Feeling SO much better

Since last Wednesday I have felt like a new woman! =) The doctor permitted me to "sit elsewhere" and I have done just that and loved it. Looking at the same four walls all day was getting old and kind of depressing so it's nice to have other options.

I went to church this past Sunday for the first time in over a month and that was very refreshing. For me, it's so much more worshipful to attend the services instead of depending on the televised program. We have been so thankful for our church family who has gone and above and beyond by providing meals and their presence. There have been several days where friends have stopped by just to sit and chat for a while. That has been just as a necessity as the meals. Thanks, y'all!!

I went to my Gestational Diabetes Consultation today. It was very encouraging as I learned more about what I can and can't eat. The past couple weeks I have depended on wheat bread/crackers, cheese, milk and bananas! =) It's great to know that those are just a few of the MANY foods I can eat during the remainder of the pregnancy. I was given a glucose monitoring kit so that I can check my blood sugar level four times a day. I tested my blood sugar all day today and it looks great! Hopefully I can keep that up and continue to get positive feedback at the doctor's office.

Nathan and I are leaving for Atlanta Friday. We are driving to Hendersonville to stay with my sister Friday night then driving the remainder of the way on Saturday. I am looking forward to a weekend away from Louisville and celebrating my one-year anniversary with my best friend!


Meg

Latest Doctor Visit

I went to the doctor this morning. The past few times I have been I have received not-so-good news. Well, today that changed!!! I had an ultrasound and Baby scored an 8/8 on all of his little tests (fluid, heartbeat, size, etc). I met with the doctor after the ultrasound and he said that baby and Mama are looking perfect. Wow! What great words to hear! The medicine has helped my blood pressure TREMENDOUSLY and I have been on a diet for the past week to help with the gestational diabetes. The past month of bedrest has paid off and I am SO thankful!

I am not out of the woods yet, though. The doctor suggested that I stay low for the next two weeks until I see him again. He said I can start adding activities back into my daily routine. His words, "You can sit somewhere else." hahahahaha So, I have permission to go out to dinner, sit at a friend's house and watch a movie, etc. He asked that I do things in very small doses for the next couple weeks just so I don't overdo it. I am not able to go back to work but I am hoping at my next appointment, he will let me add that back in.

Mine and Nathan's one year anniversary is April 5th and Nathan had a great weekend in Atlanta planned. Also, my family has a vacation planned for Easter weekend in Gatlinburg. When meeting with the doctor I asked him what the rule was when it came to me traveling. I told him where I wanted to go and he said OK! Yay! He asked that we stop every hour or so for me to get out of the car to walk around, get something to drink, etc. but then when I am at the destination (Atlanta or Gatlinburg) that I keep my feet propped up as much as possible. Nathan and I have had to rethink our agenda in Atlanta but it will be a great weekend. As for Gatlinburg, I have a husband, mother and sister who will make sure I sit and have my feet propped up as much as possible.

Thanks again to all of you who have offered prayers and encouraging words!! They are not taken for granted!! I am thankful for a great church family who has provided meals. I can not say "thank you" enough!! What a blessing you have been!


Meg

Very Thankful

Since I have used up all my vacation time at work, the past week or so has been unpaid sick leave. It is still worth staying home to make sure the baby and I are healthy, however, work has been very gracious in having work delivered to our house! Yesterday, the courier service here in Louisville delivered TEN boxes of work for me to do. Yay!! I spent about six hours working today while I watched basketball. It's a lot easier to get work done when the TV is on. =) Believe it or not, I do miss being in the office but this gave me something to do to make the day go by a little bit faster. Thanks, Mike!!

Well, our March Madness brackets aren't doing so well. Only one of my sweet sixteen teams has been eliminated (Boston College), but I guess that's better than it could be. Tennessee lost today which didn't surprise me at all...oh well, I guess there's always next year.
Two of Nathan's sweet sixteen teams have been eliminated - Boston College and Northern Iowa. Who picks Northern Iowa?!?! hahahahaha

Only 5 more days until my next doctor's appointment. I am hoping for good news.


Meg

March Madness

March Madness starts today!!! Yay!!! I go back to the doctor next Wednesday so until then I have the NCAA basketball tournaments to keep me entertained. Nathan and I filled out our brackets yesterday and I am hoping that my selections prove to be better than his!!





Meg

Consultation

I am having to do my gestational diabetes consultation at the hospital where I will be delivering. I got a call from the hospital today and I will not be able to get in for my consultation until March 31st!! Crazy, huh?! Luckily, a good friend of mine used to be a diabetes consultant so I am going to talk to her about foods I can and can't eat until I am able to meet with the people at the hospital.

Several of you have asked about when that consultation would be so I wanted to let you know.



