30 weeks

How I became so high maintenance I will never know...
I have seen 3 doctors this week for this little bundle of joy we are expecting.
We saw the fetal/maternal specialist (ultrasound doctor), OBGYN (obviously), endocrinologist (gestational diabetes doctor).
The baby looked good (pictures below), but we didn't get a whole lot of good face pictures.  They were going to try again, but they had gotten everything they really needed and were just going to do it for our benefit, so I said that's okay.  I was getting that 'passing out' feeling...I just can't really lay on my back for very long and they are pressing with that ultrasound wand and the baby is just punching and kicking...I just wanted to go home and call it a day!  (I didn't though, by the way, I do have to earn a living...ha!)  The doctor said the baby wasn't too big (a concern because of the gestational diabetes), it was actually in the 28th percentile, so on the smaller side.  They looked at the major organs again, everything looked great they said.  I will go back in 4 weeks and they will check the baby's size again...they are doing this because of the gestational diabetes, they don't want the baby to get too big.  At that time, I will also start weekly non-stress tests, checking for contractions. 
My appointment at OB was good too, blood pressure is still good and low (can't remember it...I had my blood pressure taken 3 times in the past 2 days, they were all low and normal for me), I gained no weight in the past two weeks and the baby's heartrate was good.
At the endocrinologist, they showed me how to test my blood and gave me a book for food guidance.  I test my blood 4 times a day and then I go back next week and they review my journal.  After they review my journal of my levels, they will tell me if I have to take insulin or not.  The doctor was a little negative for my optimistic taste...he said he thinks I will have to take insulin because today I was above normal (after attempting to follow a low carb diet for a week or so) and because one of my tolerance testing levels was well above 200.  I was a bit bummed by his prediction and pessimism, but I have turned my attitude around...I am going to try VERY hard, attempting to take short walk after meals (supposed to help lower blood sugar), really watching my carb intake...and I don't know what else to do but those two things, but I will do those.
Anyways, onward we go...I go back to two of these doctors in the next two weeks, then back to Oklahoma for my last work trip before baby....time flies....

Face with open mouth...that line is the umbilical cord over the baby's face, which is why it was hard to get a better picture.

Another face picture...umbilical cord still in the way

Foot



Update

Well my optimism didn't help me out this time...it turns out my glucose screening was high so I had to do the three hour glucose screening and today they called and said all levels were high, so that means I do have gestational diabetes.  Sooooooooooo, who really knows what that means.  I mean now I have done plenty of internet reading, but I have not had my doctor's appointment yet.  I am supposed to be seeing an endocrinologist that will tell me what to do and how to test my blood sugar, etc. 
Anyways, until then, I will try to eat according to what my limited research and my OB nurse said and keep walking/exercise as often as I can. 
I know that everything will be fine and work out if I just try to be as good as possible, so that is what I will do... 

28 weeks

Well 12 weeks to go, give or take the baby's punctuality...
We went to the doctor today and now we will go every 2 weeks.  Here is the report card:
-BP (105/56)
-Baby's hearbeat (144 bpm)
-Fundal height (31 cm) This is the tape measure thing I wasn't sure about before...this time, I asked.  It should be +/- about 2 cm from what my weeks are...so it's +3, so I am measuring a bit big.  No worries though, she said this is a 'poor man's way of measuring progress', those were her words and she didn't seem too concerned at all.  She said we will see what the ultrasound says and if the baby is measuring larger, then we will just schedule ANOTHER ultrasound closer to baby time to monitor the baby's size.  So we have nearly 3 more steps before we can say if the baby is going to be big, or early or late...so everyone can hold their bets.
-Other -
------I had to do the glucose test today for standard gestational diabetes screening.  The orange drink wasn't THAT bad...but it wasn't good either, so glad it's over.  They said no news is good news, so we will see.  I am an optimist, so I think I won't hear anything.
------We got our form to fill out for pre-registration to the hospital for when it is "time"...WOW that's scary, or exciting, or both...
------Next appointment, two weeks.

Random note, when the girl was taking my blood she asked my due date, I told her, and she says, WHOA, you are big...is there just one baby in there???  Hmmmmm, well my belly is big, but I didn't think I was a freak or anything.  I am walking for exercise, eating pretty good (I have had some baked goods and candy on a few occasions, I can't help it!!)....so I will try to ignore this phlebotomist and just keep up my fairly good routine.

That's it for now.... 

