Thank you all for your continued prayers. The things I wrote about last week seem to really be helping. In the past 8 or 9 days, I think I've had 4 really bad days. I've been sick almost every other day, too, but in much more manageable amounts that still allow me some normalcy the rest of the day. The biggest help seems to be just changing my pace. If I am up and moving for more than 2-4 hours, I come home and go to sleep before doing more. That seems to help, so much. And when I don't, 100% of the time, I have a bad day later that day or the next day. So as long as I can be disciplined to limit my activity, I seem to do ok. Ah well, at least doing things in short little spurts is preparing me to work around nap times and feedings. I had to laugh though because usually the dog comes and naps with me, but a couple of times recently, he's either woken me up early wanting to play, or flat out refused to join me. You know it's bad when even the dog is bored with nap time! :D So anyway, I'm praising God for the reprieve, however long it lasts!
I have two prayer requests, if you wouldn't mind joining me?
The first is that at my last appointment, my uterus measured large, but my weight was low and baby's weight was average. The doctor said he was concerned by the disparity between the three and that he'd be re-checking this tomorrow. So, I'm praying that all is normal.
The other issue is one that's been freaking me out for weeks. My 1 hour glucose test is tomorrow. If I fail it, it means I have gestational diabetes. I am overweight. I have PCOS with insulin resistance. I have a couple of other indicators and have been officially labeled "pre-diabetic" in my non-pregnant state. Diabetes runs RAMPANT in my family. And Sheila had GD with her pregnancies. So, I have almost every risk factor you can have, except that my glucose levels have always been normal (praise God!). But anyway, all that to say, it would be an absolute miracle if I don't have it.
The thing of it is, what I eat these days is pretty limited. I eat fruit and *very* simple carbs that can be easily broken down--I'm talking Wonder Bread here. I can tolerate some protein, but not much. Anything complex like complex carbs, vegetables, dairy, and most proteins assuredly makes me sick. My body just can't seem to process it. The thing is, if you're diabetic, you really have to stay away from fruit and simple carbs.
Honestly, eating stresses me out enough as it is. I hate to do it because it's a constant waiting game. Finding a small list of things that are usually ok has helped a lot. The thought of adding another food related problem to the mix, and that problem being severe restrictions on what I can eat, really overwhelms me. I've received such little support from my doctor in this area that I don't know how I could really navigate two problems with such opposite solutions, simultaneously, by myself.
So anyway, I know would bring me through it if it is what He has for me, and I want to be prepared to accept it, but I would still really, really, REALLY love to be protected from it instead, so that's what I'm specifically asking for. Would you join me in praying to this end? From what I understand from other friends, this is something I should know the answer to tomorrow.
Hmm, on to fun things. DH worked his cute little tail off last week to get the baby's room ready. We got word that the furniture was coming in 3 weeks sooner than expected. We really had no place to put it yet, and couldn't leave it at the store forever. But I also didn't want to move it more than once, especially because I can't help DH, so that means either we have to arrange for someone to come help, or he in his stubbornness does it himself. So, last weekend we sold all of the furniture that used to be in the room on Craigslist. I don't have a "before" picture of this wall, but it had stained carpet, flat white paint, mismatched furniture, and no fan.
We wanted to hang a ceiling fan in the room, and knew it would be easiest with all the furniture out. We have a flat roof with no crawl space or attic, and the room was not already wired for a fan. So he had to do all the wiring and creatively fish the wire through the smallest holes he could manage, so as not to do too much damage to the dry wall. Then he had to patch over the holes he made and retexture. Then he steam cleaned the carpet and washed the baseboards. Then he painted the ceiling, hung the fan, and painted the two colors on the walls. Last night and this morning he hung the wall border. This morning, he and his dad went and picked up the furniture. Then when we discovered one piece was broken, he took it back to the store. He did this all in 1 week, and still managed to work full time. I did almost nothing. We chose the fan, theme, and colors together, but even those things, he was heavily involved in. I held up the end of the border while he hung it on the wall but even that we had to do in two sittings because I got too tired. He did everything else, and aside from help moving the furniture, he did it all himself. He even came up with the way we'll lay out the furniture in the room. He worked so hard and tirelessly, and the end result is just beautiful, don't you think? I just have two pictures now because the crib isn't put together yet and we had to take back the dresser, but I was too excited to not post anything. So this is the changing table that becomes a nightstand. I'll post more pictures in a few weeks when everything is done.
