O Tannenbaum

O Tannenbaum may be the only song I ever learned to play on the piano when I was younger. As a middle child I missed out on piano lessons. My oldest and youngest brother both had piano lessons. But oh how I could plunk out O Tannenbaum! O Tannenbaum is a German Christmas carol about a fir tree I think.

In the spirit of Christmas I turned on the fireplace or channel 165, had myself some eggnog and decorated the tannenbaum or plastic tree.

I realize it is December 16th which is really late to be decorating a tree but this is not the first time I have decorated the tree this year. 

In November we rented a basement suite in an apartment that had been converted from a church built in 1953. We moved in November 8th. I set up the tree as per tradition on November 11th after the Remembrance Day Ceremony. L was unable to sleep as there was no sound proofing between the units. L is both a sensitive sleeper and needs to sleep during the day on occasion when he works a 12 hr night shift. As a result his anxiety levels over his ability to function at work were through the roof. So before the month was out we were on the move once again. We have been in our new rental unit almost three weeks now. Moving is really exhausting. 

I almost didn't put up the tree again. 

This makes me recall another year when we "tried out" having a puppy. Oscar was his name. He was really adorable when he was sleeping otherwise he was a terror, biting, chewing, peeing. L was trying to study for his finals when we brought Oscar home. L in a fit of exasperation one night when I was out for the evening packed up the tree after corraling Oscar in his kennel. Oscar had discovered the tree and thought it was fun to dive bomb it and knock several ornaments off and then chase them around the room. L eventually moved out to his parents place to study in peace and quiet and I was left with caring for Oscar and trying to teach him to stop biting and generally destroying our home. We eventually admitted to ourselves that Oscar was not a great fit for us and thankfully the breeder whom we had purchased Oscar from had given us a trial period and let us know that there were other families interested in taking on Oscar. That year I did not put the tree up again.

I may revise my traditional November 11th tree decorating timeline in favor of mid December.

Decorating the tannenbaum goes like this:

 First I mention to my husband L that we should put up the tree. The tree is put up, but L gets a great idea that we should go out so we never get to the decorating. A week goes by because I think it would be fun to decorate together but there never seems to be a good time to do it together. 

Then because L is the expert at light placement I drop hints about putting lights on the tree. He does not take the hint. So I haul out the lights and start winding them around the tree. L can't help but notice that I have placed them in a haphazard way and so comes to my assistance. Plus I can never reach the top. This is last years pictures but do you see how seriously he takes lighting the tree?

When I was younger it was tradition that we all decorated the tree together. My dad would put the music on and bring out the eggnog, cookies and Christmas oranges. My mom would pop some popcorn. Granted it was usually Christmas eve before we started decorating the tree and we had an odd assortment of home made, and mismatched "Charlie Brown type" decorations. In L's family by contrast his mom was the only one to put up and decorate the tree. 

How do you build new traditions and yet retain aspects of traditions you loved when you were younger? As it goes L might join me in decorating the tree if I plead but usually he would rather not. I used to request he would saying it would be fun to do together. But for him it is not usually fun and he gets distracted. How about you? Do you decorate the tree by yourself or with someone else? Is decorating a tree more of a "girl" thing to do? (My three brothers when I was younger always joined in but was that because we were kids?) 

So today I decided to finally decorate the tannenbaum. 

Last year I found new ornaments on clearance for 75% off so I was excited to try a new colour scheme than my usual gold, silver, red and green. I still utilized the green.

I like natural elements like wood string balls and pinecones. I hope to find some more or make some so if you have seen some natural decorations or have a great diy tutorial let me know!

I like to sort all the decorations first. And then put one sorted type of decorations on at a time.

And voila!

Some pretty details...

I bought these glass humming birds the first year we were married. A few have since broken but I love the few I have left.

I love these brass decorations. They sometimes get lost in the tree as the colour is not very vibrant. I purchased these along with the glass stars below when I was living and working in Dawson Creek.

It feels so festive in here!

36 Weeks and An Answer to Prayer

Since my last post we had an answer to prayer. In the next ultrasound we learned that the baby had turned and was no longer breach. The baby is not fully engaged yet but we are hopeful it will not flip again. Also the amount of amniotic fluid increased around the baby. And the baby has moved from the 10th percentile to the 12th. I have a number of follow up appointments tomorrow and Friday including an ultrasound, NST at the hospital, meeting with a specialist, an appointment with the diabetes doctor for my gestational diabetes and also my regular doctor appointment. We are hopeful.

Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement! 

