Ramona, where have you been?

Ramona Dolores Hollek made her way into the world at 7:00 AM on February 29, 2012.  While nothing went according to the plan, the end result was a healthy baby and my favorite picture ever.

pre-birth story

I spent three hours this morning in labor and delivery getting my blood pressure monitored to make sure that I hadn't developed full-blown preeclampsia.  It was not the most fun, but as long as I stayed down, my blood pressure went back to normal levels, which was good enough for them to release me after the monitoring, but concerning enough to put me on modified bed rest with a planned induction for this week.  Given our options (one of which was leap year and not acceptable), we went with tomorrow.  Unless I manage to spontaneously go into labor myself (the chances seem slim right now), I'll have my water broken at around 7:00 AM in order to attempt to induce labor.  Hopefully this works and I'll be able to proceed into the natural childbirth I paid $300 to learn about, otherwise it'll be a synthetic hormone that imperfectly mimics the one that the body produces when it goes into labor.

So, what I think I'm saying, is catch you on the flip side.

blogging together alone and a menu

A few weeks ago, a bunch of the Austin Food Blogger Association people got together at Genuine Joe' and did a blog-together.  I ended up getting three posts written, which was nice.  They're having another one tonight, but I'm sitting at home.  We had a late dinner and I've been having non-labor contractions all day, which don't do much except for prime my body for baby-having and make me crazy unfcomfortble.  I'm so over being pregnant and I'm ready for this fetus to turn into a baby.

In the spirit of blogging-together, I'm posting a menu for this upcoming week.

the making of chicken and 40 cloves... om nom

Monday:
Chicken and spinach salad with whatever random veggies we have in the fridge - I'm keeping dinner light because we're getting paczkis that day from the people who run Hill Country Pierogi. Paczkis are supposed to be consumed on Paczki Day, which isn't until (Fat) Tuesday, but, damnit, I don't think I'll be able to contain myself.

Tuesday:
Tacos - we're finally done with our birthing class, so I can actually make dinner on Tuesday nights. Yay!

Wednesday:
Tomato, chicken, artichoke, spinach pasta toss - This is definitely me trying to use up random things from the fridge.

Thursday:
bacon, avocado, tomato sandwiches on sourdough - something simple and delicious, since I've been craving bacon and avocado lately

Friday:
Chicken and 40 cloves

The upside of this menu is that Colby can basically make all of this without too much trouble.  I haven't been cooking a lot lately because we've been going out to eat a lot with all the February birthdays and Valentine's Day, but I wanted to try to eat at home as much as possible this week to balance this out.  And then again, if I do happen to go into labor, this entire menu is out the window and we'll be eating hospital food and things that I've frozen for the future.

birthdays are the best days.

Greetings from my birthday presents!  Unforunately, the birthday shoes didn't fit well, but the birthday tablet birthday tablet works really well, especially in conjunction with the birthday tablet keyboard.  I was super excited to use the tablet to blog, but then I realized that getting pictures onto the tablet was going to be a challenge.  I haven't figured it out just yet (hence a picture-less post), but I have a feeling that the tablet and keyboard are going to come in handy to help me keep sane once the baby gets here.  Speaking of which, according to my OB, this could happen at any point, because as of tomorrow, I'll be full term.  I guess it's time to start with the spicy food, red raspberry leaf tea, and excessive walking.

I am busy and my dog is cute.

Whenever I take home a bland meal from a restaurant, I always feel so crafty when I add things to it to make it tasty from my own kitchen at first.  And then I remember that I paid $13 for shitty shepherd's pie and I start to feel way less clever.

Sorry for the lack of posts lately.  Between school, doctors appointments, and getting the house ready for our permanent guest, I've been swamped.  I'll try to post some things this weekend.  Perhaps it's time for another AFBA blog-together, eh?  In the meantime, here's a picture of my dog because she's cute and it's almost like writing about food since her name is Kimchi.

I'm pretty sure that Colby (feet+arms) had food that she wanted

calling all freezer recipes

I no longer have feet.

