Overachiever

This week, my doc sent me in for an estimated fetal weight scan.  (Acause of the two bellays, fundal height measurements aren't exactly accurate).  The result?  This kid is in the 91st percentile for weight, at an estimated 3 lbs., 6 oz. at 28 weeks.  My mom said her grandchild is an overachiever.

If the baby maintains this rate of growth, we're looking at about a 9 lb. baby.  Yes, I am growing the next Alex Ovechkin.

This large size (assuming that these estimates are accurate, many times they are not) doesn't bother me and I was not all that surprised.  I'm large and was a bigger baby (over 8 lbs.) and my siblings were both bigger babes as well (sis was the same as me; brother was over 9 lbs).  My only concern here is that I not be pushed into an unnecessary induction or c-section just because of my weight or the weight of the baby.  I'd greatly prefer to have labor start on its own and have an unmedicated birth.  Obviously, if me or the baby is in danger, we do what's necessary, even if that includes meds and/or a c-section.  I plan to sit down with my doc when I see her in 2 weeks, to discuss our preferences and how that will work with her practices and that of the hospital.

The good news is I've really been trying to do all that I can do to help us have that unmedicated birth that we want.  I've been walking every day and doing my Bradley-recommended exercises most days.  I've been pretty good at getting the right amount of sleep.  I'm drinking lots of water.  I'm doing really well at controlling my portions and making sure I'm eating good foods (ex: I'm having yogurt almost every day which has really helped with the heartburn).  I passed the 1-hour glucose test, yay!  I successfully limited my weight gain to 3 lbs. this month, yay!

This month, I'd like to keep my exercise up and work on doing the Bradley exercises every day.  I'm going to work on making sure I include a 20-minute nap at lunchtime, so I'm not worried about falling asleep on the drive home from work.  I'm also going to try and get back to meal planning, to make sure that I'm eating a good variety of proteins and fruits and veggies.  (Yeah, including grains has never been a problem for me).

Last, and definitely not least...JD got a job!  He started this week and is feeling very positive about what he'll be doing and the people with whom he'll be working.  We're both hoping that this job will be a good fit for him -- something that will be more of a longer-term situation.

I'm hoping to post more often than I have been, not only about the baby and how we're doing with cleaning out what will be the baby's room, but also with regard to how we're doing with routines, meals and exercise.  Thank you all for sticking with me through these lean-posting times.

Still Alive

Thanks to all those who've been checking up on me.  Nothing much has changed around here -- still at my parents' (I seem to experience a backslide in health (not on purpose) every time I try to move back to my own home), still on the pump (back at my elevated level of meds after a disastrous experience trying to wean off last week prompted by my DA (dumb a**) insurance company), still crazy after all these years.

My days are pretty similar from one day to the next: eat oatmeal, drink water, read the paper, eat pears (diced or mashed; did you know pears have tons of fiber and can be used instead of prunes for relieving constipation?), check my work email, drink water, take The Boy and myself on a 30-minute walk, eat a handful of mini-pretzels, read book/magazine, drink more water, play online Sudoku/jigsaw puzzles, have JD make me a cuppa tea, nap, feel sick, realize I haven't eaten for 90 minutes and that's why I'm sick, eat a piece of raisin toast, drink more water, do another online puzzle while listening to a C-SPAN podcast, eat dinner with family, watch the Caps or 24, eat Jello, sleep.  Pooping is an event worthy of cheers and fistbumps.  This is sad.  I am hopeful that I will be able to do some short stints (a couple hours at a time) back at work next week.

Overall though, I'm doing much better now than I was a few weeks ago.  I'm at 14 weeks today and we're going to try weaning me off the pump again in about a week and a half.  I'm hopeful that that will go better than last week, but am pretty Zen about it.  If I have to stay on the pump, so be it.

Now Playing on WJEN: "Entering Bootytown" from the Music & Lyrics soundtrack.

Food, Folks, Fun, Fearsome Anger, Fehr Scores, Furniture Care

I hope that everyone in the US had a happy Thanksgiving, or at the very least, you've survived the long weekend. To everyone else around the globe, hope you had a nice weekend!

