- I stayed home sick today because I just needed more sleep. Yesterday and all night last night I was burping up stomach acid, and not just a little but a whole mouth full. – mmm yummy!
- Yesterday was the first day Sophia’s kicks weren’t just quick movements of tiny elbows and knees making brief appearances or her rolling over and making my stomach look like a water bed. She actually had a knee (or other pointy unidentifiable body part) poking my stomach for a noticeable period of time.
- I’m growing my hair out. Kurt likes my hair long and has forbade me to do what every other pregnant woman seems to do, which is cut her hair short.
- My goal for Monday is to clean the upstairs of our house. I’ve neglected the bathroom for longer than I’d like to say.
- I usually love to clean but lately all I’ve been able to focus on is reorganizing my blogs. This blog is very focused on my pregnancy which is what I wanted but now it seems a little one dimensional so I’ll be stripping some posts off of my other blog to add some other categories here soon.
- My nickname at work for the longest time was Google. Anytime someone would ask any type of question (even non-work related) I would have the answer for them in less than five minutes.
- Kurt and I met eight years ago through an online ad I posted for free on American Singles.
- My grandma had a cellphone before I did. I got my first cellphone in November and can never remember to charge it.
More on cloth diapers
I have found a one-size pocket diaper that uses snaps instead of the hook and loop fasteners. It’s called “Mommy’s Touch”. You would think that I’d be ecstatic and snatch some up right away, but not only do they cost a dollar more per diaper (not really *that* big a deal to me) they also have so many snaps! I would never be able to get Kurt or any sitter that’s even slightly apprehensive about cloth diapers to use these. From what I can tell via pictures on the web there isn’t even a way to snap them up to the right size before diapering the squirmy child. It looks like you put it on the baby and then snap down to size – what a pain! It also requires an insert (all pocket diapers do) but this one doesn’t even come with an initial/basic – we make this insert specifically for our diapers so we’re throwing it in for your convenience.
After doing more research and reading many reviews (Thank you Carrie for the link on the cloth diaper review), my current plan is to use Kissaluvs size 0 fitted diapers for the newborn days. Every site I visited said that Kissaluvs fitted diapers were the parents’ favorite for containing runny newborn poops. The size 0 should fit until Sophia is 15 pounds and then I think I’ll switch to a medium sized Fuzzi Bunz, which fits from 15 to 30 pounds. If I need an in-between diaper, I’ll either go with the fitted Kissaluvs size 1, which can also serve as a backup diaper until she’s about 25 pounds or a size small Happy Heiny Huggers depending on her size. I’m crossing my fingers that she’ll be potty trained before I need to buy the size large Fuzzi Bunz. – I have a plan for how I will do potty training, but I realize that part of it is up to her.
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Round two of glucose testing
For this glucose test I had to fast, which wasn’t too difficult since my appointment was first thing in the morning. I just had to keep reminding myself that I couldn’t just grab one banana before leaving the house. I arrived at the doctor’s office, went to the lab and had my blood drawn. Then I got to chug my sugary drink. This time I was able to choose which flavor of torture I wanted to ingest. I picked orange. Last time I didn’t get a choice I got a lemon/lime flavored one. I drank most of it with no problem but towards the end, it was getting gross. They gave me a timer and I got to sit out in the waiting room for an hour. Blood draw, wait an hour, blood draw, wait an hour, and blood draw. My arms look like those of a drug user now, granted I don’t have needle marks between my fingers or under my nails, so I can’t very well call myself hard core.
I asked if my iron levels would be tested again since I was told I needed an iron supplement. I explained that with my diet it just doesn’t seem possible that I’m anemic. The person drawing my blood went to ask about my supplement and said, “Yeah you need to take it”. Ummm that’s not really what I was asking. I wanted a retest, but no one really listens. Fine I’ll take the stupid pill, but I’m going to ask again at the next visit. Of course, with all the blood they drew from me today if I wasn’t anemic before, I am now! Four separate blood draws. I got there at eight and I didn’t get home till noon. I was exhausted and my back hurts from sitting in the waiting room chairs.
