8.14.2008
Butterball Turkey Timer
Not to gross anyone out --- but seriously, suck it up because it's only going to get gorier from here folks. As I was saying, I don't want to gross anyone out, but the ol' belly button is about to go from an inny to an outy. Any day now. I'm thinking of starting a pool to see when it goes. Unfortunately, unlike the turkey, when the button pops, it doesn't mean the baby's done cooking.
The Sugar
I found out early last week that I have "the sugar" --- also known as diabetes. Sometimes just referred to as "having sugar." Family history and a childish love for Pop-Tarts caught up to me, and I developed gestational diabetes. The good news is that it goes away with the placenta, which is what's blocking my body's effective use of insulin. The bad news is that I'm a milk-and-cookies kind of gal and along with smoking, sushi, red wine, and various other vices, I'm now off the sweets too. And I have to test my blood sugar 4 times a day.
However, the difference with having to change my diet now is that I felt miserable. No sooner did the aggravated back injury start to mend did I fall into a sugar stupor. I knew for a couple weeks before the diagnosis that I was diabetic. My thirst was insatiable, and a butterscotch-chip muffin during a morning meeting literally had me hallucinating. I was tired all the time, peeing all the time, and simply out of sorts.
Now, I feel better. Cheating last night and eating both Pop-Tarts and a huge glass of milk caused me to sleep poorly last night, have a hard time waking up this morning, and have a too-high fasting blood sugar reading of 109 when I woke up. Despite my sweet tooth, it's just not worth it.
Beyond even how I feel is the impact on Annika. High levels of glucose in my blood cause high levels in hers, but she can't benefit from my insulin and has to make her own. All that extra insulin is like a growth hormone for the fetus in utero, and she can pack on even more weight than she's already going to in these final weeks.
And honestly, that was the hardest part of finding out about the diabetes. I know I'm going to be fine, but I felt this tremendous guilt about not having eaten better, and having potentially put her at risk. I barely held it together that first day at work before coming home and crying bitterly, and I couldn't talk about the baby for a couple days without choking right up. With everything that's gone on this year, I seriously felt like I couldn't handle one more thing. But it had to be managed, and managing the condition is making a difference for both of us.
However, the difference with having to change my diet now is that I felt miserable. No sooner did the aggravated back injury start to mend did I fall into a sugar stupor. I knew for a couple weeks before the diagnosis that I was diabetic. My thirst was insatiable, and a butterscotch-chip muffin during a morning meeting literally had me hallucinating. I was tired all the time, peeing all the time, and simply out of sorts.
Now, I feel better. Cheating last night and eating both Pop-Tarts and a huge glass of milk caused me to sleep poorly last night, have a hard time waking up this morning, and have a too-high fasting blood sugar reading of 109 when I woke up. Despite my sweet tooth, it's just not worth it.
Beyond even how I feel is the impact on Annika. High levels of glucose in my blood cause high levels in hers, but she can't benefit from my insulin and has to make her own. All that extra insulin is like a growth hormone for the fetus in utero, and she can pack on even more weight than she's already going to in these final weeks.
And honestly, that was the hardest part of finding out about the diabetes. I know I'm going to be fine, but I felt this tremendous guilt about not having eaten better, and having potentially put her at risk. I barely held it together that first day at work before coming home and crying bitterly, and I couldn't talk about the baby for a couple days without choking right up. With everything that's gone on this year, I seriously felt like I couldn't handle one more thing. But it had to be managed, and managing the condition is making a difference for both of us.
The World Loves a Pregnant Woman
At 29 weeks, I'm looking rather pregnant these days. In the past several weeks, I've moved into the realm of the obviously pregnant and away from the maybe-she-just-had-a-large-meal look of the early days.
Of course, I've had the last 5 months to get used to my state, so it came as a surprise when people started to react to me as a pregnant woman. I remember very clearly the first day when it hit me, which was June 27, the day of the double closings, the move, and the escaped cat debacle. I went to Petco that evening and a salesgirl literally yanked a 21-pound box of cat litter out of my hands and carried it to the front for me. Immediately afterward, at Whole Foods, a bagger insisted on carrying my groceries out for me, and seemed incredulous when I declined.
