Adventures From the Blood Lab

This morning, I went in for the three-hour glucose test that looks for gestational diabetes. I brought our laptop so that I could post blog entries in real time, in what would have been a first for the Graves blog. However, Austin Regional Clinic apparently doesn't think that WiFi is a viable technology, because they don't provide it for their waiting room. Anyways, what follows is an hourly account of my time in the lab and waiting room this morning.

8:00 AM - I check in with the receptionist. I notice that there are a lot of other people who schedule 8:00 AM appointments. The waiting room is already full!

8:10 AM - The lab tech draws two vials of blood from my left arm as a baseline. Because I just had blood drawn last week, I am an old pro at this and do not even flinch. But I still do not look and can't bear to see the needle before the lab tech sticks my arm.

8:15 AM - The lab tech gives me the glucose drink. It looks like Gatorade, but it does not taste like Gatorade. I am also unpleasantly surprised at the size of the bottle (see pic below) - when I took the one-hour test last week, they only gave me a Dixie cup to drink. I manage to drink it all, but the after-taste is less than savory.

8:22 AM - I finish the glucose drink, and the lab tech smiles sympathetically and tells me we will draw blood at 9:22 AM, 10:22 AM, and 11:22 AM. I go back out to the waiting room, where I learn there's no WiFi available. At least Bon Jovi is playing on "The Today Show."

9:22 AM - The lab tech notices I'm already bruising from this morning's first blood draw, so she draws one vial from my right arm. I go back out to the waiting room and find that Andre Agassi is on "Regis and Kelly" talking about his crystal meth addiction yet again.

9:50 AM - G-Baby is REALLY moving around. Note to self: keep this kid away from sugar when he gets older.

10:22 AM - I have a different lab tech this time. She draws one vial from my right arm. Although she was better at inserting the needle without too much of a pinch, I kind of miss the first lab tech. I wonder if she is on break or did she go to lunch already? Once I'm out in the waiting room, I discover that Kathie Lee is now on the "The Later Today Show" or whatever it's called. I'm curious how this show is different from "Regis and Kelly," and I wonder why Regis and Kathie just can't reunite.

11:22 AM - My original lab tech is back, and she draws the last vial from my right arm. We're done, and the test is finally over - hooray!

11:30 AM - I am extremely hungry, so I head to Chick-fil-A for lunch.

In total, they drew five vials of blood over three hours - Edward Cullen would have been jealous! My arms were a little sore immediately afterwards, and I have some small bruises, but in all honesty, the overall experience wasn't that bad. I should find out the test results in the next few days. Stay tuned!