My dad picked me up on Wednesday, and I had packed things for work the next morning, and clothes for Thanksgiving dinner. I had some food, and things for my lunch the next day. I also brought activities to work on if I got bored. I had pillows and also Bella packed up. He was a little bit skeptical, as I hadn't yet asked him to drive me to work the next day. But he knew something was up as I was bringing a lot of stuff. :)
When we got to my parent's house, I told my mom I hadn't asked my dad to drive me to work in the morning, yet. I told him that it was her idea. They were more concerned about me driving home in the afternoon, as it was unknown how the weather would be later on. (Turned out to be fine.)
My mom and I made the pies. She did most everything, but I did cut and peel most of the apples. And I mixed up the pumpkin filling for the pumpkin pies, as well as mixed up the cherry filling. Shortly after we finished Kristina came over to visit (her parent's live down the street from mine), and we had a good little chat. :D
The next morning, my dad and I went to Starbucks. Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Lattes are my favorite right now. (I'm not a fan of sugar free vanilla or caramel, but Starbucks also carries sugar free cinnamon dolce syrup that is mighty tasty.) And during the drive to work, I got a phone call. I always love these phone calls, as I know what it means. I was offered the day off of work. I actually might not have taken it if I was driving myself, but because my dad would have to pick me up in the afternoon, I decided to take the time off. Taking the time off, also meant that I could go with Jamaal to his family's Thanksgiving dinner as well.
I was able to keep my sugars down during the day. Which was a pleasant surprise. My midwife today told me that many people had bad sugars from last week. So I'm doing well.
My mom and I successfully made a Splenda-blend Cherry pie that tasted much like a full sugar pie. My brother had a piece, I asked him how it tasted, and he said good. I then told him it was made with a Splenda-blend and he quickly said it tasted gross. ;) He couldn't tell. And honestly, I can't tell either. It tastes quite scrumptious. I have one more piece to enjoy. Maybe tonight? We'll see. I always gauge my desserts by how well my after dinner sugars are.
My mom and I kept with our tradition of Black Friday shopping at 4am on Friday. I must be honest, it was much harder on me this year, for obvious reasons. I was pretty grumpy and not as patient as normal. I didn't buy much, just a few movies and socks for Jamaal and I at Fred Meyer. We always end our shopping trip there. I only napped a couple hours before going to work from 1500-2330. So I was pretty tired when I got home that night.
Tonight is my first night back on night shift. I'll be working 4 nights in a row this week, which is going to be rough, since I only worked one evening shift last week. I'm ready for this guy to come, so that I don't have to work anymore. ;)
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
I'm dreaming...
Of a white Thanksgiving?
They say it is going to warm up, melt the snow and *gasp* rain. But I'm not holding my breath. ;)
On Monday, I had a dentist appointment at 10, but I made it as far as 320th on military, and realized that while I could probably make it to my appointment, I remembered there was a giant hill that I would have to climb. If military wasn't cleared off at all, I didn't believe the hill would be either. I called and rescheduled, then turned around and went home to warmth. At about 1530, I went and napped, to prepare for my shift later that night. By the time I woke up there was a new blanket of about 3 inches. My mom called me mid-nap to tell me it was crazy outside. I was a little bit shocked, because before I went to sleep it wasn't really all that bad out there. A lot had changed during my 2-hour nap. I was supposed to work from 2300-0730, but I don't think I would've been able to make it to work. The freeway was a sheet of ice with many, many cars, slipping and sliding, and abandoned.
I really didn't want to call out, to waste my benefit time, but I value my cars condition, and my life a little too much to try to drive on ice, in the dark.
My MIL decided to stay the night on Monday (so a coworker who lives nearby could drive her to work the next day), so her and I watched the news, had some tea and waited for her son to come home. I cooked dinner (bratwurst), and right after I decided dinner was ready went to the front door to look and see if my husband was home yet. It was late for him. I hadn't called him, because I didn't want to distract him during his drive in these slippery conditions. As I was looking out the door, the power flickered off, back on, then right back off again. I watched the other houses on the block lose power.
Jamaal finally called shortly after we lost power, and hadn't even left work yet. I got after him for not telling me he was staying late, that I had been worried about him. He was upset that we had no power. I'm thankful that my MIL had decided to stay, because I would have been alone, in the dark, for a couple hours. I'm also thankful that dinner was finished right before the power went out.
