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Archive for August, 2011

Gestational Diabetes Author: Aug 23

So after three frustrating days of carb loading, four blood draws, and 27 hours of waiting, it was determined that I do indeed have gestational diabetes. What is gestational diabetes? Basically it means that my body, due to the changes of pregnancy, no longer produces and/or processes insulin like it should. This is not uncommon, I believe the American Diabetes Association says 18% of pregnant women are affected. It normally goes away along with the other side effects of pregnancy at about six weeks postpartum.

For most pregnant women, this is only a nuisance. For me, it’s step 2 on the road to actually being diabetic. There was a time about ten years ago that I was hypoglycemic – prone to strange drops in blood glucose levels. This leveled out and disappeared, but I was warned that this could be an issue in the future, especially since my mother is diabetic (and started with gestational diabetes while pregnant with my younger brother). Now there’s a bump in the road with the label of gestational diabetes.

While no one asks for this and it’s very easy to make the modifications to live a life where no one would know you were diabetic unless you told them, my issue, as it is with many things, is that it’s something that was forced on me through genetics. Despite my attempts to eat a relatively healthy diet (because of my own family history, my husband’s family history, and his high cholesterol), I am STILL going to carry a label that I’ve worked to avoid.

Now that I’ve received the diagnosis and accepted it (really, I have, I just don’t like it), where do I go from here? I’m not sure yet, my records have been sent to a specialist who will be calling me to set up a consultation and education session. I know for a fact this will involve learning how to use a blood glucose meter, making dietary changes and getting more exercise. What else? I haven’t a clue. My biggest concern is the effect that this is having on my unborn child and what we can expect at her birth. Extra testing? Observation in the NICU? I guess we’ll find out when my consultation is scheduled.

Category: gestational diabetes, pregnancy  | Comments off
29 Weeks Author: Aug 07

*How far along?: 29 weeks today

*Total weight gain: About 17 pounds

*How big is baby?: Roughly the size of a loaf of bread, approximately 15 inches and weighs about 3 pounds.

*Sleep?: Still very inconsistent. Some nights I sleep 8 hours fine, others I’m awake every 3 for one reason or another. I’m still getting sleep though, and that’s what’s important!

*Best moment this week?: I don’t recall anything fantastic, but we did have a great time stacking blocks as high as the kid could reach at the library, and wandering through Target playing with everything.

*Movement?: All the time. She’s pretty quiet in the morning, but after I’ve been up 2-3 hours she starts moving around and doesn’t seem to stop until I fall asleep at night.

*Food cravings?: Potato chips, chicken salad, and bagels.

*Stretchmarks?: Nothing new šŸ˜‰

*Labor signs?: Negatory

*Belly button in or out?: Still in, thank goodness! Definitely flatter though. šŸ™

*What I miss: Being able to play on the floor with my daughter. There is no good position for me on the floor.

*Complaints: I’m going to skip this question, because it seems like I’m constantly grumpy about the general pregnancy problems.

*What Iā€™m looking forward to: 3d ultrasound on Wednesday!

*Nursery Progress: After the new carpet was installed, we set up the new crib in the girls’ room. I forgot about a mattress though, so it’s pretty plain so far! šŸ˜‰

*What items do you still need to buy for baby?: Crib mattress and diapers. I still WANT a zillion new clothes for her, but we don’t NEED them, nor do we NEED any new infant toys, but I’m sure we’ll get some anyway. I’m having a lot of fun putting together registries with as many “silly” items as serious ones since we still have most of my older daughter’s stuff!

Category: pregnancy  | One Comment
The Friday Usual Author: Aug 05

1. Do you have siblings and are you close with them?
I have one younger brother. We’re not super close, but I see him usually once a week and we use Blackberry Messenger to keep in touch a couple times a week.

2. Would you rather be slightly UNDER weight or slightly OVER weight?
Over. I know it’s not “healthy” but most people at their ideal weight look emaciated, they need to put on a few pounds.

