End of September

I have my next doctors appointment on Friday. There isn't really anything to look forward to, just the typical measurements, weigh in, listen to the heartbeat and discuss the possibilities of new medications and my current blood sugars. I am still looking forward to it.
More than my doctor's appointment, I am really just looking forward to Friday. Next week we get a new fiscal officer at work which I hope means some of the stress from work will be removed off of my shoulders. I will still be responsible for my normal duties and helping train the new payroll person, and yes, it will take a little while for this new person to learn what they need to know to start shifting back some of the responsibility that has fallen upon myself and my co worker, but there is still an end in sight and it is not a train coming to run us over.
I am also excited since Friday means only 1 more week until Aaron comes home. I have missed him. I must say that I am very disappointed in his letter writing since I was able to go visit him. I had more information and longer letters when he was away at Scout camp for less than a week.
Not much else is new. I do need to upload some pictures of the blanket(s) I am working on. My first class is over next Tuesday and I will have a week off between classes. My next class is an ethics class, so excititing!

Above is the baby blanket I am currently working on. I also have 4 other blankets in the works. I will post pics of them later.

Baby Update Sept 16, 2010

I am 27 weeks. Woo Hoo. Not to many more to go. I was put on oral medications at my last appointment to help control my gestational diabetes. After looking at my glucose testing chart for the past two weeks, my doctor is very pleased with my sugar levels and wishes me to continue to on the same medication I am on. We had talked about putting me on an oral medication this visit to keep me from going into labor, since I am unable to go into labor for fear of rupturing my uterus, and also since I am prone to preterm labor. Last visit he had decided to put me on that this visit, but today decided he wanted to give me another 2 weeks before putting me on them. 

He seems to think everything is progressing normally and that I should not have any fears of preterm labor, however I am still nervous and even more so after today's visit. Last visit I was 25 weeks and measured 25 weeks along. This visit I am 27 weeks and measuring 30 weeks. To me that is a little abnormal and is starting to show signs of what I went through with both Aaron & Garrett. Not only has the baby grown that much in that little time, I have not put on any more weight. (This I am proud of). I try to eat healthy and have to with my sugars, so I am very happy to have only gained 11 lbs for my whole pregnancy. 

In other news, we discussed some upcoming events. My next doctors appointment will be in two weeks but he has recently taken on a partner, so I will get to meet with her, just to meet her in case we don't make it to the scheduled delivery date and my doctor is out of town. The next visit after that or possibly the following visit at the end of October, I will have another ultrasound. They will check to see how big our little guy is getting. The date has also been set for the c-section. I will be going in on Dec 7 at 11:30 for surgery. Exciting news. Also a little scary, since December is really not that far away. But maybe with going in on the 7th, I will be more healed to be able to enjoy Christmas some.

I believe that hits all the high points for my update. I am looking forward to the mid to late October visit and my next ultrasound. I have a lot to prepare for in the mean time.

So, I really don't like posting pictures of myself. I am NOT THAT vain...hahaha. But since the corner pic is so tiny I thought I'd post it a little bigger. Hoping to have some newer pictures of my growing belly soon.

The first baby blanket I started making. Think this will be come a Christmas present for Kimberly instead. Ben was REALLY wanting a girl, so much so, that I started to believe it would be. After 2 boys, I should have known, I just know how to do boy. Hope to post pics soon of my newest baby blanket.

Various

I am in my 3rd week of school. I am also in my 26th week of pregnancy. I am really starting to feel my little mover. Don't get me wrong, I felt him move when I was around 12 weeks, and started feeling hiccups and kicks at around 17 weeks, but now I feel almost every movement. This is time of pregnancy I love the most.

I have horrible heart burn and have issues where I feel like I really can't breath, so it's not all pickles and ice cream, but I still love it. I am starting to get the pregnant woman waddle. Aaron is so big into penguins that when I really feel myself waddling, I don't remind myself of a duck so much as a penguin. It cracks me up. It helps me feel closer to Aaron while he is gone.

Aaron will come home sometime in October. I get to go see him this Sunday and can't wait. I got to talk to him finally on the phone tonight. His voice is getting deeper and he told me in one of his letters from early last week that he had to shave for the first time. I am wondering if I will recognize him when I go. I fear that he will have grown 5 inches and really start looking like a young man instead of my "boy". I will deal with that if it is so, but as a parent you never want to miss out on any of those milestones.

Garrett had to do his first school project. It is due on Friday and we finished it tonight. I feel like Super Mom. I am hoping to take pictures before he runs out the door with it tomorrow morning, but first I have to find my camera. He is liking school a lot this year. As long as he continues to like school, I am happy. I dread him coming home and never wanting to go back. Even Aaron is looking forward to heading back to middle school this year. I am excited that both my boys are loving school.

We made a trip to Batesville on Monday to visit friends. It was amazing how so much had changed up around that area. Some for the better, and some for the worse, but still amazing. I guess I get amazed that we haven't been gone that long and it's been even less since we last went for a visit and it's changed so much yet when I go back to where I spent most of my childhood, nothing has changed at all. I've been gone from there for over 5 years, and where I actually grew up for over 14 and it never changes.

