Thankful Thursday...

I've restarted this post about

three times, 

so i'm going with Thankful Thursday. 

I don't feel thankful for everything but 

I'm thankful for Thursdays. 

typically I have all of my doctor appointments on Thursday's. 

It works with my schedule

and my clients' needs.

This Thursday I'm doctor free

but NEXT WEEK.. oh next week is the big week. 

Next week, on Thursday we have our next ultrasound. 

We will hopefully find out the sex of our growing baby. 

I'm so excited, and overwhelmed. 

I'm happy to see is grow, heck i'm thankful it's growing

and so big i'm sure. 

I'm thankful that we are able to use technology to see our little one

and see it's progress. 

I'm thankful that I was given this opportunity to 

carry a child, knowing some cannot, 

and some struggle very much. 

I'm thankful that I have had low blood sugars, 

and no matter how much they hurt me,

they make me feel like crap

or I feel like i'm going to pass out, 

I know it is because 

our baby is growing and I must be doing 

SOMETHING

right. 

I'm also thankful for the people in my life, 

either friends or family

that are there for me. 

The ones that care about my well being, 

who help me in any way they can, 

they shop for me, they make things for me, 

they use their hands to help build things for me. 

I cannot thank them more from the bottom of my heart. 

I am forever thankful for these people I have in my life. 

and with all of those great people

that I am so completely thankful for

it makes me sad the people in our lives that aren't filling 

those shoes, or aren't present.

It just saddens me to think some people 

aren't letting things go, 

or aren't thinking about positive things in our lives and 

making the best out of bad situations. 

I wish I could fix everything, but

obviously I can't. 

I'm only saying this, not to that those people

will read this, 

(that's not my intention nor do I think most of them read this)

but it's bringing me down, 

and I know I can't expect

everyone to try and be positive

because I have to

 but because it's easier for me to write it here

than keep thinking it. 

I just wish this world was more positive, 

and less individualized. 

I don't think this will ever change for me, 

but just know, no friends and family 

are perfect, 

and it's just how far are you willing to 

push yourself to stop allowing those 

negative people

 bother you and make you feel worse. 

Okay,

I'm ending this post now by saying 

how thankful I am for life, 

for freedom,

for technology, 

for skilled doctors, 

for loved ones, 

for the strength within

and for pets. 

Because when you sure do feel crappy 

or deal with blood sugars, 

it's great to have them to lick your face off!!!

What are You thankful for?

 

 

baking.. both in the oven and in the belly..

I have to admit, 

I do love baking, but normally when I bake in my oven

I don't get as many low blood sugars as baking this baby. 

Yes, I talk about baking this baby..

oh well. 

That's pretty much what I do. 

Feed it, allow it to rise in time, 

keep the door closed ( i guess, that's odd, sorry)

allow it to do it's thing.

wait until the timer is done

and the BING, bakin's done. 

Just mine takes 10 months not 

20 minutes. 

Oh wouldn't that be worth it. HA

Anyway, before I talk about baby stuff, here is my post 

about the recipe from yesterday

the RED VELVET CAKE

which i cut into butterflies..

it made, 14 of these with tons of

leftover pieces. 

This is what they look like when I was almost

finished decorating

So I have made one pretty similar to this, but I used

the Red Velvet Sheet cake from Pioneer Woman

Ree Drummond is lovely.

So First here are the ingredients you need:

2 1/2 Cups Cake Flour(I've used all purpose many times too)

1 1/4 teaspoon Salt

2 Eggs

1 Cup Buttermilk

1 Cup Shortning

1 3/4 Cup Sugar

1 teaspoon Vanilla

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1 1/2 teaspoon White Vinegar

1.5 bottles of Red Food Coloring

(it is 1 1/2oz, you can also use different colors than Red. )

1 1/2 teaspoon Cocoa Powder

( I used 2 whole teaspoons)

And you need a 350 Degree Oven. Also make sure whatever pan you are using, 

make sure it is super greased up. I use

Wilton's Cake Release which is upside down in the photo

but you can spray or butter the pan(s) too

Okay so first you sift the Flour and Salt together

Then mix Buttermilk, Eggs, Vanilla, baking soda and Vinegar in a bowl

and mix well. 

