Scholastic Reader!

I put the movie Cars into the DVD player this morning to buy me some quick shower time before running a few errands.  I was interrupted once, which is always expected, for a quick, "just making sure you're still there, mommy" check, then Katie headed back out into the family room.  After I got dressed and brushed my hair, I went into the family room to do my "just making sure you're still there, Katie" check.  It was so quiet.  I looked on the couch, floor, around the chair...  where was she?  I took a few steps further into the room only to see that she was sitting on the floor, in front of her little train table, looking in the opposite direction from the TV, reading a book... very intently!  I walked into the kitchen to make my presence known, but she wasn't even phased by it, she just kept on reading.  

LOVE IT!

Preschool

Yesterday had its ups and downs.  

Downs:

I experimented at breakfast with one cup of Raisin Bran Crunch cereal and paid for it all day. My blood sugar soared and I just couldn't get control of it for most of the day.  Finally, by dinner time, I was feeling much better.  The lightheadedness and woozy sensations subsided.  I decided after that I would stick to plain and boring so as not to aggravate mother nature.

Ups:

Garner United Methodist Church called at 8:30 am to tell me that they had a cancellation for their preschool and they were instituting the waiting list.  If Katie was still interested, there was now room for her.  This was such great news!  Even though I was feeling woozy, Katie and I took a trip over there to check the place out.  Katie really liked it and the people seemed quite nice.  

Classes follow the Wake County Public Schools calendar, so she will begin on September 3rd. There is an Open House on Tuesday, August 26. The class is Monday and Wednesday from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm.  There will be eight kids in her class with one teacher and one assistant. Since it's a 2 year old class, they don't have to be potty trained, but they do encourage the process with little tiny toilets/stalls!  Kids have to pack a lunch, but the school provides a snack.  

The preschool has been around for 20 years, but unfortunately the 2 year old class is new.  They normally hadn't started kids until they turned three.  I'm a little nervous that she'll be a guinea pig, but I think it'll be OK.  The cost is so reasonable, and if I hate it, I give 30 days notice and she can stop going.  No harm done.

This comes at a great time for us because I have to start going to the doctor every week now so they can make sure the baby isn't growing too big...  gestational diabetes.  I was worried about having to take Katie with me for every appointment, but now I'll just schedule these appointments while she's in school.  While she's in school...  holy crap!

Jimmy asked if it broke my heart to see her in that classroom, but I was so excited that it didn't even dawn on me that I'd be dropping off my baby, entrusting her to strangers.  I'm sure when I leave her that first day I might freak out.  But, if she looks happy, I'm sure I'll get over it.   Maybe I'll even celebrate with a pedicure!  

The Pretender

5:45 Saturday morning.  The soft pat of toddler feet on hardwood floors.  

"Shhhh.  Mommy seeping.  'Amon, guys."

Our weary heads raise to see wild brown curls of hair peeking over the side of the bed.

"Ooh, darkinere.  'Kup, guys, 'kup."

A closer look reveals our daughter, in her (thankfully) still baggy N.C. State pajamas, with all her prized possessions and bed-mates clutched to her chest: Baby (her stuffed giraffe blanket with the rattle head), Suzy (her anatomically correct wetting doll in body-length night shirt, sans diaper or pants), Mickey Mouse (pronounced Meeeckey Mouse-the way I imagine a Russian child may pronounce it), and her pillow.

In the half hour preceding this intrusion, I have been briefly awakened by my poor, fatigued pregnant wife's snoring.  The last week has seen Karla required to prick her finger four times a day to check blood sugar.  This will last until our new addition arrives.  She has had to deprive herself of her favorite foods, the one thing about pregnancy that seems to make the pain and discomfort worth it-at least you can pig out on milk and ice cream and french fries, right? Guess not...

I have seen my case load at work balloon due to a summer crime spree and a shortage in staffing Superior Court prosecutors.  The mere thought of walking into the office makes my posture slump and my eyes sink just a little further into my face... One can only care so much about each case, and at times like these, it seems unreasonable to have to deal with bad people, their victims and everyone else's problems and still have to cope with the unexpected wake up calls, spilled drinks and boo-boos life throws at you.  

