24 weeks

We just got back from almost 4 weeks in Texas. We had a great time but are very glad to be settling in at home. Elise and I got to see a bunch of friends from high school, college, and beyond and it worked out wonderfully. We got it at 10:30 on Sunday night and I had an appointment at 8:30 on Monday morning. The belly measured perfectly on track and I gained 5 pounds in the 4 weeks since my last appointment. This is less than I expected considering that I have been eating a ton of food lately! It is good to be pregnant over the holidays. That brings me to +1, since I originally lost 8 and then have gained 9 in the last 7 weeks. I think I'll probably end up at about the same weight as when I delivered Elise. I'm still working out and feeling really good but I decided to stop running last week. My endurance is fine but it was starting to ache and be uncomfortable to run... not a good combination. For now I will just walk or use the cardio machines at the gym.

At the appointment, I also had the dreaded glucose tolerance test, which basically starts your day off with a jolt of sugar and then leaves you feeling terrible the rest of the day. My blood sugar level was 141, and to pass the test you have to get 140 or under. If it is 200 or over you are automatically diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and if it is between 140-200, you have to take another test to check everything again. So, basically I have to go back and take a longer test next week to make sure I don't have gestational diabetes. I think my high sugar level might have something to do with the Dr. Pepper, chocolate milkshake, and large cookie that were consumed on our drive from Texas to Alabama the day before the appointment, haha. When you are driving that far with a toddler and a dog, you gotta do what you gotta do :)

Here is my 24 week picture, taken after my brother's wedding last weekend. Elise was a flower girl and did a great job! I'll post more pictures another time.