I wish I could say this week's appointment went swell, but in fact it was one of the scariest appointments I have had to date.
I had been having a very, very, mild headache for the past several days, but nothing to write home about. The night before my appointment, I walked Vegas and did some stretching exercises from one of my prenatal DVD's. I felt pretty good, but then Puddin' decided to do some serious shifting, which left me very uncomfortable for the rest of the night (not sure what he was doing in there, but my stomach got very lopsided for a while, and it hurt. Hope this means he was turning around!)
My appointment was at 8:15 that morning, so needless to say, I was pooped. Everything started out normal, until they took my blood pressure. It was running a little high, which usually doesn't mean anything, since that has happened before and once they take it again it's normal. So, we moved on and did the usual weigh measurement (gained 3 pounds), measured my belly (perfect), etc.
Then, the doctor pulled out her little heartbeat monitor to check on Puddin's heartbeat. Usually, this is a fun little moment where you get to hear the baby's heartbeat and rest assured they are plugging away in there. Today, however, we heard a very noticeable deceleration in his heartbeat, which was scary. The doctor said that a slight deceleration is normal, but not this low (cue the fear for me).
She said that just to be safe, she wanted to hook me up to a NST (Non-stress test) to monitor me and the baby for about 20-30 minutes to make sure everything was ok. Keep in mind that I was by myself AND had forgotten my phone at home that day. So, I was walked back to another room and hooked up to two monitors - one to measure Puddin's heartbeat, and one to see if I was having any contractions.
I was able to stay calm throughout the whole thing, but only by a thread. It wouldn't have been so bad, except for they keep the sound of the heartbeat booming through a speaker, so you hear every single beat. Normally, this would be sweet, but when you are afraid of hearing another dip or some type of distress, it's not fun at all. Every time he would move away from the monitor, the beat would get softer, and then you would wonder if his heart was slowing or what. It.stunk.
On top of that, they tried to measure my blood pressure a couple more times, and I told them they were crazy if they thought my blood pressure was going to go down anytime soon! After about 20 minutes, they took the report to the doctor for her to review. Thanks to God, he was fine and she saw nothing of concern on the printout, except for my blood pressure (which had then gone down to 131/89).
So, after a couple of deep breaths (and a few tears of relief, I will admit), I was sent to have blood work drawn to see if there was any concern for my blood pressure (my urine was completely clear, so it was a bit of a mystery at this point).
I made it back to work, but only stayed for a few hours, then went home and crashed. I slept for a good three hours once I got home, and I swear it's just what I needed. I had a call from the doctor later that evening that said my blood work was fine, and that most likely my issues were from exhaustion (seems to be a constant issue throughout all this, huh?) I still have not grasped the idea of "taking it easy" she said - duh.
So, after all of that, I suppose we both are just fine, and I will chalk all of this up to our doctors being overly careful - which I still appreciate, but geez!
Some stats:
For me:
Weight gained: 3 pounds - told you - haha. Total pounds gained now is 12, with Puddin' making up a little over 4 pounds of that by now...
Blood Pressure: See above.
Fundal height: Right on track at 33.
For Puddin':
Heartbeat: See above.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Bumpdate: 33 Weeks
This week has been good; super busy, but good! We had lots of friends and family in town for my baby shower this past Saturday. Puddin' is loved already, that is for sure!
To get some extra things done, I decided to take off last Friday and this past Monday. Early Friday morning I ventured to the Social Security Office to FINALLY change my name on my SS card and all that jazz. It started out pretty rough, by having to stand in line outside for around 20 minutes, but once I got inside, it only took about 10 minutes to get everything done. After that, I ran some errands and waited for my parents and Aunt Mo to get into town for the weekend. My stepdad, Tom (or "Ollie" now), put together the bookshelves for Puddin's room, and they are perfect! After having two 100-pound boxes sitting around for about a month, it was glorious to have them put together!
While we left him to do that, the three of us girls did the grocery shopping for the shower before the rest of the family arrived. Anthony's older brother (Angel) and his son, plus Anthony's youngest brother's wife (Sammi) both came into town with their kids. It was a lively household all weekend, that is for sure - but so much fun! It's awesome to see them when we can, and who wouldn't want all those adorable Maldonado kids running around the house!?
Friday night we hung out at the clubhouse and prepped for the shower and cooked spaghetti for everyone. I actually fell down the steps by the pool, but luckily caught myself on my knees! It was a bit of a shock for a second, but everything was fine and little man was moving like crazy so thankfully we were okay.
Saturday was a beautiful day, which is saying a lot given the wet weather we have had here so much lately! I will detail the shower in a separate post, but it was wonderful.
The rest of the weekend we spent stocking up on the last of the things we need for baby, and then took Anthony to Marietta Fish Market for a late birthday celebration. I am SURE I will see some action on the scales at my appointment this week, because I have eaten everything in sight this past week! The hushpuppies there were to die for. I think I could eat junk food everyday if I let myself!
