Let’s start keeping track of the old wives’ tales to see the accuracy shall we? After all it is only about 6 weeks from our anatomy scan. (Holy crap, time is flying!).
Pin Trick –says girl.
Heart Rate- says girl.
Carrying Low- Says girl (though my northern friend swears that means boy.)
Chinese Gender Calendar- says boy.
Craving Sweets-Girl (although my sweets craving isn’t that strong. I definitely am NOT craving salty or spicy foods though which denote boy).
Have another Old Wives Tale gender predictor? Let me have it and I’ll try it for the fun of it. (No Intelligender suggestions please. I’m too cheap to spend money on silly fun.)
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Chicken Noodle Casserole
I was looking for something I could throw together quickly and inexpensively. We are on a budget crunch for the next few weeks as a lot of things have been going on above and beyond our normal bills (birthday party, Steve’s birthday present, T’s birthday present, shutting down the pool –chemicals and maybe a new cover- etc.) So one of the area’s to cut back is the grocery bill. If any of you have an Aldi’s grocery store, you know how cheaply you can shop but you also know there are certain items to stay away from. I am a brand snob when it comes to certain things so I’m a two grocery store person now a days. Considering our completely bare pantry/fridge, I did pretty good to cut our normal $150ish food bill down to 80 this week (includes non food items such as laundry detergent as well as my husbands soft drink addiction). This recipe is one of my new inventions to suit a budget crunch. Needs a bit of tweaking but it is well on its way.
Chicken/Turkey Noodle Casserole
Ingredients:
1 pack Chicken tenders (or leftover pieces of turkey etc.)
1 tbs oil
1 medium yellow onion diced
1 pack egg noodles al dente
2 cans cream of chicken soup
½ cup milk
1 cup frozen green peas
1 can coined carrots
1 can mixed veggies
1 cup shredded cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1 cup French’s Fried Onion topper
1 cup Bread crumbs (or stuffing mix)
Directions:
Heat oil on stove and cook chicken WITH diced onions until chicken is cooked through. I sprinkled my salt/pepper/garlic powder on the chicken before cooking to flavor the chicken.
While chicken is cooking (and noodles are cooking), in a 13 x 9 casserole dish, pour strained cans of veggies and frozen peas. Add cans of chicken soup and mix. Pour hot noodles over this mixture and add milk and cheese. Mix well. Layer over the top: chicken and onion mixture, French’s onion toppers and bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven until bubbly and browned. Serve hot.
Chicken/Turkey Noodle Casserole
Ingredients:
1 pack Chicken tenders (or leftover pieces of turkey etc.)
1 tbs oil
1 medium yellow onion diced
1 pack egg noodles al dente
2 cans cream of chicken soup
½ cup milk
1 cup frozen green peas
1 can coined carrots
1 can mixed veggies
1 cup shredded cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1 cup French’s Fried Onion topper
1 cup Bread crumbs (or stuffing mix)
Directions:
Heat oil on stove and cook chicken WITH diced onions until chicken is cooked through. I sprinkled my salt/pepper/garlic powder on the chicken before cooking to flavor the chicken.
While chicken is cooking (and noodles are cooking), in a 13 x 9 casserole dish, pour strained cans of veggies and frozen peas. Add cans of chicken soup and mix. Pour hot noodles over this mixture and add milk and cheese. Mix well. Layer over the top: chicken and onion mixture, French’s onion toppers and bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven until bubbly and browned. Serve hot.
Menu errr Wednesday
I know I'm late for posting this week so without fluff and stuff here you go! For a rainy, cooler fall week:
Chicken Noodle Casserole
Potato Soup with Filet Mignon
Pretzel Chicken with broccoli florets smothered in mustard cheese sauce
Creamy Pea Pasta
Hamburgers and fries
chicken something or other that I haven't decided yet.
Apple Pie
Chicken Noodle Casserole
Potato Soup with Filet Mignon
Pretzel Chicken with broccoli florets smothered in mustard cheese sauce
Creamy Pea Pasta
Hamburgers and fries
chicken something or other that I haven't decided yet.
Apple Pie
14 Week Update
How far along? 14 weeks
Total weight gain: Still Minus 1 this morning
Maternity clothes? Nope though I have pulled out my one size larger pants from before I lost weight.
