3-10: I ended up not having my U/S until January 31st! I was SO disappointed but that was the earliest the maternal fetal specialist could see me. It's a girl. She is measuring perfectly and no signs of Downs or problems with her heart or kidneys! I go back to the peri on March 2nd!

As of the 15th of February I had lost a pound - total gained during pregnancy is 6! I am VERY happy with that. I am measuring 24 weeks (just 2 days ahead). My blood sugars looked good so I stay on the same dose of insulin and he said Dr. M had nothing but good to report from my U/S.

My March 2nd appt was uneventful. I gained 2 pounds - so a total of 10 pounds I think. I was 25 weeks 2 days but measured 27 weeks but he wasn't concerned yet since my weight gain is good. I went and got my labwok done to check my liver enzymes checked and my A1C (blood sugar) and a chem panel (typical pregnancy stuff). Then the following Wed I had an U/S with the maternal fetal specialist. I got to take a tape. I am SO excited about having a tape and getting to see Raina again. I will probably see the specialist once a month and maybe more my last 4 weeks. She looked perfect!!! I go back to Dr. T on Monday the 14th.

Oh we did decide to name her Raina Joy-Janae. Raina was on our list with Salem as one of our two favorite hebrew names it just didn't make the cut. We have decided on Raina because we wanted to stick with the Hebrew names and it's our favorite. It means pure. But decided on Joy-Janae as opposed to May-Michelle (those have also been on our lists for ages). The reason we liked Joy was the scripture the Joy of the Lord is my Strength and Janae is a combo of Brian's moms middle name and my grandmothers name. May-Michelle is my grandmother's middle name and my middle name. We just liked the idea of honoring both families. I am feeling good just still VERY tired. I assume the tiredness comes from being 37 and running after a 2 year old! LOL. But all is well. I am going to VEGAS with a group of buddies from a private IVF board I am on. I get there the 31st and will stay the weekend and fly home on Monday the 4th. I am excited.

OK! I think I am caught up until my next OB Appt on Monday! I will be better about updating!

1-17: I had a good appt today. My blood pressure was excellent. I measured right at 19 weeks (am 19w5D) and a shocker I gained 5 pounds! ACK! I've never jumped up that much in 2 weeks! LOL. So I am 191. Still only 2 pounds over pre-pregnancy weight.

They will call me later today with my U/S appt. He wants it with the maternal fetal specialist (basically a peri just a different title).

I go back in 2 weeks. He said when I go back to expect my insulin to go up and by 24-26 weeks I will be off glucophage totally rather than insulin and gluc and just on insulin. He said after around 24 weeks is when they start having trouble the most with blood sugar levels.

He said I could travel at 30 weeks (really up to 33) barring any complications! So that's exciting since I want to go to Vegas in early April when I am exactly 30 weeks!

That's it for now! I will post when they my U/S scheduled. Hopefully it will be this week. I am not sure how hard this guy is to get into. He did say Dr. M would probably schedule to see me and the baby several times after this visit.

Oh I haven't felt the baby move a lot but the heartbeat was strong so hopefully that will kick in soon.

Oh here is a belly shot taken this morning!>p>

1-3: Had an appt today. I am up to 186 (so up 3 pounds from last visit but still down 3 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight). I am going to take pepcid for the heartburn/indigestion and see if that helps.

And I have to go on insulin. Blech! I am not excited. But at least I have experience with shots right? I am still eating well but my blood sugar is creeping up. I had 6 mornings in the past 2 weeks where my fasting sugar was around 97-99 and they should be under 95. So I will go on 2 types of insulin (can't remember the names - I will pick them up later) and do one combined shot in the morning and then take the glucophage. If that doesn't work we will do the insulin only.

He said this is common for type II diabetics and I shouldn't have to stay on Insulin after birth.

12-15: Went to the Dr. today and they couldn't find the heartbeat. It was heartbreaking. I had an U/S two hours later and thank GOD everything is ok. The baby's heartbeat was a VERY active 163 and I was measuring about right. So everything is is fine. Thank God. My other news from today's appt is I lost another pound so I am down to 183. I don't get it. I've been eating.