The really irritating thing is when I told the nurse drawing my blood that anemia didn’t seem possible with my diet she asked, “You eat meat?” as if I’m too damn skinny to be a meat eater. Yes, I eat meat! (see rant below) I focused more on the amount of beans I consume, but she seemed to think that the only real way to get iron was through meat. She asked if I eat rice with my beans. I had heard in the past that rice increased the iron absorption of beans, but after doing an internet search with only one reputable site coming up that mentions rice and beans in relation to iron absorption it looks like the opposite is true. And for the record, I don’t like rice and do not eat it with my beans.
Absorption of heme iron is very efficient and not significantly affected by the composition of your diet(1). Only 1% to 7% of the nonheme iron in vegetable staples such as rice, maize, black beans, soybeans and wheat is absorbed when consumed as a single food (3). However, dietary factors can significantly improve nonheme iron absorption (1,3, 6-9). Meat proteins and vitamin C will improve the absorption of nonheme iron (1,10). Diets that include a minimum of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, as recommended by the Food Guide Pyramid, should provide plenty of vitamin C to boost nonheme iron absorption. Calcium, polyphenols and tannins found in tea, and phytates, which are a component of plant foods such as legumes, rice and grains, can decrease the absorption of nonheme iron(1,11-15). Some proteins found in soybeans also inhibit nonheme iron absorption (1,16). Most healthy individuals can maintain normal iron sores when the diet provides a wide variety of foods as suggested by the Food Guide Pyramid. It is most important to include foods that enhance nonheme iron absorption when total daily iron intake does not meet the RDA, when iron losses are exceptionally high, or when no heme iron is usually consumed.
References for the about.com article found at the bottom of page four.
***Warning – Rant approaching***
I told a person at work about needing a second glucose test and that my last blood test showed I’m anemic. I have worked with this person for two and a half years. We’ve been to many potlucks together and gone out to lunch together a few times. Yet for the FOURTH time she asked me, “are you a vegetarian?” NO, NO, NO, and HELL NO!! I’m a meat eater. I will always be a meat eater. I can see vegetarianism as a healthy choice despite the higher risk for anemia, but it’s not a choice for me. I like meat. I eat it all the time and with almost every meal. I may not consume half a goddamn cow when I eat meat, but chunks of it do end up on my plate and ultimately in my system. What really irritates me is that this person is so certain I’m a vegetarian that one of the four times I was asked about it I was actually eating a roast beef sandwich with a bite of said sandwich in my mouth – beef and all! Is that f*cking insane or what?!
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Pseudo Mac & Cheese
Today I went out for lunch – actually nothing unusual about that. I went to the nearby grocery store which seems to double as the office lunchroom for all of our staff and I ordered one of my usual veggie sandwiches. I walked over to the area where my coworker was ordering some chicken that they bake on what looks like a giant Ron Popeil “Set it and forget it” Ronco Showtime Rotisserie. I stared at their side dishes and one of them just jumped out at me as something I just had to eat. I ordered a small portion of their creamy “Mac and Cheese”. We went back to my truck to eat after paying and I could see my coworker’s sneer. After confirming what she already knew about my food habits and me, my coworker said she was about to mention how gross it looked. Yep I know. The baby made me do it. It looked gross and it’s something I would have never ever in a billion years ordered. I ate it. I ate it all and it didn’t even taste gross to me. I looked down at my stomach and said, “You twisted little monkey. You are your father’s child. I don’t think you’re really mine – I want a maternity test!!” I can’t believe I ate that whole thing and the sandwich that I normally like sat only half gone.
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Failed Test
I just got a call from my doctor’s office. I failed the glucose test and now I have to take the three-hour test. I’ve also been informed that I’m “very” anemic. How is this possible? The night before I went in for my glucose test I had lentil soup. That may as well be iron soup. I’ve never been anemic before?! I eat beans as if it’s in a food group of its very own. This has to be a mistake.