Our Thanksgiving was pretty good. We spend odd years with my family, so of course, that's always great. I successfully stayed on detox diet, but it really sucked to not eat stuffing or the four million desserts that were served.

For Thanksgiving, I had:
-Turkey (expertly made by my mom)
-Salad
-Butternut Squash Soup (also made by my mom, which I thought was awesome and everyone else thought demonstrated how long it's been since I had good food)
-Quinoa with Dried Fruits & Nuts (made by me)
-Butternut Squash Brown Rice Pasta Bake (made by me, not successful, will not be repeating)
-Baked Apples with Oats & Almonds (made by BFF, so I had my own dessert, yay!)

I did prevail upon my mom to give my containers of stuffing, green bean casserole and the pumpkin bread made by the Princess (my brother's wife), all of which are residing in my freezer awaiting post-detox feasting.
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On Friday, BFF and I finally made it to the tailor's, to get a bunch of stuff altered (hems, zippers, what have you). We then got lunch and braved the mob at DSW to get some shoes. Then, we just hung out at her house. We always have such a great time together and it was nice to just chill.
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Saturday, SIL and her family came over to use our pool. Then, we all met up with JD's parents to have lunch and celebrate SIL's birthday. My in-laws have now successfully ruined another one of my favorite restaurants. All they do is bitch, bitch, bitch. Nothing is ever right. I love them, but sometimes they really suck. Then, we had to sit at the mall's play area with them and four million little kids and babies to watch my nephews frolic in the chaos. It was not fun.

The night improved though, because we had Chinese food and I watched Eric Fehr (whom I met at Hockey 'n' Heels) score a goal 10 seconds before the end of the third period, helping the Caps win in an overtime shootout against Montreal. Yay!
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Sunday was spent in lounging around, picking price stickers off our china, washing our china, putting away our china (one day my house will be clean and organized; I hope) and watching TV. Oh, and we had Thai for dinner.

Comme Ci, Comme Ca

Nothing much going on here. Just wanted to let y'all know that I'm still here and doing OK.

JD is also doing OK. A month into his new job, he's concerned that he doesn't really know what he's doing (the code is something that he's not familiar with), but he does think it's cool that he got paid to watch Mission Control launch Atlantis.

Yesterday, my friend, BB, and I went to Hockey 'n' Heels, a Caps event for women. It was awesome! We got to go out on the Caps' practice ice with some players and try to score a goal, win a faceoff, and learn stickhandling. Then, we got to try on some equipment (pads and gloves and helmets, oh my), we spoke to 2 TV analysts, then we got time with Bruuuuce "Gabby" Boudreau, the head coach, who taught us about prescouting teams with game films. Will show pics as soon as BB sends them to me.

I'll be cooking and freezing some detox-allowed food for Thanksgiving this weekend. I'm planning to make: quinoa with dried fruits and nuts, whipped/mashed sweet potatoes with pumpkin and a butternut squash-brown rice pasta bake. I'll let you know how those turn out and provide recipes after the weekend.

In TTC news, I'm just waiting around for the ovulation thang, so we can get going with IUI #4, also known as There's No Place Like Nausea-town for the Holidays.

I'm Kreativ!

I just got the Kreativ Blogger award from ma chere Clare of The Pitter-Patter. Thank you very much!

The Rules:

1) Thank the person who gave you this award.

2) Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

3) Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

4) Name 7 things about yourself that people may not know.

5) Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.

6) Link to your nominees' blogs.

7) Leave them a comment letting them know they've been nominated.

The Things:

1) I eat sandwiches and Reese's cups in circles -- all the way around the edges, then I eat the middles.

2) A song on the radio that I heard when I was 5 scared me off of listening to the radio for the next 7 years. It was "Muskrat Love" by The Captain & Tenille.

3) I totally beat John Dear's 5 and 6 year old nephews at Disney DDR. I told the family I was keeping my amateur status for the Olympics.

4) I have become an utter Gleek.

5) My shoe obsession: ballet flats.

6) I have six articles of hockey memoribilia in my office (two bobbleheads, one clapper, two posters, one wristband).

7) I'm working towards keeping kosher and have cut out pork and am now working to cut out shellfish.

