Week 30

Week 30!!! It sounds so much closer than 29 weeks doesn't it? 30 weeks seems like a big milestone to me and I'm glad to be here.

This past week has been interesting. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes last week and the diet really isn't bad at all. My numbers have been fantastic...actually on the lower side which questions whether or not I really have this. My numbers for my 3-hour glucose were not bad at all...I only failed 2 numbers, one of which was by ONE point and the other only by a few! If I passed that one number, I would not have GD. My diabetes counselor told me that it might take a couple weeks to get used to the diet and to find out what foods spike my sugar. She said that if I want to have ice cream for dessert occasionally to go ahead and see what it does to my numbers. I'm happy to say that I had a cup of ice cream twice after dinner in the past week and my numbers were excellent!!!!! It didn't spike them AT ALL! WOOHOO!!! I'm excited that I can at least enjoy a little something for the summer heat! My counselor also said that I am more like borderline diabetic and she would be surprised if I had any numbers that are spiked high. So far, she is right...for fasting (when I wake up) they have been between 65-72, they want to see them under 90. For an hour after meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) my numbers have been averaging 90-110, they want to see them under 120. 120 is actually a low number compared to everyone else I talked to that has GD...they all need to have numbers under 140 one hour after a meal. I definitely found that Holy Spirit is EXTREMELY conservative in their ways and SOOOO overly cautious...which can be a good thing but gets to be a pain too. They tend to make you worry over nothing. Anyway, I have been eating the exact amount of carbs they want me to eat and my numbers are still on the low side. We shall see what the doctor has to say about it at my appt tomorrow. I also lost 2 lbs. since doing this diet which puts me at gaining a total of 5lbs since I got pregnant!!!!!!!!!! Unbelievable!!! Everyone else is closer to 20 lbs. gained at this point. Again, we shall see what my doctor has to say about it tomorrow. I'm doing exactly what they want me to do.

I'm starting to get rather uncomfortable for sleeping. Keaton tends to lay up in my ribs at night causing pain and just overall uncomfortable. I'm also peeing like crazy!!! This is coming from the huge amounts of water I am drinking along with Keaton kicking my bladder. I usually make 2 trips to the bathroom through the middle of the night and about 50 during the day. haha!

This week will be our last childbirth class! : ( We both really enjoyed these classes and the awesome people in it. We've had so much fun learning all about childbirth with a great group of people...our instructor is awesome too! We will definitely miss them.

On a side note, the Hershey Bears won their game last night sending them to the Calder Cup FINALS!!!! WOOHOO!! Let's go Bears!!! We are so excited and hope the boys bring the cup back to Hershey for the 10th time. : )

Fetal Development
Your baby's permanent teeth have developed and are waiting in his gums. Your baby is very aware of his surroundings and his eyelids will open and close. He will even look around and turn toward light. We tend to think of the uterus as a dark place but the uterus actually can be light and dark depending on your environment. Your baby weighs almost three pounds now and is approximately 15.5 inches long.

You may be able to distinguish sleeping and waking cycles in your baby. Although it usually seems as if the baby wants to sleep while you are awake, and vice versa, this is not indicative of a sleepless newborn. Your baby can not only hear your voice, but can recognize it. Also, he has a grip so strong it is capable of gripping your finger. At this point, your baby may be practicing nursing as he sucks his thumb. He has lungs that are capable of breathing air, although medical help may be needed. About 9 out of 10 babies born now will survive.

My Symptoms
- Round ligament pain
- Frequent urination
- Shortness of breath
- Uncomfortable sleep

30 week belly pic!

Diagnosis: Gestational Diabetes

I received the dreaded phone call yesterday that I failed my 3-hour glucose test and now have gestational diabetes. : ( Even though I was prepared for them to tell me I failed, it was still a shock and I immediately started to cry my eyes out. What did I do wrong? Is my baby in trouble? Does this make me high risk? I know that there is nothing I could have done to prevent this but it still makes me feel like a bad mother or something. I'm glad that I started practicing a GD diet about a week and a half ago when I got the news that I failed my 1-hour because it makes it a little easier to digest the news. I already did a TON of research on GD over the past 2 weeks so I feel pretty educated. I go tomorrow at 12pm for my diabetic counseling where I will get my specific diet plan (based on my height, weight, and 3-hour test results) and my testing meter to start testing my sugar 4 times a day. It is all overwhelming and I know it will be tough at first but I've always been a pretty strong women, so I will be ok. I will do whatever it takes to bring a healthy baby boy into the world and if it means sacrificing ice cream and cookies over the summer...so be it. I only have about 10 more weeks to go...I can do it!!!!

