Overly careful

I just got back from the hospital for my diabetes follow-up.  The doc took my tension, and she was alarmed once again that my blood pressure was high.  She sent me right away to the emergency consultation at the maternity unit.  This time, I knew the drill, baby's heart rate and blood pressure monitored.  Turns out, the blood pressure dropped, low enough that they sent me home after 40 minutes.  I have mixed feelings about their methods.  I am glad that the baby is fine and that they go out of their way to check the wellness of my baby, but at the same time they stress me out.  I am also grateful that I had to pay nothing for all of this.  Last time they kept me for 4 days.  They could have only checked me a day and send me home already.  I was in any way in danger and the baby was fine.  I understand more how the health care in France is in chronic deficit.  

This makes me wonder if I can handle another pregnancy.  Even if 36 years old is not that old, I do carry a baggage : age, ethnicity (Asians are more inclined to do gestational diabetes), and being overweight, a sick mother in law, etc.  If I ever have another baby, I hope that it will be in less stressful conditions.

Homemade Kimchi

With more time in my hands, I've decided to make some kimchi.  We could spend a fortune for a jar of kimchi in France.  I have discovered korean food 10 years ago, when one of my friend introduced me to Korean cuisine.  At home, it's usually cambodian/Thai/Vietnamese/Chinese cuisine.  But Korean, we didn't know nothing about it.  In Canada, we can find easily Korean restaurants.  I haven't found any in North of France, but there must be some in Paris.

Last summer, my sister brought us to get some Bibimbap.  Ever since, my husband and I are hooked on this dish, so we try to make it every two weeks.

Here's bibimbap dish at a restaurant in Montreal:

My first homemade kimchi:

Next time, I will put more hot pepper.

Here's a link learn how to make your own kimchi:

http://www.maangchi.com/recipe/tongbaechu-kimchi

Held Hostage

I know, I haven't posted much since last summer.  I wanted to post about my trip back home and the U.S. but I never came up with something to write.  Anyways, now I am back in France, trying to have a quiet last trimester for my pregnancy, but things didn't turn out the way it should be.

First, my MIL called a month ago, asking her son to bring her to get a MIR.  I was quiet worried but we didn't hear from her for 3 weeks.  Then, she was hospitalized  for her gallbladder.  I was right to be worried, it is something inoperable.  Let's just say that she will not be around to see her granddaughter grow.

I tried not to be too upset about her condition.  I had to focus on the baby and my driving exam.  I was pretty zen and finally passed the damn exam.  A week later, I had lots of appointments with the hospital and one thing led to another, they kept me for 4 days.  I felt I was in prison.  All I did was waiting, between tests and the meals.  They ran me a lot of tests, blood tests, monitoring the heartbeat of the baby and took at least 20 times my blood pressure.  They finally let me go yesterday evening.  My blood pressure was quiet high and with the diabetes they don't want to take any chance.  Also, they decided to transfert my file to another hospital for the delivery.  Another stress.  I just hope that things will work out and I'm trying to stay calm despite all of this.  I will try to take one day at a time now.

Third Time's a Charm

Maybe you have guessed? I have received the precious piece of paper today, "avis favorable" for my driving permit today.  Now I will have to wait approximatly 4 months to have the real permit.  I don't understand why the Prefecture would take that long to print me out a piece of plastic.  So for now, driving outside France is  not allowed.  I went straight away to purchase my "A" magnet to put it on the back on the car. No more driving courses, no more painful checks to sign.  I admit, I don't feel comfortable driving alone just yet.  It will take me weeks to be confident to drive alone but I have finally reached my goal.