Baking a Baby with the Fowler's

July 20th, 2014...The day that changed my life! A positive pregnancy test! 

After 3 long hard years of trying, we finally were starting a family! My husband and I went straight to our parents as soon as those test lines showed up. They were elated! My husband's parents would be first time grandparents and my parents, well not their first but their first with me, their only baby girl!!

The next day, I took another pregnancy test just to confirm that it was indeed positive, which it was. I then called the OBGYN to schedule our first appointment. I must have been about 3-4 weeks along but the doctor I requested wasn't available for two weeks. Those two weeks were the longest of my life!

We arrived at our appointment, nervous and excited. The receptionist sent me to pee in a cup after I filled out all the necessary paperwork and the wait seemed like forever. The nurse came out and called my name, took my vitals and took my husband and I to the exam room. We waited at least 20 minutes then Dr. Peterson finally came in and her first words were, "So, you went and got yourself knocked up, huh?" Haha. She told us what to expect, asked my last cycle day and told us our estimated due date would be March 24, 2015. Then she had ordered our first trimester ultrasound. SO EXCITING!

The perinatal associates representative called me to schedule the ultrasound and when we went in, they advised it was too early because I was only at 7 weeks gestational (Nurse error when placing the order). They weren't able to check anything but we still got to see our baby for the first time. He was a small blob, but a beautiful blob! We rescheduled for the correct date and was then able to see the blob more as an outline of a baby and then we saw the heartbeat! Our hearts fluttered with joy! They drew my blood to check for these tests that I had no idea what the tests meant but it was to check for certain diseases: trisomies 21 (Down syndrome), 18 (Edward's syndrome), & 13 (Patau syndrome).  

I was called around 10 weeks with the results and was told I had a low risk for all of the syndrome's but had low PAPPA-A results....WHAT THE HECK IS THAT? We then did what every parent should not do and turned to google.
Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A- Low levels may alternatively predict issues with the placenta, resulting in adverse complications such as intrauterine growth restriction, preeclampsia, placental abruption, premature birth, or fetal death. DEATH? So we were needless to say freaked out!

At our next appointment, the doctor told us we had nothing to worry about and that it was just a pre-caution but we would essentially get to see more ultrasounds than other pregnant women. Once every four weeks once I hit 20 weeks. Her tone and expertise set us at ease.

August came around, we were a little over 10 weeks. We know you should wait 12 weeks before announcing your pregnancy but if you know me, you'll know that I am very impatient and begged to tell the world. We headed to Chicago for our annual comic-con trip and stayed with my Uncle BJ. We had to make our announcement a big deal since we had struggled getting pregnant so I suggested a photo op! My husband is a HUGE Marvel comic fan and what better opportunity than to meet the creator of Marvel and Spider-Man?!? Stan Lee, 91 years old and we got our picture taken with a sign and onsie announcing that a Spider-Baby was joining us in March 2015! It was awesome meeting such a legend and the announcement was a hit! Our next announcement wasn't as exciting but we were able to announce we were having a boy at 20 weeks!!

 The second trimester was bittersweet! We were able to start receiving more ultrasounds to see our beautiful baby grow and even got a 3D/4D ultrasound at 28 weeks. We were able to see features of how he would look and it was the neatest thing we had ever seen! During this trimester, I had to take the glucose blood sugar test to see if I had gestational diabetes....If you've never taken this test, it is a sugar water drink you have to take at the doctor's office and wait an hour (sometimes two) and they draw your blood to check your sugar levels. Mine were at 199 and should have been between 90-120. At 200, they automatically diagnose you with gestational diabetes and just skipped a second test for me since I was so close.

I had to change my diet completely. Carbs were essentially non existent and I had to be a label reader for the rest of the pregnancy. I was only allowed 35-40g of Carbs for breakfast, lunch and dinner and 15g of carbs for a snack 3 times a day. I had to not only change my diet but my way of eating also. I had to check my sugar with a glucose meter 4 times a day; as soon as I woke up and an hour after each meal as well as keep a food diary of everything I ate.
It sucked but I had to do what I could to make sure my baby came out healthy! Their concern with gestational diabetes is that the body does not break down the insulin like it should and everything I ate would be going to the baby, resulting in a large baby at delivery, low blood sugar in the baby and/or risk of jaundice. I sucked it up and did the diet. Thankfully it kept me from every pregnant woman's mind set of 'Oh, I'm pregnant so I can eat whatever I want because I'm eating for two'. I only gained 24lbs with my pregnancy and 9lbs of that was added the last month.

 January 11th, 2015 a baby shower was thrown for me by my mother, Jeani and best friend, Katie. We didn't have a baby name picked out yet but since we knew it was a boy, we had to think of a theme for the party. His nursery was made up in Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story so what better theme than just that for the baby shower? Everything was perfect, the decorations, food, friends and family that came! I couldn't have asked for a better shower. Katie also did me a favor and did some maternity shots for me! She was a great friend through this process of getting pregnant and helping out while pregnant! She also helped paint the nursery when I couldn't! Thank you, Katie Bug!!

We finally decided on a name, Gavin Wayne. My father-in-law's name is Wayne and my husband's middle name is Wayne so we decided to carry on the name and I've always loved the name Gavin, even before I got pregnant!! His nursery was coming together, his baby wardrobe was multiplying by the minute, our house was getting full of baby items and as it got closer, I got more excited and anxious to meet our baby boy!

We were 2 weeks out from our due date and I went in to be checked once a week at that point. I was dilated to a 1-1 1/2 and 50% effaced.The doctor advised since I had gestational diabetes that we could induce at 39 weeks, me being impatient like I am, I agreed. We scheduled the induction for March 17th at 7pm. Possibly a St. Pattys day baby?? I had been working hard to try to get him to come early by using a medicine ball, walking, etc but he wanted to stay in. I wasn't miserable since I hadn't gained that much weight and barely had braxton hicks contractions except for the last week. During that week, we were on edge...felt like he dropped and I could have him any minute but he held out. My husband made me put a shower liner under my sheet in case my water broke (how embarrassing, sounding like I was sleeping in a toddler's bed). I worked up until the Thursday before I delivered and that weekend was just relaxing, getting final touches done to the house before Gavin's arrival. On Tuesday, March 17th at 6:45pm, we walked into Southview Maternity center and it all had just begun!My life was about to change, FOREVER! <3