21st Century

Dear Munchkin,

So we finally bit the bullet this weekend and replaced the old Toshiba. Your Mommy and I have been wanting a new TV for a while now, but we had decided to put it off - but then the Toshiba started having issues. It probably would have lasted for a while longer, but Circuit City had a deal we couldn't refuse. I ran it by your Uncle Geoff and found that even at his cost it wouldn't really make a difference. So anyway, I wanted to let you know that now you won't have the enter the world watching outdated technology and we can watch ESPN together in high definition (even if you end up being a girl).

Love,

Daddy

Trip to Women's Hospital

Dear Munchkin,
During the course of this week, I begun feeling more and more crummy. I finally decided that I needed to see the doctor because I was pretty sure that the infection was back. I was starting to feel all of the same symptoms as last time. I knew I didn't want to head into a long weekend feeling badly and without my doctor's office being open. When I arrived at the doctor, I had to see the Nurse Practitioner since the appointment was made on such short notice. While the NP is a very nice woman, she wasn't really sure what to do with me. And I am sure she doesn't have very many pregnant patients, since she exclaimed "Oh, I didn't know you were pregnant!" when she came into the examine room. I had to explain to her (and the nurses) several times the situation from a month ago and how I came to be diagnosed with the Strep B infection. After she did an internal exam and swab test, she felt like I needed to be put on the monitor to rule out any chance of preterm labor. This monitor is the NST machine that I will be hooking up to twice a week from now on. At this point, it was after 5:30 PM and my blood sugar had dropped rapidly. I didn't have an afternoon snack because I was rushing at work, stressing out about all this going on, and simply forgot. In addition, at 2 PM my blood sugar reading was only 79 and should never be lower than 60. I finally asked them for a piece of hard candy so I wouldn't fall over and I knew that I had to eat some dinner ASAP. I stayed on the monitor for about 20 minutes and because you were moving around so much, they were unable to get a good read on your heart rate, but they were able to see my contractions. The NP told me that they were pretty certain the contractions were the results of infection, but wanted to run it by the on-call doctor before I left. The on-call doctor decided that since they couldn't get a good "tracing" on the monitor, she wasn't comfortable sending me home without ruling out preterm labor. So it was off to Women's Hospital for further testing. Before I left, I nearly had a breakdown complete with shaking and sweating. I knew I needed to eat...like now. The NP called Women's to tell them I was on my way. Your Daddy picked up some food and meet me in the maternity admissions area. They got me all set up on a new monitor and let me have some dinner while being on the monitor. Boy, that was a relief. I really thought they were going to have a pregnant lady on the floor, but at least I would have been in the hospital! Anyway, they kept me on the machine for about 45 minutes and then took us for another ultrasound. You looked great and had a perfect ultrasound score. After that, they sent us back to the room for more monitoring and questioning. My blood pressure was a little high (duh), so they checked it a couple times. Finally, they talked to the on-call doctor, who released me to go home. Of course, on the way home we had to stop by the pharmacy to pick up my antibiotics. Which is all I really needed to begin with! I totally understand that the doctor needs to everything to protect us and I am not upset about it, but it ended up being a really long night for a simple problem. The whole process took about 5 hours from start to finish. When we got home, I took my medicine and crashed. I am feeling better today and will have a nice long weekend to take it easy. Rest assured that we have had lots of testing done to let us know that you are one healthy and very active baby!
I love you,
Mom

Uh-Oh

Dear Munchkin,
Things aren't looking good here. I suspect the infection is back. I been having contractions again and I am headed to the doctor this afternoon @ 4:45. Hopefully I can get on some antibiotics quickly and they can figure out what's going on. My sugars are higher than normal, but within the the acceptable range. I just have sneaky feeling that my old pal Strep B is rearing it's ugly head again. Your Dad and I supposed to have a make up birth & baby class tonight, but I don't see that happening. Wish me luck and say a few prayers for me.
Love you,
Mom

