I'm da bomb!

I have now received my monitoring kit and have monitored four times a day since Sunday. I've managed to figure out how to get a good drop of blood and to make it a fairly painless process. The good news is that they diet must be working, because I've come in under target in all but one test. And that test was only over by 3.

But being under now brings up a new quandary. Can I be too far under? I see the dietitian on Monday, so I guess we'll bring that up then. In the meantime, Baby L is doing some sort of synchronized swimming, and is always moving. My stomach is one big gyrating blob. Both hubby and Little Guy are fascinated by it and will sit on the bed and just rest their hand on my stomach so they can feel. It's a good feeling...

Accident Update...

For those of you waiting anxiously, we finally got the police report on the accident. Turns out the guy is going to survive. He'll have some pretty serious injuries, but he's going to make it. Which is a big relief to me, to tell you the truth. While I know I'm not to blame, if he had died, god... not good. Now lets just hope that they accept the insurance offer and leave us alone.

5K Run to Remember

My husband works for the Phoenix Police Department, and today they had their 3rd Annual 5K/10K Run to Remember. Hubby signed up to do the 5K Walk with some coworkers. Little Guy and I went along to cheer him on, since I can't do a 5K walk this year. Maybe next year...

It was COLD out this morning. Little Guy had the right idea!

They're OFF! The start of the walk.

Crossing the finish line, 50 minutes later! Go team!

A proud daddy and son.

The happy walkers.

I'm so happy and proud of hubby for doing this. He's worked hard to do this, he and the coworkers have been walking in the wee hours of the morning after they get out of work (midnight!) and made real good time. Next year they're talking about running the race instead of walking. Who knows!

Congratulations Desert Songbird

Here's a shout out to my friend Desert Songbird. Her Colts and Payton Manning are going to the Super Bowl.

So, party at Desert Songbirds' in two weeks?

I Made it Through Week One...

Well, I made it through.

I made it through almost completely changing my diet. I found out a couple of things.

• Peaches in lite lite syrup are actually good!
• Whole Wheat isn't actually a bad word! It can be pretty good.
• I rediscovered carrots
• I can still eat cheese crisps, although it has to be with a wheat tortilla.
• I can survive without Coke.
• Since I eat every two hours or so, so does Baby L, so she and I are constantly talking.
• Diabetic web sites can be a good friend!

So I move on to week 2 (only 10 more weeks to go!), and start monitoring tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Wild Wild Week

This week was supposed to be good. Three day weekend, with Monday off, two half days on Thursday and Friday due to parent teacher conferences, and only two days of actual school. (Not that the half days aren't actual school, but it's not easy to fit things into only two hours!)

However, that was before I got the call on Monday morning. The call was from my OB's nurse practitioner. Crap. Anytime that comes up on the caller ID, it's not good. Last time it happened it was the happy news that I had a high blood sugar count on my first glucose test and had to go in for the happy happy three hour test. Which was Saturday. The only good thing about sitting in the lab for three hours on a Saturday was that I got my report cards done.

So, anyway, the caller ID shows my OB. I failed my second glucose test. That means I have Gestational Diabetes. That means I have to go on a rather strict diet. That means that I have to monitor (prick myself) four times a day. That means I have to eat six 'meals' a day. That means NO MORE PETER PIPER PIZZA, PIZZA HUT, CHIPS AND SALSA OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT I EAT. To say that I'm upset is putting it mildly. I knew this as soon as the nurse told me. But I had no idea of the extent of this diet. And because NOBODY in this office works past, like 2:30, I had to take another sick day to go to the doctor. (I am not happy with this OB!)

So bright and early on Tuesday morning the hubby and I are in the doctors office to talk to the dietitian. Then I came home and cried. And cried. And cried. Then hubby and I spent three hours food shopping. There was just about NOTHING in the house that I could eat.

I'm normally a very healthy person, who takes a sick day more because I need a 'mental health day' than anything else. Occasionally I'll get a flu bug, but I've never had to really watch my diet for anything other than losing weight - which is good, because I don't like a whole lot of foods. Well, now my health and the health of the baby depends on what I eat. Not a good scenario.

This is what a typical eating day is for me:
Breakfast: Pop tart and glass of milk on the way to school
Lunch: Cheese quesadilla on white tortilla, chips and salsa, low fat pudding (I'm trying at least!) and a Coke with Lime
Snack: Out of the vending machine - butterfingers lately, with a Coke with Lime. Maybe a glass of milk instead.
Dinner: Applebee's, Earl's (Mex Am), McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Peter Piper Pizza, whatever the mood strikes.