Meg

COUSINS

My sister, Tiffany, had her ultrasound today to determine the sex of her twins. Ultimately, I just want them to be healthy but I have wanted atleast one of them to be a boy so that our little guy would have someone to play with. Remember, I have one nephew that is almost fifteen and two neices that are seven and four. So, if she had two girls my sweet little baby would be way outnumbered! =) Well, she called me from the doctor's office to let me know that they are both boys!!! Awwww yay!!!!

Austin (14), Sunniee (7), Graciee (4)

Congrats, Hollis family...I am so excited!! =)

As for our baby, Nathan was off work today so we were able to get some stuff done in the baby room. Don't worry, he made me sit on the couch and if I came in the baby room, I had to sit. He finished putting the changing table together and moved some furniture around. Thank you, Nathan!! You're the best! I love you and our baby will love you for helping with his room! =)


Meg

Weekend Update

My sister and her family came to visit on Saturday (yesterday) which was definitely a change of pace! They got here around lunchtime and left after dinner. My friend, Kim, made plenty of lunch for everyone and she provided entertainment for my neices. She has a daughter the same age as Sunniee and Graciee so she brought over a few movies for them to watch...thanks, Kim!!! Tiffany, Tommy (brother-in-law), Austin (nephew) and I played Phase 10 while watching the UT/Alabama game. Yeah, I won!!! Well, we didn't finish the game but based on what was played, I won!!! =) Tiffany did some cleaning and laundry which I am SO thankful for!!! Thank you, Tiffany! I love you!

Me and Eli (our cat) normally spend the day reading, watching TV, reading, watching TV...noticing a pattern?! =) It wasn't a normal day for sure and I am glad. I loved having them here and am looking forward to seeing them again in a few weeks.

This (Sunday) morning was such a struggle. Nathan left for church at 9:00. Our ABF (aka Sunday school) meets at 9:15 and the worship service is at 10:30. He left for Sunday school and I was jealous!!! I wanted to go. I have been watching the services on TV but it just isn't the same. So....I got ready and convinced myself it was ok to go. I would leave at 10:15, sit in the pew and come home. What harm could that do, right?! I was dressed and ready to go at 10:00. I was getting ready to put my shoes on and I started feeling guilty. The doctor has instructed that I take it easy and not go anywhere. Dang it!! So, I put the shoes back in the closet and pouted. =) I tried justifying why I should be able to go but it wasn't working.

Only 10 more days and I go back for an ultrasound and maybe the doctor will allow me to add some activity back into my life! If not, it's all for the baby and he's worth it.


Meg

Glucose Test

I was at the doctor's office from 8:30-noon yesterday (Thursday) for a three-hour glucose test. I had the glucose sceening test done last week and it came back abnormal so I was asked to come back for a three hour test. The doctor's office called me today and, again, the test came back abnormal. So, I have tested positive for diabetic onset during pregnancy otherwise known as gestational diabetes. I have to set up an appointment with the nutrionist and she is going to show me how to use a blood-sugar monitoring kit.

One thing my doctor has really advised me NOT to do is go online and look up terms/symptoms of pregnancy. I have been good about obeying that until now! After hanging up with his office I immediately went online to see exactly what Baby Moore and I are going through. I went to webmd.com and started reading about the causes, cures and effects of this diabetic onset. Apparently, it doesn't last after pregnany in most cases and is easily controlled with the blood-sugar monitoring kit that I will be given.

As I have said before, the first 20-weeks of this pregnancy were VERY ideal. I had great weight gain and blood pressure and all my lab work came back clear. I never had morning sickness or nausea and my energy levels were relatively normal. When I texted my sister, Tiffany, the results of the test her response was, "Have faith." Faith was SO simple during the first 20-weeks while the past 7-weeks I have had to pray for that faith to be strengthened. Every time I go to the doctor he says, "Baby looks great; heartbeat is wonderful...just take care of yourself." Praise God that Baby Moore is healthy and growing at a normal pace. God has proved Himself faithful time and time again in my life and I have faith he is going to do the same during the next few weeks. Sure, it's not ideal that I might be delivering the baby a few weeks earlier than planned, and it's not ideal that these complications have lead us down this road, but God is God. I am in no place to question His authority...I just have to have faith.


Meg

THANK YOU

I want to say a special THANK YOU to those of you that have been praying for us. The past few days have been more discouraging than the past couple weeks, and your words of encouragement have meant so much.
I have been reminded that this is what the body of Christ is all about - praying for, encouraging and serving one another. Nathan and I are blessed to be part of a church family that carries out that purpose.

My friend, Hannah, came over when she got out of school yesterday. She stayed and visited for a while which was GREAT!! She brought a bagful of DVDs - all 10 seasons of Friends and some chick flicks. Yay!!! Thanks, Hannah. You're awesome!!!!!!

Hannah at a service project at A Woman's Choice Resource Center last fall.

