3 Day Diet

This diet is kicking my butt!  Now I am no stranger to sugars and carbs but this is killing me. I did a good job following it Friday but I felt like crap most of the evening.  Then Saturday I did a good job until mid afternoon and then I got sick.  Now I can't say for certain it was the diet and the excess amount of food that I was eating but I think it was.  Today I have had a terrible time trying to follow the diet because I don't want to get sick again.  I am trying but all this food is killing me and not to mention the milk!  UGH!  I hate milk! I do like chocolate milk but even I can't drink a lot of that.  I guess all I can do is try to eat as much of it as I can and pray that the test comes out good tomorrow!

This is the diet I have to follow! If you click on the photo you can enlarge it to read it!

July 28th Visit

Today was my 28 week ultrasound.  They checked fluid, BPP, and Doppler and all was really good!  She did great with breathing again which they were impressed with again!  Again she kept moving the cord so they had a hard time getting the Doppler but they did get it.  When she was getting me my weekly profile shot Lacee leaned her head back and stuck out her tongue!  It was the coolest and cutest thing!  I think she has my attitude already! HAHA!!!  She tried to catch a picture of it but it was so unexpected that she didn't get it!  What I wouldn't give for a video at this point?!

I did talk to Dr. Grandis about the 37 weeks and he said that is typically when they deliver but that he is not planning that far ahead and that we should take it one week at a time.  He said that there are 2 kinds of IUGR.  The 1st is the IUGR that is present throughout the pregnancy and the 2nd is IUGR that shows up in the 3rd trimester and this kind can put much more stress on the baby and tends to require the earliest deliveries.  He did say I would not go to 39-40 weeks.  So just to make sure we are as prepared as possible we are going to plan on 37 weeks but if she decides to show up at 35 weeks that is still possible too! 

We also talked about the gestational diabetes and he said if it does come back that I have that then we might wait a little further to deliver if possible because sometimes gestational diabetic babies are behind other babies.  He said it will just be another symptom they add and monitor.  He said that he doesn't think that her IUGR is related to my metabolic issues and he thinks that Lacee's DNA just has her being small for some reason. 

I really like Dr. Grandis.  He is very funny but serious and can put you at ease.  He reminds me to Dr. Dorton a lot and maybe that is why I like him so much.  I am still not sure where I am going to deliver if I get her to 37 weeks.  I really love Thomasville but I still feel like I might be better off at Forsyth just because of the NICU which they do not think she will need at that point.  Oh who the heck knows!  I might just wait until 36 weeks and decide then!

July 28th Profile!  Lacee at 28 weeks!

Goal 2 Reached!!! YIPPEE!!!

So My 1st goal was to get Lacee to 24 weeks which is viability for a baby.  My 2nd Goal was to get her to 28 weeks which I reached today!  That's right I am 28 weeks today or 7 months however you want to put it!  So now I am working towards my next goal! Next goal marker is 32 weeks!!!

Here we go again!

Normally gestational diabetes leads to large babies this is a medically proven fact.  So with Lacee's IUGR I just knew that my sugar levels were going to be fine.  Needless to say I was WRONG!  Yep, Dr. Dorton's office called yesterday afternoon to let me know my sugar levels were high and that I now need to do a 3 hour test.  I have to follow a special diet for 3 days and then I have to go into the doctors office and they will draw my blood 4 times over 3 hours.  The high end of the normal range is 139 and my sugar was at 154.  So I was 15 points above the high end of the normal.  They said it is not the highest they have seen but still high enough that I have to do the test.

So here we go again just another thing that I have be tested for.  I tell you these doctors visits and all this is starting to get to me.  I must say I have been doing a pretty good job of keeping it together during all this but I am tired of doctor's appointments and I am tired of the constant worry!  I am just tired!  I know they are just trying to make sure that our Lacee gets here and is as safe as she can be but sometimes I just want to scream!  I guess the best thing to do is to just pray that all turns out to be alright at the end of the 3 hour test and that the 1 hour was just a fluke! 