Sadly, my family had to leave early Monday, and I had one appointment to interview a pediatrician scheduled for that day. I really liked them, so at least we know where we will be taking Puddin' during his first week at home!
Overall, it was a very tiring but exciting and productive week/weekend. We are slowly getting more and more ready for this little man to enter this world! Not for at least another 4 weeks, at least, I hope :)
P (Pounds gained/lost) - After all the cake squares from the shower I ate, I am sure I have gained some :)
C (Can’t wait for) - The long Labor Day weekend!
To get some extra things done, I decided to take off last Friday and this past Monday. Early Friday morning I ventured to the Social Security Office to FINALLY change my name on my SS card and all that jazz. It started out pretty rough, by having to stand in line outside for around 20 minutes, but once I got inside, it only took about 10 minutes to get everything done. After that, I ran some errands and waited for my parents and Aunt Mo to get into town for the weekend. My stepdad, Tom (or "Ollie" now), put together the bookshelves for Puddin's room, and they are perfect! After having two 100-pound boxes sitting around for about a month, it was glorious to have them put together!
While we left him to do that, the three of us girls did the grocery shopping for the shower before the rest of the family arrived. Anthony's older brother (Angel) and his son, plus Anthony's youngest brother's wife (Sammi) both came into town with their kids. It was a lively household all weekend, that is for sure - but so much fun! It's awesome to see them when we can, and who wouldn't want all those adorable Maldonado kids running around the house!?
Friday night we hung out at the clubhouse and prepped for the shower and cooked spaghetti for everyone. I actually fell down the steps by the pool, but luckily caught myself on my knees! It was a bit of a shock for a second, but everything was fine and little man was moving like crazy so thankfully we were okay.
Saturday was a beautiful day, which is saying a lot given the wet weather we have had here so much lately! I will detail the shower in a separate post, but it was wonderful.
The rest of the weekend we spent stocking up on the last of the things we need for baby, and then took Anthony to Marietta Fish Market for a late birthday celebration. I am SURE I will see some action on the scales at my appointment this week, because I have eaten everything in sight this past week! The hushpuppies there were to die for. I think I could eat junk food everyday if I let myself!
Sadly, my family had to leave early Monday, and I had one appointment to interview a pediatrician scheduled for that day. I really liked them, so at least we know where we will be taking Puddin' during his first week at home!
Overall, it was a very tiring but exciting and productive week/weekend. We are slowly getting more and more ready for this little man to enter this world! Not for at least another 4 weeks, at least, I hope :)
P (Pounds gained/lost) - After all the cake squares from the shower I ate, I am sure I have gained some :)
R (Really missing) - The occasional cold beer and Dr. Pepper.
E (Eating this) - Everything - ha.
G (Gotta … ) - Get all of my maternity leave paperwork figured out, and general organization of everything so that when I am out on leave I will have everything I need at home.
N (Not gonna lie) - Rolling over and getting out of bed is becoming harder and harder each night :) Luckily, I don't think I wake Anthony up with my grunting yet!
A (About Puddin’) - Puddin' should be measuring about 17 inches long now, and weigh a little over 4 pounds. He is about the size of a pineapple, according to what I have read. All of his bones (except for the ones in his skull) are hardening, and he is continuing to fatten up. It seems as though his main mission the new few weeks is to just gain weight and continue developing a couple more body functions. Keep on growing, baby!
N (Never forget this) - My wonderful shower and just feeling so much love and support from friends and family. We are so blessed!
Friday, August 23, 2013
Just Like His Daddy...
Even though he is so adorable, Anthony hates having his picture taken. I suppose our son is already following in his footsteps, because he has not cooperated in the THREE ultrasounds we have had of him! Today we scheduled a 3-D ultrasound just for fun, and guess what - Puddin' did not cooperate this time either!
He must get camera shy, because this time he was passed out fast asleep and despite rolling over to my side twice and the nurse jiggling the crap out of my stomach he would.not.move.
He is in a very funky position, with his head up in my upper right side, his butt near my belly button, and his legs back up at his head. Oh, and his hands are both up by his face too. So you can imagine it was pretty hard to get any good shots of this little guy! Apparently, there wasn't enough fluid between his face and my placenta to get a good shot, but we were able to get two that allowed us to see a little bit of his sweet face!
You can sort of make out his forehead, eyes, little button nose and squishy mouth in this picture. The "dragon claws" to the left of his face are both of his hands squished in there...
He must get camera shy, because this time he was passed out fast asleep and despite rolling over to my side twice and the nurse jiggling the crap out of my stomach he would.not.move.
