Welcome to February 2007!
Our Engagement Photo, Spring 2005, Wedding Photo, October 8th, 2005, & David Makes Three!!!
Thank you for visiting. We update this page every few days.... check back soon!
Thank you for visiting. We update this page every few days.... check back soon!
February 6, 2007:
Sorry to everyone for the delay in updating this page...I have written this same update MANY times now, and Site Spinner (the website that I use for the updates of this page) KEEPS losing everything that I type....regardless if I save the info or not. To put it mildly, Site Spinner is getting extremely frustrating for us. Beyond that, it seems like the last three weeks have just flown by because of everything that's gone on; and with the biggest part of it (at the bottom of this update), I haven't been that excited (or happy) to share the news....
Now for my ramble:
First for the good parts of the part three weeks:
On Saturday, January 20th, almost my whole family on mom's side was in town for the entire weekend to celebrate Grandma Hedrick's (sort of surprize) 80th birthday. So, we did the family thing as much as each of our schedules allowed, and it was a really good weekend. For her actual party, Grandma was convinced that no one besides family would show up....and then MANY friends, both old and new (and even one guy who we didn't know at all) showed up to help her celebrate. So, she was very happy.
A week later, on the 27th, Bruce and I drove up to Cleveland for the first time in FOUR years to see my (and now his) friends Maria & Joyce (my old friends/pastors while I was in grad school) and then Jen, Jim, & Ben (I've considered Jenn my closest long-term friend since undergrad...and now she has a 3-month-old baby!!!!). (It's completely amazing that it has been four years since I was up there....where did those years go???) Anyway, I was able to show Bruce my old apartment building and neighborhood, and as we drove down Mayfield Road to Maria & Joyce's home, Bruce drove while I just sat there and looked at everything that had changed (or stayed the same) since I left.
Once we got to their home, we had a very nice visit with Maria & Joyce, ate a homemade lunch, and caught up on everything that's gone on. Bruce was (of course) very shy at first, but then he started to open up, and was completely feeling comfortable by the time that we left. Maria told him that she has known for a LONG time now that I have wanted to be a mom; and now it's happening! Also, they both agreed that Bruce is a good fit for me. :) It was also good to see how Joyce is doing with her Alzheimer's, as she seemed to be doing MUCH better than I had expected. While Joyce can still be in-control enough, they are both strong, vocal advocates for Alzheimer's research. (I wouldn't have expected anything less!)
In the evening, we went over to Jenn & Jim's home, and finally got to meet Ben...their first baby....who is so adorable and QUIET! :) (They live around the corner from the home that I lived in until my parents' divorce, so again, I had to show Bruce where I had lived.) We spent a lot of time just socializing with them, looked at Ben's new room, and Jenn gave us a lot of baby stuff that Ben simply wasn't going to be using (thank you!). We then had some very good mexican food (though, really, isn't almost ALL mexican food good?) at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Garfield Heights before we all drove out to Babies R Us so that they could help Bruce & I find more items to put on our baby registry (or recommended the things that would be a waste of our money/efforts). (The registry is still in-process, of course, but you can find it under Diana (or Bruce) Van Bruggen at http://www.babiesrus.com ). We had a very good time, and Jim & Bruce seemed to hit it off well, which (of course) made their wives happy. Once David arrives, we all plan to be getting together as often as possible, since we will all continue to have a LOT in common over the next (many) years, and we would all like for Ben and David to grow up as buddies.
Bruce has now completed his second MBA class, with another round of excellent grades, of course. We don't know his final grade yet, but he consistently got either 50/50 or 49/50 on most everything without fail, and worked hard on a excellent Powerpoint presentation for his last class. So, now it's on to a Statistics class this coming Monday. (It is math, so it should be relatively easy/comfortable for him, though he met the professor yesterday, and said that he was thinking he'd HAVE to either get a good night's sleep the night before class (or a good nap) in order to stay awake.) (Just the WORD "statistics" makes ME start feeling drowsy...) He is still actively searching for an accounting job to come his way, as STILL all of his leads have not panned out. Bruce is despretely in need of SOMETHING to come through VERY soon, so all prayers are welcomed.
