A Shot in the Dark

Any guesses on who got put on insulin today? Hmmm? Anyone? Good guess...it was me! Only 10 cc at bedtime, but still, when you're talking about a needle in your stomach, one time a day is one time too many. After getting the great news, I headed off to "Land of Idiots", otherwise known as Walmart, to get my prescriptions of syringes and insulin filled. Big mistake. Today was my ONE DAY of no requirements (4-H. ballet, soccer, etc) and I spent it wasting my time on employees with a 6th grade education and a required 1 day training seminar. I had to go back to the counter....wait for it....THREE times to get the stuff. On my third visit, I was told the requisite "It's just another 15 minutes" after they informed me that my insurance was not going to pay for syringes until they talked to my doctor about authorization......ummm, sorry?! Did I hear that correctly?? Well, geniuses, WHO DO YOU THINK WROTE THE PRESCRIPTION IN THE FIRST PLACE?! What did the insurance company want me to do, gouge my stomach with a pencil and pour the insulin in?! So I paid out of pocket (a whopping $13), got my crap, and vowed never to return. Let's hope that my first experience with giving myself an injection tonight goes more smoothly than my visit to Pharmacy Hell.

Baby Shower of the Century!

My mother in law and sis in law, Peggy and Mary Jo, planned a fantastic baby shower for me yesterday, Sept. 25th! Mary Jo is super organized and planned all of the games and activities, including making me a diaper cake that I was sure she ordered online. Peggy was the food master, and as usual, everything was delicious but I was only "allowed" to eat a little bite here and there. Check out the scene below: Mary Jo's diaper cake for me!
Cake made by cousin Katrina....loved it!

Katrina thought of everyone and even did chocolate cupcakes since the sheet cake was vanilla. Caroline expressed interest in stealing all the plastic babies from the tops of the cupcakes.

Me and my helper Caroline before we attacked the mountain of goodies! The Drinks family was beyond generous!

The "queen" in her royal, comfy throne

Peggy and I admire adorable girls clothes! The outfits were a nice range of sizes and no doubles of anything!

The pack n play. We also got the other big ticket items were were hoping for: stroller and car seat travel system from Peggy, Joe, Mary, and John; baby bathtub, and high chair

Gowns...love anything with rosebuds! Too cute!

Caroline and Garrett showed little enthusiasm for the actual gifts, but were estatic about the bows (for Caroline) and bubble wrap from Aunt Carrie's present (both loved this one in particular!). I loved Carrie's actual present....a gift basket with tons of goodies--outfits, leg warmers, socks, bracelet, door hanger, etc.

Me and Mel after the shower...due only 6 weeks apart!

31 Weeks

Today: (9/24) 31 weeks, 2 days
Feeling: Hungry! Started gestional diabetes diet a week and a half ago, and it's kicking my butt. I have to eat at the low end of my carb allowance just to keep my sugar level in check, so I feel like I'm always waiting for the next snack time to come along! Had an ultrasound done yesterday and size wise, baby is right on track (actually, a little big, but no concern): 3 lbs. 11 oz. I, on the other hand, managed to lose weight...as in NINE pounds since my last visit a week ago! The dr. is not worried; her words "I would expect you to lose weight when put on such a drastic diet". Here, here sister!
Updates: Now that I'm officially diagnosed with GD, I am going back to the dr. every week instead of every 2 weeks. I will start Non Stress Tests (NSTs) in about 3-4 weeks, and I see the dietician every other week. I also have an appt. at the perinatalogist on Oct. 4th to measure the baby thoroughly--know what that means??? 3-D ultrasound baby!
Also, Emily, at this time, is breech. As in, butt first. Dr. says she still has time to move--we won't worry til 34-36 weeks.
What I Like Right Now: Feeling baby move (she's slowed down since she started running out of room, and I miss the right jabs during tv time), days at school when I get to sit down, Timmy making dinner most nights, and wearing flip flops under the radar of the Fashion Police at work
What I Don't Like Right Now: kick counts (they stress me out that something is wrong), having to ask everyone at work to cover classes so I can go to the doctor every other minute, my cankles

