P is for.........

My doctor ordered me to take two tests after our initial meeting on that blissful Tuesday: a 24 hour urine test, and a 1 hour glucose test. I don't remember doing the urine scan in my first pregnancy, but I do remember the 3 hour glucose test I took--and it was not pleasant. So once again, my delightful doctor tried to save me some grief and nausea by ordering the 1 hour instead of the 3 hour, figuring if I do in fact have gestational diabetes, then, I'll probably fail and they can just go ahead and start treatment. She is very thoughtful.

Let's start with the urine test. Now in order for them to actually complete a 24- hour scan I needed to collect the sample for them --yeah, for 24 hours. Didn't seem like a big deal until I picked up the GIANT bright orange bottle and little hat to pee in--all contained in a big plastic bag with the words URINE SAMPLE in nice-easy-to-read letters across it.

Pregnancy has taught me to feel NO SHAME what-so-ever with all of it's glamour, but C'MON!
Hi! It's ME--walking around with my pee! whatever.

Anyway, the collection part was uneventful, yet completely ridiculous. First it had to be refrigerated for preservation and unfortunately I do NOT have a fridge in my private master bath. So, I had to use the powder room downstairs so I could keep the sample in the garage fridge that thankfully I had. (I can't imagine having to store it in my regular fridge--EEEEWWWW!) Not that big of a deal, but a hassle that's for sure--ESPECIALLY-- in the middle of the night when I go 2 or 3 times.

Good times.

Good news: I passed with flying colors. Phew. My kidneys are doing just fine and not spilling and proteins or sugars--or any or crazy thing a kidney can do.
Oh, and speaking of color--I can honestly say that after using the 'hat' to collect for the day, I will never ever again be able to purchase or drink apple cider ever again.

EVER.

The glucose test is a whole other story that unleashed a whole new set of complications. Yep, I failed, no shock here, and I have lots to say about this one. I'll be starting my posts for this journey shortly.

The most TERRIFIC Tuesday in the history of Tuesdays!

When I first realized that I had to change doctors about 2 months ago I was terrified. But I quickly worked through all that fear and remembered that when a door closes another one opens up, or at least a window.

Well, yesterday not only did I get to peek through a window, but by the grace of God and some help from family I was able to walk through the door to the new doctor's office.

What an exciting day it turned out to be!

The first thing I noticed was how pleasantly quiet the office was--and how everyone I met had a smile on their face! Such a huge change from the old dr. office I was immediately relieved. Then Sophie put on her best behavior face and quietly asked if the box of toys under a chair she saw were for anyone to play with--and the receptionist was immediately impressed with her.

Smiles smiles everywhere! Just the way you would think an obstetrician's office should be--and very kid friendly--the old office had NO toys.

(Everything I noticed about this office was a complete 180 turn from the old office----so you can realize my thrill and excitement about my new OB/GYN)

So next I was discussing the term 'normal' pregnancy versus high risk with the receptionist in regards to figuring out my dummy insurance coverage when a doctor--not just a doctor, but the owner of the practice, wandered out of her office because she heard my questions. A DR.??? just walked up to reception to talk to a new patient? About insurance? WOW! I was floored and full of nothing but warm fuzzies. I knew then I was at the right place and things are REALLY turning around for me.

Instant comfort about this complicated pregnancy of mine is worth more than it's weight in gold.

Once we were called in--after the nurse patiently waited for Sophie to clean up her toys, which she did without being coerced at all--we were shown our 'room' so we could drop off our bags and coats before heading over to the washroom and the dreaded scale. The scale was the only semi/private business we had to attend and then the nurse pleasantly led us back to the room to finish up the triage stuff (I think that's what you call it) with me. I say she pleasantly did this because she showed Sophie a shortcut through the nurses station that was full of medical gadgets and things that were foreign to both of us--so we thought that was totally cool--we got a 'behind the scenes' look.

We spent another 15 minutes or so going through things with the nurse while she took my blood pressure (100/70 if anyone cares) and talked about my and my family's medical history.

Then she simply said, OK, wait here, but don't change or do anything yet, because the doctor wants to come in and meet with you before she does any checking you over. She'll let you know if you need a gown (a cloth one btw) and what tests she wants to do.
She wants to me with me first? so totally cool.
Oh, one more thing about the nurse: she complimented Sophie (which I'm used to;) but then she said very sincerely, "No, I'm not just saying she's darling--I really mean it--she absolutely adorable--really!"

How proud was I? The entire time Sophie patiently and sweetly sat on a chair and happily rocked back and forth to the tunes on my Ipod. I had found the volume control so she couldn't blow out her ears. Very cool!

At this point I was completely blown away--almost tired--from all of the kind, gentle, attention one hopes to get at their OB's office. Even Sophie said that she liked it. I took a quick look around the room and noticed that their was an ultrasound machine in it-awesome- and it was just a comfy room all together.

