I just got back from my 3-hour glucose test. Whew. That was a doozy. Yesterday, once I found out I needed to take the second test, I was told to wait a couple hours for my test results to be sent over to the hospital and then I could call in to set my appointment. Luckily, they had an opening for this morning. Not wanting to drag this thing out any longer than was necessary, I snagged the earliest time slot available.

I was told not to eat anything after 7:30pm last night, which wasn’t too bad. We just made sure I had dinner early enough to make the deadline. Then I was cut-off. Only water until my test was over. So I dragged my ass over to the hospital at the lovely hour of 7:30am to begin the test.

First they took my fasting blood sugar level. If it was over 140, we wouldn’t need to go any further because we could just determine I had gestational diabetes. Luckily mine was 104, so I got to proceed with the test! Yeah. They gave me the Glucola (again, I went with the lemon-lime) which was the same in every way (size, consistency, etc.) except that it had twice as much sugar as the 1-hour test. And boy did it! I was really worried it was going to make me sick, because I was already light-headed from skipping breakfast. But my nurse informed me if I threw up we would have to stop the test and reschedule for another day. I did not want to do that, so I willed myself with every fiber of my being to not be sick or pass out or anything else that might ruin the test. My nurse was really cool and told me if I needed anything to let her know. She even offered me a pillow and blanket if I started to feel sick. And her name was Ana! I told her that was what we were planning to name the baby, so naturally we instantly bonded. You gotta love a good nurse during such a grueling test.

Anyway, then every hour for the next three hours I was called back into this tiny room for her to take a vile of my blood. I even had my own personal alarm that meant someone had to come and get me because you have a very small window in which to draw the blood. I wasn’t allowed to leave the waiting area between drawings because any unnecessary physical activity could alter my readings. Thankfully, I knew this in advance and brought a couple books to keep me busy. But the further I got into the test, the harder it was to keep focused on my books. Not only was I light-headed, but I was crashing from the worst sugar-high AND I was starving.

Finally Ana drew my last vile of blood. This left me with two nice holes in each arm, complete with gauzey bandages to rack up the extra sympathy from anyone I came across. (You wouldn’t believe how quickly people will open the door for a pregnant lady covered in bandages!) Then I quickly raced to my car with an unbeatable determination to find food–and fast!

So I survived the test. It wasn’t the worst thing I have ever done, but I won’t be lining up to do it again anytime soon. The roller coaster from drunken-sugar high, to dizzy nausea, to feeling like I haven’t slept in months was just NOT FUN. Oh and I should know the results in a couple days, so stay tuned!

I just got off the phone with my OB’s nurse with the results of my Glucose Screening Test. Apparently my levels were a little outside of the normal range so I have to back in and take the dreaded 3-hour test. Urghhh. But I don’t wanna!!

I had my 28 week doctor’s appt this morning and have this to report back:

Urine: Normal, signs of sugar (see below)
Weight: 1 lb since last month (4 lbs total gain)
Blood Pressure: Lower than last time
Baby’s Heartbeat: Normal, in the 180s

Things of note were that we had the big Glucose Screen test. An hour before my appointment I drank my little bottle of soda and prepared for the worst, but I really didn’t think it was that bad. It was just like super sweet 7-up (I did pick the lemon-lime flavor and I would highly recommend it over the orange from what I have heard). Then I sat back and waited to start twitching or bouncing off the walls, but nothing happened. Hopefully that means my body is reacting well to sugar and doing all the things it is suppose to.

Anyway, we got to the doctor’s office and did the hurry-up-and-wait thing, then I gave some blood for the glucose test (results should be back in a few days) and went in for my regular appointment. After the poking and prodding of the uterus (all measurements are in normal range) we got to listen to the heartbeat. I tell ya, that woosh, woosh, woosh just never gets old. I love it.

But the surprising part of the appointment came as my doctor was handing us the little slip to set up our next visit. Having done my reading, I was all prepared for the switch from having appointments once a month to every two weeks, but I was not prepared for her to say, “And now we will schedule the appointments for the rest of your pregnancy.” THE. REST. OF. MY. PREGNANCY. How bizarre is that? So I see her every two weeks for the next eight weeks, then I switch to weekly visits until I deliver…which seems to be arriving more quickly that I could ever have imagined! Eeee!!

Speaking of lists, I really wish there was one for pregnancy. When we got married, I used The Knot. It was a fabulous resource; lists of things to do, when I should have them completed, recommended places to shop, and even helpful hints along the way. I have yet to find a resource of this type for pregnancy. (If anyone knows of such a place, let me know. I’m not looking for a forum-I want check lists!) So I have pretty much been left to my own neurosis (and those of people asking me if I have done such-and-such yet, to which I reply, with horror, “Should I have?”).

That said, Simeon and I finally completed the daunting task of creating our registry. Ta-da! We decided to have the bulk of our registry at Babies R Us, but there were a few things they didn’t have so I created one at Target as well. Sure, there are a few things I need to research a little more and will add online (I was not about to make my poor husband stand around while I contemplated breast-pumps. That I can do on my own, thankyouverymuch.) But we got the majority of the if-we-ever-think-we-might-need-it-then-scan-it-with-the-gun shopping done. Now I have to warn you, Simeon got a little excited with the scan gun once we got into the toy department, naturally.

We even tried to be conscientious of those who would be buying these gifts for us, by selecting an array of items in a variety of price ranges. (It always annoyed me when I went to buy something off a registry-wedding, baby, etc.-and there wasn’t a single thing under $75. Way to force me to put a price on our friendship.) Everything from our crib and travel system, all the way down to rattles and Butt Paste. You know, so
Nick would have something to get for us.