I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY TO REPORT THAT I HAVE LOST 50 POUNDS!!! I am finally back down to my "normal" weight which is in the 128-130 range ~ I usually fluctuate a few pounds...
50 POUNDS BABY...WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I CAN FIT INTO MY "OLD" JEANS, WHICH ARE NOW LIKE NEW BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO WEAR THEM IN SO LONG!
I mean, things are a bit droopier and saggier than they used to be, but HEY...LOL.
~E
Showing posts with label Pregnancy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pregnancy. Show all posts
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
The Weight Challenge
OK so at my physical last week I was down 43 lbs from May, to an even 135; I weighed myself earlier this week and I had lost ANOTHER 2 lbs to 133 for a total of 45 lbs; and magically today I've hit 130 ~ 48 lbs GONE! It was chilly in the morning and I had to go out so for the hell of it I tried to throw on a pair of my old Sevens/one of my FAV jeans that I have not fit into since I was pregnant with Bentley fall 2010......MUCH TO MY EXCITEMENT......VOILA!!!!! And yes, I was that excited I hopped on the chair in my bathroom and took pics. Get over it.
No struggles, no needing to grease my hips or anything, no laying on the bed and trying to yank them up...BOOM...on they slipped right on!!! You all already know I'm weird...and this is how proud I am of having my lil bum back...so you shouldn't be surprised at this pic!! "Hey, small bum, how are you?? Oh you're glad to be back?? Well I'm glad to have you back!"
HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL YA! Now I need to tone up and I'd like to lose a few more pounds but not too much. 48 LBS in about 4 months ain't that bad!!!!!!!!
Oh, and just so we're clear if you haven't already figured it out ~ I don't care if anyone thinks its odd or inappropriate that I'm blogging about my weight. Never been a sore subject for me, even when I gained 51 lbs I was very open about it!
~E
No struggles, no needing to grease my hips or anything, no laying on the bed and trying to yank them up...BOOM...on they slipped right on!!! You all already know I'm weird...and this is how proud I am of having my lil bum back...so you shouldn't be surprised at this pic!! "Hey, small bum, how are you?? Oh you're glad to be back?? Well I'm glad to have you back!"
HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL YA! Now I need to tone up and I'd like to lose a few more pounds but not too much. 48 LBS in about 4 months ain't that bad!!!!!!!!
Oh, and just so we're clear if you haven't already figured it out ~ I don't care if anyone thinks its odd or inappropriate that I'm blogging about my weight. Never been a sore subject for me, even when I gained 51 lbs I was very open about it!
~E
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
The Weight Challenge
Hello there...
Today I am reporting in that 3 months after Gracie's birth and the day before we leave for our mini-vaca I am down 43 pounds! I was hoping to be down a few more before we left but hey, I'm pretty darn happy to be back around my college weight @ 135 pounds (and I was 133 when I got pregnant with Bentley). Ideally, I'd like to lose another 6-8 but for now I am going to enjoy our little vaca and worry about it when we get home!
~E
Today I am reporting in that 3 months after Gracie's birth and the day before we leave for our mini-vaca I am down 43 pounds! I was hoping to be down a few more before we left but hey, I'm pretty darn happy to be back around my college weight @ 135 pounds (and I was 133 when I got pregnant with Bentley). Ideally, I'd like to lose another 6-8 but for now I am going to enjoy our little vaca and worry about it when we get home!
~E
Sunday, July 15, 2012
The Weight Challenge
GOOD MORNING!
Today is Bentley's BIG party day so we are up getting the finishing touches done...
BUT I wanted to report in on The Weight Challenge and that I AM DOWN 40 POUNDS!!! WAHOOOO! Like I've already mentioned I lost 30 pretty easily in the first 6 weeks after Gracie was born. Now in the last about four and a half weeks I've lost another 10 as of today!!
10 more to go!!
~E
Today is Bentley's BIG party day so we are up getting the finishing touches done...
BUT I wanted to report in on The Weight Challenge and that I AM DOWN 40 POUNDS!!! WAHOOOO! Like I've already mentioned I lost 30 pretty easily in the first 6 weeks after Gracie was born. Now in the last about four and a half weeks I've lost another 10 as of today!!
10 more to go!!
~E
Thursday, June 21, 2012
The Weight Challenge
Let's see here...YUP, now its officially a CHALLENGE to lose this weight!
To re-cap...about 4 weeks in I had easily dropped 25 lbs, very little effort, just eating better. By about 5 and 1/2 weeks I was down another 4 lbs for a total of 29 lbs GONE. Again, this was with little effort.
Now at 7 weeks out, I'm only down another 1-2 lbs. Last week I regularly hit the elliptical, 5x for 20 minutes each. I'm pretty darn out of shape so I have to start slow and work my way back into it. This week I've upped it to 25 minutes each time I go on. And I'm going to start walking with the kids and Hurl as much as I can. We have a HUGE hill near our house that I used to walk all of the time back in the days when I was in shape so I'm going to start walking that again. I figure hill walk + over 30 lb stroller + about 35 lbs of kid should be a good workout!!!
So in a nutshell ~ 30 lbs GONE EASILY ~ the last 20 is going to be a bit harder!! I guess 30 lbs in 7 weeks is pretty darn good though.
On with the battle...
~E
To re-cap...about 4 weeks in I had easily dropped 25 lbs, very little effort, just eating better. By about 5 and 1/2 weeks I was down another 4 lbs for a total of 29 lbs GONE. Again, this was with little effort.
Now at 7 weeks out, I'm only down another 1-2 lbs. Last week I regularly hit the elliptical, 5x for 20 minutes each. I'm pretty darn out of shape so I have to start slow and work my way back into it. This week I've upped it to 25 minutes each time I go on. And I'm going to start walking with the kids and Hurl as much as I can. We have a HUGE hill near our house that I used to walk all of the time back in the days when I was in shape so I'm going to start walking that again. I figure hill walk + over 30 lb stroller + about 35 lbs of kid should be a good workout!!!
So in a nutshell ~ 30 lbs GONE EASILY ~ the last 20 is going to be a bit harder!! I guess 30 lbs in 7 weeks is pretty darn good though.
On with the battle...
~E
Friday, June 8, 2012
The Weight Challenge
In my first "Weight Challenge" post I mentioned that at Grace's birth I weighed in at 178 pounds...
*About a week-and-a-half post-delivery I randomly weighed myself and found that I was already down to my pre-pregnancy weight...163!! A whole 15 pounds GONE...like that!!
*At about two-and-a-half weeks I was down to 156!! Another 7 pounds!
*As of three-and-a-half weeks out I was down 25 pounds to 153. This was with pretty little effort, too!
Now it's coming off a bit more slowly but I'm trying to eat better and hop on the elliptical when the kids allow ~ usually at night when the hub gets home. BUT as of this week...about 5 WEEKS OUT...I broke 150 and am actually at 149 pounds!! It's been awhile since I've seen the 140's!
**SO AS OF ABOUT 5 WEEKS POST-DELIVERY I AM DOWN 29 POUNDS!!!**
Gonna keep on keepin' on until I get back down to my fighting weight, slowly but surely!
~E
*About a week-and-a-half post-delivery I randomly weighed myself and found that I was already down to my pre-pregnancy weight...163!! A whole 15 pounds GONE...like that!!
*At about two-and-a-half weeks I was down to 156!! Another 7 pounds!
*As of three-and-a-half weeks out I was down 25 pounds to 153. This was with pretty little effort, too!
Now it's coming off a bit more slowly but I'm trying to eat better and hop on the elliptical when the kids allow ~ usually at night when the hub gets home. BUT as of this week...about 5 WEEKS OUT...I broke 150 and am actually at 149 pounds!! It's been awhile since I've seen the 140's!
**SO AS OF ABOUT 5 WEEKS POST-DELIVERY I AM DOWN 29 POUNDS!!!**
Gonna keep on keepin' on until I get back down to my fighting weight, slowly but surely!
~E
Thursday, May 24, 2012
The Weight Challenge
OK so I realize maybe this is tacky or something but I figure by making it public and "reporting in" I will better be able to keep a handle on my post-baby weight loss. Let's start with a few "fun" facts...
1. I usually weigh about 128.
2. When pregnant with Bentley ~ between week #8 (133 pounds) and week #38 I gained a whopping 51 pounds (184 pounds @ final weigh-in).
3. Post-Bentley ~ I never got down past 164, a measly 20 pound loss.
4. When pregnant with Grace ~ between week #8 (164 pounds) and week #37 I gained 14 pounds (178 pounds @ final weigh in).