And now for the not-so-good parts since updating:
On Tuesday, January 16, I had my lastest OB appointment with Donna (Dr.Arbona's Nurse/Midwife). At that point, I was still doing "very good" on my weight and size gain (total of only 10 pounds since the pregnancy's beginning), "excellent" on my blood pressure, David's heart beat was "right on track" at 150 bps, etc., etc., etc., wonderful overall. Donna suggested that I increase my exercse more (someone please put an extra couple of hours into each day, and I would without problem), increase my water intake, and cut out all of my salt intake (which, as anyone who knows me or my dad well, **no** salt is an impossibilty....so I bought a salt substitute called "No Salt," which is just about as good...thank God...). She said that all of this, plus keeping my feet elevated as much as possible, should decrease my overly-large left foot. Well, my exercise amount has remained constant, but I have done the other things, and, magically, I have a normal-sized left foot again! :)
After my appointment, I went in to get my normal gestational diabetes glucose test done; drinking the super-sugary orange pop stuff, and then an hour later had a blood draw. The next day, Dr. Arbona's nurse called to say that there was a problem with the glucose results, and that I'd have to do a LONG fasting a few days later (no food/water/ANYTHING after 5:30pm, and then come in at 7am the next day for a MUCH longer glucose test routine. SO, I cancelled my teaching job for Friday, and did as asked. Within four hours, I had a blood test done a total of 5 times (including once when the nurse stuck me with this HUGE needle (NOT a small "butterfly needle" as I had told her that I needed), and then once under my skin, she lost my vein, so she went "searching for it" under my skin...and as I sat there and YELLED out in agony...and she asked me if I could "really feel that? Because most people can't feel a thing once the needle's underneath the skin." "YES I CAN!!!!," I replied (or, really, cried)! SO, I guess that I am one of those special few who CAN. No doubt.
Anyway, the following Monday (the 22nd), the nurse called me bright and early to let me know that 3/4 of the second glucose tests were "greatly out of the norms", and so it was determined that I had gestational diabetes, and would have to start testing my blood sugar four times a day, eating MUCH less, and everything according to a predetermined diet schedule (a diet schedule which is like a death sentence, being that I sometimes work 24 hrs/7 days a week, and with every day being very different from my last, I **never** am able to know when/were my next meal is going to come from or what it will entail). So, this came as a HUGE shock/blow/downer since EVERY single measurement/test since this pregnancy has begun has been declared "wonderful" and "very good." There were NO indications that I had diabetes. NONE. Bruce & I did a lot of internet searching about gestational diabetes, and everything that the websites said that I need to do to avoid having it, I ALREADY DO! And I HAVE DONE for most of my life!!!! We decided that (potentially) the **only** thing that could have contributed to it was my diagnosis of Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome and the med (Metformin) that I take for it. So, I had to schedule ANOTHER day off of work, and come in to meet with a dietician on Friday. So, that whole week, we both ate everything GOOD (TASTING, that is) for all of our meals before the diet began on Sunday morning.
On Friday the 26th, the dietician taught both of us about diabetes, and what we would need to do to change our eating/living habits to avoid the problems associated with it, and also helped me do my first blood test to learn how to do it. (Amazingly, the number that it read <83> was within the "normal" range, but she said that it "doen't really count") (WHY NOT!?!). She was very good at helping us to get testing supplies that at this moment we simply can NOT afford. No way. But, we were also upset when she (repeatedly) kept insisting that I had the diabetes because I was "grossly obese" and that it would be in my best interest to change from Dr.Arbona to the OB (the dietician's boss) who specializes in "high-risk" pregnancy problems, including gestational diabetes. She was SHOCKED that I was still on Metformin (diagnosed/prescribed by Dr.Arbona), and said that I "needed to get off of it right away for my and the baby's health."
First off, I become VERY offended when people go on and on about their OPINION that I am "grossly obese." Overweight? Sure. Grossly obese? Get a life. Is that determined by those charts that state what weight all people are "supposed" to be?!?!?!? I have always disagreed with those charts, because if I weighed (pre-pregnancy) what the charts claim that I should, I would be back down to my high-school weight....which CERTAINLY isn't healthy for an active adult. Overall, I eat healthy, exercise when I can, and am a very mentally and physically fit person. What am I supposed to say, other than my internal voice who wants to respond how "grossly underweight" that dietician seemed to be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Secondly, I was very uncomfortable with her opinion that I should change doctors. I like the personality of Dr.Arobona, and she has been an excellent ob/gyn for me. Plus, she's a woman ob/gyn (very few/far between at St.Ann's for some reason, and the specialist that she wanted me to start going to is a male). I just have felt for as long as I can remember that I believe that it takes a female to fully understand female problems/needs. Book knowledge only teaches you so much.
