NST's oh my!

Everything is good. I'm measuring 32 weeks exactly, just as I should be. I've gained a total of 12# (17# if you include the 5 I originally lost, which my doc is). My glucose test, which I passed, was not as good as he'd like and so he is classifying me as "borderline"...nothing unusual THERE, I've been borderline EVERYTHING for years, I swear. He's not comfortable putting me as full GD, and even if I was there isn't much they'd do differently from what I'm doing now...so as long as I'm not having any issues (which I'm pretty sensitive to any sugar changes, or struggling to keep them steady), he's not going to list me as GD. HOWEVER:

I start NST's twice a week as of tomorrow morning. I know several of you have had/are having them routinely, so they're nothing MAJOR to worry about. I know he's being cautious, just because he knows me and knows that my body prefers to be as contrary as possible. The pregnancy, for example - none of us expected it to go this well *knock on wood*. We expected lots of pain, GD, bedrest by 5 months, pre-e, the works. And? Yeah, you've been reading so you know how it's been. So NST's just to be on the safe side and keep an eye on us. The hospital is only 5 minutes from the house, which is only one of the reasons we chose to have the baby there. (I want to be in labor as little as possible - it, and the pain, scares the bejeebus out of me.) Doc tells me that it's pretty similar to last weeks "trial run" - I go in, they hook me up to the heartbeat and contraction monitors, and I lay there for anywhere from 20 mins to an hour. Sound about right?

Today was also a good day for baby stuff - my MIL's best friends daughter brought us over two huge bags and a couple boxes of baby boy clothes (she has two, and a little girl, and isn't having any more), as well as a bouncy chair and a swing! We sorted through the clothes, kept most of them (except greens and oranges - Aaron has red hair and was carrot orange as a baby, so I don't want to run into color clashes!), and started doing baby laundry with Dreft today. Next step is to find one of my dolls, dress it up, wrap it up in one of the blankets, and let Inara get used to it and the new smell.

Speaking of Inara, we may have figured out what she's doing with the bedding! We have our bed that we sleep in, and the smaller one that I nap in, and she has HER bed (plus the couch, chair, and smaller bed) that she sleeps in...but where will the baby sleep? There's no surface available! We think she's trying to "share" her bed. :) Once we get a mattress for the crib, I'll put the doll in there and see if her behavior stops.

The dog has me panicking

Yes, you read that right. My dog's behavior has me panicking. About what, you might ask? That I'm going to go into labor soon. No, I don't think I'm crazy, but I might be!

See, I've been in nesting mode for a few weeks now - perfectly normal, I'm assured. Then there was Monday's L&D trial run, right? Well, Tuesday morning when we woke up, Inara had dragged her bed out of her crate - something she has never done in the past 2 years that we've had her. She did it again Wednesday and Thursday nights....and this morning it was in place, but she slept with me on the couch. Aaron and I went into the bedroom for about an hour and when we came out, she had pulled her bed out again.

Knowing she was trying to tell us something but not sure what, we washed all her bedding. Maybe it stunk? Maybe it had fleas? Who knows? So we washed and dried it, something we've done a few times. I put it down on the floor while I folded the blanket that goes under it, and she immediately bit it and dragged it closer to her. I put the little bed in the crate, she dragged it out. I put the big bed (usually in the computer room, but we moved the computers to the back today) into her crate and told her to go to bed...and she walked in, and dug up the corner, flipping it over. I called her back out, straightened it, had her go back in, and this time she laid down. I put the small bed in front of her crate (so maybe the kitten will sleep on it instead of in the crate!) and she started biting it again.

I'm just a stupid human, I know. I KNOW she's trying to tell me something, I just can't figure out what. She's showing signs of nesting - messing with her bed, wanting to go out and pee more often, pacing around. But she's not the pregnant one - I am. She knew a week before we found out that we were pregnant - her behavior around me changed, she was underfoot all the time. So now I'm wondering: If she's nesting, is she trying to tell me I'm going to go into labor in the next few weeks? Everything I've read about pregnant dogs says "a few days to weeks" that they start their own nesting...and it's been several days, so a few weeks? My shower is in 3 weeks - I CAN'T go into labor before that. I really really don't want to go into labor before the beginning of March, when I'll at least be full term. Does anyone out there have any ideas on her behavior?

Because I love you so much....

I am going to share two videos I came across today.

#1: The Old Spice Guy - he has a new video. I love the Old Spice Guy. He is one of the few black men that I find terribly attractive!

