Kevin demands an update. Unfortunately, I still have little to say, suffering a particularly severe bout of blog ennui. So here is an "update" in the strictest sense of the word:
My due date has been moved up to September 19- heading for the final stretch and already roughly the size of a house.
I originally had not wanted to know whether we were having a boy or girl, but curiosity got the better of me; and DH wanted to know, to start pulling clothes out of storage and have them ready: We are having a girl. (Not-so-secretly, just what I wanted, he he!) The other kids are excited, especially my daughter and younger stepdaughter, who were jumping up and down squealing when they found out. Those two are constantly rubbing my belly, trying to make the baby kick. This was the first time I ever had a 4-D ultrasound, and they are pretty slick! (Sorry, my scanner is not working, so no way to post it.)
My gestational diabetes has returned, although seemingly not quite as severe this time - perhaps due to the dietary changes I made pre-pregnancy with the multiple sclerosis. I am extremely uncomfortable (still cannot take Lyrica) and exhausted beyond words (still cannot take Provigil) and somewhat perturbed that I cannot even rely on my standby "energy source" Mountain Dew - the taste of sugary stuff in my mouth makes me gag (also likely helping with the GD). The NP at my OB's office did, however, allow me to continue a good portion of my vitamin regimen with only a few exceptions (which I had already researched and taken myself off prior to being seen).
My two youngest just had birthdays, The Girl turning 5 and The Boy 4. She says "I'm a big girl now," but every once in a while I hear "I'm still a little girl" (mostly when comparing herself in height to others). The Boy needed glasses - and he is in a yank about it. He had them for 4 days and hid them. When Wal-Mart has their back-to-school sale on glasses, we will be getting spares.
My oldest will be 18 in about 3 weeks, and he is chomping at the bit. He has become my star pupil in learning above and beyond what the notoriously poor public schools teach. We are still working on my next-oldest, who seems to be having some difficulty pulling his head out of the public-school mentality (base stupidity) but has been open to learning obscure bits of history about our great state of Michigan.
My stepdaughters were recently forced to return to unsupervised visitation with their "mother" after 2+ years: A horror story of breathtaking magnitude, an unmitigated failure of CPS and the courts. An agent of the court hearing the custody case informed us that "the children have NO rights" but "their mother has a right to see them." So much for "best interests of the child" and the fallacy of CPS actually PROTECTING children.... No sooner had the court released the case from supervision, the games started again - from the safe house we had to request (through the courts) for exchanges due to her harassment and abuse to her continued abuse of us via the internet. Glad there are laws in place and being enforced regarding that kind of behavior.
Still working but not nearly as much as I was, thankfully not due to my health. One group I was doing transcription for went to electronic medical records and no longer needed me; a tragedy (for me), losing roughly one-third of my income. Another doctor I worked for moved to the west side of the state when his wife got a new job, and he was offered one there as well that he could hardly refuse. I wish them luck, but it is still a loss, in more ways than just the pocketbook.
Well, that's about it. Until I am able to get back on my MS medications after I deliver, posting will likely still be scarce. Still looking into my options for disease-modifying agents, since I have little desire to go back on Copaxone with the trouble I was having on it previously. I will be one happy camper when an oral medication is ready for use, since I am not particularly a fan of poking holes in myself with the injectable (currently the only type available) medications.
Take care, and until then....
A.