I have lots of candles, as my sister in law sells Partylite, so I got out several, and lit them around the living room. It smelt pretty yummy. ;) I got out my knitting and knitted a couple rows by candle light.
Jamaal made it home safe and sound, but said it was really scary out there.
Tuesday afternoon was my next midwife appointment. My dad stayed home from work so that he could drive me to it in his big truck. It was really quite nice of him. The roads were all pretty much dry and bare. There were some bad spots, but for the most part it was an easy drive. It was a nice trip with my father. And the appointment went really fast. The midwife came in early on to talk to me, said everything looked good. And said once I had been on the monitor for 20 minutes, I could go.
Since I had to cook dinner for my MIL and my husband, I felt a little bit of extra pressure, and didn't prepare well before leaving for the appointment. So, my dad took me to the grocery store before taking me home.
My dad is going to pick me up after he gets off work today, and take me to my parent's house so that I can help my mom with making pies. I'm going to try to make one for me with Splenda blends instead of sugar.
My mom wants my dad to take me to work tomorrow morning, because there are some rough spots out there still, that won't be melted until the afternoon. I'll talk to him about it to see what he thinks. BUT if he does take me to work, then I will spend the night at their house to make it easier for him.
Carrying a baby makes people treat you like one. ;) But I don't mind.
They say it is going to warm up, melt the snow and *gasp* rain. But I'm not holding my breath. ;)
On Monday, I had a dentist appointment at 10, but I made it as far as 320th on military, and realized that while I could probably make it to my appointment, I remembered there was a giant hill that I would have to climb. If military wasn't cleared off at all, I didn't believe the hill would be either. I called and rescheduled, then turned around and went home to warmth. At about 1530, I went and napped, to prepare for my shift later that night. By the time I woke up there was a new blanket of about 3 inches. My mom called me mid-nap to tell me it was crazy outside. I was a little bit shocked, because before I went to sleep it wasn't really all that bad out there. A lot had changed during my 2-hour nap. I was supposed to work from 2300-0730, but I don't think I would've been able to make it to work. The freeway was a sheet of ice with many, many cars, slipping and sliding, and abandoned.
I really didn't want to call out, to waste my benefit time, but I value my cars condition, and my life a little too much to try to drive on ice, in the dark.
My MIL decided to stay the night on Monday (so a coworker who lives nearby could drive her to work the next day), so her and I watched the news, had some tea and waited for her son to come home. I cooked dinner (bratwurst), and right after I decided dinner was ready went to the front door to look and see if my husband was home yet. It was late for him. I hadn't called him, because I didn't want to distract him during his drive in these slippery conditions. As I was looking out the door, the power flickered off, back on, then right back off again. I watched the other houses on the block lose power.
Jamaal finally called shortly after we lost power, and hadn't even left work yet. I got after him for not telling me he was staying late, that I had been worried about him. He was upset that we had no power. I'm thankful that my MIL had decided to stay, because I would have been alone, in the dark, for a couple hours. I'm also thankful that dinner was finished right before the power went out.
I have lots of candles, as my sister in law sells Partylite, so I got out several, and lit them around the living room. It smelt pretty yummy. ;) I got out my knitting and knitted a couple rows by candle light.
Jamaal made it home safe and sound, but said it was really scary out there.
Tuesday afternoon was my next midwife appointment. My dad stayed home from work so that he could drive me to it in his big truck. It was really quite nice of him. The roads were all pretty much dry and bare. There were some bad spots, but for the most part it was an easy drive. It was a nice trip with my father. And the appointment went really fast. The midwife came in early on to talk to me, said everything looked good. And said once I had been on the monitor for 20 minutes, I could go.
Since I had to cook dinner for my MIL and my husband, I felt a little bit of extra pressure, and didn't prepare well before leaving for the appointment. So, my dad took me to the grocery store before taking me home.
My dad is going to pick me up after he gets off work today, and take me to my parent's house so that I can help my mom with making pies. I'm going to try to make one for me with Splenda blends instead of sugar.
My mom wants my dad to take me to work tomorrow morning, because there are some rough spots out there still, that won't be melted until the afternoon. I'll talk to him about it to see what he thinks. BUT if he does take me to work, then I will spend the night at their house to make it easier for him.
