D365: Day 31
Kick ASS review of "Buried" in Variety. We snagged a bunch of copies. And now they're stashed in the same cupboard where we keep my insulin pump supplies. You know, where the important stuff goes. :)
« February 2009 | Main | February 2010 »
January 31, 2010
Kick ASS review of "Buried" in Variety. We snagged a bunch of copies. And now they're stashed in the same cupboard where we keep my insulin pump supplies. You know, where the important stuff goes. :)
January 30, 2010
D365: Day 30
The crew from Buried outside of the last screening at the Egyptian Theater, in Park City.
We've got the director, his wife, the producer and his girlfriend, and the writer, his wife, and the baby-to-be. :) All in third person, no less.
Good luck trying to find the pump. That jacket was EPIC.
January 29, 2010
D365: Day 29
So here's the baby bump, large and in charge. Chris and I took a few quick minutes to pose in front of the red carpet backdrop as proof that our baby has, in fact, been to some very cool places. Even before she was born.
(Looks like I swallowed a basketball, without chewing.)
January 28, 2010
D365: Day 28
This "painting" was on the side of a building on Main Street, and apparently the artist is this fancy guy that everyone knows about (but I had never heard of before). His name is Banksy and I have no idea what his deal is. But his art is really cool, and from what I've seen on his website, it's all startlingly original.
There was a screening of a "secret" documentary at Sundance, highlighting this artist and his work. I was intrigued, and every time we saw this painting, I was more and more impressed. Looks like he's plucking that flower right from the snow.
January 27, 2010
D365: Day 27
This was the filmmaker's lodge, where people with film credentials were able to come in, drink coffee, hang out on the couches, attend panels, and get free WiFi. And not only were there filmmakers in there, but they let the spouses in, too. So this is where I scored most of my internet use while in Park City. (Thank goodness - I was going through withdrawal.)
January 26, 2010
D365: Day 26
This big ol' bear was hanging out on a bench near the Main Street transit center, and he was fine with having his photo taken.
So BSparl (she's SO obvious in this picture) and I hung out with the big bronze bear for a few shots.
Notice the massive purse on my right - never without the stash of meter, insulin pen as backup, glucose tabs, and camera. Yes, even the camera is diabetes-related these days. :)
January 25, 2010
D365: Day 25
A display of posters on Main Street in Parky City. Nothing for Buried on this side, but it was so cool to just walk down the street and see evidence of a living, breathing film festival going on in every inch of the city.
Nothing diabetes-related on this one. Sorry. Just ramblings. :)
January 24, 2010
D365: Day 24
Chris and Rodrigo, doing the post-screening Q&A after the Salt Lake City screening. This was a terrific moment, because in the audience was Chris's mom, his sister, his cousins, a few of his aunts, and his grandmother. What a proud moment for his family.
January 23, 2010
D365: Day 23
The night of the Buried premiere - Chris, Rodrigo, and Ryan, doing the Q&A after the screening. The response to the film was amazing, and I still can't really wrap my head around the fact that this really happened.
January 22, 2010
D365: Day 22
I am not graceful in any way, so when I spilled water all over my old Blackberry a few weeks ago, I was not surprised. I was, however, very annoyed, because I use my stupid phone for everything these days: email, internet, Twitter, keeping track of appointments because my pregnant brain won't allow for more than 15 cohesive thoughts a day ... oh yeah, and phone calls.
I upgraded my old phone for a new Blackberry something or other. And it's purple. Because quite frankly, I was feeling sassy that day.
And now I can reconnect with the diabetes community at the touch of a button! Yee haw!
January 21, 2010
D365: Day 21
Thanks to a combination of Factor V Leiden and pregnancy, I'm rocking these compression stockings as often as I can these days.
I'm at a higher risk for blood clots, so in addition to taking Heparin while I travel, I'm also sporting these sexy legwarmers.
I'll do anything in the name of BSparl, so sexy compression stockings, it is!!
January 20, 2010
D365: Day 20
This thing terrifies me, but my best friend brought it back from Hawaii. Apparently, it's a fertility goddess, and she kept it handy while she was trying to get pregnant. For some reason, I became all superstitious about this critter myself, and it ended up coming to Spain with us.
(Appears that she works. We came back from Spain with a baby on board. :) )
So she sits in my bedside table, away from prying eyes, but close enough to be part of the karma in my house. And hopefully, at the end of my pregnancy, my feet will not be that swollen and my boobs won't be so intimately familiar with the forces of gravity.
