Update

We're home now. They figured they weren't doing anything for her that we couldn't do at home. We're supposed to check in with the doc tomorrow to see what she wants to do. Until further notice she's not supposed to do anything. For now she's not bleeding or cramping and she's supposed to keep it slow on her diet. If anything else at all happens we're supposed to go straight back. I'll keep you all posted.

The hospital ALREADY?!

This is Jess and I have a little update. Kathy is in the hospital at least for overnight. She started having bright red bleeding around noon today and called me at work. I left straight away and went to get her to bring her to the hospital. She'd called the on call Dr. and he told her to go straight to the hospital.

They monitored the baby for a few hours and did a sonogram and some blood tests. So far they think that it's just that her placenta is a little low still. The baby is still happy in there and doing all the things she's supposed to.

I'll update more as we know more.

Nesting...

Today I realized how much I've been nesting. I am crazy serious about getting our house clean and keeping it clean. I want the books on the bookshelves clean. I get anxiety seeing a single piece of litter on the floor. The kids and Jess are doing well at responding to my need for cleanliness. Charlotte is really staying on top of the dishes and even volunteered to tear up tack boards in our bathroom because she knew that I wouldn't be able to get on the floor and do it myself. The kids and I sorted out and cleaned every single ounce of baby clothes, blankets, socks, beanies, and towels. We did five loads of baby clothes today. I sure as heck hope that in our 3 baby showers people only buy us things that are 3-6 months and bigger. Between Jess and I we have acquired WAY too many newborn and 0-3 month old clothes. I organized the nursery today as much as I could without all the furniture in there. We were vacuuming the entire house once a week, but now I'm having each of the kids vacuum once a week (Julia on Wednesdays and Charlotte on Sundays). And in between those times I've actually vacuumed certain rooms. I feel like I might be going crazy. I had a root canal yesterday and have felt pretty horrible. Last night I went crazy picking up the house and I did WAY WAY too much in cleaning, over cleaning, and organizing today. I'm paying for it all now...and have all day but I just can't seem to stop cleaning and organizing. Thought I would share this with everyone so that those people I see in my life won't think I've lost my marbles when I apologize for having a messy home even when they may think it's not messy at all.

Diabetic Diet

Someone asked me what my new diet is like so I thought I'd let them know.

Breakfast: 30g of carbs w/ protein (ex three slices of turkey bacon, two eggs)

AM Snack: 30g of carbs w/protein (ex sugar free pudding pack, nuts, 12 pretzel sticks)

Lunch: 45g of carbs w/protein (sandwich, 15 carbs worth of chips, pickles, cheese)

PM Snack: 30g of carbs w/protein (yogurt, nut clusters)

Dinner: 45g of carbs w/protein and veggies (tuna patties, green beans, asparagus, garlic bread slice)

Bedtime Snack: 30g of carbs w/protein (1 cup chocolate ice cream w/crushed nuts)

I try to eat as much dairy and veggies as I can...some other snacks I have are homemade ranch with veggies, apple sauce, orange juice, celery and peanut butter, cheese

I also take 3 Flinstone vitamins each day and one Viactiv chew. I drink lots and lots of water...and try to have only 1 or 2 glasses of diet pop a day. Some days I'm better than others. I've learned that some foods are worth using my carbs for and some foods just aren't worth it. You'd be surprised at how many carbs are in even healthy cereals...it's pretty crazy what it does to blood sugar levels.

Fall pictures of the girls

These were taken today...

"Wedding photos"

New Fun Stuff to Handle

So remember when I posted about having to go to the ER for dehydration? Yeah that was about 2 months ago. From that moment we started talking to our doctor about gestational diabetes. We felt like I was displaying a lot of symptoms although it was early to test. They put off the testing for a month from that date and when we got to the appointment where we should have had the test the doctor once again canceled it. I'm pretty sure I posted about that horrible appointment and the subsequent 3 hour diabetes appointment. Well that day we found out I do in fact have gestational diabetes (whatever happened to the fact that the woman knows her body best?). At that diagnosis it had been 4 weeks since Jess and I had started lobbying for answers. I was told the day of the test I would get in to see a diabetic counselor within a week since it was so early in pregnancy that I was having issues we needed to get a handle on it quickly. Turns out within a week really meant 3 weeks later. We finally went to that appointment and the diabetic counselor asked us why we weren't currently seeing a high risk OB. Go figure something our doctor didn't even mention. AND she gave me two days to use diet to get my sugars under the limits or insulin was where we would go. Wow this counselor moved fast! The new diet consists of eating 6 times a day...I like food...but I do not like food enough to enjoy eating 6 times a day. Counting everything, making sure I get enough of this or not too much of that...denying myself and my household of certain things because they aren't within the limits. It's difficult but I'm managing. Jess is even on the diet with me so I don't have to do it alone. She's lost almost 4 pounds! :) Today after lunch if I have any more sugars over the limit I will have to call the counselor and discuss my options as far as insulin in concerned. Keep me in your prayers please...

For the love of parents....