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Glucose Test
Oh isn’t that a fun implement of legal torture. Actually the taste wasn’t as bad as I was expecting, but it still made me feel ill. I don’t think it helped that my blood preasure was way up while I was at my doctor appoinment yesterday. I was thinking about a meeting I had to go to at work and I clearly wasn’t looking forward to it. They had to have me lay down for a bit before taking my blood test, but other than that everything went swimmingly. Sophia was kicking up a storm – too much sugar? The doctor put the goopy stuff on my belly so we could hear her heart rate and she kicked at it several times as if it was a target. Her heart rate was a bit faster than usual too. Typically it’s at 144, but yesterday at the appointment it was 148. The doctor didn’t seem concerned, so I guess it’s still fine. My belly is still growing, my uterus is in the right place, and I only gained two pounds since my last appointment. I’m pretty happy about that. I think it’s only because I’m not as interested in eating due to all food including COTTAGE CHEESE causing me heartburn.
I swear my stomach is noticeably growing by the hour. This morning I left for work by going through our garage that is slowly being taken over by baby things and tried to squeeze between Kurt’s motorcycle and car. When that didn’t seem to work I did what the non-pregnant me would typically do and turned sideways…that didn’t have the effect I expected. Apparently I’m a cube now.
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Spending, am I behind or just doing good?
I was just reading a post by another blogger about how much she has spent on her unborn child, so I thought I’d make a list and check out my total. I’m going to start with maternity clothes – I am rotating between three pairs of pants, two pairs of shorts, one swimsuit, five shirts, two bras that now only “kinda” fit (though it was much talked about amongst my friends, especially in the beginning as I grew a full cup size but still had a mostly flat tummy – one lovely “symptom” of pregnancy that I hadn’t mentioned until now). The approximate total for all that is about $300.
My first actual purchase for Sophia was a brand new and very expensive 2006 Model Red Zooper Boogie Stroller. I bought it on eBay so I actually saved money (compared to buying same one at a store for full price plus sales tax), but with shipping I spent $362 – Ouch! I really like the stroller though because I can either have Sophia facing the world or facing me, it reclines, and the front wheel swivels so I don’t have to tilt and turn. My next purchase was a used baby swing ($35), then a crib ($125), the garage sale clothing and shopping cart cover (about $15). On Friday I bought a Graco Comfort Sport Car Seat – Watercolor Flower pattern for $89.99 at Target and I bought some baby clothes at Costco ($22.27). Oh and there was the time I went nuts at Oshkosh ($70.78 – Kurt will find out sooner or later anyway). Two other things I bought on eBay were, “Sign with your Baby Complete Learning Kit” for $21.50 and a very cute Halloween costume for $15 (both include shipping cost). My grand total so far is about $1060.00. We’re probably going to have to get a second car seat, two cars = two car seats. And I’m still looking into cloth diapers. Thank you to those that commented on that one.
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Birth Plan Clarification
After several emails and one comment on the blog all saying something like, “Dang you know what you want!” and “Wow that’s detailed!” I just want to say that up until two or three months ago, I had never heard of a birth plan and had no idea that I might have some of these options available to me. I haven’t gone over this plan with the doctor yet, so I don’t know if things like dim lights and wearing my own clothes will be an option. I do know from the first visit with my doctor that Cesareans are only performed if baby or I are having problems and as a “family doctor” he cannot do high-risk pregnancies. If during delivery it becomes necessary, he will have the hospital staff/doctors at hand for help.
How did I find out about birth plans? I was signed up to THREE different email newsletter things that would send me week by week information about my growing embryo / fetus and one of the three (I don’t remember which one) mentioned a birth plan. The three lists I was on were from: Baby Zone (a site my cousin told me about), Pampers (a site a friend told me about) and American Pregnancy (another site from another friend). Whichever site it was gave me some information and then I Googled birth plan, which lead me to three other sites that gave quite a bit of detail on the topic.
