Today is New Year's Day and boy do I have a story for you! First off, here's a short recap of our 2010.
1) Decided we would finally start trying for kids. I cried...I was very unsure this was something I could do or handle but look at me now! I am very excited!
2) Went to a Roller Derby on Feb. 14th which was also the first day that I had my first flare up. 3 months later, I finally got a diagnosis of non-specific inflammatory bowel disease and meds that seemed to help.
3) GOT A NEW JOB! Thank goodness for small miracles! I had been in a job that was stressful, long hours, unfulfilling, and overall toxic. It's no wonder I couldn't get pregnant and my doctor said that the job was the best explanation for what happened with my health. Excessive stress is BAD!
4) A few trips in 2010. Went to Las Vegas with Mary Kate, Nick, Lindsey, and Chad. Had a great time...except for #2 being an issue the entire time. That was before the specialist and meds. Went to St. Louis with Kevin and Leah. On the way, Leah told us she was expecting and I nearly cried. We had been trying with no success. This was the first time I knew I was ready! Toured the Budweiser brewery which was fantastic, a must see, and saw a baseball game in excessive heat. #2 was an issue now and then but getting better! Went to Colorado in August to visit Chad and Lindsey and attend a wedding for Andy Johnson. Had a great time! #2 was only an issue once..and realized something wasn't quite right with my cycle...
5) Day after we returned to Kansas City, took pregnancy test #1 and it immediately read "pregnant." I went to work, took a half day, and told Robin that night! Extreme excitement! Confirmed 2 days later and now I'm knocking on 27 weeks' doorstep!
6) Got closer with a lot of friends and family. I feel more a part of Robin's family now and wouldn't have a problem calling any of them if we ever needed something or just to say hello. While big changes have happened in my family, I feel closer to my Uncle than I ever have. I've also always been a Grandpa's girl, but scares with his health this year brought me closer to all of my Grandparents. Got close to Kevin and Leah which has been an extreme blessing as she's exactly 10 weeks ahead of me pregnancy wise. I also feel closer to Phil and Marsha as they have entrusted us to be God parents to their daughter. Many others that I can't mention here.
2010 was full of challenges, big decisions, big changes, and many highs and lows. I guess what I can say most is I'm looking forward to 2011, praying that my health issue does not return post pregnancy, and that we're blessed with a healthy and happy baby!
Now, let me tell you about my most recent doctor's appointment. I contemplated not saying anything because this isn't something that most females wish to discuss. But I guess I feel that maybe my experience can help those of you who haven't experienced this and who may in the future. I had an appointment yesterday, 12/31/10. Since I had the day off and it was my glucose clearance test day, it was the perfect time to kill two birds with one stone. I had heard nothing good about the glucose test and about the concoction they make you drink but honestly I thought it was just extra sweet fruit punch. I only had to be there an hour and since they built in my checkup, time flew. I even had an excellent phlebotomist and before I knew it, the two vials she needed to complete the test were drawn and I was done.
The part of the visit that wasn't so good was, surprisingly, the visit with my midwife. The first thing they always do is get my weight and while I'm not normally very sensitive to that process, I knew that I had eaten more this Christmas than I had in the past. I knew and was prepared for the fact that I'd likely gained more at this appointment than at previous appointments. So, the nurse took my weight, took my blood pressure, and got my urine analysed without issue. When my midwife came in for the exam, I asked her how much I had gained. I won't tell you but I will say it was a shock. She launched into not worrying about it, that I needed to walk more and move my body, that I just needed to watch what I ate a little better now. The whole time she was talking, I was fighting tears. I had never in my life been told I was too big or gained too much or even had someone tell me, an exercise physiologist, that I needed to exercise more. After this discussion, she had me lay back and she examined my belly, listened to the baby, and talked but I couldn't tell you anything she said other than "the baby is doing great!" The entire time, I was staring at the ceiling, counting tiles, counting dots, anything to keep myself from a full out breakdown. Finally the appointment was over and I was told to come back in two weeks, they'd call Monday about the glucose test, and have a nice New Year's. By the way, I now have to go in every two weeks. This pregnancy is really flying by!