Carrying a baby makes people treat you like one. ;) But I don't mind.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Last night I had pie
and my sugars were in control!
Friday night, I fell asleep on the couch, as per my usual routine. I eat dinner, set my alarm on my phone for an hour later, so I can check my sugar, and try to stay awake. I usually play games on my phone while kind of "watching" my husband play video games, until eventually my eyelids are so heavy, I don't even fight them anymore.
When Jamaal is ready for bed, he wakes me up and into bed I go. I try again to stay awake for a minute or two, but usually am out shortly after my head hits the pillow.
Friday night I was so out of it, after getting woken up, I went straight to bed. I didn't take my medicine. (I guess I haven't mentioned that at the appointment where I was sent to the hospital, I was started on Metformin at bedtime, to help keep my waking blood sugars down. It has helped a lot to keep my sugars down through the day as well.)
My Saturday morning sugar was a little on the high side, without being high. I know it is because I missed my bedtime dose. Since I was planning on going to the Sew, quilt and craft show, and I didn't know what sort of foods would be readily available to me, I decided to take my missed dose in the morning. My sugars were perfect all day. I had a Grande, Skinny, Cinnamon Dolce Latte from Starbucks, a mini pot pie from Marie Callendar's, and a slice of Custard Pie for dessert. Those were all of my splurges, but of course I had snacks in between.
At Fred Meyer on Friday, I found these bars:
The wonderful thing about them, is they have very little sugar, and low carbohydrate for a "granola" bar. They have lots of protein as well. Mostly because they are made with nuts, but they also add a soy protein. The South Beach granola bars I've been eating have 17g carb and like 6g protein, where as this particular flavor has 11g carb and 10g protein.
Taste wise, I'd go for the South Beach ones before the KIND bars, but they might grow on me. I've only had one flavor so far, and maybe some are better than others.
They are also sold at Starbucks if you're interested in trying one out. ;)
I'm nervous for Thanksgiving, but am getting more and more confident in my ability to figure out how much to eat at once. I also plan on taking a Metformin in the morning and at night to help keep my sugars down. I think that helped me a lot yesterday. I'll run it past my midwife, but even if they say I don't need to, I think I'll still do it.
Nurses make the worst patients. ;)
Friday night, I fell asleep on the couch, as per my usual routine. I eat dinner, set my alarm on my phone for an hour later, so I can check my sugar, and try to stay awake. I usually play games on my phone while kind of "watching" my husband play video games, until eventually my eyelids are so heavy, I don't even fight them anymore.
When Jamaal is ready for bed, he wakes me up and into bed I go. I try again to stay awake for a minute or two, but usually am out shortly after my head hits the pillow.
Friday night I was so out of it, after getting woken up, I went straight to bed. I didn't take my medicine. (I guess I haven't mentioned that at the appointment where I was sent to the hospital, I was started on Metformin at bedtime, to help keep my waking blood sugars down. It has helped a lot to keep my sugars down through the day as well.)
My Saturday morning sugar was a little on the high side, without being high. I know it is because I missed my bedtime dose. Since I was planning on going to the Sew, quilt and craft show, and I didn't know what sort of foods would be readily available to me, I decided to take my missed dose in the morning. My sugars were perfect all day. I had a Grande, Skinny, Cinnamon Dolce Latte from Starbucks, a mini pot pie from Marie Callendar's, and a slice of Custard Pie for dessert. Those were all of my splurges, but of course I had snacks in between.
At Fred Meyer on Friday, I found these bars:
The wonderful thing about them, is they have very little sugar, and low carbohydrate for a "granola" bar. They have lots of protein as well. Mostly because they are made with nuts, but they also add a soy protein. The South Beach granola bars I've been eating have 17g carb and like 6g protein, where as this particular flavor has 11g carb and 10g protein.
Taste wise, I'd go for the South Beach ones before the KIND bars, but they might grow on me. I've only had one flavor so far, and maybe some are better than others.
They are also sold at Starbucks if you're interested in trying one out. ;)
I'm nervous for Thanksgiving, but am getting more and more confident in my ability to figure out how much to eat at once. I also plan on taking a Metformin in the morning and at night to help keep my sugars down. I think that helped me a lot yesterday. I'll run it past my midwife, but even if they say I don't need to, I think I'll still do it.
