Week 33

So, the wee one is still growing strong...about 6.17lbs, and 19.5" if I converted correctly. I have made an appointment with the delivery doctor on September 23 to discuss C sections, circumcision, epidural, and have an exam. My regular doctor is on vacation for 4 weeks, which means I may not see him again until the baby is born. We are now looking at the middle of October (37wks) for the arrival of our little boy (maybe not little)....I'm hoping we can use a few NB items and the 0-3 month clothes. I don't want to skip to 3-6 month items :(. But will keep you updated on the ETA.
Not much else here, just growing bigger in the belly...as my coworker said "you're all baby". I have a nice big firm belly. My back has begun to hurt, my ankles swell, and a bit of pressure in the belly. Still counting carbs and pricking my fingers 7 times a day.
My coworkers are having a shower for me before I stop working and a group of friends are also having one sometime soon. Neither group will tell me when, but I'm looking forward to a little social time and seeing everyone.

Happy 28 to Me....Hospital Tour

We spent my birthday going to work, relaxing, touring the hospital we will deliver at, and eating at McDonald's (fancy i know ;) ). The hospital was interesting to say the least. If we ever deliver in the USA, it will seem like a 5 star experience. Only one of the delivery rooms has a birthing tub, chair, ball, and table...the rest are much smaller with only a table. So, I'm hoping I am the first to arrive that day, first come first serve...Also, only half of the rooms have showers. The ones without require you to walk down the hall to the shower room to shower, and also to the diaper room to change diapers. I am PRAYING for a room with a shower and diaper changing area in the room. I do not want to have to leave my room to bathe and change diapers. You also keep your baby 24-7 and wheel them to the little eating area for meals. Only lunch is served to you, which is the big main meal of the day. Breakfast is cereal, boxed milk, and yogurt. Dinner is meats and cheeses that have sat out for an extended amount of time. I also plan to pay the extra 43 euro a nite to have a room to myself, only if the hospital isn't packed. I don't think I could handle the amount of family members they tend to have visiting, and some haven't caught on to the American ways of hygiene. Natural birth requires 4-5 nites and c section requires 7. Which will require a laptop computer for movies and books for entertainment. No TVs, and if they did it would be German TV.
Going to a German hospital requires you bring a LOT more with you....towels, wash clothes, robe, slippers, 4 nightgowns, underwear, socks, spray bottle, hair dryer, shampoo etc for showering, ice packs, money for phone calls, pop, water, snacks, nursing bras, nursing pads, etc etc. Only thing you need for the baby is an outfit to go home in. They provide all the clothing for his stay. Which is a lot of layers. The layers and blankets make you feel like the baby is going to die of heat.
When you arrive at the hospital you go straight to the maternity ward. You deliver your baby, and the next day is when you check in. How do they know who I truly am if I am not checked in? Positive is we get the head of the dept to deliver due to our insurance, and they tend to give the rooms with showers to our insurance too. He is also the only doctor in the area who will perform a circumcision...that is if he is not on vacation. In that case we have to drive to Heidelberg or elsewhere to get it done. Germans don't want to do it until the child is 1yo or not at all. Most doctors say it's not medically necessary so it's not needed. Often nurses will make Americans feel guilty about it all.
After, we leave the hospital we get the joy of all of the necessary paperwork to identify our child...soc sec, passport, insurance, base id, birth certificates (2: American abroad and German)...etc etc and within a week we have to visit the on base clinic to get checked on.....stressful...
Lots and lots of fun :) more and more hoops to jump through....and that summarizes the Army and the German hospital system....until I think of something else I find dumb...
We will head to the doc again on Monday to find out how things are going. I plan to ask about length vs weight and if there is a possibility of an early delivery/c section. Will update soon.

About 9 weeks to go...

Although we found out today that our "little" addition...is still not sooo little. He is now about 5 lbs, which means he is still taking on too much glucose. So, the doctor thinks he will have to have some sort of glucose treatment when he is born. Everyone around here thinks I don't look like I could even be 7 months along, I guess our baby is getting it all. It's kinda frustrating and I am trying my hardest to not take it too personally, but I feel like I need to stop eating to save his size...NO WORRIES, I AM STILL EATING, LESS CARBS LESS FOOD IN GENERAL, MUCH TO MY DISMAY...I like to eat and can't wait until this wee one is born so I can eat all of those things that are off limits now....oops, time for work!!

30 weeks down....maybe 10 to go

Let's see...what has happened in the last few weeks??? I have visited a Diabetic doctor twice now. I "get" to prick my finger 7 times a day, count the carbs I'm eating, and record the stats until the baby is born.....I am counting down until I get to truly eat again. I have been dreaming about carbs and constantly thinking about the numbers of carbs and when I can eat my next meal because I am still hungry. I have never thought about food as much as I do now. It sucks!! BUT it is benefitting the baby in the end. I don't want a huge sugar high child coming out of me. It's tough to limit carbs. Everything has carbs. I haven't had a glass of juice or bananas for over a week and it's almost killing me. OJ is my favorite thing to drink and milk is limited to 8 oz glasses because it too means carbs. I find it sad that I want to eat fruit and drink milk, but I can't. Instead I get water, Crystal Light, and Dt. pop. It feels wrong drinking the last two instead of milk. The other new pregnancy occurence is leg cramps. I woke up with a really bad one last nite, and it has caused me to limp around all day today. I think maybe I bruised the muscle trying to get it to recede. Charlie horses are the worst :(. Besides this pregnancy is going well, I have my next doctor appt on Monday and a dietician appt on Tuesday. I'm curious to see what the food changes have done for the baby and or me. And I'm sure the dietician will tell me to stop eating sweets, BUT when an apple and a Reeses cup have the same number of carbs, which one are you going to pick ;)...the apple, right?!!? haha...not me

