Hate to Leave....

..this blog hanging. But, our journey to baby #2 is complete. As a matter of fact, we're about to celebrate Samuel's first birthday on Friday. So, please feel free to follow our beautiful little family of four at my primary blog.

www.theacmarshfamily.blogspot.com

Thanks for reading!

Misbehaving

Misbehaving. Yes, that's my boy. I went in on Friday for my second NST. I promise not to bore you with a report every single time I go in (12 more times between here and December 6) but this time was quite funny. My appointment was at 9:00. So, Matt came down the night before and got up to spend the morning with Skatie.

I got in pretty quick and was taken back to a room. They strapped me onto the fetal heart monitor and the contraction monitor. Seriously, I was there...on my side...in one position for an hour and 20 minutes. That little boy was ALL. OVER. THE. PLACE. I mean, he wouldn't sit still for any amount of time. He'd be on the monitor for about 4 minutes and then bounce off again. Dr S. came in and said, "Okay, enough is enough. He's just too wild today. Let's do an ultrasound." So, lucky me - I got an ultrasound a week early! He was just fine and dandy. He's weighing in at 4 lbs and 10 oz. and he's the cutest thing ever. He's head down now but he still had those little toes and hands up in front of his face. He was opening and closing his mouth trying to get something to suck on. It was precious to watch him. On top of that the the ultrasound tech even got a little excited because we caught him with his eyes open. She said that's rare to catch so she really enjoyed it but probably not as much as I did. He was doing all the right stuff and apparently I'm doing all the right stuff to provide a good home for him until December. I'll try to get some new ultrasound pictures up.

It was such a sweet visit. I love ultrasounds! It just makes me more and more excited to finally meet this little boy.

First Non Stress Test

Today was my first NST appointment. I got there and they weighed me. Let me just say, this time has been so different in this department. This time with weight gain - it's 17 lbs. at 32 weeks. With Sarah Kate my weight gain was 45 lbs at this point. Not because I ate a ton more food with her and it certainly wasn't because she herself was big. It was fluid. In the three days after I had her, I lost 30 of those pounds. ANYWAY, this week again I lost a pound just like last week. Great - it's less I have to lose after I have him. He's not in any danger. It's just my diet has changed. That's the difference.Okay, so there's that and then came the dreaded blood pressure. For whatever reason (me being nervous about the first NST this pregnancy, worried about how Sam would respond, etc) my blood pressure was higher than it has been. 158/78. The bottom number was better than perfect. That top number- not so much. The nurse kind of panicked. They hooked me up to the monitors and let Sam do his little song and dance while I was supposed to calm down. Samuel Corbin cracked me up. Through 50% of the test his little baby butt had the hiccups. It made me giggle...which I needed at that moment of time. Dr. S. walked in half way through the test and said, "What are your pressures at home?" I replied, "120s over 60s and 70s." She answered, "That's what I thought. Your heart and mind won't let you forget what happened this time last pregnancy. I take that into account." Whew. No hospital visit this time. Hallelujah. Sam responded text book to the test (his heart rate and movement). He's doing great. Thank you, God. What a gift! Dr S. did run a preeclampsia panel of blood work just to be on the safe side since there was a bit of a change in my blood pressure from previous visits. I'm sure (since my pressures are better than perfect at home) that the results will be great.

We go back Friday for another NST. Hopefully we'll have an even better appointment then with an even better blood pressure.

EDIT TO ADD:I just got a call from the doctor's office with my lab results. My preeclampsia screening was perfect. I'm not even boarder line preeclamptic. Praise God! In fact, I'm not even anemic anymore! Thank you, God...thank you so very much.

32 Weeks!

This is exactly the time I had Sarah Kate. I looked a lot different though. I was in the bed 24/7 and swollen almost to the point of not being able to recognize me. This time around - much better. Can't wait to meet you in 7 short weeks, my sweet baby boy!

