Nate has been gone a lot more to Dallas working on setting up the roofing company there. Being a single parent while he is gone definitely has it's down side. It is harder than one would realize and that is just with one child. It will definitely get harder when there is two but hopefully the traveling will decrease as things become established.
Landon has been growing like a weed. His love for others is amazing, but he is still stubborn and likes to push the envelope. He loves to play and he loves to give hugs. He still is very attached to his security "blankets", Ellie and Bird. They are rags and as a parent I do not know when you take away the security or if they stay until he is ready. I don't want him to still be so attached at 5 that he is unable to go without them.
This pregnancy has been harder on me than Landon's. So far I have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, have carpal tunnel in both hands and am anemic. I think my feet have grown a size and have had braxton hicks contractions. I am unable to drink plain water which I love and now I am unable to drink sugary drinks due to the diabetes. At my 20 weeks ultrasound they stated that I may have a low lying placenta, so I have a repeat ultrasound scheduled for March 28th. I am measuring 33 weeks instead of 30 weeks so the ultrasound will also be to measure babies size.
With all that said, I would do it all over again just to experience this gift from God. This has definitely been a blessing from God and I want to enjoy it as long as I can. Our lives are in His hands and He leads us in the ways He wants.
Gestational diabetes is a while new ball game. I have learned a lot about nutrition than I ever wanted to know or thought I needed to know. It is all about counting carbs. I am allowed a certain number of carbs a day but they need to be spread out evenly. So that means that I have breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and night snack. You are supposed to watch what you are putting in your mouth. With that said, I have not been eating as many calories so over the past two weeks I have not gained any weight. If anything this will help take off the baby weight once our baby girl is here, I just hope that I am providing enough to help her grow. I definitely have sympathy/empathy for those that have to deal with this type of thing on a daily basis. Hopefully this does not become a life long thing for me but if it does, now I have a little clue of how to handle it. I miss Dairy Queen and Sonic Drinks by far the most. There are a ton of carbs in the things I like there, so will have to hold off until after baby.
Unfortunately gestational diabetes does not affect just me, it really affect baby girl. That is why it is important to try and follow the diet as closely as I can. She will be the one that pays for my sins/slips in my diet. That is the biggest difference between type II diabetes and gestational diabetes. It doesn't just affect me. Type I diabetes is a whole different ball game, one of my cousins deals with this on a daily basis and I applaud her because that has to be the hardest one of all but she handles it with class and dignity.
Carpal Tunnel is another interesting thing that I have had to deal with. It started with my right hand and now has made it's way to my left hand. My middle three fingers are numb and that is definitely a new challenge. It is harder to pick things up without dropping them and feel it hard. It has helped with checking my blood sugars 4 times a day, because I cannot feel all the pokes as much. They do have wrist braces you can wear and I wear mine mainly at night. My husband likes to make fun of them. I do admit that they are not the most attractive things but hopefully the carpal tunnel will go away after giving birth. I now have empathy/sympathy for my patients who have neuropathy after chemotherapy.
For the anemia I get to take Iron supplements three times a day, which means stool softeners :( I am hoping that it helps correct the problem so that by the time I give birth my Hgb will be 12 or above. I definitely have been more tired this pregnancy and that is part of the reason why.
I know that a few of my shoes will no longer fit and that saddens me because I do not think that your feet shrink after having a baby but like I said, she is worth every last issue.
I am hoping and praying that my placenta has moved up because otherwise that means a c-section is in store for us. Only God knows how this will turn out and I am trusting in Him and putting this in his hands.
Those are a few happenings that have been occurring in our life and in this pregnancy. I hope that everyone out there is doing good. God's blessing to all.
