Oh Happy Day!

Last Friday I had my additional gestational diabetes screening.  For the three days leading up to the screening, I had to "carb load," which involved eating either three candy bars a day or six slices of white bread a day, in addition to my regular caloric intake.  Then, I had to fast for 12 hours prior to the test.  I swear, those were my doctor's orders.  I know that eating three candy bars a day sounds like fun, but even with my tremendous sweet tooth, it was not exactly enjoyable.  In fact, eating that much sugar just made me feel a little nauseous and slightly jittery.  On the day of the test, we arrived at OBGYN of Atlanta at around 7:20 and were almost immediately taken back to the lab.  My blood was drawn and then I had to drink a sugary, orange-flavored drink in under two minutes.  After that we had to sit in a waiting room for an hour until my blood was drawn again.  We did this for three hours and the first hour was definitely the worst because the drink made me feel very sick.  Luckily, the longer we sat there, the better I felt.  By the end of the third hour, I wasn't feeling sick anymore, but I was very thirsty and ready for some food. 

Overall, the test was pretty awful, but I am thrilled to report that I do NOT have gestational diabetes!  Brad and I are so relieved and I can finally check that one off of my worry list.  I am so thankful for the favorable results, but I am also thankful for two very special people.  I am thankful for my sweet, supportive husband, who has come such a long way from telling me corny jokes in an effort to distract me.  These days he does such a great job of getting my mind on other things and helping me to focus on the big picture, a healthy and happy baby.  I'm so glad he was able to make it to the appointment because I don't think I would have handled it all so well by myself.  I am also thankful for one amazing phlebotomist, who drew blood from my left arm four times in three hours with hurting me or even leaving so much as a mark or bruise.  She even made me laugh a little in the midst of everything.  She just might be my new BFF!  I asked her to accompany us into the delivery room when the time comes, but she just laughed. 

I know that no matter what the results of the screening, we would have done whatever needed to be done to ensure that our little guy remains healthy, but I am just so happy to know that we are still on the right track and that things are still going smoothly.  This good news was such a wonderful Christmas gift!  

24-Week Check-Up

Last Wednesday we had our 24-week check-up.  As a part of this appointment I had my glucose screening test, which is the initial screening given to all pregnant women to test for gestational diabetes.  The screening involves drinking a sugary liquid, waiting an hour, and then having blood drawn.  I am very sad to report that Kim, a nurse from OBGYN of Atlanta, called today to let me know that my blood glucose level was too high.  This does not necessarily mean that I have gestational diabetes, but it does mean that another test must be run to rule out the possibility one way or the other.  I will go in for the next test on Friday and will have to stay at the office for three hours so they can draw three different samples on the hour.  It turns out that between 2% and 5% of pregnant women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes and it is a manageable condition, but I am really sad and worried about it because I am trying so hard to take the best care possible of Little E and myself. 

On the upside, we also saw Dr. Wooten, my favorite doctor so far.  He said that everything else seems to be right on target.  My blood pressure is great and my weight gain is right on track.  Little E's heart rate is still right where it needs to be and he is moving around more than ever these days.  We even heard a couple of hiccups while Dr. Wooten was checking his heart rate.  So cute!!

I hope to report back with good news soon!

So Much to be Thankful For

24 Weeks

We have had such an amazing, productive week with our parents and I am so thankful for their continuous love and support.  Brad has been so wonderful throughout my pregnancy and he is always willing to do anything that I need him to do, but having our parents around this week has really helped us move forward with our baby planning and preparation.  It is such a relief to have so many things checked off of our to-do list!

My mom arrived on Saturday with my thirteen year old cousin, William, in tow.  William was only here with us for one night before he joined his grandfather in Augusta for a deer hunt, but boy did he earn his keep!  After a little tennis practice and dinner at El Porton, Brad, William, and my mom were charged with moving furniture so that we'll be ready for the baby furniture when it arrives.  This involved moving a 100 year old chiffarobe into the nursery and the desk into the guest room.  The chiffarobe has been in almost every bedroom I've had since I was a child and my mother has refinished it twice in my lifetime.  I am very attached to it.  It probably isn't normal to have such an attachment to a piece of furniture, but I'm fairly certain that it is in my genetic makeup to love old furniture, so I won't worry too much about it.  While the chiffarobe is beautiful, it is not exactly what I would call structurally sound.  I was so nervous about them moving it that I couldn't even watch.  My mom helped guide Brad and William while I sat downstairs with my fingers crossed, trying not to listen to every bump and creek.  After successfully moving the chiffarobe, it turned out that moving the desk was a breeze.  In the end, they all did a great job of rearranging things and placing the furniture exactly where I wanted it and I am so thankful to have that huge item checked off of our to-do list. 

