Gestational Diabetes

You might have noticed that my weekly menu postings have been missing the past couple of weeks. A major reason for this is that I have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, a type of diabetes that occurs in approximately 5% of pregnancies. There are many degrees of gestational diabetes, but the type I have is generally controlled through diet and exercise. The diet part is why my weekly menu postings have disappeared . . .it is a lot harder to meal plan on the gestational diabetes diet, and I haven't been able to sit down and plan a week's worth of menus at one time (although in the upcoming weeks I will be planning my weekly menus).

I had gestational diabetes with Ella, so I was not surprised to be diagnosed again this pregnancy (women who have it in previous pregnancies have an increased risk to have it in subsequent pregnancies). And, while gestational diabetes is not something to be taken lightly, I'm not too worried about it. If gestational diabetes is properly managed, it is unlikely that me or the baby will have any complications. The big problems with gestational diabetes usually arise when it is uncontrolled. I test my blood sugar at least twice a day (and usually test 3-4 times) to make sure that my fasting number (my blood sugar level when I wake up) and my after meal numbers are being properly controlled through diet and exercise (although I haven't been good at the exercise part yet . . .). In almost all pregnancies gestational diabetes goes away immediately after delivering the baby.

So, what type of diet do I have to follow with gestational diabetes? Different dietitians will recommend slightly different versions of this diet, but generally it is a high protein, low carbohydrate diet where you eat every few hours (rather than just three big meals during the day). The plan specifically lists how many carbs I'm allotted at each meal or snack because carbohydrates (starches and sugars) are what affects blood glucose levels.

Breakfast: 30g of carbohydrates

Mid-morning snack: 15-30g of carbohydrates

Lunch: 45g of carbohydrates

Mid-afternoon snack: 15-30g of carbohydrates

Dinner: 45g of carbohydrates

Evening snack: 15-30g of carbohydrates

Now, 30g or 45g of carbs might sound like a lot of carbs - but it isn't, at  least not to me. Consider that it is almost impossible to eat a serving size of cereal for less than 30g of carbs (and that is without milk). Or, that one cup of cooked pasta (depending on the pasta) has more than 30g of carbs, and that doesn't count the carbs that would be in a tomato or cream sauce.

Although the diet is strict, and certainly isn't fun to follow, it isn't the end of the world. And, I think there is a bright side this time around . . . I don't have to go through the holidays on the diet! When I was pregnant with Ella, I was diagnosed right before Thanksgiving and I had to follow the diet through Thanksgiving and Christmas. Can you imagine a Thanksgiving meal where you have to count carbs?? :)

Wordless Wednesday

I Heart Faces: Purple

Be sure to check out all the great purple entries over at I Heart Faces!

Shutter Love Tuesdays: Sports

Ella watching a Houston Astros game in her game day giveaway Astros Retro hat!

Be sure to check out all the sports entries over at the Trendy Treehouse!

Patience as She Grows

At almost 18 months old, Ella is learning and doing so much. I'm amazed daily at the things she knows, and the things that she can do. I think it is so cute how she tries to change the channel to turn on "boos coos" (aka Blue's Clues). Or if I ask her to put something in the trash she promptly walks to the drawer where the trash can is located, opens it, places the trash in it, and closes the drawer.  Or, how she plays peek-a-boo, when we say "Where's Ella?" and she responds "There she is!"

With everything Ella is learning to do, I find myself easily getting frustrated at the things she can't do or doesn't understand yet. I get frustrated when she doesn't understand how to be quiet when I need her to be quiet. But, then again, a majority of the time I'm encouraging her to talk, so I'm sure it is hard for her to understand the difference. Or I get frustrated when she isn't patient when breakfast or dinner isn't ready right when she wants it. But, truly, she has no concept of time.

I really have to step back and remind myself that she is only 18 months old. She still sleeps in a crib and isn't potty trained. She still cries when she doesn't get her way and doesn't always remember the difference between a dog treat and her own snack. She may try to change the channel to "boos coos" but she still needs me to turn it on. I need patience to remember these things as she grows up. It is my duty and my husband's duty to teach her as she grows up because she is only a child, and she is our child - a most precious gift from above!

Taking a Toddler's Photo

Over the past year or so, I've gotten really into photography. I've been able to see a vast improvement in my photos during that time (if you are curious, check out Day 1 of my Project 365 blog versus a recent post on  Day 186). I think I've improved for several reasons, including lots of reading and asking for feedback on my photos, learning how to actually use my camera, etc., but I think one of the main reasons I've improved so much is that I get a ton of practice with my non-cooperative toddler.

Ella doesn't sit still, doesn't really follow directions, and is easily distracted. Consider some photos I took yesterday when we were playing outside. You might wonder why there are so many shots of her not looking at me. Well, she may have been looking at me the second before I clicked or I clicked early hoping she was about to look at me. I don't want to give the impression that I'm just clicking away a thousand photos at a time and then luckily get a good shot - because that isn't it. But with a toddler you have to always be ready to capture the one smile they may give you the entire time you are taking their photo or the one time they actually look at you!

Dirt is way more interesting than I am, apparently.

And, when she finally looks at me, I get this face.

In the end, it is it worth it all! :)