Hope, hope, hope. :)
January 19, 2010
D365: Day 19
The bump continues to bloom - so much that the little tray table I use to put my laptop on is now leaving little imprint lines on my belly. And baby girl makes an attempt to kick the laptop loose now and again. (She would rather I work less. I told her to chill out for a bit because I'm doing what I can to take maternity leave when she arrives. That quieted her. She took a nap.)
Blood sugars have been a little better, but not where I'd like them to be. Constant monitoring and trying to ease back on carbohydrates again is my new plan. For this week.
It'll change next week, at Sundance, when there's nothing but fancy snacky bits to chow on. Like golden stuff. And celebrity jewelry. And ... snow, probably. ;)
January 18, 2010
D365: Day 18
There's some horrible thing that can happen to a fetus if the mother-to-be handles cat litter, so there's an across the board ban on having any pregnant woman clean a litter box.
THANK GOD.
Because since becoming pregnant, I've happily dodged the cat litter bullet and haven't had to change the litter in months.
Which means that Chris has done all the litter box maintenance.
Which makes him the best husband ever.
Which makes this "Porn for Women" calendar page stuck on the inside of the laundry room door so funny. It's just above where we keep the box of fresh litter, so Chris sees it every time he goes to do their "duty." (Doodie?)
Thank you, dear husband, for being awesome.
January 17, 2010
D365: Day 17
I've posted some photos of my baby bump as it has progressed, and a few readers have asked "Where are your Dexcom scars?"
Here they are.
They're on my thighs, and they are not pretty. This photo is of a sensor that stayed on for about 11 days. The reddest dot is from the sensor wire going in, and there are other dots on my leg from previous Dexcom sensors and insulin infusion sets.
I'm not without my diabetes scars. They're just hard to find sometimes.
January 16, 2010
D365: Day 16
We're heading to Sundance on Friday afternoon, and part of our travel plans include a few flights. Which means that I'm back to these pesky heparin injections, in efforts to avoid any pregnancy-related blood clots while traveling.
I'm not looking forward to taking this injection before the plane takes off, but I'm game to do whatever it takes to keep me and this kiddo safe.
(Including Bathroom Jane Fonda exercises. As needed.)
January 15, 2010
D365: Day 15
My insulin supply is running low these days, and I'm getting close to needing to reorder. But I noticed a certain diversity in my insulin options, right there in my fridge. I've got a few bottles of Humalog for regular use, some back up bottles of Levemir in case my pump dies, and then some Humalog pens for different "just in case" moments.
Lots of options.
I feel very blessed to have a stash like this in my fridge, and it's weird how I value these little bottles just as much as the actual food in my fridge.
January 14, 2010
D365: Day 14
Even though my diabetes life has way more technology than it did decades ago, there are still traces of my old life. Like a syringe. A few years ago, this was the only way I was able to administer insulin (and these orange caps were everywhere in my house ... the little plastic plunger caps, too). Now, replaced by my insulin pump, I barely use syringes these days.
But I always have one in my meter, just in case my pump malfunctions or I need to draw up a dose, old-school style.
(The flowers? Just for looks. Because otherwise this was a very boring shot of a syringe. HA! "Shot of a syringe." Unintentional, that.)
January 13, 2010
D365: Day 13
This little, blue, ceramic hippo came with a circus set I received decades ago. I can't even remember how long I've had it, but since college, it's been living in a drawer in every bathroom of every apartment I've ever lived in. It just refuses to be lost or misplaced, though its face is chipped and it's not the same vibrant blue it once was.
This afternoon, BSparl was kicking up a storm, so I decided to place this little hippo on my belly to see if she'd kick it off.
And she did. I was impressed!
(Video to come tomorrow!)
January 12, 2010
D365: Day 12
Our house is slowly changing ... and things like these are finding their way into our house.
And I can't lie - Chris and I keep buying these specific diapers mostly because of the little baby Big Bird illustration on the side. That, and there's a color strip on the bottom of the diaper that changes color when it's wet. We will be new parents - we'll need these kinds of hints. ;)
January 11, 2010
D365: Day 11
Pregnancy is making my skin freak right the hell out, dry all the time and very scaly if I don't drink a ton of water all day long. That, and my infusion sets and Dexcom sensors are leaving the most rotten looking marks these days. :(
After consulting the Twitterverse on what would work best for pregnancy stretch marks, hydration for skin, and general coziness, the reviews came back for Palmer's Cocoa Butter. It smells pretty nice, it's greasy as hell, but once it's absorbed, my skin feels fantastic. It doesn't do a darn thing for stretch marks (boo) but it does help the scaly bits go away.
