Foodie Fridays: Hearty & Healthy

Hey Humble Readers...

Any fun plans for you all this weekend?  Doing anything special?  Maybe some early Valentine's Day events on your agenda?

This has become a bit of a family focussed weekend for us.  My dad often has to travel for work, and he just happens to be in our area this weekend.  He's going to be coming for dinner and to see his granddaughter (not that my Beloved and I really matter... lol) tomorrow, and then on Sunday we'll be heading to the Wee Little Town Down South to visit my Beloved's mom.  Throw in the church, usual grocery shopping and errands... well, we'll be a tad busy. 

*****
This week's recipe is adapted from a Better Homes & Gardens recipe.  The original recipe called for instant rice, but I really don't like instant rice of any sort, but especially instant brown rice (ick).  It was also supposed to be baked in the oven, but with using long grain rice, it needed to be on direct heat.  Don't be put off by the long list of ingredients.  It's super easy to assemble, and really worth it.

Pork & Green Chiles Skillet

1 lb boneless pork (I use two thick cut pork chops), cubed
2 cans diced green chiles (minimum... I actually use 3)
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can diced tomatoes
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 med onion, diced
1 cup frozen kernel corn
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 garlic cloves, minced or grated
1 cup long grain bown rice
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp chili powder
1/3 cup shredded cheddar (optional)
Olive oil

In a skillet with a tight fitting lid, brown the pork in a small amount of olive oil.  Add diced onion and saute slightly, until softened.  Add green chiles, tomatoes, black beans, green pepper, corn, soup, stock, garlic, cumin, and chili powder.  Stir to combine.  Bring to a slow simmer.  Stir in rice.  Cover and reduce heat to med-low and allow to simmer for 45-60 minutes (start checking it at about 40 minutes to see if the rice is done).  When rice is tender, top with shredded cheese and allow to melt.  Serve with a garden salad.

It's not a quick dinner, but it's tasty and relatively healthy.  It's really good on a cold night when you need something to stick to your ribs. 

Hobbit-ish Potpurri: Civic Action & Other Random Bits

Hey Humble Readers...

I hope you're having a good week, wherever you are.  Things are pretty mellow here on the flatland.

*****
If you are a Canadian, please take some time to educate yourself about Bill C-11.  (It's legislation that is similar to SOPA that our friends to the south have recently been dealing with.)  If you value access to the internet that isn't controlled by the government, please make your voice heard.  Contact your local Member of Parliament.

*****
Ginny decided that playtime started today at 4:30 in the morning.  Not so fun.  Of course, when she finally fell back to sleep about an hour later, I was wide awake.  I watched a rather interesting documentary on the Freedom Riders on PBS.  So, at least I made some good use of my time and learned some stuff. 

*****
Speaking of PBS, it is killing me that I don't know anyone around here who watches Downton Abbey!  I am dying to have a good rehash over last weekend's episode!  (Come on... who really thinks Mr. Bates could do that?!?!)  My Beloved has no real interest in period dramas so he's no help with this at all... ;)

*****
Ginny gave herself a bit a shiner the other day.  It happened while I was at my OB appointment, so I don't know exactly what happened, but I know that the coffee table was involved, and my wee girl is now sporting an ugly yellow-brown bruise over her right eye.

*****
Valentine's Day plans are in the works.  I decided on a menu for our 'fancy' dinner, which I will share next week... after the fact so that it's a surprise for my Beloved.  I also have a small project that I am hoping I will be able to finish tomorrow while my Beloved is at work.  Now I'm just hoping that I can find all the ingredients I need for our dinner.  One item could be a little tricky.

*****
I'm happy to report that the new heartburn medication is working like a charm and I am a much happier hobbit as a result.  My bloodsugars have also come much closer to target since I have been able to stop taking the Tu.ms.  My only complaint is that this particular med is twice as expensive as the previous one.  I'm also happy to announce that so far I have noticed no ill effects from having cut down on my blood pressure meds (Dr. W mentioned that I might feel a little off while my body adjusts).

Week 25: The Mysterious Dr. W

Hey Humble Readers!

(Fair warning: this is a long post.)

Well, I've just gotten back from my first appointment with my new OB.  I confess, I was nervous.  Would she be one of those doctors who doesn't like questions?  Would she take issue with my weight, as other doctors have?  Would I feel confident in her abilities? 

While she isn't my wonderful Dr. U, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised.  She took a full half hour with me (unheard of!), asking questions about this pregnancy, and my previous pregnancies.  She asked about how I understood my IF/RPL issues, and how they have been resolved.  She asked about my family history and my Beloved's, and about Ginny's development. 

Then she let me ask all my questions, and she actually answered them!