Real healthy, huh? Now this is what I have to eat
Breakfast : 1 starch (i.e. half a whole wheat English muffin), 1 protein (i.e. egg or peanut butter), 1 fat (i.e. butter) and 1 milk (8oz milk or yogurt).
Morning snack: 1 fruit. (FRUIT!?!?!?)
Lunch: 2 starch, 2 protein, 2 veggie, 1 milk, 2 fat (thankfully whole wheat tortillas are OK, as well as cheese. The quesadilla lives!)
Afternoon Snack: 1 starch, 1 fruit, 1 milk
Dinner: 2 starch, 3 meat, 2 veggie, 1 fruit, 1 milk, 2 fat
Evening Snack: 1 starch, 1 fruit, 1 milk.

I'm slowing going insane. And not just any starch, I've been warned off any white starch. Everything is whole wheat. Whole wheat bread, pasta, tortillas... No more soda (unless it's diet, and I'd rather drink water than drink diet soda!), no more candy, no more random snacking. Quite frankly it sucks. But there are risks to the baby if I don't follow this, the most serious (and most rare) being stillborn. But gestational diabetes causes big babies and early delivery (maybe I was borderline diabetic with Little Guy, he was 9lb 12oz and two weeks early!)

But it is so stinking hard. Thank god for hubby. He was right there next to me through it all. He's willing to change his diet and he was a godsend during the massive shopping event. He took labels and compared and read and put together things that I could eat (that I liked!) That has been the biggest challenge. Eating fruits and veggies. I don't like fruits and veggies. Ick, gross. And I have tried them. I guess before this pregnancy is over I will have od'd on peaches, banana's and carrots, because that is the extent of fruits and veggies I like. Of course, I like corn too, but that doesn't count as a veggie, it's a starch!

Thank god it's only two more months until Baby L is scheduled to come into the world.

Hello?

Just wondering if there is anyone out there following this blog. Feel free to leave a posting... I feel like I'm writing to thin air sometimes...

World of Wheels

Mamma and Little Guy with the General Lee!

Hubby with his favorite! Jack Daniels!

Little Guy in front of the Hot Wheels Car.

Little Guy with the life size Mater.

Today we went to the annual World of Wheels car show. Mostly because it was held close to our house, at the new University of Phoenix Stadium (yuck, I hate that name, it'll always be Cardinals Stadium to me). We thought that Little Guy would get a kick out of seeing the life size Mater from Cars and the General Lee. Heck, I was excited to see the General Lee. And Little Guy was excited to see all of that. He was even more excited about seeing all the classic cars and the engines. Don't ask me where he got this from. We've never done anything like this before, and I don't think he's been exposed to cars and engines like this before. Occasionally Little Guy and Hubby will sit and watch Overhaulin', but that's it. They're more into American Chopper. Anyway, it was fun to watch him.

I, on the other hand, was disappointed. I expected a lot more, since this has traditionally been held at the Civic Center. It seemed small and there were not very many vendors. I don't know what I expected, but this wasn't it. What was really disappointing though, is that the General Lee was advertised but we couldn't get close enough to actually see it or get our picture taken close to it because they wanted $10 to take a Polaroid picture and get an autograph with Cooter. So we got ours in front of the merchandise table. Same thing with Mater. They wanted $5 to take a picture with Mater. We just stood outside the rope and hoped for the best when we shot that picture. Thankfully, it turned out well.

Hubby and I were excited when we found out that Chris Garver from Miami Ink was going to be there, and the line wasn't too long. But then there was his handler. Five bucks for an autograph. I guess this is how things are done, but it seemed like a rip off. Oh well. Live and learn. I guess the most important part of the day was that we had fun, and Little Guy had a ball.

Catholic Codes

I'm Catholic, and when my girlfriend sent this to me, I just found it too funny. I hope you enjoy...

Catholic Codes

This information is for Catholics only. It must not be divulged to non-Catholics. The less they know about our rituals and code words, the better off they are.

AMEN: The only part of a prayer that everyone knows.

BULLETIN: Your receipt for attending Mass.

CHOIR: A group of people whose singing allows the rest of the Parish to lip-sync.
HOLY WATER: A liquid whose chemical formula is H2OLY.

HYMN: A song of praise usually sung in a key three octaves higher than that of the congregation's range.

