Praise the Lord! Gestational Diabetes!

I found out I was pregnant in June of last year.

It felt like the culmination of this whole blog, the whole purpose for having started writing and publishing everything that had been shown to me. I couldn't have been happier, having felt that while giving the Lord our family size would be our ministry to believers and nonbelievers, we really wanted to be pregnant NOW. I know, I know.... trusting His timing means trusting whether you are pregnant or not. My husband lectured me about it *plenty*, okay?
Anyways, even though I had already been pregnant three times, I wrote out this huge excited blog post to let everyone know how awesome and exciting it is - because yes, number four is just as much a blessing as numbers 1-3.
At the same time, I felt like this pregnancy was somehow different.
It almost felt like the first all over again.
I can sort of attribute that to the fact that it was probably the most unexpected (besides the first) despite the fact that yes, we were doing "unprotected activities" that do typically lead to pregnancy.
It also felt refreshingly new again because this was the first time that we had waited on a pregnancy, and waited on God's timing.
I spent the first trimester being as sick and weak as ever - my indigestion tries to ruin this joy for me every time. Then I was severely anemic; I usually am during pregnancy, but for some reason, I didn't even think to start taking iron. So I suffered with near crippling exhaustion like a dork.
When I finally saw a doctor at what I thought was about 13 weeks (turned out to be 14 - yay! Who doesn't love that??) They ordered a 3 hour glucose test right away.
Apparently, with my previous pregnancy, I had gestational diabetes. No one told me this.My doctor's office in Oregon informed me that I passed my glucose test and that was that. When I got to Alaska, they looked over my paperwork, and said that my numbers were clearly over the values they should have been. Then I had Royal about four days later.
So with a "history" of gestational diabetes, they wanted me to take the test right away.
I was told to fast after ten p.m. and then come in the next morning to start the blood draws and drink the super high fructose soda.
I had to stay in the hospital motel because flying me back to Hoonah when I had a glucose test the very next morning was not an option. It was nice to lay around and watch some cable and just have some quiet time.
When I got up the next morning and headed over to the lab, I already knew that I had gestational diabetes. I can't explain how I knew. I just knew I had it.
I got my first blood draw, which I hate like poison, and then I drank the fizzy lifting drink and headed back to my motel room. Rather than stressing about what I would do if they told me I have it, or telling myself "there's no way," I began trying to recall what I had been told last time they gave me the diabetes rundown.
I was only back at my room for maybe fifteen minutes before I received a call from the lab to tell me that my fasting numbers were already high, so yeah - that's a positive for gestational diabetes.

Most women, upon receiving this news, completely lose it. Most women lose it when they fail their one hour test, even though most go on to pass the next one. I have seen some profound responses to gestational diabetes; like "I'm so devastated;" "I never thought this would happen to me;" "I usually eat healthy - this isn't fair!" They describe their world being torn apart, feeling like they are in a dream, and crying uncontrollably. Or simply denying it. 

I have to say, my reaction was very different from most people. All I could think was "Praise God!"


I really couldn't have any negative emotions. Gestational diabetes means that you have to watch what you eat, somewhat (some people more than others) and there are very slight risks, like increased premature delivery. But really, nothing substantial. Most women control their glucose levels with diet and exercise, and suffer no long term consequences come delivery day.

The only thing on my mind was that I had had an ultrasound the day before, and had all these adorable pictures of my little fetus, and it was pronounced HEALTHY. What right did I have to complain?

My husband and I prayed for this baby and waited and waited for it. We consider that if Jesus looked at children to be such priceless blessings from above, that's exactly what they must be. I will sacrifice my body time and time again for these precious miracles the Lord gives us. So what right do I have, at all, to be bitter about *anything* that might befall me in a pregnancy? I'm not saying I haven't been, ever, not even once, this whole pregnancy, ungrateful  to be pregnant. I am human, after all. But I am fully aware - and have been since the GD test - that I have no right to be ungrateful.

Sometimes we get so caught up in thinking that life is supposed to be a huge whirlwind of all of the best things in the world rolled into one and when one hair is out of place, we begin to feel sorry for ourselves. We get the "why me??" attitude. 


Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

                                                                                                     Philippians 4:4

The sad fact is that when we have the "Aha" moment of realizing we are being negative, nitpicky, or ungrateful, we are not even beginning to realize what the affect of that is on our spiritual walk. When you are focusing on your minor grievances, not only are you not thinking on "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report..." but you are also NOT giving the Lord the praise and recognition he deserves for what has gone right. Stop what you are doing right now and think of all the blessings you've received in the last month, week, or even day. How many things did you praise God for? How many things did you recognize as blessings from Him?
And how many times did you feel like everything was crashing down because one little thing went wrong?

 One of the best books on the subject that I would like to recommend to everyone is 


It is truly an amazing book, whether you are just forgetful about praising the Lord where it is due or if you are like me and have difficulties with emotional disorders like depression or anxiety. If you have $5, buy this book now. Or get it on your Kindle... that's good too cause it's even faster. 

For the record, I don't always praise Him first and ask questions later. Now that I think about it, I may download this book and re-read it since I lost my first copy.







Comments

  1. Gestational diabetes to the pregnent ladies really damages a lot so the regular checkups can made a big difference.


    Gestational diabetes

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