37 weeks and Gestational Diabetes

Tuesday I had a doctors appointment at Thomasville and I was seeing Dr. Bryson.  I was also doing my glucose tolerance test to check for gestational diabetes.  So I drank that nasty drink they gave me exactly 1 hour before my appointment and they drew my blood when I got there.  Then I saw Dr. Bryson.  Lacee's heart rate was great and I was 27 weeks 5 days gestation but my belly is measuring at 26 weeks which is also behind but with her IUGR it makes sense.  From last last visit at Baptist I was supposed to check with my OB about what would happen if I got Lacee to term and if the hospital had a weight limit.  Dr. Bryson said that there is not a weight limit at Thomasville and as long as she is breathing fine they can care for her there.  I asked about getting her to 40 weeks and he said I would not get her to 40 weeks.  He said the latest they would let me go is 37 weeks which was a surprise for me.  I figured they would let me go as long as she was growing but he said that since there is some reason she is not growing in the womb that they will take her as soon as lungs are developed.  The doctors at Baptist have never given me a final number they just keep saying we will get you as far as we can.  So today I am asking them about this 37 weeks to see what they say.  Most of things I have read online agree with Dr. Bryson but I am going to ask again just to make sure but if this is true then I only have a little over 9 weeks until Lacee arrives!  

Good Bye Papaw!

Today is Papaw Lester's funeral.  Today we say our final good bye's.  My Papaw was sick with leukemia and this disease had really taken its toll on him.  My mind knows that he is in a much better place where he is not suffering anymore.  My heart is selfish and still wishes he had more time here with us. My sister Tara found a great poem and I wanted to share it. 

When I am gone release me
Let me go, I have so many things to see and do
You mustn't tie yourself to me with tears
Be happy that we had so many beautiful years
I gave to you my love
You can only guess how much you gave me in happiness
I thank you for the love you each have shown
But now it's time I travel alone
So grieve awhile for me, if grieve you must
Then let your grief be comforted by my trust
It's only for awhile that we must part
So bless the memories within your heart
I won't be far away, for life goes on
So if you need me, call and I will come
Though you can't see or touch me, I'll be near
And if you listen within your heart you'll hear
All my love around you soft and clear
And then when you must come this way alone
I'll greet you with a smile and say
"Welcome Home."

We love you Papaw and We will miss you so very much but no matter how much my heart breaks I know that you are enjoying heaven and one day I will see you again!

Lester Franklin Potts

February 11, 1929 - July 21, 2011

Nanny Peg and Papaw Lester

Nanny and Papaw

Me and Papaw Fathers Day 2011

Papaw, Nisee and me Christmas 2010

Mama, Daddy, Papaw, Dusty, Heather, Tara, and Me Fathers Day 2011

Nanny and Papaw Jan 2011

Papaw, Nisee and Nanny Fall 2009

Papaw at My Wedding

Papaw holding Nisee Summer 2009

Our Family Jan 2009 (Missing Tara and Heather)

An old family Picture from 2000

An update on Lacee and Papaw Lester

This has been a long, crazy, stressful, happy, and sad week and it is not over yet. I guess the best thing to do is to tell you about the events of the week.  Monday my Papaw Lester fell at home and it was decided that he needed to go to the hospice house.  Tuesday morning he was moved to the hospice house in Winston.  I spent all Tuesday evening there with him and he was still talking and besides the sores from falling he seemed to be about the same as when I saw him Sunday.  Wednesday I had my fetal echo at Brenner's and Daddy went with me.  They scanned me for an hour!  They were very meticulous about seeing all the arteries, valves and areas of the heart.  To do this they had to use a lot of pressure and it was painful!  It was all worth it because there are no major heart deformities!  They said some small deformities they are not able to see until the heart gets much bigger but that everything they saw looked great and they even checked the flow of the blood through them and the flow was very good.  It was such a relief to know that there is not a major heart defect.  I was in quite a bit of pain and I was cramping after this because of all the scanning and how hard they had to scan.  I had to go with Daddy back to Hospice House to where he was at with Papaw before going back to work.  My stomach kept cramping and hurting so I decided to just stay there and rest and spend some time with Papaw.  His condition had really gone down from yesterday but he was still talking when you asked him a direct question and he would recognize you when you were there.   He looked at my Dad that afternoon and said "It won't be long, Denny" and of course I had to go outside so I could cry.  Then I called Chad and had him bring Nisee up there to visit with Papaw that evening.  She came up there and was an angel the whole time.  She's 2 so she doesn't like to listen all that well right now but she did so great!  She gave Papaw hugs and kisses 2 times and he got to see her playing and talking.  He loved to watch her play.  I stayed later than Chad and Nisee but I did go home eventually that night. 

