So they told us that D possibly has gestational Diabetes. But apparently it is acute enough to be handled with Diet. So let's go to a dietitian and see what we can learn.
So, no more fun and you gotta check your sugar 4 times a day.
After about 2 weeks, I don't see what they are talking about. We haven't seen any sign of 'HIGH' sugar. Nothing about 13o anyway. And that was only once. But OK, since PCOD is an insulin-resistant disease, we can deal with the watching the sugar thing.
What the heck is FACTOR V LEIDEN?
Long story short... Factor V itself is a clotting factor which helps blood to clot. However Factor V is subject to regulation to keep it under control so clots don't form too easily or too quickly. Factor V LEIDEN is a resistance to one of the things that regulates it, causing the blood to have a propensity to clot if not treated.
The clotting USUALLY occurs in the deep veins in the leg and can travel to the heart or lung. During pregnancy a clot can form in the placenta or umbilical cord.
So, the treatment is an anti-coagulant. (Something else that helps your blood not to clot.)
However, during the pregnancy, you have to give it to yourself as a shot in the belly ... DAILY!
So, we beat one battle, and here we go with another. Most people with FVL never have a clot, so it isn't something that we should have to worry about forever, but it is something we need to pay attention to for a couple months.
I am sure that most of you don't care, but hey... you came here... I didn't mail it to you or anything! :)
Ticker
I FELT IT!
OK, this whole pregnancy thing just took a giant leap into 'realness' for me.
I felt the baby kick, or punch, or elbow, or headbutt (who knows?).
D has been telling me every time she feels the baby. EVERY TIME?!?! Yes, every time. I don't get tired of it at all. I love experiencing this with her any way I can. And if all I can do is be told what is happening then, I'll take it!
So a couple times she wondered if I could feel the baby by pushing my hand on her belly. After 1 or 2 tries, it happened. My baby and I had a moment; no matter how coincidental it was, it was still a moment!
I LOVED feeling that little jab! Every day almost, it seems that something happens to me that millions of people before me have experienced, yet I feel like I am the first!
It's real! It's alive! And I hate calling it an 'IT'!
I felt the baby kick, or punch, or elbow, or headbutt (who knows?).
D has been telling me every time she feels the baby. EVERY TIME?!?! Yes, every time. I don't get tired of it at all. I love experiencing this with her any way I can. And if all I can do is be told what is happening then, I'll take it!
So a couple times she wondered if I could feel the baby by pushing my hand on her belly. After 1 or 2 tries, it happened. My baby and I had a moment; no matter how coincidental it was, it was still a moment!
I LOVED feeling that little jab! Every day almost, it seems that something happens to me that millions of people before me have experienced, yet I feel like I am the first!
It's real! It's alive! And I hate calling it an 'IT'!
That went by quick!
Since this is considered a high risk pregnancy, apparently they want us to see this baby every month. We went in for the sequel, and they want us back to complete the trilogy in 4 weeks.
So this time, lil' bean wasn't as active. Just some punching and moving the arms a bit, but no running in place or anything.
The cool thing this time, is we went in on a Monday morning and came out 3 days later. We are 3 days closer to this bean being born then we were when we went in. Time sure does fly when you got kids!
As before, we reminded the sonogram tech that we do not want to know the gender. (All the doctors we talk to say that's cool. But, we have gotten scolded for not finding out from some friends)
If she could tell, she didn't say anything. I don't know how long they have to go to school to read those things anyway, I could barely tell the difference between arms and legs. When she zoomed in on the heart, that was cool. Seeing all 4 valves of the heart pumping, just amazes me.
So this time, lil' bean wasn't as active. Just some punching and moving the arms a bit, but no running in place or anything.
The cool thing this time, is we went in on a Monday morning and came out 3 days later. We are 3 days closer to this bean being born then we were when we went in. Time sure does fly when you got kids!
As before, we reminded the sonogram tech that we do not want to know the gender. (All the doctors we talk to say that's cool. But, we have gotten scolded for not finding out from some friends)
If she could tell, she didn't say anything. I don't know how long they have to go to school to read those things anyway, I could barely tell the difference between arms and legs. When she zoomed in on the heart, that was cool. Seeing all 4 valves of the heart pumping, just amazes me.
