Wow!

It's been two months since I last posted!! Sorry, everyone. Time just slipped away. . .

So, we have five weeks to the Official Due Date of September Tenth. I have no reason to think this date is going to be the actual date of birth, and actually several reasons to think it will not.

1. Past experience. When pregnant with Eric, labor was induced five days early.
2. Gestational Diabetes. Part of the reason for the induction was my diagnosis of GDM--which has been repeated for this pregnancy.
3. Braxton-Hicks. My uterus is practicing baby-expelling, just building up strength to get Polliwog out of there.

We have the nursery ready. Dan painted the walls green--under my supervision, of course--and I put up the alphabet. It was a Hobby Lobby find, a set of wall stickers that are childish without being just too-oo-oo-oo adorable. Eric's nursery walls were decorated with Winnie the Pooh stickers, but this time I wanted something that would last past the first year. Some of the letters don't show up so well against the green, but we'll get over that.

It's amazing how much different the room looks with Eric's stuff out of there and Polliwog's stuff in. Changing the wall color was an important step in changing the "ownership" of the room. No, the baby wouldn't know it used to be Eric's bedroom. By painting the walls, though, we've made a clean distinction in our minds. It's like a whole different space now.

This weekend, we're going to pack up the "Run To The Hospital" bag and stow it in the trunk. I've given my co-workers Dan's cell number, just in case one of them has to take me to the hospital during work hours. Our offices are about ten minutes apart, and each is ten minutes from our hospital, CHS University. Yes, Human Resources has Dan as my emergency contact, but who's to say the HR lady will be available when I need her to be? I feel better prepared if I know Dan will be called immediately. Oh, and yes, I have my cell phone with me all the time, but who's to say I will feel like calling him? I like to prepare for multiple possible outcomes.

This Wednesday, we meet with the endocrinologist, who has been involved with my care because of the diabetes. This week, we're working out a birth plan. I don't know what-all that covers. I remember being worried about hypoglycemia during labor with Eric. . .I wasn't allowed to eat anything except popsicles, and I never got a color other than orange. (I like green best) Apparently, though, there's enough sugar in popsicles that hypogylcemia wasn't a concern.

I also don't know how much of a birth one can plan. There are so many variables, and it's so easy to skew the whole thing. I'll let y'all know after I find out.

I'm starting to swell up. My feet are puffy, but not to the point I can't wear shoes. I have two pairs of Crocs--the Mary Jane style--that are very comfortable. I've started limiting my activity. It's hard for me to not be able to do what I need to do. This weekend is tax-free weekend here in NC, and it's a great chance for back-to-school shopping. I just can't do it.

I have some pretty intense hip pain in the mornings, but it usually fades in a couple of hours. The doctor said it's because Polliwog is (basically) sitting on a nerve. Well, great. Tell him to move.

I'm managing my diabetes well. The dr. wanted to put me on insulin injections, but that's just not something I would do. I might mean to do it, realise the necessity of it, plan to do it, try to do it. . .but I wouldn't actually pick up the syringe and jab it into my body. So, I'm on glyburide. This is an oral medication that works by telling my pancreas to make more insulin. It's not as precise as insulin would be. I have to pay close attention to what I eat, but I don't have to jab needles into my flesh. It's a fair compromise. The endocrinologist is happy with the results I've been getting, too.

And that is all the news that is news.