see Jane waddle

SO yah, I like to torture myself. Walking on the treadmill at the gym is embarrassing at best. I am so slow and totally walk like a woman who is less than 6 weeks from giving birth. But its now starting to hurt. Why? My hips are also aware of the upcoming doom, I mean birth. (Just kidding. I LOVE childbirth. best day of the pregnancy...look forward to it.) Since its like preparing for a 10 hour marathon of work, I can't just give up. So today it was my first water aerobics since Mare left me. (yah Mare- I am still bitter.) It was fantastic- and my hip did not kill me. But all the "core" excersizes were a joke. I have a Core? Nope. Little miss is laying on it...sucking the balance right out of me. I look funny doing it anyway. Good night. I am going to try sleeping on said spread hips. Not my favorite past time these days. Sleeping is, just not on these birth ready hips.

so much to do- only 6 weeks of time

SO much needs to be done before little itty baby comes. I am pleased as punch to have her carseat. I guess that means she can come home with us. But not ready yet.

Last week I figured I needed to teach the kids how to make a few meals so that the kids could help cook when we have the baby. Nicole is the panini master, and makes great sandwiches, but that is it. Well, its actually all she is willing to make also. Dave makes great $5 Caesars pizza, and Carl's Jr. and Jordan is willing to try something out of a box. Since only one of those is really an option (thanks Nicole) I figure they need a little guidance. I decided to start with Kira and teach the easiest possible dinner known to man. Waffles. Cheap, fast, hard to mess up.

She had a blast! She even insisted on me taking pictures of her endeavor! She asked if she could be in charge of dinner once a week! If a 9 year old is willing to make waffles once a week, I am willing to eat them that often! This week I am attempting to teach Jordan to use the rice cooker and make some stir fry to go with it. I wonder how that will go.

Another way we are trying to get ready for baby is taking the kids out, before their world is jumbled up again. We took the kids out to dinner with a Christmas gift card with cousins. While they did have a great time, they sure whined and complained about not being able to hang out with friends on a weekend night. I am thinking that next time Dave and I will just go out on a date and stop interfering with the social life of teenagers! (seriously...who knew we were so horrible offereing dinner and a movie? Bad bad parents! Evil!) But taking 8 kids to dinner is impressive with our bunch. They are not stressful or humiliating. I am grateful we (and my sister) have kids with good manners who are easy to take everywhere. Prorbably because we started them young! I guess it will just be Kira and the baby for a while soon...since the others are far to important to hang with the parentals.

And because Jack is cute- wearing the halloween costume that I have lent out to any one who will use it...he wanted to try it on this weekend. Love him.

Besides that- I forgot how to get ready for a baby. I guess most of it is mental. Meaning the preparation that is. I know I will have less sleep, forget to shower, and spend the next 6 weeks convincing the baby that eating does not need to take an hour. Dirty diapers are hard to prepare for...but I do know there is any end...we have been diaper free for 7 years... so I know that is in the future again...did I forget anything?

Looking forward.

When my kids all went to school the first day that I lived here I remember how bored I was. I had a first grader now and I was all alone. I have never been so bored in all my life! My house was clean by 9...and the rest of the day was just a nothing.

I have come to a much busier state than that now, (and oh how my house is dirty because I am too tired to clean it...after an hour I am pooped!) but still I have stretches of time that I miss having the kids around.

I am so looking forward to my new little girl to fill up the empty time. I will not be bored at all. I love being a mom and can't wait for someone who will love to listen to me sing and chatter without telling me - "Mom! do you have to sing everything?" (Stinkers.) I am looking forward to have someone who needs me during the day...I like to be needed. I have always hated kid TV. Never watched it with the others, mostly we played together, but I am looking forward to Sesame Street. That show I do like! (C is for cookie! That's good enough for me!)

Then the afternoons when my older children get home things might get a lot more complicated! Let's just hope the baby loves her car seat as she will be the Taxi Cab assistant! (But in a year Nicole will be doing the Taxi Service! YAY! That is another long awaited day! and THANKGOODNESS for USAA!) But oh- I just can't wait! She will fill up those.... wow, I am even sick of READING moments! 7 more weeks.

Uh oh...I am back....

I have not had a good ol' fashioned Gabrielle rant in a good long time. It might be a bit terrifying for some, so take shelter and let my storm pass! I am just frustrated and irritated and ready to scream out right now...and it does not help that I am pretty hungry...but that is sort of the source of all this frustration in an indirect way!

Argh! Ok- So I have been trying to eat just like the dietitian and I discussed. I have done pretty well actually...my gestational diabetes seemed not to be causing much of a change in my blood sugar as long as I ate how I ought to...the only exceptions was the day I decided to have syrup in my waffle and the 2 holiday meals we ate with family. BESIDES then my numbers are just within a few points of in range...ya know- like 125 after meals and 94 in the mornings. I was happy with that...

My OB wants then below 120 and 90. So I was super close just doing it on my own...but he gave me the lowest dose of some short term diabetic pill... and for a day it worked....numbers looked good...but for the past 4 days they are like when I just tried to control it with my food.... So STILL BARELY out of range.

Frustrating I know! But not yesterday. Way high! No matter what I ate...my goodness! This morning I took my morning pill and breakfast. DETERMINED to have a good sugar day. I ate 3/4 cottage cheese and LITERALLY 4 pineapple tidbits on top...I counted them out so I could have 2/1 ratio carbs to protien like they want and what does my sugar come back at??? 180? Seriously??? I might as well have eaten a Snickers bar! I would have enjoyed it so much more! I mean sure- 180 whatever if I had not been trying. 180 for a girl who just wants so stupid syrup in a waffle. 180 for a girl who did NOT give all her delicious Christmas Candy AWAY to everyone else. But for ME??? Who has been trying like mad to eat perfect to keep her baby girl safe. NOT OK!

I called the Dr. I have a one more day of numbers to collect before he decides what to do with me. Then add on the complication. I KNOW its all over once the cord is cut. I get it. But I am trying here!

And if you wanna know...this has been the only pregnancy I have had...out of 6, that I have not loathed every moment of it. I used to swear I was allergic to being pregnant. I hated it more than words could say. But this time...with every stupid complication in the book...(ok well probably that is an exaggeration.) I have actually felt ok, and enjoyed the moments most people speak of. I will actually even say, I have LIKED being pregnant this time. (its a shocker...I know.) BUT GIVE ME A BREAK! Can I just get through the next 7 weeks without sugars at 180 after eating a dang cottage cheese??? Or heck, someone bring me a Snickers bar and let me deserve the high blood sugar.

Ok. That is all.

loving 2011

Oh how I am looking forward to 2011! I have fun stuff coming...in 8 weeks, and I can hardly wait!

While 2010 was hard, losing a baby, being depressed, losing a job, living on unemployment, we still had a great year- with a new baby coming, more school, and a job at the end of the year. We are indeed grateful.

But 2011 will be even better, already looking at better jobs, more school and meeting our new little girl! Who could ask for more!

Our children are happy and safe and wonderful. We love them so much! I LOVE 2011 and am excited for it to get going! My only New Year resolution is to enjoy this year, not take anything for granted, nor an time I have with our family for granted, and try to remember that the last humbling year was a huge blessing and I want to remember the valuable lessons I learned this year.

Happy New Year to all!