I am glad that somethings can stay frozen in time, but I am also excited by change. I am at awe of watching my children grow and learn, and become molded into the people they will one day be. I am amazed by my ever growing abdomen and how fast that transition from nothing to a newborn baby happens. I love and cherish every tear I cry over my children, every scare they throw at me, every bandaid I have to apply, every kick from the womb, and every milestone they reach.

Baby Update Sept 2, 2010

Yes, I know that today is actually September 3rd, but my doctor appointment was yesterday, September 2nd.

Update from the doctor:
I am right on target for weight, which is good. I have gained another 3.5 pounds. My stomach measures right on date with my week, which is 25. Only 15 more to go. Past the half way point. All down hill from here, right?! I wish anyway. The heartbeat was very strong. At this point I go in for visits every 2 weeks.

I started my day with my glucose testing. They drew my blood and had me wait. After about 30 minutes I was given that strong sugary drink which I had to drink in front of them and was told to be back in 1 hour. I was already 15 minutes late to my dr appoint directly across the road. I ran over to my doctor appointment.

I have been doing my own glucose testing at home by pricking my finger 4 times a day and have been on a special diet for the past 6 weeks +. My doctor reviewed my glucose chart since my last visit 4 weeks earlier and decided with my still erratic sugars that he needed to put me on an oral medication. I am to keep a close eye on my sugars in the next two weeks and keep them documented, so we can see if we need to increase the dosage or decrease it. Also, in two weeks, since I can not go into labor, he will put me on an oral medication to keep me from going into labor. I will continue to see him every two weeks at this point until I bump up to my once a week appointments.

I then went back over for my testing. A little while later my doctors office called to let me know that I did not need to finish my glucose testing since it was just a waste of time for me since they already had me on an oral medication to help with my glucose levels.

All and all it was an good appointment. I will be ready with more updates once I get them.

Oh and thinking about the name Lexington. Just not sure if it will be used as a middle or first name. Still trying to come up with unique baby boy names.

First few baby posts (from Facebook) with narative

I found out on April 14th 2010 that I was going to be a mom for the 3rd/4th time. This will be my 3rd birth, but my 4th child to welcome into my home. Below are the updates that I emailed out to various friends and family to bring them up to speed on where I was in my pregnancy and how I was doing:


July 17th, 2010
If anyone does not want to hear updates on the progress of the baby, let me know and I will take you off the list.
I prefer to keep it in a more private mass email than to post on my wall.

Yesterday July 15th was appointment #3. So far so good. Dr is very pleased with my weight gain since I had only gained 3lbs over 5 weeks and 2 lbs since the beginning of my pregnancy.

I did have some sugar in my urine. He will not send me for my glucose testing until 24 weeks. I was a gestational diabetic with both Aaron & Garrett. He is sending me to meet with a Diabetic Manager/Nutritionist. My appointment for that will be next Friday the 23rd.

I am measuring right at 2 weeks further than I am right now, but that is on target as 2 weeks under or over is the norm. The heartbeat was strong.

The big date most want to know....I will go for my ultrasound on Aug 5th. I will have my dr appt right after my ultrasound to discuss the findings and keep me in check.

All past appointments/ultrasounds look to be right on target for a Dec 14 due date.

So this post 1 of my monthly baby check up. Again, if you don't want me to include you, let me know, I won't be offended.

Talk to you again in 3 weeks if not before.
~Cheryl
August 5th, 2010
Update: I am currently checking my blood glucose 4 times a day. Bounces around. I have 3 dr appt tomorrow. One with my diabetes management, another with my ob, and of course the ultrasound. Maybe we will get to find out. But for now, I challenge you: I want your predictions....boy....or....girl????

Most everyone said it would be a girl. Ben was hoping for a girl very bad, and I can't say that I wouldn't have welcomed a little more female in my home instead of being surrounded by all these men. However.....



August 6, 2010
Back to back doctors appts today. Ultrasound was first....for those who don't know yet....it's a boy (again). Ben is a little bummed as he was hoping for a girl. I didn't have a preference, but it would have been nice to not been overrun with men at my house. :) At least I have plenty of practice with boys. Baby Boy Tullos is measuring 10 inches and weighs in at 1 lb. 21 weeks down 19 to go. He is VERY active and the ultrasound tech kept commenting on the fact.

Appt 2 was a check back with my diabetes management. I had a few abnormal readings, but they were quite pleased. Depending on my glucose screening I may or may not have to go back.

Last was my appt with my OB. He was extremely happy once again with my weight gain. Hope I can keep it there. He was very happy with the measurements from the baby. Everything looked normal and growth was on target. I am measuring a week further along this visit. I have my next visit 4 weeks away, the same day as my glucose testing. Due to a history of preterm labor, he said after my next visit I will be going in every 2 weeks.

To summarize: it's a boy. Mom is doing great & baby is doing great.

If anyone wishes me to take them off the updates, please let me know. I will not be offended. I have heard that it is clogging up some peoples email due to all the emails that are received from the comments I receive from you responses. Just let me know if you want me to take you off.

Thanks! Looking forward to next month. I hope to have some cute profile ultrasound pics loaded soon. I have a ton of them now.

~Cheryl

This is my first post. I am using this blog to keep up with what is happening in my life as well as my pregnancy milestones. I do have those profile pictures that I need to upload as well as some really great ultrasound pictures. I just need to make time to do it.