We’re clearing out our flat over the next 2 days.. from which we’ll be living out of our suitcases in a virtually empty space for the remainder of our time in the UK..

We saw my midwife on Thursday.. had my final check up done and the lillun checked for position, movement and heart rate.. all’s well.. she’s still saying that we have a happy baby inside.. which is all that matters.. imagine having an angry baby inside!

Gotta see my GP tomorrow.. as midwive’s aren’t allowed to check my chest ie. heart rate, etc ..so once we’ve seen the GP.. and had them sign my ‘fit to fly’ form to accompany my letter from the midwife.. we’re all set.. no more formalities, hopefully

We’re struggling to find time to catch up with people.. I’ve so far had drinks with a few people from work.. and still catching up with mates I’m not gonna see for, quite possibly, years..

Yesterday we headed to Newtown with our mate Steve and his girlie, only to end up @ Aberystwyth..lol ..dun ask! we were trying to grab some decent pub grub somewhere.. it turned out to be really fun.. not only was it my first visit to the Welsh coast.. but it’s also the first time I have seen the ocean in AGES!!..

We managed to find a decent pub that served decent food.. so much so it left us bursting at the seams.. but not so much as to say no to a proper seaside ice cream mmm… rum and raisin with triple choc..*drools*

We have got pics of this event.. but chances are that they won’t be posted until we’re in Australia.. unfortunately.. but should we actually have time to post the pics.. i’ll make sure it’s known.

We had an awesome time.. cheers Steve!!

Anyways.. we’ll be flying out on Thursday night.. and this may very well be my last post.. in the meantime, come Wednesday night, my blog (and DP’s web pages) will be offline.. every time my (or DP’s) address is hit.. it will be redirected to a place holder.. hopefully this wont be for too long.. as we hope to have the IND-Network up and hosting as quickly as we can..

So if I dun blog before… I shall blog again.. from the other side of the world

Got there today just expecting a normal check up on blood tests and whatnot.. and they say.. ‘you’ve got a scan today‘ lol.. which terrifies the crap outta me.. cos I figure they’re looking for summat.. only to realise, that because I am diabetic.. they will keep an eye on the baby’s health as well as my own.. hence checking it’s growth rate..

My mind was quickly put to rest when we got into the scan room and saw our lillun kicking up again.. boy has it grown.. it’s head’s down.. it was facing out at us.. *smiles* ..seemed quite happy in there.. with (still!) enough room to move about quite freely..

Scan Measurements

Biparietal Diameter: 73mm

Head Circumference: 280mm

Abdominal Circumference: 255mm

Femur Length: 60mm

Estimated Fetal Weight: 3lbs 9oz

So.. we’ve been told.. if I was to have the baby now, as in prematurely.. it would be at a healthy ‘below-average’ weight.. and we’ve been told that the baby’s weight at birth (full term) is likely to be just below average.. but again, healthy

The midwife was nice enough to show us how she plots the chart @ the hospital for their own records.. so we could see the that lillun was progressing perfectly well.. no concerns..yay!

I’m a bit of a worry wart when it comes to check ups.. not so much I assume the worst.. but I prepare myself for the worst.. takes away the shock factor and just allows me to absorb information.. but so far, so good.. my bouts of worry have been for no reason..

Both consultants and midwives are still saying that I need to get my Diabetes re-evaluated.. by having a Glucose Tolerance Test 6 weeks after I’ve given birth, just to see if the Diabetes is still in fact present.. as it may just be behaving for the lillun.. hehe

So.. all in all.. we’re ecstatic.. bubs is healthy ‘n happy.. I’m healthy and happy.. and we’re looking forward to getting to Australia

I’d like to thank everyone @ RSH Maternity Unit.. ‘cos their support has been amazing.. everyone’s been so pleasant.. consultants and midwives.. all appointments have been incredibly informative.. so we have an idea as to what’s going on and when.. it’s muchly appreciated.. and be sure to expect pictures sent back once the lillun has arrived.. thanks again

Not finished yet tho.. as Steve was kind enough to drive us into Shrewsbury.. we got there early and did a lil bit of shopping @ Meole Brace.. and attacked Sports World..lol .. DP and I got hold of 3 England tops for the lillun.. guess how much!…. �1.50!!! Bargain! .. hadta have ‘em ..

