Saturday, February 12, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
In Denial...
I called in for a sub to take over my class today while I handled some important business. The first thing on my agenda was to meet my endocrinologist, then head over to Starbucks to meet with my MetLife financial planner, followed by shopping for February birthdays.
I met my endocrinologist for the very first time. After sitting in the examination room looking at all the different gages of insulin syringes, I had to ask my doctor a burning question, "Do I have gestational diabetes?" The answer she gave was "Yes, but I'm not going to prescribe insulin for you. I'm going to monitor your eating habits and encourage you to exercise for 30 minutes after every meal." Then she ordered 2 viles of blood to be drawn from my arm again.
How did I get gestational diabetes? For one thing, it runs in both sides of my family. The other thing is that the baby is producing hormones that counter the insulin that my pancreas is producing. Without the baby, my insulin production would be just the right amount to break up the glucose in my system. However, with the baby and as the baby continues to grow larger, the hormones will continue to also grow in larger amounts and overwhelm the ability of insulin to break up the glucose. All that leftover glucose will be ingested by the baby and the baby will grow very large, lethargic and a failure to thrive. Have you ever heard of that 19 pound baby born to an Indonesian woman? We're trying to avoid that from happening!
I looked at the prescribed diet plan and menu that I have to follow for the next 20 weeks. I'm going to do all I can to avoid becoming an insulin shooter. That is all I have in my head--what not to eat and how much of a smaller portion I have to eat. This lifestyle change is done all in the name of love. At least if my son ever acts out and shows me any unappreciation in the future years to come, I can always tell him that I pricked my fingers 5 or more times a day just so that he can thrive in my womb.
Just to let you know that when I was pregnant with Maddy, my glucose tolerance levels were within the normal limits...and I ate WORSE with her! I drank the Pepsi, had all sorts of frozen yogurt cravings, and there was no limits to eating fruits, pasta and pizza. I was very happy with eating to my delight. Maddy was born a very healthy 7 lbs and 9 oz by natural birth (...well, with the relief of the epidural).
This is a really tall demand, at least for the exercise after every meal. The meeting was really pleasant, but I can tell that she will not let me slide on my diet and nutrition. I had to be issued a high-tech OneTouch glucometer and I was told that I have to prick my fingers FIVE TIMES a day. Goodness!!! I really hate needles.
I have 2 appointments again next week. My endocrinologist recommended me to see a dietician at Torrance Memorial and then another 1 week follow-up appointment to see how well I've maintained my pregnancy dieting regimen. We'll just have to wait and see how well this goes.
I'm just sad that I'll have to freeze all the boxes of Girl Scout Cookies that I bought from my niece until after the baby is born. Adios, chocolate thin mints for now!
I met my endocrinologist for the very first time. After sitting in the examination room looking at all the different gages of insulin syringes, I had to ask my doctor a burning question, "Do I have gestational diabetes?" The answer she gave was "Yes, but I'm not going to prescribe insulin for you. I'm going to monitor your eating habits and encourage you to exercise for 30 minutes after every meal." Then she ordered 2 viles of blood to be drawn from my arm again.
How did I get gestational diabetes? For one thing, it runs in both sides of my family. The other thing is that the baby is producing hormones that counter the insulin that my pancreas is producing. Without the baby, my insulin production would be just the right amount to break up the glucose in my system. However, with the baby and as the baby continues to grow larger, the hormones will continue to also grow in larger amounts and overwhelm the ability of insulin to break up the glucose. All that leftover glucose will be ingested by the baby and the baby will grow very large, lethargic and a failure to thrive. Have you ever heard of that 19 pound baby born to an Indonesian woman? We're trying to avoid that from happening!
I looked at the prescribed diet plan and menu that I have to follow for the next 20 weeks. I'm going to do all I can to avoid becoming an insulin shooter. That is all I have in my head--what not to eat and how much of a smaller portion I have to eat. This lifestyle change is done all in the name of love. At least if my son ever acts out and shows me any unappreciation in the future years to come, I can always tell him that I pricked my fingers 5 or more times a day just so that he can thrive in my womb.
Just to let you know that when I was pregnant with Maddy, my glucose tolerance levels were within the normal limits...and I ate WORSE with her! I drank the Pepsi, had all sorts of frozen yogurt cravings, and there was no limits to eating fruits, pasta and pizza. I was very happy with eating to my delight. Maddy was born a very healthy 7 lbs and 9 oz by natural birth (...well, with the relief of the epidural).
This is a really tall demand, at least for the exercise after every meal. The meeting was really pleasant, but I can tell that she will not let me slide on my diet and nutrition. I had to be issued a high-tech OneTouch glucometer and I was told that I have to prick my fingers FIVE TIMES a day. Goodness!!! I really hate needles.
I have 2 appointments again next week. My endocrinologist recommended me to see a dietician at Torrance Memorial and then another 1 week follow-up appointment to see how well I've maintained my pregnancy dieting regimen. We'll just have to wait and see how well this goes.
I'm just sad that I'll have to freeze all the boxes of Girl Scout Cookies that I bought from my niece until after the baby is born. Adios, chocolate thin mints for now!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Halfway There!
It's Superbowl Sunday, and my husband who is a football loving guy is not interested in either teams who are playing. That makes more room for family time later on today!
