Surprise "shower"

Date: 04/19/2006 03:00:00 AM
Would you believe that my students threw me a shower? Yep, I walked into class and all the lights were off, so I flipped them on and saw the front table decorated with cupcakes and cakes and a big bag filled with yellow, blue and pink tissue paper!

Of course can't have the cake, but I did have a bite. They actually went to BRU and bought me a diaper bag and filled it with all sorts of stuff--a bowl, spoons, shampoo, lotion, pacifiers, butt wipes, fully stocked. It was so sweet! I had no idea that they would do something like that!

32 week appointment

Date: 04/18/2006 03:00:00 AM
Well, I had my 32 week appointment on Monday. Everything went good. I have been monitoring my blood sugar and made it through the Easter Holiday without eating jelly beans or peanut butter cups, which would be the only things I might have had a weakness for.

For the first time I have a small weight gain (only 6 oz) and I get told that is wrong too. I am convinced that I can't win with that. My blood pressure is great, the baby's heartbeat is strong and despite a little foot swelling/flatness I am feeling really good.
I am going to the doctor every week now, so you will be seeing lots of updates. I was told on Monday that I will have another ultrasound at 38 weeks, which is the 1st week of June. I also have to do "non-stress" test monitoring starting in a few weeks. Plus, if I don't go into labor by the 17th, I am getting induced. Which does scare me a little.

I sleep very well most nights, but still feel a little tired. Every movement is very pronounced now. A kick or punch feels like a jolt and it really seems to take your breath away or shock you even though you know it is coming!

30 week appointment/Dietician appt Date: 04/13/2006

I initially wasn't going to tell anyone about the GD diagnosis, because I didn't want anyone to make a big deal about it, but then I figured if I go postal because someone offers me some of my favorite things over the holiday weekend (jelly beans and grape pop) I am going to look like a real bi-otch.

Well, I just had my 30 week appointment, the first after the news of the Gestational Diabetes diagnosis. Which upon her mentioning I broke down in tears. Must have had a hormonal moment.

Everything looks great. The baby is measuring right at 30 weeks, the heartbeat is strong, blood pressure, urine, all fine. So that is all good. But now I will have to see her weekly instead of biweekly to really monitor the growth of the baby to make sure (s)he is not getting too big as a result of the GD.

I will also have a few more (at least one more) ultrasound to make sure baby isn't a giant....I think she said at 38 weeks, but I was crying, so I really don't know.The first appt was Tuesday, yesterday, I went to the diabetes education class to learn how to monitor my blood sugar and what and when to eat. It wasn't that bad, I actually found out that I am borderline, but it's kinda like being a little bit pregnant. You just aren't!

So, I have to monitor my blood sugar 4 times a day and bring that with me to the dr to see where I am at. So far so good, I haven't had one that was even near the high normal. This just makes it a little more stressful than I planned.

Peanut's like Uncle BennyDate: 04/10/2006

Well, we have all heard the story of how Ben mooned the schoolbus over and over, so it would be no surprise to hear me compare Peanut the "mooner" to his Uncle.

All day on Sunday, that was all that I felt. Little Peanut buttcheeks pressed against the top of my belly. It was funny because Benny actually came over to see the baby's room and I made him feel it.

When I made Ben feel it I don't think he knew what to think! I mean it is surprising how tight and firm and hard a pregnant belly is on it's own, but when there is a butt pressed up against the surface, watch out!

And thanks to Mimi and Papa for rushing over and looking and at the baby's room. It is exciting for sure. I don't think the pictures do the room justice. I think it is much better looking in person!

The Glucose test....ugghDate: 04/07/2006

Due to my risk factors, dad and both paternal grandparents having diabetes, plus being over 25, they have been watching me closely for the possibility of gestational diabetes. I took the standard 1 hour test at my 28 week appointment, it came back "abnormal" so they scheduled me for the 3 hour test on 4/6/07.

It was pretty much dreadful, if you haven't had one. 3 hours, 10 oz of the most sickening sweet stuff you would ever not want to drink, and 4 blood draws later, I am done. I almost got sick, which would have meant starting from square one!

But I got the results back and I have borderline gestational diabetes. So now I meet with a dietician, learn how to monitor blood sugar and all that fun stuff.

28 week appointmentDate: 03/28/2006

Well, the good news is that Peanut is doing well, growing like a weed (which also means muh belly is too)

The dr's appointment went well. All of my vitals are great: blood pressure and all...the weight gain, that is another story. My appointment was 5 weeks from the last, which makes a big difference, because I have had two noticeable belly growth spurts. (This means weight increases) Plus, I must admit that I did over-indulge at the birthday celebrations this past weekend....:) Gotta love that German Chocholate Cake and Ice Cream!

My new mantra is as follows "scale = enemy". Don't get me wrong, I know that I am supposed to gain weight, but any woman knows it's still not really fun. I say that because my back and neck are officially killing me. The large protusion from my midsection is throwing me all out of alignment. I am achy all day long.

But Peanut is thriving like I said. Baby has a real strong heartbeat, but is a little shy or tempermental. When the dr was taking the heartbeat it kept moving away from the doppler, like "dont mess with me"I haven't been sleeping real well, which I expected to happen, but at least most of the time I am awake Peanut is too, so I have company.

I am going to schedule an appointment with a massage therapist to see if they can work the kinks out of my neck and back....love that I have an excuse to get a massage!My next appointment is in 2 weeks, so I have been moved to the more frequent appointments now, which can only mean, it's getting CLOSE! Down to the final stretch.....11 weeks and counting.

Thanks for reading!

