A Day of Firsts

Robert and I had our last first day of school. I only had tax today so off I went for my first diabetic appointment. The meeting was three hours and I have a very specific diet plan. They said that half of the women who follow the plan are able to regulate their diabetes, the other half require medication even if they follow the plan. Since I discovered that my insurance will not cover any diabetic medication I'm hoping that diet will control it. If I do need to go on medication then I would be considered a high risk pregnancy and they would take the baby at 36 or 37 weeks. One other woman in there had GD with her last pregnancy and they took her baby at 37 weeks. They said that if most people would follow the diet plan many of them would not develop type II diabetes at all. They said the number of children and teenagers that come into the clinic is skyrocketing.

I have to test my blood sugar four times a day until I deliver and they will monitor it closely to see if my diet controls the diabetes. Also, I have to test my urine daily. This really is going to be a pain and I hope I don't have this with any subsequent pregnancies. I have to eat every 2 hours while I'm awake, that's 6 meals a day. It will by difficult to do while at school because I will have to prepare three of my meals before I leave and keep them fresh etc. I also have to eat right before I go to bed, I don't really like doing that and before I was pregnant I skipped breakfast which is a huge cardinal sin with diabetes.

I know people think this is a great adventure but I hate adventures. I like the boring, predictable life with few surprises.

More Doctors for Me

I had the 3 hour glucose test yesterday bright and early (8:30 am). I had to go completely fasting and drink a higher concentration of sugar water. The nurse told me that if I felt sick she had a cold dark room I could go and lay down in. I thought I was fine until 30 minutes had passed and I had a pounding headache and felt sick to my stomach (Hello 1st trimester is over). I finally asked if I could go back into the room. I spent the rest of the test trying not to be sick. They take your blood sugar four times, one at the beginning of the test and then three more every hour for three hours. If two of the three glucose levels come back over the limit during the test then you have gestational diabetes. I failed one big time, one was right on the threshold, and one was one point over. The nurse wasn't sure that the doctor would refer me to the diabetic clinic because I was technically on the threshold. The doctor called me and he did refer me so while Robert and I move today, I have to keep an ear out for my phone so I can talk to the specialist and the diabetic clinic.

I'm mostly scared for the baby. I don't want him to be hurt by this, I feel like I've failed him. The doctor and nurse told me that the cause of GD is unknown and that you can have it with one pregnancy and not others - there's no rhyme or reason to it. Still, this is just one more thing to deal with on top of Law School and the pregnancy itself and one more risk to the baby. I also don't want to actually get diabetes. Having GD makes it more likely that you'll get real diabetes later in life. On that cheerful note I get to go move now.

I FAILED a TEST

Seriously bummed. I had my gestational diabetes test today. I failed by two points. Now I have to go tomorrow morning and have another longer test. For the test today I had to drink sugar water and then test my blood sugar after an hour. Since I failed, they will give me a higher concentration of sugar water and test my blood sugar every hour for three hours. So, I get to camp out at the doctor's office for 3+ hours tomorrow and get my finger panifully pricked. Oh goody.

Robert starts work tomorrow (oh to see the scared 1L's and remember what it was like). We move Friday and start school Monday. So glad it is the last year of law school for us. Oh the plus side, the baby is kicking a ton and I feel him move all the time.

Updates!

Robert and I have moved back to Utah. When planning to come for Heather's wedding we realized that it was better if we stayed. School starts a week earlier for the Law School than for the rest of BYU and we still had to find an apartment. Married housing is not an easy find in P-town. We move in right before school starts. I'm still working and will be even after school starts. We've had several thunderstorms at the cabin and are having a little bit of a breather. When schools starts there will be no down time at all. Robert's internship is done and he's helping me with projects and things that need to get done before the move and school. It's been great to see good friends again.

I realized today that it will likely be several years before I sleep through the night again. As soon as I got pregnant, before I even knew I was pregnant, I had to get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom. This hasn't stopped and when the baby comes one of us will need to get up with him. I told Robert to enjoy his sleep while he can - I can't anymore (I also discovered that he talks in his sleep). My baby is stubborn. Now that he's bigger I feel him move all the time. He lets me know when he doesn't like the position I am in. I'm a stomach sleeper but that ended months ago; sleeping on my back is also out now. So I switch from side to side during the night. When I roll over to my left he kicks and wiggles until I roll back over to my right side. He'll kick for several minutes and won't let up until I roll over. It's a good thing I love the little guy and it makes me wonder how stubborn he'll be after he's born. When I told Robert about this he said "honey, with us as parents he was bound to be stubborn." I had a good laugh.

We'll I'm off to take a nap while I still can.

It's a BOY!!

I had my 20 week ultrasound today. They perform these between 18-22 weeks. I am 22 weeks this week. I had three different doctors perform the utlrasound, one would enter the room after the other one was finished. They measured his head, torso, limbs, and his organs. They also looked at his brain, spine, and the chambers of his heart. They think they woke him up because he was moving so much and seemed a little "grumpy." It is definitely a boy and we also got to see his face and when they first started the ultrasound he was moving his jaw and the doctor said that he was sucking.

He's measuring big - so big that they think I am actually 24 weeks pregnant. They measured one of his feet very last (only one doctor was able to get a still shot of the baby, he kicking his little legs and hence moving his feet) and even that measured big. He is about a pound-and-a-half already that they think he will be around 8 pounds when delivered. YIKES! They also had to work hard to look at his heart because his ribs are also developed past the 22 week mark and they started interfering with the equipment; they were able to look at all the chambers of his heart and they look good.They are not going to change my official due date because it is within two weeks the measurement due date, but the doctors told me to be prepared at the beginning of November just in case. I have a prenatal appointment Monday with my doctor to see how I am doing (swollen feet and ankles anyone?). Yea for babies!

I'm having scanner issues so pictures will follow when I get it figured out.

Boo to Colds

So I'm sick. Battling a sore throat and a stuffy nose = cold. I hate colds with a passion, they just make you feel yucky all over. It's especially worse when you can't take any cold medicine for them. Being pregnant = no cold medicine. I'm glad we know this little medical gem so that my little baby is safe. The only thing I've taken since being pregnant is regular Tylenol and that was only three times (major cramps and migraines). I'm usually the type to suffer through things, but colds and migraines are usually the exceptions. It's a good thing I work from home so that I can still get my hours in while sick (although I'd rather be settled into bed with a good book to read in between naps - but, as they say, you can't have everything in life).

Shaun is also sick with a cold. He came down with his yesterday, and mine hit last night right before I went to bed. Robert was sick a few weeks ago with a sore throat. I just hope everyone else stays well.

Happy Half-Bake Day

So today I am 20 weeks pregnant. I have been feeling my little one moving around all day today. Usually I feel him every now and then, but today he has been getting some exercise. My mom came to see how my work was going and to tell me that she couldn't believe I'm already 20 weeks. I told her how much he was moving and then I looked down, put my hand on my tummy and said "are you so excited because you know it's your half-bake day today?" My mom started cracking up.

Robert is all recovered from his sickness (Yea for antibiotics) and is back at work and having a good time. I am continuing to work this summer and trying to get registered for classes. I have to find professors that are willing to work with me because my due date is in the middle of the semester. We are gearing up for fourth of July and the fun weekend. Robert has Friday off so tomorrow is his last day of work for the week.

Anyway, Happy Half-Bake Day to baby Newell.