6 Weeks To Go OR LESS

So, yeah - I feel like I have totally abandoned this blog! Not purposefully - just lacking time lately. That and after eating I am no longer able just to sit and relax - so my blogging time has been definitely affected! But here is an update on me in case anyone is still checking in.

I am 34 weeks today. Weight gain has been 19lbs (5 of that is Andrew). I am still going to my Prego-Water Exercise class three times a week and Physical Therapy once a week for my back and sciatic. We go to our third birthing class tonight and I start seeing the Doc weekly starting this Tuesday! They will be performing Non-Stress Tests on me to make sure Drew is doing good in my belly! Since I have Gestational Diabetes, they consider me high risk even though he is of average size right now and up until this week I have been able to keep my sugars in check.

We are BOTH getting SUPER excited for Drew's arrival. His nursery is just about complete and we couldn't be more happy with how it has turned out. A very WARM and CHEERY room for sure! Jerry is cherrishing all the moments Drew is in my belly and complains that he will miss seeing me all prego. But on the other side he CANNOT wait to meet his son! I feel the same! Despite all my challenges I LOVE having Drew safe in my BIG belly - but I also cannot wait to meet him and start fussing over him!

All the mommies I have gotten to know in my water class have all started to pop! First it was Kirstin, then Julie, then Drea...and today Darla! I miss my ole prego crew! I went to class today and I am NOW the MOST prego person there and it feels odd! I love when Laurie is STILL there - but sometimes she ditches out for the Mommy/Baby class right after mine...so I get to see her, but not work out. I got to meet Kirstin's lil man today - Ben. Holding his lil 6.5lb body in my arms was amazing! He felt like air! Such a precious gift and I cannot wait for mine! I just hope to keep in contact with all this amazing lil mama's and start our own lil mommy group!

New Pics - Yes, I know I am a slacker!

I haven't posted many new pics as of lately. Mainly because I have not taken any...so I hope you have been enthralled with my boring words! lol! But recently we have made some updates to the nursery and I have snapped a few pics of the belly so here they are for your viewing enjoyment! Keep in mind the nursery is a work in progress, but Jer and I are just so very happy with how it has all come together. It really is like walking into that warm place we all retreat to in our heads when life is too rough!

26.5 Weeks: All I need is my drink and the remote! Jerry thought this was funny and had to snap a picture. I was nursing a cold over the weekend and was in full chillax mode!

28.5 Weeks: We took a stroll last weekend in Capitola to burn off the onion rings I just HAD TO HAVE! It was a gorgeous day just after a stormy week.

28.5 Weeks: Me and my BFF Melissa taking our first belly pic together!


March 11th: Drew's Room in Progress. We added carpet and a few early registry gifts

Shot of Drew's comfy-wumfy crib with new flare from friends!

Close up: Thanks the Randall, Char and the Gomez Family for your gifts!

Andrew's very own Mach 5 Speed Racer Cereal Bowl. Purchased by his Grandfather Blount. He saved up two proof of purchasesfrom cereal boxes - SO CUTE!

Another Week Down....

This week has been a whirlwind! Monday, we had our final hospital tour (at Sutter) and we have made our decision on which one. Hopefully our lil bundle grants me the option of being able to deliver at my choice AND allows me to pick a room WITH a rocking massage tub. Wednesday we had our follow up appt with my OB. We heard Drew's heartbeat (low in my tummy) and scheduled my next few visits. I gained 6 WHOPPING pounds in the last month, so I am up to a total of 15 and told that is excellent! Thursday was a Hell of a work day for me. I didn't get home until super late. And today I worked out crazy style at my aquatics class. So I am pooped!