Cheers Steve.. the lillun has pressies from ya before it’s even born

..does anyone else think that the lion on the england top looks like the ‘we’re going to kenya‘ lion?.. o.O

So far.. I haven’t had any complications in this pregnancy.. I’ve been coasting along blissfully ignorant of what could actually make my life difficult at this point in time.. lol *smiles* ..touch wood it stays that way

Blood Pressure, etc was fine… and the midwife had a lil feel of my belly to see where the lillun was at.. seems that whenever I look down.. chances are the bubs is sticking its butt in my face..lol it was laying head down.. it’s back to mine.. so the limbs are facing out.. hence being able to see so much movement and feel it more.. it tends to stay in the same position.. head down.. but just laying to my left hand side.. just turns every now and then.. I’ve been warned about back labour.. cos it seems a baby in that position can be known to cause back pain.. in turn causing back labour when it comes to giving birth.. something my mum told me about earlier on in my pregnancy.. kinda something I had my fingers crossed about not getting.. *smiles* bugga! ..no wonder my bump isn’t huge.. bubs is resting against my spine..

Ooh! we finally recorded the lillun’s heartbeat today.. the midwife has never had any trouble getting the heartbeat and this time.. you could hear the echoes of it before she’s actually pressed down on the lillun.. it’s heart was beating at 130-150bpm.. very strong as well.. indicating we still have a happy child in there hehe.. which is good

My tummy’s aching a lil bit due to the pressure pushed on the lillun when it’s position was being determined.. in fact. come to think of it.. my entire pelvic area and lower back are kinda aching.. but that seems pretty normal after every visit.. what can ya expect when ya bubs get prodded at.. it’s like pay back ..hehe

DP should be sorting out the MP3 of the bubs’ heart beat at some point today.. I’ll add it when it’s done.. and whilst I’m waiting for my banana and walnut loaf to finish cooking.. I think I’m gonna look up some more info regarding back labour.. not to scare myself.. but knowledge is power.. I’m better off knowing what I could be in for..lol

..time to go chill out a bit…

[click here to hear the lillun's heartbeat]

We finally got around to getting the 20-week scan pics put onto the computer today.. only about 9 weeks later than the actual 20-week mark.. hehe ..you can see them in gurgi’s pregnancy gallery if ya wanna have a peek.. more pics will be added as we go..

To be totally honest… it feels so bizarre.. I’ve had this work routine going on for over a year.. and now I’m no longer using it.. I’m lucky this week will keep me plenty busy.. organising all the finishing things to move to Australia.. but still.. I woke up at 7:00am by habit this morning.. and after sleeping in ’til about 9am.. felt I had overslept and was forgetting something..hehe

I didn’t realise I would miss the people I’ve worked with as much as I do.. was good tho.. in all my preggerness.. I held it together.. lol *smiles* ..I dun think it quite hit me until I saw the card and gifts given to me.. which I so muchly appreciate.. I really didn’t expect such a send off.. was really sweet

The staff had signed a cute card and put �10 innit.. ‘cos they knew the exchange rate in Australia was good.. lol ..given to buy something for the bubs.. I’m sure I’ll find something.. altho.. we’re gonna be in aus when the lillun’s born.. so will hafta get hold of a ‘made in wales’ jumpsuit once it’s arrived..lol

They also got me an ickle wales beanie baby.. with a couple of welsh magnets and a ‘keep in touch’ mug.. I was gonna say I’ll take pics later.. but DP just took one.. hehe I’m kinda just enjoying the fact that I can feel the lillun’s kicks more just relaxing insteada missing them due to being busy at work.. helps me worry less *pets belly*

I got a gift from a mate who used to give me lifts to work and home again most days.. I feel like I should be giving her a gift for her generosity.. which I might just do yet she gave us something for the lillun.. and we weren’t gonna open it.. but we got too curious..lol ..she got the lillun a 7-pack of jumpsuits.. with a diff animal on each one.. tis awesome.. we love it.. lol so we’re hoping the lillun likes it to.. not that they have much choice in the matter.. poor bugga *smirks*

I have got my eye on a cute lil set that has an ickle ducky onnit.. with a jumpsuit that says ‘just hatched’ and matching striped sleepsuit, striped beanie and ducky bib ..DP won’t lemme have it yet…lol

I think I’m gonna hafta organise a night to go out for drinks before we leave.. and I did promise that I would keep in touch [she says as she looks at her pile of lil pieces of paper with email addies.. and new numbers in her mobile] I dun think I was ready to say goodbye yet..

ooh.. DP took me to the pub to finish the working off with a pint.. something we haven’t done in soooooo long.. so it was nice to retreat to something we used to do so regularly before we got preggers.. thanx baby *huggles DP*

Bah.. still doesn’t feel like it’s happening.. but I guess we have more important things to move onto now.. our life has been planned out, literally, for the next 18 years.. and the rest .. and what better way to spend those years but surrounded by family in a place that’s beautiful one day.. perfect the next… lol hadta say it

Alrighty.. think it’s time for me to get myself decent.. and start making a move on some things planned for today.. *watches DP attack the front room with a dyson* ..ya’d think it was a hint..lol

Cheers

..i had a dream last night that has had me thinking the entire day.. not so much trying to figure out what it meant.. but figuring out what was wrong with my sex life that i needed two vials of blue stuff..lol *smirks*

so.. first thing i do when i get home..

