Two weeks ago yesterday we made our way down to Oklahoma. I can't believe two weeks have already gone by but probably because the first entire week here was spent with every day but one, I believe, at the doctor. On our way down we had to pull over because the cat got a little upset and, well, got the runs in the car. Nice. Luckily it was on "stuff" and we could bag it up and I didn't have to smell it the whole way! BUT, as we were cleaning that up I got the phone call with the results from my 3 hour glucose test. I had failed the original one the Friday before and had eaten really good the days before. To date, I have only put on 16 pounds through the entire pregnancy and I don't eat whole boxes of sweets, etc. so I was a little upset. Well, I failed. I have gestational diabetes. I couldn't help but think "what did I do wrong?" and felt that it was all my fault that I was putting my baby in danger. After meeting with my doctor here in Oklahoma (who is completely AWESOME!), I learned that it was the placenta producing too much hormone that my body couldn't process the glucose/insulin like it should. I was still upset. As I said, it's not like I was severely overweight or had put on a lot. ONLY 16 POUNDS!!! That's AWESOME. I was so proud of that. Found out that now I will be losing weight, more than likely, due to the diet I will follow. I have to stick my finger 4 times a day and follow a strict diet. I have to eat 6 times a day; breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, supper, then snack. I test my fasting blood glucose in the am that must be between 70-90 and then 2 hours after each MEAL and must be under 120. In the last 6 days (24 tests) I have only been over on two and it wasn't by much on one. I think I'm doing well. I was more worried about poking my finger but seriously, figuring out what to eat and how and when is worse. When I go to Subway, I take off the top bun. There is no candy, no sweets so to speak of. I have had ice cream (SMALL amount) but I limited it. For my morning snack, as an example, I am only allowed 15 grams of carbs. Um, that's 3 cheese and peanut butter crackers folks. And carbs aren't just breads and white starchy stuff. It's sweets, dressings, sauces. THEY ALL COUNT. So, if I get 3 carbs for lunch my two slices of bread on my sandwich counts as two! Milk counts as a damn carb! So, if I want chocolate milk that counts as two because, guess what?? Chocolate is a carb too! Now, do I feel better?? You bet. My heartburn and gallbladder isn't that bad anymore. I MISS, MISS, MISS my fried food. All that breading on fried food?? Yep, carb. Honestly, I feel I am handling all of this well. I would still say I've had an awesome pregnancy even though I have carpel tunnel syndrome, gallbladder disease and gestational diabetes along with lots of swelling of the ankles. I am super proud of my weight gain and also so very thankful that I have not thrown up ONCE with this child! Oh, and pop! Get this......... 4 OUNCES of pop counts as one carb!!!! As my friend Tammy put it, that's one GULP for us! LOL!!!! I will start having twice a week non-stress testing soon due to the diabetes as well. When I first met my doctor and after she introduced herself the first question was if I worked or not. When I said no, she said good because I wasn't going to have time. She's honest, bold and sweet. I have to log EVERYTHING I eat along with my testing results and take with me to each appointment. She said she will yell, scream and make me cry if they are not good. NO EXCUSES. Yep, I like her! Oh, and diabetic strips are NOT CHEAP!
Rusty no longer will allow me to take my belly pics with my shirt down. I am not too happy about this but it's okay. I'm getting out there that is for sure! Been trying to get a little sun on my belly! We have belly pics coming up after my shower in a week and a half so I'm hoping to have a little color. So, with much hesitation I will post a picture at the end. Baby boy is moving so much and I love it. Sometimes it's almost a little "gross" with what I feel but he did have the hiccups earlier and it was so cute. He had them for quite a while! This afternoon I have a friend who is giving us a 3D/4D ultrasound as our shower gift. We are sooooo excited! I just hope he cooperates and lets us see him! Rusty just wants to see him for real. He can't wait. He said he wants to see his hands and feet and all of him. I asked him if he was the least bit scared or fearful and he's not. Dang him and his being so laid back. I am starting to get a little scared. My mother got us the prettiest bassinet and we got it set up in our room and holy cow did that stir up some of that fear! We have decided we will reveal the name at the shower. His name is one that had to grow on me as Rusty has had it picked out for quite a while but I do love it now!!! It is unique and both the first and middle have great meaning to Rusty. The middle especially as it is a family name. Guess you all might find out when I post pics of the shower! I still haven't gotten the ones from my previous one so I hope to soon.
We are loving the country life. I just wish I could be home more! LOL I have been so busy with doctors appointments that I finally have a full day home today and only had one last week. I know it will slow down. The floors look great. We have new wood laminate in the living and carpet in the hall, nursery and bedroom and new linoleum/vinyl in the bath and kitchen. The third room is still as it was and will be updated later on down the road as the bath in it needs a complete remodel. We have a completely remodeled, expanded main bath that is awesome. I love it. We still need to stain the new vanity and get a couple of cabinets hung. I will post pictures soon. The animals are adjusting well and we love to sit outside and feel the breeze. A picture to follow! Keiko, on the other hand, would love to get outside but with bobcats and coyotes running around I know he wouldn't come home. He has no claws and wouldn't be able to defend himself from anything. So, he's an indoor cat for now. Someday I may let him out and just hope he does come back. When I can handle the thought that he probably won't return, I will try it. Eventually we will get some barn cats to keep outside for rodent control. Don't need that yet but you never know! Sunsets are beautiful and Rusty has started working on the land surrounding the house. It was so overgrown and made it look semi-abandoned. He has done such a wonderful job. Love the paint colors on the walls inside and it has made the house look so different. The outside is another story and will take some time. Power washing the white siding will make a big difference! LOL I have cooked breakfast more times for Rusty in the last two weeks than I have in the last 10 years! I enjoy cooking breakfast and supper and can't wait to go get us half of a cow and store it in the freezer in the garage. It's much easier to cook when you have things on hand.
I guess that's about it for now. I get up each day with Rusty at 6:45 and very seldom take a nap or go back to bed after he leaves. The whole diabetes thing keeps that from happening too because of the need to check my blood sugars and eat at the right times. It's really hard considering sometimes I don't want to eat. I AM thankful I'm not one of those that wants to eat everything all the time with the pregnancy because then it really would suck being limited! I'll post a few pictures then let this do. Hopefully there's not too many errors but my fingers on my right hand (middle and ring) are completely numb! This is a long one!
Here's just one of our views. You can see some of the tall grass and trees Rusty still has to get to. That's also the barn in the background on the right side of the right tree.
And, here's the one of my HUGE belly @ 30 weeks. Working on that tan though! :o) I did find it pleasing that anytime I went anywhere with a high counter they couldn't tell I was pregnant until I said so or backed up. Mainly it's all belly and in the upper thigh. Still wearing my wedding ring too. I'm sure that will change soon but I could definitely do without the upper thigh weight gain. ICK!
One last bit of excellent news! I haven't had any back trouble for several weeks. I am so thrilled about that also. In fact, this is the best my back has felt in years. My previous neurosurgeon told me that some people had their back pain get better when they were pregnant and I thought "yeah right"!! Well, it is! Of course, those maintenance massages help and I'm due for one soon. Keeping those muscles loose is the key for me!
