social butterfly

it's only the first week of june, and already our calendars are filling up with activities! ;) this week we're have a friend coming over for dinner, a garage sale i'm helping out with, a going away party, and a soccer game. as an extrovert, i'm way excited! :)

looking for carb-free snacks! :)

though i'm thankful that i can eat carbs throughout the day, the reduction in the amount has left me quite hungry after breakfast and lunch. i usually fill up my "carbs" at snack-time with fruits, so i'm looking for suggestions of carb-free snacks that i can have (or really low-carb snacks)--i'm getting a little bit weary of eating cheese and nuts! :)

thankfulness

God has helped me to have a thankful heart recently, so i thought i'd share some of the things that i'm thankful for:

• my blood sugar from my gestational diabetes is being controlled just through diet and exercise.
• i'm slowly starting to figure out what my limits on carb intake are.
• i can eat some carbs! :)
• sugarfree jello.
  
• a husband that has been/is super supportive throughout the pregnancy.
• learning about labor and delivery (both through class and books) has made me less scared/fearful of that time period. ;)
• we have a doula who is a wonderful friend! :)
• the weather is getting nice and warm.
• my parents are coming this weekend to visit.
• our little baby has been pretty rambunctious in my belly, so i haven't been worrying about how it's doing as much.
• friends who e-mail me/call me to check up on me.
• being able to exercise.
• feeling pretty good for being 7.5 months along (not very much swelling, not feeling too tired, etc.)

OCD and pushing the limit

i had my class today about how to "treat" my gestational diabetes. the dietitian gave us a daily guideline of how many grams of carbs i should eat each day as well as how it should be broken up during the day. the nurse showed us how to use the blood glucose monitor and practice injecting ourselves with insulin (it was only saline when we practiced) in case we ever needed it.

since my blood test wasn't too high over the cutoffs, i asked if i could "push" the line of the carb intake and the nurse said i might be able to. well, tonight i measured my carbs for dinner and stayed in the recommended amount (my OCD likes to measure and control things). we also went on a walk too (which is supposed to help maintain my sugar levels). well, when i came home to measure my sugar it was higher than it was supposed to be. i was/am bummed about it. i measured at 1.25 hours later, and it was even higher. not to be defeated, i measured it one last time at 1.5 hours after eating (my OCD again), and then it was normal.

but anyways, i think that i already "pushed" my limit when i stayed within my upper limits and i'll cut back tomorrow. hopefully, my levels will be normal. even if it's not, i'm thankful that there is a way to manage my sugars with insulin. :) my friend reminded me that it's the first day and to be more hopeful. :)

tag i'm it

i have gestational diabetes. :P i'm going to a class on wednesday to help me control it. despite being a little bummed about not eating some sweets i've been craving (ice cream, cake, frozen custard), i've been ok. :) i'm thankful that:

1. it's only the last 10 weeks of the pregnancy (as opposed to the whole pregnancy)
   
2. the doctor's did the blood work to catch the diabetes
   
3. our insurance will probably cover for the glucose monitor
4. when the diabetes is well monitored, the pregnancy goes smooth (as if there was no diabetes).

three hour tour...

i get to take a 3 hour blood work test on monday to see if i have gestational diabetes. the nurse called me after i took an initial blood test where my levels were high (which is why i get to do the 3 hour test), and she was very nice about it. she suggested i cut down on my carbs and sugary substances before the test (which i guess may help?), to which i responded "i can't eat rice!?!?!?!". fortunately, i can, but i'm not supposed to go "crazy" with the amount. of course, now that she says i shouldn't eat as much sugary things i've been craving cakes, candy, ice cream, frozen custard, etc. i know it might be stretching it, but i feel it's like romans 7:8a--"But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire."--where instead of coveting, i'm desiring sweets! :)

musings of a coffee employee

for some reason today it really hit me how much people are willing to pay for caffeine! i couldn't believe people are willing to pay $4-$5 for a cup of fill in the blank (latte, expresso, mocha, etc.). getting free drinks (i usually just get tea or flavored italian soda) at work has really spoiled me b/c i don't think i'll go to a coffee shop and pay for a drink for a long time. of course, it helps that i'm not a big caffeine drinker. :)