Glucose Tolerance Test & Insomnia

Oh the wonders of pregnancy!

First there are vials and vials of blood, then ultrasounds and cold gels on your stomach.  And then before you know it you are a28 weeks and it is time to do the dreaded.....

GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST!

YUCK!  If you are lucky you only have to do this test once, you have to give up one hour of your life and one tube of blood.  For the first time around your doctor will give you a drink that is 50 grams of sugar in 10 oz of fluid.  UGH, but I have to say it is not that bad. 

Here is how the sugar content of some of the most popular drinks stack up:

COKE

12 oz can of Coke: 39 g

20 oz bottle of Coke: 65 g

1 liter of Coke: 108 g

MT. DEW

20 oz bottle of Mt. Dew: 77 g

1 liter of Mt. Dew: 124 g

ENERGY DRINKS

8 oz of Rockstar Energy Drink: 31 g

16 oz of Rockstar Energy Drink: 62 g

8.3 oz of Redbull: 27 g

JUICES

8 oz of Vitamin Water: 13 g

20 oz of Vitamin Water: 33 g

8 oz Sobe Mango: 29 g

20 oz Sobe Mango: 70 g

8 oz Arizona Lemon Ice Tea: 24 g

20 oz Arizona Lemon Ice Tea: 72 g

8 oz Snapple Lemon Ice Tea: 23 g

16 oz SnappleLemon Ice Tea: 46 g

8 oz Minute Maid Lemonade: 27 g

20 oz Minute Maid Lemonade: 67 g

8 oz Orange Juice: 24 g

16 oz Orange Juice: 48 g

8 oz Apple Juice: 26 g

16 oz Apple Juice: 52 g

6.75 oz Capri Sun: 18 g

MILK

8 oz Nesquik Chocolate Milk: 29 g

16 oz Nesquik Chocolate Milk: 58 g

8 oz Westsoy Vanilla Soy Milk: 8 g

So when you think about it 50 g of sugar is not that bad compared to some of the things you drink everyday.  It is just a lot to take in 10 oz of liquid.

 They give you the drink and you have five minutes to drink it and then they take your blood in 1 hour.  They generally want your blood sugar to be under 120 when they test your blood.  If it is higher than that they will have you do the 3 hour glucose tolerance test.

Now if you are like me and have the joy of failing this test the first time you get to move onto the mac daddy of sugary drinks.

You are reading it right, there are 100 GRAMS OF SUGAR in this little 10 oz drink.  Another little fun bit that goes along with this drink is the fact that my doctor wanted me to fast for 12 hours prior to doing the test.  And if Chris learned anything from me doing this test, is NEVER stand between a pregnant woman and food.  I was BEYOND bitchy heading to the testing site.

I am sure it did not help that I went to bed at about 8pm the night before, in attempts to keep my ass away from the kitchen.  And since I have the lovely diagnosis of pregnancy insomnia I woke up at about 2 in the morning and could not fall back to sleep.

I layed in bed, while my stomach howling, playing on my phone from 2 in the morning until about 5 when I decided I would go ahead and shower since we had to leave at 7.  Well 20 minutes later my shower was done, I had lotion on, I was dressed and ready to go, with WAY TOO MUCH TIME TO KILL.

This is one of the downfalls of no cable, I sat on the couch watching my ABC shows on my phone and listening to my stomach growl until Chris got up at 630.

We got to the testing site, mind you Chris used to work here, so he knows EVERYONE, all I wanted to do was start the damn test but instead we seemed to get stopped by everyone who just wanted to talk. 

Finally I get to the lab and the lady takes the first vial of blood.  She hands me the 100 g drink and says you have 5 minutes to drink this, lemon lime is THE WORST!, and then come back here in 1 hour.

You would think that drinking all of this sugar would make someone want to bounce off of the walls in the waiting room but you would be worng!!!

About 30 mintues into the test Alex is doing absolute somersaults in my uterus and I am about ready to fall asleep leaning on Chris's shoulder.  I know my husband brushed his teeth before we left that morning but in my bitchy tiredness his breath smelled like absolute poop!!! Which did not put me in a better mood each time he looked down at me and asked me how I was doing.  But I have to give him credit cause he was the best husband ever during this test.  He waited patiently in the lobby with me for 3 hours.

With each hour that passed I began to think more and more about the food I could not have and like I told the lab tech, "I feel like I am planning my last meal."  So three hours and 3 tubes of blood later Chris and I were on our way to EAT! FINALLY!!

Only you wanna know what a pregnant woman wants to eat when she has had nothing for 15 hours?  Well so does she, because she is now so hungry that she has NO CLUE what sounds good.

We wound up at our favorite wing joint and my eyes were MUCH bigger than my stomach was of course, so I wound up with a box of leftovers and was seriously about to crash from all of the sugar!

But I was happier than a lark when we got home and I could crawl back into my warm and cozy bed and take a nap.  During that 2 hour nap I felt like I made insomnia my b**** and I got a really good 2 hours in.  Then the darn alarm went off.

I had some errands to run that afternoon.  Just to the post office then to pick up a package from UPS.