General Updates

Dear Munchkin,
There has been a lot going on in Munchkinland during the past few days.
Sugars- I went to the doctor on Monday morning and received a nice pat on the back for controlling my sugar levels. Then, after Monday morning's reading, it was like the medicine quit working. My sugars are elevated (after eating standard meals) and I have been experiencing some mild cramping/tightening of my belly. I called the doctor yesterday because I know that something isn't right. He has doubled my dosage of medication in an effort to bring down my numbers. I started the new dosage this morning and so far so good. Breakfast reading was slightly higher than the norm, but it might take a while for the medicine to kick in. Due to the Strep B fiasco, I am slightly paranoid whenever my belly hurts. I am not sure if it is due to infection, stress, high sugar, or even the way I have to hunch over at my desk all day. Add that to my worry about rising sugars combined total lack of sleep and it makes for one very grumpy mama. I did take a Tylenol PM last night which helped my get a few hours of much needed sleep. I felt better this morning and perhaps all I need is this bump in medication. Hopefully that will be all it takes to get me back on track.
Massage- You Daddy surprised me with a gift of a prenatal massage yesterday. It's just what I need and couldn't have come at a better time. There is a lady who comes to Moses Cone to give little mini-massages once a week or so. She needed some help with her computer, so your Dad traded his computer skills for her massage skills. I just need to call her to set up the appointment after work or on the weekend. Your Dad is going on his annual golf trip the weekend after next, so I might schedule it then since I will have lots of "me" time that weekend. Yeah!
3rd Birth & Baby Class- We had our third B&B Class last night. As usual, it was very informative and slightly scary. I know I am learning a lot from these classes, but it's almost making me more nervous about labor & delivery. Part of it has to do with the fact that I have just pushed (no pun intended) the whole idea out of my mind and now I am forced to think about what will actually happen when you are born. But then again, it's one day. You will bring us a lifetime of joy. That thought far outweighs and any pain or discomfort I could possibly imagine. You in my arms. Me as your Mom. I can't wait! The class started out with some massage and breathing lessons. We talked about Lamaze and focus breathing during pushing. Then we discussed what will happen with you right after birth. One interesting fact I need to remember is that you need breastfeed right away even before your first bath and nursery visit. Once you have a bath and get all cleaned up, you might not breastfeed as well because you will get cold and have all sorts of new smells on you. It also makes for a special bonding time for our new family before everyone get their hands on you and passes you around. Once you and I are cleaned up, of course our family & friends will be welcome to see you. But I think it is important that the very first thing that happens is a bonding between you, me, and your Daddy. The last part of the class was spent discussing pain control during delivery. We watched a video on epidurals/pain management and looked at all the tools a doctor or nurse might use. It was comforting to know that the drugs will be there when I need them! Next week we tour the maternity ward. I know that will be fun and I am looking forward to it.
Love,
Mom

Holy Upcoming Appointments

Dear Munchkin,
I went to see Doctor Davis this morning for a quick check-in. My total weight gain is +2.2 lbs, my blood pressure was 130/72, and your heart rate was 140. Doctor Davis checked my sugar log book and was extremely happy with my numbers. It appears that the medicine and my diet control are really paying off. I am very proud of your Daddy and I. I was thrilled that he was happy with the way things are looking. I just need to continue of on this path of self monitoring and healthy eating. On the down side, starting next week, Doctor D has ordered twice weekly Non-Stress-Tests. Apparently, this type of medication *could* lead to increased risk of still birth. He did stress that he doesn't think I am specifically "at risk", but he still needs to make sure to keep a close watch on you (whew!). Basically, the NST involves hooking me up to a machine which records your heart rate for a period of about 15-20 minutes. They look for patterns, regularity, and consistency. It's not really such a big deal, it's just more of an inconvenience since it will take up a lot of time during the work week. I will also have another ultrasound @ 32 weeks and there could be more to follow. Between doctor visits, baby classes, and getting everything ready for you, September is shaping up to be one b.u.s.y. month!
I love you,
Mama