I got up early the next morning to go to my growth scan at Baptist and I knew Daddy had stayed with Papaw all night so I took him some breakfast.  He was going to go with me to the scan but when I got to hospice Papaw had gotten worse so I told him to stay there.  Plus no one was there and I just didn't think he should be alone at all.  So I went to my scan and we got more good news!  Lacee has grown 2 weeks worth in 2 weeks 1 day time.  She is measuring on average 24 weeks and 3 days and I was 27 weeks.  She is still about 2 and a half weeks behind.  She weighs 1 lb 6 ounces.  She gained 6 ounces in the past 2 weeks.  The doctor said that the main thing is that she is continuing to follow her growth chart which is the most important thing. He showed me the growth curve and she is following right along it!  So GO LACEE!  The ultrasound tech was also very impressed with her breathing of the fluid.  She said that this early they normally aren't practicing as much as she was but she was practicing through the entire scan.  Again I say GO LACEE!  Her movement and tone as well as the fluid also looked good.  We had a great visit and I am glad because we needed it.  I also talked to the doctor about delivery just because I have been wondering.  He said I needed to check with the hospital because if she continues to do this well and have growth then he sees no reason why I can't get her to term but that she is going to be really small and some hospitals just do not like to deal with babies under a certain weight even full term and breathing fine.  I have a visit at my OB in Thomasville on Tuesday so when I go I will verify this with them and depending on what they say I might have to transfer to the Baptist OB's.  Personally I am hoping they will say they can handle her no matter size as long as she is full term but I will do what is best for her and safest for her.  I just love Thomasville Hospital and I am not a fan of Forsyth at all. After my visit I went back to see Papaw and to tell Daddy about the visit and show him all the great pictures and tell him the good news.  When I got there I told Papaw I was back and he said acknowledged me.  While there the doctor came by and said that Papaw had developed pneumonia and that it would not be long and Papaw told her that while she was there.  She talked to Nanny a lot and we all cried of course.  I really liked this doctor. This was really her calling because she was really good. 

I only worked about 15 minutes away and I needed to go into work.  So I went to work for the afternoon and I got back to see Papaw at about 6:15 that evening.  He knew me and knew I was there but he didn't talk this time when I came in.  Everyone was there but Drew and Jake.  Drew and Jake arrived shortly after 8 and went in and told Papaw that they loved him.  Then Papaw Lester passed away.  He knew we were all there and that we all had been there.  I knew it would be quick but I didn't think that it would be that quick so it caught us a little by surprise even though we knew it was coming.  Papaw Lester is the only papaw I remember because my mom's dad passed away when I was 4.  The arrangements for Papaw are Saturday night at Eatons Funeral home for the viewing from 7-8:30pm and the funeral will be at Hardison UMC on Sunday at 3pm. 

3D

Smiling

Hand

Hand at Face

July 14th Ultrasound

This morning I had my weekly ultrasound at Baptist and this was my first visit by myself.  Chad and Mama both had to work so it was just me!  Lacee must have known her Mommy needed a good outcome today because she did awesome today!  Her heart rate was 155.  She was breathing the fluid really well and the fluid levels looked great.  When April (yes I am on first name basis with the sonographers!) was trying to listen to the uterine artery blood flow Lacee kept moving the cord away from her with her hand.  She was finally able to get a good listen and it is still really good!  She was moving a lot as usual, LOL!   Also I actually remembered what the name off the fetal well being test is called.  It is actually the Bio physical profile abbreviated BPP.  So if you here me talking about BPP then you know what I am talking about.  I saw Dr. Gaskins today and he wanted me to schedule me for 4 more weekly visits including the one I have next week.  This made me happy because in my mind this means that they wouldn't schedule me if they didn't think Lacee wouldn't be staying in my belly!  Now I know there is still a chance that if a test doesn't go well that could change but I am going to be optimistic!  I have weekly appointments set up through 31 weeks!  I got some more pictures which included a good 3D one! 

Profile Picture

3D Picture ... Shes so precious!

Big Foot! LOL

Routine OB Visit

I had a regular OB visit today at Thomasville.   I still have to go to them for the routine OB stuff every 2 weeks.  My BP was great at 115/70 and there were no proteins in my urine (tmi) and my iron is good.  Dr. Ellis measured my belly and it was measuring at 25 weeks and I am 25 weeks 6 days today so basically 26 weeks so I am measuring 1 week behind as far as my belly size.  Nothing too major though so no worries!  I like these visits because 99% of the time there is no bad news! Tomorrow I got to Baptist for my weekly ultrasound!  Prayers for more good news tomorrow!

Pregnancy Pictures

Here are a few pictures of my pregnancy with Lacee!  

Taken in Ross I think

After Church

More Good News!!!

Today we got some great news about Lacee!  At my last ultrasound on June 22^nd she was measuring 20 weeks and 1 day even though she should have been 22 weeks and 6 days.  It has been exactly 2 weeks since that ultrasound and today she is measuring 22 weeks and 3 days.  That means she has grown 2 weeks and 2 days in the 2 weeks since my last scan.  She has also gained about 4 ounces and weighs 1 pound now.  On June 22^nd she weighed 12 ounces.  She has grown really well over the past 2 weeks and that is a great thing!  We were really happy about this! 

