Preparing for Baby L

We are almost done with the nursery basic set up. I have a few things and ideas pinned and saved to add when L comes out and we know weather its a girl or boy.
My wonderful, wonderful mother bought us the nursery glider, and I can NOT wait for that to go in!!! We have put up some book shelves and filled with L's already abundant collection. We need to add closet door knobs (but that's part of what I need to know which knobs to get) and we need to put up some shelves. I have decorated the nursery with a little old and new. I have items from Josh and my childhood that have a space in there. 1 main example is we each still have a stuffed "toy" that we loved as kids. Mine was Missy (the St. Bernard dog from the 90's movie Beethoven) His was a train pillow with a little bear conductor. I bought and they finally arrived a box of wooden letters for the nursery wall above the changing table! I'm super excited to attack that project, and to send out some letters to L's aunties/uncles/and cousins to paint! I can't wait to see what it will look like when it all comes together, and I'm so happy to have friends that are as excited as me to do something for baby's wall and add some of their own flair (so L can have a part of it's relatives kind of close by- I can't wait to sit and show off each letter to L when learning the alphabet and telling the story of who painted what letter)!!

I was convinced L was going to make an appearance next week. I had my standard OB appointment and they freaked out a little with the high blood pressure and sent me to the hospital to be monitored. Everything was fine will being monitored, and everything has been fine since. I have had 2 more ultrasound appointments and meets with the high risk Dr. L is just running out of room, literally and the first ultrasound appointment didn't pass the 4 point test. 4 points being:

• the movement of the diaphragm to simulate breathing
• whole body movement
• muscle "flexing" and movements
• and check the fluid

Baby didn't do the breathing movement. L had done it a few weeks ago, but they want to see that every appointment now. We watched for it for a half hour and I got hooked up to the NST (heart and movement monitor) machine for another half hour. The Dr came in about 15 minutes in, and said "I'll just give it a little bit longer." I got slightly concerned at his tone, so I started poking and prodding L for some movement. The Dr came back and said "Oh good, we have what we need, I need to change my notes, we were going to send you the hospital again." ::Insert mini hear attack!::

Well with that first little scare to the hospital I decided it was time to pack some bags, so L's bag and my bag are packed to go! I also believe L is going to bypass the newborn size! So I have an option of outfits packed for little bit in a variety of sizes.

I met with a pediatrician and she was very nice and lovely and the office is literally across the street from our house. You can tell the pediatrician loves what she does, and has an amazing passion for her job.

I am still working, my last official day is Jan 23, I may or may not make it to that we shall see. I trained my replacement partially on Thursday, and he seems to be catching on quickly (granted we are also cutting my job down to a small percentage for him to do). The Dr wants to see me twice a week now to make sure everything is going good,especially with the movement. We are still looking at a 39 week eviction day, but playing it by ear, because anything can happen, but I feel good knowing I have bags packed, and the nursery is livable (granted baby won't be living in there for a little bit) My super generous cousin's are giving us a bassinet they were gifted with their second and a car seat that their little dude has grown out of. I also have some of the best family!! My step-grandmother has found a few items to keep at my mom's house for her to have like a bouncy seat and a car seat as well (Which the fire department will help you install and inspect to make sure it's still up to code and safe).

I am also starting to plan and cook meals to freeze for easy dinners. Our fridge took a crap out just before Christmas and we had to do a major clean out and throw away (I am still very upset). I had about 3 prefrozen meals that I had to toss. We have to do an overhaul grocery shopping trip to get the essential. On the menu to be made and frozen:

Curry Chicken Pot Pie
Shepard's Pie
Chicken Taco Chili
Hawaiian Pulled Pork - She makes with chicken, and I have too, but I've made it with pork tenderloin also, and wanted more of a variety with the meats I'm using. We also eat as pulled BBQ sandwiches.
No Peek Chicken - My baby momma friend has told me about this one

I also want to pre-make in little baggies smoothies to make in the morning/mid-afternoon for myself. Any tips and recipes on these much welcome!!!!

