Today I received a call from my prenatal class instructor, Nikiah, to tell us a little story about another couple from the class who were due this past Monday.
Kori and her hubby Steve, who had planned their delivery at the hospital with their doctor. They were ready, the bags were packed and waiting by the door. BUT THEN, a few days early, Kori goes into labour at home and after only 4 hours, with nobody there to help them, her husband delivers the baby and cuts the cord!
9lbs of little girl, all are healthy!
I thought that only happened on TV!
Needless to say, I think Jason will be stocking up on towels and reading up on delivering babies...
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
February Fiasco!
February has been a wickedly busy month... getting this business off the ground, selling the condo, prenatal classes, renovations... crazy stuff.
We've officially sold the condo, subjects are off and we have a completion date of March 8. The day it was listed internally with our realtor Ken at ReMax, we had an offer. We countered at our list price and they took it. A few days later we had two competing back-up offers at the list price! It was nuts. It leads me to believe that we could have gotten a bit more if we were willing to hang on for a while, but Jason has a saying, "Save a little for the next guy..." I tend to agree and am glad to get the house finances sorted before I go into labour!
Business is going well, except that I'm finding it really hard to find instructors! Luckily I have a few I can use in the Spring until I am able to teach... my class roster is growing - I'm now at 5 community centers! It's very exciting to get rave reviews from people currently taking classes in East Van, I hope that the trend continues!
Prenatal classes are over and although some aspects of the Seeds of Birth classes were a bit airy-fairy for my taste, I have to admit that I learned a lot. Every class we had to squeeze ice cubes in our hands while experimenting with different pain coping and relaxation methods. Pretty hard when your hand is on fire with cold! The last class had us in "contractions", both hands in and out of frigid ice water again and again. The searing pain would almost abate before we had to redunk. By the end, I was seriously doubting whether I would make it through labour, but at the same time it forced me to confront my fears. I bawled openly in front of the class, but I did feel better at the end!
This past Saturday, Jason and I held a walk/run event from our house to commemorate his late wife, and also to raise money for the BC Cancer Foundation. We planned to sell shirts and were amazed when 66 shirts were ordered! The number kept growing and I think we had about 80 people at the house! Two women we didn't even know showed up with almost $800 in pledges - we didn't even ask people to get pledges!!! All together we pulled in over $2000 in donations. It was amazing, so much help from family and friends. The weather was gorgeous and my in-laws helped make sure there were enough pancakes, waffles, fruit and hot bevvies for everyone there. I will have to post pictures when I get them... Nunuboo was there snapping shots for us!
I hope everyone's February has been eventful and successful as mine!
We've officially sold the condo, subjects are off and we have a completion date of March 8. The day it was listed internally with our realtor Ken at ReMax, we had an offer. We countered at our list price and they took it. A few days later we had two competing back-up offers at the list price! It was nuts. It leads me to believe that we could have gotten a bit more if we were willing to hang on for a while, but Jason has a saying, "Save a little for the next guy..." I tend to agree and am glad to get the house finances sorted before I go into labour!
Business is going well, except that I'm finding it really hard to find instructors! Luckily I have a few I can use in the Spring until I am able to teach... my class roster is growing - I'm now at 5 community centers! It's very exciting to get rave reviews from people currently taking classes in East Van, I hope that the trend continues!
Prenatal classes are over and although some aspects of the Seeds of Birth classes were a bit airy-fairy for my taste, I have to admit that I learned a lot. Every class we had to squeeze ice cubes in our hands while experimenting with different pain coping and relaxation methods. Pretty hard when your hand is on fire with cold! The last class had us in "contractions", both hands in and out of frigid ice water again and again. The searing pain would almost abate before we had to redunk. By the end, I was seriously doubting whether I would make it through labour, but at the same time it forced me to confront my fears. I bawled openly in front of the class, but I did feel better at the end!
