Hello. My name is Michelle and I am 37. This is my 2nd pregnancy/baby. I have a son, Zachary who will be 15 in November. Daddy is Dan and he is 38. He has a son, George who just turned 7 in January. This pregnancy was a huge surprise to say the least. We had only been dating a few months and were being very careful, except for that ONE time and well, here we are! As I always say... 'Everything happens for a reason' and 'God has a plan for all of us'. After getting over the initial shock, everyone is happy & excited. Even my teenager is excited about becoming a big brother!

Monday 3/24/08

Had Level II ultrasound today - all was perfect with the little one. And found out that it's a BOY!

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Friday 3/28/08

20 weeks - 1/2 way there!!!!! I feel more and more movement and definite kicks & punches now. Also over the last week or so I have surely 'popped'. Now I look pregnant and not just fatter (lol).

Thursday 4/10/08

Had my 4 week dr. appt. this morning and everything was just fine. My blood pressure is still "high normal" but my dr. isn't getting worried just yet. Heard my little boy's heartbeat which is always music to my ears and it was exactly where I thought it would be based on the movements I'd been feeling in the morning. The best part is that I only gained 1lb in the last 4 weeks for a total of 10lbs so far! Woo Hoo!!! - - - 22 weeks tomorrow :-)

Thursday 4/17/08

Well, it happened....Dan and I have officially 'broken-up'. I knew it was coming. Our relationship has been so strained lately. We are still going to see each other (casual dating, if you can have that now that you are expecting a baby) and he is going to be here for me and our son, but we are no longer a couple. But even though I am pretty upset (crying as I type this) I feel a little better knowing where we stand. It's been a rough couple of weeks wondering if we were together or not. We do love & care for each other a lot and mean something special to one another, but we are not 'in love'. So, now I guess we are just 2 close/special friends having a baby together. Not exactly how I expected this to be, but this is better than him just walking away not only from me but our child. I'm glad that we are going to continue to have some sort of relationship and raise this little boy together the best we can.

Saturday 4/19/08

Well, I found an aparment today! It's 2 bedrooms, which is just fine - baby will be in my room for the first few months anyway and actually can be the 1st year as far as I'm concerned. It's beautiful, very roomy for 2 bedrooms, beautiful hardwood floors throughout. Very very close to my mom (walking distance) and maybe 15 minutes from the rest of my family and Dan. My oldest will also be very close to school next year and there are many stores in the area. I sooo relieved and excited as now that I am less than 4 months from when baby will be here I was starting to get so worried & upset that I wouldn't find anything in time. I love my best friend and in the beginning living here was great but even before I got pregnant I was sensing time to move. The stress involved living here is more than I bargained for. They say hindsight is 20/20 and this experience (living situation) has proven it to me. But oh well, you live and learn! I will never make this mistake again :-)

Saturday 5/3/08

I just felt my baby kick from the outside! And saw it too! I'm so excited. I didn't think that I would be able to experience that because of being overweight and don't remember it from when I was pregnant with my 15yr old, but I was more overweight with him too. I guess I just had to wait for the kicks to be stronger!!! I'm so excited. :-)

Tuesday 5/6/08

Had my 'monthly' check-up today and it went great. I only gained 1 lb for a total of 11 so far! He even told me to feel free to start gaining some weight as I'm doing beautifully. Blood pressure was normal this time (it had been a little high the last 3 or so visits). Heard the wonderful sound of baby's heartbeat - I never tire of hearing that, it's such a magnificent sound :-). And I'm now on the 2 week plan, as he put it. However I don't know that I will be back to see him - since I've moved I will be switching dr.'s so that I can deliver at the hospital near home, which this doc does not have privileges at. Now if I go into labor at work, that hospital is still close enough (lol).

Thursday 5/22/08

Today was the first of my bi-weekly appointments. It as an okay appt. I gained 5lbs in 2 weeks! Guess it's that quart + a glass or 2 of milk a day I've been drinking....but Hey, he told me to 'start gaining weight'. LOL I am now at a total gain of 16lbs. My BP was up again, like 144/41 at first and then 5 minutes later after hearing the heartbeat & lying down it was up to something like 149/80!!! I hope this doesn't continue and become a huge issue. I got the lab slip for my GD test, which I'll probably go do tomorrow afternoon. I saw the nurse practitioner today rather than the dr. and when we were listening to the heartbeat, she took more time and told me what it was (now this is the good part - maybe, I think) it was 162!!! Now according to the 'old wives tales' that means a girl...(can it really be so?) Also I was telling her how active this one is compared to what I remember from my son and she said the generally the boys are the lazier ones! What?? These things along with the fact that the more I (and others) look at the ultrasound pic it's kinda hard to believe that what we are seeing is 'a boy part'. It just looks awfully big to be that. I'm beginning to wonder if it is the cord..... I hope I get another ultrasound before too long. I mean we've been telling everyone that it's a boy and people are starting to buy & give me boy stuff. Now what if it turns out I'm having a girl.....