..that is after chilling out the couch watching the Aussie F1 Grand Prix.. having a snack and a coffee.. talking to DP some.. ‘n watching my belly for a while as the lillun does loop-de-loop..

..i get on the pute and log onto Dreammoods.. this site has been invaluable to me.. there’s a great forum and dream dictionary there which can give ya some insight as to what’s going on in your head whilst you’re catching zzz’s.. anyways.. plug aside.. *chuckles* ..

i logged on to write about my dream in the forum.. to see what kinda response i’d get.. but as i was writing it up.. it kinda dawned on me as to what being shown those two vials of blue stuff by the nurse.. and why it was she said ‘..remember this is for the sex..‘… all day of thinking about.. stressing over what i was doing wrong in regards to my sex life ‘n whatnot.. and it finally clicks.. *grins* we could be having a boy! *does a lil dance*

..and even.. if i was to think a lil deeper.. being shown two vials.. instead of just one.. could be an indication of an astrological sign.. gemini.. *beams* ..lol which shows it could be born under that sign.. and it’s due date falls under that sign.. (June 7)

..*gets all giddy* .. dun get me wrong.. boy or girl.. i’m ecstatic!.. but to think i’ve just had an insight into our offspring’s life before it’s even been born certainly excites things a bit.. i guess we’ll see

One colleague come into work with her hubby to make sure she’d catch me before I left.. I was glad to see her.. hadn’t seen her in ages.. and she’d been one of the original bunch first employed at our store..

She did me a hand made card with a very sweet letter innit.. and her contact details.. along with giving me two gifts.. a silver birth certificate holder and a gorgeous pair of booties for the lillun..

Thankya Jayne & Tony.. we’ll definitely keep in touch xx

The other card I got was from an also expecting ex-colleague who had to unfortunately leave work due to complications.. also wanting to get in touch with me before I leave.. she wrote me a really sweet letter and gave me her contact details so when DP and I go back to Australia.. we can send each other letters ‘n pics and whatnot

Thankya Angelika & Family xx

I seriously didn’t expect this.. it was a really pleasant surprise.. I guess I’m glad they caught me on one of my stronger days.. otherwise.. I could have been an emotional mess for it.. *smiles* lol

I will miss quite a few people I’ve got to know over the last year and a half.. seems that saying ‘goodbye for now’.. will be a lil harder than I imagined..

..in fact.. it’s just been ice cream in general I think.. but coffee was my the flavour of the day I guess..lol

lil wriggler has been quite hyper today.. constant movement throughout the entire day.. which has been quite entertaining.. i enjoy the lil chuckles I have with myself as I watch my belly move about.. and feel gentle sudden movements.. its still happening now.. lol

*ponders making a lil thickshake later*

..ooh! just saw on TV.. this lady was trying these different methods to predict the gender of an expectant mother’s baby.. using the Pendulum Method.. and the Chinese Lunar Calender.. then told the expectant mother what the baby’s sex was via an ultrasound..

So far.. DP and I have tried both the Pendulum Method and the Chinese Lunar Calender.. both predicting it’s a boy.. adding to that my strange initial feeling of “knowingness” that the lil wriggler is of the male gender variety.. I can’t help but think of the complex lil wriggler will have if its in fact a girl.. considering the without-thinking-talk of calling lil wriggler a ‘he’.. *shrugs* who knows.. all I know is I can’t wait to have the lillun in our arms.. and watch it kick about as its doing in my tummy..

so I guess bets are on.. will DP and Gurgi have a lil geek?.. or will it be a lil geekette? ..let us know what you think

bah.. I can’t get the thought of ice cream outta my head..lol speshly an ice cream thickshake with ..oooh! chocolate flavouring.. hmm.. this isn’t helping..lol

I’m gonna go find a way to preoccupy myself.. so I dun think about food..lol

..it goes without saying that for a brief few minutes I was a lil panicky as to why it was requested that I have one.. so initially.. they put us through to the scan waiting room.. from which we were taken ahead into our consultation with the midwife.. and then again we were told that we did need the scan due to the fact they wouldn’t see me again for 4 weeks.. so it needed to be done..

..and back to the scan waiting room we go..lol *smirks*we went in pretty much straight away.. being unprepared ‘n all, we decided not to get pics of the lillun this time.. seeing as there would be another scan when i go again in 4 weeks.. but we did get to see that lil wriggler had grown quite a bit.. and where i thought he was nestling himself is, in fact, where he _is_ nestling himself..lol, on my right.. his head just above my belly button and side on to the world..