This past Saturday, Jason and I held a walk/run event from our house to commemorate his late wife, and also to raise money for the BC Cancer Foundation. We planned to sell shirts and were amazed when 66 shirts were ordered! The number kept growing and I think we had about 80 people at the house! Two women we didn't even know showed up with almost $800 in pledges - we didn't even ask people to get pledges!!! All together we pulled in over $2000 in donations. It was amazing, so much help from family and friends. The weather was gorgeous and my in-laws helped make sure there were enough pancakes, waffles, fruit and hot bevvies for everyone there. I will have to post pictures when I get them... Nunuboo was there snapping shots for us!
I hope everyone's February has been eventful and successful as mine!
Monday, February 6, 2006
Kegels in Cantonese
Omigod! Who knew working could be FUN??
Is this what other people who LIKE their jobs feel like on a daily basis?
Why didn't somebody tell me about this feeling???
I can't believe I've been missing out on this for so long! I'll be making the teeniest tiniest fraction of the amount of money that I make engineering, and yet I'm more excited about this new business venture than I've ever been about any of my past jobs.
I know that there will be days that suck. I know that when one of my contractors calls in sick and I can't find a sub that I'll have to strap on my Snugli and teach with my baby strapped on the front of me! I know that there will be heartache and stress and annoyance when program co-ordinators don't love my proposals, or don't have any room left. I know all those things.
But it's still exciting!
Today, myself and a few fellow Fit 4 Two'ers met up on the seawall to go over class ideas and marketing strategies. We power-walked our empty strollers and chattered excitedly as we squatted and lunged our way towards benches for tricep dips and V-sits.
A few of us were pregnant, a few are already moms. But we were all on the same wavelength... suddenly I have gone from an all-male to an all-female workplace and the change is drastic and interesting. I know that there will be ups and downs, but I don't have to feign interest in high-tech mumbo-jumbo anymore and it feels great!
So far I have booked sessions for Spring 2006 at three community centers. I even have talks schedules to promote postnatal fitness at two community health units!
Me!
I'm giving TALKS!
I was even asked to do a talk for 30-40 Cantonese-speaking moms, which I would be given an interpreter to use!
How do you say "Kegels" in Cantonese???
I haven't agreed to that one yet, it's a bit intimidating, but I'll get there eventually!
I love getting into the administrative and promotional side of health & wellness. It's a whole new ballgame.
Is this what other people who LIKE their jobs feel like on a daily basis?
Why didn't somebody tell me about this feeling???
I can't believe I've been missing out on this for so long! I'll be making the teeniest tiniest fraction of the amount of money that I make engineering, and yet I'm more excited about this new business venture than I've ever been about any of my past jobs.
I know that there will be days that suck. I know that when one of my contractors calls in sick and I can't find a sub that I'll have to strap on my Snugli and teach with my baby strapped on the front of me! I know that there will be heartache and stress and annoyance when program co-ordinators don't love my proposals, or don't have any room left. I know all those things.
But it's still exciting!
Today, myself and a few fellow Fit 4 Two'ers met up on the seawall to go over class ideas and marketing strategies. We power-walked our empty strollers and chattered excitedly as we squatted and lunged our way towards benches for tricep dips and V-sits.
A few of us were pregnant, a few are already moms. But we were all on the same wavelength... suddenly I have gone from an all-male to an all-female workplace and the change is drastic and interesting. I know that there will be ups and downs, but I don't have to feign interest in high-tech mumbo-jumbo anymore and it feels great!
So far I have booked sessions for Spring 2006 at three community centers. I even have talks schedules to promote postnatal fitness at two community health units!
Me!
I'm giving TALKS!
I was even asked to do a talk for 30-40 Cantonese-speaking moms, which I would be given an interpreter to use!
How do you say "Kegels" in Cantonese???
I haven't agreed to that one yet, it's a bit intimidating, but I'll get there eventually!
I love getting into the administrative and promotional side of health & wellness. It's a whole new ballgame.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
East Van Mompreneur
Yes, that's me! I've just bought into a pre/postnatal fitness franchise Fit 4 Two!