I have my next appointment with Dr. Arbona in the morning, and, believe me, we have MANY questions to ask her this time. I will be bringing all of my testing results and food logs from the last 1 1/2 weeks, and wanting to understand how these results, which all state that I am either in the "normal" range or JUST BARELY over "normal," indicate that I have diabetes. Even on the days that I have cheated and ate a normal meal at Skyline or Subway, my numbers are ALWAYS good. And, it concerns me that, because of the diet, I am LOSING weight, and am now giving my baby MUCH less calcium, protein, fats, and whatever else that he needs to grow strong. Bruce & I just firmly disagree that I have gestational diabetes.
Sorry to everyone for the delay in updating this page...I have written this same update MANY times now, and Site Spinner (the website that I use for the updates of this page) KEEPS losing everything that I type....regardless if I save the info or not. To put it mildly, Site Spinner is getting extremely frustrating for us. Beyond that, it seems like the last three weeks have just flown by because of everything that's gone on; and with the biggest part of it (at the bottom of this update), I haven't been that excited (or happy) to share the news....
Now for my ramble:
First for the good parts of the part three weeks:
On Saturday, January 20th, almost my whole family on mom's side was in town for the entire weekend to celebrate Grandma Hedrick's (sort of surprize) 80th birthday. So, we did the family thing as much as each of our schedules allowed, and it was a really good weekend. For her actual party, Grandma was convinced that no one besides family would show up....and then MANY friends, both old and new (and even one guy who we didn't know at all) showed up to help her celebrate. So, she was very happy.
A week later, on the 27th, Bruce and I drove up to Cleveland for the first time in FOUR years to see my (and now his) friends Maria & Joyce (my old friends/pastors while I was in grad school) and then Jen, Jim, & Ben (I've considered Jenn my closest long-term friend since undergrad...and now she has a 3-month-old baby!!!!). (It's completely amazing that it has been four years since I was up there....where did those years go???) Anyway, I was able to show Bruce my old apartment building and neighborhood, and as we drove down Mayfield Road to Maria & Joyce's home, Bruce drove while I just sat there and looked at everything that had changed (or stayed the same) since I left.
Once we got to their home, we had a very nice visit with Maria & Joyce, ate a homemade lunch, and caught up on everything that's gone on. Bruce was (of course) very shy at first, but then he started to open up, and was completely feeling comfortable by the time that we left. Maria told him that she has known for a LONG time now that I have wanted to be a mom; and now it's happening! Also, they both agreed that Bruce is a good fit for me. :) It was also good to see how Joyce is doing with her Alzheimer's, as she seemed to be doing MUCH better than I had expected. While Joyce can still be in-control enough, they are both strong, vocal advocates for Alzheimer's research. (I wouldn't have expected anything less!)
In the evening, we went over to Jenn & Jim's home, and finally got to meet Ben...their first baby....who is so adorable and QUIET! :) (They live around the corner from the home that I lived in until my parents' divorce, so again, I had to show Bruce where I had lived.) We spent a lot of time just socializing with them, looked at Ben's new room, and Jenn gave us a lot of baby stuff that Ben simply wasn't going to be using (thank you!). We then had some very good mexican food (though, really, isn't almost ALL mexican food good?) at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Garfield Heights before we all drove out to Babies R Us so that they could help Bruce & I find more items to put on our baby registry (or recommended the things that would be a waste of our money/efforts). (The registry is still in-process, of course, but you can find it under Diana (or Bruce) Van Bruggen at http://www.babiesrus.com ). We had a very good time, and Jim & Bruce seemed to hit it off well, which (of course) made their wives happy. Once David arrives, we all plan to be getting together as often as possible, since we will all continue to have a LOT in common over the next (many) years, and we would all like for Ben and David to grow up as buddies.
Bruce has now completed his second MBA class, with another round of excellent grades, of course. We don't know his final grade yet, but he consistently got either 50/50 or 49/50 on most everything without fail, and worked hard on a excellent Powerpoint presentation for his last class. So, now it's on to a Statistics class this coming Monday. (It is math, so it should be relatively easy/comfortable for him, though he met the professor yesterday, and said that he was thinking he'd HAVE to either get a good night's sleep the night before class (or a good nap) in order to stay awake.) (Just the WORD "statistics" makes ME start feeling drowsy...) He is still actively searching for an accounting job to come his way, as STILL all of his leads have not panned out. Bruce is despretely in need of SOMETHING to come through VERY soon, so all prayers are welcomed.
