D365: Day 106
She's the sweetest little biscuit I have ever, ever met. I'm already beyond smitten with this kitten.
April 16, 2010
She's the sweetest little biscuit I have ever, ever met. I'm already beyond smitten with this kitten.
April 15, 2010
D365: Day 105
Happy birthday, baby girl.
April 14, 2010
D365: Day 104
The night before BSparl's birthday. It's the last fetal monitoring session we'll have to sit through. Tomorrow, I'll be able to listen to her heart beat with my own ears, and will be able to track her movements in my arms.
I can't wait to meet her!!
April 13, 2010
D365: Day 103
This book was recommended to me by one of the nurses here at BIDMC, so I hit up Amazon and had it delivered to the hospital. So far, I'm skipping the chapters on "what will actually happen when they slice me open" and am skipping ahead to the baby chapters and the exercise ones. :)
April 12, 2010
D365: Day 102
The cats are bad. They are not listening to Chris back at the house, and are taking it upon themselves to sleep in every baby-related item in our apartment.
They're in for a rude awakening once BSparl comes home.
April 11, 2010
D365: Day 101
In just four short days, BSparl will be here. She's arriving via c-section, so morning of the surgery, I'll have to rip off this old, moldy Dexcom sensor I've been hanging on to on my thigh for over a week now. No sense in putting a new one on now, since I'll have to pull it off on the 15th.
I'm excited to put a new sensor on. My first "mom sensor." :)
April 10, 2010
D365: Day 100
Genius cat did it again. GET OUT OF THERE, ABBY!!!
April 09, 2010
D365: Day 99
Chris woke up in the middle of the night to find Abby making the baby's bouncy chair her new bed.
No, Abby. Get the hell out of there. Not for you, kitty.
April 08, 2010
D365: Day 98
Hospital food sucks. See above example.
April 07, 2010
D365: Day 97
I'm stir crazy and losing it a little bit, seeking confirmation of life outside of this hospital at every opportunity.
So now these signs are taped to my window, in hopes that the people in the research building across the way will maybe write back.
April 06, 2010
D365: Day 96
OH THE HOSPITAL SHOWER! Showering was a highlight of my day. Sometimes I would use the shower seat - not because I had to, but just to MIX THINGS UP A BIT.
April 05, 2010
D365: Day 95
This machine was part of the epic compression boots contraption. This actually sent the air coursing through the boots, causing them to fill with air and then release.
It sounded like a sad, mechanical Eeyore.
April 04, 2010
D365: Day 94
These books came in the mail from Dana Lewis, #hcsm moderator, recent college grad, and owner of two adorable KITTENS! She was trying to keep me entertained during my hospital stay, and success was HERS. :)
April 03, 2010
D365: Day 93
My mom brought this up to the hospital - it was one of the displays at the baby shower. And nothing makes me laugh harder than realizing I looked like a balding little Italian man (complete with no hair on top and the weird hair on the sides) when I was born.
I hope BSparl is a tad cuter than I was when I was born. :)
April 02, 2010
D365: Day 92
When they hook little BSparl up to the fetal monitor, I watch these graphs ebb and flow, tracking her heart beat, her movements, and the movements of my uterus. My kiddo is very active. :)
April 01, 2010
D365: Day 91
Heparin leaves these wicked bruises at the injection sites. I hate it. Hate, hate, hate.
March 31, 2010
D365: Day 90
Oh, the lovely hospital room! But I haven't had a chance to take a belly shot in ages, and since I'm bored out of my freaking skull, I figured now was as good a time as any to show the progress of my enormous bump. (And to show off my puffy hands. Be thankful you can't see my ankles. Actually, I can't see them either.)
Baby girl is in there, getting bigger by the day.
March 30, 2010
D365: Day 89
These are the compression boots that the hospital has given me to wear when I'm in bed. They fill up with air in stages and help massage the fluid out of my legs. They aren't terribly uncomfortable, and after wearing them for an hour or so, my ankles start to reappear.
Basically, I'm doing whatever I can to feel human again. Even if it means literally tying myself to the damn bed.
March 29, 2010
D365: Day 88
My mother asked my nephew to draw me a picture to "cheer me up" at the hospital. He took it upon himself to draw a picture of aliens shooting a guy straight through the gut. You know. To cheer me up. ;)
He's silly. He's nine. I adore him.
March 28, 2010
D365: Day 87
The hospital sucks. But Eddie Izzard makes it all okay.
March 27, 2010
D365: Day 86
My father brought this plant to the hospital. And it scares the hell out of me.
March 26, 2010
D365: Day 85
I'm in the hospital for the rest of my pregnancy, thanks to a diagnosis of preeclampsia. :( Not happy.
