40 Days

There is a lot of talk today about the next 40 days (Lent). However, I'm a bit confused, because my ticker says that I have 40 days left until induction (on Palm Sunday). Don't these Lent-celebrating people really have 47 days then? I've never really counted the days. (Growing up Catholic, you just learn to believe what they tell you and not question anything.) However, now....

Anyway, NST was...well..hmm. They kept me hostage in the antepartum testing unit until my doctor called back. I knew something was up when they let my NST buddy leave before me. (Since I was hooked up a few minutes before her.) Apparently there was one abnormality in the very beginning, but then I was having contractions every 3-8 minutes. They were lasting 30-45 seconds. Of course, I wasn't feeling a thing. B was in the car (last week's appt only took 25 minutes, so she just waited outside for me and knitted.) She kept calling and texting, but my phone was off. I was finally able to call her and give her the update. I told her to just wait in the car and I would update her after the doctor called. No dice there. She was parked and up those elevators fairly quickly, just in time for me to get the go ahead to go home and eat and drink. Both the doc and the nurse are guessing the contractions were due to dehydration.

We were late to our childbirth class because of this, but the first session was on monitoring, so she fit us right into her lesson.

Once we got home, B filled me with enough water that I felt like I was floating away. I was up several times last night to use the bathroom. I will be sure to space my water out during the day.

I'm wondering if the doc will call me today to ask me to come in for any reason or if she will just wait until my next appointment in 2 weeks. Should I call and ask?

I also found out last night that my superintendent will not let my BFF give me her sick days. Bummer. Looks like I'm working until April 15th, or until baby comes....whichever comes first. Moneywise, I really need to make it until the 15th. It will be cutting it close, but with a week off for Spring Break, I think I can do it.

Doctor

So after getting some high readings today, I decided to call the nurse after lunch. (Reading was 130). She asked me if I could come in today for an appointment. Due to the snow, I had a snow day (and coincidentally, so did B), so we headed over to the doc around 2ish.
She drew some blood to be sent to the lab to see if my meter is working alright (these high numbers coincide with me switching my test strips-even though I tested them with the control solution). She doesn't want to jump to prescribing me more meds until she sees my numbers tomorrow and we compare the lab's number to my meter's number. I like how this doctor works. I am to call tomorrow after my after lunch draw to let her know the numbers. We will take it from there.

Weekend Blood Sugar Phenomenon

During the school week, I am very good at sticking to a food schedule (mostly because I am forced to eat when I have my break scheduled). Anyway, during the weekend, not so much. First of all, I can sleep a lot longer than during the school week, getting 8-9 hours of sleep, instead of 5-6. I have noticed that this throws off my blood sugar levels. This morning, my reading was 92. (Remember they want it less than 90 and now I am on gly.buride) I thought for sure it would be in the normal range because when I got up to use the bathroom at 4:30, I went downstairs and took it. Ugh. How frustrating. After being up for a few hours, I ate my breakfast (the same breakfast I eat every morning-eggbeater with cheese on toast and a glass of milk-fully in my meal plan). I went back to sleep and set my alarm for 2 hours later, which is when I have to check my after meal level. It was 122 (They want it less than 120). Double Ugh.
I dont' typically get my snacks in during the weekend, so I just went back to bed, feeling defeated. I woke up 3 hours later and made myself lunch. (A very sensible, on the meal plan, lunch-salad with sunflower seeds and shredded cheese, masala burger on flat bread, cottage cheese, water). Now I have to wait 2 hours before checking again. I like being on track, so this is driving me buggy!

It doesn't help that I was at a banquet on Thursday night and the vegetarian option had zero protein. That threw off my sugar for my after dinner reading and my morning reading. Breakfast was oatmeal, fruit, and a juice bar, so I ate by myself at the restaurant in the hotel. =/ At least I got my protein and limited my carbs.

I can't wait to get back on track. Of course, then holiday break comes around and I have 2 weeks off. Perhaps I will have to set some alarms to eat.

In baby news, during one of my naps this morning, I dreamt that we were having triplets. Everyone kept introducing us and then throwing in, "and they are having triplets!" After we were alone, I questioned B, "I thought there was only one? We only have one name!" LOL

B and I also found out that I am one of 3 pregnant ladies on our block, including our next door neighbor that is due 3 days before me. We all will be delivering at the same hospital. Too funny. We may be neighbors in the birth center as well. =) Next door neighbor is due April 18th and her husband is a tax accountant, so she really wants to go full term or later (at least for his benefit!) My doctor told me to keep in my mind that they may need to deliver earlier than 40 weeks due to the gestational diabetes. We will see. My friend, Karen, from undergrad is due in April too. Lots of Spring babies!

December 9th

Tomorrow is the anniversary of our EDD for Sprout. We've come a long way. Last year was a pretty depressing Christmas season. I had no holiday cheer, we didn't have our baby, and I was not pregnant again. This year is completely different. We still don't have our little Sprout, but I know he is just another angel in heaven watching over his moms and his baby sister. I'm grateful for that.

