Easter Preschool

I had preschool the week of Easter. We had a fun Easter party making Rice Krispie bird nests and having an Easter egg hunt indoor due to bad weather.

32 Week Update

So, it is time to give a pregnancy update. I really should take a picture of my ever expanding belly. Makayla keeps reminding me, I just keep forgetting to do it. Anyway, I went to my 32 week appointment. Things will now be kind of crazy for this mom of 4 kids, but no worries. I am measuring normal, which is good. My favorite thing though was my doctor asked how I was feeling about the size of my baby. He said that is actually the best indicator. He said it is a better indicator than an ultrasound or the doctors measurements. I was glad to know he would listen to me, because when I had my Makayla I didn't feel like I was listened to when I said "this baby will be extremely large." So, I will now just have to pray for discernment so I and my doctor will know if he is getting too big. I am so paranoid about having a 9-11 lb baby that I have to put those feelings aside and see how I feel he really is growing. I will say at this point I am not worried about him being too small....not even remotely. I don't know if I would say he is abnormally large....but that is where it is hard to tell at this stage. Around 36 weeks I will have a much better feel, I do believe.
Anyway, I now have to go to the doctor once a week and do a non-stress test at the hospital once a week. The only down side I see to this is finding babysitters. I want to do the non-stress test right after my doctors each week because the hospital is right across the street from my doctors and 12 minutes away from me, so I don't want to go twice. But, the non-stress tests could take awhile depending on whether this little guy is awake or not. Today he was sleeping quite nicely during the test. Which meant I was there for around an hour instead of just 30 minutes. His heart beat was great. He even had the hiccups which I heard on the monitor....that was priceless. I loved it!!! He just wouldn't move neough. We tried the lovely stimulator to get him going. Finally, we had to resort to juice to get him going. (I don't drink juice because of the diabetes...too many non filling carbs) I knew this should get him going a bit as it would be a good jolt of sugar to him. It worked, he wasn't going nuts but it got him active enough that I could go home. It made me greatly appreciate my sweet sister in law who has had to do this every two weeks for the past couple of months. She was saying what a pain it was because they had to get two babies to move enough. I now truly understand!!!
Anyway, rather than looking at having to go every week as a pain I will look at it as a wonderful relaxing time where I have to do nothing but listen to my childs heartbeat for 30-60 minutes. I will take books, conference talks, etc and just relax. Let's be honest, when do I get to sit for even 30 minutes and read a book without feeling guilty about doing nothing? NEVER!!!! So, I will savor this quiet moments that I get to share with my little one....and the nurses trying to probe him awake. I am grateful that my doctor is seeming on top of all of this. My blood sugar levels are great so there really are no worries. We are just taking precautionary measures to make sure everything stays okay. I am grateful for that.
Next week we will do another ultrasound to get a better idea of how he is doing size wise. That should be interesting and enlightening....hopefully. No matter what it will be fun to see him again.
Well, that is the medical update. As far as how I am doing, well, I am okay. I am tired all of the time and have days when I am almost in tears because I am crawling out of skin with discomfort. However, it isn't every day so that helps. My lower back kills constantly and my heartburn is only controlled through constant medication. However, I have been blessed with the best husband in the world. He saw how crazy my week is this week between teaching preschool, doctors appointments, teaching piano, driving carpool, etc. and he has really stepped up to ease my burden wherever he can. I could not do this without him and am so grateful to have him. I don't know how women do it alone, or with an non-supportive spouse!! I will be okay. I have hopefully only 6 weeks and 3 days left until he comes. I can do it!!! Right?!!!

Cute Moments with Becca

Becca is talking more and more and it is getting more and more funny. She is the most polite child I have. She says "please" and "thank you's" "no thanks", etc. Here are a couple of funny moments we have had with Becca's verbage.
On Sunday we were in Sacrament Meeting and she really wanted a pen over her ear like I had. So, I gave her one. She got this smile and her face and I could tell she was ready to say something. I thought it was going to be "Look, I look like Mommy!!" Nope. Instead she said "I'm Handy Mandy!!!" (For those who don't know who that is, it is a cartoon on Disney. Handy Mandy is a hispanic fix it guy that always puts a pencil above his ear).
One of my favorites is Becca's nighttime ritual. She is now sharing a room with Ashlyn which is working out quite well. As long as Mom (and no one else if mom is in the hosue) sings her a ritual of specific songs, she goes right to sleep. The songs are these (in this pretty specific order) I love to See the Temple, Daddy's Little Girl (I change it to Mommy's), I am a child of God, Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam, Jingle Bells (thank you christmas), How much is that doggy in the window, and finally the Ant's High Hopes song (it is a Bell favorite). Now, she is quite particular about what to sing when. Temple is ALWAYS first and ANT'S can NEVER be anywhere but last. If you do that, she will then say "Night night" when the songs are done and you leave. Well, since she has been sharing with Ashlyn she has decided it is nice for Ash to get a turn to choose. So she will say "Ashie's turn." Ashlyn will then choose. However, Ashlyn has not mastered the art of choosing the right song at the right time and inevitably Becca will say "NO, NOT THAT ONE!!" Well, at least she is trying to share on some level!!!
The third one was yesterday. Ashlyn got her hair cut (I will post pictures soon) and it is ADORABLE!! When we got in the car Becca looked at Ashlyn and said "Ashlyn, you are so pretty!!"
The fourth happened last night. I was having a hard night as I walked through my extremely messy house (the priority this week has been helping my mom with pictures and website stuff instead of house cleaning). Well, I walked into the little girls room to sing Becca her nightly ritual of songs. I saw what a HUGE mess it was knowing that is what I would be doing tomorrow. I started crying. It was just too much for me. Becca looks at me and says "Let me kiss it better" to which she then kisses my cheeks where the tears had fallen. She said that and did it a couple of times and then she said "Say Thank You!!" Of course I ended up laughing and realizing that is what life is all about. I can clean up the messes and they will reappear tomorrow, but I can NEVER get moments like that back!! I love my sweet little girl that puts a smile on my face every day.