A little better shot of the furniture:
2 of my 3 boys. Lewis made sure to help by keeping all of the burglars away. Any time DH was in there, Lewis wanted to be in there too. DH was sweet and brought the ottoman in so Lewis could see out the window (his favorite thing to do).
And lastly, my 26 week shots. I'm glad we snapped these before church because about an hour later, I got really sick and stayed sick until lunch time. But at least we got a cute one before hand.
In this one, DH told me to "be creative." I'm pretty sure that part of my brain is broken right now, so I couldn't come up with anything. At least this ones a little different though. And in this one, I can see the difference in the shape of my belly.
Overall, I still don't see much of a change in my appearance, but I'm definitely starting to feel it! I notice I don't bend so well in the middle anymore. DH is having to help me out of low chairs or positions. I've started walking really slow (which is crazy for me because I walk faster than anyone I know), I notice my belly getting in the way of things, the muscles that hold it up are starting to get a little tired, and last week, I even started "the waddle" which until now, I thought was completely intentional and exaggerated on the part of pregnant women--nope, not so much! Right now this stuff is still minor enough that we're finding it to be kind of cute.
And I really should take this opportunity to recognize and thank God for the fact that aside from the NVP, the rest of me is still pretty comfortable. I don't have bad mood swings. I haven't gone crazy on DH. My back and hips don't hurt. For the most part I'm not swollen. I still sleep pretty soundly, albeit with a few potty breaks in the middle. I don't have a ton of round ligament pain, nor do I yet have braxton hicks discomfort. He isn't kicking me in the ribs or diaphragm, or making it tough to breath or move. God has been very merciful in those ways and I really am grateful for it. I know that all of that could change and some people would say "just you wait" but as long as I'm given these gifts, I want to enjoy them and be thankful for them. I need to be more mindful of remembering those things.
In closing, here's what's going on at week 26:
At long last, your little swimmer can see the womb! Your miracle’s little eyelids have finally separated (they were fused closed previously) and they’re probably having their first moments of sight as you read this (or maybe it already happened while you were brushing your teeth or watching Oprah or something). In addition to seeing their little studio in your belly, they’ve recently acquired the ability to say “yes” and “no” in rudimentary sign language as they can now move their head back and forth. This is also the time where your little super star’s head hair is starting to grow! A cute little cowlick or two may be springing into position right now, getting ready for years of cute-but-stubborn bed-head. Also, their toenails have grown in and you little raisin continues to slowly pile up fat beneath their still-loose skin. Most importantly, brain tissue and neurons are all developing at a rapid pace, increasing their (genius-level?) brain activity and will continue to function at accelerated levels for the first seven to eight years of childhood!
And this *just* dawned on me when I saw my ticker. Here it is in more obvious form:
Do you see it? We're into DOUBLE DIGITS now!! I can't hardly believe it!!!
Love to you all...
Super cute room and your hubby did an amazing job. You look wonderful in your pictures, too. I'm glad you've been feeling better.
ReplyDeleteI've been following your blog for a little while, and just wanted to let you know that I'll be praying for you. I failed my first 1 hour glucose test, but I had to take the 3 hour test next before they would have diagnosed me with GD(I passed that).
ReplyDeleteAlso, you'd think that doctors would find nutrition to be important for their work, but they don't and are notoriously ill-informed. If you do have GD, a nutritionist or dietician with experience with pregnant women should be able to give you good advice. You may be able to get insurance to cover the consultations as well. You don't have to do it alone.