Nurses make the worst patients. ;)
Friday, November 19, 2010
As promised
Yesterday was our appointment with our midwife. It went well.
We started with the NST. This time they gave me a button to push when he moved. (I was disappointed, because after working all night, and napping for only 45 minutes before, I was ready to sleep through the NST. But instead I had to stay awake and push the button when he moved.)
For a pretty long time, he was sleeping, and not moving hardly at all. But eventually he woke up and was the crazy active guy that he was last time. I watched the strip carefully. Just as before, there were no "contractions" at the beginning, but about halfway in, there were a ton. Some I felt, others I didn't. I was beginning to panic. I knew, that they wouldn't give me medication to stop them, but I was nervous that I would have to be on bed rest.
When they finally took me off the monitor, they brought us into an exam room to wait for Angie (my midwife) to come talk to us. She looked at the strip, noted that he wasn't very active for the first half, but woke up about half-way through. She said his heart rate looked great, and he appeared healthy, and then folded it up and set it aside.
I was dumbfounded. She started to move on to the next topic, but I said "You aren't mad about the contractions?" She simply said "No, they appear to be uterine irritability, and not true contractions."
But they sent me to the hospital last week...and made me stay off my feet....and made me miss work...
She didn't really have an explanation or excuse for last week, but told me I could keep up with water aerobics and didn't have to be on pelvic rest. She told me that if I have 4 full belly, painful contractions in an hour, that I needed to come in, but until then, I'm just fine.
I'm a little bit upset with the last midwife. I got kind of used to the idea of having an early baby. Now I'm sure I'll either have him on Christmas day or after the New Year, because those are the two times I'd prefer to not have him. I'm also not looking forward to the bill. (Of course I know how fortunate I am to have insurance, but I have a $200 deductible per day for every day I'm in the hospital. I don't know if an hour long visit counts, but I'm sure it does...knowing my luck.)
Tomorrow I'm going to the Holiday Craft fair at the Puyallup fairgrounds with my mom and aunt. It will be a fun filled day, with lots of walking. And a wonderful Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte to start off the day. :D
We started with the NST. This time they gave me a button to push when he moved. (I was disappointed, because after working all night, and napping for only 45 minutes before, I was ready to sleep through the NST. But instead I had to stay awake and push the button when he moved.)
For a pretty long time, he was sleeping, and not moving hardly at all. But eventually he woke up and was the crazy active guy that he was last time. I watched the strip carefully. Just as before, there were no "contractions" at the beginning, but about halfway in, there were a ton. Some I felt, others I didn't. I was beginning to panic. I knew, that they wouldn't give me medication to stop them, but I was nervous that I would have to be on bed rest.
When they finally took me off the monitor, they brought us into an exam room to wait for Angie (my midwife) to come talk to us. She looked at the strip, noted that he wasn't very active for the first half, but woke up about half-way through. She said his heart rate looked great, and he appeared healthy, and then folded it up and set it aside.
I was dumbfounded. She started to move on to the next topic, but I said "You aren't mad about the contractions?" She simply said "No, they appear to be uterine irritability, and not true contractions."
But they sent me to the hospital last week...and made me stay off my feet....and made me miss work...
She didn't really have an explanation or excuse for last week, but told me I could keep up with water aerobics and didn't have to be on pelvic rest. She told me that if I have 4 full belly, painful contractions in an hour, that I needed to come in, but until then, I'm just fine.
I'm a little bit upset with the last midwife. I got kind of used to the idea of having an early baby. Now I'm sure I'll either have him on Christmas day or after the New Year, because those are the two times I'd prefer to not have him. I'm also not looking forward to the bill. (Of course I know how fortunate I am to have insurance, but I have a $200 deductible per day for every day I'm in the hospital. I don't know if an hour long visit counts, but I'm sure it does...knowing my luck.)
Tomorrow I'm going to the Holiday Craft fair at the Puyallup fairgrounds with my mom and aunt. It will be a fun filled day, with lots of walking. And a wonderful Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte to start off the day. :D
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tomorrow
Tomorrow is my next midwife appointment. I'm kind of looking forward to it, because I really want to know if these contractions are real or braxton hicks. I have tried to check my own cervix, but can't get up there far enough to feel. I don't know how my maternity instructor in school was able to check hers, she must have longer fingers. ;) Sorry if that grosses you out, but it is my cervix, and I am allowed to try to touch it if I want.
