Well, yesterday was the longest I've ever had to sit and wait for a visit with Dr. Gallaspy. But he did have to deliver a baby while I was there. Blood pressure was out of whack. The bottom number was too high this time. I finally stopped losing weight from the new diet and managed to actually put one whole pound back on. Got another tweak in the insulin shots-just increased my long acting insulin by two units in the evening dose to help bring down my early morning sugar level by a few points. But here's the scary part--I went from measuring 34 wks (at 33) to measuring THIRTY SEVEN (at 34). Do the math people..that's 3 weeks worth of growth in ONE week. Dr. G said when he felt my tummy that it seemed like the baby had gotten a lot bigger in one week and I said "yeah I joked with Arthur that I felt like it had gained 6 lbs this week!" Then when he measured me, he was like "This is a big baby...and you're on insulin to keep this from happening!" So, I still keep telling myself that this will end up a Feb baby and not a March one if he/she keeps growing at this rate.
Had a family shower last night. Got lots of good stuff! Several packs of diapers and wipes; onesies, sleepers, and a couple of outfits; lots of bath products; bottle drying rack and brush; play pen; stroller and car seat; blankets; burpcloths;crib bedding and lots of other needed stuff that I know I'm leaving out right now. But the nursery is finally coming along it seems. It might look like a finished baby's room in another month's time....
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
33 weeks
(I don't know if the picture does it justice, but this is what 1 oz of hamburger meat looks like. It looked pretty pathetic to me on the plate. So, next time when you bite into that 1/4 pounder with cheese, remember how good you have it. You could be eating something as small as this like me!)
Went to the doctor Friday. Had lost around 5 lbs but he didn't seem too concerned. At least the swelling has gone down. My numbers were ok for the first week but he still wasn't completely happy with my sugar levels first thing in the morning and late at night. So, as Arthur and I suspected, he changed my insulin to include mixing a long acting and a short acting and I now have to give myself TWO shots a day. My blood pressure's still hanging out around the 140/80 mark and I'm still measuring about a week ahead. We went to a childbirth class Saturday. It felt like all the instructor wanted to do was fuss and complain about stuff, so it didn't make for the most enjoyable day. A lot of it was stuff I already knew, but Arthur probably needed to be exposed to some of the info. The best part was getting information specific to the hospital and taking the tour of where we'll be. I guess they don't teach breathing techniques anymore. We did do some relaxation exercises, but being a music therapist, I could have done a better job teaching that portion than she did.
Got the chest of drawers. Will hopefully get that assembled tonight. Been trying to make a decision on a car seat/stroller/travel system now since that seems to be the next big purchase that has to be made before heading to the hospital.
I'll have to go back to Dr. G this Friday. He says he'll see me every week now, especially since I'm diabetic. He says as long as I keep my sugar levels normal, that he may not induce me early, but that he can guarantee he won't let me go past my due date. So, we'll definitely have a baby by the end of the first week of March, but as I poke and prick myself every day, I'm still telling myself it could be earlier.
Monday, January 12, 2009
random bits
Since I've tried to keep a good record of Arthur's columns where he mentions the baby, here are the latest entries...
December 24, 2008
This Christmas will be a very different one from any of the others I’ve experienced.
As I write this, I’m living in a home that’s not some rental, destined to be abandoned as quickly as the next step up the career ladder becomes available.
I’m not alone either. I’ll wake up for the first Christmas morning with a wife by my side.
Next year will be different yet again as we share our first Christmas with our child. He or she won’t quite be old enough to grasp all that’s embodied in the season, yet that won’t stop it from taking on an entirely new meaning for us. And that new dimension will continue to grow and change over the years as our family makes its way through time and space.
The bittersweetness of a holiday has probably touched us all at some point. As we prepare for the coming of a new life into our world, others experience the pain of loved ones leaving us.
Who hasn’t had to deal with losing a loved one near the holidays? And even if those close to us haven’t passed away around this time, surely our thoughts have turned to them as we reconnect with family and friends, celebrating joys while at the same time feeling the absence of those close to us.
Just the other day Bridgett remarked how it seemed like so many die during the holidays. Is it true? I don’t know. But from our perceptions, it can easily seem that way. They certainly have more impact at this time of year.
Looking ahead
Given my introspective nature, it can be easy for me to get caught up in the bittersweet undertones of this time of year. But this year is one more filled with hopeful anticipation as we look forward to a most special kind of gift arriving in a couple of months.
January 8, 2009
As the due date draws near for baby McLean to make his or her entrance to the world, we got a little bad news this week. Bridgett has gestational diabetes. It crops up in some pregnant women and usually goes way after the birth.