#2: Songs that Rock Stars will sing when they are old. The Eagles one cracked me up, but the last one almost had me rolling on the floor.

I hope you find them both as wonderful as I did. If I come across any more today, I promise I will update this post with them!

L&D Trial Run...I guess....

I guess you could say we had an exciting Monday evening. Let me backtrack to Friday, when this started:

Friday night I was getting into bed, rolled over to get comfortable, and felt a LOT of pain in my lower left quadrant of my abdomen. It's the same place I have felt round ligament pain since I was about 10 weeks along, but it hurt a lot more. I figured I just...pulled on it too hard or something. Painful, yes, but worrisome, no. I decided to take it easy for the weekend, let it rest. I bet you can guess how that went!

Saturday morning the nesting bug hit. While Aaron was putting the Christmas bins and painting stuff in the garage, I decided to clean the panty. Not the shelves, just the tools and boxes on the floor. Why? I don't know. Because it needed to be done? I've given up asking why I clean what I do these days - none of it makes any sense anyways! At any rate, I was up and down off the floor for several hours. Down is relatively easy to do - up, not so much. Lots of strain on the muscles trying to heave this bulk around. :) By Saturday night I could barely walk. I hobbled around the house, making all the boys feel sorry for me (I think...) and not doing much of anything.

Sunday we decided to go grocery-cost comparison shopping. Thankfully two of the three stores we went to had the motorized wheelchairs, but the first one didn't and my hips (which already have issues thanks to the fibro) decided they wanted to join the pain party. They rarely let an opportunity go by! I was pretty much shuffling by the time we were done with the first store. By the time we were done with the last, I was ready to crash...so I did. We came home and I slept on the couch for a few hours, feeling only slightly more human when I woke up. When we went to bed, the pain in that same area, which had been bothering me tremendously all weekend, decided to REALLY get my attention! It started surging in waves, going across my abdomen, up my ribs, and into my back. I was in tears it hurt so much...and I began to think that maybe I hadn't just strained that ligament, maybe I tore something. Nothing I did made it stop.

Early Monday morning, like 5:30 am, I got up and called the doc. I'd been awake every 2 hours since Friday anyways (I've apparently entered THAT stage), and this was worth getting up for. Called them, left a message for my docs nurse, and went back to sleep in the spare room where I at least wouldn't keep Aaron up. Waited for most of the day for them to call me back (highly unusual) before calling and finding out that my nurse wasn't in and whoever listened to the messages apparently didn't see fit to pass the message on to the nurse filling in for her. I spoke to that nurse, gave her the full details, she talked to my wonderful doctor...who decided I should go to L&D for evaluation. Oh boy!

So...Aaron came home early to take me in. I probably, maybe, could have driven myself but I was worried that it might be something serious and wanted him there. We got checked in, they put all the monitors on me, and...nada. "Strong, healthy, active baby" was said a few times - and he was. His little heart was chugging along between 150-170 beats per minute, he had the hiccups, moving around and kicking. No contractions, nothing. They decided that I did what I originally thought - I pulled a muscle, strained that ligament a bit too much. At least nothing in their demeanor said "she's a paranoid first time preggo"!

And that, my dears, was our trial run. I hope it goes that smoothly (for the most part) when it's actually time! They didn't have any information on me, because I'd never been there before and the doc hadn't faxed over the info, so we were left waiting and wondering in the room for a while. I wasn't overly fond of the Charge Nurse, but since she isn't delivering Smallfry, I guess I don't really care. I assume (hopefully) that they'll be more...on the ball...when I show up in labor. :)

Squick Factor

I had my 30 week appt yesterday, at which we discussed the delivery - what happens when, what the doc does and doesn't do, etc. One of the questions Aaron's book told me to ask was "do you give the baby to mom directly after delivery?" My docs answer: If everything is fine, he will put Smallfry...on my stomach.

Where? What? GACK! There's...blood, and amniotic fluid, and possible meconium! And you're going to put it WHERE? On my STOMACH?! *shudder* I'm usually fairly ok with bodily fluids. I understand that having a child means I'm going to have to get used to cleaning up everything you can think of, and be willing to be puked/pooped/peed on. I am not my sister, to pass out whenever one of the kids pukes or comes in bleeding. It's just...the idea of having all that, that has been swirling around for 9 months, deliberately put on my stomach...it's too much to grasp. Did I mention I have an EXTREMELY sensitive belly button? I may NEVER get all the ick out!

Aaron tells me I will be too enamored to care. I'm thinking "I have a multi-track mind. While one part of me is enamored by our son, the other part of me is going to be gibbering in the back of my brain because there is ick all over my stomach!"

