Sorry it's been so long!

Everything is going swimmingly so far.  BPs have been excellent and weight is stable.  Doc told me last week I can start coming every 4 weeks instead of 2 which is good and bad.  Good because I don't have to arrange as much make-up time at work but bad because it was keeping my weight in check.  If I gain anything in these 4 weeks I'm going to ask them to put me back on every 2.  It's REALLY important that I don't gain any weight.

I'm trying to balance the exhaustion with my to-do list.  It's been pretty complicated and I'm facing the reality that naptimes on the weekends may no longer be possible or at least not 2-3hr ones.  Which is really sad but there is just so much to do!

P.S. Happy Halloween!

My letter to Santa (per my horoscope)

Dear Santa,

First, I want to say that my life is pretty sweet the way it is. My husband is hard-working and dedicated to us. My daughter is beautiful and amazing and this new LO will be someone to reckon with I'm sure!  Our family and friends are so wonderful and true. I really couldn't ask for much with regards to things because that doesn't really matter to me.  But if I had to give you a list of things to add to my already awesome life, I would want:

1.  Clean, organized and redecorated home.  Okay - it's not that fun or exciting but defnitely something that requires lots of time, which is something I don't have much of as a working mother.  I'm talking Martha Stewart/Candace Olsen all the way!

2.  Crafting Space and Time.  I love crafting.  It's fun and relaxing for me. 

3.  Time to Read.  I used to read a book every day.  Then it was once a week.  Now, I'm lucky if I make it through an entire book at all.  

4.  Volunteer.  Contributing to others made me feel so good.  I love making other people smile.

5.  Sing.   I would sing with a local choir.

6.  Dance.  Okay so if I sing - why not dance?

7.  Travel.  My family has places to go and people to see! 

8.  A job I love.   Yes, I have a great job but I want to be valued for my knowledge and passion for something! 

So that's it.  Not too much to ask right?  Mostly it involves more time.  Since you are an expert on time - I'm sure this will not be a problem at all for you.

Thanks for bring so much joy to the world!

Love,
Danielle

P.S.  I'll leave an extra chocolate chip cookie for you by the tree this year.

Today's Horoscope

"In a month or so, Santa Claus will visit a mall near you. No matter your age or your religion, you will be free to sit on Santa's lap and tell him all about your dreams and what you want for your life. Even though you probably won't choose to do this literally, you are advised to do so in your imagination. Think about what it would be like to have a magical being hold you like a beloved child, and promise you everything you want in life.  Magic can happen for you over the next few months, Capricorn, but you have to believe in it."

Saaaaanta!  I don't even know what to ask for!  This is so sudden.  Stay tuned for my letter to Santa!

Really?? Like could this year be ANY crazier?

Well technically this involves NEXT year.  So maybe I'm extending my vacation in crazy town for a whole other year! Yippee!!!

Saw my ENT today for a follow up on my still painful and stuffy nose since my lovely meeting with the hotel toilet in August.  He stuck that long tube thing ALL the way in and then said "Yep, it's a mess in there.  Your septum is smashed up against your nasal cavity wall.  Since you're pregnant we can't do surgery until after you deliver."

Surgery!  Then he told me I'd probably want to wait a few months after the baby is born since I'll have my hands full.   HA!

Seriously people - this is nuts!  Just last month the WLS surgeon's office told me I could come back 8-10 weeks after I deliver to start the process again.  Do any of these people know what it's like to have a newborn baby?  The only thing I'll be wanting is some good sleep!

Anyway, plenty of time to mull that over - but it would be nice to have a 2012 that is peaceful and smooth!

Arghhhh...

No, I'm not trying to be a pirate!  I'm already fed up and it's only just begun.  For those of you who have never been pregnant or have never faced complications, let me tell you that it is the most frustrating and time-consuming process when you are high risk.

The doctors watch you like a hawk.  This is a good thing because obviously you don't want anything to go wrong.  But it involves lots of blood work and peeing in cups and appointment after appointment.  It becomes a full-time job monitoring your health.

This was the EXACT reason why I was waiting to get pregnant until after my surgery.  The surgery was supposed to help me get healthy and back to an average person status.  Now I'm facing high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia), gestational diabetes and lord knows what else as I enter this pregnancy.

I'm angry at myself for letting myself get so unhealthy.  And in all honesty I'm scared to death for myself and for this baby.  I promise I'm going to give it my all and work really hard but I don't know if it will be enough to save me from those complications lurking right around the corner.

I'm sorry if I'm sound like I'm complaining but I just got off the phone with my OB about my failed 1 hr. glucose test - now I have to take the dreaded 3 hr.  Not a big deal if you are say 28 weeks or 30 weeks.   I'm 7 weeks and my sugars are already high.  Not. Good.

I'm not religious but I think prayer might become a new hobby.

Baby No. 2 is 6wks and 5 days along.

Had my ultrasound yesterday.  Got to see his or her little hearbeat....strong as ever.  I am still reeling from the shock of it all.  Haven't even had a chance to shed too many tears for all the work I put into the surgery preparations because I've been thrown into a whole other ballgame. 

Had my obstetric bloodwork panel, glucose test and 24 hour urine today.  I'm waiting to hear back from the perinatal doctors so I can make an appointment with them.  I have got hospital paperwork to fill out. I'm already considered high risk because of my weight and my pregnancy history.  I hope my work will be understanding.

It's going to be a long journey.  But it will be worthwhile.  I can't believe I'm going to be a mommy again!

My Life Has Changed...

...but not in the way you might think.  We arrived at the hospital around 5:45a and they took me back right away.  Shawn had to wait in the waiting room.  They put me in a little room with a curtain.  I was instructed to pee in a cup and then change into a gown and the infamous slipper socks.

As I waited, I was beyond terrified.  I examined my new wardrobe, a giant lavender gown which had a giant flap in the stomach area - I assume it was for surgical access.  It also had two portholes, one by the lower right leg and one by my upper left shoulder.  Just then, a nurse popped her head in and told me she'd be back shortly to go over procedure.

Shortly turned into a half hour.  I then began to hear discussion in the hallway.  I heard one nurse say Dr. B called and that he was not doing my surgery today.  I was furious!!!  Why was he not coming in - how could he do this??  Then I heard them call another doctor up to the floor.  I was confused but I figured at least someone would do my surgery.  I watched his feet under the curtain as this new doctor browsed my chart.  I wondered if those feet belonged to a master surgeon and maybe he wouldn't give me a drain like Dr. B planned to.

He came in and said "Hi, I'm Dr. K.".  I shook his hand and said, "Nice to meet you."  Then he said it.  "We can't do your surgery today because we believe you are pregnant."

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?!

He must have seen the shock on my face because he said, "we tested your urine twice and it came up positive both times."  I asked him how this could be as I have an IUD?!  He said it just sometimes happens.  He said they could do a blood draw and send the results to my OB/GYN to confirm.  If it's a false positive, they will reschedule my surgery.

I took two home tests - both positive.  Blood test confirmed it this morning.  Only 4 to 5 weeks along, so it's super early.  There's a  slight chance I could miscarry when they remove the IUD - so I'm really nervous about that for tomorrow.

So there you have it folks.   No gastric bypass for me - instead I'm going to have a baby.  How's that for a plot twist?