I would put this my mixer but realized I didn't want that and moved it. 

lol

Then mix Cocoa Powder and Food Coloring

Then cream shortening and sugar together

Then alternate putting the buttermilk mixture

and flour mixture in to the 

creamed shortening and sugar.

oh yeah, I use bakers sugar, it is super fine

and is only a little more expensive than 

regular sugar

and in case you are wondering, I am not using splenda in

my cooking or drinks now, to 

1. help keep my bs's up

and 2. I'm trying to limit the amount I have of it as it isn't good for 

little growing baby. 

so real sugar it is. 

okay back to baking

When it's mixed

then put in the food coloring and cocoa

and side note, don't spill this on the WHITE TILE COUNTERTOP

you have.Bad bad. 

I had to move everything and quickly bleach it. 

Aweosme. 

okay so then put it in your pan

and smooth it out so it is level and even

then bake at 350 for 20 minutes

If you use a bigger pan or make it thicker

I would go for 30 minutes and check on it every 5 

until done. 

Also, while I cook/bake I always try to find something

where i put my scraps or pieces in. 

So I don't have to keep running to the garbage. 

Smart! 

Okay for the frosting, 

I've used this many times, 

it's super fluffy and smooth and

not super heavy. LOVE IT.

OKay it starts like this,

5 Tablespoons of flour and 1 cup of milk. 

You can use half and half or whipping cream too

then whisk that until it is thick

like a pudding. 

Don't worry, it'll be lumpy and goopy 

and weird looking. PROMISE

You're doing everything right. When all of it is like that

put it into a bowl from room temp until your cake it done, 

by then it is cooled off enough.

Only use it when it is cooled. If your in a hurry you can cover it and put it in the fridge 

of in another bowl in a ice bath

in your mixer mix 1cup of butter, softened, 

and 1 cup of GRANULATED sugar NOT powdered

Add Vanilla to the cooled flour mixture.

Then beat the living daylights out of this, no joke

sometimes it takes 7-8 minutes. 

Just keep going

then it will just fluff. 

White, fluffy, smooth, creamy, light 

PUFFED WHITE FROSTING! 

Perfect. 

I piped mine, but you can spread it too.

This makes enough for 12 cupcakes or

a small cake. 

I piped it on my 14 butterflies with about a cup extra. 

ENJOY!!!

Okay baby news. 

Seriously, I thought these low days were over

I have consistently been in the 50's

and it is super annoying. 

this baby is working me out. 

I get not one single sign. 

NOTHING.
I have no idea what my blood sugar is doing. 

It's so frustrating. 

The CGM doesn't tell me exactly what is going on 

and I just have to think,

well, it's been _____ long since i've 

tested, I'll test again. 

BAM

58 

or 51

or

53 and falling with two arrows down. 

AWESOME. 

HATRED. 

While making this cake, I had two lows,

one 51 and one 53.

How terrible. 

I ate over 8 whole glucose tabs

chugged juice from the container

and even ate cake and fruit

NOTHING.

Then I get all tired and feel like i've hit a truck or something. 

It's good, better than being high

but I am so scared of not knowing when it's coming. 

I feel like my fingers are being so abused it's not funny. 

I am just telling myself

and baby

that if this is him (or her) 

telling me their hungry or growing, 

i'll try and eat more. 

It's just not as easy as the movies tell you. 

Maybe being diabetic I have to drink and eat when i'm not hungry 

because of the numbers

so when I do get to eat, i'm not starving

or craving anything. 

Which also is affecting my weight.

 I lost the 4lbs I gained a couple of weeks ago, 

which I felt it was just the growing I felt I was going through.

I felt it. 

But now they are worried that I am not eating enough and pushing for those 2500 calories. 

ugghhh

I'm trying. 

I never knew how hard it would be to 

try and gain weight for a baby. 

I'm already (and sad to admit)

getting to where it takes a breath away to get off the couch,

walk up and down the stairs a few times 

especially while carrying something. 

I feel helpless. 

Like carrying laundry downstairs is NOT hard, 

or hardly a stupid workout. 

I can walk and i'm okay, 

but anything physical, 

I just feel like my baby and everything that goes with it

just stops me from moving around comfortably.
and it's only

going to get worse. 