On Sunday, we went to mass and then my mom and I drove William to meet his grandfather, while Brad worked in the yard.  Afterward, my mom and I went to the mall and to lunch before heading to Publix to stock up on groceries for the week.  On Sunday night, my mom and I washed and sorted all of the hand-me-down baby clothing that we've gotten from my co-worker, Sandy, and my sister-in-law, Christina.  It was so much fun looking through all of those tiny, adorable clothes! 

On Monday, while Brad and I were at work, my wonderful mother cooked chicken and sausage gumbo for us and went to Babies R Us for more clothes for Little E, as well as some blankets, bibs, and burp cloths to help stock the nursery.  After work, we went for my third and Brad's first tour of Primrose.  At the end of the tour we registered Little E for his first school experience, which will begin in August, when I return to work.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I spent several weeks researching child care centers in our area, but in the end, we decided that Primrose is the best choice for us.  Getting that done enabled us to check another huge item off of our to-do list.  My mom came to work with me on Tuesday and Brad's parents arrived at our house shortly after we got home that afternoon. 

http://www.kookoobearkids.com/

Wednesday was definitely our most productive day.  After breakfast, my mom, Brad's mom, and I went to Koo Koo Bear Kids to order the furniture for the nursery.  Because I had already ordered the bedding online and because I had already researched and made decisions about the crib and changer that we wanted, the whole experience was really fun and exciting.  The staff at Koo Koo Bear was really friendly and knowledgeable and the whole order was placed in a matter of minutes.  Of course, Koo Koo Bear is such a cute store that we spent quite a while looking around and getting ideas for wall decor for the nursery after placing the order.  The best part of all is that the furniture should be here in three weeks or less, which is a lot sooner than we expected!  We celebrated our success with manicures and pedicures before returning home where Oscar and Brad were hard at work replacing the light fixture in the hallway upstairs, as well as the fan in the guest room.  Unfortunately, they were unable to replace the light fixture in the nursery with the fan we purchased because it isn't currently wired for a fan, so we'll have to call someone to install that one for us.  Mom, Mary, and I spent the rest of the day in the kitchen.  My mom cooked her amazing spaghetti and meatballs from scratch, while Mary and I worked on preparing some of our Thanksgiving dishes.


Shopping at Koo Koo Bear Kids with My Mom and Brad's Mom

Brad and Oscar Hard at Work

On Thursday, I made a yummy spinach and bacon quiche and blueberry-lemon coffee cake for brunch and then we spent the rest of the day watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and various football games while cooking the rest of our Thanksgiving dinner and setting the table.  Everything looked beautiful and dinner was delicious!  We made turducken, rice dressing, balsamic mashed sweet potatoes, spinach madeleine, bacon-wrapped green beans, cranberry salad, and pecan pie.  YUM!!!

Our Wedding China, Crystal, and Flatware

Hard at Work Again, This Time on the Turducken

Our Second Thanksgiving

On Friday, Brad and his parents took a break from all of the hard work and went to see the movie Unstoppable.  While they were out, my mom and I went to Hobby Lobby, where we purchased fabric for the nursery.  My mom's sister, my Nanny Kay, has graciously agreed to make window treatments and pillows for the nursery that will coordinate with the crib bedding.  It is all going to look so cute!  That evening, to celebrate all of our hard work and productivity, we went out for dinner at JCT Kitchen and to see Cirque Du Soleil's, OVO.  Dinner was delicious and OVO was incredible!  It was a great evening and a great way to end our week together. 

Dinner at JCT Kitchen

The week flew by and it is nice to be back to just Brad, Hank, Little E, and I around here.  Our parents all made it home safely and I'm sure they are enjoying a little peace and quiet as well.  We are so grateful for all of their hard work and generosity throughout this week as we checked off several items from our baby preparation to-do list.  It is hard to believe that by the time we celebrate Thanksgiving together next year, our baby will be around 8 months old!  Like I said, we have so much to be thankful for!