I'm halfway there with my pregnancy, 20 weeks to be exact. I can feel the baby boy kicking so much more now. It's so true that you do gain your energy back after the 1st trimester is over. I feel more energetic, but my body crashes around 8-9pm. It's probably because Maddy and I get ready for the workday at 5am. This is making it harder for me to drive around anywhere. I feel sleepy while I'm on the road. Fortunately, Erwil can always be my designated driver.
My body feels so achy and sore, especially "down there". I get to wake up every morning feeling like I did a 200 mile bike marathon. The pregnancy hormones are just doing the job of softened up my ligaments and joints. It's a normal pregnancy occurence!
The great news is that I don't have placenta previa, the way I had it while carrying Maddy.
I will miss 2 more days of work due to doctor's appointments. I'll be in the Torrance area. On Monday, I have my monthly checkup with my obstetrician Dr. Rosenberg. It's also the day when I take Maddy back to her pediatrician to read her TB skin test. Maddy had her 1 year appointment last Thursday. Everything looks good. I looked at her arm and there's nothing there! My daughter isn't exposed to TB. Then on Tuesday, I will visit the endocrinologist, Dr. Diane Chun to see what's going on with my blood levels after finding 2 abnormalities from the blood testing done 2 weeks prior.
Great! I bet they will send me to collect more viles of blood. I've never had this much blood taken from me during my pregnancy with Maddy. I was smooth-sailing with her. With this 2nd pregnancy, I've gone to so many appointments and had to call a substitute teacher in to fill my class because I've had to make not only time for appointments but all the lab work time afterwards. Each time I go, I already assume that I will have blood drawn from my left arm because that's where I have the "Good Vein". I know not to wear a long sleeve shirt on those days.
I'm halfway there with my pregnancy, 20 weeks to be exact. I can feel the baby boy kicking so much more now. It's so true that you do gain your energy back after the 1st trimester is over. I feel more energetic, but my body crashes around 8-9pm. It's probably because Maddy and I get ready for the workday at 5am. This is making it harder for me to drive around anywhere. I feel sleepy while I'm on the road. Fortunately, Erwil can always be my designated driver.
My body feels so achy and sore, especially "down there". I get to wake up every morning feeling like I did a 200 mile bike marathon. The pregnancy hormones are just doing the job of softened up my ligaments and joints. It's a normal pregnancy occurence!
The great news is that I don't have placenta previa, the way I had it while carrying Maddy.
I will miss 2 more days of work due to doctor's appointments. I'll be in the Torrance area. On Monday, I have my monthly checkup with my obstetrician Dr. Rosenberg. It's also the day when I take Maddy back to her pediatrician to read her TB skin test. Maddy had her 1 year appointment last Thursday. Everything looks good. I looked at her arm and there's nothing there! My daughter isn't exposed to TB. Then on Tuesday, I will visit the endocrinologist, Dr. Diane Chun to see what's going on with my blood levels after finding 2 abnormalities from the blood testing done 2 weeks prior.
Great! I bet they will send me to collect more viles of blood. I've never had this much blood taken from me during my pregnancy with Maddy. I was smooth-sailing with her. With this 2nd pregnancy, I've gone to so many appointments and had to call a substitute teacher in to fill my class because I've had to make not only time for appointments but all the lab work time afterwards. Each time I go, I already assume that I will have blood drawn from my left arm because that's where I have the "Good Vein". I know not to wear a long sleeve shirt on those days.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The Best Things About Having a 1 Year Old
Maddy just turned 1 on January 18th! We held a party for her and lucked out on how warm the weather was for January...80 degree weather, while the rest of the nation suffered through snowstorms. I'm so behind in posting up pictures. You'll just have to see what I uploaded on Facebook.
I just had to write a list of what I love about my 1 year old.
10. Packing a lighter, smaller diaper bag. When you have a newborn, you carry EVERYTHING! When you've been a parent for 12 months, you can fit everything in your back pockets.
9. Stops and poses for the camera. SMILE! She isn't camera shy at all.
8. Clap hands and dances to express excitement. Giggles a lot!
7. Shares my meals, and shares it with the family dog too.
6. Expert in finding the smallest, obscure items on the floor.
5. Shoe shopping for Robeez.
4. Curious about simple things: grass, trash cans, empty water bottles, lint, cardboard boxes.
3. You tell her "no" or "stop" and she doesn't know what it means.
2. She has a short term memory. If you makes a mistake, no worries. She won't remember it and hold a grudge against you.
1. Drinking regular milk. It's cheaper than Enfamil Formula! Now we can use that money to buy season passes to Knott's Berry Farm.
I just had to write a list of what I love about my 1 year old.
10. Packing a lighter, smaller diaper bag. When you have a newborn, you carry EVERYTHING! When you've been a parent for 12 months, you can fit everything in your back pockets.
9. Stops and poses for the camera. SMILE! She isn't camera shy at all.
8. Clap hands and dances to express excitement. Giggles a lot!
7. Shares my meals, and shares it with the family dog too.
6. Expert in finding the smallest, obscure items on the floor.
5. Shoe shopping for Robeez.
4. Curious about simple things: grass, trash cans, empty water bottles, lint, cardboard boxes.
3. You tell her "no" or "stop" and she doesn't know what it means.
2. She has a short term memory. If you makes a mistake, no worries. She won't remember it and hold a grudge against you.
1. Drinking regular milk. It's cheaper than Enfamil Formula! Now we can use that money to buy season passes to Knott's Berry Farm.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