The kindness and goodwill has only increased along with my girth. People fall over themselves to hold doors for me. They comment on my pregnancy, ask how I'm feeling, and smile a lot. Some can't resist the urge to pat my belly, then seem a little sheepish for having done so.
For my part, I don't mind if people touch the Buddha. Typically independent to the point of being to my own detriment, I'm alright with people diving in front of the closing elevator or hauling my groceries. More than anything, I'm grateful for the repeated demonstrations of humanity that my pregnancy has engendered. I only wish that that were the rule, rather than the exception.
Of course, I've had the last 5 months to get used to my state, so it came as a surprise when people started to react to me as a pregnant woman. I remember very clearly the first day when it hit me, which was June 27, the day of the double closings, the move, and the escaped cat debacle. I went to Petco that evening and a salesgirl literally yanked a 21-pound box of cat litter out of my hands and carried it to the front for me. Immediately afterward, at Whole Foods, a bagger insisted on carrying my groceries out for me, and seemed incredulous when I declined.
The kindness and goodwill has only increased along with my girth. People fall over themselves to hold doors for me. They comment on my pregnancy, ask how I'm feeling, and smile a lot. Some can't resist the urge to pat my belly, then seem a little sheepish for having done so.
For my part, I don't mind if people touch the Buddha. Typically independent to the point of being to my own detriment, I'm alright with people diving in front of the closing elevator or hauling my groceries. More than anything, I'm grateful for the repeated demonstrations of humanity that my pregnancy has engendered. I only wish that that were the rule, rather than the exception.
7.31.2008
Home Inspection at the New Pad, 2nd Edition
Original post, 5/20/08
Aaron and I had the inspection on the new house on Wednesday afternoon. Here he is waving to me from the kitchen while I was outside shooting pictures of the backyard.
I shot 160 pictures, documenting damn near everything in it.
I originally posted pictures of the yard, bathrooms, and kitchen, but the current owners found them and have asked that I not post any pictures of the house while they still own it. Fair enough. I feel like I was extremely careful to respect their privacy by not mentioning the address, their names, or showing any of their personal belongings. But privacy is by no means an absolute concept, and different people have different thresholds.
Once we own the house (and only if we do ultimately own the house), will I restore the original posts.
Postscript, 7/31/08: Well, we own the house, so back online go my posts. I promised to take them down, and I promised I'd post them again once the damned closing was all done. So here we are. Each post from May 20 is reposted here with a postscript in this format. Once the house is ready, I'll post before-and-after images. First priority, Annika's room.
Aaron and I had the inspection on the new house on Wednesday afternoon. Here he is waving to me from the kitchen while I was outside shooting pictures of the backyard.
I shot 160 pictures, documenting damn near everything in it.
I originally posted pictures of the yard, bathrooms, and kitchen, but the current owners found them and have asked that I not post any pictures of the house while they still own it. Fair enough. I feel like I was extremely careful to respect their privacy by not mentioning the address, their names, or showing any of their personal belongings. But privacy is by no means an absolute concept, and different people have different thresholds.
Once we own the house (and only if we do ultimately own the house), will I restore the original posts.
Postscript, 7/31/08: Well, we own the house, so back online go my posts. I promised to take them down, and I promised I'd post them again once the damned closing was all done. So here we are. Each post from May 20 is reposted here with a postscript in this format. Once the house is ready, I'll post before-and-after images. First priority, Annika's room.
Heinous Pink Bathroom
Original post, 5/20/08:
I'm very excited about the new house, but I'm really worried about the stupid pink bathroom. I feel like I'm inside a stomach whenever I turn the light on in there. Aaron assures me that we can gut the damned thing at some point, but I'm torn between trying to make it work, and trying to figure out the exact quantity of plastic explosives it would take to obliterate the pinkness without damaging the adjacent rooms.
This room reminds me of the old adage about taking one thing off before you leave the house. Pink floors, pink walls and shower and tub, pink sink, pink toilet. W.T.F.??? Here are the "highlights", God help us.
These built-ins are really the best feature.
The sink is so old it's actually interesting, with a built-in faucet spout between the hot and cold water taps. But it's too close to the color of the walls without being close enough. Again, if it were just the sink, or just the walls, it might not be so offensive.
