Counting Carbs and the Giant Baby....

The text I received at work had just two words, but meant a great deal.  Lisa had sent the message, "I'm doomed", and with that I knew that one of the last few remaining perks she had as a hospital patient was gone.  The whole ordeal began a few days earlier, when Payton's 27 week sonogram showed a healthy, growing baby.  And by growing, I mean REALLY growing.  She was nearly a full pound ahead of schedule.  I figured she just took after dad.

Lost in this sonogram was the fact that the amniotic fluid levels were on the high side, and that Payton's belly was somewhat large, two tell-tale signs of the dreaded gestational diabetes.  Although Lisa "passed" her first glucose check at 22 weeks, a second test was ordered to see if anything had changed.  "I'm doomed" meant she had a positive test, and that all candy, desserts, breads, potatoes and pastas (staples of the Nicely diet) were now on serious restriction.  Although Lisa was on bed-rest, and had spent almost 8 weeks in the hospital by this time, she could take comfort in the fact that she could wreck a piece of cake if she wanted.  No longer, it appeared.

Its been several weeks since then, and Lisa has done remarkably well on her new, modified diet.  If you're wondering at home if the restricted diet hospital food is worse than unrestricted, the answer is yes.  Restricted diet lunch lasted about two days.  Breakfast is about the only thing Lisa will eat from the hospital anymore.  But she's "taken one for the team", and done a marvelous job of counting carbs and doing what she needs to do for Payton.  Even if it means wanting to punch Guy Fieri right in the bleach-blond through the television every time he stuffs his face full of something delicious.

We're now at 31 weeks, and in a mad dash to get ready for Payton.  We've received a tremendous amount of support from everyone.  I was blown away by the "daddy-shower" my work put on for us.  While 40 weeks is full-term, there is virtuously no chance we'll see 40 weeks.  We've had the betamethasone shots to boost her lung development in the event she comes early, and her sonogram today estimated Payton weighs a whopping 4 pounds 11 ounces.  The sonogram technician said jokingly that if she keeps growing like this, she'll come out walking.  Lisa was quick to point out that she's just 31 weeks, and at this rate, Payton is gaining half of a pound each week. Walking or not, how a baby that big is going to manage to come out is a different story.