Ok, got a wierd call yesterday morning. I answered the phone only because I knew it was a telemarketer, but boy was I in for a supprise.
"Mrs Blixx?"
"yes"
"I'm soandso from Obviously Slurred Name Law office. I'm calling to collect $136 on a bounced check you wrote to CVS. How would you like to handle this, Ma'am?"
"Um...What? Where are you calling from again, please?"
He slurs the name of the law office again.
"When did this alleged incident occur?"
"1996. Ma'am, please...how would you like to make payment for this?"
"You're collecting on a debt from 1996 that has never appeared on my credit report? On a debt that I have had no other collection activity on since 1996?!"
"I can't speak for previous collections. I just see here that you owe us this money."
"Sir, I can't make any decision on this alleged matter until I recieve some sort of written verification that the debt is valid. Until then, I will take no action. What is the name of the law office again, please?"
"Thank you, Ma'am. We'll send something right out."

Ok, first off while I admit that I wrote some rubber checks during my college years, I know without a doubt that I was well past that in 1996. Secondly, there's no way in hell that I'd even have to write a check for over $100 at a pharmacy. Thirdly, if this was the first contact for collections, then they would have only my maiden name and wouldn't have my current address. Lastly, dude couldn't really tell me where he was calling from. That they knew I was a potential mark for my past collection agency activity is something I wonder about, and I eagerly await something in the mail if this is a real thing. I was just so wierded out at the call. I wonder how many people fall for scams like that and just go ahead and send money without really thinking it through.

******

We survived Easter. We went to NH for dinner with my mother's Dick's daughter and family and had a really nice time. They live near a pond and we took a lovely after dinner walk in the beautiful weather. Mom wasn't too out of her mind, so all in all it went well. I cheated on my diet, cuz who can resist a cherry cheese swirl cake, and ended up with all normal blood sugar readings. I even chowed jellybeans! Dunno how it's possible, but who am I to question? Then other times I'll have some rice with dinner and it's sky high. Must mean that I should be on the all jellybean diet.

The nursery still isn't done, and the shower is this Sunday. I'm really looking forward to it, as some friends that I haven't seen in a while will be there. Better be there, JoJo! Tempest, Boogie Shoes and Jacknife are coming up Saturday, I think. We'll watch Krull and catch up.

I'm due in 8 weeks and I am really round. When I first found out I was pregnant I thought that 9 months was going to go on forever. Now it's almost over and soon there will be another member of my family. It really is a wonder. Lately, I've noticed that my belly will actually ripple every once in a while. It's like the kid is doing the wave in there or something. Totally facinating and I'm easily distracted by it.

Sherbear sent me some baby clothes and books and diapers from Florida. Her mother keeps sending her winter clothes...um...SHE LIVES IN FLORIDA! Whatever, I'm making out in the deal. There were some terribly cute things in there and I got all teared up. Yep, hormones are on overdrive. Baby got it's first stuffed animal too. Our friend DirtDirt came to MA from scenic Brooklyn on Easter, so he & his mom came over to our place. Grips & family, as well as Birdgirl and Toad stopped in too. It was nice to have people over. Since pregnant, I don't go to the usual hang outs any more and I feel a little disconnected sometimes from my friends. Like cuz I can't drink or be in a smokey bar I don't want to hang out.

I pee on a stick every morning to test my ketones, which measure how the body is burning energy while sleeping. I check my blood sugar level via a pricked finger 4 times a day. I am on a low carb diet, which means that I have to watch my sugar content, as well as laying off the pasta, rice, milk....the list goes on & on. Did any of you know that there are carbs in just about everything? And portion sizes listed on packaging...total crock!! I have to eat 6 smaller meals a day, rather than the traditional 3, which is a bit of a time hassle but I'm working on it.

I inject myself with insulin nightly, and as of yet there has been no drastic reduction of my blood sugar levels. Am I worried? Yep. Do I feel ok otherwise? Yep.

It was about a week after the diagnosis before I could get in to see the dietician and come up with a meal plan, so I was was winging it with the help of the wonderful internet. Turns out that I was drasticly underfeeling myself and that being pregnant I can't totally eliminate the carbs or the baby will have nothing to grow on. I still can't eat a hot fudge sundae, but at least I can feel full after eating a meal.

Tempest - please tell your family and grandfather that he's in my heart and prayers for a speedy recovery. Call me.

I failed my 1 hour glucose tolerance test, so they had me come back for the 3 hour test yesterday. For those unaware, they draw my blood then give me this soda sugar drink. I then have to wait an hour and they draw my blood again. For the 3 hour, I was stuck hanging around the hospital (with St. Blixx keeping me rational) and having to go back every hour for 3 hours to have blood drawn. Oh, and I had to fast since 9pm the night before. By the end of the test, I was grumpy and HUNGRY!!! Mmmm, that burger tasted good.

Anyway, I have gestational diabetes, which is to say that I'm diabetic for the rest of my pregnancy. I have a meeting on Thursday to learn how to prick my finger and test my blood, which will have to be done numerous times daily, then I'll meet with a dietician to come up with a meal and excersise plan. Pre-pregnancy I was not the most active person in the world and now that I'm all swollen with child I'm going to have to learn to get active. Arg!!!!!!! Not my idea of fun, but this is all worth it, right? Joy of motherhood, and all that crap? My blood sugar levels are quite high so I may have to inject myself with insulin too. I've been reading up and the diet changes shouldn't be all that hard to make - I can have some sweets even, but have to watch what else I take in for the day. I'll know more after my MD appt on Thursday.

What does this mean for the baby? Probably nothing. She'll be fine, although there's the risk that she'll be a big baby and that I may need to be induced some weeks prior to my original due date (June 18th) so that she won't rip me wide open on her way out. Love the imagery? Thought you would. I'm also at risk for having a c-section, again to avoid the complications of pushing a 10lb watermelon out of a relatively small hole. She could have difficulty breathing and any number of challenges in her young life, but this gestational diabetes is pretty common and all should be well.

Right?