**We know and understand everyone/family/friends are excited to meet Baby L, however Josh and I have spoken and made the decision to keep L's birth "low key". Chances are our stay at the hospital will be 3 days tops, and we would like to keep those days there as a time for Josh and I to adjust to being a family a 3 and my recovery. We will of course let family know when L makes the appearance, with a text/phone call/email. As for meeting Baby L, we kindly ask that you wait until we get home (and a little settled). Just know we love everyone and we know everyone is really excited for this joyous time. But this is a major adjustment period for us as a couple, newly married, and even pet parents. 

Pregnant Woman Thought Ramblings

I know I have long missed my 24 week update. Hopefully you will get 2 in a row coming up.

I just wanted to take a minute and jot down some things that have been swirling around in my head.
I have had a relatively easy pregnancy, I am very grateful for that. However that being said: I do NOT enjoy being pregnant! I am so NOT glowing and I am not loving this "growing a human being" time period. At this point, little L may be an only child. I had always thought I'd have 3-5 kids! I wanted kids. I would also like the have opposite gender siblings. We will see how the next 4 months go, and how labor/delivery go, how newborndom goes. Maybe I'll have rose colored glasses on by the end of it, and think about another one down the road. I understand newborndom is hard, but I am so ready for it. I am 25 weeks and already at the point of "get this thing out of me!!" 1 day past my official due date my butt is marching in there and getting induced, little L is NOT going to sit in there and stew and get larger and larger!
I think it's a combination not only of the delicate process that is growing a human child, but also the diabetes factor. The huge major added stress of keeping that under control! My body is going though a lot of changes and the handle on diabetes is getting more stressful and cumbersome. I become insulin resistant as the placenta grows, which that takes more of the insulin than my body, so that causes higher blood sugars. 4 weeks ago if I ate a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast I would give 4.0 units of insulin, now for that same bowl of oatmeal I am up to 7.0 or 8.0 units, depending on what my blood is before eating.
The insulin resistance is a "good" thing in theory, because that means there is a healthy placenta. If we start going the other way, less insulin and lower sugars, that means the placenta is breaking down.
Also not enjoying my high risk OB. I unfortunately did not have the luxury of interviewing and finding a high risk OB I liked. My old OB, was less than useless in helping with a referral. I had to go with basically who I found. And FYI there are not a lot of options for high risk in south FL.
He has unrealistic expectations about where my bloods should be kept (ie: between 120-140). He talked about putting my on shots last time I was there. Um.... NO! H-E-double hockey sticks NO! I have a great relationship with my endo, we will figure out to do on HIS end.
I am not the type of pregnant mom who is over the moon, and gushing and touching, and poking and prodding my belly. Any Dr appointments with the ultrasound I am more just staring at the screen watching what they are doing. I am not all smiles and giggle and "ohhh's" and "ahhhh's". I am grateful little L is moving and jiving in there, I am grateful when I hear the heartbeat, but that's it.
Josh has finally felt it move and he has been ecstatic ever since.

I am uncomfortable, my clothes don't fit (obviously). I have finally broken out the maternity jeans, which are not as bad as I originally thought, still not the biggest fan. I can't do anything/not allowed to do anything. Mom and Josh won't let me ride my bike. Mom won't let me pick up and carry a bag of potatoes. I can't climb on a ladder or chair, I can't pick up Whiskey (I do, too bad!!!). I get starving, eat 2 bits and I'm full and uncomfortable.

I am very glad and thankful I have some friends who have done this before me. I can confide in them and ask those weird silly questions and don't get judged!

I am also in complete and utter denial about Whiskey and our kitten Mackie, they are my babies. I know that when L comes, they will just be a dog and a cat, they will be second class citizens, but I can not wrap my head around that. I am going kicking and screaming that will happen. I will not get rid of them, I will not stick them outside, I will not! They are as much as part of the family as little L will be.

I will over the moon once little L is here and we are both healthy and safe, until then I will continue to worry and be stressed and not enjoy being pregnant. Just counting down the days until February.