe you could suggest a name for this fantasmic line of glorious duds? Let me know.

I'll think about it to, on my way to walmart to buy Dora the Explorer fabric.

Tinkyada yuckies (lesson #2)

My adventures with the elusive brown rice noodle continue. I made chicken soup yesterday. Chicken stock, veggies and cut up chicken breast. I stuck it all in the crock pot, seasoned it, turn it on and then thought "Hey, I could make chicken NOODLE soup." And I grabbed the tinkyada noodles and threw in a couple of handfuls. Not enough to make it more noodles than soup - just a little bit. Oh, and because I watch too much food network I decided to make it a little more creamy by handing some cream of muchroom soup.

So I left and ran errands for the day. It had been cooking about 6 hours when I came home and checked on it. The chicken was done, and the veggies looked good, but where are the noodles? It was like someone had gone through the soup and took out every single noodle. I couldn't find one. Which means they disentegrated into the yucky smelling soup.

Remember, I'm pregnant so if it smells even a little like something I won't like, then it's completely off limits. Thankfully though Ali isn't so prejudiced. She slurped it down just fine. *shiver*

Lesson #2: Tinkyada noodles DO NOT work in soup. unless you cook them right before you eat them and add them to your soup (However I would be cautious on the base before adding something that could ruin the overall flavor).

Feelings

I'm not sure what to call it, but yesterday I had what I consider to be an anxiety attack or panic attack. It's not an overdramatic thing or something that anyone else would know I was going through, but it's weird! I start feeling overly sensitive to touch, sound and my own movements. I start feeling like I'm watching a scary tense movie and I'm waiting for something bad to happen, only it's all in my head. I don't breath funny, my pulse doesn't seem to change, and I move exactly how I normally would. I just start feeling really tense inside and if I close my eyes things start either moving really fast in my imagination or they start blowing up like a balloon and exploding.

Yeah, I'm strange.

So in the midst of my attack I decided I needed to sit and zone in front of the TV because doing "stuff" around the house seemed to be making it worse. I decided to put my hand on my stomach while I calmed myself.

If you've seen pictures of me you know I'm not a skinny chick and when a woman has a baby her "rolls" kind of jellify making things much squishier and jigglier. (TMI?) When I was pregnant with Ali we didn't feel her kick until after 20 weeks. I'm only 17 weeks right now and since I have a much squishier tummy I can feel my uterus (again TMI?) a bit better. So I was pushing through the fat globules (Ok...I know that was TMI...but I obviously don't care) and I felt her (I refuse to call the fetus "it") move! I was so excited and my panic attack disappeared.

Then later that night I grabbed joe's hand, shoved it down my pants, pushed through the jiggly and he felt her too! (sickos! Not me, the baby!)

Baby Count Down

Sorry about the eye sores

I hope your eyes heal nicely. I have been trying to do something I really know nothing about. I thought I actually had some computer intelligence in me and tried to mess with my layout - because I hated it! It took me 3 separate tries just to get it to work ok. So hopefully this page will function. If it doesn't, please let me know. I'll be trying to tweak it as time goes, so that it functions better than it does now, I just don't have good html editing software to help me right now. But I'm slowly getting it.

thanks for the patience!

"Diaper Time"

"Diaper Time" is Joe's little theme music/saying for when Ali's crapped her pants. TMI I know, but it's cute anyway. I'm excited about the change in our diaper time because tonight I'm picking up my first set of cloth diapers. I've been getting a lot of friction about this change, but I figure since I change 90% of them anyway that it was my decision.

What finally pushed me to do it was that yesterday I got Ali her first pair of panties. She loved them, but when she peed in them she was very good about telling me: "Mama!! Poo-poo, poo-poo, poo-poo." She never tells me when she pees in her diaper. (yes I know the word poo is not pee, but if you only have 4 words in your vocabulary I'm sure you would find more useful ways to use the word 'poo') And since can't leave her running around naked all day long in the middle of winter and stuck in the house I'm getting cloth diapers hoping that they will help to potty train her.

Yes, life is so exciting in my house.

He's mine. ALL MINE!  

mmmmmmmwwwwwaaahhh! 

MAP! I LOVE MAP!!! 

Ooooohhhhh...I'm the boogie man! 

McDonalds to the rescue?

I've been really excited to try more recipes with these brown rice noodles because they taste so close to normal pasta - and they hold up very well. They don't overcook very easily, although yesterday I discovered that they DO overcook at some point.

