New world in the 3rd Trimester...

I never fully realized that when people

said the third trimester

was hard, I didn't expect this.

Don't worry, we are still VERY VERY excited

about our little girl, 

and kind of freaking out now that she will seriously be

here in less than 2 months,

YIKES...

But her and I have been busy. 

As in, a growing factory 

and getting everything as ready as we can

for her arrival. 

Let me be clear, 

I am not one of those mom's 

who has everything done at like, 20 weeks or 28 weeks even.

I am at 32, and

we have a crib, bassinet,

shelf and dresser in her room.

That's it. 

lol

Oh yeah, and her name on the wall.

Nothing is finished people. NOTHING. 

For those curious people,
this is the crib we have for her,

Delta Parker 4 in 1 Convertible Crib

in cherry finish from Target!!!

Then her book shelf

Expedit brand storage from Ikea in the brown color

along with these shelfs from Ikea

in white

EKBY HEMMES is the brand, we have two of them

in the 4.5 foot length

then of course you saw me make these:

Which look like this:

well kinda and 

her letters that I decorated:

We also have now her crib skirt and drapes,
which we purchased
from Land of Nod Outlet
and are in this family

We only have the polka dot bedskirt

and the matching polka dot drapes. 

I must have this problem with her whole room to be

theme-less

as i felt a lot of them had too many pink 

and not enough other fun colors, like

orange, brown, green, or aqua. lol

We are in the process of finishing her room by the

current to do projects:

1. Build trendle under her bed that 

came with crib

2. Paint tree on wall

3. Make/Finish/Install bird mobile from tree on wall

4. paint decor/stripes on wall

5. Stencil animals on wall

6. Install/ pick up fan for ceiling

7. Sand and paint small rocking chair

and hooks

Plus stock her nursery with needed items prior to her arrival.

Now on to the medical part:

So two weeks ago, as in 

September 2nd
we had the first of many
fetal monitoring sessions
i.e. Non Stress Tests.

These consist of me sitting in a recliner,
with my feet up of course,
putting two straps around my midsection
both having some kinda of sensor/monitor on it.
(sorry for the lack of real terms)
One it on the top of my uterus,
and one is placed, more like moved
to keep her heartbeat steady.
Then I hold a clicker to push when i feel her kick,
or move.

(I really only punch it when my belly moves, when I can see her body parts,
or a big movement that you can hear on the machine, no little flutters.

I do this, for anywhere to 35-1 hour 30minutes depending on
her.

It records graphs on paper the entire time
and when Dr. J feels I have had
a good baseline of readings with enough movements,
I am clear to go!

Fun huh!!!

Yep!

I do this every Monday and Thursday until she comes.
So from today, I have had 4 of them.

Today particularly, she was super active and made for
the shortest time yet.

only 38minutes!!!

My blood sugars numbers are rising, meaning
I am pumping more and more insulin into me every day.
I used to be able to go 2.75 days on 3mL of insulin,
now, I do set changes every other day,
so like this am, I did a site change,
and by tomorrow night I have to change it again.

Medtronic didn't appreciate my increased amount
needed as she kinda of didn't care
I am over 8 months pregnant and need more insulin
than say, 5 months ago.

So as we stay busy we have a busier week.
I have another non stress test Thursday,
With an appointment to follow,
then meet with the diabetes center to review my
progress/liking/disliking of the Medtronic Minimed Insulin Pump,
meet with Endocrinologist to up my basals,
and have a growth ultrasound on Friday.
Woohoo.

Wanna guess her current weight?
I'll let you know, at 28 weeks she was abotu 2lb 15oz!!

Oh and not that this will help,
I gained one full complete pound from
Thursday the 15th to today, the 19th.
haha..
growing baby.

Until next time
Cassie

Invisible Illness Week

Today is the last day for 

Invisible Illness Week. 

After reading many in the 

DOC (Diabetes Online Community)'s

posts, 

I decided to also fill it out. 

