Where there's a Will...

Me oh my. Let me give you the sum up of this pregnancy:

Week 5- week 18: TERRIBLE nausea. With this one, not only was I throwing up, I got strongly nauseous after doing dishes for 5 minutes, it was a sad time. I felt awful. - lost 11-13 pounds.

Week 18: I joined a Thyroid study. They're testing to see if pregnant mom's thyroid being normal makes the baby have a higher IQ than babies whose mom's lower thyroid was left untreated. Magical side effect --Nausea was 80% gone! I could live again, it was awesome.

Week 20: Totally inspired Dr. Wilde decided to test me early for Gestational Diabetes. Results were positive. I was scared and devestated. Anywho, baby was healthy, I'm glad we discovered it early. It was really hard to be on a restricted diet, not because it was hard to diet, but hard to stop losing weight.

Week 20-32: We struggled A LOT with learning what to eat to gain weight and finally got it figured out after getting IV fluids on 4 separate occasions, weekly diabetes "specialist" visits and 3 ultrasounds to check on the bugger. Whole milk instead of 1%, as much bacon and eggs as I could stand, nuts and soda... soda? Who knew.

Week 33: Blood pressure goes up... my lower number was chilling nicely in the 60s for the whole pregnancy, week 33 -> 92. Grr... Now they're worried I have Pre-eclampsia or Toxemia. I get a couple of blood tests and a 24 hour urine. I know it's not a fun topic, but something funny, I had to work while I was doing the 24 hour urine... you basically collect everything for a day and keep it in a jug, then keep that jug with ice packs or in a fridge. I didn't want to keep this backpack with me at all times, so I left it in the bathroom on the floor under the sinks with a note: This belongs to Amy Garner, please DO NOT MOVE. Thanks! 801-373-9810... someone complained anyway, security removed it anyway. I had an angry talk with that security officer and my favorite argument was, "if you thought it was something dangerous like a bomb, it's better to go off in [the manager's] office opposed to the bathroom?"

Labs came back fine - we're just tracking blood pressure more closely now. Fun fact: little guy was head-up during the ultrasound this week, naughty boy. I'm so ready to spank his newborn wrinkly tush.

Week 34- week 35 1/2: visiting the Dr's office twice/week for blood pressure test, two NST (non-stress tests where they monitor baby for 20 minutes), and yes, another 24-urine on Thanksgiving day. Yay.

Thanksgiving Day: My feet swell... this is normal for some pregos, but not for me and it went from 0 to 60 in 24 hours without going down during the night. I was admitted to Labor and Delivery and monitored for 3 hours... my blood pressure was the highest it's been and they start talking about "if" we had to induce... thank goodness it's not pre-eclampsia yet, still just high blood pressure. I get to go home, but on BEDREST. dun dun dun...

Week 36: Present time :) After 3 days of bedrest, my blood pressure is the lowest it's been in 3 weeks. Yay! Even though there aren't studies backing up the theory bedrest lowers blood pressure, I guess I've become a believer - for me anyway. Every day counts. We're praying this week is a boring one and my blood pressure stays down. I am SOOO lucky and blessed to have people in our new neighborhood volunteering to come play with the boys a couple hours each day. Stephen was talking up a storm with Jen Ricks who helped us today - thank you so much!

So... I was laying in bed a few days ago, crying... why on earth is it one problem after another with this baby? He's kicking and going crazy everyday like life is peachy keen but we are struggling to keep him in there! Then it popped into my head, "where there's a Will, there's a way." I cried myself to sleep, but thought, okay, this guy's going to come when he's meant to come and he'll be ready. I'm so happy we chose to name him William. No Bill, Billy, Mac or Buddy... if you don't want to call him William, it's Will, because his is strong.

Love you all!!!

Dealing with Diabetes

Who knew losing weight would be so much trouble? I have been dealing with Gestational Diabetes for 3 weeks now. Luckily, the baby is growing healthy and strong. Since I've been on restricted carbs, I've lost more weight. When you're not eating enough calories, your body reaches into your own fat and protein storage to compensate, which then releases ketones into your system and those, like everything, get passed to the baby. I have been doing weekly follow ups for the diabetes because they were trying to get a set pattern on my blood sugar and see the ketones go away. In the beginning, they were 5, 15 or 40... now they are 40-80 every day. This was a red flag to a specialist on the Maternal Fetal Medicine floor and she sent me right away to get IV fluids. Side note: I told them my left vein wasn't good, they tried it anyway and it didn't work... I think they take it as a challenge, I'm never letting them use my left vein again!

Anywho, what do they tell me to do to get rid of the ketones? Eat more! As many of you know, I'm a thrower upper when I'm pregnant - especially in the beginning. With this third pregnancy, I was even more nauseous... so I belive that just changed my appetite completely. I get full WAY faster now, a sandwich or burger is hard to finish and I've thrown up for eating too much before. I've been eating more, trying to avoid another IV fluid visit, and the ketones are still ever present and now my blood sugar is going up. I called the dietician today, as directed, and was told to eat more.

One of the big risk factors for diabetes is being overweight, so naturally, most diabetics are not told to eat more. The weight loss is boggling my Doctor, the specialists and Diabetes management people... they tested my thyroid and other chemical levels and everything's normal. So now it looks like more tests. If you're still awake at this point, I guess I'm saying this because I'm frustrated and I'm sick of hearing the same things. Emotionally, I've been doing great this pregnancy, even dealing with the nausea and stuff... but the stress of the current issue is making it really hard to think about anything else or be happy, period. Just pray that the doctor's will know what to do. Going to the hospital and Dr's office 1-2 times/week is taking a toll on me and the poor kids. I'm ready for the Doctors to have an answer.

I can't find anybody that had this problem before, so if you know anyone who had gestational diabetes and high ketone levels, I would love to talk to them. I can't even find that situation online which is even more frustrating. And, no offense, don't give me any advice or tips related to foods or ketones. I've spent countless hours with my own research and hearing the SAME things from all the doctors and nurses, I'll cry if anyone else asks the same question or gives me the same advice I've heard 20 times. In the mean time, I'll eat more. I love you all and I know everyone has their problems to deal with. This was just my little venting moment. Thank you!

Updates - August 2009

My initial worries about the baby having a heart condition are gone, the little guy is healthy and strong - developing as he should so far! I'm getting used to the new diet. They keep bringing me back into the hospital to check up on it, and I was informed today I'll probably be put on a pill with synthetic insulin starting next week. I hope that works, so I don't need the shots! I keep dreaming of what I'm going to eat or drink first after this baby's born. Right after I deliver, I'm going to drink 3 large cups of apple juice. That's my comfort drink. Maybe 5.

Matthew is enjoying his job... he was surprised by the super casual dress, but adapted quickly and started wearing jeans like everyone else (including managers). He also had lunch delivered a couple times, and must rub it in my face. Today, he had a delicious sandwich, a custard-filled eclaire and strawberries. I almost cried when he told me. I want a custard-filled eclaire!!! Okay, tantrum over. I love Matthew and I'm so happy his new job is going well.

WE MOVED! Our apartment number has changed from 2 to 3 and that's it. Moving EVERYTHING from upstairs to downstairs wasn't what I would call fun, but it was certainly nice to not have to tetris it into a Uhaul. **I had terrible flashbacks of when we began our move to New York, had the stinking trailer full and TOO MUCH STUFF still in the apartment. ugh ** The boys like the change, and I must admit I do too. It must be human nature to enjoy something different. The whole mission in moving was to not live above anybody anymore. Now the boys can jump and run all they want. Mission accomplished. Now we just need shelves.

Love you all!