A serious cry for help

Most of you who know me know that 1. I don't cook, 2. I rarely grocery shop and 3. I can survive on very strange combinations of food (i.e. crackers with ketchup). However, since becoming pregnant it seems my nutritional needs have become a bit more specific. No longer am I able to open a can of corn or kidney beans, eat a couple spoonfulls and be full. 7-11 hot chocolate doesn't seem to cut it anymore as a filling breakfast. MY HEAD IS GOING TO EXPLODE FROM THE HUNGER PAINS. Last night I could not fall asleep because I needed protein and calcium--I've become acutely attune with my body and its cravings over the past few weeks. Of course, as usual, my fridge is stocked with nothing but rotten chili, rotten vegetables, moldy cheese, a pack of hot dogs, and condiments. My dear husband thinks even less about food than I do, so usually we're down to eating toast for dinner before one of us (usually Warren) suggests we do some grocery shopping.

My point is, last night I wanted to die. I was so hungry and nothing I had was filling enough to make the pain go away. If I wasn't trying to create a human life in my uterus I probably wouldn't care, but I'm really afraid that my eating habits are going to give this child brain damage. I need suggestions, and lots of them. What should I keep my fridge full of while I'm pregnant, or even better, what should I have in my fridge in general? You know, WHAT DO PEOPLE EAT? No recipes please, my attention span is only so long. I need foods that can fall into my very hungry outsretched hands. Or, that could be nuked in a microwave, and things that don't require too much stirring, or any use of a hot surface.

For those of you who don't know me that well, I am absolutely serious. This is not a joke. I am almost thirty years old and have only a minimal knowledge on how the whole food thing works. My grocery shopping is usually me wandering aimlessly around the store only to leave with bread, milk, and peanut butter. And maybe gummy worms and a diet coke, if I still have room left in my arms to carry them.

Official Floridians

Today I went in to get a Florida license and register to vote. Warren and I are now official Floridians, which is sad for both of us because 1. Warren is still struggling to adapt to America and 2. I wasn't ready to part with my Utah license. I wasn't raised in Utah, but I have lived there for the past ten years and it is the place I believe I did the most "growing up." Most of my close friends are there, and, I don't know, it really became my home. Florida is great, don't get me wrong, but I'm at that stage again in life where I get to start all over, which I haven't done since I first moved out of my parents' house in 1997. It's all very exciting and scary at the same time. Warren doesn't so much love the southern/retired/obese culture Florida has to offer (I think it's great--tons of people to stare at!), but I think once we meet people under the age of 70 he'll start to feel better. And if not, I'll pinch him until he smiles.

In baby news, I am now 15 (or 16...who's keeping track?) weeks prego. The biggest bonus about being in my second trimester is my nausea has subsided somewhat. I still can't sit-up or stand for long periods of time, but I can control the vomiting. The bad news is EVERY ORIFICE IN MY FACE EXPELS BLOOD. What the hell is that about? What To Expect When Your Expecting says a pregnant woman's body has more blood and therefore could cause "slight" nose and gum bleeding. Slight? Last night I literally spit 1/4 cup of blood after I brushed my teeth! At least that stupid book could have been honest with me, maybe said something like "Don't panic when you start to randomly bleed profusely from your mouth/nose/anywhere blood could possibly leak out of. You are NOT dying." Would a proper warning have been too complicated?

I've also started to feel those "butterfly" movements this week, which are hilarious.

Oh, my taste buds are all out of whack; plain rice tastes spicy and Chinese food tastes like cinnamon. Is that normal, or have I gone all crazy-like?

WHAT?

This week I have started to feel this baby move a bit, which is very exciting. What is not exciting, however, is my nose and mouth seem to gush blood. Apparently, this week also brings the joy of nose bleeds and bleeding gums. Who knew pregnancy I suppose I could read all those baby books sitting on the floor of what will be baby's room, but I'd prefer to be suprised.

Happy Birthday, Nose

Today is the four year anniversary of my rhinoplasty. I celebrated with heartburn.

Kudos to Dr. Berg of Orem Cosmetic Surgery for my fabulous new nose(http://www.drberg.info/dr.html).

Before


After

Florida is made of awesome.

I love Florida. Today Warren and I went to church for the first time since we moved and everyone was so excited to meet us. I've never been so welcomed into a new ward. I even stayed ALL THREE HOURS...willingly! That hasn't happened since about 1995, and even then it wasn't willingly. I even enjoyed Relief Society, probably because when the Relief Society Pres. introduced me (which I allowed!) she said, "Katie is also expecting, and because she's so tiny you can already see a little bump." She called me tiny! I love her. Plus, because Warren is from South Africa we were pretty much superstars.

After church we took a walk around our neighborhood and our neighbors were also delighted to meet us. Everyone was so friendly that I eventually asked Warren if we could cross the street to a side with no houses because I was tired of smiling. Not to mention the weather is perfect and I get to see my friend, The Sun, everyday!

I think I'm going to cry...

They should call it pukenancy.

These past couple weeks since I moved to Florida have been quite busy, what with the puking and all. I do love this baby, but COME ON.

Warren was thoughtful enough to take a few pictures before he held my hair back. Notice in the last picture you can see a little bit of Warren's thumb as he is holding my hair back WHILE he is taking a picture of my spew. That's love, people.

Waiting patiently for the vomit to find its way out of my stomach.

Oops! Just a little stomach acid.

Wait for it...

Wait for it...

It's coming!

Yes, that's what I'm talking about! What you're looking at here used to be pancakes and strawberries. Mmmmm boy.

Dishwashers

My husband is a conservation FREAK. While I admire his noble attempts to save the environment, sometimes I disagree with his radical approaches. Today we had an argument over the use of a dishwasher. He swears dishwashers suck up too much energy and water (which, is probably true), but I think dishes aren't clean until they have been properly sterilized in scorching temperatures. Plus, I'm lazy and I hate spending 20 minutes a night washing dishes by hand when I could spend five loading them into the dishwasher.

What does everyone else think? Keep in mind that Warren also hates cantalope and watermelon, so he is a bit crazy. I'm posting this on my other blog as well, so if you feel strongly FOR the use of dishwashers please feel free to vote twice. I'm really campaigning to win this argument. www.undomesticicequeens.blogspot.com

I should mention that Warren does the dishes himself because he feels so strongly about not using the dishwasher.

What do ya