As much as I hate to credit the diabetes diet I do have to say that I've had far fewer cravings for junky stuff post-pregnancy than I did with Bentley. With him I was begging in the delivery room for fountain Coke. Not that I haven't treated myself over the last three weeks, I'm just not shoving my face full of turkey dinner for breakfast. About a week-and-a-half post-delivery I randomly weighed myself and found that I was already down to my pre-pregnancy weight...163!! Over the weekend I weighed myself and I was down to 156!!
SO, I still have a ways to go ~ about 25-30 pounds but I'm confident I can get close!
~E
1. I usually weigh about 128.
2. When pregnant with Bentley ~ between week #8 (133 pounds) and week #38 I gained a whopping 51 pounds (184 pounds @ final weigh-in).
3. Post-Bentley ~ I never got down past 164, a measly 20 pound loss.
4. When pregnant with Grace ~ between week #8 (164 pounds) and week #37 I gained 14 pounds (178 pounds @ final weigh in).
As much as I hate to credit the diabetes diet I do have to say that I've had far fewer cravings for junky stuff post-pregnancy than I did with Bentley. With him I was begging in the delivery room for fountain Coke. Not that I haven't treated myself over the last three weeks, I'm just not shoving my face full of turkey dinner for breakfast. About a week-and-a-half post-delivery I randomly weighed myself and found that I was already down to my pre-pregnancy weight...163!! Over the weekend I weighed myself and I was down to 156!!
SO, I still have a ways to go ~ about 25-30 pounds but I'm confident I can get close!
~E
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Grace's Birth
I spilled the beans with Bentley, so here's the lowdown...
For a good 2 weeks before Grace was born I started not feeling well. I was very crampy, exhausted, and getting sick on & off again. At my 36 week appointment I was 1 cm dilated and at 37 weeks I was 1 cm and 50% effaced (this is what I measured with Bentley at week 38). As the days went on I felt worse and worse and about a week+ before I ended up giving birth I started having contractions. Natually, I thought it would be any day...and over a week passed with anywhere from 2-4 hours of minor contractions. The last weekend in April @ week 38 I really felt horrible but I was still just WAITING.
Monday 4/20: Pretty crampy and neurotic around the house, picking every little thing up and making sure everything was in its place. I went to bed at 9PM and woke up at 10PM to what felt like I peed my pants a little. Yummy. I went to the bathroom and knew something was up so I called the Drs. office. The nurse called back and said to head into the hospital and they would check if my water had ruptured. I called Mum & Dad to come over and stay with Bentley and after a shower, we left at about 11PM for the hospital. In case you were worried I took the time to make the bed and fold a few things...
Tuesday 5/1: We got to the hospital just before midnight, went through registration, and headed back to ante-natal waiting. It wasn't much of a wait...at least it didn't feel like it...probably because unlike with Bentley I wasn't having raging contractions in the waiting area. After we got to our room the nurse did a test to confirm if my water broke and it came back negative; then the Dr. came in to repeat the test and do a different test and those both came back negative. Not convinced I didn't actually rupture my water, the OB on call wanted me to have an ultrasound to check my fluid levels. Downstairs to Emergency we go for an ultrasound with a really sketchy man-nurse. While waiting to head back up to Maternity I started balling because I knew I was being sent home. Back in our ante-natal room the nurse came in after about a half hour...she told us that we weren't going anywhere without a baby!! WAHOO!! The ultrasound showed that my fluid levels were at 2 when they should in fact be at 20. So this was a sign that for whatever reason - my water breaking or I don't know what else - my fluid levels were VERY low. They started me on IV fluids because sometimes that can help raise your levels. In the meantime the Dr. came in to tell us that we were being admitted to Labor & Delivery and they would start pitocin to augment labor. (They don't refer to it as "inducing" because my water had already broken ~ so it is actually "augmenting" in this case.) Before I knew it the wheelchair was there and the nice nurse Tracy came to bring us to our room.
We got into Labor & Delivery and I panicked! All of the sudden after 9 months going into that big room with the little baby warmer and bassinet...I had a momentary freak out. At about 6:30 I was hooked up to a low level of pitocin. The OB checked me and I was about 2 cm and 80% effaced. I started to get very crampy and by about 7:30 I was having full-blown contractions. Funny thing is that at this point even though they were getting worse and worse I could actually somewhat tolerate them ~ as opposed to with Bentley by the time my water broke I couldn't handle the horrible pain anymore because it had been SO long. Naturally, Chris fell asleep. I couldn't sleep because of the contractions. At about 10AM my nurse was going for a break and had the young, British, hot-ticket nurse from across the hall come watch me. She was hilarious and used to work in a plastic surgeons office...so she told us how she just got married in January and although she wants to have kids she wasn't ready yet BUT she had a scare last month and it was before she had a chance to get her Botox so she was freaking out - apparently Botox and pregnancy don't mix. I also learned a lot about Latisse - the stuff that grows your eyelashes. The on-call OB from my practice also works out of the spa I go to in Milford, she does some of their medical procedures. Awhile back I got a script for Latisse from her but couldn't use it while I was pregnant, so the big joke was that I had a prescription for my lash growing stuff in my wallet so that Chris could get it filled immediately after delivery...and it was from the same lady who was delivering our baby. Anyways...back to labor...I was in horrible pain but I felt like a wimp getting my epidural after only about 3 hours of real contractions since with Bentley it was 30 hours before I got it. By the time my nurse got back funny British nurse had put in the order for the epidural and the anesthesiologist was in our room. She and our regular nurse Brenda told me I was nuts for holding out on it any longer. It's about a 15 minute process - and the funny thing is I remember the needle prick hurting a little this time but with Bentley everything else hurt so bad I barely noticed. Chris stood behind me to watch ~ he did with Bentley, too ~ and the nurse asked him politely about 5 times to sit in the chair...of course he didn't want to so he teased her about it, while I am in contraction hell...and finally with her coaxing and my "strong urging" he at least leaned on the chair in case he went down for the count. Within about 20-25 minutes the epidural started working but just like with Bentley I had what is called a 'window' - where the medicine doesn't hit and you can feel everything still - in the same place where I had one with Bentley. After laying on that side for awhile it finally went away. I wasn't able to doze off so we were watching some terrible TV.
My nurse headed to lunch around noon because she figured by the time she came back we'd be ready for action. Boy was she right! She got back at 1PM and told me the Dr. was across the hall finishing a delivery and would come check me as soon as she was done. The Dr. rolled in at 1:20 to check me and said "Well I'm not leaving this room, that baby is right there!" WAHOOOO. It took a few for them to prep the bed, the baby warmer thingy, and get the Dr. all dressed up...and THREE pushes later Grace was OUT! Push, push, BABY! (If there was one of those "That was Easy" buttons there I would have banged the crap out of it!) It was literally about 1 minute of pushing. Grace Harper was born at 1:31 PM on Tuesday, May 1st (11 days early!). The first thing we noticed was that she looked EXACTLY like Bentley when he was born! Chris had his iPad and pulled up a picture of Bentley right after he was born to show the Dr. and nurses and even they couldn't believe it.
It was such a different experience than with Bentley and instead of bleeding out and almost ending up unconscious, I actually got to snuggle the newest little bundle and hold her for awhile while they cleaned her up. At my OB's request the nurses had the room prepped in case I did hemmorhage badly again and had even put in an extra IV line just in case. They had extra fluids & medicine to help with the bleeding waiting in case it was needed. I did bleed a little more than normal and due to what happened with Bentley my nurse was over cautious, which was GREAT. She gave me some extra pitocin...which I don't know the reason but they did it after Bentley's birth, too and it helps stop the bleeding, maybe by contracting your uterus or something...I don't know. She also gave me a shot in the leg to help with the bleeding as well. The only downside was that it made me nauseous, but in no time the bleeding was under control...and it wasn't bad to begin with anyways.
Her weight was 6.8 pounds ~ we took guesses before the nurse weighed her and at 6.7 I was the winning guess. Everyone in the room agreed that the winner got to keep the baby...so lucky me! She is 19 inches long.
Another plus of this experience is that we did not have that terrible incapable nurse so instead of waiting 8+ hours in Labor & Delivery we were moved to our post-partum room by 4PM. We had some company and then I had a couple of sleepless nights while the hubby snored away on his uncomfortable cot.
The pediatrician had to check Gracie and at her first check the lady freaked me out telling me 1) she had a little heart murmur but that it was very common in newborns and should go away, and 2) she has a dimple at the top of her bum crack that can signify spinal issues...and started asking me if anyone picked up on it during my ultrasounds or if it was mentioned before. So I was NERVOUS. Fortunately, the pedi that came in the next two days was much more reassuring. Her murmur was gone completely. The little dimple both he and her regular doctor said is nothing to worry about so that was a relief.