Bad lighting, yes, and my computer is being a douche-bag so I can't edit anything in PhotoShop. But seriously, no amount of PhotoShop could diminish the pinketude.
The fish cover on the toilet seat indicates the decor is geared more toward a kid than an adult. But if an 8 year-old girl needs to tone down the pink, there's clearly an overdose going on.
The floor is actually not so terrible, but it's got a big crack in the middle of it further into the room so it's gotta go.
A detail of the Pepto-Bismol-on-Salmon two-tone tile goodness. It's actually a very professional tile job.
That said, we might actually keep the wall tile, which extends into the shower surround as well. A white tub cover, a new white toilet, white pedestal sink, small white hexagonal tile on the floor, and some new wall color might just work. Believe it or not, I'm thinking chocolate brown. I know pink and chocolate brown are ultra-trendy right now, but seriously, if you can think of something better, I'm totally open to ideas. The advantage to doing brown paint and accents like towels or a shower curtain is that it's easily changed later. The fixtures will be neutral enough and the wall tile keeps a reference to the 1950's vintage of the house. We'll replace the light fixtures and the medicine cabinet too.
Postscript, 7/31/08: God help me, I've made the pink bathroom work. I need to snap some pix and post once it's done, but the brown is REALLY helping. Brown valances, brown shower curtain, wooden bathmat, brown towels, large natural dark wood woven trash can, etc. I think we'll hold off on brown paint, as the white is working. Just need some art on the walls and I can handle it. For now.
I'm very excited about the new house, but I'm really worried about the stupid pink bathroom. I feel like I'm inside a stomach whenever I turn the light on in there. Aaron assures me that we can gut the damned thing at some point, but I'm torn between trying to make it work, and trying to figure out the exact quantity of plastic explosives it would take to obliterate the pinkness without damaging the adjacent rooms.
This room reminds me of the old adage about taking one thing off before you leave the house. Pink floors, pink walls and shower and tub, pink sink, pink toilet. W.T.F.??? Here are the "highlights", God help us.
These built-ins are really the best feature.
The sink is so old it's actually interesting, with a built-in faucet spout between the hot and cold water taps. But it's too close to the color of the walls without being close enough. Again, if it were just the sink, or just the walls, it might not be so offensive.
Bad lighting, yes, and my computer is being a douche-bag so I can't edit anything in PhotoShop. But seriously, no amount of PhotoShop could diminish the pinketude.
The fish cover on the toilet seat indicates the decor is geared more toward a kid than an adult. But if an 8 year-old girl needs to tone down the pink, there's clearly an overdose going on.
The floor is actually not so terrible, but it's got a big crack in the middle of it further into the room so it's gotta go.
A detail of the Pepto-Bismol-on-Salmon two-tone tile goodness. It's actually a very professional tile job.
That said, we might actually keep the wall tile, which extends into the shower surround as well. A white tub cover, a new white toilet, white pedestal sink, small white hexagonal tile on the floor, and some new wall color might just work. Believe it or not, I'm thinking chocolate brown. I know pink and chocolate brown are ultra-trendy right now, but seriously, if you can think of something better, I'm totally open to ideas. The advantage to doing brown paint and accents like towels or a shower curtain is that it's easily changed later. The fixtures will be neutral enough and the wall tile keeps a reference to the 1950's vintage of the house. We'll replace the light fixtures and the medicine cabinet too.
Postscript, 7/31/08: God help me, I've made the pink bathroom work. I need to snap some pix and post once it's done, but the brown is REALLY helping. Brown valances, brown shower curtain, wooden bathmat, brown towels, large natural dark wood woven trash can, etc. I think we'll hold off on brown paint, as the white is working. Just need some art on the walls and I can handle it. For now.
Cranberry and Blue Master Bathroom
Original post, 5/20/08:
Despite my misgivings about the pink bathroom, I really love the color combination of our tiny master bathroom.
The toilet may get an upgrade to a more water-efficient model at some point, but you really can't find any quarrel with the white toilet and white vanity.
We'll replace the shower fixtures, light fixtures, and medicine cabinet. I sort of wish there weren't grab bars drilled into the tile all over the place, but an elderly couple owned the house before the current owners, so it's hard to complain. You never know when they might come in handy.
It's tiny, but it's a master suite, which has been hard to find, given the ages of the houses we've looked at.