Sleep: Would be great if I didn’t have to get up and pee every 30 minutes. Starting to get uncomfortable on my back and stomach and I’ve always had trouble sleeping on my sides
Best moment this week: Having my stomach start to round just a tad bit and get firmer
Gender: Still leaning towards girl but having doubts.
Movement: No.
Labor Signs: No.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Not having heartburn
What I am looking forward to: Gender/Anatomy Scan
Weekly Wisdom: If you were previously a “attack the cleaning on the weekend with a vengeance person, I suggest changing routine to doing a bit each day so you aren’t over doing it on the weekend at one whack. Trust me, it really all gets done. Milestones: Fall is here! Not really a milestone but makes for a happier pregnant me.
Total weight gain: Still Minus 1 this morning
Maternity clothes? Nope though I have pulled out my one size larger pants from before I lost weight.
Sleep: Would be great if I didn’t have to get up and pee every 30 minutes. Starting to get uncomfortable on my back and stomach and I’ve always had trouble sleeping on my sides
Best moment this week: Having my stomach start to round just a tad bit and get firmer
Gender: Still leaning towards girl but having doubts.
Movement: No.
Labor Signs: No.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Not having heartburn
What I am looking forward to: Gender/Anatomy Scan
Weekly Wisdom: If you were previously a “attack the cleaning on the weekend with a vengeance person, I suggest changing routine to doing a bit each day so you aren’t over doing it on the weekend at one whack. Trust me, it really all gets done. Milestones: Fall is here! Not really a milestone but makes for a happier pregnant me.
PCOS Symptoms During Pregnancy
Let’s dispel another pesky myth the doctor’s tell you: PCOS symptoms lessen during pregnancy. BRRRRUUURRRRRNNNNNTTTTT (my best guess of spelling that annoying buzzer sound).
The only PCOS symptom that has “disappeared” for me is the crazy non regular periods with heavy clotting and cramps. Well DUH, I’m pregnant; I would HOPE that had disappeared. What they FAIL to tell you is that all those other symptoms that are taboo to discuss increase.
Oh yes, my dears, if you think you had some stray eyebrow hairs before (aka on your chin), be prepared for a full on BEARD during pregnancy. That delicate mustache you insist on calling peach fuzz? You can now give Yosemite Sam a run for his money.
Now I, personally, have always had extra thick hair and great nails and pregnancy has definitely enhanced those traits. My nails are gorgeous, my hair is lustrous and growing long and my skin, while a bit oilier, is actually clear for the most part.
Did I mention I now have to tweeze my boobs though? Go ahead, reread. I’ll wait.
Done? Okay. I have a feeling; it won’t be too long before I have to shave my stomach. (and you thought the boob statement was going to be the worst! HA). There is now hair growing on every inch of my body I think. Shaving the ladybits has become a lesson in HEDGE trimming and sapling sawing. If it was a forest before, it’s a jungle now and frankly I’m too darned lazy to care a whole heck of a lot.
Plan on shaving those legs every day too. I used to be able to get away with every other day but that went out the window about 3 weeks ago.
Needless to say, while you are struggling to eat healthy, trying to stay awake, keep your balance and not look like a frumpy ragamuffin everyday, you also get the extra bonus of looking like a sasquatch! I’m not complaining, I just don’t want you all to be disillusioned about what lies ahead.
My darling husband has been kind enough to offer to teach me to shave my face on numerous occasions as I hog the bathroom mirror EVERY night hunting those chin hairs and using wax strips. Not helping darling.
The only PCOS symptom that has “disappeared” for me is the crazy non regular periods with heavy clotting and cramps. Well DUH, I’m pregnant; I would HOPE that had disappeared. What they FAIL to tell you is that all those other symptoms that are taboo to discuss increase.
Oh yes, my dears, if you think you had some stray eyebrow hairs before (aka on your chin), be prepared for a full on BEARD during pregnancy. That delicate mustache you insist on calling peach fuzz? You can now give Yosemite Sam a run for his money.
Now I, personally, have always had extra thick hair and great nails and pregnancy has definitely enhanced those traits. My nails are gorgeous, my hair is lustrous and growing long and my skin, while a bit oilier, is actually clear for the most part.