We headed home on Thursday 5/3. Grace's weight dropped to 6 lb 4 ounces but that is very common. She had her first pediatrician appointment on Friday 5/4 and their scale measured her at 6.7. On Sunday night I developed a fever so I had to go see the OB on Monday. I still have to take my pre-natal vitamin & iron, then head back for a 6 week follow up. Around the same time I will have another glucose test to make sure the gestational diabetes is gone.
SO...compared to about 38 hours of labor with Bentley this was a BREEZE!!! From the time my water broke to the time Grace was born it was about 15 and 1/2 hours; but from the time they started pitocin and I was actually having contractions to her birth was only 7 hours.
It's amazing how COMPLETELY DIFFERENT two pregnancies and two labors can be!!!
Now the question is...will there be a third???????????????
~E
For a good 2 weeks before Grace was born I started not feeling well. I was very crampy, exhausted, and getting sick on & off again. At my 36 week appointment I was 1 cm dilated and at 37 weeks I was 1 cm and 50% effaced (this is what I measured with Bentley at week 38). As the days went on I felt worse and worse and about a week+ before I ended up giving birth I started having contractions. Natually, I thought it would be any day...and over a week passed with anywhere from 2-4 hours of minor contractions. The last weekend in April @ week 38 I really felt horrible but I was still just WAITING.
Monday 4/20: Pretty crampy and neurotic around the house, picking every little thing up and making sure everything was in its place. I went to bed at 9PM and woke up at 10PM to what felt like I peed my pants a little. Yummy. I went to the bathroom and knew something was up so I called the Drs. office. The nurse called back and said to head into the hospital and they would check if my water had ruptured. I called Mum & Dad to come over and stay with Bentley and after a shower, we left at about 11PM for the hospital. In case you were worried I took the time to make the bed and fold a few things...
Tuesday 5/1: We got to the hospital just before midnight, went through registration, and headed back to ante-natal waiting. It wasn't much of a wait...at least it didn't feel like it...probably because unlike with Bentley I wasn't having raging contractions in the waiting area. After we got to our room the nurse did a test to confirm if my water broke and it came back negative; then the Dr. came in to repeat the test and do a different test and those both came back negative. Not convinced I didn't actually rupture my water, the OB on call wanted me to have an ultrasound to check my fluid levels. Downstairs to Emergency we go for an ultrasound with a really sketchy man-nurse. While waiting to head back up to Maternity I started balling because I knew I was being sent home. Back in our ante-natal room the nurse came in after about a half hour...she told us that we weren't going anywhere without a baby!! WAHOO!! The ultrasound showed that my fluid levels were at 2 when they should in fact be at 20. So this was a sign that for whatever reason - my water breaking or I don't know what else - my fluid levels were VERY low. They started me on IV fluids because sometimes that can help raise your levels. In the meantime the Dr. came in to tell us that we were being admitted to Labor & Delivery and they would start pitocin to augment labor. (They don't refer to it as "inducing" because my water had already broken ~ so it is actually "augmenting" in this case.) Before I knew it the wheelchair was there and the nice nurse Tracy came to bring us to our room.
We got into Labor & Delivery and I panicked! All of the sudden after 9 months going into that big room with the little baby warmer and bassinet...I had a momentary freak out. At about 6:30 I was hooked up to a low level of pitocin. The OB checked me and I was about 2 cm and 80% effaced. I started to get very crampy and by about 7:30 I was having full-blown contractions. Funny thing is that at this point even though they were getting worse and worse I could actually somewhat tolerate them ~ as opposed to with Bentley by the time my water broke I couldn't handle the horrible pain anymore because it had been SO long. Naturally, Chris fell asleep. I couldn't sleep because of the contractions. At about 10AM my nurse was going for a break and had the young, British, hot-ticket nurse from across the hall come watch me. She was hilarious and used to work in a plastic surgeons office...so she told us how she just got married in January and although she wants to have kids she wasn't ready yet BUT she had a scare last month and it was before she had a chance to get her Botox so she was freaking out - apparently Botox and pregnancy don't mix. I also learned a lot about Latisse - the stuff that grows your eyelashes. The on-call OB from my practice also works out of the spa I go to in Milford, she does some of their medical procedures. Awhile back I got a script for Latisse from her but couldn't use it while I was pregnant, so the big joke was that I had a prescription for my lash growing stuff in my wallet so that Chris could get it filled immediately after delivery...and it was from the same lady who was delivering our baby. Anyways...back to labor...I was in horrible pain but I felt like a wimp getting my epidural after only about 3 hours of real contractions since with Bentley it was 30 hours before I got it. By the time my nurse got back funny British nurse had put in the order for the epidural and the anesthesiologist was in our room. She and our regular nurse Brenda told me I was nuts for holding out on it any longer. It's about a 15 minute process - and the funny thing is I remember the needle prick hurting a little this time but with Bentley everything else hurt so bad I barely noticed. Chris stood behind me to watch ~ he did with Bentley, too ~ and the nurse asked him politely about 5 times to sit in the chair...of course he didn't want to so he teased her about it, while I am in contraction hell...and finally with her coaxing and my "strong urging" he at least leaned on the chair in case he went down for the count. Within about 20-25 minutes the epidural started working but just like with Bentley I had what is called a 'window' - where the medicine doesn't hit and you can feel everything still - in the same place where I had one with Bentley. After laying on that side for awhile it finally went away. I wasn't able to doze off so we were watching some terrible TV.
My nurse headed to lunch around noon because she figured by the time she came back we'd be ready for action. Boy was she right! She got back at 1PM and told me the Dr. was across the hall finishing a delivery and would come check me as soon as she was done. The Dr. rolled in at 1:20 to check me and said "Well I'm not leaving this room, that baby is right there!" WAHOOOO. It took a few for them to prep the bed, the baby warmer thingy, and get the Dr. all dressed up...and THREE pushes later Grace was OUT! Push, push, BABY! (If there was one of those "That was Easy" buttons there I would have banged the crap out of it!) It was literally about 1 minute of pushing. Grace Harper was born at 1:31 PM on Tuesday, May 1st (11 days early!). The first thing we noticed was that she looked EXACTLY like Bentley when he was born! Chris had his iPad and pulled up a picture of Bentley right after he was born to show the Dr. and nurses and even they couldn't believe it.
It was such a different experience than with Bentley and instead of bleeding out and almost ending up unconscious, I actually got to snuggle the newest little bundle and hold her for awhile while they cleaned her up. At my OB's request the nurses had the room prepped in case I did hemmorhage badly again and had even put in an extra IV line just in case. They had extra fluids & medicine to help with the bleeding waiting in case it was needed. I did bleed a little more than normal and due to what happened with Bentley my nurse was over cautious, which was GREAT. She gave me some extra pitocin...which I don't know the reason but they did it after Bentley's birth, too and it helps stop the bleeding, maybe by contracting your uterus or something...I don't know. She also gave me a shot in the leg to help with the bleeding as well. The only downside was that it made me nauseous, but in no time the bleeding was under control...and it wasn't bad to begin with anyways.
Her weight was 6.8 pounds ~ we took guesses before the nurse weighed her and at 6.7 I was the winning guess. Everyone in the room agreed that the winner got to keep the baby...so lucky me! She is 19 inches long.
Another plus of this experience is that we did not have that terrible incapable nurse so instead of waiting 8+ hours in Labor & Delivery we were moved to our post-partum room by 4PM. We had some company and then I had a couple of sleepless nights while the hubby snored away on his uncomfortable cot.
The pediatrician had to check Gracie and at her first check the lady freaked me out telling me 1) she had a little heart murmur but that it was very common in newborns and should go away, and 2) she has a dimple at the top of her bum crack that can signify spinal issues...and started asking me if anyone picked up on it during my ultrasounds or if it was mentioned before. So I was NERVOUS. Fortunately, the pedi that came in the next two days was much more reassuring. Her murmur was gone completely. The little dimple both he and her regular doctor said is nothing to worry about so that was a relief.
We headed home on Thursday 5/3. Grace's weight dropped to 6 lb 4 ounces but that is very common. She had her first pediatrician appointment on Friday 5/4 and their scale measured her at 6.7. On Sunday night I developed a fever so I had to go see the OB on Monday. I still have to take my pre-natal vitamin & iron, then head back for a 6 week follow up. Around the same time I will have another glucose test to make sure the gestational diabetes is gone.