On top of all this, Karla and I have sat mesmerized, awake like fools at 11:30 each night, watching Michael Phelps make history, unable to tear ourselves away and give our bodies and brains (and that developing little one in Karla's belly) some much needed rest.

"'Kup, Mommy.  'Kup, Daa-ey.  'Amon, guys.  Follow me, follow me. 'S go."

Karla clears her throat and shifts in bed, startled awake.  I groan.  We perform the unspoken standoff of who will get up with this child and attempt to get her back to bed.  I selfishly pray that Karla will do it.  The alarm goes off at 6 AM each weekday, summoning me to deal with felons and the aftermath of their evil deeds, I silently think.  Please, dear God, let me sleep in to 7:45 this morning.

On the other side of the bed, I know Karla is hoping the man who leaves her with this creature all day, every day, will step up to the challenge and give her an hour off to rest her bones.  

This time, we don't have to resort to 'paper-rock-scissors' or a back and forth whining session.  Karla swiftly gets up, and after a book and a quick lecture on big girls not getting out of bed until the sun comes up, we are able to procure another 2 hours of silence.  

Then, like clockwork at 7:45: pat pat pat pat.  

"'Amon, guys.  Sun shine.  'Kup, follow me, follow me."

Sigh.  Groan.  Guess it's time to get up.  This time, I take the lead (but I make sure Katie knows I'm not pleased).  In the end, it doesn't matter that I take charge, because it's time for Karla to prick her finger and eat her allotment of one egg, one piece of wheat toast and small coffee with Splenda.

The ranks of the dependent are growing-the numbers will be even, but we will be completely outnumbered come October.  Relief is on the way at work-we will have potentially 4 new prosecutors to share the load within a few months.  So hopefully my caseload will dip somewhat by Christmas.  Hopefully.

Still, I am resigning myself to life without sleep.  Wake up, shuffle to the car, slurp coffee for the 30 minute drive, walk 10 minutes to the office rain or shine, 30 minutes home, cook dinner, bath time, story time, TV time, asleep by 10 PM, maybe.  Meanwhile, poor Karla, dealing with the incessant needs of a newborn and the incessant need for attention of a nearly 3 year old.  All day, every day.

Sigh.  Sometimes all you can do is get up and do it again...

"If you're there

Say a prayer

For the Pretender

He started out so young and strong

Only to surrender"

The Pretender

Jackson Browne

Carb Counting

I had my meeting with a nutrition counselor on Tuesday.  I learned how to count carbs and test my blood with the OneTouch Ultra 2 meter.  After testing on that first day, Tuesday, it seemed I was not eating enough!  This is crazy.  I think I'm under eating for fear of over eating, which isn't healthy either.  

Basically, I just count carbs, or at least that is about all the nutrition counselor told me to do.  I am allowed a certain number of servings of carbs per meal and snack.  One carbohydrate serving is 15g.  So, for example, at breakfast I'm allowed to have 2-3 servings of carbs, which is equal to 30g-45g of carbs.  For lunch and dinner, I am allowed 3-4 servings of carbs.  A snack is only 1-2 servings, so 15-30g of carbs.  I eat three meals a day and three snacks a day.

I have to check my blood 4 times a day, once when I wake up, then two hours after breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  The first reading of the day should be between 60-95.  The others should be under 120.  So far, my average readings since Tuesday have fallen in the 70's.

I feel like I'm in school again having to study my new materials, then take a test every few hours.  

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I also had a doctor's appointment this morning.  I assume things look good for now (hard to tell because the new doctor was a little strange and didn't say much), but I'll have to start going weekly to make sure I'm not growing a freak of nature inside me.  By this, I just mean they're going to have to make sure the baby is not getting too big.  I will also need a few more ultrasounds for the same reason.  That part is kind of cool.  I'll be able to get a good look at baby #2's face :)  Hope she's pretty!