Gestational Diabetes, Ultrasounds, and NST

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Here I am lying on a hospital bed clicking every time I feel the baby move with a band strapped around my belly that records the baby's heartrate. The nonstress test records the baby's movement, heartbeat, and contractions. It notes changes in heart rhythm when the baby goes from resting to moving, or during contractions if you're in labor.

How did I get here?

I drank this orange drink waited one hour, had my blood drawn and went home. I received a call two days later that I had failed the glucose test and needed to have a follow-up two hour test. In the two hour test the lab takes a sample of your blood prior, one hour in and at the two hour mark. I went home and again received the fateful call that I had failed this test also and would need to see a dietician.

So I went to see a dietician who explained I had gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs when a woman's ability to process glucose is impaired. The high blood glucose levels can lead to a large baby, immature lungs, and problems at delivery. A carefully balanced diet and/or insulin injections are generally used to manage gestational diabetes. 

Some of the factors that may put you at higher risk of having gestational diabetes include: polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), having gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy, your age (you may be considered as higher risk if you are 30 or older), being known to have insulin resistance, previously having a large baby, or a previous unexplained stillbirth. Did you know if you are as old as me, 37, you are classified as a high risk, geriatric pregnancy. I hit three of these factors.

The dietician showed me how to check my blood sugar, and what are acceptable rates. After I met with a doctor who perscribed diabetes supplies. They are expensive! 

Around this time I was transferring doctors from Alberta to Saskatchewan so my care was also transferred to the diabetes clinic at the hospital. Here I learned I would have to take samples of blood sugar 7 times a day. Not fun! I am very thankful that gestational diabetes goes away after pregnancy although I am at risk for developing diabetes after. I really feel for individuals who have had diabetes all of their lives. It is miserable! At first I thought how can I do this. Actually I almost passed out the first time I had to prick myself because I have a low tolerance for blood. I had to put my head between my legs and I felt really faint. The nurse had to bring me a glass of ice water. Now I am an old pro at it. Well not really but it is much easier. It was really hard for me to keep my blood sugar levels on target in the mornings. Additionally I have to measure my ketones . I would wake up and my blood sugar would already be high as well as my level of ketones were difficult to control.  I really do not understand how I can go to bed with an acceptable number and wake up with high blood sugar. I was referred to a doctor who specializes in diabetes. Now I have to meet with him once a week and also take insulin three times a day. The number of needles never ends! 

I have found however that much more effective than insulin is walking. I can take insulin and not really see any change but if I go for a walk my blood sugar levels come significantly down. So I try to go for a walk once or twice a day. Thank fully the weather has been cooperating and we are experiencing very mild weather. 

Isn't 9 degrees Celcius incredible for December. I am so thankful that the weather is great for getting outside and going for a walk.

Today on my walk I met this gentleman and his falcon! We had a lovely chat.

Gestational diabetes increases the risk of having a very large baby and so I was sent for an ultrasound. 

The ultrasound was quite unlike the others I have had that are all cheery. She was rather quiet and did not make any comments then said she had to go talk to the radiologist near the end leaving me laying on the bed for quite a while. I never even got a printout of pictures like I usually get. I thought something was up. I left the clinic and was in the parking lot of Superstore to get some groceries for dinner when I received a call from my doctor asking I come into see him within half an hour. I was really worried and cried in my car because I did not know what was happening.

I still don't really know what this all means. I learned from the doctor that the ultrasound revealled not the expected large baby but a small baby. You might think this is a good thing but it is not. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a fetal weight that is below the 10th percentile for gestational age as determined through an ultrasound. This can also be called small-for gestational age (SGA) or fetal growth restriction. I went from the 50th percentile on my previous ultrasound to the 10th percentile. 

There are basically two different types of IUGR:

• Symmetric or primary IUGR is characterized by all internal organs being reduced in size. Symmetric IUGR accounts for 20% to 25% of all cases of IUGR.

• Asymmetric or secondary IUGR is characterized by the head and brain being normal in size, but the abdomen is smaller. Typically this is not evident until the third trimester.

Our baby is the second type. 

Pregnancies that have any of the following conditions may be at a greater risk for developing IUGR:

• Maternal weight of less than 100 pounds
• Poor nutrition during pregnancy
• Birth defects or chromosomal abnormalities
• Use of drugs, cigarettes, and/or alcohol
• Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH)
• Placental abnormalities
• Umbilical cord abnormalities
• Multiple pregnancy
• Gestational diabetes in the mother
• Low levels of amniotic fluid or oligohydramnios

Also I learned that the amniotic fluid around the baby had decreased. 