SO...compared to about 38 hours of labor with Bentley this was a BREEZE!!! From the time my water broke to the time Grace was born it was about 15 and 1/2 hours; but from the time they started pitocin and I was actually having contractions to her birth was only 7 hours.
It's amazing how COMPLETELY DIFFERENT two pregnancies and two labors can be!!!
Now the question is...will there be a third???????????????
~E
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Bump Update...
OK, so we are at 37 weeks/3 days ~ full term! According to my weekly email update from Baby Center, BGS is 6 1/3 lbs and 19 inches long ~ like a stalk of swiss chard. However, yesterday I had a 37 week ultrasound and they estimate her size at 6 lbs 9 oz. BUT I'm not too confident in that measurement since they tell you it can fluctuate at least a pound either way. It was a bit confusing because the ultrasound tech said she was measuring a week behind and wanted to redo her femur measurement - that's what she thought was throwing it off - but then the Dr in the ultrasound office came in and said everything was fine. Today I had a weekly visit with my OB and I asked her to clarify ~ she said in fact that everything was totally fine and she was measuring in the 40th percentile.
I am incredibly crampy and have lots of pressure. It actually got much worse as of the weekend. I have also been barfing since late last week. It started with just a random barf a day and on Saturday started becoming several barfs a day. Sunday all I could keep down was Coke and some crackers and yesterday by the time we got to the hospital for my appointment I puked up what was left of my granola bar. Yummy.
As much as it sucks, its usually a good thing and means that stuffs a brewin'. Last week at my 36 week appointment I was 1 cm dilated. Today at 37 wks/3 days I am still a cm dilated but 50% effaced. Which means more action has been going on. With Bentley I had the same measurements at my 38 week appointment and went into labor 2 days later. So we'll see, there's no way of knowing for sure.
My anxiety has been acting up again the last few days which also leads me to believe I'm nearing the end. I had NONE with Bentley but not so lucky this time as everyone knows by now. The med adjustment has really helped over the last several weeks but anxiety has been creeping up again the last few days. My OB said its OK to use my Klonopin still if I'm finding I need it ~ I'm better off taking it than not taking it and being super anxious or worrying about the side effects, etc. So she eased my mind there. She basically said that if women are in labor and start freaking, they give it by IV so she appreciates that I'm worried about it but I'm better off using it when necessary. I did have Nubain (an analgesic/painkiller that basically enables you to become super relaxed during labor, to me it was a similar effect as a BIG dose of an anxiety med or something similar) with Bentley so all along I've kind of been expecting they'll use it again this time anyways.
I also don't have to go to the diabetes clinic anymore! Unless for some reason my numbers go haywire but based on the fact that I'm so pukey I'm just going to do the best I can until this kid arrives. I told them at my appt yesterday I had Coke & crackers because I couldn't keep anything down and they were fine with it. Except I had to meet with the bitch I told off a few weeks ago ~ I said I'd been having eggs in the AM but the last few days puking them up, so I tried a granola bar instead, didn't feel as sick but my AM number was high - so she told me 'well I guess you know you can't eat those anymore.' So I'm not sure what they expect of me - to eat eggs and barf it all up or to try and eat some carbs or something that will stay down and have my numbers be off. I talked to my OB today and she said at this point I'm fine, just do the best I can and eat what I can keep down. They'll check my blood sugar after the baby is born and then 6 weeks later I go to the lab for a two hour glucose test to make sure the diabetes has gone away. I was also told to "eat light" after labor. UM, OK so you're telling 1) a lady that will have gone through multiple hours of labor with no food allowed and 2) the same lady that has barely eaten "real" food in 2+ months to eat light?! We'll see how that goes. I understand the logic but come onnnnnnnn!! Anyways if the diabetes is gone at 6 weeks out I just get a letter and if not they tell you you're "pre diabetes" and you have to follow up with your primary care.
So the moral of the story and all you need to take away from my rambling is that I went into labor with Bentley at 38 weeks/2 days and I'm measuring about the same as of 37 weeks this time around, so I think we're in the home stretch. Bags are packed, the hubs and I are on our toes, and I am super sensitive to every feeling that may be a real contraction...
~E
I am incredibly crampy and have lots of pressure. It actually got much worse as of the weekend. I have also been barfing since late last week. It started with just a random barf a day and on Saturday started becoming several barfs a day. Sunday all I could keep down was Coke and some crackers and yesterday by the time we got to the hospital for my appointment I puked up what was left of my granola bar. Yummy.
As much as it sucks, its usually a good thing and means that stuffs a brewin'. Last week at my 36 week appointment I was 1 cm dilated. Today at 37 wks/3 days I am still a cm dilated but 50% effaced. Which means more action has been going on. With Bentley I had the same measurements at my 38 week appointment and went into labor 2 days later. So we'll see, there's no way of knowing for sure.
My anxiety has been acting up again the last few days which also leads me to believe I'm nearing the end. I had NONE with Bentley but not so lucky this time as everyone knows by now. The med adjustment has really helped over the last several weeks but anxiety has been creeping up again the last few days. My OB said its OK to use my Klonopin still if I'm finding I need it ~ I'm better off taking it than not taking it and being super anxious or worrying about the side effects, etc. So she eased my mind there. She basically said that if women are in labor and start freaking, they give it by IV so she appreciates that I'm worried about it but I'm better off using it when necessary. I did have Nubain (an analgesic/painkiller that basically enables you to become super relaxed during labor, to me it was a similar effect as a BIG dose of an anxiety med or something similar) with Bentley so all along I've kind of been expecting they'll use it again this time anyways.
I also don't have to go to the diabetes clinic anymore! Unless for some reason my numbers go haywire but based on the fact that I'm so pukey I'm just going to do the best I can until this kid arrives. I told them at my appt yesterday I had Coke & crackers because I couldn't keep anything down and they were fine with it. Except I had to meet with the bitch I told off a few weeks ago ~ I said I'd been having eggs in the AM but the last few days puking them up, so I tried a granola bar instead, didn't feel as sick but my AM number was high - so she told me 'well I guess you know you can't eat those anymore.' So I'm not sure what they expect of me - to eat eggs and barf it all up or to try and eat some carbs or something that will stay down and have my numbers be off. I talked to my OB today and she said at this point I'm fine, just do the best I can and eat what I can keep down. They'll check my blood sugar after the baby is born and then 6 weeks later I go to the lab for a two hour glucose test to make sure the diabetes has gone away. I was also told to "eat light" after labor. UM, OK so you're telling 1) a lady that will have gone through multiple hours of labor with no food allowed and 2) the same lady that has barely eaten "real" food in 2+ months to eat light?! We'll see how that goes. I understand the logic but come onnnnnnnn!! Anyways if the diabetes is gone at 6 weeks out I just get a letter and if not they tell you you're "pre diabetes" and you have to follow up with your primary care.
So the moral of the story and all you need to take away from my rambling is that I went into labor with Bentley at 38 weeks/2 days and I'm measuring about the same as of 37 weeks this time around, so I think we're in the home stretch. Bags are packed, the hubs and I are on our toes, and I am super sensitive to every feeling that may be a real contraction...
~E
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Baby Bump Comparison
I just got my hard drive back and also finally decided to load the pictures from the flash drive my Dad gave me months ago. I found a bunch of pics I was looking for of when I was pregnant with Bentley...
These were the day of my baby shower @ about 7 1/2 months or so...(the last one is really classy)...
And here's the BEST - me at the hospital in labor before they sent me HOME. Don't I look thrilled?!
There is quite the difference in belly size from Bentley to BGS, especially now that we are at the 9 month mark!!! With Bentley I was super bloated and between 8 weeks - 38 weeks I gained 51 lbs. Wowza. This time I started off heavier because I didn't lose nearly enough Bentley weight before getting pregnant again, but I've only gained 15 lbs. It's all in the belly/boobs and I don't quite look like I've been stung by a thousand bees in the face. I've actually lost weight the last two appointments because of this diet. Here's to taking it off as fast as possible!
~E
These were the day of my baby shower @ about 7 1/2 months or so...(the last one is really classy)...
These ones are at 38 weeks, two days before I went into labor...
And here's the BEST - me at the hospital in labor before they sent me HOME. Don't I look thrilled?!
There is quite the difference in belly size from Bentley to BGS, especially now that we are at the 9 month mark!!! With Bentley I was super bloated and between 8 weeks - 38 weeks I gained 51 lbs. Wowza. This time I started off heavier because I didn't lose nearly enough Bentley weight before getting pregnant again, but I've only gained 15 lbs. It's all in the belly/boobs and I don't quite look like I've been stung by a thousand bees in the face. I've actually lost weight the last two appointments because of this diet. Here's to taking it off as fast as possible!