I headed back to work on Wednesday. We have 3 work days this week and the kids arrive on Monday. We are in a new classroom this year, so we spent the day setting up/putting away/hanging up etc etc. I plan to work for 6 weeks this school year (3 weeks in my job and 3 weeks as a sub in my job; so they can start the hiring process sooner), then quit. I will mainly be working with a 4th grader, the same kid I worked with last year. Our numbers have gone up a ton this school year due to the new AFRICOM sector coming in. A few of the schools, ours included, had to build additions on, but they are still not enough. We have a new principal this year, too. He seems to be a good new addition for the school. The old principal moved to a superintendent position. I'm looking forward to this school year, especially knowing it's only 6 weeks. I'm hoping my body holds up well for six weeks....who knows, maybe the baby will come before work is done. I'm hoping he holds out until I get my hospital tour and a few of the third trimester classes out of the way.

Andrew is still on leave. I think he's relaxing through next week. I suppose he deserves a break after 4 months without any type of one. So far, he doesn't seem to like the to do lists I leave on the counter :(. Although, we had a very productive day of cleaning before I headed back to work. I do admit my energy level and speed have definitely slowed and I am learning to give him a few new duties.

Happy 2nd Anniversary!!!

Today is our 2nd anniversary...my my the places we have been and the things we have seen in 2 short years....time does fly by....it has been a great two years. We look forward to the next chapter of our lives: baby, being done with the military (@ some point), and closer to family and friends. And the biggest, maybe spending the majority of the year under the same roof.

We both had busy days of work and/or running errands, but we ended the day with a meal out. It took us three attempts to find a restaurant open. The first two were closed because they are family owned (which the majority of restaurants in Germany are) and the families were on "holiday" aka vacation. Very frustrating to search for an open place. It's been a good day. Although, I do wish we were on the beach in North Carolina today instead of here in dreary rain all day long. But I guess I will appreciate the fact that we are able to celebrate together :)

Tomorrow, I head to the diabetic doctor and to the dietician to see where we will go with my large child. I am curious to see what they will say. I have been partaking in a few last sugary items in case they ban them from me (scotcheroos :), ice cream, and reeses pb cups). All in moderation of course. ;) Wish me luck!! Will let you know how it goes.

I'm back from my mindless travels...

Gretchen and Me
Hayden relaxing
The growing belly

It's been a LONG time since I have blogged. In my defense it is all because I needed to spend quality time focusing on a lazy summer :). My folks came mid May to mid June, to visit and travel with me for about 6 weeks. We hit the Black Forest, Amsterdam, London, Brussels, and Northern Germany (Emden, Weener, etc where my mom's ancestors are from). They also travelled some without me (toured Stuttgart and Zurich), and saw a few of my regular spots. After their 6 weeks, I flew back to the USA with them. I in turn spent about 6 weeks in Iowa and North Dakota. I was able to have a couple baby showers, celebrate a few birthdays, and spend time with my fam and Andrew's fam. I really really didn't want to return to Germany, BUT my dearest husband returned a few days before me. I am now trying to get back into my daily rhythm, running errands, doing laundry, going to appts, trying to sleep through the night, and moving furniture. I have been very productive. I was able to figure out and plan my work schedule (3 weeks in my position, and 3 weeks as a sub in my position), request loaner furniture for the baby's room, put together the baby swing and rocker, and rearrange two rooms.

I had my 27 week doctor appt on Monday. I did not have any appts while in the states. I came to find out our baby is large for his age, he should be about 2 1/8 lb (i think), but he is closer to 3.5 lbs....SO, today I spent an additional 2 hours at the doctor partaking in a second glucose/diabetes test. It wouldn't be so bad if the liquid you have to drink didn't taste like watered down prune juice. Well, the test shows my levels are high. I GET to visit a diabetic doctor off base and a dietitian on base to figure out how to fix my issues. I'd like to blame it on all the wonderful food I enjoyed in the US. Hopefully, it's nothing too drastic and won't require lots of finger pricks and shots. This pregnancy has gone SO smoothly, that I'm not surprised something has come up. My next appt, for the regular doc is in 3 weeks and the diabetic one before that.

Andrew is still working for another week or so before he is able to take a little leave time. Hopefully, he will get a few days before I head back to work on the 20th. I will be a Learning Impaired Paraeducator again this year, or rather for 6 weeks. I plan to stay home after the baby is born, as well as, the month of October before he is born. I have signed up for info classes on paperwork, pregnancy etc for Germany and the military. I have also taking up walking in the mornings with a friend of mine on base. Let's just say the air here isn't as thick as in Iowa. There isn't the high humidity to make you sweat too much.

Week 20-BOY

IT'S A BOY!!!! The doctor pointed out what seems to be the shape of a penis...our son is at a healthy size and growing steadily. I also had the lengthy diabetes test today. I am in healthy ranges and do not have diabetes. I had to sit around for 2 hours after drinking a wonderful bottle of a substance that reminded me of watered down prune juice. Luckily, I brought a book along and kept myself occupied. So, for all of you out there who wanted to know the gender...you got it!!! Now, I too can figure out all the gender specific details for buying things. Hope to see you all soon in the USA!!