I'm really quite upset that they didn't check me last week. Oh well, I will request that they do so this week. I won't forget about it until I'm driving home thinking to myself...I wonder if I'm dilating at all.
Tonight I was supposed to work for 12-hours, but I woke up with an awful back ache, and I know that if I am sore now, it'll only be worse after working for 12-hours. At this point I'll still go in for the last 8-hours, but if I'm still sore, or contracting some more, I'll stay home. I just hate using up my benefit hours now and not for my maternity leave.
I have felt a few contractions, but they aren't painful, just uncomfortable. I've also had some "menstrual cramping," which I've read if you have that more than 4 times an hour you should call your provider. I've not had it that frequently, but it has woken me up during the day yesterday and today while I slept.
Speaking of sleep, I'm having a hard time sleeping lately. I wake up feeling beat up and hung over. I have to turn from side to side every hour or two, and usually have to pee every two hours anyway. Naps are my friend.
I'm hoping that my midwife will clear me to go to water aerobics tomorrow night, because that makes me feel so good afterwards. I didn't go earlier this week, only because they wanted me off my feet for the weekend. It technically isn't the weekend anymore, but, well, if my cervix is ripening water aerobics would only make it worse.
I can't wait until tomorrow morning!
I'm really quite upset that they didn't check me last week. Oh well, I will request that they do so this week. I won't forget about it until I'm driving home thinking to myself...I wonder if I'm dilating at all.
Tonight I was supposed to work for 12-hours, but I woke up with an awful back ache, and I know that if I am sore now, it'll only be worse after working for 12-hours. At this point I'll still go in for the last 8-hours, but if I'm still sore, or contracting some more, I'll stay home. I just hate using up my benefit hours now and not for my maternity leave.
I have felt a few contractions, but they aren't painful, just uncomfortable. I've also had some "menstrual cramping," which I've read if you have that more than 4 times an hour you should call your provider. I've not had it that frequently, but it has woken me up during the day yesterday and today while I slept.
Speaking of sleep, I'm having a hard time sleeping lately. I wake up feeling beat up and hung over. I have to turn from side to side every hour or two, and usually have to pee every two hours anyway. Naps are my friend.
I'm hoping that my midwife will clear me to go to water aerobics tomorrow night, because that makes me feel so good afterwards. I didn't go earlier this week, only because they wanted me off my feet for the weekend. It technically isn't the weekend anymore, but, well, if my cervix is ripening water aerobics would only make it worse.
I can't wait until tomorrow morning!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
If it's not one thing...
it's another.
Yesterday was my first fetal NST, and it went well...until the end. They left me on the monitor for a little longer than I needed to be, while I waited for a midwife to come and look at my strip. The strip shows the baby's heart rate and also shows uterine contractions. The baby's heart rate looked great. He's doing exactly what he should be doing. He looks healthy. But as I said, they left me on for a little longer than necessary, and near the end, I was showing little contractions. I didn't notice. It just feels like he's moving around in there to me.
The midwife was uncomfortable with just sending me back home, because I was contracting quite a bit for the last 10 minutes. At least, that is what they tell me. So, she wanted me to go across the street to the ER and get admitted to the antepartum unit for some more monitoring.
After some really slow lady discharged me from the ER to be admitted to the OB floor, I waited in a wheelchair for another pregnant lady who might have had her baby by now, to get checked in. She walked, and I rode. I felt guilty, but she was allowed to have her baby, and it was a long walk.
I was admitted to a really gorgeous, big room. It had a big tub in the middle of the room, and gorgeous views. I'm glad I liked it, because it's kind of late to change my mind now. ;)
My nurse was amazing. She had read my chart thoroughly, and knew a little more than I did about my pregnancy. She read in the note that I had an extra lobe on my placenta, which really doesn't mean anything, except that during the delivery, whoever delivers the placenta needs to look for that extra lobe. I'll try to remember to make sure they look for it. But I might be a bit distracted. ;)
Anyway, she put me on the monitor again, and like before, everything looked really good for the first 10 minutes. She told me, "if things keep looking like this you'll be out of here soon." And then about 5 minutes later she came back in and said, "the problem is that you're too skinny." Never in my life has anyone said that to me. But what she meant was, that my uterus is right at the surface of my belly. All of the fat that I used to have on my stomach moved back to my hips. I started contracting again. She said that it looked like little irritations on the strip. But again, I wasn't feeling them. The only way I felt them was if I pressed on my belly.