Fetal Oscar
So the wife and I went and saw a movie the other day. It was amazing, I mean academy awards type stuff. It was a black and white, but that is not what made it an instant classic. It was the star of the movie that made it special.
We had a level 2 sonogram.
Remember back when I saw the picture of the baby on the first sonogram, it was maybe the size of a kidney bean. That picture was great. It made me feel amazing. But to see something actually moving. That is just a whole other level!
Apparently, I had a look on my face... or maybe my eyes were outside of head, or maybe my chin was in my lap, and my wife looked over at me because all of a sudden the whole screen starts shaking, and I am snapped back to the room by the sound of my wife in almost hysterical laughter.
Note for all future mothers: please don't laugh when there is a sonogram wand on your belly. It looks quite odd to the viewers, and the nurse can't do her job very well.
Here is this child practically running in place. and occasionally sucking its thumb. It doesn't get any better than this! (I'm sure it does, but let me find that out on my own.)
It's only 16 weeks so we scheduled the sequel for 22 weeks. I can't wait to see the difference.
Maybe I should bring some popcorn, or at least a mask.
We had a level 2 sonogram.
Remember back when I saw the picture of the baby on the first sonogram, it was maybe the size of a kidney bean. That picture was great. It made me feel amazing. But to see something actually moving. That is just a whole other level!
Apparently, I had a look on my face... or maybe my eyes were outside of head, or maybe my chin was in my lap, and my wife looked over at me because all of a sudden the whole screen starts shaking, and I am snapped back to the room by the sound of my wife in almost hysterical laughter.
Note for all future mothers: please don't laugh when there is a sonogram wand on your belly. It looks quite odd to the viewers, and the nurse can't do her job very well.
Here is this child practically running in place. and occasionally sucking its thumb. It doesn't get any better than this! (I'm sure it does, but let me find that out on my own.)
It's only 16 weeks so we scheduled the sequel for 22 weeks. I can't wait to see the difference.
Maybe I should bring some popcorn, or at least a mask.
Heavy on the Sugar, Hold the Spice
First of all, there is great potential for me to get in trouble here.
I know this. And yet, I continue...
Does that make me crazy?
Let me say, that I love my wife.
There is no one in the world I would rather spend time with, be around, tell jokes to, be laughed at by, etc. One of the things I like about my wife is that you always know where you stand in your relationship with her. She is not one to sugar-coat, or put up a front. If she is happy, you know. If she likes you, you know it. If she is happy with you, you know it. If you ticked her off, you know it (you may not know what you did, and she may or may not tell you, after all, she is a woman). And 5 minutes after she bites your head off and she is over it and wants to go grab lunch with you, you know that too. So it is a compliment when I say that being a strong-willed woman is one of the things that draws me closer to her.
(And to all those guys out there that may want to crack jokes about the wearing of the pants, let me add now that you ain't a man unless you can succeed at a relationship with a strong-willed woman.)
Here is the question: Would having a girl be such a terrible thing?
Of course not! What man would turn down the chance to have "daddy's little girl" hop up in his lap at the end of the day and greet you with the sweetest smile and the biggest hug those little arms will allow? Who wouldn't jump at the chance to be the white knight that slays the boogiest of all boogey-men and the creepiest of all things that live under beds or in closets or around dark corners. Why would a sane man pass up the chance to wrap himself around the daintiest finger in the world?
Of course these are all rhetorical questions. But if you really need a reason, they are :
No man,
No one,
No reason, respectively.
So, am I apprehensive about a little girl? Sure. Why? 'Cause as much as I love her, I have enough spice in my life. If this sweet little sugar/spice concoction happens to have an emphasis on the spice... oh, look out me... look out world.
Now, wait a minute... what about all that jive about "you ain't a man unless you succeed with a strong-willed"...
Hey back off buddy, a little Tabasco never hurt anybody, but no one drinks straight from the bottle!
So... if we are having a girl (and we won't know until the li'l bean is born) then let me place my order now: Heavy on the sugar, and hold the spice, please.