I'm 35 weeks pregnant today if you're counting up or have 35 days left if you're counting down.  I prefer counting up because 35 days is way too close to a month for my comfort.  There's still so much to do, like finishing up the dust ruffle and other nursery decor, finishing up the birth method class, finishing a crucial part of my thesis work.  It's all about finishing things up before I lose the time and motivation to do anything anymore.  I've come to the realization that we're going to have to eat at some point and going to McDonalds every day isn't my favorite option I've ever heard.  In order to keep up with a baby, my thesis work, and being a human being, I've decided that we need to make a big freezer stash so we can just eat instead of cook.

So far, my thoughts have revolved around chili, lasagna, and quiche.  I turned to Pinterest to see if there were any good freezer posts and there were a few, but I'd love more suggestions.  So please, share away and tell me about all of your favorite freezer-to-table recipes I can make before I become incapacitated with baby!

Nursery Preview

I think I've begun the nesting process.  My assumption was that I was going to begin cooking up a storm a week before I gave birth, but I think my nesting urges have been funneled into decorating.  We've inherited a rocking chair, toy chest, and dresser, but not all of these are in the condition that I want for the room, so we've been working on redecorating.  I'm not exactly sure why this is happening.  If you've ever seen my house, it's rather... plain.

One of the biggest things I wanted to happen was to get the chair reupholstered.  This was the same chair that my parents rocked me in, so it's quite worn and dated:

hellloooo 1980s

Chair fabric

The toy chest (with loads of random crap on it) used to be bright green, but we painted it a flat chocolate brown.  I'm also have a cushion made for the top in pastel pink with light green polka dots.

Pictures of these pieces to come once they've been completed!


After playing around with the upholstery, I decided that I wanted a curtain valance (since we already have blinds) and a dust ruffle for the crib.  I like the idea of hand-made, but purchasing these things on Etsy requires one to first win the lottery, so I enlisted my friend Randi to help me make these.

Randi making the valance

Make the tall guy deal with the curtains

Tada!

We're still working on the dust ruffle, but I'll have pictures of the entire room once it's complete.

Resolutions

So it's almost a week late, but I've been thinking about resolutions.  Everyone makes them and they mostly include being a better person in some way, shape, or form.  I usually resolve to lose weight, but this year it's a bit more difficult for me to get a gym membership and start pounding the pavement right. this. moment.  Instead, I want to set realistic goals with built in metrics, instead of some nebulous promise of "improvement".

Take better pictures
I've come a long way from not posting photos to posting grainy blackberry photos to my camera phone and now the DSLR, but I think it's time to actually figure out how to take pictures that don't suck.  I'd love to take a class, especially since baby portraits are CRAZY expensive, but we'll have to see about time and money constraints on that.

This? This is a crappy picture.

Comment on at least three posts for every time I sit down and go through blogs I read
I read a lot of blogs and I usually have a lot to say, but I hardly ever take the time to comment.  I'm not sure if it's because I'm shy or what, but it seems like it'd also help me bring in readers and show my appreciation for the time and effort the bloggers I read put into their posts.

Respond to comments
I'm notoriously bad at actually responding to blog comments and I want to make sure that I start responding to the few that I do get.

Post at least weekly
Last year, I posted more than I've ever posted, but most of these came in November and December.  I'd like to make sure that I'm posting at least weekly.  If I get into the habit, it'll make it easier not to just drop my blog once the baby comes.  Speaking of which...

Make sure that I'm putting real food into my body
Now, more than ever, it's important that I eat real food.  We generally do eat unprocessed foods, but sometimes it's hard and I'm tired and we give up and eat something that has more preservatives in it than is necessary.  I know how to cook... and well, if I do say so myself, so this shouldn't be such a problem for me.

real and tasty. also, real tasty.

Maintain healthy blood sugar levels
At my most recent prenatal appointment, my midwife indicated that she thinks that I'm really starting to develop gestational diabetes.  If it progresses to the point where I can't control my blood sugar through diet and exercise, I'll end up on synthetic insulin to regulate it.  Most people know that gestational diabetes creates big babies, but what it also does is degrade the blood vessels in the placenta, meaning that the fetus doesn't get adequate support.  It's because of this that my super natural birth-friendly OB induces labor at 39 weeks for women with uncontrolled GD.  After monitoring my blood sugar off and on for the past few weeks, I've sort of found a pattern that works for me.  I need to stick with it and not just get frustrated and quit so that I can make sure that i have a safe delivery and a healthy baby.