Also not happy that these Heparin injections are now a thrice-daily part of my new routine.
See also: not happy.
(The needles are kind of cool though, because they auto-sharps themselves, which I think is jazzy.)
March 25, 2010
D365: Day 84
I think she knows that the hospital stay is looming. Because all this cat wants to do is snuggle.
March 23, 2010
D365: Day 82
Unfair.
This was one of the items at the baby shower that ended up at my house. A big ol' jar of Hersey Kisses.
Pretty. Delicious. Tempting. Nom nom nom.
March 22, 2010
D365: Day 81
What did my grown-up husband, the father of my baby girl, want for his birthday?
A remote controlled helicopter.
So that's what he received. And now the cats are lying in wait, anxious to see this thing fly around the apartment again.
March 21, 2010
D365: Day 80
My wonderful family threw a beautiful baby shower for Chris and I (and BSparl), and somehow I didn't end up with a single picture of me and my mom together. But I did get one of my college roommates and I. :)
March 20, 2010
D365: Day 79
What does it take to make my husband happy on his birthday? Why, a cake topper that includes Cookie Monster wearing a Larry Bird jersey.
Like you do. :)
March 19, 2010
D365: Day 78
I have always found the bottles of 25 test strips completely wasteful, so I'm stoked to see that Lifescan has started to package 50 of their strips into one bottle at a time. The environment thanks you, Lifescan!
March 18, 2010
D365: Day 77
I have a Multiclix, and Sara(h) has lectured me countless times on how it's superior to my lancing device.
So why am I still using this thing? I can't seem to stop. It's my preferred pricker!!
March 17, 2010
D365: Day 76
Due to this nagging headache I've had, I've been popping Tylenol for the first time in ages. Unfortunately, Tylenol makes the Dexcom bug out, so I had to pull the sensor and take a break for about a week. Thankfully, the headache is starting to subside, so I'm back on the Dexcom wagon.
March 16, 2010
D365: Day 75
It's so cheesy, but every time I see a package of crayons or markers, with all of the assorted colors, I think of the diabetes community. We do have this common thread of living with this disease in one way or another, but we are all so, so different.
Pretty badass, if you ask me.
March 15, 2010
D365: Day 74
We work hard, albeit from home. See? That tie says BUSINESS.
March 14, 2010
D365: Day 73
The emergency room bracelet. That night wasn't totally miserable - just took a long time to get from start to finish - but we're ready to do whatever it takes to maintain this high-risk pregnancy and get BSparl here safe and sound.
(Also, the bracelet is in lovely, IDF blue. So that's something.)
March 13, 2010
D365: Day 72
This candy bar, courtesy of my dLife baby shower (for reasons that take waaaay too long to explain here), has been in my fridge for ages. And I'm determined to keep it there for "just in case" emergencies, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to devour it within the week.
March 12, 2010
D365: Day 71
We registered for a lot of serious baby stuff, like the stroller and the car seat, etc. But this was a top choice of my husband's, and I can't blame him. Cookie Monster freaking rules, and BSparl will be a fan, like it or not!
March 11, 2010
D365: Day 70
The Animas insets have these coiled little tapes that snake around the sticky adhesive of the set. You have to peel these off before you can apply the set to your body. After a set change, these end up mostly in the bathroom garbage, but sometimes I leave them on the counter by mistake and they look like a reptile infestation.
March 10, 2010
D365: Day 69
BSparl and I, rocking the 32 week mark. That's eight months, in pregnancy terms, but there are STILL TWO MONTHS TO GO how is that freaking fair?
March 09, 2010
D365: Day 68
I Googled "home remedies for pregnancy edema" and several sites mentioned boiling coriander seeds into a crappy tasting "tea"; and downing a hot cuppa.
Ew. It tasted like I was drinking boiling water from a cup that hadn't been washed properly, but I'm willing to try anything to retain possession of my ankle bones. :)
March 08, 2010
D365: Day 67
Thumbs up for wrist braces, that make me feel like a complete dork but I'm hoping help to make this hand swelling/carpal tunnel crap relax a little bit.
March 06, 2010
D365: Day 65
This bag is where I stash my backup supplies. Couple of infusion sets, few reservoirs, bottle of Humalog, and some test strips. Oh, and batteries. And an insulin pen. And usually a real pen, too, but I'm not sure why that always ends up in there.
Either way, it's convenient to have a new bottle of strips or a pump set up handy, without having to dive into the Supply Closet o' Diabetes Crap.
March 05, 2010
D365: Day 64
Floss much? Yes, yes I do. And being pregnant, I'm flossing every damn day to help keep my gums healthy.