~E
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Pregnancy Fun
I thought it was about time for a fun pregnancy re-cap of the last 9 months. My poor husband has put up with a lot of craziness, low times, and crying...
1. Mood swings ~ Wayyy worse that with Bentley. We're talking impatient, no fuse, to the point where I want to scratch someone's eyes out. It's BAD. And I have a bit of a temper.
2. Meltdowns ~ I had more mental breakdowns and crying fits this time than with Bentley. Poor hub would get calls with me balling over who knows what while he's up on a ladder working his ass off.
3. The whole anxiety/depression craziness that went on for MONTHS. Started up with the anxiety before the winter holidays, turned into some pretty crummy depression, and then tons of appointments/changes in meds to finally get things mostly under control. Frustrating stuff. Especially frustrating for the hubby when I could barely get off the couch to function.
4. Barfing ~ Just like with Bentley I barfed my brains out for the first trimester & a half; then once the anxiety kicked in I continued randomly barfing when that acted up. The barfing has been much much much less than with Bentley but I am still getting sick every now and again.
5. Cravings actually haven't been that bad this time around, but of course the gestational diabetes diagnosis doesn't help. And it doesn't help calling the hub crying hysterically because "I don't feel good and I can't even eat what I want..." WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
6. Growing body parts - Enough said.
7. Nesting ~ Since Bentley came early I wanted to have the bulk of the projects, like the nursery, done earlier in pregnancy than with him. So at about weeks 25-30 I was painting furniture like a mad woman and he was moving it upstairs, hanging things, and being my general handyman to finish up the nursery.
8. Until about 3 weeks ago I was a housewife disaster ~ leaving a tornado of stuff everywhere I went. Then the final nesting urge kicked in and now I am back to my OCD self. The house is clean, cabinets have been cleaned out and organized, everything in the nursery is ready, Bentley is stocked up on spring clothes, we have diapers/wipes for both kids, formula is bought and ready to go, bottles are cleaned and organized in the cabinet with Bentley's cups, my couch slipcovers are cleaned, and I'm actually keeping up with the laundry which is unheard of. Too bad it only took 34 weeks for this to kick in.
9. Excessive body temperature - I am HOT, and I take up the entire bed with my belly & body pillow. And Christopher hasn't moved to the guest room yet. Sometimes when I wake up I look over at him and the poor kid is curled in a ball on the very edge of the bed. What a good sport.
10. Noises, noises, and more noises ~ Christopher has made me very aware that I am grunting and groaning a lot these days, and usually I don't even know I'm doing it. This baby has me so uncomfortable I am unknowingly groaning every time I move. AND there are still certain ways I can't move - like reaching my feet - forget it. I had to wear tights a couple of weeks ago and my poor hub had to help me put them on. How sad is that?!
I need to reiterate the neurotic OCDness. More examples...
~There can be nothing in the sink. I must run the dishwasher at least once a day.
~Today I was putting the laundry away but was distracted by the crooked hardward on my dresser so those have to remain straight and even at all times.
~The bed HAS to be made.
~I have to keep up with the laundry ~ today I did a load of two items, a towel and my bath mat. What if I go into labor and my white bath mat is dirty?!
~Bentley's toys need to remain picked up at all times. I realize this is totally unrealistic but as much as possible I follow him around and pick things up.
~My decorations - frames, vases, etc. - NEED to be in their place. I probably adjust things a couple of times a day in case they've magically moved.
~I continually review my list of 'to-dos' which really has nothing left that has to get done before BGS comes. But the hubs has a few things on the list I made for him that I'm hounding him about every night when he gets home!
~There are notes all over my house and also packed with Bentley's bag for whoever is taking care of him while we're in the hospital.
Love you hubbyyyyyyyy!!! ily
~E
1. Mood swings ~ Wayyy worse that with Bentley. We're talking impatient, no fuse, to the point where I want to scratch someone's eyes out. It's BAD. And I have a bit of a temper.
2. Meltdowns ~ I had more mental breakdowns and crying fits this time than with Bentley. Poor hub would get calls with me balling over who knows what while he's up on a ladder working his ass off.
3. The whole anxiety/depression craziness that went on for MONTHS. Started up with the anxiety before the winter holidays, turned into some pretty crummy depression, and then tons of appointments/changes in meds to finally get things mostly under control. Frustrating stuff. Especially frustrating for the hubby when I could barely get off the couch to function.
4. Barfing ~ Just like with Bentley I barfed my brains out for the first trimester & a half; then once the anxiety kicked in I continued randomly barfing when that acted up. The barfing has been much much much less than with Bentley but I am still getting sick every now and again.
5. Cravings actually haven't been that bad this time around, but of course the gestational diabetes diagnosis doesn't help. And it doesn't help calling the hub crying hysterically because "I don't feel good and I can't even eat what I want..." WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
6. Growing body parts - Enough said.
7. Nesting ~ Since Bentley came early I wanted to have the bulk of the projects, like the nursery, done earlier in pregnancy than with him. So at about weeks 25-30 I was painting furniture like a mad woman and he was moving it upstairs, hanging things, and being my general handyman to finish up the nursery.
8. Until about 3 weeks ago I was a housewife disaster ~ leaving a tornado of stuff everywhere I went. Then the final nesting urge kicked in and now I am back to my OCD self. The house is clean, cabinets have been cleaned out and organized, everything in the nursery is ready, Bentley is stocked up on spring clothes, we have diapers/wipes for both kids, formula is bought and ready to go, bottles are cleaned and organized in the cabinet with Bentley's cups, my couch slipcovers are cleaned, and I'm actually keeping up with the laundry which is unheard of. Too bad it only took 34 weeks for this to kick in.
9. Excessive body temperature - I am HOT, and I take up the entire bed with my belly & body pillow. And Christopher hasn't moved to the guest room yet. Sometimes when I wake up I look over at him and the poor kid is curled in a ball on the very edge of the bed. What a good sport.
10. Noises, noises, and more noises ~ Christopher has made me very aware that I am grunting and groaning a lot these days, and usually I don't even know I'm doing it. This baby has me so uncomfortable I am unknowingly groaning every time I move. AND there are still certain ways I can't move - like reaching my feet - forget it. I had to wear tights a couple of weeks ago and my poor hub had to help me put them on. How sad is that?!
I need to reiterate the neurotic OCDness. More examples...
~There can be nothing in the sink. I must run the dishwasher at least once a day.
~Today I was putting the laundry away but was distracted by the crooked hardward on my dresser so those have to remain straight and even at all times.
~The bed HAS to be made.
~I have to keep up with the laundry ~ today I did a load of two items, a towel and my bath mat. What if I go into labor and my white bath mat is dirty?!
~Bentley's toys need to remain picked up at all times. I realize this is totally unrealistic but as much as possible I follow him around and pick things up.
~My decorations - frames, vases, etc. - NEED to be in their place. I probably adjust things a couple of times a day in case they've magically moved.
~I continually review my list of 'to-dos' which really has nothing left that has to get done before BGS comes. But the hubs has a few things on the list I made for him that I'm hounding him about every night when he gets home!
~There are notes all over my house and also packed with Bentley's bag for whoever is taking care of him while we're in the hospital.
Love you hubbyyyyyyyy!!! ily
~E
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Bump Update...
We are in WEEK 37 ~ 36 weeks/3 days to be exact. As I sit here sweating I thought I would give you an update after my OB appointment today...
On the food-to-fetus comparison BGS is about 6 lbs, like a crenshaw melon. What in the SAM HELL is a crenshaw melon?! I had to look it up...
On the food-to-fetus comparison BGS is about 6 lbs, like a crenshaw melon. What in the SAM HELL is a crenshaw melon?! I had to look it up...
She is about 18 and 1/2 inches long. On Saturday @ 37 weeks she will be considered full term. She is head down, which is good. Her heart rate is perfect and my belly is measuring right on track for her 'age' or whatever you'd call it. I asked the Dr to check me today because for about the last 3 weeks especially at night I have been crampy and having Braxton Hicks contractions. Sure enough I am already dialating ~ only a centimeter but at 36 weeks/3 days I'll take it. WE GOT ACTION!! As I think I already mentioned, with Bentley at my 38 week appointment I was about a centimeter dialated and 50% effaced and I went into labor two days later. So I will take a centimeter dialated at this early point!!! There is no way of telling when anything will happen but we're moving in the right direction ~ and EARLY ~ which is good for me! Next Monday I have an ultrasound to check her size/measurements because of the diabetes. They check to see if she is considered "big" which I don't think she will be. If she is...well, that will be a whole different story as of next week. A week from today/next Tues I have another visit with my OB. Then if I make it to the following week she will schedule me for a non-stress test because of the diabetes ~ she said because I'm not on insulin we don't really need it but she would like me to have one to be safe. As much as I'm ready to go for selfish reasons I hope she holds off until after next Monday so I can keep my eyebrow wax appointment. ;) Don't want to be going into labor and having pics taken with untamed brows.
