Muscle Strain:
I've been working from home these past few days because I can't walk very well. I pulled my lower back muscle last week and have trouble walking - specifically walking upstairs and turning right (kind of like Derek Zoolander but instead of not being able to turn left, it's the opposite - my right side). I initially thought it was a pinched nerve but it's not that bad. This lil injury of mine is prob from overexertion and the 15+lbs of extra weight from my belly:P. These past several weeks I've been really busy with work, running errands, and exercising at night - and forgetting that I'm about 7 months pregnant. Finally on Saturday and Sunday, I just couldn't walk - period! without holding onto the wall, countertop, Chuperman, the rail...I was wincing in pain. For a few hours, I was even thinking that using crutches could help me get around faster. My walking is getting better, altho I should still be cautious going upstairs. I can see how later on in life, I need to live in a 1-story ranch house or something. So now I'm staying at home not only to recover from my pesky injury but to also avoid the...
Inferno that has devastated SoCal:
Beautiful and eerie looking red sun this morning at 8am - taken from rear deck in our Newport home. Notice that practically the entire sky is engulfed in smoke.
Two fires came relatively close to 2 of our houses in Irvine and Newport. The Santiago Fire and another smaller fire near Newport. Yes, I spotted a small fire past Turtle Ridge/Shady Canyon (about 2 miles away), but it wasn't covered on TV. Some sick psychotic motherf*cker(s) started the fire in Santiago (Irvine) - yes, it was ARSON. Other fires were started by a construction man leaving a hot welding tool out in the brush, power lines in Malibu knocked over by the relentless Santa Ana winds, and for the rest of the 13+ fires were caused by extremely dry brush from the terrible drought we're in, the nasty Santa Ana winds, low humidity, hot temperatures, and some very bad luck.
Initially on Sunday, the media covered Malibu and Canyon Country. Now that it's been 4 days, LA and Ventura County fires are mostly contained however, San Diego and Lake Arrowhead are getting jacked. OC isn't doing any better either (tho at least Irvine is okay with some near misses in the new and struggling community of Portola Hills). Six older homes in Modjeska Canyon were ruined.
It's devastating to watch this crisis get worse on TV. The air quality is really awful today. The A/C is on full blast as it's 90+ degrees outside,my body temp is very high due to the baby, and it literally smells like 1 million chainsmokers smoking out there. Feels like hell out there (or at least looks like it from inside). The good news is that the end is near. Tomorrow the temps and the wind is supposed to go down. Then - the long road to rebuilding 1/2 million+ displaced households. More good news is that the State of CA has been doing a good job in expediently providing aide and now Pres.Bush is making sure he gets it right this time with a visit to SoCal tomorrow and already promising federal aide, as opposed to the inexcusable negligence (on top of the war in Iraq) of New Orleans.
"Sweet Success" Program
So the battle against my abnormal glucose levels continues... 2 wks ago I finally took the dreaded 3-hour glucose tolerance test. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be because the 2 previous times where I took the 1-hour glucose test, I didn't drink any water before I drank the glucose drink. This time I smartened up and asked if I could drink water in the 3 hr time period, in which they said "no" b/c given more thought, water would dilute the glucose in my bloodstream. So I downed probably a liter of water right before I had the nasty-ass 100grams of pure sugar glucose drink.
The overpaid (and over-weight) phlebotomist ended up pricking me 6X's. The first time was at fasting or right before I drank the glucose drink, the 2nd prick was an hour later on my right arm, the 3rd prick was after the 2nd hour on my right arm, but it was too bruised and busted from the end of the first hour that she took another jab but on my left arm, the 4th prick was after my 2nd hour at the same location on the left arm, but that too was too bruised so she pricked (5th time) another location on my left arm, then the final draw she decided that both arms were too bruised so she jabbed the top of my left hand. Ouch! Ok, the last prick after the 3rd hour on my hand really hurt and 9 days later, I still had a damn bruise on my left hand, not to mention both arms.
The good news was that I felt hydrated this time and didn't feel dizzy. In the 3 hr timespan where my glucose levels shot up to record levels I tried to escape to my car or Target in between blood draws but the phlebotomist caught me and warned that if I left the waiting room that my glucose test would be cancelled. I replied, "i was just going to use the bathroom" but she knew better and flatly stated that "there's a bathroom in here as well", which I knew of course from being there 3x's before. It was a good try. So in the 3 hrs I had to kill - I read the entire newspaper - LA Times, read a few articles on gestational diabetes, talked on the phone briefly, and witnessed several terrified and screaming kids get shots. After 3 hrs of torture i could finally eat again and made a bee-line for Austin Spencer's rotisserie chicken, mac'n'cheese, jalapeno cornbread, chips, and fruit=D
"Diabetes Gene" says the OB.