My Nominees:

1) Dreaming of Quiet Places

2) On (In)fertile Ground

3) No, I'm Not Pregnant, Just Fat

4) Baby Making Journey

5) Baby OCD

6) Flotsam

7) The Privileged Infertile

The Icemen Cometh

Last night, JD and I went to the Caps' preseason home opener. The playing was less than stellar. I know, I know, preseason doesn't count, but it stinks to see your team playing so badly.

Poor Ovechkin. He wants to win and do well so badly that he starts playing every position. Not a good situation.

Matt Bradley looked like he was playing well, and I especially enjoyed seeing our new man, Mike Knuble (lately of the Flyers - boo). Knuble is everything that the Princess (my brother's wife, who is a diehard Flyers fan - boo) said he was -- a gate crasher, someone who is just going to plant himself in front of the opposing team's net and score and score. We desperately need a pro at doing that, since we really only had Brooks Laich starting to play that role last season.

It was also good to see a goal from Keith Aucoin (from Waltham, Massachusetts - home of my alma mater!). Hoping to see great things from him in the future.

Here's a toast to the new season. May the Caps win the Cup, rock the red and play better than they did last night and may the Penguins get their wings clipped. Here, here!

Ongoing (also, ICLW May Day 2)

Time to tell you interwebs of all the BIG MAJOR THINGS going on at Chez Jendeis.

1. Donor #1 is available!! We got the call last Thursday that they were releasing two types of vials (ICI - unwashed and our clinic's preferred; IUI - washed and acceptable) for our donor. I told John Dear that if my Caps had to lose Game 7 (last Wednesday) in order for Donor #1 to be available, that I was OK with that outcome.

2. Since time is/was a factor and the vials HAD to be ordered on Friday (in order for them to get to our clinic within the allotted time frame), John Dear and I woke up at sparrow's fart on Friday (thanks to Sam for this fabulous description) to get the ID Consent Form signed, notarized and hand-delivered to the bank.

3. Since I'm the patient, JD was not allowed to order the vials. That means that I had to call on my cell phone from my sister's doctoral graduation. Yeah, I ordered 5 vials of sperm (2 to clinic; 3 for storage) while standing on a DC street with a couple hundred people crowded around trying to get into an air-conditioned auditorium. Thank G-D the people at my bank are so professional - they know how to talk to you so that you don't say anything you wouldn't want others to hear.

4. Yay for Elle! She's now Dr. Elle! My sistah the doctah! Unfortunately, they didn't give her a wicked cool blue phone box, just a doctoral hood and a diploma.

5. I've been doing the Is-the-test-line-darker-than-the-control-line? squint for the past 5 days to see whether or not I've ovulated. Got the dark line today and just called my nurse. I don't think I sounded crazier than I usually do. I'm pretty sure all my calls to her are at the same level of "Dayum, that girl be kuh-rrrrrr-aaaaa-zeee!"

6. I've been having a healthy breakfast every day the last two weeks. This good-for-me meal usually consists of tea with milk and less-than-a-teaspoon of sugar (down from one heaping teaspoon) and Greek yogurt with fruit and nuts.

7. Was planning on going to the farmer's market tomorrow to try and pick up some good milk and yogurt from happy cows. I'd also like to get some berries, some asparagus and some more of the delicious spring onions I got last time.

8. Not sure if I'll be able to make it to the farmer's market though -- it depends on when my nurse schedules the IUIs. We're doing two - should be one Saturday and one Sunday. No trip to the beach for moi this Memorial Day Weekend, but hopefully, there will be a better payoff.

And now, for something completely different.

Where I've Commented Today:

Flotsam

Making Me Mom

The Angry Infertile

Cooking During Stolen Moments

Food Renegade

I Returned a Comment to:

Our Surrogacy Adventure

Two Years

It's been two years since we started trying. Two interminably long years. I never thought it would take this long. Don't know why I never thought it would take a long time, I mean, we knew there were issues in that area, but we both thought maybe it'll take as long as four months and away we go.

It's been two years and we're just getting our first real chance to have a baby. I'd love to believe that this is gonna work this cycle, but I've been reading blogs for too long. Maybe I'm kidding myself. It's like I'm two different people: one who's a total believer and one who's an incredible cynic. I want to be the believer, but only if it works. That cynical enough for you?

