The Diabetes Post

As you know, I have gestational diabetes because I also had diabetes before pregnancy.  We are actually wondering if I don’t  have diabetes type 1.5 (LADA or adult onset type 1 autoimmune diabetes) but, that will be a post for another day.  I started on insulin this past week and I just thought I’d do a post about it for others who are nervous about starting insulin.  I know I was.  It’s really not that bad. . more inconvenient than anything.  The frustrating thing is that my current dosing hasn’t done much to reduce my blood sugars so I’m sure they will bump me up again on Monday.  Here is what a typical day is like.

Wake up, take blood sugar.  My fasting blood sugars are always in the normal range, which is good. 

I eat breakfast.  I eat the same thing every morning for breakfast.  It took me months to find something that I liked that didn’t raise my blood sugars: Special K Protein Plus cereal with walnuts and unsweetened almond milk.  I cannot deviate from this.  I check my blood sugar 2 hours later.  The frustrating thing is. . this morning my blood sugar was 50 points higher than normal after eating the exact same thing.  That is what makes this whole thing so difficult.  Currently, I don’t do an insulin shot with breakfast.

I eat lunch.  I have to really watch my carbohydrates and always have to pair it with protein.  This is really really hard for me because I love bread.  It’s like telling someone to give up their most absolute favorite food in the world.  Ten minutes before I eat, I give myself an insulin shot.  I have an insulin pen and basically just dial the dosage, stick it in and push the button.  Really simply and pretty painless.  Two hours later, I take my blood sugar again.

I eat plenty of snacks throughout the day because 1) I’m always starving and 2) I have to eat every 3 hours.  I have these Natures Valley protein bars that I love. I also snack on popcorn, cheese and crackers, apples and cottage cheese with pineapple (I hate cottage cheese, but paired with pineapple it’s delicious! Weird huh?)

I eat dinner.  Ten minutes before I eat, I give myself an insulin shot and check my blood sugar 2 hours later.  I’m currently on fast acting insulin, but I may have to switch to long-lasting depending upon my blood sugars. . .which aren’t too good right now.  I’m truly grateful that insulin exists, however, to help people who need it.  And, they’ve made it as convenient as possible.  It’s interesting how my concerns have switched from having an extremely premature baby to keeping my blood sugars under control in order to have a healthy baby.  I’m always asked what I did in my first pregnancy to control my diabetes and well, of course I didn’t get that far.  Nor did I even know it was a problem back then.  I’m not a huge fan of needles and besides my weekly progesterone shot, I now get to poke myself an additional 6 times per day.  But, I remember how many times Olivia got poked in the NICU and all that she endured.  I would have GLADLY taken that on myself.  And Abigail is still tucked safely inside and I couldn’t be more thrilled about that.

Logan William 08-27-2007 to 09-28-2007

It's hard to believe that tomorrow, September 28th, marks 5 years since we said good-bye to Logan.  It was extremely hard this year, as it is every year, to make this video.  But, I realized that Logan deserves my tears.  He deserves to have my complete attention for MORE than a few hours every year.  He deserves to be remembered.  And I will carry his memory in my heart for as long as I live.  Time doesn't really heal. . .it only adds more reasons to wish he was here.  Logan would have been a big brother in a few months. . .someday he would have been an uncle and the list will continue.  And he will be forever missed and loved by us.

5 Year Checkup

Wow, she did so good!!  Three shots and a flu mist and hardly a tear.  What a big girl!

Weight: 31 lbs 3 oz.  3%

Height: 3 ft 4 in.  9%

BMI: 13  5%

I considered filling her pockets with rocks, but. . .I think she’s just going to be tiny.

Also, I’ve tried SOOOO hard to keep my blood sugars down, but I inevitably have to go on insulin.  But, whatever I have to do for a healthy baby, right? 

A Baby Shower For:

We saved the top cake and are going to eat it to celebrate when we bring Abigail home.

Lindsay, Jenifer, Carol, me and my mom playing one of the shower games.  Here we had to find items in our purses.

Amanda, Me and Becky (Amanda’s mom)

Shawna, my nieces (Rebekah and Julia) and Veronica

Julia, Veronica, Laura, Shelley, Kerry, Grandma Glunt and Great Aunt Mary.

My diaper bag.  When I picked it out, I didn’t know if I was having a boy or a girl.  So, now I have to girlify it (yes, I just made up a word.)

Here are the letters for Abigail’s room that Amanda made me.  Aren’t they gorgeous???

Olivia is reading her big sister book.

Olivia, Me, Amanda and Joshua

Thanks to everyone who was able to come to my shower.  It meant a lot to have you there.  Thanks to Shelley and Kerry for hosting it for me and to everyone who helped pull off my big surprise!  Abigail got a lot of great things and will definitely be very loved. 

Olivia Pictures

Can’t ever have too many of those, right?  Here she is having fun at her favorite park. . .the bouncing animal park. 

If they didn’t cost hundreds of dollars, I would get her one of those animals for the backyard.  She LOVES them!  The duck, of course, is her favorite.

27 Weeks

After I saw this picture, I complained that I looked short and fat to which everyone replied, “Well, um. . .right now you kinda are.” LOL!

Current size of baby: About 2 pounds!

How far along? 27 Weeks

Total weight gain: 23 lbs

Inches Gained: 5.5 inches

Maternity clothes? Yes.

Sleep: Restless legs strike again. They’ve been causing me a lot of grief lately with a few good nights here and there.

How I'm feeling: Happy. I still can’t believe this is happening. I can’t believe I am having another little girl who has a good chance of being full term. Next week is the 5 year anniversary of Logan’s death and September is always a really hard month for me. But, I’ve seen glimpses of joy and excitement this month too for the first time in many years.

Best moment this week: My baby shower with friends and family. I could not believe Amanda and her mom flew in from Ohio for my shower.

Food cravings: I have ignored every single one of them. It takes a lot of will power to keep my blood sugar as stable as possible. But, even strictly counting carbs and adding protein at every meal. . .I do think I will need some insulin to help me out. But, we’ll see in the coming weeks.

Food aversions: Sadly, I still want to eat any and everything placed before me.

Gender: Abigail

Labor Signs: NO

Belly Button in or out? Out

What I miss: My friend, Amanda, who is flying back to Ohio on Monday.

What I am looking forward to: My OB appt on Wednesday.

Milestones: Third trimester. . .never been anywhere near it before.