Did I mention I now have to tweeze my boobs though? Go ahead, reread. I’ll wait.
Done? Okay. I have a feeling; it won’t be too long before I have to shave my stomach. (and you thought the boob statement was going to be the worst! HA). There is now hair growing on every inch of my body I think. Shaving the ladybits has become a lesson in HEDGE trimming and sapling sawing. If it was a forest before, it’s a jungle now and frankly I’m too darned lazy to care a whole heck of a lot.
Plan on shaving those legs every day too. I used to be able to get away with every other day but that went out the window about 3 weeks ago.
Needless to say, while you are struggling to eat healthy, trying to stay awake, keep your balance and not look like a frumpy ragamuffin everyday, you also get the extra bonus of looking like a sasquatch! I’m not complaining, I just don’t want you all to be disillusioned about what lies ahead.
My darling husband has been kind enough to offer to teach me to shave my face on numerous occasions as I hog the bathroom mirror EVERY night hunting those chin hairs and using wax strips. Not helping darling.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Fat Girl Bumpology 101
It’s no secret that I am a large girl. Amazonian in fact. If you can’t tell by my pictures, I’m fat. I’ve always fought my weight since the onset of puberty (now we know why, thank you PCOS). What you may not be able to tell is that I am also 6 foot tall. So the word large is not at all a foreign word to me. To be an overweight woman, I do carry my weight well (I’ve even had Dr.’s tell me that so I’m not delusional here people.)
I think there are of course stigma’s and myths associated with being an overweight pregnant woman though. First, anyone and everyone who has read What to expect When you are Expecting has probably had it ingrained in their heads that it is a malicious thing to do to a future child to get pregnant while overweight by even a pound. That book is hateful. Second, if you do get pregnant, you are surely going to have complications and Gestational Diabetes and Pre-E etc. So what about those girls that “didn’t know they were pregnant?” Well let’s talk about those because that ties into this whole myth thing.
Obviously, as a larger woman you are told not to gain much weight while pregnant. Your body will not starve the baby if you aren’t eating for two but will use some of your fat deposits for energy. SCORE! So based on this information and MTV you automatically go into pregnancy thinking you will never show, never have a bump and if you are lucky at 32 weeks or so, your fat will round out and you will for a few weeks look like you are pregnant before giving birth to a baby elephant (or having the baby fall out on your shoe, take your pick). NOT TRUE.
I chose to get pregnant while overweight for many reasons. 1) I am 32 years old with PCOS and struggled for 3 years to get pregnant with meds. 2) My dr. deemed my body healthy and capable to carry a child with little problem. 3) My physicals came back normal. I did however, struggle to be as healthy as possible which included quitting smoking and losing 44 pounds. I was absolutely confident that I could maintain my weight and be healthy during pregnancy.
BWAHAHAHAHAHA. Lies, lies and more lies. I have seen a specialist and I am at a higher risk for GD and Pre-E but just as much so because of PCOS than because of my weight. Put the two together and wa-la, greater risk. I have tried to maintain my weight diligently and did great…until this week.
As soon as second tri hit, it was like a light bulb went off in my body and BAM, instant pooch. Here’s what happens when a fat girl “pops” (though I highly doubt it can be considered a pop but for lack of better terms, lets go with it). Ready?
Your fat pokes out. You can’t tell you are pregnant unless you know someone intimately. Sure enough though, that pooch, roll, gut, whatever you want to call it, is rounding out, getting hard and STICKING OUT THERE but not in a cute bumpish sort of way. More like a “I just ate 20 cheeseburgers from Mickey D’s sort of way.”
I could possibly take a picture but I’m not sure there is a way to take it without losing some of my ego and/or grossing anyone out with a picture of my fat encased in jeans. I have a feeling that my idea that I could go to almost 30 weeks without maternity clothes was probably a pipe dream at best. I’m not sad I am showing after all, but it is kind of disconcerting as a woman who has always watched her weight to see a two pound scale difference but what appears to be a 15 lb difference in my clothes. I am in my FAT GIRL jeans overnight! You know, those jeans I kept from when I was 44 lbs heavier as a reminder of what I was? Yea, I’m wearing those today. They are still falling off my arse and bagging at the hips, but not very loose in the stomach. My regular jeans still fit but are way too uncomfortable when sitting. I went for comfort.