So now my wife, who hates needles and nearly faints at the sight of blood will have to prick her finger four times a day and give herself insulin shots.
Luckily, she’ll only have to do it for just under 8 weeks, but neither one of us is looking forward to it. It’ll be a tough time for her.
One other thing this could mean. Women with gestational diabetes often, but not always, but often have bigger babies. So who knows, we could be giving birth to a linebacker come early March. I’ll keep you informed.
(Someone pointed out that Arthur must be expecting it to be a boy if he thinks we'll come out with a linebacker! I don't know of too many female linebackers!)
I'm surviving the diabetes so far. The finger sticks haven't been that bad and my sugar has definitely remained in the normal range now that I'm on insulin. I still get woozy every time I stick a needle in my leg each morning to inject insulin but the needle isn't that big so it hasn't been as bad as I expected. I'm drinking more milk and eating more yogurt than I would ever care to with my diet plan and I definitely miss my larger portions of meat at dinnertime. I think I eat more food now but I'm definitely not consuming as many calories and have already lost 2 pounds in 4 days.
It seems like last week was the week for people to start mentioning showers. The family shower got moved to Friday night, Jan 23 since the two aunts hosting it have to work Sat the 24th. Grove Hill Methodist is planning a co-ed event at 1 pm on Sunday, Feb 8. Kristi asked about hosting one for the friends of ASCC but we haven't figured out a date yet (but those of you who attended the bridal shower know how much fun we had last time, so you better make plans to attend this one!).
I ordered a chest of drawers/changing table last week (that matches the crib)and hope that it will be arriving this wknd. I figure I had better finish getting things ready in case we have an early arrival now. I go see Dr. G Fri so we'll see what he says about it, but I really do anticipate an early induction now. Arthur keeps hoping for a Thurs delivery to coordinate with the paper's schedule, but Dr. G usually isn't in the office on Thursdays. So, we're crossing our fingers for a Friday induction as early as Feb 20. Mom joked that if we have it on Feb 21 that will be 9 months to the day of our wedding anniversary! hah But again, it may just be wishful thinking on my part that I can have it early to avoid the hassle of diabetes for any longer period than necessary. We'll see how things progress in the next month! But I feel like the countdown is beginning.
We'll see if we can't get a new belly shot in the next few days to get posted. Arthur and I were talking yesterday that we need to get our last maternity shoot scheduled before time gets away from us. And as soon as we get the nursery to what feels like a completed state, I'll make sure to get you shots of it posted as well.
December 24, 2008
This Christmas will be a very different one from any of the others I’ve experienced.
As I write this, I’m living in a home that’s not some rental, destined to be abandoned as quickly as the next step up the career ladder becomes available.
I’m not alone either. I’ll wake up for the first Christmas morning with a wife by my side.
Next year will be different yet again as we share our first Christmas with our child. He or she won’t quite be old enough to grasp all that’s embodied in the season, yet that won’t stop it from taking on an entirely new meaning for us. And that new dimension will continue to grow and change over the years as our family makes its way through time and space.
The bittersweetness of a holiday has probably touched us all at some point. As we prepare for the coming of a new life into our world, others experience the pain of loved ones leaving us.
Who hasn’t had to deal with losing a loved one near the holidays? And even if those close to us haven’t passed away around this time, surely our thoughts have turned to them as we reconnect with family and friends, celebrating joys while at the same time feeling the absence of those close to us.
Just the other day Bridgett remarked how it seemed like so many die during the holidays. Is it true? I don’t know. But from our perceptions, it can easily seem that way. They certainly have more impact at this time of year.
Looking ahead
Given my introspective nature, it can be easy for me to get caught up in the bittersweet undertones of this time of year. But this year is one more filled with hopeful anticipation as we look forward to a most special kind of gift arriving in a couple of months.
January 8, 2009
As the due date draws near for baby McLean to make his or her entrance to the world, we got a little bad news this week. Bridgett has gestational diabetes. It crops up in some pregnant women and usually goes way after the birth.
So now my wife, who hates needles and nearly faints at the sight of blood will have to prick her finger four times a day and give herself insulin shots.
Luckily, she’ll only have to do it for just under 8 weeks, but neither one of us is looking forward to it. It’ll be a tough time for her.
One other thing this could mean. Women with gestational diabetes often, but not always, but often have bigger babies. So who knows, we could be giving birth to a linebacker come early March. I’ll keep you informed.
