Quite A Day

Yesterday was a packed day!

In the morning, Roarke and I left the boys to their own learning and playing, whilst we finished off painting and organising our bedroom. Well, I say finished - we have 2 piles of papers still to file/sort!

After lunch, we went over to the hospital for my 34 week check up. The antenatal clinic was very busy - running about 1 1/2 behind schedule having had only one doctor on for most of the day.

I saw the same consultant, but this time he seemed much more open and friendly - perhaps someone had put a note on my file!

Straight away, he noticed my puffy ankles, then measured me. At 34 weeks I came out as 38 cm. He checked things over on the bedside ultrasound, and Jonathan looked very content in there, heart clearly visible, and head engaged (!).

However, considering last week my GP measured me as 33, at 33 weeks, this was a big jump. He sent me round to have a glucose test to check for gestational diabetes. He also ordered a scan (booked for Wednesday) to check on "the size and well being of the baby".

Hmm. Hard not to worry about things like that, in fact I've spent the past 24hrs looking up GD and what I should be eating if that turned out to be the case.

Actually, I've just rung the hospital; they said that the random glucose test came back within the normal range. Don't know what exactly - the last one I had at 23 was only just under the highest point of range.

So now I'm all confused. Trying to assume that either Jonathan has just put on a normal growth spurt (in other words, not a growth spurt associated with anything being "wrong"), or that he just stretched out more yesterday. I've been saying for several weeks that he seemed big for dates, but as he lays oblique most of the time, its hard to tell. Maybe, now he's engaged, it just means his full length is more obvious.

However, the past 7 days I've definately had the same symptoms as if I'd had GD - excessive sudden hunger, thirst, dry throat, nausea, blurry vision... Don't know. Have to make myself wait patiently (ha!) till Wednesday.

The day wasn't over yet though; at about 8.30 William swallowed a small metal ball - just a bit bigger than a geomag ball. The usual family panic stations. Called NHS Direct just to reassure myself that I was doing all the right things (don't know why I bother, as usual, too little too obvious too late was their response). More useful was the fact that Roarke was out at someone's house - someone from the church who happens to be a gp! So when I rang him in a fluster, the guy gave us advice and reassured us that everything was ok.

I did the normal mum thing: "I hope now maybe you'll all stop putting things in your mouths" only to find William with another small toy in his mouth about 5 minutes later!

According to NHS Direct I need to "monitor his bowels" for the next 4 days until it comes out...

Today, in between searching the internet for stuff on GD etc, we set out to collect some stuff from freecycle (being let down somewhat by a lady in Lakeside after we drove all the way over there to get a baby bath, only to find she had apparently gone out...). This afternoon I've been sorting and packing clothes and food for our trip to Sheffield tomorrow.

I realise this is the first time away since the boys went GF last year, and its just dawning on me how hard it can be. I did look into places to eat up there that could cater gf, but in the end its easier to pack our own food. We hope to be able to cook at a friends tomorrow night, then at the EO venue on Saturday night (as we are only staying in a Travel Lodge).

Makes me think about how we'll cope in Disneyland... still can see us giving in for the 4 days and allowing them gluten. Especially as, in order to get them formally tested for coeliacs just in case, they do need to go back on gluten for a while. Not sure I can face that though!

The boys have had a huge game out this afternoon, building invididual towns, and connecting them with railway track. The towns are made out of things like the cola cups (of course!), lego, and some very ingenious use of house shaped boxes and other items. Even the roads were named after where they were (station road, dockside etc) and Joshua in particular has shown a good grasp of town planning in the layout of his.

Whilst over at Lakeside we saw two Eddie Stobarts in the services - we are assuming we'll see many more tomorrow!

I've also got some I-Spy books for the journey which have grabbed the boys imagination and interest just as I'd hoped, so that can help trigger off all sorts of good learning conversations during the journey!

So, no more posting from me till Sunday/Monday - depending on how tired I am, and all supposing I don't end up labouring in Sheffield! Packing my maternity bag just in case....