Today I had my weekly blood sugar check-up. I was down another 2lbs and spilling ketones. I'm guessing I am not getting enough calories. Doc wants me to call the nutritionist tomorrow, so that's what I'll do. She's going to tell me to add more protein and fat...I'm pretty sure of it. So that makes my total weight gain for this pregnancy 4lbs. Tomorrow marks 21 weeks.

I am also having a weird (embarrassing!) side effect of pregnancy as well. For the past few days, I have had a vibrating vagina. I know, right? It's like I'm sitting on a cell phone. Totally weird. There is no rhyme or reason to when it happens. The doctor said it is probably baby related. I consulted Dr. Goo.gle and from what I found, a LOT of women experience this. It doesn't hurt. It's just more annoying than anything.

Tomorrow I work all day and then head to a banquet at night. I'm staying the night at a hotel with a former co-worker and going to a conference all day Friday. I'm looking forward to the sleep. =)

Oh, and I miss B. She is a retail manager, so this time of year she is super busy and works late nights. By the time she gets home, I'm in bed, ready for bed, or asleep. Just a few more weeks of this hellish schedule and she will be back to somewhat normal. I can't wait. =)

Glyburide

I was supposed to start my medication today. However, I am not going to make it to the pharmacy tonight, so I will just plan on starting tomorrow.
Part of the reason I am dragging my feet is I am not so sure I need the medicine, yet.
My fasting blood sugars are supposed to be less than 90. Most days they are right around 90. A few days, they have been above 90, with one day being 99 and one being 107, but most of the time, if they are over 90, they are 92 or 93.
My nutritionist/dietitian was not concerned about the numbers at all. She said they looked great. One of my doctors (it is a practice of 5) said she was happy with the numbers and it looked like I would be able to stay off medicine.
I meet new doctor yesterday and she immediately jumps to medicine and the possibility of delivering early or via c-section. WHAT?
Baby is measuring perfect right now. I have gained a total of 6 pounds this entire pregnancy and my blood sugar numbers after eating are awesome.
She said, "It's only going to get worse as your pregnancy progresses, so we better start now."
I feel like when it gets "worse" then we do something. In the meantime, we work on getting those fasting numbers down by trying some other things (like eating a snack in the middle of the night).
What are your opinions? I have another appointment on Wednesday of next week, with another new doctor.

Name

We chose our baby's name last night.
We were just sitting and watching TV and boom. There it was.
The name will be the same if it is a boy or if it is a girl.
I checked the SSA website to check on popularity and the first name is right around 300 and the middle name is right around 250, so just popular enough in our book. We want a unique name, but nothing too unique that people do not know how to pronounce or spell it.
We will not be telling anybody the name except B's best friend (Hi Aunt Sarah!) who is stationed over in Afghanistan.
Now we just have to hope and pray that our irl and our bloggy friends don't use the name before we do. =)

Appointment went great yesterday. She was impressed by my numbers. She said I will totally be able to manage my GD with diet. I have gained 8 pounds thus far. My bp was great and they said nothing about ketones this time. The heartbeat was strong (and my favorite part of the visit). We go back in 8 days for another appointment and the u/s. (P.S. That means you only have 8 days left to vote on whether we are having a boy or a girl! ------>)

18w4d

I have my first doctor's appointment for this GD tomorrow. My numbers have been great, except the morning ones (they should be less than 90 and I have only had one day that fit that criteria at 89...but they never go higher than 100).
I'm wondering if she will just tell me to eat a certain snack before bedtime, or something.

My mom is in the hospital. She had to have the plate they put in her foot removed. Hopefully she will be there for a while so my dad can get some respite and my mom can heal.

Tomorrow is a half day of school and then we are on Thanksgiving Break. Boy, am I thankful!

I still don't know what we are doing for Thanksgiving.

I am still looking forward to our big u/s on the 2nd. Only 10 days away!

Diabetes in Pregnancy Class

The class went..eh..well?
The nurse running the class was interesting. It could have been called "Diabetes for Dummies" because it was very basic and simple. Perhaps if I hadn't grown up with a diabetic parent, it would have been more informative for me.
I received my very basic meter and supplies, as well as a log and meal plan.
I was led to believe that the meal plan was going to be tailored for each of us. The dietician said she looked at our pre-pregnancy weights and determined our diets. Funny thing...all 7 moms in the room were put on the same 2000 calorie diet. I know for a fact that the tiny woman next to me and the larger woman two seats away were not the same pre-pregnancy weight. The dietician was a bit weird too, and socially awkward. Overall, I was quite glad when it was over.
I was happy when my blood sugar during the class was 90. B and I were starving afterward, so we had a Taco Bell dinner (not so much on the meal plan) and when I tested my sugar just now (2 hours after eating) it was 122. They want it less than 120. Not bad for not on the meal plan. Tomorrow is a new day and my first day following the plan. We will see how my numbers are then.