Diabetes Update

Well, I have learned quite a bit about gestational diabetes this week. I must say I am less panicked then I was, in most ways. I am just annoyed. However, I met with the dietitian for the second time today and news was much better. I will back up though.
Last week I was put on a strict diet regime. I have to have a certain amount of carbs each meal and snacks. I have to eat 3 snacks in the day. Each snack has to occur at least 2 hours after breakfast, lunch, and dinner, except for the dinner snack which has to be at least 3 hours after. I have had to test my blood sugar levels before each meal, 2 hours after each meal, and 3 hours after dinner. That equals to 7 times a day!!! Besides just not enjoying the pricking so much I was floored by how much my little strips cost. Try $1 a strip. Yeah, $7 a day. That is tons of fun!! However, like I said, today I got good news. My levels look good (well, actually some are border line so if they don't get in check this week I will have to go on medication). Anyway, I now only have to test 4 times a day. I do have to keep everything else the same.
Let me tell you, being on a diet during pregnancy is the pits. Especially during Valentines Day. I made a delicious pie (well, it looked delicious since I can't eat it) for my family. I thought it would be fine since it isn't chocolate. However, I still want to eat it!! But alas, not too many sweets for this girl. The silver lining is I haven't gained any weight the past 2 weeks. Which, is a HUGE deal. I was packing on 2-5 lbs per week before we discovered the diabetes. So, I am hoping my weight gain will slow down and I won't have 90 lbs to lose.
I am hoping to gain some healthy habits so I don't develop type 2 diabetes. I really feel for diabetic people. I at least have some hope in site that this will end. They don't, for the most part. I will have to keep testing for 6 weeks after, but only 2x a day which is SO MUCH better than 7x. I actually think they have you do 7 times a day so you are so grateful to only have to do 4 times a day. Perspective!!!

Darling Hair

Ashlyn wanted short hair like Chloe, her cousin. Angie Larson cut her hair. Ashlyn was so excited to get it cut. It looks adorable on her and is so much easier to do!!

Positive

Well, I just found out the gestational diabetes test came back positive. What does that mean now? Well, that is a good question. I really don't know. The nurse is referring me to a dietitian at AF hospital. She will help me try to control it using diet and excercise (I don't need insulin which is a blessing!!) I am just waiting for her to call me. In the mean time I am not sure what, when, and how to eat. Just staying away from the chocolate and carbs. Why is it that is what I crave? I will then talk to my doctor at my 28 week appointment and explain my absolute fear of having a 10 lb plus baby. In the mean time I wait to get instructions. If you know me when there is a problem I like information and solutions immediately, so waiting will be joyous!!! I am hoping she calls tomorrow.
Let's just hope this is my weird health issue this pregnancy. I have had them with each child. Ryan and Ashlyn were both induced at 37 weeks due toxemia. Makayla was a week early, induced just because, and she was my 9lb baby. Rebecca was born at 38 weeks due to a kidney infection and an abnormally large kidney stone. Therefore, I don't think any of us are shocked by this new development. I can't have a text book pregnancy. Oh, well. This is my last one and I will learn fabulous eating habits that I can use to help lose all this weight I have gained and will gain!!!

Gestational Diabetes? Let's hope not!!!

So, I failed my 1 hour glucose test. I don't know by how much, I just know I had to do the lovely 3 hour test. For that one I had to go into the office at 8:40 fasting. They then drew my blood and made me drink the lovely orange drink (side note: the red drink they have is SOOO much better than the orange. I did the red on Monday with no complaints). After 1 hour they drew my blood. Then at 2 hours they drew my blood again. Finally, at 11:50 I had my 4th and final blood draw. I had to sit in my doctors waiting room for 3 hours. Another side note, there was a lady there probably 3-4 months pregnant with her husband there her 7 monthish old son and a daughter that was probably 22 months...maybe?!!! My thought was, good luck. I am exhausted for them!!!
I was really worried about how I would handle not eating for 15 hours straight, but I was fine....UNTIL I ate. I stopped by Arby's for a roasted chicken sandwich. I honestly almost passed out after I started eating. I really shouldn't have driven home as I was close to blacking out. I did make it home and a few hours later felt normal....well, as normal for a pregnant lady. Anyway, I should find out on Friday the results. I am sure everything is normal, which makes the whole process quite frustrating!!! Let's hope I don't have it. One of the major side effects is the baby tends to grow more rappidly, but not necessarily the lungs. The problem? I had a 9 lb 3 oz baby 1 week early WITHOUT gestational diabetes!! So, if it comes back positive, we might as well schedule a c-section right now because there ain't no way I am getting a 10 lb baby out the hard way!!!