And now for the not-so-good parts since updating:
On Tuesday, January 16, I had my lastest OB appointment with Donna (Dr.Arbona's Nurse/Midwife). At that point, I was still doing "very good" on my weight and size gain (total of only 10 pounds since the pregnancy's beginning), "excellent" on my blood pressure, David's heart beat was "right on track" at 150 bps, etc., etc., etc., wonderful overall. Donna suggested that I increase my exercse more (someone please put an extra couple of hours into each day, and I would without problem), increase my water intake, and cut out all of my salt intake (which, as anyone who knows me or my dad well, **no** salt is an impossibilty....so I bought a salt substitute called "No Salt," which is just about as good...thank God...). She said that all of this, plus keeping my feet elevated as much as possible, should decrease my overly-large left foot. Well, my exercise amount has remained constant, but I have done the other things, and, magically, I have a normal-sized left foot again! :)
After my appointment, I went in to get my normal gestational diabetes glucose test done; drinking the super-sugary orange pop stuff, and then an hour later had a blood draw. The next day, Dr. Arbona's nurse called to say that there was a problem with the glucose results, and that I'd have to do a LONG fasting a few days later (no food/water/ANYTHING after 5:30pm, and then come in at 7am the next day for a MUCH longer glucose test routine. SO, I cancelled my teaching job for Friday, and did as asked. Within four hours, I had a blood test done a total of 5 times (including once when the nurse stuck me with this HUGE needle (NOT a small "butterfly needle" as I had told her that I needed), and then once under my skin, she lost my vein, so she went "searching for it" under my skin...and as I sat there and YELLED out in agony...and she asked me if I could "really feel that? Because most people can't feel a thing once the needle's underneath the skin." "YES I CAN!!!!," I replied (or, really, cried)! SO, I guess that I am one of those special few who CAN. No doubt.
Anyway, the following Monday (the 22nd), the nurse called me bright and early to let me know that 3/4 of the second glucose tests were "greatly out of the norms", and so it was determined that I had gestational diabetes, and would have to start testing my blood sugar four times a day, eating MUCH less, and everything according to a predetermined diet schedule (a diet schedule which is like a death sentence, being that I sometimes work 24 hrs/7 days a week, and with every day being very different from my last, I **never** am able to know when/were my next meal is going to come from or what it will entail). So, this came as a HUGE shock/blow/downer since EVERY single measurement/test since this pregnancy has begun has been declared "wonderful" and "very good." There were NO indications that I had diabetes. NONE. Bruce & I did a lot of internet searching about gestational diabetes, and everything that the websites said that I need to do to avoid having it, I ALREADY DO! And I HAVE DONE for most of my life!!!! We decided that (potentially) the **only** thing that could have contributed to it was my diagnosis of Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome and the med (Metformin) that I take for it. So, I had to schedule ANOTHER day off of work, and come in to meet with a dietician on Friday. So, that whole week, we both ate everything GOOD (TASTING, that is) for all of our meals before the diet began on Sunday morning.
On Friday the 26th, the dietician taught both of us about diabetes, and what we would need to do to change our eating/living habits to avoid the problems associated with it, and also helped me do my first blood test to learn how to do it. (Amazingly, the number that it read <83> was within the "normal" range, but she said that it "doen't really count") (WHY NOT!?!). She was very good at helping us to get testing supplies that at this moment we simply can NOT afford. No way. But, we were also upset when she (repeatedly) kept insisting that I had the diabetes because I was "grossly obese" and that it would be in my best interest to change from Dr.Arbona to the OB (the dietician's boss) who specializes in "high-risk" pregnancy problems, including gestational diabetes. She was SHOCKED that I was still on Metformin (diagnosed/prescribed by Dr.Arbona), and said that I "needed to get off of it right away for my and the baby's health."
First off, I become VERY offended when people go on and on about their OPINION that I am "grossly obese." Overweight? Sure. Grossly obese? Get a life. Is that determined by those charts that state what weight all people are "supposed" to be?!?!?!? I have always disagreed with those charts, because if I weighed (pre-pregnancy) what the charts claim that I should, I would be back down to my high-school weight....which CERTAINLY isn't healthy for an active adult. Overall, I eat healthy, exercise when I can, and am a very mentally and physically fit person. What am I supposed to say, other than my internal voice who wants to respond how "grossly underweight" that dietician seemed to be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Secondly, I was very uncomfortable with her opinion that I should change doctors. I like the personality of Dr.Arobona, and she has been an excellent ob/gyn for me. Plus, she's a woman ob/gyn (very few/far between at St.Ann's for some reason, and the specialist that she wanted me to start going to is a male). I just have felt for as long as I can remember that I believe that it takes a female to fully understand female problems/needs. Book knowledge only teaches you so much.