He is in a very funky position, with his head up in my upper right side, his butt near my belly button, and his legs back up at his head. Oh, and his hands are both up by his face too. So you can imagine it was pretty hard to get any good shots of this little guy! Apparently, there wasn't enough fluid between his face and my placenta to get a good shot, but we were able to get two that allowed us to see a little bit of his sweet face!
You can sort of make out his forehead, eyes, little button nose and squishy mouth in this picture. The "dragon claws" to the left of his face are both of his hands squished in there...
We obviously were a bit disappointed that we couldn't see more, but it was wonderful to just have a chance to see him again, and get a good idea that he is still healthy in there. The nurse estimated that he weighed about 3 lbs. 15 oz., so he is right on track as far as weight goes from what I have read!
It's just amazing/scary/exciting to know that in just a couple months, we will be able to see this little face in person. Until then, my sweet little boy!
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Bumpdate: 32 Weeks
Things have been so hectic lately, that I am actually writing this post about a week late - oops. Sadly, I can't remember a whole lot of details, but I do know that I have been feeling pretty good! Usually, it seems that I do much better during the beginning part of the week, and then start to fade about Thursday (usually means more fatigue and/or pain by then).
Thankfully, still, any pains or minor issues I can think of are handled with rest, and I am still sleeping very well. I may have one night a week or so where I don't sleep that well, but that is rare.
On Tuesday night we had our "Newborn Care" class at the hospital from 8-10:00 p.m. I was excited for this class because, let's be honest, I have NO clue what I am doing, but 10:00 p.m.?! Come on! I have usually been in bed for 30 minutes by then! But the class was great and I learned a lot of great tips, and my OCD self took 3 pages of notes. Ask me when I may ever get to read them again, but they are there if need be :)
P (Pounds gained/lost) - I won't have a doctor's appointment until the 29th, but if the way I have been eating this week is any indication, I bet I have gained some!
C (Can’t wait for) - Our 3D ultrasound and our baby shower! Plus, seeing my family - always a big excitement!
Thankfully, still, any pains or minor issues I can think of are handled with rest, and I am still sleeping very well. I may have one night a week or so where I don't sleep that well, but that is rare.
On Tuesday night we had our "Newborn Care" class at the hospital from 8-10:00 p.m. I was excited for this class because, let's be honest, I have NO clue what I am doing, but 10:00 p.m.?! Come on! I have usually been in bed for 30 minutes by then! But the class was great and I learned a lot of great tips, and my OCD self took 3 pages of notes. Ask me when I may ever get to read them again, but they are there if need be :)
P (Pounds gained/lost) - I won't have a doctor's appointment until the 29th, but if the way I have been eating this week is any indication, I bet I have gained some!
R (Really missing) - Not too much this week!
E (Eating this) - I fell of the wagon this week for sure - too many things to do and not enough time always lends itself to bad eating - back on the game next week for sure!
G (Gotta … ) - Get the house ready for lots of guests this weekend!
N (Not gonna lie) - My belly button is still an innie, but I am not sure how much longer that will last :)
A (About Puddin’) - Puddin' should be measuring about 16.5 inches long now, and weigh almost 4 pounds. He is now just concentrating on fattening up, and has fingernails, toenails and hair (well, we are guessing he will have lots of hair being a Maldonado and all!)
N (Never forget this) - Well, pregnancy brain is in full force, as I am sure there was something I wanted to write here, but forgot :(
Y (Yet to come … ) - More nursery work, and hopefully a great weekend with family and friends!
Friday, August 16, 2013
It's Getting Real in Here!
This past week we have finally, finally been able to get into the nursery and see some progress! We (and by that I mean Anthony) moved the dresser and crib that had been residing in huge boxes in our bedroom and hallway into the nursery. We also moved some other things that had been crowding the hallway for weeks in there, but I have not had a chance to go through them yet. But don't worry, there are still piles of "baby" things in all other corners of the house, so we still have a way to go :)
Thankfully, the dresser was already put together; all it took was dismantling the huge box it came in. It was in perfect condition, and so pretty (I mean, masculine) :)
We also put the stroller together, which, embarrassingly enough, required quite a bit of help from the instructions - ha! I did manage to get the car seat OUT of it's base this time, so that is a vast improvement over the last time I took it out of the box. It's so strange to look at the car seat and realize that in just 9 weeks or so, it will be filled with a tiny little baby - our baby!
Anthony reminded me that we needed to take pictures of our "progress," so here goes:
Thankfully, the dresser was already put together; all it took was dismantling the huge box it came in. It was in perfect condition, and so pretty (I mean, masculine) :)
We also put the stroller together, which, embarrassingly enough, required quite a bit of help from the instructions - ha! I did manage to get the car seat OUT of it's base this time, so that is a vast improvement over the last time I took it out of the box. It's so strange to look at the car seat and realize that in just 9 weeks or so, it will be filled with a tiny little baby - our baby!
