tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766774917374706444.post7520549763598093956..comments2022-12-02T03:31:27.390-05:00Comments on Information Constellation: LeavetakingsDonna Witekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609991179829134157noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766774917374706444.post-47740671134978284682012-05-31T17:36:02.734-04:002012-05-31T17:36:02.734-04:00Thank you for the helpful and supportive comment, ...Thank you for the helpful and supportive comment, <b>Valentina</b>! I think it is absolutely spot-on that the words for "pregnant" in both Russian and Church Slavonic mean what they do. Makes perfect sense to me.<br /><br />Thankfully I am very near the end of my grad program, and yet what that actually means is, most of what is left for me is working toward writing my Master's thesis. Which means, more writing (a LOT more writing) in my future. Perhaps it's naive of me to think it, but the fact that the rest of my course work is largely self-directed, and does not require that I attend any more in-the-classroom class meetings, relieves a lot of the pressure for me and makes me think it will be "easier" than the semester I just went through. And, while my deadline for completing the thesis work is not *completely* open-ended, there is definitely flexibility built in, which means, though I could set the overly ambitious goal of having the thesis completed by May 2013 (the earliest I could possibly finish it), the fact that this upcoming year coincides with my daughter's first year, likely means the thesis work will go slower than that--which is fine, and absolutely worth the sacrifice. It will be what it will be, and I am comfortable with that. :)<br /><br />Yay, so glad you'll be at the shower! Looking forward to seeing you then!Donna Witekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09609991179829134157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766774917374706444.post-6247525749746584242012-05-24T19:30:55.998-04:002012-05-24T19:30:55.998-04:00In Russian, the word "pregnant" literall...In Russian, the word "pregnant" literally means "burdened", and in church Slavonic it means "non-idle". Any woman who's been pregnant will understand why. :-)<br /><br />I hope you are near the end of your grad program. When I was pregnant, the beginning of my third trimester coincided with the beginning of my first grad semester and I finished my 10-page final research paper just days before giving birth. Now, I am saying this not to brag, but to share something that wasn't apparent to me at that time (when I was desperately counting days till giving birth and returning to my usual productive self): school work is much-much easier during pregnancy than after pregnancy. My concept of possible vs. impossible got totally revolutionized with Anna's birth. This time around, 10-page research papers get written overnight (from the time baby goes to sleep till she wakes up, as there's no other opportunity).<br /><br />What I'm trying to say is try not to feel impatient for the future. Enjoy the present. Pregnancy is a wonderful time, even with all the oddities and challenges. AND solicit all the help you can get for the months ahead. It's going to be crazy, BUT super-fun. I'm looking forward to seeing you at the baby shower :-)Valentinahttp://www.facebook.com/valentina.gussevanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766774917374706444.post-14907243218961614242012-05-24T12:44:21.918-04:002012-05-24T12:44:21.918-04:00Thank you Kathy dear. I'm grateful for your lo...Thank you <b>Kathy</b> dear. I'm grateful for your love and support. :)Donna Witekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09609991179829134157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766774917374706444.post-82878681995551208082012-05-24T12:43:31.701-04:002012-05-24T12:43:31.701-04:00Thank you Kh. Nicole! It's good to know that I...Thank you <b>Kh. Nicole</b>! It's good to know that I'll get somewhat used to interrupted sleep. Right now it is challenging, but it may also be because of my size and shape, since waking up in the middle of the night doesn't mean simply springing up to go to the bathroom or whatever the need may be--instead it means carefully rolling over and using very tired muscles to get up and do whatever needs doing. Not that I am complaining--I pray the above post doesn't come off as a complaint. It was more me observing in myself what this very humbling experience is like. Thank you for the prayers for the rest of my pregnancy--and I hope your 40 days have been/continue to be restful and enjoyable!Donna Witekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09609991179829134157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766774917374706444.post-85517328170985817162012-05-24T12:39:35.251-04:002012-05-24T12:39:35.251-04:00Thank you for the note of support, Elizabeth. That...Thank you for the note of support, <b>Elizabeth</b>. That is really interesting about Madeleine L'Engle (who I love, btw). It makes a lot of sense, what she says about writing while pregnant. It suggests that growing a child during pregnancy is a creative (perhaps even artistic, if the mother considers herself as a collaborator with God) act. I like this thought. :) <br /><br />Also, I wanted to let you know I'm so excited for you that your grandmother's wedding dress fits so well, with only minor alterations needed--what a blessing! I hope that perhaps you will post a photo of it (it sounds beautiful), likely after your wedding day so Orthoman won't see it in advance on your blog ;)Donna Witekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09609991179829134157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766774917374706444.post-77174064381922744162012-05-23T20:16:57.474-04:002012-05-23T20:16:57.474-04:00God Bless all your efforts, Donna! You are such an...God Bless all your efforts, Donna! You are such an amazing person: mother, wife, friend, student, hard worker....and the list could go on and on. :) Love you lots--I know how proud little Rosebud will be when she's old enough to know all that you've been through. :)Kathy Bakeshttp://katherinebakes.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766774917374706444.post-12045327580392232582012-05-23T19:31:38.772-04:002012-05-23T19:31:38.772-04:00You're in the home stretch! Just think of the...You're in the home stretch! Just think of the night time wakings as training. I haven't slept through the night since I was pregnant with Sweet Pea. So almost six years. You get used to it, sort of. :)<br /><br />May God grant the rest of your pregnancy be healthy!Kh. Nicolehttps://thekhouriyehsaidwhat.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5766774917374706444.post-77921028978301567192012-05-23T18:30:05.860-04:002012-05-23T18:30:05.860-04:00this is a lot. I am glad you got lots of help and...this is a lot. I am glad you got lots of help and support. I remember reading one of Madeleine L'Engle's journals about her life and in one of them she said that whatever she wrote when she was pregnant was never published; she found that all of her creative energy was used to grow the child within her. It really is a very demanding thing, from what I have gathered. (((hugs)))elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00962587884124992942noreply@blogger.com