March 9th, 2010
As the only person in the company who doesn’t have kids, I sometimes refer to myself as “the most educated non-parent”! Having co-created the HealthPod Baby, I have learned so much about raising and caring for kids that I feel like I will be more than ready when it’s my turn to have kids.
The reason that I got into the business of co-creating and selling the HealthPod Baby was simply because I fundamentally believe that everyone is responsible for their own health. Just like it is our responsibility to take care of our career and not rely solely on our managers or our companies to take care of us, I see that it is even more important to take care of ourselves and be responsible for our own health. As good as our health system is, it can’t possibly take care of us in a way that we can take care of ourselves.
I was reminded of this today when I went to get a breast ultrasound for some cysts that my doctor recently found. Because I am HealthPod believer, I use a HealthPod Baby to manage my health. Although designed with children in mind, it helps me track my health (I have taken out the sections that don’t apply like milestones and food introductions etc) and keep what is most important: emergency information, health contacts, doctor visits, health, dental, specialist summaries, allergies and family history - as you can see a lot applies right through your life!
Going through this experience reminded me about how difficult it is for our medical system to share and gain quick access to our records. When I arrived at the radiology clinic, they asked me if I had ever had an ultrasound or mammogram before. Luckily I had recorded in my HealthPod that on November 26, 2007, I had an ultrasound and mammogram with the following results. The technician said, “really, we only show that your last breast ultrasound was in 2002, were did you have it done?” I had written down that it was at the Women’s Imaging Center. This information is important as with many medical tests, doctors rely on changes to make better assessments. This way they could see how it had progressed between 2002, 2007 and today. She said that they will call the Women’s Imaging Center and get the results sent over for them to compare.
It was an important reminder of how valuable this information is when you really need it and how I can make sure that I am the expert on and owner of my health.
Marci, Co-Founder
Tags: expert, health, mammogram, responsible, ultrasound
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December 11th, 2009
What better time to pause and reflect on the year than when you are snowed in under several feet of snow and subject to -20 degree temperatures - well, frankly, there’s not much else to do!
It has been another great year for HealthPod Baby - it’s hard to believe another year has gone by so quickly. Maybe its a function of age, but it seems like time is flying at warp speed! Grabbing the number one spot on our list of exciting events this year was when Disney Family included HealthPod Baby in their Top 10 Pregnancy Essentials list - we were thrilled! Another exciting event was when our own Marci Andrews, co-founder of HealthPod Baby, was named one of Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 by Avenue Magazine - congratulations Marci! (Check out the article and Marci’s video interview at http://cli.gs/XN9EJT).
We are also thrilled to welcome a new member to the HealthPod Baby team - Kelly Morris. Kelly joins HealthPod as the new General Manager with a great background in marketing and social media. We are really excited about Kelly’s ideas regarding social media - so expect to see more about HealthPod when you’re visiting your favourite networking sites. If you haven’t connected with us on Twitter lately, you should check it out - Kelly has revamped the page and has been diligently tweeting away!
On the flip side, we are sad to say good-bye to two other HealthPod Baby team members, Lisa Hargreaves and Kim Fenton. Both Lisa and Kim joined us over a year and a half ago. Lisa was our sales girl extraordinaire and Kim did everything from assembling HealthPods and shipping them out to our customers to sending out all the free gifts with registration. (If you haven’t registered with us, you might want to!) Both these girls were extraordinary at what they did and had as much passion for HealthPod Baby as we do. Unfortunately both had other opportunities that fit their families and lives better than HealthPod - we will miss them and wish them all the best in their future endeavours!
We are also sad to say good-bye to Magda Kaczan. If you have signed up to receive the HealthPod newsletters, you’ve seen Magda’s work! She kept us organized with articles and has recently been working on our new web store (to be launched shortly). Magda recently welcomed a new baby into her family. Congratulations Magda - we wish you all the best!