March 04, 2010
D365: Day 63
I hate dealing with insurance bills. They've been coming in by the dozen lately, since I've been going to the doctor all the time. I hate explaining, time and time again, that yes, I'm pregnant, yes, these tests are necessary, and yes, you need to do your job, Insurance Company and Mail Order Pharmacy, because I'm sure as F not paying for your mistakes.
March 03, 2010
D365: Day 62
I have random quarters stashed all over the house, just in case the battery in my pump needs a-changin'.
March 02, 2010
D365: Day 61
I like having a full stash of test strips. Testing as often as I am these days, I'm blowing through these suckers like a champ.
March 01, 2010
D365: Day 60
The planets must be aligned perfectly and hell must have a sheen of frost over its landscape, because for some reason, my basals and my boluses, and my tireless testing, have given me a full day between 60 and 140 mg/dl. That brings me JOY.
February 28, 2010
D365: Day 59
Exercise is important for people with diabetes. Blah, blah, blah, right? But exercise is also important for the three fat cats that have taken up residence in my home. And this mouse-shaped laser pointer is one of the silliest ways I like to run them ragged, because it entertains me. Especially when I shine the red light on their paws and they're mislead into thinking they've "caught it." :)
February 27, 2010
D365: Day 58
Chocolate cravings are in town this week, but I don't want to cave. Because then I'll just end up high, and then frustrated, so the indulgences aren't shaping up to be worth it these days. Instead, I have been housing these chocolate rice cakes from Quaker. Eleven grams of carbs for one, and barely a spike in my blood sugars if I bolus about 20 minutes before eating it. Boo. Yeah.
February 25, 2010
D365: Day 56
While my body is craving crappy foods like cheeseburgers, I'm trying to taper those cravings by turning to fresh foods instead. Like blackberries. They are a serious weakness of mine, and I love them. And for some reason, they haven't caused blood sugar spikes (this week - give me time). So I'm sticking with these tasty berries.
February 24, 2010
D365: Day 55
BSparl and I are growing more and more every day. Like ... every single day. My belly is so big in the front now that I wish I already had a child, around four years old, who could help me prop up my belly during the day when I'm on my feet. ;)
February 23, 2010
D365: Day 54
I love free shower day, but it's tough to come by lately. Since a few months before my pregnancy, I've been wearing the Dexcom almost every day, so finding a day when I was changing both the Dexcom sensor and the insulin pump infusion set at the same time is a rarity.Today? Today was that rare day. And this is the hardware that waited for me when I got out of the shower. (The photo is labeled on Flickr to show all the bits and pieces.)
I love free shower. And I also sort of like having all my sites new, fresh, and clean.
Nerd = me.
February 22, 2010
D365: Day 53
What baby ensemble is complete without a Trogdor the Burninator shirt? I mean really. (This gift is proof that my former boss is badass and has incredible taste.) :)
February 21, 2010
D365: Day 52
At the baby shower yesterday, there was a diaper cake. I had never, in my life, seen one of these before and I was amazed that not only was it handmade, but it was made by one of the IT guys at the office. This thing was a Pampers magical moment, with all kinds of tulle and baby socks and ribbon and dozens of diapers.
I can't lie - this thing blew my mind. A cake made of diapers? Baby showers are the strangest events ever.
February 20, 2010
D365: Day 51
Even though I don't work there anymore, my fantastic former coworkers threw a baby shower for me. Because they are awesome. It was the first time we'd all gotten together since when I left in October, and it was so, so nice to see everyone again. And to show them the BSparl Bump. :)
February 19, 2010
D365: Day 50
As I'm getting to know my new Animas insulin pump, I do marvel at the fact that the infusion set and the insertion device are one and the same.
February 18, 2010
D365: Day 49
Winter is tough. Not enough sunshine, freezing cold temperatures, and trapped in the house because of the weather.
Thankfully, the spring flowers have arrived. And they've helped warm the house just a little bit, even if only visually.
February 17, 2010
D365: Day 48
Back in the beginning of my pregnancy, I craved citrus to the point where I was drinking orange juice straight from the carton. Second trimester, the cravings eased up a bit, but now, in the home stretch of my pregnancy, the cravings are back.
Oranges are my citrus of choice this week - and they are delicious!
February 16, 2010
D365: Day 47
The basketball belly, at 29 weeks. Seven and a half months. Holy. Moly.
February 15, 2010
D365: Day 46
February 14, 2010
D365: Day 45
Delicious sugar cookies with white chocolate chips and Craisins. Just in time for Valentine's Day.
I couldn't resist a bite. Pretend I was low, okay?
February 13, 2010
D365: Day 44
My Dexcom sensor, on my left thigh, after a rockin' 13 days. Nice job, Dex. You really held out for the long haul on this one. I'm impressed!!
