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Thursday, June 28, 2007
Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back
It's been quite a week for us.
Ds has developed croup--the first time ever in his life. Strange that it would in the summer, and at his age! We've been doing nebulizer treatments since Tuesday. I can tell he's improving -- his fever is almost gone, and instead of being lethargic he's just cranky, grumpy, and obstinate. I have to keep his activity levels down, or he goes into a coughing spell and requires bathroom steam treatment.
And now I'm developing a bit of a chest cold, so I'm having a hard time dealing with his mood swings...which I know stem from the medicines. Sigh.
Yesterday was our 12 week appointment. I can scarcely believe the baby is 12 1/2 weeks! The sonogram we had the previous week showed everything to be right on target. During yesterday's visit he doctor struggled to find the heartbeat, but eventually did, so we had happy faces.
Although the due date is January 6 (Epiphany and Daddy's birthday), we know from my the location of my previous c-section that I am at high risk for uterine rupture, so the baby will probably be born around 36 or 37 weeks, another c-section.
AND the writing is on the wall for a long haul with gestational diabetes (GD). I've been taking initial fasting numbers at home and they are already high. The first trimester is usually marked with hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, and when the placenta takes over, the tendency for higher glucose numbers kicks in. So I have a 3 hour glucose test to take in the next week, and then back to the endocrinologist for regular visits all through this pregnancy.
While I knew this was a possibility, because I had this with my son's pregnancy, I was hoping it wouldn't happen this time. It was really, really hard. I am very sensitive to blood sugar changes, and I just felt plain awful. It was diagnosed at 12 weeks, and I was on insulin by 20 weeks. My numbers were brittle, and it was hard to keep things under control, even with a high protein, complex carb diet. It is so hard to constantly be thinking of food--(force)eating every few hours, having to choose very specific foods, pricking the finger about 4-6 times a day. Truly one feels so saddled by Brother Ass (my body).
So I'm facing the day with very mixed emotions. God has given us another miracle pregnancy. Truly every day is a marvel. But I do dread taking up this cross of GD. I am praying for the grace to have the strength to deal with this one day at a time. I know it's a small cross in the scheme of things, and I pray that my sufferings will benefit this child--both in body and in soul.
12:00 Posted in Baby | Permalink | Comments (8) | Email this
Comments
Dear Jenn, I sympathize with you greatly...I will be praying especially for you next week for that Glucose Tolerance Test, be assured of that - I had one in my first pregnancy which was a big ordeal, (I blogged about it on the feast of the Visitation) I am hypogycemic but the first glucose test showed boarderline diabeties, so when I had the big test I had a profound hypo reaction...I pray that it will not knock you both around too much, because they are hard, rigorous tests.
I have had one croupy baby (now 4years and grown out of it) and his worst attack was during a record heatwave of 80years in sub-tropical Australia. The only thing I could put it down to was newly installed air-conditioner that we were basking in for the first time - I think it may have been a shock to his lungs to go from 100% humidity air to the cool, dry air of airconditioning. Dh and I lost a few pounds over that weekend, trying to keep the place as humid as possible and spending every night in a steamed up bathroom!
Posted by: aussieannie | Thursday, June 28, 2007
Dear Jenn. You are in my daily prayers to St. Therese. This baby is such a miracle. I am so happy for you.
I will keep you little boy in my prayers. My 6 year old had croup 2 days ago. It's such a scary sound.
Prayers for a quick recovery and a healthy baby and mama.
Posted by: Ruth | Thursday, June 28, 2007
Praying for you Jenn. Croup is never fun and it sounds like your son has a bad case of it. Hope the numbers turn out okay.
Posted by: KC | Thursday, June 28, 2007
Hi Jenn,
Well I'm pretty new to your blog but I love it so far. I am so thrilled for you with your pregnancy!!! What a gift from above.
Ironically, the last time I was on your blog it was a touching post about how it hurts being judged because one might only have one child and how you wanted another. How wonderful God heard the cries of your heart.
God Bless you and yours.
Posted by: Lynn | Thursday, June 28, 2007
Hi Jenn,
Well I'm pretty new to your blog but I love it so far. I am so thrilled for you with your pregnancy!!! What a gift from above.
Ironically, the last time I was on your blog it was a touching post about how it hurts being judged because one might only have one child and how you wanted another. How wonderful God heard the cries of your heart.
God Bless you and yours.
Posted by: Lynn | Thursday, June 28, 2007
Oh Jenn -- What a week! I know how I hated GD with mild case, so I will pray that your numbers do better this time -- because it is SO hard to be food focused 24/7 -- not to mention that you feel better when this isn't an issue. Hopefully this heat will break soon to make things better.
Posted by: Maryan | Thursday, June 28, 2007
Jenn, that is so very, very difficult.
Praying for you, dearest friend! I love you!
Posted by: Alice Gunther | Friday, June 29, 2007
Ugh! Croup :(. If it's any consolation my eldest dd had one attack of croup just before she was one, and has never had it again. Hopefully your son's case will be an isolated one.
It is ironic that pregnancy is such a joy but also a cross. I do sympathise - for me it was asthma, not GD, but I know how hard it is to go through a pregnancy feeling awful the whole time. I'm in the throes of mastitis, so I'm offering it up for you and baby.
Posted by: Kathryn | Friday, June 29, 2007
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