A Girl's Never Too Old to Miss Her Mama!

My Mom and I at My Baptism

My mom is here visiting us for Thanksgiving and I couldn't be happier!  I am honestly giddy just to have her around!  When my mom and I don't see each other for a while, I miss her terribly.  Even though we talk to each other daily, somehow it just isn't the same as being in her presence.  I'm thankful for so many things this Thanksgiving and always, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention how thankful I am to have her here with us, especially as she helps us prepare for the arrival of our baby boy.  She is my best friend (after my sweet hubby, of course), the person I talk to about everything, and someone whom I have no idea how to live without.  I'm sure many people feel this way about their mothers or fathers or someone else in their lives, but I can only speak for myself here.  

It was just about a year ago that my mother was having a very difficult time with a heart condition that she's had for fifteen or so years and it really hit me for the first time that she may not, in fact, live forever as it had always seemed she would.  As I sat with my brother, two aunts, and a family friend, in a hospital waiting room, for her doctor to deliver some kind of news as to how her surgery was going, I realized that I would one day have to figure out how to do it all without her and it was one of the most terrifying realizations I'd ever made.  I spent that night with her in the hospital.  It was my first experience with sleeping, or not sleeping, in a hospital and I think it was also the first time I experienced what it means to really worry.  It isn't that I am dependent on her in any way, in fact, I've always been a very independent person and I've never been one to do as I'm told or take direction very well.  It is just that I've never had to experience anything without her overwhelming presence, support, or occasional disapproval before.  She thankfully made it out of surgery with flying colors and is doing wonderfully to date, but that experience was enough to make me think of things, of her, in a whole new light.

You see, my mother has always seemed sort of indestructible to me.  She is, by far, the strongest person I've ever met.  She can do anything and endure anything, or at least it seems that way.  She raised my brother and me pretty much all by herself and taught us how not to be resentful of the fact that she had to.  She is a problem-solver and a listener and a selfless giver and everything a "good" mother is supposed to be and then some.  I do not doubt that there is anything that she would not do for me or pretty much anyone else.  She has never disappointed me in any way that truly mattered and if she ever did, I'm certain it was or would be for my own good.  She is always ready to voice her opinion, even when I don't want it and she has always supported me in everything I have ever tried to accomplish.  She is my biggest fan.  She tries very hard to live an uncomplicated, drama-free life and even though that doesn't often work out, she makes the best of what she's been given with a joie de vivre (joy of life) of which I'm sure most people would envy.  As a good friend loves to remind me, I may not always have the best luck, but I definitely won the "mama lottery".

Mom, because I know you are reading this too, I love you and I'm thankful for you everyday!  You are the kind of mother I aspire to be!
  

My Mom and I Today

We're Half-Way There!!!

I normally try to post something new every Sunday, but for some reason, I am way behind on this one!  Sorry to those of you who read the blog regularly!!!  I'll try to get back on track!

Half-way There!

We are half-way to meeting our sweet baby boy, or possibly more than half-way, depending on when he decides to grace the outside world with his presence!  I can definitely see why so many women favor the second trimester, because I feel wonderful!  I'm not nearly as tired as I was during the first trimester and I really just feel good overall! 

We had our 20-week check-up on Wednesday, November 3rd.  This appointment consisted of an ultrasound and conversation with Dr. Sharon, no exam or blood work.  Hooray!!!  Leading up to this appointment, I was so excited about seeing our baby again and about having new pictures of the little guy to post on the blog.  Unfortunately, I left very disappointed.  Little E (our newest nickname for the baby) would not show his face no matter how much the ultrasound tech, Mary, poked and prodded, and boy did she poke and prod!  At one point, she was pushing on my belly so hard that I was squeezing Brad's hand, sure that my belly would be bruised the next day.  I was really sad that even though I endured the pressure that Mary was putting on my belly, the baby would not turn around.  We eventually left the ultrasound with pictures of his spine, arm, and boy parts, but no face.  The good news it, he is definitely a boy!  The bad news is that I got beat up and still didn't get to see his sweet face!  I have to admit that I shed a few tears about it, but that is probably just because pregnant-Allie is even more emotional than not-pregnant-Allie, if you can believe that! 