Drink more water
I shared this on twitter, but here's a graphic about what happens to a person's body when she's pregnant.  (TMI warning...) So it makes sense that I have to pee every 5 minutes... which is why I don't drink nearly as much water as I probably should.


There are a zillion more things that I should resolve to do better, but this is sort of what's been at the forefront of my mind for the past week.  Obviously it would be good to maintain healthy blood sugar levels my entire life, but some of these goals are shorter term than others.  I hope that by following these resolutions, I'm able to have both a healthy baby and become a better blogger.  What are your (late, like mine!) resolutions for the upcoming year?

Twelve Days with a Grateful Heart: "Coffee"

Today I'm grateful for decaffeinated coffee because, even though it tastes like crap, it gives me an excuse to sip a hot beverage in a cold climate and pretend to get some work done.

Twelve Days with a Grateful Heart: December

Oh hai, internets. I sort of forgot about you.  At the end of our 1400 mile road trip to Michigan, we ended up at my in-laws' house (aka the land with the slowest internets).  We're currently at my dad's wife's house in Port Huron, complete with wireless internet and water that doesn't come from a well.

Today I'm grateful that December has 31 days, because apparently posting 12 times is a challenge.  I've started a post about the Austin to Boston swap, though my super-on-top-of-things partner Halley beat me to posting about what I sent.  You can see her post here.

Meanwhile, I'm going to slink away to sleep because apparently the third trimester woes (the crazy tiredness, heartburn, backaches, pelvic pain, etc.) have attacked me in full force.  And, just for fun, I was going to post a picture of my hugely growing belly (holy crap, I'm 29.3 weeks preg), but it's not cute and it just kicked my computer again.

Them's the rules.

So the results are back and dun dun dun... I don't have gestational diabetes!  But I'm apparently developing pregnancy-induced insulin resistance, so I still need to follow a gestational diabetes diet (basically low carb).  There's a class that I'm supposed to take next week (pending my insurance) that talks about how to properly diet and exercise to make sure that the baby doesn't grow hugenormous, but until I attend the class, I was given a list of rules to follow:
Avoid Sugar and All Sweets

Avoid fruit in the morning
NO FRUIT JUICE
Eat small, frequent meals
ALWAYS include a bedtime snack
Each meal and snack must have carbohydrate, protein, and fat
If you are hungry between meals & snacks, eat low carbohydrate foods

So basically, no more fun.  I ended up getting the Eggs Francisco at Kerbey Lane (and only had half of the english muffin).  This kid better be the coolest thing ever, because this is a pretty huge sacrifice.

scrambled eggs, tomato, avocado, and bacon on an English muffin, covered in queso

Flat sprite

I spent Friday morning sitting in a doctor's office getting my blood drawn four times over the course of three hours.  By the time I finished, it had been 15.5 hours since I had eaten anything, aside from chugging a 100g dextrose solution 3.5 hours before.  The next time someone tells me about the joys and blessings of pregnancy, I'm going to stab them.

eww.

All of this was for the 3 hour glucose tolerance test for gestational diabetes.  I took a shorter test earlier in the week and my blood sugar came back elevated.  It was a pretty big bummer, but not unexpected.  A couple years ago I was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).  Nearly 50% of women with PCOS get gestational diabetes.  This is the same syndrome that Kate Gosselin had, which is why she opted for in vitro fertilization and ended up with 8 children. 

Since we didn't have an extra $50,000 to throw at IVF, I dismissed the notion of having kids and totally came to peace with the idea of being able to travel the world, buying expensive shoes/meals/electronics, and generally enjoying my disposable income.  Colby was less okay with this (I guess he's not nearly as into Swedish Hasbeens as I am), and so we went to a fertility specialist to see what our options were and to get further testing.  Upon an ultrasound examination of my ovaries, the doctor commented that I had just ovulated and was either going to get my period or was pregnant.  We all had a good chuckle and I went to get a CT scan a couple weeks later because my sinuses had been fucked up since December 2010.  Oops.