Anthony reminded me that we needed to take pictures of our "progress," so here goes:
Finally have the boxes IN the room!
Unpacking the dresser...
The only job I was allowed to do - trash collector (in my "comfy clothes")!
Putting the stroller together with some "help."
Yes, the baby goes in there!
Thursday, August 15, 2013
31 Week Appointment
This week's appointment went great! I am glad I had an appointment when I did, because I have been having some pretty regular Braxton Hicks contractions, and I hoped the doctor would tell me that everything was fine.
Thankfully, everything is going great, and I am moving right along! He said that it's very common for me to have those types of contractions right now, and since they aren't accompanied by any other side effects, it's just the name of the game. I can deal with that!
I go back in two more weeks for another check-up, which should still be a lot of the same: pee in a cup, get on the scale, and measure the belly!
Some stats:
For me:
Weight gained: Oddly enough, I lost about 2.5 pounds. I was very surprised to learn this, since the belly is growing for sure! I attribute this to my following a pretty good diet, and hopefully consuming exactly what I and Puddin' need, as opposed to ME gaining the weight and him staying the same. Either way, my doctor is not concerned in the slightest, so I won't be either!
Blood Pressure: 120/__? I don't remember the bottom number this time. I asked the doctor about this as well, since the last two times I have gone it's been a little higher than normal. Apparently, it's common for your blood pressure to slightly rise towards the end of pregnancy, and since my urine was completely clear and 120/anything is still very much in the normal range, I am good.
Fundal height: Almost 33. A student measured my belly this morning, and I was measuring almost 2 weeks ahead! Haha, I told you Puddin' was growing in there! This really doesn't mean anything at this point, except for he is doing what he is supposed to do. If he continues to measure big, they may do an ultrasound earlier to determine just how big he is.
For Puddin':
Heartbeat: 140. The student doctor only held the Doppler on my stomach for a couple of seconds, but was able to determine that he is at 140, which is just where he should be too.
Thankfully, everything is going great, and I am moving right along! He said that it's very common for me to have those types of contractions right now, and since they aren't accompanied by any other side effects, it's just the name of the game. I can deal with that!
I go back in two more weeks for another check-up, which should still be a lot of the same: pee in a cup, get on the scale, and measure the belly!
Some stats:
For me:
Weight gained: Oddly enough, I lost about 2.5 pounds. I was very surprised to learn this, since the belly is growing for sure! I attribute this to my following a pretty good diet, and hopefully consuming exactly what I and Puddin' need, as opposed to ME gaining the weight and him staying the same. Either way, my doctor is not concerned in the slightest, so I won't be either!
Blood Pressure: 120/__? I don't remember the bottom number this time. I asked the doctor about this as well, since the last two times I have gone it's been a little higher than normal. Apparently, it's common for your blood pressure to slightly rise towards the end of pregnancy, and since my urine was completely clear and 120/anything is still very much in the normal range, I am good.
Fundal height: Almost 33. A student measured my belly this morning, and I was measuring almost 2 weeks ahead! Haha, I told you Puddin' was growing in there! This really doesn't mean anything at this point, except for he is doing what he is supposed to do. If he continues to measure big, they may do an ultrasound earlier to determine just how big he is.
For Puddin':
Heartbeat: 140. The student doctor only held the Doppler on my stomach for a couple of seconds, but was able to determine that he is at 140, which is just where he should be too.
Bumpdate: 31 Weeks
This week has been pretty good I would say. We attended our Labor and Delivery class as I mentioned, and got some of the nursery furniture finally out and put together! I can't wait to share details once we get a little bit further along.
I am noticing a lot more fatigue lately, which I know is common, but is still very hard for me to deal with. Usually, I have a to-do list a mile long, and can accomplish a lot on the weekends. Now, I still have the same to-do list, but I accomplish a lot less - ha. I am sure this will be the name of the game from here on out - and the next 18 years or so too! :)
I am also experiencing a lot more contractions and ligament pain in my stomach, but can usually take care of those by resting. I can't imagine what it will be like the day when they are actually "real" contractions versus "practice" ones - eek!
P (Pounds gained/lost) - Lost 2.5, which puts me around 9 pounds total still. Not exactly sure how that happened, but that's what they said!
C (Can’t wait for) - Our 3D ultrasound and my shower next weekend. And 37 weeks!
I am noticing a lot more fatigue lately, which I know is common, but is still very hard for me to deal with. Usually, I have a to-do list a mile long, and can accomplish a lot on the weekends. Now, I still have the same to-do list, but I accomplish a lot less - ha. I am sure this will be the name of the game from here on out - and the next 18 years or so too! :)
I am also experiencing a lot more contractions and ligament pain in my stomach, but can usually take care of those by resting. I can't imagine what it will be like the day when they are actually "real" contractions versus "practice" ones - eek!