I was just going to make a usual dinner of pasta, olive oil and shrimp. I made it just how I normally would, with the exception of the Tinkyada noodles. The noodles came out looking a little mushy, but I didn't think anything of it. I liberally poured on the olive oil with some salt and pepper and threw in the sauteed shrimp and veggies. Ali dove right in, eating all of her shrimp in one big inhale. Joe and I took a few bites and I realized just how BAD it was. Here's what happened after those few bites:

"Honey, this doesn't taste good."

"What do you mean?", he says trying not to agree too quickly.

"I mean, it tastes like crap, and I'm not eating anymore."

"Oh good! Me too. Sorry Hon.", Like it's somehow his fault that I screwed up dinner! HA! In hindsight I should have used that to my advantage - Damn!

"Guess you're going to McDonalds then. Bye."

Now that I've had time to think about what went wrong I've determined that regardless of the mushiness, Tinkyada noodles were not meant to be served with olive oil. They just don't taste right. They need a sauce that had spunk and a deeper flavor. I'll try spaghetti next time - with really really good (and lots of it) sauce.

Yep, my shrimp healthy dinner turned into two supersized meals with gigantic sodas. I may not be avoiding the preggo picture after all!

my strange child 

Interesting Recipe

Ali and I both have some allergies that make eating a little more tricky. So I've taken some cooking classes from my doctor that have made things a lot easier and a little more fun. I took a kid's cooking class last week and there was this recipe that I REALLY liked.

So I tried it a few nights ago, and ruined it. It was like eating peanut butter on noodles. Not to appetizing. But I measured much better today and it was great. Well, maybe not great to some. If you really like Thai then you'll like this!

Sesame Noodles

8 oz noodles - Tinkyada noodles are the BEST! they are gluten/wheat free and don't taste like it at all, which means you're getting a much more nutrient rich food without even realizing it!

3 Tbsp tahini
1 Tbsp almond butter
1 tsp maple syrup
2 Tbsp brown rice vinegar
2 Tbsp Tamari/Shoyu - Soy contains wheat, so Tamari is a better substitute
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 Tbsp Water

Cook noodles and mix it all up. I think next time I'll try it with a little green onion as a garnish. It's yummy!

The Ultimate Goal

Is to NOT look like this in 4 months!

NNNNOOOOOOOOOOO

This is my new favorite word. Actually it's Alison's new favorite word. It's the word that means everything apparently. Especially when she's just plain unhappy.

"Do you want a cookie?"
"No"
"Do you want a hug?"
"No"
"Do you want Dora?"
"No"
"Do you..."
"DORA DORA DORA" (which actually sounds like DOWA DOWA DOWA DOWA)

So then I get up to put Dora on and she freaks out because I've moved and we're back to the "no" game.

She's almost got it down to a science. The only inconsistent part is whether or not she naps before or after her meltdown. Sometimes it's when she's still sleepy from a deep nap, although right before it happens she seems very content. Other times it's more expected because she's obviously so tired that she looks like she's had a six pack too many.

Daddy's favorite new song is "I hate Dora. I hate Dora." She giggles every time he sings. Poor girl has no clue.

Int'l Womens Day

I've got my boxers all in a twist because of stupid women. Stupid, grumpy women. Okay, they may not be intellectually stupid, but they're angry and rude. Being pregnant means that I have to be on one of those stupid bulletin boards where everyone is due at the same time. (have to is total sarcasm...I'm just as stupid as all of the women on there for being there in the first place)

Anyway, so this C-section debate is ongoing. There is always some woman who's gotta not only be on her soapbox but push everyone else around and try to shove the information in their face about how they shouldn't have one. Then all of the bitter women who have had or will be having c-sections get all pissy towards the first woman, then a war starts. And it's SSSSOOOOO stupid.

The statistics aren't stupid:
1070s - approximately 5%
1996 - 20.7%
1997 - 20.8%
1998 - 21.2%
1999 - 22.0%
2000 - 22.9%
2001 - 24.4%
2002 - 26.1%

So why are the rates rising? Is it saving lives? No, actually infant mortality has remained fairly constant throughout the last 80 or so years. Many women believe rates have risen because of liability costs to doctors, doctors wanting more predictability, and women thinking it would be easier (even though it's an invasive surgery).

What I find hysterical is how upset these pro-c-section women get. OH MY GOD! My opinion that these statistics mean doctors aren't doing their jobs good enough is harming your ability to do what you want? Well, I'll be. I must be God! That's how upset these women get, on both sides.

