20 wks - Half Way There!!

Wow, I can't believe I'm half way there!! 

I am filled with gratitude and love to all those who have been on this journey with us and for all your prayers.

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 19w6d

Size of baby: Baby is the size of a cantaloupe at 20 wks.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I think 6 lbs (down two since 17 wks & cutting sweets and watching what I eat).

Maternity Clothes: Definitely maternity pants.

Gender: BOY!

Movement: None since I thought I felt him poke at 17 wks. I've been gently poking him, hoping he would poke or kick back, but I got nothing!  The dr said I should definitely feel it by 23 wks.  I hope he starts kicking before then! 

Sleep: Getting better at sleeping on my side, but occasionally still end up on my back.  And the bathroom breaks in the middle of the night are still going strong.

What I miss: Diet Coke and sweets!

Cravings: None, yet. But I can't stand scrambled eggs.

Symptons: Stressed with work and church responsibilities.  Hoping it will all slow down soon.

Best Moment this week: Seeing baby at our 20 wk scan and knowing that he is growing on target.

Happy Fall Ya'll

Happy Fall Ya'll!!!

Just sharing some Fall pictures that I took of Abbey!

(Dress, headband & tights are from Gym.boree.  Boots are from Target. And I am not getting paid for this endorsement!)

The fall foliage is really starting to peak around here!  Can't wait to capture it all.

Weekend Round Up

We went to see Disney on Ice, Toy Story 3 on Saturday with some friends.

It was our first time to see a Disney on Ice show.  It was fun and the kids had a blast.

Here's a picture of Abbey right before we left.

(Don't pay attention to the sad looking mums.  It's been blown over a few times).



I didn't bring my good camera so I just had my little point and shoot.

Here's buzz light year to the rescue.

(This picture makes it look like the place was empty, but it was just that section that was empty).

Prior to coming to the show, I told Abbey that we were not going to be buying any toys or anything from the show and I didn't want her asking (or begging) for any toys.  At intermission, they had people coming around selling cotton candy and drinks (from Toy Story mugs).  Of course Abbey wanted one and I didn't have any cash on me at all so I told her that we couldn't get it.  She was not happy at all and was pouting. 

I felt horrible!  I hate to see her sad and there was a part of me that wanted to go out and buy her something (they accepted credit cards outside by the concessions), but I knew that I couldn't give in to her.  I had already told her from the beginning that we weren't going to buy anything and I didn't want to go back on my word. I was trying to teach her a lesson, and while it was hard for me, I knew that it was the right thing to do.  She was very sad for a while, but by the end of the show, she was perfectly fine.  I'm glad that I was able to stand by ground. 



We had good seats, thanks to my friends who were able to get discounted tickets for us.

Another fun weekend with my Abbey and my friends!

18w6d - Gestational Diabetes

So, do I actually have Gestational Diabetes??  That was my question to the Endorinologist.

He said I have everything working against me (weight, PCOS, etc) and it will only get worst as the pregnancy continues.  He wants me to monitor my sugar levels for the next two weeks and return to see him.

I have to prick my finger four times a day (once in the morning when I get up, and one hour after every meal). I also have to test my urine every morning for ketones (they are produced in the body when fats, rather than glucose are used to produce energy.  It is harmful to the body if ketones are allowed to accumulate).  So far my numbers have been good so I am hoping to maintain it.  I really have been watching what I eat and have cut out all the sweets.  That's been hard, especially since I have such a sweet tooth and all those jars of apple pie we just canned!  But I have to do what's best for the baby. 

I have to go to a two hour Gestational Diabetes class next week and meet with the nutrionist.  I also have an appt with the high risk dr for our 20 wk scan (even though I'll only be a little over 19 wks).  I can't wait to see how much baby has grown!  I can't feel him move yet, but we were listening to his heart beat at home with our little doppler and all of a sudden we could hear him kick the doppler.  It was very cute!

Hope you all enjoy your weekend!

Apple Pie in a Jar

We finally got around to canning most f the apples we picked a week ago.  I found a recipe for Apple Pie in a Jar from Reluctant Entertainer, Sandy Coughlin.  Her site is awesome because she talks about how to entertain simple and stress-free and she has great recipes. 

We tripled the recipe and used mostly granny smith and fuji apples. The process goes much quicker when you have two people doing it versus doing it by yourself. It takes a little time, but worth it! 

And this little gadget was the biggest help to us! 

It's a must have if you love to make apple pies!

Soaking the apples in water/lemon juice so it wouldn't brown so quickly.

And the fruits of our labor....Yummy!

Now anytime we want apple pie, we just pop open one of these jars and pour it into a pie crust and bake!  Quick and easy!

These make great gifts too! 

(Guess what everyone is getting for Christmas from the Whitcomb's this year?! Just kidding!)

We still have lots of apples left so we're hoping to make another batch or two this weekend.  Steve guestimates that we will have enough apple pie in a jar to have one a week! (yeah, that might be too much apple pie overload).

Here are the ingredients for the recipe, but please go to Reluctant Entertainer for the complete step by step instructions (with pictures!) 

INGREDIENTS: 
4 1/2 cups white sugar
1 cup cornstarch
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
10 cups water
3 tablespoons lemon juice
7 quarts peeled, cored and
sliced apples

Fall Festival Weekend

Another beautiful weekend spent enjoying the Fall weather!

We went to a fall festival that was sponsored by a non profit organization in our area.  It was held on a family farm and they had free food and games for kids. 

Abbey loved playing the games because you get a prize (candy) every time!

Here they are playing a game called 'my cup runneth over'.  They had to squirt water into a glass and Abbey beat Steve!  She was so happy.  Her prize was a little yellow rubber ducky.  

Silly Faces!

What's a fall festival without a tractor ride?!   

Holding on tight getting ready to ride the horses/ponies.

I can't believe we're half way through October!  Every weekend has been filled with fun activities for us.  I made sure not to over do it this weekend.  After our fall festival, we went home and took naps, then we spent the rest of the evening canning our apples that we picked from last week (more to come on that)!

17w5d - Glucose Fail

Last week I went in for my routine OB appt and they found sugar in my urine so I had to go earlier this week for a 2 hr glocose test.  I think making a pregnant woman fast and then giving her a nasty orange concoction of a drink, which taste like cough syrup and very sweet orange soda, is cruel and unusual punishment. But I survived. 

The OB called with my results and told me I had failed.  Anything below 140 is passing.  I was at 145.  Not terrible (in my non-medical opinion), but she said that since I'm on metformin (for my PCOS), it should have regulated my sugar levels.  So now I have to make an appt to see an Endocrinologist AND I have to visit the Diabetic center at the hospital for some 'counseling.' 

She also told me that they found blood in my urine so I had to go see my primary doctor about that.  I went yesterday and my primary doctor said they didn't find any blood at all in, but they will send it out to get it cultured and should have the results back next week. 

Bottom line is that I have to add another doctor/specialist to my regimen of appointments and I have to really watch what I eat.  No more sweets, cut back on carbs and just get my body moving.  I will do whatever it takes to ensure the baby is healthy and growing. 

I'm happy today is Friday!  We are going to a fall festival this weekend and will be taking it easy the rest of the time.  I hope everyone has a great fall weekend!!