Mac n’ Cheese and Chocolate Ice Cream

Dear Little One,

We have done so well, you and me, as a team.  Up until Friday morning I would say we have had the most uneventful pregnancy possible (and the lack of updates to this blog is also a testament to this fact).  However Friday morning at 8:00am I got a phone call from Mayo.  The day before we had gone to our 1 hour glucose test, and I was told they would only call if the results were abnormal.  Well I will be damned if anyone is going to call my baby girl abnormal so I will take all the credit here… I got an abnormal result for my glucose test.

So what does this mean for us?  Well after drinking flat Mountain Dew (or at least that is what it tasted like) my blood sugar did not return to normal levels (below 140).  So next we have to take another, longer glucose test.  If my result is still abnormal we get diagnosed with gestational diabetes.  I have done some research and only 15% of those who have abnormal results from the first test actually get diagnosed with the disease.  So that is good news.  Statistically we have a good chance of NOT having it.  However, of my friends and coworkers who failed the first test and passed the second one they ALL have said that they drank or ate something sugary right before the first test.  That was NOT the case with me.  I could say that it was all the nursing wisdom that was instilled in me at MSOE’s nursing school that motivated me not to eat anything that would spike my blood sugar, but really let’s be honest; it was my fear of needles.  I don’t mind needles used for piercings or tattoos, or even needles that are used to poke other people; however when it comes to needles poking me I am not a fan.  I have been known to pass out… and go into convulsions.  And being poked once for the first test was scary enough… the thought of having to go through the second test where you are poked at least 4 times, well that put the fear of God into me and I was very conscious/cautious of all the food I ate the morning of the test.

I guess we will just have to wait and see.  Our 3 hour glucose test has been scheduled for 7:30am Monday morning, as if Mondays weren’t fun enough already!  To be honest I think having gestational diabetes wouldn’t be the worst thing ever.  If anything it would be a great opportunity for us to eat better.  And babies whose mothers have well controlled gestational diabetes have no more risk than babies whose mothers don’t have the disease.  All in all, it could be much worse.  We are a good team.  Our easy pregnancy has shown that and I know we would come out on the other end okay.  I am actually more scared of the test than the thought of having the disease… 4 needle pokes!  You sure are important to me, because I really can’t think of any other person on Earth who I love enough to get my blood drawn 4 times in one day!

And just in case we do have the disease I made sure to get an extra helping in of Mac n’ Cheese and chocolate ice cream in for dinner and dessert last night. 

Tomorrow is 27 Weeks

Megan is at work today and Oscar, our orange, adopted son from the Milwaukee Human Society, and I are cleaning the house, creating a to-do list for my complex application for professional counselor licensure, and updating our pregnancy blog.  Tomorrow will be the completion of our 27th week of pregnancy which, if my calculations are correct, means "oh my gosh, I'm going to be a father to a baby girl: feed her, love her, and keep her safe!"  It has baffled me for the past few weeks why I have been so nervous about bringing Lilly into this world, but I think I have it figured out.  My current job has me working with parents and their children from ages five to 17 helping them establish structure in their homes and relationships and creating a safe, loving environment in which their children can flourish (well that's our goal, anyway).  In the past seven month, this work has given me access to a wealth of knowledge of how to accomplish these goals: child development, social skill building, behavior modification, etc.  Like all humans were knowledge and experience is the kryptonite to fear, I feel comfortable and competent to raise a child in a safe and loving environment.  One problem though, my knowledge has been focused towards my client population, which basically excludes children below the age of four.  I'm guessing this is were my fear kicks in, I still know so little about raising a young child, specifically an infant.  Sure, I know a bit about babies, but my experience and knowledge is limited.  

Gratefully, I am surrounded by people who have a wealth of information and experience in raising babies (my moms and dads, aunts and uncles, grandparents, siblings, etc.) and a partner who has done nothing the past several months but read books about raising and caring for an infant.  Megan has probably done as much research regarding pregnancy and child-rearing as I have in later child development for my work.  Looking forward towards the next 13 weeks (give or take a couple), I guess my job should be tapping into these supports as well as picking up a few of the books Megan has been reading.  

Bottom line: there's not much time left for me to let these fears get the best of me.  If past experience has taught me anything, setting time aside to learn and ask for help is the way to conquer these fears.  This is one of the many lessons the families are work with have taught me and it's time to put it into practice.  For family and friends, including my lovely wife, Megan, prepare to receive inquiries.