P (Pounds gained/lost) - Lost 2.5, which puts me around 9 pounds total still. Not exactly sure how that happened, but that's what they said!
R (Really missing) - My energy! Oh, and being able to walk at my normal pace :) I don't exactly have a waddle yet, but sometimes a contraction really makes me have to pee, so I may walk a little funny...
E (Eating this) - Eating pretty healthy and balanced, with some occasional splurges again :) I treated myself to a gravy biscuit this morning at the hospital - it's going to be dangerous if I have a long stay there when little man arrives!
G (Gotta … ) - Get to work in the nursery now that it's cleared out - yay!
N (Not gonna lie) - Being a first time mom comes with a whole range of emotions when you are pregnant. I try to balance out my fears with rational facts, but sometimes you just don't know what is happening inside your body, and you worry! Just 6 more weeks until he is full-term, and each little pain won't seem so scary :)
A (About Puddin’) - Puddin' is the size of a coconut by now, which sounds strange to me. The coconuts I see in the store seem smaller than a cabbage (which he was last week), but that's food analogies for you! He should measure around 16 inches long, and weigh anywhere from 3.3 - 4 pounds (I see different weights on each thing I read). He can turn his head from side to side, and is beginning to plump up and get some baby rolls on his little body. The student doctor thinks he is in a sideways position right now, and I think so too. And, I think his back is out towards my belly button, because all of the kicks and jabs I feel come way deep in my stomach, and not on the surface. I have fun now watching the waves he causes in my stomach when he moves, and I even saw some hiccups from the outside yesterday - I could watch it all day!
N (Never forget this) - Getting his dresser out of the box, and putting the stroller together. It's starting to get so real!
Y (Yet to come … ) - Hopefully getting his closet, blinds, and closet doors installed in the nursery this weekend - lots to do!
Monday, August 12, 2013
Labor and Delivery Class - Not as Scary as I thought!
Anthony and I attended our first (of many) classes this weekend at the hospital. I guess we decided to start out with a bang, since our first class was the ALL day Labor and Delivery class - haha. I have to admit, I was just a bit bummed about having to be in a class all day on a Saturday, but excited too. I was hoping I would be too terrified by what we saw/learned. Turns out, it made us even more excited to have our little boy!
The first part of the day was more of a classroom setting. We watched some birth videos, learned all about the stages of labor, pain management, and had a great tour of the hospital. I feel very fortunate to be able to deliver at such an awesome hospital with great doctors. It reminds you how fortunate you are to have good medical insurance and things like that when you need them.
The second part of the day was more "hands on," and hilarious. Let's just say that some of the positions they tell you to try for pain management during labor look really awkward when there are 12 women in a room at one time doing them! I won't complain though about the awesome massage I got from Anthony, though :)
Our little diaper changing baby just happened to be a little boy (he looked a little Asian, but maybe he was sleepy!) Oh, and he had blue eyes - fingers crossed! :)
Overall, we had a really good day and I am glad we went. We also have quite a few other classes coming up for other topics, and I hope they are all just as good.
Anthony laughed at the fact that I took a picture of the board...
The bin full 'o babies...
Our diaper baby - Anthony was a bit delirious by this point...
... but he enjoyed the bean bag chairs!
The first part of the day was more of a classroom setting. We watched some birth videos, learned all about the stages of labor, pain management, and had a great tour of the hospital. I feel very fortunate to be able to deliver at such an awesome hospital with great doctors. It reminds you how fortunate you are to have good medical insurance and things like that when you need them.
The second part of the day was more "hands on," and hilarious. Let's just say that some of the positions they tell you to try for pain management during labor look really awkward when there are 12 women in a room at one time doing them! I won't complain though about the awesome massage I got from Anthony, though :)
Our little diaper changing baby just happened to be a little boy (he looked a little Asian, but maybe he was sleepy!) Oh, and he had blue eyes - fingers crossed! :)
Overall, we had a really good day and I am glad we went. We also have quite a few other classes coming up for other topics, and I hope they are all just as good.
Anthony laughed at the fact that I took a picture of the board...
Our diaper baby - Anthony was a bit delirious by this point...
... but he enjoyed the bean bag chairs!
Friday, August 9, 2013
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
I found out the results of my 3-hour Glucose Test today, and I PASSED! And while I am beyond thrilled with the good news, I have to admit that I didn't hold my faith as strong this time awaiting my test results. And honestly, I am not quite sure why.
But, I do believe in trying to learn from the lessons that God walks us through, and this small hurdle in my pregnancy has taught me a couple of things:
1) That even though I truly believe in God's plan, and have faith in His plan, sometimes as an imperfect person it may still make me scared/uncomfortable. And, that is ok! I am thankful that I have such wonderful friends and family around me that listened to all of my rants/tears and assured me that everything would be just fine - no matter the outcome. In addition, it has taught me some areas in my faith that I need to work on - always a good spiritual "report card" to face a challenge, then have all of your worries erased!