The Art of Faking It (Arthritis, that is)

This is what I walk into this afternoon....a dog in a coma on the couch. One might ask if I am concerned for the condition of my couch. Ummm...no. Have you seen what the cats did to the sides?! I feel entitled to point out to lazy dog #1 and everyone else that this dog has required several trips to vet and expensive pain meds that taste like beef (expensive = $3.20....per PILL) to manage her whimpering. The doc says she has arthritis in her back and it makes her pant because she's in pain. Well, a dog in pain does NOT sprint onto a high couch the minute her owner pulls out of the driveway! The proof is in the pics... Caught in the act...thank God I wasn't a burglar. Sable would so be fired right now.
Her sleepy eyes barely register that someone has entered the house.
This was the pause after her hasty exit. She made it down from the couch, then had to pause for a breather. Notice her avoidance of all eye contact...guilty!

This is the face of a dog who finally recognizes her owner and only then decides to bark! She tried begging for a Milk Bone with a look like "See? I knew there were humans in the house! I need a treat because I'm so hungry from lounging all day"

Slight yarn addiction...

I got a little carried away...and made 3 more styles of hats. I've been able to figure out how to add different features, like beads and buttons. Tim is definitely amused by my crochet projects; every time he walks in the door, I'm hopping around saying "I made another one! Want to see another one?!" Reality will hit tomorrow when I head back for another week of school. The yarn and hook will have to wait while I do some lesson plans and grade papers. Watermelon hat: I wove the beads right onto the yarn
Two separate flowers sandwiched together with a button

I tried something that didn't involve pink. I think that on an unconscious level, I was trying to match my new favorite Glade candle- Cashmere Woods.

Can I get an "Awwwww"?

One morning without the kids, a free baby beanie pattern, and two leftover skeins of yarn, and I was back in business! I decided to stretch my abilities by trying out bear ears, which I haven't made before. Turned out pretty good for two hours of work! :) And it seems like so many baby girl clothes this year are in pink and brown combos, so maybe I'll get a little use out of this hat.
On another note, I had my 30 week check up and GD dietician appt this past Wed (both went fine), but I am scheduled for an ultrasound next Thursday and will post dr update and pics (hopefully!) then!

This Ain't Your Grandma's Crocheting!

So I have been trying to curb my urges to shop for all things baby by being creative. I have tons of yarn lying around that was left over from various projects and I'm feeling fairly crafty, so...the baby beanie was born! The one in the picture above was created by me (Can you believe it?!) in 2 days using 3 colors of yarn, a free pattern from the internet, and a short video on YouTube of how to crochet flowers. Needless to say, I'm hooked (no pun intended), and every baby in the tri state area will be receiving hats this winter :)

Garrett, Soccer Master

Before the game (first one of the season 9.11.10)
Caroline came out to support her big brother

Action on the field (Garrett is #32, second from left)

So Garrett's soccer team has been practicing for a couple of weeks, and this weekend was the first official "game". I use that term loosely because we are talking about a bunch of 9-11 year olds running rampant on a giant grassy field and for this age group, they don't even keep score (believe me, the parents do...we had some bitter bettys on the sidelines!). Garrett had a blast, got way more exercise than he normally does on a weekend, and even got a couple skinned knees while diving for a ball on its way out of bounds. His coach is extremely easy going and very positive, always calling out encouragement for the kids, unlike some spectators that were apparently confused that they were not at a World Cup event. His next game is Thursday, then one Saturday, and the season wraps up November 6th (little close for comfort for me, but should be ok). I got the coveted position of being second to sign up for snacks, so I chose this upcoming Saturday with one goal in mind: get it out of the way! :) Juice boxes and orange slices for everyone!

