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Friday, November 30, 2007

Full of Bologna

I don't know if you can fathom how excited I am over a dumb bologna sandwich right now... unless you're a pregnant carnivore, paranoid about listeria.
Since Broberg said I could have cold lunch meat sandwiches (HALLELUJAH!) as long as they were pre-packaged as opposed to processed in the market deli, I had hubby pick me up some Oscar Meyer bologna.
Let us all sing together now with a grateful heart & full belly:
MYYYYYY bologna has a first name, it's O-S-C-A-R. My bologna has a second name, it's M-E-Y-E-R. I LOVE to eat it every day, and Broberg says that that's OKAAAAAYYYY! Cuz Oscar Meyer has a way of pre-packaging B-O-L-O-G-N-A.
And man were those 7 cheddar potato chips good, too!
I can't imagine what it'll do to my sugar. I suppose we'll find out in a few hours.

Last night was a rough night. Andy (my hubby, in case you confuse him with his brother Aaron), was all wound up and couldn't get to sleep. He just tossed and turned all night. Which, subsequently, kept me up all night. So finally I managed to drift off at about 4:30 AM, and then I had to get up at 7:30 AM to take hubby to work so I could have the car to drop off a lab collection I had to do at home. After waiting a while in the hospital, I had to get yet more blood drawn. Thankfully, the lady this morning was in better spirits, and much friendlier, than the lady who took the 6 vials from me on Wednesday.
So an hour later, I get home, test my sugar (which was good btw, not the greatest, but it was good), and have a bowl of cereal. I took all my pills and insulin, retired to the bedroom, set up the TV to switch to favorite shows for 6 hours, and KONKED OUT. Hooray for cozy snoozes in warm flannel sheeted beds with no restless hubby. I slept for about 3-4 hours. So I should be caught up on sleep for the day.

Man those potato chips were good.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Smile for the Birdie!

So I met Dr. Broberg yesterday. I really liked him! Not only was he super gentle, but CUTE! Ladies, you know what I'm talkin' about when I say most doctors usually shove the evil metal monster up our unis without a second thought. This shorter, squarer version of Doogie Howser went nice and slow, and I barely noticed it. He also encouraged hubby & I to have appointments with all of the doctors in his practice so that we can figure out who we like the best & who we want to deliver the baby. Now there's a sign of a doctor who cares about a patient & wants the best for them and their little one. I was impressed.
Plus he cleared me to continue my painting business as long as the room is well ventilated. He cautioned me however, that if I began feeling funny or whoozy at all, to get out of the room right away. So with that blessing, I will be forging forward with painting once more. I still plan to scale back my commissions a bit so I can get caught up, relax, and enjoy my pregnancy.
Broberg also put my mind at ease about my worries of not getting enough nutrition for the baby. He said there are starving people in Warsaw popping out healthy babies every day. Hey, whatever you can do to make a chic feel better, right?
In addition to our great appointment, we got in for our first ultrasound today! Our little kidney bean made his cameo appearance. He's right in between the 2 plus signs.
I think the sonographer said the little dot was where his heart was. She said I'm 7 weeks, and our due date is JULY 16, 2008. Start sending presents, everyone! Hahaha. We got to hear the heartbeat, too. At first it was just a little echo in the background, but then the technician pinpointed it and we heard it. It sounded like a freight train from 1/4 mile away. An excellent, strong 160 beats per minute. Everything looked great.
After baby made his big appearance, we ran around the hospital getting bloodwork and other labs done. I swear the lady took at least 6 vials from me, no exaggerating! I also had to have an EKG. I also have to spend the next 24 hours peeing in a jug. Joy of tremendous joys.
And since the 2 hospitals/clinics right by us don't take our insurance and/or don't handle high risk pregnancies (me), I get to have the baby at the big fancy hospital in Provo. I feel kinda bad as I don't want people to have to go out of their way to visit me... but I guess that will make it all the more special if I get visitors, knowing they had to come all that extra way to see our bundle of joy.

Well, it's been a busy, and exciting day. Now to call Ma & tell her all about our little adventure.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Gobble, Gobble