So to all my fat girls out there, be warned. Your bodies don’t do what we think they are going to do and I can imagine if I’m showing now, this could get really awkward here in 20 weeks. I’m imagining Shamu tossing on a beach while children laugh and point.
To all you skinny huzzies, don’t snicker behind your computer screens, because your bodies can do funky things too and I hate you. Just kidding. I don’t. I would love to have a beautiful bump and not look like a beached well. Bravo for you for keeping fit and trim!
I think there are of course stigma’s and myths associated with being an overweight pregnant woman though. First, anyone and everyone who has read What to expect When you are Expecting has probably had it ingrained in their heads that it is a malicious thing to do to a future child to get pregnant while overweight by even a pound. That book is hateful. Second, if you do get pregnant, you are surely going to have complications and Gestational Diabetes and Pre-E etc. So what about those girls that “didn’t know they were pregnant?” Well let’s talk about those because that ties into this whole myth thing.
Obviously, as a larger woman you are told not to gain much weight while pregnant. Your body will not starve the baby if you aren’t eating for two but will use some of your fat deposits for energy. SCORE! So based on this information and MTV you automatically go into pregnancy thinking you will never show, never have a bump and if you are lucky at 32 weeks or so, your fat will round out and you will for a few weeks look like you are pregnant before giving birth to a baby elephant (or having the baby fall out on your shoe, take your pick). NOT TRUE.
I chose to get pregnant while overweight for many reasons. 1) I am 32 years old with PCOS and struggled for 3 years to get pregnant with meds. 2) My dr. deemed my body healthy and capable to carry a child with little problem. 3) My physicals came back normal. I did however, struggle to be as healthy as possible which included quitting smoking and losing 44 pounds. I was absolutely confident that I could maintain my weight and be healthy during pregnancy.
BWAHAHAHAHAHA. Lies, lies and more lies. I have seen a specialist and I am at a higher risk for GD and Pre-E but just as much so because of PCOS than because of my weight. Put the two together and wa-la, greater risk. I have tried to maintain my weight diligently and did great…until this week.
As soon as second tri hit, it was like a light bulb went off in my body and BAM, instant pooch. Here’s what happens when a fat girl “pops” (though I highly doubt it can be considered a pop but for lack of better terms, lets go with it). Ready?
Your fat pokes out. You can’t tell you are pregnant unless you know someone intimately. Sure enough though, that pooch, roll, gut, whatever you want to call it, is rounding out, getting hard and STICKING OUT THERE but not in a cute bumpish sort of way. More like a “I just ate 20 cheeseburgers from Mickey D’s sort of way.”
I could possibly take a picture but I’m not sure there is a way to take it without losing some of my ego and/or grossing anyone out with a picture of my fat encased in jeans. I have a feeling that my idea that I could go to almost 30 weeks without maternity clothes was probably a pipe dream at best. I’m not sad I am showing after all, but it is kind of disconcerting as a woman who has always watched her weight to see a two pound scale difference but what appears to be a 15 lb difference in my clothes. I am in my FAT GIRL jeans overnight! You know, those jeans I kept from when I was 44 lbs heavier as a reminder of what I was? Yea, I’m wearing those today. They are still falling off my arse and bagging at the hips, but not very loose in the stomach. My regular jeans still fit but are way too uncomfortable when sitting. I went for comfort.
So to all my fat girls out there, be warned. Your bodies don’t do what we think they are going to do and I can imagine if I’m showing now, this could get really awkward here in 20 weeks. I’m imagining Shamu tossing on a beach while children laugh and point.
To all you skinny huzzies, don’t snicker behind your computer screens, because your bodies can do funky things too and I hate you. Just kidding. I don’t. I would love to have a beautiful bump and not look like a beached well. Bravo for you for keeping fit and trim!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
For Matthew
Sometimes you can't let the pain in. You hear some news that hurts your heart until you physically feel the pain trying to tear out of your chest, but you can't let it take you over because you have to remember you have a baby to protect.