So that is why I am now having non stress tests for the baby every two to three days. Further the ultrasound revealed that the baby is in frank breach position and as a result I was told I would be having a c-section around week 38 or 39. 

I have been trying to drink more water as I've heard that may help to increase the amniotic fluid and my prayer warriors have been praying for me. The baby has really been moving/kicking today. I have been trying to eat more also hoping that this will help the baby to grow and increase the size of the baby to a little more than the 10th percentile. I don't know if it will help. Who but me has trouble gaining weight in pregnancy. Ironic.

I have another ultrasound on Wednesday. 

I hope and pray for my baby that it will be healthy. Today we are 35 weeks. 

Reading Habits

Reading Habits Tag

I love books and reading! 

I was excited to find this morning Rosie @ +Rosies Cottage  tagged me in a fun reading quiz.

Reading Tag - The Questions  

Do you have a certain place at home to read?

I read mostly sitting on the couch in the living room with my feet propped up on pillows and with pillows at my back. Always pillows! Or in bed with pillows behind my back. 

Bookmark or random piece of paper?

My mom is always making me bookmarks that are so sweet but really I use any random piece of paper that is close. In my book currently I have three random pieces of paper- an appointment reminder from the doctor, a pamphlet on becoming a member of the art gallery, and the reminder slip when you check out a book at the library. I usually only have one random piece of paper. 

Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter or number of pages?

I have to stop at the end of a chapter or a natural break. I think I learned this habit when really young and my mom was calling me to help in the kitchen or go to bed. I could usually draw out a few more minutes by calling I just have a few pages until the end of the chapter.

Do you eat or drink while reading?

I like to have a cup of tea or coffee. Before I was pregnant on the weekends that coffee included a little Baileys on the weekend. I love a cookie or two while reading although I've had to give up cookies as of late with my recent diagnosis of gestational diabetes. Sigh! Celery and carrot sticks are just not as exciting. 

Do you watch TV or listen to music while reading?

L is a gamer and so yes the tv is on and the music is playing. Right now he is playing x-com. I really don't understand it but sometimes I have to watch a particular sequence when he says watch this. Or he will ask me which ability I think he should pick for a particular character. This game has all these aliens that launch attacks on particular countries and the characters have to defend those countries or save civilians. Sometimes he watches poker on tv or some shark show. So the tv is usually on while I am reading but I usually have it semi-blocked out. 

One book at a time or several at once?

I generally read one book at a time. If I start a second book it is hard to get back into the first book.

Reading at home or everywhere?

I will read anywhere. My favorite is to read in a coffee shop. I will read while waiting for appointments, in the car while waiting for L while he is in a shop running an errand. In the summer sometimes I liked to read at the park. I once spent a year reading Anna Karenina on my 15 minute coffee breaks and 1/2 hour lunch break when I worked for Opus Framing and Art Supplies because we had to take scheduled breaks and because they were scheduled it meant only one person was on break at a time so there was no one to socialize with. 

Reading aloud or silently in your head?

I read silently in my head. When I was in university I had a friend in Political Science who would read the textbook walking up and down the halls. He subliminally influenced me because sometimes if I was trying to study/cram for an exam I would read outloud. But only if I was the only one in the room! 

Do you ever read ahead or skip pages?

Oh yes! And it ruins it everytime. It is a terrible habit. I really do not like that I do this but sometimes if the narrative is really slow or if there are a number of characters but only one that I find really fascinating I will find myself with my thumb in the section I left off and there I am reading half way through the novel. If I catch myself early enough I will put the book down and take a break from the novel. If I don't catch myself then I can end up on the last page and by that time it is too late and it is debatable whether or not I will actually go back and finish the novel.

Do you ever write in books?

No. I have picked up novels with comments by the reader and thought they were really interesting. I am a highlighter though! Give me a highlighter in a textbook or on kobo in a non-fiction read and I go crazy with colour!

Thank you Rosie for tagging me! If you haven't visited Rosie in Scotland do! Now it is my turn to tag some others. There is no pressure to participate or when to participate in this reading habits quiz and as Heather from Icing on the Cake mentioned it took her several months to get to. 

Veronica @ Passion, Pink & Pearls

Jessica @ Tall World After All

Evalina @ Fortunate House

Amanda @ The Lady Okie

Elizabeth @ Chasin' Mason

And all my reading blogger friends. Want to join in? If you have a blog write your own version and come back and leave your link in the comments section or just add your thoughts in the comments section below.