 

She also did really well on her fetal well being assessment.  She was able to demonstrate some breathing and even had the hiccups.  The fluid also looked good.  It is still in the low end of the normal range.  She had great motion and tone.  She was moving a lot during the scan and that actually made it a little hard to see some of the breathing.  My mom and I weren’t sure what tone was and Dr. Decker explained that it was how she was moving and her range of motions.  Motion just measures if she is active where tone looks at how she is bending her knees and arms or is she just limply holding them. Dr. Decker said that motion and tone go hand in hand.   The uterine artery Doppler test showed good blood flow just like last time!   

 

Lacee is still measuring very small even though she did a great job growing these past 2 weeks.  Her gestational age is 24 weeks and 6 days and she is measuring 2 weeks and 3 days behind that.  She is still below 5% meaning that 95% of other babies her age are bigger than her.  They did not give me her exact percentage.  Her Abdomen is measuring at 21 weeks and 4 days. So it is a little behind the rest of her but Dr. Decker said that is not abnormal since it is not a huge difference.  She is still considered symmetrically growth restricted.  As long as Lacee continues to show good results on her fetal well being test, good blood flow on the UA Doppler and continues to show good growth then the plan is that they will get me to the highest gestational age they can.  This means weekly scans for me which will include the fetal well being test and the UA Doppler.  Then bi-weekly I will have a scan that includes both those tests as well as a growth measurement.   My next appointment is July 14th at 9am and then again on July 21^st at 9am.  I also still have the Fetal Echo on July 20^th at 11am.  I have to come prepared to go into the hospital at each appointment just in case a test doesn't turn out well.   

 

For now we still do not know what is causing the growth restriction. The tests continue to point away from a placenta problem now and more towards either she’s just going to be very small OR another issue we do not yet know of and the only way to determine what that is would be to do an amniocentesis.   We are not going to do that because there is a risk of early labor and we want to keep Lacee in as long as we can.  Right now we are trying not to focus on the unknown but more on what small successes we are having.  These past 2 visits have brought us so much hope.  The doctors were not very hopeful but Lacee is strong and we are determined to do all we can to pull her through this. We are going to take this day by day and week by week because that is the only thing we can do.   We thank God every day for all we have and just continue to pray that he keeps watching over us and giving us strength to get Lacee as far as we can!   We also can’t say enough about how great our family and friends have been during this time.  It is through ours and your prayers that we are making it through this!   

Lacee with her Arm up at her face

Lacee's leg and foot

Lacee's profile

 

Happy 4th of July!

We had a great long weekend!  We spent Saturday at Chad's Mom's and we all enjoyed swimming in the pool!  Nisee really loved it!  Her puddle jumper was exactly what she needed and she was able to swim all over the place on her own!  It was a great day!

Nisee Swimming! 

Then Sunday we went to the New River to hang out with family and friends!  We had a great time and Nisee really loved being in the river! I spent most of my day sitting in a chair by the river just watching everyone and it was awesome!

Nisee in the New River in VA

Today we spent most of the day being LAZY and we loved it!  We went to dinner and to visit my Nanny Peg and Papaw Lester this evening and we got to see my cousin Scott and his wife Tracey that I haven't seen in so long that Chad had never met them.  It was nice to see them and hear about their recent trip to Africa.  We were going to go to fireworks in Mocksville but Nisee started getting fussy and tried and then I started not feeling so hot myself so we came on home.  However we got to see a ton of fireworks all from our back deck.  Our neighbors had to spend thousands of dollars on all these great fireworks!  I know we (me and Chad) sure appreciate it.  Nisee didn't care for the them too much and kept point at the door and saying "Inside...Inside"! 

Over all it was a great weekend!  Chad is still off tomorrow and he is going to enjoy a long day of mowing and house projects!  What a great day off huh?  I go back to work tomorrow and while I always love my time off at least I have a great job with a great company.  I am kind of glad that we have had all this fun this weekend because it has made the time fly by.  It is hard to believe that my next doctors appointment is already just 1 day away.  After the last appointment went so well I am starting to get nervous about this one.  This one is a big one too because this will tell us how much she has grown which is important because if she hasn't grown like they want her to they will put me in the hospital!   It has been nice to just enjoy a weekend with a little good news and almost pretend like this was a normal pregnancy but it's back to reality now.  All we can do is keep praying and keep faith that we will make it through this!  We hope everyone had a great Independence Day!