The midwife on call basically said that since I wasn't feeling them, they were small, and the treatment for preterm contractions would skyrocket my blood sugars, I could go home, if I rested over the weekend. "Stay off your feet" to be exact. It is really easy for me to be lazy, when I don't have to. But now I really want to do things, like buy fabric for the quilt that seems will never be done, laundry, and clean up the kitchen.
The good news is, that after next week, I'll be 34 weeks, and they don't do anything to stop contractions at 34 weeks. Of course, ideally he won't make his debut until 37 weeks. Oh how great it would be if I could have a slice of pie after Christmas dinner...I'm sure someone I know would like to share a birthday with this little guy...(I'll be 37 weeks on Dec. 10). The 7th is close enough, right Sarah?!
Yesterday was my first fetal NST, and it went well...until the end. They left me on the monitor for a little longer than I needed to be, while I waited for a midwife to come and look at my strip. The strip shows the baby's heart rate and also shows uterine contractions. The baby's heart rate looked great. He's doing exactly what he should be doing. He looks healthy. But as I said, they left me on for a little longer than necessary, and near the end, I was showing little contractions. I didn't notice. It just feels like he's moving around in there to me.
The midwife was uncomfortable with just sending me back home, because I was contracting quite a bit for the last 10 minutes. At least, that is what they tell me. So, she wanted me to go across the street to the ER and get admitted to the antepartum unit for some more monitoring.
After some really slow lady discharged me from the ER to be admitted to the OB floor, I waited in a wheelchair for another pregnant lady who might have had her baby by now, to get checked in. She walked, and I rode. I felt guilty, but she was allowed to have her baby, and it was a long walk.
I was admitted to a really gorgeous, big room. It had a big tub in the middle of the room, and gorgeous views. I'm glad I liked it, because it's kind of late to change my mind now. ;)
My nurse was amazing. She had read my chart thoroughly, and knew a little more than I did about my pregnancy. She read in the note that I had an extra lobe on my placenta, which really doesn't mean anything, except that during the delivery, whoever delivers the placenta needs to look for that extra lobe. I'll try to remember to make sure they look for it. But I might be a bit distracted. ;)
Anyway, she put me on the monitor again, and like before, everything looked really good for the first 10 minutes. She told me, "if things keep looking like this you'll be out of here soon." And then about 5 minutes later she came back in and said, "the problem is that you're too skinny." Never in my life has anyone said that to me. But what she meant was, that my uterus is right at the surface of my belly. All of the fat that I used to have on my stomach moved back to my hips. I started contracting again. She said that it looked like little irritations on the strip. But again, I wasn't feeling them. The only way I felt them was if I pressed on my belly.
The midwife on call basically said that since I wasn't feeling them, they were small, and the treatment for preterm contractions would skyrocket my blood sugars, I could go home, if I rested over the weekend. "Stay off your feet" to be exact. It is really easy for me to be lazy, when I don't have to. But now I really want to do things, like buy fabric for the quilt that seems will never be done, laundry, and clean up the kitchen.
The good news is, that after next week, I'll be 34 weeks, and they don't do anything to stop contractions at 34 weeks. Of course, ideally he won't make his debut until 37 weeks. Oh how great it would be if I could have a slice of pie after Christmas dinner...I'm sure someone I know would like to share a birthday with this little guy...(I'll be 37 weeks on Dec. 10). The 7th is close enough, right Sarah?!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Some hard stuff
It has been quite some time since I last posted. I have a hard time posting when I'm upset about things.
Since the last time I posted, I am completely sickness free, and have been for quite some time. Every day after I posted was better than the one before, until I was no longer sniffly. Poor Jamaal got a taste of it too, though his did not last nearly as long as mine did.
I had a wonderful Baby shower with my friends and my side of the family. (Since Jamaal has soooo many Aunts and girl cousins, we will have a separate party for them.) Only my MIL and Jamaal's Grandma came to this party, and my mom will go to the next one.
We had a total of 8 trick or treaters come to our house this year...plus my 3 nephews. Jamaal bought several bags of candy, and I was giving out very large handfuls, and we still have way too much leftover. It calls to me.