• Rapid/sudden weight gain?  Not worried at this point, but we will monitor it.  My target should be no more than 10 pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight (which I'm still below).  If I see any big jumps that concern me, I should call her office.
• Heartburn?  Zan.tac is no longer working, so it's time to switch it up.  Will now be taking 60mg of Pan.ta.loc (also known as Pro.tonix) once a day. 
• Low-Lying Placenta?  This is actually an unknown at this point, as the tech at my last u/s was unable to get a clear look at the whole placenta.  It appears to be a partial previa, but it's still uncertain. 
• Next Ultrasound? At 28 weeks.  Requisition in hand, just waiting to hear back from the medical imaging clinic with my appointment date and time.
• Scheduled c-section or induction?  We briefly discussed VBAC, and the unlikely possibility that an induction would work.  I am not bent on delivering vaginally, and after my induction experience last time, I would rather just get straight to the point.  So, scheduled c-section at 38 weeks it is.  The Halfling will be making his/her introduction to the world sometime between May 10-15, most likely the 10th or 11th.  Woohoo!
• Tubal Ligation?  Absolutely!
• Do I keep seeing Dr. B?  Nope!!! Yay! She will be managing my care until the baby is born.  Then it's back to the unremarkable Dr. B, but at least I will feel more secure in my obstetrical care. 

Other outcomes of the appointment?  We discussed the fact that I haven't been able to have any genetic test results (no NT measurement, maternal screen bloodwork was botched), and the possibility of an amnio.  I have decided against it, at least for now.  Halfling's heartrate was 145 bpm.  My blood pressure was actually on the lower side, and she has asked me to reduce my Lo.beta.lol back to 50mg three times a day.  She is a strong advocate of breastfeeding and we will be discussing the issues I had with bf-ing Ginny at future appointments, to see if there is anything that we can do to make things go better this time around.  She is sending me for some bloodwork (just some basic stuff) and I have to do a 24hr urine collection.  And I see her again in two weeks. 

I think it will take me a little while to feel completely comfortable with her, and she made several mentions of my weight being a big issue (duh!  Talk to any fat person.  They KNOW that their weight is a big issue.).  But overall, I'm happy with how today's appointment went, and I think I will be okay with her.  She's younger than any doctor I've ever had before, and I've never had a female doc either. 

On to the update...

How far along? 25w0d

Maternity clothes? Yup..

Body Oddities? VERY dry skin, alternating constipation and IBS flares, acne, bruises from insulin injections, back ache, cracking joints, super sore & slightly leaky boobs, increased earwax, dry/itchy eyes, leg cramps, round ligament pain, heartburn is much worse, tingly fingertips, NEW THIS WEEK: heavy fatigue

Sleep? I've been very tired this week.  Almost like first trimester tired.  I've been sleeping well, and heavy.  I haven't even been waking up to pee. 

Best moment this week?  I had the most glorious nap on Sunday afternoon.  My Beloved looked after Ginny and I woke up feeling great.

Worst moment?  When we were grocery shopping on Saturday, I had a lot of lower back and hip pain. 

Movement?  All the time.  I'm pretty sure that the baby is transverse, as I feel movement on either side and down low.  Only occasional movement higher than my belly button.

Food cravings/aversions? Chocolate.  I made some no-bake chocolate cookies with Splenda, but they didn't quite fill the need.

Rings? Still on.

Gender? Still think it's a girl.

Intense Dreams? Nothing baby related, but very strange combinations of people, places and situations.

Medical Concerns? Gestational Diabetes (insulin 5 times a day), High blood pressure (on 50mg of lobetalol 3x daily), continued heartburn (on 60mg of Pan.taloc daily), kidney stones, low lying placenta.

What I miss? walking without waddlng, being able to lift Ginny without grunting like a mule

What I look forward to?  Sushi, ice cream, chocolate milk, my next ultrasound

Emtional State?  Okay most of the time, but my blood sugars have been a tad wonky and that frustrates me

Foodie Fridays: So Simple It's Scary!

Hey Humble Readers...

It's been ages and ages since I did a Foodie Fridays post, but I have been trying a bunch of new things recently (thank you Pinterest!) and I wanted to share one of them with you. 

This recipe is so simple, and takes almost no time at all.  You can totally doctor it up anyway you like.  Another thing I liked about it was that it was super budget friendly. 

Italian Crescent Pie

1 tube refrigerated crescent rolls
1 lb lean ground beef (you could sub in ground turkey or chicken if you like)
1 med onion, diced fine
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 cup pasta sauce (homemade or your fave store bought variety)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tsp each dried oregano and basil

Separate and arrange the crescent rolls in a spoke pattern (wider points meeting in the middle of the plate, long thin points hanging over the side of the pie plate by 2-3 inches) in a 9 inch pie plate.  Gently press the dough together so it covers most of the pie plate to form a crust (there will be gaps... no big deal).  Brown the ground beef and drain well.  Add in onion and garlic, and saute until the onions are softened.  Stir in pasta sauce.  Spread 1 1/2 cup of the shredded mozza over the bottom of the crust, then add the meat/sauce mix.  Fold the points of the crescent rolls over the top so they meet in the middle, and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of mozza and the dried herbs.  Bake in a preheated 375F oven for 15 to 20 minutes.  Allow to stand for 5-10 minutes before cutting.  Serve with a salad.

