Where to begin…

This week I received the call from my OB’s office that I was dreading. Turns out that my numbers were elevated and I have to revisit gestational diabetes again. It’s taken me a bit to process the news…and I didn’t want to post about it until I met with the dietician today and got more information. I was surprised to burst into tears after I got off the phone with the nurse when she told me. I’ve been down this road, so it would stand to reason that I can handle this, right?

Please forgive me, but my first response was to be really mad and scream about life’s unfairness…dramatic, I know…but we all know my major in college so this isn’t really a stretch. I know so many people who had gestational diabetes with their first child but then skipped it the second time around. WHY me????? WHY am I the one that is now forbidden to indulge in Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes because they don’t have sugar-free pumpkin syrup?? WHY am I the one who has to give up Munchkins altogether???? This is so not cool.

After a really good cry and a pep talk from Auntie Em (who reminded me how fantastic I was at this the first time) I am feeling better now. I met with the dietician today, and it turns out that things are a little different this time around. I did have elevated levels for two out of four of my blood draws last week (which technically gives you a diagnosis of gestational diabetes), BUT I only “failed” one out of two of those draws by 1 point.

1 POINT??? 1 measly point. 1 measly point = counting carbs and bye-bye Starbucks seasonal lattes.

The good news is that I don’t (at this point) have to monitor my sugars by finger pricking three times a day like the last time. They want to test me again next week on a full stomach (instead of the highly concentrated glucose drink they give you) and see if that brings my numbers down a bit. At that point, I may or may not have to monitor my sugars. Until then, I am to move forward with the diet.

The diet, by the way, is really the way we should all be eating, I suppose. Tons of fiber, whole grains, vegetables, healthy fats, etc. It’s all about balancing everything so you can have it all, but you have to be aware of portion control and you have to count your carbs (breads, milk and yogurt…) so Chipotle is out unless I get a bare bones burrito bowl, sans the rice and beans. Tonight I had Vann stop into Wishbone for me. I had grilled salmon, sauteed spinach, mashed potatoes, and a small bite of mac n’ cheese. Sounds doable, right??

I think that the hardest thing is when you are being denied something and it’s not your choice. (And yes, I know that this will be the best for the baby, I’m not totally heartless, but c’mon, we are all selfish beings, right??) But with the coming of fall and the holiday season means apple cider donuts, chocolate-covered marshmallows from Crate & Barrel, peppermint bark, and doggone it, eggnogg. God Bless eggnogg. I don’t eat all of these things at one time, for goodness sakes, but these seasonal goodies are part of why I love fall/winter so much.

So, all that to say, if you come to the hospital or to our home to welcome Baby B #2 after November 23rd, I won’t be mad atcha for bearing some type of delicious pumpkin or peppermint flavored treat. I won’t turn you away…I will lovingly welcome all seasonal goodies, whether they come in solid or liquid form. Trust me. No really, TRUST ME.