I know this. And yet, I continue...
Does that make me crazy?
Let me say, that I love my wife.
There is no one in the world I would rather spend time with, be around, tell jokes to, be laughed at by, etc. One of the things I like about my wife is that you always know where you stand in your relationship with her. She is not one to sugar-coat, or put up a front. If she is happy, you know. If she likes you, you know it. If she is happy with you, you know it. If you ticked her off, you know it (you may not know what you did, and she may or may not tell you, after all, she is a woman). And 5 minutes after she bites your head off and she is over it and wants to go grab lunch with you, you know that too. So it is a compliment when I say that being a strong-willed woman is one of the things that draws me closer to her.
(And to all those guys out there that may want to crack jokes about the wearing of the pants, let me add now that you ain't a man unless you can succeed at a relationship with a strong-willed woman.)
Here is the question: Would having a girl be such a terrible thing?
Of course not! What man would turn down the chance to have "daddy's little girl" hop up in his lap at the end of the day and greet you with the sweetest smile and the biggest hug those little arms will allow? Who wouldn't jump at the chance to be the white knight that slays the boogiest of all boogey-men and the creepiest of all things that live under beds or in closets or around dark corners. Why would a sane man pass up the chance to wrap himself around the daintiest finger in the world?
Of course these are all rhetorical questions. But if you really need a reason, they are :
No man,
No one,
No reason, respectively.
So, am I apprehensive about a little girl? Sure. Why? 'Cause as much as I love her, I have enough spice in my life. If this sweet little sugar/spice concoction happens to have an emphasis on the spice... oh, look out me... look out world.
Now, wait a minute... what about all that jive about "you ain't a man unless you succeed with a strong-willed"...
Hey back off buddy, a little Tabasco never hurt anybody, but no one drinks straight from the bottle!
So... if we are having a girl (and we won't know until the li'l bean is born) then let me place my order now: Heavy on the sugar, and hold the spice, please.
Snips and Snails, please!
We want a boy. They are easier. They are cheaper. They are more fun. And there is SO much less drama. Period. That's the way it is. I don't care what you think. I am not going to argue with you because there is no convincing me otherwise.
So, why do I have this queasy unsettling feeling that we are having a girl?
We will not be finding out(until... you know, after the li'l bean is born).
And we have to remind Santa of that (please read previous posts) every time we go see him.
I am a little scared to even admit this. You see, my father told my mom both times she was pregnant that they were going to be boys. And my brother and I are living proof that he wasn't lying.
He said he couldn't have girls. Now I don't know if there is a physical ailment (or blessing) that can cause that, or if he was just so sure about it, or if he just REALLY wanted boys.
Either way, I am very wary of admitting to this nagging feeling, recently, that come September, when my cousin asks me if my brother is an Aunt or an Uncle (you gotta know the humor in my family) I am going to be saying Aunt!
Of course I will love,care for,support, cherish, etc either a boy or a girl. But I prefer a boy. Of course, right now if you ask my wife, she would prefer not to be pregnant. So as far as preferences go... we are 0 and 1. Let's hope our record improves come September!
So, why do I have this queasy unsettling feeling that we are having a girl?
We will not be finding out(until... you know, after the li'l bean is born).
And we have to remind Santa of that (please read previous posts) every time we go see him.
I am a little scared to even admit this. You see, my father told my mom both times she was pregnant that they were going to be boys. And my brother and I are living proof that he wasn't lying.
He said he couldn't have girls. Now I don't know if there is a physical ailment (or blessing) that can cause that, or if he was just so sure about it, or if he just REALLY wanted boys.
Either way, I am very wary of admitting to this nagging feeling, recently, that come September, when my cousin asks me if my brother is an Aunt or an Uncle (you gotta know the humor in my family) I am going to be saying Aunt!
Of course I will love,care for,support, cherish, etc either a boy or a girl. But I prefer a boy. Of course, right now if you ask my wife, she would prefer not to be pregnant. So as far as preferences go... we are 0 and 1. Let's hope our record improves come September!
What's that I hear?
When faced with the realization that one has the propensity to (and has succeeded in) pro-creation, most men (I have read) feel this increased sense of masculinity.