2) That I should never take my good health for granted, and that it's even more important now in my life to continue to make good choices for the long haul. Not just for a continued healthy pregnancy, but for me as well! While having gestational diabetes would have been bad, there are so many other health situations that could have been much worse, and that I should cherish the fact that I have come this far with little complications. My continued prayer is that I keep this "scare" with me as I go through each day and try to continue on with the adjustments I have made to my diet anyway.
3) God is GOOD. And I am not saying that just because I got the results I prayed for. Honestly, my prayers throughout this whole time have been to "Let go and Let God," which means I have just wanted to respect His plan and not get so worked up about things I really can't control. Which, if you know me, you know that I am a total Type A control-freak-plan-everything-to-death kind of person, so this will be my life's lesson :)
And don't think I am not already planning out my attack on dinner tonight and DESSERT :):)
But, I do believe in trying to learn from the lessons that God walks us through, and this small hurdle in my pregnancy has taught me a couple of things:
1) That even though I truly believe in God's plan, and have faith in His plan, sometimes as an imperfect person it may still make me scared/uncomfortable. And, that is ok! I am thankful that I have such wonderful friends and family around me that listened to all of my rants/tears and assured me that everything would be just fine - no matter the outcome. In addition, it has taught me some areas in my faith that I need to work on - always a good spiritual "report card" to face a challenge, then have all of your worries erased!
2) That I should never take my good health for granted, and that it's even more important now in my life to continue to make good choices for the long haul. Not just for a continued healthy pregnancy, but for me as well! While having gestational diabetes would have been bad, there are so many other health situations that could have been much worse, and that I should cherish the fact that I have come this far with little complications. My continued prayer is that I keep this "scare" with me as I go through each day and try to continue on with the adjustments I have made to my diet anyway.
3) God is GOOD. And I am not saying that just because I got the results I prayed for. Honestly, my prayers throughout this whole time have been to "Let go and Let God," which means I have just wanted to respect His plan and not get so worked up about things I really can't control. Which, if you know me, you know that I am a total Type A control-freak-plan-everything-to-death kind of person, so this will be my life's lesson :)
And don't think I am not already planning out my attack on dinner tonight and DESSERT :):)
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Bumpdate: 30 Weeks
We are in the 30's folks! As much as I sound like a broken record, time is FLYING and this is our last week of having double-digit weeks "left to go!" Eek! He will be full term in 7 weeks, but he can go until his due date just to make sure we get everything done :)
Today, I am feeling great. I believe I actually had a stretch of 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep last night, and I feel like a new woman. I still get up to use the bathroom like 4 or 5 times a night, and the lack of sleep has really been getting to me lately. Thankfully, I still sleep quite comfortably (the belly hasn't caused too many issues yet), but I don't have more than an hour or so of sleep at a time.
This past week was super duper busy, but very productive! Anthony's parents came into town Friday night for dinner, and it was great to see them and enjoy a nice meal out - I even treated myself to dessert, which is something I haven't done due to all of my glucose testing issues! We enjoyed dinner at Pappasito's, had lots of laughs, and Anthony and I even danced a little bit to one of the songs his mom requested from the Mariachi band.
Then, my parents arrived bright and early Saturday morning, and it was off to Home Depot to get the paint for the nursery so they could begin painting! I wasn't allowed to paint, so I just helped out other places and tried to organize the chaos that was going on :) Our house is still upside down, but the nursery is finally painted and we got all of the furniture moved out - ready for our little one's new stuff! A couple of times, we would all just look at each other like, "we are painting a NURSERY!" It's still quite surreal, but I am so excited to be able to work in there and start putting his furniture in it and turning it into what I hope is a beautiful place for our little boy.
We still have a very long way to go (think no blinds, no closet doors, no closet system), but we have a couple of weekends coming up where we can do all of that.
Tonight, I got a "First Time Mothers" pass to a major consignment sale in our area, so we are going to that and will hopefully find some good deals. I am sure we will also be completely overwhelmed by all of the stuff, but we are excited to go and see what is out there!
P (Pounds gained/lost) - Not sure - I have an appointment next week to see!
C (Can’t wait for) - The sale tonight, our 3D ultrasound on the 22nd, and hopefully getting good news from my recent glucose test!
Today, I am feeling great. I believe I actually had a stretch of 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep last night, and I feel like a new woman. I still get up to use the bathroom like 4 or 5 times a night, and the lack of sleep has really been getting to me lately. Thankfully, I still sleep quite comfortably (the belly hasn't caused too many issues yet), but I don't have more than an hour or so of sleep at a time.