Friday 6/6/08

Had my bi-weekly appt today with my new dr. Went very well. It appears that I've lost 3 lbs, but I do have to take into consideration different scales at different offices. But I guess it is still possible to have lost a little weight at this point. My BP was 130/70 which isn't bad. I am measuring 31cm at 30 weeks so I am right on track there. Baby's heartbeat was 150 and he (or she maybe lol) is head down. I have to say I like this dr. and office so much better than my other one. I'm glad that had to switch due to my move! I think I'm going to get better care. She was so much more thorough - even did a quick internal and all was good there too (lol). No dilation or anything to report - thankfully. My 'old' dr. didn't send my file yet, so no word on if I'll get another u/s or anything else at this point.

Thursday, June 19

Dr. appt. update. Everything was good. Gained 4 lbs since last visit, so I'm now at a total of 17lbs (that is basing it on the 3lb loss from last time - I'm going with that even though it could've just been the different scales at different offices). My blood pressure was 120/60 (woo hoo! that's the best it has been and I was a bit stressed before my appt!). Measured 31cm again, which Dr. said was fine and baby's heartbeat was good and strong - about 155 (here we go with the higher heartbeat again......). Baby still head down. I mentioned getting another U/S, but she said only if she finds something to be concerned with but since everything is going great there is no reason.....so I will just have to go with not being 100% sure of what I'm having. Which will kinda be nice to have a "surprise" at delivery. However I'm not chaning my page here from 'boy' since that's what my one U/S showed! Next appt is in 2 weeks.

Sunday June 29

Well, today was my baby shower. It went very well. I had a lovely time and got lots of needed items. Didn't have the turn out that I had hoped for, but that's fine. I did receive all the 'big' stuff from my registries and lots of the little stuff that I need as well as a few things that I didn't think of. There are a few semi-big things I'm going to have to get myself and some little stuff. However I do expect to get a few more gifts at work as a lot of my co-workers could not make it and the one that I knew was coming (and bringing the other's gifts) did not show. I can't wait to find out what happened when I get to the office tomorrow. Now the fun will begin - putting things together, washing the clothes blankets etc, and organizing everything into the baby's space in my room.

Thursday, July 3

So today was my 34 week appt. Went pretty well, gained 2lbs in 2 weeks (now 19 total) and blood pressure was 120/70. Baby's heartbeat was about 140.....last few times it was up above 150 (I know the heatbeat thing is an old wives tale, but still). Oh and they FINALLY got my records from my 'old' dr. and get this - I FAILED the 1 hr GD test! That was 6 freakin' weeks ago! I can't believe they (old dr. office) didn't call me to tell me this. So now I have to go take the 3 hr. My current dr. didn't seem too concerned, I guess because I'm doing well otherwise. I'm a little worried because what damage could I be doing if I do have GD and am not watching my diet? I'm getting the 3hr test done ASAP - possibly Saturday if LabCorp is open! Zack came with me to my appt and got to hear his baby brother (or sister?)'s heartbeat and thought it was cool but kinda weird! lol

Wednesday, July 16

So yesterday I had 2 voicemails from my doctor informing me that I failed the 3hr GD test! Great! So I have GD which has been going untreated (so to speak) for the last 8 weeks now.....I am furious with my previous doctor since I failed the 1hr while still under his care. I am so upset and stressed out over what is going on with my baby since I have been going along and eating whatever I want. But I guess I haven't been doing too bad since as of my last appt. I have gained 19 lbs and was measuring 34cm @ 34 weeks. I have my next appt on Friday morning so we will discuss this new development in more detail then. So for today and tomorrow I am to watch my intake of carbs, sugars & starches. One positive that I can see is I'll probably get another U/S, so that they can see how big the baby is at this point. I mean that is one of the effects of GD (especially if untreated) - "fat baby". I hope that is not the case. Not only do I want a healthy baby, but I really want a natural childbirth and do not want a c-section.

Friday, July 18

36 week appt update - no weight gain, still @ 19lbs - Yay me!!! Blood pressure was normal, baby is head down & heartbeat was around 150. I am now measuring @ 38. Had the Strep B test, but no internal to check my cervix. Maybe that will be next week. On the GD front, I am waiting to get a call from the hospital's diabetes department about setting up an appt to get instructions on how to manage the GD til delivery. So until then I'm still just going to do the best I can cutting out as much sweets and stuff as I can. The best part is I have an U/S on Tuesday afternoon to check growth - and you know I will be asking them to check the sex!!!!!!

Tuesday, July 22

Had my GD class & nutrition counseling today. It's not going to be as bad as I thought it would. Kinda like doing Weight Watchers. I just wish it was sooner that I was doing this. Oh well, better late than never. Then I had my ultrasound appointment this afternoon. I am definitely having a little BOY! Glad to know and as much as I wanted a girl in the very beginning, I am thrilled to know that I am having another little man!! The U/S tech estimated that he is weighing about 7 lbs right now. And the measurements were at about 37 weeks 1 day. So I guess I will find out on Friday what the dr. thinks about me going to my due date or maybe being induced a little early. If I get the choice of induction I want it to be at least until 8/1. I am hooked on this 8/08 thing :).