Ranging from :
Who's the man? I'm the man.
all the way to:
I HAVE CREATED LIFE!!! ALL MUST BOW BEFORE ME & ACKNOWLEDGE MY MANHOOD!!!
OK, so I felt a little bit of that, but the day that we had our 2nd OB visit and near the end of it were privileged to hear a tiny little heart beating fast and strong, I can honestly say that the thing that overcame me was AWE. I was amazed, that something so miraculous (or at least half of it) could come from the likes of me!
Here I sit, hearing the doctor say things are going well. And I feel that everything is going to be OK and all of sudden whoosh,whoosh,whoosh,whoosh,whoosh I hear the heartbeat. And I am awestruck. All at once I feel so insignificant, so minuscule, like the only thing that matters now is this little heart that is beating just feet away from mine.
Every now and then, I hear the sound again in my head. And I feel it all over again. Never before has feeling so small made me feel so big!.
Ranging from :
Who's the man? I'm the man.
all the way to:
I HAVE CREATED LIFE!!! ALL MUST BOW BEFORE ME & ACKNOWLEDGE MY MANHOOD!!!
OK, so I felt a little bit of that, but the day that we had our 2nd OB visit and near the end of it were privileged to hear a tiny little heart beating fast and strong, I can honestly say that the thing that overcame me was AWE. I was amazed, that something so miraculous (or at least half of it) could come from the likes of me!
Here I sit, hearing the doctor say things are going well. And I feel that everything is going to be OK and all of sudden whoosh,whoosh,whoosh,whoosh,whoosh I hear the heartbeat. And I am awestruck. All at once I feel so insignificant, so minuscule, like the only thing that matters now is this little heart that is beating just feet away from mine.
Every now and then, I hear the sound again in my head. And I feel it all over again. Never before has feeling so small made me feel so big!.
Knowledge... is gross
Readin' a book. The Expectant Father. The little lady purchased What to Expect When You are Expecting (otherwise known as the pregnancy bible).
My book is pretty interesting, and yet the author is just a little more brave than I am. He mentions feeling his wife's cervix. He says that if our OB doesn't offer, then I should ask.
Buddy, a little mystery in a marriage goes a long way!!!
I don't mind being involved in my wife's pregnancy, but to me... 'hands-on' is purely a figurative phase!
I didn't really worry too much about money, until every other paragraph in this certain chapter talks about that's what men worry about most, and that's the thing that causes men to seem distant and not involved. So all of a sudden, I'm scared half to bankruptcy. How am I going to afford a baby? My job is not the federal welfare system, I don't get a raise just because I prove that I can pro-create.
So, lump me in with the other 90-something percent of men.
Her book is chocked full of all the information you never wanted to know about pregnancy and having a baby. You know, instead of condoms and STD's in a sex-ed course, maybe they should have the girls read this book. If you read it before you were pregnant, you would take EVERY known precaution NOT to get that way.
Learning a lot... I got homework already!
T M I ? Well, you asked.
My book is pretty interesting, and yet the author is just a little more brave than I am. He mentions feeling his wife's cervix. He says that if our OB doesn't offer, then I should ask.
Buddy, a little mystery in a marriage goes a long way!!!
I don't mind being involved in my wife's pregnancy, but to me... 'hands-on' is purely a figurative phase!
I didn't really worry too much about money, until every other paragraph in this certain chapter talks about that's what men worry about most, and that's the thing that causes men to seem distant and not involved. So all of a sudden, I'm scared half to bankruptcy. How am I going to afford a baby? My job is not the federal welfare system, I don't get a raise just because I prove that I can pro-create.
So, lump me in with the other 90-something percent of men.
Her book is chocked full of all the information you never wanted to know about pregnancy and having a baby. You know, instead of condoms and STD's in a sex-ed course, maybe they should have the girls read this book. If you read it before you were pregnant, you would take EVERY known precaution NOT to get that way.
Learning a lot... I got homework already!
- I need to contact my insurance provider: I call my benefits department at work, they say I don't have to change anything with them until the baby is actually born.
- List of questions for your OB: delayed cord clamping???