Fast forward five months and now I'm awaiting my results from the GTT.  The GTT requires a 12 hour fast, chugging this ridiculous sugar solution in <5 minutes, and then getting blood drawn once an hour for three hours.  The last sugar solution tasted like flat orange pop, which is not nearly as tasty as you'd assume.  This solution tasted more like flat sprite and was only mildly more palatable.  The worst, though, is that they don't let you drink much water because that interferes with the results.  My suspicion is that I do have gestational diabetes given my risk factors and the first glucose tolerance test.  If that's the case, then the recipes I post here are going to be of a decidedly more meaty nature.  In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the last  yummy carbs I'll be allowed to eat for the next 15 weeks.

we picked a name!

Favorite Things: Belli Acne Cleansing Facial Wash

My food experiences are mundane enough to make it impossible for me to write about it for all 30 days of this challenge, so I decided to share, on occasion, stuff that I'm really digging.  Today it's Belli's Acne Cleansing Facial Wash.  Belli is a skin care company that focuses on products for pregnant women, mothers, and babies.  Pregnancy brings a whole host of skin problems including, but not limited to, stretch marks, acne, and discoloration.  I was surprised to discover that certain over-the-counter skincare products aren't pregnancy safe.  Salycilic acid is one of these products and is found in many daily facial cleansers, including the ones that I'd been using.

After searching for a pregnancy safe option, in this case lactic acid-based cleansers, I found Belli's line of pregnancy products.  You can use the facial wash as a daily cleanser or leave it on for five minutes as a "mask".  The cleanser/mask works really well with some caveats.  I need to make sure I use it every day.  I'm not terribly careful with my skin, but I break out if I skip a day or two.  This is probably because my breakouts are usually related to hormonal changes and since my hormones are crazy now, I've been breaking out like a teenager without some sort of cleanser.  I find that it works best in combination with a non-comedogenic facial moisturizer because it tends to dry out my cheeks.  Additionally, this doesn't have any exfoliating beads, so it's smooth.  I always rub it off with a washcloth so I can get a bit of exfoliation in, rather than simply rinsing it away.

My biggest problem with it is that it's CRAZY expensive.  I purchased it for $22 at Ulta (for a 6.7 oz bottle!), which I'm hoping will last for most of the pregnancy.  I haven't tried any of their other products because I'm not made of money, but if you have some cash to burn and find yourself harboring a friendly-ish uterine parasite, you should check out this product as well as the rest of their line.

Babymoon Part 1: Port Aransas Brewing Company

On our babymoon to Corpus Christi, we spent a half day in Port Aransas.  The first order of business was to eat lunch.  I was happy that we were out of town that particular weekend because Michigan State was playing U of M in football and my stress levels always shoot through the roof on a rivalry weekend.  We stopped by the Port Aransas Brewing Company and, lo and behold, the game was on.  There was a lot of screaming from my end and a lot of "OMG BE QUIET" from Colby's, but Michigan State won (Go Green!) and so did we because the food was fantastic.

Colby ordered the shrimp basket and I got a shrimp po' boy.  Both came with tasty seasoned waffle fries.  Also shrimp.  These were probably the best breaded/fried shrimp I've ever had.  The only complaint I have is that the cocktail sauce could have stood to have a bit more horseradish because it was lacking zip.  Otherwise, the bun was buttery with a crispy exterior and the shrimp were perfectly cooked, with a breading that actually stayed on without being overwhelming.  I forgot until to take a picture until I was about halfway through my sandwich, but Colby's half eaten shrimp basket is a lot more appetizing.

Unfortunately we didn't try any of the beer because it was like 11 AM and also because this was a babymoon, and no matter how much I enjoy a good beer, I'm pretty sure the fetus* doesn't.  We had such an excellent time in Port A that I want to go back next year with some friends and a baby in tow.  I think the better plan would be to rent a condo or cottage and bring food to cook instead of going out to eat the entire time.  Stay tuned for more pictures and restaurants!

*We found out the fetus is a girl.  I'm excited but now we're duking it out over the name.  I'm pretty sure that once it has a name I'm going to start calling it a baby.  Also "she", unless it keeps kicking me in the bladder whenever I try to go to sleep.

That Ain't No Etch-a-Sketch

*ahem* is this thing on?

I admit it's been quiet around here lately, but with good reason.  Though it's been too hot to turn on the oven All. Damn. Summer., I've been cooking something for the past few months.  See Figure 1 for details.

Figure 1. 12 gestational-week fetus