2nd Birth & Baby Class

Dearest Little One,
Last night was our second birth & baby class. When we arrived, Cheryl was already putting the pregnancy pack (boobs and all) on one of the unsuspecting Dads. It was pretty funny! Your Dad didn't get "chosen" last night, but all of the Dads will wear it at some point, so I need to remember my camera next week. We started off class with a review from last week complete with door prizes. Candy...which I can't have ..ummp. Then we watched a video of one couple's birth story which did not involve medication and featured a very supportive husband. It was beautiful to watch, but I am pretty sure that it wasn't a typical birth scenario. I know they aren't actors, it all seemed a little too calm and relaxed for me to completely buy. I think they must have edited some bad language or at the very least a few of her grimaces of pain/moaning. After the video, we split into two groups (guys & gals) to discuss what to bring to the hospital and what to do at the hospital. We made a list for the guys and vice versa. It reminded me that I do need to start thinking about packing a bag or at least get some sort of list started. About half way through the class, we took a much needed bathroom break and I checked my sugars. They were a little on the low side (which kind of makes me feel badly) and I need to work on getting them into the right zone. It's difficult because I am so afraid of them being high that I overcompensate by restrictive eating. That's not good either. With this new medicine, I have to learn how to balance things. It will come with practice, I am sure. After the break, we watched another video about changing positions during labor and getting the baby to face the correct way. There was a lot of discussion about back labor. Apparently this is a common problem for first time Moms and usually results in a C-section. I really hope that you don't get confused and turn the wrong way. The last part of the class was spent practicing massage techniques on each other. The assigned homework is that your Dad has to give me three massages this week. I am really looking forward to it and would love to have a professional prenatal massage. Next week we will attend our third class plus the fifth class because of a scheduling conflict in September. I am sure it will be information overload!
I love you,
Mom

Good Checkup

Dear Munchkin,
It's been a while since I have left the doctor's office feeling like we were all in a good place. This morning, I meet with Doctor Tavon (Doctor D is on va-ca) and he gave me an excellent report. My total weight gain is up +.8 lbs, blood pressure is 118/70 and your heart rate was 158 bpm. It took the nurse a while to find your heart beat since you were wiggling around like crazy. We could both feel you moving around, but you were being uncooperative by facing my back. Doctor Tavon checked my sugar log book and told me that everything looked great. I expressed some concern that my sugars seem to be elevated in the evening and he said that perhaps after next week's check up we could do some modification to the medicine. For example, taking half the pill in the morning and the other half at night. He did say that some of my sugars are borderline, but that probably isn't the reason for "my humongous baby" (now I am wondering what is?) and that I should expect more ultrasounds. I told him that I was still very concerned about controlling my sugars and your weight gain. "Keep up the good work" was his response. That was encouraging to hear! I will report back to the office again on Monday with another week's worth of data. This evening, your Dad and I have our second Birth & Baby class and I am sure it will be very informative. I will fill you in on all that we learn tonight in tomorrow's letter.
I love you,
Mom

Big Stuff

Dear Munchkin,
Yesterday your Dad and I went to see Doctor Davis for another ultrasound and a recheck of my sugar levels. Everything looked good on the screen and the technician told us that you were indeed measuring bigger than expected. So we weren't surprised when Doctor D told us the same thing. However, we were shocked when he told us how much bigger you actually are. They estimated your weight to be approximately 3.5lbs. That puts you into the 91st percentile for growth at this point. Your target growth should only be somewhere in the 50th percentile. Because my body is not processing sugar well, you are producing way more insulin than needed. Insulin is growth hormone, thus causing you put on weight a lot more quickly than desired. Doctor Davis explained to us that during this stage (28-33 weeks), you are beginning a period of rapid physical growth and are really starting to pack on the "baby fat". If we can tighten down your insulin levels, things will probably shift back to the natural progression of weight gain. So I have started an oral medication (not insulin shots) called Glyburide once a day to control my blood sugar. Even though I am trying my hardest to control my sugars with diet and exercise, I still need help in the form of medication. Taking this medicine will require weekly check in's with the doctor. When I hit 32 weeks I will likely need twice weekly monitoring and I can probably expect more ultrasounds. He mentioned that I have a lot of fluid which should be reduced by the medication. Glyburide is a diuretic that helps reduce fluid/glucose which in turn lowers insulin levels. Hopefully I will be able to pee out all the excess glucose that's making you grow larger! Even though this isn't the desired outcome, I am trying to stay positive and remember that Doctor Davis is doing everything he can so that we remain healthy. The bottom line is that I need to do what's best for you and myself. I will still continue the diet regiment and finger prick monitoring. I hope to see my sugar levels dropping off consistently and the medication doing it's job. Some other statistics from yesterday's visit: blood pressure of 122/80, your heart rate was 142, and my total weight gain is down to -.6 lbs. Again the weight thing baffles me because the average pregnant woman has gained between 17 and 24lbs at this point, plus I have a growing belly with a 3.5lb baby inside. My prayer is that my efforts and this medicine will ensure you remain healthy. That's all that matter to me now. And forever.
I love you,
Mom