T M I ? Well, you asked.
So, we killed a rabbitt.
OK... this nurse practitioner walks in and basically starts talking about diet changes, lifestyle changes, and has a package of prenatal vitamins. Apparently, I had missed the part where she said, "Congratulations, you are pregnant!"
Now that we got that out of the way, the exam continues as normal(I suppose).
Learned some things I did not know:
Caffeine... actually OK in small amounts.
Deli meats... not OK unless you cook them.(some bacteria called Listeria)
Later that day ...
Santa Claus (or at least some guy who could make a killing impersonating him) does the sonogram. We see a little blip on the screen ...
Santa says: "There's your little Bean"
If he only knew what that meant to me!
And inside this little bean is what appears to be a light flashing rapidly.
That's the what? Heart beat? WAY COOL!
OK, I'm sold.
Now that we got that out of the way, the exam continues as normal(I suppose).
Learned some things I did not know:
Caffeine... actually OK in small amounts.
Deli meats... not OK unless you cook them.(some bacteria called Listeria)
Later that day ...
Santa Claus (or at least some guy who could make a killing impersonating him) does the sonogram. We see a little blip on the screen ...
Santa says: "There's your little Bean"
If he only knew what that meant to me!
And inside this little bean is what appears to be a light flashing rapidly.
That's the what? Heart beat? WAY COOL!
OK, I'm sold.
Let's not count our proverbial eggs before they are fertilized!
I will let my wife tell you, that I am probably one of the world's most optimistic people. I search for (and often find) the good in everybody and everything. And even when I come across some bad... I would much rather focus on something else, and keep reminding myself of the good.
Why am I bragging? I just want to let the irony of my next actions really set in with you.
I do what any good supportive husband would do.
"Let's not get excited until we see a Dr."
"There is such thing as a false positive... I saw it on the Internet, so it must be true."
"We don't know for sure"
"The miscarriage rate for first-time pregnancies is 15%, and it jumps to 60% in women with PCOS"
I could have ( and should have) stopped with the first one. That was all I NEEDED to say. That's all I really wanted.
Because of what we had been told, I suddenly adopted the motto: Hope for the best, but expect the worst.
Where was my optimism? Where was that good? Somewhere between "Honey, I'm home" and "Honey, I'm pregnant" I had wandered away from that sunny-side-of-the-street I had so faithfully been walking down most of my life.
Don't get me wrong, I wasn't hoping for the worst, but the geek inside of me had to know every possible outcome, and the chances of each. I shared some things with her, but tried not to say too much. I just wanted to be realistic.
We call the doctor for a confirmation appointment, and she says don't even come in, go straight to the OB/GYN.
So, it's off to the OB we go...
Why am I bragging? I just want to let the irony of my next actions really set in with you.
I do what any good supportive husband would do.
"Let's not get excited until we see a Dr."
"There is such thing as a false positive... I saw it on the Internet, so it must be true."
"We don't know for sure"
"The miscarriage rate for first-time pregnancies is 15%, and it jumps to 60% in women with PCOS"
I could have ( and should have) stopped with the first one. That was all I NEEDED to say. That's all I really wanted.
Because of what we had been told, I suddenly adopted the motto: Hope for the best, but expect the worst.
Where was my optimism? Where was that good? Somewhere between "Honey, I'm home" and "Honey, I'm pregnant" I had wandered away from that sunny-side-of-the-street I had so faithfully been walking down most of my life.
Don't get me wrong, I wasn't hoping for the worst, but the geek inside of me had to know every possible outcome, and the chances of each. I shared some things with her, but tried not to say too much. I just wanted to be realistic.
We call the doctor for a confirmation appointment, and she says don't even come in, go straight to the OB/GYN.
So, it's off to the OB we go...
Stop holding your breath...(and I will actually take one)
For those waiting on an answer to the question at the end of the previous post... I apologize.
I have no answer. I don't know how we got here. Never-the-less... HERE , we are.
So when my brain stopped using all the oxygen in the room to try and wrap itself around this little bit of news, I was able to take in a breath and try to formulate a response. I didn't have one. And never really have come up with an initial response.