..the midwife was having a bit of trouble getting measurements of his head.. cos the lil thing wouldn’t stop moving about.. eventually she did get to measure it.. and we were told that he hasn’t got a round head.. its much the same structure as DP’s.. slender.. which is what i suspected in the first place..

Scan Measurements

Biparietal Diameter (across the top of the head): 63mm

Head Circumference: 250mm

Abdominal Circumference: 227mm

Femur Length: 50mm

..she then went on to measure its femur.. she had a freeze frame shot of the lillun’s legs.. when she could get one of course.. *smiles*.. pretty clever.. we couldn’t actually see anything in regards to the gender at all.. got ‘em at a clever angle I think.. lol..

..we got to see the lil heart beating away as well.. it’s always good to know things are moving along quite smoothly.. and the lillun is quite happy in his temporary lil play pen.. *smirks*

alrighty.. enough of the scan stuff (I could go on for hours!).. when we did finally get to see my OB/GYN, Diabetes Consultant and (bonus!) Hormone Specialist lucky me..*smirks* lol .. they said my blood test results came back fine.. so fine.. that they even discussed revoking my diabetes diagnosis.. it was explained to DP and I that any woman, diabetic or not, going through pregnancy will experience higher blood sugar levels.. it’s part of the pregnancy and hormonal changes and whatnot.. the fact that mine have remained within normal limits throughout the pregnancy has had them question my diagnosis and whether it is still valid..

..so far I keep returning non-diabetic results on my blood screenings.. and I’ve had to explain how I was diagnosed with it in the first place every time I’ve seen them.. they seem to be quiet happy with the fact that now I’ve changed my lifestyle and managed to control it with diet alone.. could in fact keep my diabetes at bay.. meaning.. I just may be able to say that I don’t suffer from diabetes when it comes to the likes of life insurance, etc..

..of course they’re not rushing into this possibility.. but have had a good look at it.. and have mentioned doing another GTT (Glucose Tolerance Test) once I’ve had the baby.. just to see if my body retreats to the way it was when it was diagnosed.. fingers crossed it is held at bay.. altho that wouldn’t warrant me going around eating loads of sugary, high GI foods.. they make me feel ill these days.. so I would be quite happy sticking to the ‘diabetic’ lifestyle..

..so good news all ’round.. again, thankfully.. we shall see how it progresses ..another 3 blood tests to look forward to as well..

..in other news.. DP has had a dream that we’re having a girl *smiles*.. and I’ve still got the inkling it’s a boy.. I’m not sure what sways me that way.. seems to be a combination of things.. but I just can’t shake that knowingness.. even if it does turn out I’m completely wrong.. and DP in fact, is correct.. lol

my midwife measured my bump to make sure things were going along as planned.. and thankfully.. the lillun is growing at a perfect rate..

she also checked fetal movement and fetal heart rate.. both are very good.. lil wriggler happened to be curled-up in the bottom right-hand side of my bump.. that is until my midwife got out the lil thing they use to hear the lillun’s heartbeat.. he _started_ in the bottom right.. and decided to head towards my belly button.. a more central-top position..lol kicking the peace disturbing, and possibly invasive in his eyes, instrument a couple of times as he went.. *giggles* …

the heart beat was incredibly strong.. and it baffles me at how quickly my midwife is able to get hold of it.. she’d passed comment that wriggler is a very active baby.. which I can hardly disagree with as I sit here and feel him kicking every which way he can.. and as often as he can as I write this blog entry *smiles*

he’s kicking/punching at least 30 times a night.. yet, he rests when I rest.. or should i say his kicking dun keep me awake at night.. and he’s up ‘n moving about when I wake.. or just after I’ve showered.. I feel him turning when I wake and stand upright.. which is a really bizarre whirlpool-in-ya-belly feeling.. the slight stretch of the muscles as he repositions himself..

definitely a couple of things I’ll miss when he graces the world with his hyper presence..lol but I guess I won’t be able to stop looking at him when he’s in our arms.. so it’ll be a whole new lot of things to miss when he begins to grow up

to top off a fairly eventful day.. DP and I popped into Morrisons after work to grab a couple of things.. whilst we did our routine stroll along almost every aisle.. you should see it.. it’s so automatic we hafta keep snapping ourselves outta it..lol.. we come across the baby stuffs aisle.. and low and behold.. we see summat perfect for our wriggler.. Baby Wriggler Nappies!!! ..Morrisons own brand.. how cool issat?!.. we could not believe it when we saw them.. lol ..hence we hadta take a rather impressive pic with my phone..

*pets our hyper lil wriggler*