Awesome!

When I can get Austin to upload a photo I will post

photos of the belly!!

hard to believe we are 18 weeks and 3 days now. Time flies

I don't know if enough will comment but

we find out the sex either the 23rd or 27th. 

Anyone wanna guess what it is?

Anyways, thanks for reading! 

Stay tuned!

-C-

Baking for the other Momma!!

I know i've posted a LOT 

about my diabetes 

as well as 

this pregnancy. 

Neither of them got a second out of my 

day but I thought

i'd share something 

completely NOT related

to Diabetes, or pregnancy. 

Something that is delicious, fun to make, 

and makes you thankful

for being able to have it

knowing the baby might want it too!! haha

We are heading to see our friends

from college in Dubuque

(i'm actually doing this while Austin gets ready)

But in case you have an upcoming activity 

and want to make a cake of your own

this Red Velvet is the perfect one!

I'm making you very hungry while just posting photos

until I post later!!

Enjoy!

This is the frosting I have used many times before. 

This is the base, milk and flour headed to a pudding. 

I didn't get the rest of the photos, but you cream 1c butter with 1cup REAL granulated sugar. 

then here is the rest of the mini cakes

then finished..

Hope you enjoy!

I'll post the recipe tomorrow sometime!

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

-C and A

Oh baby....

So I know I have been MIA

lately. 

I feel like between work, swollen ankles

and being plain out exhausted has gotten the worse of me. 

But I promise, we are still

in now week 17 (specifically 17 and 6 days)

and baby is a growing.

This I KNOW.

So a couple things I have learned, 

some about being pregnant,

some about diabetes and pregnancy

I'll just do a list. It's easier!

1. People seriously stare at you like it's their job to figure out your new shape.

2. Getting up and down, and moving side to side is NOT 

as easy. I used to be pretty darn flexible and never had trouble 

bending, or at least discomfort. 

HELLO BABY.

3. I do not enjoy just getting up from the couch, picking up some laundry, or doing the dishes

and seriously, being out of breath. 

this I am NOT going to get used to. 

4. Maternity clothes are expensive. 

Not just are they expensive, there is NO selection. 

Thankfully, my MIL

is making me dresses and some shirts and she has been 

putting pockets in for my pump. 

5. If there is a headache, there is some diet coke. 

I know, you aren't supposed to have caffeine while

pregnant, and I know it is bad. 

But I am hoping, baby thinks it's better for me to have say, a glass of diet pepsi

once a week or every 2 weeks, just depends

instead of hurting my liver more with taking tylenol

(p.s. since we are all being honest here, the only pre-existing 

other problem I have going into pregnancy

is that I have an enlarged liver

and so far when I tried medication it only made it worse

and did nothing but cause problems. 

The one drug they told me to never take is 

Tylenol or acetaminophen and

being pregnant you are ONLY allowed those meds. 

So I take having a little diet pepsi over tylenol.)

6. I have noticed that every other day, or two days is a bad day. 

I will have an extra 5-10 units of insulin needed on those bad days. 

7. For those that are interested in my insulin changes here they are. 

Also remember, that every single person who needs 

insulin is different. 

Everyones bodies are different and

just because mine are higher than 

"someone you may heard of" 

or 

"something you heard from your doctor/friend/TV/Magazine"

We are all different. 

Okay pre-diabetes, 

I took 2units per carb roughly, of Novolog

and 28units at night time for Levemir. 

When I became pregnant I was changed from 

Levemir to Humalin N NPH. 

My Novolog doses changed, but mostly

breakfast: 1u :5 carb

lunch 1u:5 and sometimes 4 carbs

and dinner started at 1u: 6 carb to 1:3

Right now I am still 1:5, 1:5 and 1:3. 

I also am having now on the pump

2.70units of Novolog per hour. 

My NPH before pump was:

Morning: 16units

Dinner: 30 units

Bedtime: 60 units

So I went from 106units to only around 64 units. 

8. When the baby is growing, beforehand I feel like crap, 

all over blah, no energy, no appetite, 

no motivation.

Then in about 2 days I feel like I've gained 100lbs. 