So that's about it for now. I am uncomfortable as hell and the heat is not helping. I really just want to sit outside and get some color while Bentley naps but I feel like crap and I don't need the hubby to come home and find me in a pile in the back yard. Today I was yaking my breakfast up at the Drs office. So I am sweating and feeling crummy inside, waddling around the house when I need to move and chugging ice water. I am completely neurotic with keeping the house as picked up as possible and having some anxiety but not bad. WE ARE CLOSE TO BGS' ARRIVAL AND TO ME BEING ABLE TO HAVE REAL FOOD AND A FROSTY COLD BEER!!!! WAHOOO!!!
I think I'm about to go barf again but I cannot forget to mention that TODAY BENTLEY IS 21 MONTHS OLD!!! AHHHHHH I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! AND ALMOST A BIG BROTHER!!! I will post some 21 months pics soon...
~E
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Maternity Pics...
As I've mentioned before, the hubby comes from a family of amazing artists. One of his Aunts paints, draws, you name it ~ and she also happens to be an excellent photographer. So on Easter she took a few maternity pics for me since I didn't get any done with Bentley. I had planned on it but he came so early it didn't happen. Here's a sneak preview...
We snuck in a few family shots...
Thanks, Auntie Sandy!! xo
~E
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Bump Update...
So we're in WEEK 36 (updated bump picture coming this week...)! The latest food-to-fetus comparison is a honeydew melon. BGS is supposedly 18 inches long and 5 1/4 pounds. It's funny because I am carrying so differently than with Bentley. With him I had a big round belly that went alllllll the way around and my belly button only popped a little. This munchkin is just plopped right on the front of me and my bellly button is sticking out much more so I look very pointy. It's odd. I am pretty uncomfortable but surviving.
Today I had a check-up at the gestational diabetes clinic. FUN. Every time you go you meet with different people so there is very little consistency and you get asked a lot of the same questions over and over. The nice lady Grace who takes my weight and blood pressure is really the only person I don't want to punch in the face when I go there. After I saw her today, they shipped me over to the dietician again ~ to talk about the same things we discussed last time. Some of my morning numbers have been high which she said is very common at this point in pregnancy. Hormones are crazy the next few weeks and it happens to a lot of women, and the morning is the hardest to control. So after I told her about all the same foods I am eating...that we discussed 3 weeks ago...she again told me to eat more eggs and veggies. She made a brief mention that worst case if I can't get them down I'll need a "little bit" of insulin to keep my morning numbers down. This didn't sit well with me as I waited to see what I thought was a nurse but turned out to be another Dr./Endocrinologist. He was a nice guy and after I told him how some of my morning numbers were spiking just in the last week he actually seemed to listen to me when I said that at this point in my pregnancy I had NO interest in starting insulin. It would be one thing if all of my numbers were out of control but for a handful of morning spikes that I feel pretty good about being able to control, I don't want to add anything else to my regiment at this point. This has been such a hard pregnancy for lots of different reasons and I told him that for the remaining 3 maybe 4 weeks my personal preference is NOT to add anything else and not to start insulin ~ I would prefer to just go about the best I can to control things by my diet. He was very understanding and suggested although he knew I couldn't do a lot of exercising b/c of the early labor scare that even walking just around the first floor or inside the house for 10 mins after breakfast should help. So I agreed to try that and he wanted me to call in on Thursday and report how my numbers were doing for the next few mornings. All was fine and I left...
About 15 minutes later I get a call from the hospital from some lady named Kathy who didn't specify who she was or where she was from. She just started asking me if I just had an appt. with Dr. LeRosa I think was his name ~ I was clueless who she was and I said I just left an appt with the male Dr. but did not know his name. She immediately started insisting that I schedule an appointment for Thursday to come in instead of calling in with my numbers because if they were high the next couple of days she wanted me to start my insulin on Thursday. WTF lady - I don't even know who you are?! Let's just say she pissed me off very quickly (not hard these days but still...). I tried to explain to her that I spoke to the Dr. and agreed that I would call to check in with my numbers on Thursday and we'd go from there, I had another appointment already on the calendar. She pushed and pushed that she wanted me to come in on Thursday so I could start insulin right away and not wait any longer. After telling her that I was a little confused because this isn't what I talked about with the Dr., and I don't even know my schedule Thursday or if I can get a sitter, she kept pushing. This bitch wouldn't quit. I tried telling her that I am not interested in taking insulin at this point and my preference is to do the best I can diet-controlled only (of course it would be different if all of my numbers were out of whack but this is not the case). This bitch was so persistent that I finally told her "listen, what I'm saying is that even if you give me insulin, I'm not taking it." Well she didn't like that and copped an attitude. I said for the last time "I will call you on Thursday to report in my numbers and we'll take it from there." Then she hung up.
I was HEATED. I already don't like these appointments as I've made very clear and now I have some unknown lady all up in my business when I don't even know who she is/her title/what she knows about my pregnancy. I left a message with my OB to discuss with her because as of last week she knew a few of my morning numbers were starting to spike and told me just to do the best I can and as long as they're on track most of the time that's OK. Then I called the nice lady Grace at the clinic to tell her what happened. Apparently this lady is a Nurse Educator and I was supposed to have met her by now but haven't ~ so I explained the situation and that I felt totally caught off guard with some woman who's role/title I didn't know ~ she didn't explain who she was, who I've never met, I don't know if she even talked to the Dr. I saw, calling me pushing an appointment to come in and start insulin when this is not what I discussed with the Dr. I just saw, and that she was very persistent and pushy. I made clear to Grace as well that at this point in my pregnancy right now I am not interested in adding insulin ~ I'll do the best I can by diet but that's it. So Grace and I agreed I'd call Thursday to report in and that if my numbers were wacky still she would move my appointment up to next week instead of the following, which I agreed to.
It's very frustrating trying to eat so strictly - especially at 8/9 months pregnant - and I'm doing the best I can but not gonna lie, I've cheated a few times. Sometimes Mama just needs a Caramel Frappe or a Coke but 98% of the time I have been doing really well. I know this clinic is there to help but its hard meeting with different people every week who are asking you the same questions and you aren't building a relationship or any sort of trust with them. I feel like they're telling all of the pregnant ladies the same thing so it kind of makes you feel like just another face they're seeing without really knowing your background. So that is my poor experience of the day. I knew I was gonna snap at someone soon and it looks like today was the day. Glad the nice lady Grace took my call to vent because I felt like someone should know and something like that should not be happening to someone else.
That's about all for now!
~E
Today I had a check-up at the gestational diabetes clinic. FUN. Every time you go you meet with different people so there is very little consistency and you get asked a lot of the same questions over and over. The nice lady Grace who takes my weight and blood pressure is really the only person I don't want to punch in the face when I go there. After I saw her today, they shipped me over to the dietician again ~ to talk about the same things we discussed last time. Some of my morning numbers have been high which she said is very common at this point in pregnancy. Hormones are crazy the next few weeks and it happens to a lot of women, and the morning is the hardest to control. So after I told her about all the same foods I am eating...that we discussed 3 weeks ago...she again told me to eat more eggs and veggies. She made a brief mention that worst case if I can't get them down I'll need a "little bit" of insulin to keep my morning numbers down. This didn't sit well with me as I waited to see what I thought was a nurse but turned out to be another Dr./Endocrinologist. He was a nice guy and after I told him how some of my morning numbers were spiking just in the last week he actually seemed to listen to me when I said that at this point in my pregnancy I had NO interest in starting insulin. It would be one thing if all of my numbers were out of control but for a handful of morning spikes that I feel pretty good about being able to control, I don't want to add anything else to my regiment at this point. This has been such a hard pregnancy for lots of different reasons and I told him that for the remaining 3 maybe 4 weeks my personal preference is NOT to add anything else and not to start insulin ~ I would prefer to just go about the best I can to control things by my diet. He was very understanding and suggested although he knew I couldn't do a lot of exercising b/c of the early labor scare that even walking just around the first floor or inside the house for 10 mins after breakfast should help. So I agreed to try that and he wanted me to call in on Thursday and report how my numbers were doing for the next few mornings. All was fine and I left...