Spinal Cord and Back of Head

Arm

Little Boy Parts

After the ultrasound, we saw Dr. Sharon, who informed us that Little E is doing great!  That definitely lifted my spirits after the ultrasound.  All of his organs are in working order, his heart rate is exactly where it should be, and he is exactly the right size, which means that he is still expected to arrive on March 18th!  Dr. Sharon was pleased to hear that we're already registered for childbirth preparation classes and he gave us a homework assignment; he asked us to start thinking about birth plan options.  Some of the things we need to consider are doctor versus nurse midwife, pain relief preference during labor, who will cut the umbilical cord, cord blood banking, and several other options that I won't mention.  We are pretty certain that we want the baby to be delivered by a nurse midwife, but we haven't really decided anything else for certain yet.  Luckily, we have a while to make those decisions. 

Now that we know the gender and overall well-being of our baby, the new question that I find myself pondering all the time is, "When will he get here?"  I'm so anxious to find out if he'll be early or late or right on time.  I'm sure that most pregnant women wonder about this very same thing, but I think it stays on my mind all the time because I so want my mom to be here for the delivery.  With her being a ten-hour drive or an hour and a half plane ride away, it is going to be really difficult to coordinate her arrival in Atlanta with Little E's arrival into the world.  Unfortunately for me, it is all completely out of my control, so I guess all I can do is wonder about it and pray that it all works out.


Also, New This Week:

My friend Jane was in town from Indiana for the weekend, so I had a very busy weekend and Little E had two nights out with the girls.  I went out for dinner and drinks at The Grape with Jane and nine other fabulous ladies on Friday night, although I didn't eat or drink anything other than water because it was way past dinner time for me.  On Saturday, I attended a baby shower for my friend Stephanie, who is due in December.  After the shower, Brad met Jane, Sarah, Laura, and I at Atkins Park for dinner.  Brad and I tried to hang out at Atkins for a while after dinner because several other friends were there by then, but the bar was way to smoke-filled and crowded, so we headed home.  It was so fun to have a weekend out with friends, but I definitely can't keep up with the non-pregnant folks these days!


Dinner at The Grape



Atkins Park

New This Week!

1.  Baby Prep Classes
I am very excited to report that we are now registered for all of our baby preparation classes.  We registered for Childbirth Prep, Baby Essentials, Infant and Child CPR, Daddy Boot Camp for Rookies, Becoming Parents, and Breastfeeding, which are all offered at Northside Hospital where I will deliver our baby.  We won't start these classes until January, but we were told that the classes fill up pretty fast, so we went ahead and registered for all of them.

2.  Childcare Research
We have decided that the best choice for us is for me to continue to work after the baby is born.  Because I will be going back to work in August, we will need to find a childcare provider for the little man, so we've started researching childcare providers in our area.  Brad asked me to visit providers in the area to narrow down the search.  Once I've narrowed it down to the top two, Brad will visit and tour the schools to help me make the final decision.  So far, I have only visited Primrose, but I was very impressed!  I plan to continue to visit other childcare providers, but it will take a lot to top what I experienced during my tour of Primrose. 

 3.  Feed Me
I am very happy to say that I haven't gained very much weight so far, but I have a feeling that is about change because lately I feel like no matter what I eat or how much I eat, I am still hungry.  My stomach feels a little bit like a bottomless pit!  I'm trying to make sure I fill myself up with fruits and veggies and other good-for-me foods, but I am just hungry all the time!

4.  Baby Bump
There is no more hiding the fact that I am expecting because I have a definite baby bump these days.  It is really fun to watch my belly grow because I know that it means that Peanut is growing as well.  I love checking out my belly in the mirror right when I wake up in the morning because I swear it looks different everyday!  It certainly makes getting dressed for work slightly more interesting, not to mention the fact that it is becoming increasingly difficult for me to tie my own shoelaces.

5.  Brad has Joined the Party
I mentioned in an earlier post that Brad was not yet able to feel the baby moving, well that changed this week!  A few nights ago, Brad was reading Peanut a bedtime story and Peanut was really moving around.  Brad put his hand on my belly where I was feeling the most movement and he was finally able to feel a few faint movements.  It is so exciting that Brad is a part of the action now!!

6.  Brad's Better Two-Thirds
Like many husbands, Brad will sometimes jokingly calls me his better half.  This week we came to the conclusion that I am currently his better two-thirds, as our family is no longer made up of two people.  We are now a family of three, plus a dog, of course!