"C-Sections are evil. Your child will suffer and so will you"

"At least I didn't have to spend hours in pain and lose my bowels in front of everyone. Yuck"

That's how stupid women are. So thank god that it's International Women's Day! (thank you hannihaus) I mean what better day than today to be a stupid woman?

 

Some of you may know already that we are trying to find a new home for Tundra. This is our baby, so we're watching our for her interests and need to find a family who can play with her outside more. She's getting fat and bitchy! Here's the post we've been advertising with: Tundra is a 5 year old lab/australian shepherd mix that loves everyone. She gets along great with other dogs, children, loves to play, cuddle and sleep. She needs a place with a yard or a family that is very active outdoors with their animals. She has had obedience classes, although due to a lack of consistency she may need a little bit of encouragement before you let her off of the leash in an open area - she's been indoors without a yard or much activity for about a year, so the wild outdoors may overwhelm her! She is a fantastic dog and we really want to find the right home for her because we aren't able to provide it right now.:) 

YAY! Finally a step in the right direction!

Patriot Act Article

I'm a granola eatin bunny hugger

I can't believe it, but I would be in denial if I didn't say that I am a bunny-hugging hippie. Okay, I don't really care about people wearing fur, I'm not a democrat or a member of the green party, I think the sierra club and green peace are a bunch of freaks, and I'm pretty sure I love pepsi and big trucks, BUT I have started worrying about western medecine, pesticides and whether the evil corporate machine is going to destroy the world as we know it.

(so dad, I believe I will be getting that bnyhgr license plate!)

I watched (I have about 20 minutes left of it) a show called the Future of Food this week that is so freaky. I know it's propoganda, but what isn't these days? It covers the agricultural industry in the U.S. and Canada and talks genetic engineering and how it's changing and possibly destroying the agricultural industry.

Most industrialized countries have or are passing laws against genetic engineering. The reasons are amazing! In the U.S. you cannot patent life according to the constitution, but when a company in the early 1990's genetically engineered a seed the U.S. patent office (and I believe the Supreme Court was involved, although I could be wrong) allowed it. This has ruined farmers.

The company that first altered and patented their seed was the manufacturer of the weed killer, Round Up. They created a seed that was immune to Round Up so that farmers could more liberally spray it in their crops. A company called Monsant has the patent on the seed called Round Up Ready. The first result is farmers spraying all of their crop, contaminating (in my opinion) the crop and the food it produces.

Then small farmers who had spent years and years (some as long as 50 years) cultivating and storing their own seed found themselves being sued by the large corporations. They claimed the the farmers has stolen their seed. They had gone onto the farmer's land and tested samples, finding that the farmer's plants had cross pollinated with the genetically engineered plant. The courts upheld the lawsuits because of the patents. If the farmer had it and didn't pay for it, then he was liable and had to pay the fines and dispose of all of his seed (in many cases, this was thousands of pounds!).

On top of the the crop that the farmer now had was mixed with the genetically altered seed and was becoming immune to the pesticides (but only some) and was not performing nearly as well.

Amazing! And just think that part of the problem is government subsidies. These farmers can't afford to grow the crops on their own, so we the taxpayer pay the extra cost to just keep them in business. But gosh, isn't it nice that it's all so cheap at the store? gggrrrrr

In the library....yawn

I so forgot what it was like to be in the UAA library. I am falling asleep just thinking about it. Although I do have fond cute memories of Joe flirting with me in the library computer lab our freshman year. Of course this was before you could really "chat" with yahoo or even ICQ. We only cwolf, which was an archaic green screen email system where in order to "talk" to someone you had to know the right commands. Joe would chat with me in the computer lab just a few computers away without me knowing about it. I know, we're pathetic. Such geeks.

I actually came here tonight with the express purpose of writing my paper. Of course today would be "pregnancy brain" day and I would go so far as to forget the hard drive with my paper on it and also lock myself out of the house and the car with the baby in hand and the car running. Yes, I'm a smart girlie today.

I left the hard drive at home and I don't have a wolfcard, so I can't print off the great journal articles I found because I don't have a freakin PASS! GGGRRR!! So I have to go get one tomorrow, although I'm probably going to just print the articles off at home anyway.

I'm so not funny right now. How sad. I aspire to be Hanni. If you haven't read her blog you must. And you must read these specific entries in this order: Mystery Malady and Finger in my Keister. You will be in tears or in the bathroom by the time you're done!