Birth & Baby Class

Dear Munchkin,
Last night your Daddy and I attended our first Birth & Baby class. In an attempt to gain some insight into labor, delivery, and all things baby, we will be meeting once a week for the next five weeks. Our class size was about thirty people. We started the class by talking to the couple next to us and introducing them to everyone. Of course, this is the first baby for all and most people are worried about the pain of labor. I was the only one whose worry is lack of sleep! We were also just about the only couple who aren't finding out the gender. After the introductions, Cheryl (our teacher) talked about the anatomy of labor. I will spare you all the details. In fact, most of the time I was making my "EWWWW" face while she was lecturing. Next, we watched a video about the stages of labor. It broke down early labor, active labor, transition, pushing, and delivery. It also showed an actual delivery and delivery of the placenta. I did close my eyes during that part. I know it's coming and I have accepted it, but I just don't really want to SEE it happening to someone else. Once the video was over, Cheryl reiterated and expanded on all of the stages, signs of labor, what you are feeling (mentally and physically), and the role that partners play during this time. It was interesting, but still a little scary. The last half an hour was spent on the floor with pillows, practicing breathing and relaxing techniques. This was the best part! She coached us through some exercises that are designed to help everyone "calm down" during the big event. I think I need to start practicing now! Overall, we really enjoyed the class and are looking forward learning more about this whole process. It did reassure me that I am not alone in my fears and offered a sense of control about the situation. Cheryl has a very humorous and calming way about presenting some potentially frightening material!
In other news, I went to the doctor this morning for my ultrasound and checkup. Don't worry, things are OK, but I need to devote a whole other letter to fill you in on all the details. Work is piling up left and right and I need to focus on that for a while today. I promise, I will update soon.
I love you,
Mom

Sweet

Dear Munchkin,
How nice are your Daddy's co-workers? They sent this email invite out today. Two showers in one weekend. Squeeeeee!!!!!

Love, Mom and Dad

28 Weeks

Dear Munchkin,
Today I am 28 weeks pregnant. We are 7/9 of the way through our pregnancy journey together. Can you believe it? Looking back, it's a been a fairly difficult month for us due to some health related complications and it seems to have taken a toll on my mental state. So far, I have been blessed to have felt relatively worry-free for the majority of our time together. Now I am feeling a bit of anxiety and I don't like it at all. Not of all of this is due to health concerns. A lot of it stems from the simple fact that I am entering into the last phase of pregnancy. I feel as if time is rapidly slipping away from me and I have so much to get accomplished in order to get ready for your arrival. We have a ton of activities (both baby and non-baby related) planned in the upcoming weeks. We will start some baby classes, I will be headed to Doctor Davis more frequently, baby showers have been planned, and all the other "general" baby stuff that needs to be done. I know everything will fall into place, but sometimes it feels a little overwhelming. On a more positive note, most of the major decisions surrounding your upcoming arrival have been made. We have secured childcare, all of your furniture is assembled, and we are confident that we will be ready before you get here. This past month also allowed us to visit with family, which has really lifted my spirits up. I can feel the love radiant from your Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and other family members when they talk about you. Hopefully you won't be too spoiled by them! I don't want you to misinterpret this letter. Truly, I feel like one of the luckiest people on the world to be carrying you inside of me and I feel a sense of sheer joy that I never knew was possible. My heart feels like it is growing like The Grinch when I think about meeting you for first time and I can't wait.
I love you with all of my heart,
Mom