Oh, sure , I have responded. But after some time and other things have let me think, and dwell on it. But as far as an intial response. I got bupkis.
person 1: So... tell me exactly what your husband said when you told him you were pregnant?
(awkward silence)
..(more silence)
person 1: Hey, I asked you to tell me what he said...
person 2: I just told you... twice!
Ok, so I got around to saying something about 'There is no other person in the world, I would rather have a baby with!'
No, I didn't say that, but that sounds good.
Hey honey are you reading this?
I have no answer. I don't know how we got here. Never-the-less... HERE , we are.
So when my brain stopped using all the oxygen in the room to try and wrap itself around this little bit of news, I was able to take in a breath and try to formulate a response. I didn't have one. And never really have come up with an initial response.
Oh, sure , I have responded. But after some time and other things have let me think, and dwell on it. But as far as an intial response. I got bupkis.
person 1: So... tell me exactly what your husband said when you told him you were pregnant?
(awkward silence)
..(more silence)
person 1: Hey, I asked you to tell me what he said...
person 2: I just told you... twice!
Ok, so I got around to saying something about 'There is no other person in the world, I would rather have a baby with!'
No, I didn't say that, but that sounds good.
Hey honey are you reading this?
A few minutes later
A hug... some tears...
me: "Why are you crying?"
her: "Because I don't know how I feel."
Neither do I, though I had plenty of feelings to choose from!
fear, apprehension, disbelief, shock, puzzlement, freaked out, and somewhere in there a tinge of excitement.
Not quite in that order... actually all at the same time.
What do you say to your wife when she tells you she is pregnant and then starts crying in your arms?
Sorry...
I won't let it happen again...
Rub some dirt on it, you'll be ok, now get back out there and win!
None of these seemed to fit, and actually that last one should be in another blog somewhere.
Ok... so how did this happen?
...thank you captain obvious, that's not what I meant...
First we were told:"It is impossible, you cannot have kids, it can't happen, don't expect it"
Then we were told:"Ok, it is possible with major medical intervention, surgery, drugs, etc., and still only about a 60-80% chance "
So... here we are 10 years of marriage, no surgery, no drugs, no fertility treatments, we have resigned ourselve to the fact that it is not for us. Got used to a lifestyle that didn't include children. Even convinced ourselves strongly that we didn't want any of our own.
Of course, through out the years one or the other would start to feel an inclination, but never at the same time, and it never lasted long.
So, how did we end up here?
me: "Why are you crying?"
her: "Because I don't know how I feel."
Neither do I, though I had plenty of feelings to choose from!
fear, apprehension, disbelief, shock, puzzlement, freaked out, and somewhere in there a tinge of excitement.
Not quite in that order... actually all at the same time.
What do you say to your wife when she tells you she is pregnant and then starts crying in your arms?
Sorry...
I won't let it happen again...
Rub some dirt on it, you'll be ok, now get back out there and win!
None of these seemed to fit, and actually that last one should be in another blog somewhere.
Ok... so how did this happen?
...thank you captain obvious, that's not what I meant...
First we were told:"It is impossible, you cannot have kids, it can't happen, don't expect it"
Then we were told:"Ok, it is possible with major medical intervention, surgery, drugs, etc., and still only about a 60-80% chance "
So... here we are 10 years of marriage, no surgery, no drugs, no fertility treatments, we have resigned ourselve to the fact that it is not for us. Got used to a lifestyle that didn't include children. Even convinced ourselves strongly that we didn't want any of our own.
Of course, through out the years one or the other would start to feel an inclination, but never at the same time, and it never lasted long.
So, how did we end up here?
Thursday Jan 18,2007
"I'm trying to work here, woman!!"
I didn't actually say that, but after 5 calls in about 2 hours... I wanted to.
I believe I said: "I'll call you when I am on my way home," at least 15 times.
I told her a while back that January was going to be busy at work, and a lot of hours would be expected. I even forwarded an e-mail from my boss explaining as such.
Ok After 9:00pm , I finally walk in the door.
me: "Ok, why can't we go to that convention in August?"
her: "Cause I can't fly when I am 8 months pregnant."
me: "... ... ... "
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
