20 weeks - halfway! :)

I cannot believe that I am already 20 weeks along...halfway!  It feels like it's gone by fast, but then again - when I really think about when we found out I was pregnant (late April), I really don't think it's gone by fast at all (not in a bad way!).  I think the fact that we didn't tell people for the first 12 weeks or so made the first trimester go fairly slow - but once I hit the second trimester, it definitely has gone by faster!

Even taking into consideration the medical stuff I've been having to deal with, I really really LOVE being pregnant.  I love that I can feel our little girl move now and that my belly is growing - I finally feel like when I wake up, I actually look pregnant, which makes me so happy! 

Speaking of medical stuff - a little update on what's going on with my gestational diabetes.  Maybe a few weeks ago I would have started this sentence with "unfortunately", but I actually don't feel the need to anymore.  About a week and a half ago, I started having to take insulin.  I was definitely scared at first because I just don't know a lot about insulin. When I went in for my "insulin how-to" with the nurse, I left feeling a little discouraged and upset that I had to start this medicine.  I think the fact that I actually have to give myself a shot (not a shot like an EpiPen where you just press a button - but a true shot) really started freaking me out.  And of course, the unknown of how my body is going to respond to this new medicine - especially considering it did NOT respond well to the glyburide pill a few weeks back. 

After actually starting the shots the next day and talking with a few people about how insulin is actually not as scary as it may seem - I really started getting a hang of it and realizing - "hey, this isn't that bad!" (a special thank you to the person who has been my "go-to" insulin person - you know who you are :) - it means a lot to me, thank you!)

The good parts about insulin:

• I have a humolog pen, which doesn't need to be refrigerated and I just carry with me in my purse.  I just click the dial to however many units I need (no measuring!)
• The needle is SO thin - I honestly don't feel it go in.  It is less painful than my finger pricks to test my blood sugar!
• My numbers are GOOD!  Despite a malfunctioning few shots the first week, which my numbers reflected, things seem to be under control.
• My dose is very low (for now at least), and even that low dose is controlling my numbers.
• Insulin is actually FDA-approved for pregnancy, unlike glyburide.
• Our little girl (hopefully!) is staying healthy and at a good size - this is all worth it for her!

The bad parts about insulin (I actually had to think about this for a minute...):

• I've been struggling with the fact that I don't really want to announce to the world that I am diabetic.  For instance, I feel weird taking out a snack in the middle of a meeting because I'm starting to feel like my BS is dropping - I need to get over that because it would be more embarrassing to pass out on the floor and have to get the shot in my upper butt or stomach :)  This happened in a meeting in Chicago a week or so ago - and I ended up not taking out my snack because of me feeling like it would be "inappropriate" with the group.  Luckily I was fine, but I really should have.  I will not do that again.
• The fact that I have to be religious about my mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack so I don't bottom out.  But, a little planning ahead and this really isn't a "bad part".
• It will be much more difficult to take insulin and get my necessary snacks when I am traveling for work.  But, a little planning ahead and I hope this won't be an issue either :)  I will get to try this out a lot in September - looots of traveling.

So there's the update - definitely praying that taking insulin continues to go well and that I never have to use my reserve "emergency foods" that I carry with me in my purse if I start to bottom out....or the emergency insulin pen!! 

20 week picture coming soon.... :)