This is not something sudden for me, it's been something I've been thinking about for a loooooooong time. I decided that when I went on mat leave, that I would try and run some fitness classes in East Vancouver to see if I could make it work. I know the owner, I like the business case and I like collaborating with other people.
You see, I don't want to be an engineer anymore. The people are nice, the money is great, but I'm bored. Not to mention that it's nearly impossible to work part-time. And even if you get to work 4 days a week, you end up doing 5 days worth of work anyways and only getting paid for 4.
Did I mention child care??? SO expensive! I don't want to pay someone an arm and a leg for the priviledge of raising my baby. I can't bear the thought of handing the monkey over everyday to go to a job that I don't even like.
So here I go!
If there are any other moms or moms-to-be in the Vancouver Eastside that are looking for fitness classes and don't want to travel downtown or into the Westside, send them my way!
This is not something sudden for me, it's been something I've been thinking about for a loooooooong time. I decided that when I went on mat leave, that I would try and run some fitness classes in East Vancouver to see if I could make it work. I know the owner, I like the business case and I like collaborating with other people.
You see, I don't want to be an engineer anymore. The people are nice, the money is great, but I'm bored. Not to mention that it's nearly impossible to work part-time. And even if you get to work 4 days a week, you end up doing 5 days worth of work anyways and only getting paid for 4.
Did I mention child care??? SO expensive! I don't want to pay someone an arm and a leg for the priviledge of raising my baby. I can't bear the thought of handing the monkey over everyday to go to a job that I don't even like.
So here I go!
If there are any other moms or moms-to-be in the Vancouver Eastside that are looking for fitness classes and don't want to travel downtown or into the Westside, send them my way!
Thursday, January 26, 2006
A Tale of No Sleep
So apparently the third trimester is going to be about not getting any sleep. I know, I know, I should just get used to the sleep deprivation before baby gets here. But easier said than done.
My pregnancy has been pretty textbook this far. Almost the day that my second trimester started, the queasy feeling that had been gripping my tummy for three months abated as the clock struck midnight. The first week one might start feeling Braxton Hicks contractions was the week my uterus decided to go into heavy training for the upcoming main event. Even my boobs have anted up on schedule, overcoming the confines of their holsters and ecking out droplets of colostrum whenever they please.
So it should be no surprise that the first night of my third trimester, I would get no sleep. Well NO sleep is a bit of an exaggeration, but when you need a pee break three times a night, and now it takes you around an hour to get back to sleep after said pee break... well it feels like NO SLEEP!
And of course, this baby is fucking with me. As I walk around during my busy days, it lulls the baby to sleep and I feel only the odd aerobics session after I eat. However at night... at night the baby wants to party. This baby karate chops and jazzercizes. This baby does the "What a Feeling!" flashdance in my womb. This baby is slowly trying to hammer it's way out with tiny fists and heels.
So at least while I lie awake, I have some entertainment. I'm trying to teach the baby to punch or kick on cue when I tap my belly in a certain spot. Sounds dumb, but it keeps me from bawling in the middle of the night as I stare up at the ceiling.
It's been four nights. I am such a zombie right now.
My pregnancy has been pretty textbook this far. Almost the day that my second trimester started, the queasy feeling that had been gripping my tummy for three months abated as the clock struck midnight. The first week one might start feeling Braxton Hicks contractions was the week my uterus decided to go into heavy training for the upcoming main event. Even my boobs have anted up on schedule, overcoming the confines of their holsters and ecking out droplets of colostrum whenever they please.
So it should be no surprise that the first night of my third trimester, I would get no sleep. Well NO sleep is a bit of an exaggeration, but when you need a pee break three times a night, and now it takes you around an hour to get back to sleep after said pee break... well it feels like NO SLEEP!
And of course, this baby is fucking with me. As I walk around during my busy days, it lulls the baby to sleep and I feel only the odd aerobics session after I eat. However at night... at night the baby wants to party. This baby karate chops and jazzercizes. This baby does the "What a Feeling!" flashdance in my womb. This baby is slowly trying to hammer it's way out with tiny fists and heels.