Checkup

Dear Munchkin,
I had a quick checkup with Doctor Davis yesterday afternoon. Everything looked good: total weight gain of 3 lbs, blood pressure of 112/78, and your heart rate was 153. My feet have been pretty swollen the past couple of days and apparently this is quite normal for this stage in pregnancy. Doctor Davis checked my sugar log book and wants to see me again in one week. He is concerned that I might need to start taking an oral insulin which will require closer monitoring. Basically, my sugars have been higher than 120 maximum threshold about 25% of the time in the past month. Considering the fact that I haven't know what exactly to eat, dealt with a nasty infection/contractions, and traveled for two weekends, I think I am doing pretty well. But Doctor Davis isn't really interested in my excuses, all he sees are the numbers. So he has given me a week to prove that I have it under control with diet and exercise. I hate to think about taking a daily medication and going to the doctor once a week until you are born, but it is what it is. And I will do whatever it takes to make sure you are a healthy growing baby. He has also ordered another ultrasound for next week because I am measuring ahead (or bigger than expected) and he wants to keep a close eye on your size. One of the dangers of gestational diabetes is having a larger baby, which can sometimes lead to complications. He told us that some women just measure big, while others have a lot of fluid, or in some cases it is the baby itself. Either way, he wants to take a peek at you to find out what's going on. So next week, your Dad and will head back over to his office for another look at you while crossing our fingers that my sugars will stay on a nice even keel for a while.
I love you,
Mom
PS- In the immortal words of Emily: "I have a friend with a secret and if this friend doesn't spill to the world soon, I might die. You know who you are."

First Kick

Dear Munchkin,
Your Daddy felt you kick for the first time this weekend! We were on the airplane headed home from my cousin Matt's wedding in Chicago and you started doing all sorts of crazy acrobatics during the flight. I have been able to feel you kick for a while now, but your Daddy has never been able to catch you in the act. I loved the look of surprise of his face when he felt you move. Hopefully you will get stronger each day and he will be able to feel you more often. We had a great time at Matt and Alison's wedding. Once again, it was a whirlwind of family events. I am feeling more tired than usual this week and I am looking forward to staying home to rest this weekend. Nowadays, I am moving slower than usual and I think the past few weekends have finally caught up to me. I literally fell into bed last night. We arrived in Chicago Thursday evening. Your Uncle Ross and Aunt Amber arrived Friday morning, we spent the day hanging out together and then attended the rehearsal dinner. Friday was real hot and humid, but Saturday brought perfect weather. Matt and Alison are an interfaith couple, so this wedding was a unique blend of Gentile and Hebrew traditions. They did a great job of incorporating both of their faiths into their union. Your Grandpa Wilkin delivered a reading during the ceremony. It was a joyous celebration! Afterwards, we partied down at the reception and soon it was time to head home. On Sunday, there was a family brunch and it was off to the airport of all of us. It feels like there is never enough time to spend with loved ones during these short weekends and the time passes so quickly. Here are a couple of snapshots from the weekend.

Alison and Matt (Check out Matt's Chicago Bears Yarmulke)

Grandpa Wilkin

Great Grandma Wilkin and Aunt Amber

I am headed to the doctor this afternoon for a check up, so I will write tomorrow with all the details. I love you very much, Mom

Big Birthday Bash

Dear Munchkin,
Even though I wasn't feeling in tip-top shape this past weekend, we decided to forge ahead and drive up to Washington D.C. for my Gram's 90th Birthday Bash & Stirton Family Reunion. We are incredibly lucky to have such an amazing family and had an absolute ball. It felt so good to take my mind of the events from last week, although all the laughing did not help my sore stomach muscles at all. We arrived in Washington late Thursday evening to find the party had started before we got there. Your Daddy and I stayed with my cousin Amy & her husband Rob. Amy, Bryan, Rory, Ross, and I are considered "sibling cousins" because our moms (your grandma) are mirror image twins. We basically share the same DNA on one side. We have a definite bond that is uniquely ours and share a lot of the same personality characteristics. Every time I hang out with them, it makes me miss them more after we leave. On Friday, your Great-Grandma, Grandma, Uncle Ross, Aunt Amber, Amy, and I went up to Mount Vernon to tour George Washington's house. It was pretty darn hot, but we enjoyed ourselves. Later that evening was the family BBQ at my cousin Kristy's house. All 42 of us were there wearing our blue shirts proudly. It was incredible that every single one of us was able to be there, given that usually there is at least one or two people missing from family events. On Saturday evening, we took a dinner/sightseeing cruise of D.C. via the Odyssey Cruise Ship. They served a delicious dinner and had a lively band. Of course, we proceeded to take over the dance floor. Everyone else was outnumbered! On Sunday morning, we had brunch at the hotel and then it was time to say goodbye. The weekend went by so incredibly fast, but the memories will last me a lifetime. I am so proud of my Grandma and Grandpa for creating this wonderful family who care so deeply for one another and genuinely enjoy each others company. It is truly a heartwarming experience that I am so lucky to be part of. At some point during the weekend, every single person told me how excited they were that you will be joining our family. They cannot wait to welcome you and continue to expand our growing family.

Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma

Grandma & Great Grandma

The Stirton Clan

Our "Little" Family
Birthday Cake
Boat Cruise

Uncle Ross, Rory, & Bryan

A Toast
Your Daddy & I
Grandma
Bryan & Some Great-Grands

All my love, Mom

Friendly Avenue Christian School

Dear Munchkin,
During our lunch break, your Daddy and I toured the Friendly Avenue Christian School. The tour had been scheduled before we hired Nanny Aimee, so we thought we should keep the appointment. No harm in checking the place out, just in case a back up plan is needed. The program had come highly recommended and we have known quite a few kids on the waiting list. This center is one that your Dad and I would feel very comfortable enrolling you in. The building was big, open, low teacher to child ratio, willing to work with cloth diapers, and very focused on faith. One thing that I liked was the fact that the infant rooms goes all the way to up to 14 months of age. Most of the other centers transition kids to a different room a lot younger than that. Meaning more teachers and less continuity of care givers. I also thought it was awesome that they don't allow swings in the infant room. The director was very specific about how the children were to be cared for with love and attention at all times. They feel like swings can be wonderful so you can get things done like laundry, answer the phone, etc. but their job is free from those distractions. We were generally impressed and have decided to put you on the waiting list. We probably will not be able to get into the center in the time frame needed. They have huge waiting list, plus a myriad of people who will be called before the waiting list even opens up. Your Daddy and I both agreed that Nanny Aimee is a better fit for our family!
Love,
Mom

Feeling Groovy

Dearest Munchkin-
Since I am sitting here feeling you kicking and moving around like crazy, I thought I would let you know that I am feeling so much better. All the contractions have stopped and I think my muscles have finally recovered from 4 days of being tightened up into giant knots. I anticipate smooth sailing from here on in. Keep kicking me baby, I love every minute of it!
Love,
Mom
PS- I won't even comment on the fact that a nurse called me this morning to let me know that I have a Strep B infection in the urine sample I left last Monday and wanted me to start antibiotics today. An entire week after I first let them know about the contractions. I am so over it.

The Culprit

Dear Munchkin,
About the time I finished yesterday's letter to you, I decided I could take NO more of these stupid contractions and made an appointment with the doctor for that afternoon. I tried my hardest to believe that these were "normal false labor" contractions, but my body was telling me otherwise. Turns out that your Mama has a nasty Step B infection which was in turn causing the contractions. The doctor did another internal exam to be on the safe side and found that I was not dilated. He prescribed an antibiotic plus a medicine that makes the contractions stop. Thank. The. Lord. Once I have a few doses of the antibiotic under my belt, the contractions will stop on their own and I should only have to take the anti-contraction medicine short term. Unfortunately, it makes me a little lightheaded and headachy. But...my contractions have become fewer and far between, so it is totally worth it! I feel almost as good as new and I now have a four day weekend to rest. I am pretty sure that we are still going to Washington DC this weekend, since the contractions have almost ceased and I am on the road to feeling well again. I guess we will make that decision once your Daddy gets home from work. One positive thing that I have learned from this experience is that now I will know when the time comes for you to be born. There won't be any doubt!!!
Love,
Mom