The GD thing got a little frustrating this week! I am finding that no matter how much I stay busy after dinner, my sugars are just staying too high! I talked to my councilor today and was told that for every minute my sugars stay above 120 my Drew is GROWING at a accelerated rate - so if I cannot get busy and VERY active then to just snack on proteins and veggies until I know I can. It is all just so frustrating. What worked for me yesterday, doesn't necessarily work for me the next day and so on. I have run out of things to clean in the house. I actually went outside and pulled weeds in a desperate attempt to kill the sugars! It is just difficult to stay active when you are very prego and need rest! Napping after a meal is out of the question.

On another note, my shower is just around the corner! Two weeks away! I can't believe it! I am stressing that I am going to get a lot of clothes (too small to fit Drew) and not enough of the necessities. But after talking to a lot of other mommies, I have learned it is a common fear! I have to say, I LOVE getting gifts via mail! It is like Christmas every week! lol. I just hope everyone has a good time and we can all celebrate what Jerry and I have worked so hard to make!

Ok, so I am going to go sneak a nap in now....

I'm Feeling Scheduled

The first weekend with Diabetes went well. I managed to keep my blood sugar in good ranges although it was a guessing game sometimes. I woke up on Saturday with a mondo-headache and not a thing I could eat for breakfast that was on my approved list, so I had to go to the store and didn't eat until later in the AM - that was a real moment. But all in all I feel like for now I have a grip on it. I just hope my body cooperates and I will not have to keep changing my regimen to make it all work and remain off insulin shots for good. But one day at a time. The one thing I am struggling with is the constant thought of scheduling and what I am eating and what I am going to eat and when I have too...It is bothersome. I feel like a slave to a schedule and food already! I hate that! I feel like all I am ever doing is eating or thinking about eating. And when I am done, thinking about when I need to test. But all I can do is go one day at a time and hope for the best!

On a more positive note - My Mommy took me shopping this weekend and spoiled me rotten! She has been pressing me for awhile to go out, but I always feel so weird having money spent on me. But I needed new slip ons since tying my shoes is becoming an ordeal...and we have not hung out together just the two of us, so I caved. It was quite the experience....MAN and I looking prego! But all in all we found some cute stuff - including my outfit for the shower...so all was fun!

Education On Gestational Diabetes

You are 27 weeks pregnant. Your health care provider has just told you that you have gestational diabetes. Should you be concerned about gestational diabetes?

The short answer: yes. Good care means a lot for your health and your baby's health.

What is gestational diabetes?

Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about 135,000 cases of gestational diabetes in the United States each year.

We don't know what causes gestational diabetes, but we have some clues. The placenta supports the baby as it grows. Hormones from the placenta help the baby develop. But these hormones also block the action of the mother's insulin in her body. This problem is called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance makes it hard for the mother's body to use insulin. She may need up to three times as much insulin.

Gestational diabetes starts when your body is not able to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy. Without enough insulin, glucose cannot leave the blood and be changed to energy. Glucose builds up in the blood to high levels. This is called hyperglycemia.

How gestational diabetes can affect your baby

Further Reading . . . Looking for a guide to a healthy pregnancy and a happy, healthy baby? With Gestational Diabetes: What to Expect, you'll learn what gestational diabetes is and how to care for yourself during your pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes affects the mother in late pregnancy, after the baby's body has been formed, but while the baby is busy growing. Because of this, gestational diabetes does not cause the kinds of birth defects sometimes seen in babies whose mothers had diabetes before pregnancy.

However, untreated or poorly controlled gestational diabetes can hurt your baby. When you have gestational diabetes, your pancreas works overtime to produce insulin, but the insulin does not lower your blood glucose levels. Although insulin does not cross the placenta, glucose and other nutrients do. So extra blood glucose goes through the placenta, giving the baby high blood glucose levels. This causes the baby's pancreas to make extra insulin to get rid of the blood glucose. Since the baby is getting more energy than it needs to grow and develop, the extra energy is stored as fat.

This can lead to macrosomia, or a "fat" baby. Babies with macrosomia face health problems of their own, including damage to their shoulders during birth. Because of the extra insulin made by the baby's pancreas, newborns may have very low blood glucose levels at birth and are also at higher risk for breathing problems. Babies with excess insulin become children who are at risk for obesity and adults who are at risk for type 2 diabetes.