Last night my friend, Stephanie, brought dinner to us. I am SO appreciative of her going out of her way to do that for us. She is expecting her fifth child in May so she stays plenty busy with homeschooling and taking care of her family. The dinner was delicious! Thanks, Steph!

Stephanie and I at Brandon and Brittany's wedding last summer.

Thanks, girls!!!! I am thankful for your friendship!!!

Note: The pictures on here are just so you can put a face with a name.

Meg

Two more weeks...

I started the blood pressure medicine on Friday and since then my blood pressure has been good. I was 99% sure that when I went into the doctor's office today, he would say, "Wow, your blood pressure looks great. You can go back to work but take it easy otherwise." I wasn't that lucky. Instead he told me that I needed to be on bedrest for another two weeks.

Fortunately, my blood pressure is maintained but the swelling is still there. He said this is something called edema which is normal in most women at this phase of pregnancy (26 weeks). He said this can also be due to weather - when it gets warmer out most women swell. However, he is still concerned since I am more swollen than I should be.

He also told me that my glucose test came back abnormal. I noted a couple posts ago that he said all my tests came back normal. I thought that meant all the tests I had taken up to that point but apparently they didn't have the results when he told me that. So, my urine test and all blood work has come back normal but the glucose test came back abnormal. I go back this Thursday for 3-hour glucose testing. Then, I go back on the 25th for an ultrasound and check-up. Until then I am on bedrest.

Until February 23rd (which is when I got put on bedrest) my pregnancy had been very uneventful. The past few weeks have been emotionally draining. I keep going back to the doctor and receiving confirmation that Baby Boy is doing great. That is probably the only thing keeping me from totally freaking out!

Thanks again for your prayers and words of encouragement. This too shall pass.



Meg

Medical Update

My doctor's office called me on Thursday afternoon and asked if I could come in on Monday instead of Tuesday. Since I have soooo much to do, I had to check my calendar (hahahaha), but I let them know that Monday would be great. A couple hours after talking to the medical assistant and scheduling the appointment, my doctor called to talk to me about results from tests and what the next step would be.

Praise the Lord, ALL tests have come back normal. This includes the original blood tests they did; the glucose test that was done Wednesday; the blood work that was done at the hospital; and the 24-hour urine test that was done Tuesday. I had additional lab work done last week that tested my liver enzymes and platelets. These are examined when testing for preeclampsia. These, too, came back NORMAL!!! Yay!!!

So, the next step is to start blood pressure medicine and see if that helps. He was hesitant to put me on this at first because he was concerned that something else was wrong and he wanted to find that first. Reminder: My blood pressure at the end of January was 118/something (I don't remember the bottom number). At my February appointment, it was in the 150's. He was concerned because of the drastic jump over a period of a few weeks.

He called in a prescription for me and Mama and I went and picked it up yesterday (Friday). I have taken it three times since then and my blood pressure has gone back to normal! If I don't take the medicine every few hours, then it is back up in the 150's and 160's but that just means I need to be disciplined in taking it. How exciting!!!!!!

I go back to the doctor on Monday for a check-up to see how the medicine is working. I am hoping to get a good report and start easing back into work, church and whatever else I have going on. I know, Mama, I will take it easy!! =)

I am SO thankful for our your prayers and words of encouragement!!! These past few weeks have been emotionally draining as I have spent lots of time thinking about the baby and hoping and praying he is ok. After the ultrasound on Wednesday I am so thankful that he is perfectly fine and healthy - I will do whatever I need to do to make sure he stays that way!


Meg

My sweet Mama

I called Mama after leaving the hospital on Wednesday. She told me that she would be leaving first thing the next morning to come stay with me for a few days. Nathan and her agree that I am a little hard headed when it comes to people doing stuff for me. I tried to convince her not to come, but she wasn't going to hear it.
She arrived in Louisville around lunch time on Thursday and just left this (Saturday) morning. The past 48 hours have been awesome for several reasons:

1. I had company 24/7. Nathan works 10:00-7:00 most days which means I spend the majority of the day alone. It was so nice to have someone to talk to besides Eli (our cat). =)
2. Mama cooked the whole time she was here. Since I have been on bedrest we have been eating leftovers, picking up carry-out or fast food or heating up frozen pizzas. Mama made baked ziti, bread, chicken and rice, breakfast casserole, pancakes, pineapple casserole (one of my faves), corn, chicken salad - geez, I am sure I am forgetting something. She made all of this for the meals while she was here but she put the leftovers in the freezer and refrigerator. Thank you, Mama!!!! All of it was yummy and I am so thankful to have plenty of food...I am sure Nathan is just as glad as I am, if not more! =)
3. She did all of our laundry, changed sheets on the bed and cleaned (dusted, mopped, vacuumed...everything). Since I have been on bedrest, Nathan and I had done pretty good at keeping stuff picked up but it was definitely time for a good dusting and mopping.
4. I had someone to play Phase 10 with! =) I love playing cards/board games. Nathan doesn't enjoy games near as much as I do, so it was good to have someone to play cards with. We played a couple games of Phase 10 while watching TV at night. Mama hasn't watched American Idol in a couple years now and I might have gotten her re-addicted. She was here for the "Wildcard Night" which was a good one.