Contractions Stink

Dear Munchkin,
My "false labor" contractions have yet to stop. I have been having them off and on now for the past four days. Let me just tell you what an annoyance they are. They are messing with my blood sugar (which I am working really hard to control) and interfering with my daily routine. I can't sit at work and I can't do anything but lay down at home. Even that still hurts like crazy. I just want them to stop. Go far far away and don't come back until it's time for you to be born! It is super frustrating because not only to they hurt but there isn't anything I can do about it. I called the doctor this morning because I am concerned about a few things. A.) They haven't gone away. B.) They are elevating my sugar. C.) We are supposed to be traveling the next two weekends. After work tomorrow, we head to Washington DC for the Stirton Family Reunion and next Thursday we fly to Chicago for my cousin's wedding. Is it OK to travel? Do I stay home? Do I continue to go to work? Could this be preterm labor? Will they put me on bed rest? Do I need to change my diet? Am eating enough? Will they put me on insulin because of this? Can I take any pain relievers? When will they just GO AWAY? I meet with the gestational diabetes counselor this morning and according her scale, I have lost 3 pounds since last week. She told me that it could be water weight due to the change in glucose. She also told me that the spike in my sugar levels are probably due to stress and the contractions. She recommend I see my doctor as soon as possible. Doctor Davis is out of the office today, so I talked to the nurse and made an appointment for tomorrow morning. Until then, I just have to grin and bear it. Mama is not having a good day.
Love,
Mom

Braxton Hicks & Monthly Checkup

Dear Munchkin,
This past weekend was quite eventful in the Beale household. On Saturday, I met up with a group of my college friends for lunch and outlet mall shopping @ Concord Mills. We had a great time laughing, catching up, and shopping. By the end of the afternoon, I was feeling a little crummy and chalked it up to doing too much in one afternoon. When I got home, I took a power nap and felt a whole lot better. On Sunday, your Daddy and I had a volunteer commitment @ church which involved walking the neighborhood distributing flyers for a food drive. After over an hour of walking in the heat, I was feeling pretty lousy. My stomach started cramping/tightening up and we headed straight home. The cramps continued intermittently during the next few hours, so eventually your Dad and I decided to call the after hours nurse for the doctor. The nurse confirmed that I was indeed having Braxton Hicks Contractions and I would need to monitor their frequency. More than 6 in hour would send us to the hospital for a check up and I was having them about every fifteen minutes or so. I knew that I was going to see Doctor Davis first thing the next morning, so I just prayed that they would slow down and tried to get some rest. I rested all afternoon and went to bed early, determined not to pay to visit to the hospital. This morning I had my monthly checkup. I weighted in @ +.2 pounds total weight gain (losing weight again with this diabetic diet...how weird!), had a blood pressure of 120/80 and heard your hear beat strong @ 150 beats per minute. I told the nurse about the cramping/tightening and Doctor Davis did an internal exam to make sure that I wasn't dilated. He also took a swab of some cells for a test that confirms that I will not have a baby within two weeks. Everything came back A-OK. He told me that now is about the time that these contractions start happening. I just need to monitor them and track their frequency. The only thing I can do is rest, walk, and stay hydrated. So I guess this is par for the course? He also checked my sugar log book and reassured me that I was doing a great job controlling it. We went over some more guidelines to follow and I will now start to see him every two weeks. Hopefully these "false" contractions will stop soon, so I can feel like my regular self again!
I love you,
Mom

Nanny Aimee

Dear Munchkin,
In the midst of all of my new found health related worries, I neglected to mention that we have hired a nanny to care for you once I return to work! While this isn't the perfect outcome for our family, we really feel like we have made a good decision that works very well for us. We meet Aimee earlier this month for an interview. She really impressed us with her experience and personality. Aimee graduated from Appalachian State University (Go Mountaineers!) with a degree in Child & Family Development. In Boone, she worked at the Lucy Brock Center, which has quite a great reputation for it's innovative programming. From there, she moved to Asheville where she was a lead teacher for a church daycare program & began Graduate School @ Western Carolina University. Some circumstances in her family life changed, which led her to return home to the triad area. What a blessing for us! Currently, Aimee is babysitting for a couple families and working a part time job. She will continue this until she starts with us full time. Then she will come to our home to take care of you during the work week. Your Dad and I have really wrestled with this decision and have thought of every angle that would allow me to stay at home with you. We just can't quite work it out right now and that is not to say that our circumstances aren't going to change down the road. Believe me when I say that this wonderful childcare opportunity is only less heartbreaking for me. But I also believe in my heart that Aimee will care for you in a loving, responsible, and interactive manner. You can tell how much she really enjoys helping families and watching children grow. It is our hope that we have chosen the best possible person to help us care for you and that she becomes an intricate part of our growing family.
Love,
Mom