And that's worth the $5 for the butter. :)
January 10, 2010
D365: Day 10
Part of preparing for BSparl's arrival means banishing the cats from the bedroom at night. They spazzed a bit at first because they LOVE sleeping on our faces while we're trying to sleep, but after a few days, they adjusted to the living room.
However, during the day, we let them back in the room. Abby loves the daytime, even though it takes her 15 minutes to hop up on the bed. Sometimes she stands in this position for several minutes at a time, working up the nerve to make the leap.
She's cute. Fat, but cute. And in this photo, she looks a little bit like a monk. Or ET.
(Not terribly diabetes-related, but this is the cat who also acts as a meowing CGM, so there's the tie-in!)
January 09, 2010
D365: Day 9
I can safely say this will never, ever happen again.
(I believe this is the calm before another UP YOUR BASAL RATES, FOOL! storm. We shall see.)
January 08, 2010
D365: Day 8
Baby girl gets bigger every day, and so do I. My belly has officially "popped" into pregnancy mode, and there's no hiding it even if I tried. (Unless I wear that mega winter coat that we picked up for Sundance, which makes me look like a tick. Pictures of that monstrosity later.)
BSparl moves a lot these days, and at night, she kicks and scoots around from side to side, making Chris and I stare at my belly as it shifts around on its own.
This has been a pretty amazing experience so far, and I'm really, really excited to meet this little girl in just a few months.
January 07, 2010
D365: Day 7
She doesn't like to be judged, this Prussia cat. Exactly how I feel when I see people making faces when they find out that my blood sugar is 200 mg/dl or 50 mg/dl.
Don't judge me.
Or I'll send my cat after you.
January 06, 2010
D365: Day 6
This gorgeous blooming tea is something I picked up from Teavana, after being introduced to it by my friend Batman. The tea starts as a small ball, but when combined with hot water, it blooms and releases this fantastic scent.
(It also tastes quite nice!)
It's gorgeous to watch it bloom, and when I'm trying to curb my appetite and keep my blood sugars stable throughout this pregnancy, this pretty tea is helpful in taking my focus off of diabetes.
Video of the blooming tea on YouTube!
January 05, 2010
D365: Day 5
Since becoming pregnant, I had to give up Equal and Truvia and Stevia, because the only approved "fake" sweetener is Splenda. My team at Joslin told me that the little yellow packets are the only ones approved for pregnancy, so my house is now stocked.
I try not to use as much sweetener as I used to, because I don't think fake foods are best for BSparl, but I haven't been able to manage drinking tea without a splash of something sweet, so Splenda helps.
January 04, 2010
D365: Day 4
I did some baking this weekend, and one of my disasters ... I mean, creations was a loaf of banana bread. The original recipe called for two sticks of butter and 2/3 of a cup of sugar, but I subbed all but 1/2 a stick of butter with 3/4 cup of applesauce, brought the sugar down to 1/3 of a cup, and added an extra mashed banana to replace the missing moisture. Substituting whole wheat flour for the white stuff made my mission complete: banana bread that wasn't a diabetes disaster, and that tasted good, too!
January 03, 2010
D365: Day 3
We visited an old library in Providence over the weekend - the Providence Anthenaeum on the East Side of the city. It was an impressive old building, covered in the constantly falling snow and without the electronic card catalog of the newer libraries. This thing was a living, breathing antique.
Walking in here, smelling the old books and realizing that this library has been in operation for centuries, made me feel inspired. I'm looking forward to going back and getting to work on some non-diabetes related writing that's been gnawing at my brain for months now.
January 02, 2010
D365: Day 2
We're making these baked squash things for dinner tonight, and the sticker that came on the squash surprised the hell out of me.
Recipe for parmesan butternut squash gratin is here.
January 01, 2010
D365: Day 1
Part of the reason why I wanted to do the Diabetes365 project again this year is because of the hopeful arrival of BSparl in the spring. I really enjoyed having the year of my wedding chronicled via D365 in 2008, and I'm excited to do the same for my pregnancy in 2010.
This is the latest photo of BSparl and I, at about 22 weeks along. She's due on May 4, 2010, and she kicks all the time now.
I can't wait to meet her.
So here's to another successful year with diabetes, and the pictures to prove it!
Diabetes365: 2010
Trying this for 2010 - hopefully I can keep up! Who else is doing the Diabetes 365 project for 2010?