I was very pleasantly surprised at how well this turned out.  The only glitch I had was the fact that my Beloved had put the tube of crescent rolls into the freezer (and those things should NOT be frozen... they turn to mush when they thaw), so we had a mad rush to the grocery store on the night I made this. 

I can already see some yummy variations on this idea... make it mexican with some cumin and chili powder, monterey jack cheese and some corn and peppers.  Greek with some greek spice mix, sun dried tomatoes and feta.  Make it a bacon cheeseburger pie with some bacon bits, cheddar, diced dill pickles, ketchup and mustard.  So many options!

*****
In other news... if you've got the time, swing by Panda Diaries and share some love with Laurie.  She's had one hell of a day (scary, SCARY day). 

Hobbit-ish Potpurri:Hell No, I'm Not Complaining* (Again!)

Greetings Humble Readers...

(*sarcasm - I don't want to sound like a whiner, but the last couple days have just been a drag.  This pregnancy has been harder physically than with Ginny, and I really feel bad for griping.  BUT, this is my blog and these are my feelings.  If this isn't something you can handle today, I understand.)

So, I saw the unremarkable Dr. B today.  I admit that I went into the appointment already a bit crabby, but I really felt like the whole thing was a waste of time and cab fare.  I was weighed and had my blood pressure checked.  He listened to the baby's heartbeat (152 bpm) and measured my belly (measuring ahead by about a week).  And that was it.  He basically blew off my questions...

• Can I increase the dosage on my Zan.tac? (getting heartburn in the middle of the day, taking tums which are screwing with my blood sugar)  Talk to Dr. W about it next week.
• Should I be concerned about the rapid weight gain?  (Gained 3-ish pounds over two days... for a normal sized preggo, that's a concern.  I'm still below my pre-preg weight tho.)  Talk to Dr. W about it next week.
• How low is my 'low-lying placenta'? (Is it just low-lying or is it a partial previa? Scheduling the next u/s?) Talk to Dr. W about it next week.

I'm really thinking that the whole appointment was just to make sure that I had an appointment scheduled with Dr. W.  Grr...

*****
Speaking of blood sugars, I'm going through another bit of a rough patch.  I feel like I'm on a ridiculous amount of insulin right now, and I know it's only going to get 'worse' from here, but I'm missing my targets pretty regularly (not by a lot) and it's pissing me off.  I'm incredibly bored with my breakfast and lunch options and, because of that boredom, I've made some lousy choices over the last few days (whoda thunk that raisin bran would be bad for a diabetic?  It's not like I ate some sugar laced marshmallow cereal.  I should have realized it tho, if I had actually thought about it).  I need a kick in the a$$ to get refocussed here.

*****
Ginny is also going through a rough patch.  She's got a cough, which sounds a heck of a lot worse than it is, she's teething (about 4 teeth), and she's gotten into a mischievous attitude lately that is draining Mommy's patience (she has a new thing for the kitchen garbage can and kleenex boxes... both items are fun to empty when Mommy's not looking).  And napping is really hit and miss, with a mega four hour nap one day and then hardly any naps for three days.  I adore my wee girl, but these days she's not very sweet.

*****
We have a potluck at church this weekend, and I'm torn about what to take.  Part of me just wants to make a huge bowl of black bean salad (with tomatoes, bell peppers and corn in a lime chili vinaigrette) because it would be simple and cheap, but I don't really know how well that would go over.  But I know that chicken wings would go over great, but they're more expensive and impossible to keep warm during Sunday School and service.  Thoughts?  Alternate suggestions?

*****
Ginny's vocabulary - I took Kristin's suggestion from the other day, and have been giving Ginny direct instructions on various things to find out how much she's understanding.  It has eased my mind a fair bit, as she knows what I'm talking about when I ask her about Daddy, puppies (she points to pictures), her stuffies by name (Stanley, Big Bear, Baby Bear, Bedtime Bear, Aurora, Dolly), her toes, babies, her milk/cup, and yesterday when I asked her where Mommy was, she patted me on the arm repeatedly (she knows who I am... thank heaven!).  I am going to try not to stress about her not really talking for another couple of months.  My Beloved and I have set a deadline... if we don't see an improvement by the time she's 18 months old then we will seek out some further help/intervention.  I am also going to press my MIL for more information about how non-verbal my Beloved was as a toddler/preschooler.  The family story is that he just didn't talk until he was almost 5, and then presto he talked.  I need more info.