Postscript, 7/31/08: I still love the bathroom, but I have yet to use the shower. The old fixtures are too hard to turn, and it hasn't been cleaned yet since we moved in. Because Aaron and I sleep as late as is humanly possible, we've been using the pink bathroom for getting ready in the morning so as to not disturb the one still sleeping. But we'll get there, especially once we have guests. Unfortunately, this room like the others fell victim to the matchy-matchy painted trim. Pink trim in the pink bedroom, blue trim in the blue bathroom, etc. Need some white paint in this house. Oh, and those grab bars I maligned in the earlier post? They were a godsend when I hurt my back and couldn't move. I still can't move very well, but I'm much improved. Having something strong to hold on to really helped.
Despite my misgivings about the pink bathroom, I really love the color combination of our tiny master bathroom.
The toilet may get an upgrade to a more water-efficient model at some point, but you really can't find any quarrel with the white toilet and white vanity.
We'll replace the shower fixtures, light fixtures, and medicine cabinet. I sort of wish there weren't grab bars drilled into the tile all over the place, but an elderly couple owned the house before the current owners, so it's hard to complain. You never know when they might come in handy.
It's tiny, but it's a master suite, which has been hard to find, given the ages of the houses we've looked at.
Postscript, 7/31/08: I still love the bathroom, but I have yet to use the shower. The old fixtures are too hard to turn, and it hasn't been cleaned yet since we moved in. Because Aaron and I sleep as late as is humanly possible, we've been using the pink bathroom for getting ready in the morning so as to not disturb the one still sleeping. But we'll get there, especially once we have guests. Unfortunately, this room like the others fell victim to the matchy-matchy painted trim. Pink trim in the pink bedroom, blue trim in the blue bathroom, etc. Need some white paint in this house. Oh, and those grab bars I maligned in the earlier post? They were a godsend when I hurt my back and couldn't move. I still can't move very well, but I'm much improved. Having something strong to hold on to really helped.
Indoor/Outdoor/Indoor Living Spaces: Sunroom, Deck, Mudroom, Kitchen
Original post, May 20, 2008:
One of the big selling points for me with the new house was the sunroom and the yard. The old hippie in me needs a place to walk around barefoot in the grass in the summertime, where I can plant flowers and vegetables and enjoy the warmth and sunshine outdoors. The sunroom reminds me of the porch at my grandparents' house on the lake, where we spent lots of time during the summer when I was growing up. This is a more finished version, with windows and a slate floor.
The sunroom is off the den. Here's the view when you first enter the room:
To the right is the doorway to go outside:
We also want to be able to entertain, and there's a great spot for a platform deck off the sunroom.
The doorway from which I took the picture is off the sun room. The doorway straight ahead leads to the garage. The doorway to the right is off the mudroom, which is separate from but adjacent to the kitchen.
Here's the mudroom, which may or may not get absorbed into the kitchen at some point:
There are hook-ups for a washer and dryer to the left, and a second sink AND dishwasher in the mudroom. For a woman who doesn't cook or entertain much now, these seem like extravagances. But something tells me we'll be happy to have them. It's the presence of these items that first allowed me to imagine taking down the wall and expanding the kitchen.
This is the wall that would be removed, were we to expand the kitchen. So the fridge would need a home. Here's the whole kitchen, currently. The fridge is behind the open door on the right (you can just see the door handle)
I think we could put the fridge where the stove is, and put the cooktop and ovens in an island in the middle. The kitchen really is small, and opening up the wall between the two spaces would really help that. But it's also a shallow space, so we'll see once we've spent some time there. With buying the house, getting married, and having a baby this year, a kitchen renovation is hardly at the top of the list.
Postscript 7/31/08: The Sunroom has become Aaron's studio, the deck has been postponed until next summer, the mudroom is full of empty cardboard boxes. But the kitchen is clean! Sort of. Got a few things to unpack in there, but it's looking good. Need to set up the eat-in area. We're throwing a housewarming party later in August, so we have a timeframe for getting it all together. And it's getting there.