29 Weeks

Me: 29 weeks, 1 day (about 75 more days to go)

Feeling: Tired (more like exhausted). Not to complain, but seriously--can I maintain this work schedule for the next 2 months?? I haven't even gotten into the heavy content and already I'm wiped at the end of the day.

Baby: Supposed to be about 16 inches long (by 32 weeks they should be close to birth length) but she's no where near birth weight. Baby book says she should be around 3 pounds right now, but the sciatica nerve running down my back says that number may be a little low :)

Doctor's visit: Next one is Sept. 15th ,which is a double treat--> diabetes class @ 1 pm, followed by actual dr @ 4 pm. Feeling lightheaded lately, probably from eating low carb in preparation for diabetes diet.

Likes: elastic waist pants, pony tail holders, flip flops, afternoon naps

Dislikes: getting up to pee 3 times a night; getting up so early for work; back ache; lack of time to get housework finished during daytime hours

First Day of School!

Yea! First day of school is officially over! :) The kids were soooo excited about their first days because they already love their teachers. Garrett gets to see Mrs. Miller on a daily basis and Caroline got to pick out a new outfit with matching headband...score! I dressed nicely and in comfortable shoes, but that didn't stop my feet from swelling and aching (I blame the concrete floors in my classroom). The first day is always tough for me, mainly because it takes all my energy to talk all day and the students go home refreshed because all they had to do was sit in a chair for an hour. The rest of the week definitely gets better!
I got home with the kids by 4 PM and promptly passed out on the couch. Stouffer's made a fantastic lasagna for dinner and Tim helped the kids make a birdhouse in the basement workshop while I rested after eating. The kids were in bed very early and Tim and I barely made it past 8:30 PM before passing out. I believe I was asleep before my head even hit the pillow!

28 Weeks

Today: 28 weeks, 2 days

Feeling: Swollen and tired. Finished the first work week back at school, and let me tell you, being pregnant at 21 was soooooooo much easier than 31! I get tired very fast, I get out of breath just walking to the copier, and my ankle bones are nonexistent under the foot swelling. I am going shoe shopping tomorrow to get something as legally close to a flip flop as I can get away with at work :)

Next dr visit: Well, my visit on Wed. revealed gestational diabetes (hold your gasps, I knew it was coming) so with a score of 172 (140 is the limit) I am off to "Diabetes Education Refresher class" on Sept. 15th. That also happens to be my next dr visit now that I am going every other week. At this point, I should be able to control my sugar levels with diet, and I've already started to follow the "rules" by counting carbs even though I haven't gone to class yet.

What's Coming Up? My baby shower on Sept. 25th! Very excited to get new baby stuff. I have held off on shopping, even though everything they make for little girls is so freaking adorable.

Glucose Testing 9.1.10

I didn't have to be at school til 12:30 PM today because of Open House, but sleeping in was not going to happen. I had a doctor's appt. at 9:20 AM in the 'burg, and this appt. included my one hour glucose tolerance test. I got there at 9, and boy, everyone with a uterus in VA was at this office! Standing room only! I got in about 2 minutes late, had the reg. appt with doctor (heartbeat: 140 a minute, fundal measurement 28 cm, up 4 lbs. in 4 wks--right on target), and then drank the nasty stuff. I sat in the little waiting room for an hour, then had the blood taken by the coolest lab lady ever (she is very sassy and accused me of "hiding my veins"..."Where your veins girl? Jessica, you best be finding them nasty veins!" I giggled my butt off :) I get results by tomorrow or Friday, but either way, I'm going to pretty much guarantee a high score on this test. My doctor has suggested that in the event I don't pass, I bypass the 3-hour test because in her words "that will pretty much be a big waste of your time". Agreed, Dr. E. She did suggest I take the diabetes info class just as a refresher and I told her that I thought it was a good idea. So more on that subject in a couple of days, I guess!