February 12, 2010
D365: Day 43
As part of a very thoughtful care package that arrived in the mail this week (courtesy of Lindsay - THANK YOU again!), this was included.
And the note? "Because she DOES."
I hope so. I hope my daughter doesn't mind sharing her juice boxes with me or understanding that sometimes I can't play right when she needs me to. I hope she's patient with me. I love this child endlessly. I hope she reciprocates. :)
February 11, 2010
D365: Day 42
Pesky little villain thinks she's helping. But all those smudges on the laptop screen? From her stupid nose.
Siah, please leave me alone while I'm trying to work. Kthxbai. :)
February 10, 2010
D365: Day 41
We went out to dinner with my best friend, her husband, and her baby. And with a newborn at the table and my pregnant self, our bottle of wine with dinner was replaced by a bottle of breastmilk. Heating up in the wine holder.
Oh, parenthood. You really storm right in, don'tcha?
February 09, 2010
D365: Day 40
The book on the left is my messy, rotten moleskin that I've been carrying around for about two years now. I bring it to doctor's appointments and write the countless questions I have beforehand. I've logged blood sugars in there in effort to find some kind of freaking pattern to things. It has doodles from train rides and rhymes written down during dinners. The book came on trips for work and trips for pleasure, and I'd jot down whatever writing ideas came into my head while I was on the road. (And sometimes I used it to play hangman with Chris, but that's not as literary sounding, so I'm not mentioning that.)
Thing is, the green notebook is finally kicked. No more empty pages. So today I replaced it with a new version - red - and now it looks like Christmas on my desk.
I'm a book nerd, so the idea of a new, fresh journal makes me feel like it's the first day of school again. In that good way, not in that paranoid way. :)
February 08, 2010
D365: Day 39
Today is my birthday. I'm 31 years old. And the simplicity of a pretty bunch of flowers and a card that says, "I love my wife" - and knowing it's true - is enough to make the day complete.
And on the inside, my daughter grows daily. This is my last birthday before she has hers, and I feel so ready to be her mom.
February 07, 2010
D365: Day 38
When we found out the baby was a girl, I immediately went to the yarn store and decided on her nursery colors. I'm not much of a "pink," so I decided on purple for her main color, with yellow and green as accent colors.
This is the blanket I crocheted for my baby girl, and I just finished it today. It's soft and snuggly and definitely has some cat hair crocheted right in there, but I hope she likes it and it keeps her warm once she's loose in the world this spring.
(The pattern is from my Grammie, who claims to have made it up but I know I saw it in a magazine years ago. I'll let her claim it, though.
Because I miss her and wish she was here to see my daughter.)
Other photos of the blanket are on Flickr.
February 06, 2010
D365: Day 37
With BSparl on the way, Chris and I decided to upgrade the video camera so that we could capture every little burp this baby makes. So we wandered into Best Buy today and scored a Flip HD camera (thanks to a gift card we had - nothing like making a $230 camera into a $10 one) - I can't wait to use it to record the baby's first smiles.
February 05, 2010
D365: Day 36
Batteries. These foolish things are stashed in every purse I have, every meter case, and in about a dozen different drawers in my house. And they're never used in the remote, the camera, or the smoke detector. These special stashes of batteries are for the ol' insulin pump, and without them, I'd be without the boop beep boop.
February 04, 2010
D365: Day 35
Third trimester is starting on Monday, and Chris and I are trying to shift our brains from "baby in utero" to "OMG what the HELL do we do with her when she is living in our house?" So we spent some time hyperventilating at Border's until we found a book that seemed to answer at least the first seventeen questions we thought of off the top of our head.
February 03, 2010
D365: Day 34
Is it gross to talk about fiber, or should I just show off these raisins in my cupboard and say that I love a grape that's past its prime?
That'll do.
February 02, 2010
D365: Day 33
(Day 33 - Larry Bird!)
Little baby girl Sparling, just a smidge over 27 weeks along. She kicks all the time, she scoots from side to side, and she's making my belly swell. (Swell both in size and in "Oh gee, what a swell belly!") Belly button is also starting to push out, which is a very, very weird thing.
Three months left, but if things go according to the plan in place, BSparl will arrive a little earlier than May 4th. So less than three months.
And then there will be a little baby girl in my house. And the heads of Chris and I, respectively, will explode.
February 01, 2010
D365: Day 32
This quilt came in the mail today, courtesy of Ramona Bates. I LOVE this. It's the perfect size for my little girl to snuggle with, once she's escaped from my womb. THANK YOU, Ramona! This is a gorgeous gift and I love it!
January 31, 2010
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. :)
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 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?