I have my next appointment with Dr. Arbona in the morning, and, believe me, we have MANY questions to ask her this time. I will be bringing all of my testing results and food logs from the last 1 1/2 weeks, and wanting to understand how these results, which all state that I am either in the "normal" range or JUST BARELY over "normal," indicate that I have diabetes. Even on the days that I have cheated and ate a normal meal at Skyline or Subway, my numbers are ALWAYS good. And, it concerns me that, because of the diet, I am LOSING weight, and am now giving my baby MUCH less calcium, protein, fats, and whatever else that he needs to grow strong. Bruce & I just firmly disagree that I have gestational diabetes.
Grandma thanking everyone who came to her 80th birthday party.
Mom and her two sisters (Aunt Jackie and Aunt Patti) dancing to "their song"
A family photo (Grandma is front, and in the rear: Grandpa, Aunt Jackie, Mom, and Aunt Patti)
February 26, 2007:
If you haven't guessed by now, we're still having difficulty with the website's program ("Site Spinner"). Since our last entry about three weeks ago, just so much has gone on that we have both wanted to put onto this website....it's not that we haven't tried to log (and share) everything (every few days), but Site Spinner won't even come up to allow us to type anything; let alone publish any updates. As stated in the last entry, this continues to be very frustrating. (It may have something to do with the fact that we now have 1 1/2 years worth of entries on here, so we might be consolidating in the near future; who knows!).
Anyway, we ask you to just bear with us..... Now to think back through February....
Bruce landed (and has started) a job!!!!!!
He is now employed full-time by Check-Free in customer service, with a seemingly good chance of being able to climb the ranks rather quickly to more prominent positions that might be more in-line with his Accounting/Business degree(s). He's now in an initial, month-long training position, and so far, he really likes the whole casual, laid-back, user-friendly attitude of the company and all of the "extras" that the company offers to the employees (such as a good workout room, as well as a daily breakfast AND lunch with a wide variety of food choices and as much pop as he wants for only about $2.75 total per day!). He's also told them about this pregnancy, and they seem to be VERY accomodating, so he'll have no problem going to the many doctors' visits in the next few months, as well as taking some time off when David decides to make his official appearance to the world. Most of all, Bruce is just happy (and thankful) to now be employed. He's still working at the Disney Store, too, though that's just on a part-time basis.
Also, Bruce's grades finally came in, and he ended up with an "A-" in his second class. He is happy that he got the A, but is bummed about the "minus" part of it all, since that means he won't be able to have a 4.0 upon graduation. I reminded him that an A- is GREAT, and that VERY few people actually go through a master's program with a 4.0 anyway....especially adults who have a family and a full-time job(s) to take up their time. Besides, a very high 3 pont whatever will look just as fancy to his prospective employers.
I have been working a LOT the last few weeks (in my book, any overtime is good for us). With me now being in the Third Trimester of this pregnancy, the aches/pains/tiredness has all greatly set in. I still love being pregnant, feeling David's movements and growth spurts, and watching my belly slowly get larger and larger (except for the stretchmarks....I could do without those....), but it is getting more & more difficult to walk up/down the stairs in many of my schools, and to sometimes (literally) chase after the kids who I am teaching that day. SO, in about three weeks, I'm going to stop teaching for the school year. However, with me never wanting to lose-out on any income source, I have been hired (starting in mid-March) to sit at a desk and grade the various state and national tests of middle and high-schoolers all day long. All that takes is my ability to be able to speak/write/grade students' usage of the English language. I can do that! :) (Bruce also got hired for the job, JUST in-case the CheckFree job doesn't work out.) So, for the last month of this pregnancy, I'll still have three jobs, but I'll be able to just SIT. Sounds good to me!
Outside of the two (three) of us, it appears that we're going to be going down to Bruce's dad's place sometime in the next few weeks. It will be nice to see everyone (and potentially many of the siblings/families too)! Dad is still busy with re-building the downstairs, and at this time is just about ready to put the new flooring down. Maybe everyone will be able to help him with it. My mom, step-dad, and Mom's siblings/spouses (as well as my cousin Stevi and her friend Lucy) all just returned this weekend from a Caribbean cruise....they apparently had a good time, are all tan now, and my mother bought lots of NICE jewelry and got her hair braided in tight corn-rows.."Jamaica-man!"-style.....<shaking my head>.