(Someone pointed out that Arthur must be expecting it to be a boy if he thinks we'll come out with a linebacker! I don't know of too many female linebackers!)
I'm surviving the diabetes so far. The finger sticks haven't been that bad and my sugar has definitely remained in the normal range now that I'm on insulin. I still get woozy every time I stick a needle in my leg each morning to inject insulin but the needle isn't that big so it hasn't been as bad as I expected. I'm drinking more milk and eating more yogurt than I would ever care to with my diet plan and I definitely miss my larger portions of meat at dinnertime. I think I eat more food now but I'm definitely not consuming as many calories and have already lost 2 pounds in 4 days.
It seems like last week was the week for people to start mentioning showers. The family shower got moved to Friday night, Jan 23 since the two aunts hosting it have to work Sat the 24th. Grove Hill Methodist is planning a co-ed event at 1 pm on Sunday, Feb 8. Kristi asked about hosting one for the friends of ASCC but we haven't figured out a date yet (but those of you who attended the bridal shower know how much fun we had last time, so you better make plans to attend this one!).
I ordered a chest of drawers/changing table last week (that matches the crib)and hope that it will be arriving this wknd. I figure I had better finish getting things ready in case we have an early arrival now. I go see Dr. G Fri so we'll see what he says about it, but I really do anticipate an early induction now. Arthur keeps hoping for a Thurs delivery to coordinate with the paper's schedule, but Dr. G usually isn't in the office on Thursdays. So, we're crossing our fingers for a Friday induction as early as Feb 20. Mom joked that if we have it on Feb 21 that will be 9 months to the day of our wedding anniversary! hah But again, it may just be wishful thinking on my part that I can have it early to avoid the hassle of diabetes for any longer period than necessary. We'll see how things progress in the next month! But I feel like the countdown is beginning.
We'll see if we can't get a new belly shot in the next few days to get posted. Arthur and I were talking yesterday that we need to get our last maternity shoot scheduled before time gets away from us. And as soon as we get the nursery to what feels like a completed state, I'll make sure to get you shots of it posted as well.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
gestational diabetes
Well, since I didn't hear anything yesterday either from the doctor, I called the office this morning to check on my results. My nurse just called me back (3 hours later). And of course I have gestational diabetes. As Carol put it, the test consisted of 3 parts, and I didn't pass a one of them. So, I am supposed to be getting a call from the Diabetes Center at Springhill to schedule an appointment for my education class. I'll have to take an insulin SHOT every morning and prick my finger at least 4 times a day. I'll be on a strict diet and have to do like my brother and write down everything to keep track for the doctor. And Carol said if I was a good girl and followed instructions, then just maybe I won't have a 10 lb baby and require a C section! Yay!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
glucose tolerance
Ok, let me set this straight for any of you out there who might have to do this test, I was under the impression that I would have my FINGER stuck 4 times in a 3 hour period. Um NO! I had needles stuck in my ARM FIVE times in a 3 hour period. Arthur says it was probably a good thing I didn't know they were drawing large amounts of blood each time or I would have been even more anxious about the test. Fortunately for us all, I did not faint. This poor nurse tried to talk me thru each stick, but she wasn't very good at it. Arthur stepped up to the plate during a couple of them and distracted me from what was going on by engaging me or the nurse in conversation. I would still get woozy with each prick and waited a few minutes after she was finished before I would try to stand up. I guess it was a good thing I was sleep deprived and hungry in order to make it thru the ordeal. She alternated arms each time and the bruises have started forming today. Oh, and this time I had to drink a lemon lime flavored drink that was twice as sugary as the last one I had. And this one wasn't refrigerated, and I didn't get to pour it over ice and slurp it through a straw. But I still made it through it. But enough about what poor me had to actually go through. She only checked the blood sugar levels herself at the beginning and the end. The 3 in the middle are the ones that really matter but those get processed at the lab. On her monitor, my fasting blood sugar was 132, but she took it on to the lab and their number was 120. She said her monitor was usually off and she wanted to see how far off it was (apparently by 12 points for me). So, my last check was 166 (which will probably end up about 154 at the lab). She said Dr. Gallaspy should get the lab results tomorrow (Friday) so hopefully I'll hear something from him tomorrow or Monday at the latest. I don't know what my levels necessarily should have been for the two she gave me numbers for, so I can't say for sure right now which way things will go for me when Dr. G calls. But I'll let everybody know the results as soon as I hear them. For those of you who thought the test was still last Friday and tried checking on me, THANKS! It made me feel good to know I have friends that were thinking of me. I'll make sure to get back with you first--as soon as I know what the dr's orders will be.
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