37 week visit

I just got home from today's OB appointment. Not too much going on, but thought I would share. The NST was an adventure once again. Little Lizard moved around like crazy in the waiting room, but once I was hooked up he decided it was nap time. Luckily Ronnie was with me and his voice seems to get the baby moving. The doctor said that the baby seems to be doing really well. We discussed the diabetes thing and she seemed pleased with my numbers. However, I do have to try to figure out how to convince the insurance that I really do need to get 100 test strips per month. Lastly, she checked my cervix. I was really hoping for some dialation since my back has been killing me and she confirmed that I am 1.5 centimeters. So, the process has started. Who knows how soon or how long it will be before he gets here, but at least we're heading in the right direction!

December 29 Doctor Visit

I had yet another appointment today. These weekly appointments have been going on forever, or so it seems. But the end is in sight as I only have 3 (hopefully) left. Today was a big appointment. The first item on the agenda was an ultrasound to determine Little Lizard's size. It appears that he may be smaller than Ethan as he weighs in at a tiny 6 pounds, 10 ounces right now. He is only measuring a couple of days ahead of his due date and looks completely healthy. While I was able to see his precious little face we weren't able to get a still shot of it so no one will be able to see it until he arrives. For what I saw, with my non-ultrasound reading ability, I believe he is going to look a lot like his big brother. The technician also told me that he will probably have a lot of hair.

Next, I saw the OB. He was pleased with my blood pressure, which has been suprisingly low the past few weeks. My sugar levels were ok since they put me on medication last week. Some of the numbers have been a little high, but I confessed that I've had a few cookies, among other things, the past few days. I love this doctor because his response was simply, "well, it's that time of year." He also decided to check to see if I am dilated because we are less than 4 weeks away. I was excited, thinking maybe some of these pains were getting me ready, but I was wrong. He wouldn't even say I was dilated to a 1. I know that isn't a sign that the baby will stay put for a while, but it was a little disappointing.

Finally, I had another NST. Since he had already been poked and prodded, Little Lizard decided it was time for a nap and refused to move, which is crucial for the test. The nurse brought in a little wand and told me she was going to wake him up. She woke me and the baby up as the noise the wand produced was quite shocking. Needless to say, with his nap disturbed baby started to move and we were able to finish the test with good results.

To sum it all up we are both doing well and just waiting for little man to decide when to make his entrance. Keep praying!

Dec. 14 Doctor Visit

I went to the doctor again yesterday. I feel like I'm there all the time! I arrived at 4:07 and told the receptionist that I was to have a non-stress test (NST) so that the nurse would go ahead and hook me up. I know the nurse got the message because I heard the receptionist telling her on the intercom system, but I was not called to a room until 4:50!! I was a little upset, but I have to keep my cool so my blood pressure doesn't elevate (it was good yesterday!). After chasing the baby in order to find his heart beat (apparently he still has a lot of room in there), I was left to the whooshing of a wonderful sounding heartbeat for 30 minutes. It is very relieving to hear that sound, so strong and so perfect! When the doctor arrived he looked over the test results and told me that everything looked really good. Yay! But I still have to have one every week until the end. Ugh. He was pleased with everything, but my sugar levels gave him a little to be concerned over. We discussed the fact that I can eat the same thing for two days and on day one my sugar will be fine, but the next it will jump tremendously. He basically told me that I would probably be put on medications next week to control everything. I, however, brushed that off because I have done everything I possibly could to stay off any meds while pregnant. Until today. My sugar was high for half of the readings this weekend. Ok. I indulged a little. But yesterday and today I ate normal, healthy meals. What do I get? High, high readings. Higher than they've been the whole time. Looks like I may be on medication by Christmas anyway. I just keep praying that Little Man is ok, that his lungs are maturing (just in case) and that he doesn't get HUGE! The doctor doesn't want him to weigh over 8 pounds. I find that funny since Ethan weighed 9 1/2 without diabetes complications. I also hope that when he is born his sugar levels are stable and that the diabetes doesn't cause him to have a terrible case of jaundice. So many worries for a little person that I've never seen. I know I'm rambling, but this is how my brain has worked for the past few months. I'm going to stop for now. I'll be back with more updates soon. MK