25 weeks

Well there isn't a whole lot to update on...but I thought I better write something.  I went to the doctor on Tuesday, not too eventful, pretty short and sweet...checked my blood pressure (102/64), weighed me (I didn't look, although if I did, I doubt I would tell anyone what it was anyways, haha), and checked the baby's heartbeat (155bpm)...oh and did that measure thing with tape measure looking thing...I have no idea what's going on there, so I don't have any stats on that.  Anyways, doctor said everything looked great and she sent me on my way.  I go back in 3 weeks (at 28 weeks) and then she said it will be every 2 weeks after that.  I do believe it will start going by faster and faster...especially since it will be September next week!  My favorite time of year (fall and football!!), so I am hoping it doesn't go by TOO fast.
The baby has been moving like crazy, it is very very squirmy.  Beau can feel it move also, so he has been pretty entertained about how hard it kicks/punches.  He/she mostly can be predicted to be moving at bedtime and first thing in the morning, but also moves at various times throughout the day...quite active this little one is!
As for me, I just feel as if I am growing by the day...I feel like my belly looks pretty big and I still have 3 months to go...so I can't imagine.  Sometimes I see myself in a mirror and think, whoa, I sure do look pregnant.  Anyways, so that causes strangers (mostly in the airports when I have been traveling for work) to ask questions, lots of questions...at least no stranger has touched my belly, I would not like that!!  So, anyways...questions some strangers have asked (along with some questions from friends and family), I guess I should answer here....
Sex - as most everyone knows (I think), we are not finding out the sex.  We think it is exciting and fun to be waiting.  It has not been that hard, I did kind of want to peek at the ultrasound about a month ago, but I didn't and I am glad. 
Room - well yes, not knowing the sex does make the room a little more interesting, but I am not that worried about it.  I mean, we can actually wait to get gender specific bedding if that is what I decide because at first we can use the bassinet and its neutral bedding.  (I do have a bassinet, my parents bought it for us, I really like it...it has wheels so I can just scoot it around whereever in the house.)  As for painting, I hate painting...Beau's mom and my mom both offered their painting services, but I don't really think we need to paint.  The room has khaki-ish colored walls and I think that will do because then we can go either way.
Names - we have a list of names for both a boy and a girl...we aren't going to decide until the baby is born.  Actually we did these lists a month or so ago and now I am thinking we need to re-visit and add more, take some off, etc.
How have I been buying stuff (not knowing sex) - well I haven't...I haven't bought anything.  I am excited, I promise...it's just I haven't had the urge to buy things.  Which is odd for me, I like to buy all sorts of stuff, especially baby stuff...I love buying people baby gifts.  Part is probably due to the fact that Beau doesn't like a lot of 'stuff' around...I think he is having a fear of all this stuff just stacking up and becoming just more than he can handle.  Ha!  He is a minimalist of sorts.  Anyways, all we have right now is the bassinet that I mentioned and a baby's blanket that Beau's mom made (knitted or crocheted, I always get confused which is which). 
Work -  I get 6 weeks of maternity leave...and then I will continue to work.  I am very lucky to be able to work from home, only traveling to Oklahoma when I need to visit clients.  The timing of the baby could not be more perfect, first because maternity leave will fall during the holiday times when I don't hear from many clients anyways and also because my maternity leave will end when we go into tax season.  It would be unlikely I would need to visit clients during tax season (most tax clients don't mind just using phone and email), so I will be able to stay here to work.  That will be nice becasuse I won't have to travel with the baby or travel without the baby until later.  Until then, I am trying like crazy to get a bunch of work out before the baby...which I should be able to do, I am just hoping I do not get put on some sort of travel restriction because I do have an audit scheduled in mid-October.  My doctor just said that it should be fine but we will play it by ear. 

Anyways, LONG post, so I will stop.  I will update again after our next doctor's appointment. 

20 Weeks

Well we are halfway there...I have said this before, but I am not sure if I think this is going by fast or slow. 
Anyways, I went to the doctor yesterday and Beau and I went to get an ultrasound today. 
Yesterday was very quick...my blood pressure was good, my weight was good (up, of course, but very reasonable) and the baby's heart rate was good (155bpm).  That was really it.
Today, the ultrasound was pretty long...they looked at quite a bit, looked at the heart, the kidneys, stomach, brain, reproductive organs (we didn't look though!), and some other stuff that I just wasn't sure about.  They did some measurements to help determine the baby's size.  They are thinking about 14 ounces right now, almost a pound!  They said everything looked very good and right on schedule.  They also said the baby is in breech position right now, but nothing to worry about because obviously he or she has plenty of time to turn around!  I did get to feeling a little funny during the ultrasound, I guess my position and baby's position caused some of my blood supply to be cut off (is what they told me).  Anyways, I suppose I almost passed out, I have never passed out before, so I didn't know what was happening.  I hate to whine or be a whimp so I likely waited a little long before mentioning it, but now I know.  They just had to sit me up, then put me on my left side, but I guess it is not that out of the ordinary, so no one is too concerned. 
So, below are some pictures...a couple 3D ones of the baby's face and one of the 3D ones show the baby's leg right by the face, so he or she must be all scrunched up in there!
Besides all the appointment news, not much else to report.  I feel good.  I have been gaining some weight, but not too much, so I think I am in good shape.  I have been going to the gym to walk or Beau and I will walk at night so that is good too...apparantly exercise helps not only with weight gain, but with labor and delivery.  That is what they say, but who knows...exercising is good anyways, so what does it hurt to keep it up! 
I have felt the baby move quite a bit lately so I guess he or she is pretty squirmy.  It is a wierd feeling and of course no one else can feel it yet, so I feel a little guilty that I can't have Beau feel it yet. 
In summary, Beau, I and baby are all doing very good! 

Profile

Foot

3D - Face

3D - Face with arm and leg

3D - Face and arm

16 weeks

I went to the new doctor today and I love her and I love her nurses, so I am happy. I don't think they would have typically given me an ultrasound but they had just gotten a new ultrasound machine this afternoon so they were excited about giving some on it...I was only the second person they used it on. Anyways, below are some pictures, you can see the spine in one and two little feet in the other. I go back in four weeks then I also have a high tech ultrasound in four weeks to look at internal organs, etc. So that is exciting.

Anyways, I think that is about it, nothing else new to report.

Video

Here is a link to the video of the ultrasound and you can see the baby kicking and punching...very active and squirmy.  I couldn't get it to upload, so I had to upload to YouTube...I made it unlisted or private so you have to link to see it...it is unsearchable, not that anyone would be searching for us and this video...but still I don't want strangers to see it either...I like my privacy!  Anyways, it says it is 9 minutes...the real one was only 3 minutes, so I guess it's on a 3 time loop???  Who knows...
Check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30noQ-w8WbI