So tell me, girls...what was it like for you? Did your doc put your newborn, straight out of the womb, on to your stomach? Did the ick even bother you? help!!!!

Are you ready yet? I bet you're ready, aren't you....

I swear, what is WRONG with people these days? I am 30w1d, and since Thursday I have heard the following remarks:

"Are you ready for baby to be born? You look like you are."
"Oh my, you're all belly! You're going to have a big baby!"
"I bet you're ready for the baby to be born, aren't you...."

People, please! Stop wishing a preemie birth on me! This child needs to stay in for another 10 weeks. No, I am not ready for him to be out. Nothing is prepared, the nursery isn't together, the baby shower is in about a month,  the house isn't childproofed, and I'm not ready. Not that I'm sure I ever WILL be ready, but in 10 weeks (give or take a few days) I will HAVE to be ready. So please, for the love of all that is holy, stop trying to convince my child that he should be born early!

And? Stop telling me that I'm going to have a big baby. Yes, I love that people are actually noticing that I'm pregnant. It makes me unbelievably happy, all things considered. My shadow and/or reflection still startles the crap out of me every time I see it! Yes, I know I've only gained 7# from my starting weight (11 over all, if you take the 5 I initially lost) and that it's pretty much all boob and belly. No, my doc doesn't think I should gain more - he's very happy with the weight gain. My chances of having a big baby? Probably not so big if you consider that those 11 pounds are baby AND fluid, and that I'll probably lose most of that upon delivery. According to websites, baby is about 3 pounds right now. He'd have to gain 6-7# in the next 10 weeks for me to consider him "big" and I just don't see that happening. I'm measuring right on track now...I was a week ahead two weeks ago, and I'm now 29 3/4. So - normal size. BACK OFF PEOPLE, before I GIVE you all this information.

*gets off soapbox* *hangs head* It's not going to get any better, is it....

Do YOU know how your reproductive system works?

Because these people apparently do not, and I don't understand how they got to be in their 20's (at least!) without understanding the vital role that our bits play in our bodies. Witness the pertinent bits of this conversation:

R: I'm getting my tubes tied and I'm excited cause no more babies and i don't have to worry bout birthcontrol 

C: u can still get pregnant hun i know 3 people that got their tubes tied and they got preg

Me (because I can't stand the stupid): And those 3 people were exceptions, not the rule. If it's done properly, and the docs check to make sure the tubes don't go back together, the chances of getting pregnant are slim at best. Add in that they don't tie them any more, they actually use a laser and sever them, and those chances go down even further. Yes, it still happens. People get pregnant on birth control or when they shouldn't be able to have children in the first place. Miracles happen. That doesn't mean they happen to everyone every time. If getting your tubes tied didn't work, they wouldn't do it. 

C2: Haha why not just get a hystorectomy? No period! Yay!

Me: No period, no estrogen, added hormone replacement therapy so you don't go into menopause...

C2: Menopause isn't so bad. I went through it for 7 months. And the added hormones are just a .25 mg pill and all is well. And everyone I have talked to about the hystorectomy said it was the best decision they ever made. I'm actually going to get one by the time I'm 30. No other choice but. It seems better than a tube tie. Just my opinion tho, Haha well more power to you then :) congrats on the tying of the tubes! Yay! No more kids haha :) I spoiled myself with the no period thing and never want it back :D lol plus most of my problems happen around that time so if I can prolong it forever? Yes please :)   


....my brain, it hurts. When did having your uterus removed because you WANTED to become a good thing? I mean, having it out because there is NO OTHER CHOICE...that's one thing.  Taking it out because you don't want to have your period anymore? How did that even become an option? How do they not know how sensitive the hormone balance is in the body? This type of thing should seriously be taught in high school! Know your basic biology, people, especially if you plan on running amok and taking organs out at random just because you don't want them to perform their function anymore!

Final answer....

I got a call from my nurse yesterday afternoon. I passed the 3-hour test! WAHOO!!!

We also went on a tour of the L&D area last night and can I say, I'm glad I'm not the one who is driving me to the hospital? I would totally go in the wrong entrance, although I'd end up in the right place eventually! So lost, but the husband knows where he's going and since he's taking me, that's a good thing. He said last night "They threw a lot of information at us. I'm not ready for this...." Um, welcome to my brain?