Once each week

My latest appointment with the OB was yesterday morning. I thought I had been doing an ok job with my sugar and my blood pressure hadn't bothered me in a couple of months. So I believed that it would be one of those appointments where I would be in and out with no problems and be back in two weeks. Yeah right! Nothing has gone that simply this go 'round. First of all, the nurse had to take my blood pressure like 3 times because she wasn't satisfied with it. She finally settled for 140/70-something. Then when the doctor looked at my sugar he wasn't overjoyed with my recent numbers. Finally when he checked the baby's heartbeat I grew more and more concerned the longer he listened. He told me that the heart was beating really fast and he was just waiting for it to slow down. He attributed this to the baby's recent activity...I sure hope so! So the kicker at the end of the appointment was when the doctor told me that I would be back at least once a week each week until little man gets here. Eight weeks and 2 days to go!

GD

So I went to the dietician this morning for my Gestational Diabetes Tutorial.

I was so overjoyed that I overslept, realized it, and hit the snooze button. I finally got up, got myself ready and figured that there was no way I could get Ethan to anybody and then get myself to the doctor so I told him that he would have to go with me.

He is quite a little guy. He played fairly well while I did everything I had to. He has even gotten so good with his big boy underwear that when he shouted "Mama, I have to pee!" in the middle of the hour and a half meeting, I rushed him out to the potty. He poised himself for the potty ritual and then told me that he couldn't do it. No problem. However, I finally caught onto him after we washed our hands and started back to the office and he whined, "No, I don't wanna go back in there with that lady." Isn't that sweet.

As for me, I learned a little. The internet sources I previously researched turned out to be fairly accurate. I was taught about carbs, proteins and fats, was told how many of each I could have and then was taught how to use a glucometer. Now I have been instructed to eat 3 meals a day and have at least 2 snacks. The only problem is that I prefer ice cream for snack rather than fruit and cheese. I'll get over it. But you can bet I'll be sneaking fudge and pecan logs at Christmas dinner. The worst part is checking my sugar 4 times a day. And one would think that the actual pricking of the finger is the worst, but I find that squeezing out enough blood to test is what hurts me the most. I'll survive.

I think that's enough with the boring details. The good news is that baby is still healthy and we only have 9 weeks left...that is...if we go all the way!

It's always something...

On October 30, I took the 1 hour glucose screening test at the doctor's office. The test is designed to screen pregnant patients for gestational diabetes. The following Monday and Tuesday I played phone tag with one of my nurses who told me that I had failed the test. I would have to take a 3 hour version as soon as I was able. So on November 10 I stopped eating until the next day so that my fasting glucose level could be determined. That morning I had my blood drawn four times after drinking the nastiest sugar I have ever had in my life! With my doctor's office the "no news is good news" is policy. After not hearing back from them that Thursday or Friday I assumed I was in the clear. WRONG! I received a call at work this morning telling me that I had not passed any part of the glucose test and that I was being sent to a dietician. So, I guess the fun starts now...monitoring my diet, keeping a log of my glucose levels...the week of Thanksgiving! Something tells me this will be the least delicious holiday season I've had in a while. I go to the dietician on Monday so I will understand more about what I have to do and what's ahead for me then.

And the countdown begins....less than 10 weeks til baby #2 arrives!!!

I'm Back!

So, it's been almost 2 months since my last post and I cannot figure out why I haven't posted anything. I guess I just haven't felt like actually sitting at the computer long enough to type an entry.

A lot has happened since September so I'll share what I can remember.

On Friday, the 11th of September, we closed on our house! Yay! We started moving things that weekend and we're still moving things. With me being pregnant and Ronnie gone so much we really haven't gotten too much moved. But at least we have a place to move it to!

Ronnie has yet another new job. He hated the last one and we continued looking for another while he was gone. I ended up sick in October and saw a truck for a local company and made Ronnie contact them. It turns out that they were hiring. Good thing because Ronnie had had enough of the over-the-road gig. He started with the new place on November 3rd and so far he is really enjoying it!

Ok. I'm tired of typing already so I'll come back later and share more.

Have a great day!