Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. -Psalm
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. –Philippians 4- 6:7
…in whom I trust.” God has not failed me. If I could tell every story, every situation, every circumstance, and explain the reasons for every tear I have cried, I can only imagine what God has protected me from that I have no idea about. I can just cry thinking about it, wow. Gods unfailing love and unchanging hand has kept me! Gods actions has always and will always align with His Words. (His promises.) My God, in whom I trust! (Thank You Jesus.)
BUT IN EVERYTHING! When I read this scripture I hear God telling me, I didn’t some somethings, I said, EVERYTHING! And I do believe Him.
Chile I saw those two lines and felt all kinds of emotions.
So, I found out when I was 27 weeks pregnant that I had gestational diabetes.
Okay so let me explain. Gestational diabetes is a condition that cause high sugar levels during your pregnancy. After giving birth most moms return back to their typical sugar levels.
‘As the placenta grows, more hormones are produced and the insulin resistance becomes greater. Normally, the pancreas is able to make additional insulin to overcome insulin resistance, but when the production of insulin is not enough to overcome the effect to the placental hormones, gestational diabetes results.’ GD (gestational diabetes) is basically a hormone made by the placenta. So, yeah. Chile listen, I am not a doctor so I hope I am breaking it down for you in a way that you can understand. Just blame it on the placenta!
My glucose level was 211. After 1 hour my glucose level should have been no higher than 140 and after 2 hours my glucose level should have been no more than 120. (Yikes!) When the nurse called me, Chile I bout hit the floor. (I’m so glad I was sitting down.) Chile, in all devastation God shows up because he knew if I was standing I would have hit the floor Chile. When the nurse gave me my results I didn’t know what to say or think at all. I remember hitting up my girl and telling her. I didn’t even tell my husband first. I knew if I had called him I would have started to cry in a panic. My daughter was in the backseat and I did not want to freak out in front of her. And I didn’t want my oldest daughter to walk out of piano practice seeing me sit in the car crying. I knew when I hit up my girl ‘Jae’ that she would pray! First thang first! (Make sure you have praying friends. It’s essential to my life Chile.) So yeah, I got myself together. I just kept quoting scriptures over and over again. I sounded like a broken record. I was like, Okay Jesus, what do I do now. What do you want me to do now? I had to stop by the grocery store before going home after piano practice. Now by this time my husband had called me because he knew I had an appointment earlier and wanted to check in with me. So, I answered and told him. (Whew Chile. That man. π₯°)
Let me tell you something. I don’t know if ya know or don’t know. But I promise you this, if you ask God to help you, oh He will help you. I went to God so helpless and hopeless. He knew I was defeated and I really needed to know what to do. Of course my first thought and feeling were, is my baby going to be okay. Once the nurse broke everything down to me, I was not as ignorant to the diagnoses and the ways to keep it at bay. That did make me feel better. One thang about me, my self- discipline has definitely grown over the years as I’ve matured. And I know you can do anything you put your mind to. But when it comes to food and I can make my mind up about it, that’s it and that’s all. So having to eat right to save me and my baby life, you ain’t said nothing but a word.
THIS IS A GREAT NUMBER AFTER EATING. THIS WAS MOST LIKELY AFTER EATING A SMALL LUNCH. I usually at yogurt with blueberries, strawberries, and a little sprinkle of a granola crumbs.
Don’t get me wrong now, it wasn’t easy. I had to read labels while grocery shopping. I had to cook my family dinner and then make me something completely different. When it came to spending time outside of the house and what I could and could not eat. Most of the time I packed my own lunch. I remember the first time I cried after I ate a half of veggie sub and I checked my glucose levels one hour after I ate. It read, 178. I cried. ππ’ My daughter was right there. And you know what she said, ‘Call daddy momma he will help you. Or you can just pray!’ She’s 4! I cried more. Wow! I am so thankful, sooooooo thankful that my children see LOVE when they see their parents. But mostly, I am so thankful that they know to PRAY! Kets just say, that was a long day.
When I craved pizza I would always go to ‘American Village’ to get my pizza from two different spots. Chile, listen when I tell you. It is a fact. Numbers do not lie, mmmkay. I ate a slice of pizza on base once (Americanized food.) and my number shot through the roof! I ate a slice of pizza in town and my number read 121 that night. I promise you I have not forgotten. I was so shocked at that. American food is horrible. That’s one thang I can say about experiencing and living in Japan. The food!!! π π π
I started walking every day of the week. Yep. I mostly walked after dinner for 1 hour. There were quite a few times I walked my daughter to school and we would walk to pick her up from school. Chile I got my walk on. I enjoyed the walks I would take after dinner. Sometimes my husband would walk with me. I enjoyed that. I love every ounce of his support. That became our thang at least twice a week for us.
I had to log my numbers for two weeks before I went back to my doctor and he told me that I would have to take insulin before bed. I deflated right there. OH NO. π INSULIN? And I had to take it home and use it. I already knew my husband was going to have to inject me. Like, I am not about to be injecting myself with a needle!! And I am not even afraid of needles. I have never had an issue with needles because someone else is doing it. I am not trying to be sticking myself with nothing!! Chile. Jesus help me please. π I asked God to help me so much when I was pregnant for many, many things and multiple reasons.
I remember the first night my husband injected me with insulin. I laughed and cried. He’s always going to try and lighten up a situation when I’m scared but somehow comfort me at the same time. I was so scared. I mean, I knew I needed to take the insulin, and I knew that I was because this wasn’t just about me. But I was petrified. I was like, am I going to feel different once I take the insulin. I was thinking I would get dizzy, or tired. Or my worse fear, being nauseated. IYKMYK!! π (It’s really not funny though.) But yeah, I didn’t know what to expect. That made me scared alone. But me giving myself insulin became second nature so fast it seemed like. Even the girls knew what was going on. They would always clap and cheer me on when my numbers were good. It would be so cute. And I also found it pretty interesting that my oldest daughter took interest in wanting to understand what exactly was going on with me. She learned what glucose numbers were good and what numbers were bad. Then she would try to explain to Elle’. (Ha.) They would walk with me too. ππ Wow. Looking back over everything now that I am 3 months postpartum, I am feeling all the feels. God really provides! And the people and the love around me has never been light work.
Just when I thought everything was everything I had to get on insulin after I ate dinner. “I need more?” I asked the doctor looking pitiful. The further along I got in my pregnancy the more I needed. Chile, I was too done. insulin twice a day!!
But before it was all over and I gave birth. I truly embraced the journey. Even my loved ones did. It was really amazing. And I have to give MY MAN, MY MAN, MY HUSBAND a big ole shout out. π€That man has the patience of Job. I thank You God for this man. I really do. It is so important to have a patient, supportive, genuinely caring spouse when you’re sick. Cause Chile, it was not always fresh nails, toes, and hairdos if ya know what I mean. I would be a mess down bust down. π π«£
I eventually gave myself my own insulin πfrom time to time. I learned the importance of walking. Listen, just stay active. Be active. You don’t have to hit the gym for a hour (I would prefer the gym π€) but if you can’t do nothing at all, please walk!! Pleeeaase walk. And it’s really good to walk after you eat dinna.
This was the hotel on base that we stayed at when we were waiting to fly out. π―π΅ βοΈ
Alright Chile, I gots tuh go. π But if you want to chat about this a little more let me know. Just leave it in the comments Chile.
Talk soon. π
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