Most of the candy he bought isn't really stuff I like anyway so I've been abstaining pretty well. But there are times when I falter.
If you remember last time I posted that I was waiting the results of my 1-hour glucose test, I found out the next day that I had failed it and needed to do the 3-hour test. The 3-hour test happened on that Saturday, where I was poked a total of 4 times for blood draws, and felt like I was going to puke for most of the 3-hours I spent at the lab.
Then on Monday, I found out I had failed that test too, and had gestational diabetes. I have to test my blood sugar 4 times a day and count carbohydrates in my diet. For the most part my sugars have been very well managed just with controlling my diet. I saw a mid-wife (a different one than the one I meet with normally) a week after getting my glucometer (the device used to check my blood sugar) and she basically told me I was doing too good of a job controlling my sugars. And I broke down crying. She was shocked because she was telling me that I was doing good, but needed to just back down a little bit. I still cry about it if I let myself think about it too much. She told me to eat more. Though now I am having a harder time because my sugars are sometimes higher than the limits she gave me.
I'm constantly frustrated and paranoid about my food now. It is so stressful to think about what will happen an hour after I eat. I find myself crossing my fingers hoping for a good blood sugar. I no longer enjoy eating. It is a task I must perform, and it wears me out. In part, I know that this is good for us. I didn't have the best eating habits prior to this. If I was hungry before I would eat whatever I wanted. I made good choices and bad ones. French fries and ice cream always sound good to me, especially after becoming pregnant.
I always bought fruits and vegetables, but often would throw them out because I would find something tastier to eat. And, besides yogurt on occasion, dairy wasn't really a staple in my diet. Except for cheese of course.
The problem is with my placenta. It creates hormones that make my body have a hard time absorbing sugar. Once the placenta is gone, I won't be diabetic anymore. However, I am at risk of becoming type 2 diabetic later on in life, and any later pregnancies I will most likely have gestational diabetes again. I already knew I was at risk of becoming a type 2 diabetic, as I have it in my family history. But after watching my sugars and seeing how certain foods affect me, I'm really not looking forward to growing older. I like rice, bread, pasta and potatoes, but my sugars suck afterwards.
I started writing this on the 2nd, and now it is the 9th. Since then, I met with my midwife and reviewed my food log and sugar record. I was getting very frustrated, because I was eating more, but my sugars were awful. She pointed out that I needed more protein in my diet, I was so focused on the carbohydrates that I was forgetting about protein. I feel a little bit better now, but I'm not looking forward to reviewing my food log and sugar record with my midwife again. It causes me such stress. I feel like I'll get a bad grade or a slap on the wrist. And I'm even more afraid that I'll burst out in tears again.
Because of all of this, I have to go in to see my midwife weekly from now on. We will have to have Fetal NSTs weekly. Go here for a short summary of what the test measures. This makes me even more stressed out. It is a pretty long drive to Tacoma, and they tell me that this test could take as long as an hour. Then I meet with her after to discuss the results. This Friday is my first one, and I'll have to go to the appointment alone. I'm not looking forward to it. Mostly because I have to work the night before and that night, so I'll be a little sleep deprived for the driving. But also because I'm an emotional wreck and it is easier for me to keep composed if I have someone with me.
Today I got a phone call from "Unknown." I've received enough phone calls from the clinic to know that they always show up as "unknown." Lately, the phone calls have all been upsetting news, so I found myself on the defensive from the start. It was my midwife's nurse. She said I had to have another ultrasound. I immediately retorted "why? I just had one." I had interrupted her though, so she was just calling to add it to one of my appointments later on in the month, it would be before my other appointment, so that was why she was calling. I was kind of snippity with her, but after getting bad or upsetting phone calls, I can't help but think the worst.
Besides having some mild leg swelling after working, some lower back pain (especially after working), some leg cramps that wake me up, and some heartburn attacks everything else is going okay. Watching my belly jolt from side to side, and feeling jabs here and there make me smile.
But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't counting down the days until the end of this pregnancy.
Since the last time I posted, I am completely sickness free, and have been for quite some time. Every day after I posted was better than the one before, until I was no longer sniffly. Poor Jamaal got a taste of it too, though his did not last nearly as long as mine did.