RECESSIONAL HYMN: The last song at Mass often sung a little more quietly, since most of the people have already left.

INCENSE: Holy Smoke!

JESUITS: An order of priests known for their ability to found colleges with good basketball teams.

JONAH: The original "Jaws" story.

JUSTICE: When kids have kids of their own.

KYRIE ELEISON: The only Greek words that most Catholics can recognize besides gyros and baklava.

MAGI: The most famous trio to attend a baby shower.

MANGER: Where Mary gave birth to Jesus because Joseph wasn't covered by an HMO (The Bible's way of showing us that holiday travel has always been rough.)

PEW: A medieval torture device still found in Catholic churches.

PROCESSION: The ceremonial formation at the beginning of Mass consisting of altar servers, the celebrant, and late parishioners looking for seats.

RECESSIONAL: The ceremonial procession at the conclusion of Mass led by parishioners trying to beat the crowd to the parking lot.

RELICS: People, who have been going to Mass for so long, they actually know when to sit, kneel and stand.

TEN COMMANDMENTS: The most important Top Ten list not given by David Letterman.
USHERS: The only people in the parish who don't know the seating capacity of a pew.

Navy Drill Team

A friend sent this to me, this is too cool. Never mind the jerks who posted about how this was a waste. I think it's cool and it takes a lot of time and talent to do this. Enjoy!

Picture Crazy!

I've put together some slide shows of our holiday fun. Check them out and enjoy!

Check This Out!

I am blog hopping, and found this post. As I'm shortly about to turn 30, I thought it was quite funny!

Crafty Crafty Me!

Many moons ago, while I was visiting relatives in Albuquerque, my cousin started to show me how to crochet. I started this scarf about three years ago, with nothing more in mind then to try to get the stitches down. I worked on it for a while, then put it away for what turned out to be years.

This year I started making a stocking for hubby, and when I went to pull out the materials I needed, found the length of crocheting. Little Guy saw it and asked if it was a scarf for him. Sure, why not? So I finished it off and added some tassels to it. (That is, after I went and bought a crocheting book to find out HOW to do the tassels!) The scarf itself, when you look closely at it, is really quite amateur. But Little Guy is quite proud of it, and so am I.

In fact, I'm so infatuated with crocheting right now that I'm practicing to make Baby L a blanket. Wish me luck, it looks to be complicated!

The Quadrafecta!

I got a call from the Surgery Scheduling nurse the other day regarding my due date. Since Little Guy was a C-section, I had the option of doing the same for Baby L. Since I'm not big on pain or anything, I chose the option of another C-section. Plan it, go in on the specified date, get the spinal block and not have to worry about labor pains or contractions. That's the plan.

When we found out that Baby L was due in March, hubby groaned. March is a big month for us, at least in my family. We have a unique birthday happening in my family. My father is March 13, I am March 14 and my younger sister is March 15. In addition, my father in law is March 1, sister in law March 29 and an assortment of anniversaries and birthdays of other friends and family.

When I was pregnant with Little Guy, his due date was March 11. He was so big, however, that the doctor induced me and he was born on Feb. 28. So while he missed the March 'curse', he's still close enough to be a part of the festivities.

Baby L's anticipated due date (should I carry to full term) is March 25. But with having a C-section, the doctor wants to make sure I'm not going to go into labor, and we're planning for about a week ahead of time. My doctor has gone ahead and scheduled my due date for.... drum roll please.... March 16!

We have now put the Quadrafecta in action...

Accident Update

Well, as of the day after Christmas the 'Jaywalker' (as I have nothing else to call him by and refuse to let myself think that I had anything to do with his decision to walk in front of my truck!) was still in the hospital in Critical Condition and on life support. Egads. But it's out of my hands now, all I can do is say a prayer and trust that whatever happens is meant to happen. Of course, after I hear that, we start worrying about the family coming after us to pay for medical expenses, even though I AM IN NO WAY AT FAULT. This is such a sue crazy country that you never know what will happen.

However, I had some good news shortly after hearing this. We got a call back from the insurance agent regarding the damage to the vehicle and they do their own investigation based on my statement and the police report. The gal said the same thing to me that the officer did. It sounds like I was no way at fault, there is no liability on my part. We have medical coverage up to $15k per person in an accident, and since he was the only injured party he's the only coverage. And since he's injured so badly they are going to offer the $15k for medical expenses, but in return they are going to ask for a release that they will not hold us liable or come after us for any other expenses.

So I'm resting a little easier now...