Red Pencil Diaries

This week, Dave took Zack to the movies one afternoon. I got to go out by myself—I hadn’t done that in so long. It was nice. I ate lunch alone at Panera. I went to Hancock Fabrics to buy ribbon. I went to the Goodwill to root through the piles of children’s clothes. It was a nice few hours. I just wish I had a few more of them.

I just read a friend’s blog about how her mom and her inlaws come get her son once a week (each) and he spends the night and stuff. She’s pregnant (due around the same time I am) and really needs some of that time to rest or get things done. I can’t help but be a tad jealous. I don’t even have a sitter for Zack. Occasionally we can get a friend to come by for a few hours in the evening so we can get dinner or something. We really need a regular sitter. Someone we can trust. Once Lola arrives, it will be far more difficult to find someone to watch both of them. Maybe I should find someone now so Dave and I can spend some time together before the baby comes—we generally only go out together (alone) maybe once every four months or so.

Dave is out with friends tonight. I’ve been with Zack most of the day. I’m actually tired. Being 7 months pregnant can do that to you. We played outside, had dinner, watched some TV, Zack had his bath, we played some more in the living room, both enjoyed a bowl of cereal (I have to eat a snack late in the evening) then I let him lay on the couch while we watched Spongebob until he fell asleep.  I carried him to his room (I have given in and occasionally I pick him up now) and he curled up in bed. I guess I’ll go get in bed and watch some TV now. I was feeling kinda bummed b/c I don’t really have friends to hang out with in the evenings. But soon, that won’t matter. I’ll be back to feeding and diapering every couple of hours and surviving on an extreme lack of sleep. Yeah… I guess I really should get some “me” time in before June. Who knows when I’ll have a chance to do that again.

Let’s see… thanks for the suggestions, but…

I can have some fruits, but only with meals. And then, it’s that some fruits are better than others. I could probably blend it to make a smoothy, but I can’t use any juice or anything. And I’m not allowed fruit juice.

Lentils are ok. I’m not huge on lentils. And whole grain pasta is the same as regular pasta on this diet. They are both carbs and count the same. And I can have peanut butter, or almond butter. For that matter, I can sit and eat a stick of butter. The fat is no issue and the minimal amount of sugar in the peanut butter doesn’t matter overall. I’m allowed to have a tablespoon or so of it with some carb (cracker, graham cracker, or a piece of bread) for a snack.

Last night we had dinner with my mom and dad at Buckhead Mountain Grill. I ate a steak, a salad, and their spinach dish (I think it has cheese in it). I even ate a roll with butter. I was actually full and my blood sugars came out ok. But ooooh how I wanted that potato or some of my mom’s sweet potato casserole that she got.

I’m doing ok. It’s not so bad, I guess. I just crave a bowl of spaghetti with sauce (tomato sauce is a big no—too much sugar, as is pizza) or a big slice of pizza (I can have a small slice of pizza, with a salad, but that will be my whole meal).  After Lola is born, I’m having Krispy Kreme doughnuts for breakfast and pizza for dinner with cheesecake.

Ok, I failed my 3-hour glucose tolerance test. And I didn’t fail it in a big way—my blood sugar levels were all just barely over the limit. So last Friday I went to my gestational diabetes clinic/class. They explained that I would try to control it through blood sugar monitoring and strict diet. And the diet is strict. Absolutely no sugar or sweets. I can have sugar free pudding, sugar free jello, light-sugar free yogurt, and graham crackers. That’s as sweet as it gets. I have a strict timeline on eating and testing my blood sugar levels. Plus, I am only allowed a very limited number of carbs per meal. The diet has been going ok—at least my blood sugar levels have been good during the day. But geez… I can’t have pasta—ok, well I can, but who wants to eat 1/3 a cup of pasta??? It’s like a spoonful. I’ve only been on the diet for a few days, and already I’ve had my fair share of salads. And more protein/meat than I care for. Since I am on a very limited number of carbs, I try to make up for it with protein. But eating a lot of meat isn’t fun. I mean, I guess it’s ok, but wow… since I’ve been pregnant, I’ve craved pasta, rice, and bread. Now I crave it more than ever. sigh I could never survive on this diet for long. I mean, when I lost weight last year, I cut back on carbs, but at least I occasionally allowed myself to have some.