Since our last entry, there have been two doctor visits and the gestational diabetes saga has continued:
On 2/7, we met with Dr. Arbona. My blood pressure was SLIGHTLY elevated (130 over 84), but I had LOST 4 pounds since the last visit. She was unconcerned with this, saying that David was still measuring "excellent," and that anything (weight-wise) that he was missing out on because of my diet, he would end up taking from me.... and would therefore be better for both of us in the long run. His heart rate was 155 BPM (also right on track). We discussed my disagreement with the diabetes diagnosis, but she said that the numbers from those two original blood sugar tests were 178 (for the single test), and 100, 211, 177, and 173 (for the multiple-stick test). All of these numbers WERE (slightly) elevated enough to lend to the diabetes diagnosis, though not enough to cause much alarm for any long-term difficulty (meaning that it's unlikely that I will have to go onto insulin or have "type-one diabetes" once the baby is born).
On 2/20, Bruce had to work, so I went alone to my appointment with Donna, Dr. Arbona's Nurse-Midwife. She said that my weight was the same as on the 7th, and that my blood pressure had decreased to a normal level (124 over 80). David's heart rate remained the same. Donna said that it looked like I'm doing everything as I should, but was concerned about the fact that I am ALWAYS hungry in this diet; and she suggested that we increase my daily calorie in-take a small amount. I agreed with her, but the dietician, of course, disagreed, and basically just asked me what *I* wanted to do! (Well, I want to feel satisfied and know that I'm not starving my baby of necessary nutrients.....duh!) Suzanne (the dietician) also had difficulty understanding why I was not sleeping through the night and was eating so many "junk carbs" instead of "real, more satisfying, high-carb foods." (This after she had originally TOLD me to do the snack, protein, and meal-replacement bars!) So, I had to remind her (again) of my 24/7 work schedule, and that sleep AND "real" meals are a few-and-far-between luxury for me.
Later this week, we will have our next appointment with Dr. Arbona, and we are REALLY looking forward to it. On that day, we will be getting another ultrasound done to verify that David's size/weight is in-fact growing normally. I'm excited to see him again! :)
I continue to eat good (overall), and still test my blood sugar four times each day (lending to my first three fingers on my left hand almost always being sore from all of the pricks). I just think that it's amazing that I can be this big and still have only gained 6 pounds total since this pregnancy began. For Valentine's Day, Bruce gave me some GOOD chocolates...and I've been doing REALLY good in that I've been sharing them with him, AND I only eat 3 pieces at a time, every few days (total of 23 carbs for 3 pieces :) ).
For part of my Christmas present this year, Bruce bought me two "pregnancy massages" at St.Ann's. Well, this week, I had my first one....and it was MARVELOUS....WONDERFUL.....aaaahhhhh..... :) I have my next one scheduled for two weeks before the due date, though if I'm not able to do it then (or if David comes early), then I can get it anytime after the birth for the next year. No problem! :)
About two weeks ago, I began to DEFINATELY have my first Braxton-Hicks contractions (that I can feel...I guess they start so small that the mom can't feel them). The first one was one morning when we were in bed, just talking about things, when all of a sudden, it was PAINFUL. It came out of nowhere, fast and furious, and just felt like my whole uterus area was SQUEEZING together as tight as it possibly could, for probably 30-45 seconds or so. Totally took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes. Bruce just laid there, wishing that he could do SOMETHING to lessen the pain....but of course, he couldn't. They are now coming about one every 3-4 days. Painful, yes, but I just keep TRYING to breathe through them and remind myself that this is normal, is nothing in comparison to what's coming, and is simply my body's way of preparing for the real thing in a few weeks.
Also (this is kind of gross but funny, too): Right about the day that the contractions started, I noticed that twice in one day, apparently my RIGHT nipple (not the left one) was ahead of the game, as it leaked fluid when I accidentally rubbed my arm against it! As I have never had that happen before, it was definately a weird sensation....
Right now, life is all about this baby. At St.Ann's, we will soon be taking a 4-session Labor and Birth class, a 2-session class entitled "Heading Home: The First 3 Months," a one-day Breastfeeding class, and a one-day Car Seat Basics class. We've also gone to a few free getting-ready-for-David seminars at Babies R Us. We have started putting the nursery together (the theme is Noah's Ark), and are trying to not make it too "babyish." (Awesome prices on things from eBay, by the way.) We have just also about completed our baby registries...except for bottles/pacifiers/etc...we're still clueless on that front.....(we have a registry at "Babys R Us" and one at "Target"...trying to appeal to everyone's localities and financial situations).
And for the official update on David's growth:
The rate of physical growth slows down just a bit, though he will gain a lot of weight the rest of the pregnancy. Fat continues to accumulate. This layer of fat turns his skin from red to the rosy pink he will have as a newborn. Calcium, phosphorus and iron are being stored and his bones are growing and hardening. David is 16.2 inches (41.1cm) long and weighs 3.3 pounds (1502gm). He is learning how to turn his head from side-to-side....as if saying "no!" Lungs are the only major organ left to complete development. His brain enters another period of rapid growth, producing hundreds of billions of new nerve cells! Studies with heart rates show that he also prefers some types of music to others -- already! (By the way, it appears that David tends to prefer 70's music..and particularly the BeeGees.....he moves like CRAZY whenever a BeeGees song comes on the radio! lol!!!)