Treating gestational diabetes

Because gestational diabetes can hurt you and your baby, you need to start treatment quickly. Treatment for gestational diabetes aims to keep blood glucose levels equal to those of pregnant women who don't have gestational diabetes. Treatment for gestational diabetes always includes special meal plans and scheduled physical activity. It may also include daily blood glucose testing and insulin injections. You will need help from your doctor, nurse educator, and other members of your health care team so that your treatment for gestational diabetes can be changed as needed.

For you as the mother-to-be, treatment for gestational diabetes helps lower the risk of a cesarean section birth that very large babies may require. Sticking with your treatment for gestational diabetes will give you a healthy pregnancy and birth, and may help your baby avoid future poor health.

Gestational diabetes -- Looking ahead

Gestational diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy. But once you've had gestational diabetes, your chances are 2 in 3 that it will return in future pregnancies. In a few women, however, pregnancy uncovers type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It is hard to tell whether these women have gestational diabetes or have just started showing their diabetes during pregnancy. These women will need to continue diabetes treatment after pregnancy.

Many women who have gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes years later. There seems to be a link between the tendency to have gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes both involve insulin resistance. Certain basic lifestyle changes may help prevent diabetes after gestational diabetes.

Losing weight Are you more than 20% over your ideal body weight? Losing even a few pounds can help you avoid developing type 2 diabetes.

Making healthy food choices Follow simple daily guidelines, like eating a variety of foods including fresh fruits and vegetables, limiting fat intake to 30% or less of daily calories, and watching your portion size. Healthy eating habits can go a long way in preventing diabetes and other health problems.

Exercising Regular exercise allows your body to use glucose without extra insulin. This helps combat insulin resistance and is what makes exercise helpful to people with diabetes. Never start an exercise program without checking with your doctor first.

Keeping worry in perspective

While gestational diabetes is a cause for concern, the good news is that you and your health care team - your doctor, obstetrician, nurse educator, and dietitian - work together to lower your high blood glucose levels. And with this help, you can turn your concern into a healthy pregnancy for you, and a healthy start for your baby.

When it Rains it Pours, and I am NOT Talking About the Weather

I failed miserably! I got thre results back from my 3hr Glucose test and I FAILED! My levels started out well enough but plummeted the last two hours. I am just devastated. My Doc put in a referral for me to join the "Sweet Success Program" for Gestational Diabetes - isn't that name just rich? "Sweet" - are you kidding me? Umm, hello sweets and diabetes DON'T mesh! Such an oxy-moron! I called, but it was already after 5pm so I will have to call back tomorrow after 8:30am.

On top of all this, I am borderline anemic, I flubbed my EDD paperwork so no "timely rent" will be paid this month and my Grandpa took a nasty spill and is in the hospital and NOT faring well at all! I just can't possibly take another piece of bad new this week!!!!! Give a prego a break! Oh and I have a narly head cold. So, I want to cry just to get all this frustration out, but then I have to deal with a clogged head and that just makes me want to cry more.

I just can't believe I have Gestational Diabetes! I have not gained enough weight to cause myself harm, so WTF? I know this is not the end of the world, but it is just a major blow and creates a list of worries I never anticipated! I am just so angry.

I failed!

I went in for my 1 Hour Glucose Screening test today believing I would pass with flying colors considering I haven't gained a huge amount of weight and hardly ever eat more then I normally did prior to getting prego. Well, I guess I was wrong. My numbers came back at 143 and the normal range is 70-140....so I was labeled "high." I have no clue what this means. My next drs. appt. isn't until next week so I am not sure what my results will mean until then. I will most likely have to take the dreaded 3 hour test - which is just poor torture for any prego!!!! I mean, fasting and then having to sit around for an additional 3 hours is just INSANE! I really hope I am not going to have G.D.!