I have only 10 more weeks to go, so I shouldn’t complain. It will go by fast, I’m sure. I am just going to try to not focus on food, but that’s difficult considering I have to eat 3 meals and 3 snacks per day. I feel as if I’m obsessing about what I will eat next, if only because I have to know exactly how many starches/carbs are in everything and I have to be sure I eat enough protein to go with it. I’m already tired of string cheese and crackers for snacks. And graham crackers with peanut butter is getting old too.

Tonight we’re going out for dinner with my mom and dad—my first dinner out. Wish me luck. At least it’ll be something I don’t have to cook.

Lola’s room is nearly finished. Well, for Dave’s part, it’s finished. We have paint, carpet, lighting. The crib is up, the changing table is ready. Her closets are organized. And tonight, I started putting away clothes. Between my shopping (since the day I found out I was pregnant—as well as the day I found out it was a girl!), and clothes my sister and her friend have given me… and things my mom, friends, etc. have gotten for her… the girl has tons of CLOTHES. But her closet isn’t totally full yet, and she has one chest of drawers that is still empty. So… maybe I should just say she has enough clothes to get her through the first three to six months.

Yesterday I found out that I failed my 3-hour blood glucose test. So yet again, I have gestational diabetes. I was barely over the limit at all 3 hour intervals. Oh well. It’s not like it was out of the blue. I have to go to a clinic at the hospital this week to learn more and see what they are going to do to help control it. Last time, I was on a strict diet and medication (no insulin). I’m hoping for that again.

Other than that, I’m doing well. Lola is getting big. Zack is really growing up. He’s talking more. He’s doing more. Tonight, he was saying “pallillo.” I had no idea what he meant, and then, he brought me his pillow! So cute.

Dave is in class this evening, and Zack and I are here watching TV… nothing like Disney channel. Maybe he’ll let me watch something more grown up in a bit… maybe I’ll change it when he takes a bath.

I’ve reached a new milestone. I’ve passed the 6 month mark. yay!

Dave has been working super hard on Lola’s nursery. He’s painted the ceiling, walls, closet, closet doors. He’s installed the closet organizer in one closet and the doors on that one too. Oh, and he put Pergo flooring inside the closets (yes, we put it in all of our closets even though we put carpet in the actual room floor). Next, he will strip out the rest of the old carpet and paint the trim and then we will shop for new carpeting—maybe next week. And THEN we can start putting things in the room—like furniture and curtains, etc.

It’s been a super nice weekend. Zack and I went out to play yesterday. He wore shorts and collected rocks as we walked around our yard. Today I bought some new beads at Dee’s Crafts and then we came home and Zack road his tricycle in the driveway. He was so cute in his big red helmet! He doesn’t seem to like pedalling yet, though. He prefers to push with his feet. He can pedal. He just doesn’t do it as much (or as fast) as he pushes with his feet. Oh well. In time, I’m sure he will pedal everywhere.

Now it’s evening and it’s starting to get cool outside. I think I’ll go close some of our windows. I feel a slight chill. I think spring is finally here. Won’t be long until it’s nice and warm all day, every day. I can’t wait!

Friday (tomorrow), I will be officially 24 weeks pregnant. It’s amazing. 6 months have gone by so fast. I just cannot believe it. I remember passing the 6 month mark when I was pregnant with Zack. I was in the hospital in tears… praying to make it one more week. I’m still praying with this one too. But I’m 6 months along and still up walking around. Tonight I cooked dinner, did laundry, cleaned the kitchen, gave Zack a bath… I never dreamed I could do all this while pregnant. Might not sound like much to most people, but to me, it’s a total miracle. Yay! I’m celebrating! Thank you, Dr. Sumners for an amazing surgery. I still have quite a way to go. But 24 weeks feels wonderful!