11-8: I had an OB appt today. We tried to hear the heartbeat and couldn't. I think it's too early at 9w5d right? We tried today at the Dr.'s office and couldn't hear it. Dr. T said not to worry but of course I do worry! How on earth do we not worry?

BTW I am down to 184 1/2 (My short term goal was 185!!! And my bloodwork looked good. I still have to get my A1C (a blood test for my diabetes) and see the opthamologist on the 29th. I go back to the Dr. on the 22nd.

10-7: I'm pregnant. I am BEYOND shocked. As you know I found out I was diabetic in Feb. Since then I have been taking glucophage and eliminated sugar and white flour products from my diet and lowered my cholesterol intake.

I've lost around 60 pounds. When I saw the ob in mid September he laughed and said - I wouldn't be shocked if you found youself pregnant in the next few months! I joked and said yea right. But in the back of mind I've ALWAYS hoped since I have been ovulating well. So then the big issue is the hostile CM and from what I've read PH/acidic levels can change, blah blah blah. See how I am trying to figure out how this happened?

Well my first day of the last cycle was September 1. If I get to CD 32 I take provera to bring AF. Well this time I felt my cervix and it was SO high and closed I wondered what if? Which I felt was stupid at the time cause we only BD'ed CD 10 and 11. I didn't even think I O'ed this month (usually I can feel it).

But I took a HPT yesterday and this morning and they were blaringly positive.

So I had a beta drawn this morning and my level is over 4000.

We're still waiting on my progesterone levels to come back and he wants me to have an U/S next week on Thursday.

I am beyond happy! In a perfect world I could lose more weight and decide when I get pregnant but since the latter has NEVER been my choice I am ecstatic! :)

I will be 37 in February and Salem will be almost three when the baby is born. So that's pretty perfect!

I am a little nervous. I had a pretty scary pregnancy with Salem. I know the circumstances are TOTALLY different. No IVF or multiple gestations but still. I would really appreciate your prayers!!!

WOW! I know I am rambling but I am more speechless than I sound. IRL I am pretty speechless!

Brian is ecstatic! Thank you Jesus Thank you Jesus Thank you Jesus!!!

10-14:I had an U/S today and saw the heartbeat. It was 114. I am 6w1d! I have an OB appt on the 25th. He said to keep taking my glucophage for now!

10-26: Well I had my 8 week appt today. WOW and to think I thought this could be a normal pregnancy! LOL Dr. T was VERY excited for me but he said having diabetes before pregnancy is a whole different ball of wax than gestational diabetes. I will be monitored very closely.

Things we will watch for:

* Kidney/Liver problems for me and as my liver enzymes are still elevated this is of particular concern
* If I get real sick with nausea I am to call him for a script. Nausea combined with the glucophage can cause lactidosis (sp?). In the meantime I am to take a B6 vitamin 3 times a day to combat the nausea even if I feel good.
* It's ok if I lose some weight as long as I am eating well. He only wants me to gain 15 pounds. I have to be SUPER strict on my sugar. Thankfully I already am.
* Many moms on glucophage do end up going on insulin and many have to stay on insulin after birth. Thankfully I am used to needles eh?
* Diabetic moms tend to have premature babies and/or babies with low birth weights and many end up in csections. He said most diabetics don't go past 38 weeks even without problems. He said we would do everything we can to have a vaginal birth but that sometimes it's just not possible.
* Some diabetic moms have babies with congenital heart defects. And yeah that makes me REALLY wonder about Salem's heart issues but I can't do anything about it now.
* I will see the peri (thankfully there is on in town now) twice even without complications for 2 scans of the baby to check for congenital problems. If there are problems I would see them more often.
* Wants me to see an ophthalmologist around week 15 and week 30 to make sure I'm not developing retinopathy.
* I will be going to the Dr. every 2 weeks starting now! Yeah this one surprised me. I have to test my blood sugar 4 times a day and will get blood work every 2 weeks to check my liver enzymes and blood glucose. When I am further along we will add non stress tests to the regime.

WOW can you believe it? I didn't know of all the complications that came with diabetes. I honestly thought it would be the same as with gestational diabetes but it's not. I was overwhelmed but ultimately SO very thankful to be pregnant that it's ok!

It's worth it all. I will do everything I can do and hope and pray for the best! The rest is up to God.