Yeah, that feels crappy too. 

9. For the first Trimester I gained only 4lbs. 

That is great. 

However when I stopped taking birth control, 

I gained about 15. 

Which after researching and calling the company, 

that affects 1.2% of the women who take it and stop.

AWSOME.

10. I am now at 16weeks, had gained another 3lbs from the 4. 

So with only baby I have gained 7lbs. 

11. I have been dealing with low blood sugars during the night now

and my pump alarms, yells at me, 

and then

I test, and in fact I am facing a predicting low. 

I've now been drinking juice boxes, in my sleep, 

and woke up one night with the juicebox straw still in my mouth,

my bloody finger dried against my cream sheets and 

pump light still on. 

AWESOME. 

12. During the day, I have had to do 

a temporary basal rate (the one that is 2.70 units per hour)

to 50-70% less. 

13. I felt the baby move for the first real time

two days ago. 

It was very weird. 

Actually it was Monday, while I watched and cheered clients on 

while bowling. 

It felt like a pinball machine

and I was not winning. 

14. I now can eat pretty much an entire whole, seedless watermelon,

or a whole fresh pineapple

with my blood sugars dropping. 

I promise I am not doing this, but with out measuring it, 

or whatever, 

it is as though I am drinking water. 

It's awesome. 

15. I HATE shaving. 

It is so uncomfortable, my legs cramp up and

it is not fun. 

I know, it's only going to get worse

but some how I wish there was an invention

where we stepped into this like 

auto water sander

that we'd put our legs in and

while getting wet it's sand our hair down like we shaved. 

okay, so that might have been stupid but while in the shower

I think of all the ways I can possibly get around not having to shave

by inventing other things. 

My other invention was getting Austin very upset, and allowing him 

to wax my legs. 

I think i'll wait on that one. 

I hope that helped answer some questions, or 

allowed you to understand my diabetes pregnancy life a little better. 

If anyone ever has questions please feel free to contact me or 

even email!!

Thanks again for reading!

 I promise next post I will try to get my 15 week, 16 week and 17 week photo posted. 

I'm Popping..:)

Take care everyone!

-C and A

A new day, a new technology

Today is CGM day. 

I knew this was coming, and after getting the pump on

on May 9, 2011

I knew the CGM was the part I wanted that would help me know

what was going on when I didn't. 

Well, I met with my awesome

Pump Nurse Peggy! 

By far the most educated and patient person yet

that has given me the most

confidence that I can do this.

So after an hour of "class"

or educating me on the 

technology of this little device, and how to work the

duel and square wave bolus's (I'll talk about this in a different post)

and when I might want to use them

I was then taught how to put it on, what is what

and then this happened..

BAM, there it is. 

The big white thing is the actual sensor

that shoots to my pump and tells me what my numbers are. 

Now, in case I have almost lost you 

just skip this part too. 

(The blood "sugar" this sensor checks is not really my blood sugar

because it is in the interstitial fluid which is different then when I do blood checks.

So at times, the numbers will not always match perfectly,

but it is a good estimate of what my BS should be)

the purple part, which you can see is full of blood

is the part that is stuck inside of me. 

Much like my pump cannula, the needle

is fed under my skin with the cannula

to help it go in

and then I pull the needles out. 

I will post on my next site changes the size of them. 

This is what I see on my pump now that I am now receiving 

data:

So now that I did my pump site change 

this is what I'm looking like today, and for the next 2.5 days

What a Robot? Really. I think that describes how I feel perfectly. 

Plus, my belly is getting bigger,

obviously. 

Not to also mention, these pregnancy pants are HORRIBLE photo 

takers. so sorry if I blinded any of you!

Speaking of belly, here is where we are at today:

16 weeks 7 days!

and now for the little alien..

No, this is not my belly button, 

no this is not my child

this is one of two bumps

you can see through my shirts. 

Sometimes I think about when I'm out shopping

and people see these and wonder what is wrong with me. 

Do I have an alien in there?

sometimes I think so..

Oh technology...

Finding those positives...

Before I say anything,

I am 16 weeks and 6 days pregnant

with baby Kimler. 

CRAZY.