So, except for a slight difference of opinions with brother-in-law Aaron, it's been a great Thanksgiving week.
I was able to enjoy the big day without too many problems. My blood sugar was even decent after a nice slice of homemade chocolate peanut butter supreme pie, and a big helping of mashed potatoes. Okay, okay... my sugar wasn't where it was SUPPOSED to be, but it was alright for a non-diabetic, unpregnant person.
I got some purell hand sanitizer, thinking it would help me when I didn't have access to a sink. It took me only a couple of days before realizing THAT wasn't going to work. For instance, last night I made mashed potatoes, and corn, to go along with the leftovers we had. Granted, I know mashed potatoes spike my sugar big time, but I took enough insulin to counter-balance that. So you can imagine my horror when I tested 3 hours later, using the purell stuff, and get a reading of 419. HOLY HANNAH!
So I ran to the sink to have a good scrub, grumbling and what not. I retest, and it's in the 190s. Not the greatest, but definitely not 419. So hand sanitizer won't cut it for sugar taking. There goes my $3, and 6 bottles of purell.
So, yeah. We're rounding the turn into week 8 here. I've been really grateful to not have morning sickness up to this point. My appetite's been great, and I was able to enjoy Thanksgiving. The next day, guess what shows up. We had a little luncheon at our friend's, Mike & Kathy's house and somewhere between the texture of the casserole, and the sweetness of the pumpkin soup on top that I thought was gravy, I got REALLY queasy. I had hubby finish the rest of my lunch. I was queasy again last night and almost had to make a bathroom detour, but I managed to keep it down. Bile in the mouth is not pleasant. Thank heavens for sugar free icebreakers.
I guess the good Lord is telling me, "Okay, hon. I let you have your Thanksgiving, now we play my game."
Mike & Kathy loaned us "The Bible" when we told them about the impending Mini Gerschler. If you've ever been pregnant, you know what "The Bible" is: What to Expect When You're Expecting. I knew most of the stuff in there already from what I read online, but it had some good pregnancy recipes to help cope with morning sickness, as well as balance out all that nutrition. And you know how I was worried about not having symptoms? The Bible has put my mind at ease, listing a symptom that I read nowhere else online. Maybe it's no mystery to you, but flatulence is my new friend. For the past several days I have had some really mean gas, aggravated only by... you guessed it: TURKEY!!
Why doesn't anyone tell you that FARTING is a pregnancy symptom? I can finally keep up with hubby in the CO2 department.
Hubby was loaned Pregnancy Sucks for MEN. Dunno what he's gotten out of it so far, other than not to provoke Shera. Maybe Aaron should read this book.

So, we meet Dr. Broberg in just 2 days. Even though I'm aware there will be much poking, prodding, and exploring of the dark expanse of the southernmost cavern, I am looking forward to the appointment. As a diabetic, I am used to having my blood drawn & what not, and while I don't enjoy gynecological exams, I am eager to know if the baby is doing okay. The Bible has helped put my mind at ease with symptoms and physical changes I wasn't really aware of, but the rest is up to the doctor.
I also spent some time last week making appointments with the dentist (who I haven't seen in 7 years), and getting the keloid on my ear fixed. I have a cavity right now that's really bothering me, so although there will be pain and expenses, I will be finding oral relief by this time next week. The keloid will have to wait until January, as the doctor is booked solid through then. I hope being booked like that means he's really good. I am having a harder time sleeping at night due to the discomfort.
Speaking of sleeping, I am missing my 4 hour naps right about now. Already, I can only snooze for about an hour before getting uncomfortable and waking up. I tried sleeping with a body pillow last night, but unless I was sleeping with it wrong, it didn't help the situation. My legs feel all funny. It's not RLS, as I don't get tingling or anything like that. I just can't find a comfortable position for them.
Hooray for the miracle of expanding body parts.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Mmm, spicy!

So as I sit here and digest my wonderful crunchwrap supreme from Taco Bell, and all the while crave more, I can't help but feel assured that this baby is gonna fit in just fine.
Hubby teases me that I crave spicy food so much. Mainly it's just texmex stuff-- Taco Bell/Taco Time. It seems I've eaten there at least once a week since mid-October when we conceived. While I've never been a big fan of spicy food, I am married into a family that is. My brother-in-law (cute, single, sweet, and never been married for any of you ladies out there) loves hot food. The hotter the better. So I tell dear ol' husband that baby can stay up with Uncle Aaron and eat hot sauce when he's old enough.
Why can't I just crave chocodiles and ding dongs like my mother did?

As Thanksgiving draws closer, I must admit that I am relieved to not be experiencing morning sickness. This is my 5th or 7th week of pregnancy (depending on whether you count forward from my last period or when we actually conceived), and I should be busy praying to the porcelain god. However, I am surprisingly unpregnant as far as symptoms go. Oh, sure, I get suddenly tired here & there, and the girls ache a little bit, but nothing intolerable. Thus I am grateful to have a wonderful appetite at the moment and look forward to my annual Day after Thanksgiving Everything Sandwich.
This concoction of mine is a monster. Delicious, but a monstrosity. Mashed potatoes, corn, turkey, and cranberry jelly smooshed between two sumptuous slices of buttered, homemade bread. I LOVE THANKSGIVING!
It's gonna kill my blood sugar though.

Clarene (my diabetes doctor) had me on a 10-1 insulin ratio. Basically I would take 1 unit of insulin for every 10 carbs I consumed. This was doing jack squat for my sugar. You can imagine how upset I would be when my sugar was in the 190s (BAAAAAD!!), I take insulin which is supposed to make it come down, retest in an hour, and the number is HIGHER. That's right. Over 200. I was very upset. The next day I altered my insulin to an 8-1 ratio. This has been a tremendous help for me and I've noticed a big change in my numbers. For the first time in my life I'm getting a few numbers in the 80s! I hope Clarene won't be upset. I figure she probably would've changed my ratio at the next visit anyway. Now if I can just get my sugar to be that good in the morning, we'd be on to something. Remind me to ask Clarene how to do this.