If you haven't guessed by now, we're still having difficulty with the website's program ("Site Spinner"). Since our last entry about three weeks ago, just so much has gone on that we have both wanted to put onto this website....it's not that we haven't tried to log (and share) everything (every few days), but Site Spinner won't even come up to allow us to type anything; let alone publish any updates. As stated in the last entry, this continues to be very frustrating. (It may have something to do with the fact that we now have 1 1/2 years worth of entries on here, so we might be consolidating in the near future; who knows!).
Anyway, we ask you to just bear with us..... Now to think back through February....
Bruce landed (and has started) a job!!!!!!
He is now employed full-time by Check-Free in customer service, with a seemingly good chance of being able to climb the ranks rather quickly to more prominent positions that might be more in-line with his Accounting/Business degree(s). He's now in an initial, month-long training position, and so far, he really likes the whole casual, laid-back, user-friendly attitude of the company and all of the "extras" that the company offers to the employees (such as a good workout room, as well as a daily breakfast AND lunch with a wide variety of food choices and as much pop as he wants for only about $2.75 total per day!). He's also told them about this pregnancy, and they seem to be VERY accomodating, so he'll have no problem going to the many doctors' visits in the next few months, as well as taking some time off when David decides to make his official appearance to the world. Most of all, Bruce is just happy (and thankful) to now be employed. He's still working at the Disney Store, too, though that's just on a part-time basis.
Also, Bruce's grades finally came in, and he ended up with an "A-" in his second class. He is happy that he got the A, but is bummed about the "minus" part of it all, since that means he won't be able to have a 4.0 upon graduation. I reminded him that an A- is GREAT, and that VERY few people actually go through a master's program with a 4.0 anyway....especially adults who have a family and a full-time job(s) to take up their time. Besides, a very high 3 pont whatever will look just as fancy to his prospective employers.
I have been working a LOT the last few weeks (in my book, any overtime is good for us). With me now being in the Third Trimester of this pregnancy, the aches/pains/tiredness has all greatly set in. I still love being pregnant, feeling David's movements and growth spurts, and watching my belly slowly get larger and larger (except for the stretchmarks....I could do without those....), but it is getting more & more difficult to walk up/down the stairs in many of my schools, and to sometimes (literally) chase after the kids who I am teaching that day. SO, in about three weeks, I'm going to stop teaching for the school year. However, with me never wanting to lose-out on any income source, I have been hired (starting in mid-March) to sit at a desk and grade the various state and national tests of middle and high-schoolers all day long. All that takes is my ability to be able to speak/write/grade students' usage of the English language. I can do that! :) (Bruce also got hired for the job, JUST in-case the CheckFree job doesn't work out.) So, for the last month of this pregnancy, I'll still have three jobs, but I'll be able to just SIT. Sounds good to me!
Outside of the two (three) of us, it appears that we're going to be going down to Bruce's dad's place sometime in the next few weeks. It will be nice to see everyone (and potentially many of the siblings/families too)! Dad is still busy with re-building the downstairs, and at this time is just about ready to put the new flooring down. Maybe everyone will be able to help him with it. My mom, step-dad, and Mom's siblings/spouses (as well as my cousin Stevi and her friend Lucy) all just returned this weekend from a Caribbean cruise....they apparently had a good time, are all tan now, and my mother bought lots of NICE jewelry and got her hair braided in tight corn-rows.."Jamaica-man!"-style.....<shaking my head>.
Since our last entry, there have been two doctor visits and the gestational diabetes saga has continued:
On 2/7, we met with Dr. Arbona. My blood pressure was SLIGHTLY elevated (130 over 84), but I had LOST 4 pounds since the last visit. She was unconcerned with this, saying that David was still measuring "excellent," and that anything (weight-wise) that he was missing out on because of my diet, he would end up taking from me.... and would therefore be better for both of us in the long run. His heart rate was 155 BPM (also right on track). We discussed my disagreement with the diabetes diagnosis, but she said that the numbers from those two original blood sugar tests were 178 (for the single test), and 100, 211, 177, and 173 (for the multiple-stick test). All of these numbers WERE (slightly) elevated enough to lend to the diabetes diagnosis, though not enough to cause much alarm for any long-term difficulty (meaning that it's unlikely that I will have to go onto insulin or have "type-one diabetes" once the baby is born).