After such a busy 2009, we’re wondering what’s in store for 2010…..hopefully we’ll have time to slow down and enjoy all the events of the year instead of watching it whiz by at lightening speed! From all the HealthPod team, past and present, we would like to wish everyone a happy holiday, and a fun, healthy and exciting 2010!
All the best.
Jana
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June 5th, 2009
For me, owning a business is a bit like golf. Every once in a while something great happens during your game that brings you back the next time. While work and golf can both be challenging, there is always that one great moment that motivates you to keep going.
Fortunately, there have been lots of moments with HealthPod Baby that have re-energized me along the way - emails from registrants that love the HealthPod Baby and talking to people who have found the HealthPod to be truly useful. One of the great moments came last year when we won the iParenting Media Award for Excellent Product in the baby care category. This was an amazing accomplishment for us as consumers chose the HealthPod Baby from hundreds of products from all over North America!
Last week we were honoured to find out that HealthPod Baby was chosen by Disney editors to be one of their Top Ten Pregnancy Essentials on their Disney Family web site (see us here at http://family.go.com/products/article-641953-top-pregnancy-essentials-t/6/). And as the only Canadian product in the Top Ten, we are thrilled!
While we are excited to receive these awards, it is the personal stories from our customers and supporters that keep us motivated every day. So thanks to everyone who sent us emails about their HealthPod experiences and help us spread the word - you help to `drive` our business!
Have a great day!
Jana
Tags: accomplishment, business, Disney, essential, inspiration, iParenting, motivation, pregnancy, stories
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February 24th, 2009
Since the birth of my second baby 7 months ago, I’ve been somewhat negligent when it comes to taking care of myself. As most new moms experience, sleep deprivation continues to play a role in my life, and my menu typically consists of meals that are easiest to make - not necessarily the healthiest meals. So, I decided to treat my body to a little TLC last weekend. I checked into the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel with some friends, spent a day being pampered at the spa and had a fabulous meal in town, complete with dessert! But the most indulgent part of the weekend was the company. I didn’t go away with just any friends, but with girls I met more than 5 years ago in a prenatal class for our first babies.
At the time I had hoped to meet a friend that I could hang out in the park with while our kids slept in their car seats. But I was lucky enough to get more than I had hoped for. Five years later, I have 4 great friends that I still go out for dinner with every month (dragging our husbands along once or twice a year), still have yearly birthday parties for our kids, have ventured on camping trips together, and as of last weekend, are now attending annual spa weekends!
Although in the early days we thought it was important to get together so our kids could learn to socialize, our get-togethers now are all about us. We have spent countless hours sharing advice on eating, sleeping, pooping and sickness, as well as the hilarious moments and the frustrating, self-doubting, tearful moments we’ve all experienced as moms. At the end of each of our get-togethers, we walk away feeling normal, relieved, and so thankful to have friends who know exactly what we are each going through. And all this happens without judging each other.
Being able to share all these moments of parenthood with friends and other moms helps put perspective into our lives when we are doubting ourselves, helps us feel good about how we are managing the most important job we have, and lets us laugh at the crazy mommy moments we all experience.
I am hoping that by starting this blog this becomes a place where moms can connect, share their stories and experiences, and feel great about what they do at the end of each day. Every mom deserves at least that - and a spa day if you can fit it in! Please visit regularly as I’ll be writing about a variety of topics, from a health perspective and a mom perspective. I would love to hear your questions, comments and suggestions - and I look forward to connecting with you all!
For the month of February, HealthPod Baby is taking a poll on what the top 3 gifts are that moms would love to receive. If you haven’t submitted your votes, please take a second and let us know what your favourite gifts would be to make your life a little easier. (Can you guess one of my votes was a spa day?) Visit: http://www.healthpod.ca/love/
Have a great day everyone!
Jana
Tags: advice, connect, Fairmont Banff Springs, friends, indulge, moms, prenatal class, share, spa, thankful, TLC
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