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JanB43
05-18-2008, 06:22 PM
Hi, I am Jan, I am a 43 year old mom of six kiddos, ages 25, 23, 21, 9, 8, and 4. I was stupefied Saturday to be holding a positive pregnancy test. I had taken it after dreaming that I was pregnant and realizing that I was really late for my period. I just thought I was hitting menopause.

I realize though that it's a good time. First off, I love kids, babies, all of that. I just had my gallbladder out on April 15th, which is good, because if I hadn't had it out I would have been in a world of hurt until they decided to do it after the baby was born. Also, I have lost a hundred pounds and am in much better shape than I was ever in for any of my other kids.

It does sort of bug me that I will gain again, but I can take that in stride and keep up with my exercise and moderate eating. I am not going to starve this baby. And I am off the soy for sure. That stuff is scary if you are carrying a baby.

As for background, I am a sahm, I am a new painter, having been painting for about a year and a half and having my first gallery show next month. I have three kids at home, and three on their own. One of my little ones has severe autism and one of my older kids has schizophrenia (where he hears voices in his head). That one lives in a group setting in another town.

I have two dogs, a collie and a great pyrenees and a cat, some fish and a guinea pig. We live out in The Big Woods of North/Central PA, in a tiny mountain town of about 300 people and my husband is a physics teacher in our tiny school district here. I spend way too much time on the computer.

Looking forward to hanging out through the pregnancy here.

I am not sure what the implications are for my age, but trying to take it one day at a time. I guess I will do the triple screen with a level 2 ultrasound before launching right into an amnio, because even if they thought we had downs I would not abort, so why take the chance. But the threat scares me. And labor just gives me quivers. With 6 pregnancies under my belt, with only one with an epidural, and each of them vastly different, I can't imagine what this one brings and it scares me, but I guess I am not going to worry too much at this point about labor!

Jan

jenn_0629
05-18-2008, 07:30 PM
Well, congratulations! That is so great, and I am sure you are relieved to know that it isn't menopause... I love painting as well, I've entered quite a few contests and gotten some money off of those, it's my hobby. I am pregnant with a little boy, Damen Zachary, due June 30. My name is Jennifer and my hubby is Cameron. I would say to not worry about anything, you have quite a bit of experience, so just enjoy your pregnancy. I will say that I do not know how you could possibly pick another name though, this is our first and it took 6 1/2 months to decide!

JanB43
05-21-2008, 09:37 PM
Jennifer, what type of painting do you do? It is a great outlet, isn't it? I like oils, but have sworn off of them because of the fumes. I am doing a lot more with acrylic and water soluble oils instead.

Today I painted two canvasses, a farm scene with cows (and silos that my husband says look like male equipment) and a cottage scene. You can see them here if you care to look.

http://eatinrite.wordpress.com/2008/05/22/summer-cottage-ii/

The great thing about acrylic, as opposed to oils, is that I can repaint those silos tomorrow and I don't have to wait a month for them to dry up first.

Jan

MamaT
06-03-2008, 11:47 AM
janb43 your paintings are beautiful! congratulations as well! glad you joined the group!

jenn_0629
06-03-2008, 03:21 PM
I mainly just use acrylic..When I get tired of looking at the paintings I have done, I just slap some white over top and start a new one. I used to do it much more, I work a lot more now, being pregnant, than I did not being pregnant. But, I am hoping that I can get a painting done for my son when I go on maternity leave.