So at least while I lie awake, I have some entertainment. I'm trying to teach the baby to punch or kick on cue when I tap my belly in a certain spot. Sounds dumb, but it keeps me from bawling in the middle of the night as I stare up at the ceiling.
It's been four nights. I am such a zombie right now.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Everyday is Beautiful
Jason's first wife, Angie, died of a brain tumour on January 24th, 2004. I never knew her, only through the man that I love and her friends that have become mine as well. Jason's nickname for her was Beautiful.
Ang used to work at Mountain Equipment Co-op alongside her friend Lynn. Last fall, without telling anyone, Lynn got together with one of the DeFeet salespeople, another friend and colleague of Angie's, to make some socks that would both pay tribute to Ang and also raise money for cancer research. MEC had offered to donate a portion of the sales towards the BC Cancer Agency.
Beautiful Socks
Recently in the mail, Jason received a letter from the BC Cancer Agency notifying him that a generous donation from MEC had been made in Angie's name. We were both a little puzzled...
Lynn finally told him that their "Beautiful Socks" have raised $4200 so far towards cancer research! There are three different types, Jason has some green ones and I have the pink ones. If you cycle, walk or run, or just like technical socks, these are great!
They say "Everyday is Beautiful" on the instep...
Need socks???
Ang used to work at Mountain Equipment Co-op alongside her friend Lynn. Last fall, without telling anyone, Lynn got together with one of the DeFeet salespeople, another friend and colleague of Angie's, to make some socks that would both pay tribute to Ang and also raise money for cancer research. MEC had offered to donate a portion of the sales towards the BC Cancer Agency.
Beautiful Socks
Recently in the mail, Jason received a letter from the BC Cancer Agency notifying him that a generous donation from MEC had been made in Angie's name. We were both a little puzzled...
Lynn finally told him that their "Beautiful Socks" have raised $4200 so far towards cancer research! There are three different types, Jason has some green ones and I have the pink ones. If you cycle, walk or run, or just like technical socks, these are great!
They say "Everyday is Beautiful" on the instep...
Need socks???
Friday, January 20, 2006
Nighttime thoughts...
I couldn't get any sleep last night. Jason and I have been having talks recently about selling our condo and using the profits to pay off our house mortgage and put away a little nest egg.
A few people at my work think we are crazy to think of selling the condo. The building is right beside the skytrain, and the Olympic developments going on are causing the value of the properties to increase. We currently have tenants in the condo that cover the mortgage, strata, tax, etc. which seems like a pretty good deal, and it is... if you have a good cash flow.
BUT we don't.
With Jason in school and my impending mat leave, cash is tight and will be for the forseeable future. Juggling two mortgages, rocketing money back and forth between accounts, and the risk of "what-if" expenses of two properties is taking years off our lives in stress. Even more so, I am hoping to leave the high-tech industry, which means buh-bye big salary! That is not to say that I won't work, but it certainly won't be full-time, and it won't be in engineering. Jason's teaching salary (if he can land a job in Vancouver) will not be nearly what I am making in nerd-land.
An obvious pro would be paying off the house that we live in. Jason and I were both lucky enough to have bought property before the Vancouver housing market skyrocketed. Now both the condo and the house have climbed significantly in value. We could make out like bandits if things fall into place.
The market is good for selling right now, and if stock options have taught me anything, it's that it's way too easy to get greedy and hold out for the BIG sell. So many times I've held on to my options, waiting for things to get a little bit better, and had the whole house of cards come crashing down. I've learned from that mistake, and even though my current job options aren't worth much, I cash little bits here and there to "ride the wave".
If we sold the condo, we'd be able to use our little bits of extra income to continue contributing to RRSPs, to start an education fund for our kid(s) and to pay premiums for things like life insurance. We could afford to go out once in a while, we could afford to have me work part-time and not have to put our kid(s) in daycare. We could even afford for Jason to complete his Masters and for me to return to school eventually.