Speaking of doctors, we see the OB/GYN for the first time next Tuesday (27th). I'm looking forward to the appointment, and hope that everything is going the way it's supposed to. Not having serious symptoms makes me nervous. Strangely, I find comfort on the rare occassions that I am queasy, like it's a reassurance that we really are expecting and everything's fine. Hubby said I could retest if it would put my mind at ease, but I really don't want to mock God or jinx myself.

Now the real waiting game is February when we find out what we're having. It's so annoying to go to the store with a desire to purchase things, and you really can't because you don't know for sure if it's a boy or a girl. Really, I think I'll be happy with a normal, healthy baby, and I'm doing what I can to ensure that. But we'd really like a boy first, and I can't help but drink in all the little man clothes. I know I could buy neutrals, but I really don't want a closet full of greens & yellows. Besides, some of the best stuff is gender specific.

Anyway, I feel like I could ramble on all day if I wanted to, but I'll just have to leave you hanging in suspense for now. Will Shera attack the household again? Is there someone in my life who claims to know what I'm having? Find out in our next episode in the continuing saga of a first time pregnant diabetic mom!

Thanks for tuning in!

Friday, November 9, 2007

Oh, Baby!

A week ago today I found out that I am expecting my first baby. It's kind of a funny story actually. I'm diabetic & just got off the pill in early September. Okay, well that's not very funny, but...
Last Thursday I had this great dream that I tested and it came out positive. So in the morning I tested and only saw 1 line. Keep in mind I didn't wait the full 3 mins, but just got peeved about
wasting another test & threw it in the trash. Well later that day I was thinking how one of my friends said test results only keep for like 15 mins-- this conversation came about when I told her I wanted to give a positive pregnancy test result to one of my best friends on her 25th birthday-- so on a whim (to see if what she said was true) I fished the test out of the trash and there were 2 lines. AHHHHHH!!! So I ran to the store, picked up some more, went home and tested. Right away a positive result showed up.

So I snagged husband, Andy, & we had a little cuddle in the bedroom. I asked him if he loved me & if he was ready to be a Dad, and showed him the test. He was in shock. We obviously didn't expect to get pregnant this fast since I just got off the pill in September and have PCOS/Stein Leventhal. I've joked the last few months that it would take an act of God to get pregnant right away. Well guess what. GOD LIVES! LOL.

Andy is excited, but nervous. "Ooh," he says, "New baby to hold, but ooh... baby's are expensive, but OOH OOH!! New baby to love and cuddle with". Last night we bought the baby a jacket. It was on clearance. A little green jacket with a blue rocking horse over the heart, and it says in building blocks below it "My Pony". I couldn't have been giddier.

Anyway, I'm still sort of feeling like I'm dreaming it all. It's a very surreal thing. I worry because I don't have a whole lot of serious symptoms... yet. No morning sickness, no sore breasts... I'm
just tired a lot, get whoozy when I go to stand up, and have a little indigestion (Sometimes I poke my tummy & say "Hey, you in there! Whatcha doin? You ok?" Just cuz I feel so great right now). Oh and certain smells and thoughts of specific foods make me a little queasy. Like last night Andy was cooking fajitas, and I was sitting back here in the office. I could swear I was standing right next to the onions because my eyes were watering like crazy. Suddenly I have superhuman powers! I've decided my super hero name shall be SHERA! LOL
Shera has already attacked the kitchen, reorganized all of the cabinets, and labeled all the spices. My doctor tells me nesting isn't supposed to start for several more months, but I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of Shera.

Anyway, my sugar has been great all of a sudden. (Yeah, Baby, you just take all the sugar you want, honey-- Mom don't mind good numbers!) It was bad after I stopped working at the local stable because I wasn't exercising as much or as hard, but now it's been really good-- especially after dinner. But my numbers aren't where my doc wants them, and she suggested an insulin pump. We are considering getting one. I did some reading, and they're really cool. I'll have to tell you about them if our insurance will cover the pump.

So that's all I can think of to share for now. My biggest fear is losing the baby since I am considered a high risk pregnancy with my diabetes & all. I can stand the idea of sleepless nights & morning sickness, but the thought of miscarrying after telling people we're expecting, that would just be so heart breaking. I am so excited and happy right now, I don't want to lose that feeling... though I imagine some of it will be diminished when I tell my mom. I dread telling her.
When I asked my mom last spring if she was ready to be a grandma, she said no & seemed peeved. She chided us about getting out of debt first. My friend, Sam, found out a couple of nights ago, and she said "Man, your Mom is gonna be soooo pissed." And I was like "Yup." Everyone else is gonna be thrilled for us, but my mom will probably be very upset and yell at us. Heaven forbid I be married to my husband for 6 years and wait till I'm 25 before having kids. That's just the way my mom is.

Andy and I will tell her tonight or tomorrow. Wish us luck!