About 15 minutes later I get a call from the hospital from some lady named Kathy who didn't specify who she was or where she was from. She just started asking me if I just had an appt. with Dr. LeRosa I think was his name ~ I was clueless who she was and I said I just left an appt with the male Dr. but did not know his name. She immediately started insisting that I schedule an appointment for Thursday to come in instead of calling in with my numbers because if they were high the next couple of days she wanted me to start my insulin on Thursday. WTF lady - I don't even know who you are?! Let's just say she pissed me off very quickly (not hard these days but still...). I tried to explain to her that I spoke to the Dr. and agreed that I would call to check in with my numbers on Thursday and we'd go from there, I had another appointment already on the calendar. She pushed and pushed that she wanted me to come in on Thursday so I could start insulin right away and not wait any longer. After telling her that I was a little confused because this isn't what I talked about with the Dr., and I don't even know my schedule Thursday or if I can get a sitter, she kept pushing. This bitch wouldn't quit. I tried telling her that I am not interested in taking insulin at this point and my preference is to do the best I can diet-controlled only (of course it would be different if all of my numbers were out of whack but this is not the case). This bitch was so persistent that I finally told her "listen, what I'm saying is that even if you give me insulin, I'm not taking it." Well she didn't like that and copped an attitude. I said for the last time "I will call you on Thursday to report in my numbers and we'll take it from there." Then she hung up.
I was HEATED. I already don't like these appointments as I've made very clear and now I have some unknown lady all up in my business when I don't even know who she is/her title/what she knows about my pregnancy. I left a message with my OB to discuss with her because as of last week she knew a few of my morning numbers were starting to spike and told me just to do the best I can and as long as they're on track most of the time that's OK. Then I called the nice lady Grace at the clinic to tell her what happened. Apparently this lady is a Nurse Educator and I was supposed to have met her by now but haven't ~ so I explained the situation and that I felt totally caught off guard with some woman who's role/title I didn't know ~ she didn't explain who she was, who I've never met, I don't know if she even talked to the Dr. I saw, calling me pushing an appointment to come in and start insulin when this is not what I discussed with the Dr. I just saw, and that she was very persistent and pushy. I made clear to Grace as well that at this point in my pregnancy right now I am not interested in adding insulin ~ I'll do the best I can by diet but that's it. So Grace and I agreed I'd call Thursday to report in and that if my numbers were wacky still she would move my appointment up to next week instead of the following, which I agreed to.
It's very frustrating trying to eat so strictly - especially at 8/9 months pregnant - and I'm doing the best I can but not gonna lie, I've cheated a few times. Sometimes Mama just needs a Caramel Frappe or a Coke but 98% of the time I have been doing really well. I know this clinic is there to help but its hard meeting with different people every week who are asking you the same questions and you aren't building a relationship or any sort of trust with them. I feel like they're telling all of the pregnant ladies the same thing so it kind of makes you feel like just another face they're seeing without really knowing your background. So that is my poor experience of the day. I knew I was gonna snap at someone soon and it looks like today was the day. Glad the nice lady Grace took my call to vent because I felt like someone should know and something like that should not be happening to someone else.
That's about all for now!
~E
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Update...
Time for a Casa de Strazz update I guess...
On the pregnancy front ~ We are into WEEK 35! This baby at this point could come anytime. I have been starting to have Braxton Hicks contractions. The crampiness I had a few weeks back got better but picked up again today. And there is just TONS of pressure in my lower belly making me uncomfortable. The hubby says I grunt and groan a lot - and most of the time I don't even notice. ;) BGS as of this week's food comparison is about 4 and 3/4 pounds, like an average cantelouple. She is about 18 inches long. On the diabetes front there isn't much to report. I have been doing my best to eat well and keep my blood sugar in check. For the most part its been OK, I go next Monday for a check up at the diabetes clinic - JOY. I saw my OB today and my belly measurement & BGS' heartbeat are all good. I see her 2 weeks from today and then my appointments will be weekly, so we are really down to the wire! I have an ultrasound at 37 weeks to check her size. Other than being totally exhausted and uncomfortable I have actually been getting a lot done the last few weeks ~ I've hit the neurotic crazy organizing phase at the end of pregnancy. I've cleaned out and reorganized the entire kitchen & upstairs bathroom (with some help from Mum), the nursery is totally ready, carseat is in the mudroom and ready to go, and we are all packed up just in case. A few odds & ends left and its a waiting game now!
Bentley is fantastic. He's such a character. At 20 months he is a wild man ~ still sleeping great but when he is awake he's nuts! He's just like his father...NON-STOP! We've gated off the office so he's a bit more restricted, but now he likes to climb on all of the chairs. Last week he moved a chair in front of the kitchen sink, climbed up and was looking like he wanted to get onto the counter. He can climb from chairs onto the kitchen table ~ not that I let him but he CAN do it. All day long he asks for DaDa. He's way into Hurley and is always patting his leg like I do when I call Hurl inside and calling "dog doggggg" even when we are in the car. He chased Hurley around the other day trying to give him kisses. Daddy taught him to "put his dukes up" and its hilarious. He's still doing swim when DeDe can take him but at this point they'd just find me floating like a whale in the pool so I am not much help.
That's about it for now. Like I said, a few things to get done but mostly ready for this babe and just waiting around being uncomfortable. This week we are going to get Bentley some pictures with the Easter Bunny and on Friday are coloring eggs. Weekends are now packed with showers and birthday parties. Keep you posted on any changes!
~E
On the pregnancy front ~ We are into WEEK 35! This baby at this point could come anytime. I have been starting to have Braxton Hicks contractions. The crampiness I had a few weeks back got better but picked up again today. And there is just TONS of pressure in my lower belly making me uncomfortable. The hubby says I grunt and groan a lot - and most of the time I don't even notice. ;) BGS as of this week's food comparison is about 4 and 3/4 pounds, like an average cantelouple. She is about 18 inches long. On the diabetes front there isn't much to report. I have been doing my best to eat well and keep my blood sugar in check. For the most part its been OK, I go next Monday for a check up at the diabetes clinic - JOY. I saw my OB today and my belly measurement & BGS' heartbeat are all good. I see her 2 weeks from today and then my appointments will be weekly, so we are really down to the wire! I have an ultrasound at 37 weeks to check her size. Other than being totally exhausted and uncomfortable I have actually been getting a lot done the last few weeks ~ I've hit the neurotic crazy organizing phase at the end of pregnancy. I've cleaned out and reorganized the entire kitchen & upstairs bathroom (with some help from Mum), the nursery is totally ready, carseat is in the mudroom and ready to go, and we are all packed up just in case. A few odds & ends left and its a waiting game now!
Bentley is fantastic. He's such a character. At 20 months he is a wild man ~ still sleeping great but when he is awake he's nuts! He's just like his father...NON-STOP! We've gated off the office so he's a bit more restricted, but now he likes to climb on all of the chairs. Last week he moved a chair in front of the kitchen sink, climbed up and was looking like he wanted to get onto the counter. He can climb from chairs onto the kitchen table ~ not that I let him but he CAN do it. All day long he asks for DaDa. He's way into Hurley and is always patting his leg like I do when I call Hurl inside and calling "dog doggggg" even when we are in the car. He chased Hurley around the other day trying to give him kisses. Daddy taught him to "put his dukes up" and its hilarious. He's still doing swim when DeDe can take him but at this point they'd just find me floating like a whale in the pool so I am not much help.
That's about it for now. Like I said, a few things to get done but mostly ready for this babe and just waiting around being uncomfortable. This week we are going to get Bentley some pictures with the Easter Bunny and on Friday are coloring eggs. Weekends are now packed with showers and birthday parties. Keep you posted on any changes!
~E
Thursday, March 15, 2012
The New Drama
Let's be real - this pregnancy has sucked. I would take puking non-stop for 7 1/2 months like I did with Bentley over and over and over. So I've been kind of crampy since last week and Tuesday it got worse, and one side was really bothering me. Late in the day on Tues I called the Drs. answering service just to be safe ~ the feeling was similar to what I felt a few days before I went into labor with Bentley. The nurse asked me a bunch of questions and decided she wanted me to go to the hospital 1) to rule out a UTI/infection and 2) to make sure I wasn't having contractions/early labor. Sweet.
So I called Mum and she came over right away and we headed to Newton Wellesley on Tuesday night. I had to go up to the maternity ward to antenatal to be hooked up to the machines and monitored. They were monitoring me for contractions and checking baby girl's heart rate. We spent a couple of hours there. Monitoring, checking for infection, and I saw a Dr. to make sure I wasn't dilated. They released me under the instructions to rest, drink lots of water, and call my OB first thing in the morning to set up an ultrasound.