This past week was super duper busy, but very productive! Anthony's parents came into town Friday night for dinner, and it was great to see them and enjoy a nice meal out - I even treated myself to dessert, which is something I haven't done due to all of my glucose testing issues! We enjoyed dinner at Pappasito's, had lots of laughs, and Anthony and I even danced a little bit to one of the songs his mom requested from the Mariachi band.
Then, my parents arrived bright and early Saturday morning, and it was off to Home Depot to get the paint for the nursery so they could begin painting! I wasn't allowed to paint, so I just helped out other places and tried to organize the chaos that was going on :) Our house is still upside down, but the nursery is finally painted and we got all of the furniture moved out - ready for our little one's new stuff! A couple of times, we would all just look at each other like, "we are painting a NURSERY!" It's still quite surreal, but I am so excited to be able to work in there and start putting his furniture in it and turning it into what I hope is a beautiful place for our little boy.
We still have a very long way to go (think no blinds, no closet doors, no closet system), but we have a couple of weekends coming up where we can do all of that.
Tonight, I got a "First Time Mothers" pass to a major consignment sale in our area, so we are going to that and will hopefully find some good deals. I am sure we will also be completely overwhelmed by all of the stuff, but we are excited to go and see what is out there!
(We didn't get around to taking my actual bump shot, but this is from our birth class on Saturday. I was 30w2d by then. And had a lovely double chin from this angle!)
P (Pounds gained/lost) - Not sure - I have an appointment next week to see!
R (Really missing) - Sweets, since I am trying to reign them in due to my glucose test (same as last week - ha). Darn you, sweet tooth! And it seems like every day some vendor is delivering Krispy Kreme donuts to the office - saboteurs!
E (Eating this) - I am slowly beginning to understand the diabetic meal plan a little more, and hope I am doing it right. While I have not been officially diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes (and may not even have it), it's a good balanced meal plan to try and follow anyway. So, I am doing it just in case to prevent any issues for me or Puddin'.
G (Gotta … ) - Get my game face on for tonight's sale, and get my nerves together for our Labor and Delivery class this coming Saturday. I am sure I will have to watch some pretty horrific videos :)
N (Not gonna lie) - It's so wonderful to have family in town. Even small things that I could do myself just seem easier when my parents are here. I have always loved my family with all of my heart, but I appreciate their visits even more since we don't get to see them as much as I would like. And, I won't lie, it's nice to be spoiled a bit while they are here :)
A (About Puddin’) - Puddin' is the size of a large cabbage by now! Hopefully he doesn't smell like one ;) His eyes are open, and he is able to see, but only a bit. Even newborns can only see things a couple of inches from their face, so it's mostly just light/dark recognition now. He should be about 15.7 inches long, and weigh about 3 pounds now. Apparently, if I shine a light on my stomach, he should be able to follow the light - not sure if I will be trying that or not. He is nestled quite comfortably way down low on my bladder, and loves to make me uncomfortable by bouncing on it :) Hopefully, he is head down.
N (Never forget this) - Watching the introduction video to "Faith Path," with Anthony. It's a combination of DVD's and books to help us raise Puddin' with God and faith at the center of his life. It was even more monumental for me to watch and realize that I will be the one most responsible for this little person's spiritual journey - such an awesome/terrifying job!
Y (Yet to come … ) - See above, plus our baby shower on the 24th!
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
3 Hour Glucose Test - Boo
I decided to bite the bullet and go ahead and get my 3-Hour Glucose test done yesterday. It's something I have been sincerely dreading, but know that waiting any longer was not an option because if I do have gestational diabetes, I want to make sure I reign it in ASAP so that me and Puddin' are as healthy as we can be!
However, deciding to fast for 12 hours and get up super early the Monday after a very long and busy weekend was not such a genius idea. I woke up at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday night to eat one last snack before I couldn't eat (or DRINK) anything until the test was over. I usually drink water all night long, and being thirsty was the most miserable part of it all! I did have 4 sips of water around 5:30 that morning because I couldn't take it anymore - I hope that doesn't mess anything up!
I arrived at the hospital right around 8:00 a.m., when the lab opened. They bring you back and draw the first vial of blood (really, a whole vial each time?!) Then you drink a little drink that contains 100 grams of sugar in it - yuck! I managed to chug it down very quickly (guess from being thirsty), but this time they didn't even have it cold - I had to drink orange syrup at room temperature. Gag me. Then, you wait for an hour and go back to have your blood drawn again. Rinse and repeat two more times for a total of 3 blood draws on the hour for three hours.
Thankfully, once I got started, the time passed pretty quickly and I wasn't hungry or as thirsty as I had been. I finished reading a book on my kindle, and tried to snooze a bit. I am sure I will be bruised for a few days on both arms - they did 3 draws from the same vein and we finally switched on the last one- ouchie!