You know what NO ONE told me about this test.....the fact that I was going to get a killer headache from the sugar dump.  :/ I should have expected it, and it was not the worst I have ever had, thanks to my spinal tap, but it sure complicated driving in the sun!

So I got my errands done and you know what I did, I came back home at about 8, put on my pajamas, put in a movie and went right back to bed!  Which is where I stayed until 4 this morning, I can vaguely remember Chris crawling in next to me at about 1 am, when once again I awoke to the howling of my stomach! 

Welp I am gonna self medicate and head back to bed before work tonight.

So I hope you all enjoy your rainy Saturday, cause I will be catching some ZZZZ's.

29 Weeks Pregnant

How far along today?: 29 weeks and 4 days

Style:  Still the same clothes. 

Growing?: Yes!

Best moment of the week?: Being able to distinguish what you are kicking me with.

Cravings: Definitely cheese.

Baby moving yet?: Oh yeah all the time.

Still nauseous?: Incredibly sick the past few days and have thrown up a few times, from coughing so hard.

Belly button popped?: It is one deep canyon not a belly button

Wedding rings on or off?: STILL looking around for a matching band set for your daddy and I.

Mood: All over the spectrum but mostly sick and listless with this thing I have going on.

Gender: IT'S A BOY!!!

 

Ok so it may be TMI but I have a new bodily development.  My boobs have begun leaking what looks like breastmilk.  It is definitely not something I thought would happen this early but, what is a preggo to do?

 

The last few days I have been coughing my head off.  And not just a regular cough, I sound like a dog barking at the mailman.  And when I have a coughing fit, sometimes they are so bad that I can't catch my breath or stop and wind up vomiting.  SO FUN.

 

Today before work I woke up feeling better than I had in a few days, I was still hoarse and had a cough but it was not terrible.  Well about an hour into work, I was sweating like a 600 lb person who just ran a marathon, and felt like I was gonna pass out.   My blood pressure was fine but I had a temperature of 103.  Yikes.

 

I took 2 extra strength tylenol and began my attempts at finding a nurse to relieve me.  And by the grace of God I got a nurse to come in for me.  And I plan on repaying her kindly!

 

So now I am home for the night and have a doctors appointment first thing in the morning.  Let's hope it is nothing too serious and I can on some antibiotics and kick this thing.

This Crazy Roller Coaster....Called Life

Let's begin with a consecutive scream!

Not just any scream, but the one you make when you are sitting at the top of the hill on the scariest roller coaster about to make your plummet towards the earth.

Now think of all of the thoughts going through your head.....

I don't know what goes through your head but each and every time I wonder:

-Are the brakes going to work?

-The track won't break will it?

-Will I survive?

-Is this guy in front of me going to throw up?

-The track does go back to the start right?

So maybe this makes me a hypochondriac but you have to admit at least one of those thoughts has crossed your mind at the top of that hill.

Since purchasing our home I have realized that being a homeowner is a lot like riding that roller coaster.  Each month you find yourself at the top of that hill when all of your bills are due. 

I find that the paychecks you receive are like the brakes on the coaster.  The help you to slow down, or dwindle down the amount you owe.  When you have a steady job and you get the same paycheck every two weeks for example your breaks are working perfectly, as long as you are pulling in enough to cover what you owe.

The fear that the track may break, in my opinion is the fear of what if I miss a day of work?  What will I do with that short in my pay?  How will I make up for it?  Is this going to be detrimental to our finances?

Chris and I have had our fair share of this in the last two weeks alone.  My dumb self actually emptied the dishwasher and was going to do the dishes when my mind decided it would be fun to cut my finger open on an apple corer and have to get stitches.  :(

Fortunately my idiocy did not keep me from work but it sure will put a dent in the money we had for bills soon I am sure.

Then my poor husband got sick.  And when Chris gets sick he does it good.  He was miserable, and felt like he could come no where near me.  So I being the good wife/nurse that I am asked him to go to the doctor, and he happily obliged. 

Not really, I told him that he was either going to the doctor or he was not going to play airsoft with his friends that weekend, so he agreed to go.

And boy was it a good thing he did because the doctor said if he waited any longer it would have been more than just a sinus infection and not one but TWO EAR INFECTIONS!  So he put Chris on an antibiotic for a few days.  Of course things get worse before they get better so Chris wound up being too sick for work that next day.  And all the two of us could think was, what bill is that going to effect this month? 

The fear of will I survive....this fear is oneself questioning, if I don't pay this bill this month, or on time, are we going to be reprimanded or will the company work with us? If there is one thing I have learned since becoming a monthly bill payer it is that as long a company knows they are going to get your money at some point they are happy and will help you out as best as you can.  I don't want to say we have taken full advantage of that, but we have definitely used that to help us out.

This fear is one that crosses my mind EVERYDAY!!! The fear of is the guy in front of me going to throw up, is the fear of what is going to break next?  What am I going to have to unexpectedly pay for? 

This is another dilemma Chris and I have had our fair share of problems with.  Our biggest problem appliance always seems to be the dryer.  I think we have gone through 3 since we bought our condo, but then there was the time it was the heater, then Chris's car a few times, my 2 flat tires since purchasing my car (within the first year), getting slammed with an unexpected amount on our city taxes, and then all of the healthcare bills we have received.  Since August of last year, when I had my MRI and all of that I seem to be falling apart.

