A Broken Machine and Ricotta Cheese

For the past 2 days my blood pressure readings had been crazy high. Yesterday they got so high that I was truly scared I'd be sitting at home and have a stroke or seisure and just die. So I called the Dr. to see if I could just come in for a BP reading. So Jackson and I got ready and headed up to the Dr.'s office. I sat in the waiting room forever it seemed but then finally Nina called me back. The first reading she got was really high too. Then she tried a larger cuff for my fat arm and finally used their automated machine. It was reading at 153/105. It's high but not as high as the 173/105 reading I got at the same time I used my machine. So thankfully it's my machine that's off by 20 points or so. I cannot tell you how much better it made me feel.

I have my scheduled appointment today at 2:45. I guess we'll have to figure out why my BP is still reading so high when I'm on the new BP med that knocked it way down in the hospital. I don't want my Dr. to think I'm obsessive or crazy for coming in to have it checked but I'm just concerned. Especially when my body doesn't feel right at the same time. My fingers are so swollen I can't even put my rings on. Now that's bad when my engagement ring would fly off my hand at time (I know I know I need to get it sized).

Lee had his interview with Cracker Barrel yesterday. This isn't the job he necessarily wants but it's a good back up plan. That was how he felt until he met with the guy again. He has an interview tomorrow in Birmingham with Lone Star Steakhouse and he was told that they laid off a bunch of the higher paid and long time managers and were promoting up the lessor paid managers to cut down on costs. That's not a good way to treat your employees. Yes, Cracker Barrel isn't as prestigous as some of the other places he could go but if he goes there they will pay to relocate us to B'ham, have great benefits and a 2 year GM plan. I don't know what he ultimately will decide but I'll support him with whatever he choses. I'm just glad the interview and manager test he took went so well. He actually scored a 100 on it. Not too bad I'd say.

So late in the afternoon Lee heads to Kelly's, the little podunk grocery store in Freeport to see if they had some boxes we could use. Oh and I wanted him to pick up a loaf of their french bread because I've been a carb eating machine lately. While he was gone something triggered me look for lasagna recipes. I found one and had most of the ingredients except for the noodles, one more can of tomatoes, ground beef and ricotta cheese. So I called him and asked him to pick those up while he was out. I've been on a major Italian kick with this pregnancy and anything Italian is soooooooo good.

So I start making the sauce while he's gone. I was doubling the sauce recipe per the suggestion of those who had cooked it before and the only thing lacking was the extra can of crushed tomatoes. I put all of the spices in it and I'm getting so excited about the dinner we were going to have. He calls me for a reminder about the type of tomatoes I needed. Then I get the dreaded news. They are out of every size and brand of riccotta cheese. I'm so sad. No, I feel devestated over the news. You know when you're craving something so much and you almost have it and then someone takes the plate out from under you? That's how I felt. They promised him they'd get more in this morning.

I ended up putting the sauce in the refrigerator. He's going to go back up there today and try again for the cheese. I've heard people use cottage cheese but I don't like it and mine has to have ricotta cheese. The Turkish lady that Lee has become friends with at the One Stop Shop (small podunk gas station) told him that. He told her he was dealing with a picky eater and a pregnant woman and it just wouldn't work for me. I know I can be difficult but man I was wanting that for dinner last night. So I will try again today.

I took Mackenzie to school yesterday and I just love the time we spend together in the mornings. I know I'm not suppose to be out of bed at all (I know, including making lasagna) but Lee had his interview and it's our time together. I also picked her back up because Lee wasn't quite back yet. She was so excited telling me about her writing assignments and brainstorming session. Oh and she was telling me that the hook she wrote for her story was the best hook in the class after they voted.

She then told me that her brainstorming session was to write down things that you are looking forward to at Thanksgiving. Then she had to pick 2 to write about. Do you know what the 2 things she is looking forward to the most? Spending time with Jackson and Avery's birth. How incredibly sweet is that? Her eyes were lighting up as she spoke. She's getting more and more excited the closer it gets. I told her that she wanted a baby sister and she is finally getting one. Then she started rattling off that when she's 16 she'll be 8, 24 and she'll be 16, etc. That's really scary. I never thought when Mackenzie would be 24 and I'd be 44 that I'd still have one at home.

Jackson just asked me where the needles are. I asked him what needles and he pointed to the places on my hands, wrist and arm where they had the IV in and took blood from me. I told him that they took them out and threw them away. He said he didn't like needles. I told him that they'll just put in needles one more time and that's when I'm at the hospital having Avery. He then pointed to my belly and said "Avery you can't come out because mama will have to have a needle in her hand". It was really cute.

Well Handy Manny is coming on and I have to watch it with my little man. I have to watch the talking tools. I can't wait!