32 1/2 Weeks... Trying to Stay on Track

So here's a quick rundown:
How far along: 32 1/2 weeks
Feeling: generally good
Symptoms: nothing unexpected... shortness of breath (baby feet in your lungs will do that), hip aches/pain, low abdominal/round ligament pain, fatigue
Weight Gain: Holding steady at about 26 (significantly less than with G at this point)

My GD condition:
Gestational Diabetes that is... at my 28 week checkup I had the rapid glucose tolerance test and failed miserably (meaning my body isn't producing insulin correctly because of a hormone produced by the placenta. Thus, I'm also not processing glucose correctly which = high blood sugar = baby being "over nourished" and growing too big = increased risk of repeat c-section = something we are trying hard to avoid). So, the following week I got to go in for the long glucose tolerance test, and again, failed miserably. I'm a pregnant glucose processing failure. I had already started on a "low carb" diet in efforts to minimize baby's (and my) weight gain all while making sure I still get enough to eat and enough of the right stuff. I went to a class and now am on a strict healthy eating plan and am testing blood sugar 4 times daily to make sure I'm not eating too much "sugar" (i.e. carbs) at once. My focus is veggies, lean protein, a little fruit, and a sprinkling of low fat dairy and high fiber whole grains. Now all I need is the willpower to do what I'm supposed to do. Sweets are bad. Sweets are bad. Sweets are bad. Maybe if I say it enough eventually I will stop wanting them.

I did really well the first few days, completely fell off the wagon over Thanksgiving week, but am now trying hard to be back on track this week. It's not too terrible. I eat three moderate sized meals and three moderate sized snacks per day so it's not usually a hunger issue. The hardest part is choosing the right things at the right time of day.  I don't have actual calorie restrictions, but what I do have to be careful of is my non-carb calories. For example, a dozen eggs and a pound of bacon (not that I could physically consume that much) wouldn't really affect my blood sugar, but it would affect our weight gain. It's all a delicate balance. Salad = good. Too much dressing negates good salad.  If I can get some really good habits in place before the Christmas holiday I think I'll make it through ok... we'll see. Wish me luck!

Now that we're halfway there...

... I guess it'd be a good time to tell the world we are having another baby!

It hasn't been a secret. After all, we sent/delivered a card to our families, and texted a picture of the card to friends to announce the news...

It says: 

Sparklers: $11, Goofy patriotic head adornments: $18

Realizing there are FOUR people in these pictures: Priceless!

Happy FOURth of July!

... and I mentioned a deceased rabbit in a semi-cryptic, albeit unique, reference to my condition via Facebook.

So here's the rundown so far:

Baby is due mid-late January 2013. We are 20 weeks along (half way there!) and besides being tired, I am feeling good.

I felt worse early on than I did with Garner. For about 8 weeks I looked and felt green around the gills, like I might toss my cookies at any minute (side thought: mmm cookies...), 90% of the day. I was never actually physically ill (Thankfully!), but it was much worse than the occasional 2 minute queasy spells I had early on the first pregnancy. That has faded now, giving way to rampant hunger and the occasional craving for olives.

Baby and I both got excellent health reports at our 20 week checkup, where we found out that baby is in fact a boy! We are thrilled, not that we wouldn't have been just as thrilled if we were having a girl. Repeat boy is a bonus though. No need for excessive new clothes purchasing! My budget says, "Yay!".

Garner still vacillates between no response whatsoever and "No." when asked if he wants a baby. This is an improvement from his consistent "NOOOOO!" response to the same question early on. He does however kiss baby (my tummy) night night and has been patting my tummy and saying, "bruh-der" since we found out it's a boy. I think he'll come around.... or be forced to get over it once baby arrives! LOL!

All in all, we are excited and all doing well. Enjoying our last few months as a little family of three before we become a little bigger family of four.

I hope to be able to post/update more frequently than I have the first half of this journey... but seeing as I don't have a really consistent history of regularly scheduled blog posts... I wouldn't bank on it if I were you. ;)