Mama went above and beyond and I am SO thankful!!! The past few weeks have been very quiet and restful...I guess that's why it's called bedrest, huh!? =) It was great to have someone here to keep me company. Who better to do that than my Mama?

Love you!!!



Meg

Baby Moore Updated

I went to the doctor this (Wednesday) morning. I knew that I was going to have an ultrasound. Apparently, high blood pressure can harm the growth of the baby, so the doctor wanted to check and make sure Baby Moore was developing normally. Praise the Lord that he looks great!! His heart rate is good and he is growing at a normal rate. He is still right on track for a June 16th due date.

You can see his face on the right side of the picture and his legs are pulled up to his chest. This is my favorite picture so far.

Unfortunately, even after a week and a half of bedrest, my blood pressure was even higher than it was before. The doctor is still concerned and hasn't been able to determine what is causing the rise in my blood pressure. He said that my platelet levels were normal which is a good sign when testing for preeclampsia. However, he decided to admit me into Labor & Delivery at the hospital to monitor me and baby for a few hours.

I was already scheduled for the glucose test in March so they went ahead and did that while I was at the clinic. The glucose test is routine during pregnancy, and it screens for gestational diabetes. I had blood work done for that, then Nathan and I headed to the Labor and Delivery unit at the hospital.

We were there for about three hours and everything is fine. My blood pressure stabilized as long as I laid on my left side. So, I am on bedrest until my next appointment on Tuesday. As far as I know I am just going in for a check-up and see what the next step is.

My mom is driving up from Jackson, TN tomorrow. I am SO excited, although I wish it were under different circumstances. I am not very entertaining when I am laying on my left side all day! =) LOVE YOU, MAMA!!!!

P.S. I want to say a great big "Thank You" for the flowers that were waiting for me when I got home from the hospital today. My work (Vocational Economics, Inc.) had flowers delivered and they are beautiful. Thank y'all so much!!!

Meg

Linds & Anna Kate

Lindsey and her 6 month old daughter, Anna Kate, came to visit yesterday (Tuesday). They were so thoughtful and brought me potato soup from McAlisters. Thanks again, Linds!!! You are too sweet!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE playing with Anna Kate. She is such a happy baby and so well-behaved. They stayed for a couple hours until Anna Kate was ready for her afternoon nap, then they headed home.

I am so blessed to have such great friends!

Nathan was off work yesterday (Monday) which made for a better day. He had class last night but he was able to stay home during the day and keep me company. My mom bought us (well, Baby Moore) a changing table. It was ordered through JCPenney so we went and picked it up right before I went on bedrest. This was Nathan's first day off since, so there was finally time to start putting it together. We (yes, we...no worries, I didn't overdo anything) spent about two hours assembling the table before he had to leave for class.

For the rest of the evening I had company. My friend, Kim, brought Nathan and I pieces of pie from the Homemade Pie Kitchen...yummy!! Even better, though, she vacuumed our apartment! There were pieces of "popcorn" all over the floor from the changing table box. I was embarrassed for someone to be at my house with such a mess so being the good friend that she is, she vacuumed it for me! Thanks, Kim!

I have been a fan of the Bachelor since the season started a couple months ago. My Monday nights are committed to the show. My friend, Lauren, came over last night to watch it with me. She graduated from the seminary last year and is moving to Nashville in a couple weeks so it was great to get to hang out before she leaves. Hopefully, I will not be confined to bedrest for much longer and we can do something a little more exciting before she leaves town.

Kim and her daughter, Alexis, at a Highview gathering this past fall

Lauren and I cheering on the Vols when they played Mississippi State this past fall - so good to have a UT fan in the 'ville!

Thanks for keeping me company, girls!


Meg

Weekend

Guess what I did this weekend?! You guessed it...NOTHING! =) Except for the PAT (go ahead, Mama, make a joke), the past couple days have been uneventful. My heartrate has gone up to 105bpm atleast once a day since the first episode a few days ago. I have been keeping up with the occurrences so I can tell the doctor when I go on Wednesday.

I am excited and anxious about our doctor's appointment this week. I have felt the baby move more and more so I think he is totally fine. I just hope that there is good news regarding my health. If you think about it this week, pray for my sanity these last few days before I go back to the doctor; pray for Nathan as he continues to work, go to school and take care of me. He has done a great job but I feel like I am neglecting my duties (I know, I know...); pray for our appointment on Wednesday.

To all of you in Jackson, TN, have fun playing in ALL THE SNOW!! I know y'all are excited!


Meg