I barely slept, but finally fell asleep when the hub left for work and he woke me up with a call at 9:20. Yes, Bentley was still asleep. I called the Dr. right away and the receptionist booked me an ultrasound for 11:30 so I cancelled the rest of my appts. for the day as this was clearly the priority. After a regular external and also an internal ultrasound, the radiologist told me to head up to my Drs. office before I left to check in, as they were sending the results right up.
I actually bumped into my OB in the hall and she had heard I was in the hospital the night before, so she told me to come up and she'd see me. I waited for a bit because "sending the results right up" of course took over a half hour. My Dr. confirmed that there was no infection, the baby is totally fine ~ her growth is right on track (and she is not even close to 'too big' which is what they watch for with gestational diabetes, she's 3 lb 13 oz), my fluid levels are fine, and I am not dilated at all. So she said as of right then, all was OK. BUT she was nervous that this is how I felt shortly before I went into labor with Bentley so she wants me on bedrest as much as possible and if anything changes/gets worse to call right away. She also didn't want to go into the weekend without checking in so I have to be seen on Friday when they'll do a test that with 99% accuracy confirms if I'll go into pre-term labor.
So, I'm trying to rest and waiting for tomorrow. My appt isn't until 3 so I'm really hoping they'll have the results of this test right away so I don't have to wait the weekend. I really need a room at the hospital at this point - will be there 3 times this week, then again Monday and Tuesday for a diabetes appt and my regular 2 week OB check in.
Thanks to Mum and Auntie Diane for helping a ton in the last couple of days!
GOOD TIMES!!!!
~E
So I called Mum and she came over right away and we headed to Newton Wellesley on Tuesday night. I had to go up to the maternity ward to antenatal to be hooked up to the machines and monitored. They were monitoring me for contractions and checking baby girl's heart rate. We spent a couple of hours there. Monitoring, checking for infection, and I saw a Dr. to make sure I wasn't dilated. They released me under the instructions to rest, drink lots of water, and call my OB first thing in the morning to set up an ultrasound.
I barely slept, but finally fell asleep when the hub left for work and he woke me up with a call at 9:20. Yes, Bentley was still asleep. I called the Dr. right away and the receptionist booked me an ultrasound for 11:30 so I cancelled the rest of my appts. for the day as this was clearly the priority. After a regular external and also an internal ultrasound, the radiologist told me to head up to my Drs. office before I left to check in, as they were sending the results right up.
I actually bumped into my OB in the hall and she had heard I was in the hospital the night before, so she told me to come up and she'd see me. I waited for a bit because "sending the results right up" of course took over a half hour. My Dr. confirmed that there was no infection, the baby is totally fine ~ her growth is right on track (and she is not even close to 'too big' which is what they watch for with gestational diabetes, she's 3 lb 13 oz), my fluid levels are fine, and I am not dilated at all. So she said as of right then, all was OK. BUT she was nervous that this is how I felt shortly before I went into labor with Bentley so she wants me on bedrest as much as possible and if anything changes/gets worse to call right away. She also didn't want to go into the weekend without checking in so I have to be seen on Friday when they'll do a test that with 99% accuracy confirms if I'll go into pre-term labor.
So, I'm trying to rest and waiting for tomorrow. My appt isn't until 3 so I'm really hoping they'll have the results of this test right away so I don't have to wait the weekend. I really need a room at the hospital at this point - will be there 3 times this week, then again Monday and Tuesday for a diabetes appt and my regular 2 week OB check in.
Thanks to Mum and Auntie Diane for helping a ton in the last couple of days!
GOOD TIMES!!!!
~E
Friday, March 9, 2012
Diabetes Shiametes...
Well I just got back from my first meeting at the diabetes clinic. I met with a nurse first to go over my schedule (pricking myself) and then with a dietician to go over what I should be eating. Here's the drill...
First thing in the AM:
1) Pee on a stick to check my keytones - if they are high two days in a row I have to be seen
2) Prick myself to check my fasting blood sugar - BOOOOO
Breakfast = 30g carbs / unlimited veggies & protein
*An hour after breakfast I have to stab myself to check my blood sugar - Insert more BOOOOOs here
Snack = 30g carbs / unlimited veggies & protein
Lunch = 45g carbs / unlimited veggies & protein
*Prick myself again an hour after lunch to check my blood sugar
Snack = 30g carbs / unlimited veggies & protein
Dinner = 45g carbs / unlimited veggies & protein
*Last prick of the day to check/record blood sugar
Snack = 30g carbs / unlimited veggies & protein
Basically they told me you get gestational diabetes because at a certain point in pregnancy the placenta starts producing a hormone (so they check you when this hormone is highest) and it can affect how your cells react to the sugars, i.e. creating high blood sugar. I was worried about having to count calories, etc. but really I just have to count carbs ~ counting out what I eat is NOT for me. They also recommend having protein with each meal/snack as it will help reduce blood sugar by the way it reacts with carbs. And walking will help. I also have to go to a "diabetes clinic" on Mondays where I meet with an endocrinologist to review how things are going. Otherwise, if my keytones are high for 2 days in a row or if my blood sugar is high for a couple/few days in a row and I can't get it down, then I have to call in.
Really its just a nuisance & annoying, even my OB said so. The nurse said that it will be like a science experiment for a little while to see how my body reacts to what foods, raising my blood sugar. I'm just not looking forward to any more freakin' appointments this pregnancy, I think I am wearing out my babysitters, i.e. Grammy & DeDe.
Anywho, just thought I'd share...
In other baby news, Baby "SECRET NAME" Strazz is 16 inches long and 3.3 lbs, the weight of 4 naval oranges. All I know is that she is kicking the crap out of me!!
~E
First thing in the AM:
1) Pee on a stick to check my keytones - if they are high two days in a row I have to be seen
2) Prick myself to check my fasting blood sugar - BOOOOO
Breakfast = 30g carbs / unlimited veggies & protein
*An hour after breakfast I have to stab myself to check my blood sugar - Insert more BOOOOOs here
Snack = 30g carbs / unlimited veggies & protein
Lunch = 45g carbs / unlimited veggies & protein
*Prick myself again an hour after lunch to check my blood sugar
Snack = 30g carbs / unlimited veggies & protein
Dinner = 45g carbs / unlimited veggies & protein
*Last prick of the day to check/record blood sugar
Snack = 30g carbs / unlimited veggies & protein
Basically they told me you get gestational diabetes because at a certain point in pregnancy the placenta starts producing a hormone (so they check you when this hormone is highest) and it can affect how your cells react to the sugars, i.e. creating high blood sugar. I was worried about having to count calories, etc. but really I just have to count carbs ~ counting out what I eat is NOT for me. They also recommend having protein with each meal/snack as it will help reduce blood sugar by the way it reacts with carbs. And walking will help. I also have to go to a "diabetes clinic" on Mondays where I meet with an endocrinologist to review how things are going. Otherwise, if my keytones are high for 2 days in a row or if my blood sugar is high for a couple/few days in a row and I can't get it down, then I have to call in.
Really its just a nuisance & annoying, even my OB said so. The nurse said that it will be like a science experiment for a little while to see how my body reacts to what foods, raising my blood sugar. I'm just not looking forward to any more freakin' appointments this pregnancy, I think I am wearing out my babysitters, i.e. Grammy & DeDe.
Anywho, just thought I'd share...
In other baby news, Baby "SECRET NAME" Strazz is 16 inches long and 3.3 lbs, the weight of 4 naval oranges. All I know is that she is kicking the crap out of me!!
~E
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
VINTAGE Baby Clothes
Mum of course saved a bunch of my baby stuff, including some clothes. We went through them a couple of weeks ago and pulled some out for BGS...
My fav little blankie that really isn't a blankie at all, I don't know what to call it...
A couple of AMAZINGGG vintage t-shirts...
This adorable outfit...which is still white after 30+ years of storage...
Apparently '81 was a big year for Bo Derek...she was known as a "10" so naturally I was a "10 in Training"...
These two outfits which my husband is horrified at, LOL. It was the 80's, come ON!!! Wonder Woman and R2-D2...
And a few cute suits...
Thanks, Ma!
~E
My fav little blankie that really isn't a blankie at all, I don't know what to call it...
A couple of AMAZINGGG vintage t-shirts...
This adorable outfit...which is still white after 30+ years of storage...
Apparently '81 was a big year for Bo Derek...she was known as a "10" so naturally I was a "10 in Training"...
These two outfits which my husband is horrified at, LOL. It was the 80's, come ON!!! Wonder Woman and R2-D2...
And a few cute suits...
Thanks, Ma!
~E
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)