When you have been through loss and pain and struggle, and you bond with others, you intimately feel their hurt and love with every thought and breath. No matter what you have been through though, you can't imagine what it is like for them as they fight their way through this battle.
All you can do is pray. Pray like crazy and hope beyond hope that miracles happen and that they find the strength to make it through.
Today another life went home to heaven, but I still can’t wrap my brain around the unfairness of it all. How such kind people that I know have to go through tragedy over and over again. I know there is a plan for everyone and something great is in their future, but is it truly necessary to inflict this much pain and heartbreak on such good people?
I am no one to question God, and I pray that he gives this family peace and strength and shows them his light and love on a path riddled with trials. I pray that Matthew Finley is with his sister Katie Jane in heaven watching over their parents with pride and love at the lives they were almost given and they know above all else, that their parents loved them more than anything in the world. People all over the world who have followed their short journeys continue to love and pray for them and their parents.
I am truly heartbroken by the news. I just want to snuggle in with my arms wrapped around my own baby and know that he/she is safe and healthy inside and that I will meet a happy baby in March. I know it is all out of our control but I can’t help but feel this pain intimately. I have known so many to suffer loss halfway through and I grieve with them. This is just a reminder of all those who have come before and I can’t help but grieve all over for all of them.
To all of you who have been through loss, I am thinking of you today. Today I will shed tears for all the babies I know who are playing with the angels. Today, I cry for sweet TW’s family and precious baby Matthew Finley. I will laugh for the joy and hope that these babies brought to their parents even if only for mere moments in time. I will smile for the hearts they have touched in their short existences. I will remember for they will never be forgotten and will always be a light shining in this world for many people. Today, I will pray for those families who grieve and hope God grants them peace and strength. Tonight, when I lay down to sleep, I will dream of these beautiful children who have gone before us, playing in a meadow on a beautiful day, forever free and happy knowing only that they have been loved so deeply, no harm from this world can ever touch them. They will never know the pain we know, the horrors of the world, the uncertainty of future, the anguish of struggle and loss. They will know only of the feelings of absolute love they experienced in their few moments, and the happiness of the place they are in now.
When you have been through loss and pain and struggle, and you bond with others, you intimately feel their hurt and love with every thought and breath. No matter what you have been through though, you can't imagine what it is like for them as they fight their way through this battle.
All you can do is pray. Pray like crazy and hope beyond hope that miracles happen and that they find the strength to make it through.
Today another life went home to heaven, but I still can’t wrap my brain around the unfairness of it all. How such kind people that I know have to go through tragedy over and over again. I know there is a plan for everyone and something great is in their future, but is it truly necessary to inflict this much pain and heartbreak on such good people?
I am no one to question God, and I pray that he gives this family peace and strength and shows them his light and love on a path riddled with trials. I pray that Matthew Finley is with his sister Katie Jane in heaven watching over their parents with pride and love at the lives they were almost given and they know above all else, that their parents loved them more than anything in the world. People all over the world who have followed their short journeys continue to love and pray for them and their parents.
I am truly heartbroken by the news. I just want to snuggle in with my arms wrapped around my own baby and know that he/she is safe and healthy inside and that I will meet a happy baby in March. I know it is all out of our control but I can’t help but feel this pain intimately. I have known so many to suffer loss halfway through and I grieve with them. This is just a reminder of all those who have come before and I can’t help but grieve all over for all of them.
To all of you who have been through loss, I am thinking of you today. Today I will shed tears for all the babies I know who are playing with the angels. Today, I cry for sweet TW’s family and precious baby Matthew Finley. I will laugh for the joy and hope that these babies brought to their parents even if only for mere moments in time. I will smile for the hearts they have touched in their short existences. I will remember for they will never be forgotten and will always be a light shining in this world for many people. Today, I will pray for those families who grieve and hope God grants them peace and strength. Tonight, when I lay down to sleep, I will dream of these beautiful children who have gone before us, playing in a meadow on a beautiful day, forever free and happy knowing only that they have been loved so deeply, no harm from this world can ever touch them. They will never know the pain we know, the horrors of the world, the uncertainty of future, the anguish of struggle and loss. They will know only of the feelings of absolute love they experienced in their few moments, and the happiness of the place they are in now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)