"We're going to have to see you back in a week..."
Those are not exactly the words you wish to hear at your OB office. Okay, let's back track a little bit. When I first found out that I was pregnant, I just had to get to Barnes and Noble to pick up some books on pregnancy. As I would read through the books, I usually kind of skipped over the paragraphs on problems you may face during pregnancy....why? Well, because everything is going to go just the way I always imagined it to....right??? The first 5 months of all my OB visits went fairly well, you know, minus waiting for 2 hours to be seen by the physician or trying to contain my full bladder while waiting to be seen, or getting on the scale at every visit. However, besides those very minor details, things were off to a great start! At my 24 weeks visit, I sat down next to the nurse to gather any important information that may have occurred over the past month and then she proceeded to take my blood pressure. Well, you might say that it was high a wee bit more than it should have been. That was my first little hurdle. They acted like it was no biggie, just they wanted to do it again....and again...and then they just confirmed that yes, it was a bit above where it needed to be. One time high blood pressure, no big deal, right? Then the physician discussed with me that she would like to see me in one week to follow up my blood pressure and just rule out little scary things like pre-eclampsia. Pre-what??? I went to go schedule my follow up appointment. Okay, enough was enough with waiting 2 hrs to seen for a blood pressure follow up appointment...as if the waiting itself didn't cause it to rise....it's time to go to a different office! Some very dear friends recommended another one for me to go to that had 5 midwives. The midwives at this office still deliver the babies in the hospital, they just try to keep things going as natural as possible as long as possible. By the time I got into the new office, they went ahead and scheduled me two appointments with them. One for being a new patient, and one to go ahead and do the glucose test out of the way. I got to drink the very sugary koolaid tasting drink and wait for my results....oh results...Well, I failed the 1 hr test so they had me come back the next day for the 3 hr test....which......I failed as well. Meaning of all this: I have Gestational Diabetes. Gestational diabetes is specifically "Diabetes during pregnancy."
What this means:
- Very strict diet, counting carbs/proteins, etc...
- Continual exercise
- Testing my blood sugars 4x a day aka finger prickin'
- Praying like crazy for God to keep our little guy healthy, and to develop those lungs fully.
Along with the Gestational Diabetes, I found out I have Hypertension as well aka high blood pressure. So basically I need to keep the stress levels down, try really really hard to not worry and trust God with our little guy's life..and try really hard not to think about all the "what-if's" that can happen during delivery. There are so many "possible" risks now that I am a high risk pregnancy, but dwelling on the bad never got me anywhere....
Where does this leave us? I cordially and formally invite you to join us in praying for our little baby and us as we enter into this season of unknown and unfamiliar. I know that God is in control and He has numbered all of our days and He is totally trustworthy. I know that He is the Sustainer of life. This is by no means easy, but easy was never promised. Just so thankful that I have the Lord, my hubby, family and friends.
Your life is such an inspiration (to me!)
Gail, I couldn't be more blessed to have a woman like you in my life. Sometimes I selfishly think that God picked you to marry my brother just so I could have you as a friend and sister. Today, on your birthday, I am reflecting on how in the 5 years I've known you, my life has become so much more blessed. Not just my life though, I know your family loves you so much and each of your sisters adore you, too. You are just one of those people who emulate the love of Jesus in such a practical and real way. I value your wisdom that you have given me on God, life, marriage, and family. I respect the way you live out the calling God has on your life. I've never been to a home with so much creativity. You put so much effort into making your house homely. Every holiday I've ever spent with you has been so special because of the way you decorate and plan...I LOVE it! See!!
4th of July!
Christmas!
Christmas morning!
Dad's birthday!
I wish I could be there today to celebrate your birthday...being 3000 miles away can really stink sometimes. Thank you for living your life for the Lord and being such a great example to me as a woman, wife, and mommy... I love you, Gaily!!