My Days

I have so enjoyed this pregnancy. It's been a total different experience from my last...in a good way. I've felt 100% and I've not been on bedrest and I've yet to have a hospital stay (knock on wood). I have so very much to be thankful for! However, I do have to share my daily experiences with you so that little Sam (or his wife or kids or someone) might someday see what life was life for me while he swam around in my tummy.

Morning:
Take Medicine (blood pressure pill, baby aspirin, folic acid, prenatals)
Take Blood Sugar (prick finger and record)

Breakfast:
Eat my planned out meal
Take Blood Sugar (2 hours later - prick and record)

Snack:
Must have a balanced snack to keep my blood sugar regulated
Take Iron pill

Lunch:
Eat my planned out lunch
Take Blood Sugar (2 hours later - prick and record)

Snack:
Must have balanced snack to keep my blood sugar regulated
Take Iron pill

Supper:
Eat my planned out supper
Take Blood Sugar (2 hours later - prick and record)

Snack:
Eat planned out snack
Take another blood pressure pill
BED!

You might laugh but that's a lot of meds and pricking to remember in a day's time. Add the distraction of a sweet little 4 year old and it's easy to forget at least one of those very important things. But, I'm doing it...and trying to stay on top of it. Not because of any of this but I am very excited to meet my baby boy. December 6th can't get here fast enough!

Gestational Diabetes

At my 28 week visit I took the 1 hour glucose challenge. I failed. My lab result was 162 and anything over 140 is considered high. So, they called me in to repeat the glucose challenge but this time it was to be a fasting 3 hour test. So, at about 8:00 on Tuesday night, I stopped eating. Wednesday morning I woke up and went to the doctor's office to start my test. They took a fasting lab and my result was 88 (normal range 65-95). Not so bad. The 1 hour however proved to be a lot worse. The normal range is 65-180 and my level was 231. Wowzers. The 2 hour result was 179 (normal range 65-155). Then I was back to normal again at the 3 hour mark with results of 72 (normal 65-140).

The nurse called me this morning with my results and said that Dr S. hadn't even been in to see them yet. But, Nurse Robin says that I'll have to monitor (prick finger) my sugar 4 times a day (fasting, after breakfast, after lunch, and after dinner) and watch every single thing that goes into my mouth. She also informed me that no matter what some people do or how hard they try their bodies are just overwhelmed and can't handle the processing of glucose. In those cases, insulin is required via shots each day. We'll cross that bridge if/when we get to it.

As for now, I have to go to a gestational diabetic class and meet with a nutritionist to learn what life is going to be like for the next 9 weeks. But, folks...that's it - 9 weeks. That's all it's going to be until I'm holding little Samuel Corbin in my arms and kissing his sweet little face. This is a drop in the bucket and a very tiny, very small price to pay for the health of my son. So, onward and upward. Maybe after this pregnancy I can write a book on what it's like to experience all these crazy pregnancy things from my two (well, really three) pregnancies. Let's see, what would it include? Preeclampsia, Gestational Diabetes, Two-Vessel Cord, Group B Strep, Miscarriage, Minor Infertility Issues (compared to many out there). Yep, it could be a doozie of a book! But, like I said...all this is such a very small price to pay for the sweet reward at the end. My babies are very worth it!

Lab Results

As I posted, my 28 week visit was last Wednesday. I had to do my glucose challenge and had several labs run afterwards. Well, one of those was to check for iron. Mine was low. No big deal - I'm on iron supplements and will start eating more iron fortified cereal in the morning. That's an easy fix.

The other test was my glucose challenge. My levels were a little elevated. Anything between 140 and 200 requires a second test (the three hour glucose challenge). Below 140 is normal. Above 200 and you're automatically diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Mine was 162. Not off the charts but not normal either. I did eat breakfast that morning - toast. So, I don't know if that had any influence on the results or not. Either way, Tuesday night I stop eating after midnight and Wednesday morning I got in at 8:30 for a three hour challenge to find out if I do indeed have a sugar issue that I'll need to monitor throughout the rest of my pregnancy (10 WEEKS to go!) or not. We'll see. Either way, it'll be fine. I'm just continuing to place this sweet baby boy's health and my own in His hands.