The next day I had my OB appt where my the doc explained to my mom and me "your mom and dad gave you the diabetes gene". My mom was silent. The OB had gotten the results back from the 3 hr glucose test. He showed me the results and damn, all the 3 hours were higher than normal. However, my fasting level was normal at 73 which means that this pesky diabetes is PURELY gestational or that this is only temporary during pregnancy and that there is a 90% chance of the glucose levels going back down to normal levels afterwards. Naturally, having the damn diabetes gene, I'm more prone to getting type II diabetes and the baby will be too. I'm gonna make sure that the baby doesn't get hooked on candy like my brother and me. When we were growing up, we'd take family roadtrips and my parents would ALWAYS let us stop by Thrifty for candy to snack on in the long car ride. We'd ALWAYS get a few staples like - Nerds, Dweebs, Skittles, Starbursts, Lemonheads, Now'n'Laters, Lifesavers, gummi bears, Dum dums, Blow Pops, Fruit by the Foot, to name a few. On top of that, we'd always drink soda and eat Doritos, Fritos, Cheetos too haha. Sigh.. the good ole days. Even now that my bro and I are both "adults" now we'd STILL fight over candy. Chuperman just shakes his head.
So back to what the OB recommends - I have to participate in this program called the "Sweet Success" program for perinatal glucose monitoring. Sounds fun huh? I'm just glad I didn't have to get monitored during my thesis. At least now I won't be so stressed. I'll start the "sweet success" program whenever those fools can call me back. I've only called them 5X's. Maybe I don't have to get monitored haha.
The Great Stroller Debate:
With much naivete, I want the all-in-one "magic bullet" stroller. I don't want to end up with like 10 strollers in my garage. We park our cars in the garage and there is no room for 3 strollers. My ideal stroller would be ONE stroller that can transport the baby in all stages (0-6months, 6month-4yrsold, jogger) until the baby can walk or decides not to be lazy.
This dream stroller of mine would be lightweight, collapsable, sporty, has superior handling, superior shock system and superior maneuverability for when I go jogging. The Bugaboo Frog would meet these criteria only that it's not collapsable and it's not that lightweight. Okay, think what you will, "Oh Tiramesu, you are such a snob for wanting the Bugaboo". But hear me out before you judge me. I don't want the Bugaboo purely for the status symbol. I've been having internal debates about damn strollers. I'd literally wake up in the middle of the night and think about frickin' strollers. Is it worth it to get a Bugaboo or should I get 3 separate strollers for each stage.
Non-Bugaboo route:
Snap'n'go
McClaren Volo
BOB Revolution
Pro's:BOB Revolution
Cheaper than bugaboo... let's do the math:
- Baby Trend Snap'n'Go 0-6months: $50
- McClaren Volo 6months+: $90
- Bob Revolution Jogger with maneuverable front wheel: $360
- total for strollers: at least $500 (not including tax)
- Lightweight - both the snap'n'go and volo are very light weight
Con's:
- end up with THREE strollers
- the main stroller which would be the Volo is not reclinable, so wouldn't be as comfy for the baby. uncomfy baby is prob tantamount to lotsa crying and whining...which is prob equivalent to frustrated mommy
- the jogger is extremely bulky, hard to collapse, and weighs a lot (approx 24lbs), will be very difficult to fit the jogger in limited space in our garage
Pro's:
- unbeatable suspension, handling, comfort,versatility - can go hiking, go to the beach, walk up and down big-ass hills w/ no probs
- i've talked to a few Bugaboo owners in which they agree that the bugaboo can be a jogger as well
- 17lbs, pretty good for an athletic stroller/jogger
- great for long walks
- great as a mall crawler
- great for long day trips
- comfortable for baby
- not collapsable (unless i can just throw the whole thing into the back of my SUV)
- hefty price tag. I know Chuperman can find the cheapest price for anything, but the cheapest he'll find is prob like $700 and then another $45 for a car seat adapter, which I'd wait on anyway, b/c I have a sling and I'm gonna get a Bjorn air carrier - so might not need to use a stroller until 6 months later anyway.
- so we're talking a $200 premium on a hypothetical all-in-one bugaboo, versus getting 3 strollers
- b/c the Bugaboo is not easy to collapse for running errands, i might end up getting a $20 umbrella stroller for quick stops - so the total would be at least a $220 premium
Yes, it's cheaper to get 3 strollers, 1) Baby Trend Snap'n'go for about 0-6months, 2) lightweight umbrella Volo for 6+ months, AND 3) a BOB Revolution with maneuverable front wheel. I don't have a problem with getting the snap'n'go and Volo, but I do have a problem with getting a big jogger. All joggers are big and are not collapsable. The jogger won't be able to fit in our garage. And we are not willing to park our cars outside.
Both Chuperman and I love the sportiness and spiffiness of the Bugaboo - it's lightweight, stylish, trendy, was on Sex and the City, a lot of celebs have this - so a total status symbol haha, great for new yorkers, and THE BEST handling, however there are some major flaws. First of all, the stroller ain't collapsable like most strollers are. Living in the suburbs where I'm constantly running errands and in'n'out of my car, I need something light weight and collapsable.
Enough about frickin' strollers...
Let's pray that God will show mercy on SoCal in this awful firestorm. Let's pray that damage to our health and our houses caused by these fires ceases immediately. Let's pray for the safety of the firefighters, paramedics, health professionals, and for the well-being of all residences in Socal.
I've been giving away n95 respirators - I have more so let me know if you need some. I grabbed 50+ respirators at an environmental health conference. The air quality is especially bad today from all the smoke blowing over from Lake Arrowhead. To my SoCal friends, please stay indoors. Do not make unnecessary trips outside. Walk your dog inside the house (or on treadmill if possible haha).
