How sweet it is...

I had to drink the orange-flavored drink yesterday. It was time for my gestational diabetes test.

And I'm happy to report, I passed. I needed a number less than 140 and mine came back at 99! Woohoo!

I was thrilled by that news since there was a good possibility my results could have gone the other way. I have diabetes in my family and of course I'm overweight. I didn't have a lot going for me other than the fact that I already take a medication that controls my blood sugars due to my insulin resistance. That definitely helped. Frankly, I don't care how my number got to 99, just as long as it did.

It's just one less thing to worry about for the remainder of my pregnancy.

100 days today and counting until July 10 (if I make it that far)!

25 weeks today and counting....

I had my second ultrasound on Monday in St. Cloud.

I'm still having a girl, thank goodness, as there has been an explosion of pink at my house lately!

And my girl weighs 1 pound, 7 ounces!

We met with Dr. Nye who was very nice. I liked her very much. When we go back down on May 3, we'll see her again. I'm glad about that as I feel it's important to establish relationships with these doctors rather than see different ones at each appointment.

She was shocked to find out that my doctor here in Brainerd had basically already made the decision that I would be having a c-section and having it at Abbott no less! She was not as convinced. At least I feel now that there are other things on the table. I felt like she listened to me and cared about what I was saying.

Meanwhile, Baby Girl Howard continues to kick me to remind me she's here. She doesn't do it on command, or rather, when I poke and prod and shake my belly. She definitely has a mind of her own!

I wonder if this is a glimpse of what's to come?

The first kick

She did it.

And I felt it.

My baby girl kicked me this morning and I felt it on the outside for the very first time!

What a moment to remember. I didn't cry like many of you might think. It just made me smile.

I told Todd about it and I'm sure he'll be asking me all the time now if I can feel her kicking because of course, he'll want to feel that kick for the first time, too.

Exciting and strange all at the same time.

What a miracle.

Information overload

I had a baby doctor appointment yesterday and found out some interesting stuff.

First, I will be having monthly ultrasounds in St. Cloud from now on as they want to closely monitor my little girl's growth. Because I take some medications, they want to make sure that none of those are hindering her growth. So far, that's not the case. She's right where she's supposed to be.

Secondly, I will definitely be having a C-section...but I wasn't surprised by that. In light of my blood pressure issues and current situation regarding my back/hip/leg, I was pretty much thinking C-section.

Thirdly, what I WASN'T thinking was that I would have my baby girl somewhere other than at St. Joe's! But guess what? I'll more than likely have her at Abbott in the Twin Cities! Not at all what I was thinking....and was quite shocked to be told this news yesterday without Todd being there with me. My doctor just kind of dumped it all on me!

But, the more I thought about this and talked with a few people, I realized it will be better to have a plan in place, rather than everyone having a high stress level (including me) and operating under an emergency situation. I don't want that either.

I just want what is best for me and the baby so if that means traveling a little farther from home to bring this beautiful girl in the world, so be it.

Something's a-flutter!

I think I'm finally feeling my little girl move inside me.

And what a weird feeling it is. To know that a human life is moving and growing and living inside me is hard to wrap my brain around. It's almost like the movie "Alien" as I wait for something to crawl out of my stomach. Eww. Terrible thought, I know.

But it really is surreal. I can't believe I'm responsible for growing this life (well, me and God). I'm trying to enjoy every new thing that happens to me on this journey. I never thought that I would experience any of this. I hoped and prayed it would but I thought I'd have to live vicariously through my friends and family, hanging onto their every word as they described their baby's kicks and bumps and twists and turns. Oh, how I wanted that for myself!

And now, praise the Lord, I've got it!