Been nauseated all day; for me, that means that ovulation is about a week off. Right on schedule. Bought the Answer OPKs and will start using those on Sunday.

I want this so desperately. Please G-D, let this work.

Oh, and G-D? The CAPS are playing tonight in Game 7 and they could sure use your help, so, um, anything you can do there would be appreciated.

Vent On and Off

Oh, I'm so ready for my tea today. This Friday has been dragging on and on.

Nothing really going on here. Lemme just vent for a second: John Dear doesn't open mail. Any mail at all. Because his mother never let any of them open the mail, so now he just brings it in (if he even bothers to do that) and dumps it somewhere or everywhere. Come the f-ck on! WTF do you do all day? You can't even open the g. fricken. d. mail!? Why do I have to do everything?

Vent over. I found a big envelope from the Giant Fertility Clinic, which was mailed before our nurse got the news that we were going forward with donor sperm as opposed to IVF. It had a whole lotta stuff that we needed to get done before we cycled; luckily, most of the stuff only applies to IVF and I don't need to worry about it. The things that we do need are: to get consents signed (no problem), GYN checkup (done and faxed over already) and renew blood tests. So, tomorrow morning, instead of going to my first ever farmer's market, I've got to spend a couple hours with the unwashed-and-presumably-incubating-swine-flu masses at our local lab. At least I have a large amount of books from the library to go through while I sit waiting for the vampires.

After I get back from the Faux-Cullens' (the lab for you non-Twilight-ers out there), we'll probably be going directly to the CAPS game - Game 1 of the second round of the playoffs. Let's hope we play better overall in this round against the ever-annoying Penguins.

I think we're going out for dinner on Saturday night with a friend of JD's and his fiancee (I think I spoke about them once before as Hogan and The Cake Taker). Hogan can be a lot of fun; The Cake Taker is tolerable, when I practice patience.

Vent on again. On Sunday, it's one of JD's nephews' birthdays. SIL thought up a great idea for the activity and that was to draft all these 5-year olds into manual labor. Don't want to specify as to what, but suffice it to say that what they will be painting doesn't require great technique and allows the kids to get as dirty as they want to be. MIL told me to wear ratty clothes. Um, hi, I am not 5 and, as such, will not be participating in the activity. No need to lay out the dress code for me, but thanks.

In the same conversation that she told me about the dress code, MIL also told me that she thought up a great gift that I should get SIL for Mother's Day. (Screeching tires). What, what, what?!! I won't be getting anything for SIL for Mother's Day because, as I'm sure you're aware, she is not MY mother and I'm not about to celebrate her simply for the fact that she does have kids. Hopefully, I get through Sunday without killing any of my in-laws. Vent off again.

Early OMG You Rock Present

Look at what came to my house yesterday!! Aren't they gorgeous?

Many, many thanks to Heather at Geek by Marriage (we must be related because I'm a geek by marriage too) for this wonderful pick-me-up, an early present for OMG You Rock Day! Not only did she send flowers, but wrote a lovely card. I cried when I read it, cause I'm a tremendous sap.

No, seriously. I cried last night when Federov lit the lamp and then again when my boys in red won the game. Much gratitude and congratulations to them on winning Game 7 and making it to the second round of the playoffs.

Wait Til Tomorrow

The How to Choose a Donor post is getting pretty lengthy, so I'm probably not going to be able to post it today; also cause the CAPS are playing tonight (praying for another win tonight so they can bring it on home). Hoping to post tomorrow.

I'm in a funk this afternoon (nothing drastic, just in a "this world sucks and everyone sucks cause they've got good stuff happening and I don't" place), so if you have good news today, you'll get a happy comment from me tomorrow when I can actually be happy about your good news. See, this is where the crazy part comes in with me. Told ya we were all stocked up.

ICLW - April - The Intro Post

Hello, internets! I'm excited to kick off another edition of International Comment Leaving Week! Welcome everybody!

For those who are new to the crazy, my husband (John Dear, aka JD) and I have been TTC for almost 3 years. With a diagnosis of very low motility and some genetic considerations, we've decided to go forward using donor sperm.