But as we have learned we can always figure something out, we can make due until we have the money to fix it and so on.

And finally I always find myself thinking the track does go back to the start right?!? And the answer has always been yes.... At some point you will get to a point where all of the bills are paid and you may have a little left over to spend or, the smarter thing, maybe even put into savings.  Eventually through hard work and some REALLY hard times you will get your head back above water.

You may have to cut back on:

-cable

-the phone bill

-the electric you use everyday

-the grocery bill

-extra trips in the car

-having fun

But in the end as long as you have your loved ones, do you really need all of that? 

Do I need to sit in front of the tv all day?

NO

Do I HAVE to have a smart phone?

NO but I am slowly working myself on this one....

Do I have to have lights on during the daylight hours?

NO, our house gets plenty of natural light.

Do we have to buy groceries a month in advance?

NO, it is ok to go to the grocery a few times a week.  The store clerk won't think you are a pig.

Do I have to make all of those extra trips in the car?

NO, my brother and sister know I love them, and will not hold it against me for missing an event.  My family knows I love them and if I don't have the gas, I don't have the gas.

And do we have to eat out at least once a paycheck?

NO, we tend to have a better night eating dinner and watching a movie together anyways.

28 Weeks Pregnant

How far along today?: 28 weeks and 3 days

Style:  Still the same clothes. 

Growing?: Yes!

Best moment of the week?: Being able to distinguish what you are kicking me with.

Cravings: Ummmm maybe cheese?

Baby moving yet?: Oh yeah all the time.

Still nauseous?: Once or twice.

Belly button popped?: It is one deep canyon not a belly button

Wedding rings on or off?: STILL looking around for a matching band set for your daddy and I.

Mood: Pretty mellow this week but I cannot rule out that I cried a few times.

Gender: IT'S A BOY!!!

So this week has been pretty good. I met with the neurologist on Monday and he said although some of my symptoms have returned there is no visible swelling of my optic nerves right now, which is good news, but then followed that up with, but it does not mean it will not happen, so I go back to see him in 6 weeks.

On another good note since there is no visible swelling right now he said I have no restrictions for delivery at this point, but that too could change.

GRRR my pesky brain!  I just want to be able to plan things out or know how they are going to happen lol, yeah right like that will happen.

Tomorrow I have a OBGYN appointment and I am also doing my glucose tolerance test.  That little orange drink has been sitting in my fridge taunting me for the last two weeks and I am dreading having to get up tomorrow and drink it.  YUCK!!! 50 grams of sugar just does not appeal to me.  I am just praying I do not throw up so I do not have to do this again.

SO Alex, I apologize for tonight, I may make you really hungry but I promise I will reward you tomorrow AFTER the test.

Welp off to bed so I can lay there and not sleep cause I am too damn nervous about not passing this damn blood test.

SO I guess I should apologize to my husband as well cause I am sure he will have the best nights sleep ever. 

The Week With No Picture

27 Weeks Pregnant

Style:  Of course my maternity shirts, maternity jeans and maternity shorts! I love the ones I got!

Growing?: Yes!

Best moment of the week?: Finding my maternity shorts that actually fit and look good!

Cravings: None really this week

Baby moving yet?: Quite a bit this week, and you are still being elusive to daddy.
Still nauseous?: Nope not once.

Belly button popped?: One giant canyon

Wedding rings on or off?: Off

Mood: Pretty mellow

Gender: IT'S A BOY!!!

 

Well I cannot even remember why we did not take a picture this week....But I would think it would have to be the fact that Chris and I have barely spent any time together this week.  But I also worked 5 out of 7 days last week so I was pretty exhausted most of the time. 



I feel like I have grown quite a bit and you will be able to see the picture I put up later this evening. 

 

I have done quite a bit of work on the registries and such last week.  But I also worked 5 out of 7 days last week so I was pretty exhausted most of the time. 

 

Well I am onto to update the blog hopefully with a new look.



26 Weeks Pregnant!

How far along today?: 26 weeks and 2 days

Style:  Of course my maternity shirts, maternity jeans and maternity shorts! I love the ones I got!

Growing?: Yes!

Best moment of the week?: Finding my maternity shorts that actually fit and look good!

Cravings: Natural Artisan Vanilla Bean and Bleu cheese!

Baby moving yet?: Yes he has developed the skills to make my legs go numb and to kick the hell outta my ribs!

Still nauseous?: Not too bad this week!

Belly button popped?: Definitely going to pop before you are born!

Wedding rings on or off?: STILL looking around for a matching band set for your daddy and I.

Mood: ALL OVER the emotional spectrum this week, but the nerves are setting in.

Gender: IT'S A BOY!!!

We have several doctors appointments this week, one with our OBGYN and one with the neurologist.  We are hoping to get a definite plan for delivery established this week, hahahaha, yeah right, like that will happen.  And next week I meet with the cardiologist again to go over the readings from the heart monitor and ensure it is nothing serious.

Will update later and will be making a video tomorrow.