3. What’s your favorite State Fair food to splurge on?
As mentioned in a previous 5QF, I have only been to a “real” fair once that I can recall, and my fave food was cotton candy. If there was funnel cake or churros or soft pretzels, I’m sure I begged for those too. Funnel cake is the bigger one now.

4. What are your thoughts on your kid(s) going to school in a few weeks?
In general I’m excited that my daughter will be going to preschool again in 3 weeks. I’m not all that thrilled that she’s going Thursday/Friday, but hey, whatever, I’ll adjust. I LOVED her Monday/Wednesday schedule last year, but that was a fluke. The start of school is also a reminder that I’m in my 3rd trimester and there will be a second baby girl in the house before I know it. Scary thought.

5. Pool or Ocean?
Ocean view is better, but I’m much more comfortable playing around with my daughter in the pool and so is she. At the beach, she will only leave the blanket and her sand castles if she is firmly seated on someone’s hip. Unfortunately, now that she’s 30 pounds, it is difficult to accommodate this request.

Category: 5QF, Getting to know me, meme  | Comments off
Hello! Author: Aug 03

Hello, my name is Erin and I’m addicted to breakfast.

Or is it carbs?

Lately I seem to spend half my morning daydreaming about what kind of bagel, muffin or danish the kid and I will be going out to get, and if the location with that item also makes an acceptable iced coffee beverage.

When I’m too hungry to go out, or my sensibilities get the better of me, I eat fried eggs with toast at home. I also have several acceptable options for iced coffee in addition to my Keurig.

When I go out, it’s possible to find me at Panera, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Dunkin’ Donuts, or even Publix in search of breakfast.

Panera offers some fabulous quiches, and the kid and I are both big fans of the Strawberries n Cream Scones and the Cinnamon Crunch bagel. They also have a pretty decent Iced Caramel Latte as well, although it is made with a slightly bold, slightly bitter coffee.

Einstein Bros. Bagels is THE place to go for a bagel, imho. The multigrain, cranberry, and dutch apple are all fabulous, and so are the cinnamon sugar Bagel Poppers. Whether you prefer sweet or savory, you will find a bagel to meet your needs. And if the thought of a bagel isn’t doing it for you? They also offer a few muffins and danishes that all look good as well. One day I’ll try them, but for now I’m stuck on the bagels. šŸ˜‰ They do offer an Iced Caramel Macchiato, but there’s never enough caramel to suit my sweet tooth.

Dunkin’ Donuts has THE best iced latte around, and I think a lot of that has to do with their terrific bold coffee and the ton of fat and sugar that I’m sure are used in preparation. Some days, I just don’t care and try to do some extra walking to make up for the increased calorie intake. It is that good. DD also makes some great donuts, my favorites are always the filled kind! But the main reason I’m at DD these days is for the Iced Caramel Latte.

Publix is the local supermarket and my favorite place to shop, but not always for a quick breakfast, since there’s no drive-thru and very limited seating in the deli/bakery area. However, they do make a fantastic apple fritter and… I’m blanking on the name, I think it’s called a Toffee Apple Crunch, which is a flaky danish/croissant topped with apples and toffee glaze.

By now, I’m sure a few people have noticed that I “left out” the most obvious choice for on-the-go breakfast in Starbucks. However, I stated at the beginning of this ever lengthening post that I was looking for breakfast with an acceptable iced coffee beverage. Unfortunately, Starbucks doesn’t really provide this for me. Their drinks are always made/mixed well, but the coffee is too bold and acidic for me to drink with my acid reflux. So I patiently wait every year for the cooler nights of fall and cooler days of winter to enjoy my favorite Starbucks hot beverages – the Caramel Apple Spice and Caramel Brulee Latte (although I’m also a fan of the Gingerbread Latte and the Peppermint Mocha ;)). Also, while all of the baked goods available are quite tasty, the only ones that even begin to fill me up are the oatmeal, Banana Chocolate Chip bread or any of their fall pumpkin options. I’m hungry within 2 hours otherwise, and there are just too many calories in those baked goods to justify them.

Those are my favorite quick breakfast foods, what are yours??

Category: Food, Getting to know me  | Comments off