As a new step parent...and a soon to be birth parent... lots of issues have risen about what kind of parent I want to be. I want to be the mom that devotes my entire life to my children. I want them to have every opportunity to explore themselves academically, athletically, artistically, socially, and internally. I want them to understand that sometimes "no" is the best answer. I want to raise confident, strong, respectful women. I want to raise strong, considerate, confident men. I want to run a tough but fun household. I want my children to know that I love them more than anything in the entire world and that NOTHING will ever change that. I also want to be the mom that makes time for my partner, my family, and my friends. I want my kids to be extremely connected to their family...all of their family. I feel like family is important and having a relationship with distant cousins, aunts and uncles that don't live in town, and grandparents from other states is important.
I don't want to be the parent that attempts to make my kids people they aren't. I don't want to be the parent that practices conditional love. I don't want to be the parent that lets my own past issues cloud my relationship with my children.
I love my step children as much as I can possibly love them without having actually birthed them. I want the same things for them as I do for any future birth children. It makes me sad to know that I missed so much of their lives as small children, but I still have so much of their lives to enjoy.
I just needed to share these thoughts...there is a reason...but it's very personal and I'd prefer to keep it personal. :)

P.S. Did I tell everyone we are having a girl?

Week in review

This week has been very UP and DOWN. Tuesday I went in for a sonogram to figure out why the heck I was in so much pain over the weekend. Turns out I had an 8 mm ovarian cyst of my left side...it has twisted my ovary which was causing all the major pain. The doctor's office was AWFUL... the staff was rude and inconsiderate. My doctor wasn't in the office she was on vacation. So then wednesday was our big gender appointment. I went in for diabetes check, gender sonogram, then our 19 week prenatal appointment. First of all the secretary (evil woman) cancelled the sonogram saying that I had a sonogram the day prior. Sooo then we get called back to the room...and then the doctor cancels the diabetes screen. At this point Jess and I were making plans to switch doctors/offices.
We let our doctor know how frustrated and unhappy we are with the service we've been getting. We also let her know that although they've told us the gender of our baby...we haven't been able to have our gender appointment where they show us everything and we get the cute little photo of Peanut. (the previous day's appointment was simply to show us why I was in so much pain and see if everything was okay with my body) The doctor went and talked to the office and nursing staff we're guessing because they were all of a sudden nice to us, she also rescheduled our gender appointment for that day and did a quick blood sugar draw. So I guess we'll stay with this doctor for the moment. Although I'm not so convinced it will be a positive experience.
Turned out that my blood sugar was high and they scheduled the HUGE diabetes screen for the next day. I couldn't eat after 5:00pm Tuesday...I had to be in the office at 9 for a fasting draw, then I had to drink some awful sugar drink, then another draw at 1015, another at 1115 then a final at 1215. Once that final draw was taken I was finally able to eat. Turns out I have gestational diabetes. I have to go for an appointment at the diabetic center this week to learn all the details of what they are going to do; diet, blood sugar testing, insulin, etc.
Friday my mom and brother came in town. The kids were super super excited. I was pretty excited to see my mom. The weekend was great hanging out with family. Julia was super duper excited about hanging out with Uncle Michael.
Anyway we'll keep everyone updated. Hopefully more picture will come soon. I'm officially in maternity clothes all the time now so I'm sure we'll get a belly shot or two on here anytime.
P.S. Jess and I are going into Arkansas this weekend to see some friends that I haven't seen in too too long. Looking forward to seeing you Susan! And yesterday Jess' paternal grand father died. The funeral should be sometime in the next couple of days.

Updates.... it's been a while

The past 2 weeks have been CRAZY! Jess and I went to Ventura, CA for a week to attend her family's annual beach house vacation. We took advantage of the opportunity and got officially married on 8-18-08. It was a fantastic week. I got to spend some quality time with her extended family. I did some shopping with her grandma and cousin the first day we were in town. The next day I went shopping with her aunt, cousins, and mom. I ended up going shopping with her dad one day. Jess spent most of her time reading and hanging out at the beach house. I even body surfed twice! Jess and I just completely fell in love with the area. It's not even about the rights...honestly. It's about the "feel" of the place... we felt at peace. It was a wonderful feeling. We are now trying to find a way to move there...we aren't getting our hopes up yet, but it is a possibility.

24 hours after we got married my dad stopped breathing and ended up on a ventilator in the ICU in Little Rock, AR. I stayed in constant contact with my younger brother and my mom about the situation. We flew back to Kansas City late Friday night/Saturday morning (we landed at 3 a.m.). We left Saturday morning after picking up the kids and dogs to go to Little Rock to see my dad. He is doing better now...actually left the hospital this week. It was quite scary and a VERY stressful time to be gone from the kids for 8 days in California and then to come back and leave straight to Arkansas. We are much better now though.

The girls leave today for Chicago with Jess' parents to see a play that their Uncle Dylan's friend is in. They are excited!

Next weekend my mom and brother are coming in town. While they are here we are doing something to celebrate our wedding... nothing big.

The following weekend Jess, the girls, and I may go down to Arkansas to see some friends and spend extra time with my family. After that trip I don't think there is another trip planned for the girls or for us until November THANK GOODNESS!

I hope everyone enjoyed the slide show from Cali. I will update you all next Wednesday after my prenatal appointment. We are having our big gender sonogram, diabetes screen, and just regular meeting with the doc.