The thoughts of getting my Masters in Physiotherapy still appeals to me. Until then, I am pursuing a few things in the fitness industry. Life is short. I'm all about planning for the future and socking away cash for our kid(s) but I'm also about the present. Presently I hate my job!
So many things to think about, but the more we do, the more it looks like a no-brainer.
Anyhow, just a little note on things I noticed when I was trying (unsuccessfully) to get back to sleep at 3:30am, after my fourth pee break...
1. If my hubby is sleeping and his breathing is shallow and fast, when I rub his temples and head, his breathing slows down almost instantly.
2. If I am laying in bed on my back, I can feel my baby's head and rock it back and forth. The baby will kick and punch back at me on cue, I can even guess where I will feel the kicks across my abdomen. The baby's tae-kwon-do practice doesn't hurt, yet!
3. When Bella stirs from the couch after hearing me waken, she comes to the side of the bed for some petting and scratching. If I let my hand just rest heavily on her, she will duck under it with her head and try to get my attention with her wet nose. If I continue to pretend to have fallen asleep, she will let out a whine or two, then fall to the ground beside the bed with a HUGE sigh.
Life would be so much simpler if I were a dog.
A few people at my work think we are crazy to think of selling the condo. The building is right beside the skytrain, and the Olympic developments going on are causing the value of the properties to increase. We currently have tenants in the condo that cover the mortgage, strata, tax, etc. which seems like a pretty good deal, and it is... if you have a good cash flow.
BUT we don't.
With Jason in school and my impending mat leave, cash is tight and will be for the forseeable future. Juggling two mortgages, rocketing money back and forth between accounts, and the risk of "what-if" expenses of two properties is taking years off our lives in stress. Even more so, I am hoping to leave the high-tech industry, which means buh-bye big salary! That is not to say that I won't work, but it certainly won't be full-time, and it won't be in engineering. Jason's teaching salary (if he can land a job in Vancouver) will not be nearly what I am making in nerd-land.
An obvious pro would be paying off the house that we live in. Jason and I were both lucky enough to have bought property before the Vancouver housing market skyrocketed. Now both the condo and the house have climbed significantly in value. We could make out like bandits if things fall into place.
The market is good for selling right now, and if stock options have taught me anything, it's that it's way too easy to get greedy and hold out for the BIG sell. So many times I've held on to my options, waiting for things to get a little bit better, and had the whole house of cards come crashing down. I've learned from that mistake, and even though my current job options aren't worth much, I cash little bits here and there to "ride the wave".
If we sold the condo, we'd be able to use our little bits of extra income to continue contributing to RRSPs, to start an education fund for our kid(s) and to pay premiums for things like life insurance. We could afford to go out once in a while, we could afford to have me work part-time and not have to put our kid(s) in daycare. We could even afford for Jason to complete his Masters and for me to return to school eventually.
The thoughts of getting my Masters in Physiotherapy still appeals to me. Until then, I am pursuing a few things in the fitness industry. Life is short. I'm all about planning for the future and socking away cash for our kid(s) but I'm also about the present. Presently I hate my job!
So many things to think about, but the more we do, the more it looks like a no-brainer.
Anyhow, just a little note on things I noticed when I was trying (unsuccessfully) to get back to sleep at 3:30am, after my fourth pee break...
1. If my hubby is sleeping and his breathing is shallow and fast, when I rub his temples and head, his breathing slows down almost instantly.
2. If I am laying in bed on my back, I can feel my baby's head and rock it back and forth. The baby will kick and punch back at me on cue, I can even guess where I will feel the kicks across my abdomen. The baby's tae-kwon-do practice doesn't hurt, yet!
3. When Bella stirs from the couch after hearing me waken, she comes to the side of the bed for some petting and scratching. If I let my hand just rest heavily on her, she will duck under it with her head and try to get my attention with her wet nose. If I continue to pretend to have fallen asleep, she will let out a whine or two, then fall to the ground beside the bed with a HUGE sigh.
Life would be so much simpler if I were a dog.
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