I had a wonderful Baby shower with my friends and my side of the family. (Since Jamaal has soooo many Aunts and girl cousins, we will have a separate party for them.) Only my MIL and Jamaal's Grandma came to this party, and my mom will go to the next one.
We had a total of 8 trick or treaters come to our house this year...plus my 3 nephews. Jamaal bought several bags of candy, and I was giving out very large handfuls, and we still have way too much leftover. It calls to me.
Most of the candy he bought isn't really stuff I like anyway so I've been abstaining pretty well. But there are times when I falter.
If you remember last time I posted that I was waiting the results of my 1-hour glucose test, I found out the next day that I had failed it and needed to do the 3-hour test. The 3-hour test happened on that Saturday, where I was poked a total of 4 times for blood draws, and felt like I was going to puke for most of the 3-hours I spent at the lab.
Then on Monday, I found out I had failed that test too, and had gestational diabetes. I have to test my blood sugar 4 times a day and count carbohydrates in my diet. For the most part my sugars have been very well managed just with controlling my diet. I saw a mid-wife (a different one than the one I meet with normally) a week after getting my glucometer (the device used to check my blood sugar) and she basically told me I was doing too good of a job controlling my sugars. And I broke down crying. She was shocked because she was telling me that I was doing good, but needed to just back down a little bit. I still cry about it if I let myself think about it too much. She told me to eat more. Though now I am having a harder time because my sugars are sometimes higher than the limits she gave me.
I'm constantly frustrated and paranoid about my food now. It is so stressful to think about what will happen an hour after I eat. I find myself crossing my fingers hoping for a good blood sugar. I no longer enjoy eating. It is a task I must perform, and it wears me out. In part, I know that this is good for us. I didn't have the best eating habits prior to this. If I was hungry before I would eat whatever I wanted. I made good choices and bad ones. French fries and ice cream always sound good to me, especially after becoming pregnant.
I always bought fruits and vegetables, but often would throw them out because I would find something tastier to eat. And, besides yogurt on occasion, dairy wasn't really a staple in my diet. Except for cheese of course.
The problem is with my placenta. It creates hormones that make my body have a hard time absorbing sugar. Once the placenta is gone, I won't be diabetic anymore. However, I am at risk of becoming type 2 diabetic later on in life, and any later pregnancies I will most likely have gestational diabetes again. I already knew I was at risk of becoming a type 2 diabetic, as I have it in my family history. But after watching my sugars and seeing how certain foods affect me, I'm really not looking forward to growing older. I like rice, bread, pasta and potatoes, but my sugars suck afterwards.
I started writing this on the 2nd, and now it is the 9th. Since then, I met with my midwife and reviewed my food log and sugar record. I was getting very frustrated, because I was eating more, but my sugars were awful. She pointed out that I needed more protein in my diet, I was so focused on the carbohydrates that I was forgetting about protein. I feel a little bit better now, but I'm not looking forward to reviewing my food log and sugar record with my midwife again. It causes me such stress. I feel like I'll get a bad grade or a slap on the wrist. And I'm even more afraid that I'll burst out in tears again.
Because of all of this, I have to go in to see my midwife weekly from now on. We will have to have Fetal NSTs weekly. Go here for a short summary of what the test measures. This makes me even more stressed out. It is a pretty long drive to Tacoma, and they tell me that this test could take as long as an hour. Then I meet with her after to discuss the results. This Friday is my first one, and I'll have to go to the appointment alone. I'm not looking forward to it. Mostly because I have to work the night before and that night, so I'll be a little sleep deprived for the driving. But also because I'm an emotional wreck and it is easier for me to keep composed if I have someone with me.
Today I got a phone call from "Unknown." I've received enough phone calls from the clinic to know that they always show up as "unknown." Lately, the phone calls have all been upsetting news, so I found myself on the defensive from the start. It was my midwife's nurse. She said I had to have another ultrasound. I immediately retorted "why? I just had one." I had interrupted her though, so she was just calling to add it to one of my appointments later on in the month, it would be before my other appointment, so that was why she was calling. I was kind of snippity with her, but after getting bad or upsetting phone calls, I can't help but think the worst.
Besides having some mild leg swelling after working, some lower back pain (especially after working), some leg cramps that wake me up, and some heartburn attacks everything else is going okay. Watching my belly jolt from side to side, and feeling jabs here and there make me smile.
But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't counting down the days until the end of this pregnancy.
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