There are two things about women that not one of them wishes to discuss. The first is their age, unless of course they've aged well and are proud of their progress. The second is their weight. Under almost no circumstance do women enjoy discussing their weight. I have always had trouble keeping weight off. I'm a champion at putting it on, especially when I don't exercise to compensate for my love of food. I know I've been a lazy pregnant mom, that if anyone really knew I was an exercise physiologist they might be shocked at my lack of movement during this time. But I controlled my eating well and to this point had done a good job.
When I got to my car, I was okay though I turned off the radio (I never do that) and started to make my way home. I didn't break down until I got into the garage and I sat there, trying to use up the tears before I had to face my husband and pretend everything was fine. The thing is, I can't hide a thing from him. I never have been able to, I hope I never can really, so when I walked in the door and he said, "Hey baby, how'd it go!?", I couldn't speak, started to cry, and shook my head "no" when he asked what was wrong. He was alarmed immediately and I think I probably scared him that something happend with the baby so the first thing I managed to say was "it's not the baby. She's fine." I finally blubbered out what had happened, to which I don't think he was sure what to say. Eventually he sat by me on the couch, rubbed my back, and reminded me that he didn't think I looked like I'd gained that much at all and that he wondered if the measurement was even right. Afterall, they measure me on a different scale almost everytime.
Finally I decided I should take a shower and calm down. The best I could do was exercise more, eat better, and try to remember that this is my baby we're talking about and if anyone can get the weight off, it better be an exercise physiologist who works with some of the best dieticians in Kansas City. As I was stripping off my clothes, I wondered if maybe Robin was right. Maybe their scale was wrong. I pulled out my own scale and believe it or not, my scale was 6 lbs. less than theirs. That would mean I gained only an average amount and am still right where I should be.
One of the first things you'll learn if you ever work in weight management or research for that matter is that your instruments need to be accurate and as precise as possible. That means they have to be calibrated and that measurements such as weight have to be taken in the same clothing and around the same time of day everytime. Unfortunately, doctor's offices do not have the luxury of any of these, though they could calibrate their scales. None of them do, to my knowlege, which means more often than not, you're going to run into a scale or two at your office that is not at all correct. The best any of us can do is buy our own scale, weigh ourselves in the morning, in no clothes or in the same clothes everytime. That is a more accurate and precise weight, even if your scale isn't new or calibrated. SO, the short of it is I honestly do not take the doctor's weight seriously. How could it be grossly heavier on theirs than on mine, with only a difference of a pair of light pants, shoes, t-shirt and about 20 minutes? It's not possible.
I guess this is why I'm writing this to all of you. I could easily have let this tear me appart for days or weeks or the remainder of my pregnancy. I am already terrified that I will have trouble getting back to my pre-pregnancy, let alone my goal, weight. But with a lot of my education and a good nudge from my husband, I rechecked what the doctor said and found it to be unlikely that it was even close to correct. Robin did a great job in this situation too. He didn't make me feel like I'm huge, he made me feel that I was doing a great job being pregnant, and reminded me in a gentle way that I could check the doctor's measurement. All of this doesn't mean I won't exercies more or that I won't eat better. It just means that I'm still on track with my weight and this scare can maybe help some of you who may go through this in the future. Pregnancy is hard enough. Why stress about a number that sometimes isn't even right? Do your homework. Track your own progress on your own scale, at the same time of day, preferrably in the nude. (No ladies, you don't have to have a mirror nearby!)
I hope that all of you had a great New Year's and that maybe this post will help you take your pregnancy weight with a grain of salt. Doctor's are smart and very helpful, but they're not always right!
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Unfortunately, Robin and I forgot to take my 27 week picture for you but in the next post, I'll have 28 weeks instead!
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