On 2/20, Bruce had to work, so I went alone to my appointment with Donna, Dr. Arbona's Nurse-Midwife. She said that my weight was the same as on the 7th, and that my blood pressure had decreased to a normal level (124 over 80). David's heart rate remained the same. Donna said that it looked like I'm doing everything as I should, but was concerned about the fact that I am ALWAYS hungry in this diet; and she suggested that we increase my daily calorie in-take a small amount. I agreed with her, but the dietician, of course, disagreed, and basically just asked me what *I* wanted to do! (Well, I want to feel satisfied and know that I'm not starving my baby of necessary nutrients.....duh!) Suzanne (the dietician) also had difficulty understanding why I was not sleeping through the night and was eating so many "junk carbs" instead of "real, more satisfying, high-carb foods." (This after she had originally TOLD me to do the snack, protein, and meal-replacement bars!) So, I had to remind her (again) of my 24/7 work schedule, and that sleep AND "real" meals are a few-and-far-between luxury for me.
Later this week, we will have our next appointment with Dr. Arbona, and we are REALLY looking forward to it. On that day, we will be getting another ultrasound done to verify that David's size/weight is in-fact growing normally. I'm excited to see him again! :)
I continue to eat good (overall), and still test my blood sugar four times each day (lending to my first three fingers on my left hand almost always being sore from all of the pricks). I just think that it's amazing that I can be this big and still have only gained 6 pounds total since this pregnancy began. For Valentine's Day, Bruce gave me some GOOD chocolates...and I've been doing REALLY good in that I've been sharing them with him, AND I only eat 3 pieces at a time, every few days (total of 23 carbs for 3 pieces :) ).
For part of my Christmas present this year, Bruce bought me two "pregnancy massages" at St.Ann's. Well, this week, I had my first one....and it was MARVELOUS....WONDERFUL.....aaaahhhhh..... :) I have my next one scheduled for two weeks before the due date, though if I'm not able to do it then (or if David comes early), then I can get it anytime after the birth for the next year. No problem! :)
About two weeks ago, I began to DEFINATELY have my first Braxton-Hicks contractions (that I can feel...I guess they start so small that the mom can't feel them). The first one was one morning when we were in bed, just talking about things, when all of a sudden, it was PAINFUL. It came out of nowhere, fast and furious, and just felt like my whole uterus area was SQUEEZING together as tight as it possibly could, for probably 30-45 seconds or so. Totally took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes. Bruce just laid there, wishing that he could do SOMETHING to lessen the pain....but of course, he couldn't. They are now coming about one every 3-4 days. Painful, yes, but I just keep TRYING to breathe through them and remind myself that this is normal, is nothing in comparison to what's coming, and is simply my body's way of preparing for the real thing in a few weeks.
Also (this is kind of gross but funny, too): Right about the day that the contractions started, I noticed that twice in one day, apparently my RIGHT nipple (not the left one) was ahead of the game, as it leaked fluid when I accidentally rubbed my arm against it! As I have never had that happen before, it was definately a weird sensation....
Right now, life is all about this baby. At St.Ann's, we will soon be taking a 4-session Labor and Birth class, a 2-session class entitled "Heading Home: The First 3 Months," a one-day Breastfeeding class, and a one-day Car Seat Basics class. We've also gone to a few free getting-ready-for-David seminars at Babies R Us. We have started putting the nursery together (the theme is Noah's Ark), and are trying to not make it too "babyish." (Awesome prices on things from eBay, by the way.) We have just also about completed our baby registries...except for bottles/pacifiers/etc...we're still clueless on that front.....(we have a registry at "Babys R Us" and one at "Target"...trying to appeal to everyone's localities and financial situations).
And for the official update on David's growth:
The rate of physical growth slows down just a bit, though he will gain a lot of weight the rest of the pregnancy. Fat continues to accumulate. This layer of fat turns his skin from red to the rosy pink he will have as a newborn. Calcium, phosphorus and iron are being stored and his bones are growing and hardening. David is 16.2 inches (41.1cm) long and weighs 3.3 pounds (1502gm). He is learning how to turn his head from side-to-side....as if saying "no!" Lungs are the only major organ left to complete development. His brain enters another period of rapid growth, producing hundreds of billions of new nerve cells! Studies with heart rates show that he also prefers some types of music to others -- already! (By the way, it appears that David tends to prefer 70's music..and particularly the BeeGees.....he moves like CRAZY whenever a BeeGees song comes on the radio! lol!!!)