I say quick look because the doctor did not make me wait there for 20 min. like other doctors I know.
She was so sweet and cute--down to earth and kind--I instantly LOVED her and sat stunned as she asked me questions and explained what was happening with me.
Now I know why they say to write down your questions before you go in. My head was spinning, but I grabbed my list and asked away and she patiently answered each one of my questions and didn't make me feel silly about asking any of them. WONDERFUL doctor this one--I'm so happy!
Oh, and the best part is--she happy with my weight gain! What? I'm enormously overweight. She said, yes, however, since my first initial exam 10 weeks ago, I've only gained 6 pounds. It doesn't matter that I was overweight to start. Whoohoo! Um, we'll make that a small whoohoo, because seriously I was 30 pounds overweight to start--but still. I can't remember the last time any doctor made me feel good about being big.

At this point I actually thought hmm, maybe we won't stop at just two kids--with this doctor I feel as strong as a horse, yet light as a feather. What a great day!

Then it was time to listen to baby. She grabbed her doppler machine and gooped on the gel; in the meantime Sophie came over beside me completely curious about all of it. The doctor's first words were--"I can't catch a heartbeat because this baby won't sit still!!" (One of my concerns was that I couldn't feel anything yet-and was worried that the baby wasn't moving.) The next thing she said was that my baby was sitting up front toward my belly instead of in the back which was contributing to my not feeling it yet.

Finally, after trying for another minute she said, "Let's forget this and just fire up the ultrasound."
OK! Spontaneous--unscheduled ultrasounds? NO PROBLEM!

Then she quietly asked, "Do you what to know what it is?"
Only about as much as I want this baby born tomorrow!
So, she starts looking around. Sophie was fascinated. The first thing she saw was a little foot:






You can see the top foot crystal clear, but the bottom one was on the move so it looks 'smeared' so to speak--or about four times bigger than the other. No worries though--this little one just won't sit still! How fun!

Then she saw the anatomy, and started laughing. "Wow this is one pround little guy." He was literally holding his feet wide open for the world to see that he is a boy.


A BOY!!!!!

I drew a box around the important parts so my husband could see the first picture of his son. His SON! He started to cry when I told him! Without getting too specific it looks like the head of a bird, only the beak isn't a beak, and the head is simply the family jewels. hehehe!

'Nuff said.

What a happy, happy, day!

Oh, one little glitch--my kidneys are being temperamental and I have to go through some early screenings next week with a 24 hour urine collection followed by a one hour non-fasting glucose test. Apparently my kidneys are already 'spilling protein' and there is sugar present--this coupled with my headaches could, but not necessarily be, a pre-cursor to pre-eclampsia--again.
Lucky me.

All in all -- a fantastic day -- and I'm not even worried about me, I know I'm in great hands! So glad I got to go in -- I am soooo relieved.

Oh, one last thing that puts this doctor over the top--she called me in the afternoon--herself-- to go over a test I had with my perinatologist 6 weeks ago. Since no one from my former OB considered me enough to actually explain things-she thought it would be OK to do so.

Seriously, a DOCTOR calling me? I've never heard of such a thing. WOW!
More on that stuff in another post soon!

Baby--it's the new addiction

When insomnia hits--as it is sure to these days--I wander downstairs to peruse my computer full of fun pregnancy facts, baby development photos, names and their meanings, and my new favorite--the baby widget for my blog. I've already encountered several which I've spread over the two blogs--and I love them. I'm fascinated by them. I can't stop playing.
The only bummer part is that my laptop is completely on the fritz, (needs a new battery--doesn't even stay charged if it's plugged in) so I can no longer play and read on the computer unless Sophie is sleeping or completely occupied by a movie or something.
It just seems to weird to me to not be in the same room with her even if she's watching Little Bear for the trillionth time. Normally I would just plug in the laptop and play away, but since I can't it's just not easy to get to the desktop in the other room.
Then again, most of the time during my bouts of insomnia I just lay in bed and stare at the ceiling--or put on another episode of Gilmore Girls to pass the time away.
No wonder I'm like a zombie these days.

Oh, and my brain is officially turning into Swiss cheese, because staying on topic or putting together logical posts is quite the challenge these days. It's probably because I'm not sleeping. Maybe I just need a little more time in the second trimester--I bet I get a good night sleep anytime now!

**wow, no misspellings today! whoohoo!

The latest ultrasound....

I posted this on my other blog, Mommy, Just One More Minute, last Friday for my PSF, but I figured since this blog is document this pregnancy, I should post it here too.



This is our new little one at 12 weeks,2 days--although my timeline puts me about a week ahead of that. Oh well, who's really counting anyway?

Oh, and I found a new doctor that I see in a few weeks. So far, it's an impressive group--from the moment I called their office they were incredible nice, listened to my predicament, and offered me solutions--it was such a relief.
Not only that, but once my appointment was set with the doctor of my choice, they told me that her nurse would be in contact with me shortly.
Sure enough, the very next day I got a phone from my new doctor's nurse and she went through all sorts of pregnancy dos/don'ts that I have totally forgotten since having Sophie, and then she offered help whenever I needed it before the doctor's appointment.
How's that for service? No wonder I was supposed to ditch that stupid first doctor. This is pretty cool I think. I certainly love the attention.
SO everything is looking up--the baby is progressing normally, my pregnancy has calmed down quiet a bit to nothing but a big belly and a huge appetite, and my doctor situation is resolved.

PHEW! Let the second trimester begin!