One of the big selling points for me with the new house was the sunroom and the yard. The old hippie in me needs a place to walk around barefoot in the grass in the summertime, where I can plant flowers and vegetables and enjoy the warmth and sunshine outdoors. The sunroom reminds me of the porch at my grandparents' house on the lake, where we spent lots of time during the summer when I was growing up. This is a more finished version, with windows and a slate floor.
The sunroom is off the den. Here's the view when you first enter the room:
To the right is the doorway to go outside:
We also want to be able to entertain, and there's a great spot for a platform deck off the sunroom.
The doorway from which I took the picture is off the sun room. The doorway straight ahead leads to the garage. The doorway to the right is off the mudroom, which is separate from but adjacent to the kitchen.
Here's the mudroom, which may or may not get absorbed into the kitchen at some point:
There are hook-ups for a washer and dryer to the left, and a second sink AND dishwasher in the mudroom. For a woman who doesn't cook or entertain much now, these seem like extravagances. But something tells me we'll be happy to have them. It's the presence of these items that first allowed me to imagine taking down the wall and expanding the kitchen.
This is the wall that would be removed, were we to expand the kitchen. So the fridge would need a home. Here's the whole kitchen, currently. The fridge is behind the open door on the right (you can just see the door handle)
I think we could put the fridge where the stove is, and put the cooktop and ovens in an island in the middle. The kitchen really is small, and opening up the wall between the two spaces would really help that. But it's also a shallow space, so we'll see once we've spent some time there. With buying the house, getting married, and having a baby this year, a kitchen renovation is hardly at the top of the list.
Postscript 7/31/08: The Sunroom has become Aaron's studio, the deck has been postponed until next summer, the mudroom is full of empty cardboard boxes. But the kitchen is clean! Sort of. Got a few things to unpack in there, but it's looking good. Need to set up the eat-in area. We're throwing a housewarming party later in August, so we have a timeframe for getting it all together. And it's getting there.
The Yard
I cannot wait to get my hands dirty out in the yard at the new house this summer.
Here's the outside, which has a bit of grass but mostly shrubbery and garden beds:
Backyard view of the house, where the deck will go (see next post for the walk-through view from inside the house):
Here's the overgrown maple tree in the backyard that will soon be getting a bit of a trim:
Once the tree is trimmed, the yard will hopefully be a bit less shady. I'd like to see some grass grow, and I think I'll plant something along the fence here. Suggestions welcome.
There is a lovely area along the far side of the house that's already got planting and some pavers:
And a bench and what appears to be a little terraced area. I'm curious to see what's planted there:
Postscript, 7/31/08: The yard is yielding many happy surprises, like the raspberries (see below), lilies, echinacea, roses, onions, etc. Unfortunately, time and the physical limitations of my old back injury combined with my advancing pregnancy have conspired to keep me out of the yard. It's okay though. I'm happy to see how it evolves and see what's out there this season.
Here's the outside, which has a bit of grass but mostly shrubbery and garden beds:
Backyard view of the house, where the deck will go (see next post for the walk-through view from inside the house):
Here's the overgrown maple tree in the backyard that will soon be getting a bit of a trim:
Once the tree is trimmed, the yard will hopefully be a bit less shady. I'd like to see some grass grow, and I think I'll plant something along the fence here. Suggestions welcome.
There is a lovely area along the far side of the house that's already got planting and some pavers:
And a bench and what appears to be a little terraced area. I'm curious to see what's planted there:
Postscript, 7/31/08: The yard is yielding many happy surprises, like the raspberries (see below), lilies, echinacea, roses, onions, etc. Unfortunately, time and the physical limitations of my old back injury combined with my advancing pregnancy have conspired to keep me out of the yard. It's okay though. I'm happy to see how it evolves and see what's out there this season.
Hitchhiking Tick
At least I think it's a tick. I could be better at identifying bugs. Nevertheless, we had a stowaway --- this tick was clinging to one of the raspberries I picked from out in the yard. I found him when I rinsed the berries. Ironically, right around the time I discovered, squashed, and photographed this guy, another tick found my brother while he was working and bit him. I got lucky, especially given the pregnancy. God only knows what would happen if I got Lyme Disease or some other such vectored illness at 22 weeks.
Surprise Raspberries
The previous owners of our house planted quite a garden here. I didn't know we had a raspberry bush at the southwest corner of the sun porch until I found them ripening right after we moved in.
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