Here I go!:

1. The illness I live with is: Type 1 Diabetes

2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2007

3. But I had symptoms since: at least 4 weeks prior to diagnosis

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is:learning

how my body reacts to blood sugars, which is never the same, and that 

I can't enjoy as much fruit at one time as possible anymore :( 

(Just know, I CAN eat fruit, and sugar, just not how i enjoyed it before Diabetes)

5. Most people assume: like I mentioned above, when people

assume you can't have or eat that. Or that I can just take a pill, or lose weight, or

work out and no longer have it. NOT TRUE.

6. The hardest part about mornings are: When I wake up too low, not where I want to be, 

or too high. Makes for a MISERABLE day.

7. My favorite medical TV show is: I used to enjoy ER when it was on, 

otherwise, I try to stay away from medical shows, ESPECIALLY when the information

is not correct.

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: "A gadget" means supply closet that I cannot

live with out. Insulin- HELLO?

9. The hardest part about nights are: never really knowing what the night will bring. 

Will it bring, 4 juice boxes, 2 packages of fruit snacks and glucose tabs,

or putting on a temporary basal all night and waking up every hour taking blood sugars

to prevent lows.

10. Each day I take a couple vitamins and Insulin but could easily take multiple pills

later when more complications occur...

11. Regarding alternative treatments: Find one, too bad you'll be looking a long time. 

Type 1 diabetes, does not have alternative treatments. Only one: Insulin.

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose:I don't know. It was always somewhat invisible until I got the pump. 

Now I get the most ignorant stares and rude people staring at what i'm doing,

or what I have clipped to my pocket..etc.

13. Regarding working and career:  Diabetes is always on my mind, regardless of 

what I'm doing. I do hate when diabetes interferes when I need to focus on work.

14. People would be surprised to know: That even though I take as great care of myself

as I can, and even if my numbers are all good, Diabetes is so emotionally and mentally 

draining that everything I do, is actually much harder than I make it out to seem.

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been:What complications

are in my future, not knowing how carrying a child would be and if

my diabetes will keep me from enjoying life, or hurting my husband or family.

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Become a mom. 

I am not yet, but still baking at 32 weeks. Diabetes has made me

push one more week each time. I have to fight for a day, 

instead of think about the months or weeks ahead.

17. The commercials about my illness: Are annoying. Even if there are accurate ones,

you never see them, you get the false information or about how someone or something

"cured" them.

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Just having a good time,

without thinking of what I have to do, bring with me, or eat/drink before I do this..

19. It was really hard to have to give up: How uncomplicated my medical 

life was before.

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is:I don't know if I have a new one really, right now is growing a baby.

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would:  I don't even know. 

Normal meaning illness free- I would probably fly back to Italy and eat my heart out, and fly

without any baggage.

22. My illness has taught me:I can do what I put my mind to, to understand how hard 

life can be, and having an illness shouldn't stop you from living, you just have to do it differently.

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: "can she eat that?" "Oh no, she can't have that" or "if it's not sugar free can you have it?"

24. But I love it when people: ASK. ASK. ASK. I don't mind explaining ANYTHING diabetes related, just don't assume I can or can't without asking.

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: 

I don't know if it gets me through tough time, but Patience is a virtue, and 

treat others the way you want to be treated. 

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: You can do this, It's hard, frustrating,

and over whelming but I PROMISE it becomes easier. Also, you will find 

your own way of what works and what works with your body.

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is:how much

of your time is consumed with diabetes.

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Seeing 

as though I am currently pregnant and diabetic, my husband has been such a 

blessing. From helping get supplies, to helping around the house, 

or making sure he gets drinks or sugar when needed

or to prepare for one.

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: It is important for me

to share with others who don't have diabetes some more aspects of what 

life is like. How if you can prevent this, DO IT. 

But to show that no matter what diagnosis I may have,

nothing is impossible.

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: That you care too about 

what my life is like, and those that have Diabetes or an invisible illness.