Week 29

Well, here I am at 29 weeks...time seems to be going too fast. I still have so much I need to get done and the weeks are just flying by. As you saw on my previous post, I did not pass my 1-hour glucose test. BOO! So I am scheduled to have my 3-hour test tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to drinking a larger dose of that glucose stuff PLUS wait around for 3 hours without being able to walk around, eat/drink anything and getting blood taken every hour. I sure hope it goes smoothly and I pass it with flying colors. I'm so worried that I might have gestational diabetes and that I'm hurting my baby. So for the past week, I researched all about GD and decided to start "practicing" a basic GD diet while I wait for my results in tomorrow's test. The diet really isn't all that bad but staying away from sweets is VERY hard. I am a sugar girl and my body is going through withdrawl without it. It is also interesting to see how many carbs are really in the stuff I normally eat...it's an eye opener. I never really read labels too much but this past week, that is all I've been doing. I feel that starting this diet before I've been told to will help me adjust to it better if I do have GD. I'm still praying that I do pass it because I don't know if I can survive the summer without the occassional ice cream treat or yummy picnic foods. : ) I'll post my results once I know.

We are still doing childbirth classes and only have 2 more classes left. We really enjoy them and learn some valuable information. This week we are talking about breastfeeding and I'm really looking forward to it. To be honest, I have major anxiety over breastfeeding than anything else. Labor does not scare me...the big change in my life when this baby arrives does not scare me...but breastfeeding does. LOL! I don't know what it is about it but I'm terrified that I won't be able to do it and will get frustrated with the schedule of feeding and pumping. It's all overwhelming but I'm sure I will get the hang of it once I start.

Fetal Development
Your baby can open his eyes and will turn his head towards a source of any light. His sensory organs are well developed. His fingernails and toenails are growing and he is beginning to regulate his own temperature. The bone marrow is completely in charge of production of the red blood cells now. Your baby even urinates about a half liter of urine into the amniotic fluid everyday. Your baby weighs about 2.5 pounds and is over 15 inches long.

The movements that you feel will probably begin to change at this point. You once were the home of wild gymnastics parties, but now as the space becomes cramped you will notice smaller movements, such as elbows and knees poking you.

My Symptoms
- Round ligament pain
- Shortness of breath (I really slowed down with my walking this past week)

29 week belly pic!

I knew it...

Well I got the call this morning that I failed my 1 hour glucose test. I just knew I was going to fail it so now I'm scheduled next week for the ever-so-fun 3 hour glucose test. BLAH! I've heard horror stories about this dreaded test so I'm not looking forward to it AT ALL. I'm just PRAYING that I don't get too sick that I would have to take it all over again because if you throw up during the test, everything becomes void. I'm terrified of it right now but I understand this is all for the health of my baby boy. I'll let everyone know what happens...

Week 28

I guess my biggest news this week is that I'M OFF THE PROGESTERONE SHOTS!!!! WOOHOO! I went to my OB appt on Friday that was with the one doctor in the practice that is not too fond of the progesterone shots past 1st trimester....so I knew she would have a comment about it. At first she didn't see on my charts that I was still on them but I finally said something about it and she immediately said, "OMG, you are STILL on them!?!?" I just laughed and said, "Yep...since week 5!" She couldn't believe it especially since my numbers have been great the past couple months. She told me that there is no reason to be on them and to cancel all of my shot appts. I couldn't believe it!! I really thought I would be on them for the remainder of this pregnancy and at this point it wasn't bothering me anymore. My butt, however, thanks Dr. Manning VERY much!!! All of the girls in the practice were saying how they were going to miss seeing me twice a week and checking out what outfit I had on that day. They seem to enjoy my clothing styles along with my lia sophia jewelry. They make a comment every time I'm in there. I will miss them too however I'm starting to go every 2 weeks now so it won't be too long without seeing them. I love how loved I am at this practice!

Anyway, I had my 1hr. sugar test on Friday (along with my OB appt) so I'm awaiting to see if I passed or failed. I REALLY hope that I passed because I really fear that I may have gestational diabetes and I will struggle with that over the summer. No ice cream or sweets!! I am a sugar girl so I'm hoping and PRAYING that I pass this test. We shall see....

I also had my Rhogam shot scheduled over at the hospital on Friday. My OB practice is right next to Holy Spirit so it was nice and convenient to just walk over to get this done. I did not expect to sit in the ER for over 2 hours to get this shot done though. I don't quite understand why this is done in the ER but Erik and I sat and WAITED for 2 hours. It was a long and drawn out affair for something that literally takes 2 seconds to do. We finally left the hospital around 5:30pm (after starting the day at 1pm with my sugar test and OB appt). It was a long day but we got it all done and just happy to be taken off the progesterone shots. Woohoo!!!!