You’ll notice that I did a lot of cut and paste from these and kept some stuff word for word. Hey, they’re great resources, what can I say!
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Baby Benadryl
From msnbc
Kate Penland, of suburban Atlanta, said she and her 19-month-old son, Garren, were flying from Atlanta to Oklahoma last month on a Continental Express flight that made a stop in Houston.
As the plane was taxiing in Houston en route to Oklahoma, “he started saying ‘Bye, bye plane,’ Penland told WSB-TV in Atlanta. The flight attendant objected, she said.
“At the end of her speech, she leaned over the gentleman beside me and said, ‘It’s not funny anymore. You need to shut your baby up,’” Penland told WSB-TV in Atlanta.
When Penland asked the woman if she was joking, she said the stewardess replied, “You know, it’s called baby Benadryl.”
“And I said, ‘Well, I’m not going to drug my child so you have a pleasant flight,’” Penland told the TV station.
Penland said other passengers began speaking up on her behalf, and the flight attendant announced they were turning around and that Penland and Garren were going to be taken off the plane.
Ohmygod! I can’t believe someone that chose to work in the customer service industry can be so intolerant to a kid that was simply saying, “Bye, bye plane” and actually have the gull to suggest drugging the child. I’m sure it was said in the repetitive manner that only toddlers and barking dogs know, but come on – you’re in the customer service field lady! I’m afraid to ask what she might suggest to a mother that has a child shrieking at the top of his lungs or throwing a temper tantrum. – I’m sorry mam but we’re just going to have to put him down.
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Lets just hang out at the grocery store
Today after work I went to the grocery store to pick up some tamarind for Agua Fresca and oohh it felt so good in there. Typically on super hot days I’m out there soaking up sun like a lizard. While others may retreat to the shade if I did the same, I would require a fleece at the very least. AC – forget about it! I would start chattering my teeth even if I had just been out in 97 degree Fahrenheit heat like today. No, I’m not anemic! I just live for warmth and the sun and AC is much too much concentrated cold for me.
Now that I’m pregnant and in my third trimester I’ve not only turned on the AC in my vehicle but I’ve turned the vents towards me instead of aiming them at the opposite side of the car. I’m dying over here! I even drank water today. Anyone that knows me knows that is no small thing – but it’s actually the third time I’ve had water since becoming pregnant. The first time I drank water at least one of my friends literally marked it on her calendar – March 9th at 3pm. Water is the most vile and disgusting liquid on the planet. I don’t care if it’s filtered and/or bottled if it hasn’t boiled and flavored I won’t drink it. How can anyone hate water you may ask, simple, I grew up in Alaska where my city water came out of the tap BROWN and smelled like rotten eggs. If you allowed it to sit, you could actually see brown sediment settling to the bottom. I ain’t drinking that crap. It has amoebas and I’m not touching it.
It turned out to be much too hot for me to cook today so we went out to eat and it was still too hot for me to get my lazy butt up and make agua fresca, but I’ll give you directions for it…
- Get about 12 to 16 tamarind pods – tamarind is the stuff that’s usually located next to the fresh jalapeños and habaneros and looks like a large peanut
- Take the outer shell off (you can take the vines off but it may become a sticky mess so leaving them on/in is ok too)
- Put the sticky fruit in a large pot and add about ten cups of
amoebaswater - Add a cup of sugar
- Bring it to a boil then lower the heat to med/low for about ten to twenty minutes then let it sit with the lid on for an hour or so – you want the fruit to become a bit mushy
- Get a strainer, place it over your juice container, and scoop the fruit into the strainer
- Pour the water through the strainer a little at a time and mash the fruit through so that you get as much of the fruit in the water without the seeds and vines
- Refrigerate, Stir, and serve cold
*Do a taste test before refrigerating – if it’s too tart for you just add more sugar
Yes this creates brown water, but at least I know what’s in it! 