I called my dad and told HIM about the test results and what it meant as far as delivery goes (no induction, no C-section, unless for OTHER reasons) and that it meant I might actually get to have this kid whenever he decides to make his appearance. My fathers response? "Well, if that's the case, I won't be able to be there. I have to give my work at least 4 days notice." Whatever, dad - I'm pretty sure if you called them and said "My youngest daughter just went into labor" that they'd let you take a few days off to come up here. Apparently the birth of his grandson doesn't mean as much as I'd thought. Of course, I'm slightly relieved not to have to deal with him the first few days while we bond with Smallfry, but still...that's not REALLY the point here. My mom dropped everything when my nephews were born and raced up here, but apparently my dad can't be buggered. It's not like he works a lot - they've cut his hours down to about 10/week, so I'm sure they could find someone to fill in. He just doesn't WANT to, and that idea upsets me.

Next month is hella busy. The first week of February involves a doc appt, 2 classes, and a photo shoot! I have another class the following week, a doc appt the week after,  my baby shower the week after that, and the last doc appt of the month - at which point we go to weekly appts, assuming I haven't had said child. :) I feel like a regular social butterfly!

Nesting sucks

(I haven't posted the results of Saturday's GTT because I don't have them yet.)

Nesting sucks. Really really. There is so much I want to do, and so much I can't do because it involved lifting things that are over #25 pounds, or come from above my head. I can't even wash my hair these days without causing small pain from my sternum all the way down to my pubic hone from stretching...I don't DARE lift things down from the tops of the closets.

Closets. The TOPS of them. Which I can't reach without a chair. Why am I reorganizing those again? Oh yeah, because my brain tells me to. It also tells me that I have to go through all the computer CDs/DVDs and throw some out and otherwise sort them. It tells me that I have to sort through all the stuff in the "cat room" with is also the "junk room" and sort THAT out/find an out-of-sight place for it. That one at least makes some sense - the door is now blocked off with a baby gate so the cats can get in but the baby can't. The clutter is now open to viewing and I want it at least somewhat neat.

But the rest? It just doesn't seem baby-related to me. I thought nesting was "getting the nursery together" and "washing and folding all the baby clothes and blankets" and stuff - you know, directly baby related. I CAN make all of this be baby-related if I try: We are moving the books into what is currently the computer room (why? Because my brain said it was a good idea...) and the computers to the back room. Sorting through the computer stuff and getting rid of a lot makes sense because it's less to move. I also want to be able to fit it all into a smaller table instead of the dresser it's in. What will happen to the dresser? Well, it goes into the cat room. Why? I think you know the answer. I will be sorting through several chests of papers and art supplies, and what is left will go into the dresser. One of those containers will go into the back and be used to hold some of the stuff currently in my desk.

Me, my OCD, my sense of perfectionism, and my scattered brain are currently howling in frustration because we can't work together. Somehow I will get this all done, but the question is: Before or after I go insane? Because I feel like I'm going crazy. I can't do all of this on my own - there's too much lifting, and walking, and I'm plagued by "what ifs" while I'm alone. I don't even like leaving the house by myself these days because I'm scared that one of these times my water is going to break and I'll be alone. Have I mentioned that I still have 11 weeks to go and my water is in no danger of breaking, most likely?

Someone tell me - is nesting like THIS normal? Am I getting out of control?

GCT results

I just got a call from my nurse about an hour ago - I failed the test. Is anyone surprised, really? If you are, you don't know me very well! I've been saying from the beginning that I would end up with GD, considering I was already on Met for being glucose intolerant. My sugars should have been below 140, and instead they were 170. Because I wasn't even close to being borderline, the doc is going to have me do the 3-hour test. Yay me. I don't know when it is yet because they haven't called me to schedule, but probably soon because he wants to get on top of this RIGHT NOW. And I swear, if one more person tells me "the test isn't that bad" I might scream. This will be the 4th time I have taken these tests - I know exactly how bad they are. The 1-hour is not as bad as the 5-hour, and while I haven't taken a 3-hour yet, the 3rd hour of my 5 hour test was the WORST. I thought I was doing to die I felt so bad - which is no wonder, considering that my sugars were 33 (I was hypoglycemic at that point).

I have my Rh shot on Thursday - anything I should know? Side effects to worry about?

At my appt yesterday I was measuring 29 weeks, although I'm only 28w1d (yesterday). After failing the test, I think we know why. I guess I should probably start looking into inductions and C-sections. I remember Wilma having hers, but I really don't know much about them. Ugh. Can't say I didn't see it coming, but I find myself continuously trying (and failing) to put my head in the sand. Yes, I know, women fail the 1-hour and pass the 3-hour all the time. I don't think I'll be one of them...