No new progress in the nursery this past week other than they came and delivered our rocker. We were way too busy with yard work, my mom's Harrisburg Singers concert, Mother's Day and Bears games that we didn't work on the nursery at all this weekend. I really hope to get the curtain rods this week so I can hang the curtains. I also have a wall quote to put behind the crib and some pictures to hang. I will post some pics once things get a little more complete. I'm not ready to have the big reveal yet.

I was talking to my MIL this weekend and she told me how she wanted to take me to the Hershey Spa for massages (prenatal massage for me) while she is here visiting over my baby shower. I'm so excited since I've ALWAYS wanted to go there but never had the chance. My MIL is great at spoiling me AND baby Keaton. She has all kinds of gifts to bring with her and all these plans to take me shopping when she arrives too. I feel so blessed to have wonderful family in my life.

Fetal Development
The eyes are partially open and can perceive light. Your baby's eye lashes and eye brows continue to grow and subcutaneous fat is deposited. If you have a baby boy, his testes will probably begin descending. About 9 out of 10 babies born now will survive with intensive care services and the help of medical technology. Your baby is almost 15 inches and weighs over two pounds.

My Symptoms
- Round ligament pain
- Shortness of breath

28 week belly pic!

Week 27

Hello 3rd Trimester!!! I can't believe I made it this far...woohoo!! This past week we finished the chair rail for the nursery and it looks AWESOME!! The nursery furniture gets delivered tomorrow and I am so excited to see everything. : ) Childbirth classes are great and we are meeting some wonderful people. Erik met another husband there that was a HUGE hockey fan so they were in heaven talking to each other every moment they got...it was cute. We both enjoyed the class and can't wait for the next one this week.

Erik developed a nasty infection Thurs/Fri in his sinuses from the surgery he had about a week and a half ago. He went to see the Dr. on Friday morning and he was SHOCKED to see how swollen Erik's nasal cavity was and to see all this blood up in his sinuses. The Dr. immediately packed his nose with what looked like a tampon (sorry, tmi). It is about 4-5 inches long and was packed all the way back into his sinuses and throat (on both sides). He was in so much pain and choking/gagging anytime he tried to eat or drink. I felt SOOO terrible for him and when I came home from work on Friday he immediately looked at me and started crying. That is the first I ever saw Erik get so emotional so I know he was in lots of pain. I took care of him all weekend since the pain medicine he was on made him extremely tired and out of it. The Dr. even gave him his home and cell numbers in case something went wrong over the weekend. The pain was getting out of control so he called him Sat afternoon and Dr. decided to take the packing out on Sunday afternoon. He opened up the office and we met him there. It was possibly the most disgusting thing I ever saw when they took those tampon looking things out of his nose....blood was everywhere!! Erik immediately felt better after getting them taken out but within minutes his nose swelled up again leaving him completely clogged. The Dr. just shook his head in amazement and went on and on about how this is the worst case he has seen when it comes to this surgery. Erik has a long road ahead of him until he completely recovers (Dr. said a couple months) and can breathe again. My poor Erik!!! : ( I feel so bad for him but thankful that he is feeling much better without all the packing in his nose. I sure hope things get better for him soon.

Anyway, back to baby stuff...our next childbirth class is this Wed and we also get a tour of the birthplace. I can't wait! Friday I have my OB appt, 1hr. sugar test and Rhogam shot (I'm RH negative). I'm hoping I pass this sugar test with flying colors however I'm not counting on it. I'm still on progesterone shots and have been since week 5. It's been a long haul with these shots and my butt is completely numb now so I feel no pain anymore with them. I figure I'm on them until the end....YAY!

I believe we decided on a name this past week too! We are going with Keaton Thomas and I'm so happy with our decision. I think it is a good, strong name and I'm glad to finally have a name for my little one. I am feeling baby Keaton moving more and more and the movement is somewhat different. I can feel when his hand or foot presses up against my belly plus he is moving around CONSTANTLY now...especially when I'm trying to go to sleep. I can also feel him kicking other internal organs and that is a weird feeling at first. I'm so happy to feel him moving around more because it just makes me feel better that he is ok.

Fetal Development
This week marks the beginning of the third trimester. The retina, which is important in the reception of light images, develops its normal layers by the 27th week of gestation. These layers are important in receiving light and light information and transmitting it to the brain for interpretation. Your baby's skin is quite wrinkled from floating in water. This will stay this way until a few weeks after birth as your newborn fills out into a baby. Your baby is about 14.5 inches long, and weighs over two pounds.

My Symptoms
- Round ligament pain
- Shortness of breath

27 week belly pic!