I should have just scheduled the day off of work, because by the time I was done I was so beat and just wanted to go to bed. So, I unfortunately called into work and got a big sandwich on the way home and went and slept for over three hours. I guess I still have a lot of sleep to catch up on, because I am still pooped today!
Of course I didn't get my results yesterday, so I will be waiting by the phone for some hopefully GOOD news!
However, deciding to fast for 12 hours and get up super early the Monday after a very long and busy weekend was not such a genius idea. I woke up at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday night to eat one last snack before I couldn't eat (or DRINK) anything until the test was over. I usually drink water all night long, and being thirsty was the most miserable part of it all! I did have 4 sips of water around 5:30 that morning because I couldn't take it anymore - I hope that doesn't mess anything up!
I arrived at the hospital right around 8:00 a.m., when the lab opened. They bring you back and draw the first vial of blood (really, a whole vial each time?!) Then you drink a little drink that contains 100 grams of sugar in it - yuck! I managed to chug it down very quickly (guess from being thirsty), but this time they didn't even have it cold - I had to drink orange syrup at room temperature. Gag me. Then, you wait for an hour and go back to have your blood drawn again. Rinse and repeat two more times for a total of 3 blood draws on the hour for three hours.
Thankfully, once I got started, the time passed pretty quickly and I wasn't hungry or as thirsty as I had been. I finished reading a book on my kindle, and tried to snooze a bit. I am sure I will be bruised for a few days on both arms - they did 3 draws from the same vein and we finally switched on the last one- ouchie!
I should have just scheduled the day off of work, because by the time I was done I was so beat and just wanted to go to bed. So, I unfortunately called into work and got a big sandwich on the way home and went and slept for over three hours. I guess I still have a lot of sleep to catch up on, because I am still pooped today!
Of course I didn't get my results yesterday, so I will be waiting by the phone for some hopefully GOOD news!
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Bumpdate: 29 Weeks
The last week of the 20's - eek! I have been doing pretty good the last week, and have managed to get a lot accomplished. We spent our last weekend with Jacob getting him packed and then had a great pool party at the pool with lots of friends and good food.
I must admit, however, that I am happy that I do not have to see the inside of an airport for the rest of this pregnancy! Sunday took the cake as far as stress and waiting goes for sure. We got to the airport in plenty of time, but just managed to get Jacob to the plane as the PILOT was getting on. Apparently, four conferences ended at the Georgia World Conference Center, and all 20,000 or so of them decided to fly out Sunday morning! The security line flowed out into the food court, and for a 7-month preggo, standing in that line was not fun. Running down an entire flight of an escalator to catch the train wasn't so great either - I bet Puddin' was wondering what the heck was going on!
Luckily, we got him to the gate in enough time for some sweet (but sad) goodbyes. I am sure we will barely recognize him the next time we see him - he is too cute.
After a much-needed nap, Anthony and I tackled a huge item on our to-do list that had been waiting all summer - our registry! We spent THREE hours at Babies-R-Us, trying to figure out what.the.heck we were doing. I think we got it all rounded out now, but towards the end I was just scanning stuff to get it done! We have no idea exactly what we will need and what is not necessary, so this whole new baby thing is a learning process for us. But, it's one that I am happy to learn. You can get so much advice on every little detail of having a baby, but it's also a great lesson in learning as you go. I am fully aware that I will have plenty of lessons to learn once little man makes his arrival, so I am just getting ready for the class! I look at this as how I did when I was in school - I am getting all of my "school supplies" ready for the first day of class. Man, how I loved (and still do) school supplies - ha.
(Actually taken at 29w3d - what a week!)
P (Pounds gained/lost) - 3, making it 11 total. So glad we had Italian the night before for Anthony's birthday dinner :/
R (Really missing) - Sweets, since I am trying to reign them in due to my glucose test.
E (Eating this) - I have been trying to read up on meal plans to manage sugar levels, but they are very confusing! Even if I pass my 3-hour test (fingers crossed), I still think it's a good time to learn even more about nutrition and a balanced lifestyle. Got to be around to take care of my Puddin' for a long time!
G (Gotta … ) - Get paint samples for the nursery and figure out how to make the stencil I want to use for his room.
N (Not gonna lie) - I need to learn how to manage stress better and "let go." A lesson I talk about learning all the time, but seem to keep skipping the class...
A (About Puddin’) - Puddin' is the size of butternut squash now! And I can feel it - oh boy! He should weigh about 2.5 pounds, and measures about 15 inches from head to heel. His little noggin' is growing to hold his growing brain, and his bones are beginning to harden. I LOVE milk, so I am happy to have an excuse to drink even more of it to get enough calcium for us both!
N (Never forget this) - The never-ending sweet support I got from Anthony and my family when I had a typical pregnant lady emotional day on Tuesday. Luckily, they are few and far between!
Y (Yet to come … ) - My to-do list keeps getting longer - let's just say, A LOT :)
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