Last week, we were cleared by the RE and LCSW, all that was left was to pick the donor. We picked him!! I'll be doing a separate post this week on our process of choosing a donor (it did not involve the flipping of coins nor did it come down to a round robin tournament of rock, paper, scissors), so if you're interested, check back later this week.

SO, I guess all we're waiting for is CD1 and then we're actually going to have a shot at getting pregnant! I'm bouncing up and down with excitement! Yay!
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I'm also a huge Washington Capitals hockey fan, so I must give a shout out to my boys in red (well, white when they're away). Go CAPS!! While I have to settle for having naughty meditative visions of Alex Ovechkin during my yoga nidra class, my sister saw him for real this weekend while she was out and about. So cool!

Blah

Summary: Spring marks the start of Jendeis' annual depression. Woo.

Stream of consciousness --

Been feeling guilty about not updating in a while, but the spirit has not moved me. The first two nights of Passover were nice - first night spent with my family and last night spent with John Dear's family. Now I'm over Passover. I just want to stuff my face till I'm numb. Today is CD 1. It's been raining on and off for the past two days.

John Dear was able to bring in a sample from home on Wednesday, so we should have the SA results tomorrow. Should've been Friday or today, but Nurse is out of the office.

Had to explain to some co-workers why having a bulletin board in the lunchroom with pics of all the babies in the company might not be the greatest idea. After some explaining, they totally got it, and it will be converted to families (however they be defined) - and how we're all one big family.

My shrink is retiring (not my therapist, just my shrink), so I have to find a new one to prescribe for me. Made myself call one this morning. My therapist (aka Fairy Godmother) made me promise to call this one and at an appointment tell her everything. Because I wasn't real open with the shrink who's retiring, just told her the minimum. I don't see why I have to tell her anything, since I tell Fairy Godmother everything.

Blah.

Shining light is that the CAPS are still in it. If they win tonight in Philly, they force a Game 7 (winner takes all) back here in DC.

Still, blah.

Non-Specific Title Here

Sitting at home, attempting to recuperate from a busy weekend. Ran around with BFF, running errands and preparing for her movers to (FINALLY) get here from Florida. Went to the CAPS game on Saturday night, where they clinched the Southeast Division title!!!! Didn't get nearly enough sleep this weekend and I've got a wicked sore throat, so I'm putting myself to bed early.

Just wanted to let y'all know that I'm alive and despite a fight with some black liquid eyeliner (um, the eyeliner won, but I still rocked it), I'm doing OK.

THIS WEEK:

• New sofa and chairs will be delivered tomorrow! Yay! No more Skeletor couches!
• Must fit in some cleaning for Pesach in, as I don't want to leave it all for the last minute. Will leave kitchen for next week, but would like to finish off the rest of the house this week.
• My company is having their annual conference this week so I may not be posting, but I'll try to update as soon as I get a chance.
• The CAPS start their playoff run against the Philadelphia Flyers* on Friday night (I have to be at my stupid conference). Would consider polygamy to be married to all the CAPS. Or at least a select few.
• Hoping that John Dear will be able to do an SA soon. Pretty much everything is waiting on that.

CAPS, please meet me at Camera One: OK, you guys can definitely beat the Flyers because you've done it time and time again. Plus, they suck, you are the team of destiny and we are all believers. Finally, you must beat the Flyers because The Princess (my brother's wife) is from Philly and is a Flyers fan and she sent an email last night talking smack about you. I responded in a very sportswomanlike manner and replied that I hope the match up is good and may the best team win. I have to warn you, though, if you lose to the Flyers, I will seriously reconsider you as several of my husbands. In closing, I'll paraphrase from that cinematic classic, Necessary Roughness, "I don't want to put any undue pressure on you guys, but Gennaro's final words were, 'Win, or I'll die.'"

Don't Stop Believin'

I swore I wouldn't let this happen again. I've fallen hard. I'm back on the Zamboni. I can't quit them.

Last night and Tuesday were the greatest games I've ever seen played. The Verizon Center was shaking it was so loud. Screw Detroit. Washington is the new Hockeytown, USA.

Alex Ovechkin and Cristobal Huet high five (Photo by AP - Nick Wass)

One more to go. Don't Stop Believin'!

Let's Go CAPS!!!!!!