I know it has been a while

since something nice was posted about diabetes,

but lately, 

even though it is ALWAYS at the front of everything

I do and I think about it before I go to bed,

during the time where I am supposed to be sleeping,

and the first thing when I wake up. 

BUT,

I can feel that baby is growing.

I felt an all of a sudden "pop"

and then BAM,

baby is REALLY growing, 

this is weird. 

then all I can think about

is how great my friends and family have been. 

Between my sisters being so excited and asking how i'd doing,

to my mom who cannot be ANYMORE thrilled 

for another baby in the family,

to my mother in law who is

pretty much a maternity clothing factory these days,

making me many different dresses and shirts to wear

as these maternity clothing in stores

are either super stupidly 

expensive,

or too long, or not comfortable or 

not for my age.

My father in law and my husband Grandparents who have been

working so hard with house questions, projects,

always lending a hand.

I cannot think of a better family 

to have on both sides. 

And that my husband

is so supportive and helpful

and putting me first. 

Don't think for a second he doesn't already,

but really, when i come home and he's willing to help

in the kitchen or bring boxes up or down stairs.

He's always understanding that

not only am I getting, slower, 

bigger, and i'm sure much more

emotional

but he's there in this. 

He's just my rock and I am so thankful that Diabetes so far isn't keeping me

from trying to find the good

in this pregnancy.

 OKay back to baby updates

Also, I have had another OB appointment since

April and it was okay. 

I don't care for this doctor either,

she was pretty much whispering and didn't feel any more 

confident she knew anything about diabetes. 

I'm really sick of being told that

this place is the best for "high risk" 

yet I am doing more of the educating when it comes to 

pregnancy and diabetes. 

It's like I feel like I know nothing, but when I meet with some of

these doctors, 

I feel like a CDE or something. 

BTW- CDE stands for Certified Diabetes Educator. 

I go again on June 23rd but 

on June 27th I have a level 2 ultrasound. 

I have NO IDEA what is involved with a level 2, so if you do,

please feel free to inform me!

Also, hopefully we'll find out what it is I am carrying?

Baby Boy Kimler

or

Baby Girl Kimler!!!

Thanks for sticking by me and supporting me

and reading about our life and

our journey!

-Cassie, Austin and BabyK!

Heal My Sole.. or Fingers..

I know I have been some what

MIA 

lately. 

I promise I have plenty to share with you all

regarding more updates with the 

little growing Kimler.

I've been battling headaches and some

stomach/over all feeling of not feeling good

if that explains it at all. 

But, 

ever since I checked out Sarah from

Thrifty Decor Chick

(if you don't check her out you REALLY should now)

guest post regarding her giveaway for

a store named Heal My Sole

I checked it out. 

Maybe it was my pregnant self wanting

another reason to try something that 

might make me feel good, 

or

the fact that my feet and hands are sad looking.

My feet just from the constant abuse of walking in different shoes

all the time

and my poor fingers from all the 16-25 blood sugar checks

a day 

they needed help. 

So I went to Heal my sole's website:

http://healmysole.com/

and checked out their items. 

I MUST TELL YOU, 

I promise I was not paid, given anything free, or even

asked to write anything about them. However, If I do ever get anything free

I would gladly accept it!:)

But SERIOUSLY. This stuff is serious. 

I bought many things but I really want to tell you

this stuff, 

It's the citrus foot rub 

However, it smells so tasty, and delicious you almost want to lick it. 

Okay, sorry for the TMI

but it smells so good. 

I've tried many scrubs before and they are all okay. 

But this stuff SERIOUSLY works. 

I went to really sad looking fingers with blood marks and pokes

to such soft no blood marks on my fingers. 

It has filled in the holes, cleaned them and getting rid of all 

the dead skin and have really done wonders on my fingers.

My feet feel great too!

I've used this just about every other day for a week now 

and I promise you won't regret this. 

Also, not to mention, this 4oz 

Citrus Foot Scrub Mini for only

$4.50 

was worth $15 I promise. 

So you too should stop by and test out some of her products. 

You won't be upset I promise!!

-Thanks for being patient with me and 

I promise, I'll post baby info soon!

Plus, we are at 16 weeks 5 days can you even BELIEVE it,

time is FLYING!!!

-Cassie