Whoo hoo, we are registering this weekend! Date: 03/14/2006

Brian doesn't know it yet, but we are definitely registering this weekend. I am about to nest us out of house and home! So we are taking the plunge and going to BabiesRUs and getting registered. I hate to ask people to buy us gifts, but I know that it really is fun from first hand experience. I loved buying for my friends and family when they had little ones.

This is all spurred by receiving the bedding that we ordered in the mail--it is soooo cute! But now we have no bed to put it on. So we might buy that this weekend. The nursery (whoa, I said that, I have a nursery in my house) is almost done. All that I need to do is get the ceiling finished. Which is actually a Brian task, so hopefully I can get that done before we close on the land (after that he will be so focused on that, that I won't have a chance in hell getting him to finish my ceiling)

Back from Spring BreakDate: 03/13/2006

Hi Ya'll!Yep, we (meaning Peanut and I) are back from sunny GA, visiting family down there. Poor Brian wasn't able to go, he is working his fanny off.

The weather was wonderful and the little dog and I did get some walking in! Brian's mom felt the baby move...he is kicking like a soccer player now. If you watch, you can see my belly move when it kicks!

I posted some current belly pics so that you can all see how big I or the baby is getting!I will update more soon!

Finally, Brian felt Peanut move!Date: 02/26/2006

Well, I have been impatiently awaiting this. Poor Brian, until last night, had not felt the baby move. I think it is a mixture of expectations and impatience. Last night after dinner (we had sweet potatoes, which Peanut obviously likes) he was kicking up a storm.

Of course, Brian goes to feel and nothing. I told him to wait. he did and then snapped his head to look at me, just glowing...asking "was that it?" Yep, it was! He kept pointing them out for about 5 minutes till he moved real low and stopped kicking.

I think I was excited as he was! It was too cool! I have been able to feel the baby move for months now, and lately when it has gotten stronger and stronger it is so low that it is almost indecent for him to try to feel the baby move. So last night it was a real high kick and low and behold Bri felt it too!

24 weeks: Dr appointment updateDate: 02/22/2006

Well, the baby is doing great. The heartbeat is good and strong, at about 150 bpm. Dr. said it sounded fantastic! I am measuring right where I should be--24 weeks

My blood pressure is good--normal
I am gaining like I should (now, about 4 lb/month), BUT I gained too much in the first 12 weeks. So I got threatened with the nutritionist. Oh no!

So I have to make sure that I am getting that under control I guess. I will be watching my portions, journalling my food intake AND walking the dogs a lot more...

Peanut's MovementsDate: 02/14/2006

Hi all, I can feel it, I can feel it. Not just the fluttery stuff, but the I think it's going to be a soccer player stuff. Peanut is kicking stronger and stronger. I mostly feel it down low right below the belly button. It feels like a giant bubble that you can feel growing and then it suddenly bursts. (No, it is not gas) Brian hasn't felt it yet, but that I think is becuase he gets tired of waiting for Peanut to cooperate, and most often it is during the day (like right now)Peanut is also getting pretty predictable in his moving schedule. I am happy to report that he seems to be alert a lot during the day. (So maybe he won't have the days and nights confused) Here are the times that I notice most:Whenever I am lecturing, he seems to start kicking me about 1/2 through.Anytime after I eat, especially fruit. He seems to get really active.When I relax at night to watch TV.When I wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back asleep; guess he's keeping me company!

20 Week UltrasoundDate: 01/28/2006

Well, yesterday we went to the Dr's office for the big ultrasound and saw about a 1/2 hour of baby. It truly was amazing. We saw feet, hands, face, profile, the heart, all the organs, it was awesome! The coolest part was that we were able to tell what most of the stuff was.

Here's the stats so far: Baby weighs almost a pound, about 13.5 oz. Due date based on size and measurements is June 14th, but she said since it is so close to the original, they won't officially change it. So keep hoping Grama D!

We did get a glance at the area which you would be able to tell the gender from, but she knew we didn't want to know so really went quick there. Especially since I was naming off all the things that we were looking at. I think she knew I knew what I was doing.

Poor Daddy, who I think really would like to know, had 3 chances for her to tell him if it was a boy or girl (when I went to the bathroom) respected our decision not to find out.

He was a little disappointed because he wasn't sure what he was looking for. So she said if it's a boy you will see a turtle, if it's a girl a hamburger. He didn't know what to look for at first when she did the quick veiw. So she went back and did an indepth veiw, and Peanut was being modest--blocked anything he/she had with the umbilical cord!It was absolutely hilarious! We were the last appointment of the day and were in there about an hour and some change. Connie was wonderful.

Hope you enjoy the pictures, I know they can be a little hard to tell what they are.

20 Week Dr Appointment

: 01/25/2006
Just had the 20 week Dr appointment. Everything is looking good. My BP is great, I am gaining as she wants me to (1 lb/wk), baby's heartbeat is strong (145-150 BPM). Everything is going smoothly.When she was looking for the heartbeat, she started on the right and moved her way over to the left, which is where Peanut hides out. All the movement, kicking and heaviness is always on the left. Every once in awhile it is on the right, but 9 of 10 times, the left. Also, I did feel one morning movement on both sides at once, guess Peanut was stretching!Funny story, ironically enough, she asked me if I had felt any movement, which of course I have. Peanut is not still anytime that I am. Mover and a shaker in there. But I told her most of the movement has been the fluttering type, with a few pokes. While she was taking the heartbeat, which took about 30 sec to a minute, Peanut actually kicked the Doppler. Guess it was invading personal space!Brian and I have scheduled the big ultrasound for this Friday, so on the 27th we will see it all. I am really excited about that. We could find out the sex then if we wanted to, but we are going to wait till the birth. I will update with pictures then!